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Photo: Alfredo Estrella/AFP via Getty Images Beachgoers at a resort in Los Cabos, Baja California, Mexico, yesterday. Send your favorite shots from your summer travels and beach days to finishline@axios.com!

The following article is analysis of a sermon that the former GC President, Ted Wilson, preached in 2010. It is current today. https://spectrummagazine.org/post-archives/wilsons-war/

👋 Good morning! Happy Hump Day. ‌ In today's edition: NL wins All-Star Game, Arch Manning's moment has arrived, Behind the Lens, previewing the ESPYS, and more.the ESPYS, and more. ‌ Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. ‌ Let's sports… ⚾️ MIDSUMMER CLASSIC NL WINS ALL-STAR GAME IN SWING-OFF Schwarber holds up his All-Star Game MVP trophy. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Monday night's Home Run Derby was so much fun that MLB decided to hold another one on Tuesday. ‌ ICYMI: The NL won the 95th Midsummer Classic, 7-6, after Kyle Schwarber powered the senior circuit to victory in the first-ever All-Star Game swing-off — essentially a tie-breaking home run derby. ‌ The game probably should have never reached that point, with the NL taking a commanding 6-0 lead after Pete Alonso and Corbin Carroll's sixth-inning homers. But the AL clawed back with six runs in the final three frames to trigger the swing-off, giving Atlanta's Truist Park its second home run derby in as many nights. How it worked: Three batters per team, three swings per batter, most total home runs wins. The lineups were predetermined by the managers, who were limited to picking reserves because many starters had left the ballpark early. The Hank Aaron tribute was the star of the night. (Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) Game notes: Hank Aaron tribute: MLB and the Braves put on a spectacular Hank Aaron tribute, celebrating his then record-breaking 715th home run (it was, after all, July 15, or 7/15) with a three-minute light show. Skubal wins first challenge: AL starter Tarik Skubal won the first-ever All-Star Game challenge to strike out Manny Machado. The ABS challenge system, new this year, was used four more times throughout the game. Mic'd up legend: Clayton Kershaw had a blast in his 11th All-Star appearance, chatting with the booth while throwing pitches in the second inning. Is the NL back? After years of AL dominance (they won 21 of 25 games from 1997-2022), the NL has now won two of the past three All-Star Games. They trail the all-time series, 48-45-2. ‌ 🎧 Fresh pod: All-Star week recap (Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Yahoo Sports) 🏈 SEC MEDIA DAYS ARCH MANNING'S MOMENT HAS ARRIVED Manning speaks with reporters during SEC Media Days on Tuesday. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Texas QB Arch Manning was the star of the show at SEC media days, which served as the unofficial public kickoff to his crowning as the Longhorns starter. ‌ From Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger: A few days ago, Arch Manning phoned his father, Cooper, with a question about his appearance here at SEC media days. "Hey Dad," Arch asked, "What am I wearing?" And so, last weekend, as any dad would, Cooper flew to Austin, connected with an acquaintance in the clothing industry and the two of them put together the wardrobe ensemble that the 21-year-old Texas QB showed off on Tuesday. Cooper refers to the outfit as one befitting a "Southern gentleman" — a navy jacket over an orange-and-white striped shirt, matching striped tie, khaki slacks, a brown belt and, for a dash of a different color, a light blue pocket square and blue suede shoes. Twinkling on his left lapel, a golden Longhorns pin. "I don't know that it's really a suit," Arch said with a smile. The Arch Suit was born. In the biggest media moment of his career — more than 1,000 reporters, radio personalities and TV journalists were in attendance — Arch, infamously an avoider of the spotlight, spun through this media carwash like a seasoned veteran of such events. He smiled, laughed, cracked jokes, even teased reporters and spoke not like the most highly billed first-year starter in the country but a humbled kid just play'n ball. "Talk is cheap," he said. "I gotta go prove it." That starts on Aug. 30, when Arch and the Longhorns play at defending national champion Ohio State. "Gonna be a fun one," quipped Arch. (Ross Dellenger/Yahoo Sports) It's been a long road here, real long, longer than maybe anyone expected, including him and his father. Not only was Arch one of the most highly billed high school QBs ever, but he's the latest member of what is arguably the greatest football family in the sport's history. In 30 months in Austin, he's started two games, attempted 95 passes and tossed nine touchdowns. Finally, his day has arrived — well, six weeks from now. Maybe this will be worth the wait. But it wasn't easy — no, not at all, especially for a kid who has started since his little league days. It was so "tough," Arch said, that he began as a freshman playing pickup basketball games to satisfy his "competitive fire." In fact, he used to vent to teammates and staff during those bench-warming days. Did dad get frustrated too? "I've always liked when things didn't go perfectly for my children because I thought it builds character," Cooper said in an interview with Yahoo Sports this week. "If they're complaining about something either they are going to fix it themselves, overcome it or make an adjustment. Mom and dad coming to the rescue is only when it's really bad. Let them deal and overcome." Manning warms up before a game last season. (Tim Warner/Getty Images) In many ways, Arch is like any other kid, his dad says. He attended college with other priorities than just football. He wanted to meet new people, experience new things and learn (they do still go to school — Arch is majoring in communications and leadership). In an age of more player movement than ever, Arch stands as the outlier. He's also taller, thicker, smarter and just more mature than the kid who enrolled in January of 2023. It's been a weird ride to this point. He can remember walking to class as a freshman two years ago having to take photos with fellow students. Always the shy one, he'd phone his mom as a way to look busy. "I hadn't even played," he said. But after all of that, he's finally made it, on full display at the SEC's annual informal kickoff to the season. 