Occupy Banksters & Crony Capitalism & GREED

Gaza starvation widens MAGA's rupture with Israel
Axios | Tal Axelrod, Zachary Basu | 07/31/25

The reliably pro-Israel Republican Party is scrambling to contain a generational revolt over foreign aid, antisemitism and the true meaning of "America First."

Why it matters: Amid scenes of starvation in Gaza, the MAGA movement has become an unlikely epicenter of the national reckoning over America's relationship with Israel.

A GOP realignment - in tandem with Democrats' overwhelming disapproval of the war in Gaza - could threaten the foundation and future of America's decades-old alliance with Israel.

Driving the news: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a prominent voice for MAGA's grassroots base, became the first Republican member of Congress this week to call Israel's war in Gaza a "genocide." ... Read more

In the race against China, the US is losing
Politico | Ivo Daalder | 07/30/25

In the competition between China and the U.S., China is winning.

That isn't a conclusion many would have drawn six months ago, but now it’s inescapable.

What's different today is that since taking office, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has taken many steps that play directly into its adversary's hands, weakening its own ability to outcompete. And we will soon be at the point where this trend is irreversible.

For decades, China followed Deng Xiaoping's dictum to "hide your strength and bide your time." Unfortunately, most Western countries, led by the U.S., ignored the latter part of this admonition - that Beijing was biding its time - and instead focused on China as a huge new market for Western goods, services and capital. ... Read more

Trump's billion-dollar settlement spree
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Axios | Zachary Basu | 07/30/25

President Trump has extracted more than $1.2 billion in settlements from 13 of the most powerful players in academia, law, media and tech, according to an Axios analysis.

If finalized, a potential $500 million deal with Harvard would represent the largest scalp to date.

Why it matters: America's most elite institutions have largely succumbed to the Trump administration's cultural crackdown, opting to pay up - often to the tune of tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars - rather than fight back.

Trump officials frame the settlements as accountability for society's liberal power centers, which they say have been captured by leftist ideology, corrupted by DEI and complicit in antisemitism.

Critics say the deals - some of which include direct payments or pro bono legal work for Trump's pet causes - amount to legalized extortion by the federal government. ... ... ... Read more

Heat streaks are getting more common nationwide
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Axios | Alex Fitzpatrick | 07/30/25

Many U.S. cities now have more heat streaks on average each year compared to 1970, a new analysis finds.

Why it matters: Prolonged heat - as much of the U.S. has experienced this summer - is particularly hazardous to human health.

Extreme heat's effects on the body tend to be cumulative, and warm nights offer little reprieve for those without air conditioning.

Multi-day heat streaks are also challenging for power grid operators, given all the energy-intensive A/C use.

Driving the news: The average number of annual extreme heat streaks rose between 1970-2024 in 80% of the 247 U.S. cities analyzed in a new report from Climate Central, a climate research group. ... Read more

UK to recognize Palestinian statehood in September - unless Israel changes course
Politico | author | date

LONDON - Keir Starmer has committed to recognizing a Palestinian state ahead of September's United Nations General Assembly, Downing Street announced Tuesday.

The British prime minister told a special meeting of his Cabinet that "now was the right time to move this position forward" because of the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospects of a peace process.

He said that the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless the Israeli government takes "substantive steps" to end the crisis in Gaza and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution. ... Read more

Trump's "devil in the details" trade deals sow confusion
Axios | Courtenay Brown | 07/29/25

Trump's "announce first, details later" approach to trade deals has caught some global leaders off guard and led to contradictions about the billions of dollars the administration says foreign nations have pledged.

Why it matters: These are not traditional, word-heavy trade deals with text agreed to by all negotiators.

Instead, news of deals comes via flashy announcements with big numbers and little specificity, leaving global investors wondering about the durability of such frameworks.

What they're saying: "With several of the latest deals, the two parties seemed to offer divergent understandings of the details almost as soon as the agreement was announced," Evercore ISI's Sarah Bianchi wrote in a client note.

"All this means there is still much to be worked out in the months ahead and creates risks over the medium-term that misunderstandings could still emerge that jeopardize the tentative trade truces," Bianchi adds. ... Read more

Submarines | 60 Minutes | History | 1:13:45

What to know about civil commitment, Trump's new policy for homelessness
Axios | Josephine Walker | 07/28/25

President Trump's new executive order to combat homelessness encourages local governments to revive civil commitment, a process to place people with mental health issues in treatment facilities without their consent.

