Monday’s Mini-Report, 7.13.26
Today’s edition of quick hits.
* The latest in Maine: “A federal immigration agent was involved in the fatal shooting of a young man in Biddeford, Maine, on Monday morning, according to local and federal law enforcement. The shooting, the second in one week involving an immigration agent, has already sparked outrage among state and federal lawmakers, who are demanding accountability from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
* An important notification: “Mr. Trump has formally notified Congress that fighting with Iran resumed, a recognition that the truce is breaking down and one that stokes a struggle over vital war powers. Congress has directed the president to either end the war or seek approval to continue it, but Mr. Trump insists he has the sole authority to make that call.”
* Still no word on the need for weeks of secrecy: “Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday ended weeks of speculation about his health with a statement saying he’s on the mend. The Kentucky Republican, who was hospitalized June 14, issued a letter to fellow Kentuckians telling them he has been recovering from a fall, followed by what he termed ‘a mild case of pneumonia.’”
* Mass shooting in Illinois: “Two teenagers were arrested on Sunday in connection with a targeted shooting in southern Illinois that left five members of the same family dead and two other relatives seriously injured, the Illinois State Police said at a news conference on Sunday. The suspects, ages 15 and 16, had not been formally charged as of Sunday evening, and police investigators declined to discuss a possible motive for the shootings.”
* A lawsuit worth watching: “A dozen state attorneys general sued Monday to block Paramount Skydance’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, citing the harm the megamerger could pose to competition in Hollywood. The deal would consolidate two powerhouse movie studios, several popular streaming services and the national news networks CBS and CNN into a single company under the purview of the billionaire Trump-aligned Ellison family.”
* Statements like these seem wildly unnecessary: “FBI Director Kash Patel said Sunday his bureau is ‘assisting local authorities’ in the wake of the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).”
* I haven’t seen this WSJ report confirmed elsewhere, but it’s interesting: “Investigators have found evidence that Corey Lewandowski may have been involved in improperly awarding government contracts during his time as a senior aide at the Department of Homeland Security, according to people familiar with the matter.”
* The “Justice in Motion” tour: “In Cracker Barrels and town squares, a group of judges and other civic leadershave raised alarms this week over a judiciary they consider under attack. By bus, the group — which includes both sitting and retired judges — traveled from the suburbs of Pittsburgh to outside Detroit, eating barbecue and warning crowds about physical threats to judges and a rising tide of criticism from elected officials, one of the participants said.”
* With so many special envoys, I’m starting to wonder what’s so special about them: “John Rich is taking on a prestigious role within President Donald Trump’s administration. On Monday, the country star took to social media to announce his latest endeavor. ‘President Trump has afforded me the great honor to serve in his administration as the ‘Special Envoy for American Landowners,’ he wrote on X.”
See you tomorrow.
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