DOJ prosecutor who handled high-profile Capitol riot cases sues over his firing — 9:48 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Michael Gordon ‘s lawsuit claims that his recent firing was politically motivated retribution for his work on prosecuting Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
He and two other former employees — Patricia Hartman and Joseph Tirrell — are plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed Thursday against the Department of Justice, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Executive Office of the President.
Gordon, 47, said he received a performance review two days before his firing and got the highest rating. His one-page termination letter, signed by Bondi, did not specify any reasons for his dismissal.
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Gordon said he is proud to have played a part in the largest investigation in Justice Department history.
“We did what was right for the right reasons, without fear or favor,” Gordon told AP this week. “I didn’t lose my job for breaking the law. I lost it for enforcing it.”
A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment.
Dozens of department attorneys have been fired, demoted or forced out or have quit since Trump returned to the White House. Gordon, Hartman and Tirrell appear to be the first to sue.
Trump celebrates Australia’s announcement that it will reduce restrictions on US beef imports — 9:37 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
“Now, we are going to sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that U.S. Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World,” the president said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Australian Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said Thursday that relaxing the restrictions designed to keep the country free of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, would not compromise biosecurity.
“Australia stands for open and free trade — our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this,” Collins said in a statement.
The Trump administration has called the decision a major victory over “non-scientific trade barriers,” and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins congratulated the president on a “major trade breakthrough that gives greater access to U.S. beef producers selling to Australia.”
Trump backs Whatley for Senate seat from North Carolina — 9:28 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
“Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina,” the president posted on his Truth Social platform Thursday night.
“So, should Michael Whatley run for the Senate, please let this notification represent my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump added.
Whatley is chairman of the national Republican Party. Earlier in the day, Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, passed on seeking the open seat in 2026.
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Democrats see the race as their top chance to flip a seat in the midterm elections as they try to regain control of the Senate. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis recently made a surprise announcement that he would not run for a third term after clashing with Trump.
Venezuelan sent to El Salvador by Trump administration says he was beaten by prison guards there — 8:27 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Neiyerver Adrián Leon Rengel, 27, has taken the first step toward suing the government, saying he was wrongly sent to El Salvador and held in the notorious prison, where he was beaten and kept from contacting family or an attorney.
Leon Rengel, 27, filed a $1.3 million claim with the Department of Homeland Security, his attorneys said Thursday.
He is one of over 250 migrants from Venezuela who were sent to El Salvador in March after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Immigration agents took Leon Rengel into custody March 13 in the parking lot of his apartment in Irving, Texas, wrongly saying his tattoos reflected an affiliation with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, according to his claim.
He entered the U.S. in 2023, worked as a barber and was scheduled to appear before an immigration judge in 2028.
Homeland Security alleged via email that Leon Rengel entered illegally and is a “confirmed associate” of Tren de Aragua, though without saying how it reached that conclusion.
Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court to allow $783 million in research-funding cuts — 8:11 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The Trump administration made the appeal Thursday as part of its push to roll back federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
The Justice Department argued that a federal judge in Massachusetts was wrong to block the National Institutes of Health from making the $783 million in cuts to align with the president’s priorities.
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U.S. District Judge William Young found that the abrupt cancellations ignored long-held government rules and standards.
Young, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, also said the cuts amounted to “racial discrimination and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community.”
The ruling came in lawsuits by 16 attorneys general, public-health advocacy groups and some affected scientists. His decision addressed only a small fraction of the hundreds of NIH research projects that have been cut.
The administration’s appeal also takes aim at nearly two dozen cases over funding.
Trump administration sues New York over ‘sanctuary city’ policies — 7:58 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The lawsuit argues that the policies are obstructing the government from enforcing immigration law and contributed to the recent shooting of an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.
It is the latest in a series of complaints brought by the Justice Department targeting state or city policies seen as interfering with immigration enforcement.
Attorney General Pam Bondi accused New York of releasing “thousands of criminals on the streets to commit violent crimes against law-abiding citizens due to sanctuary city policies.”
“If New York City won’t stand up for the safety of its citizens, we will,” Bondi said in a statement.
