Carter Johnston for The New York Times
FEMA Didn’t Answer Thousands of Calls From Flood Survivors, Documents Show
“Two days after the catastrophic floods in Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency did not answer nearly two-thirds of calls to its disaster assistance line. The agency had fired hundreds of contractors at call centers, according to a person briefed on the matter.”
Read more at New York Times
Philip Cheung for The New York Times
Federal judge blocks 'roving' immigration arrests amid Los Angeles crackdown
“A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s ‘roving’ immigration arrests amid its large-scale immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, saying aspects of the operation were unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ruled Friday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were conducting ‘roving patrols’ of the city and coordinating arrests without ‘reasonable suspicion’ that their targets were in the country illegally. Rather, she ruled, they are relying on improper factors — race, accent and line of work.
‘The factors that defendants appear to rely on for reasonable suspicion seem no more indicative of illegal presence in the country than of legal presence — such as working at low-wage occupations such as car wash attendants and day laborers,’ the Biden-appointed judge wrote in a 52-page opinion. ‘That is insufficient and impermissible.’
Read the latest at POLITICO
Appeals court throws out plea deal for alleged mastermind of Sept. 11 attacks
“A divided federal appeals court on Friday threw out an agreement that would have allowed accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to plead guilty in a deal that would have spared him the risk of execution for al-Qaida’s 2001 attacks.” Read More at AP News
Tillis freedom to ‘call balls and strikes’ hands GOP leaders fresh headache
BY AL WEAVER
© Greg Nash
“The decision by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to not seek reelection next year could give Republican leaders headaches as he looks forward to wielding his newfound political freedom.
Tillis announced his retirement amid the GOP’s dash to pass the party’s tax and spending package, having cropped up as a surprise “no” vote in the final weeks of negotiations.
Now, questions are swirling about what’s to come from Tillis, who had been a reliable ally of Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) during his tenure as Republican leader, as he faces the next year-and-a-half untethered from what was to be a tough electoral fight and free to speak his mind. That could spell trouble for leaders as they work to keep the conference united on government funding, judicial nominations and other top priorities.”
Read the full story here at The Hill
Democrats warn Trump’s DOGE cuts threaten government funding talks
BY ARIS FOLLEY
“Senate Democrats are warning the Trump administration's effort to claw back funds for foreign aid and public broadcasting programs threatens bipartisan negotiations to fund the government ahead of a September shutdown deadline.
Republicans are ramping up efforts to try to pass a package of more than $9 billion in funding cuts requested by President Trump last month. But the push faces staunch opposition from Democrats, who say the efforts by the executive branch to undercut previous funding decisions made on a bipartisan basis by Congress could further erode trust between the two sides in current talks.”
Read the full story here at The Hill
Rubio begins mass firings at State Department: Key takeaways
BY FILIP TIMOTIJA
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio began mass firings at the State Department on Monday, part of a reorganization plan to form a leaner foreign policy force that, he argues, will allow the United States to respond more nimbly by removing layers of bureaucracy.
The department sent reduction in force (RIF) notices Friday morning to about 1,100 civil servants and 250 foreign service officers stationed in the U.S., with plans to cut its workforce further.”
Read the full story here at The Hill
Dan Bongino fumes over Justice Department handling of Epstein files
BY BRETT SAMUELS
“Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is at the center of internal fighting in the Trump administration about the handling of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, leading to questions about Bongino’s future in his role.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill that Bongino is furious over the handling of the Epstein documents and has clashed with Justice Department leaders over the issue this week.”
Read the full story here at The Hill
Metadata Shows the FBI’s ‘Raw’ Jeffrey Epstein Prison Video Was Likely Modified
BY DHRUV MEHROTRA | 5-MINUTE READ
“There is no evidence the footage was deceptively manipulated, but ambiguities around how the video was processed may further fuel conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death.” [Wired]
1 big thing: Trump's migrant tightrope
Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos via Getty Images
“Under pressure from worried farmers and hotel owners, the Trump administration is launching a program to streamline issuing visas for temporary, migrant workers to try to make sure fruits get picked, meat is packed and lodgings are cleaned, Axios' Marc Caputo writes.
Why it matters: President Trump's immigration crackdown has put his administration between a MAGA rock and a special-interest hard place.
Farmers who rely on noncitizen workers — who make up as much as 40% of the agricultural labor market — are howling that Trump's mass deportation program is damaging the labor market, and could therefore threaten the food supply.
But Trump's MAGA base wants to ratchet up deportations, saying the administration shouldn't allow employers to incentivize illegal immigration by granting ‘amnesty’ to certain noncitizen workers.
Zoom in: Trying to balance those competing interests, the Labor Department has created the Office of Immigration Policy. It's designed to be a red-tape-cutting, one-stop shop to help employers get faster approval for temporary worker visas for noncitizen labor.
