Wednesday, August 20 | By Cate Martel |
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It's Wednesday. Hurricane Erin sure is making a fuss for a storm that isn't even hitting the U.S. Have you seen any big waves or riptides? |
- Trump calls for Fed board member to resign
- Texas, California vote on redistricting plans
- NATO meets on Ukraine-Russia
- Hurricane Erin's massive riptides
- Newsom breaks through with Trump trolling
- Video of state AG getting detained goes viral
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Next on Trump's 'to-fire' list: | President Trump demanded this morning that Federal Reserve board of governors member Lisa Cook "resign, now!!!" after an ally of the president accused her of committing mortgage fraud. Trump linked to a Bloomberg article that reads, "Trump Demands Fed's Cook Quit as Pulte Seeks Mortgage Probe." Keep in mind — Trump has had it out for the Fed lately: "Pulte, a vocal Trump ally, has frequently criticized the Fed and its leader, Chair Jerome Powell, for not lowering rates. He also called for closer scrutiny of the central bank's costly refurbishment of its Washington, DC, headquarters." (CNN) Read more. |
Sooo, how's that peace deal coming along? |
High-level discussions are happening to broker a peace deal for Ukraine and Russia after President Trump met with the leaders of both countries. Will Putin and Zelensky meet soon?: Trump has pushed for a three-way summit with Zelensky and Putin, but he said this morning that it would be "better" if the two first met without him. What's happening today?: "NATO's military leaders will convene Wednesday to discuss the unfolding possibility of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal. Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and top U.S. military leaders met Tuesday night with European counterparts on Ukraine, a defense official told The Hill." (The Hill) 🗨️ Follow today's live blog |
The DOJ doesn't believe D.C.: |
"The Justice Department has launched an investigation into Washington, D.C., crime reporting data as President Trump clashes with city leaders over his takeover of local police," reports The Hill's Rebecca Beitsch. Timing: "The investigation, led by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for D.C., comes from the same office that earlier this year publicized that violent crime in Washington had reached a 30-year low." Trump's argument: "Trump has claimed that crime in the nation's capital is worse than what the data shows, even as city officials release reams of data showing falling crime in a number of categories since a spike in 2023. The president has used claims of widespread and violent crime to justify the takeover as well as a National Guard presence in the capital, even as D.C. residents overwhelmingly oppose the move and fewer describe crime as a serious problem in the city." Read more: 'DOJ investigating whether DC officials falsified crime data' How do D.C. residents feel about the takeover, you may ask?: A new Washington Post survey shows that Washington residents overwhelmingly oppose Trump's takeover of the city's police department. |
➤ WHAT ELSE IS ON TRUMP'S MIND?: |
Trump complained yesterday that the Smithsonian museums in Washington are "OUT OF CONTROL," arguing they're too fixated on "how bad Slavery was." |
Happy Redistricting Day to all who celebrate: |
The big news today revolves around the redistricting fights in California and Texas as state lawmakers consider efforts to reshuffle their congressional districts. In California, redistricting would help Democrats. California Republicans have sued to stop the effort. In Texas, redistricting would benefit Republicans. "The new proposed map is likely to most directly impact lawmakers situated near or in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Austin, Houston and the southern border, as Republicans look to net five seats in next year's midterms." The Hill's Caroline Vakil points out that Texas's decision to redraw its congressional map has had a domino effect in other states. She wrote a helpful breakdown of which states to watch in the redistricting battle. Later: For the latest on the redistricting fight, sign-up for The Hill's Evening Report. Click here to sign up & get it in your inbox. |
Tidbit: Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) bashed Texas GOP lawmakers during an appearance on CNN's "The Source." ^ From Crockett: "The Republicans, they are cheaters all day, every day. But we have never tried to match their energy until now. And I applaud it," Crockett said, referring to California's redistricting effort. |
Bah da da da da, Democrats are lovin' it: |
^Now I want McDonald's fries … |
Have you seen California Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) X feed lately? If you quickly glance at it, you might think the Trump-coded phrasing, all-caps insults and hyperbolic statements were President Trump's Truth Social feed. But it's part of Newsom's new strategy to troll Republicans and the president. Here are a few examples: |
- Newsom posted a photoshopped image of himself on Mount Rushmore. "WOW! WHAT AN HONOR!!" 📸 See the post
- He posted a screenshot of a Trump post, commenting, "WOW! Very few all caps (low energy!)" 📸 See the post
- He posted a photoshopped image with Tucker Carlson, Kid Rock and Hulk Hogan praying over him. 📸 See the post
- And 📸here's a photoshopped image of Vice President Vance.
- Trump posted a one-word message on Sunday, "Bela," seemingly a typo. Newsom posted a screenshot, adding, "DONALD (TINY HANDS), HAS WRITTEN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY THIS MORNING — UNFORTUNATELY (LOW IQ) HE SPELLED IT WRONG — "BETA." SOON YOU WILL BE A "FIRED" BETA BECAUSE OF MY PERFECT, "BEAUTIFUL MAPS." THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! — GCN."
^ These are just a few of the posts. 🔎Check out Newsom's X feed |
Taking the bait?: Fox News anchor Dana Perino slammed Newsom's X strategy, arguing he and his team "have to stop it with the Twitter thing." "I don't know where his wife is," she said. "If I were his wife, I would say you are making a fool of yourself, stop it." 📹 Watch Perino bash Newsom ^ Newsom responded: "ALMOST A WEEK IN AND THEY STILL DON'T GET IT," his office posted on X. ^ NEW — Perino hits back at Newsom: "We get the joke," Perino said. 🔎 Read her full response Democrats are *loving* it: The Hill's Amie Parnes spoke with Democrats about Newsom's new strategy to egg on Trump by mirroring him. They are thrilled by it. Read Parnes's reporting: 'Newsom's Trump act wins raves from Democrats' Why is Newsom doing this?: He told historian and podcast host Heather Cox Richardson that he is trying to "mimic the childness" of Trump. He argued it's been a "potent communication tool" that has drawn attention — and hopes it will call out Trump's style of "talking down to us," which he has "normalized." 📹 Watch Newsom's explanation 💡 Why this matters: Democrats have struggled to find their footing since soundly losing in the 2024 election. This is Newsom's new strategy to fight back: needle the president by mocking him. Perino's response shows it may be working. Keep your eye on whether other Democrats follow suit for the 2026 midterms. |
East Coasters, stay out of the ocean this week: |
Hurricane Erin is barreling up the Atlantic Ocean. The storm is not expected to make landfall, but coastal areas on the East Coast are bracing for life-threatening storm surges, high wind and 10-to-20-foot waves. Where things stand: Hurricane Erin is a Category 2 storm right now. It's expected to intensify throughout today. A tropical storm warning is in effect in parts of North Carolina and Virginia. 🗺️ Erin's path by hour |
➤ THIS IS A REMARKABLE HURRICANE: |
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The House and Senate are out.🌻 President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) |
4 p.m.: Trump swears in the U.S. ambassador to the European Union.
4 p.m.: NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 holds a press conference. 💻Livestream |
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🥧 Celebrate: Today is National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day. 📹 Nothing beats a Jet2holiday!: A Rhode Island prosecutor was arrested for trespassing in Newport, R.I. She can be heard yelling at an officer while being detained, "You're going regret this." 📹 Watch the body cam footage 🚔 Bret Baier got pulled over: An X user posted a video of Fox News's Bret Baier getting pulled over. Baier replied to the post, explaining what had happened. 📹 Watch the video |
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