Bipartisan Housing Reform, Remote Work's Sweet Spot & NBA Draft Pick's Promise - Wednesday, June 24, 2026

**Erica Mandy** (0:00)
Today is Wednesday, June 24th. We'll tell you about another rare defeat for President Trump as more GOP lawmakers condemn both the war in Iran and the deal Trump helped broker to end it. Also how the most significant piece of housing legislation in decades is expected to make home ownership more affordable for Americans. Plus the impact New York Mayor Mamdani had on this week's primaries. My one top TV network is enlisting help from its audience, and what research found about whether remote work actually makes people happier. Those stories and even more news coming up.
Welcome to The NewsWorthy, all the day's news in less than 15 minutes. I'm Erica Mandy. Thanks so much for being here. Let's do this.
In its most significant pushback yet, Congress has now voted to keep President Trump from restarting the war in Iran, at least not without getting lawmakers approval first. The US Senate adopted a War Powers Resolution yesterday. It actually marked the 10th time the Senate has considered it, but the first time the measure actually passed, with four Republicans voting yes along with most Democrats. The House already approved it earlier this month. To be clear, President Trump can still veto the resolution, so the move is largely symbolic. But it does showcase the growing divide Trump is facing within his own party. Many Republicans have also been critical of the deal the Trump administration struck with the Iranians to pause the war, saying it's too favorable to Iran. Some have even questioned what all the fighting was really for, as they're being asked to put more money in to cover the cost. The Pentagon has told senators it needs roughly $80 billion on top of the Defense Department's record-breaking $1.5 trillion budget request. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been making the rounds on Capitol Hill to try to build support. President Trump himself is headed to the Capitol to meet with GOP senators today.
In an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, Congress has passed what's being called the most important and most comprehensive housing bill of this century. The House passed it yesterday with 258 yes votes and only 32 noes. The Senate approved it one day earlier with similar margins. It now heads to President Trump, who is expected to sign it into law today. One of the biggest flashpoints in the package is a new limit on the role institutional investors can play in the housing market. Specifically, it keeps corporate landlords that already own at least 350 houses from buying up more single-family homes to then rent out. The measure also makes it easier, faster and cheaper to build new homes, eases lending rules, delivers aid to communities recovering from disasters, and a lot more. Granted, there are other issues that could get in the way of a huge turnaround for the housing market that's now in a crisis, with homes costing nearly five times the median American income. For example, private builders are still facing high costs for labor and supplies.
It's possible the Federal Reserve could soon raise interest rates once again. Either way, many lawmakers, researchers, and housing industry leaders say the new legislation could actually put home ownership in reach for a lot of Americans, and that it should be considered a huge accomplishment.
Hundreds of people are now facing criminal charges as part of a multi-billion dollar crackdown on health care fraud. The US Justice Department says altogether, the 455 people submitted more than $6.5 billion worth of claims to insurers. And according to DOJ leaders, the suspects did not just steal money, but also human dignity as patients were used for personal profit. For example, the DOJ accuses the heart doctor of preying on the fears of college student athletes that they could die of sudden cardiac arrest. He allegedly billed insurers for medically unnecessary heart screenings, then rubber stamped the results as normal without ever reviewing them. In one case, a patient whose results were falsely certified as normal, later died on the basketball court after his heart problems were undetected. That's just one of many schemes officials detailed yesterday. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanch says this marks the greatest combined federal and state effort in combating health care fraud in history. And officials say stepped up anti-fraud efforts will continue.
Today's show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie has shared another emotional plea for any new information about her mother's disappearance. She shared her latest comments after new reports about a second ransom note that was sent earlier this year. It claimed her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, had died. After an NBC News segment about those new details, Savannah once again said she believes somebody knows something. She pointed out how even though the story is in the news again now, that it's been her life and her family member's lives every day, and that, quote, we are in agony, we cannot be at peace. Savannah also said her family is still offering a million-dollar reward. Remember, Nancy Guthrie has been missing since February 1st, and authorities have said she was abducted from her home in Arizona. Local law enforcement are still working with the FBI on this case.