Thursday, June 5 | By Cate Martel |
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It's Thursday. Have you seen the video of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry dancing? It's wild to me how many people have such strong opinions on a harmless video. Keep scrolling to see it yourself. |
- Trump 'disappointed' by Musk
- President to speak with China's Xi
- Supreme Court's unanimous decisions
- White House's multi-country travel ban
- Administration to investigate Biden's mental state
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Is Trump-Musk friendship unraveling? |
President Trump just unloaded on his former adviser and friend, Elon Musk, who has been bashing his legislative agenda. Trump took questions from reporters in the Oval Office and was asked about Musk's recent criticism of the "big, beautiful bill." "I'm very disappointed in Elon," Trump said. "I've helped Elon a lot." 💔 On their friendship: "Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore." 📹 Watch the clip He even appeared to suggest that Musk has "Trump derangement syndrome," a phrase that he describes as his former advisers turning hostile once they leave the administration. 📹 Watch the clip Musk just responded to Trump: "Whatever," Musk posted on X while calling for Republicans to "ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill." The tech billionaire continued: "In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this! Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way." 🔎 Read his full post |
The big, beautiful Senate mess: |
So, how is that "big, beautiful bill" doing? The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports that it is losing momentum in the Senate. How so?: It has been facing sharp attacks from tech billionaire Elon Musk and opposition from conservatives. It all comes full circle: Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has called for Senate Republicans to scrap the House-passed bill and pass just the easier portion of the bill — extending the 2017 tax cuts. ^ Remember the debate earlier this year between divvying Trump's priorities into two bills vs. cramming it all into one bill? Senate Republicans thought it would be too hard to pass it all as a single bill. Then Trump stepped in and pushed for it as "one big, beautiful bill." Senators must be feeling pretty smug right now. 😅 🔎 Read Bolton's report on how this could all play out |
Johnson says he has been trying to reach Musk to discuss his fierce opposition to the bill, reports The Hill's Mychael Schnell. Johnson thinks he can change Musk's mind, but they have been playing "phone tag." |
A classic 'he said, Xi said': |
President Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping by phone this morning amid stalled negotiations over the two countries' tariffs. How did it go?: Trump said on social media it was a "very good phone call" with a "very positive conclusion for both Countries." What happens now?: Trump said U.S. and Chinese officials will now meet to discuss the negotiations. Oh, and both leaders invited each other to their respective countries. FWIW: Chinese state media says the White House requested the call, per NBC News. Where do U.S.-China tariffs stand?: "The U.S. is in a fragile truce with its top trading partner after officials hashed out an agreement with China last month to lower the tariff rate on imports from 145 percent to 30 percent. Beijing also lowered its rate on U.S. goods from 125 percent to 10 percent." Read more on the significance of the call, via The Hill's Alex Gangitano. |
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Stand With Main Street – Reject Durbin-Marshall Mandates |
The Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Mandates will raise costs, limit credit access, and hurt local financial institutions. Carve-outs don't work. Small banks lose while corporate mega-stores cash in. Learn more. |
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A new travel ban is in place: |
President Trump has instituted a travel ban, barring citizens of 12 countries — primarily in the Middle East and Africa — from entering the United States, citing national security concerns. Which countries are fully restricted?: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Plus, partial restrictions on seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Are there any exceptions?: Yes. It exempts nationals from all 19 countries who are lawful permanent residents of the U.S., have existing visas and people "whose entry serves U.S. national interests." Hasn't Trump done this before?: Yes, he had a similar travel ban during his first administration. But remember the chaotic legal battles that ensued? Then-President Biden then revoked the ban in 2021. Pushing back: The African Union issued an appeal to Trump over his new travel ban. |
Trump launched an investigation into Biden's mental state: |
President Trump ordered an investigation into the cognitive state of former President Biden while he was in office. The counsel to the president and Attorney General Pam Bondi will involve more than 200 federal judges, thousands of acts of clemency and more than 1,000 presidential documents in the investigation. How is Biden reacting?: He pushed back on the claims, arguing that "any suggestion" that he didn't make the decisions in his administration is "ridiculous and false." "This is nothing more than a distraction by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans who are working to push disastrous legislation that would cut essential programs," Biden said in a statement. |
It's a day of unanimous decisions, apparently: |
1 — The Supreme Court unanimously sided with a straight woman who argued she faced "reverse discrimination," claiming she was passed over for jobs that ultimately hired gay people. Why this matters: This ruling lowers the legal standard for white and straight employees to sue in similar cases. Practical explanation of the ruling: As The Washington Post pointed out, there's currently a higher legal standard for white, male or straight people to prove workplace bias. The court just struck down that standard that is used in roughly half of federal circuit courts. 2 — The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a Catholic charity group is entitled to tax relief. This reverses a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that Catholic Charities is not eligible for tax relief because its operations don't involve swaying people to become Catholic. 3 — Mexico cannot sue U.S. gun manufacturers for liability in drug cartel violence, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled this morning. |
➤ WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE SUPREME COURT NEXT TERM:
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Stand With Main Street – Reject Durbin-Marshall Mandates |
The Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Mandates will raise costs, limit credit access, and hurt local financial institutions. Carve-outs don't work. Small banks lose while corporate mega-stores cash in. Learn more. |
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The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) |
12:15 p.m.: Trump has lunch with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
2 p.m.: State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
4 p.m.: Trump participates in a roundtable discussion with the Fraternal Order of Police. 💻 Livestream |
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🍅 Celebrate: Today is National Ketchup Day. Speaking of ketchup, has anyone tried the Trader Joe's Patio Potato Chips? I was skeptical, but they're delicious. 👑 What's dominating my social media feeds: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, posted a video from 2021 while in labor with her daughter where she and Prince Harry are dancing in the hospital room. As with anything involving Harry and Meghan, the internet had a lot of thoughts. 📹 Watch ^ Work it, girl! 🍼 The comments on this video have me howling: There's a viral post on TikTok of a man posing next to his swaddled newborn baby. "When your husband asks you to get out of the hospital bed 5 hours post birth so he can get the shot of his dreams," the post reads. 📹 Watch — it's spectacular. 10/10, no notes. |
Because this video had me laughing at my desk while I should have been working, I'd like to share this dog vs. bird faceoff. Please make sure your sound is on. It's the best part. |
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