The new office won't help those who are in the country illegally to stay or get work visas — that's barred by current immigration law, officials said.
New visa recipients would have to have their paperwork completed in their home country before legally migrating to the U.S.
‘This is not amnesty. It's not amnesty lite,’ a senior administration official told Axios. ‘No one who is illegally here is being given a pathway to citizenship or residency.’
Between the lines: Trump has pushed the strongest, toughest and meanest immigration policies of any modern president. But his recent suggestions of leniency to farmers and key industries that have hired unauthorized workers have left MAGA hardliners suspicious.
Mark Krikorian, a vocal immigration restrictionist, said: ‘Any time someone says, 'This isn't an amnesty because ...' then it's an amnesty. If an illegal alien gets to stay, that's an amnesty.’
Zoom out: Because the agricultural industry has had so much unauthorized labor, it could take years to have a fully authorized workforce, even with the new Office of Immigration Policy's program.” [Axios]
Obama returns to fundraising circuit
Former President Obama waves to fans at an LA Clippers game in March. Photo: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images
“Former President Obama is joining DNC chair Ken Martin for a high-dollar fundraiser in New Jersey tonight, Axios' Stef W. Kight has learned.
Why it matters: It's Obama's first fundraiser since the party's devastating 2024 losses, and comes after a string of public headaches for the DNC leadership team.
The event comes ahead of New Jersey's gubernatorial and state legislative elections in November — viewed as an early bellwether for next year's midterms.
Outgoing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) and his wife Tammy Murphy are hosting the fundraiser, according to an invite obtained by Axios.
The ‘dinner and discussion’ will include Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
By the numbers: Obama raised $85 million for Democrats last cycle, his office told Axios.” [Axios]
EPA wades into "weather modification" debate
Photo: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images
“The Trump administration is working carefully to stamp out conspiracy theories about ‘weather modification,’ wading into a viral, recurring debate that reignited in the wake of Texas' deadly flooding, Axios' Zachary Basu and Dan Primack write.
Why it matters: Some Trump allies have amplified baseless claims that cloud-seeding or geoengineering caused the disaster, complicating the government's efforts to reassert scientific facts without alienating the MAGA base.
Geoengineering involves large-scale attempts to counteract the effects of climate change, such as reflecting sunlight or enhancing rainfall.
The industry has attracted significant investment in recent years. But there's no evidence that human technology played any role in the Texas floods.
The intrigue: EPA administrator Lee Zeldin released a set of online resources that claim to cover ‘everything the agency knows about the latest science, research and other information regarding contrails and geoengineering.’
The materials directly debunk common myths, including the idea that aircraft contrails are secretly dispersing chemicals (‘chemtrails’) and that the government is manipulating weather events.
But they do so in a way that echoes the language of skeptics — emphasizing transparency and public concern, rather than outright dismissal.” [Axios]
Secret Service's big changes
The cover of today's USA Today shows President Trump, his ear bandaged, at last summer's Republican National Convention. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
“Nearly a year on from the assassination attempt on President Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, the Secret Service announced major reforms designed to ensure ‘a tragedy like this can never happen again.’
The agency acknowledged there was ‘an operational failure that the Secret Service will carry as a reminder of the critical importance of its zero-fail mission,’ Axios' Rebecca Falconer writes.
The Secret Service said it has implemented 21 of 46 recommendations made by Congressional oversight bodies in the wake of the shooting, which was a year ago on Sunday.
Another 16 are in progress and nine are ‘addressed to non-Secret Service stakeholders.’
The agency suspended six U.S. Secret Service agents over their conduct around the assassination attempt.
In an interview to air Saturday night on Fox News, Trump told Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law, that he's ‘satisfied’ with the Secret Service investigation: ‘I have great confidence in these people. ... They had a bad day.’ Watch the clip.” [Axios]
INTERNATIONAL
Ukraine weapon workaround
President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at last month's NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands. Photo: Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images
“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' Marc Caputo, Barak Ravid and Dave Lawler.
Why it matters: This is a major policy shift from Trump as he grows increasingly disillusioned with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump had long rejected the idea of new arms packages for Ukraine in part to avoid becoming personally embroiled in the conflict.
The intrigue: Two administration officials denied the plans meant Trump would be directly arming Ukraine.
One source said the sales could include offensive weaponry, not just air defense support.
Between the lines: Trump continued to allow some arms shipments to Ukraine that were authorized under President Biden, but had not approved any new packages since taking office.” [Axios]
Trump goes maximalist on ... Canada
“President Trump has gone maximalist again on tariffs. Just like the last time, it appears the only thing that could stop him is a market meltdown, Axios' Madison Mills and Ben Berkowitz write.
Why it matters: Stocks seem very, very disinclined to stop the historic rally they've been on for the last three months.
Every few hours this week, Trump has thrown down another trade gauntlet.
