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… Hack DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro was forced to dismiss the case today against former Olympian David Hearn, who was falsely accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool in DC. The motion filed was shocking:
“Based on the initial reports by the Dept of Interior and Park Police, the DC US Attorney’s Office presented evidence to the grand jury that damage to the Reflecting Pool was caused by vandals, including the defendant in this case, David Hearn. However, it was not until after the indictment that DOI provided additional documents indicating that the damage to the pool was the result of flawed installation by the contractor.”
… They lied about the whole thing. That is why you don’t rush a political indictment before you have all the facts and evidence just because you are trying to please your cult leader. They even presented false evidence to the grand jury. Pirro should be disbarred.
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… NBC: “Cyberattacks targeting municipal water systems have been reported in at least 7 states this week, prompting the FBI and the EPA to warn utilities nationwide that hackers are trying to disrupt critical water infrastructure. The agencies said water and wastewater utilities have reported incidents to the FBI, with some malicious activity degrading water operations. The announcement does not name the states.”
… WaPo: “US intelligence agencies have assessed that Iran was likely behind a coordinated cyberattack on more than 30 municipal water systems in Minnesota this week, according to several US officials.“
… Trump held another cabinet meeting today in front of the press. This one was held at Camp David, but he isn’t actually staying there this weekend himself. He was asked about the report that Iran may have hacked the water systems. Naturally, he blamed American Democrats:
“I blame it on MN because they’re grossly incompetent. I would blame it on MN and the governor, the corrupt governor of MN. They like to say, ‘Oh, it’s Iran.’ Iran should be so lucky. Iran’s got bigger problems than worrying about MN. I don’t think there was an Iranian cyberattack. I think MN ought to get its act together.”
… Gov. Tim Walz was asked about Trump’s comment: “Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too. This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran.”
… Walz then posted: “Trump can’t beat Iran because he’s too busy waging war with Minnesota.”
… Journalist Aaron Rupar: “Just incredible to watch the US president take Iran's side when my state's water systems are under cyberattack.”
… National security reporter Michael Weiss: “He does it with Russia and now Iran. A desire to cut deals with adversaries who don’t want to cut deals with him leads him to downplay or excuse their malign behavior. In Iran’s case, an adversary he is still at war with and threatening to escalate against. He thinks this gives him leeway for negotiating; his adversaries see it as reason to press on.”
… Disinformation expert Dr. Caroline Orr Bueno: “This is so dangerous. Iran has an extensive history of targeting US water and energy systems, but instead of defending America from attacks waged by a hostile foreign actor, Trump is blaming Americans for being targeted by them.”
… Someone posted on X: “Pretty crazy that both the US and Iran are attacking Minnesota.”
… Walz responded: “Donald Trump’s America.”
Q- “How many more strikes will it take? Trump: You never know. Most people would’ve given up by now. They haven’t. So, I give them credit for that. They’re tough.”
Q - “Who from the admin is talking to Iran? Trump: Steve Witkoff, Jared, JD is involved, Marco. Q: Iran say talks aren’t happening. Trump: All they do is make me angry. They just make me angry.”
“We’ll be hitting them very hard. At some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.’”
Q - “There’s a report that the military wants you to go bigger in Iran. Trump: We’ve already gone big. Their entire navy is laying at the bottom of the sea. Their radar is all gone. Their leaders are all gone. Everything’s all gone. But they’ll fight onward.”
… North Vietnam in 1965 did not have anything close to the current military capabilities of Iran. But they continued to fight for another decade until we finally had enough. They were fighting for their country, we were not. Just as we are not now.
On his lawsuit against the govt that resulted in the slush fund for J6ers: “I probably was abused more than anybody in the history of our country.”
… At the start of the Civil War, there were 4 million people who were enslaved in the US. Families were separated so some members could be sold to plantations in other parts of the country, including children.
Q: “Did Gianni Infantino speak with you about selling the World Cup? Trump: No, I never spoke to him.”
… Trump then went around the room for his cabinet members to glaze him. Pete Hegseth:
“It takes courage to win a war. You had the courage to do that - the courage to undertake Epic Fury. Other presidents had the option to do it, but they never pulled the trigger. It takes guts.”