Kayla Mamelak Aluts, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Adams, said the mayor “supports the essence” of the city’s policies but has urged the City Council “to reexamine them to ensure we can effectively work with the federal government to make our city safer” when it comes to dealing with “violent criminals.”
“So far, the Council has refused,” she added.
DOJ’s No. 2 official says Ghislaine Maxwell interview to continue Friday — 7:41 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
“The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said via the social platform X.
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That came after he met Thursday with Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The meeting is part of a Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following backlash from parts of Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional Epstein records.
A lawyer for Maxwell said she “answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability.” David Oscar Markus said the meeting was “very productive” but declined to comment on “the substance.”
Maxwell was convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump can represent himself at trial — 7:40 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon signed off on Ryan Routh’s request but said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel. The federal public defenders had asked this week to be taken off the case, saying Routh refused repeated attempts to meet with him.
Routh said during Thursday’s hearing that his attorneys were diligent but did not listen to and were afraid of him.
“How are they supposed to represent me and say I’m not a dangerous person when they don’t believe that?” Routh said.
Routh, 59, is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf.
Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted assassination, assault on a federal officer and several firearm violations.
Iran says it’s ready for nuclear talks with the US but only if Washington rebuilds trust — 7:32 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
That’s according to social media comments by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Thursday, ahead of a key meeting with European officials.
It will be the first meeting since a ceasefire was reached after a 12-day war waged by Israel against Iran in June, which also saw U.S. B-52 bombers strike nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic.
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The discussions will bring together officials from Iran, Britain, France and Germany and include the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. A similar meeting was held in May.
Gharibabadi said that for talks with the U.S. to take place, “several key principles” must be upheld.
Those include “rebuilding Iran’s trust — as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States,” he said, adding that there can be no room “for hidden agendas such as military action, though Iran remains fully prepared for any scenario.”
FCC approves Paramount’s $8 billion deal with Skydance — 7:02 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The approval comes after months of turmoil around Trump’s legal battle with “60 Minutes,” the crown jewel of Paramount-owned broadcast network CBS.
With the specter of the administration potentially blocking the hard-fought deal with Skydance, Paramount agreed this month to pay a $16 million settlement with the president.
Critics called that a veiled a bribe to appease Trump, amid rising alarm over editorial independence overall.
Further outrage emerged after CBS said it was canceling Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” days after the comedian sharply criticized the settlement on air. Paramount cited financial reasons, but big names both within and outside the company have questioned its motives.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the merger is an opportunity to bring more balance to what he called a “once-storied” CBS network.
“Americans no longer trust the legacy national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly. It is time for a change,” Carr said in a statement.
State Department approves additional $330M weapons sale to Ukraine, $4.67B for Egypt — 6:31 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The $330 million in arms for Ukraine sales includes $150 million for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of self-propelled artillery vehicles as well as $180 million for overall air defense systems as Ukraine fends off escalating Russian attacks.
It is the second major installment for the country in recent days: On Wednesday the Trump administration approved a separate sale of $322 million for Ukraine that included armored combat vehicles.
The back-to-back approvals come weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed a pause on weapons shipments to Ukraine to allow the Pentagon to assess its weapons stockpiles, a move that caught the White House by surprise. Trump then made an abrupt change in posture, pledging publicly this month to continue sending arms to Ukraine.
Thursday’s notification to Congress also included more than $4.6 billion for advancing Egypt’s surface-to-air missile systems.
Nancy Pelosi says Democrats ‘fully intend’ to win back the House — 6:20 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The former speaker said “everything is on the table” as House Democrats work to counter Trump’s redistricting push in Texas with their own plans to redraw congressional maps in California. The San Francisco Democrat believes her home state could pick up more seats for her party.
“We fully intend to win the House in this next election, there’s no question about that,” Pelosi told AP in an interview.
“I don’t like redistricting in the middle of a decade,” she said, but if that’s what the party needs “to win, we will do that. Everything is on the table.”
California Democrats discussed the matter issue during a private meeting Wednesday, and Pelosi joined an emergency call the following day with others in the state.
Pelosi also said Democrats are mobilizing against Republicans for passing Trump’s big tax breaks and spending cuts bill: “They know they’re going to lose, because their policies are so bad. It is a stinking, lousy, rotten bill.”
