It’s Monday. Today marks a year since the Republican National Convention kicked off in Milwaukee, just after the first assassination attempt on President Trump, leaving everyone on edge. If you’re curious about that day, our previous report may be worth a look.
In today’s edition:
- Trump is addressing two significant Russian threats
- Tariffs loom for countries engaging with Russia
- Disturbing new reports about Camp Mystic
- Many flood survivors are still waiting for responses
- Epstein’s saga is splitting opinions in MAGA circles
At the White House 🚨§
Trump gives Russia 50 days—what’s next?
President Trump is escalating his stance against Russia as part of efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Frustrated with President Vladimir Putin, he made two notable announcements:
1) Secondary tariffs: Trump plans to enforce 100% secondary tariffs on nations trading with Russia unless a ceasefire with Ukraine is achieved within 50 days. “We’re quite upset,” Trump informed reporters. Interestingly, he mentioned that his 100% threat is considerably lower than what Congress is pushing for—500% tariffs.
2) European weapon purchases: Trump stated that European nations will continue buying U.S. arms to support Ukraine. “In short, we’re producing the most advanced weapons to be sent to NATO,” he remarked alongside NATO’s executive director, Mark Latte.
Yes, that Latte—he referred to Trump as “daddy” weeks back. 😅 Just for context, he later tried to clarify that comment.
Were you expecting these announcements? Washington seems to have rallied around Trump regarding his “major statement” about Russia.
💬Stay tuned for today’s live blog
💻Catch Trump’s comments here
➤ What Trump remarked during his announcement:
Trump shared he spoke with Melania Trump about Russia: “I let her know—I talked with Vladimir today. It was a good conversation,” he recounted, to which she replied, “Oh, really? Another city was just hit?” 📹 I elaborated on it.
Trump’s take: “I think this could be a chance for peace,” he noted 📹 during his announcement.
➤ A small note – curious about the renovations in the Rose Garden? Work began in June to renovate the Rose Garden as per Trump’s request, involving replacing grass with gravel. Alex Gangitano posted a photo of the work today. 📸 Take a look.
⏱ In Capitol Hill
“I won’t take back my calls!”
Republicans are aiming to reclaim billions in federal funding this week, complicating matters in the Senate.
Here’s the situation: The Senate plans to discuss a bill called the retirement package this week, with a Friday deadline looming. The House has already given it the green light.
The dynamics are tricky. Some Republican senators are uneasy about potential funding cuts to public broadcasting and global health initiatives. Trump has warned those who might vote against it that they risk losing his support.
Concerns from prominent senators: Susan Collins (R-Maine), chairing the Senate Budget Committee, and other members are apprehensive about cutting programs already earmarked through bipartisan efforts.
Widespread worries: Alexander Bolton indicated, “A handful of Republican senators are concerned that senior GOP members may grant Trump undue influence, permitting him to shut down agencies or impose heavy tariffs at will.”
Read Bolton’s report: “GOP leaders face a standoff with Republicans over funding cuts backed by Trump.”
What else is happening in Capitol Hill this week? Read more from Michael Schnell.
🔴 On the ground in Texas
New insights on the devastating flood:
Details have emerged regarding the flash floods that caught many off guard early on July 4th, particularly affecting Camp Mystic in Central Texas.
The Washington Post published an update today about what transpired, which contributed to the flood’s severity. The camp director, Dick Eastland, received a flood warning at 1:14 am under “life-threatening” conditions but did not initiate evacuations until 2:30 am.
Crucially, the National Weather Service alerts did not mandate evacuation, and interviews highlighted issues with cell service. Other camps also delayed evacuations, but Camp Mystic faced heightened risk. While they had a speaker system, it was rendered useless without power.
A camp counselor shared a heart-wrenching account of the night. It’s truly disturbing.
Excerpt: “As a native Texan, [camp counselor Ainslie Bashara] has witnessed summer storms and this felt intense. The lightning lit up the cabin as if it were fireworks… and then our reality hit.” She noticed the clock: 1:58 am, hearing distress in nearby cabins where younger campers were screaming.
