Good morning. There’s already a lot of news. Trump is erupting at the NATO summit in Turkey, calling the Iran deal “over,” cutting off all trade with Spain while calling the country “hopeless,” confusing Zelenskyy with Putin as Zelenskyy sat beside him, and referring to Japan as the “Islamic Republic of Japan.” Markets are tumbling as the U.S. prepares for another round of strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, the nation’s largest utility is warning Americans could face blackouts as early as next year because the power grid can’t keep up with AI data centers. The administration is draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool again, Republican lawmakers are facing angry constituents, and there’s much more.
On a personal note, I wanted to share something exciting. A month ago, I filmed an episode of PBS’s new series Breaking the Deadlock, where I talked about why today’s leaders need to set a better example for young Americans. You can watch it here.
There is so much misinformation online. Sometimes I won’t be the first to post a story because I’m waiting for it to be fully verified. That’s intentional. If I report something, it’s because it’s been vetted. And if I ever get something wrong—or the facts change—I’ll tell you. That’s my commitment to you. It’s also what you support when you subscribe: independent journalism built on verified facts, not speculation. If you’re not yet a subscriber, I hope you’ll consider subscribing today.
Here’s the news:
Trump Erupts at the NATO Summit:
Trump erupted at the NATO summit: President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire with Iran was effectively “over” after Tehran launched fresh attacks on U.S. bases and commercial shipping in the Gulf. Speaking in Ankara, Turkey, he lashed out at Iran, calling its leaders “scum” and dismissing continued negotiations as a “waste of time,” though he said U.S. negotiators could keep talking if they wished.
Trump also criticized NATO allies over Greenland and Iran while threatening to halt trade with Spain over alliance disagreements. His remarks overshadowed the summit and heightened concerns that the conflict in the Middle East could widen.
Trump intensified tensions at the NATO summit by calling for the U.S. to cut off all trade with Spain, accusing the country of failing to contribute enough to NATO defense spending and refusing to support U.S. operations related to the Iran conflict. He labeled Spain a “terrible partner,” claimed it relied on other allies for protection, and predicted Madrid would “come running back” if trade were halted. Spain dismissed the remarks as “business as usual” and said it would maintain its strong trade relationship with the United States, while the dispute underscored Trump’s broader push for NATO members to increase defense spending.
The renewed violence followed a rapid escalation between the United States and Iran, with Iran retaliating against new U.S. strikes by attacking American military sites in the Gulf and targeting commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. responded with additional strikes inside Iran, while Tehran declared that American and Israeli actions had undermined the agreement meant to end the war. Iranian officials also warned that any location supporting U.S. military operations would be considered a legitimate target. The exchange has cast serious doubt on prospects for a lasting ceasefire.
MAGA and those around the White House have grown concerned as Trump appeared visibly confused at times at the summit. During remarks, Trump appeared to misspeak, saying, "We had 111 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan," apparently confusing Iran with Japan while discussing the conflict in the Middle East. The gaffe quickly drew attention because Japan is a U.S. ally and has no connection to the missile attacks he was describing. Japan is also not an “Islamic Republic.”
Trump repeatedly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin" during their meeting, appearing to confuse the Ukrainian leader with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump struggled to recall the name of the Iran nuclear deal, referring to it as the “Obom” deal and “the JC... POC.”
Trump confirmed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggesting the U.S. would let Ukraine manufacture Patriot missile systems, “We haven’t informed the company of that yet, but that’ll work out alright. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled.” The comment implied the administration had not coordinated with the manufacturer before discussing a potential production license, prompting questions about whether the proposal reflected official policy or was an impromptu remark.
Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy whether he would travel to Moscow, prompting Zelenskyy to quip, “It is difficult. There are lots of Ukrainian drones there. It’s dangerous.” The exchange drew attention as Zelenskyy used humor to underscore Ukraine’s expanding long-range drone campaign inside Russia, while highlighting the security risks posed by the ongoing war.
