Major Update: Trump Discussed Suspending Constitutional Rights, Epstein Consumes White House, UFC Fight Faces Majo…
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Good morning everyone. It is already a very busy Monday. Republicans, Democrats, and independents are all reacting to Trump’s White House UFC event, which ended with a vile remark about Michelle Obama that drew attention after Trump appeared to smile in response. As Americans continue to struggle with rising costs, many are asking whether this spectacle was really the country’s priority. At the same time, Trump remains consumed by the Epstein files and reportedly lashes out behind the scenes whenever the subject is raised. This morning, we also learned the administration came dangerously close to suspending core constitutional protections during its immigration crackdown. The Iran deal continues to move forward, and much more.
One major thing happened last night. After the White House attacked my exclusive reporting showing that pilots were nearly blinded while approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport because of the massive lights from the UFC cage, flights were temporarily halted during the light show at the event. That decision effectively confirmed my reporting.
The reporting was solid, and despite the attacks, the facts held up. This is what journalism looks like when it is not driven by access or approval from those in power. If you are able, please consider subscribing, upgrading your subscription, or gifting a subscription to someone else. This Substack remains the one place where I am fully independent and accountable only to you. Your support makes this work possible.
Here’s the news:
After the White House attacked my exclusive reporting confirming that pilots were nearly blinded flying into the Ronald Reagan airport due to the massive white light emitting from the UFC cage, last night, the airport shutdown flights during the light show at the UFC octagon, confirming my reporting:
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President Trump is reportedly furious whenever the Epstein files are raised, viewing them as a political vulnerability that refuses to go away. White House officials are increasingly concerned that new disclosures, detailed accounts of internal discussions, or additional records could keep the story in the headlines for months. Democrats are already promising Epstein hearings, subpoenas, and aggressive oversight if they regain control of the House, ensuring the issue remains a major political battleground. What began as a debate over the Epstein files has evolved into a broader fight over transparency, accountability, and what the administration may be trying to keep from public view. For Trump and his allies, the fear is that the controversy could continue to overshadow other priorities and dominate the political conversation.
As President Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with a massive UFC event on the White House lawn featuring celebrity guests, military flyovers, and thousands of spectators, many Americans remain focused on a much simpler issue: lowering costs. The spectacle unfolded as families continue to grapple with high prices for housing, groceries, and other essentials, highlighting a disconnect between Washington’s political theater and the economic concerns dominating many households. Critics across the political spectrum questioned the use of White House grounds for such an event, while supporters viewed it as a patriotic celebration. The contrast between an elaborate UFC showcase and voters’ everyday financial struggles is likely to fuel ongoing debate about the administration’s priorities.
Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike blasted the White House UFC event after fighter Josh Hokit used his post-fight interview to falsely claim that former First Lady Michelle Obama is a man. The remark came during President Trump’s heavily promoted UFC event on the White House lawn, drawing widespread criticism and threatening to overshadow the spectacle itself. Trump appeared to react with a slight smile from ringside, according to CNN, though his exact response afterward remains unclear. The incident added to broader criticism of the unprecedented decision to host a UFC fight at the White House. I am not going to show you the moment, because I don’t believe such vile and false remarks deserve the airtime they received. During the fight, images captured by Reuters showed the President’s hand disclored again:
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A remarkable new story from the New York Times has confirmed that the Trump administration came dangerously close to suspending a core constitutional protection, as senior White House officials seriously debated whether President Trump could suspend habeas corpus rights for undocumented immigrants to accelerate deportations. Secret internal memos show advisers warned that such a move would likely be unconstitutional, since habeas corpus, the right to challenge detention before a judge, has only been suspended in the most extreme moments of U.S. history, such as war and rebellion. Stephen Miller pushed the idea aggressively, while Trump reportedly showed interest and directed officials to study the option. Ultimately, the proposal was shelved after intense internal resistance, but only after becoming a serious policy discussion.
Internal documents reveal a broader struggle inside the White House over how far presidential power could be expanded. Some senior officials feared Miller’s efforts to bypass courts and legal constraints risked triggering major constitutional crises and damaging the administration’s broader agenda. White House lawyers repeatedly warned that courts would almost certainly strike down attempts to suspend habeas corpus and that the resulting legal battles could become a political disaster. Even officials who strongly supported Trump’s immigration agenda privately described some of the proposals as “insane.”
