emptywheel

@emptywheel.bsky.social

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Coverage of American authoritarianism with a focus on legal cases. An American-Irish in Limerick, Ireland. Legendary potty mouth!

Michael Lange @MichaelLangeNYC This is now Zohran Mamdani's most viewed video — EVER — across all platforms. 70M+ views on Instagram. 53M+ impressions on Twitter. 16M+ views on TikTok. And counting... Quote Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor · 18h Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. [2:09 video explaining why he can't arrest Bibi] 6:29 PM · Jul 22, 2026 · 57.1K Views
A mostly black screen. In the upper left corner there is a graph showing population. On the lower left there's a text box saying that "at its peak, Hold Room 1 contained roughly 86 people." Then there's a graphic of hte room itself, with people marked in orange, which cover most of the grey space in the room.
This correspondence memorializes where things stand on the issues raised in our June 30, 2026 letter, based on our call with Ned Hedley and John Arboleda on July 1. We understand from Mr. Hedley the government does not intend to respond to our correspondence in writing, out of the concern expressed on the call that what it represents to us could be put before the Court and/or otherwise used against it. Thus, to the extent we have misunderstood the government’s position conveyed on the call, please respond to this email in writing to clarify things from your perspective; otherwise, we will assume this accurately captures the parties’ discussion.
The Pentagon on Tuesday released the name of a U.S. soldier killed during the disposal of an Iranian drone in northern Iraq. Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, N.C., died Saturday during a controlled detonation at Erbil Air Base. The incident is under investigation, the Pentagon said. Sergeant Swinton had been assigned to the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, in North Carolina. Lt. Gen. John L. Rafferty, the commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement that Sergeant Swinton’s death had “occurred during an operation to safeguard fellow soldiers.” “His service will not be forgotten,” General Rafferty added, “and his sacrifice is not in vain.” Sergeant Swinton was not involved in the actual detonation, but was killed by flying debris from the blast, said a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters.
Trump's graphic claiming that "Our pool is Bigger than Skyscrapers." I've replaced "pool," with "trench," written in pink, and made the pool itself grey, marked it empty, and shown marks of damage.
A paragraph describing Venezuelan intelligence being involved in the 2012 election..
WOW. I expect INCREDIBLY stupid things from @stephenm 's subintelligent breeding partner. But not only does @KatieMiller lie about the content of column she comments on, she claims @KimStrassel is a liberal to discredit real criticism from the right. Quote Katie Miller @KatieMiller · 6h The Legacy Media and the Left loved to jump up and down about parental leave. Except in this case.
Two paragraphs describing a source. The source had indirect access, and none of the source's material has been corroborated.
2. On July 16", at approximately 10 a.m., upon request of counsel, I obtained access to the Reflecting Pool, with the assistance of government representatives. As reflected in this declaration, I began my observations at the Southeast comer of the pool 3. My first observation was that the pool was completely drained. There was no water ‘whatsoever in the pool, and therefore, no algae. 4, Immediately upon walking due west along the long edge of the pool, I observed that all of the pool liner appeared to be damaged in multiple spots throughout the entirety of the pool This included warping, cracking, peeling, areas where the entire liner was missing, and other forms of damage.
A partly redacted email that includes the line, "We have deliberately massaged our one pending PDB to avoid any direct links to the election."
A table comparing the ways Russia, China, and Iran interfere in elections. Unredacted lines include: Public opinion (overt and covert), National leaders, state leaders, leaking intel-acquired info, election processes, legal processes, economic leverage, and punitive measures. But there is a redacted line on the bottom.
In addition to supporting a finding of bad faith, the Government's non-compliance calls into question the accuracy of the U.S. Attorney's testimony to the United States Senate in his confirmation hearing on July 15, 2026. In that hearing, the U.S. Attorney testified: “the procedures that we have in place to protect the First Amendment and protect the freedom ofthe press and not result in intimidation ofjournalists or the like were followed." He twice reiterated, "we followed the protocols," and "what I can tell you is that we followed those procedures and those procedures, for the reasons that I believe firmly and you believe protecting the freedom ofthe press, being the least intrusive possible, require consultation. ” 993
A paragraph describing that Google had identified spear-fishing attempts targeting Trump's campaign.
