Good afternoon, everyone. Major news this afternoon. Senate Democrats successfully blocked a massive defense spending package that included the U.S.-Israel cooperation agreement. Elon Musk has been referred for possible criminal prosecution over allegations he interfered in Wisconsin’s 2025 Supreme Court election. Donald Trump has finally paid E. Jean Carroll the millions she was awarded by a jury after he was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation. And much more. Tonight, I’ll be speaking with Epstein survivor Jess Michaels ahead of Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing tomorrow.
I am working around the clock to keep the Epstein story in the spotlight while also covering everything else unfolding across the country and around the world. Because of my reporting on Epstein, I have become a target for relentless attacks and intimidation. That pressure will not stop me from doing this work.
Here’s the news:
Elon Musk:
A bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission has found probable cause that Elon Musk likely violated the state’s election bribery law by giving away $1 million checks during Wisconsin’s 2025 Supreme Court election. In a 5-1 vote, the commission referred two complaints against Musk to the Brown County District Attorney for possible prosecution. Commissioners concluded the giveaways were offered to induce people to vote, which Wisconsin law prohibits. The law bars offering anything of value to encourage someone to cast a ballot. The referral does not constitute a criminal conviction, but it allows prosecutors to determine whether charges should be filed.
The controversy centers on Musk’s announcement that he would award $1 million to Wisconsin voters ahead of the election. After legal experts warned the plan could violate election law, Musk deleted his original post and said the money would instead go to two people who signed a petition opposing “activist judges” and would serve as spokespersons for that effort. The elections panel nevertheless found there was probable cause that the giveaways were intended to influence participation in the election. Commissioners cited Wisconsin’s election bribery statute in concluding the matter warranted further investigation. The case now moves to local prosecutors for review.
Musk was one of the largest financial backers of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, spending at least $20 million to support Republican candidate Brad Schimel. Despite the massive spending, Schimel lost decisively to liberal Judge Susan Crawford in what became one of the most expensive judicial elections in U.S. history, with overall spending exceeding $100 million. Other major donors, including billionaire George Soros, also poured money into the race. The election drew national attention because of its potential impact on key legal and political issues in Wisconsin. The commission’s findings now add another legal challenge stemming from Musk’s involvement in the contest.
Donald Trump/E Jean Carroll:
E. Jean Carroll has received the more than $5.6 million that Donald Trump owed her after a federal court released the funds from an escrow account following the collapse of Trump’s final appeal. The money was released on July 9, one day after Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered the disbursement. The Supreme Court had declined to hear Trump’s appeal, triggering an agreement that required the funds to be turned over to Carroll. Trump’s legal team unsuccessfully argued the money should remain in escrow while seeking reconsideration. Carroll’s attorney said the payment fulfills the unanimous 2023 jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation.
The payment was made through the federal court’s registry investment system, where Trump deposited the money while pursuing appeals. Both sides had previously agreed that the funds would be released if the Supreme Court refused to hear Trump’s case. Because the money was held by the court rather than Trump, it could not be delayed indefinitely through additional legal maneuvers. Judge Kaplan rejected Trump’s request for more time to challenge Carroll’s motion to release the funds. The court’s action effectively ended the payment dispute in the 2023 case.
The $5.6 million judgment stems from Carroll’s successful 2023 lawsuit over Trump’s sexual abuse and defamatory statements after she publicly accused him of assaulting her in a New York department store in the 1990s. Trump has consistently denied the allegations and any wrongdoing. The payment is separate from the $83.3 million verdict Carroll won in a 2024 defamation case over additional statements Trump made while president. Both lawsuits originated from Carroll’s 2019 memoir, in which she detailed the alleged assault. Trump continues to contest the findings, but the 2023 damages have now been fully paid.
Military Spending:
Senate Democrats voted 46-50 to block debate on the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), arguing Congress should not advance a $1.15 trillion defense bill while President Trump continues the new war with Iran. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the legislation a “permission slip” for the administration to continue military operations without meaningful congressional oversight. The procedural vote marked a rare setback for one of Congress’ most important annual bills. The measure required 60 votes to move forward but fell short almost entirely along party lines.
Democratic opposition also centered on provisions that would significantly deepen U.S.-Israel military and intelligence cooperation. The bill would require the Pentagon to appoint an official coordinating defense technology with Israel, expand joint weapons development, and increase intelligence sharing, including controversial “data fusion” capabilities. Several Democratic senators, including Chris Van Hollen, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, and Peter Welch, urged colleagues to reject the bill until those provisions could be debated. Critics argued Congress should not mandate expanded cooperation with Israel without greater scrutiny.
Outside Congress, a coalition of 14 civil liberties, foreign policy, and antiwar organizations urged senators to oppose the NDAA unless lawmakers were guaranteed a vote on an amendment prohibiting funding for what they described as Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran. The groups argued Congress should exercise its constitutional authority over war powers and military spending. The dispute also reflects broader shifts within the Democratic Party, where support for Israel has declined sharply ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll cited in the article, Israel’s favorability among Democrats has fallen from 59% in 2018 to 22% in 2026.
