During a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, former President Donald Trump confronted the Australian ambassador to the U.S., Kevin Rudd, over past criticisms. The remarks, made before Rudd’s ambassadorship, included calling Trump “the most destructive president in history.” Trump responded by stating he did not like Rudd and likely never will. This awkward moment sparked concern, especially given Australia’s strategic alliance with the U.S. and the AUKUS submarine pact.
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Hopes for a quick meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest may be delayed. Despite Trump’s earlier announcement of a summit following a phone call with Putin, a preliminary meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has been postponed. Sources indicate the postponement stems from differing expectations regarding ending the war in Ukraine, with Russia’s position seemingly unchanged. After a recent call between Rubio and Lavrov, officials are now hesitant to recommend a meeting between the two leaders next week.
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In a recent turn of events, former FBI Director James Comey is seeking dismissal of his criminal case, alleging vindictive prosecution driven by President Trump’s hostility. Comey’s legal team has filed motions in federal court, arguing the indictment is flawed, particularly citing the unlawful appointment of the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan. Furthermore, Comey’s lawyers claim Halligan’s actions should be nullified due to her improper installation, violating federal law. The charges, related to Comey’s 2020 Senate testimony, were filed just before the statute of limitations expired, adding further complexity to the situation.
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Speaker Mike Johnson defended President Trump’s use of social media, specifically a video depicting the bombing of “No Kings” protesters with excrement, claiming it was satire and not a call for violence. Johnson accused the protesters of attempting to incite violence, highlighting their signs with messages like “86 47” and images of Trump hanging from a noose. Republicans labeled the “No Kings” rallies as “Hate America” events and suggested they would be violent. Despite the rallies being peaceful, Johnson criticized the protesters, stating they were trying to incite violence against the president, who has faced previous assassination attempts.
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During a Marine Corps 250th-anniversary celebration, live ammunition was fired over a California freeway, resulting in shrapnel striking vehicles, including a CHP patrol car and a car from a motorcade. Governor Newsom expressed concerns about the use of live ammunition and ordered part of Interstate 5 closed, despite initial assurances from the Marine Corps that no closures would occur. Following the incident, Newsom criticized the Trump administration via X, highlighting the White House’s downplaying of safety concerns and the premature detonation of ordnance. The governor’s office demanded an apology from the White House.
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Leaked messages from a group chat including Republican operative Paul Ingrassia, Trump’s nominee for Special Counsel, have surfaced containing shockingly racist and hateful content. The messages, sent throughout 2024, include racial slurs, admissions of a “Nazi streak,” and disparaging remarks about Martin Luther King Jr. Ingrassia, who is also facing a sexual harassment allegation, had his testimony delayed earlier this year over potential ties to antisemitism and online extremism. The content of these messages, which were reported by Politico, provide a chilling look into Ingrassia’s views and are being revealed amid other scandals for young Republican figures.
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In response to criticism of the president’s use of social media, Speaker Johnson defended his strategy. He argued the president uses social media effectively, leveraging satire to make his points, unlike those allegedly calling for violence against political opponents. Johnson further criticized a recent rally, falsely labeling it as anti-American, while highlighting its peaceful nature and the irony of its organizers’ stance. He contrasted the rally’s demands with the actions of a hypothetical king, pointing out how President Trump’s influence, if he were a king, would have shut down the event.
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Demolition has commenced on a portion of the White House to make way for President Trump’s planned ballroom, a project estimated at $250 million. Despite the President’s prior assurance that the construction would not impact the current structure, demolition crews were seen dismantling part of the building. The ballroom’s addition reflects a significant structural change. Construction has begun.
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The Trump administration dismissed two federal prosecutors from the Eastern District of Virginia, Kristin Bird and Elizabeth Yusi, who reportedly opposed the criminal case against New York Attorney General Letitia James. This move follows a series of terminations within the office, including the removal of Erik Siebert, who also did not pursue cases against James or James Comey. This office has seen multiple departures, including the top national security official and the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, leaving uncertainty about representation at James’ upcoming arraignment. Ultimately, the Justice Department has declined to comment on the matter.
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Amidst nationwide “No Kings” protests, President Trump shared an AI-generated video depicting a fighter jet dropping excrement on protestors. While news outlets employed euphemisms, the video’s imagery, seemingly intended to mock and demean protestors, has faced a hesitation from certain media outlets to accurately describe the graphic content. This reluctance to use plain language underscores a broader concern about accurately conveying information in an era of deceptive online content and the normalization of hostility. The article concludes that this failure to accurately describe the imagery goes beyond the lack of discussion regarding the excrement itself, and is a detriment to our ability to accurately interpret the increasing misinformation across the internet.
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John Q. Hosedrinker