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Flock camera backlash makes AI surveillance a top midterm talking point
2 days ago•Source: Axios
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3.21 min•4 days ago
DHS counsel faces ethics complaint for public attacks on judges
A top DHS official, James Percival, used his official social media to attack sitting district judges who ruled against the Trump administration, labeling them the “Worst of the Worst” and accusing them of “judicial sabotage.” Nearly 130 former judges and two watchdog groups filed a Florida Bar ethics complaint seeking an investigation for potential professional-conduct violations. Ethics experts say the remarks breach rules restricting disparagement of judges and could undermine judicial credibility and public trust, a concern magnified by rising threats to judges (415 threats in 2026 through Aug. 17). Percival has not commented beyond a DHS post referencing a related award nomination; the Florida Bar’s investigation status remains unclear.
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DOJ Memo Expands Privilege Shield for Trump Aides Against Congress
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Senate approves temporary funding to pause OMB grantmaking rule, sending decision to House
The Senate passed a 90-6 stopgap funding bill to fund federal agencies through Dec. 11 that includes language blocking the White House OMB from finalizing its controversial proposed grantmaking rule. The House must decide whether to adopt the Senate version; the House has produced a clean stopgap without the blocking language. The dispute centers on giving political appointees control over grant funding, with potential lawsuits looming and a crowded path forward as lawmakers weigh the implications for research grants.
AOC’s Egg-Freezing Update Triggers Look Back at Presidents Who Had Babies in Office
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez disclosed she’s begun egg freezing, prompting Axios to recount how presidents and vice presidents had children in the White House—examples include Grover Cleveland and John F. Kennedy—though historical records are incomplete for some early cases, and she has not ruled out a 2028 bid.
Trump Relaunches Bid to Remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook
The White House is reviving an unprecedented move to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, sending her a notice that the President is considering removal and giving her 21 days to respond to mortgage-fraud allegations. The letter cites 'cause' and follows a Supreme Court ruling that blocked a prior removal attempt for lack of due process, aiming to satisfy due-process requirements. The deadline is August 26, and Cook's lawyers say the allegations are baseless and will be contested.
GOP sprint to push crypto rules, NIL and funding before recess
Senate Republicans are racing to finish an August agenda that includes funding the government, a potential vote on the SAVE Act for election integrity, and bills on crypto regulation (CLARITY Act) and hemp, with NIL rights for college athletes also on the table; Democrats worry a failed vote could unleash crypto PAC money and hinder bipartisan talks, leaving passage uncertain and a weekend session possible.
Trump tightens birthright citizenship rules and targets birth tourism
President Trump signed two executive orders aimed at narrowing birthright citizenship in several scenarios and intensifying the crackdown on birth tourism, including limits on births tied to foreign diplomatic staff, alien-enemy groups, births in U.S. territories (pending congressional action), and births driven by birth-tourism schemes. The administration argues these exceptions are permitted under long-standing interpretations of the 14th Amendment, but the moves are expected to face court challenges; any change to territorial citizenship would require Congress, and critics say enforcement remains the key issue.
Taxpayers Face $2,358 Cost Per Deportation Under Mass Removal Push
An Economic Policy Institute calculator estimates taxpayers would pay about $2,358 per deportation in Trump’s mass-removal push, totaling roughly $268.9 billion over 2.5 years, a figure that could instead fund millions of SNAP recipients, Medicaid coverage, or public housing; DHS counters that self-deportation is cheaper and that spending would rise with added funding.
Colorado River plan imposes about 20% cuts for AZ, CA, NV with room for deeper reductions
A forthcoming federal plan would require Arizona, California and Nevada to cut their use of Colorado River water by about 20% over the next two years, with the possibility of deeper cuts as negotiators seek to rescue the depleted river.
Trump’s $22.5B Dulles Upgrade Seeks to Redefine a Global Gateway
President Trump unveiled a $22.5 billion plan to overhaul Dulles International, replacing aging Concourse C and D while keeping the Saarinen main terminal, and adding massive capacity, a 32,000-car underground parking facility, a new underground train system, expanded U.S. Customs, and revamped gates and lounges with United Airlines; funding details weren’t disclosed, United will participate in part of the cost, and construction on Concourse A could begin next spring with a multi-year transformation to follow.
SC GOP wary of Darline Graham's bid for a full Senate term
Despite Trump’s endorsement and sympathy after the death of her brother Lindsey Graham, Darline Graham faces an uphill race to win a full six-year Senate term in South Carolina. GOP insiders point to three challenges: inheriting Lindsey’s brand, her relative anonymity, and a crowded primary with better-known opponents; questions about her political positioning and willingness to debate; and a wary electorate prone to opposing perceived political succession. Her path may depend on leveraging Lindsey’s fundraising network (including more than $2 million on hand) and the backing of a pro-Graham super PAC, but key GOP leaders have not endorsed her for a full term. The Aug. 11 primary serves as a critical test of whether these advantages can translate into victory.
Progressives Pressure Gillibrand Over Crypto Ethics in CLARITY Act Talks
Progressive groups launched a sharp critique of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand as she brokers a compromise on the CLARITY Act’s ethics provisions, arguing her ties to the crypto industry and her son’s involvement undermine Democratic credibility. Gillibrand supports a ban on elected officials and spouses issuing their own digital assets; Republicans, the White House, and the crypto industry are racing to secure 60 votes, with the ethics language remaining the main obstacle to a deal amid heavy industry fundraising and ongoing negotiations.