The Trump administration is to keep hospitals from charging markups on discounted drugs for and says that could save consumers $1.1 billion next year, according to estimates obtained by the AP. The rule expected Thursday comes as the Republican administration tries to show it鈥檚 tackling the challenges of affordability for U.S. families.
Also, sued the Trump administration Wednesday, that would require officials to preserve records from investigations he says are targeting him for 鈥渨hat amounts to phantom criminal conduct.鈥�
says the records would shed light on the motivations of government officials who are investigating Brennan.
Here’s the latest:
Trump defends making so much personal money as president
In a CNBC interview, the president said, 鈥淚鈥檝e made a tremendous amount of money, more than I would have ever thought I鈥檝e made. And I let people invest it.鈥�
He insisted the investments were made without his input: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even speak to 鈥� I don鈥檛 even know who they are.鈥�
A recent federal filing showed that Trump took in nearly $1.2 billion from his crypto businesses last year alone.
Trump said during the interview that some of his assets were in 鈥渟emi-blind trusts or blind trusts鈥� without elaborating.
He said that, as president, he doesn鈥檛 run his family鈥檚 business, The Trump Organization, and has left doing so to his sons, adding there was nothing wrong with or illegal about what his family was doing.
Trump still won鈥檛 say if he鈥檒l sign bipartisan bill to address housing affordability
During a CNBC interview, Trump was asked about the that was sent to him this week despite his cancellation last week of a signing ceremony and an announcement that he wouldn鈥檛 sign it until an election-related bill pass.
Trump called the bill 鈥渇ine,鈥� a much warmer review than he gave it earlier this week when he declared it to be 鈥渁 yawn,鈥� but he still didn鈥檛 say whether he鈥檇 sign the legislation, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.
Louisiana AG is indicted by grand jury in fight over court changes
Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill is accused of trying to intimidate local officials who fought a law enacted by GOP legislators to overhaul the local courts.
Murrill told eight New Orleans officials, including its mayor and district attorney, that they could face removal from their jobs because of their opposition to the law.
The law eliminated the position of Orleans Parish criminal court clerk after a man who spent decades in prison for a wrongful conviction was elected to the post with 68% of the vote in a blue hub in a red state.
鈻�
State Department rolls out new Trump-branded passports to celebrate America鈥檚 250th
After announcing that the limited-edition Trump passports would be available to applicants who want them earlier this year, the department said they would become available on Monday.
鈥淭his special passport features striking custom artwork and enhanced imagery that honors our nation鈥檚 founding while maintaining all the advanced security features that make the U.S. passport the gold standard for travel and identity documents,鈥� the department said.
To get one of the commemorative passports, applicants must apply in-person to the Washington, D.C., passport office. Applicants who want the standard, traditional passport can apply online, by mail or at a passport agency outside of Washington.
ICE arrests 10,000 people over 5 days at the end of June
This marks a major push by the agency tasked with carrying out the Trump administration鈥檚 mass deportations agenda.
The arrests translate into roughly 2,000 per day, a sharp increase over previous periods.
In June, the number of people booked into Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities climbed to roughly 39,000.
The New York Times first reported the news of the arrests.
ICE doesn鈥檛 publicly release arrest data, making exact comparisons difficult. The Deportation Data Project provided data showing a significant increase in arrests.
Former Olympian indicted for alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism
A former Olympian was indicted Thursday on a felony charge in what Trump has called vandalism of the Reflecting Pool.
David Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, was indicted on a single count of property destruction in Washington, D.C., court.
He previously told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool to examine the newly peeled coating. Hearn, 67, said he stopped by the pool during a bike ride.
Trump has said federal authorities made 鈥渕ultiple arrests鈥� of people he said were vandalizing the Reflecting Pool following a $14-million-plus rehabilitation project he launched for the nation鈥檚 250th anniversary.
