• Presidential immunity works for Obama on Russiagate: President Donald Trump has suggested that, despite the unfolding Russiagate conspiracy carried out by the intelligence community on Barack Obama’s orders against Trump in his first term, Obama is likely protected by presidential immunity. “Obama owes me big,” Trump said, referring to the strengthening of that immunity in cases related to President Trump’s actions. However, Trump pointed out that presidential immunity doesn’t help the people around Obama at all; former CIA Director John Brennan may end up bearing the brunt of the blame. DNI Tulsi Gabbard is still working to release more information in this ongoing probe, despite “deep state” actors still in DC working against her.

• DOJ v. Boasberg: U.S. District Chief Judge James Boasberg, who has proven to be a thorn in the Trump administration’s side over the deportation of criminal illegal aliens, finds himself in hot water as the Justice Department has filed a misconduct complaint against him. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Boasberg made “improper public comments” about the Trump administration, alleging, “These comments have undermined the integrity of the judiciary, and we will not stand for that.” The complaint stems from leaked comments Boasberg purportedly made at a judicial conference in March, wherein he claimed that Chief Justice John Roberts and others were “concern[ed] that the administration would disregard rulings of federal courts leading to a constitutional crisis.” The complaint argues that Boasberg violated ethical obligations and calls for “swift, visible action” to hold him to account to “reinforce the judiciary’s integrity … and deter comparable misconduct.”

• Hawley wants tariff rebate checks: Republican Sen. Josh Hawley has introduced legislation that would send a minimum $600 tariff rebate check per adult and child to the American people. The proposal follows burgeoning customs duties brought in by President Trump’s tariff policies. Customs duties brought in $27 billion in June, a $4 billion increase from May. Conservatives have long held that tariffs on foreign products are a tax on American consumers — rebate checks may be an attempt to mitigate that. However, some conservatives are already suggesting that government handouts (via more direct payments) are not what the American people need and that the money would be better spent paying down the massive debt. A similar idea of “DOGE dividend” checks was quashed earlier this year.

• Trump tightens Putin’s leash: On July 14, Donald Trump, clearly frustrated with Vladimir Putin’s unwillingness to negotiate a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, gave the Russian strongman a 50-day window to enter a peace agreement or face severe economic repercussions. On the heels of signing a big trade deal this week with the European Union, which includes an energy agreement for EU nations to purchase more natural gas from the U.S., Trump announced that he was shrinking the timeline. “I’m going to make a new deadline, of about 10, 10 or 12 days from today,” Trump said yesterday. “There’s no reason for waiting. It was 50 days. I wanted to be generous, but we just don’t see any progress being made.” With the new deadline, Trump has effectively cut in half the original timeline. For Putin, it’s now either deal or face the consequences.

• Iran better shape up soon: President Trump is warning Iran against returning to its attempt to obtain nuclear weapons. In a meeting with UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer, Trump explained that if Iran starts rebuilding, “we’ll wipe it out faster than you can wave your finger.” Trump added that although Operation Midnight Hammer wiped out Iran’s nuclear capability, the radical Islamists in charge have been sending some “very nasty signals” and that they need to get “back into the World Order.” After the strikes, Trump expressed his desire for Iran to become a wealthy trading nation in the wake of the 12-day war, but Iran does not seem to be embracing that desire.

• Trump admin sets new record for criminal prosecution of illegals: The Trump administration is cracking down on illegal aliens who repeatedly reenter the U.S. after being deported. In the past, these individuals would simply be cited for illegal entry and deported; now, the Justice Department is charging aliens who illegally reenter after a deportation with a felony, which, if convicted, holds jail time. In June, the DOJ set a new record of 3,200 felony case prosecutions against aliens for repeated illegal reentry. That number is 50% higher than the total Border Patrol arrests made last month. These prosecutions have proven to be a very effective way to cut down on illegal border crossings. Furthermore, raising reentry to a criminal charge is a tool to help ICE, especially in sanctuary cities. An individual convicted of illegal reentry faces a maximum two-year prison sentence.

• Duke in Trump admin’s crosshairs: Racial discrimination in college admissions is a violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The Trump administration has launched an investigation into Duke University over allegations that the school used racial preferences in its admissions to increase “underrepresented or marginalized groups” at the university. At the same time, Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. encouraged Duke to create a Merit and Civil Rights Committee to “swiftly uncover prohibited race-based discrimination in Duke Health.” They warned that federal funding for the school was at stake.

• Trump administration backs religious liberty: In an encouraging show of good faith, the Office of Personnel Management issued a government-wide memo Monday directing agencies to comply with guidance and the First Amendment. “The Federal workforce should be a welcoming place for Federal employees who practice a religious faith,” the memo starts. It then outlines protected religious expression, including Bibles and rosaries at desks, Christian clothing, and, best of all, invitations to church or even attempts to convert coworkers during appropriate break times. Evangelists are encouraged, however, to end conversations if the person they’re speaking to is not interested. The message comes through loud and clear; as OPM Director Scott Kupor put it, “Federal employees should never have to choose between their faith and their career.”

Headlines

• EPA chief Zeldin delivers dagger to the heart of Obama’s climate change agenda (Fox News)

• U.S. and China hold high-stakes trade talks (Daily Caller)

• FBI investigating brutal Cincinnati mob beating, interviewing suspects (Daily Wire)

• RFK Jr. to oust key health panel over “woke" nonsense (Daily Wire)

• Stanford suspends two student co-ops over anti-Semitic, anti-white Title VI violations (College Fix)

• Gatorade lands in foul trouble with "Let Her Cook” WNBA ad campaign (Washington Times)

• New York mandates all new buildings under seven stories must be all-electric starting January 1 (Hot Air)

• China’s artificial intelligence gains bewilder top American researchers (Washington Times)

• UK government posts job opening for “Sharia law administrator” (Not the Bee)

• Humor: 10 things more popular than Democrats right now (Babylon Bee)

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