Senior Peterhouse boat club members decided to choose their crew based on scores on a stationary rowing machine, which tends to favor brawn over skill. VanderMeer, who learned on a machine in her parents’ basement in Elmira, N.Y., made the cut. “I was trying to prove…that women are capable of competing with men even in sports that are very strength-based,” she said. Thanks to her technical prowess, VanderMeer took the stroke seat, the rower in the stern who sets the rhythm.
Pentagon Identifies Two U.S. Troops Killed in Jordan Both were active-duty soldiers, the Defense Department said. They were killed in action after an Iranian strike on a U.S. base on Friday. Listen · 0:52 min Share full article Jacey Fortin By Jacey Fortin July 20, 2026, 7:56 a.m. ET The Pentagon on Monday released the names of two U.S. service members who were killed in Jordan when Iran launched missiles at a military base there. First Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, was killed in action on Saturday, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, was killed in action on Friday, the Pentagon said in a statement. Lieutenant Feehan was assigned to the 32nd Army Air Missile Defense Command in Fort Bragg, N.C., and Private Gonzales was assigned to the 10th Army Air Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany.
Despite the importance of the pool liner to the case, in the brief period since June 19, 2026, the same government that presented and returned the indictment against Mr. Heam has fenced off the scene, begun draining the pool yet again, and publicly announced its intention to repair the very liner whose condition is at issue.’ It has done so despite a written defense demand for preservation of the physical evidence transmitted on July 8, 2026, the day before arraignment.*
Under the change, responsibility for investigating cases involving federal immigration officers would likely fall to Homeland Security Investigations, an arm of ICE, effectively leaving the agency to investigate itself, according to guidance circulated among F.B.I. and ICE agents. Cases involving an assault on a federal officer have been a source of tension inside federal law enforcement agencies for more than a year. White House and Justice Department officials have pushed prosecutors to bring charges in as many of them as possible, particularly as Americans protest the administration’s immigration crackdown.
Mark Moran, a former investment banker, said he got the early inside track on who Trump would choose as his running mate over dinner at L’Annexe, a swanky Georgetown cocktail bar. The information, he said in an interview, came from Jake Denton, then a research associate at the conservative Heritage Foundation, one month before Trump’s pick became official. Based on the tip, he placed a $900 bet on Vance using the Polymarket app, he said in an interview. “I’m doing Vance,” Moran said in a message to Denton, according to a record he provided to the Journal. Then he encouraged other friends to get in on the action based on the information he said he received from Denton. “I got a kid in the Heritage Foundation who has been leaking this to me,” he wrote to an associate, “so went all in on Vance.” He made over $600 on the exchange, according to cryptocurrency records Moran provided to the Journal. The financier later launched his own long-shot bid for Senate, challenging Sen. Mark Warner, (D., Va.) as an independent. Kalshi has since accused Moran of breaking its rules by betting on his own race. Denton now works as a White House policy adviser after a stint at the Federal Trade Commission. He didn’t respond to requests for comment. A White House official said Denton’s private comments about Vance becoming Trump’s running mate weren’t based on insider knowledge.
Over lunch at the Stovall House, a popular members-only social club in Tampa, U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida told associates in the summer of 2024 that she knew Trump would choose Vance to be his vice president, according to a person familiar with the conversation. She said she had tipped off Rogan O’Handley, a popular MAGA influencer known as “DC Draino,” about Trump’s pending decision so that he could use the information to place a winning bet on Polymarket, the person said. The congresswoman teased O’Handley, the person said, for not placing a bigger wager. An attendee at a political event wears a red shirt that says "Kalshi" and "Trump 57%". An attendee wearing a Kalshi T-shirt at an event with President Trump in May. Michael Nagle/Bloomberg News O’Handley separately told associates that he was behind a long-shot attempt, mostly via social media, to get Trump to consider Luna as his running mate, according to a second person who heard O’Handley discuss the matter. When the congresswoman told O’Handley that Vance would get the nod instead, he placed a winning bet on Polymarket, the person said. Luna said that she didn’t have knowledge of who Trump would eventually choose as his running mate. “l am honored the WSJ thinks I am telepathic but unfortunately I am not,” the congresswoman said in a statement, adding that she would “continue to champion the fight against insider trading.”