DOJ’s No. 2 official meets with Ghislaine Maxwell — 6:18 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has met with Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The meeting is part of a Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following backlash from parts of Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional Epstein records.
A lawyer for Maxwell says she “answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability.”
On Tuesday, Blanche said in a social media post that Trump “has told us to release all credible evidence” and that if Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and DOJ “will hear what she has to say.”
Maxwell was convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial.
White House deputy chief of staff says Fed chair was ‘splitting hairs’ over the cost of renovations — 6:05 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
James Blair said budget officials still have questions about the costs of renovations at the Fed’s headquarters. “There’s no way around it, the cost overrun is massive,” he told reporters.
Trump visited the Fed on Thursday in an attempt to publicly shame Jerome Powell, its chair, over the renovation costs. When Trump said they had increased from $2.5 billion to $3.1 billion, Powell said the president was including work on a separate Fed building.
“We still want to get to the bottom of the plans that were submitted and how they have changed,” Blair said.
Institute of Peace’s request for full appellate court hearing is denied — 5:48 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit rejected the the request for a hearing of the full court on lifting the stay of a three-judge panel last month.
The institute said in a statement that would put its efforts into winning its case before the three-judge panel and “regain control of the organization and its assets — including its headquarters — and to fulfill its congressionally mandated mission.”
In March, the Department of Government Efficiency took over the headquarters of the 300-employee institute and its board and acting president were fired, part of a government downsizing under a Trump executive order.
A district judge overturned those actions in May, and the institute, which focuses on peace initiatives and conflict resolution around the world, regained control of its headquarters.
The appeals court stayed Howell’s ruling June 27 and forced the turnover of the headquarters for a third time.
Trump says of the cost of renovations at the Federal Reserve’s HQ: ‘it is what it is’ — 5:41 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The president made the comment on his Truth Social platform after visiting the central bank and attempting to publicly shame Fed Chair Jerome Powell over renovation costs. Still, he said, he hopes the project is finished “ASAP.”
“The cost overruns are substantial but, on the positive side, our Country is doing very well and can afford just about anything — Even the cost of this building!” the president said.
Trump said he hopes to lend his expertise to the project, citing his experience renovating the Old Post Office building.
US envoy meets with Syria and Israel on de-escalation — 5:31 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Trump’s special envoy to Syria says he met with representatives from Syria and Israel to discuss de-escalation and “we accomplished precisely that.”
Tom Barrack, who is also US ambassador to Turkey, said on social media that the parties met in Paris on Thursday and committed to further those efforts.
Israel intervened during the latest outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria, which the White House said this week caught Trump off guard.
Barrack told AP this week that Israel’s actions were poorly timed and complicated efforts to stabilize the region following years of civil war in Syria.
Trump has sought to support Syria’s new government.
College industry group rejects Columbia deal as a roadmap — 5:30 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
A higher education industry group is rejecting the Trump administration’s suggestion that its deal with Columbia University can be a roadmap for other colleges facing federal investigations.
Columbia said Wednesday that it agreed to pay more than $220 million to restore federal research money that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus.
Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, said the deal “cannot be a template for the government’s approach to American higher education.”
“Columbia was put in an untenable position by the outrageous actions of the executive branch of the government,” he said.
Trump signs executive order seeking to clarify college athletes’ employment status — 5:19 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The order addresses whether college athletes can be considered employees of their schools and aims to clarify national standards for the NCAA’s name, image and likeness program.
The decision follows a surge in money flowing through college athletics and court victories for athletes seeking compensation. In 2021 the NCAA allowed athletes to profit from NIL deals after a Supreme Court ruling against its restrictions.
The shift has led to schools paying athletes directly and sparked debates over collective bargaining and labor laws. The NCAA continues to push for antitrust protections, even amid these changes.
What the Federal Reserve’s controversial headquarters renovation looks like — 5:03 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Journalists got a close-up view of renovations at the Federal Reserve as part of a government-led tour of the Great Depression-era headquarters in Washington.
Trump signs bill to cancel $9 billion in foreign aid, public broadcasting funding — 4:52 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Trump signed a bill canceling about $9 billion that had been approved for public broadcasting and foreign aid as Republicans look to lock in cuts to programs targeted by the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency.
