🏛️ HOUSE REPUBLICANS REBEL, VOTE TO OVERTURN TRUMP TARIFFS

What happened: In a striking rebuke, the Republican-controlled U.S. House voted 219–211 on Wednesday to overturn President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada .

Why it matters: This is one of the first instances of the House directly confronting Trump on a signature policy. Six Republicans broke ranks and joined nearly all Democrats to pass the resolution .

The political fallout: President Trump immediately lashed out on Truth Social, warning that any Republican voting against tariffs will “seriously suffer the consequences come election time, and that includes Primaries!” . Speaker Mike Johnson tried desperately to block the vote, but his strategy collapsed when Republican defections on a procedural rule allowed the measure to advance .

What it actually does: The resolution is largely symbolic. It seeks to terminate the national emergency Trump declared to justify the tariffs. It now goes to the Senate, and even if it passes there, Trump would almost certainly veto it—and the vote was nowhere near veto-proof .

The arguments:

Democrats: Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) framed it as a cost-of-living vote: “Will you vote to lower the cost of living for the American family or will you keep prices high out of loyalty to one person—Donald J. Trump?”
Rebel Republicans: Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), who is retiring, said: “Why doesn’t the Congress stand on its own two feet and say that we’re an independent branch? We should defend our authorities.”
Trump Loyalists: Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) insisted the vote was really about ignoring the fentanyl crisis, not tariffs .

International reaction: Ontario Premier Doug Ford called it “an important victory with more work ahead,” thanking U.S. lawmakers who “stood up in support of free trade.” .

🏛️ IMMIGRATION: CONGRESS ERUPTS OVER ICE SHOOTINGS

What happened: A contentious House Homeland Security Committee hearing exposed deep divisions over immigration enforcement following the fatal shootings of two American citizens—Renée Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti—by ICE agents in Minneapolis .

The confrontation: The hearing reached its sharpest moment when Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY) demanded ICE commit to unmasking agents and requiring identifiable uniforms. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons replied: “No.” Kennedy shot back: “That’s a sad response. Your answer is completely unacceptable. People who are proud of what they do aren’t hiding their identity.” .

The Gestapo exchange: Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) accused ICE of tactics that are “un-American and outright fascist.” When Lyons claimed references to ICE as the “Gestapo” encourage threats against agents, Goldman retorted: “I have a simple suggestion: if you don’t want to be called a fascist regime or secret police, then stop acting like one.” .

Reality check: Only about 3,000 of roughly 13,000 ICE field agents currently have body-worn cameras—a disclosure that drew audible frustration in the room .

🏛️ TRUMP-NETANYAHU MEETING: IRAN DOMINATES

What happened: President Trump held a three-hour closed-door meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday .

The key takeaway: Trump said a deal with Iran is his “preferred” option, but he also warned Iran that if talks fail, the U.S. will “have to do something very tough like last time”—a reference to the “Midnight Hammer” strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities .

Gaza impasse: Netanyahu reportedly told Trump that phase two of the Gaza peace plan “is not moving” amid disputes over disarmament and governance .

Odd twist: Netanyahu formally signed up as a member of the U.S.-backed “Board of Peace,” an initiative that remains controversial in Israel’s parliament .

🏛️ WHITE HOUSE DINNER CONTROVERSY

What happened: President Trump announced he is excluding two Democratic governors—Jared Polis (CO) and Wes Moore (MD)—from the annual White House governors dinner, calling them “not worthy of being there” .

The backlash: Democratic governors issued a joint statement boycotting the event, calling it a break from “historically productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration.” Moore, the nation’s only Black governor, told CNN he found the exclusion “particularly painful” .

White House defense: Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision: “The White House is also the president’s home, and so he can invite whomever he wants to dinners and events here.” .

🏛️ FLOOD INSURANCE: EXTENDED, BUT CLOCK TICKING

What happened: Congress reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until September 30, ending a brief partial shutdown .

Why it matters: The program is $22 billion in debt and has lapsed five times since 2018. A 43-day lapse last October was the longest on record, halting home sales and mortgage lending .

The North Carolina angle: Coastal homeowners face an existential crisis—27 oceanfront houses have collapsed into the Atlantic since 2020, with 16 lost just since last September. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is pushing for “pre-collapse coverage” to allow demolition before homes fall into the ocean .

Trump factor: The president has repeatedly said he wants to dismantle FEMA and NFIP, arguing the program is unsustainable. Critics warn dissolving it could collapse real estate markets in flood-prone areas .

🏛️ BRIEFLY

U.S.-Iran Talks: Negotiations will continue; next round expected soon .
Syria Withdrawal: The U.S.-led coalition has fully withdrawn from the strategic al-Tanf base near the Iraq-Jordan border .
China Nuke Dispute: Beijing rejected U.S. accusations of nuclear testing as “completely groundless” and accused Washington of fabricating pretexts to resume its own tests .