Owner Kirk Bangstad, a progressive activist who also runs a liberal super PAC, has long used his business to push political messages. He sells beers themed around Democratic figures and merchandise with slogans like “Vive La Resistance” and “Impeach, Convict, Remove.” In January the brewery posted on Facebook that it would offer free beer all day long the day “he dies,” adding that customers should show the post when it happens so the promise could be kept.

The post never named Trump directly but was widely understood as referring to him. Bangstad later clarified the offer would apply at the Madison taproom year round or the Minocqua location in summer.

The current crackdown follows a June raid in which Wisconsin Department of Revenue agents seized canned beer from the company’s Minocqua and Madison locations. Officials said the beer had been brewed in Illinois and brought into Wisconsin without the required permits or payment of state excise taxes. Bangstad has called the violations “laughable” and insists the state is targeting him because of his outspoken progressive politics and criticism of Trump and Republicans. He noted that distributors and major grocery chains have already boycotted his products for the same reason.

In a Substack post Bangstad said he is not taking the action lying down. “We’re going to fight the state of Wisconsin tooth and nail,” he wrote, “and once again, they’ll have to pry me out of my taprooms before I stop selling beer to thirsty progressives who come to visit us.” The Department of Revenue confirmed it has issued notices of revocation for the brewery’s permits at two locations and a warehouse permit at one, while noting the business can continue operating during the appeal process that runs through August 4.

Bangstad has faced earlier scrutiny as well. In April the FBI and Secret Service interviewed him after a social media post following a shooting incident near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The post joked that the brewery had “almost got #freebeerday” and questioned the marksmanship of whoever was involved. Authorities described the interview as voluntary and related to a tip they received. Bangstad has maintained he never intended harm to Trump or anyone else.

The brewery claims it generates more than $2 million a year in beer and merchandise sales and has one of the largest social media followings of any Wisconsin brewery. Bangstad argues that shutting it down over technical permitting issues is heavy handed and anti American. State officials, for their part, say they are simply enforcing alcohol regulations that apply to every permit holder.

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According to testimony and evidence introduced on the fifth day of his preliminary hearing, her parents Jesus Rivas and Mercedes Martinez put their names on the form on September 23, 2024. The paperwork gave permission for the teenager to travel with him from September 24 through October 5.

Earlier evidence showed that D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, had already bought United Airlines tickets for both of them to London and then onward to Texas so she could meet his family.

At the close of the hearing on Monday, July 27, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo ruled that prosecutors had presented enough evidence to send the 21 year old singer to trial. Outside the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, family attorney Patrick Steinfeld told reporters the relatives felt relieved the hearing was finished. He said they planned to take a break and were grateful for the work of the district attorney’s office and the LAPD investigators.

Prosecutors say Burke fatally stabbed Celeste inside his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025, while the two were in an illegal sexual relationship. After the alleged stabbing they claim he dismembered her body using items he ordered online, including a shovel, three chainsaws, two cadaver bags, heavy duty laundry bags, and a mop and bucket set. Her remains were later discovered in the front trunk of his Tesla.

Detective Corey Farell of the LAPD robbery homicide unit testified about the final messages the pair exchanged. Prosecutors allege the fatal argument began over Burke’s friendship with another woman. Celeste texted him that the idea of ending his friendship with her for someone else was “disturbing and disgusting.” She later wrote that she would “end your career and your life.” The next day she told him he had one more chance to tell the truth and threatened to leak information about him. That same night Burke ordered an Uber to bring her from a spot near her family’s home in Lake Elsinore to his house. She never sent another message after confirming she was almost there.

The 80-year-old president stood before nearly 700 journalists and officials at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington and singled out the 34-year-old CNN anchor shortly after she accepted an award for her coverage of his tense Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last year. “I want to personally congratulate CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on receiving her award,” Trump said. “It was all about me. It’s a fake. She shouldn’t get the award, it was a fake. But I didn’t mind, I said, ‘Kaitlan, congratulations.’ But it was fake, there’s no question about it.”

He continued with a familiar complaint about her demeanor. “She’s a young, attractive woman. She never smiles,” Trump said while Collins sat nearby with her CNN colleagues. “I said, ‘Kaitlan, do you ever smile? Smile. You have a nice position, you’re at CNN fake news, you should be a happy person. So smile, Kaitlan, just smile.’”

Trump then tried a roast-style joke that fell flat. “I thought Kaitlan had really made it big with a major new sponsorship,” he said, “but then I informed her that it wasn’t her on the Bud Light can, it was Dylan Mulvaney.” He went on to claim the 2023 partnership with the transgender influencer had cost Bud Light $35 billion in market value, calling it the worst commercial ever made and saying he would not want to hire Mulvaney anytime soon.