📊 STATS DU JOUR BY THE NUMBERS Singh retired from running at 101 years old. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) 💔 114 years old ‌ Fauja Singh, the man believed to be the world's oldest marathon runner, died Monday in Punjab, India, after being hit by a car. He was 114. ‌ 🏈 $250.4 million ‌ On Monday, the Jets signed fourth-year WR Garrett Wilson to a four-year, $130 million extension that makes him one of the NFL's highest-paid wideouts. On Tuesday, they signed fourth-year CB Sauce Gardner to a three-year, $120.4 million extension that makes him the highest-paid CB of all time. ‌ Related: The Chiefs signed Trey Smith to a four-year, $92 million extension on Tuesday, making him the highest-paid guard of all time. ⚽️ 461,582 fans ‌ The Women's Euros quarterfinals kick off in Geneva today following a group stage that saw a tournament-record 461,582 fans attend 24 matches. 📸 PHOTOGRAPHY BEHIND THE LENS: CLUB WORLD CUP Urawa Red Diamonds supporters during a match against River Plate. (Steph Chambers/FIFA via Getty Images) With the Club World Cup in the rearview, we spoke with Getty Images photographers about their favorite off-the-field shots. Steph Chambers: I have never seen fans like the Urawa Red Diamonds supporters. They cheer so loudly and in perfect unison. It's intimidating. I wanted to capture their energy in a unique way, so I went up top to an overlook area that looks directly down at their section and waited for a chant where they were using their arms in sync. The extra element of the Japanese flag made the image more graphic and compelling. It was a sea of red. Al Ahly players ahead of their match against Inter Miami. (Carmen Mandato/FIFA via Getty Images) Carmen Mandato: Some of my favorite images came out of the tunnel, a space that FIFA grants our team special access to. It's quiet there. Removed from the chaos of the pitch, it becomes a rare, in-between moment where players gather themselves before stepping into the spotlight. As they line up, you can see it all start to shift— focus, nerves, resolve —each player processing what's ahead in their own way. There's a compelling intensity that settles into their expressions. (Hector Vivas/FIFA via Getty Images) Hector Vivas: For me, this photo of the trophy lift is a summary of what these weeks of work have been like — teamwork. I took this photo with a remote camera in a unique location thanks to the access we have as FIFA photographers. I placed the camera inside the field in front of the awards ceremony, achieving a different angle of the celebration, with a ground-level perspective. Our work often receives credit only to the person taking the photograph. But this shot wouldn't have been possible without my teammates who secured access, accompanied me with the right tools, and ensured the image reached our editing team as quickly as possible. 📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: WEDNESDAY, JULY 16 Serena Williams hosting last year's ESPYS. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P) 🎙️ The ESPYS | 8pm ET, ABC ‌ The 33rd annual ESPY Awards are tonight in Los Angeles, where comedian Shane Gillis is hosting and dozens of athletes and sports figures will be honored for their performance, careers and more. ‌ The nominees: 22 awards will be given out, headlined by the following three: ‌ Best male athlete: Josh Allen (Bills), Saquon Barkley (Eagles), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) Best female athlete: Simone Biles (Gymnast), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Track & Field), Gabby Thomas (Track & Field), A'ja Wilson (Aces) Best team: Panthers (NHL), Dodgers (MLB), Liberty (WNBA), Ohio State (NCAAF), Thunder (NBA), Eagles (NFL), North Carolina (Women's Lacrosse), USWNT (Soccer), UConn (Women's Basketball) Special honorees: As they do each year, the ESPYS will also present three awards for courage, perseverance and service. ‌ Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: To NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, for his fight to establish free agency as president of the NBPA from 1965-74. Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: To Penn State women's volleyball coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, for leading the Nittany Lions to the national championship while battling breast cancer. Pat Tillman Award for Service: To David Walters and Erin Regan, former athletes who were among the 7,500 first responders that fought the devastating wildfires in Southern California earlier this year. More to watch: 🏀 WNBA: Fever at Liberty (7:30pm, CBSSN) … First-place New York (14-6) hosts sixth-place Indiana (11-10). ⚽️ Women's Euros: Norway vs. Italy (3pm, Fox) … Quarterfinals. 🚴 Tour de France: Stage 11 (7:15am, Peacock) … Following the first of two scheduled rest days, riders will travel 97 miles through Toulouse. ⚽️ MLS: Cincinnati vs. Miami (7:30pm, Apple) … A matchup of the last two Supporters' Shield winners (best record). 🏈 YEAR 50 NFL TRIVIA Bucs QB Steve Spurrier drops back to pass during Tampa Bay's inaugural 1976 season. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images) The Buccaneers are celebrating their 50th season this fall by bringing back their original 1976 white road uniforms for their home opener. Question: Which franchise began play alongside the Bucs in 1976? ‌ Answer at the bottom. ⛳️ OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FLASHBACK: RORY'S 61 AT PORTRUSH Rory's scorecard. The 153rd Open Championship tees off tomorrow at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Rory McIlroy once shot a course-record 61 as a 16-year-old amateur. ‌ Rory: "I remember every shot from that round like it was yesterday," McIlroy said of his historic outing back on July 12, 2005. "It was the first time I ever played 18 holes without a bogey." ‌ Relive his historic round. Trivia answer: Seahawks

