Trump News for Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Clawing back foreign aid is tied to 'waste, fraud and abuse.' What's the evidence?

Fatma Tanis, NPR

As the Senate prepares to vote on a bill to rescind $40 billion in promised foreign aid, critics of the measure say a thorough governmental review of targeted programs did not actually take place.

Trump DOJ Fires Attorney Who Prosecuted Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell

Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone

Maurene Comey, the prosecutor who handled the criminal cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, was fired by the Justice Department.

Maurene Comey Fired From Her Job As Federal Prosecutor After Diddy Verdict

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Diddy's controversial verdict may have cost the lead prosecutor in the case her job ... 'cause a new report indicates Maurene Comey has been fired. Politico broke the news Wednesday ... announcing the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey was…

Heartbreaking: Worst Person You Know Has Good Ideas To Eliminate TSA Security Theater

staff@jalopnik.com (Amber DaSilva), Jalopnik

Kristi Noem, our mouth-frothing Secretary of Homeland Security, proposed that TSA allow larger liquid containers on planes, and I'm reluctantly forced to agree.

Israel presses ahead with Gaza ‘concentration camp’ plans despite criticism

Simon Speakman Cordall, Al Jazeera English

Plans first suggested by defence minister propose keeping 600,000 Palestinians in area and not allowing them to leave.

James Comey's daughter, and 'Diddy' prosecutor, fired from SDNY: Sources

Katherine Faulders, Mike Levine, Aaron Katersky, ABC News

According to sources, President Donald Trump privately vented about having a Comey work in his administration.

WATCH: Miley Cyrus on her Disney Legend status

ABC News

The singer and actress reflected on her "Hannah Montana" days and more.

WATCH: Christian Siriano and Law Roach play 'Love It or Leave It' with 'GMA'

ABC News

The "Project Runway" stars gave their take on the newest fashion trends.

WATCH: Behind the scenes at 'GMA' with the cast of 'Project Runway'

ABC News

Christian Siriano and Law Roach brought the runway to the "GMA" studio.

WATCH: History-making 2025 Emmy nominations

ABC News

"Severance" leads the drama category with 27 nominations and "Adolescence" star Owen Cooper makes history as the youngest nominee in the limited series supporting actor category.

WATCH: Trump says deal reached to advance crypto legislation after House setback

ABC News

After a setback when House Republicans failed to advance a vote on crypto-related legislation, Trump said he struck a deal with GOP lawmakers to move it forward Wednesday.

WATCH: After floods, Kerrville softball team shares heartwarming messages with David Muir

ABC News

The Texas Voodoo girls softball team from Kerr County, traveled to Oklahoma City to compete in a national tournament. World News Tonight's David Muir shares the story of healing through sports.

WATCH: Raccoon with head stuck in jar rescued by Long Island animal lover

ABC News

An animal lover helped out a baby raccoon that was seen roaming a Long Island neighborhood for at least two days with a jar stuck on its head.

Trump says he made a deal with Coca-Cola. It'd turn all Coke into Mexican Coke.

ktangalakislippert@businessinsider.com (Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert,Kelsey Vlamis), Business Insider

In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump said he'd made a deal with Coca-Cola to replace corn syrup with real can sugar in its Coke drinks.

At least two killed in ‘horrific’ Russian attack on Ukraine’s Dobropillia

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as 'simply horrific, stupid Russian terror'.

USAID food for nearly 30,000 hungry kids to be destroyed: Official

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Senior US official calls destruction of 500 tonnes of biscuits a 'casualty' of the USAID shutdown.

I Never Wanted to Spend a Decade With ‘Stranger Things’

Opheli Garcia Lawler, Cracked.com

As a new trailer drops for its final season, the show has never felt more like an obligation

In Wyoming’s mining industry, advocates see profit and peril under Trump

Cy Neff, Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump has championed the mining industry. But workers worry fewer regulations could endanger their safety.

Trump claims China may give death penalty for fentanyl crimes involving US

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US president has pushed other countries to crack down on manufacturing and exportation of fentanyl.

Trump Sues to Fire Big Bird’s Boss

AJ Dellinger, Gizmodo.com

Brought to you by the letter "L" for "lawsuit."