He's told roughly two dozen countries via letter that he'll impose tariffs on Aug. 1. He announced last night that includes a 35% levy on Canada, a country from which the U.S. imports $412 billion in goods.
Our thought bubble: The surprise announcement about Canada is a tactic straight from Trump's trade playbook.
He goes from 0 to 100 with a massive threat on a tight deadline, to try to back the other side down. And it works! But it could also deeply disturb markets, particularly if the calendar gets closer to Aug. 1 without a deal.
The intrigue: His view on the reaction — and what really matters — is incredibly clear.
‘I think the tariffs have been very well-received. The stock market hit a new high today,’ Trump told NBC News' "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker in a phone call yesterday.” [Axios]
Unexpected fuel cutoff preceded Air India plane crash, preliminary report says
Atul Loke for The New York Times
“Indian investigators’ initial findings suggest that both engines stopped receiving fuel shortly after takeoff, but a final determination by the government’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau into the cause of the crash is likely more than a year away.”
Read more at Washington Post
Global war on ‘witch hunts’
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
“President Trump's criminal trials are behind him, but he's now crying ‘witch hunt’ on behalf of ideological allies overseas, Axios' Dave Lawler writes.
Why it matters: Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil — set to go into effect Aug. 1 — in part because of the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro for his efforts to overturn his loss in 2022, charges that mirror those Trump himself faced.
That's an extraordinary intervention in a friendly country's political and judicial processes, with tens of billions in trade at stake.
It's also not the first time Trump has weighed in on judicial proceedings against right-wing politicians overseas.
Zoom in: Last month, he decried the ‘INSANITY’ of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu having to juggle standing trial for alleged corruption with handling conflicts with Iran and Hamas.
Trump's Truth Social post about Netanyahu's trial included an implicit threat: ‘The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this.’” [Axios]
Fine Line
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio deplanes upon arrival at the Subang Air Base outside of Kuala Lumpur on July 10.Mandel Ngan/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Malaysia this week with an unenviable job: making nice with Southeast Asian powers at the same time that his boss was threatening them with punishing new tariffs.
Rubio was in Malaysia to meet with the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the group’s two-day regional security forum that convened high-level officials from around the world, including Russia and China. Rubio’s task was clear: Make friends, stress U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to the region, and make the case for why Washington is a better partner than Beijing.
The problem is that many ASEAN member countries—including Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Indonesia—may also soon face aggressive new U.S. tariffs, putting Rubio in an awkward position. Trump earlier this week sent a raft of letters to world leaders threatening tough new measures, enraging many governments and leaving others confused.
Rubio, for his part, attempted to distance himself from trade decision-making and framed the latest threats more positively. ‘I would say that when all is said and done, many of the countries in Southeast Asia are going to have tariff rates that are actually better than countries in other parts of the world,’ he said.
But his audience may not be so convinced, especially because Rubio only ultimately stayed in the region for around 36 hours—a sharply truncated version of the three-country tour that was originally planned. Rubio canceled his visits to U.S. allies Japan and South Korea in order to attend White House meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, though he did meet with Japanese and South Korean officials while in Malaysia.
That it was conflict in the Middle East—Netanyahu’s meetings in Washington focused mostly on U.S. efforts to secure a cease-fire in Gaza—that had pulled Rubio away from his longer planned Asia trip was likely not lost on the countries in the region. And in his remarks to the gathered ASEAN foreign ministers on Thursday, Rubio tried to assuage concerns that Washington was once again being distracted from focusing on Asia by concerns in other parts of the world.
‘I would say distraction is impossible,’ Rubio said. ‘This century, and the story of the next 50 years, will largely be written here in this region.’
While in Malaysia, Rubio also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and the two shared a ‘very constructive, positive meeting,’ Rubio said afterward.
When asked by a reporter whether Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping would soon meet, Rubio struck an optimistic tone. ‘The odds are high. I think both sides want to see it happen,’ he said. ‘I don’t have a date for you, but I think it’s coming.’” [Foreign Policy]
“Dire crisis. Israel and the European Union have reached a deal that would allow much-needed humanitarian aid to flow into the Gaza Strip, where more than 57,000 people have been killed since the war between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel severely restricts aid flows into Gaza on claims that Hamas siphons off supplies, which the United Nations and aid agencies dispute. Since March, no fuel has been allowed into Gaza—threatening humanitarian operations—and it was only in May that Israel decided to resume the flow of a ‘basic quantity’ of food into the territory.
‘This deal means more crossings open, aid and food trucks entering Gaza, repair of vital infrastructure and protection of aid workers,’ Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, said in a post on X. ‘We count on Israel to implement every measure agreed.’ EU foreign ministers must now approve the agreement, and then it will likely take several days to coordinate.