July 16, 2025 Good morning. Here’s the latest news: Ukraine: Republicans have shifted to supporting Ukraine, matching President Trump’s reversal. Congress: The Senate advanced legislation that would rescind $9 billion for foreign aid and public broadcasting. Immigration: The U.S. resumed deporting migrants to countries other than their own, sending five people to Eswatini, in southern Africa. The Supreme Court cleared the practice. Afghanistan: Iran deported more than a million Afghans this year. Women and girls who fled the Taliban to work and study fear “coming back to a cage.” We have more below. But first, we look at recent flooding — and explain what you can do to stay safe. Brian Fraser for The New York Times, Juan Luis Landaeta via Reuters and Eduardo Munoz/Reuters The torrent By Tom Wright-Piersanti I’m an editor for The Morning newsletter. The rainwater flowed into my central New Jersey home on Monday night, carving rivulets across my floor that grew into streams and then ponds. My sump pump was quickly overmatched; so was my wet vac. A second pump, which I hoped would drain pooling water through a window, shot a geyser of brown basement liquid into my face. My battle against the elements left me with a sore back and a cellar full of sopping mementos, musical instruments and holiday decorations. But I got off easy. The flash floods did far more damage just a few towns over. There, roads became rivers. Two people died when fast-rising waters carried their car into a stream. “Water has killed more people in my time as governor than any other sort of weather event,” Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, lamented yesterday. He blamed climate change. Many factors influence the weather, and scientists don’t like to say that climate change caused this specific storm or that one. But researchers know that climate change is causing heavier rainfall in many storms — the warmer the atmosphere gets, the more moisture it can hold and release. Extreme rainstorms have become more common around the world. The last month has brought a rush of the resulting floods. Over a single week, the water surged in New Mexico, Illinois, North Carolina and Texas, where the deluge killed more than 130 people. Are you safe? Flash floods are the hardest disasters to prevent. What should you know about your neighborhood’s flood risk? Claire Brown, who covers the climate, talked to experts about why you may be at more risk than you think, what you can do about it and how local governments are adapting. FEMA’s flood maps. The agency publishes maps that inform zoning regulations and building standards. They also affect which homeowners have to buy flood insurance. (Search for your address here.) But experts worry that these maps underestimate the risk of sudden and intense storms that lead to the rapid rise of rivers — such as the one that inundated Camp Mystic in Texas this month. By one estimate, more than twice as many properties are prone to once-in-a-century floods as FEMA maps suggest. As many as 440,000 homes across the country may be underinsured for flood risk. Where else to look. The government frequently updates maps of current and past floods and runs a water prediction service. The National Weather Service is refining a tool to visualize floods at street level. Real estate websites like Zillow, Redfin and Realtor.com also use models from an independent research firm to share flood-risk data on listings. States adapt. Many are bolstering their warning systems and building infrastructure. New York City, for example, is building a 2.4-mile system of flood walls and floodgates designed to protect the East Side of Manhattan. After thousands of Vermont residents lost homes and businesses in a 2023 flood, the state is improving its alert system and may require homeowners to disclose past flood damage when they sell property. It’s also buying homes in floodplains and turning them into parkland. More coverage Florida and the central Gulf Coast face a risk of flash flooding in the coming days. A summer camp in Central Texas serving disabled youths reopened barely a week after the flooding. An army of volunteers helped it clean up. THE LATEST NEWS War in Ukraine As Trump has pivoted and announced a plan to send weapons to Ukraine, some Republicans are contorting themselves to stay aligned with him. In the video below, Maggie Haberman, who covers the White House, explains how Trump’s position on Russia and Ukraine has changed. Click to watch. Congress Some Republican senators refused to support the move to rescind aid and public broadcast funds. JD Vance had to break a tie. PBS and NPR are pleading directly with lawmakers to shield them from more than $500 million a year in federal funding cuts. Josh Hawley, a senator from Missouri, introduced legislation to reverse some of the Medicaid cuts that he voted for as part of Trump’s big policy bill two weeks ago. Epstein Files House Democrats, capitalizing on a Republican rift, called for Trump administration officials to testify about their handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The Republican breach over the Epstein saga hints at a broader fraying of Trump’s political coalition, Annie Karni writes. Late night hosts covered Epstein and MAGA. Government Overhaul The Health and Human Services Department finished firing thousands of employees after a Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for mass government layoffs. The Justice Department wants to undo civil service and whistle-blower protections so it can to fire career law enforcement officials without cause. Israel Some of Benjamin Netanyahu’s political allies quit his government over a proposal to make ultra-Orthodox religious students serve in the Israeli military. The Israeli military struck government forces in Syria and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Israel said it was securing its northern border. The U.S. ambassador to Israel urged an investigation into the killing of a Palestinian American during a clash with Israeli settlers in the West Bank, calling it a terrorist act. China Beijing is spending billions to become an A.I. superpower. China will restrict use of its battery-making technology in other countries, which could cement its lead in electric-vehicle production. Other Big Stories The Trump administration released around half of the National Guard troops it deployed to Los Angeles during last month’s protests. Federal officials rarely penalize for-profit rehab hospitals for grave errors that hurt patients, an investigation found. Inflation accelerated slightly last month. Prices rose more for the products most affected by tariffs, like furniture and appliances. NEW YORK MAYOR’S RACE Zohran Mamdani Angelina Katsanis for The New York Times The Times recently invited readers to send questions about Zohran Mamdani’s decisive win in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary. We’ve highlighted one below; you can find many more here, about both local and national issues. How does Mamdani’s race and subsequent win reflect the overall picture of politics — especially the identity of the Democratic Party — going into November and beyond? Samantha Kaplan, Annapolis, Md. Lisa Lerer, a national political correspondent, explains: There’s a long and storied history of overinterpreting New York elections as barometers of the national mood. Just ask Eric Adams, who once heralded himself as the Biden of Brooklyn, or ask Bill de Blasio about his very brief presidential campaign. As one prominent Democrat put it to me recently, the party should spend more time thinking about the Upper Peninsula of Michigan than the Upper West Side. The most competitive midterm races will largely take place in more moderate areas of the country. So I would not expect many Democratic candidates to embrace democratic socialist positions. More likely is that candidates will try to emulate Mamdani’s effective use of social media, and perhaps his intense focus on affordability, an issue that resonates everywhere. As I wrote last month, there are some early signs that Mamdani’s win could inspire some younger Democrats to challenge older incumbents in primaries. It comes as many voters are desperate for generational change after watching their leaders dismiss their concerns about Joe Biden’s age. We plan to continue answering questions in the New York Today newsletter until the election in November. Submit your own here, and sign up here to get that newsletter delivered to your inbox. For more Mamdani told a group of business leaders that he would discourage use of the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a rallying cry for opponents of the war in Gaza that has been seen as a call to violence against Jews. Andrew Cuomo, who will run as an independent against Mamdani, is test driving a warmer, friendlier version of himself. Read his interview with The Times. OPINIONS Public media is a public service. To abandon it would take away nonpartisan local news that the private sector can’t provide, the Editorial Board writes. Here’s a column by Bret Stephens on Mamdani. Everything The Times offers. All in one subscription. Morning readers: Save on unlimited access to The Times with this introductory offer. MORNING READS Peter Fisher for The New York Times Bigger and Weirder: Click the image above to see Weird Al Yankovic’s first ever Madison Square Garden performance. Stubborn visitor: A popular New York hiking trail had to close for a month because of a moose that wouldn’t leave. Your pick: The most clicked article in The Morning yesterday explored the pros and cons of Benadryl. Lives Lived: Andrea Gibson was a master of spoken-word poetry who cultivated legions of admirers with intensely personal, often political works exploring gender, love and a four-year fight with terminal ovarian cancer. Gibson died at 49. SPORTS M.L.B.: A wild All-Star Game featured a homage to Clayton Kershaw, a first-of-its-kind home run swing-off to decide the winner and an M.V.P. award for the Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. W.N.B.A.: Caitlin Clark injured her groin in last night’s game against the Connecticut Sun. EMMY NOMINATIONS Apple TV+ may not be many people’s streaming platform of choice, but yesterday’s Emmy nominations were good to it. “Severance,” its dystopian workplace drama, earned 27 nominations — the most for any series. Seth Rogen’s “The Studio,” also from Apple TV+, picked up 23, tying a record for a comedy. Here are some other highlights: The former “ER” star Noah Wyle capped his comeback with a best drama actor nomination for his role in the medical drama “The Pitt.” (It was one of 13 for the show.) “Adolescence,” a British show that stirred political debate about teenage social media use in its home country and became a hit for Netflix, was nominated for best limited series. (Forecasters say it’s the favorite.) Colin Farrell’s prosthetics in “The Penguin” paid off: He was nominated for best actor in a limited series or TV movie. Trending: People online were searching for this year’s nominees. See the full list here. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … David Malosh for The New York Times Achieve near-instant joy with two-ingredient mango soft serve. Travel ultralight. Use a melon baller on more than just melons. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was beachcomb. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Sports Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Desiree Ibekwe, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch

THIS DAY IN HISTORY July 16 1945 The first atomic bomb test is successfully exploded On July 16, 1945, at 5:29:45 a.m., the Manhattan Project yields explosive results as the first atom bomb is successfully tested in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Plans for the creation of a uranium bomb by the Allies were established as early as 1939, when Italian emigre physicist Enrico Fermi met with... read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 1990s 1999 JFK Jr. killed in plane crash American Revolution 1779 Anthony Wayne launches risky attack against British forces Arts & Entertainment 1951 “Catcher in the Rye” is published Crime 1979 Trial begins for army doctor accused of stabbing his family to death European History 1918 Romanov family executed, ending a 300-year imperial dynasty Inventions & Science 1935 World’s first parking meter installed Natural Disasters & Environment 1990 Earthquake wreaks havoc in the Philippines Religion 1769 First Catholic mission in California dedicated Space Exploration 1969 Apollo 11 launches U.S. Government and Politics 1790 Congress declares new nation’s capital shall rise along the Potomac River U.S. Presidents 1973 Existence of Watergate tapes is revealed in live testimony 2002 President Bush unveils strategy for homeland security

Photo: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images Fireworks light up the Eiffel Tower yesterday to celebrate Bastille Day.

Trump administration fires 17 immigration court judges across ten states, union says WASHINGTON (AP) — Seventeen immigration court judges have been fired in recent days, according to the union that represents them, as the Trump administration pushes forward with its mass deportations of immigrants in the country. https://apnews.com/article/immigration-court-judges-trump-ice-229830c0779857164a832793c2a8f3e4?

Tariffs squeeze back-to-school shopping Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios Parents are heading into back-to-school season facing rising prices and looming tariffs, forcing them to shop smarter and earlier, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports. Why it matters: Back-to-school shopping is the second-biggest retail event of the year, after the holidays. This season is a stress test for family budgets and a strategy test for retailers trying to hold onto value-conscious shoppers. 🚌 By the numbers: 67% of back-to-school shoppers had already started buying for the coming school year as of early June, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey, released today. That's the highest since NRF started tracking early shopping in 2018. 51% of families said they are shopping earlier this year compared with last year, "out of concern that prices will rise due to tariffs," NRF said. Go deeper.

Vandals sentenced to more than 4 years for felling England’s beloved Sycamore Gap tree Vandals who cut down England’s beloved Sycamore Gap tree were sentenced Tuesday to more than four years in prison for damaging the country’s natural heritage and for the widespread outrage and distress it caused. Read More.

Thousands of Afghans have been brought to Britain in secrecy after a data leak Thousands of Afghans, including many who worked with British forces, have been secretly resettled in the U.K. after a leak of data on their identities raised fears that the Taliban could target them, the British government revealed Tuesday. Read More.

2 dead in New Jersey after floodwaters carry away vehicle during heavy rains that hit Northeast Two people in New Jersey were killed after their vehicle was swept up in floodwaters during a storm that moved across the U.S. Northeast overnight, authorities said Tuesday. Read More.

With Epstein conspiracy theories, Trump faces a crisis of his own making President Donald Trump’s strategy has been to downplay the uproar over the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case as his supporters demand the Justice Department release much-hyped records in the investigation. Trump's problem is the nothing-to-see-here approach doesn’t work for those who've learned from him they must not give up until the government’s deepest, darkest secrets are exposed. Read More. The inflation from tariffs that economists feared begins to emerge Inflation rose last month to its highest level since February as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs push up the cost of a range of goods, including furniture, clothing, and large appliances. Read More. Employees at the nation's consumer financial watchdog say it's become toothless under Trump Once a powerful watchdog for financial wrongdoing, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has seen its enforcement efforts grind to a halt under the Trump administration. Employees report being unable to perform their duties, and investigations into financial misconduct are being undone. Read More. Republicans are considering changes to Trump's request for $9.4 billion in spending cuts Senate Republicans were exploring changes Tuesday to President Donald Trump’s request to cancel $9.4 billion in previously approved spending targeted by his Department of Government Efficiency, signaling potential difficulties ahead of an important test vote. Read More.

2025 Emmy Awards nominations highlights: ‘Severance’ and ‘The Studio’ top the list The nominees for the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards were unveiled Tuesday. Actors Harvey Guillén and Brenda Song made the announcement at the Television Academy’s Wolf Theatre in Los Angeles, California, ahead of television’s 77th annual awards show. https://apnews.com/live/emmy-award-nominations-2025-updates? These are the nominees for the 77th Emmy Awards “Severance” separated itself from the field with 27 Emmy nominations Tuesday, while “The Studio” led comedy nominees with a record-tying 23 in a dominant year for Apple TV+. Read More. 📺 "Severance" and "The Studio" lead Emmy nods Adam Scott and Britt Lower in "Severance." Photo: Apple TV+ via AP "Severance" led the field with a whopping 27 Emmy nominations today, including Best Drama. 🎬 "The Studio," starring Seth Rogen as the harried head of a film studio, had 23 nominations, including Best Comedy. Both are Apple TV+ series, but HBO and Netflix each had more total nominations than Apple. The Emmys ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 14, with Nate Bargatze hosting. See all the nominees.

