Joey “Jaws” Chestnut took back his title at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Competition on Friday, dominating the event after being booted from last year’s competition over a contract dispute with a fake meat company.
“Oh my gosh, I was nervous,” Chestnut told ESPN after reclaiming his crown. “[The] first couple of hot dogs, I was fumbling a little bit, but I found a pretty good rhythm. My goal was 70 to 77 – I really wanted a little bit more. There’s next year and I’m just happy I am here.”
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JOEY CHESTNUT&#39;S DOMINANCE CONTINUES 🐐 
Chestnut downs 70.5 hot dogs to win his 17th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest title 🏆 🌭 <a href="https://t.co/B3TMBrayZ7">pic.twitter.com/B3TMBrayZ7</a>
&mdash; ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1941180650825879615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Chestnut stuffed himself with 70 ½ hot dogs in 10 minutes, marking the 41-year-old Indiana resident’s 17th “Mustard Belt” win in 20 tries – the most any competitor has won. Still, he fell short of his record of 76 hot dogs and buns from four years ago. He won his first Nathan&#8217;s competition in 2007, and an American has won the contest every year since.
He beat 14 other chowhounds from all over the world, including Brazil, Australia, and Europe. Friday’s second-place finisher, Patrick Bertoletti, ate 24 fewer frankfurters than Chestnut. Bertoletti won last year’s competition during Chestnut’s absence, downing 58 wieners and buns. The event has been held annually at Nathan’s Famous restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn, on July 4 since 1972.
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Although Chestnut did not compete in Nathan’s 2024 competition, he still holds 55 world records for various eating competitions. According to <a href="https://majorleagueeating.com/eaters/106">Major League Eating,</a> the moderating body behind the hot dog eating contest, Chestnut also holds records for eating 121 Twinkies in six minutes, 390 shrimp wontons in eight minutes, and, of course, his hot dog record from 2021.
Major League Eating <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hot-dog-legend-joey-chestnut-signs-with-vegan-brand-gets-booted-from-july-4th-competition">banned</a> Chestnut from the Nathan’s Famous competition last year after he signed a deal with Impossible Foods, a Nathan’s competitor. In a <a href="https://x.com/eatingcontest/status/1800607390636875792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1800607390636875792%7Ctwgr%5Ec0d98868a70172f80ffb323be440b5ea4f586a0d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fhot-dog-legend-joey-chestnut-signs-with-vegan-brand-gets-booted-from-july-4th-competition">statement</a> last year on X, the group said, “We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than competing in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.”
During his hiatus from Nathan’s Famous 2024 competition, Chestnut set the <a href="https://x.com/joeyjaws/status/1916645992176173327">record</a> for the most Buffalo Wild Wings eaten in one sitting, consuming 14.4 pounds of wings. He also consumed 83 all-beef hot dogs and buns at a Labor Day event in Las Vegas, according to CNN.
Chestnut took home $10,000 for his win on Friday, with the runner-up receiving $5,000, and $2500 for third place.
Sam Korkus contributed to this report.

Nathan’s Annual Fourth Of July Hot Dog Eating Contest Held In Coney Island

Chestnut Devours 70+ Hotdogs, Dominates Competition In Annual Display Of American Exceptionalism

Brooklyn

General

New York

U.S.