Blanche insisted he personally was powerless to open an investigation, pointing instead to other individuals around the room as people who can. The attendee who spoke to MS NOW said Blanche maintained, “The FBI has the power to open investigations, not me.” “I’m just the attorney general,” Blanche added, according to the representative.
Ironically, the government complains about the subpoena to Mr. Trump Jr. even though the government itself – specifically, the U.S. Secret Service – has to date prevented Defendant from serving that subpoena on Mr. Trump Jr.
The lining of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool peeled away in at least seven places along seams that were created when the material was applied in large rectangular sections, indicating likely problems in how it was installed, according to a Washington Post analysis of visuals and interviews with experts. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said vandals are to blame for the damage that appeared just two weeks after the $14 million renovation was completed in early June. “The slashes were 300 yards long, and the floor of the pool was cut and then pulled upward, with great force, by these thugs,” he wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday. On Tuesday, photos emerged on social media that showed the pool had been drained in preparation for repairs.
Table 1: Examples of Government Releases of January 6 Records Agency Link FBI https://vault.fbi.gov/united-states-capitol-violence-and-related-events-ofjanuary-6-2021 DOJ https://www.justice.gov/oip/available-documents-oip#recent (multiple links available under 2020 and 2021 tabs) DHS https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/fps_jan_6_released_ records.pdf NPS https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/foia/foia-frd.htm Moreover, third parties have also made documents produced by the Federal Government in response to FOIA requests available in the public domain. See, e.g., Just Security, January 6 Clearinghouse, https://perma.cc/ZPE3-F7MA (“Government Documents” tab).2 Finally, the inspectors general of multiple agencies, including DHS and DoW, issued reports about their agencies’ responses to January 6. Dep’t of War Off. of the Inspector General, “Review Of The DoD’s Role, Responsibilities, And Actions To Prepare for And Respond To The Protest 2 Not all information provided through third-party websites are authentic government documents, and the Federal Government reserves the right to contest the authenticity of documents purportedly released by the Federal Government and posted on the Internet.
Mr. Hegseth’s order could have implications for the order that he and President Trump issued last year banning transgender troops from serving in the military. The ban, which is being challenged in federal courts, is partially rooted in the Pentagon’s insistence that transgender troops might not be able to access hormone therapy in a war zone. “The Armed Forces must adhere to high mental and physical health standards to ensure our military can deploy, fight, and win, including in austere conditions and without the benefit of routine medical treatment or special provisions,” the Trump administration’s January 2025 ban states. The Pentagon has not said why providing hormone therapy would be a problem for transgender troops, but not the rest of the force, though the executive order instituting the ban said that “radical gender ideology” was harmful to troop cohesion. “Mr. Hegseth’s recommendation that male service members take testosterone makes crystal clear that the policy banning transgender troops for taking the same medication is pure bias,” said Shannon Minter, the legal director for the National Center for LGBTQ Rights. “This is a blatant double standard and underscores the irrationality of the ban.”
Elon Musk likely broke the law by giving voters $1 million, Wisconsin board says Associated Press Updated 8 hr ago Elon Musk speaks during a town hall meeting at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on March 30, 2025. Elon Musk speaks during a town hall meeting at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on March 30, 2025. Scott Olson/Getty Images/File Madison, WisconsinAP — Billionaire Elon Musk likely broke Wisconsin law when he handed out $1 million checks to voters in the 2025 state Supreme Court election, a bipartisan panel has found.