What about the FEMA response?
The New York Times reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not respond to nearly two-thirds of calls from flood victims seeking disaster assistance.
Why? It seems that “a lack of responsiveness emerged following the dismissal of hundreds of contractors at the call center, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity.”
The timeline: The contractor was let go on July 5th, and Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Noem introduced new rules requiring her personal approval for expenses over $100,000, along with a delay in renewing contracts.
Percentage of FEMA calls answered, according to the timelines:
- July 5th: 7% of calls
- July 6th: 8% (the first day following contractor dismissal)
- July 7th: 15.9%
- July 10th: Noem renewed the contract on this day.
Noem stands by her response: She denied claims of delayed assistance in Texas, telling NBC’s Meet the Press that “the call center has been fully staffed and responsive.”
📰️ Other news
Jeffrey Epstein’s saga creates rifts in Trump’s support:
President Trump is scrambling to distance himself from the fallout over convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but his efforts to downplay the conspiracy theories backfire.
The administration concluded that Epstein didn’t have a robust client list and was not murdered in prison. However, these findings have only led to intensified scrutiny and numerous outstanding questions.
A reporter confronted Attorney General Pam Bondy last week as Trump interjected about the Department of Justice’s findings before she could respond.
Last weekend, trying a new angle, Trump praised Bondy for her efforts, inviting her to join him at the FIFA Club World Cup alongside Charlie Kirk.
Yet, the inquiries kept mounting. Far-right activist Laura Rumer is calling for a special consultant to investigate how Trump’s ally, Epstein’s case, was managed. She expressed her doubts in a late-night Politico conversation, indicating that she believes Bondy hasn’t been transparent or properly dealt with the matter.
Tomorrow: In the Movement newsletter, Emily Brooks will explore how the Epstein situation is impacting Republican strategies for the midterms. Sign up to get it delivered to your inbox.
In connection, check out this piece by the Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board: “Now Trump says he wants to forget Jeffrey Epstein, urging MAGA to abandon the conspiracy theories he and his allies propagated.”
Democrats are also pushing for the release of files. Manager Locanna (D-Calif.) has called on House Republicans to demand the Trump administration disclose the complete “Epstein File.” Representative Marc Veasey (D-Texas) announced he would introduce a resolution for this release.
Is Bessent about to surpass Rubio for most jobs?
There’s chatter suggesting that President Trump might replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Tobias Burns reported that this shift could redirect attention from politics to Wall Street.
Is it feasible? Burns has explored whether it could be possible for someone to hold both positions, noting that while no law forbids it, compromising the Federal Reserve’s independence could heavily impact the economy, particularly regarding inflation.
Read Burns’ report: “Could Bessent be both the Secretary of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Chair simultaneously?”
It’s almost here
The House and Senate sessions are upcoming, with President Trump in Washington. (All Times EST)
noon: Trump will attend a luncheon at the White House Dining Room. 💻Watch live
2pm: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will be the inaugural guest on GOP strategist Scott Jennings’ new radio show. This will be covered by Emily Brooks.
5:30pm: Two Senate votes are scheduled: one for judicial confirmations and one to close debate on another nominee. 📆Here’s today’s schedule
6:30pm: The House will hold its first and last votes. 📆Today’s Agenda
Wednesday: Hill and News Nation will host their inaugural Hill Nation Summit, featuring top leaders in Washington. Speakers include: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Noem, White House senior trade advisor Peter Navarro, and others like Ted Lew (D-Calif.), and former DNC co-chair David Hogg. 🎤Check out the complete speaker list📝Request attendance
🐝 Trending online
🧀Today’s celebration: It’s National Mac and Cheese Day!
Elmo’s account hack: Over the weekend, Elmo’s X account was compromised, leading to hackers posting offensive content. Details from USA TODAY.
👋 Lastly…
To lift your spirits, enjoy this clip of a dog reacting to the news of a new addition to the family.