What Trump has said about Epstein over the years, including on 2024 campaign trail

Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News

Trump faces backlash from MAGA supporters over his admin's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Here's what he's said about the disgraced financier over the years.

NASA won't publish key climate change report online, citing 'no legal obligation' to do so

jdinner@space.com (Josh Dinner) , Josh Dinner, Space.com

NASA will not host the U.S. government's primary climate assessment reports on its website after all, despite a White House claim that they would be available via the space agency.

Trump's Epstein strategy could pit him against loyal supporters

BBC News

In defending how his administration is handling supposed files on Jeffrey Epstein, he said "stupid" Republicans fell for a hoax.

Trump Administration Injects Even More Bigotry Into The US Military

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Trump claims to love the military. Of course, he loves himself even more. And he tends to view those injured, killed, or captured by enemy forces as “suckers” and “losers.” He also considers people who volunteer to serve this country as idiots, since the idea…

Epstein files are so bad for Trump he's calling MAGA base 'weaklings.' Uh-oh. | Opinion

Yahoo Entertainment

Jill Biden aide refuses to answer questions on former president’s decline

US Staff, Yahoo Entertainment

A former senior aide of Jill Biden has declined to answer questions on her husband’s mental state while he was in office.

Michael Knowles Says Epstein Files Could Break MAGA Movement Apart

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Michael Knowles says the controversy regarding Jeffrey Epstein had a "client list" or not won't break the MAGA movement ... but, he admits it might be the biggest challenge the coalition's ever faced. The Daily Wire host appeared on "TMZ Live"…

Canada introduces tariffs on trade partners to protect domestic industries

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Prime Minister Mark Carney also introduced a fund to invest in domestic steel projects.

The Big Beautiful Bill Is Bad for Americans’ Health and Wallets, Study Finds

Ed Cara, Gizmodo.com

The Medicaid changes caused by the now-signed law will cause more deaths, job losses, and rural hospital closures, researchers concluded.

The United States of MAHA

Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is outsourcing his agenda.

The Dying Poet Who Knew How to Live

Faith Hill, The Atlantic

Andrea Gibson’s last years were among their most joyful.

Intel's retreat is unlike anything it's done before in Oregon

Mike Rogoway | The Oregonian/OregonLive, OregonLive

The chipmaker's Oregon workforce is at its lowest point in more than a decade.

Photos Show the Vast Scale of China’s Solar Power Projects

Jason Kottke, kottke.org

Over at the Atlantic, Alan Taylor has collected a bunch of photos showing just how hard China is pushing on solar energy. As

Goldman's CEO is finding his groove after years of challenges. Here are 4 reasons David Solomon is optimistic.

Reed Alexander, Business Insider

David Solomon struck an upbeat note in Goldman's earnings call. Here are 4 reasons he's optimistic, from the return of big deals to AI.

Trump repudiates draft letter to fire US Fed chair Powell

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Trump acknowledged discussing firing Powell with Republicans but denied a letter had been drafted to do that.

Trump Appears to Go TACO on Rumors He’ll Fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

The president said it was 'highly unlikely' but didn't rule it out.

Yelle Cancel North American Tour Due to “Very Worrying” U.S. Political Climate

Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork

“The current political climate in the US, especially in regard to immigration and freedom of speech, is very worrying,” the French electropop band shared. “We are now traveling as a family with our young child, so more than ever, we need to feel safe.”

US deports immigrants to African country of Eswatini amid rights concerns

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration has pushed third-party countries to accept deportees whose home countries will not accept them.

Trump blasts 'past supporters' for demanding release of more Epstein files

Ivan Pereira, Kelsey Walsh, ABC News

President Donald Trump continued Wednesday to dismiss calls within his own party for more transparency into the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

DHS Faces New Pressure Over DNA Taken From Immigrant Children

Dell Cameron, Wired

The US government has added the DNA of approximately 133,000 migrant children and teens to a criminal database, which critics say could mean police treat them like suspects “indefinitely.”