“There’s 1,200 former DOJ employees, I think, out of what — 40,000?” Blanche told Alaska’s News Source. “I don’t know. I’m not a math guy, but that’s not a very high percentage.”
Mr. Blanche’s defenders argue that he has been a low-key, but important check on Trumpian excesses, slowing down or countering Mr. Martin and other Trump advisers, including a federal housing official, Bill Pulte.
1. Donald Trump is President. 2. President Trump controls the actions of the Secretary of the Treasury Department Scott Bessent, IRS CEO Frank Bisignano, and all Executive Branch actors.
Although Rule 11 limits imposing monetary sanctions following a voluntary dismissal, the Court’s inherent authority remains available to address conduct that abuses the judicial process. Trump v. Clinton, 161 F.4th 671, 688 (11th Cir. 2025) (“Federal courts have the inherent authority to fashion an appropriate sanction for conduct which abuses the judicial process.”);
Thus, after considering the totality of the circumstances, including the record, the relevant law, the written submissions, and the factors identified by the Eleventh Circuit, the Court concludes that Rule 11 sanctions are appropriate here. See Trump v. Clinton, 640 F. Supp. 3d at 1332, 1334 (awarding sanctions under Rule 11’s improper purpose and concluding that “courts are not intended for performative litigation” as this “is harmful to the rule of law, portrays judges as partisans, and diverts resources that should be directed to real harms and legitimate legal claims.”).
This case concerns whether Plaintiffs’ conduct, as described supra, satisfies Rule 11’s improper purpose standard. The Court concludes that it does. “[Plaintiffs] pursued this lawsuit in bad faith for the improper purpose of dishonestly advancing a political narrative.” Trump v. Clinton, No. 22-14102-CV, 2023 WL 1207842, at *9 (S.D. Fla. Sept. 15, 2023). These efforts cannot be allowed in this Court. See Procup v. Strickland, 792
Moreover, the Release Order, signed only by Acting Attorney General Blanche, extends a blanket grant of immunity to all Plaintiffs and their families and “affiliates,” and precludes all “current or possible” investigations or actions before any other agencies or departments.50 The Release Order also purports to bar the IRS from conducting any future tax audits of President Trump, his sons, and their entities.51 This provision directly contravenes 26 U.S.C. § 7217, titled “Prohibition on executive branch influence over taxpayer audits and other investigations,” which states: It shall be unlawful for any applicable person to request, directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer. 26 U.S.C. § 7217(a). The explicit text of this statute prohibits President Trump and his lawyers—one of whom was former White House Counsel—from asking for or promoting termination of an audit directed toward him.52
29 Counsel for Plaintiffs points to the other Plaintiffs—Donald J. Trump, Jr., Eric Trump, and the Trump Organization, LLC—as having separate, disinterested claims from those of President Trump, establishing a viable case or controversy. However, these Plaintiffs share the same attorney, the same parent company, and the same parent and have not espoused any different or distinct view of this matter or this “Settlement.” Accordingly, the Court will treat their role as parenthetical to that of Lead Plaintiff President Trump.
President Trump is Chief of the Executive Branch, see U.S. CONST. Art. II, § 1 (the “Vesting Clause”), and the Vesting Clause is the bedrock of his authority over that branch of government. Id. Specifically, the Vesting Clause states that “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” Id.; see also Free Enter. Fund v. Public Co. Acct. Oversight Bd., 561 U.S. 477, 496–97 (2010) (“[T]he President ‘cannot delegate ultimate responsibility or the active obligation to supervise that goes with it,’ because Article II ‘makes a single President responsible for the actions of the Executive Branch.’”) (citing Clinton v. Jones, 520 U.S. 681, 712–13, (1997)); Seila Law LLC v. CFPB, 591 U.S. 197, 213 (2020) (“The entire executive Power belongs to the President alone.”) (citation and quotation marks omitted). Indeed, just recently, the Supreme Court cited Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52, 133 (1926) as a “landmark decision” and “perhaps our best word on the subject” of whether the President could remove subordinates in government service at will. Trump v. Slaughter, 609 U.S. __, slip op. at 16 (2026). Finding that he could, the majority ruled that “[s]ubordinates who exercise the President’s power are subject to removal by him. Then, and only then, can they remain accountable to the President, and the President to the people.” Id. at 36. “[T]hese officers exercise the President’s power, not their own, and thus must be responsible to him.” Id. at 35 (emphasis in original).
