Good morning, everyone. There’s a lot to cover today in what is already shaping up to be a very busy week. Trump’s speech Thursday night is expected to lay the groundwork for renewed attacks on the integrity of upcoming midterm elections, with election experts warning about the potential impact. Trump officials are also escalating efforts to undermine the International Criminal Court as the administration seeks to shield U.S. and Israeli officials from potential war crimes prosecutions.
Meanwhile, gas prices continue to climb as the conflict with Iran intensifies, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has been drained with no obvious evidence of the massive “gash” Trump claimed existed, and we’ll also cover the latest on the NDAA, ICE, and much more. I spoke with Hakeem Jeffries about much of this today.
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Here’s the news:
Trump’s Speech:
Trump to revive 2020 election claims: President Trump will deliver a national address on Thursday focused on newly declassified intelligence and what his administration describes as vulnerabilities in U.S. voting machines. The speech is expected to revisit his long-standing claims that the 2020 election was compromised. Courts, recounts, audits, and Trump’s own Justice Department previously found no evidence that fraud or voting machine manipulation altered the election outcome. Election officials have consistently maintained that the 2020 election was secure.
Administration expands election investigations: The Trump administration has formed a White House task force to investigate aspects of the 2020 election and has authorized the declassification of intelligence related to the vote. Officials say the effort is aimed at examining potential security weaknesses and foreign interference risks. The administration has also sought to increase federal oversight of election administration over the past year. Critics argue these moves could shift authority away from states, which traditionally oversee elections.
Concerns ahead of the 2026 midterms: Election experts and Democrats warn that reviving unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election could undermine confidence in future elections, particularly before the 2026 midterms. They argue that repeatedly portraying past elections as illegitimate may lay the groundwork for challenging future unfavorable results. Election security officials continue to say there is no evidence that voting machine vulnerabilities changed previous election outcomes. The debate is likely to intensify as Congress and control of the House are at stake in November.
An adviser told Axios that the goal is to establish a rhythm of high-profile addresses because they project authority and make Trump's messages seem more significant. The adviser also suggests that Trump's desire to speak publicly and frequently is driving the approach.
ICE:
A 26-year-old Colombian man was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Biddeford, Maine, after agents attempted to stop the vehicle he was driving during an operation targeting someone else with a final deportation order. Federal and state officials say the man was not the intended target and allege he drove toward an officer, prompting the agent to open fire, though the incident remains under investigation and no body camera footage exists. Immigrant rights groups say the man was authorized to work in the United States and are calling for an independent investigation.
National Defense Authorization Act:
Massie seeks to remove U.S.-Israel defense integration from the NDAA: Rep. Thomas Massie plans to reintroduce an amendment stripping Section 219 from the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The provision would significantly expand U.S.-Israel military technology cooperation in areas including AI, missile defense, cybersecurity, quantum technology, and joint weapons development. Massie argues it would integrate Israel too deeply into U.S. defense research and procurement, threatening American sovereignty.
The amendment was blocked but could return: A bipartisan amendment from Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna to remove Section 219 was denied a vote by the House Rules Committee. However, because the House failed to approve the procedural rule governing debate on the NDAA, the bill stalled before reaching the floor. Massie says he will reintroduce the amendment when the NDAA is brought back for consideration.
Supporters and critics disagree over the proposal: Supporters, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, view the initiative as shifting the U.S.-Israel relationship from military aid to a deeper defense partnership through joint research and production. Critics argue the provision expands foreign influence over U.S. defense policy and military supply chains. Rep. Adam Smith, who initially supported the language, later reversed his position after hearing concerns from constituents and citing Israel’s atrocities in Gaza and elsewhere.
Iran:
The United States launched a third consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets while President Trump moved to reinstate a naval blockade of Iran. U.S. officials said the strikes targeted missile sites, drones, coastal defenses, and maritime assets to reduce Iran's ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with attacks in the Persian Gulf, including strikes linked to Bahrain and commercial tankers connected to the United Arab Emirates. The escalating conflict has raised concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies and broader regional instability.
U.S. inflation slowed to 3.5% in June, driven largely by a 5.7% drop in energy prices after the U.S. and Iran briefly reached an interim agreement. Consumer prices fell 0.4% from May, the largest monthly decline since April 2020. However, core inflation, which excludes food and energy, remained unchanged, indicating that underlying price pressures persist. Economists warn that the recent spike in oil prices following renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities could reverse June's progress and push inflation higher in the coming months.
Brent crude has climbed above $81 per barrel, reaching its highest level in weeks as markets price in growing geopolitical risks surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. The rally follows days of Iranian attacks on commercial shipping, three consecutive nights of U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets, and the reinstatement of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran. With commercial traffic through the strait sharply reduced, traders are adding a larger risk premium to global oil prices. Higher energy costs could increase inflationary pressures and raise fuel prices worldwide if the conflict continues to escalate.