The dinner itself carried a different energy than usual. Organizers had moved the event from its original April date after a gunman disrupted the gathering, forcing an evacuation. Friday’s version featured tighter security, a smaller guest list of about one-fourth the normal size, and a venue that once operated as a Trump hotel. Trump’s speech stretched well past an hour as he mixed complaints about the media with other political jabs.

CNN colleagues in the room and on air pushed back immediately. Wolf Blitzer, who had presented the awards, glanced toward Collins during the remarks. On the network’s live coverage, reporters called the attack absurd and false, while a network spokesperson described Collins as an exceptional journalist known for her strength and skill.

The Tate brothers were arrested in Miami on July 18 as British authorities seek their extradition on charges that include rape and sex trafficking. Andrew also faces additional counts related to indecent images of a child and extreme pornography. Both men have denied every allegation against them.

On July 23, Rep. Yassamin Ansari wrote to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer asking him to open an investigation into what she described as the brothers’ efforts to build relationships inside the Trump administration’s circle. In her letter she pointed to meetings and reported contacts that included Barron Trump and raised questions about whether those ties had any influence on how the brothers’ legal cases were handled.

Ansari noted that the brothers met with Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt on Capitol Hill in the days before their arrest. She also referenced a party hosted by Paolo Zampolli, a special envoy who has longstanding ties to the Trump family, just before the Miami arrests. In her letter she called for a probe into whether any back-channel communications involving presidential advisors or members of the First Family, including Barron, affected official decisions or policy.

Barron, now 20, was previously reported to have spoken with Andrew Tate on a video call in 2024. A mutual acquaintance who was on the call later said the two discussed the brothers’ Romanian legal troubles and agreed the case looked like an attempt to silence them. Barron has never spoken publicly about the Tates. Donald Trump Jr. had earlier called Andre a friend and defended him against the Romanian charges. The president himself once thanked Tristan Tate on Truth Social for his support.

Ansari asked Comer to subpoena Barron for testimony under oath and to seek records from the White House, the Justice Department, and the State Department about any communications involving the brothers. She later posted on X, “I said what I said. Investigate Barron.”

The Tate brothers’ attorney responded by calling Ansari’s move an attack and insisting the arrests themselves were politically driven. Melania Trump’s office, the White House, and Comer’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

While answering questions, Trump told reporters that the “Islamic Republic of Japan” had fired 111 missiles at a U.S. aircraft. He appeared to mean Iran. The remark quickly spread across social media, with critics pouncing on the error.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the performance an embarrassment on the world stage, describing it as rambling and confused. One X user wrote that if former President Joe Biden had made the same mistake, talk of cognitive decline and the 25th Amendment would still be dominating headlines weeks later. Another joked that only Trump could turn Iran into the Islamic Republic of Japan and then blame Pearl Harbor on Tehran.

Later in the same appearance, Trump asked reporters whether they had a question for “President Putin” while seemingly gesturing toward Zelensky. He tried to walk it back by saying he meant he would pass the questions along when he spoke with the Russian leader.

The Lincoln Project, a group critical of the president, declared that his brain is mush. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joked that Donald Trump Jr. was frantically placing bets on a major U.S. response to the Islamic Republic of Japan. Pennsylvania lawmaker Malcolm Kenyatta simply replied, “Big, if true.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back hard. She said the president delivered a marathon, high-energy performance, holding four separate press availabilities plus a solo conference and taking unscripted questions on a wide range of topics. She added that he commanded every room, gave allies some needed tough love, and left the summit with a stronger NATO and a more united free world.

That defense did little to quiet the online reaction. Former Republican congressman Joe Walsh called for the 25th Amendment. Others noted the irony of Trump’s years spent mocking Biden’s verbal stumbles and physical missteps. One user observed that Trump used to ridicule Biden constantly and now finds himself the target of the same criticism.

In a separate press conference the same day, Trump referred to TikTok as “Tic Tac.” It was at least the second time in recent days he had used the wrong name for the platform. Social media users were quick to pounce, with one quipping “Orange Tic Tac, presumably?”

The episode has reignited long-running debates about the president’s age and fitness for office, even as his supporters insist the gaffes are overblown and the media is applying a double standard.

“Two years ago, our country was dead. Now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world,” Trump said. He emphasized that the U.S. economy is now drawing more investment “than at any time in the history of our country” and that more Americans are working today than ever before.