“The flyovers will indeed continue until morale improves. Because it’s important for the American people to see and feel our military in ways they haven’t in the past.”
… That’s exactly what we are afraid of.
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Scott Bessent: “President Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton could not have imagined the economy that we would have created. It is the envy of the world.”
Trump to RFK Jr: “How are you doing on the autism research? RFK Jr: We will have an answer for you. Trump: That’s so important.”
… In his first press conference after his appointment, RFK Jr. promised to present scientific proof about the cause of autism by September 2025. So far, the only thing he’s done is blame Tylenol.
… Trump’s travel companion and personal assistant Natalie Harp left Camp David with him for the weekend after the cabinet meeting. No sign of Melania lately. I’m sure we will see her when it is time for her next contractually obligated appearance with her beloved husband.
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… CNN: “Officials now believe the IRGC is firmly in control of Iran’s decision making, leaving political figures the US has been talking with as figureheads. Complicating matters are internal dynamics of the IRGC itself, where a handful of senior commanders are all jockeying for control. That is a leading reason why US officials and regional partners fear the conflict is likely to drag on.”
… Trump got his regime change alright. A more radical and militant regime.
… Just like the Saudi nuke deal last week, Trump is reneging on the Patriot missile licensing deal he made with Zelenskyy less than 24 hours after their meeting. He told Financial Times that he is “not sure” if he will agree to let Ukraine build Patriot missiles: “It’s a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we license to.”
… Zelenskyy said he had discussed licensing arrangements to let Ukraine manufacture its own interceptors for Patriot missile systems. Officials from Patriot maker Raytheon Co have already been to Ukraine, and Lockheed Martin, which builds the PAC-3 interceptors for the air defense system, was also working to send over a team of experts.”
… Trump: “Zelenskyy, he would like to have some Patriots, he would like to have some Tomahawks. These weapons are incredible. We have to be very careful about letting somebody build them, you know? It’s very important. Now, we have not agreed to that. We are talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology.”
… Phillips O’Brien, Prof of Strategic Studies at St. Andrews Univ: “If you cannot accept that what Trump has done over the last year and a half is starve Ukraine of air defense, and put off any new aid for as long as possible, so Putin can terrorize Ukraine from the air for as long as possible--you cannot accept reality.”
… Trump always goes on and on about how terrible all the deaths are in this war - like he actually cares. This is a way to protect Ukrainian civilians from indiscriminate bombing that will not cost us anything. But Trump says one thing publicly and does the opposite because he will never cross Putin.
… Fox host Bret Baier interviewed Zelenskyy: Q - “Does Trump see his conflict with Iran linked to your war with Russia? Zelenskyy: I’m not sure. We didn’t speak about it. Baier: Do you? Zelenskyy: Yes. Russia gave satellite images where American bases are in the Middle East countries.”
… The GDP numbers were released today for the second quarter of 2026. They were predictably putrid. CNBC: “Economic growth was weaker than expected in the second quarter. GDP increased just 1.5% for the April-through June period, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis numbers adjusted for seasonality and inflation.”
… CBS: “The nation’s GDP grew at an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter, weaker than economists expected and a sign the Iran war is hurting growth. Economists polled by Reuters predicted GDP would rise at an annualized rate of 2.1% for April to June.”
… “The reading shows an economy grappling with the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and driven up global energy costs. In Q2, a surge in oil prices lifted US gasoline prices from an average of $2.98 a gallon just before the war started to well over $4.”
… Oxford Economics: “With gas prices rising again, the squeeze on real incomes will put renewed pressure on consumer spending in the second half of the year.”
… Fox brought on WH economic advisor Kevin Hassett to lie about the numbers:
Q - “Last time we spoke, you told me you were expecting 4% growth in the second half of the year. The number was way lower. How would you assess that? Hassett: The reason why the number was 1.5% was because we imported so many capital goods because we’re building factories so fast.”
… This guy is unbelievable. His one skill is moving economic goalposts all over the stadium to try and cover up for failures and lies. No matter how bad the numbers are, he always has some new reason for them other than their dumb policies.
