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HARD NUMBERS: SCOTUS affirm transition care ban, OpenAI dons combat boots, and more

June 18, 2025

Lizzy Yee

People demonstrations outside the Supreme Court against gender-affirming care for transgender children in Washington, DC, on December 4, 2024. The Court is hearing oral arguments in the United States vs. Skirmetti, which challenges Tennessee’s ban on transgender care for minors. The ruling could affect the 26 states that criminalize gender-affirming care for children.

(Photo by Allison Bailey/NurPhoto)

6-3: In a 6-3 vote with national implications, the US Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming care for children, deciding that it doesn’t contravene the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Tennessee is one of 25 states that have banned gender transition care for minors.

$200 million: OpenAI landed a $200-million contract to develop artificial intelligence tools for the US Department of Defense. The Pentagon said the company’s work will help address national security challenges in warfighting. The contract is the first under OpenAI’s new initiative to work with governments.

5,000: North Korea will send 5,000 construction workers to support rebuilding efforts in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive last year. The announcement followed Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu’s visit to Pyongyang on Tuesday. North Korea has previously sent troops to fight on Russia’s behalf in Kursk.

24: The UAE rescued 24 crewmembers after two oil tankers collided in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The strait is a vital gateway into the Persian Gulf, with over one fifth of global oil supply flowing through it daily.

GZEROMEDIA

What we’re watching: The subnational US-Canada relationship, Golden Dome’s leaden weight, MAGA Iran crackup

Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks during a meeting of northeastern U.S. Governors and Canadian Premiers, in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., June 16, 2025.

REUTERS/Sophie Park

While the national level drama played out between Donald Trump and Mark Carney at the G7 in Kananaskis, a lot of important US-Canada work was going on with far less fanfare in Boston, where five Canadian premiers met with governors and delegations from seven US states.

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HARD NUMBERS: SCOTUS affirm transition care ban, OpenAI dons combat boots, and more

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What we’re watching: The subnational US-Canada relationship, Golden Dome’s leaden weight, MAGA Iran crackup

While the national level drama played out between Donald Trump and Mark Carney at the G7 in Kananaskis, a lot of important US-Canada work was going on with far less fanfare in Boston, where five Canadian premiers met with governors and delegations from seven US states.

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What the world thinks of the Israel-Iran conflict

Ever since the Israel-Iran feud turned violent last week, the focus has been on how the United States will respond. Other major power players, though, will also have a view on the conflict.

HARD NUMBERS: SCOTUS affirm transition care ban, OpenAI dons combat boots, and more

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More from GZERO Media

Canada recorded a population growth of 0% in the first quarter of 2025, the lowest mark since 2020.

While the national level drama played out between Donald Trump and Mark Carney at the G7 in Kananaskis, a lot of important US-Canada work was going on with far less fanfare in Boston, where five Canadian premiers met with governors and delegations from seven US states.

The G7 meeting this week was always going to be a tricky one.

What’s next for Iran’s regime? Ian Bremmer says, “It’s much more likely that the supreme leader ends up out, but the military… continues to run the country.”

GZEROMEDIA

Subscribe to GZERO Media's newsletter: Signal

Ever since the Israel-Iran feud turned violent last week, the focus has been on how the United States will respond. Other major power players, though, will also have a view on the conflict.