Former first lady Jill Biden has been left exposed by her loyal White House "work husband" after he tried to avoid giving testimony to Congress.
Anthony Bernal was Jill's closest ally in the Biden administration, making him a key witness in the probe of her actual husband's cognitive decline.
Now no longer in power, Bernal is helping the family obstruct a congressional inquiry into Joe Biden's health, but Bernal's efforts have already backfired.
After he refused to sit for an interview, Republicans responded to Bernal's insolence with a subpoena requiring him to testify on July 16.
Bernal had been scheduled to talk on Thursday, but backed out after President Trump waived executive privilege, leaving the Biden confidant exposed to potentially sharing confidential secrets.
"Now that the White House has waived executive privilege, it's abundantly clear that Anthony Bernal -- Jill Biden's so-called 'work husband' -- never intended to be transparent about Joe Biden's cognitive decline and the ensuing cover-up," said House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer (R-KY)
Bernal enjoyed intimate access to the Biden family and stayed loyal during the chaotic weeks that led to Joe Biden suspending his re-election campaign last summer.
His role in the Biden administration has come into focus after a sudden awakening of journalists regarding Biden's cognitive decline, an issue that the liberal media ignored for most of his presidency.
Republicans have already heard from former White House official Neera Tanden, who voluntarily testified about her role in using an autopen to sign orders on Biden's behalf. She notably said that she had limited contact with Biden himself.
It is now widely believed that Biden was not fully in charge during his four years in power.
While Democrats have dismissed the congressional probe, Republicans have said that a complete understanding of what transpired serves the public interest, given the troubling likelihood that Americans lived under a shadow presidency that they did not elect.
"Given your close connection with both former President Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden, the Committee sought to understand if you contributed to an effort to hide former President Biden’s fitness to serve from the American people," Comer wrote to Bernal. "You have refused the Committee’s request. However, to advance the Committee’s oversight and legislative responsibilities and interests, your testimony is critical."
Bernal is not the only member of Biden's circle who has tried to avoid appearing before Congress.
Kevin O'Connor, Biden's longtime physician, was subpoenaed after he tried to weasel out of an interview, citing, in part, patient confidentiality.
Wisconsin's liberal Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge from Democrats against the state's "gerrymandered" congressional map.
The ruling preserves the current GOP-drawn lines for the 2026 midterm elections, a setback for Democrats who have long sought to redraw the lines in the swing state.
This is the second time in as many years that the Supreme Court turned away Democrats' requests to overturn the current map, which was adopted with the approval of the Supreme Court's former conservative majority.
Two years after the court struck down a GOP state legislative map, this latest ruling suggests there are limits to the favors Democrats can expect to receive from the liberal majority that has dominated the court since 2023.
Control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped when liberal Janet Protasiewicz won what was then the most expensive U.S. judicial race ever. Liberals in Wisconsin won another pivotal Supreme Court race this year, preserving the 4-3 liberal majority.
The day after Protasiewicz was seated, Democrats filed a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's state legislative map, and months later, it was struck down by the new liberal majority. Controversially, Protasiewicz declined to recuse herself despite calling Wisconsin's map "rigged" while campaigning for the court.
Democrats have had less luck overturning the current congressional map, which was approved by the Supreme Court's former conservative majority. The map was drawn by Democrat Gov. Tony Evers and largely reflects lines drawn by the GOP in 2010
The Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously rejected two lawsuits challenging Wisconsin's current congressional lines, dealing a blow to Democrats' hopes of winning back the House of Representatives.
The decision is also a blow to Marc Elias, a notorious Clinton ally and serial election litigator who brought one of the lawsuits.
This comes after the Supreme Court rejected a similar Democratic challenge in December 2024, also without explaining why.
“It’s good that Wisconsin has fair maps at the state level, but we deserve them at the federal level as well,” Democrat U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI) said. “Unfortunately, gerrymandered maps for members of Congress will remain in Wisconsin.”
Republicans control six out of eight of the House districts in Wisconsin, a state that President Donald Trump won by less than a percentage point in 2024.
