President Donald Trump today endorsed Senator Mike Rounds for re-election in 2026, reversing a previous stance from 3.5 years ago where he stated he would "never endorse this jerk again," according to a tweet from metzgov. This endorsement follows Rounds' vote for a rescissions package last week after initial hesitation, as reported by burgessev, who noted Rounds received reassurances on emergency alert funding from the Trump administration. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) also affirmed the endorsement, stating Senator Rounds is the "America First patriot South Dakota needs." In related news, the White House barred a Wall Street Journal reporter from the travel pool for President Trump's trip to Scotland this weekend, following the paper's Epstein story last week, Politico reported today. This development comes as the Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged an individual for allegedly threatening to kill people on the "Epstein list," despite the DOJ's previous claim that such a list does not exist, as reported by Breanna Morello. Meanwhile, Representative Thomas Massie questioned why the Massie-Khanna Epstein legislation is not being voted on this week, urging Speaker Johnson not to delay the vote. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a new cost estimate for the OBBB (Omnibus Budget and Business Blueprint) today, projecting it will add $3.4 trillion to the budget deficit over the next 10 years. This increase is attributed to a $1.1 trillion decrease in direct spending and a $4.5 trillion decrease in revenues, according to Jake Sherman. Senate Minority Whip John Thune indicated that senators want to return to their home states to promote the administration's accomplishments, which he believes members are "anxious to get out there and do," as stated in a tweet from Max P. Cohen, referencing the potential cancellation of the August recess at President Trump's request. In other legislative developments, Representative Bice's "Stop Illegal Entry Act," which would increase penalties for undocumented migrants attempting to re-enter the country after removal, is expected to be voted on this week. The White House is supporting this bill and coordinating with GOP leadership, according to Mica SoellnerDC, while South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem commended a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer's quick action in an incident, stating the perpetrator should "have NEVER been here in the first place." Separately, Representative Hakeem Jeffries suggested that mentions of President Joe Biden or President Barack Obama in relation to the Epstein files indicate that "Donald Trump is running scared," as reported by The Post Millennial. Additionally, Hunter Biden conducted a second podcast interview today with Jaime Harrison, as noted by Emily Brooks News, with content from the interview being discussed by AutismCapital. Regarding the Democratic party, Zohran Mamdani is reportedly attempting to gain support from the Democratic and New York City business establishment, who are proving difficult to sway, according to Alex Thomp. Democrats are also urging their leaders to respond in kind to Republican actions in blue states, with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stating, "I think we need to even the playing board," and Representative Lizzie Fletcher adding, "These are extraordinary times, and we should not bring a knife to a gunfight," as reported by mkraju. Furthermore, US Ambassador to NATO discussed President Trump's priorities in addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Fox & Friends First, emphasizing "PeaceThroughStrength" and "AmericaFirst." Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced on X that he might be the first person to wear Gap jeans in Vogue, sharing a link to a Vogue article. House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill also discussed whether Congress has been influenced by cryptocurrency, according to Brendan Pedersen.
