AGP Executive Report

Supreme Court: Gallup reports Supreme Court job approval at a record-low 33%, with disapproval hitting 61% after the 2025-26 term’s mixed rulings, including limits on Trump administration actions on tariffs, birthright citizenship, and the Fed. D.C. & Courts: A D.C. federal judge granted Qatar National Bank a $1 billion default judgment against South Sudan, enforcing an ICSID award tied to civil-war-era loans. Elections & Voting: Appeals courts kept moving in the fight over Trump’s mail-voting limits, while Democrats argue election safeguards should be protected. Immigration Enforcement: Massachusetts and other states push back against ICE raids tied to the Protect Our Communities debate. Local Environment: Bee Safe Mosquito Control is releasing non-biting male mosquitoes across the D.C. area to cut disease-carrying mosquito populations. International: Zelenskyy urges tougher sanctions on Russia, saying Moscow is blocking ceasefire talks. Agriculture Policy: The “Save Our Bacon Act” sparks states-rights fights over whether federal rules could override state agriculture standards.

Iran War & Gas Prices: Pump prices ticked up in 47 states, including the D.C. region, even as crude eased after a pause in U.S.-Iran hostilities—though Strait of Hormuz shipping risk keeps volatility high. AI Cyber Governance: An OMB official said outdated compliance rules are still slowing federal AI-powered cyber defenses, while a GAO watchdog says OMB is “lagging” on AI privacy guidance. Pentagon Tech Shift: Navy’s CTO urged the Pentagon to prioritize scaling proven tools over inventing new ones. D.C. Election Court Fight: A D.C. Circuit ruling dealt a major blow to Democrats’ early challenge to Trump’s election integrity order, keeping the legal fight alive. Trump-Netanyahu Iran Talks: Netanyahu met Trump at the White House for the first time since the Iran war began; the White House called it “positive and productive,” with diplomacy still in play. Lindsey Graham Memorial: Trump and world leaders honored Sen. Lindsey Graham at Washington National Cathedral, with Graham’s hawkish legacy front and center. Local Government Watch: D.C. utility shut-off moratorium is ending—Pepco customers are being told what to expect next.

Reflecting Pool Case: A former Olympian charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is asking a D.C. judge for the full transcript of secret grand jury testimony, arguing prosecutors relied on flawed damage claims and that “irregularities” tainted the indictment ahead of a Sept. 28 trial. Election Rules Fight: Federal courts again blocked Trump administration efforts to tighten mail-in voting rules tied to a federal voter list, keeping the fight over election access front and center for 2026. D.C. Governance & Housing: A House committee advanced a bill to expand D.C.’s taxing authority, setting up another test of home rule as lawmakers weigh how much power the District should have over local revenue. National Security & Policy: Trump’s tariff push is being rebuilt on more established legal footing after earlier emergency-power setbacks, while Netanyahu heads to Washington for talks with Trump as Iran remains the top agenda item. Local Community Support: The Mexican Consulate in Salt Lake City is running free legal-advice workshops for Mexican immigrants—an example of how consulates are stepping up outreach as immigration enforcement continues.

Election Security Showdown: Sen. Angus King introduced the Shield Our Elections Act, aiming to let state AGs and voters sue over federal election interference and to extend key federal election-crime deadlines from 5 to 9 years. Mail Voting Fight in Court: The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to pause a ruling blocking its order restricting vote-by-mail in 23 states and D.C., arguing federal steps should proceed while lawsuits continue. SAVE Act Pressure in D.C.: Republicans escalated demands that Senate Majority Leader John Thune keep the chamber in session until the SAVE America Act advances, with Trump calling for ending the filibuster. Local Governance Watch: Virginia’s new pay transparency law took effect July 1, requiring wage or salary ranges in job postings and banning salary-history questions—an issue D.C. employers will be watching. National Guard Housing in D.C.: The District’s deployed troops are moving from hotels into apartment-style housing under a $292M National Guard deal. Community & Culture: The Indian-American Committee marked America’s 250th anniversary with a Capitol Hill event at DAR Constitution Hall, drawing members of Congress and senior officials.