Democrats had hoped a new congressional map would help them win two seats, which are currently represented by Republican Reps. Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil.
“The bipartisan rejection of the radical Democrats’ desperate and politically motivated attempt to redraw the map in their favor offers a strong preview of how Wisconsin voters will reject the Democrats’ out of touch and radical agenda next year at the ballot box,” National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesman Zach Bannon told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement.
The Trump administration confirmed that it will deport accused MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia after he faces trial for smuggling.
During a hearing Thursday, a Justice Department lawyer said he would be removed to a "third country" that is not his native El Salvador. Now, Abrego Garcia wants to stay in jail in the United States to avoid deportation.
It's the latest development in a legal saga that has featured prominently in the battle between Trump administration and Democrats over immigration.
The federal case against Abrego Garcia accuses him of trafficking illegal aliens from Texas to the U.S. interior. In 2022, Abrego Garcia was suspected of smuggling during a traffic stop in Tennessee but was not charged at the time.
The administration has also been prosecuting a case in the court of public opinion, citing evidence of Abrego Garcia's MS-13 ties and accusing Democrats who have defended him of having a soft spot for criminals.
The Trump administration returned Abrego Garcia to the U.S. this month to face criminal charges, following weeks of pressure from courts to reverse his "mistaken" deportation to his native land. The illegal alien had been living in Maryland for years when he was removed to his country of origin, sparking a furious backlash from Democrats who accused Trump of ignoring due process.
The judge in Abrego Garcia's criminal case in Tennessee, U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes, was prepared to release him from jail, finding that he wasn't a flight risk or a danger to the community. But the judge reversed course after the Trump administration told a different judge in Maryland that he is facing removal to a country other than El Salvador.
“We do plan to comply with the orders we’ve received from this court and other courts,” Justice Department attorney Jonathan Guynn told U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis. “But there’s no timeline for these specific proceedings.”
The move would conceivably allow the government to skirt a 2019 "withholding of removal" barring Abrego Garcia's deportation to his native country.
A Supreme Court ruling this week permitted Trump to deport aliens to third countries that are not their nations of origin.
Lawyers for Abrego Garcia have asked the judge in Tennessee to delay his release from jail, saying the government's intentions are unclear. The Justice Department initially gave no timeline, which led Abrego Garcia's attorneys to claim he is facing deportation "immediately," but the DOJ clarified that he would face trial first.
The Trump administration said that there is nothing shocking about his potential deportation, since Abrego Garcia was never granted asylum. He instead won a limited form of relief blocking his deportation to El Salvador specifically.
Abrego Garcia could be deported to any other country that is willing to receive him.
"Given that the Defendant was first deemed deportable back in 2019 -- and a copy of that order was made an exhibit to the detention hearing by the Defendant’s previous counsel -- this should not be a surprise to the defense and is certainly not a surprise to this Court,” prosecutors wrote.
Attorneys for disgraced music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs agreed not to use politics or the ongoing conflict with Iran as part of his defense strategy, the UK Daily Mail reported. Combs is facing a slew of charges for sex trafficking as his trial is expected to wrap up this week.
Sources claimed that Combs's team was considering whether to "invoke the recent conflict" in closing arguments. The attorneys contend that the Homeland Security Investigators who raided his Los Angeles home in March "instigated" the case with sensational details.
The 55-year-old's legal team apparently believes HSI should have been focused on Iran instead of his long-rumored deviant behavior. This comes after the U.S. destroyed Iran's nuclear weapons program with a missile strike Saturday that resulted in a temporary escalation.
On Monday, which marked the 28th day of the Diddy trial, Iran retaliated against the U.S. by lobbing missiles at American military bases in Qatar. Judge Arun Subramanian, who is presiding over the case, made it clear that using any of this in court would not be tolerated.
Combs is in the midst of a trial for charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, racketeering, and others. News of the novel strategy of including politics in the courtroom comes as Combs officially announced on Tuesday that he will not testify.