Why it matters: Involuntary civil commitment has historically been used as a preventative method to confine people before they harm themselves or others, and most frequently affects vulnerable groups such as LGBTQ+, people of color and people with disabilities, according to several studies.

Context: The order Trump signed Thursday calls for shifting homeless individuals into "long-term" institutions for "humane treatment" which the administration says will "restore public order."

The order directs officials to determine if federal resources can be used to ensure that those "with serious mental illness" are not released back into the public solely because government facilities lack enough beds to hold them.

The order also requires the Justice Department to evaluate homeless people arrested for federal crimes to determine if they are "sexually dangerous persons." ... Read more

Trump's tariffs start August 1, no extensions, Lutnick says
Axios | Ben Berkowitz | 07/27/25

There will be no more extensions on tariff deadlines, and they will go into force as scheduled on August 1, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday.

Why it matters: Since January, the world has gotten accustomed to President Trump announcing tariffs and then reversing them, pulling them back at the last moment, or pausing them shortly after going into effect.

Financial markets call it the "TACO trade" - "Trump always chickens out" - and it's helped fuel a historic surge in stocks since the spring.

Lutnick insists that's over.

What they're saying: "No extensions. No more grace periods. August 1, the tariffs are set. They'll go into place," Lutnick said on "Fox News Sunday."

He added, though, that more negotiations were possible — and deals could still be made - even after that deadline. ... Read more

Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, July 25, 2025 | Washington Week PBS | 07/25/25 | 26:46

Ghislaine Maxwell files Supreme Court brief appealing Epstein conviction
Axion | Marc Caputo | 07/28/25

Ghislaine Maxwell pressed ahead with an appeal to the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking to overturn her conviction on the grounds that she was unlawfully prosecuted for sex trafficking minors with Jeffrey Epstein.

Why it matters: The filing by Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in 2022, comes just three days after she met with a top Justice Department official tapped to re-examine the Epstein case.

The Trump administration has faced weeks of bipartisan backlash after reneging on promises to release all files related to the now-deceased sex trafficker.

MAGA activists have suggested that Maxwell, a British former socialite, could be the key to exposing new information about the alleged elite pedophile ring at the heart of Epstein conspiracy theories. ... Read more

We Went to the Town Elon Musk Is Poisoning | More Perfect Union | 06/25/25 | 17:07

I Live 500 Feet From A Bitcoin Mine. My Life Is Hell. | More Perfect Union | 07/24/25 | 21:09

Dollar weakness remains even amid trade deals
Axios | Madison Mills | 07/25/25

The trade deals keep coming, yet the dollar continues to weaken, down over 10% this year after the biggest first-half loss since 1973.

Why it matters: The greenback slump could be a sign that countries are now embracing de-dollarization: moving away from dollar-denominated assets as uncertainty about fiscal policy in the U.S. remains a headwind.

Mass de-dollarization is not just bad for the dollar. It can weigh on stocks.

What they're saying: "I check the dollar every morning the first thing when I wake up," Mohamed El-Erian, the former PIMCO CEO and current president of Queen's College, Cambridge, told Axios.

"Policy-induced uncertainty" is driving de-dollarization, he said. ... ... ... Read more

Trump's 'South Park' Problem
Politico | Calder McHugh | 07/25/25

South Park, which has aired since 1997 and just premiered its 27th season, has over the years become a boundary-pushing, comedic touchstone. It has mercilessly mocked political figures including Al Gore, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. It frequently offends viewers of all political stripes - among other things, it portrays the Devil as sensitive and emotionally mature and regularly critiques organized religion - and it remains an essential part of the American comedy landscape. Its creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, just signed a five-year deal with Paramount reportedly worth $1.5 billion. ... Read more

The PSA contains synthetic media | South Park | South Park Studios | 04/24/25 | 2:03

Relax, Guy | South Park Studios | 04/24/25 | 1:34

What are the Epstein files? All you need to know
Axios | Sareen Habeshian, Rebecca Falconer | 07/255/25

The Epstein files are the evidence gathered by law enforcement working on investigations into the late financier and convicted child sex offender, and his associates. That includes Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence in Florida after being found guilty of sex trafficking and other charges in 2021.

This collection of materials are referred to as the Epstein files, which includes the documents released by Bondi.

