The Latest: Texas Democrats prevent state redistricting by leaving the state
After dozens of Democrats left the state, the Republican-dominated House was unable to establish the quorum of lawmakers required to do business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made threats about removing members who are absent from their seats. Democrats counter that Abbott is using 'smoke and mirrors' to assert legal authority he doesn't have.
In California, Democrats encouraged by Gov. Gavin Newsom are considering new political maps that could slash five Republican-held House seats in the liberal-leaning state while bolstering Democratic incumbents in other battleground districts. The move is intended to undercut any GOP gains in Texas, potentially swinging House control and giving Democrats a counterweight to Trump on Capitol Hill.
In rejecting jobs report, Trump follows his own playbook of discrediting unfavorable data
When the coronavirus surged during Trump's first term, he called for a simple fix: Limit the amount of testing so the deadly outbreak looked less severe. When he lost the 2020 election, he had a ready-made reason: The vote count was fraudulent.
And on Friday, when the July jobs report revisions showed a distressed economy, Trump had an answer: He fired the official in charge of the data and called the report of a sharp slowdown in hiring 'phony.'
Trump has a go-to playbook if the numbers reveal uncomfortable realities, and that's to discredit or conceal the figures and to attack the messenger — all of which can hurt the president's efforts to convince the world that America is getting stronger.
'Our democratic system and the strength of our private economy depend on the honest flow of information about our economy, our government and our society,' said Douglas Elmendorf, a Harvard University professor who was formerly director of the Congressional Budget Office. 'The Trump administration is trying to suppress honest analysis.'
Defending Texas GOP's mid-decade redistricting, Trump says 'We are entitled to five more seats'
President Trump defended Texas Republicans' decision to redraw the state's congressional map mid-decade, pointing to Democratic-led states where he says Republicans are underrepresented.
'They did it to us,' Trump said in a TV interview Tuesday.
But in many of the states Trump referenced — including California — partisan lawmakers are not in charge of drawing district lines.
During the same interview, Trump also lashed out at Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who welcomed Texas Democrats to his state after they left to block a vote on the new map. Trump called Pritzker 'probably the dumbest of all governors.'
Trump says 'I'd like to run' for president again
Touting his 2024 win and 'the best poll numbers,' Trump told CNBC that 'I'd like to run again.'
But asked by the hosts if he will, Trump replied, 'Probably not.'
The back-and-forth came as Trump heralded his 2024 win in Texas, a record he said 'they say won't be beaten unless I run again.'
And Trump threatens to raise tariffs on India within 24 hours
Trump said on CNBC that higher tariffs could be coming for India.
Last week, Trump said the U.S. said it would impose a 25% tariff on goods from India, plus an additional import tax because of India's purchasing of Russian oil.
'I think I'm going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours because they're buying Russian oil, they're fueling the war machine,' Trump said Tuesday. 'And if they're going to do that, then I'm not going to be happy.'
The 25% tariffs were part of a flurry of trade activity that included a series of executive actions regarding Brazil, copper and shipments of goods worth less than $800, as well as a reduced 15% tax on imports from South Korea, including its autos.
Trump threatens eventual 200% tariffs on pharma
The U.S. president said imported pharmaceutical drugs could eventually face tariffs as high as 200%.
'We want pharmaceuticals made in our country,' Trump said in the CNBC interview.
Trump said tariffs on pharmaceuticals will be 'initially small,' but that he would hike it to 150% or 200% over the subsequent year and a half.
The president also said he would announce tariffs on semiconductors and computer chips.
Trump says EU will pay 35% tariffs if $600B investments don't come through
Trump told CNBC hosts that 35% tariffs will kick in with the European Union if they don't make good on promised investments in U.S. goods.
The president was asked what 'teeth' were in deals to force European officials to make good on their pledges.
Trump initially said the EU was paying $650 billion but then rounded the figure down to $600 billion.
'We're a rich country again,' Trump said, adding that the $600 billion investment can go in 'anything I want.'
Trump floats 'Kevin and Kevin' for Fed chair
The president said he was considering four people for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's replacement.
Among the top on his list are his current economics director, Kevin Hassett, and former Fed governor Kevin Warsh.
'I think Kevin and Kevin, both Kevins are very good,' Trump said during an interview on CNBC Tuesday morning.