Marc Agnifilo, Combs's defense attorney, verified that he "discussed at length" the implications either way and that Combs made his decision accordingly. Combs confirmed it was his decision guided by his attorneys' legal advice, and the judge accepted it.
As for the prospect of using the Iran conflict in a last-ditch effort to defend himself, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey threatened to "object during defense summation" if it were invoked. "I really don't want to do that," Comey said, according to Fox News.
"So I just wanted to put on the record that we think it would be objectionable and crossing a line for any summation to bring us politics or current events or the propriety of this prosecution and the use of government resources," Comey added. The prosecutor warned the defense not "to cross over those lines" and promised to speak up if they did.
"I would object in the middle of his summation and ask the Court to instruct the jury to disregard any comments like that. So I just wanted to state that in advance of summations and the hope that it's not necessary," Comey clarified.
The judge noted "an agreement by the defense not to engage in any of that type of argument" that brought in the conflict in Iran. Subramanian had asked Combs's defense attorney whether there was "anything to worry about here" with this tactic.
"Nothing to worry about, Judge," Diddy's defense lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, responded. That response has shut down the possibility of the Iran conflict being part of the defense, but it only adds to the impression that the high-stakes case is about to implode on Combs.
Attorneys for Combs have an uphill climb if they hope to get him acquitted. While some charges may not stick, there are just too many piling up that seem to be well established by the prosecution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Slavik charged that Combs believed "fame, wealth, and power put him above the law" when committing his alleged misdeeds and forcing others to do the same. "He wouldn’t take no for an answer," Slavik said, which is at the heart of this trial.
Defense attorneys for Combs have a tough road ahead if they wish to convince the jury of his innocence. It seems they're grasping at straws, and all of the fame, fortune, and excuses in the world won't be enough to get Combs out of trouble.
Senate Republicans have made concessions to those concerned about Medicaid cuts and other provisions in President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill," Fox News reported. This has caused division in the GOP, while worries about a narrow majority could jeopardize its final passage.
Trump is attempting to reduce the budget in his signature legislation, including targeting entitlements. However, some of those cuts include a key provision for Medicaid that is unpopular even among some Republicans.
The bill would cap the Medicaid provider tax rate, which helps states recover costs for their expenditures by taxing providers. In an effort to shore up the votes, Senate Republicans are attempting to placate those worried about cuts that would threaten rural hospitals without state funds to keep them afloat.
The Senate Finance Committee has proposed the creation of a stabilization fund worth $3 billion per year over the next five years. This would offset the cuts and could make the bill more palatable, but Republicans continue to duke it out.
Even with such a concession, it's unclear whether the reconciliation bill will pass muster. Meanwhile, Trump has urged Republicans to work together to get this passed before the Independence Day recess.
"Now that we have made PEACE abroad, we must finish the job here at home by passing 'THE GREAT, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,' and getting the Bill to my desk, ASAP. It will be a Historic Present for THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, as we begin the Celebration of our Country’s 250th Birthday," Trump wrote Tuesday on his Truth Social.
"We are finally entering our Golden Age, which will bring unprecedented Safety, Security, and Prosperity for ALL of our Citizens. To my friends in the Senate, lock yourself in a room if you must, don’t go home, and GET THE DEAL DONE THIS WEEK," Trump urged.
"Work with the House so they can pick it up, and pass it, IMMEDIATELY. NO ONE GOES ON VACATION UNTIL IT’S DONE. Everyone, most importantly the American People, will be much better off thanks to our work together. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
The bill faced another hurdle on Thursday as Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough continued to hack away at many key provisions, The Hill reported. Because it's a budget reconciliation, the bill has to adhere to the Byrd Rule.
Budget reconciliation requires a simple majority rather than the 60 votes usually needed for other legislation. Proposing it this way also prevents a filibuster and is meant strictly for spending issues, so that other legislation can't sneak through without proper scrutiny.
MacDonough has questioned whether several elements, including Medicaid cuts, would comply with the Byrd Rule. One of those included a prohibition on illegal immigrants, refugees, and others with "temporary protected status" from receiving Medicare eligibility.
