Vote-a-rama isunder way in the SenateonTrump’s “big, beautiful bill”that would enact his domestic tax and spending agenda – and add an estimated $3.3tn to the national debt over the next decade. The final vote on passage could come as late as the early hours of tomorrow morning. Trump has been meeting with Senate majority leader John Thune and House speaker Mike Johnson in an effort to pressure Republicans to back the bill and meet Trump’s imposed 4 July deadline. But it’ll be tight for the GOP. They can only afford to lose three votes for the legislation to pass and two senators have already expressed they’re firm no’s – Rand Paul and Thom Tillis, who today saidhe won’t be seeking re-election- while several key moderate holdouts have kept their cards close to their chests today.
Trumpis due to sign an executive order terminating US sanctions onSyria,following through on his decision in May to unwind the measures to help Syria rebuild after 14 devastating years of civil war. Some sanctions on former Syrian leaderBashar al-Assadand other individuals will remain in place including those on Assad’s associates, human rights abusers, drug traffickers, people linked to chemical weapons activities, the Islamic State and ISIS affiliates and proxies forIran.
Canadianprime ministerMark Carneysaid late last night that trade talks with theUShad resumedafter Canadarescindedits plan to tax US technology firms. Today, White House economic adviserKevin Hassettconfirmedthat theUnited Stateswould restart trade negotiations withCanadaimmediately. Trump hadabruptly called off trade talkson Friday amid a dispute over the levy and threatened new tariffs on Canadian goods over the tax, which would’ve come into effect today.
TheTrump administrationsued the cityofLos Angelesover policies limiting city cooperation with federal immigration authorities, continuing a confrontation over Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation efforts in the largely Democratic city. The lawsuit, filed by the justice department, alleges that policies barring city resources from aiding in immigration enforcement operations or collecting information about individuals’ citizenship status violate federal law.
TheTrumpadministration informedHarvard Universitythat its investigation found that the universityviolated federal civil rights lawover its treatment of Jewish and Israeli students, putting its federal funding further at risk.
Trumpwill hostIsraeliprime ministerBenjamin Netanyahuat the White House on 7 July,Axios is reporting, citing an Israeli official.Israel’sstrategic affairs ministerRon Dermerwill also meet with officials at the White Housethis week for talks onIranand a new push for a ceasefire inGaza. Israel’songoing and relentless bombardment on Gazakilled at least another 38 civilians today.
Trumpwrote to Fed chairJerome Powellagain urging him to lower interest rates. AttackingPowelland members of the Fed board of governors, who heaccused of failing to do their jobs, the president said today that he believes interest ratesshould be lowered to about 1%. Powell and the Fed have stated many times that they take independent economic decisions.
Trumpwill travel tomorrow to the opening of the new – and highly controversial – immigrant detention facility in theFlorida Everglades, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz”.
EUtrade commissionerMaroš Šefčovičhas said he will fly to Washington tomorrow for trade talks. “We are absolutely focusing on … a positive outcome,” he told reporters.
Trumphas suggested there won’t be a trade deal withJapan, saying that Japanwould be the recipient of a letter related to trade, following pledges by his administration to send letters to countries outliningtariffs they would need to pay to the UA.
TheTrumpadministrationappealed a federal judge’s decisionto strike down an executive order targeting law firmPerkinsCoieover its past legal work forHillary Clintonand others.
TheUShas revoked visasfor members of Britain’sBob Vylanpunk-rap duoafter they led anti-IDF chants during their setat theGlastonburymusic festival over the weekend that the state department and the BBC, which broadcast the event, said were antisemitic. The state department did not immediately give more details as to the names of those who had visas revoked and what kind of visas they were. Bob Vylan is scheduled to play some concerts in the US in November.
