It’s Monday. Man, September is a spectacularly beautiful month. 🌞
In today’s issue:
- Trump knocks opponents during remarks
- President loses defamation appeal
- Trump praises West Point’s Tom Hanks cancellation
- Bessent reportedly clashes with Trump official
- Leaders seek to de-escalate shutdown
📙 IN THE WHITE HOUSE
The president had a lot to say at his Bible museum visit:
President Trump kicked off his week at the Museum of the Bible this morning, speaking about religious liberty — particularly for Christians.
Trump spent part of his freewheeling remarks celebrating his administration’s efforts to limit transgender care and establishing guidelines to recognize only two genders.
And sprinkled into his remarks at the religious venue, Trump took verbal shots at his predecessor and touted his own record.
What else was on Trump’s mind:
- Former President Biden: “People don’t realize about the Biden administration. It was a very mean administration. He’s a mean guy, not a smart guy. He never was.”
- Columbia University: “This includes an unprecedented $200 million payment from Columbia University … in fines and penalties. … And they’re going to be behaving because they understand we’re coming back. They would not let you have your voice. They wouldn’t let the people in this room … have their voice because that’s not the voice they wanted to hear.”
- On his DC takeover: “She’s taking heat from the radical left,” Trump said, referring to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D). “They don’t like that she’s allowing [the takeover.] But look, she’s either going to allow it or we’ll just do it.”
- On the sporting events coming to the U.S.: “We have the Olympics. We have the World Cup. … You know when I was president, I got the World Cup and I got the Olympics.”
- Tidbit — Trump’s donating his Bible: Trump also told the group he would donate his family Bible (which he took the oath of office on) to the museum.
➤ ALSO MENTIONED — THE KILLING OF THE UKRANIAN WOMAN IN CHARLOTTE:
Trump just condemned the deadly stabbing of a Ukrainian woman in Charlotte, N.C., after the gruesome video of the attack was released over the weekend.
Trump said at the Museum of the Bible: “I just give my love and hope to the young women who was stabbed this morning or last night, in Charlotte by a mad man, a lunatic,” Trump said. “Just viciously stabbed, she’s just sitting there. So, they’re evil people. We have to be able to handle that, if we don’t handle that we don’t have a country.”
Back story: “The video, released by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police on Sunday, showed Iryna Zarutska, who fled Ukraine in 2022 with her family during the war with Russia, getting stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train on Aug. 22, CNN reported.”
Trump lost his presidential immunity claim:
A federal appeals court panel just upheld writer E. Jean Carroll’s $83.3 million defamation judgment that she was awarded from President Trump last year. That means Trump’s claims of presidential immunity were rejected.
Details: “The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously affirmed Carroll’s first trial win that found Trump liable for sexually abusing her in the mid-1990s and ordered him to pay $5 million.” Trump’s team argued the judgment was excessive.
What happens now?: Trump is preparing to escalate the case to the Supreme Court.
Read more on the case from the Hill’s Zach Schonfeld
Trump asks the Supreme Court for a freeze:
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court today to allow it to freeze billions of dollars in foreign aid, potentially initiating a key battle at the high court over the president’s bid to expand his power over federal spending.
This could trigger a major battle at the Supreme Court over whether Trump has the power to control federal spending — something that Congress typically does.
Read more, via The Hill’s Ella Lee: ‘Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let it freeze billions in foreign aid’
➤ MORE SUPREME COURT NEWS:
First: “The Supreme Court on Monday lifted a judge’s limits on Los Angeles-area immigration stops based on an individual speaking Spanish or working in a certain profession.” (The Hill)
Second: U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts just temporarily allowed President Trump to fire a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) while the Supreme Court decides Trump’s emergency appeal.
Tom Hanks’ ceremony canceled:
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s alumni association canceled a ceremony to honor actor Tom Hanks for his support of the military and veterans, according to The Washington Post.
Why?: The association says it was canceled to pay more attention to getting future officers ready for war.
Well, President Trump celebrated that decision this morning. He bashed Hanks on Truth Social as being a “destructive, WOKE recipient.”
Trump’s full post: “Our great West Point (getting greater all the time!) has smartly cancelled the Award Ceremony for actor Tom Hanks. Important move! We don’t need destructive, WOKE recipients getting our cherished American Awards!!! Hopefully the Academy Awards, and other Fake Award Shows, will review their Standards and Practices in the name of Fairness and Justice.”
How was Trump’s U.S. Open appearance, you may be wondering?:
President Trump got a mix of boos and cheers when he attended Sunday’s U.S. Open men’s final between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner. The match was delayed by 30 minutes for security measures.
