Furious Trump's Firing of Fed's Lisa Cook May Be About to Backfire  —  To execute his authoritarian takeover, President Donald Trump requires the devoted service of willing accomplices.  He needs loyalists in strategic positions who will bend or break the law to carry out his designs …

Iowa Democrats win massive upset to break GOP supermajority  —  Iowa Democrat Catelin Drey won a major upset on Tuesday night, flipping a deep-red seat in the state Senate and breaking the GOP's supermajority in the chamber.  —  Drey defeated Republican Christopher Prosch by a wide 55-45 margin …

DOGE accused of copying entire Social Security database to insecure cloud system … A Social Security Administration (SSA) official alleged in a whistleblower disclosure that DOGE officials created “a live copy of the country's Social Security information in a cloud environment that circumvents oversight.”

She Pushed to Overturn Trump's Loss in the 2020 Election.  Now She'll Help Oversee U.S. Election Security.  —  ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.  Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they're published.  —  Heather Honey, a high-profile denier …

Trump Plays Reality Television Host at Cabinet Meeting That Lasts Hours  —  As hours ticked by, President Trump played reality television host — “This has never been done before!”  — as his cabinet members offered praise.  It was a glimpse of how he runs his presidency.

FEMA employees put on leave after criticizing Trump administration in open letter  —  About 180 current and former FEMA staffers sent a letter on Monday to members of Congress and other officials protesting the agency's leadership and direction.  —  The Trump administration placed …

National Guard members activated for DC federal takeover seen picking-up trash  — National Guard members were seen picking up trash near the White House Tuesday morning.  — Officials say it's part of a broader beautification mission tied to the federal “D.C. Takeover.”

Vanity Fair staff erupt in fury over proposed Melania Trump cover with foul-mouthed meltdown  —  Raging Vanity Fair employees have vowed to quit their jobs and work at a supermarket if First Lady Melania Trump is granted a spot on its cover.  —  'I will walk out the motherf***ing door …

Denmark summons US envoy over Greenland reports  —  Denmark has summoned the US head of mission in Copenhagen over alleged covert US influence efforts in Greenland.  The move comes after US President Donald Trump said he wanted the island — and even hinted at using force.

Trump signs proclamation commemorating Abbey Gate attack anniversary with Gold Star families  —  Trump was surrounded by Gold Star families during the White House ceremony honoring 13 fallen service members  —  President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation commemorating the anniversary …

Republican Mike Collins caught on hot mic saying Trump is ‘in’ the Epstein files  —  Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) said he believes President Donald Trump is mentioned in the Epstein files and wants the case files of the convicted sex offender made public.  —  The Georgia Senate candidate …

Trump Has Forced Out Nearly 10% Of The Federal Workforce  —  “We're seeing the arson of our government,” warned Max Stier of Partnership for Public Service, which has been tracking people's lost jobs since January.  —  WASHINGTON - More than 199,000 federal workers have left their jobs …

FEMA Suspends Staff Who Signed a Letter Criticizing Trump  —  Justice Dept. Broadens Inquiry Into Key Players in Russia Investigation  —  Deploy Troops to Chicago?  Trump Says He Can ‘Do Anything I Want to Do.’  —  2 MIN READ  —  A Teen Was Suicidal.  ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In.

Exxon Held Secret Talks With Rosneft About Going Back to Russia  —  Resuming business in Russia would mark a dramatic rapprochement after Exxon's messy breakup with Moscow when Putin attacked Ukraine in 2022  —  After huddling with President Trump in Alaska, President Vladimir Putin told reporters Russia …

Trump privately presses top Indiana Republicans to redistrict during White House meeting … “It feels like the tide is starting to turn as Indiana Republican legislators are starting to understand they can deliver a huge win that Trump and his team will not forget,” said one Hoosier Republican who was in the lager meeting.

Democrats' Deep Divide on Gaza, Israel Boils Over at Party Meeting  —  Democratic National Committee debates issue that threatens midterm election unity  —  MINNEAPOLIS—A debate Tuesday at the Democratic National Committee's summer meeting exposed a growing rift over U.S. policy toward Israel …

Israeli military says strikes on Gaza hospital targeted a Hamas camera, without providing evidence  —  The Israeli military said Tuesday that its double strike on a Gaza hospital that killed 20 people targeted what it believed was a Hamas surveillance camera.

Gates Foundation Quietly Cuts Ties With Firm Linked to Democrats  —  Officials made no mention of politics in cutting ties with a network of nonprofit funds, but Bill Gates has made other moves to insulate the charity from political pressures.  —  America's largest charitable foundation …

Trump's law enforcement surge is alienating DC residents, senior officers say  —  A pair of senior Washington, D.C., police commanders acknowledged Tuesday that the ongoing federal law enforcement surge in the nation's capital is alienating the population and damaging community relationships that will have to be mended in the future.

How Former Biden Officials Defend Their Gaza Policy  —  The former President's support for Israel abetted a humanitarian catastrophe.  But Jacob Lew, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the country, still thinks that the Trump White House could learn from its predecessor.

Thinking Outside the Box; Getting Creative  —  Two ideas I heard from TPM Readers today:  —  The first is from TPM Reader BT, who recommends that big cities hold military occupation referendums.  Needless to say these would not constrain President Trump.  But they would make clear what the population of the city wants.

Donald Trump's Big Gay Government … The Washington Monument as seen from the Ned, a private club where many Trump officials socialize.Caroline Gutman for The New York Times  —  It was the last Wednesday in July, and many of Washington's top players were hanging out at the Ned, a private club around the corner from the White House.

Trump wants expanded death penalty, longer control over police in D.C.  —  Call for greater use of capital punishment is likely to draw fierce political and legal pushback.  —  President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he wants to see the death penalty imposed on every person convicted of murder in D.C. …

Trump's hand bruise renews attention to his health — and his heart  —  The White House has pointed in part to the use of aspirin to treat a common condition  —  President Trump's bruised hand and his apparent use of makeup to cover the discolored patch of skin have renewed attention …

California Republican leader calls for a ‘two state solution’ amid redistricting battle … SACRAMENTO, California — The top Republican in the California Assembly will propose splitting the state in two amid the state's feud over redistricting, calling his proposal a ""two state solution.

Meet the Trump appointee apparently maintaining ‘unheard of’ ties to Tesla  —  The Trump appointee heading a government technology unit at the General Services Administration is on an “unpaid leave of absence” from Tesla — where he's worked as an engineer — while working for the government.

Judge says Cuomo can't prolong court battle with accuser to ‘resurrect his public image’  —  A judge rejected former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's attempt to prolong a taxpayer-funded court battle with a woman who accused him of sexual assault, saying it wasn't in the public's interest …