Investigating claims Kerr County rejected Biden admin's $10M offer to improve flood warning systems

Rae Deng, Snopes.com

After flash floods swept through central Texas in July 2025, people online searched for reasons why the disaster was so deadly.

Bahrain to invest $17bn in US amid deals with Boeing, Oracle, Cisco

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration says the new investments will create 30,000 US jobs.

Trump lashes out at ‘PAST supporters’ over ‘Epstein Hoax’

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Trump calls those on the US right who criticised his handling of information over Jeffrey Epstein 'my past supporters'.

The Only Conspiracy Trump Considers Boring

Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic

Trump’s theory of the Epstein case is fanciful. But it isn’t dull.

ICE Again Gives The Law The Finger, Denies Member Of Congress Access To Detention Facility

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

The Trump administration continues to demonstrate it cares nothing for the law, despite repeated claims that it’s here to restore respect for the rule of law. It’s been clear since the early days of Trump’s first term that he only respects the laws that let h…

This Hotline Has Saved Countless LGBTQ+ Lives. Trump Is Shutting It Down.

Danielle Han, Jezebel

On Thursday, the “press three” suicide-and-crisis lifeline will go dark.

Trump and the Energy Industry Are Eager to Power AI With Fossil Fuels

Molly Taft, Wired

At a Pittsburgh summit, the Trump administration, energy executives, and tech barons joined as one to promote AI as the future of fossil fuels.

Scott Jennings accused another guest of lying on air.

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

CNN host Abby Phillip chastised the network’s MAGA mouthpiece Scott Jennings for “derailing the conversation” after accusing fellow panelists of lying about ...

The online gunseller with Donald Trump Jr. on its board makes its market debut. Shares plunge

MATT OTT, Yahoo Entertainment

Online firearms seller GrabAGun Digital Holdings, with the stock ticker “PEW,” made its market debut on Wednesday after board member and son of the U.S...

Trump-Appointed Judge Kills Rule to Remove All Medical Debt From Credit Reports

Ed Cara, Gizmodo.com

The rule was expected to improve the credit scores of 15 million Americans.

Instant View: Dollar, Treasury prices tumble after report Trump to fire Fed's Powell

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters -The dollar fell sharply on Wednesday after Bloomberg, citing an unidentified White House official, reported U.S. President Donald...

Trump Attacks His Supporters for Caring About ‘Bullshit’ Epstein Files

Nikkimccannramirez, Rolling Stone

President Donald Trump attacked his own supporters as his administration's refusal to release the Epstein files was met with GOP and MAGA backlash.

20 states sue Trump administration over disaster prevention funding

Yahoo Entertainment

Opinion - Beware the Democrats’ dangerous embrace of socialism

J.T. Young, opinion contributor, The Hill

Never has the Democrats’ attachment to socialism been more pronounced.

Here Are the Best Epstein Jokes That Are Taking Over Late Night

Opheli Garcia Lawler, Cracked.com

MAGA loyalties are shifting amid a nonstop barrage of cover-up allegations — and late-night shows are getting the last laugh

Can Donald Trump cancel his opponents’ US citizenship?

Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump has threatened to revoke citizenship of three high-profile Americans

House committee rejects Trump effort to allow slaughter of wild horses

Yahoo Entertainment

'Black Swan' author Nassim Taleb tells BI he agrees with Elon Musk on debt, saying a 'crisis' is looming

tmohamed@businessinsider.com (Theron Mohamed), Business Insider

Author Nassim Nicholas Taleb said the interest on the US debt is a huge burden, and called out Trump's tariffs and the dollar's decline.

President Trump says he doesn't understand 'fascination' with 'pretty boring' Epstein case

Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, USA Today

President Trump expressed bewilderment at interest in the Jeffrey Epstein case as MAGA voices press for the full release of more files.

Tariff Troubles Ahead: Auto Experts Advice on Rising EV and Car Prices

Mike De Socio, CNET

Experts predict near-term price instability for EVs and other vehicles due to Trump's tariffs, potentially leveling off by 2027. Here's what you can do now if you're in the market to buy one.

