The opening weekend of the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., was, to put it simply, miserable. It was extremely muggy, with rain pouring down seemingly every hour. A child rolled around in the grass, crying and screaming, "I. WANT. TO. GO. HOME!!!" Creed's "Higher" blared over the loudspeakers, and a sparse crowd milled about the various exhibitions. The bare bones setup-flimsy, fake two-dimensional columns that looked like something Wile E. Coyote would run into while chasing The Road Runner-left much to be desired, as America's 250th anniversary was celebrated with kitsch and...
Andy Burnham, the United Kingdom's likely prime minister-in-waiting, turned down an invite from President Donald Trump for the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence, Politico reported on Monday.A spokesperson for Burnham told Politico that he won't attend the U.S. embassy's "Great American Jubilee" at U.S. Ambassador Warren Stephens’ official residence in Regent’s Park on Tuesday due to a "scheduling clash." The swanky celebration is expected to draw dignitaries, military brass and business leaders, and will feature a performance from country music superstar Tim McGraw."Invitations have been sent to every major party leader," according to Politico. "Previous attendees include former Prime Minister Liz Truss, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and outgoing U.K. PM Keir Starmer, who attended in 2023 before he entered office."Last week, Trump sneered at Burnham, calling him a former "mayor of a town" and "extremely liberal."Burnham was expected to be approved as the U.K.'s next prime minister on July 20, Politico reported.Burnham wasn't the only person to turn down Trump. Pop star Katy Perry declined to perform at America250 celebrations in Brussels over the weekend.
Pop star Katy Perry turned down an invite to perform at President Donald Trump's America250 celebrations in Brussels — and his MAGA ally had a public meltdown over the snub, The Daily Beast reported on Monday.Ambassador Bill White lashed out at Perry after she declined to appear at the MAGA event at Cinquantenaire Park in Belgium, which featured performances from Zac Brown Band and Alexis Wilkins — FBI Director Kash Patel's girlfriend — at the invite-only celebration. The singer was already scheduled to headline Belgium’s Werchter Boutique festival that weekend, which ended up getting canceled due to bad weather."So we were gonna have Katy Perry. Who cares?" White told the crowd. "Karma is a b----. You know the joke? She was gonna perform last night. She got rained out."White said in February that he knew Perry had a contract for the festival that same weekend in Belgium. Despite that, he said organizers would still try to get her to perform."Her contractual obligations prohibit her from talking about other events in Belgium until that concert is sold out," White told The Bulletin, a Belgian news outlet. "So maybe she will come the next evening, maybe not."
A Republican senator stepped up to correct President Donald Trump after he became confused over the bill that he has said is the "No. 1 priority."Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) posted the correction on X on Monday after Trump called him out directly as one of five Republican senators blocking the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, Trump's top election-overhaul bill."all Dumocrats, and our five Republican Senate Hold Outs, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy, and Mitch McConnell must vote to SAVE OUR COUNTRY," Trump posted on Truth Social after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against him on mail-in ballots."Mr. President, I don't know which version of the SAVE America Act you're referring to, but I am a cosponsor and support the latest version," Cassidy fired back on X."I don't know which staffer misled you, but thank you for your attention to this matter!!""Btw, it's irresponsible to postpone signing the Housing bill due to the SAVE Act," Cassidy added. "We need to start delivering relief to people for the high cost of housing ASAP!!"Trump had told House Republicans in March that passing the SAVE America Act was the "No. 1 priority" for Congress and vowed he would "not sign anything" until it passed — including a bipartisan housing bill already on his desk.That housing bill remains unsigned.
Rebecca Slaughter said independent agencies like the Federal Trade Commission were created as watchdogs of powerful corporations and that presidents shouldn’t interfere with that.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL)'s ethics complaint against a Democratic senator collapsed Monday after the Senate Ethics Committee found no evidence to support it.Luna filed the complaint in April against Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), accusing him of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations. The committee, led by Chair Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) and Vice Chair Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), investigated and cleared him."We are writing to inform you that the Select Committee on Ethics…dismissed a complaint filed against you by Representative Anna Paulina Luna," the letter read."Based on the investigation of the Committee, the Committee did not find evidence that your actions violated Federal law, Senate Rules, or related standards of conduct."Luna's complaint grew out of the scandal surrounding then-Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Gallego's close friend, who resigned from Congress in April after four women accused him of sexual assault, harassment, and rape — all of which Swalwell has denied.Luna wrote on X on April 23: "I have now heard of 4 women who have had multiple and uncomfortable/inappropriate advances/comments/touching, etc. from Senator Gallego. This is not made up and the Senate is being awfully quiet about it."The committee told NBC News it also reviewed Federal Election Commission reports, Senate and House expenditure reports, and privately sponsored travel records."In response to your request for an investigation, the Committee referred these allegations to you and requested additional information on April 17 and May 15, 2026," the letter stated."The Committee also noted your prompt contact with the Committee following media reports of the allegations and appreciated your full cooperation with the Committee throughout the investigation."Gallego reacted to the dismissal on Monday."Today's dismissal reaffirms what I have said about these accusations from the beginning: they were right-wing conspiracies peddled by far-right activists like Anna Paulina Luna, the White House, and their allies," the senator said in a statement."I look forward to an apology from Rep. Luna for weaponizing the ethics process while refusing to investigate historic corruption that's making life harder for families," he added.Gallego, who set up a legal defense fund to cover legal fees, has denied knowledge of Swalwell's alleged conduct, saying he was "lied to.""As always, the Committee retains the authority to revisit this matter should additional facts become known," the committee added.
President Trump railed against Monday's Supreme Court ruling that allows states to keep counting ballots after Election Day and urged Congress to pass his voter ID legislation that would severely restrict mail-in ballots.