The agreement comes as an Israeli strike in Gaza killed 16 civilians—including 10 children and two women—who were waiting outside of a health clinic on Thursday. In just the last six weeks, the U.N. rights office has recorded about 800 killings in the vicinity of aid distribution sites and convoys.” [Foreign Policy]
“Trade war. Trump announced on Thursday a 35 percent tariff on Canadian imports starting on Aug. 1, throwing a wrench into ongoing talks between the two countries. Canada wouldn’t be the only country to face tougher U.S. measures: Trump sent many letters to world leaders outlining new tariff levels this week, including a 50 percent tariff on Brazil.
In his letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, which was posted to Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of having ‘financially retaliated’ with its own countermeasures and repeated unsubstantiated claims about Canada’s role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis. If Ottawa raises its tariffs on the United States, Trump said, that value would also be added to Washington’s 35 percent tariff. ‘These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country,’ he added.
Carney vowed to continue talks with Washington. ‘Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses,’ he said in a post on X. ‘We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1.’” [Foreign Policy]
“For decades, tourists visiting Canada’s Parliament have also made sure to visit a less official—but no less wonderful—local attraction: a colony of cats. The colony, which at one point had as many as three dozen members, lived by Parliament and was cared for by a small group of volunteers. Now, that tradition is ending, as the last member of the colony has passed away. Coal, a black cat with yellow eyes, died this month after battling cancer, according to a Facebook page for him. ‘He was a feline gentleman with a heart of gold,’ the page said.” [Foreign Policy]
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Tariffs become a big US revenue contributor
REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
“A first: U.S. customs-duty collections jumped in June, topping $100 billion for the first time in a fiscal year and producing a surprise $27 billion budget surplus for the month. The EU is awaiting a possible letter from President Trump outlining planned duties. Trump’s threat of a 50% tariff on copper imports is creating fresh misery for automakers. He ramped up tariffs on Canada as well as Brazil.” [Reuters]
“Crypto man: A venture calling itself the Aqua1 Foundation said it bought $100 million in Trump’s World Liberty Financial crypto business, but a review of public registries and other sources reveals almost nothing about the source of the money or the person named as its founding partner.” [Reuters]
Demand for some of Kraft Heinz’s core products—from macaroni and cheese to mayonnaise—has weakened.
PHOTO: BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS
Kraft Heinz is preparing to break itself up, a decade after an infamous merger Warren Buffett and Brazilian private-equity firm 3G Capital orchestrated.
“The plan is to spin off a large chunk of its grocery business ( read for free) into a new entity that could be valued at as much as $20 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. That would leave a company housing goods such as sauces and spreads like Heinz’s namesake ketchup. The company’s stock has underperformed since the megamerger, as consumer tastes changed. Shares closed up 2.53%.” [Wall Street Journal]
Walmart recalls 850,000 water bottles after two consumers suffer vision loss from ejecting lids
“Walmart is recalling about 850,000 stainless steel water bottles because the lid can ‘forcefully eject’ and unexpectedly strike consumers — resulting in permanent vision loss for two people to date.” Read More at AP News
MEDIA
Death threats over Texas flooding cartoon force museum journalism event to be postponed
“An event in support of local reporting was postponed after death threats against a journalist for his newspaper editorial cartoon about the catastrophic flooding in Texas, according to a union. An online fury erupted over an editorial cartoon in The Buffalo News by Pulitzer Prize-winner Adam Zyglis showing a man in a MAGA cap being swept away by the Texas floodwaters.” Read More at AP News
“Dan Balz — the legendary Washington Post political correspondent, and current author of "The Sunday Take" column — will leave the paper at the end of July after 47 years.
‘I've been extremely fortunate to have had such a marvelous home,’ Balz, who turns 8-0 next year, tells me. ‘I've learned from so many good and talented people, and I've seen and done things I never imagined when I started out.’
Balz is taking a buyout, as first reported by the media newsletter Breaker. ‘I want to see how the world looks from a new, different vantage point,’ Balz told Axios. ‘Farther out, I hope to keep an association with The Post that would include some writing.’” [Axios]
SPORTS
Why the Caster Semenya sex eligibility battle confounded sports for 16 years and still isn't over
“One of the most complex current issues in sports can be traced back to a track meet in Germany in 2009, when an unknown 18-year-old from South Africa blew away a field of the best female runners on the planet to win the world title.” Read More at AP News
FOOD AND DRINK
Don't pour that pickle juice down the drain. It's a cocktail darling
“Pickles and pickle brine have been an ingredient that mixologists — and chefs — have played with for a long time, but they’re finally getting a star turn in beverage menus around the world.” Read More at AP News
TRANSITIONS
David Gergen dies at 83. The consummate political insider held communications jobs under Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton.
“Gergen, a conservative-leaning centrist, helped craft and protect the image of four presidents as a senior White House communications adviser and held high-profile jobs in TV punditry and academia.”
Read the story at Washington Post