Wertheimer Political Report, June 25, 2026
TRUMPWATCH 2.0
Federal court blocks Trump’s executive order limiting mail ballots.
“The ruling comes a month after another judge allowed Trump’s order to stand. The latest ruling sidelines major provisions of the order despite the earlier ruling.” — Washington Post
Hegseth thwarted internal efforts to extend key Army general’s career.
“Gen. Christopher Donahue, seen as a top warfighter, is the latest apparent casualty in a purge of senior military leaders by the Trump administration.” — Washington Post
The newest book on the Trump White House paints a genuinely sinister picture.
“In Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan’s ‘Regime Change,’ the president makes his staff worse — and they happily return the favor.” — MS Now
“A Huge Grab of Power”: Trump Is Defying Congress on Foreign Aid.
“Lawmakers gave specific orders to Trump officials on foreign aid spending, but officials have refused to follow many of them — likely in violation of the law, experts say. In doing so, they’re escalating a constitutional crisis.” — ProPublica
Funding for Trump’s Construction Spree Is Murky. Here’s What We Found Out.
“President Trump has repeatedly promised the American public that his White House ballroom project will not cost taxpayers “one dime,” saying it will be completely funded by him and private donors as a ‘gift’ to the United States.” — New York Times
Judge again directs DOJ to address whether ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ is dead.
“The order comes after the DOJ refused to say in writing that the fund is dead.” — ABC News
Congress must decide on Trump’s gigantic arch.
“The president’s project tramples on a symbol of North-South unity after the Civil War.” — Washington Post
On Reflecting Pool debacle, Trump gives away the game by hedging on details, evidence.
“The more the president struggles with basic elements, the more his dubious story becomes literally unbelievable.” — MS Now
A federal judge wants answers on the tarp and scaffolding at the Kennedy Center.
“Trump and his co-defendants in the lawsuit are accused of “still hanging a tarp over the Kennedy Center’s restored façade in petulant defiance.” — MS Now
How a $45 Million Donation Brought Larry Ellison Deeper Into Trump’s Circle.
“The billionaire’s private friendship with the president has helped Oracle’s business and his son’s media conglomerate.” — Wall Street Journal
Trump’s Own Judges Turn on Him in Blizzard of Blistering Rulings.
“Multiple federal judges appointed to the bench by Donald Trump have been unable to hide their disdain for the administration’s attacks on the judiciary and the legal system itself. An analysis by CNN found 77 rulings in which federal judges, including 11 selected by Trump during his two terms, launched blistering attacks on the president and his administration over a range of issues since January 2025.” — Daily Beast
New acting intel czar Bill Pulte starts trimming staff as Trump urged.
“Current and former intelligence officials say the efforts to shrink the office that coordinates the nation’s 18 spy services are haphazard and threaten its mission.” — Washington Post
After release of Epstein files, Ghislaine Maxwell again challenges her conviction.
“Maxwell claims material in the files invalidates her sex-trafficking conviction.” — ABC News
MEANWHILE, ON CAPITOL HILL
Republicans were about to take a victory lap on housing. Then Trump blew it up. Lawmakers had achieved a rare bipartisan win. Trump’s partisan inclinations derailed it all without warning. — MS Now
Democratic socialists won in New York. The harder tests come next. Contests in Colorado, Missouri, Michigan and Wisconsin will test whether the left can win beyond friendly, deep-blue terrain. — MS Now
Lawmakers expected to press billionaire Leon Black about Epstein ties. The phrase “Please call Leon Black” appears more than 300 times in the investigative files released by the Justice Department involving Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender. — NBC News
MONEY IN POLITICS, VOTING, ELECTION & OTHER RELATED INFO
Meet the 50 megadonors pouring more than $1.3 billion into the 2026 election. Billionaires make up the top individual donors with the exception of Elon Musk. — Washington Post
The AI Super PACs Trying to Influence the Midterms. The elections will be a test for the industry’s ability to translate money into political power. — The Atlantic
Mamdani won big, but it’s a mistake to think all Democrats swung left: ANALYSIS. — ABC News
The Washington Post tested the AI models behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and others using political questions designed by researchers to gauge how chatbots respond to hot-button political issues. The results suggest that chatbots have clear political leanings that can conflict with promises made by the companies behind them. — Washington Post
Poll: Americans believe they aren’t being taught enough about democracy. A new NBC News poll shows that Americans remain committed to the nation’s founding ideals — but widely feel that schools are not adequately teaching what’s needed to sustain them. — NBC News