Who was with Trump?: His son-in-law Jared Kushner, granddaughter Arabella, chief of staff Susie Wiles, press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Tidbit: The United States Tennis Association asked broadcasters not to air any reactions to Trump’s attendance, per The Athletic.
Who else was spotted at the match: Rock legend Bruce Springsteen, superstar musician Sting, Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry, and actors Kevin Hart, Danny DeVito, Ben Stiller, Mindy Kaling and BJ Novak. More stars spotted at the final
⏱️ ON CAPITOL HILL
This could instead become a Thanksgiving fight:
Republican and Democratic congressional leaders seem interested in de-escalating the government shutdown fight at the end of the month. Both sides have signaled interest in extending the Sept. 30 government funding deadline by 45 days or longer.
That would likely mean a continuing resolution that would extend current funding levels with no substantial cuts.
Yes, but: It’s not just up to congressional leaders. As The Hill’s Alexander Bolton points out, President Trump will have “a seat at the table” and can be a wild card in the talks.
Read more on where negotiations stand: ‘GOP, Democratic leaders look to de-escalate shutdown standoff’
➤ WHAT HAPPENS NOW IN THE EPSTEIN FILE FIGHT?:
There has been speculation that more information from the Jeffrey Epstein files could be released soon if Democrats squeeze enough votes to force their release.
But the dynamics are tricky. The Trump administration opposes the release, and “political realities in the Senate could thwart that effort, putting pressure on a GOP leadership-endorsed investigation into the convicted sex offender and Ghislaine Maxwell in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.”
That sets us up for an explosive fall on Capitol Hill. Read Emily Brooks and Mike Lillis’s reporting in The Hill: ‘Where the Epstein files fight in Congress goes next’
🫖 OTHER NEWS
Oh, to be a fly on that wall:
Politico’s Rachael Bade reports that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened to punch housing finance official Bill Pulte “in the f—ing face” during a private dinner in Georgetown.
OK, what happened?: Bessent had reportedly heard that Pulte was talking negatively about Trump. “Why the f— are you talking to the president about me? F— you,” Bessent said to Pulte. “I’m gonna punch you in your f—ing face.”
At one point, Bessent reportedly suggested the two could “go outside.” “To do what? To talk?” Pulte asked. “No,” Bessent replied. “I’m going to f—ing beat your a–.”
Read more on their beef — and the full back and forth
Politico said Bessent, Pulte and the White House declined to comment on the matter.
Dems are big mad about RFK Jr., but leery about showing it:
“Democrats are jumping into the fray to voice their disapproval about Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the broader debate of rolling back vaccines, which was announced in Florida this past week,” reports The Hill’s Amie Parnes.
Specifically: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) rolled back vaccine mandates in his state.
Yes, but: “[After] the public pushback on COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccines on the heels of the pandemic, some voices in the Democratic Party are urging restraint, even as public opinion leans toward them and Republicans show their own divisions.”
Keep in mind — some Republicans are concerned about the vaccine skepticism: Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) expressed concern about DeSantis’s rollback. And some Republicans grilled Kennedy during last week’s hearing.
So: Some Democrats think it’s best for Republicans to fight amongst themselves.
Read Parnes’s reporting: ‘Democrats urge caution in battle over vaccines, RFK Jr.’
By the way: Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo told CNN on Sunday that government officials rolled back vaccine mandates without conducting any data projections.
Related, via The Washington Post: ‘RFK Jr. considers critics of coronavirus shots to join key vaccine panel’
➤ BUT THERE’S A FIGHT DEMOCRATS DO WANT TO PICK:
Top Democratic lawmakers are accusing the Trump administration of blocking more than $410 billion in federal funding that they argue could lapse at the end of the month. Read more
➤ MORE READS:
The New York Times: How JPMorgan Enabled the Crimes of Jeffrey Epstein
The Washington Post: Meta suppressed research on child safety, employees say
The Wall Street Journal: Healthcare Jobs Are a Rare Bright Spot in the Stalling Labor Market
Axios: Stabbing video fuels MAGA’s crime message
COMING UP
The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST)
5:30 p.m.: The Senate holds a judicial confirmation vote. 📆Today’s agenda
6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆Today’s agenda
🐝 INTERNET BUZZ
🍞 Celebrate: Today is National Date-Nut Bread Day.
🎙️ Howard Stern pranked everyone: Longtime radio host enlisted comedian Andy Cohen to prank listeners today when he returned from vacation.
👋 AND FINALLY…
Because you made it this far, here is a hilarious friendship.