The bulk of the spending being clawed back is for foreign assistance programs. About $1.1 billion was destined for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which finances NPR and PBS, though most of that money is distributed to more than 1,500 local public radio and television stations around the country.
The White House had billed the legislation as a test case for Congress and said more such rescission packages would be on the way.
Trump says Fed spending too much money to protect historic features in renovation — 4:51 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The president said the Federal Reserve spent too much money on plywood to protect the historic features of its central bank.
“It’s a very luxurious situation taking place,” Trump told reporters. “Let’s put it that way.”
Trump said his goal is to get the renovation project done. He noted that it was a very expensive project with building underground parking lots and opening up the basement, causing the Fed to build a “reverse bathtub.”
Trump said he didn’t want to put Powell in a situation of being fired, but he said his renovation of the Old Post Office in Washington into a hotel with its marble bathrooms only cost $200 million. The Fed renovations are expected to cost roughly $2.5 billion.
Trump scorns Powell in meeting over Federal Reserve construction spending — 4:20 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Trump sought to publicly shame Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the cost of renovating the central bank’s headquarters, suggesting that the cost was $3.1 billion instead of the $2.5 billion cited by the Fed.
“This came from us?” Powell said, later figuring out that Trump was including the renovation of the Martin Building that was finished five years ago.“Do you expect any more additional cost overruns?” Trump asked.“Don’t expect them,” Powell said.
Trump said in his career as a real estate developer he would fire someone for cost overruns.
The president joked that he would back off Powell if he lowered interest rates.
Q: Are there things the chairman can say to you today that would make you back off some of the earlier criticism?
POTUS: Well, I’d love him to lower interest rates. Other than that, what can I tell you? pic.twitter.com/9NlrRizfbj
— CSPAN (@cspan) July 24, 2025
Trump says he’ll meet with Fed Chair Jerome Powell as part of construction site tour — 4:00 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Trump has lambasted the Federal Reserve for its $2.5 billion renovation of its headquarters and another building ahead of a Thursday tour of the site.
He posted on Truth Social that Jerome Powell, the chair of the US central bank, will also be “present” to an event in which the president is expected to attack the cost of the project. Trump has been publicly pressuring Powell to cut interest rates and has tried to pillory him on social media.
Also attending the site tour are Senator Tim Scott, Senator Thom Tillis, White House budget director Russ Vought and Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
White House looking to push redistricting beyond Texas — 3:24 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Talk about mid-decade redistricting has been centered around Texas, but the White House signals it’s looking at other states, too.
Officials are looking to redraw lines in states like Missouri, according to a person familiar with conversations but unauthorized to speak publicly about them.
Texas’ Republican-controlled legislature convened a special session this week with the aim of considering House district maps in ways that favor their party in next year’s midterm elections.
State Dept. remains mum on what ‘alternative options’ US will use for Israeli hostage release after breakdown in talks — 2:37 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
At a news briefing Thursday, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott would not offer details on what the “alternative options” the US is considering to release hostages in Gaza after Trump envoy announced a breakdown in negotiations.
When pressed for clarity on whether and how the US would proceed, Pigott did not offer clarity and said, “This is a very dynamic situation.”
He said there’s never been a question of the US commitment to reaching a ceasefire, but Hamas’ commitment.
Journalists get rare tour of Fed building renovations before Trump visit — 2:34 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Reporters wound through cement mixers, front loaders, and plastic pipes as they got a close-up view of the active construction site that encompasses the Fed’s historic headquarters.
Fed staff pointed out new blast-resistant windows and seismic walls that were needed to comply with modern building codes and security standards set out by the Department of Homeland Security.
Sensitivity to the president’s visit later among Fed staff was high during the tour. Reporters were ushered into a small room outside the Fed’s boardroom, where 19 officials meet eight times a year to decide whether to change short-term interest rates. The room is oval-shaped, and someone had written “oval office” on plywood walls.
The Fed staff downplayed the inscription as a joke. When reporters returned through the room later, it had been painted over.
A replica Oval Office near the White House just got a Trump makeover — 2:21 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
A replica Oval Office on display near the White House now looks exactly like Trump’s. But it is not the blingy version he is currently using.