Bank of America expects to launch stablecoins as Morgan Stanley weighs use

Nupur Anand, Yahoo Entertainment

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Bank of America has been working on stablecoins like the rest of the industry and investors can expect the lender to move forward on this...

Democratic senators raise concerns about a new Trump citizenship data system

Jude Joffe-Block, NPR

After NPR reported on a Department of Homeland Security tool to check the citizenship of registered voters, three U.S. senators are expressing concern about accuracy, transparency and privacy.

I Saw Firsthand Just How Much Even the Idea of Rosie O’Donnell Got Under Donald Trump’s Skin

Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire

Even at Trump's Comedy Central Roast, I Saw Rosie O'Donnell irk him — she wasn't even there. But just the idea of Rosie got under his skin.

Trump Shares a Personal Story About the Unabomber That Doesn’t Make Any Sense

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

"There's very little difference between a madman and a genius," Trump said of the Unabomber.

Russia monitoring Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine, Kremlin says

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Moscow also confirms that no phone call is currently planned between Presidents Trump and Putin.

What retaliatory action is the EU planning over Trump’s tariffs?

Alex Kozul-Wright, Al Jazeera English

Europe's trade commissioner insists ‘we want to use every minute until 1 August to find a negotiated solution’.

Chinese Firms Rush For Nvidia Chips As US Prepares To Lift Ban

BeauHD, Slashdot.org

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Chinese firms have begun rushing to order Nvidia's H20 AI chips as the company plans to resume sales to mainland China, Reuters reports. The chip giant expects to receive US government licenses soon so th…

Trump tariffs threaten US economy as much as European one, says German Finance Minister

Maria Martinez, Yahoo Entertainment

BERLIN (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs threaten the American economy at least as much the European one, German Finance Minister Lars...

Rosie O'Donnell Continues Her Vicious Feud With President Trump

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Rosie O'Donnell is continuing her seemingly never-ending feud with President Trump ... saying she wasn't shocked one bit about his threat to revoke her U.S. citizenship after enduring decades of abuse from him. The comedian jumped on TikTok Tuesday…

California Proposed A Law Making Broadband Affordable For Poor People. Telecom Lobbyists Have Already Destroyed It.

Karl Bode, Techdirt

Last January, Democratic California Assemblymember Tasha Boerner introduced the California Affordable Home Internet Act (AB 353), which mandated that large ISPs in the state needed to provide broadband service at speeds of 100 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up for $15 a …

Trump Loses It on MAGA ‘Weaklings,’ Calls Epstein Files ‘Bullshit’

Lauren Tousignant, Jezebel

Grab your popcorn!

Could Trump’s tariff threats force Putin into Ukraine peace deal?

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Russia's approach is to 'keep calm and carry on' in the face of Trump's threats over Ukraine war, experts say.

The Brazilian rival to Boeing and Airbus warned that Trump's planned 50% tariffs will hit it as hard as COVID-19

Pete Syme, Business Insider

Donald Trump has proposed huge levies on Brazil, prompting an outspoken response from the CEO of Embraer, which builds vital regional airliners.

ICC prosecutor warned to drop Netanyahu case or be ‘destroyed’: Report

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

British-Israeli defence lawyer at International Criminal Court linked to a Netanyahu adviser delivered message to Khan.

Ukraine braces for Trump’s 50-day window amid escalating Russian strikes

David Brennan, ABC News

This week marked a possible pivot by President Donald Trump regarding Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Chinese-made iPhones could be banned in US over theft of trade secrets

William Gallagher, AppleInsider

US regulator ITC is recommending that BOE smartphone displays, such as those in some iPhones, should be banned, following a preliminary ruling in Samsung's case against its rival.BOE makes displays for the iPhone 16eBack in 2023, both Samsung Display and Chin…

In Trump’s Deportation Machine, Children Are Fair Game

Stephanie McCrummen, The Atlantic

More systematically than in his first term, the president is rolling back protections for undocumented minors.

A CEO explains how he cut his battery chain's reliance on China and plans to offset the latest tariffs

Alex Bitter, Business Insider

Batteries Plus CEO Scott Williams said the chain has reduced its reliance on Chinese suppliers for car batteries in order to minimize tariff costs.

