Trump Predicted 90 Trade Deals in 90 Days. So Far There Have Been 2; MAGA Turns on Trump Over Epstein; Judges Keep Blocking Trump's policies Despite SCOTUS Ruling
+ Trump appointees have ties to companies that stand to benefit from privatizing weather forecasts.
This is a quick roundup of some of the more notable recent news stories from the United States:
Trump's Approval Rating for 'Big Beautiful Bill' Plunges Underwater (Newsweek)
President Donald Trump's newly signed One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) is facing strong public opposition, with a July YouGov/Economist poll showing 53% of Americans disapprove of the budget, compared to 35% who support it. Key concerns include anticipated cuts to Medicaid, increased immigration enforcement spending, and fears the bill will raise the federal deficit and harm average Americans.
Trump appointees have ties to companies that stand to benefit from privatizing weather forecasts (The Independent)
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a billionaire with deep financial ties to weather-related companies, is overseeing U.S. weather agencies while still divesting from firms - including Cantor Fitzgerald and Satellogic - that stand to benefit from a push to privatize government forecasting. Critics warn that privatization efforts, reflected in Trump-era policies and proposals like Project 2025, could limit access to essential weather data for those unable to pay, while simultaneously creating conflicts of interest for Trump-appointed officials with industry ties. Trump’s nominees to lead the NOAA, including Neil Jacobs and Taylor Jordan, have extensive connections to private weather data firms, further raising ethical concerns as public agencies face budget cuts and staff reductions.
The Trump administration predicted 90 trade deals in 90 days. So far there have been 2 (AP News)
President Trump’s promise of “90 trade deals in 90 days” has largely fallen flat, with only two finalized agreements—with the UK and Vietnam—and an unclear framework announced with China. Despite threats of sweeping tariffs intended to pressure other countries, the July 9 deadline passed with limited progress, prompting Trump to extend the negotiation period to August 1. The resulting uncertainty has left the global trading system in limbo, causing businesses to delay investments, hiring, and contracts.
Musk, MAGA torch Trump administration over Epstein investigation (Politico)
Tensions are flaring between President Trump’s administration and key MAGA allies -including Elon Musk - over the decision not to release further information about Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal case and death, igniting backlash against Attorney General Pam Bondi and other top officials. MAGA influencers, once courted by the administration with alleged Epstein binders, now accuse the White House of betrayal and mismanagement, warning that the move has damaged grassroots support. While Trump and his spokesperson have tried to downplay the issue and shift focus, critics argue that the administration’s perceived lack of transparency - especially after past encouragement of Epstein-related conspiracy theories - has eroded trust within Trump’s own base.
Investors shrug off Donald Trump’s 200% tariff threat on pharma (Financial Times)
Investors shrugged off President Trump’s threat to impose a 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals, with Barclays analyst Emily Field calling it classic “TACO” behavior - short for “Trump Always Chickens Out.” Markets quickly stabilized after an initial dip, as analysts viewed the tariff as politically motivated rhetoric unlikely to materialize due to its impracticality, inflationary effects, and the long timelines required to shift pharmaceutical manufacturing to the U.S. Experts warned that if enacted, such tariffs could cause severe drug shortages and higher costs for U.S. patients, but many believe the move is a negotiation tactic in broader trade and drug pricing talks, especially with countries like India.
Has the Trump-Putin bromance finally run its course? (The Guardian)
Donald Trump’s long-standing rapport with Vladimir Putin appears to be fracturing, as the U.S. president expressed rare public frustration with the Russian leader over the war in Ukraine, calling his past niceties “meaningless.” Despite this rhetorical shift, Trump’s inconsistent stance and past actions - such as echoing Kremlin narratives and obstructing UN resolutions - raise doubts about whether his disillusionment will translate into substantial aid for Ukraine. However, recent developments, including potential support for severe sanctions and growing cooperation with European allies, suggest a possible turning point, though practical outcomes remain uncertain.
US Supreme Court clears the way for Trump's plans to downsize the federal workforce (Le Monde)
The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s sweeping plan to downsize the federal workforce, overriding lower court injunctions and allowing executive-led job cuts to proceed despite legal and constitutional concerns. The cuts, led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) - previously headed by Elon Musk - have already triggered the departure or dismissal of tens of thousands of federal workers, with critical agencies like the EPA, VA, and Social Security Administration facing reductions of up to 50%. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a lone dissent, warning of devastating consequences for essential public services, while the case continues to be litigated in lower courts amid ongoing opposition from cities, unions, and advocacy groups.
Why Thomas Massie Can Thwart Trump With Impunity (Politico)
Representative Thomas Massie continues to defy President Trump with impunity due to his deep alignment with the fiercely independent and libertarian-leaning voters of Kentucky’s 4th District, where skepticism of federal overreach often trumps loyalty to Trump himself. Despite MAGA operatives’ efforts to unseat him and Trump branding him a “LOSER,” Massie’s anti-interventionist, anti-deficit, and constitutionalist stances resonate with a coalition of Liberty Republicans and contrarian conservatives in his region. His off-grid lifestyle and grassroots cultivation of local libertarian candidates further solidify his influence, making him a unique Republican force able to challenge Trump without losing political ground at home.
Judges keep blocking Trump's policies despite US Supreme Court injunction curbs (Reuters / Yahoo)
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling limiting the use of nationwide injunctions, lower-court judges continue to block major Trump administration policies using exceptions such as class-action certification and administrative law violations. Federal judges have recently halted Trump’s birthright citizenship order, asylum restrictions, and deportation policy changes—often by certifying national classes of affected individuals, a strategy critics say skirts the Supreme Court's intent. While the administration plans to aggressively challenge these moves, legal experts anticipate an increase in class-action lawsuits as judges test the boundaries of the Court’s decision in Trump v. CASA.
As Truth Social Business Struggles, Trump Media Goes Big on Crypto (The New York Times)
As Truth Social continues to struggle with limited revenue and declining stock value, its parent company Trump Media & Technology Group is pivoting aggressively into cryptocurrency, raising $2.5 billion to invest in Bitcoin and launching a series of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Despite Trump’s lack of a formal role, his personal brand and family’s crypto advocacy are central to the company’s strategy, even as critics raise concerns about conflicts of interest and regulatory leniency under his administration. While some supporters are skeptical of the crypto shift, the company’s survival may hinge on leveraging Trump’s name to attract investors in a competitive digital asset market.