Good evening, everyone. I’m about to board a plane, so I won’t have a full eight-minute video update tonight. But there is too much news to stay quiet. From reports that White House aides are privately joking about controlling Republicans in Congress with an “iron fist,” to North Carolina Republicans announcing plans to redraw congressional maps to gain more seats in the House of Representatives, to Hegseth cracking down on the press at the Pentagon, there is a lot to cover and a lot to unpack.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
White House aides internally have been joking about controlling Congress with an “iron fist,” reflecting an aggressive governing style. Steve Bannon reportedly compared this dominance to Russia’s Duma, suggesting a rubber-stamp legislature under Trump’s control.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump boasted of raising large sums from corporate donors seeking political influence and personal access. He is planning an exclusive dinner for top ballroom-level contributors, highlighting the close link between money and policy access.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has signaled that major media outlets will not be allowed to cover the Pentagon after many, including the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and The Guardian have refused to sign onto Hegseth’s pledge for the press.
The Journal further reported that despite warnings from advisers—including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—Trump made unvetted and controversial public statements about Tylenol and vaccines, alarming public health officials and undermining confidence in scientific communication.
North Carolina’s Republican leaders plan to redraw congressional maps to secure an additional GOP seat and “protect President Trump’s agenda,” a move Democrats condemn as voter disenfranchisement and political gerrymandering aimed at preserving Republican control of Congress.
The White House has created “dynamic scorecards” grading 553 U.S. companies on their loyalty to President Trump’s agenda, evaluating factors like public statements, event participation, and policy support. Firms such as Delta, Uber, and Cisco received high marks for backing Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” while others face pressure to align with his economic and social priorities—an unprecedented system blending corporate favoritism, political enforcement, and public loyalty tracking.
The Miami Herald reports that, after 43 years of wrongful imprisonment, newly exonerated Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam was detained by ICE moments after his release, due to a decades-old deportation order linked to a minor drug conviction from his youth. Vedam—born in India but raised in the U.S. since infancy—now faces deportation to a country he doesn’t know. His family and lawyers argue that exiling him after a lifetime of wrongful incarceration would deepen the injustice, highlighting his decades of service, education, and rehabilitation in prison while they fight to reopen his immigration case.
ICE agents arrested and deported the father of a U.S. Marine while he was visiting his pregnant daughter at Camp Pendleton, California, sparking outrage and renewed criticism of Trump’s immigration enforcement. Esteban Rios and his wife, Luisa Rodriguez—undocumented immigrants who had lived in the U.S. since the 1990s and had green card applications pending—were detained at the base gate and later fitted with ankle monitors.
House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned Obamacare subsidies as a “boondoggle” amid a prolonged government shutdown, blaming Democrats for refusing GOP funding bills without extending the health care credits, which he claims inflate costs. Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, argue the lapse would spike premiums and strip coverage from thousands, accusing Johnson of keeping Congress idle while millions face uncertainty as the standoff nears two weeks with no resolution.
During a photo op, President Trump pointed at a UAE official and remarked, “A lot of cash. Unlimited cash.”
Minnesota soybean farmers face financial crisis as China halts U.S. soybean imports in retaliation for Trump’s trade policies, deepening the economic strain from rising farm bankruptcies. PBS reports that farmers across the Midwest are struggling to survive the boycott, which has cut off access to their largest export market and left many uncertain about their future as the trade war intensifies.
Several Texas National Guard soldiers deployed to Chicago were sent home after failing new fitness standards, following viral photos that sparked mockery and controversy over “fat troops.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who recently declared he was “tired of seeing fat troops,” ordered stricter physical requirements and praised the replacements, saying “standards are back” at the Department of Defense.
Barack Obama criticized universities, law firms, and corporations for compromising with the Trump administration instead of upholding their values, urging institutions to resist political pressure even at financial cost. Speaking on Marc Maron’s final WTF podcast, Obama said entities should have defended academic freedom and diversity hiring, rejecting deals that weakened DEI commitments or independence. He also reflected on integrity, warning against moral superiority in progressive politics and emphasizing humility while standing by core convictions.
Goldman Sachs reports that U.S. consumers are bearing over half the cost of Trump’s new tariffs, which have been imposed on metals, autos, and imports from China and other nations. The tariffs have fueled persistent inflation, with consumer prices rising each month since April and the Fed’s inflation gauge climbing above its 2% target.
Steve Bannon blasted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to let Qatar use a U.S. air base in Idaho, calling it “screwed up” and “un-American.” Hegseth announced that Qatar’s air force would train at Mountain Home Air Force Base, sparking bipartisan backlash and confusion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet President Trump at the White House on Friday amid discussions about possibly supplying Ukraine with U.S. Tomahawk long-range missiles — a move that could escalate tensions with Russia. Trump said he’s weighing the decision, calling it “a new step of aggression” but suggesting he wants to “see the war settled.”
Hundreds of protesters in Portland, including nude cyclists, joined a rain-soaked anti-ICE demonstration outside a federal immigration facility, marking three months of ongoing protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The event—mostly peaceful but tense—featured creative displays like the “Emergency World Naked Bike Ride” to symbolize vulnerability and resistance.
An increasing number of U.S. military veterans are being arrested or injured while protesting ICE raids and Trump’s national guard deployments, according to The Guardian. Cases include elderly and disabled veterans facing federal charges after peaceful demonstrations and allegations of excessive force by federal agents.
OpenAI has partnered with Broadcom to build its first in-house AI processors, marking a major step in reducing reliance on Nvidia and expanding its computing power. The chips—set to launch in 2026—will deliver 10 gigawatts of capacity, enough to power over 8 million U.S. homes.
Severe flooding in central and eastern Mexico has killed at least 64 people and left 65 missing, as overflowing rivers and landslides devastated towns across Veracruz, Hidalgo, and Puebla. The disaster destroyed roads and bridges, forcing mass evacuations and leaving entire villages submerged. President Claudia Sheinbaum has deployed over 10,000 troops, along with boats, helicopters, and rescue teams, to aid survivors and distribute relief supplies. The floods follow a year of record rainfall in Mexico City and underscore the country’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather.
LendingTree founder and CEO Doug Lebda died in an ATV accident over the weekend, the company announced Monday. Lebda, who launched LendingTree in 1996 to simplify the loan process, was praised as a visionary who transformed online lending. COO Scott Peyree was named the new CEO, and Steve Ozonian became board chairman. Shares of LendingTree fell over 2% following the news.
