USA vs. Belgium odds revealed with Folarin Balogun to miss USMNT World Cup clash due to red card

Revealed: How Republicans are plotting how to halt Democratic probes into Trump

Democrats are expected to take back Congress in the midterm elections and Republicans are already plotting a preemptive strike ahead of that takeover to protect the White House.President Donald Trump's scandals are stacking up, from the files related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, the push for a $1.8 billion slush fund, the bulldozing of the East Wing of the White House, the funding for the East Wing of the White House, the Kennedy Center debacle and a slew of other money-making schemes. Semafor reported Thursday that one way Republicans could hit back is by conducting their own parallel investigations. "Doing so would amount to an unusual assertion of power from the House minority, which historically has almost no ability to enforce any of its own investigative requests," reporter Nicholas Wu conceded. James Mandolfo, a law firm partner who handled the GOP's investigation of then-President Joe Biden's family said, “If the Democrats take the House in November, the Republican minority will be among the strongest in history because they likely will have the Trump administration backing them on core issues that they remain aligned on." Normally, the committees would have no power to enforce subpoenas or make demands to cooperate with a private GOP investigation. Mandolfo suggested Trump get his Justice Department involved and use the power of the federal government to go after anyone who refuses to do what he wants. "The Trump administration could take action against those companies/institutions that don’t comply with any requests from the minority," said Mandolfo. It's unclear what would happen if such individuals fought back in court.Semafor explained that such a plan doesn't solve a problem Republicans could continue to face: division within their own party. "There was friction between some Oversight Committee Republicans and the Justice Department earlier this Congress, after the GOP-controlled panel voted to subpoena then-Attorney General Pam Bondi in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation," the report said. The Democratic investigations will likely be conducted within each congressional committee, but there could also be special investigative committees, similar to the Jan. 6 committee.

MAGA freaks out at Trump's own 'Freedom 250' baby cards over 'anchor baby' fears

MAGA loyalists were melting down Thursday after President Donald Trump's Social Security Administration announced a new design for babies born this year.The limited edition "Freedom 250" logo-themed cards will be issued for babies born between now and the end of the year, The Washington Post reported."Freedom 250 is the public-private initiative the Trump administration launched last year to organize events — often aligned with the administration — for the nation’s semiquincentennial. It is different from America250, a nonprofit established by Congress in 2016 to organize such celebrations," according to The Post.But MAGA fans, still apparently upset over the Supreme Court's ruling this week to uphold birthright citizenship, were outraged online. Some right-wing commentators claimed the cards would be used for "anchor babies" and shared their anger over the high court's decision. "Notice how they don’t say American Children? Oh yea that’s because 5 people destroyed what it meant to be an American the week of our independence. Being an American is nothing sacred anymore the Supreme Court just cemented that," user Cori, who frequently shares MAGA-aligned content, wrote on X."Doesn’t feel the same knowing they’ll also be going to anchor babies," user Alexandra, whose profile states "all I want for Christmas is mass deportations," wrote on X."It boils my blood that some baby tourist is going to have one of these while they live in China or somes---," Renlos Malik, a user who frequently shares MAGA-related material, wrote on X."Anchor babies too... or nah?" Tim Young, Heritage Foundation media fellow with more than 1.1 million followers, wrote on X."I wonder, how many illegal birth tourism anchor babies will enjoy this very special honor?!!!!" Luce Wood, author and self-described "proud conservative" with more than 18,000 followers, wrote on X.

