Good morning, everyone. It’s a packed day ahead—I’ll be interviewing several members of Congress, and there’s a lot to cover.
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Now, here’s the latest:
Fox & Friends hosts appeared stunned as they reacted to Elon Musk’s harsh criticism of the Big Beautiful Bill, which he called a “disgusting abomination.” One host expressed surprise at Musk’s remarks, while another shifted blame away from the President, saying Congress is at fault for the bill. They also noted that Musk’s comments reportedly caught Donald Trump off guard—and that he’s said to be furious about the situation.
According to The Guardian, senior U.S. immigration officials instructed ICE officers to aggressively ramp up enforcement over the weekend, urging them to “turn the creative knob up to 11” and arrest not only targets but also so-called “collaterals” — undocumented individuals encountered incidentally.
Internal emails encouraged officers to find new tactics to increase arrests, with one message stating, “If it involves handcuffs on wrists, it’s probably worth pursuing,” reflecting a further escalation in the Trump administration’s push for mass deportations.
On CNBC, Senator Ron Johnson claimed that a significant number of Republican senators are genuinely prepared to oppose the reconciliation bill in its current form. He also urged President Trump not to attack them.
During a recent broadcast, longtime Miami meteorologist John Morales paused his weather report to deliver a serious warning: deep federal budget cuts are threatening the ability to accurately forecast hurricanes.
He pointed to his 34 years of experience calming public fears during storms, but said he no longer feels confident doing that due to the "sledgehammer attack on science." The proposed $1.7 billion cut to NOAA, led by the Department of Government Efficiency, is gutting key forecasting agencies like the National Weather Service—just as hurricane season begins.
Democrat Keishan Scott has won the special election for South Carolina's 50th State House District in a landslide, defeating Republican William Oden by more than 41 points. Scott secured 70.6% of the vote compared to Oden's 29.4%, marking a dramatic shift in a district that Vice President Kamala Harris carried by only about 5 points in the 2024 presidential election. This significant margin signals growing Democratic momentum in what was previously considered a competitive area.
President Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as "unbelievable" and demanded that he "must now lower rates," just minutes after a disappointing ADP Employment report revealed the slowest job growth in over two years. Despite mounting pressure, Powell has maintained that he is in "no hurry" to cut interest rates.
At 2:28 AM, Trump posted on Truth Social, once again pushing conspiracy theories aimed at President Joe Biden. “With the exception of the RIGGED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 2020,” he wrote, “THE AUTOPEN IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL SCANDAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!!”
A federal judge has extended an injunction preventing the Trump administration from cutting unspent COVID-19 relief funds intended for elementary and high schools in 16 states and Washington, D.C. The ruling ensures that the schools can continue using the funding to address ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
It’s now official—Trump’s 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. have taken effect. The move marks a significant escalation in his administration’s trade policy.
Two Chinese researchers have been charged with smuggling a biological pathogen into the U.S. for planned study at a University of Michigan lab, according to a complaint filed Tuesday. Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, face multiple charges, including conspiracy, smuggling, making false statements, and visa fraud, for bringing the fungus Fusarium graminearum from China. The charges come amid the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on Chinese students and academic ties, citing national security concerns and alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party.
President Trump took to Truth Social early Wednesday to comment on rising tensions with China, calling President Xi Jinping “extremely hard to make a deal with.” Despite saying he likes and respects Xi, Trump emphasized the Chinese leader’s toughness, adding, “he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH!!!” The post comes as U.S.-China trade talks appear to have stalled, just weeks after both sides agreed to a 90-day tariff truce in Geneva.
After President Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada, World Emblem CEO Randy Carr quickly booked a flight to the Dominican Republic to explore shifting production. With 65% of the company’s patches made in Mexico and growing trade uncertainty, Carr—like many U.S. business leaders—began relocating manufacturing to avoid high tariffs.
After widespread public outcry, the Trump administration has reversed its decision to revoke the legal status of a four-year-old girl receiving life-saving treatment in the U.S. and her family. Deysi Vargas, her husband, and their daughter Sofia—who suffers from a rare medical condition—had faced deportation after their humanitarian parole was ended in April, despite doctors warning that Sofia could die within days if forced to leave.
The Trump administration has rescinded Biden-era guidance that required hospitals in states with abortion bans to provide emergency care to pregnant patients, even in life-threatening situations.
The guidance, based on the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (Emtala), had been challenged by states like Texas and Idaho, which argued it overstepped federal authority. In its reversal, the administration stated that CMS will still enforce Emtala but aims to clear up what it calls “legal confusion” caused by the previous policy.
The Trump administration has formally asked Congress to rescind $9.4 billion in already approved funding, targeting foreign aid and public broadcasters like NPR and PBS. This move aligns with Trump’s broader campaign against the U.S. media, which has included an executive order slashing federal support for NPR and PBS, along with multiple lawsuits against news outlets.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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