[Thursday, July 10] US News Headlines from r/politics

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DAILY BRIEFING

The political environment is defined by a significant and rapid expansion of executive power, precipitating major clashes with the judiciary, creating widespread instability across the federal civil service, and escalating diplomatic and economic friction globally. A landmark Supreme Court ruling has greenlit a historic restructuring of the federal workforce, fostering what sources describe as a “culture of fear” within key agencies. While the administration aggressively pursues its agenda through executive orders on issues like immigration and new rules governing federal programs, it faces immediate and potent pushback in the courts. Internationally, an assertive tariff strategy is alienating key partners, while direct threats against the President and unconventional sanctions strain diplomatic norms. Domestically, these battles are mirrored in intense partisan fights at the state level and an observable fracturing of traditional party discipline within Congress, signaling an exceptionally volatile and unpredictable period.

1. Executive Branch: Power, Personnel, and Governance

1.1 Mass Federal Workforce Transformation and a “Culture of Fear”

A recent Supreme Court ruling affirming presidential authority to conduct mass firings of federal workers has triggered a sweeping transformation of the civil service, with reports indicating it has “disabused federal workers who thought their jobs were safe” [1]. This new authority is being enacted swiftly, with reports that over 2,000 senior staff are set to leave NASA and that the State Department has notified staff it will begin firing personnel “soon” [2, 3]. In the wake of the NASA shakeup, President Trump appointed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as the agency’s interim head [4].

This restructuring is fostering what multiple reports describe as a “culture of fear” within the Justice Department and the FBI, where firings are allegedly occurring without explanation [5]. The F.B.I. is reportedly deploying polygraph tests to assess the loyalty of its officials, a highly unusual measure [6]. Adding to this climate, a DOJ whistleblower’s claims that a Trump judicial nominee urged defiance of court orders have reportedly been substantiated by internal texts and emails released by congressional Democrats [7].

1.2 Immigration: Executive Actions, ICE Enforcement, and Judicial Blockades

The administration’s immigration agenda is being driven by sweeping executive actions, which are immediately encountering significant judicial opposition. Following an executive order on birthright citizenship, a federal judge in New Hampshire issued a nationwide injunction blocking its implementation, calling the legal question “‘Just not a close call’” and certifying a class that includes both born and unborn children [8]. The Supreme Court has also dealt a separate “blow” to a controversial Florida immigration law, keeping it on hold [9].

These legal battles unfold as the administration implements new rules to limit non-citizen access to federal benefits. HHS, under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has moved to redefine Clinton-era guidance in a push to remove thousands of undocumented children from the low-income Head Start pre-K program [10].

Meanwhile, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is under intense scrutiny. One explosive report alleges deportees were told a flight was bound for Louisiana before it landed in Africa, while a senior ICE official confirmed a pro-Israel website was used to identify student protesters for investigation [11, 12]. Amid these actions, a poll indicates surging support for the President’s deportation policies among Hispanic voters [13].

1.3 Agency Leadership and Operational Controversies

The leadership and operations of key federal agencies are a major source of controversy. During the severe flooding in Texas, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem faced sharp criticism for allegedly delaying FEMA aid requests while posting personal photos to social media, leading one outlet to label her “ICE Barbie” [14]. This occurred as Noem reiterated her public call to “eliminate” FEMA entirely and rebuild it to better support states [15].

At HHS, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has reportedly alarmed public health experts by stating a desire to let bird flu spread on poultry farms [16]. Separately, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly gained expanded access to sensitive government data, including the authority to cut billions in funding to farmers [17]. In a surprising political development, former Secretary of State John Kerry was quoted stating “‘Trump was right’” and that Democrats had allowed a migrant “‘siege’” of the U.S. border [18].

2. National Security and Foreign Relations

2.1 Escalating Global Trade Conflicts and Alliances Under Strain

The administration is pursuing an aggressive global tariff strategy, sparking international disputes and dissent within the Republican party. President Trump has threatened Brazil with a 50% tariff, explicitly linking it to a demand that Brazil terminate the “‘witch hunt’” trial against former President Jair Bolsonaro [19]. A new 50% tariff on copper has prompted Canada to vow it will fight the measure [20]. This protectionist shift drew a sharp rebuke from former Vice President Mike Pence, who criticized President Trump for moving toward “‘permanent’ tariff barriers” [21].