Multiple people are reportedly dead in Central Texas after a flash flood raised the Guadalupe River to its second-highest recorded level in history on Friday morning.
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The Guadalupe River has now reached its 2nd highest flood stage ever.
Kerr County leaders are calling this &#8220;catastrophic flooding.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/ra5isDAO8F">pic.twitter.com/ra5isDAO8F</a>
— Gage Goulding &#8211; KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) <a href="https://twitter.com/GageGoulding/status/1941131636479041889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Life-threatening flood on the Guadalupe River this morning. 2nd highest river height exceeding 1987 flood. This video from Kerrville.
🎥 Shelley Parker<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/txwx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#txwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/natwxdesk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@natwxdesk</a> <a href="https://t.co/8n6vFwqpzN">pic.twitter.com/8n6vFwqpzN</a>
— Chris Suchan (@ChrisSuchanWOAI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisSuchanWOAI/status/1941113976567570706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“This is a very dangerous and life-threatening flood event along the Guadalupe River! Move to higher ground! The National Weather Service in Austin and San Antonio stated. “More than 14 inches of rain have fallen in portions of San Angelo in the last 24 hours,” FOX West Texas <a href="https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/weather/san-angelo-flooding-rain-totals/504-b17e9d18-1660-49a6-85d1-0e41ca62a7bd">reported</a> at 9 a.m. Friday.
“This is a catastrophic flooding event in Kerr County,” the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office <a href="applewebdata://9A0671C6-77CE-4126-9533-C71B6B14BAB7/v">posted</a> on Facebook. “We can confirm fatalities but will not release further information until next of kin are notified. Our Office is working with a wide variety of local and state agencies to respond to calls and rescues. The entire county is an extremely active scene. Residents are encouraged to shelter in place and not attempt travel. Those near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River should immediately move to higher ground.”
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The Guadalupe River reached a level where it crested its banks and even surpassed the level of the famous 1987 flood. “Hundreds of other people along the Guadalupe River and its tributaries that night and morning had to be evacuated. The 1987 Guadalupe Flood is unfortunately known for the tragic loss of 10 teenagers&#8217; lives and 33 other injuries when a bus and van leaving a church camp encountered the flood waters,” the National Weather Service <a href="https://www.weather.gov/ewx/wxevent-19870717">recalled</a>.
“The police in Kerrville, Texas, about 58 miles northwest of San Antonio, <a href="https://archive.is/o/ANCpA/https:/www.facebook.com/KerrvillePD/posts/1176907247811389?ref=embed_post">said on social media</a> that they were working with the Kerrville Fire Department to evacuate residents, noting that ‘many roads and streets are flooding in town,’” The New York Times <a href="applewebdata://9A0671C6-77CE-4126-9533-C71B6B14BAB7/v">reported</a>.
The city of Kerrville issued a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1173857168105654&amp;set=a.249339563890757">disaster declaration</a>.
“Our crews are actively working to restore power in areas that are accessible and safe to enter,” AEP Texas stated. “We understand the inconvenience extended outages may cause and apologize to those who may be affected. However, the safety of the public and our personnel remains our top priority.”

Texas flooding

Flooding In Texas Causes Multiple Fatalities As Guadalupe River Surges To Record Levels

flooding

Severe Weather

Texas

President Donald Trump laughed off loud pops that surprised his rally in Iowa on Thursday evening, telling the crowd that the noise was only from “fireworks – I hope.”
The pops interrupted the president as he was discussing the damage the unprecedented wave of illegal immigration under the Biden administration had done to the United States, and the Trump administration’s crackdown on the border that has led to historically low levels of illegal immigration.
“Don’t worry, it’s only fireworks – I hope,” the president joked.
“Famous last words. My famous last words: Trump said, ‘Don’t worry it’s only fireworks.’ You always have to think positive. I didn’t like that sound either,” Trump remarked as members of the audience chuckled.
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The sound of apparent fireworks briefly disrupted President Donald Trump&#39;s speech Thursday night during the America250 rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. &quot;Did I hear what I think I heard?&quot; he asked. <a href="https://t.co/K7P4Rq8FmN">pic.twitter.com/K7P4Rq8FmN</a>
&mdash; KCCI News (@KCCINews) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCINews/status/1940942672769794480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Trump survived an attempted assassin’s bullet nearly a year ago at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. One man in the Iowa audience apparently recalled the event, yelling during the president’s riff on the pops, “Fight, fight, fight,” a reference to how Trump reacted to assassination attempt in Butler.
On July 13 of last year, Thomas Crooks was able to set up a sniper’s nest on a nearby building overlooking Trump’s rally stage. Crooks fired eight shots toward Trump, who was then a candidate for president. One shot grazed Trump’s ear. One audience member, 50-year-old volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore, was killed.
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The assassination attempt ignited a firestorm of criticism around the Secret Service that failed to secure the perimeter of Trump’s Butler rally and allowed Crooks to obtain an unobstructed view of the president’s platform.
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-recounts-assassination-attempt-i-had-god-on-my-side">recounted</a> the attempt on his life during a speech about a month later at the Republican National Convention.
“I wanted to do something to let them know I was okay,” Trump said, referring to the crowd in Butler that witnessed the attempt and Trump buried under a pile of Secret Service agents. “I raised my right arm, looked at the thousands and thousands of people that were breathlessly waiting, and started shouting, ‘Fight, fight, fight.’”
“Once my clenched fist went up, and it was high into the air – you’ve all seen that – the crowd realized I was okay and roared with pride for our country like no crowd I have ever heard before. Never heard anything like it,” Trump said. “For the rest of my life, I will be grateful for the love shown by that giant audience of patriots that stood bravely on that fateful evening in Pennsylvania.”

