Thursday, May 14 | By Cate Martel
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Happy Thursday. Washington got hit with one of its first big thunderstorms of the season last night. That means summer is coming! The Council of the District of Columbia posted a cool video of the storm rolling in.
Thanks to everyone who guessed how many Truth Social posts Trump has made since retaking office last year. My inbox has been flooded! Drumroll please … the president has posted at least 8,800 times. We owe The Wall Street Journal reporters who added them up.
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Taiwan a big discussion topic at Beijing summit Is China quietly exploiting the U.S. over Iran? Banquet menu, sights and sounds in Beijing Sen. Paul’s son drunkenly hurls antisemitic rant at Rep. Lawler Patel reportedly ‘padding’ FBI stats Super Bowl-style halftime show at World Cup
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How has the summit gone? It depends on who you ask: |
The White House says President Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping has gone well. Trump highlighted the “respect” he has for China and the “fantastic relationship” between the two countries. Trump called Xi a friend and even formally invited him to the White House in September.
But China’s description of the summit hasn’t been quite as rosy. China’s Foreign Ministry says Xi gave Trump a firm warning regarding Taiwan. The Chinese leader warned Trump about tensions between Washington and Beijing over Taiwan, stressing it is the “most important issue” determining relations between the two countries.
Notably, the White House’s readout of the meeting did not mention this.
💬 Follow today’s live blog
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➤ IS CHINA QUIETLY EXPLOITING THE U.S. OVER THE WAR IN IRAN?: |
China may be using the war in Iran to gain a big geopolitical advantage over the United States. That’s what The Washington Post is reporting today, citing a confidential U.S. intelligence analysis.
This is reportedly raising alarm within the Pentagon.
Examples of how China has capitalized on the war:
— China has sold weapons to Persian Gulf allies.
— China has also helped countries with their energy needs.
— China’s messaging on the war has been negative toward the U.S., like labeling it as “illegal.”
— Oh, and the reported depletion of U.S. munitions may help China if there’s a faceoff between Beijing and Washington with Taiwan.
Read the WaPo report: ‘China gains major edge on U.S. amid Iran war, intelligence report finds’
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OK, now to the pomp and circumstance. |
These visits always have the best sights and sounds. Xi hosted Trump for a state banquet on Thursday. Here are some tidbits:
The menu: The menu included crispy beef ribs, slow-cooked salmon in mustard, stewed seasonal vegetables, lobster in tomato soup, pan-fried pork bun, Peking duck, a trumpet shell-shaped pastry, tiramisu, fruits and ice cream. This is making me hungry!!
What White House staff was served on Air Force One: The in-flight meal included beef stir-fry, spring rolls and a fortune cookie. 📸 Photos of the AF1 meal
🎥 See inside the meeting room in China’s Great Hall of the People
That’s a pretty wild stat: “Chinese restaurants in America today outnumber the five largest fast-food chains in the United States all combined,” Trump noted during the banquet. 🎥 Watch the clip
📸 The Beast (the presidential car) in Tiananmen
🎥 Trump’s squad awaiting his arrival — can you spot Elon Musk taking a panorama?
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The buzz everyone on the Hill is talking about: |
Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) son, William Paul, drunkenly confronted Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) at a Capitol Hill bar on Tuesday night and hurled antisemitic insults. NOTUS reporter Reese Gorman happened to be at the Tune Inn and watched it happen.
William Paul: “If Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) loses, it will be because of your people.”
Lawler: “My people?”
Paul: “Yeah, you Jews.”
Lawler: “Do you think I’m Jewish? I’m not.”
Paul: “Oh wow, I’m sorry for calling you a Jew.” Paul then called Jews “anti-American.”
After the argument continued for a bit, Lawler said, “Well, you just seem to hate Jews, so there’s no point arguing anymore.” Lawler asked if Paul gave him the middle finger and Paul said, “I’m sorry, yeah, I did. I’m just really drunk. I’m going to leave.”
