“We’re spending a shitpile of money on elections right now, and I don’t think we’re getting a better informed public at the end when they go to the voter’s booth.”
— Former Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), quoted by Issue One.
Image Depicting Trump as Christ Sparked Big Backlash
Wall Street Journal: “President Trump’s decision to post an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Christ-like figure sparked outrage on the religious right, triggering the most significant pushback from his Catholic and evangelical Christian supporters since he returned to the White House.”
Geography Powers Iran’s Grip on the Strait of Hormuz
Washington Post: “Even as Washington seeks to squeeze Iran economically, Tehran retains a powerful advantage: geography. Over six weeks of conflict, Iran has halted virtually all traffic in the strait by laying mines, according to its military forces, and exploiting the vulnerability created by its terrain. Even under a U.S. blockade, these factors allow Iran to continue exerting influence over who crosses — and at what risk.”
“That risk, more than any formal closure, is what is keeping ships away. According to data from Kpler, only seven vessels have crossed the strait daily on average since the ceasefire, compared with the prewar traffic of more than 130 ships.”
Politico: Trump’s decision to blockade Iran ups the ante on prices.
Government Workers Inundated With Religion
Wired: “The USDA is not the only agency espousing overtly religious rhetoric: At the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Labor, federal employees have been alarmed to watch Christianity’s creep into the government since President Donald Trump’s return to office.”
The Parable of the President
David Graham: “Donald Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV reveals that to him, religion is primarily about power, not morality.”
Middle East War Will Slow Global Growth
New York Times: “War in the Middle East has upended the world economy, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday, warning in a report that disruptions to oil markets could slow growth, fuel inflation and raise the possibility of a global recession.”
“The sober message came after the global economy had largely weathered a pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and soaring inflation without tipping into a recession. But President Trump’s decision to initiate a war in Iran has stopped the world economy in its tracks.”
Xi Says World Order ‘Crumbling Into Disarray’
Chinese President Xi Jinping lamented a world in “disarray,” using some of his strongest language yet to describe a collapse of the Western-led international order as he vowed to play a constructive role in the Middle East, Bloomberg reports.
Said Xi: “The international order is crumbling into disarray.”
House Republicans Tout Tax Cuts in New Ad Blitz
CNBC: “The National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday launched a digital ad campaign in 14 competitive congressional districts across 11 states touting GOP-led tax breaks.”
Two Swalwell Accusers Discuss His Downfall
Two women who have accused Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) of misconduct told CBS News that, while they feel “vindicated” now that he has dropped his bid to become California’s next governor and will resign from his seat in Congress, there is still work to be done.
Trump Confused When Asked About Official Who Teleported
President Donald Trump expressed confusion during an interview after he was informed that one of his administration officials had boasted about teleporting to a Waffle House 50 miles away, Mediaite reports.
Said Trump: “What does teleport mean? Was he kidding?”
Fed Nominee Kevin Warsh Details Vast Wealth
“Kevin Warsh’s wealth eclipses that of all recent Federal Reserve chairs, newly released financial disclosure forms show,” CNBC reports.
“Warsh is President Donald Trump’s nominee to succeed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. His financial filings show that Warsh has holdings of approximately $131 million to $209 million, plus hundreds of millions in additional assets held by his wife, Jane Lauder.”
Soaring Power Bills Threaten to Swing Elections
Bloomberg: “Across the U.S., soaring electricity costs are burdening consumers and stirring voter anger. The rapid build-out of artificial intelligence data centers, along with tariffs and upgrades to an aging grid, has raised power prices at rates unseen in decades. The war in Iran is throwing global energy markets into upheaval, adding a surge in gasoline prices to affordability concerns.”
“The energy strains have propelled the once-mundane utility bill to the center of US politics, a place it hasn’t occupied since electricity became a staple of American life. After a 2024 election in which voter concerns over inflation and the economy helped send Donald Trump back to the White House, the outcome of this year’s midterms stands to be as much about the price of power as the price of groceries.”
Iran Enjoyed an Oil Windfall as It Was Being Bombed
Bloomberg: “Tehran must surely have assumed its oil exports would be halted during a war with the US, especially if it closed the Strait of Hormuz. But seven weeks into the war, and despite having closed the waterway, Iran has enjoyed a windfall instead of economic pain.”
“During more than 40 days of fighting, Washington has let Tehran load as many oil tankers as it wished, profiting from rising prices. An even bigger gift was the White House temporarily lifting sanctions on Iranian barrels; rather than having to sell crude at a discount, the Islamic Republic was able to charge a premium.”
Trump’s Incredible Shrinking Tent
“Donald Trump is torching the coalition that made him president, seemingly unaware of — or simply unconcerned by — the depth of discontent permeating his movement,” Axios reports.
“Trump won back the White House with the most eclectic alliance in modern politics — a blend of MAGA diehards, crypto evangelists, nonwhite men, podcast bros, anti-war populists and culture-war Christians.”
“What Republicans celebrated as a once-in-a-generation coalition may turn out to be exactly that, never to be reassembled.”
Wall Street Journal: “President Trump is a prolific user of social media, wielding his Truth Social account to champion supporters and saber-rattle against enemies… But twice recently, the backlash to his posts from supporters has been so extreme, and so swift, that he has deleted the posts within hours.
Mark Carney Secures Majority Mandate
“Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a majority government, cementing his hold on power after electoral victories Monday night and defections to his Liberal Party caucus over the past six months,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The political developments give Carney a freer hand to aggressively pursue a policy agenda aimed at rebuilding the struggling Canadian economy through increasing exports to non-U.S. markets, accelerating infrastructure and resource projects, and stabilizing public finances.”
Bernie Sanders Is Back as a Left-Wing Kingmaker
Wall Street Journal: “Sanders, who is 84, has said he doesn’t think he will run for president again. But as Democrats trip over themselves to come up with a cohesive strategy to win back congressional majorities and effectively take on President Trump, Sanders has built a formidable political machine to spread progressive policies and support like-minded candidates, many of whom are young and new to politics.”
Divided America Processes War Trump Hasn’t Explained
New York Times: “Public-opinion surveys show that roughly six in 10 Americans oppose the U.S.-led war against Iran, a striking shift from the solid public support that accompanied the United States’ invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000s, or the Persian Gulf war in the 1990s.”
“Some say they are simply baffled by a war that they feel the president did not prepare them for and that still has not been clearly explained.”
Vance Says Pope Leo Should Stay Out of U.S. Affairs
Vice President JD Vance, the highest-ranking Catholic in the federal government, said in an interview on Fox News on Monday that the pope should stay out of American affairs, the New York Times reports.
Said Vance: “Stick to matters of, you know, what’s going on in the Catholic Church. And let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy.”
He added: “When they are in conflict, they are in conflict. I don’t worry about it too much.”
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