Worst of all, MacDonough nixed a provision that would deny payments for so-called "gender-affirming care" for minors. This has made Trump frustrated with her, while some are calling for MacDonough's ouster.
There are many objections and issues that must be settled before the bill passes. Although Trump would like to see it happen before July 4, there are too many obstacles just from Republicans.
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright said on Thursday that the Trump administration is working to support a power grid that is reaching its limit.
Fox News reported that Wright cautioned that, currently, the Trump administration is working to prevent a disaster for the country:
"In my department, we've issued four emergency orders just in the last few weeks to stop the closure of reliable plants, so we can keep the lights on and stop pushing up electricity prices," Wright said on "Mornings with Maria."
"We were on a course that was a train wreck," he added. "We're doing everything possible now to sweep out the nonsense."
Earlier in the week, the DOE issued an emergency order to address the Southeast heatwave that is putting the power grid's capabilities under intense pressure.
According to the department, the stress puts sections of. The country is at risk of blackouts, and certain areas are at maximum utilization of the electric generating units.
"We had to issue an emergency order a few days ago just to let utilities in the Southeast run their plants at full capacity so they could keep the lights on. Under the Biden laws, that's illegal," Wright claimed.
According to the energy chief, it's only because of recent changes by the Trump administration on how energy generation and usage will be prioritized that the amount of power we have has been sufficient.
"Emissions rules would have prevented them from producing all the electricity they could, and they would have had rolling brownouts," Wright said. "That's just total nonsense."
The administration has been making major changes to boost grid capability and give the DOE access to emergency orders, and analyze electricity reserves in the U.S.
In February of this year, Wright signed a secretarial order as part of his plan to “Unleash [the] Golden Era of American Energy Dominance” under Trump's orders.
The order directed the DOE to pursue Trump's plan of American energy dominance, and he outlined nine core actions that would reduce regulatory barriers, expand domestic energy production, and modernize infrastructure.
The order also made it clear that the abundance of available energy was more important to the administration than net-zero carbon emission goals, saying that national security and economic competitiveness are top administration priorities.
"America is blessed with abundant energy resources – we are the world’s top oil and gas producer and a net energy exporter for the first time in decades," the order states. "Our energy abundance is an asset, not a liability."
In a sudden turn of events, Anthony Bernal has withdrawn his testimony initially planned for the House Oversight Committee.
Bernal's cancellation comes after the White House waived executive privilege, encouraging the committee to think about issuing a subpoena.
Bernal was expected to provide a transcribed interview concerning the former President Joe Biden's use of the autopen. The autopen, a machine used to sign documents, was a tool during Biden's administration, sparking controversy about transparency. The focus of the investigation was on how the autopen was utilized, potentially hinting at a cover-up of Biden's health matters.
The situation took a new dimension when the White House decided to waive executive privilege concerning Bernal's potential testimony. This decision removed any legal shields Bernal might have relied on to refrain from appearing before the committee.
Before his cancellation, Neera Tanden, who previously served as staff secretary, had provided testimony regarding the autopen's use. Her appearance marked a crucial phase in the ongoing investigation led by the House Oversight Committee.
Following the waiver and Tanden’s testimony, Bernal opted out of attending the scheduled transcribed interview. The decision was a significant moment that stirred reactions among committee members.
Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, expressed his views publicly following the developments. He described Bernal's withdrawal as an indication of unwillingness to expose the truth about President Biden's cognitive state and suggested that Bernal never intended to be transparent.
Comer emphasized the importance of uncovering what he described as a cover-up. He argued that the waiver of executive privilege had left Bernal exposed, opening avenues for a compelled appearance.
The Chairman asserted that the Citizenship Oversight Board would pursue Bernal’s testimony, suggesting further investigative steps. In his statement, he voiced a resolution to ensure accountability and transparency.
Given Bernal's decision not to appear, Chairman Comer has indicated plans to issue a subpoena to mandate Bernal's presence. This development could prolong the investigation as the committee seeks full disclosure concerning the autopen utilization during Biden's tenure.