Among the documents that Bondi released were flight logs, a redacted contact book and masseuse list and an evidence list, but other records remain under seal.

More than 1,000 pages of documents were already unsealed by a federal court in January 2024 | 1324-epstein-documents-943-pages.pdf | 24254004-epstein-2nd-batch.pdf

... Read more

What news sources AI chat bots read
Axios | Eleanor Hawkins | 07/23/25

By the numbers: Muck Rack input more than 1 million realistic user prompts into ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude and analyzed the citations.

1. 96% of links cited by AI sit squarely within the purview of communications and corporate affairs, per the report.
2. 37% of inquiries cite external blogs or content (those not owned by the company or product targeted in the query) and 27% cite news stories produced by journalistic entities.
3. 9% cite owned content and government or NGO websites, 7% cite aggregators and 6% cite academic research.
4. Social media and marketing content each make up 2% of the results, while press releases make up 1%. ...

Behind the Curtain: Losing by winning
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Axios | Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen | 07/23/25

President Trump, in terms of raw accomplishments, crushed his first six months in historic ways. Massive tax cuts. Record-low border crossings. Surging tariff revenue. Stunning air strikes in Iran. Modest inflation.

Yet poll after poll suggests most Americans aren't impressed. In fact, they seem tired of all the winning.

Why it matters: Trump appears to be losing by winning. The more he does (including issues beyond his legislative wins), the more the general public, especially independents, shrug - or recoil.

This paradox is unfolding in what could be the very best chapter of his presidency, before tariffs push prices higher or midterms pose risks to his GOP majorities.

And it's being aggravated by the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which has exposed rare cracks in Trump's decade-old MAGA movement.

What the polls say: One poll is meaningless. But a bunch of credible polls, showing the same thing, are worth paying attention to. And almost all of them show big majorities opposed to provisions of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" ... and harsh immigration crackdown ... and high tariffs ... and pardons for Jan. 6 convicts ... and wild improvisation with Russia. ... Read more

Inside the wicked saga of Jeffrey Epstein: The arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell | 60 Minutes Australia | 2020 | 26:25

Sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell's extraordinary claims from prison | 60 Minutes Australia | 2023 | 20:21

Jordan Klepper Charts Trump's Long History With Epstein & Ghislaine Maxwell | The Daily Show | 07/15/25 | 12:46

Dershowitz: Maxwell is 'Rosetta Stone', would testify with immunity | CNN | 07/21/25 | 10:52

Trump admin releases MLK's files despite family objection
Axios | Russell Contreras | 07/22/25

Despite protests from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s family and the civil rights group he once led, the Trump administration has made public records of the FBI's surveillance of the slain civil rights icon.

Why it matters: The move pits President Trump's determination to release documents the government has kept secret for more than a half-century against the family's lingering pain over how J. Edgar Hoover's FBI spied on King and tried to intimidate and humiliate him.

It comes amid growing calls for Trump to release the Epstein files after his administration concluded that there is no evidence to suggest the disgraced financier was murdered or kept a "client list."

King's surviving daughter, Bernice King, referenced this in a post to X late Monday of a photo of her father with the comment: "Now, do the Epstein files."

Driving the news: Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard released on Monday over 230,000 pages of documents related to the 1968 assassination of MLK, the agency announced. ... Read more

Trump's soft-power retreat scrambles U.S.-China race
Axios | Zachary Basu, Dave Lawler | 07/17/25

President Trump has set a radical new course in the U.S.-China rivalry, ceding ground to Beijing in pursuit of a far narrower vision of America's role in the world.

Why it matters: Six months into office, the Trump administration has hollowed out the machinery of American soft power and retreated from key arenas where the U.S. has sought to blunt China's rise.

Some of it is strategic: an "America First" rejection of the institutions and norms Trump officials view as bloated, failed or captured by a liberal foreign policy establishment.

But some of it, critics warn, is shortsighted: focused more on scoring domestic political points than sustaining the long-term foundations of American exceptionalism. ... ... ... Read more

"The Price of Retreat"

China Gets More Airtime Around the World as Voice of America Signs Off

Trump escalates revenge campaign with new attacks on Schiff
Axios | Josephine Walker | 07/16/25

President Trump accused Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) of mortgage fraud on Tuesday, calling Schiff a "scam artist" who "needs to be brought to justice."