Visitors starting Thursday will experience the mock Oval Office as it was in the Republican president’s first term, until it is redecorated again next year to incorporate the golden touches and other flourishes Trump brought to the workspace after he returned to power in January.
“Just like the White House itself, our Oval Office is a living space, so it changes and evolves as the actual Oval Office changes,” Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, said Wednesday as he led The Associated Press on a tour of the space as it was being revamped.
Obama heading to fund-raiser in Martha’s Vineyard for Democrats’ redistricting efforts — 2:18 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Former president Barack Obama is attending a fund-raiser next month for a group that advocates for Democrats in an effort to push back toward congressional maps they see as unfairly drawn to favor Republicans.
Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said that the former Democratic president would be attending an August event on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
The event, first reported by Politico, is hosted by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a group headed up by Obama’s former attorney general, Eric Holder. It has filed and supported litigation in several states over GOP-drawn district maps.
Trump mourns ‘a great friend,’ Hulk Hogan — 2:05 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Trump offered condolences to Hogan’s wife and family on his social media platform.
Using Hogan’s “Hulkster” nickname, Trump said the pro wrestling star was “strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.”
He said Hogan “MAGA all the way” and praised his speech at the Republican National Convention as “one of the highlights of the entire week.”
Where do gaps remain in Gaza cease-fire talks? — 1:46 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The talks have been bogged down over competing demands for ending the war. Hamas says it will only release all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal and end to the war. Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas gives up power and disarms — a condition the militant group rejects.
The US plan called for an initial 60-day cease-fire and partial hostage release, with pledges from the US that Israel would not resume the fighting after that.
Hamas is believed to be holding the hostages in different locations, including tunnels, and says it has ordered its guards to kill them if Israeli forces approach.
Senate Republicans block quick passage of Democratic resolution calling for release of Epstein files — 1:32 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The House may be out of Washington, but Democrats in the Senate are picking up right where their House colleagues left off in calling for the release of the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
This time it was Senator Ruben Gallego, an Arizona Democrat, who took to the Senate floor in an attempt to quickly pass legislation calling on the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files. His attempt to speed the resolution through the Senate was halted by Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma.
“This is nothing more than political theater,” Mullin said on the Senate floor, while offering his own resolution that called on the federal judiciary to allow the Department of Justice’s request to release grand jury testimony in the case.
Still, Democrats were not letting up in hammering the Trump administration for failing to do something it had promised.
“The truth is coming out and the coverup is crumbling,” Gallego said, later adding, “We have a president in the White House focused on protecting the most powerful men and women who preyed on children.”
Trump envoy Witkoff says US cutting short Gaza cease-fire talks, bringing home negotiating team — 1:18 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said the US is cutting short Gaza cease-fire talks and bringing home its negotiating team from Qatar for consultations after the latest response from Hamas “shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.”
“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Witkoff said. “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”
He said it was “a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way” and that the US is “resolute” in seeking an end to the conflict in Gaza.
By the Associated Press
The post on Truth Social — ”I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE” — is a startling development given the bitter public feud between the two.
The post came about an hour before Tesla’s stock opened sharply lower after the company reported another quarter of lackluster financial results. The stock was down 9 percent in midday trading.
Musk blasted Trump’s budget bill for adding to US debt and said he will form a new political party. Trump has threatened to cut contracts and subsidies for Musk’s businesses, including Tesla.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advances Jeanine Pirro as federal prosecutor for DC, again — 12:41 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The party-line committee vote, which advances Pirro’s nomination to the Senate floor, was a do-over after the Judiciary panel approved her nomination last week when Democrats had walked out of the room to protest
Emil Bove’s nomination to become a federal appeals court judge. The Judiciary committee scheduled the second vote to ensure there was a sufficient quorum of senators after consulting with the Senate parliamentarian.
Pirro has served as acting US Attorney for the District of Columbia since May. President Donald Trump nominated her to replace his previous nominee, Ed Martin Jr., amid concerns among some Republican senators about his outspoken support for rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and were later pardoned by Trump. Democrats have criticized Pirro, as well, for defending the rioters.
Before she replaced Martin, Pirro cohosted the Fox News show “The Five” on weekday evenings. She was elected as a judge in New York’s Westchester County Court in 1990 before serving three terms as the county’s elected district attorney.
