RFK Jr. Cancels $500 Million In Funding For Vaccine Development  —  The mRNA vaccines are credited with slowing the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.  —  The Department of Health and Human Services will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines that are being developed to fight respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu.

Abbott sues to remove Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu from seat  —  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has sued to remove Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu from his seat amid a battle between Texas Democrats and Republicans over redistricting.  —  “What is at stake here?

Trump threatens federal takeover of D.C. after attack on DOGE worker  —  Trump floats taking federal control of the city after the man known online as ‘Big Balls’ was injured in a carjacking.  Elon Musk also says city should be taken over.  —  A protégé of Elon Musk …

Top Trump officials will discuss Epstein strategy at Wednesday dinner hosted by Vance  —  Top Trump administration officials will gather at the vice president's residence Wednesday evening as they continue to weigh whether to publish an audio recording and transcript of Deputy Attorney General …

Establishing the White House Task Force on the 2028 Summer Olympics  —  By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in anticipation of the 2028 Summer Olympics, it is hereby ordered:  —  Section 1.  Purpose.

Prosecutor who negotiated Epstein's sweetheart deal left off subpoena list … - The sweetheart plea deal, which Acosta negotiated without consulting Epstein's victims, also shielded his alleged co-conspirators from future prosecution related to his sex crimes.

Miss United States Files Restraining Order Against GOP Rep. Cory Mills  —  Lindsey Langston, a Florida Republican state committeewoman and the reigning Miss United States, has filed a restraining order against Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills, after reporting him to local and state law enforcement …

There Is an Information Blackout at Florida's ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Migrant Detention Camp  —  Public records related to Florida's so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” migrant detention camp have essentially disappeared into what one expert called a “black hole.”  Over 90 pages of contracts reviewed …

ICE Offers, Then Quickly Withdraws, Cash Bonuses for Swiftly Deporting Immigrants  —  The short-lived effort underscores the mounting pressure on ICE to meet President Trump's aggressive deportation targets.  —  On Tuesday morning, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced in an internal email …

Trump administration violated impoundment law by canceling NIH grants, slowing new awards, GAO finds  —  Congressional watchdog concludes agency illegally failed to disburse billions in research funds  —  In a scathing report issued Tuesday, the Government Accountability Office found …

White House Orders NASA to Destroy Important Satellite  —  The White House has instructed NASA employees to terminate two major, climate change-focused satellite missions.  —  As NPR reports, Trump officials reached out to the space agency to draw up plans for terminating the two missions, called the Orbiting Carbon Observatories.

Trump plans to “take over” Gaza aid effort, U.S. officials say  —  Special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump discussed plans for the U.S. to significantly increase its role in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza in a meeting Monday evening at the White House, according to two U.S. officials …

GOP Senate chief changed consent law as relative faced rape charge involving 13-year-old  —  The Republican president of Utah's Senate managed to change consent laws after a relative was accused of raping a 13-year-old.  —  Newsweek reported a Salt Lake City Tribune piece …

Columbia and Brown to Disclose Admissions and Race Data in Trump Deal  —  A widely overlooked part of a settlement with the two universities could profoundly alter how elite schools determine who gets accepted.  —  As part of the settlements struck with two Ivy League universities in recent weeks …

Weather Service is now hiring back hundreds of positions that got cut in the DOGE chaos  —  The National Weather Service has received permission to hire 450 meteorologists, hydrologists and radar technicians just months after being hit hard by Department of Government Efficiency-related cuts and early retirement incentives.

Sen Adam Schiff under federal criminal investigation for alleged mortgage fraud violations  —  Investigation follows criminal referral alleging senator falsified bank documents for favorable loan terms  —  Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is under criminal investigation for mortgage fraud, a Trump administration source told Fox News.

E.P.A. Moves to Cancel $7 Billion in Grants for Solar Energy  —  If finalized, the move would escalate the Trump administration's efforts to claw back billions of dollars in climate grants awarded under President Biden.  —  The Trump administration is preparing to terminate $7 billion …

Hundreds of alleged human rights abuses in immigrant detention, report finds  —  The office of Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff asserts it “identified 510 credible reports of human rights abuse” against immigration detainees.  DHS disputed the claims.  —  A monthslong probe by the office of Sen. Jon Ossoff …

The Supreme Court Prepares to End Voting Rights As We Know It  —  And they don't want you to notice.  —  It is a truth universally acknowledged that if you want to hide what you are doing in Washington, announce it on a Friday evening in the heat of August.

New National UMass Amherst Poll Finds President Trump's Job Approval Gap Slides 6 Points Since April  —  The survey finds Trump's net approval drops to -20 six months into his term, while his approval rating on immigration falls 9 points since April; additionally, 70% say he has not handled Epstein situation …

Federal judge rules Trump administration cannot reallocate billions meant for disaster mitigation  —  A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from reallocating $4 billion meant to help communities protect against natural disasters.  U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns …

Trump Says Japan to Import Ford's Huge F-150 Pickup Trucks  —  Donald Trump said Japan would accept imports of Ford's huge F-150 pickup trucks, in the latest sign that the two countries are at odds in their understanding of a trade agreement the US President announced last month.

What, Exactly, Is the ‘Russia Hoax’?  —  This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture.  Sign up for it here.  —  One of Donald Trump's tells is his talk of the “Russia hoax.”