This friction extends to security matters and diplomatic appointments. AUKUS, the pact with the UK and Australia, is reportedly at risk due to unspecified U.S. threats, potentially jeopardizing a “united front against China” [22]. Furthermore, the nomination of Nick Adams—a self-described “‘alpha male’ influencer”—as ambassador to Malaysia is also reportedly worrying ASEAN diplomats [23].

2.2 Direct Threats, Sanctions, and the Ukraine Dilemma

A significant and overt threat has been made against the President, with an Iranian cleric reportedly offering a monetary reward for anyone who “‘brings the head of Trump’” [24]. Separately, in a highly unusual move, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, a UN Special Rapporteur and critic of Israel’s Gaza offensive [25].

The U.S. stance on the war in Ukraine appears deeply conflicted. Former National Security Advisor John Bolton stated that President Trump intends to withdraw the U.S. from the multilateral Ukraine peace effort [26]. However, in a seemingly contrasting development, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that following a meeting with the Russian foreign minister, the U.S. and Russia have exchanged “new ideas” for initiating peace talks, creating significant strategic uncertainty [27].

3. Domestic Policy and Legislative Battles

3.1 The “One Big Beautiful Bill”: A Comprehensive Look

President Trump’s signature legislative package, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” is being criticized for its spending priorities and long-term fiscal impact. The bill mandates cuts to food stamps projected to reduce an average family’s benefits by $146 per month and contains other Medicaid cuts that Senator Josh Hawley is now—after voting for the bill—trying to block [28, 29]. Concurrently, the legislation allocates $45 billion for immigration detention, a move one report says will lead to “soaring profits” for the private prison industry, and includes numerous “dirty gifts” for the fossil fuel industry [30, 31]. The bill has also drawn public criticism from the U.S. Catholic Bishops [32].

3.2 Texas: A Nexus of Crisis and Political Maneuvering

Texas is at the center of multiple overlapping crises. As the state grapples with severe flooding—with one report noting a decade of missed opportunities on funding a flood warning system—Governor Greg Abbott has called a special session to advance a new partisan gerrymandering plan [33]. Critics have labeled the move a “‘Partisan Power Grab’” divorced from the state’s immediate needs [34]. The disaster response is also under scrutiny, with reports that the U.S. neo-fascist group Patriot Front is participating in flood relief, stating they are prioritizing aid for “‘European peoples’” [35]. In a separate major development for the state’s leadership, State Senator Angela Paxton has filed for divorce “on biblical grounds” from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton [36].

4. Investigations, Legal Affairs, and Political Tensions

4.1 Party Fractures and Shifting Alliances

Traditional party lines are showing significant signs of stress. Within the GOP, Senator Thom Tillis has expressed regret for his vote to confirm Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, whom he called “‘Out of His Depth’” [37]. Tillis also offered what one outlet called an “infuriating” rationale for confirming HHS Secretary RFK Jr., stating he would “just wait and see what happens” [38]. On the other side of the aisle, Democratic Senator John Fetterman has publicly thrown his support behind ICE, stating the agency “performs an important job,” and later bragged that President Trump’s subsequent praise “made his ‘parents proud’,” highlighting a significant break with his party’s consensus [39, 40].

4.2 High-Profile Investigations and Lawsuits

Several significant legal matters are ongoing. The Secret Service has suspended six personnel following the recent assassination attempt on the President [41]. An appeals court has upheld the $5 million verdict against President Trump in the E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse and defamation lawsuit [42]. The Jeffrey Epstein case continues to generate headlines, with biographer Michael Wolff alleging President Trump held internal talks about a potential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell [43]. These developments have prompted Senators to demand that Epstein-related records be tied to an upcoming funding bill [44]. In a separate matter, Justice Elena Kagan declined to shield police officers who attended the January 6 ‘Stop the Steal’ rally, allowing civil suits against them to proceed [45].