The IRS Is Building a Vast System to Share Millions of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE The Internal Revenue Service is building a computer program that would give deportation officers unprecedented access to confidential tax data. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-irs-share-tax-records-ice-dhs-deportations? The Texas Flash Flood Is a Preview of the Chaos to Come Climate change is making disasters more common, more deadly and far more costly, even as the federal government is running away from the policies that might begin to protect the nation. https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-flash-flood-camp-mystic-climate-change-trump-noaa-fema? Why Gov. Greg Abbott Won’t Release His Emails With Elon Musk Texas Gov. Greg Abbott doesn’t want to reveal months of communications with Elon Musk or representatives from the tech mogul’s companies, arguing in part that they are of a private nature, not of public interest and potentially embarrassing. https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-governor-greg-abbott-elon-musk-emails-foia?

The tariff-driven inflation that economists feared begins to emerge WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation rose last month to its highest level since February as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs push up the cost of everything from groceries and clothes to furniture and appliances. https://apnews.com/article/inflation-trump-fed-powell-prices-8842d6ebca9d1870983e678e578d2091?

Hurricane center continues tracking system over Florida that could develop in Gulf The National Hurricane Center on Wednesday continued to project a medium chance that a system moving over Florida would emerge into the Gulf and develop into the season’s next tropical depression or storm. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/16/hurricane-center-continues-tracking-system-over-florida-that-could-develop-in-gulf/?

👋 Good morning! When Cal Raleigh was eight years old, his dad filmed him pretending to win the Home Run Derby. 20 years later, he made that childhood dream come true. ‌ In today's edition: Big Dumper wins the Derby, Michigan's unprecedented feat, Fantasy Baseball All-Stars, historic golf streaks, and more. ‌ Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. ‌ Let's sports… ⚾️ ALL-STAR WEEK BIG DUMPER WINS THE DERBY (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh won the Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta, edging out Rays 3B Junior Caminero in the final, 18 to 15, to continue his dream season. ‌ Family affair: Raleigh is the first catcher to win the event, and he did it with his father, Todd, pitching to him and his 15-year-old brother, Todd Jr., catching. ‌ From Yahoo Sports' Jake Mintz: Raleigh's rousing Derby performance served as a coronation of sorts, a capstone to the Mariners catcher's improbable rise from third-round draft pick to national baseball stardom. In cranking 38 first-half home runs, Raleigh undoubtedly solidified himself as the sport's best backstop, a switch-hitting dynamo delivering outrageous offensive production for the position. While Raleigh has been a popular presence in the Pacific Northwest for a while, his magnificent 2025 season has elevated him into a new stratosphere. And his evening Monday on the grand stage was the perfect encapsulation of what makes the Mariners' backstop special: steadiness, consistency, exhilarating raw power from both sides of the dish. Raleigh's performance only confirmed his new reality: He is simply one of the most recognizable characters in the sport. And yes, the nickname certainly helps. In fact, Raleigh's evening began with a genuinely flooring introduction from professional bloviator Pat McAfee. "WITH THE FATTEST ASS IN ALL OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS ..." the ESPN personality hollered to the sellout crowd. "BIG DUMPER CAL RALEIGH." With that, Raleigh was off to the races. 🎓 GO BLUE MICHIGAN MAKES DRAFT HISTORY (Giphy) Michigan made history over the weekend, becoming the first school ever to have a first-round pick in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL drafts in the same year. ‌ NFL: Mason Graham (No. 5) NHL: Will Horcoff (No. 24) NBA: Danny Wolf (No. 27) MLB: Mitch Voit (No. 38) But wait, there's more: The Wolverines also had a first-round pick in the MLS Draft, with Jason Bucknor going No. 20 to the Galaxy. ⚾️ YAHOO FANTASY FANTASY BASEBALL ALL-STARS (Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports) The MLB All-Star Game is tonight in Atlanta,* featuring rosters voted on by fans and players alike. But who makes the squad when first-half fantasy production is the sole criteria? Yahoo Sports' Fred Zinkie makes his picks. American League: Catcher: Cal Raleigh, SEA … 38 HR, 82 RBI, 65 R, 10 SB, .259/.376/.634 First base: Cody Bellinger, NYY … 16 HR, 54 RBI, 54 R, 9 SB, .282/.336/.830 Second base: Ceddanne Rafaela, BOS … 14 HR, 48 RBI, 55 R, 13 SB, .271/.314/.483 Third base: José Ramírez, CLE … 18 HR, 50 RBI, 54 R, 29 SB, .295/.363/.506 Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., KC … 14 HR, 54 RBI, 57 R, 25 SB, .294/.345/.504 Outfield: Aaron Judge, NYY … 35 HR, 81 RBI, 85 R, 6 SB, .355/.462/.733 Outfield: Riley Greene, DET … 24 HR, 78 RBI, 53 R, 1 SB, .284/.335/.544 Outfield: Byron Buxton, MIN … 21 HR, 56 RBI, 64 R, 17 SB, .289/.351/.574 Designated hitter: Brent Rooker, ATH … 20 HR, 54 RBI, 60 R, 3 SB, .279/.355/.505 Starting pitcher: Tarik Skubal, DET … 10-3, 2.23 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 153 K Starting pitcher: Garrett Crochet, BOS … 10-4, 2.23 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 160 K Reliever: Josh Hader, HOU … 5-2, 25 SV (1 BLSV), 2.53 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 65 K Spotlight: Riley Greene is striking out more than anyone — and having his best season yet (Jordan Shusterman, Yahoo Sports) (Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports) National League: Catcher: Will Smith, LAD … 12 HR, 46 RBI, 45 R, 2 SB, .323/.425/.540 First base: Pete Alonso, NYM … 21 HR, 77 RBI, 53 R, 1 SB, .280/.376/.532 Second base: Ketel Marte, ARI … 19 HR, 40 RBI, 52 R, 2 SB, .290/.394/.567 Third base: Eugenio Suárez, ARI … 31 HR, 78 RBI, 58 R, 1 SB, .250/.320/.569 Shortstop: Elly De La Cruz, CIN … 18 HR, 63 RBI, 72 R, 25 SB, .284/.359/.495 Outfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong, CHC … 25 HR, 71 RBI, 67 R, 27 SB, .265/.302/.544 Outfield: Kyle Tucker, CHC … 17 HR, 56 RBI, 68 R, 22 SB, .280/.384/.499 Outfield: James Wood, WSH … 24 HR, 69 RBI, 59 R, 12 SB, .278/.381/.534 Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, LAD … 32 HR, 60 RBI, 91 R, 12 SB, .276/.382/.605 Starting pitcher: Paul Skenes, PIT … 4-8, 2.01 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 131 K Starting pitcher: Zack Wheeler, PHI … 9-3, 2.36 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 154 K Reliever: Edwin Díaz, NYM … 4-0, 19 SV (1 BLSV), 1.66 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 55 K *Further reading: Why is the All-Star Game back in Atlanta? Next question (Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports) ⛳️ GOING STREAKING XANDER AND SCOTTIE: A CUT ABOVE THE REST Scottie and Xander after finishing the second round of this year's PGA Championship. (Warren Little/Getty Images) Neither Scottie Scheffler nor Xander Schauffele, the world's first- and third-ranked golfers, won this past weekend at the Scottish Open. But they did make the cut — just as they have in every other tournament for the past three years. ‌ Weekend warriors: Schauffele hasn't missed a cut since the 2022 Masters (68 straight), while Scheffler's last miss came later that year at the FedEx St. Jude Championship (59). Those streaks aren't just insanely impressive; they're the sixth- and seventh-longest of all-time. ‌ Longest streaks of made cuts, PGA Tour history: Tiger Woods: 142 (1998-2005) Byron Nelson: 113 (1941-48) Jack Nicklaus: 105 (1970-76) Hale Irwin: 86 (1975-78) Dow Finsterwald: 72 (1955-58) Schauffele: 68 (2022-present) Scheffler: 59 (2022-present) A league of their own: Scottie and Xander are miles ahead the competition right now, as just eight other men have active streaks of at least 10 straight, with none longer than 15 (Corey Conners). ‌ Schauffele won his first event of the streak (2022 Zurich Classic), and since then has four more wins (including two majors) and 35 total top-10's. Scheffler makes even those lofty numbers look pedestrian, winning 12 times during his streak (including two majors, two Players Championships and a Tour Championship) to go along with 34 top-5's and 47 top-10's. Yes, he's finished top-10 in 47 of his last 59 starts.* Up next: Scheffler is Open Championship’s biggest favorite since 2015 ‌ *It's actually even more impressive than that: Scottie has also made four unofficial starts during his streak: the 2022-24 Hero World Challenge and the 2024 Olympics. His results in those starts? Three wins and a runner-up. 📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: TUESDAY, JULY 15 (Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) ⚾️ All-Star Game | 8pm ET, Fox ‌ The 95th Midsummer Classic is tonight at Atlanta's Truist Park, where Cy Young frontrunners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes are the starting pitchers and where the American League — which holds a 48-44-2 all-time advantage — will try to win for the 11th time in the last 12 games. ‌ More to watch: 🏀 WNBA: Fever at Sun (8pm, ESPN) … After scoring 20+ points in four of her first six games, Caitlin Clark has been held under 20 points in six straight. 🏊 Aquatics: World Championships (8pm, Peacock) …. The three-week long event began Friday in Singapore. ⚾️ FOR SALE MLB TRIVIA (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Rays owner Stu Sternberg has agreed in principle to sell the franchise for $1.7 billion in a deal that's expected to close by September, The Athletic reports. Question: This will be the third MLB team sale this decade once completed. Can you name the other two teams that were sold? ‌ Hint: One AL, one NL. ⚽️ GOOD READ WHAT THE WORLD CUP LEARNED FROM THE CLUB WORLD CUP (Michael Regan/FIFA via Getty Images) From Yahoo Sports' Henry Bushnell: The Club World Cup was a "dress rehearsal" for the U.S., which will host 78 of 104 games at next summer's bigger, grander, more prestigious men's World Cup. It was a "test" of readiness, and a taste of what 2026 will be like. And in that sense, it was a reminder that 2026 won't just be a World Cup in North America; it will be an Americanized World Cup. Trivia answer: Mets (2020) and Orioles (2024)