Why it matters: Trump's call for Schiff to be prosecuted is part of a larger pattern of the president seeking retribution against Americans who have spoken out against him.

What he's saying: Trump wrote on Truth Social that Schiff reported his primary residence incorrectly from 2009 to 2020, which the president called a "sustained pattern of possible Mortgage Fraud."

"Adam Schiff said that his primary residence was in MARYLAND to get a cheaper mortgage and rip off America, when he must LIVE in CALIFORNIA because he was a Congressman from CALIFORNIA," the president wrote. "Mortgage Fraud is very serious, and CROOKED Adam Schiff (now a Senator) needs to be brought to justice." ... Read more

The Trump-Epstein question that put the White House "in a tizzy"
Axios | Marc Caputo | 07/16/25

President Trump quickly dismissed a reporter's question Tuesday about whether Attorney General Pam Bondi had told him he was in the sex trafficker's files. But last week, a similar media inquiry had put the White House "in a tizzy" - and helped fuel mistrust between the Department of Justice and the FBI.

Why it matters: The fallout over the Epstein case continues to haunt Trump's team, 10 days after DOJ's about-face announcement that it wouldn't disclose any more details about Epstein, that he had no client list, and that he'd killed himself in prison and wasn't murdered.

That angered Trump's MAGA loyalists who - thanks in part to Trump and his aides - had been convinced the president would reveal all about Epstein and his alleged cabal of powerful pedophiles. Suddenly long-held conspiracy theories were fueled by new disappointment.

Inside the room: The blowback over DOJ's decision led to an intense shouting match in the White House last week between Bondi and the FBI's deputy director, Dan Bongino, as Axios first reported. ... Read more

Trump admin faces GOP blowback in Congress over Epstein
Axios | Andrew Solender, Kate Santaliz | 07/15/25

The simmering MAGA revolt over the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files threatens to spill over into the halls of Congress.

Why it matters: Some right-wing Republican lawmakers who have spent years investing political capital in the promise of a grand reveal are now trying to balance their loyalty to President Trump with placating their base.

"I don't think the American people are gonna move on that quickly, so I don't understand why they're hiding what they're hiding. ... This is a priority," Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) told Axios.

Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) said: "I think the American people think there's more to the story than what we're being told ... that there's just some things that don't pass the sniff test." ... Read more

MAGA's siege mentality shadows Trump's "Golden Age"
Axios | Tal Axelrod, Zachary Basu | 07/15/25

TAMPA, Fla. - Suspicion is rippling through the MAGA movement, clouding a historic run of conservative victories meant to lay the foundation for President Trump's "Golden Age."

Why it matters: Even at the apex of power, MAGA's populist base remains convinced that shadowy forces are working to unravel its every gain. Trump's recent actions - especially his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case - have only hardened those fears.

Driving the news: At Turning Point USA's Student Action Summit over the weekend, the mood among Trump's most loyal supporters was celebratory on the surface - but crackling with anxiety underneath. ... ... ... Read more

Behind the Curtain — Jensen vs. Dario: "There will be more jobs"
Axios | Mike Allen, Jim VandeHei | 07/14/25

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, bristling at Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's warning of a looming white-collar apocalypse, tells Axios that artificial intelligence will create vastly more and superior jobs.

Why it matters: The Huang vs. Amodei debate, playing out in exclusive interviews with us, captures a deep divide among AI experts over America's job market in a highly automated world.

Both of them agree we'll soon have AI that's smarter than humans - and will radically reshape how people work and companies operate. ... Read more

Grand Canyon lodge destroyed as wildfires threaten northern Arizona
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 07/14/25

The Grand Canyon Lodge was among "numerous" historic structures to burn as two wildfires in northern Arizona triggered evacuations amid hot, dry and gusty conditions, officials said Sunday.

The big picture: Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) on Sunday demanded an investigation in regards to the Dragon Bravo Fire that razed the historic lodge in the Grand Canyon National Park, noting on X that "the federal government chose to manage" that blaze that started with a lightning strike "as a controlled burn during the driest, hottest part of the Arizona summer." ... Read more

Jamie Dimon says market ignores red flags
Axios | Madison Mills | 07/11/25

Jamie Dimon is warning about "complacency in the market," as stocks near all-time highs while headwinds like tariffs and interest rates keep roaring.

Why it matters: Cracks are appearing in Wall Street's bullishness, with money managers telling Axios they agree with Dimon's sentiment: The market is ignoring red flags and mispricing risks of a slowdown.