The president pointed to several concrete signs of progress. Recent government data showed inflation posting its largest monthly drop in more than six years, easing pressure on household budgets. He credited his tax reforms — including no taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits for seniors — with putting thousands of dollars back into family pockets. Additional incentives for buying American-made cars and full business expensing are encouraging companies to expand and hire at home.

Trump also highlighted record highs in the stock market, which have lifted 401(k)s, pensions, and retirement savings to new levels for millions of Americans. He promoted new “Trump Accounts,” tax-free investment vehicles meant to help every child build meaningful savings for the future through family and employer contributions.

These achievements, the president argued, reflect a broader pro-growth strategy built on tax relief, deregulation, and a focus on bringing capital and jobs back to the United States. He noted that investment commitments secured during his term are expected to fund new factories and create employment opportunities across the country.

While the speech touched briefly on secure borders, falling crime rates in some categories, and a strengthened military, the central message was one of economic confidence. Trump presented the current moment as validation that his America First approach is delivering results for working families and positioning the country as the world’s top destination for business and opportunity.

Supporters view the address as further proof that the administration’s policies are working. As the nation moves forward, the president expressed certainty that this momentum will continue, with more investment, more jobs, and greater prosperity ahead. Whether these gains fully reach every household will be watched closely in the months to come, but Trump left the audience with a clear picture of an economy he believes is firing on all cylinders.

The smoke has already forced cancellations of outdoor events, pushed air quality in Detroit to the worst in the world at one point, and left residents in Chicago, Washington and New York dealing with hazy, unhealthy conditions. Trump posted on Truth Social that he plans to call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to demand answers, blaming what he called Canada’s “willful negligence” in maintaining its forests and brush.

As of the weekend there were roughly 955 active fires burning across Canada, with more than 190 of them in Ontario alone and many still out of control. Nearly three million hectares of land have already been scorched this season. Hot, dry weather at the end of June combined with below-average rainfall helped the fires take hold quickly, and lightning sparked some of them. Scientists point out that climate change is making these seasons more intense by creating hotter, drier conditions that let fires spread faster, though they also note that weather systems do not respect borders and smoke from major US fires has drifted into Canada in past years.

The political temperature rose fast. A group of Republican US lawmakers sent an open letter to Canadian officials saying their patience had run out and warning that American lungs were paying the price for what they called years of inaction on forest management and fire prevention. Some even revived talk of making Canada the 51st US state, a suggestion that has not gone down well north of the border.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford fired back, calling the criticism from American politicians “a shame” and “unacceptable.” He reminded everyone that Canada has helped fight fires in California and responded to hurricanes in North Carolina without hesitation, and said that is what neighbors do. Ford noted that Michigan and Massachusetts had already offered water bombers and firefighters, and he said Ontario is throwing every available resource at the blazes — more than 150 fire crews, over 80 water bombers and helicopters, and well over a billion dollars spent on wildfire response since 2018. He added that ten communities have had to evacuate so far.

Prime Minister Carney, speaking in French at a news conference in Ontario, said climate change is everyone’s responsibility, including the United States, and stressed that the two countries remain in close contact. Canada has invested around C$12 billion in forest sustainability and fire prevention in recent years, and officials pointed to long-standing reciprocal firefighting agreements dating back to 1982 plus newer cooperation from the 2025 G7 summit.

In northern Ontario the human cost has been heavy. Fires tore through several First Nations communities with little warning. The Namaygoosisagagagun First Nation was hit especially hard — residents had to self-evacuate by boat as flames approached, and aerial views later showed the community “burnt to ashes.” Chief Helen Paavola and incident commander Matthew Hoppe described the devastation, though thankfully no lives were lost. Ford called it “a miracle.”

The smoke has also complicated plans for Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Trump is expected to attend. White House officials have been holding informal talks with FIFA about conditions, but forecasters say weekend rains should help clear the air before kickoff.

Marc Beckman, who serves as her exclusive senior advisor, told anchor Bianca de la Garza that he believes “our first lady — the current first lady, Melania Trump — is the single most consequential first lady in the history of our nation.”

He pointed to her work with children, especially her role in helping reunite families separated by the war in Ukraine. Beckman said it was fair to argue that her efforts on four family reunifications gave her more substantive impact on the Russia-Ukraine peace process than many world leaders.

Helping bring children home to their families is the kind of thing most people can get behind. But framing it as proof that she outranks every first lady who came before her? That part didn’t land the way he probably hoped.

