• GDP numbers: The U.S. economy grew in the second quarter by 3.8%, much stronger than the Commerce Department’s original estimate of 3.3%. Consumer spending has remained strong despite recent lower-than-anticipated jobs numbers and an increase in the unemployment rate. Priscilla Thiagamoorthy, senior economist at BMO, observed, “Today’s run of data suggest that the economy — which strongly rebounded after the pandemic recession — continues to hold up well, even as we anticipate some slowdown ahead.” The stronger-than-expected economy has some wondering if the Federal Reserve will reconsider its plan to further cut interest rates at its subsequent meetings.

• TikTok EO: On Thursday, Donald Trump signed an executive order paving the way for the popular social media platform TikTok to become “American-operated all the way.” Trump has repeatedly paused congressionally mandated action against the Chinese-owned company, which required either the banning of TikTok in the U.S. or China fully divesting ownership to an American-owned company. Over recent months, the Trump administration has been negotiating a trade deal with Beijing, and it appears that the sale of TikTok is part of it. “I have great respect for President Xi, and I very much appreciate that he approved the deal because to get it done properly, we really needed the support of China and the approval of China,” Trump explained. TikTok is valued at roughly $14 billion.

• Anti-ICE ambusher used app promoted by CNN: The man who attempted to kill ICE agents and did kill a detainee on Wednesday used an ICE-tracking app publicized by CNN. The ICEblock app is meant to crowdsource the location of ICE agents to enable illegals to evade law enforcement. That in itself is cause for concern, but now the app has been used for a more nefarious purpose: hunting ICE agents. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted CNN for what she called “free publicity” for the app. The app is still available on the Apple and Google stores, and neither company has responded to questions about whether they will remove the app after this incident.

• The UN continues to be useless: President Trump attended a summit of world leaders at the UN General Assembly in Manhattan, New York, and faced crippling disruptions. First, the escalator stopped abruptly, which could have caused a fall. This occurred after The Times of London reported that UN staff members were joking about turning off the escalators. Then his teleprompter failed to display his speech for the first 15 minutes of his time on stage, forcing him to speak off-the-cuff. Finally, the sound in the auditorium stayed off, rendering his speech inaudible to most of the attendees. Trump has said this was deliberate triple sabotage by the UN. If so, Americans may begin asking themselves why the UN is granted prime real estate in America’s greatest city or why the UN continues to exist at all.

• Trump orders dismantling of violence-inciting left-wing groups: Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that aims to dismantle antifa and similar left-wing groups inciting political violence. The Justice and Treasury Departments will be working in concert with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to seize funding for these groups. Trump suggested that certain wealthy people were responsible for the financing, but he did not blame specific individuals. He added that George Soros “is a name I keep hearing,” and “maybe I hear about a guy named Reid Hoffman.” While Soros and Hoffman are both well known for their donations to leftist causes, they have denied any wrongdoing.

• RFK Jr. announces review of abortion drug: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary recently sent a letter to 22 Republican attorneys general telling them of an FDA review of the “real-world outcomes and evidence, relating to the safety and efficacy” of the abortion drug mifepristone. Under the Biden administration, the FDA significantly eased access restrictions on the drug, effectively allowing women to obtain it by mail without a doctor’s visit. This was a deliberate effort to get around abortion-limiting laws in a number of Republican states. What troubles RFK Jr., who is not personally opposed to abortion, is the “potential dangers” connected to the use of the drug “without sufficient medical support or supervision.” As Kennedy and Makary explained in their letter, “This administration will ensure that women’s health is properly protected by thoroughly investigating the circumstances under which mifepristone can be safely dispensed.”

• Voddie Baucham passes away: Servant of Christ Voddie Baucham, a prominent Southern Baptist Convention pastor-turned-dean of a seminary in Zambia, has gone to be with his Savior at age 56. Baucham had ventured into the culture wars in recent years with his book Fault Lines, which pushed back against woke racial ideology in churches. Yesterday, an emergency medical incident claimed Baucham’s life. He had previously undergone treatment for heart failure in 2021. Of his own death, Baucham had said, “You are going to hear a rumor one day that Voddie Baucham is no more. Don’t you believe it … because though I die, I will rise with Christ.”

• NJ gubernatorial race is now a toss-up: Democrats are getting nervous in the blue state of New Jersey, as recent polling numbers show that the gubernatorial race between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill is in a dead heat. According to an Emerson College survey released yesterday, both Ciattarelli and Sherrill are polling at 43%, with 11% undecided. Just a month ago, Sherrill was a shoo-in, but she’s been weighed down by a raft of bad news and the recent revelation that she was barred from walking in her 1994 U.S. Naval Academy graduation due to a cheating scandal. Digging into the poll holds even more concern for Sherrill. She is polling 14 points ahead of Ciattarelli with voters under 50, but she’s losing voters 50 and older by 16 points. Should Ciattarelli beat Sherrill in November, it will serve as an ominous warning to Democrats for next year’s midterms.

Headlines

• With straight face, Democrat warns Republicans his party may indict political enemies if liberals regain power (Not the Bee)

• Trump directs the enforcement of death penalty laws in Washington, DC (Whitehouse.gov)

• Zelensky says he’ll end Ukraine presidency once war with Russia is over (Newsweek)

• Luxury car customers aren’t buying EVs (Hot Air)

• Virginia girls complain about trans boy in their locker room, are told by school to change faster (Not the Bee)

• Tim Allen says Erika Kirk’s memorial speech inspired him to forgive his father’s killer (Fox News)

• Satire: Logo update: Democrat donkey now holding sniper rifle (Babylon Bee)

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