Driving the news: Dimon said Thursday markets are "a little desensitized," adding that investors are underpricing the risk of rate hikes off the back of tariff-driven inflation, immigration policy and the increased deficit.

What they're saying: "Betting on the TACO trade today at current price levels is front-running the pain that has to happen in order for it to play out," Bob Elliott, chief investment officer at Unlimited Funds, tells Axios. ... Read more

Trump plans to send Ukraine weapons via NATO allies
Axios | Marc Caputo | 07/11/25

President Trump is planning to sell weapons to NATO allies with the understanding that they will then provide them to Ukraine, three sources familiar with the discussions tell Axios.

Trump seemed to confirm those plans in an interview with NBC News on Thursday.

Why it matters: This is a major policy shift from Trump as he grows increasingly disillusioned with Russia's Vladimir Putin. He had long rejected the idea of new arms packages for Ukraine in part to avoid becoming personally embroiled in the conflict. ... Read more

Trump faces MAGA trust crisis over Epstein debacle
Axios | Tal Axelrod, Zachary Basu | 07/10/25

Top MAGA influencers warn the Trump administration is bleeding trust over its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, and that the president is drifting out of step with the movement he built.

Why it matters: The MAGA base was blindsided by the Justice Department's conclusion that the notorious sex trafficker died by suicide in 2019 and had no "client list." Days after the initial shock, Trump's insistence on moving on is fueling a deeper sense of betrayal.

"Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?" Trump asked incredulously during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting after a reporter pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi on the findings.

"I can't believe you're asking a question about Epstein at a time like this," he added, calling it a "waste" of time and a "desecration."

Driving the news: The chorus of MAGA outrage has only intensified since the Justice Department and FBI released a memo on Sunday finding no evidence that Epstein was murdered, had a "client list" or had blackmailed powerful figures. ... Read more

Minutes show Fed officials divided over tariff-driven inflation
Axios | Neil Irwin | 07/10/25

Federal Reserve officials debated whether tariff-driven inflation in the months ahead will be a one-time event or an ongoing problem, according to minutes of their last policy meeting released Wednesday afternoon.

Why it matters: The central bank is leaving interest rates paused for now, but the ultimate judgment over whether inflation is temporary or lasting will shape their willingness to cut rates in the months ahead.

Driving the news: Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting that concluded June 18 show a key disagreement - whether the policymakers should look through any bump in prices due to new import taxes, or worry more about ongoing inflation.

The minutes state that while "a few participants noted that tariffs would lead to a one-time increase in prices and would not affect longer-term inflation expectations, most participants noted the risk that tariffs could have more persistent effects on inflation." ... Read more

4 takeaways from Trump NOAA nominee's confirmation hearing
Axios | Ben Geman | 07/10/25

The appearance of Neil Jacobs, President Trump's NOAA nominee, before a Senate panel on Wednesday was fairly revealing by the standards of these kinds of things.

Why it matters: NOAA is a major climate research agency, and its National Weather Service plays a huge public safety role - especially as climate change intensifies some extreme weather events.

And NOAA is under extra scrutiny following the deadly, catastrophic flooding in Texas.

1. He defended proposed budget cuts.
2. Jacobs sees room for NWS improvement. He praised NWS' performance in the Texas flooding, echoing others in the meteorology world.
3. Jacobs emphasized NWS staffing.
4. He got in and got out on climate change.

... Read more

AI is changing the world faster than most realize
Axios | Erica Pandey | 07/09/25

The people building AI are saying - subtly and unsubtly - that the technology is advancing more rapidly than the vast majority of people realize.

Why it matters: It's likely we won't know how and how much AI will change the way we live, work and play until it already has.

"The internet was a minor breeze compared to the huge storms that will hit us," says Anton Korinek, an economist at the University of Virginia. "If this technology develops at the pace the lab leaders are predicting, we are utterly unprepared."

Zoom in: Pay attention to what the people closest to the technology are saying.

"[T]he 2030s are likely going to be wildly different from any time that has come before. We do not know how far beyond human-level intelligence we can go, but we are about to find out," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in a recent blog post. ... Read more

New Mexico governor declares emergency over deadly flooding
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 07/09/25

"The flash flooding occurred Tuesday afternoon when heavy monsoonal rains fell on burn scar areas from last year's South Fork and Salt fires, creating dangerous conditions that led to rapid water rise throughout the village," according to the Villa of Ruidoso.

