It comes as the Treasury Department prepares to produce coins featuring Trump’s image—both a controversial $1 coin in general circulation and an “as large as possible” commemorative gold coin—and as the National Park Service emblazons Trump’s face on its park passes.

“Until now, the White House had effectively shut down the primary legal avenue ex-employees had to challenge their terminations by refusing to fully staff an obscure government panel that handles workplace disputes. But a New York judge on Tuesday issued a decision that said the dismissals open the door to bringing the fight to federal court. It was the second such ruling this month.”

“They are less likely than other religious groups to see a problem with the Trump administration’s handling of files related to the investigation of the convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, the fallout from which has clouded Mr. Trump’s second term. And they have largely embraced the religious framing that administration officials have used to justify the war in Iran.”

“But Mr. Trump’s latest rhetoric, particularly on matters of faith as the war continues, has, according to polls and religious leaders, threatened to splinter a powerful coalition of religious voters who returned him to the White House, a group that includes white and Latino Catholics as well as Latino evangelicals, all of whom swung Mr. Trump’s way in 2024.”

“The House Rules Committee canceled its hearing this morning at the last minute. Currently, Republican leadership has no path forward to pass a rule for FISA, a budget resolution or the farm bill. Rules will convene again at 1 p.m. today to try to regroup and move forward.”

Just for members: The latest issue of Ballot Access News.

This edition underscores how access to the ballot — often overlooked — is becoming a central battleground in American politics.

“Around February last year, Blanche started the rigorous process to join the Metropolitan Club, which is one of Washington’s oldest private clubs and claims D.C. royalty as members. But at least six members have written to the Met Club’s board of directors to object to Blanche’s joining, saying he’s too polarizing and has politicized the Justice Department.”

“The potential early review comes just one day after President Trump called for ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to be fired for a joke he made at the expense of First Lady Melania Trump last week on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ which is broadcast by Disney’s ABC network.”

“The average cost for a gallon of regular gasoline is $4.18, according to the AAA motor club. The price at the pump has not been that high since April 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine.”

“But more importantly, behind the scenes there have also been signals to Kimmel and to his team that the company is with him, that the company is not wavering, that the company is not going to try to knuckle or maybe cower in the face of Trump’s pressure.”

“In doing so, they are imperiling the country’s financial security and making it harder for future politicians to pass transformative initiatives. Uncle Sam is going to need to raise some money. And that’s going to be hard to do if Americans see their tax returns not as a fair contribution to the greater good but as a punishment or an injustice.”

Key finding: “Affordability is the top issue in Texas. 21% of likely voters cite affordability and the cost of living as the issue elected officials should prioritize most — more than double the next-closest issue.”

“The sudden departure of OPEC’s third-biggest producer further weakens a bloc that despite producing up to four out of every 10 barrels of oil pumped worldwide has been hobbled by internal disunity and the rise of American oil output.”

“Postponing discussion of the nuclear issue makes good sense. There are times when adding issues to a negotiation can create tradeoffs that make agreement less difficult. This is not one of those times. Previous negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program have taken years. They are both highly technical and deeply contentious. The gap between the United States and Iran on the basic elements of any accord – what should be done with the nearly one thousand pounds of enriched uranium in Iran; whether Iran should have a right to enrich uranium and, if so, how much and to what level; what, if any, moratorium there should be on future enrichment and how long it should last; and what should be done regarding inspections – precludes any rapid agreement.”

“The bottom line is clear: To link the opening of the Strait to reaching a mutually acceptable outcome on nuclear issues would risk plunging the world economy into depression.”