Highlights from July 30, 2025...
- KAMALA HARRIS: The former vice president said she would not run for governor of California, ending months of speculation following the 2024 presidential race. Harris did not address a possible 2028 presidential campaign.
- TARIFFS: President Donald Trump announced a 15% tariff on South Korea today. Earlier, he posted on social media that his administration will place a 25% tariff, "plus a penalty," on imports from India starting Friday.
- TRADE DEADLINE: Trump also said he will not extend the end-of-week deadline countries face to avoid U.S. tariffs by reaching trade deals with his administration.
- FED RATE: The Federal Reserve announced this afternoon that it will hold interest rates steady, despite Trump's pressure on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to cut them.
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In notable shift, more than half Senate Democratic Caucus votes to block arms sales to Israel
Two failed votes tonight in the Senate to block offensive arm sales to Israel in response to the killings of civilians in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis there marked a notable shift in the Democratic caucus on the issue of supporting the Israeli military campaign, with 12 additional Senate Democrats voting in support of a resolution similar to one they had not backed in April.
The Senate voted on two resolutions, one to block the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles and one to bar an arms sale of $675.7 million.
A measure that would bar the sale of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles was voted down, 27-70. The other measure, aimed at blocking an arms sale of $675.7 million also failed in a 24-73 vote. The vote tallies indicate that over half the Senate Democratic Caucus voted in support of the measures.
Notably, among those voting to approve the first resolution were top Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hamshire, and the Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed, of Rhode Island.
Reed rejected the second resolution.
Shaheen said in a statement that she continues to support Israel's existence and safety, “but I cannot in good conscience vote in support of weapons until the human anguish in Gaza comes to an end.”
Family of Epstein abuse survivor urges Trump not to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell: ‘A monster who deserves to rot in prison’
The family of a key survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse is urging Trump not to consider clemency for the late financier’s co-conspirator and confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell.
The family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a sexual abuse advocate who died by suicide in April, made their plea to Trump in a public statement today after he told reporters that Epstein, a convicted sex offender, “stole” Giuffre from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, where she worked as a locker-room attendant at age 16 during the summer of 2000.
Giuffre’s family called by Trump’s admission “shocking” and questioned whether he was aware of Epstein’s and Maxwell’s actions.
“It was shocking to hear President Trump invoke our sister and say that he was aware that Virginia had been ‘stolen’ from Mar-a-Lago. It makes us ask if he was aware of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal actions, especially given his statement two years later that his good friend Jeffrey ‘likes women on the younger side . . . no doubt about it.’ We and the public are asking for answers; survivors deserve this,” the family added.
Ohio man charged with threatening to kill Rep. Jim Jordan over Medicaid cuts, a House Republican aide says
Federal authorities this week arrested and charged an Ohio man in connection with threats to kill Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, over potential cuts to Medicaid, a House Republican aide confirmed to NBC News.
The suspect, whom the FBI identified as Jeffrey Dorsey, 60, of Dayton, left a nearly 90-second expletive-laden voicemail on the main line of a lawmaker’s Washington, D.C., office last month, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court yesterday. Court documents did not name the member of Congress, but a House Republican aide confirmed it was Jordan.
Jordan’s office declined to comment.
“If you vote to take my f------ Medicaid away, I’m gonna cut your f------ head off,” the caller said, according to a transcript of a message from the FBI.
Senate Majority Whip Barrasso blocks Democratic bill to force release of Epstein Files
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., made another attempt tonight to pass legislation to force the release of materials tied to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, which was again blocked by Republicans.
"There’s only one right answer, complete and total disclosure of everything, all the details, while protecting the names of the victims," Merkley said on the Senate floor as he sought to pass the The Epstein Files Transparency Act.
"The level of power shouldn’t matter. Their net worth shouldn’t matter. Equal justice under law is the vision of our nation. And if an individual is a pedophile, if an individual has raped a young girl, then they need to be held accountable. Let the chips fall where they may," he added.
The bill would require that Attorney General Pam Bondi to "make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in the possession of the Department of Justice” related to Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and flight logs, among other things.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., objected, saying Democrats were slowing the Senate's confirmation of Trump's nominees.
"For years, Democrats have ignored this issue, now they can’t stop talking about it. Maybe it’s because Democrats are trying to distract from their extreme, unprecedented obstruction here in the United States Senate," Barrasso said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also led an effort earlier today to invoke a rarely used law to request release of the files in the case to Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee next month.