Between the lines: Research shows climate change is causing extreme precipitation events to be more intense and frequent as a warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor, providing added moisture and energy to storm systems. ... Read more

Trump and Netanyahu expected to meet tonight to discuss Gaza
Axios | Barak Ravid | 07/08/25

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to meet this evening to discuss efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, two Israeli officials tell Axios.

RIGHT

If you believe in this, I have some swampland I can sell you in the Everglades (AA) ... Read more

Recently surfaced 9/11 evidence includes video of Capitol, airplane sketch | 60 Minutes | 05/08/25 | 13:03

Musk's America Party has helpers - and challenges
Axios | Brittany Gibson | 07/08/25

aElon Musk's push to form a new political party is fielding offers for help from Andrew Yang's Forward Party, the Libertarian Party and several consultants, Axios has learned.

"I'm in touch with Elon and his team, and I've said to them, 'Look, anyone who wants to challenge the duopoly has a friend in me,' " Yang said in an interview with Axios.

Why it matters: Musk has said he wants his America Party to be a political disruptor in the 2026 midterms — a likely outlet for the billionaire's push to cut the nation's runaway debt and boost sustainable energy.

And, perhaps, strike back at President Trump and those Republican lawmakers who left Musk feeling betrayed by backing Trump's "big beautiful bill," which is projected to balloon the nation's deficits by more than $3 trillion over the next decade. ... ... ... Read more

Trump says he made no progress on Ukraine in his call with Putin
Axios | Barak Ravid | 07/04/25

President Trump said on Thursday he made no progress in his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine.

Why it matters: The call took place amid a stalemate in Trump's efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine and two days after the U.S. paused weapons shipments to the Ukrainian Army.

Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said the issue of U.S. weapons supply to Ukraine didn't come up during the call between Putin and Trump.

Trump told reporters on Thursday before boarding Air Force One on his way to Iowa that the U.S. hasn't paused weapons supply to Ukraine, but "we have to make sure we have enough for ourselves." ... Read more

How the GOP spending bill will fund immigration enforcement
Axios | April Rubin | 07/04/25

The big picture: The bill, which will go to Trump's desk by his July 4 goal, allocates more than $100 billion to ICE and border enforcement through September 2029.

While the funding runs until 2029, federal departments are not required to spend the money evenly each year.

The legislation makes ICE the largest federal law enforcement agency, per the Brennan Center.

Zoom out: The existing annual budget for ICE was about $8 billion. ... Read more

Madre Fire explodes in size to become California's biggest this year
Axios | Rebecca Falconer | 07/04/25

A wildfire in California's San Luis Obispo County exploded in size Thursday, triggering evacuation orders and sending smoke plumes southeast into Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

The big picture: The massive Madre Fire has surpassed January's destructive Los Angeles-area wildfires to become California's largest this year, as much of the state faces hot, dry conditions that raise wildfire risks ahead of the July Fourth holiday.

By the numbers: The Madre Fire ignited near State Route 166 on Wednesday and had grown to 35,530 acres by Thursday lunchtime local time, per Cal Fire.

The fire had swollen to 52,592 acres and was threatening 50 structures at 10% containment by the evening. ... Read more

New push for national AI rules likely after state ban fails
Axios | April Rubin, Maria Curi | 07/03/25

The demise of a controversial proposal in Republicans' budget bill that blocked state-level regulation of artificial intelligence is fueling fresh pressure for federal action, advocates told Axios Wednesday.

Why it matters: Congress' reluctance to set national AI rules for privacy, safety and intellectual property rights has left states to forge ahead with their own rules.

Driving the news: Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and some of his allies in the administration fought until the last minute to keep an industry-backed 10-year ban on state-level regulation in the budget bill. They failed - for now. ... ... ... Read more

Israel steps up deadly bombardment of Gaza before ceasefire talks
TheGuardian | Jason Burke | 07/03/25

Israel has escalated its offensive in Gaza before imminent talks about a ceasefire, with warships and artillery launching one of the deadliest and most intense bombardments in the devastated Palestinian territory for many months.

Medics and officials in Gaza reported that about 90 people were killed overnight and on Thursday, including many women and children. On Tuesday night and Wednesday the toll was higher, they said. Casualties included Marwan al-Sultan, a cardiologist and director of the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza, who died in an airstrike that also killed his wife and five children.

