Pamela Stevenson, the top Democrat in the Kentucky House, launches campaign for the US Senate
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
17 minutes ago
- CBS News
Trump signs rescissions bill clawing back foreign aid, NPR and PBS funding
Washington — President Trump signed legislation to claw back $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding, the first time in decades that Congress has approved a president's request to rescind previously approved funding. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said Thursday that the package was "officially signed." Both the Senate and House passed the legislation, known as a rescissions request, in overnight votes last week before a July 18 deadline. Each chamber ran into different hurdles in getting it over the finish line ahead of the deadline, after which the funds would have had to be spent as Congress originally intended. The bill targets roughly $8 billion for foreign assistance programs, including the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID. The package also includes about $1 billion in funding cuts for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports public radio and television stations, including NPR and PBS. Though all but two Republican senators ended up supporting final passage in the upper chamber, some said they had reservations about doing so, especially because they had not received details from the administration about how the broader cuts would impact specific programs. Two major points of contention were funding for a global AIDS prevention program and radio and broadcast stations in rural and tribal areas, which play a critical role in communicating emergency alerts and other information to residents. The final version of the package removed $400 million in cuts to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, also known as PEPFAR, in an effort to appease some critics. The administration promised to find funding elsewhere to alleviate the cuts to the rural stations to win over others. Two House Republicans also opposed its passage in the lower chamber. Republicans said they expect it will be the first of multiple packages to claw back funding that they have characterized as "waste, fraud and abuse." Any future request is sure to spark another battle with lawmakers, some of whom have criticized the legislative body for giving up its budget oversight and ceding to the president's demands.
The Hill
19 minutes ago
- The Hill
Intel, Epstein investigations grip Washington
Evening Report is The Hill's p.m. newsletter. Subscribe here or using the box below: IT'S INVESTIGATIONS SEASON in Washington, as the GOP steams ahead with probes into the Intelligence Community (IC) and subpoenas fly in search of new information tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the formation of a new task force to investigate Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard 's claims of IC abuses around the Russian election interference investigations that swamped President Trump 's first term in office. Trump's intelligence chief has released a trove of newly-declassified documents in recent days that she says are evidence the IC manufactured and manipulated intelligence to create the narrative that Russia interfered in the election to boost Trump and hurt Democrat Hillary Clinton. Gabbard does not dispute that Russia sought to sow chaos in the election by using social media. However, she says senior officials in former President Obama 's administration ignored intelligence that ran contrary to the narrative that Russia wanted Trump elected. And she says those officials relied on politicized intelligence to investigate Trump and peddle allegations of Trump-Russia collusion to the media. Gabbard has turned her findings over to the DOJ for possible criminal referrals for former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey. 'We will investigate these troubling disclosures fully and leave no stone unturned to deliver justice,' the DOJ said in a statement. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are calling for a special counsel to be appointed to probe whether Obama aided in the alleged effort, as Gabbard claims. 'For the good of the country, Senator @JohnCornyn and I urge Attorney General Bondi to appoint a special counsel to investigate the extent to which former President Obama, his staff and administration officials manipulated the U.S. national security apparatus for a political outcome,' Graham posted on X. Trump has taken to accusing Obama of treason and seditious conspiracy, provoking a rare rebuke from the former president's office, which called the claims 'outrageous' and 'bizarre.' Clapper told CNN that he's lawyered up and ready to fight. 'It's patently false and unfounded,' Clapper said, citing a bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report that found Russia interfered to boost Trump. The news media has largely dismissed Gabbard's claims. EPSTEIN SUBPOENAS FLY Republicans and Democrats are teaming up to push for more transparency in the Epstein case, even as Trump calls on his party to drop it and move on. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee this week approved a subpoena for Epstein's former associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence in a Tallahassee federal prison for aiding Epstein in child sex trafficking. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell on Thursday afternoon, a source told NewsNation's Libby Dean. Democrats, who are agitating for more transparency on the Epstein case, are nonetheless skeptical of the DOJ's motives in pursuing new information from Maxwell. 