WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

💥 Trump slammed Zelensky over Crimea remarks. President Trump rebuked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for rejecting a US proposal to acknowledge Russia’s control of Crimea as part of peace negotiations. Trump called Zelensky’s comments inflammatory, suggesting they hinder efforts to end the war. This public clash reveals Trump’s growing impatience with Zelensky, as Trump is pushing for a peace deal as quickly as possible.

🚨 Illegal migrant faces early release after killing two teens. Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano, a twice-deported illegal immigrant convicted of killing two California teens in a 2021 DUI crash, faces early release from a 10-year sentence. Families of the victims are outraged, fearing he’ll re-enter the US again if deported. ICE issued a detainer for his arrest after his likely release, but California’s sanctuary laws raise doubts about whether the state will honor it.

👈 Trump pushes for deportations without trials. President Trump declared that millions of illegal migrants who entered under the Biden administration should be deported without individual trials, citing the impracticality of such a process. He argued this was central to his election mandate, warning it could be "dangerous" if his deportations are blocked by courts. This stance risks intensifying legal battles that have already slowed his agenda.

🇨🇳 Trump hinted at slashing China tariffs. The White House signaled a potential shift in trade policy as President Trump suggested a possible de-escalation of tariffs on China, aiming to ease economic tensions. One White House official stated that the tariff rate could come down between 50-65 percent, from its current level of 145 percent. Such a move could signal a broader effort to stabilize markets, although critics warn that it might ease pressure on Beijing.

INSIDER RADAR

A shouting match between two top officials

Insiders behind the paywall: Jordan Peterson, Tulsi Gabbard, Marco Rubio, Elon Musk, Scott Bessent, and Marty Makary.

HOAX TRACKER

“Free Speech in Question as X Suppresses Dissent”

QUICK AND IMPORTANT

• The FBI assessed that Venezuelan officials are likely using Tren de Aragua gang members as proxies to destabilize the US and other countries.

• Twelve states sued the Trump administration over tariffs, arguing the president exceeded his authority by imposing them through executive orders and agency directives.

• President Trump’s approval rating dropped to 42 percent, the lowest since his return to office.

• Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced he will retire at the end of his term, ending a 44-year congressional career and opening up another Democratic Senate seat.

• The most clicked link in our last newsletter was our insider exclusive article: “Trump Isolates China’s Paper Tiger Economy.”

INSIDER EXCLUSIVE

Trump declares war on public media

President Trump is launching a full-scale offensive against taxpayer-funded media.

The administration has formally requested that Congress eliminate all federal support for NPR and PBS, accusing the outlets of liberal bias and misusing public funds. The proposed rescission plan targets $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), aiming to end what the White House calls a decades-long "grift" disguised as journalism…

Read Now

THE MAIN STORY

Trump’s plan to codify billions in DOGE cuts

WHAT’S HAPPENING_

President Donald Trump is submitting a request to Congress to cut billions of dollars in spending.

The process — known as rescissions — would enable the administration to write some of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) cuts into law. However, some Republicans are concerned about cutting popular programs, while others argue the proposed cuts are not ambitious enough.

_THE FACTS_

• DOGE estimates that it has saved taxpayers about $160 billion. Many of those cuts are being challenged in courts.

• President Trump’s refusal to spend congressionally allocated funds has also been challenged in the courts.

• Through rescissions — a rarely used budget tool — Trump may be able to bypass the courts.

• This process allows the president to request that Congress cancel previously approved spending without the threat of a filibuster.

• President Trump attempted to use this process in 2018 to reduce $15 billion in spending.

• Although the Republicans controlled the Senate, the measure failed when two Republicans voted with the Democrats against the cuts.

• Now, Trump is trying again: next week, the administration will send Congress a request to cut $8 billion; the cuts will include USAID, NPR, and PBS.

• Some Republicans, such as Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, believe a package of this size is far too small; Paul advocates for a bill in the $500 billion range.

• Other Republicans worry that codifying DOGE’s cuts — especially to Medicaid — could backfire in next year’s midterm elections.

_OUR INSIGHTS _

Insights and analysis are for members only.

Insights behind the paywall: Skittish House members, Elon Musk, and how the Trump admin could see success and failure.

MEDIA BIAS SPOTTER

How left and right outlets frame Trump’s spat with Zelensky over Crimea

Mentioned behind the paywall: The Daily Beast, CNN, RedState, and Fox News.

THE DAILY DEBATE

POLL RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY

Do you think the government can successfully boost birth rates?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 👍 Yes (353)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 👎 No (323)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ 🤔 Unsure (245)
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 💬 Other (40)

POP QUIZ

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