Immigration & National Security

CENSUS EXECUTIVE ORDER: “President Trump is expected to sign an executive action to attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 U.S. census, according to an administration official, a move that would prompt immediate challenges in court.” (The Wall Street Journal)

STRIKE TWO: “A second U.S. judge has rejected a Department of Justice request to replace its legal team in cases on the 2020 census as the Trump administration tries to add a contentious citizenship question.” (Reuters)

COMING DOWN THE PIKE: “Immigration raids that will target thousands of undocumented immigrants in cities across the US are scheduled to begin on Sunday, [The New York Times] said Thursday. The raids, which are backed by President Trump, will target families who recently crossed into the US and who have been ordered deported.” (New York Post)

DETENTION CENTERS UNDER FIRE: “House lawmakers on Wednesday heard emotional testimony from a Guatemalan woman seeking asylum in the United States whose two-year-old daughter contracted a lung infection while at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Texas and died shortly after their release,” Fox News reports. Speaking of detention centers, the Washington Examiner says, “Border officials in El Paso, Texas, this spring began separating migrants in federal custody based on nationality due to hostility and tension between Central and South American detainees who were being held in the same cells and even areas of facilities, according to several federal agents. The practice continued at least into June.” It’s almost as if cultural differences and assimilation matter.

DOUBLE STANDARDS: “The Democratic-led House Oversight and Reform Committee deleted tweets this week that used Obama-era photos of border detention facilities in an effort to slam President Trump’s treatment of illegal immigrants.” (The Washington Times)

A ROYAL HASSLE: “Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker near the Gulf — before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship, the Ministry of Defence has said. HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the tanker, a spokesman said. … Iran had threatened to retaliate for the seizure of one of its own tankers, but denied any attempted seizure.” (BBC)

Government & Political Theater

BRAYING JENNY CAGE MATCH: “The public spat between Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, got a lot nastier on Wednesday, with the freshman congresswoman suggesting that the speaker is ‘singling out’ her and her colleagues based on their race.” (Fox News)

ACOSTA ACCOSTED: “Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta defended his actions in the 2008 plea deal arranged for accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in a Wednesday news conference,” The Federalist reports. “Acosta argued that his office proceeded appropriately based on the evidence that got Epstein jail time and registration as a sex offender.” Meanwhile, “House Democrats summoned … Acosta to an oversight hearing to explain his role in helping accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein escape a major prison sentence more than ten years ago,” according to the Washington Examiner. The hearing will occur on July 23.

ON SECOND THOUGHT… “The Trump administration is dropping a plan to curb billions of dollars in annual rebates that drugmakers give middlemen in Medicare, a proposal it had said would drive down the prices consumers pay for prescription drugs.” (The Wall Street Journal)

Other Notables

DOW MAKES HISTORY: “The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied to a record high on Thursday … after testimony by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that signaled easier monetary policy could be implemented later this month. The 30-stock average broke above 27,000 for the first time in its history, before trading just below that level.” (CNBC)

HANDOUTS FOR ILLEGALS: “California has become the first state in the country to offer government-subsidized health benefits to young adults living in the U.S. illegally. The measure signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday extends coverage to low-income, undocumented adults age 25 and younger for the state’s Medicaid program.” (NPR)

TAXING TECH: “A French tax on tech companies was approved by parliament on Thursday after the Senate approved a final version of the bill in defiance of a U.S. investigation. … U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday announced an investigation … amid the Trump administration concerns that the measure unfairly targets U.S. tech firms. The digital services tax would apply a 3 percent levy on tech firms with at least 750 million euros (about $845 million) in global revenue and 25 million euros (about $281 million) of digital sales in France.” (Fox Business)

Closing Arguments

POLICY: Is there a future for nuclear power in the United States? (Manhattan Institute)

POLICY: How a record-breaking economy is helping those who need it most (The Daily Signal)

HUMOR: Women’s soccer team sues to overturn unjust law of supply and demand (The Babylon Bee)

For more of today’s editors’ choice headlines, visit In Our Sights.

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