Commerce Sec. Lutnick touts trade deal with South Korea
Commerce Sec. Howard Lutnick touted a trade deal with South Korea on social media tonight.
"These trade deals reflect the clear understanding that President Trump’s tariff and trade agenda has the power to reshape global commerce," Lutnick wrote on X.
"Trade and tariffs are how we Make America Great Again," he added.
Lutnick highlighted that as part of the deal South Korea had agreed to buy $100 billion in liquid natural gas and other U.S. energy products over the duration of Trump’s term.
Trump had outlined the agreement earlier this evening on Truth Social, noting that he had met with trade negotiators from South Korea. He said the United States agreed to a tariff rate for South Korea of 15%, down from 25%.
Lutnick said of the tariffs: "They will also not be treated any worse than any other country on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Steel, aluminum, and copper are not included and remain unchanged."
While he cut tariffs for South Korea, Trump heightened tariffs today for India and Brazil, to 25% and 90%, respectively.
Trump lowers tariffs on South Korea after securing $350 billion investment
Trump announced this afternoon that the United States has reached a "full and complete trade deal" with South Korea, lowering tariffs on the country to 15% from 25%, after it secured a $350 billion investment.
"The Deal is that South Korea will give to the United States $350 Billion Dollars for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "We have agreed to a Tariff for South Korea of 15%. America will not be charged a Tariff."
Trump added that South Korean officials agreed to expand their trading channels to include imports of American products, including cars, trucks and agricultural goods.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung confirmed the trade agreement this evening, writing in a statement that the country has "overcome a major hurdle."
"Through this agreement, the government has eliminated uncertainty in the export environment and adjusted U.S. tariffs to be at or below those of key competitor nations. This creates conditions for our industries to compete on equal or even more favorable terms," he wrote.
Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledges 'humanitarian crisis' in Gaza
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., described conditions in Gaza as a "humanitarian crisis" in an interview on CNN this evening, adding that Trump has been using a "strong hand" to resolve widespread starvation in the region.
"We’ve got a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I mean, the pictures tell 1,000 words, and it’s heartbreaking. We want an end to the conflict there. We want peace, and we want to end that whole crisis," Johnson said. "President Trump is using a strong hand to try to forge that, and we’re moving in the right direction there."
Johnson condemned images depicting dire conditions in Gaza as "disturbing and heartbreaking" in an interview Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press," but his use of the phrase "humanitarian crisis" marks a shift in how he has described the plight of Palestinians in the war-torn region.
A growing faction of congressional Republicans is expressing outrage at the starvation in Gaza, among them Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, of Georgia, who this week condemned the "genocide, humanitarian crisis and starvation happening in Gaza."
Trump slaps universal 50% tariff on copper imports; metal’s price plunges
Trump signed on order today imposing a universal 50% tariff on copper imorts, the latest metal he has targeted with a steep import tax.
U.S. copper prices plunged as much as 18% in after-hours trading as soon as the White House announced the new tariff rate. Copper miners Freeport-McMoRan and Southern Copper were down about 10% and more than 6%, respectively.
The sell-off, if it holds through tomorrow’s trading session, will be the metal’s largest single-day decline since 1989.
Progressive group endorses four Latinas in competitive House districts
With the midterm elections over a year away, a progressive Latino group is announcing its support for four Democratic candidates who could be the first Latinas to represent their congressional districts.
Latino Victory Fund, an organization focused on increasing Latino political representation, is endorsing Marlene Galán-Woods and JoAnna Mendoza in Arizona’s 1st and 6th districts, respectively; Denise Powell in Nebraska’s 2nd District; and Carol Obando-Derstine in Pennsylvania’s 7th District. They will face Democratic primary challengers in districts many expect to be among the most competitive on the midterm map next year.
The early endorsements unlock a number of benefits for the candidates, including social media rollouts, direct contributions to their campaigns from the group’s political action committee and access to a national network of funders, CEO and President Katharine Pichardo told NBC News before the endorsements were announced.
Ohio man charged with threatening to kill a member of Congress over Medicaid cuts
Federal authorities this week arrested and charged an Ohio man in connection with threats to kill a member of Congress if the lawmaker voted to cut Medicaid.
The suspect, whom the FBI identified as Jeffrey Dorsey, 60, of Dayton, left a nearly 90-second expletive-laden voicemail on the main line of the lawmaker’s Washington, D.C., office last month, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court yesterday. Court documents did not name the lawmaker.
“If you vote to take my f------ Medicaid away, I’m gonna cut your f------ head off,” the caller said, according to a transcript of a message from the FBI.