Donald Trump

‘Don’t Worry, It’s Only Fireworks – I Hope’: Trump Laughs Off Pops At Iowa Rally

assassination

Iowa

Pennsylvania

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, from the boots on the ground to Acting Director Todd Lyons, are cheering the passage of President Donald Trump&#8217;s long-touted One Big, Beautiful Bill, saying that it will direct &#8220;long overdue&#8221; support to their efforts to secure the border and expel criminal illegals.
Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin shared a post on X including a few of the initial reactions from his sources at ICE.
&#8220;I asked ICE contacts for reaction to OBBB passing w/ massive ICE money,&#8221; he posted. &#8220;Some responses: &#8216;LFG!!! This is long overdue and will give us the resources to ramp it up and give the American people what they voted for. Thank you for your attention to this matter!&#8217;; &#8216;This ensures that ICE is the tip of the spear to make America safe again.&#8217;; &#8216;This administration has been fighting non stop to give the law enforcement agents in these dangerous sanctuary communities the tools we need to complete the mission.'&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: I asked ICE contacts for reaction to OBBB passing w/ massive ICE money. Some responses:
“LFG!!! This is long overdue and will give us the resources to ramp it up and give the American people what they voted for. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
“This ensures…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/1940845602566557839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Lyons issued an official statement a short time later, offering a similar sentiment.
&#8220;I speak on behalf of the entire agency when I say that ICE is grateful to President Trump for putting in the hard work necessary to get the Big Beautiful Bill across the finish line &#8211; but the real win is for the American people. The unprecedented funding for ICE will enable my hard-working officers and agents to continue making America safe again by identifying, arresting and removing criminal aliens from our communities,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;I’m thrilled to work with Secretary Noem, Congress and the president to protect our families, friends and neighbors.&#8221;
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“I speak on behalf of the entire agency when I say that ICE is grateful to President Trump for putting in the hard work necessary to get the Big Beautiful Bill across the finish line &#8211; but the real win is for the American people. The unprecedented funding for ICE will enable my… <a href="https://t.co/mA5hL4Htu4">pic.twitter.com/mA5hL4Htu4</a>
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICEgov/status/1940856961102405740?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also released a statement on the bill&#8217;s passage, saying, &#8220;Today’s passage of the Big Beautiful Bill is a win for law and order and the safety and security of the American people. This $165 billion in funding will help DHS and our brave law enforcement further deliver on President Trump’s mandate to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens and MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN. Thank you President Trump!&#8221;
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BREAKING: DHS Secretary <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sec_Noem</a> statement to <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNews</a> as the One Big Beautiful Bill has PASSED and is now headed to President Trump’s desk.
“Today’s passage of the Big Beautiful Bill is a win for law and order and the safety and security of the American people. This $165…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/1940841026182345125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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US-IMMIGRATION-ICE

ICE Agents Celebrate One Big, Beautiful Bill: ‘LFG!!! This Is Long Overdue’

border security

Illegal Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a Mexican boxer with cartel ties just days after he fought influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul at an arena in Anaheim, California.
ICE arrested Julio César Chávez Jr. on Wednesday, four days after he lost to Jake Paul in a match at the Honda Center, with the federal agency now saying that the Mexican national has ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and will undergo “expedited removal.”
“On July 2, ICE arrested Mexican boxer and criminal illegal alien Julio César Chávez Jr.,” the Department of Homeland Security said <a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/1940834653222375456">in a post</a> on X.
“He is now being processed for expedited removal from the United States. This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his involvement in organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunitions and explosives,” DHS went on to say. “Our message to any cartel affiliates in the U.S. is clear: We will find you and you will face consequences. The days of unchecked cartel violence are over.”
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César Chávez Jr. came into the United States legally on a tourist visa in February 2024, but was flagged as an “egregious public safety threat” in December of 2024. The Biden administration’s DHS decided that César Chávez Jr. was not an immigration enforcement priority and allowed him to reenter the United States on January 4, 2025, just before President Donald Trump was inaugurated.
“This Sinaloa Cartel affiliate with an active arrest warrant for trafficking guns, ammunition, and explosives was arrested by ICE,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin charged. “It is shocking the previous administration flagged this criminal illegal alien as a public safety threat, but chose to not prioritize his removal and let him leave and COME BACK into our country.”
DHS explained that, in addition to his ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, César Chávez Jr. has an extensive criminal history. The illegal alien was convicted of driving under the influence in 2012 and of illegal possession of an assault weapon in 2024 in addition to being charged with trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives.

