“A federal spending bill introduced Saturday by House Republicans could have a drastic impact on D.C.’s budget, potentially leading to about $1 billion in overnight cuts impacting everything from the city’s law enforcement to schools,” the Washington Post reports.
Measles Outbreak Hasn’t Swayed Vaccine Skeptics
Wall Street Journal: “This sprawling rural region is defined by oil, agriculture and a large Mennonite community—members of the Anabaptist family of churches that includes the Amish—who emigrated here from Mexico in the 1970s.”
“Now, it is also the epicenter of a measles outbreak that has spread across nine counties since late January, leading to nearly 200 documented infections, 23 hospitalizations and the nation’s first measles-related death in a decade. The same strain of the measles is responsible for 30 reported cases across the state line in Lea County, New Mexico, where a measles-related death is under investigation.”
Utah to Become First to Ban Fluoride in Public Water
“Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he would sign a bill that bans the use of fluoride in public water systems, rejecting the practice that many public-health experts say is a crucial protector against tooth decay.” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Top Rubio Aide Once Mocked Rubio’s ‘Low IQ’
“A top acting State Department official deleted at least half a dozen tweets that ridiculed his now boss, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, including ones calling him ‘low IQ’ and repeating a false rumor about Rubio’s sexuality,” CNN reports.
“The deleted tweets from Darren Beattie, the acting under secretary of state for public diplomacy.”
Byron Donalds Clear Favorite in GOP Primary
A new Fabrizio Lee & Associates poll in Florida finds Rep. Byron Donalds (R) crushing Casey DeSantis (R) in a possible GOP gubernatorial primary match up, 45% to 23%.
Quote of the Day
“All I know is this: We’re going to take in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs, and we’re going to become so rich, you’re not going to know where to spend all that money. I’m telling you, you just watch! We’re going to have jobs. We’re going to have open factories. It’s going to be great.”
— President Trump, when asked by a reporter if there would be a recession.
Inside Trump’s War on the IRS
New York Times: “Firing probationary employees like Ms. Crowell was just the beginning of President Trump’s far-reaching agenda for the I.R.S. The administration is preparing budget cuts and further layoffs that could ultimately force the I.R.S. to shed as much as half of its 100,000-person work force — a drastic reduction that could mean many Americans face less scrutiny, and receive less help, on their taxes. At the same time, Mr. Trump is asserting more political control over an agency that has historically been insulated from changes in leadership at the White House.”
“Soon after the election, Mr. Trump chose Billy Long, a former Republican congressman and vocal supporter of the president, to lead the I.R.S. The choice of Mr. Long was unusual. He’d never run a large organization and his only background in tax consisted of pitching small businesses on a fraud-riddled tax credit. And by deciding to replace Daniel Werfel, then the head of I.R.S., years before the end of his term in 2027, Mr. Trump was upending the norm that commissioners of the I.R.S. stay in the role even as a new president comes into office.”
Four Days Until a Shutdown
Punchbowl News: “House GOP leaders plan to go to the Rules Committee today to set the guidelines for considering this bill on the floor. They tentatively plan for a floor vote on Tuesday. The House is scheduled to leave town following that vote. House Democrats are set to hold their annual retreat during the latter part of the week in Leesburg, Va.”
“This CR would fund federal agencies through Sept. 30. House Republicans say it’s a ‘clean’ resolution that keeps spending at the current level. Democrats have a very different view of what the package would do…”
“We’ll say this upfront: It doesn’t feel like a shutdown is going to happen, although there’s still a chance because, well, this is Congress. Every time we think we’ve reached new levels of silliness, lawmakers up the ante.”
“Remember: This is a 204-day CR. We’re talking about a package that locks in most of the Biden-era spending levels that the federal government has been operating under during the last year.”
Playbook: “Yes, it’s that time of year again. One of the weirdest rituals of American politics returns to the fore this week as the government of the world’s richest nation prepares to literally shut itself down while politicians bicker about funding levels.”