Trump meets with Rose Garden construction workers in Oval Office — 12:34 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
A Trump aide posted a photo on social media of the president sitting at the Resolute Desk with about a dozen men in orange shirts facing him.
The photo was accompanied with a message that Trump had invited the workers in to sign hats for them.
Trump has ordered the grass in the Rose Garden to be paved over.
Mike Waltz UN nomination advances out of committee with bipartisan support — 12:32 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Mike Waltz’s nomination Thursday to be the next US ambassador to the United Nations.
The bipartisan vote came after the initial vote was pulled Wednesday over concerns by Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. The top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, voted with all Republicans except Paul to push the nomination to the Senate floor.
Shaheen’s support came as a surprise as many thought that Paul’s opposition would tank Waltz’s nomination, dealing another blow to the White House over a position they have failed to fill for the past six months. The New Hampshire lawmaker defended her decision, saying in a statement that while she disagrees with Waltz on some issues, the alternatives to his nomination could fare worse for US foreign policy.
“He represents a moderating force within the administration. He has a distinguished record of military service, and he has an extensive background in national security policy,” Shaheen said.
Senate Republicans quash Democratic bid to force release of Epstein files — 12:04 p.m.
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By the Associated Press
It was the latest attempt by Democrats on Capitol Hill to force Republicans to vote for greater disclosure of the Epstein files, yet notably, the first time many Republicans in the Senate had to take a stand on the issue. For now, they voted against forcing the release of the case files.
The vote unfolded Thursday morning with tense exchanges as the Senate Judiciary Committee prepared to advance a bill meant to address opioid trafficking.
Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey offered an amendment to the bill that would have kept it from going into effect until the Epstein files are released. But Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas successfully stymied that effort by offering a separate amendment that nullified Booker’s. While some Republicans have indicated they’re open to a debate on forcing more disclosure, Cornyn said he trusted Attorney General Pam Bondi to handle the matter.
Republicans on the committee all voted for Cornyn’s amendment, while Democrats voted against, saying, “No on concealing the Epstein files.”
Mass. immigration judge reflects on being fired by the Trump administration — 11:51 a.m.
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By Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio, Globe Staff
George D. Pappas had been bracing for it. A judge in one of the nation’s immigration courts, Pappas watched as, one after the other, colleagues across the country were fired or resigned from their posts.
So he was not surprised when on July 11, he received the notice of his own termination at the end of his two-year probationary period, when most judges are converted to a permanent position.
“We knew that this slow-moving train wreck was going to finally reach us,” Pappas, who served at the immigration court in Chelmsford, said in an interview.
Yet the news hit hard. To Pappas, who had spent more than two decades practicing immigration law, it seemed like more evidence of a startling new reality: the Trump administration was dismantling the immigration court system.
A replica Oval Office on display near the White House just got a Trump makeover — 11:23 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
The replica Oval Office now looks exactly like President Trump’s. But it’s not the blingy version he’s currently using.
Visitors starting Thursday will experience the mock Oval Office as it was in the Republican president’s first term, until it’s redecorated again next year to incorporate the golden touches and other flourishes Trump brought to the workspace after he returned to power in January.
“Just like the White House itself, our Oval Office is a living space, so it changes and evolves as the actual Oval Office changes,” Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, said Wednesday as he led The Associated Press on a tour of the space as it was being revamped.
The mock-up is inside “The People’s House: A White House Experience,” an educational center the association opened last year one block west of the Executive Mansion.
Vance isn’t running for president yet, but don’t tell that to Democrats eyeing 2028 — 11:14 a.m.
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By Sam Brodey, Globe Staff
Vice President JD Vance is, for now, the most obvious heir apparent to Trump as the GOP standard-bearer in 2028. He is a leading presence on the party’s big money circuit: on Tuesday, he traveled to Nantucket for a GOP fund-raiser where tickets ran for $100,000 each.
Vance’s prominence, along with his penchant for picking fights with political rivals, makes him an appealing target to Democratic hopefuls looking to command attention and build their own brands. In other words, by attempting to define Vance ahead of 2028, they might be able to further define themselves to voters in the process.