On the 3rd farm bailout in the past 12 months: “America’s farmers have had some tough breaks. A bumper crop in Brazil made it so prices went down globally, the disruptions in the gold made fertilizer prices go up. And it’s really really important we help farmers.”
… Not tariffs and increased prices for fuel, fertilizer and other things caused by the war. A bumper crop in Brazil. It's amazing that the impacts on the US economy from 2021-2024 caused by covid and Russia's invasion of Ukraine was Biden's fault, but nothing that happens during the current presidency is Trump's fault despite his war of choice and tariffs.
“Data centers are very good for towns, because they create so many jobs and bring people in with high incomes that can buy houses and stuff like that. So if you take a sleepy town that hasn’t seen much in the last 30 years and put a data center there, there are gonna be a whole bunch of happy residents.”
… Maybe Hassett can sell his house and move to a small town next to one to set a proper example for the rest of us.
This has been a long week with some long Bulletins so I am looking forward to my day off. It is wild blueberry harvest week in Maine so we are going to a blueberry farm to get a bunch. They are quite a bit smaller and more intensely flavored than the ones you get in the grocery store. We are going to be eating a lot of blueberries over the next month. After that it is a kayak excursion on the Presumpscot River.
Thank you again to everyone who reads, shares and subscribes to my work and everyone else at Meidas. Without your support none of us would be doing this. If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin, you can find it here. I will will be back on Sunday night with the Bulletin covering the weekend.
… AOC on The Majority Report: “I actually meet with MAHA activists because a lot of them really don’t believe that their fight is partisan—and in many ways, it’s not. We do have extraordinary corruption in our agricultural system and in our big corporate system as well. This is an area where both parties and our entire political system have been compromised.”
… “You have companies dumping cancerous byproducts, poisoning the communities around them. Then they pay off our political class to ignore it, let it continue, or legally shield them—like with glyphosate—from everyday people trying to hold them accountable. I see how all of these issues that are expressed on the surface as right-wing are actually rooted in the anxieties that we have as working people not being able to afford health care.”
… On the Defiance Act: “I’ve had bills that everyone agrees on, Republicans and Democrats agree on them. And people on my team are told they can’t move on them because they have my name on them. That’s ok because we find other ways to be effective. But on this issue I would implore Speaker Johnson: We should not allow pedophiles to run amok because you just don’t like a girl.”
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… WSJ: “Almost every night in the WH, Trump calls his fundraiser, Meredith O’Rourke, for an update. Trump asks O’Rourke which companies and donors have cut checks and which haven’t, and for how much. He often asks her to make much larger financial requests than she was planning—for some donors the ask is $5 million, for others it is $50 million. And the president gives her names to call, often including people who have recently met with him.”
… “This is very important to the president. He’s asked me to call you and ask you for this donation,” O’Rourke has relayed on phone calls with companies, persistently following up with them. In some calls, she has referred to Trump as the boss, saying “the boss wants this money.” In turn, Trump has called her the “princess of darkness” because she is such a “killer” with donors, according to people who have heard his comments.”
… “Trump stands out for taking personal control of the fundraising, and no sitting American president has ever raised these amounts for his pet projects. At the same time, companies have paid new attention to the WH as Trump has gotten involved in regulatory decisions that once were made by independent agencies, dramatically shifting the balance of power across Washington.”
… “Trump has been demanding large checks from companies for a range of political and legacy projects—telling executives and lobbyists that their companies should give $25 million or $50 million. He has sometimes offered donors special access. All told, Trump has raised more than $800 million since returning to office.”
… “Interviews with dozens of donors, executives, lobbyists, Trump advisers and others indicate a staggering fundraising and influence operation, with Trump at the center of it all. The president closely tracks who gives, aides said, repeatedly assigning O’Rourke with big asks.”