[1] Supreme Court disabuses federal workers who thought their jobs were safe, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/09/federal-workers-supreme-court-doge-musk-layoffs-00445234
[2] Over 2,000 senior staff set to leave NASA under agency push, https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/09/nasa-staff-departures-00444674
[3] State Department notifies staff it will begin firing personnel ‘soon’, https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/10/politics/state-department-cuts?utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit
[4] Trump names Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as interim head of NASA, https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/09/politics/sean-duffy-named-interim-nasa-administrator?utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit
[5] Firings without explanation create culture of fear at Justice Dept., FBI, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/07/10/fbi-justice-dept-firings-trump-bondi/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com
[6] The F.B.I. Is Using Polygraphs to Test Officials’ Loyalty, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/us/politics/fbi-polygraph-kash-patel.html
[7] Democrats release texts, emails to boost claims Trump nominee urged defiance of courts, https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/democrats-release-texts-emails-boost-claims-trump-nominee-urged-defiance-courts-2025-07-10/
[8] ‘Just not a close call’: Judge blocks Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order nationwide as ACLU successfully certifies class status for children and unborn children, https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/just-not-a-close-call-judge-blocks-trumps-birthright-citizenship-executive-order-nationwide-as-aclu-successfully-certifies-class-status-for-children-and-unborn-children/
[9] Supreme Court deals blow to Republican immigration law in Florida, https://www.newsweek.com/florida-immigration-law-entering-state-supreme-court-desantis-2096898
[10] RFK Jr moves to kick thousands of undocumented kids off low-income Head Start pre-K program | Federal health agency has redefined Clinton-era guidance that allowed undocumented people to access certain federal programs, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/rfk-jr-pre-k-program-head-start-undocumented-children-b2786806.html
[11] ICE said they were being flown to Louisiana. Their flight landed in Africa., https://theintercept.com/2025/07/08/ice-deportation-louisiana-south-sudan/
[12] Pro-Israel website was used to find names of student protesters to investigate, senior ICE official says, https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/07/09/politics/ice-homeland-security-canary-mission
[13] Hispanic Support For Donald Trump’s Deportations Surges, https://www.newsweek.com/hispanic-support-deportations-rises-sharply-ice-raids-donald-trump-2097163
[14] ICE Barbie Delayed Texas Aid While Asking Instagram Which Portrait to Order, https://www.thedailybeast.com/ice-barbies-new-spending-rule-delayed-fema-response-to-texas-floods-cnn/
[15] Noem doubles down on call to axe FEMA, then recreate it to support states, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5393277-noem-fema-elimination-texas-flooding/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7Pnogvle_6IO-RygdUsCSneHwWa6igSdZD3JORR7TxfibjT5vgQkcGL1n9hg_aem_fYFOGcNbMXSyJaD1SjWWmw
[16] RFK, Jr., Wants to Let Bird Flu Spread on Poultry Farms. Why Experts Are Concerned, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-jr-wants-to-let-bird-flu-spread-on-poultry-farms-why-experts-are/
[17] DOGE keeps gaining access to sensitive data. Now, it can cut off billions to farmers, https://www.npr.org/2025/07/10/nx-s1-5455779/doge-usda-farmers-data
[18] John Kerry says ‘Trump was right’, Democrats allowed migrant ‘siege’ of border, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr4wk52rwqpo
[19] Trump tariffs goods from Brazil at 50%, citing ‘witch hunt’ trial against country’s former president., https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-eu-trading-partners-letter-958bafd5f28d600eb0dd55fa8e942f64
[20] Trump says 50% tariff on copper will begin Aug. 1, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/09/trump-says-50percent-tariff-on-copper-will-begin-aug-1.html
[21] Pence Assails Trump for Shifting to ‘Permanent’ Tariff Barriers, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-10/pence-assails-trump-for-shifting-to-permanent-tariff-barriers?srnd=homepage-americas
[22] US threats to Aukus pact put united front against China at risk, https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/aukus-taiwan-australia-under-review-cxlnpp98f?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Reddit#Echobox=1752160704
[23] Trump nominates self-described ‘alpha male’ influencer Nick Adams as ambassador to Malaysia, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-nominates-self-described-alpha-male-influencer-nick-adams-ambass-rcna218024
