News On Tap For Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Truth & Consequences

We’re all about truth & the consequences of denying it today, starting with today’s “News On Tap”, where Republicans are plowing forward with more govt. service cuts & jobs cuts, as inflation begins to rise. MAGA Republicans are also in denial of the law on immigration, & they’re totally in denial on climate change. Of course, MAGA world is off their rockers about Epstein too. Thankfully, legendary journalist & truth-teller Brian Karem will join us in the bar tonight to help draw the truth from the lies. But first…

First Round - The News Of The Day

MAGA Republicans' War On Govt.

• Senate Republican Leader Thune Barreling Ahead On $9.4B Of Brutal Rescission Cuts, With Planned Procedural Vote Today

• Trump HHS Begins Carrying Out Mass Firings Across Health Agencies After Supreme Court Decision

• Right-Wing Ideological Extremists Allow Trump Regime To Fire Hundreds Of Education Dept. Workers & Effectively Dismantle The Agency

• More Than 75 Former Judges Urge Senate Committee To Reject Trump Judicial Nominee Emil Bove For Federal Judge's Seat

• Former Trump Adviser Mike Waltz Faces 'SignalGate' Grilling In Senate Hearing To Become UN Ambassador

• Steve Benen: Senate Republicans Just Confirmed The First Extremely Unqualified Right-Wing Extremist Judge Of Trump’s Second Term. She Won't Be The Last.

• Robert Kuttner: Trump & Republicans' Destruction Of Government, & The Necessary Rebuilding, Should Be A Main Topic For Every Democrat Now

Economic Realities

• U.S. Inflation Accelerated In June As Trump’s Tariffs Pushed Up Prices

• Trump Adds Another Cost, Imposing A 17% Tariff On Fresh Tomatoes From Mexico

• EU Tariffs Set To Raise Pasta And Wine Prices, Threatening Jobs On Both Sides Of The Atlantic

• Rebecca Patterson: If You Like 35 Percent Inflation Mr. Trump, Go Ahead & Fire The Fed Chair

Second Round - Reality vs Delusions

Immigration Wars

• ICE Illegally Declares Millions Of Undocumented Immigrants Ineligible For Bond Hearings [Gift Link[

• Trump's ICE Raids Are Now Leaving Some L.A. Cats And Dogs Homeless

• House Democrats Find 'Vile' Conditions During Tour Of 'Alligator Alcatraz' Migrant Jail

• House Republicans Are Now Raising Money By Joking About Immigrants Being Mauled By Alligators

• Paul Krugman: Trump Has Reminded Americans That Immigrants Are People - & They're What Really Make America Great

The Climate Crisis Is Now

• Heavy Rain In New York Region Floods Subways And Strands Vehicles

• More Flooding Rain Expected In Northeast After Floods Kill 2 In New Jersey

• Trump Admin. Says It Now Won’t Publish Major Climate Change Reports, As It Is Legally Required To Do

Conspiracy Land

• House Republicans Block Democrats' Amendment To Force Epstein Files Release

• The Five MAGA Factions Waging An Epstein Civil War

• Paul Waldman: With Epstein Files Conflict, Trump's Conspiracy-Addled MAGA Base Is Finally Realizing It's All Been A Scam - & They Feel Betrayed

• Amanda Marcotte: Why Does MAGA Need The Epstein Files So Badly? Because They Need A Story Where They're The Heroes, Not The Villains

Third Round - More News To Drink About

Foreign Affairs

• Russia Launches Strikes One Ukraine On Day After Trump's 50-Day Peace Deal Ultimatum

• Steve Benen: Why Trump’s ‘Major’ Announcement On Russia Sounds Familiar — And Falls Far Short

• U.S.-Backed Ceasefire Plan For Gaza Still Under Discussion, But Optimism Fading

Elections 2025

• It's A Special Election Day In Arizona, Democratic Primary To Replace Raúl Grijalva

• Andrew Cuomo Officially Announces Third-Party Run For NYC Mayor, Setting Up Rematch Against Zohran Mamdani

• Teachers Union Changes Direction From Primary, Chooses To Back Zohran Mamdani For Mayor

• New Poll Shows Democratic Candidate For Virginia Governor Spanberger With 17-Point Lead Over Her Republican Opponent

• Fmr. Pres. Obama To Stump For Mikie Sherrill In New Jersey's Governor Race This Friday

• Kat Abughazaleh Comes In Second In New Poll For IL-9th Democratic Contest for Seat Currently Held By Schakowsky

• David Jolly's Campaign For Florida Governor Snags Key Democratic Endorsements For 2026

Fourth Round - Entertainment & More

Media Matters

• New National Poll Confirms Majority Of U.S. Voters Trust Public Media More Than Media Overall, And Highly Value Core Services & Programs

• Foreign Journalists In The U.S. Now Admit They're Self-Censoring To Protect Themselves From The Trump Administration

Entertainment & More

• 2025 Emmy Nominations Released: ‘Severance’ Leads All Shows With 27 Nods, ‘The Penguin,’ ‘The Studio’ And ‘White Lotus’ Close Behind

• RuPaul Shatters Emmys Record, Becomes Most-Nominated Host In History For RuPaul's Drag Race

• 2025 Emmy Nominations: See The Full List

• Broadcast Viewing Hits A Low In June 2025, Falling Below 20% For The First Time Ever

• Beyoncé’s Choreographer Says Star’s Unreleased Music Was Stolen During Robbery

• Starting Lineups Unveiled For 2025 MLB All-Star Game; Ohtani To Lead Off For National League

• Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh Wins 2025 MLB Home Run Derby, First Catcher To Win The Honor

• MLB Is Putting Automated Balls And Strikes To The Test In Tonight's All Star Game. Some Pitchers Aren’t Exactly Thrilled.

• New WNBA Expansion Team Brings Back Original "Portland Fire" Name

Today’s Special Guest

Brian Karem, legendary, award-winning, Emmy-nominated journalist, former WH correspondent for Playboy, columnist for Salon, and host of the “Just Ask The Question” podcast will join us tonight in the bar to talk about our U.S. news media, their problems with telling the truth & holding those in power to account, and the problems many in politics are having with the truth.

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