The issuance of a subpoena would be an escalation in the effort to secure Bernal's testimony. It reflects the significant interest the committee has in understanding the perceived implications of autopen use under Biden's leadership.
Comer highlighted that the American populace deserves clarity on the decision-making processes during the former administration. The committee's exploration seeks to address unanswered inquiries about the physical autopen use and its implications on governance.
The committee's actions showcase a commitment to uncover facts related to matters affecting national leadership. As oversight activities continue, the resulting testimonies and evidence are expected to provide insights into administrative functioning and decision dynamics.
The focus remains on transparency and holding public officials accountable for actions undertaken while in office. Observers are keen to see how the committee’s efforts unfold amid anticipated testimonies and potential legal proceedings.
In light of these developments, the saga involves a delicate balance of legal, political, and administrative interests. Bernal's potential appearance under a subpoena could ultimately yield new insights into the presidency's operational transparency.
President Trump is suing all 15 of Maryland's federal judges, a dramatic escalation in his efforts to restrain an activist judiciary from thwarting his popular immigration plans.
For months, Trump's agenda has run into various legal roadblocks, with unelected judges ordering Trump to slow down or even reverse deportations in some instances.
This latest controversy stems from a bizarre rule fashioned by Chief Judge George L. Russell III of Maryland, an Obama appointee. The rule permits any alien to obtain an automatic injunction against their removal as long as they file a habeas petition.
The Trump administration blasted the rule as the latest effort by meddlesome judges to interfere with Trump's legitimate authority over immigration.
“This lawsuit involves yet another regrettable example of the unlawful use of equitable powers to restrain the executive,” Trump's lawyers wrote. “Specifically, defendants have instituted an avowedly automatic injunction against the federal government, issued outside the context of any particular case or controversy.”
The new rule fashions a novel "right" for aliens to obtain an injunction, contrary to the Supreme Court's holdings on injunctive relief, the Trump team said.
The administration's lawsuit named the entire bench of federal judges in Maryland, a state that has figured prominently in the Trump administration's battles over immigration. One of the judges, Paula Xinis, is an Obama appointee who has attracted attention for her role in the case of Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, widely depicted as a "Maryland man" by sympathetic media.
"Defendants’ automatic injunction issues whether or not the alien needs or seeks emergency relief, whether or not the court has jurisdiction over the alien’s claims, and no matter how frivolous the alien’s claims may be. And it does so in the immigration context, thus intruding on core Executive Branch powers," the administration wrote.
The habeas rule encourages aliens to engage in fraudulent legal games, as they can file petitions without any proof that they are located in Maryland.
The court's rule does not allow the government "any opportunity to contest the alien’s assertion of being 'located in the District of Maryland' at the time of a habeas filing," the administration wrote.
Adding to this problem, it permits filings "on behalf of an alien, even though the filer may not know the alien’s location at the time of filing." The administration cited a specific example of an alien detained in Texas.
"The Court has applied the Amended Standing Order in a case in which the habeas petition, filed on June 6, alleged that the petitioner was detained in Maryland, but the petitioner had already arrived at a detention facility in Texas on the previous day, June 5.... Despite this undisputed fact, the Court entered and later extended the Amended Standing Order," the Department of Justice explained.
Trump's dramatic decision to sue all 15 Maryland judges reflects his determination to barrel through judicial resistance to his mass deportations, which he was specifically elected by the people to carry out.
The Supreme Court handed Trump some relief this week, ruling he can deport aliens to third countries where they have no ties.
President Trump is inching closer to picking a replacement for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who has angered Trump for months with his refusal to slash interest rates despite cooling inflation.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump may name Powell's successor earlier than usual, weakening his influence over monetary policy for the remainder of his tenure.
Powell's term ends next May, but Trump could announce his replacement as early as this summer. That would create a much longer overlap than the usual three-to-four-month transition period, the Journal noted.