Iran War Update: The Pentagon says more than 600 U.S. troops have been killed or injured in “Operation Epic Fury,” after updating its casualty database with additional names and a higher injury count. Sanctions Watch: A memorial for Sen. Lindsey Graham is set in Washington, D.C., as lawmakers push to move his Russia sanctions bill forward. AI Policy Fight: A new push in Congress aims to regulate “frontier” AI while potentially overriding state AI rules—sparking fresh backlash from state lawmakers. D.C. Defense Priorities: Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds says House NDAA amendments she secured would fund a Saipan geothermal study, harden security for military-linked infrastructure, and expand service academy access. Election Integrity Litigation: Illinois election officials say noncitizen voting is extremely rare as DOJ seeks access to the state’s voter registration database. Local Culture: Otakon 2026 in Washington, D.C. adds Mina Aoyama and voice creator Nichole Goodnight as guest panelists.

Courts & Elections: A federal appeals court upheld a ruling blocking President Trump’s order to create a federal voter list and restrict mail ballots to people on it, keeping the fight alive ahead of the 2026 midterms. Congress & Governance: The House passed a package of bills including measures on federal project cost reporting, wheelchair payment rules, contractor whistleblower protections, and breast/cervical cancer program reauthorization. DC Politics & Federal Oversight: A D.C.-linked legal dispute highlights how federal courts are weighing challenges to Trump administration actions affecting voting access. Judiciary Nomination: Colorado Chief Judge Daniel Domenico’s nomination advanced after a party-line committee vote, underscoring the ongoing battle over judicial independence. Party Politics: Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Megan Romer doubled down on dismantling major institutions in a high-profile interview, fueling intraparty tension as campaigns gear up. Local/Community: A Sierra Leone reverend sang the national anthem outside the White House, drawing diaspora attention and goodwill.

Mail Voting Fight: A federal appeals court kept in place blocks on Trump’s mail-in voting tightening in 23 states, rejecting DOJ’s push to pause the injunction as deadlines loom. DOJ Spending Scrutiny: Politico reports DOJ spent about $892k on giant Trump-face “beautification” banners at the RFK building, with some costs redacted as trade secrets. D.C. Governance & Taxes: House Republicans advanced a measure to limit D.C.’s ability to raise taxes or fees without Congress, teeing up another fight over local control. National Security & Diplomacy: Trump is set to host Netanyahu next week amid Iran tensions, while Zelenskyy also plans a White House visit tied to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral. Local Civic Life: Taiwan debuted at the World Children’s Festival on the National Mall, with a Taiwan pavilion running through Sunday. Election Integrity Debate: AARP warned against unelected figures drafting Social Security’s future as election-year politics heats up.

Cyclospora Crisis: A former top FDA official warns the nationwide cyclospora outbreak response is nearing “catastrophic” levels, calling for an independent review as federal messaging and lab findings—after a false positive tied to recalled Taylor Farms lettuce—continue to spark confusion. Senate Power Math: With Sen. Mitch McConnell sidelined, Republicans say stalled legislation and looming deadlines could worsen the already tight 53–47 Senate margin, complicating major votes. D.C. Courts & Immigration: A federal judge in Washington dismissed a challenge to a 75-country immigrant visa pause, while another judge denied prosecutors’ bid to depose a DNA analyst in a D.C. criminal case before she leaves the country. Medicaid & Reproductive Care: The nationwide Medicaid ban on routine Planned Parenthood services has expired, but states still control whether clinics can bill Medicaid. National Security: The U.S. military halted strikes against Iran as Oman and Qatar push a diplomatic pause, even as both sides signal escalation risk. Local Governance Watch: D.C. home rule faces fresh scrutiny as House action targets the District’s ability to manage and modify its taxes. WHCA Dinner Fallout: Trump used the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington to roast the press and revisit the April chaos, including a Nicki Minaj joke that drew attention.

