Slashed and passed. The Senate takes a $9 billion bite out of foreign aid. And that’s just the start.
Plus, the Epstein files, and a sharp turn away from Trump. What he’s now saying about his own supporters, and the message he’s sending if they keep digging.
And Israel bombs Syria — with cameras rolling. Why the strike caught U.S. officials off guard.
Senate slashes $9B in spending; Foreign aid, NPR, PBS on chopping block
We begin with breaking news. Early this morning, the Senate greenlit $9 billion in budget cuts pushed by President Trump. The cuts target U.S. foreign aid, food relief and even public broadcasting.
The House has to sign off — again — after senators made changes to the already-approved plan.
The package strips funding from a range of programs, including U.S. international food aid, foreign development initiatives and the corporation for public broadcasting, which supports NPR and PBS.
Two Republicans— Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski — broke ranks and voted no, alongside every Democrat.
Supporters of the cuts call it woke spending on pork projects. But there’s a catch: the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says this plan could actually add $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the next decade.
Now it’s a race against the clock.
If both chambers don’t pass the exact same version by Friday, the money stays put.
Trump criticizes Epstein critics on right: ‘I don’t want their support’
President Trump is lashing out — not only at Democrats, but at his own supporters as well — over the Epstein files controversy.
In a blistering Truth Social post, Trump dismissed the growing outcry from MAGA-aligned voters as “bullshit” cooked up by Democrats, and referred to GOP critics as “weaklings” and “past supporters” who bought into the so-called “Epstein hoax.”
His message: I don’t want their support anymore!
The backlash began after Trump’s Department of Justice said there’s no Epstein client list and no plans to release more documents.
Many on the right are not buying it.
GOP Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie are pushing forward, teaming up to force a House vote demanding the files be released.
They’re using a rare procedural moved called a discharge petition, which could override party leaders if enough lawmakers sign on.
It’s a high-profile test of loyalty inside the GOP, one that pits Trump against some of his own supporters that have helped define his presidency so far.
Israel strikes Syrian military HQ amid new ceasefire with Druze population
A major escalation in the Mideast: Israel strikes the front gate of Syria’s military headquarters in Damascus as fresh clashes break out in the south.
The strike comes amid tense fighting in the city of Sweida, where the minority Druze population is clashing with Syria’s new interim government.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa took power after ousting Bashar al-Assad last December.
One of the airstrikes was caught live on Syrian state TV, the anchor forced to take cover mid-broadcast.
Israel says it’s acting to protect the Druze community, which has deep ties to the Israeli-held Golan Heights.
Syria is furious, accusing Israel of targeting “civilian facilities” and “government institutions.”
Syria’s health ministry says the strike left three dead and dozens injured.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says American officials have been in touch with “all parties involved” and claims steps are in place to “bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end.”
A renewed ceasefire has been announced, but whether it holds is anyone’s guess.
Gulf Coast braces for heavy rain as tropical system develops
It’s mid-July, prime time for hurricane season. And as we head into the weekend, the Gulf Coast is gearing up for a soaker, with heavy rain and possible flooding on the way.
A brewing system sliding across the Florida panhandle is gaining steam, now with a heightened chance of developing into a tropical depression as it tracks toward the northern Gulf Coast.
The storm is expected to push over the gulf and into southeastern Louisiana by later today, with Alabama and Mississippi also in the impact zone.
How bad could it be?
New Orleans is prepping for up to five inches of rain by Saturday, with the national weather service warning some spots could see double that.
Residents spent Wednesday stacking sandbags, stocking up on supplies and getting shelters ready just in case.
If the system strengthens enough to get a name, it’ll be called “Dexter.”
Cane sugar comeback? Trump says yes, Coke not quite
We’re not sure if it’s official policy or just a presidential preference, but Donald Trump says he’s convinced Coca-Cola to sweeten up.
On Truth Social, Trump claimed Coke has agreed to start using real cane sugar in U.S. products, calling it “a very good move. You’ll see. It’s just better!”
Coca-Cola’s response? Not exactly a confirmation.
In a statement, the company said it “appreciates President Trump’s enthusiasm” and teased “innovative” new offerings coming soon.
Trump didn’t mention high-fructose corn syrup, which Health Secretary RFK Jr. called a culprit in America’s obesity crisis.
Coke already makes “Mexican coke” sweetened with cane sugar.
Astronomers discover the moment a new solar system is born
Finally this morning, a celestial first that’s truly out of this world.
Astronomers have caught — for the first time ever — the exact moment a solar system started to form around a newborn star.
Working together, NASA’s James Webb telescope and the European Southern Observatory zoomed in on a baby star called HOPS-315, sitting 1,370 light-years away from Earth.
For reference, one light-year is nearly six trillion miles.
What they saw: Gleaming specks of planet-forming material — the tiny building blocks of a future solar system — swirling into orbit for the very first time.
Astronomers have spotted gas and dust disks around young stars before, but never this early, right at the moment when planets begin to take shape.
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Author: Craig Nigrelli
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