Trump reportedly gave Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman advance approval for military strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen after Saudi Arabia requested U.S. support. The strikes on Sanaa airport prompted Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, marking the most serious escalation between the two sides since 2022 and raising fears that the fragile four-year truce could collapse. U.S. officials say Saudi Arabia sought Trump's backing because it expects any broader conflict with the Houthis could require American military and diplomatic support. The renewed fighting also risks increasing regional tensions and further expanding the conflict involving Iran and its allies.
Other News:
Following Sen. Lindsey Graham's death, President Trump urged the Senate to pass cryptocurrency legislation or the SAVE America Act in his honor, but many senators rejected those ideas as inconsistent with Graham's legacy. Instead, according to Politico, lawmakers from both parties argue that the most fitting tribute would be passing Graham's bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia, which he had championed until his death. While Senate leaders support advancing the sanctions measure, its fate remains uncertain because some Republicans are skeptical and Trump has not publicly committed to backing it. Several senators criticized efforts to tie Graham's name to unrelated legislation, calling the sanctions bill the clearest reflection of his priorities on national security and support for Ukraine.
New photographs appear to show what look like tire tracks on the floor of the drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, fueling new questions about the troubled renovation project. The tracks come after President Trump claimed vandals caused extensive damage to the pool's liner, though no public evidence has confirmed either the source of the marks or the cause of the damage. The pool has been drained for a second round of repairs after problems including peeling coating, algae blooms, and reported vandalism, while officials continue investigating what led to the project's rapid deterioration.
Trump and his officials argue that the International Criminal Court (ICC) could expose U.S. leaders, military personnel, and allies to war crimes investigations, and the administration has launched a campaign to weaken the court. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ICC threatens U.S. sovereignty and plans to pressure other countries to distance themselves from the tribunal through diplomatic and economic measures. Legal experts cited in the a Reuters article dispute Rubio's claims, noting that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over crimes committed on U.S. soil and can generally only prosecute crimes committed in countries that have accepted its jurisdiction. The effort expands on earlier Trump administration sanctions against ICC officials, while critics warn it could undermine international accountability for war crimes and other serious human rights violations.
The Trump administration has created a joint Pentagon–Justice Department task force to investigate and prosecute government officials who leak sensitive information to the press. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the initiative is intended to protect national security, while the Justice Department maintains that it is targeting leakers rather than journalists. The announcement follows subpoenas issued to New York Times reporters over stories about security concerns involving Trump's new Qatari-gifted Air Force One. Press freedom advocates and media organizations argue that the subpoenas and broader crackdown threaten First Amendment protections and represent an escalation of the administration's efforts to intimidate independent journalism.
Michigan health officials say lettuce or salad greens are the leading suspected source of a large Cyclospora outbreak, though the investigation is ongoing and other foods have not been ruled out. Michigan has reported 2,640 cases and 44 hospitalizations, while thousands of cases have been identified nationwide, making 2026 likely to become the largest Cyclospora outbreak on record in the United States. Because leafy greens have been linked to previous outbreaks, officials recommend buying whole heads of lettuce instead of bagged salad kits, discarding the outer leaves, and thoroughly washing produce to reduce the risk of infection. Cyclospora causes severe watery diarrhea, cramping, nausea, and fatigue, and people with symptoms should seek medical care, as the infection can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
The Trump administration has revived plans to build an immigrant detention center in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, creating a political challenge for Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. as he faces a competitive reelection campaign. The proposal is opposed by both Republican and Democratic local officials, but Kean has not explicitly endorsed or opposed the project, drawing criticism from his Democratic opponent and some local Republicans. The issue forces Kean to balance loyalty to the Trump administration with growing local opposition in his swing district. Democrats hope the controversy will weaken Kean's support by portraying him as unwilling to stand up to the administration on an unpopular local issue.
President Trump signed an executive order reinstating his 2017 decision to significantly reduce the size of Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments, reversing protections restored by President Biden. The order was signed alongside Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and the state's Republican congressional delegation. Supporters argue the move returns more control over public lands to the state and expands opportunities for development and resource use. The decision is expected to reignite legal and political battles over conservation, tribal protections, and federal authority over public lands.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is imposing the nation's first statewide moratorium on new large-scale data center construction, pausing permits for up to one year while regulators develop rules to address energy use, environmental impacts, and rising utility costs. Existing approved projects and smaller facilities for research, education, and health care will be exempt. Hochul also plans to work with lawmakers to eliminate tax subsidies for data centers, arguing that New Yorkers should benefit from AI-driven economic growth without bearing the environmental and financial costs. The move comes despite opposition from AI companies, developers, and unions, and could serve as a model for other states grappling with the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure.
See you soon.
— Aaron
