CNN: “A memo written by the Pentagon’s policy chief last month gives the Defense Department the option to divert certain weapons and equipment intended for Ukraine back into US stockpiles… a dramatic shift that could see billions of dollars previously earmarked for the war-torn country go toward replenishing dwindling American supplies.”
Obamacare Sticker Shock Could Jolt Republicans
“Pressure on Congress to renew Affordable Care Act subsidies is likely to ramp up this fall as notices of 2026 premium increases go out and consumers get their first warnings that huge rate hikes could be coming,” Axios reports.
“Backers of renewing the enhanced tax credits, which expire at the end of this year, hope the sticker shock could motivate Republicans to get behind a short-term reauthorization to avoid an uproar over premium increases in an election year.”
Trump Seeks to Centralize Control of Federal Grants
“A sweeping new executive order seeks to transform how the federal government awards billions of dollars in research grants by giving President Trump’s political appointees unprecedented power over the projects agencies fund,” Stat reports.
Trump’s Fed Pick Seeks Overhaul of Central Bank
“In naming Stephen Miran to the governor spot vacated Friday as Adriana Kugler steps aside, President Trump is seeking to place someone who wants a root-and-branch overhaul of the Fed inside the central bank,” Axios reports.
“In the near term, Miran will, if confirmed, be a voice for Trump’s desired interest rate cuts.”
“But Miran’s critique of how the Fed operates goes much deeper — and his conception of central bank independence is distinctly non-mainstream.”
Appeals Court Ends Inquiry Into Deportation Flights
“A federal appeals panel on Friday terminated a district-court judge’s plan to assess whether Trump administration officials were guilty of criminal contempt for sending flights of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, despite the judge’s verbal order that they turn around and return to the United States,” the New York Times reports.
“The ruling by the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will make it far more difficult for Judge James E. Boasberg to determine the details of who was made aware of his order in March, and why the planes continued on to El Salvador.”
Chip Roy May Run for Texas Attorney General
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) is eyeing a bid for Texas attorney general, The Hill reports.
Trump Seeks $1 Billion Settlement from UCLA
“The Trump administration is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University of California, Los Angeles, marking the latest effort by the White House to shape higher education and extract significant concessions from universities,” CNN reports.
Senate Heads for a ‘Nuclear’ Showdown on Nominees
“Senate Republicans are actively exploring unilateral changes in Senate rules to speed confirmation of Trump administration nominees in the fall after they failed to break stiff Democratic resistance to executive branch picks before leaving on their August recess,” the New York Times reports.
“Senior Republicans say that talks are ongoing and that changes in confirmation procedure are likely in order to overcome Democratic insistence on holding formal roll call votes on every executive branch nominee. That requirement has slowed approval of President Trump’s picks for scores of top executive branch jobs.”
Trump Warns Courts Against Knocking Down Tariffs
President Donald Trump warned U.S. courts against blocking his tariff policy, citing its “positive impact” on the stock market and saying such a move could cause a severe economic downturn, CNBC reports.
Said Trump: “If a Radical Left Court ruled against us at this late date, in an attempt to bring down or disturb the largest amount of money, wealth creation and influence the U.S.A. has ever seen, it would be impossible to ever recover, or pay back, these massive sums of money and honor.”
He added: “It would be 1929 all over again, a GREAT DEPRESSION.”
Mexico’s President Denies U.S. Will Use Military
“President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico denied that the United States would use its military in her country on Friday, responding to news that President Trump had directed the Pentagon to target drug cartels that the United States considers terrorist organizations,” the New York Times reports.
Said Sheinbaum: “The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military. We cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out. It is not part of any agreement, far from it. When it has been brought up, we have always said no.”
Weekly News Quiz
Join now to continue reading.
Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.
Mysterious Crime Spree Targeted National Guard
Wired: “A string of previously undisclosed break-ins at Tennessee National Guard armories last fall marks the latest in a growing series of security breaches at military facilities across the United States, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of US armories to theft and intrusion.”
“At least some of the break-ins seem to point to potential insider help.”
Justice Department Subpoenas Office of Letitia James
“The U.S. attorney in Albany has issued two broad subpoenas to Attorney General Letitia James of New York, one related to her office’s civil fraud case that resulted in a half-billion dollar penalty against President Trump,” the New York Times reports.
“The second subpoena is related to another of the office’s long-running cases, against the National Rifle Association.”
Trump Directs Military to Target Foreign Drug Cartels
“President Trump has secretly signed a directive to the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels that his administration has deemed terrorist organizations,” the New York Times reports.
“The decision to bring the American military into the fight is the most aggressive step so far in the administration’s escalating campaign against the cartels. It signals Mr. Trump’s continued willingness to use military forces to carry out what has primarily been considered a law enforcement responsibility to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs.”
U.S. Peace Deal Would Lock in Russia’s Gains in Ukraine
“Washington and Moscow are aiming to reach a deal to halt the war in Ukraine that would lock in Russia’s occupation of territory seized during its military invasion,” Bloomberg reports.
“US and Russian officials are working toward an agreement on territories for a planned summit meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as early as next week… The US is working to get buy-in from Ukraine and its European allies on the deal, which is far from certain.”
The Great Crime Paradox
Join now to continue reading.
Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.
Abbott Threatens to Expand His Redistricting Ambitions
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) told the Ruthless podcast that he might not stop at trying to redistrict five House seats.
Said Abbott: “What I’m thinking now is that if they don’t start showing up, I may start expanding. We may make it six or seven or eight new seats we’re going to be adding on the Republican side.”
Michigan Lawmaker Drops Out of Senate Race
Michigan state Rep. Joe Tate (D), who was the first Black speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, said that he is suspending his U.S. Senate campaign to move “in a different direction of service,” the Detroit News reports.
Tate struggled to compete with the fundraising numbers put up by the three other Democratic candidates, Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and public health official Abdul El-Sayed.