Trump's USA World Cup watch party a raucous hit on National Mall

America's young men and women packed the National Mall in the nation's capital and created scenes that likely haven't been witnessed in decades.The United States faced Bosnia-Herzegovina at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Wednesday, with fans across the country taking in the monumental game.'It's so crazy over here!'Team USA has now matched their performance for their last three World Cups by winning 2-0 and advancing to the round of 16, but by being one of the host nations, fans are noticing a huge change in support from young Americans.There exists no better example than the FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Zone, an experience put on by the Trump administration's Freedom 250 initiative at the National Mall, right in the heart of Washington, D.C.Thousands packed the mall to watch the game in what seemed like a college football stadium atmosphere, with fans losing their minds when Team USA scored their first goal in the 45th minute to go up 1-0.DC News Now's reporter Tyger Munn was in the eye of the storm when the goal happened, and attendees went ballistic."You can't even see me right now it's so crazy over here!" he yelled into the microphone. After leading a chant with the crowd, the reporter passionately described the feeling:"Just look at all this energy, the patriotism, it's beautiful to see here at National Mall, guys."RELATED: Democrats hoping to blame Trump for World Cup failures forced to change strategy after great success When Team USA scored their second goal in the 82nd minute, video captured what seemed like an even more massive crowd erupting late into the evening.As beer cans flew, beach balls bounced, and fans were on each other's shoulders, the scenes were wild as the youngsters packed the area for an organized, rambunctious, and clean but safe event.Team USA has made it to the round of 16, where the team made it in the 2010, 2014, and the 2022 World Cups. The team's best performance in the modern era came in the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea, when Team USA finished eighth and made it to the quarterfinals.Technically, the team's best performance came in 1930 in Uruguay, however, with a third-place finish.Team USA did not qualify between 1954 and 1986 and also did not qualify in 2018.RELATED: 'Just follow the money': NFL doctor reveals why so many players are getting injured Finn Gomez/Getty Images Team USA goals were scored by Folarin Balogun from Brooklyn, New York, and Malik Tillman, who was born in Germany but has played for both American and German national squads since 2016; his father is American, and his mother is German.The United States will play Belgium on Monday at 8 p.m. ET at Lumen Field in Seattle. The Belgians have struggled to live up to past expectations this tournament, barely scraping by Senegal on Wednesday with a 3-2 win in extra time.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Spain vs. Austria World Cup prediction: Odds, picks, best bets for Round of 32

Austria will take a crack at ending the Spaniards’ 34-game unbeaten streak in the Round of 32 on Thursday. 

BetMGM bonus code NYPNEWSGET: Get up to $1K in no-sweat tokens for Croatia vs. Portugal

Get up to $1,000 in no sweat tokens over 10 days with the BetMGM bonus code NYPNEWSGET.

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Morning Minute: Bring on Belgium!

Trump officials called out for MAGA-themed Social Security cards

On Wednesday, right-wing Fox News reported that the Trump administration is planning a special limited-edition Social Security card that will include the Freedom 250 logo. And a NOTUS reporter is calling out that use of the logo as wildly inappropriate.On X, Fox News reported, "EXCLUSIVE: Babies born during America's 250th birthday celebration will receive a special piece of history. The Social Security Administration is launching a limited-edition commemorative Social Security card featuring the Freedom 250 logo for children born in the U.S. between July 2 and Dec. 31, 2026. According to an announcement exclusively shared with FOX Business, the card functions just like a standard Social Security card, but will serve as a unique keepsake marking the nation's 250th anniversary."But NOTUS reporter Oriana González believes the Freedom 250 logo doesn't belong on government-issued Social Security cards.González, on Thursday, tweeted, "so babies born between July 2 and Dec. 31 of this year will receive a social security card with the logo of a private company."In a separate X post, González had a different criticism of Freedom 250.Linking to a July 1 article by fellow NOTUS journalist Anna Kramer, González wrote, "more from @NOTUSreports on how Freedom 250 is taking taxpayer money that it's not supposed to be receiving."Freedom 250 and America 250 are two different terms. While America 250 refers to the United States' 250th anniversary in general, Freedom 250 is more specific to President Donald Trump and his administration. Freedom 250 refers to the White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday, a public/private partnership Trump created after returning to the White House in January 2025. Trump, on January 29, 2025, was nine days into his second presidency when he signed an executive order that established the partnership. The White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday is separate from the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, which was established in 2016 under then-President Barack Obama.The term America 250 could be used in connection with anniversary celebrations promoted by Democratic or GOP mayors or governors; Freedom 250 has much more of a MAGA/Trumpian connotation.The United States' 250th anniversary is only a few days away. It was on July 4, 1776 that the American Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia's Independence Hall (which was called the Pennsylvania State House at the time).