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The same internal fight extended to discussions about invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy troops domestically during immigration-related protests. Vice President JD Vance and Miller pushed for using the law after unrest in Minnesota, arguing it would send a strong message to protesters and immigration activists. Other senior aides, including White House counsel and political advisers, argued the circumstances did not come close to meeting the historical threshold for such an extraordinary step and warned of severe political and legal consequences. The administration ultimately backed away, but the report suggests both the Insurrection Act and habeas corpus debates remain examples of how close officials came to testing the outer limits of presidential authority.
Iran deal:
Markets are soaring after the Trump administration announced a tentative deal with Iran, sending oil prices sharply lower and triggering a rally on Wall Street. While investors celebrated the prospect of the Strait of Hormuz reopening, many Americans are asking a more basic question: when will they actually see lower prices at the gas pump, grocery store, and elsewhere? Analysts caution that shipping disruptions could take months to fully unwind, meaning relief may not be immediate. After years of inflation and economic uncertainty, voters remain focused on affordability above all else.
The tentative Iran agreement is being hailed as a major diplomatic breakthrough that could end months of conflict and reopen one of the world’s most important shipping routes. Yet key issues remain unresolved, including the future of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile and the details of its nuclear program. Israel is already signaling concerns, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking talks with Trump about the agreement. The coming weeks will determine whether the deal produces lasting stability or simply pauses a broader regional crisis.
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Iran’s deputy foreign minister said the full text of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) will only be released after it is formally signed, indicating key details remain undisclosed. He stressed that signing the MOU does not mean Iran trusts the United States, underscoring the deep mistrust that has characterized the negotiations from the start. Iran says the MOU is merely a framework agreement and that negotiations on a final deal will take place over the next 60 days.
Global leaders are cautiously welcoming the agreement, but many remain skeptical about how quickly conditions will normalize. Shipping groups warn that commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz may take months to recover even if the political agreement holds. Britain, China, Russia, and regional mediators have all described the peace as fragile and dependent on future negotiations. Americans may welcome falling oil prices, but they are likely to judge the agreement by whether it delivers tangible economic benefits at home.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Trump that Israel will not withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon and does not consider itself bound by the Lebanon-related provisions of the U.S.-Iran agreement. That would suggest Israel intends to maintain freedom of action against Hezbollah regardless of commitments made between Washington and Tehran. The stance could complicate efforts to make the broader agreement stick, since Iran has repeatedly linked regional de-escalation—including in Lebanon—to any lasting arrangement with the United States.
The first ship to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S.–Iran peace deal announcement was the Maltese-flagged LNG tanker Disha. The vessel traveled using Iran’s traffic separation scheme, a key shipping route through the strategically vital waterway. Its transit is being viewed as an early sign that commercial shipping may begin resuming after months of disruption. However, analysts caution that a full return to normal shipping traffic could still take weeks or months.
Other news:
Congress is growing increasingly alarmed after a new report projected that Social Security's trust fund could become insolvent by 2032, triggering automatic benefit cuts of roughly 22% if lawmakers fail to act. Republicans are deeply divided over how to respond, with some conservatives calling for a bipartisan effort to reform the program while others warn that any talk of "reform" will be seen by voters as a push to cut benefits. Several proposals are being discussed, including raising the retirement age, increasing payroll taxes, means-testing benefits, and creating private investment accounts, but many lawmakers view the issue as politically toxic ahead of the midterms. Despite broad agreement that the program's finances need attention, both parties appear reluctant to take ownership of a solution, raising fears that Congress may wait until a crisis is imminent before acting.
The Kennedy Center tarp remains up today. It appears as though the plan is to keep it up for as long as Trump is in office:
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President Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on French wine and champagne unless France eliminates its digital services tax on major technology companies. The tax, introduced in 2019, applies to revenue earned in France by firms such as Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Google parent Alphabet. Ahead of a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit, Trump said he had urged Macron not to charge American companies and warned that tariffs would follow if the tax remained in place. Trump argued that France could avoid the dispute entirely by repealing the levy, saying, “All he has to do is get rid of the sales tax.”