Jake Paul vs. Julio Ceasar Chávez Jr.

ICE Arrests Boxer Over Cartel Ties, Prepares To Deport Him Days After He Fought Jake Paul

Crime

Deportations

mass immigration

Dozens of top staffers in the Trump administration are earning nearly $200,000 a year, with average pay hovering around $114,000 annually.
The Trump administration has far fewer staffers on the payroll compared to the Biden administration, however, average pay in the Trump White House is about $5,000 higher.
The highest paid White House staffer is Jacalynne B. Klopp, a senior adviser earning $225,700, <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/us-news/white-house-salary-list-reveals-top-earners-here-is-how-much-president-trump-earns/3902044/">according</a> to the White House&#8217;s annual salary report. Following behind Klopp is Edgar Mkrtchian, associate counsel, who earns $203,645 per year.
Dozens of other staffers, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Border Czar Tom Homan, Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller, and Trade Counselor Peter Navarro, each make $195,200.
President Joe Biden&#8217;s White House employed 564 people in 2024, compared to just over 400 under President Donald Trump. The average Trump White House staffer earns $114,194 per year, compared to $109,166 for Biden staffers.
Most deputy assistant positions make $155,000-$175,000, and presidential speechwriters earn between $92,500-$121,500 during Trump&#8217;s second term, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/02/white-house-salaries-trump-administration-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com">per</a> Axios. More than 108 other employees earn between $59,000-$80,000.
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Some White House staffers under Trump do not receive compensation from the White House, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who holds a number of positions in the administration, including national security advisor. Rubio, like Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, receives pay from the State Department.
President Trump in theory receives an annual salary of $400,000, plus additional money for expenses, entertainment, and a redecorating allowance &#8212; totaling around $569,000. However, Trump donated his salary his first term in office.
His Quarter 1 salary during his first term, for example, was donated to the Department of Interior, specifically the National Park Service to aid in its goal of preserving our country’s national security, <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/articles/president-donald-j-trump-donate-salary-department-education/">according</a> to the White House. <a href="https://www.aol.com/alligator-alcatraz-florida-everglades-photos-192012169.html">According</a> to Forbes, Trump donated at least $1.4 million to various federal agencies during that term.
Trump will donate his salary this term, too, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-reveals-highest-paid-staffers-8-taking-no-salaries">according</a> to Fox News.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Holds Media Briefing

Here’s How Much Trump White House Staffers Are Making

Economy

Executive

Washington D.C.

White House

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear two cases revolving around state laws keeping transgender-identifying males out of women’s sports. 
The court is set to consider cases out of Idaho and West Virginia, where laws banning males who identify as women from participating in women&#8217;s and girls&#8217; sports were blocked by lower courts. The news comes just weeks after the high court ruled 6-3 in favor of a Tennessee law that banned transgender medical procedures on minors. 
At issue in the cases are West Virginia’s “Save Women’s Sports Act” and Idaho’s “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.&#8221;
 In West Virginia, a parent sued to block the 2021 law, arguing that her transgender-identifying son was being discriminated against because he was not allowed on the girls&#8217; cross country team. In Idaho, a transgender-identifying male sued because he wouldn&#8217;t be allowed to join Boise State University&#8217;s women&#8217;s track team under the state&#8217;s law. 
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West Virginia’s law was blocked by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in April 2024, and Idaho’s law was blocked by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in August 2023. The attorneys general of both states celebrated the court’s decision to take up the case. 
“It’s a great day, as female athletes in West Virginia will have their voices heard. The people of West Virginia know that it’s unfair to let male athletes compete against women; that’s why we passed this commonsense law preserving women&#8217;s sports for women,” said West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey. “We are confident the Supreme Court will uphold the Save Women&#8217;s Sports Act because it complies with the U.S. Constitution and complies with Title IX. And most importantly: it protects women and girls by ensuring the playing field is safe and fair.&#8221;
Idaho was the first state to pass a law intended to exclude males from competing in women&#8217;s sports in 2020.
“Idaho’s women and girls deserve an equal playing field,” added Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “I am thrilled the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case. For too long, activists have worked to sideline women and girls in their own sports. Men and women are biologically different, and we hope the court will allow states to end this injustice and ensure men no longer create a dangerous, unfair environment for women to showcase their incredible talent and pursue the equal opportunities they deserve.”
More than two dozen states have enacted laws similar to those in Idaho and West Virginia, and courts have blocked full implementation in other states, including New Hampshire, Utah, and Montana.