Some of the replacements Trump is considering are Fed Gov. Kevin Warsh and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has won praise as Trump's tariff messenger, is also being pitched for the role.
Trump is eager to bring the interest rate down to stimulate the economy. A lower rate would make it cheaper to borrow across the economy, and for consumers, it would mean spending less to take out a mortgage or finance a car.
"The administration is now laying the groundwork — including with the one, big, beautiful bill — to turbocharge economic, job, and investment growth, and it’s high time for monetary policy to complement this agenda and support America’s economic resurgence," White House spokesman Kush Desai told the Journal.
Trump's critics accuse him of trying to undermine the independence of the central bank, but Trump and others see Powell's monetary policy as politically motivated. Critics point out that the Fed slashed interest rates before the 2024 election, when Democrats controlled the White House, but the central bank is reluctant to do the same now.
Ahead of Powell's testimony to Congress on Tuesday, Trump urged lawmakers to pressure Powell to change course, calling him a "very dumb, hardheaded person." Trump has given Powell the nickname "Too Late," mocking his cautious approach as a policy setter.
That criticism has been echoed by Trump's loyal vice president J.D. Vance, who accused Powell of "monetary malpractice" by not cutting rates when inflation is low.
Prices barely ticked up in May, with annual inflation holding steady at 2.4%, blowing away predictions of a tariff-induced inflation disaster.
The Fed aims for an inflation target of about 2%, but Powell is taking a wait-and-see approach as the economic impact of Trump's tariffs plays out.
Powell predicts the tariff inflation will begin to appear in June's report, but he admitted inflation could come in lower than anticipated.
“We do expect tariff inflation to show up more,” Powell told the House Financial Services Committee Tuesday. "We really don’t know how much of that’s going to be passed through the consumer. We have to wait and see.”
Andrew Cuomo is dropping out of New York's mayoral election, a move that could help consolidate the moderate vote in the general election and derail socialist extremist Zohran Mamdani.
While some speculate that Cuomo might run in the fall as an independent, his team sees no viable path forward after his stunning loss to Mamdani in Tuesday's primary, the New York Post reported.
Cuomo insists that he is still weighing his options, but "several insiders close to the Cuomo camp" say the ex-governor sees the writing on the wall.
“The understanding is he’s not running, every indication is that he doesn’t want to do it and the money wouldn’t be there even if he did want to do it,” said one union leader.
The former governor's decision is encouraging news to those who want to see Mamdani fail in November, even if it means re-electing incumbent mayor Eric Adams, a conservative Democrat who is running as an independent.
The primary received nationwide attention, pitting a tarnished idol of the Democratic establishment against a 33-year-old far-left progressive newcomer.
Cuomo came with a scandalous past - he resigned as governor of New York in 2021 over sexual harassment claims and was accused of covering up nursing home deaths during COVID - that cast a cloud over his comeback effort, and his campaign was widely seen as an ineffective response to Mamdani's youthful challenge.
The previously obscure Queens assemblyman, who was born in Uganda and was only naturalized in 2018, triumphed with lavish promises of free stuff and vacuous, Obama-like optimism.
With Mamdani on the verge of governing the nation's largest city, moderates and conservatives are clinging to hope that it's not too late to stop him and his radical agenda.
The conservative New York Post published an editorial pleading with Cuomo to drop out and shore up Adams, a moderate Democrat who has cooperated with the Trump administration on immigration.
If Cuomo does not run in the fall, it is expected that Adams would benefit by gaining some of Cuomo's supporters. Business leaders in the world's financial capital are considering backing Adams, although some have concerns about the mayor's popularity rating, the New York Post reported.
Adams' coziness with Trump has made him a reviled figure to many in New York, and he is persona non grata with the Democratic establishment. Several prominent Democrats rushed to congratulate Mamdani on Tuesday, including New York Governor Kathy Hochul and former president Bill Clinton, who had supported Cuomo in the primary.
GOP operatives are also looking at ways to convince Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa to end his campaign - including by lining up a job in the Trump administration, in order to get Adams on the Republican line, the New York Post reported.