Good morning. My ear infection isn’t improving, but that’s the least of today’s problems—there is absolute chaos unfolding on Capitol Hill and inside the White House.
Republicans still don’t have the votes to pass Trump’s tax and budget mega-bill, and at this point, it’s entirely possible the legislation could collapse today.
Meanwhile, in a stunning moment, Donald Trump refused to rule out deporting Elon Musk. Yes, you read that right.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
Chaos on Capitol Hill as Senate Republicans still don’t have the votes
Chaos on Capitol Hill as Senate Republicans still lack the votes to pass their major tax and budget bill.
The bill was supposed to pass hours ago, but has stalled.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) remains a holdout, nearly 24 hours into the ongoing "vote-a-rama".
Republicans need to flip 1 of 4 key holdouts to reach a 50-50 tie, allowing the Vice President to break the tie:
Tillis (NC)
Paul (KY)
Murkowski (AK)
Collins (ME)
Senate voted 99-1 to remove a provision that would have blocked states from regulating artificial intelligence for 10 years.
The ongoing "vote-a-rama" has set a new Senate record with 45 consecutive votes, surpassing the previous record of 44 set in March 2008.
Donald Trump’s feud with Elon Musk explodes again:
Donald Trump says he will “take a look” when asked whether he would consider deporting Elon Musk from the U.S.
Trump warns that Musk could "lose a lot more" than just the electric vehicle (EV) mandate.
Trump issues a thinly veiled threat to cut Elon Musk’s government subsidies.
Elon Musk escalates attacks on Trump’s tax and budget mega-bill as the Senate begins debate.
Musk vows to back primary challengers against Republican lawmakers who support the legislation.
In a June 30 post spree on X, Musk criticizes the bill for ballooning the national debt.
Musk calls the bill the “biggest debt increase in history.”
He declared:
“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!”
“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”
All other news:
Tornado Surge & Strained Forecasting: Over 1,200 tornadoes have struck the U.S. so far this year, killing more than 60 people, mostly in the Mississippi River Valley, far east of traditional “Tornado Alley.” Federal meteorologists are forecasting with less data due to budget and staffing cuts.
Flash Flood Catastrophe: On June 14, West Virginia saw over three inches of rain in 30 minutes, leading to deadly flash floods. The event is statistically a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall in a stable climate.
Extreme Heat Intensifies: The U.S. is enduring a week of sweltering heat, raising questions about whether this level of weather extremity is the new normal in a warming world.
Massive Healthcare Fraud Bust: The Justice Department charged 324 people, including 93 medical professionals, in a $14.6 billion fraud scheme, the largest in U.S. history. Seized assets include $245 million in cash and luxury items.
Bryan Kohberger to Plead Guilty: The suspect in the 2022 Idaho college murders will plead guilty to avoid the death penalty, receiving four consecutive life sentences and 10 years for burglary, according to ABC News.
See you again soon.
— Aaron
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