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It’s Tuesday. Well, folks, we did it. It took nine years, but we have won. McDonald’s is officially bringing back the discontinued Snack Wrap in July!
In today’s issue:
- Trump turns screws to pass agenda
- Rand Paul takes brunt of bill opposition
- Dems rage after DHS handcuffs Nadler staffer
- Inside Trump’s risky personal iPhone use
- FEMA chief’s ‘joke’ about hurricane season
⏱️ ON CAPITOL HILL
Buff, polish and shine that bill:
President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) are in full sales pitch mode to get the “big, beautiful bill” across the finish line before their self-imposed July 4 deadline.
What is Trump doing? Turning on the charm and the pressure: He met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Monday to strategize. He also spoke with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). Punchbowl News reports Trump met with Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and has spoken with Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
He insists there are no cuts to Medicaid, despite an independent projection finding that 4.8 million people will lose their Medicaid benefits if this current bill becomes law.
Trump has also targeted Paul, who has pledged to vote against the package. “His ideas are actually crazy (losers!)” Trump said about Paul, accusing him of “never [having] any practical or constructive ideas.”
What is Johnson bringing to the table?: Johnson has been on a full media blitz to sell, sell, sell this bill to Senate Republicans. He’s also tried to discredit the nonpartisan math that breaks down the cost estimate of the bill. Keep in mind: the Congressional Budget Office hasn’t released its final estimate of the GOP bill.
Johnson has also said in interviews that he sent a “long text message” to Elon Musk to get him on board after the tech billionaire and former Trump administration adviser publicly bashed the bill. Read more on Johnson’s efforts
➤ HOW ARE REPUBLICANS FRAMING FEDERAL SPENDING CUTS?:
Republicans are focusing on adding work requirements for Americans to welfare programs (like Medicaid and food stamps).
Interesting read, via The Washington Post: ‘The latest GOP push to cut waste and spending: Work requirements’
Talk of Capitol Hill — DHS handcuffed a Jerry Nadler staffer:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents entered the office of Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) last week and put one of his staffers in handcuffs.
What happened?: DHS said they were searching for “protesters” — and one agent accused Nadler’s staff of “harboring rioters.” The staffer was not arrested or charged with any crime, per Gothamist’s reporting on the incident.
What’s been the reaction?: As you can imagine, Nadler and Capitol Hill Democrats are *furious*. Nadler called the Trump administration’s conduct “outrageous” and is calling for an investigation. He argues this is an abuse of power to target political adversaries.
Nadler told CNN on Monday: “They barged in. And in barging in one of the offices, a very big, heavyset fellow pushed my aide — a very petite young woman — and they then said that she pushed back and they shackled her and took her downstairs. And she was obviously traumatized.”
The House Democratic leader has Nadler’s back: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) accused the administration of “trying to intimidate the country” and threatened repercussions if the White House crosses the line of the separation of powers.
NEW: Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, and Nadler are demanding that Republicans on the House panel launch an investigation.
“These types of intimidation tactics are completely unwarranted and cannot be tolerated. The decision to enter a congressional office and detain a congressional staff member demonstrates a deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries,” Nadler and Raskin wrote in a joint letter.
⛈️ ADMINISTRATION
Two of The Atlantic’s star reporters, Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer, published a fascinating report on “The Secret History of Trump’s Private Cellphone.”
The gist: For years, Trump has been warned about the massive risk associated with him using a personal iPhone. The number has been “broadly circulated number to keep in touch with dozens of friends and colleagues.” It’s his direct link to the outside world. He won’t give it up, so his aides have stopped trying. When an unknown number calls, Trump picks up and asks, “Who’s calling?”
An aide said additional security features have been added and he’s changed numbers before, but it’s unclear how adequate that security is.
Omg, this excerpt — an outside adviser told Parker and Scherer: “I’ve been on the phone with him before, and he’s just said, ‘I’ve got to go. I have someone from another country calling.’ … He doesn’t even know which country. He just sees the number and thinks, ‘This might be a foreign leader I want to talk to.’ ”
Tidbit: Trump’s chief of staff in 2017, John Kelly, really did not want Trump using his personal iPhone. “He and his deputies would regularly remove Trump’s cellphone from the Oval Office, storing it in a padded box outside.” But that didn’t stop Trump. “He’d say, ‘My phone is the best on the market,’” a former adviser told The Atlantic.
Fun fact, Trump loves when people play his voicemails to others: “Trump’s habit of leaving lengthy voicemails is by design … When Trump finally gets ahold of someone after having left a voicemail, he will sometimes ask recipients whether they have played his voicemail for others, the person said.”
^ Remember Parker and Scherer’s April reporting where they got Trump’s phone number because “White House staff have imperfect control over Trump’s personal communication devices?” They called him on a Saturday morning, Trump picked up and said, “who’s calling?”
➤ NEW TRUMP PARDONS:
Trump pardoned two Florida divers who were convicted of theft after releasing 19 sharks in Florida, which they believed were being illegally fished.
The line actually belonged to a fisherman who was licensed to catch sharks for research by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
If you’ve heard the FEMA hurricane season comments…:
Reuters reported on Monday that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staffers were “baffled” when acting FEMA head David Richardson said during a briefing that he was not aware the U.S. has a hurricane season.
It was unclear to staff whether he meant what he said “literally, as a joke, or in some other context,” Reuters reported.
Two people who confirmed the remarks to The New York Times also said it was unclear if he was serious.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security later described the reporting to The Hill as “meanspirited attempts to falsely frame a joke as policy.”
So, there you have it.
As a reminder: Atlantic hurricane season officially began Sunday.
COMING UP
The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington with no public events scheduled. (All times EST)
1 p.m. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
2:15 p.m. Two Senate votes. Another vote may happen later today. 📆Today’s agenda
6:30 p.m. First and last House votes. 📆Today’s agenda
8 p.m. Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio speak at the American Compass 5th Anniversary Gala. 💻Livestream
🐝 INTERNET BUZZ
🍳 Celebrate: Today is National Egg Day.
🤯OK, this is pretty crazy: Actress Lisa Ann Walter, who played Chessy in “The Parent Trap,” appeared on NBC’s “TODAY with Jenna & Friends.” Did you know that she has twins who were born on Oct. 11., the same day as Annie and Hallie from the movie? 📹 Watch her discuss her ‘mirror twins’
🍅 Watch out if you’re eating tomatoes: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) increased its salmonella recall warning on tomatoes to the highest level. Products sold in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina are the most at-risk.
👋 AND FINALLY…
Because you read all the way to the end, please enjoy this dog attempt to understand the concept of a shadow.
It’s a shadow, Charlie. Not a snack. SHADOW.
📺 Miss yesterday’s newsletter? Catch up with a 1-minute video. I love hearing from you — send your feedback, tips and favorite cookie recipes 🍪 to cmartel@thehill.com. Check out more newsletters here. See you next time!