Transgender Rights Advocates Rally Against The Supreme Court’s Ban On Gender-Affirming Youth Care

Red States Set To Defend Women’s Sports At Supreme Court

Courts

Idaho

SCOTUS

Supreme Court

Transgender Athletes

West Virginia

Women's sports

Regents of the University of Michigan — who serve unpaid — now have 24-hour security because of threats and harassment from pro-Hamas factions.
UM Regents Jordan Acker, Mark Bernstein, and Sarah Hubbard told <a href="https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-859787">The Detroit News</a> that the university assigned them around-the-clock security after their residences were vandalized with pro-Hamas, anti-Israel messages.
“Since Nov. 17, 2023, our regents and executive officers have been subjected to extensive and targeted criminal acts, including vandalism of private residences and businesses,” University spokeswoman Colleen Mastony stated. “These incidents, detailed in a press release, underscore the unacceptable level of threats and harassment directed at our institution’s leaders and their families.”
“We have taken prudent steps to support our regents and executive officers and will continue to rely on our public safety team to continuously assess risk, consult with external law enforcement partners, and allocate resources commensurate with those assessments,” she added.
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“The three regents said they continue to get threats via email and social media, as recently as June 9,” The Detroit News reported, noting that in May 2024, activists erected tents on Regent Hubbard&#8217;s front lawn and left on her doorstep &#8220;scenes of genocide in Palestine.&#8221; Her Instagram account was tagged with the message, “Regents, respond to our demands by the end of your board meeting this Thursday.”
Last December, vandals targeted Regent Acker’s home. Acker, who has three young children, said he has been getting death threats as recently as June 9. Reacting to a jar of urine being thrown through one of his home’s windows, he said, &#8220;Any time your family is being attacked for who you are and for what you believe, I think that&#8217;s a pretty scary moment as an elected official, but it&#8217;s unfortunately the world that we live in these days.&#8221;
“It&#8217;s been really hard on them. It&#8217;s been really hard on my wife. It&#8217;s been really, really hard on my kids, especially my 10-year-old, who was woken up by the glass breaking,” Acker added.
The homes of former President Santa Ono and the university&#8217;s chief investment officer, Erik Lundberg, were vandalized last October. “In March, someone spray-painted ‘Free Palestine’ on the side of UM Provost Laurie McCauley&#8217;s Ann Arbor home,” The Detroit News noted.
“This is something that the university has decided, it&#8217;s important to provide this support to their leadership. So it&#8217;s the regents and it&#8217;s also a number of other leaders at the university that have experienced these threats,” Hubbard said. “I feel that I can have this civil debate with people who have a different opinion than I do, and so it&#8217;s too bad that it has ramped up to this point where we&#8217;re concerned for our safety. It&#8217;s not a concern I have every moment of every day, but it&#8217;s certainly something I worry about because we see it going beyond the vandalism in so many areas around the country and in the world, and we don&#8217;t want to suffer that same result.&#8221;

