WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
📑 Democrats push for Epstein files to be released. Congress must pass 12 bills that appropriate federal spending for the upcoming fiscal year. Democrats are trying to attach amendments to these bills that would force the Trump administration to release files related to Epstein. Their attempts have put Republicans in a bind: voting against the amendments would please the White House but make them appear to be hiding Epstein’s secrets.
✂️ The White House is preparing another rescissions package. The new package will target federal education spending, part of its broader effort to dismantle the Department of Education. Over 1,300 staff have already been laid off. The move follows earlier cuts to NPR, PBS, and foreign aid, using a rarely invoked budget tool to reverse prior appropriations.
🏙️ Trump signed an executive order tackling homelessness. The president’s order directs the Department of Justice to seek the overturning of federal and state judicial decisions that have blocked the involuntary commitment of mentally ill individuals to asylums. It also directs Health and Human Services to prioritize grants for states that ban squatting, drug use, and urban camping. Conservatives have long argued that ending involuntary commitment was a mistake that left many mentally ill on the streets.
✅ Ron Johnson urges Trump to speed up his nominee appointments. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is urging Trump to use recess appointments — temporary appointments made while the Senate is on break — to bypass Democrats slow-walking his nominees, including ambassadors. Frustrated by the delays, Trump even called for canceling the August recess, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) says recess appointments could fill most posts until early 2027.
INSIDER RADAR
A top DOJ official on interviewing Ghislaine Maxwell
Insiders behind the paywall: Todd Blanche, Ghislaine Maxwell, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tim Burchett, and Charlie Kirk.
QUICK AND IMPORTANT
A House Oversight subcommittee voted to subpoena Bill and Hillary Clinton over alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) will not run for governor of New York and will instead run for re-election in his purple district.
Virginia Republicans are concerned over their state’s gubenatorial race, where Democrat Abigail Spanberger is consistently leading Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears in the polling ahead of November’s election.
A new Emerson College poll shows Trump’s overall approval rating at -1, with approval on key issues at: Epstein files (-35), Economy (-10), and Immigration (-1).
The most clicked link in our last newsletter was ICE arresting nearly 250 illegal migrants in Denver.
Trump spars with the Federal Reserve
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
Yesterday, President Donald Trump visited the Federal Reserve, where he toured a new building with Chairman Jerome Powell. Although the visit was cordial it capped weeks of complaints from the White House and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over the Fed’s high interest rates.
Now, the White House and Federal Reserve are sparring over how best to maneuver the American economy.
Their relationship soured as Powell refused to cut rates, blaming Trump’s tariffs for driving up inflation forecasts.
Trump reportedly considered using the costly Fed renovations as a pretext to fire Powell…
Exclusive analysis and uncensored facts behind the paywall: Treasury Sec. Bessent’s role in the feud and why Trump would hit roadblocks if he chose to fire Powell.
_JOIN THE DISCUSSION_
Do you think Trump should be pressuring the Federal Reserve — supposedly an independent body — to cut rates?
MEDIA BIAS SPOTTER
How left and right outlets frame Trump’s order tackling homelessness
Mentioned behind the paywall: NPR, Washington Post, New York Post, and Washington Examiner.
_THE DAILY DEBATE_
📊 Who’s side are you more aligned with regarding the Federal Reserve?Results will be in tomorrow's newsletter |
POLLS RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY
Do you think Columbia’s $200M settlement was fair?
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 👍 Yes (810)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 👎 No (120)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (129)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 💬 Other (Comment) (34)
👍 Yes: “It's a good start — like the initial muck removal in the process of cleaning out a cesspool.” — BB
👎 No: “As rich as Columbia is, $200 million is nowhere near painful enough. It should be in the billions.” — William
🤔 Unsure: “How do you put an accurate amount on something they have done for years?” — Fred
_POP QUIZ_
Who told Trump to use recess appointments to speed up nominees? |
Today’s newsletter was written by Brandon Goldman, Anthony Constantini, and Ariel David. We scoured 100s of sources to bring you stories and insights you won’t find in the mainstream media.
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