Iran:
President Trump threatened to expand U.S. attacks to Iranian civilian infrastructure, saying American forces would target Iran’s power plants and bridges next week unless Tehran agrees to negotiate. He also declared that military strikes would continue until he personally decides “it’s enough,” signaling no immediate end to the escalating conflict. The comments came as the United States launched another round of strikes against Iranian targets. The threats marked one of Trump’s strongest public warnings since the renewed fighting began.
The U.S. military resumed its naval blockade of Iranian ports and launched additional strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said attacks began Tuesday afternoon as the blockade officially went back into effect, with more than 20 Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft operating across the region. Iranian state media reported explosions near Bandar Abbas as the strikes unfolded. The Treasury Department also announced new Iran-related sanctions targeting individuals, entities, and vessels.
Trump declined to commit to releasing the findings of the investigation into the Minab school strike, saying, "I don't think anybody will ever be able to say what happened there." He argued that the incident occurred amid intense fighting, with "missiles flying all over the place," and said he did not believe anyone could definitively conclude the United States carried out the strike. "While things like that happen in war," Trump said, "I don't know how anybody could say that we shot it."
Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at targets in Kuwait, including a naval vessel and the Ali Al Salem airbase, while warning that continued U.S. military action would prevent the Strait of Hormuz from fully reopening. Iranian officials said Tehran no longer considers itself bound by last month’s memorandum of understanding with Washington and vowed to defend its sovereignty over the strategic waterway. The Revolutionary Guard warned that continued U.S. operations could halt regional oil and gas exports, while Kuwait reported intercepting one ballistic missile, five cruise missiles, and 33 drones. The renewed exchanges underscore the rapid escalation of the conflict despite ongoing international calls for de-escalation.
Trump has backed away from his proposal to impose a 20% fee on all ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz after facing criticism from allies and members of his own party. Instead, he announced the U.S. will maintain a full blockade only on ships traveling to or from Iranian ports or carrying Iranian cargo, while all other commercial traffic will remain free to pass. Trump said Gulf state leaders persuaded him to abandon the toll plan in favor of securing large investment commitments from their countries into the United States, calling that approach preferable to charging shipping fees. The original proposal drew bipartisan criticism over its legality and potential economic consequences, while the revised policy comes as fighting between the U.S. and Iran resumes following the collapse of their ceasefire.
Other news:
The House voted 308-117 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide and eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes. The bill now heads to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain before it could reach President Trump for his signature. Supporters argue the change would improve sleep, mental health, public safety, and economic activity by providing more evening daylight, while opponents warn it could create darker winter mornings that would affect farmers, students, and commuters. Trump praised the legislation, calling the current system of changing clocks twice a year wasteful and unnecessary. Similar efforts have failed in the past, including a 2022 Senate-passed bill that stalled in the House and a short-lived 1974 experiment that was later repealed after public backlash.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo was pulled over by a Las Vegas police officer in May after allegedly failing to come to a complete stop before making a right turn at a red light, according to newly released body camera footage. When the officer approached the truck, Lombardo identified himself by saying, “I’m Joe Lombardo,” and the officer responded that he was already aware of the governor’s identity before letting him go without issuing a citation. The entire encounter lasted about 15 seconds, and police did not explain why no ticket was issued, though law enforcement officials said it is common to give warnings rather than citations for minor traffic violations. Lombardo’s campaign said he fully complied with the stop and praised the officer’s professionalism, while police union representatives and ethics experts said they saw no evidence the governor received improper special treatment. The footage surfaced months before Lombardo’s reelection campaign, where he is expected to face Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford.
ICE has temporarily paused most vehicle stops nationwide following the fatal shootings of 26-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas, both of whom were shot by immigration agents during traffic encounters. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed it is reviewing enforcement procedures, while reports indicate the pause will remain in place until officers receive additional training on high-risk vehicle stops. The shootings, which involved officers not wearing body cameras, have sparked widespread protests and renewed calls for independent investigations. Since January 2025, federal immigration officers have fatally shot 11 people, including five who were in vehicles, with several official accounts later challenged by video evidence.
Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was sworn in Tuesday as South Carolina’s interim U.S. senator, just three days after his death, after being appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster to serve the remainder of his term through Jan. 3. At 62, she became the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate and cast her first vote shortly after taking the oath on the annual defense authorization bill. Darline, who had never previously held elected office, said she would honor her brother’s legacy by supporting President Trump and continuing Lindsey Graham’s work on behalf of South Carolina. She previously served on South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind and worked at Clemson University and in state government. Republicans will still hold an Aug. 11 special primary to choose a nominee for the November election, where the GOP candidate will face Democrat Annie Andrews.
The Trump administration has launched a new AI cybersecurity initiative called “Gold Eagle” that will use advanced artificial intelligence models to identify and help patch software vulnerabilities across federal agencies, critical infrastructure, and private industry. The voluntary clearinghouse fulfills a major requirement of President Trump’s June executive order on AI security and is intended to coordinate government and industry efforts to address security flaws discovered by frontier AI systems. White House officials said leading AI companies, including developers of advanced models such as Anthropic’s Mythos and OpenAI’s GPT-5.6, helped shape the program. Administration officials also emphasized that open-source AI developers will play a significant role in the initiative as the White House weighs additional measures to address security risks associated with open-source artificial intelligence.
See you soon.
— Aaron