… Trump posted a long, deranged rant about John Cornyn refusing to vote for Todd Blanche until he puts in writing that the slush fund is dead and the IRS immunity deal is reversed:
“John Cornyn never had a problem with the so called “Fund,” which will not benefit me, but rather the great American Patriots who were hunted down like dogs and whose lives were unfairly and illegally destroyed by the Crooked Joe Biden Admin, until after I decided to Endorse and Support his Republican Primary opponent in Texas, who easily won the Nomination for the Senate. Perhaps there has never been a group of people treated so badly in our Nation’s history. They are suffering still, many ruined, and I felt that they should be given compensation for what has been done to them. I gave up any payments for myself, which would have been substantial, including for the illegal and unprecedented raid on Mar-a-Lago, even though many legal experts, and others, including John Cornyn, said it was a shocking and disgusting display of “weaponization” against me. Such an event has never happened before, and hopefully will never happen again! I will always feel that these victims of government abuse should be paid back for what they were forced to endure, their lives have been ruined! Millions of people agree with me, as was proven in my landslide Presidential win, where this was a major subject of debate, and so did John Cornyn, until he lost his Election to an opponent that I Endorsed. Todd Blanche, a good man, should be immediately approved as Attorney General.”
… Sen. Thom Tillis: “The President made it clear today that the so-called Anti Weaponization Fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it. The criminals who assaulted police officers and defiled our nation’s Capitol are not ‘great American patriots’ who are ‘victims of govt abuse.’ Anyone who attacked law enforcement should still be in prison, not getting a check from the federal govt.”
… “Sen. Cornyn and I have been working with Blanche to end the Anti Weaponization Fund, and he has been forthright, thoughtful and patient. It’s a shame his confirmation has hit a snag only because an incompetent personal advisor to the President refuses to amend the bogus settlement. I will continue working in good faith to put an end this legal and political albatross and prevent any potential misallocation of taxpayer dollars.”
… Trump was asked about it during the cabinet meeting. He said he was the one who ordered Blanche not to concede to Cornyn and Tillis: “The weaponization fund is dead. I wish it weren’t. To be honest with you. I think people were horribly treated, horribly abused. This has nothing to do with Todd. This was me.”
… HuffPost: “Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) on Thursday stared off into space when asked twice if he thinks fellow OH Republican Rep. Max Miller should end his reelection bid amid allegations by his ex-wife that he abused her and their 2-year-old daughter. Miller is accused by ex-wife Emily Moreno of throwing scalding hot water at her chest, holding a gun to her head, pushing her against a wall and hitting her head, and fracturing their daughter’s collarbone.”
… “Miller’s ex-wife is also the daughter of OH Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, Husted’s colleague. Asked for comment on whether he thinks Miller should step down, Husted, walking through a Senate hallway and onto an escalator, said nothing. Moments later, as he boarded a Senate elevator, HuffPost asked again if he had any comment on the situation. Husted stood in silence until the elevator doors slowly closed.”
… “Sen. Moreno hasn’t said anything publicly about the allegations facing Miller, either.”
… Conservative journalist Pedro Gonzalez with Chronicles Magazine: “Max Miller allegedly beat Bernie Moreno’s daughter and granddaughter but Moreno won’t call for Miller’s resignation because among MAGA Republicans domestic abuse is a lesser crime. You’ll also notice all the people who made noise about Graham Platner go silent now. Truly such a reprehensible, openly morally bankrupt party and conservative movement.”
… Laura Loomer: “I was just supposed to record a podcast episode with a Fox host who invited me on their podcast to discuss my reporting in Ukraine. I was supposed to record at 4 pm, but then they canceled on me 20 minutes before our interview because Fox management said they can’t have me on. Censorship is alive and well at Fox under the blacklist on me imposed by Suzanne Scott, the President of Fox. I’ve been on this blacklist since 2017.”
… “When Pete Hegseth and Jeanine Pirro worked for Fox and tried to have me on, Suzanne Scott told them they couldn’t have me on and would be reprimanded if they interacted with me on X. I’m told she allegedly directed the entire network to not cover my trip to Ukraine. What a miserable bitch! I’ve been on the Fox Blacklist for 10 years, yet they allow for communists and jihadist candidates to go on air to badmouth Trump daily.”
