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Trump live updates: President’s approval 20 points underwater in new poll with 81% blaming him for Epstein info blackout

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Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:56

‘This makes me sick’: Ghislaine Maxwell’s cushy prison transfer roils federal prison staffers

Current and former federal prison workers are reportedly furious that Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was recently transferred to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas referred to as “Club Fed” for its relatively relaxed conditions.

Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:54

Trump’s agriculture secretary doubles down on suggestion people should work on farms to avoid losing Medicaid

“We have way too many people that are taking government program that are able to work,” Rollins said in an interview on Fox Business on Tuesday. “This is not children. These are not disabled [people]. These are not senior citizens. These are able-bodied Americans who are taking government handouts.”

Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.

Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:45

Texas Democrat eviscerates Republicans when asked if they ‘ran from fight’

CBS News asked Texas Rep. Ann Johnson if Democrats “ran from the fight” by leaving the state to avoid a vote on redistricting to gerrymander the electoral map in favor of Republicans.

She replied: “No, abandoning your job is going to Cancun during a deadly freeze” — a reference to Sen. Ted Cruz going on vacation as the state lost power and heat. She also gave examples of cuts to healthcare and education.

She then added, “When Trump called Georgia Republicans and said, ‘I just need you to find me 11,000 votes,’ they said no.

“But when he called Texas Republicans and said I need you to steal me five seats, they said, ‘Does July work for you?’

“Well, it doesn’t work for us as Texas Democrats.”

Watch the full clip below:

And here’s more of the interview:

Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:40

Trump denies drought in California and claims Democrats are withholding water

Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:35

Full story: Trump team officially ends Musk’s ‘five things’ DOGE email

Rhian Lubin has the details.

Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:30

Elon Musk reposts Trump’s call to federalize DC

Elon Musk has reposted President Donald Trump’s call to federalize Washington, D.C. if the authorities cannot get crime under control.

Musk provides more detail on what a photo posted by the president — of a bloodied shirtless young man —appears to depict.

He wrote: “A few days ago, a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC.

“A @Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her.

“It is time to federalize DC.”

“Somebody from DOGE was very badly hurt last night,” Trump said this afternoon at a White House event. “You saw that. A young man who was beat up by a bunch of thugs in D.C. And either they’re going to straighten their act out in terms of government and in terms of protection, or we’re going to have to federalize and run it the way it’s supposed to be run.”

Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:27

Trump asked whether he personally approved transfer of Ghislaine Maxwell

He replied that he didn’t know about it and claimed it was “not a very uncommon thing.”

Trump was also asked about Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s meeting with the convicted sex trafficker.

Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:20

Trump comments on Texas redistricting and Democrat response

President Donald Trump was asked by a reporter if gaining five additional Republican seats via redistricting in Texas was worth it, considering that Democratic-dominated states such as California, New York, and Illinois would likely do the same to add more seats there.

The president responded that they would have done it anyway.

Asked if he supports having the FBI help Texas Republicans return Texas Democratic lawmakers hunkering down in suburban Chicago to the state, President Trump says: “They may have to. … The governor wants them back.”

Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:17

Trump rules out Bessent for Fed chair, will choose someone for open seat ‘very shortly’

President Donald Trump is poised to name his choice for an open seat on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors “very shortly,” after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent withdrew his consideration for the role.

Speaking to CNBC, Trump described Fed Governor Adriana Kugler’s decision to vacate her seat early as a “pleasant surprise.”

Kugler’s departure, which came ahead of her term’s scheduled end on 31 January, appears to have accelerated Trump’s plans for the U.S. central bank, providing an immediate opportunity to appoint an individual who could potentially be elevated to the top policymaking position when Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s term concludes in May.

Trump indicated that his selection would be “one of four people,” identifying current White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett and former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh as “very good” prospects. While he did not disclose the names of the other two individuals, reports suggest current Governor Christopher Waller is under consideration, despite his advocacy for rate cuts not aligning with the pace or extent that Trump desires.

“There are numerous people that are qualified,” Trump stated, reiterating his intention to announce a replacement for Kugler, who was appointed to the Fed’s board by Joe Biden, “very shortly.” Bessent, he clarified, would not be in contention for the position as he wishes to remain in his senior Treasury role.

The nominee would initially serve the remaining months of Kugler’s term. However, Trump could explicitly signal his intention for that individual to be nominated for a full 14-year term and to also be his preferred candidate to succeed Powell when the Fed chief’s term expires next May. This strategy would afford his nominee several months and multiple policy meetings to begin influencing the policy debate.

“A lot of people say, when you do that, why don’t you just pick the person who is going to head up the Fed? That’s a possibility, too,” Trump added.

With reporting from Reuters

Oliver O’Connell5 August 2025 22:15



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