He also urged the "minister" to drop plans to use a Russian anti-aircraft system, the report said. The pranksters — Russian shock jocks — got Graham back on the phone a few days later, and the South Carolina Republican told them he'd spoken to Trump about their call. "We want a better relationship with Turkey. That’s exactly what he wants," Graham told them, according to the report. "And this case involving the Turkish bank, he’s very sensitive to that," Graham continued. "The president wants to be helpful, within the limits of his power." Graham appeared to be referring to a case involving a Turkish-Iranian gold trader named Reza Zarrab, who was represented by Trump's current lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
In June 2026, the government learned from the representatives of the United States Marshal’s Service (USMS) that they had concerns regarding the defendant’s physical wellbeing based on his refusal to consume adequate nutrition for an extended period and the resulting physical and physiological changes that put him at risk for long-term health consequences, including a potential risk of death. On June 16, 2026, the government learned for the first time that a protective order existed that prohibited the government from receiving medical records concerning Lakanwal’s treatment. The government has not seen that protective Order. As a result of that Order, the undersigned counsel has not had meaningful access to defendant Lakanwal’s medical records, and has received only limited summary information regarding defendant Lakanwal’s health status. The government learned this morning, July 9, 2026, that Lakanwal was transferred to [redacted] on an emergency basis on or around midnight for medical treatment necessary to preserve his life. The government contacted the Court and requested an emergency hearing on this matter; the Court held a hearing at 11:30 pm during which it heard representations from Michelle Peterson, counsel for defendant Lakanwal, and the undersigned counsel for the government. At that hearing, the Court concluded that it was necessary and appropriate for the undersigned attorneys to have access to the defendant’s medical records for the period commencing on July 8, 2026, including access to his treatment providers for the purpose of receiving health and diagnostic information. The government further submits that it is necessary and appropriate for the undersigned to have access to the defendant’s medical records for the duration of his current hospitalization so that it can litigate any issues with respect to the USMS’s continued duty to “provide for the safe-keeping of any person arrested, or held under authority of any enactment of Congress pending c…
A tweet from Kash Patel. I've put a pink box around the last paragraph (describing the FBI assisting local authorities) and put in eyes emoji. FBI Director Kash Patel @FBIDirectorKash Senator Lindsey Graham was a devoted public servant, a fierce defender of our nation, and a true patriot who dedicated his life to the people of South Carolina and the United States. Our prayers are with his family, loved ones, colleagues, and all those who knew him during this devastating time. The FBI is assisting local authorities and has made every necessary resource available. 3:06 PM · Jul 12, 2026 · 850.1K Views
Lindsey Graham answering a grand juror's question about why Trump kept claiming there was fraud. "I was convinced that there was no reasonable evidence that would keep me from certifying the election in the fraud bucket."
Graham died Saturday night “from a brief and sudden illness,” his office said in a statement. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement said.
@itamarbengvir Today, Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. Senator Lindsey Graham stood with Israel not because it was easy, but because he believed it was right. His unwavering support, courage, and moral clarity earned him the admiration of millions of Israelis. The State of Israel will always remember his friendship, his unwavering support, and his steadfast commitment to Israel’s security. Heartfelt condolences to his family and to the American people. May his memory be a blessing. 🇮🇱💔🇺🇸 7:25 AM · Jul 12, 2026 · 475.7K Views
He wrote: “My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. “I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. “I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.”