Netanyahu’s coalition is rattled as ultra-Orthodox party announces exit over military draft law An Israeli ultra-Orthodox party that has been a key governing partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Tuesday it was leaving the coalition government, threatening to destabilize the Israeli leader’s rule at a pivotal time in the war in Gaza. Read more. Why this matters: United Torah Judaism’s two factions said they were leaving the government over disagreements surrounding a bill that would codify broad military draft exemptions for their constituents, many of whom study Jewish texts instead of enlisting to the military. The issue has long divided Jewish Israelis, most of whom are required to enlist. The departure of a party that has long served as a kingmaker in Israeli politics doesn’t immediately threaten Netanyahu’s rule. But once it comes into effect within 48 hours, it will leave the Israeli leader with a slim majority in a government that could now more heavily rely on the whims of two far-right parties. Those parties oppose concessions in ceasefire negotiations with Hamas and have themselves quit or threatened to quit the government over moves to end or even pause the war in Gaza. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Syria announces ceasefire after sectarian violence Leaders of Holy Land churches condemn Israeli settler violence during a West Bank visit BBC Gaza documentary narrated by Hamas official’s son breached editorial guidelines, review says

MAGA faithful are angry about the Epstein case. Here’s what to know A broken promise to release more information about the Jeffrey Epstein case has sparked outrage among some of President Donald Trump’s loyal supporters, and the anger over the case threatens to divide the MAGA faithful. Read more. What to know: The Justice Department last week said Epstein, who was facing charges of sex trafficking, did not leave behind a “client list.” Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested in February it was on her desk, though she later said she was referring to the overall case file. Bondi also said officials were poring over a “truckload” of previously withheld evidence. The Justice Department concluded, however, that public disclosure would not be appropriate and that much of the material was placed under seal by a judge. The move has angered right-wing influencers who were once bolstered by Trump’s own claims on this case, but are now feeling their demands are being squelched by his administration. Figures like commentator Tucker Carlson, right-wing activist Laura Loomer and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon claim the government’s handling of the case shows a lack of transparency. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Handling of Epstein files sparks clash between Pam Bondi and Dan Bongino

