Eric Swalwell’s Campaign Is Unraveling
“Rep. Eric Swalwell’s bid for the California governor’s office was reeling Friday as his campaign was cut off on the main Democratic fundraising platform and top Democratic supporters withdrew their endorsements and urged him to drop out of the race in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct,” CNN reports.
“Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she had told Swalwell to end his bid, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called on him to drop out. California Sen. Adam Schiff and Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, both longtime allies, said they were withdrawing their endorsements.”
Swalwell denied the allegations in a video: “These allegations of sexual assault are flat false. They are absolutely false. They did not happen. They have never happened. And I will fight them with everything that I have.”
Mark Barabak: Rumors, denials, then a pair of bombshells. And Eric Swalwell is suddenly on the ropes.
The Era of Free Seas Is Unraveling
“In just six weeks, the Iran War has shattered a system of global trade that has enriched people and nations for more than a century: the freedom to sail the open seas,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The Strait of Hormuz long functioned as an artery for the world’s maritime economy. But that 30-mile-wide waterway is now a monument to a new global disorder. As some 20,000 sailors effectively held hostage at sea digested President Trump’s cease-fire announcement this week—contingent on the complete opening of the strait—Iranian officials stressed they would determine which ships could leave and at what price.”
“The ‘Tehran toll booth’ was taking effect, as the U.S. Navy watched on, an admission that, at least here and now in the world’s oil corridor, America no longer rules the waves.”
U.S. Intelligence Says Iran Has Thousands of Missiles
“Iran still has thousands of ballistic missiles in its arsenal that it could use by retrieving launchers from underground storage areas, according to American officials familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The assessments come as the U.S. is working to cement a cease-fire that would fully open the Strait of Hormuz and also insulate Iran, American troops and states in the region from further attacks.”
Will Trump Get Another Supreme Court Pick?
New York Times: “Ever since President Trump returned to the White House, speculation has swirled about whether he will have an opportunity to name a fourth or even a fifth justice to the bench, which already includes three justices nominated by Mr. Trump during his first term.”
“Those questions have mounted in recent months, as Mr. Trump’s political fortunes have waned and the chance that Democrats might win the Senate in November has grown.”
Artemis II Gives U.S. Momentum in Renewed Moon Race
“Floating in the Pacific Ocean on Friday, the four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission had achieved more than just a historic return to human spaceflight around the moon,” the New York Times reports.
“The successful conclusion of Artemis II sets NASA on a path to extend the agency’s achievements in space exploration, and, for now at least, the United States is ahead of China in a 21st century space race.”
Wired: “After traveling a greater distance from Earth than any humans before them, the astronauts of Artemis II have safely returned home.”
Trump Turns to Vance to End the Iran War
“Six weeks after President Donald Trump started a war in Iran that has proved difficult to end, he has turned to a new approach in negotiations: Putting front and center his vice president, JD Vance, whose reputation happens to be as the administration’s foremost war skeptic,” the Washington Post reports.
Wall Street Journal: “It is the latest test for a politician who many believe hopes to succeed Trump in the White House and presents acute risks. Vance, an anti-interventionist who attempted to distance himself from the war in its early days, is now more closely tied to its outcome.”
Financial Times: Peace talks present big test on global stage for JD Vance.
Trump Suddenly Sounds Like Biden
“In full damage control mode after receiving the worst inflation report of his second term, President Donald Trump’s White House stressed that critics were looking too hard at the wrong things,” the Washington Post reports.
“Instead, aides on Friday pointed to pockets of improvement — lower prices for some goods, tax cuts and falling drug costs — as evidence the broader picture was being missed.”
“The argument that the administration’s record is stronger than the public recognizes has become a familiar one. Former president Joe Biden made a similar case at the end of his term — a rare point of overlap between two leaders who have spent over a decade attacking each other’s policies and fitness for office.”
Eric Adams Is Granted Albanian Citizenship
Former New York Mayor Eric Adams has been granted Albanian citizenship, months after visiting the Balkan nation shortly before leaving office, Bloomberg reports.
Ex-Staffer Says Eric Swalwell Sexually Assaulted Her
“A woman who worked for nearly two years for Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss and alleged he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent,” the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
CNN: Former staffer alleges in interview that Swalwell raped her.
Politico: “Swalwell’s campaign for governor was reeling Friday after two news reports detailed accusations of sexual assault and misconduct, with multiple staffers resigning and both prominent allies and rival candidates calling on the California Democrat to exit the race.”
Raskin Wants Trump to Take a Cognitive Test
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is requesting the White House physician conduct a “comprehensive cognitive assessment” of President Trump and brief Congress on the results.
Said Raskin: “His apparently deteriorating condition has caused tremendous alarm across the nation (and political spectrum) about the President’s cognitive function and continuing mental fitness for the office of President, and prompted concerns about the President’s wellbeing.”
Trump Says He Wasn’t Surprised by Melania’s Statement
President Trump told the New York Times that he had known his wife wanted to speak about Jeffrey Epstein at some point, and that he “thought she had a right to talk about it,” even if he had not known what exactly she planned to say.
Said Trump: “It doesn’t bother me.”
He added: “I didn’t know what the statement was, but I knew she was going to make a statement.”
Pope Leo Criticizes Religious Language Used by Trump
“Pope Leo XIV appeared to take aim at religious language used by U.S. officials to justify the war in Iran, in the latest salvo between the pontiff and the Trump administration over the conflict,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Said Leo: “God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”
House Oversight Will Hold Hearings with Esptein’s Victims
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Rep. James Comer said that the panel would be holding hearings to give victims of Jeffrey Epstein the chance to speak about his crimes against them, CNBC reports.
First lady Melania Trump on Thursday said Congress should give “women who have been victimized by Epstein … a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors.”
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Trump Is Losing Leverage Over Iran
Aaron Blake: “The week began with President Donald Trump saber-rattling like we’ve never seen before. He threatened apparent war crimes and to end a ‘whole civilization’ if Iran didn’t meet his demands.”
“It is ending with Trump looking like he’s losing leverage, out of ideas — and increasingly anxious for an offramp.”
“The economic news Friday was especially grim for Trump’s ability to keep prosecuting this war and drive a hard bargain with Iran in upcoming negotiations.”
Trump Promises Mass Pardons to Staff
“President Trump has repeatedly promised his top administration officials pardons before he leaves office,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Said Trump, in a recent meeting: “I’ll pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval.”
“That radius appears to be expanding as the president repeats the line. Another person who met with Trump earlier this year said the president quipped about pardoning anyone who had come within 10 feet.”
“In one conversation with advisers in the dining room next to the Oval Office last year, Trump said he would host a news conference and announce mass pardons before he left office.”
Every Democrat Is a ‘Fighter’ Now
“Virtually every Democratic primary candidate this cycle, from the most progressive to the most moderate, wants voters to know one thing: How much of a ‘fighter’ they are,” Axios reports.
“It is the culmination of a year’s worth of liberal grassroots fury over what they see as President Trump’s many transgressions and the Democratic establishment’s lackluster response.”
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