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat with presidential ambitions, has recently tried to pressure to Vance over the metastasizing Jeffrey Epstein controversy surrounding Trump, who had been an acquaintance of the late financier before having a falling out with him. The administration is facing blowback across the political spectrum for not following through on promises to release new information about the convicted sex trafficker’s activities and clients.
Elizabeth Warren pens scathing op-ed for Variety on Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ cancellation — 11:05 a.m.
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By Matt Juul, Globe Staff
Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote a scathing op-ed for Variety on Wednesday, calling out CBS and its parent company Paramount for canceling “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
Although CBS said in a statement that the cancellation was “purely a financial decision,” Warren and others have bashed the move, which came just days after Colbert criticized Paramount on his show for settling its $16 million lawsuit with President Donald Trump. Paramount also has an $8 billion merger deal pending with Skydance, which needs approval from the Trump administration to go through.
“Instead of fighting Trump on his ‘meritless’ lawsuit, Paramount settled, handing $16 million to Trump’s presidential library,” Warren wrote in her op-ed for Variety. “This looks like bribery in plain sight, and that’s exactly what Stephen Colbert said on his show.”
Bondi facing Democratic calls to testify following report she told Trump he was in Epstein files — 10:49 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
Bondi is facing Democratic calls to testify before Congress after the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that she told Trump his name was among many high-profile figures mentioned in the files, which the Justice Department this month said it would not be releasing despite a clamor from online sleuths, conspiracy theorists and members of Trump’s base.
Trump’s personal ties to Epstein are well-established and his name is already known to have been included in records related to the wealthy financier.
Senator Adam Schiff responded to the report by calling on Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the report but issued a joint statement from Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying that investigators had reviewed the records and “nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution.”
The mere inclusion of a person’s name in Epstein’s files does not imply wrongdoing and he was known to have been associated with multiple prominent figures, including Trump.
Senate Democratic Leader calls for closed-door briefing on the Epstein files — 10:42 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
Democrats aren’t letting up on their calls for disclosure from the Trump administration on the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
House Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer started the morning off with a speech calling for a closed-door briefing for senators from the Trump administration on the Epstein files. While the administration is unlikely to comply with the New York Democrat’s demand, Democrats are pouncing on the issue and have found some success this week by daring Republicans to join them in votes to demand disclosure of the files.
“A good number of people voted for Trump because he promised to be their voice against the so-called deep state. But now they’ve seen he’s very much part of that deep state. He’s right in the middle of it,” Schumer said.
Lara Trump says she’s sitting out the North Carolina Senate race — 10:38 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
The president’s daughter-in-law formally made her decision public Thursday in a post on X, as news of RNC Chair Michael Whatley’s expected entrance into the race emerged.
Lara Trump said she was “deeply grateful” for encouragement to seek the open seat in her home state and appeared not to close the door to a possible future run, saying she looked “forward to the future, wherever that leads.”
Lara Trump served alongside Whatley as RNC co-chair during last year’s elections and had been seen as having the right of first refusal to seek the seat, which Democrats see as a top pickup opportunity in next year’s midterms.
Biden’s former chief of staff appears on Capitol Hill for House Republican age inquiry — 10:37 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
Ron Klain, who served as former President Joe Biden’s first chief of staff, entered the House Oversight Committee’s hearing room just before 10 a.m. for testimony as part of House Republicans’ probe into Biden’s age and alleged cognitive decline.
Klain took no questions as he entered the room.
UnitedHealth stocks dip — 10:36 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
The stock price dropped 2%, or $6.13, to $286.50 on Thursday morning. Company shares have mostly shed value since December, when UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in midtown Manhattan on his way to the company’s annual investor meeting.
What to know about UnitedHealth Group — 9:43 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
The company’s business covers more than 8 million people as the nation’s largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. The business has been under pressure in recent quarters due to rising care use and rate cuts.
UnitedHealth also runs one of the nation’s largest health insurance and pharmacy benefits management businesses. It also operates a growing Optum business that provides care and technology support.
UnitedHealth says it is under a federal investigation and cooperating — 9:12 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
Shares of UnitedHealth Group dove early Thursday after the health care giant said it was under a Department of Justice investigation.
The company said it has started complying with both criminal and civil requests from federal investigators and it was working cooperatively with them.