Melania Trump has kept a noticeably lower public profile than many of her predecessors. She rarely gives interviews or makes frequent appearances. Her main initiative during the first term was the “Be Best” campaign, aimed at children’s issues and anti-cyberbullying. That effort drew criticism because it sat uneasily alongside her husband’s very public attacks on critics online. There were also questions about whether some of the campaign materials overlapped with work done under the previous administration.

She has supported causes involving foster children and efforts against revenge porn. At the same time, her public-facing projects have included promoting a film about her own life, selling Christmas ornaments, and backing a meme coin that launched with big fanfare only to lose nearly all its value afterward.

One of the most lasting images from her White House years remains that now-iconic jacket she wore during a 2018 border visit. The back read “I really don’t care, do u?” It became a shorthand for how plenty of people interpreted her approach to the role.

There was also the candid moment caught on recording by a former aide, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, where Melania vented about White House holiday duties. “I’m working like a, my ass off at Christmas stuff,” she said. “You know, who gives a fuck about Christmas stuff and decoration but I need to do it, right?”

Given that track record, Beckman’s comments set off a fresh round of eye-rolls and sarcasm online. People shared clips of the interview with captions calling it delusional or just plain funny in the way only internet pile-ons can be. Some wondered how anyone could deliver that line with a straight face. Others brought up names like Eleanor Roosevelt and asked what “consequential” even means if it applies here.

The praise was clearly meant to shine a light on her Ukraine work, but for a lot of viewers it ended up highlighting how far apart the advisor’s view is from the one most people seem to hold.

He described him as a true American patriot who was always working and said Lindsey would be greatly missed, with details and arrangements to follow. Trump ended the message with a simple note of sadness.

Graham was 71. His office confirmed he passed away Saturday evening after a brief and sudden illness. The senator had just returned from Ukraine, where he met twice in recent days with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Though Graham and Trump had clashed during the 2016 Republican primary—when Graham warned that nominating Trump would destroy the party and that Republicans would deserve it—the two men later built a close alliance. Graham became a steady supporter of Trump’s foreign policy, particularly the administration’s firm positions toward Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba. He often appeared on cable news to defend those actions.

A well-known defense hawk, Graham was running for a fifth term in the Senate. He chaired the Budget Committee and served on the Judiciary, Appropriations, and Environment and Public Works committees. He had visited Ukraine ten times since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022. Zelensky paid his own tribute, remembering Graham as someone who stood with Ukraine and its people when they needed it most. The Ukrainian leader noted their constant dialogue, recent meetings, and Graham’s work on initiatives that could help bring peace closer, including stronger sanctions against Russia. Zelensky said America and the world had lost a determined leader.

Graham had been scheduled to appear that Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press. It would have been his 64th appearance on the program. Host Kristen Welker posted her own tribute online, reflecting on how much he would be missed by colleagues and viewers alike.

Graham had just celebrated his 71st birthday a few days earlier and was still very much in the thick of things. He’d returned from a trip to Ukraine where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and he was even scheduled to appear on Meet the Press the very next day. Colleagues described the news as a gut punch. Emergency crews had responded to his Capitol Hill home Saturday evening for what reports indicated involved chest pains and cardiac arrest.

For Trump, this feels deeply personal. The president posted a heartfelt tribute calling Graham “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” and a “true American Patriot.” The two men had grown extremely close over the years — frequent golf partners who shared a strong vision on national security and foreign affairs.

Their relationship hadn’t always been smooth. During the 2016 campaign, Graham was actually one of Trump’s sharpest Republican critics. He used blunt language to warn the party against nominating him. But once Trump won the White House, Graham became one of his most loyal defenders and a key adviser, especially on issues involving Iran, Russia, Israel, and Ukraine aid. He stood by the president through impeachments and tough political fights, even after a brief break following the January 6 Capitol riot.

Graham built his career as a foreign policy hawk with deep roots in South Carolina. The first in his family to go to college, he served in the Air Force, spent time in the House, and won his Senate seat in 2002. He was known for his outspoken support of a strong American military presence abroad and his unwavering backing of Israel. World leaders have been quick to pay tribute. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him “one of its greatest friends,” while President Isaac Herzog said he was “shocked and heartbroken.” South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster described Graham as “irreplaceable.”

His death also marks the end of an era for the group sometimes nicknamed the “three amigos” — Graham, the late John McCain, and Joe Lieberman — close friends who each ran for president at different points.

Under South Carolina law, Governor McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement to serve until a special election is held. Graham had been running for reelection this November.

It’s a stark reminder of how suddenly everything can change, even for someone who seemed tireless and larger than life just days ago.