In Iran, Trump Has Found an Opponent He Cannot Easily Dominate  —  The president is accustomed to forcing other countries to bend to his will.  But he is struggling to come up with a strategy to extract Iranian concessions as the cease-fire he brokered collapses.

Opportunities Narrow for Women as Hegseth Blocks More Promotions  —  For the first time in more than a decade, no active-duty female Navy officers are likely to be promoted to admiral this year.  —  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently blocked the promotions of seven senior Navy officers …

Man killed by truck as he fled immigration agents in St. Augustine  —  A 28-year-old man died Tuesday morning following an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations agents in St. Augustine, marking the third death involving ICE in a week.

Senate Democrats block $1.15 trillion defense authorization bill  —  Senate Democrats on Tuesday defeated a motion to proceed to the $1.15 trillion annual defense authorization bill, legislation that usually enjoys strong bipartisan support but this year has become snarled in a partisan fight over defense spending levels.

House Republicans home in on $80B reconciliation package  —  House Republican leaders and White House officials are coalescing around a roughly $80 billion policy package as they prepare for a final summer push to enact party-line budget reconciliation legislation.

Trump plans primetime speech on voting machines and foreign influence in elections  —  The president is also expected to release declassified intelligence documents — four months before the November midterms.  —  President Donald Trump is preparing to deliver a primetime speech that will focus …

The Shooter in Maine Was a New ICE Recruit  —  Sign up for Inside the Trump Presidency, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump term.  —  Late last night, at the end of a day that started with the killing of a 26-year-old Colombian man in Maine, the second fatal shooting involving …

Jack Smith obtained text messages from 44 members of Congress  —  Former special counsel Jack Smith obtained text messages that 44 members of Congress sent to senior White House officials during the final weeks of President Donald Trump's first term, Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley revealed Tuesday.

Todd Blanche faces high-stakes confirmation hearing for attorney general  —  Todd Blanche, President Trump's former personal lawyer and his pick for attorney general, is set to appear for what could be a contentious confirmation hearing Wednesday amid questions about his handling of the Epstein files …

Authorities investigate Taco Bell and lettuce as cyclosporiasis outbreak surges  —  CDC identifies link among four Midwestern states, the first public indication of a common source in multiple outbreaks that have sickened more than 4,000.  —  Summary  —  Federal and state health officials …

Trump Administration Subpoenas Law Firms, Escalating Pressure Campaign  —  The uneasy truce between the administration and the law firms it cut deals with last year has erupted into a pitched legal battle behind closed doors.  —  Since President Trump cut deals with nine …

Statement from Captain Sully Sullenberger  —  Lorrie and I often said we won the baby lottery with our two daughters.  And we have learned what people say is actually true: that grandchildren are a game changer.  Our granddaughter gives a whole new meaning to life.

How MAGA cynically created a moral panic about Zohran Mamdani and Italian Americans  —  MAGA trolls and their allies in right-wing media joined forces last week to gin up an exceptionally dumb, cynically engineered culture war “outrage.”  Apparently, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani “hates” …

Trump Derangement Syndrome is getting in the way of my love life  —  The heavily leftward-biased traditional media (but also those on the right) is at fault for much of this.  —  Charles Robinson was a university professor for 40 years, overlapping with 30 years in the VA Medical Centers, helping veterans with spinal cord injury.

Elon Musk likely broke the law by giving voters $1 million, Wisconsin board says  —  Billionaire Elon Musk likely broke Wisconsin law when he handed out $1 million checks to voters in the 2025 state Supreme Court election, a bipartisan panel has found.  —  The Wisconsin Elections Commission …

'I'm staying out of Maine': Chuck Schumer sidelines himself with the Senate majority on the line … And Chuck Schumer, known for working every possible angle to give his party's campaigns an edge, is largely helpless to do anything about it.  —  The sidelines are an unusual place for the longtime Senate Democratic leader.

New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Director Rejects ‘Politically Correct’ Casting … Andy Serkis said his upcoming “Lord of the Rings” film will not embrace “politically correct” casting, saying he won't prioritize diversity for its own sake.  —  Speaking to the BBC, Serkis, who is directing …

Trump Paid $2 Million by South Korean Company Facing Trade Investigation  —  The payment illustrates the minefield Mr. Trump has created by maintaining personal financial ties with foreign businesses while he is in office.  —  The lead investor in a South Korean aluminum company …

Trump's CDC pick could have easier path than other nominees  —  The latest Senate debate over a Trump health appointment kicks off Wednesday with a less polarizing nominee than some of the president's previous picks — but that doesn't mean controversies around vaccines and public health are over.

Judges grow skeptical about DOJ's use of grand juries  —  An “arbitrary fishing expedition.”  “An unconstitutional effort to coerce.”  “A convenient pretext for launching a criminal investigation.”  —  Federal judges are increasingly peering under the hood at the Trump-led Justice Department's use …

GOP governors, utilities join Trump data center pledge  —  President Donald Trump is expanding his data center pledge to include some Republican governors and several large utilities, according to state officials and industry executives.  —  Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte …

Senator Mark Kelly Amasses Nearly $25 Million Campaign War Chest  —  The Arizona Democrat said he had raised and given away $10 million to fellow members of his party and committees as he mulls a presidential run in 2028.  —  Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona is set to report a political treasury …

Data Centers to Add Billions in Power Costs in 13 States  —  A power auction conducted by a giant grid operator is expected to add $6.3 billion in additional charges to consumers and businesses because of electricity needs of data centers.  —  PJM, the nation's largest electrical grid operator …

Flood of comments on White House grantmaking overhaul is largely negative, analysis shows  —  About 60% of opponents cite concerns about political control of grants  —  An analysis of a torrent of public comments submitted on a White House proposal to change the way federal contracts …

Little Gitmos everywhere  —  The White House explores entrenching U.S. concentration camps worldwide.  —  Last week, I got a message from journalist Charles Davis.  He asked me to comment for an article about a call for contractors he'd noticed on Sam.gov. The U.S. government, it seemed …