Trump says no limits to his power
In an interview with Axios, his first interview since signing the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, Donald Trump said there are no limits to his power. Trump said that the situation with Iran demonstrates the power he has. Trump also said that the deal for a ceasefire and negotiations with Iran that now is in place constitutes total surrender by Iran. Trump also said that he has a good relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but he has to work at keeping Netanyahu what Trump described as “a little bit sane.” Trump said that Israel has a lot of respect for him and that they “do as I say.”
Iran threatens retaliation for U.S. bad faith
Iran’s top negotiator in the talks with the U.S. that led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a ceasefire and more negotiations, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, vows a “crushing response” if there is bad faith, a breach or excessive demands from the U.S. Iran’s powerful Supreme National Security Council followed up with a statement saying there is a “predetermined plan” for retaliation should there be a violation. One way the deal could fall apart is if Israel continues military action against Lebanon. Israel and Hezbollah were reported to have agreed on a ceasefire to go into effect later on Friday.
Trump’s Justice Department sides with Elon Musk
Donald Trump’s Justice Department has urged a federal court to throw out a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s company xAI for its use of polluting gas turbines, sparking concerns the Trump administration is trying to undermine the ability of individuals or communities to sue polluters. In April, NAACP sued xAi and its subsidiary MZX Tech under the Clean Air Act, claiming the company was operating dozens of gas turbines in Southaven, Mississippi, that were polluting. Trump’s Justice Department claims the lawsuit threatens national security and citizen lawsuits like the one filed are unconstitutional.
Pulte looks to fire hundreds in intelligence
Bill Pulte, who Donald Trump has installed as acting director of national intelligence, began his first day in the office yesterday and asked for a list of all employees so that he could decide which to fire, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Pulte continues to serve as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and in that position has helped Trump go after people Trump views as his enemies. CNN’s sources said Pulte is eyeing to cut hundreds of jobs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Pulte met with lawyers and staffers during his visit, the sources told CNN. Another source told CNN that Pulte has repeatedly inquired about whether he gets his own government plane, and appeared concerned about his ability to travel between the nation’s capital, Florida and Chicago, between which he splits his time.
Trump’s blue color peeling off bottom of reflecting pool
Some blue material just applied to the bottom of the Washington, D.C., Reflecting Pool on the National Mall is peeling off, days after the water in the pool turned green due to algae. Donald Trump ordered the pool to be refurbished and painted blue through a no-bid contract issued to a firm he said he knew because they did work on the pool at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Although the work originally was estimated to cost about $1.8 million, it actually has cost $14.8 million so far. The Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the blue material that had peeled away and was floating on top of the water in the Reflecting Pool. The pool renovation is one of several projects ordered by Trump including: a ballroom at the East Wing of the White House; an arch near Arlington National Cemetery; and a National Garden of American Heroes.
Floods sweep through South
Friday into Saturday a Level 3 of 4 risk of flooding rainfall is in place for much of the Gulf Coast, including southeastern Louisiana, southern Alabama, southern Mississippi, part of the Florida panhandle and far southwestern Georgia. A county road crewman was killed while working on storm cleanup in Franklin County, Mississippi. Flood watches for the system’s heavy rain have been issued for more than 17 million people along the northern Gulf Coast to as far east as parts of Georgia. Rainfall rates of up to 6 inches per hour are possible at times in some of these areas. Flooding touched off by relentless downpours forced evacuations and water rescues in Louisiana and Mississippi Thursday. A flash flood emergency was issued for Seminary, Mississippi, early Friday after 7 to 11 inches of rain fell, with another 1 to 3 inches possible. In Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency Thursday evening to respond to storm damage across the state.