US-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-PROTEST-EDUCATION

Pro-Hamas Activists Trigger 24/7 Security For University Of Michigan Regents

anti-Israel

antisemitism

Education

Hamas

Michigan

Pro-Hamas

Security Detail

University of Michigan

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday sent a <a href="https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/memorandum/Governors_Safe_Roads.htm">letter</a> to every governor in America, as well as the mayor of Washington, D.C., and the governor of Puerto Rico, urging them to remove political messages from crosswalks, including crosswalks painted in rainbow colors that recognize the LGBTQ community.
“Roads are for safety, not political messages or artwork,” Duffy told <a href="https://www.dailysignal.com/2025/07/01/exclusive-trump-admin-urges-governors-remove-rainbow-crosswalks-roads-promoting-safety/">The Daily Signal</a>.  “Today I am calling on governors in every state to ensure that roadways, intersections, and crosswalks are kept free of distractions.”
Noting that there were an estimated 39,345 traffic fatalities in 2024 across the nation and more than half of them occurred at intersections, Duffy implemented the Safe Arterials for Everyone through Reliable Operations and Distraction-Reducing Strategies (SAFE ROADS) plan, which would “focus on the non-freeway arterials within your State, including safety and operation at intersections and along segments, consistent and recognizable traffic control devices including crosswalk and intersection markings, and orderly use of the right‑of‑way that is kept free from distractions.”
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Duffy gave the governors 60 days “to develop a list of arterial segments, including intersections, with the highest safety, operational, or compliance concerns that will be addressed by the end of Fiscal Year 2026.”
Rainbow sidewalks have proliferated across the nation in recent years. The list of cites with rainbow crosswalks includes San Francisco, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Seattle, Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., Nashville, and smaller cities such as West Hollywood, California — where the first rainbow intersection was installed in 2012 — Key West, Florida, Huntington, West Virginia, and Ames, Iowa.
“Crosswalk markings are classified as either transverse line or high-visibility,” the 2023 <a href="https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/11th_Edition/mutcd11thedition.pdf">edition</a> of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Devices for Streets and Highways — which is issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) — states. “Transverse crossing markings consist of two transverse lines. High-visibility markings consist of longitudinal lines parallel to traffic flow with or without transverse lines. Crosswalk markings shall be white.”
“The FHWA is concerned that considerable ambiguity continues regarding how colored pavement can be used, especially between the white transverse lines of a legally marked crosswalk,” the Department of Transportation <a href="https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/interpretations/3_09_24.htm">stated</a> in 2013. “In 2011, the FHWA issued an additional Official Ruling<a href="https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/resources/interpretations/3_09_24.htm#fn4">4</a> that crosswalk art—defined as any freeform design to draw attention to the crosswalk—would degrade the contrast of the white transverse lines against the composition of the pavement beneath it. In deviating from previous Official Rulings on the matter that concluded an increased factor of safety and decreased number of pedestrian deaths were not evident after installation, this 2011 Official Ruling stated that the use of crosswalk art is actually contrary to the goal of increased safety and most likely could be a contributing factor to a false sense of security for both motorists and pedestrians.”

Rainbow Flag

Trump Admin Targets Rainbow Crosswalks: ‘Roads Are For Safety, Not Political Messages’

Department of Transportation

Rainbow crosswalks

Sean Duffy

Social Issues

Katy Perry recently filed a temporary restraining order against a homeless man she says has visited her California home uninvited, per a report from <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/06/30/katy-perry-restraining-order-homeless-man-santa-barbara/">TMZ</a>.
The 40-year-old singer claims Ross Elliott Hedrick, 43, visited her Santa Barbara estate multiple times in May. TMZ reported that the first time Hedrick showed up on Perry’s property, he carried a butane lighter and an aerosol can. He was reportedly arrested but returned a week later. On his second visit, he allegedly threw a blanket over the security fence. The TRO also requests protection for Perry’s partner, actor Orlando Bloom. The news comes as rumors of the couple’s breakup are swirling.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Perry requested a court order for Hedrick to stay at least 100 yards away from her, Bloom, her properties, her job, and her car.
Perry’s security company reportedly believes Hedrick will continue attempting to make contact with the pop star and provided screenshots of Ring video showing Hedrick at her estate.
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Though Perry and Bloom haven’t publicly confirmed their split yet, multiple sources have reported that the pair is breaking up after nine years together.
“Katy and Orlando have been suffering through the same problems that have plagued them for years,” a source said, per <a href="https://people.com/katy-perry-orlando-bloom-problems-years-before-split-exclusive-11764457">People</a>. “[They had] too much going on in their lives, which makes it hard to find time for each other and iron out disagreements. When they don’t communicate properly, their relationship dips to a low level.”
Perry has been having some issues with fans negatively reacting to her latest album and current “Lifetimes Tour.” Videos of the singer dancing onstage prompted viewers to question the choreography and overall quality of the show, especially in comparison to Perry’s past efforts.
The Grammy Award nominee also got mocked for joining Blue Origin’s first all-female flight crew, with critics saying the 11-minute space flight was not a big deal.
Perry referred to her many critics as “unhinged and unhealed.”

