Good morning everyone. I expect today to be a busy one. If you believe in honest journalism that doesn’t bend to corporate interests or political pressure… if you believe in journalism that’s willing to hold Trump and those in power accountable… then I’m asking you to subscribe. Thank you for your support, truly.
With that, here’s the news:
The Trump administration is pressuring states to turn over voter data and allow inspections of voting equipment, with the most aggressive effort in Colorado — sparking pushback from local election officials citing security concerns, The Washington Post reports.
The Justice Department has also requested voter rolls from at least nine states, as Trump continues to falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen, fueling fresh election integrity concerns ahead of 2025.
Tomorrow, on July 17, “Good Trouble Lives On” protests will take place in all 50 states, marking the fifth anniversary of civil rights icon John Lewis’s death and opposing Trump administration policies on civil rights, immigration, social services, and free speech as part of a growing wave of nationwide anti-Trump demonstrations. Find your nearest site here.
Donald Trump dismissed renewed interest in the Jeffrey Epstein case as “boring” and driven by “bad people,” even as pressure mounts from his own MAGA base and conservative allies demanding transparency over Epstein’s connections to powerful elites, including Trump himself.
Despite a Justice Department finding that Epstein died by suicide and no client list exists, calls for disclosure have intensified — with figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Lara Trump breaking ranks to urge the release of all credible case files to the public.
On July 15, members of Congress reintroduced the bipartisan DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act, a sweeping immigration reform bill that offers long-term undocumented immigrants who arrived before 2021 a path to renewable legal status without citizenship, in exchange for tougher border enforcement, nationwide E-Verify, asylum system overhauls, and visa backlog relief, marking the most comprehensive legislative immigration proposal in decades despite uncertain prospects in a divided Congress.
The Justice Department will temporarily shut down the federal LEP.gov website, which aids people with limited English proficiency, as part of implementing Trump’s executive order declaring English the official language of the U.S. government.
During a rambling speech in Pittsburgh, Donald Trump falsely claimed his uncle taught the Unabomber at MIT and forgot aides' names, raising fresh concerns about his mental sharpness and fitness for office as the oldest U.S. president in history.
A mysterious bruise on Donald Trump’s right hand, covered with concealer, reappeared this week, sparking renewed speculation about his health as cameras captured the mark while he boarded Marine One — prompting the White House to deflect questions about the president’s condition.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fired his chief of staff and deputy chief of staff, citing a loss of confidence, with no clear triggering event; White House liaison Matt Buckham will serve as acting chief as the department continues its “Make America Healthy Again” mission.
The Trump administration is scaling down its military presence in Los Angeles, ordering the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops deployed during protests over federal immigration raids — a controversial move opposed by local leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom.
A U.S. deportation flight carrying migrants convicted of serious crimes has landed in Eswatini, following a Supreme Court decision allowing deportations to third countries; DHS cited the individuals’ offenses and the refusal of their home countries to accept them back.
Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on pharmaceutical products and semiconductors starting August 1, beginning with low rates and escalating over a year to incentivize domestic production — with potential levies as high as 200% on drugs and 50% on copper imports.
The tariffs stem from ongoing Section 232 investigations into drug and chip imports on national security grounds, part of Trump’s broader push for “reciprocal” trade measures aimed at reshoring key industries.
Experts warn that Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” could raise energy bills for millions of Americans by slashing tax credits and shortening timelines for clean energy projects, particularly hurting wind and solar development in the South and Midwest.
The bill rolls back key parts of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, potentially causing a 10–18% hike in energy costs and over 700,000 job losses by 2035, while the administration argues it will lower prices by boosting fossil fuel production.
Starting August 1, the Trump administration will resume interest on 8 million student loans, ending Biden’s SAVE Plan and potentially adding $27 billion in annual borrower costs, a move experts warn could worsen financial strain, delay life milestones, and reduce long-term economic stability.
Good News:
A message in a bottle tossed into the sea by a young Newfoundland couple in 2012 was discovered 13 years later on an Irish beach, revealing they are now married with three children — a heartwarming reminder that "love conquers all—including the Atlantic Ocean."
An exhausted puffin nicknamed 'Lovely Oona' was rescued after being found 100 miles inland in Hereford, England—blown off course from her coastal habitat—and is now recovering at a vet clinic before being returned to the wild in Wales, thanks to a full team effort and community support.
After a Vietnam veteran passed away, a Texas mailman adopted his beloved dog Floyd, a German Shepherd mix he’d bonded with on his old delivery route—proving that sometimes the strongest friendships come from the unlikeliest places, even between a mailman and a dog.
See you this evening.
— Aaron
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