Happy Thursday. Isn’t August recess glorious? 🌞
In today’s issue:
- DC residents heckle authorities
- World readies for Trump-Putin summit
- Trump: 25 percent chance Putin meeting unsuccessful
- Wholesale inflation spikes
- Taylor Swift breaks the internet
🚓 IN WASHINGTON, DC
The new militarized zone:
President Trump’s Washington, D.C., takeover has begun. FBI Director Kash Patel said 45 arrests were made in the nation’s capital overnight. “29 immigration-related, 16 tied to the violent crime surge, and 3 firearm seizures,” Patel posted on X.
And a group of protesters heckled law enforcement officers near the 14th Street NW corridor, where agents had set up a vehicle checkpoint. Protesters held up signs that read, “Go home, fascists” and “Get off our streets,” according to The Associated Press.
Some details about the 14th Street checkpoint: NOTUS’s Anna Kramer reports, “Police have set up a checkpoint and appear to be stopping every single car on 14th st NW, between W+V. Some cars are being pulled over after being stopped. Some police are wearing ‘HSI police’ vests (Homeland Security Investigations)” 📸 Photos
National Guard vehicles were spotted near the National Mall early Thursday, per NewsNation.
Trump ripped into D.C. last night: He bashed the city as one of the “highest rates of crime in the world,” arguing it is higher than the mayor says it is. And this morning, he promoted a U.S. Marshals Service post highlighting their night operations in the District.
You know how I said Trump can only take over D.C. police for 30 days?: Well, Trump signaled Wednesday that he would ask Congress for an extension beyond those 30 days.
➤ HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE MAN WHO THREW A SANDWICH?:
A man allegedly threw a sandwich at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent Sunday. Well, he was charged with a felony for the incident.
📹 Watch the video– warning, there is some sharp language.
➤ TIDBIT — SEN. MULLIN SAYS HE DOESN’T ‘BUCKLE UP’ IN D.C.:
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told Fox News on Wednesday that he doesn’t “buckle up” when driving around Washington, D.C., for fear of being carjacked.
➤ RELATED READS:
Washingtonian: “My Life Is Not a Political Football”: How Community Leaders in DC’s Neighborhoods With the Most Crime Are Reacting to Trump’s Takeover
The Washington Post: Congress tried to control D.C. police in 1989. The results were disastrous.
Politico: Donald Trump Took Over DC’s Police. Why Is the City’s Mayor So Zen?
🐻 IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Alaska will be the epicenter of the universe tomorrow:
All eyes are on the 49th state, where President Trump’s high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to happen Friday. Trump has described this meeting as the start of the peace process with Ukraine. If not, Trump says Russia will face “consequences.”
How does Trump think it will go?: He told Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade that he believes there is a “25 percent chance” Friday’s meeting is *not* successful.
If the meeting *does* go well: Trump floated a follow-up summit involving Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He said he has three potential locations in mind, including Alaska.
What to expect: Trump and Putin will have a one-on-one meeting, followed by a joint press conference, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News this morning.
Other preparations happening today: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London to discuss expectations for the Alaska meeting.
➤ RELATED READS TO FEEL PREPARED:
The New York Times: Why Putin Thinks Russia Has the Upper Hand
The Washington Post: Even before Alaska summit, Putin is redrawing global order to his liking
The Atlantic: Vladimir Putin Could Be Laying a Trap
CNN: Ahead of summit, Trump questions what’s changed about Putin
The Wall Street Journal: The Secret Channel Russia and Ukraine Use to Trade Prisoners of War
📈 NEWS THIS MORNING
Wholesale prices, comin’ in hot:
“Wholesale prices increased in July at the quickest pace since February, as economists are keeping a sharp eye on inflation data amid President Trump’s trade war,” reports The Hill’s Tobias Burns.
“The 3.3 percent yearly increase — which blew past economists’ expectations — puts the Federal Reserve in a tough position, as the central bank faces pressure on both sides of its mandate to keep prices low and employment as high as possible.”
Combine that with the July jobs report: “The surprisingly weak July jobs report showed that employment conditions are worsening, but upward-moving prices mean the Fed will have to negotiate stagflationary concerns in the short term.”
Read Burns’s reporting: ‘Wholesale inflation spikes, putting Fed in tricky position’
What does this mean for interest rates?: The New York Times’s Colby Smith reports that “the Federal Reserve is poised to lower interest rates in September. But signs of stickier inflation could limit how much relief officials can ultimately provide to borrowers.” Read: ‘Fed Faces High Bar for Big Cuts Despite White House Pressure’
❤️🔥 THE TALK OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Taylor Swift broke the internet:
Taylor Swift made her podcast debut Wednesday, appearing on her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast. She rarely does media appearances these days, so it was fascinating to hear her talk candidly for nearly two hours about her life. Here are some of the moments getting the most attention:
❤️🔥 She revealed the track list of her new album: It’s coming out Oct. 3 and will have 12 songs. 📹 Watch her announce the songs
❤️🔥 She posted photos on her social accounts: 📸Photos from the album
❤️🔥 She explained the backstory of buying her masters: It involved her mom and brother meeting with the private equity firm that owned them. 📹 Watch
❤️🔥 How she and Travis met: “This dude didn’t get a meet and greet [at her concert] and he’s making it everyone’s problem,” Swift joked. 📹 Watch the clip
❤️🔥 Comparing her job to Travis’s: “On paper, we actually have a very similar job. Our job is to entertain people for three-plus hours in NFL stadiums,” Swift said. “When I’m there it’s called a dressing room. When Travis is there, it’s called a locker room. For me, it’s called a rehearsal, for him, it’s called a practice. For him, it’s called his coach, for me, it’s my mom.”
Tidbit: Jason Kelce posted seven minutes after the podcast premiered: “Oh my god, there’s already 976k watching this live, what in the actual f—.” 15 minutes later, he updated that figure to 1.2 million.
^ As of 12:30 p.m., the podcast had 10.3 million views on YouTube. Forbes notes this broke the record for the “New Heights” podcast.
COMING UP
The House and Senate are out. 🌴 President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST)
1 p.m.: Trump delivers remarks from the Oval Office. 💻 Livestream
🐝 INTERNET BUZZ
🍊 Celebrate: Today is National Creamsicle Day.
👋 AND FINALLY…
Because I want to keep the August recess vibes strong, enjoy watching this donkey indulge in a sweet treat.
