THE BIG PICTURE

Wild week for consequences — or the total lack of them. An active duty soldier was just arrested for calling for Trump’s conviction, while Trump pocketed $2.2 billion plus a $400M jet.
Meanwhile, Mamdani is stepping in to lead — he's counterprogramming Trump's 250th birthday speech moment by giving his own address… from George Washington's actual desk.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS
1. Active duty Air Force major arrested for calling to impeach Trump
An active duty Air Force major was arrested Wednesday outside the U.S. Capitol after publicly calling for Trump and Vance's impeachment, conviction, and removal. Major Jason Watson cited Trump's unauthorized military actions against Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran — moves he called unconstitutional violations of the War Powers Clause — that resulted in the deaths of 13 service members and injuries to hundreds more.
Watson stood on the Capitol steps holding a sign reading "Impeach. Convict. Remove." and was arrested by Capitol Police in an area open to the public but where protesting is prohibited.
A uniformed officer invokes the Constitution, names the dead, and gets handcuffed for it — while the president who sent those service members to their deaths faces zero consequences.
This arrest is a very big deal for active, reserves, and veterans. To publicly, in uniform, call for The Commander and Chief and the VP to be convicted foments insubordination and bad morale. He knew what he was doing, and understood what the consequences were, and did it anyway. That is the true definition of bravery.
2. Mitch McConnell, 84, was found unconscious and given CPR last month — and he hasn’t been seen since
It’s been almost three weeks since Mitch McConnell was seen in public, and we’re learning what led up to his hsopitalization.
The public found out only after an independent journalist obtained the emergency dispatch recording. The June 14 call detailed CPR in progress due to cardiac arrest at McConnell's Washington, D.C., home — a possible heart attack, per emergency personnel.
His office's response while he was MIA for over a week: he's "working closely with staff on Senate business." McConnell has fallen at the Capitol, broken his wrist, suffered a concussion, inexplicably frozen more than once, and spent eight days in the hospital for flu-like symptoms — all since 2023.
He retires in January when his seventh term ends, if he makes it that far. The internet thinks he’s already dead.
His office declined to comment beyond a statement that he "will not be voting this week." Yeah, we know.
3. Mamdani to give ‘major address’ for America’s 250th birthday, counterprogramming Trump
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will deliver a "major address" on America's 250th birthday surrounded by recently naturalized citizens — a split screen that could not be more different from Trump's spectacle at Mount Rushmore, where a president currently raking in crypto billions will lecture the country about patriotism.
Mamdani will give the speech from the desk of George Washington, which resides in City Hall. Washington used the desk when New York City was the nation’s capital.
The timing says everything. Mamdani isn't just riding a winning streak in New York — he's become the face of a national movement that's impossible to write off as a coastal fluke.
Democractic socialist wins across the country are showing Democrats have a choice: adapt, or be voted out of office.
Surging DSA membership and pro-Palestinian organizing are reshaping the conversation, and centrist Democratic incumbents are privately panicking, aware they could be the next domino.
TODAY’S QUESTION
4. Trump's $2.2 billion disclosure is the most damning document in American political history that everyone is too numb to care about
Trump's annual financial disclosure revealed he “earned” more than $2.2 billion last year — with approximately $1.2 billion flowing from crypto businesses he directly regulates as president. The haul dwarfs his real estate empire, which first made him famous, and includes millions more from Trump-branded Bibles, sneakers, and media lawsuit settlements.
Elizabeth Warren and Senate colleagues demanded tighter rules on political figures' crypto dealings. Even the Wall Street Journal editorial board — owned by Rupert Murdoch, who has spent a decade enabling this man — published a piece eviscerating the Trump family for "profiting off the presidency."
The White House's official response was that the president has "proudly made the US the crypto capital of the world." When Murdoch turns on you for corruption, you have achieved something genuinely historic.
5. Qatar gave Trump a $400 million jet. He plans to keep it when he leaves office.
Trump took his maiden voyage on the retrofitted Boeing 747-8 gifted by the Qatari royal family, flying to North Dakota for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The plane cost taxpayers an additional undisclosed sum to upgrade for presidential use, and Trump has indicated he intends to take it with him when he leaves office.
At the library, Trump took a ride on a red, white, and blue train and seemingly thought he was having a real conversation with an AI hologram of Theodore Roosevelt.
6. Nearly 500,000 New Yorkers just lost their health insurance — and this is only the beginning
The first major wave of coverage losses tied to the "One Big Beautiful Bill" arrived this week: nearly 500,000 New Yorkers have lost their health insurance as Medicaid cuts begin taking effect. Advocates are calling it "the tip of the iceberg," with far larger losses expected as the bill's provisions fully phase in.
Mamdani announced NYC will be doing expanded outreach to connect those at risk of losing coverage to low or no-cost health services at more than 50 Department of Health and Health + Hospitals clinics, facilities, and community health centers across all five boroughs.
KEPT OUT OF YOUR FEED
What the algorithm buried:
MAGA is now mad at Melania — and telling her to get deported
Here's what happens when Kamala Harris privately calls Zohran Mamdani right after his candidates beat the incumbents.
Tucker Carlson just announced he's starting a third party — and yes, he already has a joke name for his ticket
Fox & Friends has pulled out of Trump's Great American State Fair after days of broadcasting empty scenes
E. Jean Carroll is done waiting — find out what she's asking a judge to force Trump to do now that the Supreme Court shut him down
A federal judge just blocked Trump's attempt to yank student loan forgiveness from workers at organizations he doesn't like
Kash Patel bought up to $250,000 in stock in a DOJ contractor — and “forgot” to mention it
The 29-year-old democratic socialist who ust won in Colorado is already coming for Hakeem Jeffries
NOTICE POLLING
Yesterday we asked, Do you align more closely with centrist Democrats or Democratic socialists?
82% OF YOU SAID DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS:
“It’s not as radical as it sounds. I want a government that works for the people. I want universal healthcare. I want quality public education. I want racial equality.”
- dalesallybaldwin
“Centrists Democrats are sellouts, they put on a good show of anger and disdain for the cruelty of the Republican’s party decisions to destroy our democracy, but take no action. They are useless!”
- afonseca29
“I believe in taking care of human beings in my country, before war, before welfare to Israel (or any other country), before tax breaks for billionaires and millionaires, before monuments to the felon in the white house and his administration. I like having roads to drive on, fresh water to drink, electricity for cooling and heating. I like having my garbage picked up, and having insurance. Why is that okay for some people, but feeding people not okay, not making sure they have a roof over their heads, and a safe place to go? Yeah, I'm what they call socialist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and darn proud of it. ”
- twoasps
"‘Centrist’ Democrats actually lean a little too far right, imho. They seem more interested in keeping the "old guard" functional than in actually doing anything for the PEOPLE. Everyone is SICK of "business as usual." Let's FIX some things!!!”
- michaelhogshooter
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