… Semafor: “Chuck Schumer showered John Fetterman with praise this week, declaring him a ‘very good member,’ liked and respected by colleagues in Democrats’ ‘big tent party.’ Fetterman was grateful for the shoutout and has repeatedly shot down the idea he’d switch caucuses in the Senate. But he’s still not sure he fits with where his party is going.”
… Fetterman: ‘“I truly appreciate the leader’s nice words. I don’t know if the Democratic Party is ‘big tent’ enough for proud, pro-Israel supporters that also strongly reject the warped mutation of democratic socialists now rising in their ranks.”
… “As Fetterman diverges further from his party on US-Israel relations, the Capitol is captivated by speculation about whether he might turn independent, or even switch to a GOP that’s more aligned with him on an issue fracturing the Democratic base. It’s clear that the outcome of the midterms could weigh heavily on Fetterman, no matter what.”
… “Schumer’s comments are no accident; Democrats are making a concerted effort to keep Fetterman comfortable in their caucus, despite the fact he rarely attends its meetings. He reliably votes with Schumer and other Senate Democrats.”
… In one of his rare moments on a channel other than Fox, Fetterman was on CNN where they tried to end the interview with a lighter moment. But Fetterman wasn’t having it: Q - “LeBron coming to PA… Does Shapiro get credit for it? Fetterman: He’ll certainly try. That’s one of his superpowers.”
… On Fox he bitches about Democrats who don’t support Israel. On CNN he bitches about Democrats who do.
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… Fetterman is in his honeymoon period where he is being wooed and sweet-talked by the serial abusers that are MAGA Republicans. The second this dating relationship becomes a marriage, the abuse will start rather soon - which will end in a humiliating loss in a GOP primary.
… If he switches parties, a Republican will run against him in the 2028 primary and Fetterman will get destroyed. His past and current positions and his voting record on so many issues are a non-starter in the Republican Party. Just his position alone that all abortion should be legal with no exceptions is an absolute deal breaker with primary voters, who are the most conservative.
… I think in the back of his mind, Fetterman know this. That is the only reason why he hasn’t switched already. I also think he thinks that he can still win a Democratic primary, which is total delusion but delusion is his brand.
… NYT: “Benny Johnson, a right-wing podcaster, was racking up tens of millions of views on YouTube during Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, posting about divisive cultural issues and criticizing Democrats. Things have changed. Views for Johnson’s channel are down by millions from the heights of 2024.”
… “The surge of attention he received on X has slowed to a trickle. His loyalty to Trump has become unappealing to some Republicans who are frustrated with the rising cost of living and the president’s decision to start a war with Iran.”
… “Other high-profile right-wing influencers are contending with similar shifts of fortune. Dan Bongino, a podcaster and a former deputy director of the FBI, has seen his livestream views shrink by about half from their peak in 2024.”
… “The shifts add to a growing body of evidence that suggests the audience for pro-Trump content has fallen from its heights and, for some creators, has reached new lows. Views are dropping for many of Trump’s greatest allies, while some figures on the right who have taken to criticizing Trump are showing uneven gains.”
… “The shifts threaten to complicate messaging this year for Republican candidates, who have for years relied on a united front of content creators to rile up Republicans and guide them to the polls each election cycle.”
… Daily Mail: “A senior Trump official is under investigation after being accused of ‘forcefully pushing’ a State Dept colleague and threatening to ‘beat the fuck out of’ him inside the agency’s DC headquarters.”
… “If you ever talk shit about me or my family again, I will beat the fuck out of you,” said Gavin Wax, the 32-year-old chief of staff to the under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, according to a formal complaint.”
… Wax was fired by the Babylon Bee after he went after Ron Desantis’s social media director Christina Pushaw in a profanity-laced tirade. He was also forced to resigned as president of the NY Young Republican Club amid several ongoing controversies.
… All the finest people.
… Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and WH correspondent for Real America’s Voice, Brian Glenn, just got married in Las Vegas. I reached out to Glenn to ask him if Greene was going to change her name since “Taylor” is her first husband’s name and that seems kinda awkward at this stage. He hasn’t gotten back to me yet. I’ll keep you posted if I get the Big Scoop.
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