Tuesday, July 15th, 2025 - Tariffs for Russia; xAI payday; ICE morale dip; SCOTUS pauses ED layoffs; Cuomo can’t take a hint & more

Today’s Headlines: President Trump announced a plan to send weapons to Ukraine via NATO and threatened 100% tariffs on Russia—or “secondary tariffs” on countries buying Russian oil—if a ceasefire isn't reached in 50 days. Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s xAI secured a $200M Defense Department contract days after Grok declared itself “MechaHitler” and spewed antisemitic content. The Supreme Court paused an order blocking 1,400 layoffs at the Education Department, just as 24 states and D.C. sued the Trump administration over $7B in frozen education funds. The administration is also appealing a court order banning immigration arrests without probable cause, even as ICE agents express deep dissatisfaction with the politically driven deportation focus. In Congress, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez proposed giving the ethics office power to review lawmakers’ cognitive fitness. And in New York, Andrew Cuomo—undeterred by his primary loss—launched an independent bid for mayor, joining a crowded field for November’s ballot.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

• CNN: Trump announces novel plan to send weapons to Ukraine and gives Russia new deadline to make peace

• The Verge: US government announces $200 million Grok contract a week after ‘MechaHitler’ incident

• AP News: How Trump plans to dismantle the Education Department after Supreme Court ruling

• WaPo: States sue to force feds to release $7 billion in education funding

• Axios: Trump admin to appeal order barring race-based immigration arrests alleged in LA area

• The Atlantic: Trump Loves ICE. Its Workforce Has Never Been So Miserable.

• Axios: House Democrat floats radical solution to Congress' age problem

• WSJ: Andrew Cuomo Will Run in NYC Mayor’s General Election as an Independent

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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