JD Vance has urged the domestic cryptocurrency industry to remain involved in US politics, highlighting the close ties of President Donald Trump’s administration to a deep-pocketed industry. Speaking at a Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas, Vance urged cryptocurrency executives and enthusiasts to keep pressure on the US Congress to pass pro-crypto legislation.

Las Vegas

JD Vance addressed attendees at a Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas, urging the domestic cryptocurrency industry to remain politically active. He highlighted the Trump administration as a strong supporter of crypto, describing it as a symbol of personal liberty and an ally in the White House. Vance discussed the impact of Trump-era policies on the US dollar, noting that trade tensions and rising debt have shaken confidence in the currency. He suggested that digital currencies like Bitcoin could become alternatives to the dollar over time. Despite this, Vance cautioned investors about the risks associated with crypto assets, acknowledging their volatility and the current preference of mainstream economists for the dollar's continued dominance. The conference reflected a politically right-leaning crypto community focused on influencing US legislation in favor of the industry.

Vance touts Trump’s crypto record at Bitcoin conference

Wandering around the Bitcoin conference in Las Vegas can feel a bit like entering a different country, full of unfamiliar concepts, difficult to describe customs, and a vocabulary all its own. Politically, the cryptocurrency investors here lean to the right. They gave a warm welcome to Vice President J.D. Vance, who, before entering politics, worked for a Silicon Valley tech company. He called crypto a symbol of personal liberty. I'm here today to say loud and clear, with President Trump, crypto finally has a champion and an ally in the White House. The rise of crypto raises questions about the state of the U.S. dollar. For more than 80 years, the dollar has been the world's reserve currency. The value of items traded internationally, from soybeans to diamonds to oil, are all denominated in dollars. And the dollar has always been a safe haven in times of financial panics for both governments and individual investors. But now, the Trump administration's policies have shaken that faith in the dollar like never before. Trump's trade war caused the value of both the dollar and U.S. government bonds to fall. The prospect of burgeoning debt led credit ratings agency Moody's to downgrade the U.S.'s credit worthiness rating. If the U.S. government, federal government, keeps racking up this high deficit and high debt, at some point, the risk, right, the risk of U.S. dollar defaulting will increase. Crypto investors see their digital currency as the potential replacement for the dollar over time. More people today are asking, what is money than ever before? And that is largely because of Bitcoin. Despite the enthusiasm, crypto is still seen as risky, subject to wild peaks and crashes, and not as flexible as traditional currencies, which can be managed by central banks to smooth out instabilities. The solution is not necessarily to abandon the dollar and invest, you know, your eggs, a lot of your eggs, in crypto assets. So just be very careful. Mainstream economists are betting that despite the turmoil caused by Trump's policies, the dollar will endure, at least for now. Rob Reynolds, Al Jazeera, Las Vegas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will do "anything" to advance EU accession talks. Zelenskyy spoke alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine will do 'anything' to advance EU accession talks: Zelenskyy

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Washington

Global Tariffs

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Indonesian rescuers on Thursday (July 3) temporarily halted a search for 30 people still missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the island of Bali with the loss of six lives, the national search and rescue agency said.

Gilimanuk

Indonesia suspends search for 30 missing after ferry sinks near Bali

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Ochopee

First group of detainees arrive at "Alligator Alcatraz," Florida says

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Tecoluca

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Jerusalem

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CBS News political contributor Caroline Polisi joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the jury's verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial and the judge's decision to deny bail for the music mogul ahead of his sentencing.

Manhattan

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Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota has died aged 28, just weeks after marrying his childhood sweetheart. The footballer passed away in a car crash in northern Spain.

Madrid

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The Pentagon said that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.

Tehran

Iran Strikes

Iran nuclear program degraded by up to two years: Pentagon

Days before his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama announced the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, will have the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, but China insists it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Lhasa

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The U.S. Congress inched towards approving President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, despite attempts by Democrats to stop it. The bill is Trump’s signature legislation which includes massive spending increases on the military and immigration enforcement while slashing social programs.

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Sean (Diddy) Combs was found guilty on prostitution-related charges, but was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking giving him a maximum sentence of 20 years. But the courtroom victory was subdued following a judge’s ruling to deny him bail.

New York

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President Trump says Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, but it remains unclear if Hamas will accept the terms. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Debora Patta has more.

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Bryan Kohberger changed his plea to guilty Wednesday for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. CBS News national correspondent Carter Evans has more on the case.

Boise

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down a state abortion law that was adopted in 1849 in a 4-3 landmark decision. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Madison

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Macron and Putin held regular discussions around the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Macron visiting Putin in Russia in February 2022, but dialogue eventually stalled.

Paris

Macron held 'substantial' phone call with Putin

President Trump toured “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention center he teamed up with Ron DeSantis to build in the Everglades.

Everglades

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Jurors in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal criminal trial said they have reached a verdict on four of the five counts, but they cannot reach a verdict on Count 1, which is racketeering conspiracy. The judge has instructed the jury to keep deliberating. Deliberations will resume Wednesday (July 2).

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The new order does not rescind existing sanctions on ousted longtime President Bashar al-Assad, his top aides, officials and family members who are accused of having committed war crimes and human rights violations against Syrian civilians.

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Former criminology graduate student Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to killing four Idaho college students in 2022, a move that would spare him the death penalty under a deal with prosecutors, ABC News reported on Monday (June 30).

Moscow

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Thailand's Constitutional Court on Tuesday suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, adding to mounting pressure on a government fighting for survival on multiple fronts.

Bangkok

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Israeli strikes killed at least 60 people across Gaza on June 30 in some of the heaviest attacks in weeks as Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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U.S. President Donald Trump says he's not planning to extend the pause on global tariffs set to expire on July 9. Brian Schwartz, reporter for the Wall Street Journal, joins CBS News to discuss.

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The jury has informed the judge in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial that they have concerns about one juror's ability to follow the court's instructions. Deliberations in the trial are underway.

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Jury deliberations are set to begin in the Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking and racketeering trial. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman has the latest updates.