Good morning! A quick programming note. Today at 2:30 PM EST, I will be going live with Representative Chris Pappas from New Hampshire, who is currently running for United States Senate in New Hampshire. Will ask him any and all questions so tune in. To all those who want to support my work and allow me to continue doing this, consider subscribing today!
With that, let’s get to the news:
According to CNBC, Wendy McMahon is stepping down from CBS News after being asked to resign by the CBS Co-CEO on Saturday. Her departure follows weeks of growing tensions within the Paramount board, particularly over issues related to "60 Minutes" programming.
Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News, is reportedly considering a settlement with Donald Trump over his $20 billion lawsuit concerning a "60 Minutes" interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The potential settlement amount is estimated to be between $30 million and $50 million, according to CNN's Jake Tapper.
The interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has charged Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver in connection with an incident at the Newark ICE facility, accusing her of assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement. McIver has responded by calling the charges politically motivated, claiming they misrepresent her actions and are intended to discourage legislative oversight. She says she remains committed to serving her district and standing up for what she believes is right.
The interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has announced that the charges against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka have been dropped.
Zachary J. Alam, a Fairfax County man previously involved in the January 6 Capitol attack, has been arrested again—this time near Richmond—for allegedly breaking into an occupied home earlier this month. Alam had assaulted police and smashed the glass pane Ashli Babbitt climbed through before she was fatally shot. He is believed to be the first Capitol rioter to face new charges following President Donald Trump's clemency for around 1,600 individuals linked to the insurrection.
Contrary to Trump's claim that Qatar offered a Boeing 747 as a “gift,” sources tell CNN that his administration initially approached Qatar about acquiring the jet for use as Air Force One due to delays in Boeing’s production timeline. Eager for a faster replacement, the Trump administration also had the Air Force explore alternatives and assigned envoy Steve Witkoff to help identify potential aircraft.
Some key conservative Republicans are still pushing back against President Donald Trump’s major tax and spending bill, despite his upcoming visit to Capitol Hill. Members of the House Freedom Caucus are continuing discussions with Speaker Mike Johnson and don’t see a need to rush the bill to a vote this week. Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris said he’d try to persuade Trump that now is the time to reverse the country’s spending path—and that the bill could be improved with more effort.
Donald Trump’s much-anticipated call with Vladimir Putin did little to bring progress toward ending the war in Ukraine and instead raised doubts about how committed he is to leading a peace effort. While Ukraine and European allies push for a ceasefire, Trump’s comments appeared to align more with Moscow’s position, adding confusion to an already faltering diplomatic process. His vague remarks and openness to walking away from talks reinforced concerns that the U.S. might be stepping back from its role in supporting Ukraine.
During a call with European leaders, Donald Trump claimed that Vladimir Putin was ready to begin ceasefire talks, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to remind him that negotiations with Russia were already underway, according to Axios. The moment reportedly caused a brief silence among participants, as Putin had only offered vague assurances and continued to reject a ceasefire.
One of the inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail on Friday has been recaptured, but six others—facing serious charges including murder and aggravated assault—remain at large. Authorities say the group exploited a faulty lock, an absent staff member, and possibly inside help to break out through a hole in the jail wall.
Subaru of America is planning to raise prices in response to current market conditions.
The Senate has confirmed Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to France.
Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) has announced he is placing a hold on President Trump’s nominees for the Environmental Protection Agency, effectively delaying their confirmation process.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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