“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling party have seized on growing friction with US President Donald Trump to bolster support from farmers ahead of a crucial state election,” Bloomberg reports.
Loomer Accuses Marjorie Taylor Greene of Corruption
Laura Loomer said that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) “is using her campaign fundraising to enrich her daughter Taylor Greene Robinson, who she has funneled over $113,279.09 in ‘staff payroll’ from her campaign funds since March of 2024 even though the daughter lives out of state in Yoakum, Texas.”
When Greene’s eldest daughter, Lauren Greene, responded, Loomer replied with additional attacks: “Your mom ruined your family. She cheated on your father. She is a skank. Don’t get mad at me for speaking the truth about your slut mom.”
Bessent Is Looking for Big Cut in Interest Rates
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg that interest rates are “too constrictive” and should likely be 150-175 basis points lower.
Will the Senate Trust Trump’s Pick with Economic Data?
Punchbowl News: “President Donald Trump’s pick to run the Bureau of Labor Statistics isn’t an understated wonk or lifelong civil servant. E.J. Antoni is currently chief economist at the conservative Heritage Foundation.”
“If confirmed, Antoni would replace Erika McEntarfer, who was fired by Trump following significant downward revisions in the prior jobs report. Those revisions are a standard part of the BLS process, intended to improve the quality of government data month-over-month.”
“This isn’t a typical nomination, even by the uneven standards of the Trump administration. Trump’s firing of McEntarfer cracked open real fears about the long-term quality and reliability of core U.S. economic data — in particular, metrics that don’t square with Trump’s declaration of a ‘golden age’ for the United States.”
‘Stop Trump’ Protesters Target Vance
JD Vance’s U.K. trip has caused a stir, with locals staging a “Vance not welcome party” on Tuesday after the U.S. vice president’s motorcade arrived in the picturesque Cotswolds, CNBC reports.
“Bullies not welcome here,” read one sign, while another called to “make America moral again.”
The Financial Times reports Vance’s surprise vacation was arranged by an unlikely holiday planner: George Osborne, the former Conservative chancellor, aided by his old boss David Cameron.
Ohio Senate Race Shifts Towards Democrats
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifts its rating on Ohio’s U.S. Senate race from Likely Republican to Leans Republican with the entry of former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) in the contest.
Laura Loomer’s Next Target
Laura Loomer wants to oust Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s top aide, Stefanie Spear, Politico reports.
Said Loomer: “I think that there’s a clear intention by Stefanie Spear to utilize her position to try to lay the groundwork for a 2028 RFK presidential run.”
U.S. National Debt Hits $37 Trillion
“The U.S. government’s gross national debt has surpassed $37 trillion, a record that highlights the accelerating debt on America’s balance sheet and increased cost pressures on taxpayers,” the AP reports.
White House Sharply Lowers Expectations for Summit
“President Donald Trump expects his encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to be a ‘listening exercise,’ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday, sharply downplaying the possibility that a deal to end the war in Ukraine could be imminent despite a warning from the president last week that Kyiv needed to ‘get ready to sign something,’” the Washington Post reports.
“The lowered expectations for Friday’s meeting in Alaska came as Russia made significant battlefield gains in eastern Ukraine and appeared to be in little mood to offer concessions that might be necessary to achieve a durable halt in the fighting.”
Stock Market Brushes Off Trump’s Tariffs
“At least for now, the U.S. stock market is on board with President Donald Trump’s increasingly aggressive use of executive power when it comes to tariffs,” NBC News reports.
“On Tuesday, major stock indexes hit fresh all-time highs as investors digested an inflation report that was mostly tamer than feared. While the details of the report suggest an overall mixed picture for the economy, it suggested fears of large immediate price increases from Trump’s tariffs may no longer be warranted.”
European Leaders to Call Trump and Vance on Ukraine
Virtual meetings between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders are scheduled for this morning, NBC News reports.
European leaders and Zelensky will hold an initial call, followed by a second call that includes Trump and Vance. After that, a third call will be held, likely including Zelensky and representatives from a coalition of countries supporting Ukraine.
New York Times: Before Trump talks to Putin, Europe wants to bend his ear.
Axios: Zelensky scrambles to avert disaster as Trump meets Putin.
Tim Ryan May Run for Ohio Governor
Former Rep. Tim Ryan (D) has “heightened” interest in running for governor of Ohio after former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) opted for the Senate race, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Two Texas Democrats Will Face Off After New Map
Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) said he won’t run in a redrawn district that Republicans plan to gerrymander into a Trump +10 seat, teeing up a primary against Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Punchbowl News reports.
Trump’s BLS Pick Gets Panned by Economists
“President Trump’s nomination of Heritage Foundation economist E.J. Antoni to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Monday drew criticism from economists across the political spectrum,” Axios reports.
“The growing negative consensus among conservative economists is unusual given Antoni’s own conservative pedigree.”
New York Times: “Economists across the political spectrum reacted with alarm to Dr. Antoni’s appointment — which must still be confirmed by the Senate — saying they worried he would politicize an agency long admired for providing straight-ahead facts on employment, inflation, wages and other critical economic subjects.”
Financial Times: Trump’s BLS pick sparks alarm.
State Department Scales Back Human Rights Criticism
“The State Department on Tuesday released a long-awaited series of reports on worldwide human rights practices that reveal scaled-back criticism of select countries including El Salvador and harsher assessments of traditional U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom and Germany,” CBS News reports.
Chris Murphy Goes All In on Funding Bill Boycott
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) wants to pick a fight with Donald Trump over government funding — even if his fellow Democrats don’t, Politico reports.
Said Murphy: “Every single day, there’s new evidence that our democracy is falling, and you’ve got to take stands. You have to take fights.”
MAGA Media Backs Up Trump
Oliver Darcy: “The crime panic is nothing new for right-wing media. For years, it has been a reliable theme, a steady drumbeat of doom that portrays America’s cities as collapsing under the weight of lawlessness. A poll conducted by Gallup last year found that 64 percent of Americans believed that crime in the U.S. had increased over the past year, including 90 percent of Republicans.”
“In reality, violent crime has been trending downward nationally, and major metros like Los Angeles and New York are far safer than the nightly monologues would suggest. But accuracy isn’t the point. The target audience for this narrative largely doesn’t live in these cities, doesn’t visit them, and is primed to accept the caricature over the facts.”
Andy Beshear Wows Democrats at Big Donor Fundraiser
“Many Democrats left House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ annual California fundraising event last week convinced Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is running for president,” Axios reports.
“Democrats lapped up the message from the two-term governor, who told big dollar donors and vulnerable House Democrats that the key to winning over Trump voters is staying true to your values.”
Vogue: Andy Beshear has won (and won again) in Trump country. What’s next?
