Wertheimer Political Report, June 18, 2026
TRUMPWATCH 2.0
Republicans in Washington on edge over Iran deal as Trump touts its merits.
“The president’s new agreement with Iran is set for formal signing, but in Washington, the prospect has exacerbated long-standing tensions over the war.” — NBC News
5 reasons Trump allies don’t like his Iran deal.
“Some of President Trump’s most prominent allies in his war on Iran are revolting against the reported contours of his memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tehran to end the conflict.” — The Hill
Frustrated by Courts, Trump Weighed Suspending a Constitutional Right.
“Secret memos show that the White House debated last year, to a greater degree than previously known, whether to limit habeas corpus rights for undocumented immigrants.” — New York Times
The Trump administration is deporting ‘Dreamers.’
“Their kids are paying for it. Jessica Treviño Villegas’ DACA status was still valid when she was deported to Mexico. Her children, who are U.S. citizens, are now navigating life without her.” — MS Now
Trump said no taxpayer money would be spent on the ballroom.
“A contractor’s invoices show otherwise. An internal cost estimate in March by the project’s contractor put its cost at $600 million, with half coming from tax dollars.” — Washington Post
FBI director’s post on foiled UFC plot frustrates law enforcement, sources say.
“Kash Patel’s post took some federal law enforcement officials by surprise, in part because authorities were still working to take suspects into custody, sources tell NBC News.” — NBC News
Justice Department Decision to Allow Paramount Deal Surprised Staff Investigators.
“Career antitrust officials investigating Warner acquisition were leaning toward recommending a challenge to the merger, people familiar with the matter say.” – Wall Street Journal
DOE head says agency didn’t punish blue states. His lawyers admit it did.
“A federal judge ordered the Energy Department to restore another 11 grants after its lawyers acknowledged it aimed to punish Democrats.” — Washington Post
Trump’s Fight Night Was as Absurd as Promised.
“If you found it bizarre, surreal and downright flabbergasting to witness the spectacle of the Ultimate Fighting Championship holding a massive event on the White House lawn, with sweaty men being escorted from the Oval Office to a glowing octagon to go punch each other as the president and his war cabinet cheered them on, you were not alone. You should know that the fighters and many people in the U.F.C. appeared to feel the same way. Maybe even more so.” — New York Times
New lawsuit challenges Trump’s planned ‘National Garden of American Heroes’. “The suit claims the project ignores laws governing D.C. public land use.” — ABC News
MEANWHILE, ON CAPITOL HILL
Trump Feuds With Thune and G.O.P., Stoking Election-Year Rift. The president upended the majority leader’s plans by yanking his intelligence nominee from a confirmation hearing and insisting on an end to the filibuster. — New York Times
‘Un-American’: Democrats attack Trump’s uneven disaster response. A confirmation hearing for the president’s nominee to lead FEMA turned into a Democratic blitz against Trump’s record of withholding aid from blue states. —Politico
Housing deal in hand, revised bill cruising toward passage. Senate moves bill forward in bipartisan 87-8 procedural vote. — Roll Call
MONEY IN POLITICS, VOTING, ELECTION & OTHER RELATED INFO
Michigan pollster accuses McMorrow campaign of killing unfavorable Senate poll. The independent poll shows her trailing with 6 percent support among likely Democratic primary voters. — Politico
Georgia Republicans Shelve Redistricting as Anger Grows. The leaders of the Georgia legislature pulled the plug on gerrymandering away U.S. House seats held by Black Democrats just hours before a special session was to begin. — New York Times
Florida Redistricting Pits Democrats Against Each Other—and It’s Getting Messy. Primary stokes party divisions between establishment and outsiders, and concerns about Black representation. — Wall Street Journal