Katy Perry

Katy Perry Seeks Restraining Order Against Homeless Stalker

Katy Perry Files Restraining Order Against 'Transient' Person: Report

California

Celebrities

Homelessness

Los Angeles County

Orlando Bloom

The liberal majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 4-3 to strike down a 176-year-old law that made it a crime for anyone other than the mother to intentionally end the life of an unborn child. 
The ruling means that abortions remain legal in Wisconsin up to around 20 weeks after fertilization and keeps in place a December 2023 decision from a lower court judge that said the abortion ban was not in effect.
The 1849 law, which had been blocked in 1973 by Roe v. Wade, was re-litigated after the Supreme Court ruled in June 2022 that there is no constitutional right to an abortion. The four liberal justices on the court said the Wisconsin legislature had effectively repealed the 1849 law by passing subsequent pro-life laws in the years after Roe. 
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“We conclude that, under the unique circumstances presented here, the legislature impliedly repealed [the 1849 law] as to abortion by enacting comprehensive legislation about virtually every aspect of abortion including where, when, and how healthcare providers may lawfully perform abortions,” Justice Rebecca Dallet wrote in the majority <a href="https://www.wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/DisplayDocument.pdf?content=pdf&amp;seqNo=979066">opinion</a>. “That comprehensive legislation so thoroughly covers the entire subject of abortion that it was clearly meant as a substitute for the 19th century near-total ban on abortion.”
In a dissent, conservative Justice Annette Ziegler argued that the liberal majority had disregarded the law through a “novel” approach and failed to identify a specific statute that repealed the 1849 law. 
“The majority opinion is a jaw-dropping exercise of judicial will, placing personal preference over the constitutional roles of the three branches of our state government and upending a duly enacted law,” she wrote. “In this dangerous departure from our constitutional design, four members of the court make up and apply their own version of implied repeal, failing to hew to any semblance of traditional judicial decision-making or jurisprudence.”
Ziegler added that the majority arbitrarily chose which abortion laws to remain in effect. 
Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul sued several Wisconsin district attorneys over the 1849 law, arguing that the legislature implicitly repealed it. Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski defended the law in court, arguing that later pro-life laws passed did not supersede the original 1849 law. 
“The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s role is to follow the Constitution, not to make law,” Wisconsin GOP chair Brian Schimming said in response to the court’s decision. “This issue should be resolved in the legislature and by voters, not by far-left justices parading as legislators.”
Liberals have held a firm grip on the court for the last two years, easily winning judicial races in both 2023 and 2025, which has kept the court’s ideological slant leaning to the Left. The court last week refused to hear challenges to Wisconsin’s current congressional map, after Democrats argued that the boundaries illegally favor Republicans, leaving the current map in place for the 2026 midterm elections.