He then stumbled out of the bar, knocking over a barstool and tripping over it. Read Gorman’s report on the incident
Soooo, how did Paul react to the publication of this story?: He apologized on social media. “Last night, I had too much to drink and said some things that don’t represent who I really am,” William Paul wrote. “I’m sorry and today I am seeking help for my drinking problem.”
And Lawler gave a blunt response on Wednesday: “I think it’s f---ing disgusting.” 🎥 Watch
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What is making Republicans squirm today: |
President Trump made a poignant comment about the war in Iran this week that is sure to make Republicans’ jobs harder on the midterm campaign trail.
He told reporters that he does “not even a little bit” think about Americans’ financial situation when dealing with Iran, saying his only priority is to make sure Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.
As The Hill’s Julia Manchester pointed out, these comments could not have come at a more politically inconvenient time for Trump and his party.
Wholesale inflation spiked to 6 percent in April, up from 4 percent in March, due to the Iran war. Oh, and consumer prices rose 3.8 percent over the past year. Those are new figures released since just Tuesday.
Expect to see this clip dropped into lots of Democrats’ campaign ads, speeches and talking points. Read more on the massive headache this comment has given Republicans
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The optics of this are smart: |
The Senate unanimously advanced a resolution to suspend senators’ pay during a government shutdown.
What would happen to senators’ salaries?: They wouldn’t lose their salaries. But the money wouldn’t be available to senators until the government reopens, just like government employees.
When would this take effect?: After the midterms. That means it wouldn’t apply if there’s a government shutdown this fall.
Keep in mind: There’s still another vote necessary to finalize this resolution but the fact that it advanced unanimously means it should have an easy time passing. Read more
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➤ FOR YOUR RADAR NEXT WEEK: |
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Google AI: Leading a new era of government innovation |
Google AI is helping government employees accelerate workflows, streamline operations and deliver on your organization’s mission.
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Some interesting stats from Kash Patel’s FBI: |
MS NOW’s Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian published an interesting analysis of stats at Kash Patel’s FBI.
Now that’s a big coincidence: “Of the 6 fugitives caught since Patel took office, 4 were seized within a month of the FBI leadership elevating them to the top of the Ten Most Wanted list. Two of those four were grabbed within 24 hours of being added to the list, according to the FBI.”
Patel noted during a Senate hearing that his FBI arrested twice as many violent offenders as in 2024.
^ But one current FBI official was blunt: “They are absolutely padding the stats and claiming arrests they would not have claimed [previously],” said one current FBI official. “So comparing 2025 to 2024 is not apples to apples.”
Read the MS NOW report: ‘FBI insiders: Kash Patel is ‘padding the stats’ to boost his record of arrests’
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The New York Times: Inside Jack Schlossberg’s Chaotic Campaign to Revive Camelot
The Wall Street Journal: Hedge Funds Are Making a Killing in the ‘Golden Age’ of AI Hardware
The Atlantic: The Men Who Want Women to Be Quiet: A virulent form of misogyny has become the single most important force holding together the American right.
The Hill: House Republicans more optimistic about midterm chances after ‘seismic’ court rulings
Politico: ‘Crush their souls’: Democrats ditch the niceties after GOP gains upper hand on redistricting
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The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Beijing. (All times EDT)
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Noon The Senate votes on whether to withhold pay for senators during a government shutdown. 📆 Today’s agenda
1:45 p.m. Another Senate vote.
4 p.m. First and last House votes. 📆 Today’s agenda
8 p.m. Trump has “executive time.”
11:30 p.m. Trump takes a “friendship photo” with Chinese President Xi Jinping, followed by a bilateral tea.
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🍞 Celebrate: Today is National Buttermilk Biscuit Day.
⚽ That’s a stacked lineup: Shakira, Madonna and BTS will perform at the World Cup final’s halftime show on July 19. This is the first time a World Cup will feature a halftime performance that will be broadcast around the world.
🛰️ The Mars rover took a selfie: The Mars Perseverance rover sent a selfie back to NASA this week. Lookin’ good, Perseverance! 📸 The selfie
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