Chris Murphy Dating Democratic Media Leader
“One of the Democratic Party’s most notable digital media leaders is dating one of the party’s most media-friendly lawmakers, according to a Washington Democrat and a pointed Instagram post,” Semafor reports.
“Tara McGowan, the CEO of the network of digital media sites known as Courier Newsroom, has been linked to Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, who recently separated from his wife.”
Trump Must Now Navigate Congress
“Donald Trump’s second presidency will take a novel path this week as he turns to Congress to enshrine part of his effort to transform the country — after weeks of wielding vast and questionable executive power,” CNN reports.
“House Republicans hope to vote on a bill to extend federal funding until the end of September. If they succeed, after dropping talks with Democrats on a bipartisan measure, they’ll trigger a showdown in the Senate that could end in a damaging government shutdown.”
Trump Says Four Bidders in Play for TikTok
“President Donald Trump said Sunday he was negotiating with four different possible buyers for TikTok’s US business and that a deal for the social video app could come ‘soon,’” Bloomberg reports.
Said Trump: “We’re dealing with four different groups, and a lot of people want it.”
He didn’t specify the contenders nor say which way he was leaning, instead saying “all four are good.”
Barry Diller Backs Cuomo for Mayor
Media mogul and Democratic donor Barry Diller is backing Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor, Semafor reports.
There’s Never Been a Better Time to Be Anti-American
Adrian Wooldbridge: “The Trump administration is boosting a powerful force in global affairs: anti-Americanism.”
“Canadians have taken to booing the American national anthem and Panamanians to burning US flags. The British tabloids have tarred and feathered Vice President JD Vance for insulting British troops. A carnival float in Dusseldorf, Germany, displayed giant puppets of Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, shaking hands while squeezing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy between them into a bloodied pulp. A sign on the float read ‘Hitler-Stalin Pact 2.0.’ Back at home, the Washington Post has published a guide on how to navigate hostility abroad (‘dress neutrally, not patriotically’).”
Canadian Brewery Offers ‘Presidential Pack’
Canada’s oldest and largest independent brewery is offering Canadians a “Presidential Pack” of its lager, calling it “just enough to get through the full presidential term,” The Hill reports.
The offering comes complete with 1,461 Canadian Lagers from Moosehead Breweries.
Trump’s Chaos Is a Gift to Xi Jinping
“A former Australian prime minster said the Trump administration’s treatment of longtime allies was providing an opportunity for China, in remarks that came shortly before the US president delivered a personal rebuff,” Bloomberg reports.
“Malcolm Turnbull, who led Australia from 2015 until 2018, said the world is seeing a more ‘undiluted’ version of Donald Trump in his second term in office. Such behavior would be viewed as an ‘advantage’ for China’s President Xi Jinping in international relations over the next four years.”
State Republicans Climb on Cost-Cutting Bandwagon
“Clamoring to capitalize on the MAGA base’s excitement over Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, Republican officials in more than a dozen states have moved to start their own versions,” the New York Times reports.
“But they want everyone to know they’ve already spent years cutting costs.”
A Chill Sets In for Undocumented Workers
New York Times: “President Trump has broadcast plans for a “mass deportation,” and the opening weeks of his second term have brought immigration enforcement operations in cities across the United States, providing a daily drumbeat of arrests that, while so far relatively limited, are quickly noted in group chats among migrants.”
“Fear has gripped America’s undocumented workers. Many are staying home.”
“The impact is being felt not only in immigrant homes and communities, but also in the industries that rely on immigrants as a source of willing and inexpensive labor, including residential construction, agriculture, senior care and hospitality. American consumers will soon feel the pain.”
China’s Tariffs on U.S. Agricultural Products Take Effect
“Beijing began imposing tariffs on Monday on many farm products from the United States, for which China is the largest overseas market. It is the latest escalation of a trade fight between the world’s two largest economies,” the New York Times reports.
“The Chinese government announced the tariffs last week, shortly after President Trump raised tariffs on Chinese products for the second time since he took office in January. The Chinese tariffs will include a levy of 15 percent on U.S. products like chicken, wheat and corn, as well as 10 percent on products like soybeans, pork, beef and fruit.”