Democrats accuse Trump-linked fundraisers of America250 fraud
House Democrats allege consultants tied to Trump may have engaged in financial fraud related to the nation鈥檚 250th anniversary celebrations.
Democrats accuse the consultants of tricking donors who wanted to support the nation鈥檚 bipartisan 250th anniversary organizer into sending their money to a rival group set up by Trump鈥檚 Republican administration.
A Democratic report released Thursday says donors intending to contribute funds to the bipartisan America250 committee created by Congress were instead given banking and routing numbers for a different but similarly named Trump-backed group, Freedom 250.
A Freedom 250 spokesperson dismisses the Democrats鈥� report as 鈥渃ategorically false鈥� and calls it a 鈥減artisan smear.鈥�
鈻�
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is still rebounding despite recent attacks
At least 258 ships transited the waterway last week, a period that included Iranian strikes on two commercial vessels, according to marine data and analysis company Lloyd鈥檚 List Intelligence. That鈥檚 up from 138 ships the previous week.
Iran鈥檚 attacks on ships in the strait on June 25 and 27 鈥渟eem to have been forgotten,鈥� Richard Meade, editor-in-chief at Lloyd鈥檚, said Thursday during a webinar.
Still, traffic has slowed somewhat since the strikes and remains far below prewar levels, when about 130 vessels passed through daily.
And with ship operators having to choose between complying with Iran鈥檚 demands or braving the route off Oman watched by U.S. forces, 鈥渘othing about this situation is stable,鈥� Meade said.
Top FBI agent in Chicago abruptly leaving post, AP sources say
Douglas DePodesta has served as special agent in charge in Chicago, one of the FBI鈥檚 largest offices, for nearly two years and has been with the bureau since 2002.
He told colleagues in a resignation message that his last day would be Monday. Multiple people familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel move, said DePodesta had been pushed to retire.
The move is part of a as Director has sought to force out line agents and supervisors alike who are perceived as not supporting the Trump administration agenda. It also comes amid prolonged tumult in the law enforcement community in Chicago.
鈻�
-By Eric Tucker and Alanna Durkin Richer
American Hospital Association says Trump Medicare proposal could hurt hospitals
The American Hospital Association said the Trump administration鈥檚 proposal to keep hospitals from charging markups on discounted drugs for would compound the financial pressures its members face.
鈥淭hese proposals will undermine the ability of hospitals to maintain essential services and protect affordable access to care for those who depend on the 340B program,鈥� said Ashley Thompson, the group鈥檚 senior vice president for public policy analysis and development.
There is the risk that hospital systems could see their revenues decrease, which could have consequences in the communities they serve.
Goal of higher voter turnout remains elusive in California
California鈥檚 drawn-out tabulating has put the state in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump and made it a target of those who promote unfounded election conspiracy theories.
California has enacted many changes over the years that were intended to boost voter turnout. But there hasn鈥檛 been significant improvement in participation and those changes are largely responsible for the state鈥檚 tediously slow ballot counting today.
Preliminary figures show turnout hit 40.8% in the June primary, with counties required to complete their vote counting on Thursday.
That would be an increase over recent primary elections but below participation levels in others stretching back to 2000.
鈻�
Iran warns oil tankers to use approved routes in Strait of Hormuz or face a 鈥榝orceful response鈥�
Iran鈥檚 joint military command warned Thursday that all oil tankers moving through must use its approved routes or face a 鈥渇orceful response,鈥� again over a waterway crucial for international energy supplies.
The strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, has emerged as one of the top issues in negotiations seeking a permanent end to the Iran war. The statement from the Khatam al-Anbiya military command, reported by Iranian state television, comes after both U.S. and Iranian diplomats met with .
It wasn鈥檛 immediately clear what sparked the threat from Iran. However, the U.S. military鈥檚 Central Command had put out a statement about a meeting with officials from Mideast nations in Bahrain that said 鈥渓eaders underscored their shared commitment to the free flow of commerce through鈥� the strait.