'Trump sending his personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell stinks of high corruption and conflict of interest,' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) posted on X. Meanwhile, a House Oversight subcommittee approved several subpoenas, including one instructing the DOJ to turn over material related to the Epstein case. Republican Reps. Nancy Mace (S.C.), Scott Perry (Pa.) and Brian Jack (Ga.) joined all Democrats on the panel in pushing the vote across 8-2. The vote was more palatable for Republicans because it also approved subpoenas for several high-profile Democrats and other figures, including former President Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former FBI Director James Comey, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former Attorney General Merrick Garland and former FBI Director and special counsel Robert Mueller. In addition, an amendment passed to include the release of all communications between former President Biden and his administration officials on the Epstein case. This comes after The Wall Street Journal published a new story saying Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump in May that his name appears multiple times in the files, along with many other high-profile individuals. The president is suing the Journal over an earlier story claiming he once sent Epstein a 'bawdy' birthday card. Trump has been photographed with Epstein and the two ran in the same social circles, but the president says they had a falling out years ago. 'The fact is that the President kicked him out of his club for being a creep,' White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement. 'This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media, just like the Obama Russiagate scandal, which President Trump was right about.' ELSEWHERE… Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain answered questions in a private interview with the House Oversight panel as part of an investigation into Biden's mental acuity and use of an autopen. Klain is the first former Biden aide to answer questions. Three other former Biden officials called before the committee invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said Klain was 'fairly responsive' to the panel's questions. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called Klain 'very credible' and said he was 'fully cooperative.' 💡 Perspectives: • Racket: The sins of the 2017 Intelligence Community assessment. • MSNBC: Obama's patience wears thin in response to Trump's hysterics. • The Liberal Patriot: Today's non-progressive progressives. • Townhall: Columbia University surrenders. • Trump-Obama feud erupts over Russia interference allegations. • Democrats to Obama: Don't get in the mud with Trump. • GOP dysfunction over Epstein leaves Senate GOP angry with House. • These 11 Republicans are backing the Khana-Massie Epstein measure. • House GOP moves to establish long-delayed Jan. 6 committee. CATCH UP QUICK Here are five things to know about the deal reached between the Trump administration and Columbia University. Kaiser Permanente will pause gender-affirming surgeries for patients younger than 19 years beginning next month. A second court ruled Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship still cannot go into effect anywhere in the country, following the Supreme Court's decision that claws back nationwide injunctions. Professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died at the age of 71. NEWS THIS AFTERNOON Trump heads to the Federal Reserve President Trump will visit the Federal Reserve on Thursday afternoon amid his feud with central bank chief Jerome Powell. Trump will be joined by White House deputy chief of staff James Blair, budget director Russell Vought and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, according to Semafor. The trip comes as Trump and senior administration officials fixate on the Fed's $2.5 billion building restoration, which was approved during former President Biden 's term in office. The officials say the project has suffered $700 million in cost over-runs, leading to allegations the Fed has experienced 'mission creep' by expanding into ares that are outside its purview. 'I just want to get eyes on sort of the whole project itself,' Blair said. Trump has had an ongoing feud with Powell over the Fed chief's refusal to lower interest rates. However, Trump says he does not intend to fire Powell, whose term is up in early 2026. • After securing a trade deal with Japan, the Trump administration is turning its focus to the European Union. 'Talks are going better than they had been,' Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg TV. 'We are making good progress.' Countries face an Aug. 1 deadline next week to reach a deal or face higher reciprocal tariffs. Trump will travel to Scotland on Friday to celebrate the opening of a new golf course that will be named after his late mother Mary Anne MacLeod, who was of Scottish descent. The president will also meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other foreign dignitaries on the four-day trip. 💡 Perspectives: • USA Today: In-N-Out owner places order to go − out of California. • Fox News: Teamsters' boss lauds Trump tariffs. • BIG: Why Are We Pretending AI Is Going to Take All the Jobs? Read more: • Hershey plans to raise chocolate prices. • US automakers say Trump's deal with Japan puts them at a disadvantage. • Australia to reduce US beef import restrictions. • International students look to cleanse social media amid Trump visa policy. • Trump signs executive orders to fast-track AI data center construction. IN OTHER NEWS Roundup: Trump's second term approval hits new low President Trump's approval rating is at the lowest point of his second term in office, according to the Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) polling average. Trump's net approval rating is more than 9 points underwater, with an average of 53.4 percent disapproving his job performance, against 44 percent who approve. • Tesla announced its revenue dropped by 12 percent and profits fell by 16 percent in the second quarter. Tesla's brand has been badly tarnished since Musk became involved in politics. 