By Robert Jimison and Yan Zhuang July 12, 2026, 2:37 a.m. ET Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who served in the State Legislature and the House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate four times, has died, his office announced early Sunday. He was 71. He died of a “brief and sudden” illness on Saturday evening, his office said in a statement, without providing details. Mr. Graham was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, before being elected to the Senate in 2002. He was re-elected to the Senate in 2008, 2014 and 2020. He was serving as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. This is a developing story and will be updated. Robert Jimison covers Congress for The Times, with a focus on defense issues and foreign policy. Yan Zhuang is a Times reporter in Seoul who covers breaking news.
Bipartisan senators announce agreement with Trump administration on Russia sanctions By Morgan Rimmer Morgan Rimmer Jul 10, 2026 Sen. Richard Blumenthal, left, and Sen. Lindsey Graham speak at Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, during a press conference in May 2025, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, left, and Sen. Lindsey Graham speak at Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, during a press conference in May 2025, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Tetiana Dzhafrova/AFP/Getty Images/File Bipartisan senators announced an agreement with the Trump administration on Friday to move ahead with an updated Russia sanctions package, but it remains unclear if President Donald Trump will directly back the bill’s passage. The package would allow Trump to place heavy tariffs on imports from nations that import Russian oil, uranium and natural gas, with possible exceptions for countries that contribute to the Ukrainian war effort. Last summer, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal were pushing for the package. Trump signaled he was open to the idea and expressed disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attitude toward negotiations, but the administration did not come out in support of the bill.
This system has allowed Mr. Rubio to stop Venezuela’s most egregious corruption schemes. And it brings some benefits to the Venezuelan government, which uses the effective protection of the U.S. Treasury to receive revenues without being hounded by the numerous creditors seeking repayment of billions in unpaid debt.
Ashley Moody @AshleyMoodyFL Graham Platner’s baggage was known far and wide months ago. One of my opponents refused to condemn him. The other celebrated him. And national Democrats were happy to support him because they want control of the Senate to cram radical policies down the throats of Americans no matter the cost to our families. The only reason they’ve forced him out now is because he was losing in the polls. This can never happen in Florida. I need your vote. 1:53 AM · Jul 9, 2026 · 3,746 Views
Mr. Hunter would not name the more complicated security upgrades individually because they are considered classified. But other government officials have told The New York Times that this more complex work includes advanced missile defense systems and hardening of the plane’s wiring to protect it from an electromagnetic pulse, in case there is a nuclear strike. It is unclear whether such work was done to the Qatari jet. “In that time they had, they would be able to accommodate communications upgrades,” Mr. Hunter said, referring to vital security equipment that allows a president to be in contact at all times. “But not anything that would require significant structural work.” Mr. Hunter added: “To do a full Air Force One equivalent upgrade does require structural modifications.”
The pardon says that it applies to “individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.” 90 Fed. Reg. at 8331. Even assuming that the conduct Cole is charged with is “related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,” the pardon is expressly limited to people who had been “convicted of offenses” related to those events. Cole had not been convicted of the conduct at issue when the President issued the pardon; indeed, he was not charged until many months after the President’s proclamation. See ECF No. 1
A screen cap of a Benny Johnson tweet, posting a Polymarket post claiming, "USA projected to advance in tonight's match, after Balogun's ban was lifted" purporting to show a 54% chance the US advances. [I've marked that, "Bullshit stats creating false reality"] Benny writes, "Thank you, President Trump." [I've marked that, "Drooling sycophancy."] Benny's tweet is labeled, "Paid partnership." [I've marked that, "How Polymarket is like Russia"]
EU says Elon should not lie abt my blue check @emptywheel BREAKING: Donald Trump concedes that birthright citizenship is utterly critical for US success, pulls strings to protect Folarin Balogun!!! Will @stephenm resign on principle??
