“And few issues did more to galvanize European allies against the Trump administration, especially once they feared that he might make a military move against a NATO ally. There is no evidence he ever seriously considered that step. But that did nothing to alleviate the fears.”

Said Leavitt: “For the president of the United States to address the nation, and for networks to make the editorial decisions themselves that they will not cover it for their audience, that’s scary stuff.”

“But in New York on Tuesday, the president offered a different assessment.”

Said Trump: “The Republican Party is running—and I’ll be helping them. But I am not running… It doesn’t even enter my mind.”

“The GOP backlash, which has been simmering below the surface throughout Trump’s second term as lawmakers privately grumbled he hasn’t focused enough on affordability issues, burst into public view as a rapid succession of Republicans challenged Trump on everything from the Iran war to the president’s ‘lavish’ summit this week with Chinese President Xi Jinping.”

Washington Sun: Survival over loyalty: why Republicans are breaking with Trump.

“They aren’t engaged in a full-scale revolt against President Trump, but some Republicans are testing new ways to distance themselves from him — a sign of their election anxiety.”

NBC News: GOP defections from Trump start to pile up.

“The Democratic establishment’s main super PAC is pouring an additional $10 million into the race to back El-Sayed, even as the Democratic nominee has declined to say whether he would support Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as leader next year.”

Said Harris: “The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

“Wicker, typically a staunch defender of President Donald Trump and Republican loyalist, targeted most of his criticism at Xi and Chinese policy during a Senate floor speech Tuesday.”

“But the comments were nonetheless a surprise rebuke of the president’s courting of Beijing amid broader concerns, such as the durability of U.S. security commitments to the Indo-Pacific, including in deterring a potential invasion of Taiwan from the Chinese mainland.”

“Nawrocki said he hoped a permanent American military base in Poland will be ready before the end of Trump’s term.”

“Trump’s staying power in our politics — even, astonishingly, despite the January 6 attack on the Capitol — gave the president the confidence and latitude to pursue unpopular policies and blow off scandals that would have sunk any of his predecessors.”

“But now, the economic consequences of his sweeping tariffs and the war in Iran have done the one thing all the controversies of his first term were never able to do: splinter his coalition and sink his approval ratings to all-time lows.”

”Texas PAC has $65 million in reservations already booked.”

”This is a major uptick in the GOP’s efforts to boost their chances in Texas.”

”Senate Leadership Fund, the leadership-backed super PAC, runs Texas PAC. But they have raised funds designated to help Paxton against Democrat James Talarico.”

“So far, Trump TV resembles a round-the-clock presidential highlight reel more than a news network.”

The Wrap: Trump TV draws ire amid White House press shutout: “State-run media.”

“But the examples are piling up, and it’s notably happening in some pretty red territory.”

“Many of those running away from the president and policies like the Iran war are campaigning in territory that favored Trump by substantial margins — including by double digits in some areas.”

“The Iran war defections over the past week have been particularly notable.”

“His two largest sales were of Amazon and Microsoft stock, selling between $5m and $25m each on 20 July. That same day, he also sold up to $5m worth of Oracle and Costco stock, $500,000 to $1m in Nvidia, and bought up to $5m worth of shares in Intuit and Salesforce, among dozens of other transactions.”

“‘Shame on you, Mr. Mamdani,’ Netanyahu said in the video posted to social media, accusing the mayor of supporting Hamas and ‘inciting’ violence against Jewish New Yorkers.”

“The office of the first lady formally approved CNN’s and Politico’s press credentials for a Tuesday event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly about expanding her ‘Fostering the Future Together’ coalition, an effort aimed at promoting children’s well-being with education and technology.”