How Trump plans to dismantle the Education Department after Supreme Court ruling Supreme Court justices on Monday paused a lower court order that had halted nearly 1,400 layoffs and had called into question the legality of President Donald Trump’s plan to outsource the department’s operations to other agencies. Now, Donald Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon are free to execute the layoffs and break up the department’s work among other federal agencies. Read more. Why this matters: McMahon has said the department has one “final mission” – to turn over its power to the states. Among the most important decisions is where to put management of federal student loans, a $1.6 trillion portfolio affecting nearly 43 million borrowers. Trump in March suggested the Small Business Administration would take on federal student loans, but a June court filing indicated the Treasury Department is expected to take over the work. Gutting the Education Department will hinder the government’s ability to enforce civil rights laws, especially for girls, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students and students of color, said Gaylynn Burroughs, vice president at the National Women’s Law Center. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ More than 20 states sue Trump administration over frozen after-school and summer funding Senate confirms Whitney Hermandorfer, Trump’s first judicial nominee of his second term Mike Waltz to face grilling over Signal chat at Senate hearing for UN ambassador role Waltz, former national security adviser, still on White House payroll What Trump’s new weapons plan for Ukraine might mean In his words: Trump’s rhetoric about Zelenskyy and Putin has evolved WATCH: Mixed reactions in Russia after Trump comments on military aid for Ukraine With temporary protections for some Afghans set to expire, appeals court steps in Immigration agents demand tenant information from landlords, stirring questions and confusion A chaotic raid, 360 arrests, and a tragic death: What happened at California’s Glass House Farms US imposes a 17% duty on fresh Mexican tomatoes in hopes of boosting domestic production China’s economy grows at a robust pace as trade truce eases pressure from US tariffs Nvidia’s CEO says it has US approval to sell its H20 AI computer chips in China Trump administration says it won’t publish major climate change report on NASA website as promised Bitcoin soars to new all-time high as US lawmakers focus on pro-crypto legislation Cuomo stays in NYC mayor’s race as an independent despite losing the primary to Mamdani New York clerk refuses to enforce Texas judgment against doctor who provided abortion pills Another DeSantis ally takes the helm of a public university in Florida Book Review: ‘The Mission’ reveals troubling political meddling in CIA after 9/11

Megyn Kelly Admits Trump May Have ‘Blessed’ Epstein Cover-Up It’s either that or Pam Bondi “royally screwed up,” the MAGA podcaster declared. Donald Trump-loyalist Megyn Kelly said he may have “blessed” a cover-up of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes, in a shocking admission that stands against her previous comments about the president. Maybe “there is something there and it’s being covered up and the president blessed it,” Kelly said on her daily podcast, making guest Ben Shapiro’s eyes widen and eyebrows raise. Though she was quick to immediately note, “I didn’t say there’s a child sex ring that he’s actively covering up.” Perhaps he “blessed” a cover-up out of the goodness of his heart, Kelly posited. “It would have some names. Those men would have to defend themselves,” Kelly continued. “Maybe the administration doesn’t think it’s a fair position to put them in. Maybe there are questions about the accusers. Maybe there are half-hearted allegations in there that, you know, normally a DOJ would not put out.” She added, “There could be a middle ground” that doesn’t suggest Trump himself is linked to Epstein’s crimes.Or, she explains another theory, “Some have speculated that the Biden DOJ may have left the Epstein files in such a manner that it leads directly with an arrow toward Donald Trump, just as a middle finger toward Trump. Not that he did anything whatsoever,” she clarified again, but because “they’re b-----ds and they knew he was coming in and they knew his people were interested in this story.” Kelly racking her brain to make sense of the miscommunication from Trump’s administration about the Epstein case is just the latest symptom of the internal MAGA fallout over its handling. She continued to blame Attorney General Pam Bondi for the worst of it on Monday, after previously declaring that Bondi’s days as Trump’s AG are “numbered”. Kelly said it’s just as possible that “Pam Bondi has royally screwed up and the president is just forgiving her,” she said on the show Monday, “because she’s a loyal soldier and he likes her and he doesn’t want to go through the messy confirmation process of getting somebody else in there. Or, as she posted to X on Saturday, “There is a scandal that’s being covered up and it’s at his direction.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/megyn-kelly-admits-trump-may-have-blessed-epstein-cover-up/?

Only One Republican Votes in Favor of Releasing Epstein Files Democrats introduced an amendment that would force the DOJ to release the materials. House Republicans shut down a Democratic bid to unseal the Jeffrey Epstein files Monday night, as the MAGA base tears itself apart over the controversy. The House Rules Committee voted 6-5 against attaching a Democratic amendment to cryptocurrency legislation that would compel the Justice Department to release all documents related to Epstein on a publicly accessible website. One Republican, Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, voted with the panel’s four Democrats in favor of attaching the amendment. It had not been expected to pass, but was designed to expose GOP hypocrisies on the matter. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, submitted the measure. Approving it in committee would allow it to advance to a full floor vote. “Trump is posting that we should all just move on. Well, I want to know what the hell is in these files,” Rep. Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the committee, said while arguing in favor of the move. “And I think we all want to know why Trump is suddenly changing his tune and is so desperate to sweep this under the rug.” “Republicans said, ‘Trust us. Vote for us and we will release these files.’ And here we are, they are backtracking,” he added. Rep. Virginia Foxx, the North Carolina Republican who chairs the committee, said after the vote that “most of us believe what’s appropriate will be released when it is time for the president to release it,” according to Axios. Khanna on MSNBC afterwards that a House floor vote would have allowed lawmakers to answer the question: “Whose side are you on?” “It’s not just about knowing who’s being protected—the rich and the powerful—in terms of who had interaction with Jeffrey Epstein," he said. “It’s the sense that people have that the government is too beholden to certain interests who have their thumb on the scale.” Trump said on the campaign trail that he would make the Epstein files public if elected, catering to a slice of his base that contends the government covered up Epstein’s ties to powerful figures and doubts he died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019. His attorney general, Pam Bondi, suggested in February she was in possession of an Epstein “client list.” Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle encouraged her to release the files at the time. A firestorm ignited last Monday when the DOJ and FBI, in a joint memo, announced that no further documents would be released. It said there was no “client list” and an investigation found he had died by suicide. The issue has set off vicious infighting in MAGA ranks, as many Trump supporters slam the reversal. Trump has adopted a “nothing to see here” attitude, defending Bondi and calling on supporters to drop it. “We’re on one Team, MAGA, and I don’t like what’s happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and “selfish people” are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein," Trump wrote on Truth Social over the weekend. https://www.thedailybeast.com/only-one-republican-votes-in-favor-of-releasing-epstein-file/?