In all, about 300 people may have been killed this week and thousands more injured, according to the officials. ... Read more

New NOAA document spells out further deep Trump cuts
Axios | Alex Fitzpatrick | 07/02/25

A new NOAA document sheds further light on the Trump administration's proposed cuts and changes for the weather and climate agency.

Why it matters: The proposed budget would gut federal climate research efforts and spending at a critical moment in the fight to understand and address human-driven climate change.

Driving the news: Most notably, the proposal would eliminate NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), which performs and coordinates climate research.

Some of OAR's functions would be transferred to the National Weather Service, but others would be cancelled. ... Read more

Climate Scientist Michael Mann on Deadly Heat Domes Around the World | DN | 07/01/25 | 15:08

Our latest artificial intelligence reports | 60 Minutes | 06/07/25 | 1:20:22

Trump's National Security Council is Flailing
Politico | Nahal Toosi | 07/02/25

Fewer meetings, more top-down demands and worries some officials may go rogue are upending the system.

When the Pentagon recently launched a review of a landmark security pact with Australia and the United Kingdom, the move blindsided many key officials elsewhere in the U.S. government.

The decision, it turns out, was a unilateral move by the Pentagon championed by its policy chief Elbridge Colby. The official goal of the review is to see if the pact, AUKUS, which involves selling nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, is in line with President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda.

But many officials at the State Department, the White House-based National Security Council and others who are tasked with making the many-layered agreement a reality weren't told in advance that the review would happen or what its parameters were. Many of their counterparts in Canberra and London were caught off guard, too.

The episode - described to me and my colleagues Jack Detsch and Paul McLeary by three people familiar with the situation - is an example of how dysfunctional the national security policymaking process has become under Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who in early May became acting national security adviser. ... Read more

Inflammatory Bezos Wedding Is Just Begging the World to Tear Down the Elite | The Daily BEast | 07/01/25 | 5:29

How the Rich Develop Un-Human Relationships with Rob Larson | Chris Hedges | 06/30/25 | 15:47

Lisa Murkowski slams the brakes on the GOP megabill
Politico | Lisa Kashinsky | 07/01/25

Senate Majority Leader John Thune's ability to pass the “big, beautiful bill” is hinging on Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

The Alaska senator has been the subject of an intense whip effort by GOP leaders over the past couple of hours as they try to offer her reassurances on Medicaid and food assistance. Thune, Finance Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso talked to Murkowski on the floor for roughly an hour overnight. Thune and Murkowski huddled briefly in his office, and they were mum on details when they emerged shortly before 4 a.m.

Just moments ago, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that proposed SNAP carve-outs for an expanded list of states including Alaska are compliant with the Byrd rule. But the parliamentarian ruled a provision that would have boosted federal payments for Medicaid in Alaska and four other states is noncompliant, according to a person granted anonymity to share the decision.

Murkowski is also among the Republicans who have been pushing an amendment to undo the rollback of clean-energy credits under the Biden-era climate law. ... Read more

Trump says DOGE may "go back and eat Elon"
Axios | Avery Lotz | 07/01/25

President Trump said Tuesday that DOGE could investigate Elon Musk, the latest indicator that his patience with the Tesla CEO is running thin.

The big picture: The two men have engaged in a war of words in the past 24 hours, with Musk taking to X to vent his objections to the president's "big, beautiful bill" and the estimated $3.3 trillion it would add to the national debt.

Trump posted to Truth Social overnight that DOGE may need to take a "good, hard look" at Musk's companies, and he doubled down on the notion when he spoke to reporters Tuesday.

"We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon," he said before boarding Marine One. ... Read more

What to know about the DOJ revoking citizenship of naturalized Americans
Axios | Jason Lalljee | 07/01/25

The U.S. Department of Justice has begun to prioritize stripping naturalized Americans of their citizenship when charged with crimes, according to a recent memo.

Why it matters: It ramps up the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, which it has expanded to target, deport and detain legal permanent residents and citizens.

Driving the news: The DOJ directed attorneys to prioritize denaturalization in cases where naturalized citizens commit crimes, per the memo.

The DOJ calls for "civil denaturalization" in the case of "war crimes," "extrajudicial killings," "human rights abuses," and for those "convicted of crimes who pose an ongoing threat to the United States," as well as "terrorists." ... Read more