It’s Monday. We have officially surpassed the six-month mark of President Trump’s second term. How does everyone feel about his first six months? That’s a loaded question, but I would to know your thoughts. Let me know here.
In today’s issue:
- Trump urges Thune to cancel August recess
- Lawmakers confront Epstein scandal
- Trump vs. Harvard in court today
- Trump denies more WSJ reporting
- Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ becomes a viral meme
🌻️ ON CAPITOL HILL
‘Salt air, and the rust on your door, I never needed anything more’ 🎵:
The House and Senate are both in session this week before the House breaks away for August recess. The Senate is a week behind the lower chamber — senators still have another Washington work week before *leaving for their annual break.
*But there’s always an asterisk: Trump wants senators to work through August. He is urging Senate GOP Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to cancel the Senate’s August recess to confirm his “incredible nominees.”
But remember, August recess is the time for Republicans to tout the “big, beautiful bill” to constituents and claim victory.
What is hanging over Congress’s sprint to recess: The Jeffrey Epstein saga. The Hill’s Mychael Schnell reports that the controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein case is poised to dominate the conversation on Capitol Hill this week. On one hand, MAGA World wants the files to be released. But on the other hand, President Trump wants the saga to be dropped.
There could be a vote this week on a resolution to call for the release of the Epstein files, though that resolution would be nonbinding.
Related analysis, via The New York Times: ‘How Trump Deflected MAGA’s Wrath Over Epstein, at Least for Now’
What else is happening on Capitol Hill this week, via Schnell.
➤ FUN TIDBIT:
One year ago today, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer was enjoying a “Wolf Spritzer” cocktail in D.C. when the news broke that then-President Biden would drop out of the presidential race.
TBH, I can’t imagine a fall without a government shutdown threat:
🍂 Fall — the season of pumpkin spice lattes, apple crisp, chilly mornings, feisty negotiations over government funding and cozy nights. 🍂
Republican lawmakers are already worried they may be headed for a government shutdown later this year due to the bad blood caused by the bruising “big, beautiful bill” and rescissions package negotiations.
To pile on — the White House may have more demands on the way: White House budget director Russell Vought said the White House is planning to send more spending cuts to Capitol Hill for Republicans to pass. But that may be too big of an ask after several months of controversial demands.
Keep in mind — Republicans *need* Democrats here: Republicans can’t pass a government funding package on their own. And there isn’t much goodwill from Democrats. “[A GOP] senator acknowledged that Democrats are furious after getting steamrolled on the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act and the rescissions package.”
If this feels early to be speculating: After this week, the House and Senate won’t be in session at the same time until September (!)
Read Bolton’s explainer of the Senate dynamics right now: ‘Republicans fear Washington headed for shutdown after bruising spending fights’
Later: The Hill’s Jonathan Easley will explore how midterm politics are taking shape as Congress prepares for their scheduled recess in today’s Evening Report. Click here to sign-up and get it in your inbox
➤ THE 5 SENATE SEATS MOST LIKELY TO FLIP IN 2026:
North Carolina, Georgia, Maine, Texas and Michigan, per Al Weaver’s latest assessment in The Hill.Read Weaver’s reasoning
➤ TOMORROW:
In The Movement, The Hill’s Emily Brooks will explore three major fights on the right to keep your eye on through the end of the year. Click here to sign-up and get it in your inbox
⚖️ IN THE WHITE HOUSE
The Wall Street Journal has more tea:
The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent talked President Trump out of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Read the WSJ report: ‘How Bessent Made the Case to Trump Against Firing Fed Chair Powell’
Trump is unsurprisingly not happy with this story. He fired off a Truth Social post bashing the reporting. “Nobody had to explain that to me. I know better than anybody what’s good for the Market, and what’s good for the U.S.A,” Trump wrote. “If it weren’t for me, the Market wouldn’t be at Record Highs right now, it probably would have CRASHED! So, get your information CORRECT. People don’t explain to me, I explain to them!”
Bessent then bashed the “leakers” who spoke with the Journal. He told CNBC the “leakers … only have partial information. More of Bessent’s reaction
Keep in mind: Trump is already on the warpath against the Wall Street Journal. He sued the newspaper on Friday after it published a story detailing an alleged letter Trump sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for his 50th birthday. 🔎 Read the lawsuit
A judge ruled against Trump:
“A federal judge ruled the Trump administration violated federal law by taking down a public website that showed how funding is apportioned to federal agencies, ordering its reinstatement,” reports The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld and Aris Folley.
The ruling: “U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled Monday that removal of the online database overseen by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) violated legislation passed by Congress, which requires OMB to make apportionment decisions publicly available within two business days.”
Read more on the case: ‘Judge rules Trump administration broke law in takedown of public funding tracker’
Trump vs. Harvard:
Harvard University is battling the Trump administration in court today over the federal government’s pause of billions of dollars in funding for the school.
The Trump administration’s argument: “The Trump administration has argued it has the authority to pull the funds after determining the university has violated the civil rights of its Jewish students by failing to properly act against antisemitism on campus. The government also argues this court is not the proper venue for this dispute.”
Harvard’s argument: The university argues the government is violating the university’s First Amendment rights.
What’s unclear: Whether there will be a ruling on the case today. But even if there is, we should expect any ruling to be appealed by the other side.
Read more on the case, via The Hill’s Lexi Lonas Cochran
➤ FASCINATING STAT ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE’S NONCOMPLIANCE:
The Washington Post calculated that Trump officials have been accused of defying a third of judges’ rulings against the administration.
The gist: “A comprehensive analysis of hundreds of lawsuits against Trump policies shows dozens of examples of defiance, delay and dishonesty, which experts say pose an unprecedented threat to the U.S. legal system.”
Read: ‘Trump officials accused of defying 1 in 3 judges who ruled against him’
📰 OTHER NEWS
Should ICE agents be allowed to wear masks?:
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been under increasing scrutiny due to its agents wearing masks to conceal their identities.
Well, ICE acting Director Todd Lyons told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that his agents may continue wearing masks.
From Lyons: “I’ve said it publicly before, I’m not a proponent of the masks. However, if that’s a tool that the men and women of ICE to keep themselves and their family safe, then I will allow it,” he said.
COMING UP
The House and Senate are in. President Trump and Vice President Vance are in Washington. (All times EST)
12:30 p.m.: Trump and Vance have lunch together.
5:30 p.m.: A Senate vote to end debate on a nomination. 📆Today’s agenda
6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆Today’s agenda
Tonight: Stephen Colbert’s first episode of “The Late Show” since his cancellation was announced. Read CNN’s Brian Stelter’s primer: “What will Colbert say?”
🐝 INTERNET BUZZ
🍩 Celebrate: Today is National Junk Food Day.
💋 Don’t pull a ‘Coldplay kiss cam’: The CEO of Astronomer has resigned over the awkward kiss cam moment during Coldplay’s Boston concert. The whole saga has become quite the internet meme. My personal favorite reenactment is from the Phillies’ mascots. 📹 Watch the clip
📦 Amazon has been quietly raising prices: A Wall Street Journal analysis found that Amazon has quietly raised prices on low-cost products after pledging to keep them low during the president’s trade war. Meanwhile, Walmart has cut prices. 📊Check out these graphics showing the price hikes
🫖 Ellen jumped the pond: Former talk show host Ellen DeGeneres says she has permanently moved to the United Kingdom. Why? Because of President Trump.
👋 AND FINALLY…
Did you know that donkeys love Peeps, because I certainly did not!
