Jeffries and Trump tussle over the economy
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared in Pennsylvania on Sunday for an affordability campaign event designed to kick off the final 100 days of the midterm race. Jeffries asserted, “Democrats are fighting to lower the cost of groceries, gas and housing.” Seemingly in answer to the event, President Donald Trump appeared in Michigan on Monday at a General Motors facility touting his tariffs and blaming affordability issues on the extraordinary inflation unleashed by the Biden regime. Trump accused “Dumbocrats” of raising the issue of affordability on his first day in office. The economy traditionally plays a strong role in determining which party wins Congress, but currently neither party enjoys a strong lead on the issue.

Trump and the August recess
Yesterday, President Trump posted on Truth Social, “John Thune should not allow the United States Senate to ‘leave town’ until it passes The Save America Act or, far better still, TERMINATES THE FILIBUSTER, where Republicans can then quickly pass everything they ever dreamed of, including a full and deep throated SAVE AMERICA ACT, the Budget, and the ever looming Debt Ceiling disaster, 1929!” In justifying his call for eliminating the filibuster, Trump argued that Democrats would eliminate it if they take over Senate leadership. Some Republican senators agreed with Trump about not going on recess. Mike Lee said he would “object to any effort to put the Senate into recess in August — at least until such time as the Senate has passed the SAVE America Act.” Ashley Moody echoed Lee, stating, “We should stay in session as long as it takes.”

Trump meeting with Netanyahu
President Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today to discuss the war with Iran, a framework for peace with Lebanon, and normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia via the Abraham Accords. Trump seems to desire an end to the Iran war more than Netanyahu does as the midterm elections approach, and Americans are growing tired of volatile gas prices. It will be the first meeting between the two leaders since the war began. Trump said he and Netanyahu “have a little difference, but [are] pretty close.” He also has expressed frustration with Israel for its focus on rooting Hezbollah out of Lebanon despite efforts to make peace with Iran. Saudi Arabia’s signing on to the Abraham Accords before proceeding with a civil nuclear deal seems to be an issue of complete agreement between Trump and Bibi.

Mamdani doxes the wealthy
Socialist New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has shared the personal information, including primary addresses, of thousands of wealthy New Yorkers with a populous he is priming for hate. With his recent announcement of yet another wealth tax in New York City, Mamdani also published a list of every secondary residence in the city worth over $1 million, including the owners’ names and addresses. The published list seems to go well beyond what the new pied-à-terre tax was announced to cover. That tax was presented to the public as covering nearly 31,000 secondary residences worth over $5 million; this new database includes more than 960,000 residences worth over $1 million, and many may not be secondary homes. Mamdani may not be trying to bring on a Jacobin-esque revolution, but blaming the wealthy for NYC issues and doxing them creates the conditions for one.

U.S. walks out of UN meeting in protest
In a social media post, France compared America to North Korea, claiming the U.S. no longer supports human rights because it voted against reelecting the UN rights chief who denounced U.S. immigration policy. U.S. diplomats walked out of Monday’s UN meeting to protest the disingenuous criticism of America’s human rights record. This incident reflects strained relationships between the Trump administration and France and the rest of Europe. U.S. Ambassador Dan Negrea accused the French of feigning moral outrage and reminded them that they would be speaking German if not for America. UN Ambassador Mike Waltz criticized France for lecturing free democracies while turning a blind eye to the world’s worst human rights abusers. Indeed, France treats radical Islamists who stab women like victims.

Now Fetterman opposes eliminating the filibuster
Back in 2022, Democrat Senator John Fetterman ran on a promise to eliminate the Senate filibuster, condemning Senator Joe Manchin for refusing to support the effort. Now Fetterman is singing a different tune, announcing in a Washington Post op-ed that he has changed his opinion and supports maintaining the filibuster. “Halfway through my first term, I now recognize how important the filibuster is and the state our country would be in without it,” he writes. Of course, Fetterman’s change of view conveniently comes in response to President Trump’s calls for Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to pass the SAVE Act. Indeed, Fetterman admits as much, arguing that the country would be worse off if Trump’s “chaotic” policies had been enacted. The question is whether Fetterman will flip his opinion again if the Democrats regain control of the Senate.

Trump’s DNI pick, Jay Clayton, advances
By a vote of 51-43, the Senate voted to advance Jay Clayton, President Trump’s nominee to replace Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has left the position to help care for her husband after his cancer diagnosis. The procedural vote clears the way for a final confirmation vote expected tonight. Clayton, who was the former chairman of the SEC and U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, faces opposition from Democrats. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated, “Amid a heightened threat environment, having a proven leader in this role is especially important. Jay Clayton fits the mold.” Republicans are much more comfortable with Clayton heading the DNI than with Acting DNI William Pulte, a Trump loyalist who heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency but has little experience in intelligence.

Cracker Barrel CEO exiting
Cracker Barrel sales have continued to slump even months after its disastrous rebrand and re-rebrand. CEO Julie Masino will step down on August 10, handing over the reins to David Deno. Masino claimed they missed the mark in improving guest experience — an understatement, since the bland rebrand sparked intense backlash. Even President Trump called for the Old Country Store to abandon the marketing push. “I feel like I’ve been fired by America,” Masino said with a laugh. Cracker Barrel recently announced it was selling several restaurant properties and the Maple Street Biscuit Company in hopes of cutting debt and increasing profit. The company’s stock is still down 20% since this time last year.

Musk no longer a trillionaire
When Tesla and SpaceX shares declined, Elon Musk’s net worth sank back under $1 trillion to roughly $800 billion. Tesla shares fell 18% after the company reported it had earned a fourth of what Wall Street predicted. SpaceX shares plummeted 50%. On that scale, even small percentage changes in stock prices can result in tens of billions gained or lost in seconds. The massive stock swings are consistent with past IPO statistics. Stocks tied to Musk’s companies are often particularly volatile because investors bet on potential rather than current standing. Making matters even more volatile, Musk often posts political comments on social media, triggering investors. No doubt this once-and-future trillionaire will continue to generate controversy.

Headlines

• Trump administration asks Supreme Court to weigh in on mail-in voting executive order (Just the News)

• Senator Blackburn questions wreath program over millions in donations (Military.com)

• University of Minnesota Medical School develops “transgender” dolls for preschoolers (Washington Stand)

• Florida ramps up executions of its longest-serving death-row prisoners (Washington Times)

The Executive News Summary is compiled daily by Jordan Candler, Thomas Gallatin, Sterling Henry, Jacob Geoffrey, and Sophie Starkova. For the archive, click here.