Trump Is Fuming Behind the Scenes at Dan Bongino’s Jeffrey Epstein Revolt Publicly, the president called him a “very good guy.” But the mood was reportedly very different behind closed doors. Donald Trump is said to be fuming behind the scenes at FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, whose revolt over the Jeffrey Epstein memo has caused chaos for the administration. Trump has been “very angry” with Bongino, and to a lesser extent, FBI chief Kash Patel, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reported Monday night on AC360. Bongino reportedly skipped work on Friday and threatened to resign following a heated confrontation with Attorney General Pam Bondi at the White House days earlier over the administration’s handling of the Epstein case. Trump has stood by Bondi, who caught the brunt of furious MAGA backlash after declining to release any additional files related to the disgraced financier’s case. Bongino did show up to work on Monday, but his future remains unclear, according to Collins. White House officials “were texting each other and texting me this morning, asking whether or not they had figured out if he had shown up to work today,” Collins reported. “Because it was still an open question in Washington this morning if he was going to be back at the FBI today.” While the former podcaster is continuing on in his FBI role for now, Collins said, his relationship with the White House has “deteriorated so much” that he hasn’t spoken to certain White House officials in days. He’s also been out of touch with Justice Department leadership—a relationship central to his role—since Wednesday, she added. “So yes, Dan Bongino may still in the job for right now... but there is a real question over the future of that relationship,” Collins said. Reached for comment by the Daily Beast, the White House sidestepped questions about internal tensions and offered a broad statement defending the administration’s law enforcement brass. “President Trump has assembled an incredible team of Law and Order patriots who are committed to Making America Safe Again and restoring the integrity of our criminal justice system,” principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields said in a statement. “Attorney General Bondi, Director Patel, Deputy Director Bongino, and the countless other heroes of our law enforcement community are dedicated to executing President Trump’s agenda of protecting civil rights, safeguarding communities, holding criminals accountable, and defending victims. This work will continue in lockstep and with unprecedented success.” Trump was upbeat and noncommittal when asked on Sunday if Bongino is still in his role. “I think so,” he said, adding that he had spoken to him earlier. “Very good guy. I’ve known him a long time. I’ve done his show many, many times. And he sounded terrific actually. No, I think he’s in good shape,” he said. According to Collins, Trump’s anger led Patel to put out a statement over the weekend reiterating his loyalty to the president. “The conspiracy theories just aren’t true, never have been. It’s an honor to serve the President of the United States,” Patel wrote on X. “And I’ll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me.” Bongino has been quiet publicly, but he was “out of control furious” about the situation, a source told NBC News last week. “This destroyed his career. He’s threatening to quit and torch Pam unless she’s fired,” the source said. Describing Bongino as a “mentor,” MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson claimed on a Monday episode that “I just did some phone calls, and I found out that Dan Bongino not only is back working at the FBI, but cooler heads have prevailed here, [and] Dan is actually working on something very very important.” Another source told him that “there are some big things happening that we may not be able to see right now,” Johnson claimed, adding that pushback from supporters on social media had “worked.” Patel and Bongino represent a faction of Trump’s base that had long held that there was more to the Epstein case than what the government disclosed. The convicted sex offender’s 2019 death in federal custody was ruled a suicide, but some in that faction suggested he was murdered. They’ve also demanded the release of an alleged client list implicating powerful Epstein associates. Both men leaned into those theories prior to their appointments at the FBI. But since then, both have publicly affirmed that Epstein died by suicide, angering some MAGA supporters. The memo that ignited the latest firestorm, a joint message from the DOJ and FBI, was shared on July 7. It stated there was no evidence Epstein kept a “client list” and that an investigation concluded he died by suicide. “While we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government’s possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,” the memo said. Trump and Bondi had both previously indicated that they would release more materials. The reversal has created a major rift in Trump’s base. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-is-fuming-behind-the-scenes-at-dan-bonginos-jeffrey-epstein-revolt/?

TACO Trump Reverses Decision That Just Happens to Have Cost His ‘Friend’ Billions Nvidia announced it would now be allowed to sell its H20 computer chips to China. The U.S. has agreed to let Nvidia sell its advanced H20 computer chips to China just days after President Donald Trump met with the company’s chief executive, his “friend” Jensen Huang. The decision, which the company announced Monday in a blog post, reverses a Commerce Department policy put in place in April that restricted sales of the chip, causing an estimated $5.5 billion in losses, the Associated Press reported. Last week, Huang met with Trump to personally lobby for a reversal, according to the Wall Street Journal. He argued that allowing Nvidia to sell its technology worldwide would result in American companies dominating artificial intelligence instead of Chinese companies. The chips are used in cutting-edge data centers that train AI models and operate AI applications. Doing business in China would allow Nvidia to tap the country’s AI talent, Huang reportedly told Trump. He made a similar case to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to the Journal. Speaking to reporters in Beijing on Monday, Huang said that half of the world’s AI researchers are based in China. Trump had previously described the Taiwan-born businessman, who moved to the U.S. at age 9 and studied electrical engineering at Stanford University, as “my friend” in Saudi Arabia in May, the Journal reported. Huang was part of a posse of tech leaders—which included Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk and Alphabet chief investment officer Ruth Porat—who accompanied Trump to Saudi Arabia for a Saudi-U.S. business investment forum. The Nvidia chief has generally tried to stay out of politics but was forced to enter the fray thanks to the president’s wild pendulum swings on tariff and export control policies, the latter of which Huang called a “failure” in May, according to the Journal. The president has flip-flopped so much on trade threats that in May Wall Street traders nicknamed him “TACO” for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” Huang spoke at the White House in late April during an “Investing in America” event highlighting domestic manufacturing investments. Nvidia had recently announced that it was working to build its AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S. During his remarks, Huang gushed that without Trump’s “leadership, his policies, his support and very importantly his strong encouragement—and I mean his strong encouragement—frankly manufacturing in the United State wouldn’t have accelerated to this pace.” Nvidia has eclipsed Apple, Microsoft and Google to become the most valuable company in the world on the back of the AI boom, and last week became the first company to hit a $4 trillion market valuation. https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-reverses-decision-that-cost-his-friend-jensen-huang-of-nvidia-billions/?