[24] Iranian Cleric Offers Reward for Whoever ‘Brings the Head of Trump’, https://www.newsweek.com/iran-donald-trump-assassination-2097095
[25] U.S. Imposes Sanctions on U.N. Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/us/politics/gaza-francesca-albanese-sanctions.html?unlocked_article_code=1.VU8.4Hav.0bd4p90V0UCd&smid=re-share
[26] Trump to exit Ukraine peace effort, Bolton says, https://kyivindependent.com/trump-to-exit-ukraine-peace-effort-bolton-says/
[27] Rubio says U.S. and Russia have exchanged new ideas for Ukraine peace talks, https://apnews.com/article/us-russia-ukraine-rubio-lavrov-tariffs-trump-asean-ca7569c363260b1a63bae12153fa7dd3
[28] Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ cuts food stamps for millions — the average family may lose $146 per month, report finds, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/trumps-big-beautiful-bill-cuts-snap-for-millions-of-families.html
[29] After voting for Trump’s megabill, GOP Sen. Josh Hawley wants to prevent a key Medicaid cut from taking effect, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/trump-megabill-vote-medicaid-josh-hawley-republican-rcna217596?cid=eml_mrd_20250710
[30] The Private Prison Industry Looks Forward to Soaring Profits Thanks to Trump’s Budget | The $45 billion for immigration detention in the “Big, Beautiful Bill” represented a long-sought win for private prisons, https://theintercept.com/2025/07/10/corecivic-trump-big-beautiful-bill/
[31] Every Dirty Gift Trump’s Big Bill Gives the Fossil Fuel Industry, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-big-beautiful-bill-fossil-fuel-gifts-1235382436/
[32] Catholic Bishops Trash Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Passing, https://www.newsweek.com/catholic-bishops-trash-trump-big-beautiful-bill-passing-2094831
[33] A decade of missed opportunities: Texas couldn’t find $1M for flood warning system near camps, https://apnews.com/article/texas-floods-camp-warning-system-not-funded-0845df62390b9623331ba4a030c5fc7d?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=2025-07-09-Kerr+County+floods
[34] ‘Partisan Power Grab’: Amid Flood Crisis, Abbott Tucks Gerrymandering Ploy Into Special Session, https://www.commondreams.org/news/greg-abbott-gerrymandering
[35] US neo-fascist group claims it is part of Texas floods relief efforts — Patriot Front leader says so-called ‘activists’ prioritizing giving supplies to their ‘people’ and ‘European peoples’, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/10/texas-floods-patriot-front
[36] Texas Sen. Angela Paxton files for divorce “on biblical grounds” from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2025/07/10/ken-paxton-angela-divorce-texas-attorney-general
[37] Tillis Suggests He Regrets Vote to Confirm Hegseth, Calling Him ‘Out of His Depth’, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/09/us/politics/tillis-hegseth-vote-unfit.html
[38] Thom Tillis Reveals Infuriating Reason RFK Jr. Was Confirmed | A senator who cast a key vote apparently decided to just wait and see what happens., https://newrepublic.com/post/197796/thom-tillis-infuriating-reason-robert-f-kennedy-jr-confirmed
[39] Fetterman Throws Support Behind ICE, Agency ‘Performs an Important Job’, https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/07/10/sen-john-fetterman-throws-support-behind-ice-agency-performs-an-important-job-for-the-u-s/
[40] Fetterman Brags That Trump’s Praise for His ICE Comments Made His ‘Parents Proud’, https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-fetterman-brags-that-donald-trumps-praise-for-his-ice-comments-made-his-parents-proud/
[41] Secret Service staff suspended over attempted Trump assassination, US media reports, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-11/secret-service-staff-suspended-over-trump-assassination-attempt/105519438
[42] Trump loses appeal of $5 million E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse, defamation verdict, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/10/trump-carroll-sexual-abuse-appeal.html
[43] Trump Held Talks on Pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell: Biographer | The president agonized over what Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice would reveal upon her arrest, author Michael Wolff said., https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-held-talks-on-pardon-for-jeffrey-epstein-associate-ghislaine-maxwell-biographer/
[44] Epstein Dragged Into Funding Bill as Senators Demand Records, https://news.bgov.com/bloomberg-government-news/senators-seek-epstein-records-tying-demand-to-funding-bill
[45] Justice Kagan refuses to shield cops who attended Trump’s Jan. 6 ‘Stop the Steal’ rally, https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/justice-kagan-refuses-to-shield-cops-who-attended-trumps-jan-6-stop-the-steal-rally-rejects-bid-to-keep-identities-and-conduct-under-wraps/

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