'We probably could have a few rough quarters,' Musk said on Tesla's earnings call. 'I'm not saying it will, but we could.' Trump has threatened Musk's companies since their falling out, saying he'd review all government contracts, subsidies and federal agencies working with the world's richest man. However, the president on Thursday extended an olive branch. 'Everyone is stating that I will destroy Elon's companies by taking away some, if not all, of the large scale subsidies he receives from the U.S. Government. This is not so!' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE, in fact, THRIVE like never before! The better they do, the better the USA does, and that's good for all of us. We are setting records every day, and I want to keep it that way!' • Former President Obama is jumping into the redistricting wars, headlining an August fundraiser in Martha's Vineyard for a Democratic group fighting efforts by Republicans to redraw their maps ahead of the midterm elections. Redistricting efforts have become a surprise storyline ahead of next year's elections, as Democratic leaders in blue states threaten to redraw their maps to retaliate against GOP leaders in red states that have moved draw new congressional district lines. Redistricting typically happens at the end of the decade when the new census data is released. The Hill's Caroline Vakil and Julia Manchester write: 'The redistricting tit-for-tat threatens to roil the midterms, sowing uncertainty in an election that will reshape the remainder of President Trump's term.' • The North Carolina Senate race to replace retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C) is taking shape. Axios reports that Democrats got their man, with former Gov. Roy Cooper set to launch his campaign next week. And Politico reports that Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump will not run for Senate, but rather will support Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley, who plans to launch a bid. • Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) is the latest Democrat to seek distance from New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Shapiro, a potential 2028 presidential contender, said in an interview with Jewish Insider that Mamdani must do more to address his 'blatantly antisemitic' supporters on the left. 'If you want to lead New York, you want to lead Pennsylvania, you want to lead the United States of America, you're a leader,' Shapiro said. 'I don't care if you're a Republican or Democratic leader or a democratic socialist leader. You have to speak and act with moral clarity, and when supporters of yours say things that are blatantly antisemitic, you can't leave room for that to just sit there. You've got to condemn that.' 💡 Perspectives: • UnHerd: How Dems can win back MAGA workers. • The Hill: A reality check for Democrats. • City Journal: Medical journals care more about DEI than disease. • Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers not seeking reelection. • Senate Republicans miffed as House bolts for recess.
The Hill
19 minutes ago
- The Hill
Bipartisan senators seek to prevent Trump from cutting EPA science research office
A bipartisan Senate appropriations bill seeks to prevent the Trump administration from cutting the EPA's scientific research office. Text of the appropriations bill, which advanced 26-2 on Thursday, was not immediately available. However, a summary posted online states that the bill 'requires EPA to maintain its Office of Research and Development to ensure cutting-edge research, such as research into the risks from hazardous chemicals like PFAS or contaminated water, continues.' This bipartisan pushback comes as the Trump administration said last week that it wants to eliminate the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). It did announce previously that it wanted to create a different science office known as the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES). OASES will be within the office of the administrator while ORD is its own office within EPA. Critics of this restructure have warned that it creates the potential for more bias and political influence in what should be independent science. The Trump administration has billed the changes as improving 'the effectiveness and efficiency of EPA operations.' Every year, Congress needs to pass an appropriations bill to fund the government. Doing so requires at least some degree of bipartisan consensus because of the Senate's 60-vote threshold to clear the filibuster. It's not entirely clear whether this provision or any others will remain in a bill that ultimately passes, as both the House and the Senate need to agree. However, its inclusion in the bipartisan Senate legislation shows it has a strong chance of passing. In addition, the Senate proposal appears to reject some cuts proposed by the Trump administration. It also maintains funding levels at the National Park Service, where the Trump administration has proposed 30 percent operations and payroll cuts. A Senate aide told The Hill that the bill includes requirements for staff to carry out the mission of the agency, but does not have an explicit minimum staffing level. Senators rejected an amendment from Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) that would require the Interior Department, National Park Service and Forest Service to maintain 2020 staffing levels in a 15-14 party-line vote.
