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A federal judge has blocked bans on the usage of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for soda enacted by the Trump administration. “Congress defined what ‘food’ is supposed to be, and it did not authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted. It did not authorize the agency to cut types of food out of SNAP entirely,” U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson wrote in a Monday filing, referencing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). (Suter, 6/22)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday launched a new initiative to speed up early-stage clinical trials as part of an effort to reduce development timelines and reverse a growing trend of companies moving overseas, primarily to China. The pilot program, part of a broader initiative across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) known as “Operation Trailblazer,” could reduce early trial timelines by six to 12 months, officials said. The FDA also issued guidance clarifying that one high-quality late-stage clinical trial with confirmatory evidence will be sufficient to support approval in many cases. (Weixel, 6/22)

The Trump administration released a memo last week that seeks to upend landmark disability laws and court rulings that prioritize people with disabilities receiving care while living in their community instead of at institutions like nursing homes. (Broderick, 6/22)

Over the next two weeks, the justices will release more than a dozen final opinions, including high-profile decisions on birthright citizenship and transgender athletes. (Marimow, 6/23)

Senate Republicans’ farm bill proposal rejects Democrats’ demands to delay a planned shift of some food aid costs to states, according to three people familiar with the plans — jeopardizing hopes of winning bipartisan support for the package. Democrats say they will oppose a farm bill that doesn’t push back a requirement that will soon force some states to pay for some Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, a provision included in the domestic policy megalaw Republicans passed last year. (Yarrow, 6/22)

The bipartisan deal on kids’ online safety that the House Energy and Commerce Committee rolled out Monday threatens to derail hopes of passing major tech and AI legislation this year. A major reason: key differences from a kids’ safety and AI package that Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is negotiating with the Trump administration. The White House is working to shore up support for a Blackburn-led kids’ safety package that could ultimately block or replace some state AI laws. (Miller, Dahlkamp, Wendler and Ng, 6/22)

Majorities of Americans say they're more likely to vote for candidates in November who support ideas to lower their health costs, according to the latest Axios-Ipsos American Health Index. Their support for ideas across the political spectrum — from renewing Affordable Care Act subsidies to expanding direct sales of prescription drugs — shows the power of voters' demands for relief. (Bettelheim and Talev, 6/22)