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With that, let’s get to the news:
Elon Musk says he plans to cut back on political donations. One possible reason: the reputations of his companies, Tesla and SpaceX, have taken a major hit over the past year. Tesla, which ranked 8th in a 2021 list of the 100 most well-known U.S. companies, dropped to 63rd last year and has now fallen even further to 95th place.
The House Rules Committee is set to meet at 1 a.m. tonight to finalize the reconciliation bill for a floor vote. House Republicans don’t appear worried about potential backlash over holding such a key meeting in the middle of the night.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie criticized Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill,” claiming it would add $20 trillion to the national debt—“three and a half to $5 trillion more” than what would have been added otherwise.
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the No Tax on Tips Act, allowing tipped workers in select industries to deduct 100% of their tips—up to $25,000—from their taxable income. The bill was approved by unanimous consent.
During a Senate hearing, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem struggled to define habeas corpus when questioned by Senator Maggie Hassan. When Noem gave an incorrect answer, Sen. Hassan interrupted to correct her. Habeas corpus is a fundamental legal principle that protects individuals from unlawful detention, requiring authorities to justify a person's imprisonment before a court. Noem’s inability to explain it raised concerns, given its importance in constitutional and immigration-related matters overseen by the Department of Homeland Security.
During a heated exchange, Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed IRS official Billy Long on whether the president has the legal authority to direct the IRS to alter a nonprofit’s tax status. When Long said he couldn't answer, Warren challenged him, asking why he couldn’t interpret the plain language of the law. Long insisted he had read the statute, prompting Warren to demand, “Then tell me what they mean!”—highlighting her frustration with his evasiveness.
During a Senate hearing, Senator Dick Durbin challenged Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on government cuts to medical research, specifically for ALS. Durbin asked how the country could offer hope to those suffering from serious illnesses while research funding is being slashed. Kennedy responded that he wasn't aware of any cuts. Durbin shot back, “I just read them to you!” Kennedy then admitted he only learned about them during that exchange.
ICE has reportedly placed a dozen men on a flight to South Sudan—a nation on the edge of civil war—despite a court order prohibiting such deportations without giving individuals a chance to object. Attorneys representing Burmese and Vietnamese migrants say the Trump administration defied that order by sending their clients to a country that isn’t their own.
A judge rejected a January 6 rioter’s attempt to get back $63,000 he earned from selling video footage of the Capitol attack, which included the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt. Although the Justice Department had agreed to repay John Sullivan, the judge ruled that only Congress has the authority to authorize the payment.
Donald Trump announced that a new U.S. missile defense system, the “Golden Dome” is expected to cost $175 billion.
In a 7–2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has reinstated Maine Rep. Laurel Libby’s voting rights, which had been suspended due to her anti-trans statements. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor dissented.
President Trump is reportedly frustrated with the ongoing war in Gaza, particularly disturbed by images of suffering Palestinian children. According to White House officials, he has sent messages to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging him to bring the conflict to an end, Axios reports.
According to a Biden spokesperson, President Biden’s last recorded PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test was in 2014. Before his recent diagnosis on Friday, he had never been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
U.S. health regulators announced they will no longer routinely approve annual COVID-19 shots for healthy children and younger adults. Vaccine makers aiming to market to these groups will now be required to conduct large, new clinical trials.
A ransomware attack has caused a major technology outage across Kettering Health’s network of 14 medical centers in Ohio, forcing the cancellation of all elective inpatient and outpatient procedures. While emergency rooms and clinics remain open, the cyberattack disrupted operations and the call center, though the health system says backup protocols are in place to maintain patient care.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
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