That appears to have been the phrase that angered Iran, which is preparing for the funeral that begins this weekend for , who was killed in the war鈥檚 first moments in February.
鈻�
Hegseth praises National Guard in sweltering DC park as protesters chant
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other Trump administration officials thanked National Guard members for their service in the nation鈥檚 capital as small groups of protesters chanted, 鈥淕uard go home!鈥�
Hegseth apologized for being nearly 30 minutes late to the event in a city park, where more than 200 Guard members sweated in the morning sun as Washington faced an extreme heat warning.
Hegseth called the protesters 鈥渋ngrates鈥� as their whistles, chants and horn-blowing mixed with the speeches.
Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, claimed crime has rapidly fallen since President Trump deployed the Guard last year. Local officials say crime was already going down before Trump ordered troops into the city.
Hegseth credited Trump, Miller and the Guard for why Washington 鈥渋s a safe and beautiful place鈥� for the nation鈥檚 250th anniversary celebrations this weekend.
The Supreme Court tackled race, history and the law in fraught and reflective major rulings
The just wrapped up a term that yielded significant rulings in cases involving race and discrimination that could have lasting effects on U.S. politics and society.
Justices were at times bitterly divided 鈥� and critical of one another 鈥� in rulings that winnowed key provisions of a landmark , allowed the government to and even challenged the historic understanding of for the children of immigrants.
The decisions come at a moment when long-standing debates over race and identity have turned toward immigration, increasing racial diversity and the fairness of policies meant to prevent and redress discrimination.
鈻�
On July 4, Trump Accounts launch, giving newborns $1,000
On Saturday, Trump鈥檚 administration plans to launch Trump Accounts, tying of the signing of the Declaration of Independence to an effort to boost financial independence for American kids.
Under the program, parents can open for any child born during Trump鈥檚 second term and automatically receive $1,000 from the government. Accounts can be opened on behalf of older children 鈥� as long as they don鈥檛 turn 18 before the end of the calendar year 鈥� but they won鈥檛 get the $1,000.
That money 鈥� and anything else deposited by employers, philanthropies and relatives 鈥� is invested in the stock market by private firms. Children can鈥檛 access the money until they turn 18, and then only for specific purposes, like paying for a home or school.
鈻�
Trump administration proposes a rule it says could save Medicare patients $1.1 billion on drugs
The administration is proposing the new rule Thursday to keep hospitals from charging markups on discounted drugs for and says that could save consumers $1.1 billion next year, according to estimates obtained by The Associated Press.
The rule would apply to hospitals that serve low-income patients under what鈥檚 known as the 340B program, which lets hospitals buy outpatient prescription drugs at discounted prices. But in many cases, hospitals can bill insurers at rates that exceed those costs, allowing hospitals to keep the difference and resulting in higher costs to patients.
Under the proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would change the formula for what hospitals participating in the program can get reimbursed, in an effort to cut costs for patients.
The Republican administration has sought to show during an election year that it鈥檚 tackling the for U.S. families at a time when rising healthcare costs are driving financial strains for households and the government alike. While the administration has taken several steps it says will save money on medical treatment, it鈥檚 unclear how much savings might ultimately materialize based on the complexity of the country鈥檚 healthcare system.
鈻�
Trump and Republicans return to communist attacks against Democrats ahead of the midterm elections
President Trump and his fellow Republicans are reviving a line of attack against Democrats heading into the : They鈥檙e communists.
In just the past week, Trump has issued dark warnings that members of the Democratic Party鈥檚 ascendant left are communists who want to 鈥渃ompletely destroy the traditional American way of life鈥� and even engage in assassinations. Vice President has similarly called out communism as a political shift that is 鈥渟omething we haven鈥檛 seen in the U.S.鈥� House Speaker has decried 鈥渞adical candidates鈥� who are 鈥渟elf-described, self-identifying Marxists.鈥�
The GOP鈥檚 ideological focus conflates democratic socialism, which often centers on securing universal healthcare, higher taxes on wealthy people and stricter corporate regulation, with communism, under which private ownership is largely eliminated. It鈥檚 been building since , a democratic socialist, won the Democratic nomination for last year.