He said two other people were in consideration. Not one of them: current Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has indicated to Trump that he wants to stay where he is.
'It'll be one of four people,' he said. 'We're going to make a decision soon.'
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The Hill
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Trump on seeking third term: ‘Probably not'
President Trump said Tuesday he would 'probably not' seek a constitutionally prohibited third term. 'No, probably not,' Trump said with a chuckle when asked about the idea on CNBC's 'Squawk Box.' 'I'd like to run. I have the best poll numbers I've ever had,' Trump added. The president and some of his allies have repeatedly floated the idea of seeking a third term. At times, those comments have been dismissed as a joke, though Trump has at other points appeared more serious about the idea. 'People are asking me to run. I don't know, I never looked into it. And they do say there's a way you can do it, but I don't know about that,' Trump said earlier this year. The 22nd Amendment prohibits an individual from being elected to more than two terms as president. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) in January proposed an amendment to the Constitution that would effectively allow Trump to vie for another term in the White House by creating a carve-out for those who served nonconsecutive terms to run for a third time. The proposal has essentially no chance of passing Congress. While many Democrats have waved away Trump's comments as a distraction from kitchen table issues, the president's refusal to acknowledge his legitimate defeat in the 2020 election has sparked fears that he may not leave office in 2029 when his current term ends. Some political strategists have suggested that Trump's talk of a third term also helps keep a lid on chatter about the 2028 presidential race, taking the spotlight away from the president's administration.
Axios
a minute ago
- Axios
Early data shows major homicide drops in 2025 so far
Homicides declined in major U.S. cities — by more than 50% in some communities — during the first six months of the year, according to new data from an organization of law enforcement executives. Why it matters: The stats are the latest signs that violent crime in America is falling from the COVID crime wave, and that drop appears to be accelerating during President Trump's first months in office. The big picture: Violent crime ticked up early in President Biden's term, but reports show it's dropped significantly since then as law enforcement agencies responded to the pandemic surge and adopted more detailed recordkeeping. The recent downward trend in crime also counters Trump's false claims that immigration had sparked rising crime nationwide — a reason he gave for his mass deportation plan. By the numbers: Reports from 68 law enforcement agencies showed a 19% drop in homicides in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). An Axios analysis of the MCCA data found that Denver, Honolulu, Orlando, Portland and Tampa all had a 50% or more decrease in homicides during that period. Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Louisville, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Seattle all had declines in homicides of more than 30%. The intrigue: Aurora, Colorado — a city Trump repeatedly and falsely singled out as being overrun by Venezuelan immigrant gangs during the 2024 election — saw a 16% drop in homicides. Phoenix, another city Republicans claimed was besieged by violent crime because of undocumented immigrants, had an 11% decline in homicides during the first six months of this year. The data from MCCA's self-reported agencies included New York City in this report. Its previous reports didn't have New York City, which saw a 27% drop in homicides. Yes, but: Some communities did see a jump during this period. Boston experienced a 143% surge in homicides during the first six months of 2025. Cincinnati, El Paso, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Mo., and Milwaukee also saw increases, the Axios analysis found. Zoom in: Overall, violent crime appears to be falling in every category. Rape was down 9%, robbery decreased 18% and aggravated assaults fell 10%. What they're saying: "President Trump is delivering on his promise to Make America Safe Again — and the results speak for themselves," White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston told Axios. "The safety of the American people is President Trump's top priority, and he's taking decisive action to protect our communities, including removing dangerous illegal aliens from our streets." The other side: "The only thing the Trump administration deserves credit for is attempting to kneecap Baltimore's progress," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott's office said in a statement to Axios. Baltimore saw a 23% decline in homicides. "Earlier this year, the Trump Department of Justice cancelled more than $800 million in violence prevention grants." The mayor's office credited the city's Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan and investments in new parks, playgrounds, rec centers, schools and libraries. "These historic lows are the result of a comprehensive public safety strategy that treats gun violence as a public health issue." Zoom out: The quarterly reports from MCCA typically have been a good measure of trends that are reflected in the annual FBI crime data released a year later. What we're watching: Trump has said he will tie federal grants to local police departments based on a requirement that they participate in his plans to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.
The Hill
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Bacon: Nebraska GDP down 6 percent under Trump
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