July 15, 2025 at 10:19 AM EDT
'In danger': Economist details Trump policy's destructive effects

President Donald Trump continues to angrily rage against U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, repeatedly describing him as a "stupid person" and calling for him to be replaced. Trump is furious with Powell for not lowering interest rates, but the Fed chairman maintains that cutting interest rates is a tool to be used during an economic downturn or a recession -- not when the economy is still performing well. Trump is bullish on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as a replacement for Powell, who former President Joe Biden nominated for a second five-year term in 2021.

July 15, 2025 at 10:18 AM EDT
How the Tea Party 'abandoned its small-government principles' and became a Trump 'personality cult'

Dispatch correspondent Kevin D. Williamson said the U.S. political system has no room for Elon Musk's new political party. It's got four already. "[I]t gets confusing because the two smaller ones share their names and P.O. boxes with the two larger ones," said Williamson. "Each of our major parties has within it two major factions, one dominant and one subordinate."

July 15, 2025 at 6:09 AM EDT
'This is his king complex': Republicans split as Trump threatens to 'takeover' a 'pigsty'

WASHINGTON -- Some Republicans on Capitol Hill are all but daring President Donald Trump to take control of the local government that oversees Washington D.C. Others in the GOP are aghast at the idea, which Trump teased again last week.

July 15, 2025 at 5:56 AM EDT
Stick a fork in him: Trump finally faces the threat of retribution -- from MAGA

As Republicans continue their journey backwards in time to a dark place before science, vaccines, critical thinking, diplomacy, and decency, it is important the rest of us understand that it is what is still ahead that really matters -- hard as that can be right now. While I was crashing through my newspapers on Sunday morning, reading about all the Republican blood and gore flowing down off Capitol Hill, I decided to settle my stomach, and try something else.

July 15, 2025 at 5:48 AM EDT
What do Rosie O'Donnell, Lula, John Brennan and James Comey have in common?

Three examples from just the last week. On Saturday, Trump said, "Because of the fact that Rosie O'Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship."

July 14, 2025 at 10:06 PM EDT
'Covering things up': Epstein's brother says Trump admin being 'secretive' about his death

The brother of convicted child predator Jeffrey Epstein believes President Donald Trump's administration is intentionally concealing important details surrounding his brother's death in federal prison in 2019. Mark Epstein -- Jeffrey's younger brother -- recently joined former CNN host Jim Acosta for an interview on Acosta's show on the Substack platform, in which he assailed the Trump administration for what he alleged is a cover-up of his brother's death during Trump's first presidency. While the official cause of death was suicide by hanging, Mark Epstein told Acosta that the pathologist he selected to be present at his brother's autopsy said the injuries were more consistent with homicide than suicide.

July 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM EDT
Evangelical group apologizes for anti-Trump ads pitting him against the Rev. Billy Graham

The political action committee (PAC) Evangelicals for America has officially apologized for and taken down political ads attacking President Donald Trump, following a copyright complaint by the family of the late Rev. Billy Graham. Religion News Service (RNS) reported Monday that the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA) filed a copyright infringement claim against Evangelicals for America (formerly Evangelicals for Harris) over ads used in the 2024 presidential campaign that featured Rev. Graham's likeness. The ads in question were meant as a way to persuade Christians to support then-Vice President Kamala Harris by contrasting Graham's words with Trump's.

July 14, 2025 at 9:13 PM EDT
Trump official attends launch of Christian nationalist church displaying upside-down flag

The most striking figure at a recent church launch in downtown Washington wasn't the pastor -- it was Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, sitting just a few pews back. Hegseth attended the July 13 inaugural service of Christ Kirk DC, a church plant aligned with Idaho's Christian nationalist Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), according to a report by Religious News Service (RNS) published Monday. According to the report, the gathering, led by Pastor Jared Longshore of Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship, featured a subdued Reformed liturgy -- Scripture readings, hymns in rich harmonies, and confessions of faith -- though it bristled with political undertones.

July 14, 2025 at 9:02 PM EDT
'Their days are numbered': MAGA host says 'deep state' staged Texas floods to attack Trump

One MAGA-aligned podcaster is now suggesting that the deadly floods in Kerr County, Texas that have killed 131 people and counting were the fault of either supernatural forces or the so-called "deep state." Liberal website Crooks & Liars reported on a recent segment by Shemane Nugent -- who hosts a show on the far-right network Rumble -- in which she claimed during an interview with Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller that the "biblical tragedy" in Kerr County was done as a means of attacking President Donald Trump. She went on to say that an electromagnetic pulse (or EMP) may have also triggered the floods.

July 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM EDT
'A let them eat cake moment': Trump official makes 'despicable' comment in Fox interview

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz marked the 60th anniversary of Medicaid with an odd gesture during an appearance on Fox Business Monday, presenting host Stuart Varney with a carrot cake dubbed the "MAHA Medi"'cake." He went on to urge Medicaid recipients not to eat carrot cake. Oz, who helped decorate the cake with "Happy 60th Birthday Medicare" in red frosting, joked he couldn't find a "healthy cake," so opted for carrot cake instead. As the cake sat between them, he quipped, "Don't eat carrot cake -- eat real food."

July 14, 2025 at 5:52 PM EDT
'Embarrassing': Trump keeps Club World Cup trophy and forces winners to hold fake award

President Donald Trump has reportedly revealed that the winners of the Club World Cup won't be receiving the original tournament trophy, because he's decided to keep it himself. Speaking with reporter Emily Austin Sunday, Trump confirmed that the Chelsea soccer team received a replica version of the trophy after their victory, according to the Daily Beast.

July 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM EDT
'We stoke those fires': GOP congressman urges Republicans to address political violence

One Republican member of Congress is imploring his party to examine its role in the escalation of political violence in the United States. According to Wall Street Journal congressional reporter Olivia Beavers, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) made the remarks at a Republican Study Committee (RSC) event on Monday, which fell on the one-year anniversary of the attempt on President Donald Trump's life in Butler, Pennsylvania. Kelly said he felt compelled to address the escalation of political violence after attending a celebration of life event for Corey Comperatore - a volunteer firefighter who was killed during the Butler rally.