‘Catalyst for progress’: Nvidia CEO hails China’s AI at Beijing expo

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

An estimated 650 companies from 60 countries have gathered at the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing.

Trump is signaling a change on Ukraine. What does it mean for Putin?: ANALYSIS

Patrick Reevell, ABC News

The key question now is how seriously will Putin take Trump's new approach?

Indonesia’s Prabowo hails ‘new era’ in US ties after Trump trade deal

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomes deal to lower tariff rate from 32 to 19 percent.

What massive cuts to the Department of Education mean for schools and students

Sequoia Carrillo, NPR

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled to allow the Trump administration to resume its efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. What will that mean to schools, students and families?

As Trump Scrubs Climate Reports, NASA Breaks Its Promise to Save Them

Ellyn Lapointe, Gizmodo.com

Under the second Trump administration, it’s becoming increasingly harder to access information about the climate crisis.

Senate set to debate cuts to NPR, PBS and foreign aid

Scott Neuman, NPR

The Senate voted by a razor-thin margin late Tuesday to advance debate on a package of funding cuts requested by President Trump that would claw back $1.1 billion previously allocated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Do you want federal money for an EV or home solar? Time is running out — fast

Julia Simon, NPR

Federal tax credits for rooftop solar, heat pumps and other energy-efficient technologies are going away at the end of the year. Here's what consumers should know.

10 years ago, a flood devastated this Texas town. The road to recovery has been long

Kat Lonsdorf, NPR

Wimberley, Texas, was the site of a devastating flash flood on Memorial Day weekend in 2015. Now, 10 years later, the town has rebuilt with such floods in mind — but still feels the emotional effects.

Iran parliament rules out resumption of US talks until preconditions are met

Reuters, Yahoo Entertainment

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran's parliament said the country should not resume nuclear negotiations with the United States until preconditions are met, in a statement...

France, UK, Germany to reimpose Iran sanctions in August if no progress

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

France's foreign minister says sanctions lifted under a 2015 deal would return if no breakthrough on nuclear issue.

Cuban minister resigns after suggesting beggars are pretending

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Labour Minister Marta Elena Feito Cabrera's comments dismissing poverty in the Caribbean nation trigger angry backlash.

Pentagon ends deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles

The Associated Press, NPR

The withdrawal accounts for nearly half of the soldiers sent to Los Angeles in June to suppress protests over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

WATCH: Hikers confront man accused of starting fire on Los Angeles trail

ABC News

A group of hikers stepped in to help stop an alleged arsonist accused of starting a fire in LA's popular Runyon Canyon.

WATCH: New Jersey delivery driver almost struck by lightning

ABC News

A frightening moment was captured on camera as a delivery driver in Wayne, New Jersey, was almost struck by lightning on Monday as thunderstorms moved across the Northeast.

Russian officials say they aren't worried about Trump's 50-day tariff ultimatum

Matthew Loh, Business Insider

"We are coping, and I have no doubt that we will cope," said Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.

Trump says Ukraine should not target Moscow

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US president's remarks follow report saying he encouraged Kyiv to step up strikes inside Russian territory.

Pentagon withdraws 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration said about half the troops deployed to help enforce immigration raids would leave the city.

Joe Rogan Accuses Trump’s Team of Hiding Epstein Files to Protect Powerful Figures

Luc Olinga, Gizmodo.com

The popular podcaster is expressing outrage and disappointment with Donald Trump, whom he supported in the 2024 presidential election, alleging a cover-up of the Jeffrey Epstein case and amplifying conspiracy theories to his millions of followers.

Why the Trump Administration Is About Set Fire to 500 Tons of Emergency Food

Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone

The Trump administration is about to destroy enough food to feed about 1.5 million children for a week.

Trump’s disapproval rating hits record for second term

Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill

President Trump’s disapproval rating is at its highest level since the start of his second term, according to the latest Economist/YouGov poll. The survey...

Trump says ‘credible’ Epstein files should be released amid MAGA outrage

John Power, Al Jazeera English

US president opens door to releasing more information on accused sex trafficker as supporters rebel.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,238

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Here are the key events on day 1,238 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.