61% of Americans Oppose Trump's BB Bill; Putin Defies Trump's Peace Ultimatum; With Epstein, Trump Faces Crisis of His Own Making; Two Democrats Tie as Frontrunners If Harris Passes on 2028 Run
+ Trump launched nearly as many airstrikes in five months as Biden did in four years. RFK Jr.'s PAC stirs, fueling speculation on a 2028 campaign.
This is a quick roundup of some of the more notable recent news stories from the United States:
New poll: 61% of Americans oppose Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill (CNN)
A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that approximately six in ten Americans oppose the GOP domestic policy bill that President Donald Trump recently signed into law.
Senate Republicans advance Trump bill to cancel $9bn in approved spending (The Guardian)
Senate Republicans, led by JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote, advanced President Trump’s $9 billion rescissions package, which targets foreign aid and public broadcasting funding, while omitting proposed cuts to the popular Pepfar HIV/AIDS program. Despite concerns from some GOP senators about harming local media and bypassing the legislative process, most Republicans support the measure as a step toward fiscal restraint. Democrats warn it undermines bipartisan budgeting and endangers essential services like public safety alerts and educational programming.
Russia Launches Hundreds of Drones at Ukraine, Defying Trump’s Peace Ultimatum (The Moscow Times / AFP)
Russia launched a large-scale overnight air assault on Ukraine, killing one person and injuring over two dozen across multiple regions, including a missile strike in President Zelensky’s hometown that disrupted power and water supplies. The escalation defied U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for a ceasefire and threat of new sanctions, as Russia continues its intensified summer offensive amid stalled peace negotiations.
Trump team withholds $140 million budgeted for fentanyl fight (NPR)
The Trump administration has delayed, and may cancel, approximately $140 million in CDC grants for fentanyl overdose response efforts, sparking fears among public health officials that the disruption could trigger layoffs and rollbacks in life-saving programs nationwide. CDC staffers attribute the funding freeze to bureaucratic delays linked to the administration’s cost-cutting initiatives, raising alarms that such cuts - impacting nearly all U.S. states and jurisdictions - could reverse the significant gains made in reducing overdose deaths since their 2023 peak.
Trump promised to be a ‘peacemaker’ president. He launched nearly as many airstrikes in five months as Biden did in four years (The Independent)
Despite Donald Trump's pledge to be a “peacemaker,” his administration has launched over 500 airstrikes across multiple regions within six months - nearly matching Joe Biden’s four-year total - with heavy bombardments in Yemen, Iran, and Somalia. Analysts argue that Trump’s aggressive use of force may reflect a strategy of preemptive military dominance rather than a genuine shift away from “forever wars,” raising questions about the coherence of his foreign policy vision.
With Epstein conspiracy theories, Trump faces a crisis of his own making (AP News)
President Trump’s attempt to downplay the Epstein investigation has sparked backlash from his own supporters, who demand transparency after years of being encouraged to seek out government secrets. Despite defending Attorney General Pam Bondi and claiming the Epstein files lack credibility, Trump’s base remains unconvinced and is pressuring him to release all related documents. The controversy highlights the political peril of stoking conspiracy theories, as Trump now faces demands he appears unwilling or unable to fulfill.
Facing backlash from his own supporters, President Trump defended Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and said she should release “whatever she thinks is credible,” despite widespread disappointment over the DOJ’s conclusion that no client list or blackmail evidence exists. While Trump has tried to downplay the issue, prominent MAGA allies like Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Lauren Boebert continue to demand full transparency, warning that failure to release more Epstein-related files could erode public trust and trigger calls for further investigation.
Trump claims he has deal on crypto legislation after GOP hard-liners derailed measure earlier (ABC News)
After a failed procedural vote earlier in the day, President Donald Trump announced he had reached a deal with 11 of 12 needed House Republicans to advance a key legislative package on cryptocurrency, including the GENIUS Act, with Speaker Mike Johnson's support. The initial resistance stemmed from GOP members demanding the inclusion of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) ban and the consolidation of multiple crypto bills into one package.
Two Democrats Tie as Frontrunners If Kamala Harris Passes on 2028 Run, Poll Finds (Newsweek)
A new Echelon Insights poll shows that if Kamala Harris opts out of a 2028 presidential run, California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg would tie as Democratic frontrunners with 12% support each. Other potential contenders include Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 9%, Senator Cory Booker at 8%, Governor Tim Walz at 7%, and Governor Josh Shapiro at 5%, highlighting the party’s fragmented leadership and ongoing ideological divide after the 2024 loss.
Trump administration says it is ending deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles (Le Monde)
The Trump administration announced it is ending the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, part of a controversial military response to immigration protest unrest that began in June with the dispatch of 4,000 Guardsmen and 700 Marines. Despite legal opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom - who called the deployment a political stunt that disrupted civilian lives - the remaining troops remain stationed without a clear mission as court proceedings continue.
How Trump could use a building renovation to oust Fed Chair Powell (AP News)
President Trump is seeking to oust Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell by accusing him of mismanaging a $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed’s Washington buildings, a move that raises concerns about undermining the central bank’s political independence. While Powell defends the renovations as necessary updates to aging infrastructure and disputes claims of lavish features, the White House argues that changes to the original plans violate commission approvals and reflect ethical misconduct. Legal experts note that firing Powell would be unprecedented and could destabilize financial markets, with Trump attempting to justify dismissal “for cause” despite the Supreme Court’s ruling limiting removal based solely on policy disagreements.
Mamdani Says He Will ‘Discourage’ the Term ‘Globalize the Intifada’ (The New York Times)
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for NYC mayor, told business leaders he would not use or encourage the phrase “globalize the intifada,” acknowledging its controversial interpretation, though he had previously declined to condemn it. During a closed-door meeting with executives, he emphasized a willingness to learn from the business community and reassured them his policies wouldn’t drive business out of New York, though some found his answers lacking in detail.
More than 75 former judges urge Senate committee to reject Trump judicial nominee Emil Bove (CNN)
Over 75 former federal and state judges urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to reject Emil Bove’s nomination to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, citing his alleged abuse of power and involvement in controversial actions under Trump’s Justice Department. They argue that Bove’s history - marked by whistleblower claims, ethical concerns, and past service as Trump’s personal attorney - makes him unfit for a lifetime judicial appointment.
RFK Jr.'s PAC stirs, fueling speculation on a 2028 campaign (Axios)
A recent organizing call hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s super PAC, featuring figures like Tony Robbins and Russell Brand, has fueled speculation that Kennedy is laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential run, despite no official announcement. With grassroots momentum from his "Make America Healthy Again" movement and an active campaign account, Kennedy faces scrutiny over his controversial tenure at HHS and criticism for using a dark money PAC to support his political positioning.