Smithsonian History Fight: Trump ordered warning signs outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, citing “historical inaccuracies” and “anti-Americanism,” escalating a long-running dispute over how the museum presents U.S. history. WHCA Dinner Security & Politics: The rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner returned to D.C. under tighter security after the April shooting, with Trump delivering a rambling, joke-heavy speech that still took shots at the press and Democrats. TPS for Haitians: The D.C. Circuit blocked the Trump administration’s immediate move to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, delaying the deadline and giving families another procedural reprieve. D.C. Labor/Rules: A D.C. Circuit ruling freed employers from an automatic “successor bar” in union decertification, signaling future friction for NLRB action. Wildfire Readiness: Forest Service chief Tom Schultz told lawmakers fires are surging beyond normal levels as drought and heat worsen conditions, while staffing cuts raise questions about capacity. D.C. Data Center Power Clash: New reporting highlights how the AI/data-center boom is driving fights over electricity and local impacts across D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. Cyber & Privacy: Eyemart Express confirmed a breach involving sensitive customer data, including Social Security numbers and prescriptions.

D.C. Tax Fight: House Oversight advanced the D.C. Taxing Authority Review Act, a move that would require Congress to approve D.C. tax increases—setting up a new home-rule showdown. Election Security & Data Access: A federal judge blocked DOJ from getting Kentucky voter rolls, while New Jersey refused to hand over sensitive noncitizen voter-registration data to the department. AI Power Costs: A new grid-operator capacity auction cleared at the price cap for PJM, underscoring how AI data centers are pushing electricity buildout costs onto everyday ratepayers. Education Civil Rights Rollback: The Education Department is removing “disparate impact” discrimination rules, drawing sharp backlash from civil rights and education groups. White House Press Tensions: The White House Correspondents’ Dinner returns with a smaller crowd and tighter Secret Service security after the April attack and ongoing friction with journalists. Defense & Industry: Korea’s major shipbuilders expanded U.S. cooperation via a Washington partnership center, while the Pentagon nominated a new Army Europe and Africa commander. Local Workforce: USDA union leaders rallied against a plan to relocate thousands of D.C. employees to regional offices.

Crypto Deadline Jitters: U.S. Senate leaders say they may miss the August vote on the CLARITY Act, as Democrats balk at weak ethics limits that critics say won’t rein in President Trump’s crypto profits. Health Care Costs Spotlight: New BEA data ranks D.C. among the highest per-capita health spenders in 2024, underscoring how local costs shape national affordability debates. Child Labor Lawsuit in D.C.: Lindt is sued in federal court in Washington, D.C., over allegations it knew for decades about child labor in cocoa from Ghana and Ivory Coast while marketing ethical sourcing. Energy Grid Pressure: Maryland lawmakers and advocates rallied at FERC over PJM’s governance, arguing the grid operator’s structure favors market players over ratepayers. D.C. Education/Finance Dispute: Hundreds of Howard University incoming freshmen report being unenrolled over unpaid balances, while the school cites a July 10 tuition deadline amid delayed scholarship aid. Tariff Turbulence: Canada says Trump’s new forced-labor tariffs violate trade agreements, as the U.S. rolls out duties after a temporary global tariff expires. National Politics Rhetoric: Sen. Tommy Tuberville escalates attacks on New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, using “Gitmo” language in a broader immigration-and-socialism fight.

War Powers Showdown: The House voted 214-208 to curb President Trump’s Iran war effort, with Rep. Warren Davidson breaking with GOP leadership again—while the Senate rejected a stronger measure, keeping the conflict going under Republican opposition. D.C. Security Spotlight: Ahead of the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Secret Service leaders warned threat levels are “off the charts,” citing about 10,000 protective intelligence cases since January. Local Governance & Budgets: Corbin commissioners approved the first reading of the 2026-27 budget and made personnel appointments. Tech & Federal Policy: FedRAMP’s head warned that vendors unable to quickly patch serious vulnerabilities shouldn’t sell to the federal government. Immigration & Enforcement Debate: A DHS list surfaced in a sanctuary-city dispute, as lawmakers argued over whether localities turn over removable immigrants. Historic Preservation Fight: Trump administration moves to weaken federal oversight for projects affecting historic sites drew criticism from preservation advocates. Defense & Oversight: Senators pressed acting AG Todd Blanche’s nomination forward one week, while lawmakers also sparred over Pentagon strategy and shifting Iran-war rationales. DC-Adjacent Economy: A push to rename Penn Station is tied to federal funding talks for the rebuild.

