Good evening. I’m British Chris, and this is Raw America.
Trump just lashed out at a reporter who asked him point-blank what his actual plan is for ending the Iran war on Iran. A Florida Republican congressman already under House Ethics investigation for sexual misconduct and financial violations is now apparently being investigated by the Justice Department. The president’s super PAC is sitting on $400 million but is still refusing to spend a dime helping Republican candidates with just over 100 days before the midterms. And a Border Patrol agent in Texas has been indicted for allegedly choking a detainee and then lying about it.
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Trump Erupts at Reporter Who Asked About His Iran War Exit Strategy
A reporter asked Trump on Tuesday whether he had any real exit strategy for the Iran war, since Iran’s government has made it clear it has no plan to stop fighting anytime soon. She simply asked: is the White House’s plan just to keep bombing until Iran gives up?
Trump bristled at the question. He fired back, asking the reporter how she could possibly know Iran wasn’t ready to give up. When she pointed out that Iran keeps attacking U.S. allies around the region and killing American troops, he accused her of reporting for a “fake station” and insisted she didn’t know anything about secret talks supposedly taking place behind the scenes.
When she continued to press him on the progress of the supposed peace negotiations, Trump finally gave her something close to a direct answer. He insisted that Iran’s leaders were desperate to discuss a ceasefire but the U.S. has no interest in sitting down with them until they’re ready to meet “in a meaningful way.”
When stripping away the bluster, Trump’s plan seems to be: keep bombing until something changes.
We’ve so far seen ten straight days of back-and-forth strikes. Iran still controls the Strait of Hormuz, and Houthi rebels in Yemens are reportedly getting ready to join the fight on Iran’s behalf. Three American service members have been killed since Friday, marking the first troop deaths in the war since March. Meanwhile, oil prices keep climbing, and the Pentagon is reportedly running low on resources.
Trump’s DOJ Investigating Republican Congressman
Republican Congressman Cory Mills of Florida may have a significant problem with Trump’s Justice Department, despite being one of the president’s most outspoken allies.
Two sources told MS NOW the DOJ has opened a criminal probe into Mills. No official reason for the investigation has been given, but one internal source confided that the FBI has contacted at least one person about Mills’ finances and allegations of sexual misconduct.
The news of a criminal probe comes amid an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation covering campaign finance violations, sexual misconduct, improper gifts, financial disclosure violations and misuse of congressional resources. That sexual misconduct piece includes a restraining order Mills’ ex-girlfriend got against him over dating violence allegations. The order itself has since lapsed.
When a reporter reached Mills on Tuesday, he denied knowing anything about a DOJ investigation. He said it likely was linked to the Ethics Committee probe, and made it clear that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) already dropped its own campaign finance inquiry. It’s worth noting that the FEC has been effectively shut down as it has no functional quorum to actually conduct investigations.
Mills has denied any wrongdoing repeatedly, insisting he has no open criminal or civil cases anywhere and hasn’t been indicted or accused of financial fraud involving federal funds. But the Ethics Committee — which is led by Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) has already authorized roughly 20 subpoenas, collected thousands of documents and reached out to dozens of witnesses pertaining to Mills.
Mills is still running for re-election this November despite bipartisan calls for his expulsion. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has declined to push him out, saying the process needs to play out. Meanwhile, one of Mills’ own primary opponents has filed a complaint arguing Mills improperly notarized his candidate paperwork, which could knock him off the ballot entirely. His primary is on August 18.
Trump’s Super PAC Has $400 Million. He’s Not Spending It on Republicans.
Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC ended the second quarter of 2026 with $400 million in the bank, after adding another $18 million last month alone from donors that include NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and cryptocurrency billionaires Tyler and cameron Winklevoss. The PAC has raised nearly $100 million this year.
But there’s one major issue: almost none of it is going toward Republicans running for reelection in the November midterms. FEC filings show MAGA Inc. spent last month’s money on consulting fees, bank fees, credit card payments, a fundraising platform, and an event photographer. Not any actual candidates trying to keep the House and Senate in Republican hands.
Republicans are privately starting to worry. GOP voters are increasingly demoralized over the rising cost of living and the vastly unpopular war in Iran. Trump’s own political director has said money will eventually go out, but he didn’t say when, how much, or where.
MAGA Inc. hasn’t actually put any real money behind a political candidate since March, when it gave less than $18,000 to a Georgia House race. Since then, it funneled $560,000 into a Kentucky PAC that backed Congressman Thomas Massie’s Republican primary challenger. That Kentucky PAC has since shut down.
GOP donors have been telling reporters for months they’re hoping for a spending roadmap before panic sets in. Though one unnamed senior White House official told Politico that there’s no hurry, arguing that no decisions have to be made until after the GOP’s midterm convention this September.
Border Agent Faces 15 Years in Prison for Allegedly Choking Detainee
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer out of El Paso has been officially arrested and indicted and arrested over an incident from August 2021. Federal prosecutors say officer Jesus Espinosa used excessive force while detaining someone, including putting the person in a chokehold that caused injuries.
The Justice Department accused Espinosa of lying to his supervisor about the incident, falsely claiming the detainee had been aggressive and noncompliant. That account led to an official report describing an assault on a federal officer, rather than what prosecutors say actually happened: a CBP agent using excessive force and then covering it up.
Espinosa was indicted on one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of making a false statement to a federal agency. He was arrested on July 17, had his bond set at $10,000, and was released from the El Paso County Detention Center on Monday. If convicted on both counts, he could spend up to 15 years in federal prison.
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