A Zombie Congress Is Threatening Trump’s Agenda Wave of defeated and discouraged House members creates new headaches for GOP leaders By Olivia Beavers July 5, 2026 5:00 am ET 242 Gift unlocked article Listen (6 min) House Speaker Mike Johnson speaking to reporters outside the House Chambers. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) with reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Quick Summary House Speaker Mike Johnson sent members home early after a GOP rebellion, led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, blocked a routine vote. View more WASHINGTON—A growing number of GOP lawmakers have little incentive to come to work or toe the party line, putting critical legislation in danger as Republicans lurch toward the midterms. Some are privately calling it the zombie Congress.
America250 adopted “350 for 250” as its motto around the time Trump retook office, a reference to the congressional mandate to include all 350 million Americans in the semiquincentennial celebration. Trump’s advisers began using a variation of the slogan—“250 for 250”—to promote the construction of a 250-foot-tall memorial arch by Arlington National Cemetery. The planned arch, which is yet to begin construction and is opposed by Democrats, has been included in promotional images for the Great American State Fair.
The calvary is coming, Mr. President! JANUARY 6th | Washington, DC http://TrumpMarch.com 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #MarchForTrump #StopTheSteal Mike Lindell and 9 others Kylie Jane Kremer @KylieJaneKremer · 15h I’m telling y’all that someone with an extreme case of TDS geoengineered this weather in DC. Same way they geoengineered Trump’s inauguration to be one of the coldest in U.S. history. People with TDS hate Trump more than they love America. Quote Ben Noll @BenNollWeather · Jul 2 D.C. will be hotter than 99 percent of the planet on Friday. Only parts of Africa's Sahara Desert, the Middle East, China's Gobi Desert and a few spots in the Desert Southwest will be hotter.
The Trump administration is demanding that American intelligence officials turn over the names of all foreign espionage targets, including suspected spies and potential recruits, to create a master list that some officials fear will be misused or compromise operations, according to people familiar with the matter. The effort by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has intensified in recent months, frustrating counterparts at the F.B.I. and C.I.A., who are skeptical of the claims that a master list is necessary to avoid inadvertent conflicts between agencies and to better track foreign intelligence threats in real time. The office was established in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks to streamline coordination among the intelligence agencies. Senior counterintelligence officials at the F.B.I. and the C.I.A. have so far resisted those demands, the people familiar with the matter said, and the effort has been mostly unsuccessful. Officials still cannot agree on the most basic details, including how a list of what are known as foreign intelligence threat actors would be created, maintained and kept secure, the people said.
According to a memo sent to all field offices and reviewed by CBS News, the Directorate of Intelligence requested "surge support" to Atlanta to assist in what it called FBI Director Kash Patel's "priority" investigation. The memo did not explicitly discuss the nature of the investigation, but multiple sources confirmed to CBS News the subject of the memo is the 2020 election probe in Fulton County. The memo calls on every FBI field office to assign analysts, seeking to reach a total of 260 analysts. Large field offices are being asked to contribute eight analysts each, while small and medium offices must dedicate between three and five analysts. They are being asked to review 708 records each, and complete the work by July 17, the memo shows.
Ted Cruz @tedcruz In a first-world country, you could turn on the A/C…. Quote Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor · 21h New York: it's hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool. Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you're not using, and unplug what you can. Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, Readers added context they thought people might want to know Ted Cruz's own state has made the same request on numerous occasions. texastribune.org/2015/08/12/abb… ercot.com/news/release?i… wfaa.com/article/news/s… Do you find this helpful? Context is written by people who use X, and appears when rated helpful by others. Find out more. 4:07 AM · Jul 2, 2026 · 3.8M Views
Nikki Haley @NikkiHaley Welcome to socialism Quote Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor · 21h New York: it's hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool. Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you're not using, and unplug what you can. Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, Readers added context they thought people might want to know In February of 2015 then South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley tweeted a similar energy conservation message on Facebook. facebook.com/share/1HySDDH9… Do you find this helpful? Context is written by people who use X, and appears when rated helpful by others. Find out more.