Milwaukee Prepares For The Republican National Convention

Liberal Majority On Swing State’s Supreme Court Strikes Down Abortion Ban

Abortion

Pro-Life Movement

Wisconsin

President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill heads back to the House after a marathon Senate session – and a tie-breaking vote from JD Vance. Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis put aside past differences at Alligator Alcatraz — touting the power of their federal-state alliance. And, Bryan Kohberger avoids the death penalty – pleading guilty to murdering four Idaho students.
It’s Wednesday, July 2, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here: 
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<h2>The Senate Passes Trump&#8217;s Big, Beautiful Bill</h2>
<div id="attachment_924413" style="width: 868px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-924413" class="size-large wp-image-924413" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-858x576.jpg" alt="" width="858" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-858x576.jpg 858w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-300x201.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-768x516.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-1536x1031.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-2048x1375.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px" />(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)</div>
Topline: After a marathon vote in Congress, the Senate narrowly passed Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill, pushing his sweeping policy agenda toward the finish line.
Senators and their staff spent the last 48 hours debating the bill non-stop — in what Washington calls a Vote-a-Rama, where members submit last minute amendments before a final vote. Votes were held on 45 proposed amendments covering everything from Medicare cuts and electric car subsidies to health care for illegal immigrants and Planned Parenthood funding. That process went all night Monday and well into Tuesday afternoon.
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Democrats made clear that they viewed the Vote-a-Rama as a means of forcing Republicans to go on the record with their views, but more importantly, to stall. That tactic angered Republicans and even some Democrats who opposed the bill, including Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman.
“Oh my God, I just want to go home,” Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/niceblackdude/status/1939829913873522764">said</a> during the Vote-a-Rama. “Keeping us here until some ungodly hour isn’t helping anyone.”
Given their slim majority, the GOP could only afford to lose three Republican votes. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Susan Collins (R-ME) were definite no votes, so it came down to Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski. Ultimately, GOP leadership won her over by offering major concessions, exempting Alaska from a number of funding cuts in the bill. The final tally was 50-50, allowing Vice President JD Vance to step in and cast the deciding vote.
The bill will now head to the House, where it’s expected to pass, though not without some difficulty – some hardline Republicans have expressed concerns about some of the Senate’s changes. Given the delay from Senate Democrats, the bill might not be voted on before President Trump’s desired deadline of July 4th. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he would honor the customary 72 hour period to allow members three days to review the legislation – so it’ll be tight.
<h2>Trump-DeSantis Alliance &amp; Alligator Alcatraz</h2>
<div id="attachment_582447" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-582447" class="size-large wp-image-582447" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg" alt="Donald Trump Ron DeSantis" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Getty Images</div>
Topline: President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference down at the state’s new “Alligator Alcatraz” on Tuesday.
Trump and DeSantis have reconciled since Trump beat the Florida governor in the GOP presidential primary last year, and Trump’s win in November pushed the two even closer, especially on immigration, but also on other issues as well.
“Ron, I would like to thank you, personally,” Trump said during a joint press conference. “You&#8217;re my friend. You will always be my friend. We may have some skirmishes even in the future &#8212; I doubt it &#8212; but I will always come back. We have blood that seems to match pretty well. We have a relationship that&#8217;s been a very strong one.”
DeSantis is term-limited as Florida’s governor, and he signaled that his wife Casey may jump into the 2026 race to replace him. An endorsement from Trump would be a huge boon in a Republican primary that has the potential to be extraordinarily competitive.
The press conference took place during a visit to Alligator Alcatraz – an immigration facility being built in the everglades. It could hold thousands of illegal aliens slated for deportation. In addition to the new detention facility, Trump also plans to deputize Florida National Guardsmen as immigration judges, which could massively cut down the time it takes to schedule immigration hearings – from a matter of years to just a few days.
Detention capacity has been a big constraint to Trump’s immigration agenda. That’s why we’ve seen the Trump administration partner with El Salvador, for instance, to hold illegal aliens, or ship them to Guantanamo Bay. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now arresting hundreds of illegal aliens a day, and Trump is doing whatever he can to make sure none of them are released back into the public after they’ve been caught.
<h2>Accused Murderer Accepts Plea Deal</h2>
<div id="attachment_644939" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-644939" class="size-large wp-image-644939" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg" alt="Second District Judge John C. Judge speaks at a hearing for Bryan Kohberger, who stands accused of murder, on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on September 13, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images</div>
Topline: The man accused of the 2022 Idaho murders has accepted a plea deal. The death penalty trial was originally set to begin on August 18th.
Byran Kohberger will accept the prosecution’s plea deal and plead guilty to all charges. Those include four counts of murder, as well as burglary. In exchange, the state has agreed to take the death penalty off the table – he will serve four consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole, and he has waived the right to appeal. There will be a change of plea hearing on Wednesday, which may provide some closure for the families of the four victims: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Kaylee+Goncalves&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAC&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Kaylee Goncalves</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Madison+Mogen&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAD&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Madison Mogen</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Xana+Kernodle&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAE&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Xana Kernodle</a>, and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Ethan+Chapin&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAF&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Ethan Chapin</a>.
Kaylee Goncalves&#8217; sister Aubrie called the decision to take the death penalty off the table “shocking and cruel.” The family posted a statement to social media saying, “We are beyond furious at the state of Idaho. They have failed us.”
The defense has maintained that Kohberger is innocent, although initially the evidence against him seemed overwhelming. His car was caught on surveillance, his cell phone data was consistent with him being near the scene &#8212; not just on the night of the murder, but the next morning, and on about a dozen occasions leading up to the crime, always late at night. Most damning, his DNA was found on the knife sheath left at the scene, and his purchase history showed a black ski mask similar to the one described by the witness. He was also a criminology student with apparent interest in serial killers.
Defense attorney Anne Taylor did raise arguments for reasonable doubt. First, she filed a motion to have the DNA evidence thrown out because it was obtained, according to her, through an illegal genealogy search – that would have been devastating to the prosecution&#8217;s case. She also raised the issue of mystery DNA found in the bloody handprint. Investigators determined that there was DNA from two mystery males found in that print on the bannister, and DNA from a third mystery male was found on a glove outside the residence. There was also DNA from multiple individuals found under the fingernails of one of the victims, although it was inconclusive. The defense was planning to float an alternative suspect theory, and all they had to do was make one juror have doubts. These issues also could have theoretically provided fertile ground for appeals down the road.
However, in the past week, the judge dismissed the defense’s attempt to introduce alternative suspects. And not long before that, it was revealed that a DoorDash driver may have been at the scene delivering food at 4 a.m. when the crime occurred. In leaked police interview footage, that driver can be heard saying, “I saw Bryan there,” and she claimed she parked next to him.

MRN 7.2.25 Thumbnail_V1

Morning Brief: Senate Passes The Big Beautiful Bill, Alligator Alcatraz & Idaho Plea Deal

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