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The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the 12:30 Report newsletter SubscribeIt’s Tuesday. It’s Prime Day, folks. Are you eyeing anything specific? ?I’d love to know! If you’re looking for inspiration, here’s a list of the best Prime Day deals.
In today's issue:
Trump assembles Cabinet Says Putin threw a lot of 'bulls--- at us' Texas flood deaths top 100 Trump pledges to send Ukraine weapons Impostor using AI to impersonate Rubio TSA will nix shoe removal policy?️ NEWS THIS MORNING
A meeting of the MAGA minds:
President Trump has assembled his Cabinet today with a lot to discuss. His press conference has been very newsy — and it’s still happening. ? Watch it live
? Texas: Trump kicked off his meeting by mentioning the devastating fatal flash floods in Texas. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the heartbreaking details of visiting a Camp Mystic cabin where victims stayed and meeting with their families. Trump said he will travel to Texas on Friday but stressed he doesn’t want his visit to get in the way of recovery efforts.
The incident has increased scrutiny on the Trump administration’s cuts to weather and disaster agencies.
? Trade: Trump then pivoted to his newly unveiled tariffs.
“The big money will start coming in on Aug.1. I think it was made clear by the letters sent out yesterday,” Trump said, referring to the sent new tariff letters sent to Japan, South Korea and 12 other countries, giving them until Aug. 1 to cut a deal with the U.S. If not, they will be slapped with a tariff of at least 25 percent.
Keep in mind that Trump had postponed most tariffs for 90 days. That extension expires Wednesday, so this new Aug. 1 deadline is meant to get the ball rolling again.
Will Trump extend the deadline again? Trump said yesterday that the deadline was “not 100 percent firm,” but then insisted today there would be “no extensions.”
? Ukraine: A reporter asked Trump about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “We get a lot of bulls--- thrown at us by Putin,” Trump said. “It’s turned out to be tougher,” Trump said about to war.
For context: Trump announced on Monday that his administration would send Ukraine more weapons, reversing his decision last week to halt shipments of some missiles and munitions to Kyiv. Last week’s decision sparked backlash from those who support Ukraine.
The New York Times reports that Ukrainians are appreciative of the support but are skeptical of the president’s U-turn on the Russia-Ukraine war.
What else was on Trump's mind?
The Iran bombing: Trump pushed back on reports that the U.S. striking Iran didn’t fully neutralize their nuclear program. Trump called a CNN reporter who reported on the story “a scammer.” “I like to watch CNN,” Trump said. “You learn from the enemy.”
The media: “It’s hard to have a really successful country if you have a corrupt media — and we really have a corrupt media. … I mean why would you want to have open borders, criminals pouring into our country? Why would you want to have men playing in women’s sports?"
? Coverage of Epstein files: Trump expressed exasperation at questions about disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein after the Justice Department announced Epstein did not have a “client list” and confirming he died by suicide.
"Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years. You're asking — we have Texas, we have this, we have all of the things. And are people still talking about hits guy? This creep? That is unbelievable,” Trump said after a reporter asked Attorney General Pam Bondi about the DOJ announcement.
?️ Follow today’s live blog
➤ ALSO HAPPENING TODAY:
Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington. He had dinner with Trump last night and ? just metwith Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). He’s scheduled to meet with a bipartisan group of senators this afternoon.
⛑️️ IN TEXAS
The Texas floods death toll rises:
At least 104 people, including 28 children, are dead from the catastrophic flash floods in Texas after the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in less than an hour. Rescue crews are working around the clock on their fifth day to find additional victims.
What’s the latest?: Texas officials held a press conference this morning to give an update on the situation. Since Friday, they have searched 26 river miles, made roughly 444 rescues and 30 recoveries — deploying two helicopters with hoist teams, 12 drone teams, 10 K-9 units, 15 airboats and more. ? Watch this morning’s most recent update
? Photos of the flood
The big debate: There are swirling questions and finger-pointing over the weather forecasts and how victims weren’t warned about the potential danger. The Trump administration recently made cuts to the nation's weather and disaster funding, sparking increased scrutiny over the systems used for warnings and preparations.
The Hill’s Rachel Frazin published a very helpful explainer on the funding cuts and whether they contributed to the loss of life in Texas.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called for an investigation into “the scope, breadth, and ramifications of whether staffing shortages at key local National Weather Service (NWS) stations contributed to the catastrophic loss of life and property during the deadly flooding.” But President Trump insisted staffing cuts didn’t have an effect on the incident.
This is worth your time: ‘Texas floods shine spotlight on Trump’s weather and disaster cuts’
➤ WAYS TO HELP TEXAS FLOOD VICTIMS:
Here’s a list of where you can donate to flood relief efforts.
➤ MORE READS:
The Wall Street Journal: How a Flash Flood Turned Camp Mystic Into a Disaster Zone
The Washington Post: FEMA maps show Texas camps adjacent to or partly inside high-risk flood zones
The New York Times: Trump Hires Scientists Who Doubt the Consensus on Climate Change
Politico: Why Texas’ floods are a warning for the rest of the country
☎️ OTHER NEWS
Yikes:
The Washington Post’s John Hudson and Hannah Natanson report that an impostor pretending to be Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been using an AI-generated voice to contact government officials and foreign ministers.
Who has this impostor contacted?: Three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress
The individual has not been identified, but the State Department told the Post an investigation is underway.
Read their reporting: ‘A Marco Rubio impostor is using AI voice to call high-level officials’
Our most-read story today:
The Hill’s Alexander Bolton reports that Senate Republicans are not happy with how President Trump treated Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) over his opposition to the “big, beautiful bill.”
Excerpt: “Tillis is highly regarded among colleagues as a team player focused on getting results, and many Republicans thought he would have had the best chance of keeping the North Carolina Senate seat in GOP hands.”
“Senate Republicans are expressing disappointment over Tillis’s sudden retirement announcement, which came after Trump tore into him on social media and publicly solicited other Republicans to run for North Carolina’s Senate seat in 2026.”
Read Bolton’s full reporting: ‘Senate GOP not happy with Trump beatdown of Tillis’
➤ OTHER QUICK HITS:
The IRS will now allow churches to endorse political candidates to their congregations — while still being registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit. Read more Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang says he has been in touch with tech billionaire Elon Musk over Musk’s new third party.COMING UP
The House is out. The Senate is back today. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST)
2 p.m.: State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce briefs reporters. ?Livestream
3 p.m.: The Senate meets. ?Today’s agenda
? INTERNET BUZZ
? Celebrate: Today is National Raspberry Day and National Chocolate with Almonds Day.
? Big news for airport travelers!: NBC News reports that the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) will no longer require travelers to take off their shoes through security. Keep in mind that TSA hasn’t confirmed this yet.
? AND FINALLY…
Let’s all make sure this giraffe knows how dapper he looks wearing a hat.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Trump bashes Putin 'bulls---', 'corrupt' media in Cabinet meeting )
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