When an American registers to attend a Freedom 250 event—a celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday paid in part by taxpayer dollars—the name, location, and phone number they provide are deposited into a partisan data operation engineered to profile, score, and target voters, run by Brad Parscale, the President’s longtime digital strategist. The implications are far-reaching; a recent example includes the ticketing process to enter a free FIFA World Cup Fan Zone hosted by Freedom 250 on the national mall, marketed as a fan experience to bring Americans together to watch the World Cup.271 Thousands of unwitting fans, including D.C. residents, Americans visiting D.C. from other states, and international World Cup attendees unwittingly gave their personal information to a partisan political entity, potentially enabling future targeted marketing and campaign outreach by Republican campaigns.
Scotts Miracle-Gro’s investments have already borne fruit. The company serves as the “exclusive agent for the marketing and distribution of Roundup,” a line of herbicides that include glyphosate as the active ingredient.231 Glyphosate is a highly contested chemical that just had a victorious day in front of Trump’s hand-picked Supreme Court. After over a decade of lawsuits, the Supreme Court absolved the manufacturers of the product from the costs or potential loss of sales of having to place consumer safety warnings on the label, directly benefiting Scotts Miracle-Gro’s interest in continuing to market and sell Roundup.232 It remains to be seen what more in political access, goodwill or favorable treatment Scotts MiracleGro may expect in return for its efforts to curry favor with the President, and if the company will outperform the slipshod job performed at the Reflecting Pool and restore the once-verdant lawn
Separately, Meredith O’Rourke appears to be already actively soliciting foreign donations for the National Garden of American Heroes Foundation,187 a separate nonprofit that seeks to raise private funds for President Trump’s desired redevelopment of the East Potomac Golf Links into a Trump-style golf course, which has been bundled with a proposed sculpture garden. The “Contribution Instructions” sheet of a pledge agreement reviewed by Committee Democrats sets out detailed international wire instructions to Chain Bridge Bank, N.A., complete with SWIFT/BIC routing through a correspondent intermediary, Pacific Coast Bankers’ Bank.188 Chain Bridge Bank is a small national bank that, like many institutions of its size, appears to not be a direct member of the SWIFT network and can receive cross-border wires only when a foreign sender routes the funds through a U.S. correspondent intermediary—in this case, Pacific Coast Bankers’ Bank—which then forwards the wires domestically to Chain Bridge.189 It is possible an individual with access to the Chain Bridge account—such as Meredith O’Rourke or Abby Matthis, who are both listed as points of contact on the pledge agreement— configured the capability for this account and only then placed it before prospective donors. Despite Freedom 250’s claims it does not receive foreign money, a gift solicitation built—by its chief fundraiser—does not advertise an avenue for inbound foreign money unless foreign money is among the contributions it seeks. In addition, U.S. ambassadors are effectively competing to raise foreign money for Freedom 250.190 Solicitation forms bearing the “America250” name have gone to companies in Hong Kong, and fundraising dinners in Singapore have ended with thank-you notes stamped with the Freedom 250 logo.191 America250 and Freedom 250 have been treated as interchangeable in these appeals, with some announcements of corporate sponsorships bearing America250’s logo as other fundraising dinners tout the Freedom …
As funds flow from Freedom 250 to its chosen contractors, Freedom 250 has augmented its federal funding with private contributions. In doing so, it has put a price on access to the President himself. Through Meredith O’Rourke and her consulting firm, Freedom 250 has circulated bespoke sponsorship packages beginning at $500,000 and climbing above $10 million.175 In exchange, sponsors are promised tiered recognition that escalates from V.I.P. event access to speaking roles at the national Fourth of July celebration, private receptions, and—at the top of the menu—a “historic photo opportunity” with President Trump at a Freedom 250 event.176 The President has pursued significant fundraising opportunities since the beginning of his second term that have raised concerns with government ethics experts and good government groups.177 For example, the Campaign Legal Center has alleged in a recent complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s office of the District of Columbia that Deloitte, ExxonMobil, John Deere, Mastercard, Oracle, Palantir, and Penske failed to disclose donations made to Freedom 250 in their lobbying disclosure forms, despite being listed on Freedom 250’s website as corporate sponsors.178