Congress Advances Oversight on Budget, Military, and Judiciary; FISA Expired; New Reconciliation Push; Trump Leverages Nomination; Housing Bill Becomes Law Without Trump's Signature; Deficit Hits $1.4T; Trump Requests $87.6B Supplemental for Iran War; Intelligence Crisis Looms; Senators Challenge OMB Grant Review Rule; OMB Proposes Major Uniform Guidance Overhaul; Massive Deregulatory Push Underway; Growing Calls for Congress to Check SCOTUS; New Birthright Bill; Terrorism Grants Tied to Election Rules; Syria Delisting; McConnell Absence Threatens Budget; Chip Roy Letter Signals Intra-GOP Pressure; Trump Moves to Tighten Federal Control of Elections Ahead of Midterms; Trump Gives Prime-Time Speech Pushing Debunked Fraud Claims; Providence Mayor Signs Executive Order to Block Federal Interference at Polls
Key Questions
What happened with the housing bill passed by Congress?
The Senate passed legislation 85-5 aimed at increasing housing supply by restricting institutional investors. Trump refused to sign it, allowing the bill to become law without his signature as a legislative check on the executive.
Why did FISA 702 expire and what risks does it create?
FISA 702 authority expired, creating an intelligence crisis. Five Eyes allies warned of heightened AI-driven cyberattack threats without the surveillance tool.
What funding request did Trump make related to Iran?
Trump requested an $87.6 billion supplemental appropriation, with $70 billion allocated for Iran war costs that exceed Pentagon estimates.
How is Congress addressing the federal deficit?
The U.S. deficit reached $1.4 trillion amid rising interest costs. Lawmakers are weighing reconciliation packages and grant reforms to manage spending.
What is the status of the SAVE Act in reconciliation efforts?
House Republicans are pushing a $350 billion reconciliation package that includes the SAVE Act using grant program workarounds. Senate hardliners and filibuster math have narrowed prospects.
What actions is Trump taking to influence elections?
Trump is firing EAC commissioners, deploying DOJ monitors, and tying terrorism grants to state election rule changes such as citizenship verification and paper ballots.
What intra-GOP pressure is emerging on legislative priorities?
Rep. Chip Roy issued a letter demanding full conservative delivery on border, energy, and surveillance issues. McConnell's absence also threatens Pentagon budget negotiations.
How are senators challenging OMB grant rules?
47 Democratic senators are opposing an OMB rule allowing political appointees to review federal grants, citing separation of powers concerns. OMB has also proposed major revisions to Uniform Guidance with a July 13 comment deadline.
Trump signed $70B ICE funding. House voted to rein in war powers. Bipartisan AI Act advances. FISA 702 expired. Trump pushes $350B reconciliation with SAVE Act, delays Clayton's DNI nomination. Slotkin election protection bill, Husted AI child safety bill. DeLauro confronts DOJ Blanche. New White House AI EO. Trump signs Iran deal criticized by both parties. Senate passed housing bill 85-5 restricting institutional investors; Trump refused to sign, letting it become law without his signature — a clear legislative check. Medicaid work rules advancing. DEA embeds with DOD for cartels. Bipartisan pushback on nominee vetting. Senator Young pushes stock trading ban. Trump requests $87.6B supplemental, $70B for Iran war, exceeding Pentagon estimates. AI policy governance shift analyzed. Two NC lawmakers push Congress to delay SNAP changes amid 19% enrollment drop. House GOP weighs reconciliation push for SAVE Act using grant program workaround. Congress blocked amendment to remove Section 219 from NDAA integrating US and Israeli militaries. FISA 702 expiration sparks intelligence crisis; Five Eyes warn of AI-driven cyberattacks; Pulte DNI appointment and forced Anthropic pullback raise alarms. 47 Democratic senators challenge OMB rule allowing political appointees to review all federal grants, citing separation of powers; public comment period ending soon. OMB proposes major revisions to Uniform Guidance for grants, turning guidance into binding regulation and expanding termination authority (comment deadline July 13). Trump ramps up war on regulations with 702 rules targeted, double first-term pace; SCOTUS removal power ruling now lets OIRA coordinate agency actions; $1.3T claimed savings from repealing 2009 endangerment finding. SAVE Act push splits Republicans, with House hardliners blocking defense bill over it; Senate path narrows due to filibuster math. Growing calls for Congress to use Article I powers to check a 'rogue' Supreme Court. New: Virginia Rep. McGuire introduces birthright bill implementing Kavanaugh's statutory path. Trump administration ties terrorism grants to state election rule changes (citizenship verification, audits, paper ballots). Trump delists Syria terror designation, triggering 45-day congressional review. McConnell's prolonged absence threatens Pentagon budget boost. Bipartisan organized retail crime bill advances attached to NDAA. U.S. deficit reaches $1.4 trillion as interest costs strain federal budget. New: Chip Roy letter demands full conservative delivery on border, energy, surveillance, cultural issues — signals intra-GOP pressure and legislative priorities for remaining six months. New: Trump moves to tighten federal control of elections ahead of midterms — firing EAC commissioners, pushing SAVE Act, deploying DOJ monitors, pressuring states to comply with voter data requests. New: Trump gives prime-time speech pushing debunked election fraud claims, using intelligence apparatus and empty voting-machine board, escalating election subversion. New: Providence mayor signs executive order to prevent federal interference at polls, requiring legal review of all federal election requests and posting anti-ICE signage — a concrete local resistance model.