But it鈥檚 kicked into a higher gear recently after democratic socialists won several New York City congressional primaries last week.
鈻�
Trump administration鈥檚 $46 billion 鈥榮mart wall鈥� races ahead on the US-Mexico border
For decades, all that separated the U.S. from Mexico was barbed wire.
Now, after a massive , Trump鈥檚 administration is swiftly building what it鈥檚 dubbed a 鈥渟mart wall,鈥� a combination of 30-foot-tall (9-meter-tall) steel fencing and an array of sophisticated technology like sensors, cameras and towers allowing Border Patrol to surveil the territory.
The wall is under heavy scrutiny for to it when border crossings are at their lowest in decades. Critics say the U.S. is militarizing the border as it increasingly deploys sophisticated surveillance technology to the area, impacting local communities.
鈥淲e are seeing a massive expansion of surveillance and surveillance technology across the borderlands,鈥� said Ricky Garza, border policy counsel at the Southern Border Communities Coalition, an advocacy group. 鈥淭he wall in all its forms is harmful to communities.鈥�
Officials say the technology is complementary to the physical wall and frees up agents for other tasks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a smart wall. It鈥檚 not just a barrier,鈥� Customs and Border Protection said during recent congressional testimony.
鈻�
Crypto, real estate, watches: How Trump made over $1 billion last year
Trump鈥檚 latest financial disclosure report showed from various crypto holdings, overshadowing a real estate business that brought him fame and helped propel him to the nation鈥檚 top office.
Whereas it took decades for Trump to amass his various properties, the rise of crypto in his portfolio was done in just over a year.
Running over 900 pages, the mandatory annual report showed Trump struck several other new veins of wealth last year, raising questions about whether he is profiting from his high office.
He took in tens of millions from new property holdings in foreign countries eager to please a man with power over where to deploy the U.S. military and how much to charge in tariffs. And he got tens of million more suing media companies worried they could lose their broadcast licenses or not get deals approved by his regulators.
Ever the salesman, Trump even made big money off the smallest of things, pulling in millions by slapping his name on Bibles, guitars and watches 鈥� the latter alone bringing in $4.7 million.
鈻�
Trump visits newly built Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota鈥檚 Badlands
Trump visited North Dakota on Wednesday to see , a massive facility exploring the life of America鈥檚 26th president, built in the rugged, lonely landscape where Roosevelt built his conservation values in the 1880s.
During a tour of and in a speech afterward, Trump spoke admiringly of Roosevelt and compared himself favorably to the former president, who he described as the embodiment of the American spirit, praising his toughness as a leader and outdoorsman.
鈥淗e had a freakin鈥� wild life,鈥� Trump told an audience at a Western-themed amphitheater. 鈥淗e didn鈥檛 want to be quiet. He wanted to be great.鈥�
The official opening of the library on Saturday coincides with July Fourth celebrations honoring of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
鈻�
Ex-CIA Director John Brennan seeks court order requiring records from investigations be preserved
sued the Trump administration Wednesday, demanding a court order that would require officials to preserve records from investigations that he says are targeting him for 鈥渨hat amounts to phantom criminal conduct.鈥�
says the records would shed light on the motivations of government officials who are investigating Brennan and would form the basis of defense efforts to dismiss any eventual indictment on grounds that the case constitutes a vindictive prosecution.
Such an argument, his lawyers said, would be supported by the more than 100 verbal or written statements that has made since 2017 lambasting Brennan and by the Republican president鈥檚 directives to his Justice Department to initiate investigations of Brennan 鈥渨ithout regard to factual or legal justification.鈥�
Without an order, the lawsuit contends, the records are at risk of being lost or intentionally deleted.
鈻�
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