The deteriorating security situation rattled global markets and raised fears about energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for worldwide oil shipments. Oil prices surged more than 6% after Trump’s comments, with Brent crude approaching $79 per barrel and U.S. crude climbing to around $75. International maritime officials condemned attacks on commercial ships, warning that innocent seafarers were being placed in grave danger. Governments across the Gulf region also condemned Iran’s missile and drone attacks on neighboring states.
NATO leaders faced mounting pressure as the summit became increasingly dominated by the Iran crisis instead of the alliance’s planned agenda. Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and was scheduled to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while Denmark firmly rejected Trump’s renewed suggestion that the United States should control Greenland. European leaders emphasized support for regional stability and freedom of navigation, while expressing concern that the latest fighting had complicated already fragile peace negotiations. The summit highlighted growing tensions among allies over both security priorities and diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Iran continued nationwide funeral ceremonies for slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with massive processions taking place in Iraq’s holy cities as peace talks remained on hold. Iranian officials insisted they would not compromise on control of the Strait of Hormuz and defended their military actions as responses to U.S. attacks. Reports from inside Iran described additional strikes, casualties, and damage to military facilities, while neighboring countries intercepted missiles and drones without major losses. The combination of military escalation, political tensions, and economic disruption underscored the fragile and rapidly evolving state of the conflict. Watch this video from last night of the US strikes:
Energy Crisis
Electricity blackouts could begin as early as next year as the U.S. power grid struggles to keep pace with surging demand from AI data centers, according to Exelon CEO Calvin Butler. Butler warned, in an interview with the Financial Times, that power shortages in the Northeast and Midwest could force utilities to cut electricity to hundreds of thousands of customers during periods of extreme demand, noting the grid narrowly avoided widespread outages during last winter’s coldest days. Grid operator PJM is already projecting significant power supply deficits over the next decade, while U.S. electricity demand is expected to jump nearly 40% by 2035. Butler argued that without a rapid expansion of power generation and grid infrastructure, reliability risks will continue to grow.
Electricity costs are also set to rise as utilities seek billions of dollars to expand and modernize the grid to support AI-driven demand. Residential electricity prices have already climbed nationwide over the past two years, with some states—including New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania—seeing double-digit increases. Butler said higher utility bills are unavoidable because companies must invest in new transmission lines, aging infrastructure, and additional power capacity to meet growing demand. While politicians have pushed back against rate hikes and accused utilities of profiteering, Butler argued delaying increases would only result in even higher costs later.
The growing battle over who pays for the AI boom is becoming a major political and economic flashpoint. Butler said technology companies underestimated public resistance to the massive electricity demands of new data centers, leaving utilities to shoulder much of the criticism over rising power bills. He also argued current regulations discourage construction of new power plants because independent generators lack sufficient incentives to make long-term investments. Without policy changes to accelerate new generation and infrastructure spending, Butler warned lawmakers may not recognize the severity of the looming electricity crisis until widespread shortages and blackouts become a reality.
Other news:
The Trump administration has begun draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for a second time in three months after persistent problems including algae blooms, damaged lining, and discoloration, with officials again blaming vandalism despite not publicly releasing evidence. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said crews will remove debris, repair the pool's lining, and refill it using the same contractor that previously received a more than $14 million no-bid contract. The renewed repairs have drawn scrutiny over the project's cost, repeated maintenance issues, and the administration's handling of the high-profile restoration.
House Speaker Mike Johnson is considering a vote on legislation aimed at ending "birth tourism"—the practice of pregnant women traveling to the U.S. to give birth so their children receive U.S. citizenship—as he tries to satisfy conservative Republicans demanding action on birthright citizenship. The measure would have little chance of becoming law because it would almost certainly fail in the Senate, but it would give House Republicans a symbolic vote after the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's effort to limit birthright citizenship. Johnson faces growing pressure from hard-liners over immigration, even as moderates warn that politically divisive immigration votes could hurt Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.