“(UnitedHealth) has a long record of responsible conduct and effective compliance,” the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal said federal officials had launched a civil fraud investigation into how the company records diagnoses that lead to extra payments for its Medicare Advantage, or MA, plans. Those are privately run versions of the government’s Medicare coverage program mostly for people ages 65 and over.
RNC Chair Michael Whatley plans to run for an open Senate seat in North Carolina — 9:02 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
That’s according to two people familiar with his thinking, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t permitted to speak on the record.
President Trump, according to one of the people, asked him to make the run after Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, mulled the seat.Politico first reported news of Whatley’s plans.
Democrats see North Carolina as their top pickup opportunity next year after Sen. Thom Tillis announced his surprise retirement after clashing with Trump.
While Lara Trump had been seen as having the right of first refusal, Whatley is considered by national Republicans to be a strong contender for the seat, thanks, in part, to the large fundraising network he’s cultivated as RNC chair and his perceived loyalty to the president. He’s a well-known name in the state, having served as GOP chair there, and has no voting record that could be used against him by Democrats.
Trump’s trip to Scotland highlights his complex relationship with his mother’s homeland — 8:51 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
President Trump’s trip to Scotland this week will be a homecoming of sorts, but he’s likely to get a mixed reception.
Trump has had a long and at times rocky relationship with the country where his mother grew up in a humble house on a windswept isle.
He’ll be met by both political leaders and protesters during the visit, which begins Friday and takes in his two Scottish golf resorts. It comes two months before King Charles III is due to welcome him on a formal state visit to the UK
“I’m not proud that he (has) Scottish heritage,” said Patricia Sloan, who says she stopped visiting the Turnberry resort on Scotland’s west coast after Trump bought it in 2014. “All countries have good and bad that come out of them, and if he’s going to kind of wave the flag of having Scottish heritage, that’s the bad part, I think.”
Trump’s schedule, according to the White House — 8:28 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
3 p.m. ET — Trump will sign executive orders
4 p.m. — Trump will visit the Federal Reserve
Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump returns to court and hopes to represent himself — 8:27 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
The man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump last year at his Florida golf course will return to court Thursday to once again explain why he wants to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself.
Ryan Routh previously made the request earlier this month during a hearing in Fort Pierce before US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon. She didn’t rule during the hearing but said she would issue a written order later. But now Routh, 59, is set to be back in front of Cannon, a day after his court-appointed federal public defenders asked to be taken off the case.
Routh is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a US Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf. Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.
Trump’s trip to Scotland highlights his complex relationship with his mother’s homeland — 4:51 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
President Trump ‘s trip to Scotland this week will be a homecoming of sorts, but he’s likely to get a mixed reception.
Trump has had a long and at times rocky relationship with the country where his mother grew up in a humble house on a windswept isle.
He will be met by both political leaders and protesters during the visit, which begins Friday and takes in his two Scottish golf resorts. It comes two months before King Charles III is due to welcome him on a formal state visit to the UK.
Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump returns to court and hopes to represent himself — 2:05 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
A man charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump last year at his Florida golf course will return to court Thursday to once again explain why he wants to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself.
Ryan Routh previously made the request earlier this month during a hearing in Fort Pierce before US District Court Judge Aileen Cannon. She did not rule during the hearing but said she would issue a written order later. But now Routh, 59, is set to be back in front of Cannon, a day after his court-appointed federal public defenders asked to be taken off the case.
Australia to reduce US beef import restrictions denounced by Trump as a ban — 1:20 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
Australia will reduce restrictions on US beef imports after President Trump criticized what he described as an Australian ban on the meat, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said.
Collins said Thursday that relaxing the restrictions designed to keep Australia free of mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, among its cattle herds would not compromise biosecurity.
Trump to visit Federal Reserve headquarters as feud with its chair continues — 12:04 a.m.
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By the Associated Press
President Trump is visiting the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington Thursday, a week after indicating that Fed chair Jerome Powell’s handling of an extensive renovation project on two Fed buildings could be grounds for firing.
Trump has criticized Powell for months because the chair has kept the short-term interest rate the Fed controls at 4.3 percent this year, after cutting it three times last year. Powell says the Fed wants to see how the economy responds to Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports, which Powell says could push up inflation.