D.C. Election Integrity Fight: A federal appeals court upheld Peter Navarro’s Jan. 6 contempt convictions, rejecting his separation-of-powers and executive-privilege claims and reinforcing that Congress can compel subpoena compliance. Local Governance / Taxes: House Republicans advanced a $95B Iran-war and Trump-priority budget package, setting up another high-stakes fight over offsets and Senate buy-in. Voting Rights Watch: Sen. Raphael Warnock urged Congress to investigate whether states that redrew maps after a Supreme Court ruling illegally discriminated against Black voters. Immigration Pressure on D.C.: A D.C. appeals court granted Haitians a short TPS reprieve, delaying deportation protection ending while litigation continues. D.C. Courts & Federal Power: A separate report highlights how DHS election-roll demands are colliding with state election authority, leaving experts unsure what federal officials can legally enforce. Policy & Tech: A new push to treat “transnational repression” as a federal crime targets foreign intimidation of U.S.-based activists, with DOJ and FBI enforcement implications. Local Community: A GoFundMe for Nolan Wells’ family surpassed $750,000 after his death on Horn Island, with Ben Crump and others backing an independent autopsy push.

D.C. Tax Fight: A House committee is weighing a bill that would require Congress to approve any D.C. tax or fee changes, putting the District’s budget and local governance under tighter federal control. Immigration & Congress: House Judiciary advanced a major Trump-named border package, but GOP leaders face an uphill vote count and a Senate roadblock—highlighting fractures over immigration enforcement. Election Security & Voting: DOJ reached an agreement with South Carolina to speed overseas and military voting for a special primary, while lawmakers keep pushing election rules and voter-roll demands. Military & War Funding: Top Pentagon officials testified on the Iran war supplemental, seeking $87B more as Democrats and Republicans spar over costs and priorities. Environment & PFAS: D.C. and 17 states urged EPA to reverse a PFAS drinking-water rollback that would loosen testing requirements. Postal Service Oversight: Sen. Josh Hawley unveiled a bill to block USPS executive bonuses unless on-time delivery hits 95%. Midterms Watch: Kalshi launched a Midterms Hub to track money and market expectations for Senate, House, and governor races. NOAA Storm Data: A Senate bill unanimously passed to codify and fund NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter fleet.

Defense Funding Fight: Sen. Patty Murray signaled Democrats won’t back Pete Hegseth’s $87B+ Iran-war supplemental, warning against “rubber-stamping” more spending without a plan. Courts & Federal Power: The D.C. Circuit upheld HHS authority tied to 340B rebate plans, a win for federal regulators in drug-pricing oversight. Election Integrity & Voting Access: A D.C. Circuit ruling backed USPS authority in a mail-ballot dispute tied to citizenship checks, keeping the pressure on states’ voter-roll practices. ICE Enforcement: DHS reported issuing about $84B in civil fines to illegal immigrants, collecting roughly $1.2B so far, as ICE highlights arrests of people it says are serious criminals. Local Governance: D.C. is seeking public participation on boards and committees, while other cities push community safety events like National Night Out. Policy & Economy: A new antitrust enforcement report argues the U.S. has swung ideologically, harming competition and consumers. Trade: Trump’s new Canada tariffs face possible court challenges, with experts saying the legal footing may be tougher than critics assume.

D.C. Courtroom Watch: A D.C. Superior Court judge urged the Trump administration to preserve the damaged Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool sections so defense attorneys can inspect them, warning the government could be “operating at its own peril” if it doesn’t maintain access while the case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn moves forward. Election Law Fight: Voting-rights groups asked a federal judge to again block Trump’s mail-voting restrictions, arguing USPS should not be allowed to use state voter lists and barcode-linked ballots to deny delivery. National Security & D.C. Funding: Sen. Patty Murray pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a supplemental request, calling parts of it unrelated to the Iran war—while one item includes funding tied to the National Guard to patrol D.C. Local Governance: The Brevard City Council wants data on the true extent of homelessness before changing ordinances that could expand misdemeanor enforcement. Politics & Power: The White House Correspondents’ Association is holding a more intimate rescheduled dinner in Washington after the April Hilton shooting halted the event. Legal/Privacy: The D.C. Circuit rejected Biden’s bid to block release of audio from memoir ghostwriter interviews, citing a “substantial” public interest.