A bizarre controversy erupted before the White House UFC event when screenshots appeared to show Eric Trump asking UFC commentator Daniel Cormier whether any fights would be “rigged.” Cormier initially shared the screenshots publicly before later deleting the post, while Eric Trump insisted the messages were “AI-generated” and completely fabricated. Cormier subsequently appeared to agree the screenshots were fake, posting, “Are people this dumb?” as the claims spread online. We still do not have the full story this morning.
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President Trump was still posting on social media in the early hours of the morning after his White House UFC birthday event, launching an all-caps attack against efforts to renew controversial government surveillance authorities. The post underscored Trump’s growing opposition to intelligence and law enforcement powers that he and many of his supporters believe have been abused against political figures. Critics seized on the timing, noting that the president was posting angrily online just hours after the UFC spectacle ended after 1 a.m. The episode added to a turbulent birthday weekend that was already dominated by controversy surrounding the White House fight card, the Epstein fallout, and ongoing battles over the Iran deal.
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Trump further confirmed he will be holding a campaign-style rally on the 4th of July in Washington, D.C.:
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At least 11 people were killed and more than 50 wounded after Russia launched one of its largest attacks on Ukraine in recent months, firing 70 missiles and more than 600 drones overnight. The strikes damaged the historic 11th-century Dormition Cathedral in Kyiv, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Ukraine’s most important religious landmarks, prompting condemnation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron. Russia denied targeting the cathedral and claimed a Ukrainian air-defense missile caused the damage, while Ukraine accused Moscow of attacking both civilians and cultural heritage sites. The assault comes ahead of the G7 summit, where Zelensky is urging world leaders to increase military assistance and pressure on Russia.
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LA28 announced that applications for its Games-time volunteer program will open on July 14, exactly two years before the opening ceremony of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Organizers are seeking roughly 60,000 volunteers to help during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with roles ranging from welcoming spectators and athletes to providing medical and language support. While most positions will be based in the Los Angeles area, volunteers will also be needed in Olympic host cities including New York, Oklahoma City, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San José, and San Diego. LA28 officials described volunteers as the backbone of the Games, saying they will play a key role in shaping the experience for athletes, fans, and visitors from around the world.
American singer and comedian Oliver Tree was listed among the passengers on a helicopter involved in a deadly midair collision over Rio de Janeiro, though authorities have not yet been able to identify the victims. Two helicopters collided Sunday morning, killing all six people aboard and causing one aircraft to crash into a car dealership parking lot, where a fire broke out. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the crash, while reports also indicate that Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim Díaz may have been among the passengers. Officials say identification efforts are ongoing, meaning the identities of those killed have not yet been officially confirmed.
Iran’s World Cup opener against New Zealand is becoming a political flashpoint, with Iranian Americans divided between supporting the national team and protesting the Iranian government outside the stadium. Many members of the diaspora, particularly in Southern California’s large Iranian community, plan demonstrations over Tehran’s crackdown on dissent, while others insist the players represent the Iranian people rather than the regime. Team captain Mehdi Taremi urged fans to see the squad as a unifying force, saying the team is there “to bring joy to all Iranians” and not engage in politics. The tensions reflect broader divisions within the Iranian diaspora as the World Cup unfolds amid the aftermath of the U.S.-Iran conflict and a newly announced peace framework.
Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s crown princess, was convicted of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison. The 29-year-old was found guilty of raping two women who the court determined were asleep or otherwise unable to resist, though he was acquitted on two other rape charges. He was also convicted of abusing former girlfriend Nora Haukland and causing serious bodily harm to another partner. The case has cast a shadow over Norway’s royal family, which is already dealing with Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s serious health problems, though the palace declined to comment on the verdict.
The U.K. will ban social media for children under 16, making it one of the most aggressive efforts in the world to restrict minors’ access to major online platforms. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was not prepared to “compromise on the safety and happiness of our children,” while also announcing restrictions on livestreaming, disappearing messages, and AI companion chatbots for young users. The government is considering additional measures, including overnight curfews and limits on infinite scrolling for minors. The move is broadly popular with British parents and is expected to take effect in 2027 if approved by Parliament.
See you soon.
— Aaron
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