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Back to EpisodesTrump takes back Strait of Hormuz toll; Supreme Court justices ask for more security in rare testimony
Published 3 days, 5 hours ago
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It’s Tuesday. Who else is freaked out about this cyclosporiasis outbreak? 🙋 I basically live on watermelon, blueberries and other fresh fruit in the summer. Hopefully, health officials will figure out the cause soon. Trump drops 20 percent Strait of Hormuz toll planInflation falls in JuneJustices ask for more security in rare testimonyLindsey Graham’s sister to be sworn in How to avoid cyclosporiasis amid outbreak 💰IN THE WHITE HOUSEJust kidding:Amirhosein Khorgooi/ISNA via AP President Trump says he will scrap his proposal for a 20 percent toll for cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.Instead, Trump says he will seek trade and investment deals with Gulf states. From Trump’s announcement: “Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Those Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future.” Keep in mind: This was a controversial proposal. Just last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a toll on the waterway would be a “violation” of international law. Read more on the nixed proposal HAPPENING TODAY:Trump is meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House. 💻 Watch live Maybe the weather could take a hint from inflation: Inflation cooled in June! The consumer price index dropped 0.4 percent in June after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a peace deal, which became short-lived.The Hill’s Sylvan Lane pointed out this is the largest single-month price drop since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.The numbers: “Energy prices were down 5.7 percent in June, which wiped out increases in food and shelter prices, the BLS said. The annual inflation rate also dropped from 4.2 percent in May to 3.5 percent in June, and from 2.9 percent in May to 2.6 percent in June when excluding food and energy prices.” For context: This is a bigger drop than economists had expected. They anticipated an inflation rate of 3.8 percent and a 0.1 drop in consumer prices.But before you get too excited: Expect this price relief to be short-lived as the U.S.-Iran deal quickly fell apart. 💬 Follow today’s live blogMeanwhile: Millions of Americans are taking on debt to afford food, according to new research. Read moreMR. DEMILLE, I’M READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP, TAKE TWO:President Trump says the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will reopen “soon” after it was drained for repairs over the weekend.Do we think this is the end of the “American flag blue” paint peeling and bright green algae bloom?WHAT VANCE IS UP TO TODAY: Vice President Vance will appear on Joe Rogan’s podcast today, per Politico’s Adam Wren. 🪑ON CAPITOL HILLThis is not something you often see: Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett will testify on Capitol Hill today, asking lawmakers for millions of dollars in funds to address their security concerns. Keep in mind: This is the first time in seven years that sitting justices will testify on their budget request.Here are the newsiest moments: 🔷 On threats justices have received: “The threat level is really high,” Justice Coney Barrett told lawmakers on direct threats impacting her. 🔷 On the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.): “I want to express my gratitude towards him, not only for his support, but for, approaching the confirmation process, with the kind of seriousness that he did and the kind of respect he did,” Justice Kagan said. 🎥 Watch The schedule: They are testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. Then, they will testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee this afternoon. 🎥 Justices Kagan and Coney Barrett arriving on Capitol HillMeet the next senator from South Carolina: Darline Graham Nordone: The late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-S.C.) sister, Darline Graha