A federal judge dismissed Trump Media's $3.8 billion defamation lawsuit against The Washington Post, ruling the company failed to show the newspaper acted with "actual malice," the legal standard required for public figures to win defamation cases. The lawsuit challenged a 2023 article about Truth Social's ownership, but the court found insufficient evidence that the Post knowingly published false information or recklessly disregarded the truth. Trump Media said it is considering an appeal, while the ruling marks another legal setback in the company's broader campaign against major news organizations, several of which have seen similar lawsuits dismissed.
Embattled Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is signaling he may drop out of the race, as his campaign confirmed it has contacted the state Democratic Party to discuss the process for selecting a replacement. Party leaders accused Platner's team of trying to influence who would replace him if he withdraws, while the campaign insisted it only wanted to ensure voters and volunteers—not the party establishment—have a voice in the decision. Platner has faced mounting pressure to exit after allegations of sexual assault, which he denies, and under Maine law the state Democratic Party would choose a new nominee if he withdraws before the deadline.
Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan is set to be sentenced after being convicted of felony obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal immigration agents, in a case that became a flashpoint in President Trump's immigration crackdown. Prosecutors are seeking a "serious sentence," arguing Dugan abused her judicial authority and endangered law enforcement, while federal guidelines recommend 15 to 21 months in prison. Dugan's attorneys contend she has already suffered significant consequences—including resigning from the bench and facing threats—and are asking for no additional jail time while planning to appeal. The case has become a national symbol of the clash between the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts and judicial independence.
The creator of the satirical Instagram account @CatsOnACouch has sued the Trump administration, alleging she was barred from attending Vice President JD Vance’s public events because of her online criticism, violating her First Amendment rights. Amanda McGonigle claims Secret Service agents denied her entry to a White House-promoted event in Maine after recognizing her account, telling her, “we know where you stand.” Represented by the ACLU, she is seeking a court order preventing the administration from excluding her from future public events based on her political views, while the White House and Secret Service have not yet responded to the lawsuit.
A 37-story Manhattan high-rise under renovation was declared “stable” after buckling steel support columns triggered emergency evacuations and fears of a partial collapse near Grand Central Terminal. The former Pfizer headquarters, which is being converted into a 1,500-unit luxury apartment building, was evacuated along with several neighboring buildings after construction workers discovered structural damage on the 21st floor. City officials said no injuries were reported and engineers successfully stabilized the structure with temporary supports, though the building will continue to be closely monitored while repairs are completed.
Oregon is seeking to delay Paramount’s proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. for 60 days, accusing the company of withholding records about its lobbying efforts and regulatory strategy. State Attorney General Dan Rayfield plans to ask a court to pause the merger while Oregon reviews documents related to the company’s internal “Project Warrior” campaign and its contacts with the Trump administration. Paramount argues the requested records are unrelated to antitrust concerns and insists the merger is lawful and pro-competitive, but Oregon joins several states preparing legal challenges over fears the deal could reduce competition and cost jobs across the media industry.
Former Jackson, Mississippi, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and former City Council President Aaron Banks pleaded guilty to conspiracy in a federal bribery scheme just one week before their trial was set to begin. Prosecutors alleged the officials accepted bribes from undercover FBI agents posing as real estate developers in exchange for helping approve a development project, with former District Attorney Jody Owens and two other local officials also pleading guilty in the case. Lumumba, who had previously called the prosecution politically motivated, now faces up to five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for October.
German prosecutors say a network of mainly Chinese men used Telegram groups to share rape videos, exchange advice on drugging women, and celebrate sexual assaults, in a case that has drawn comparisons to France's Gisèle Pelicot case. Investigators say the online groups, some with tens of thousands of members, used coded language to discuss attacks and led to multiple convictions, with additional suspects still on trial and more arrests possible. The investigation has also prompted broader international efforts to dismantle online networks promoting drug-facilitated sexual violence, while raising renewed scrutiny of Telegram over its failure to stop years of alleged criminal activity on its platform.
See you soon.
— Aaron
