President Donald Trump met with Federal Reserve officials yesterday at their headquarters, calling Fed Chair Jay Powell "a very good man" after a "really good meeting." Trump also stated he is considering rebate checks for low-income Americans, though the mechanism for this without congressional approval is unclear. Meanwhile, Ukraine announced plans for drone deals with the U.S. valued at up to $30 billion, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky described the agreement as "win-win" for both nations. In other developments, Republicans are reportedly using a $50 billion rural hospital fund to secure support for legislative measures, according to a letter from Senate Democrats led by Chuck Schumer. The Democrats are demanding answers from Dr. Oz regarding the fund's distribution, alleging it was created to "buy votes" and provide political cover for Republicans. Separately, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine met with Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds, and Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene at the Pentagon. A statement attributed to the Department of Defense criticized "gossip and D.C. beltway drama," asserting that "the American people DO NOT CARE about this kind of gossip" and that Secretary Hegseth is "absolutely crushing it." President Trump also commented on the Department of Justice lawsuit against New York City, stating, "We're going against a lot of other places too. We want to bring safety to our cities. That's gonna be a pretty routine filing with other cities too." Regarding potential judicial actions, President Trump indicated he has not considered pardoning or commuting the sentence for Ghislaine Maxwell. "I haven't thought about it. … I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I haven't thought about," he said. On the housing front, Senators Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren have introduced a new bipartisan housing package. Additionally, there are discussions about federal grants being preferentially allocated to jurisdictions with pro-supply housing policies, with implications for building codes and construction processes. House Democrats are reportedly planning a counterstrategy to address redistricting efforts by Republicans, particularly in states like Texas, Ohio, and Missouri, which Democrats claim President Trump is attempting to manipulate to favor the GOP. In a statement, ICE refuted claims about its detention standards, asserting their priority is the safety and well-being of individuals in custody and that detainees receive proper meals, medical treatment, and communication opportunities.
