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Trump’s nonstop fundraising for his political groups & pet projects is one of the defining themes of his 2nd term. Yet Meredith O’Rourke, the woman behind his fundraising operation, has maintained a low profile. Her role is elucidated here by the @wsj.com

Exclusive | ‘The Boss Wants This Money’: Inside Trump’s Unprecedented Fundraising OperationMeredith O’Rourke, nicknamed ‘princess of darkness,’ carries out the president’s desire to wring hundreds of millions from companies for his projects.www.wsj.com

Top U.S. oil & gas executives have sold nearly $400 million worth of stock in their own companies since the Iran war triggered a supply crunch that sent energy prices -- & the share prices of their companies' stocks -- soaring.

Fossil Fuel Executives Cash In (Gift Article)Insiders at leading oil and gas companies have made millions from stocks since the Iran war began.www.nytimes.com

Omar Navarro, who pleaded guilty to embezzling $250k from his congressional campaign, says he was told he could get a Trump pardon if he paid $2m-$3m to a law firm. He won't say who told him this, because the person "is pretty powerful in the government … so I’m very scared to even say anything.”

How Trump’s presidential pardons became booming business for law firms: ‘You have to pay $2 million, $3 million’Pardon-seekers are paying lobbyists millions for “executive relief” under President Trump, but critics warn most are being scammed, and even $600,000 couldn’t get rapper Boosie Ba…nypost.com

Donald Trump Jr had never managed a venture fund before 1789 Capital. It has bought shares in coveted private companies before many went public, including SpaceX & Anduril, often by leveraging connections to secure a stake or to help boost the sales. 1789's main fund has generated returns of ~200%

Donald Trump Jr.’s Investment Firm Posts Staggering Returns of 200% (Gift Article)The fledgling firm, run by the president’s oldest son and his partner Omeed Malik, has made investments in A.I. and defense technology that have tripled in value in just months.www.nytimes.com

SCOOP: After pardoning hundreds of allies over the course of his 1st 18 months back in the White House, Trump this month quietly rejected clemency applications from nearly 6,000 people who mostly lacked connections & had been waiting in a queue at the Justice Department.

Trump Rejected Nearly 6,000 Clemency Applications Amid Hope of Pardon Wave (Gift Article)Expectations were raised for a raft of pardons in connection with the country’s 250th birthday but the president granted fewer than 20 on July 3.www.nytimes.com

Mavis Staples is 87 years old.

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18 AIPAC-endorsed lawmakers voted to end U.S. aid to Israel. Now AIPAC has removed the option to donate through its online bundling portal to those lawmakers, @jewishinsider.com reports.

AIPAC ends fundraising for endorsees who voted to cut off Israel aidThe pro-Israel advocacy group now allows its supporters to donate to 178 Republicans and 72 Democrats running for Congressjewishinsider.com

After Michael Castillero was convicted of a $386m fraud, Trump's SDNY U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton praised the verdict. But in seeking a pardon, Castillero's lawyer cast him as a "true MAGA" Trump backer targeted by "the Biden lawfare machine." It hasn't worked.

He Pursued a Pardon in Trump’s Justice System. It Added to His Problems. (Gift Article)Michael Castillero was convicted of defrauding investors in a $386 million scheme. Then he started courting MAGA influencers.www.nytimes.com

Most 2nd term presidents stop fundraising for their own groups, & pivot instead to helping their party & its candidates. Not so much for Trump. He has raised $782m since the 2024 election for groups controlled by him & his allies, according a @wsj.com analysis.

The Mystery Money Powering Trump’s Second TermThe president and his allies have built a network of groups financed by wealthy donors and businesses that is advancing his priorities with little public disclosure.www.wsj.com

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UPDATE: @blumenthal.senate.gov & @gallego.senate.gov have requested a DOJ Inspector General inquiry into the killing of the investigation of Trump's commutation given Todd Blanche's "refusal to answer questions on the matter, & the great importance of the fair & impartial administration of justice."

NEW: Todd Blanche declined to discuss the killing of an investigation into Trump's clemency grant to David Gentile, suggesting a @nytimes.com report on it was the result of leaks & contained “falsehoods.” But he did not identify inaccuracies, & DOJ has not challenged the report.

Senator Presses for Scrutiny of Blanche’s Role in Spiking Clemency InquiryDuring his confirmation hearing, the acting attorney general refused to discuss the termination of an investigation into a commutation issued by President Trump.www.nytimes.com

NEW: Sports betting companies DraftKings, FanDuel, bet365 & Fanatics dropped $29m into a super PAC called Win for America in the 2nd quarter, bringing the total raised to $70m this year.

Mike D’s sons worried their father’s comfortable lifestyle would yield a “luxury rap vibe,” with lyrics about being “an older white rapper talking about drinking wine.” Instead, he delivered deep psychological reflections on “Thank You,” his 1st new album since the Beastie Boys.

A Beastie Boy Returns to the Mic, With Some Help (Gift Article)Thanks to an assist from his sons, Mike D is set to release “Thank You,” the first new music from a member of the pioneering rap trio in 15 years.www.nytimes.com

In the latest example of the value of Kennedy connections in Trump’s Washington, the lobbying powerhouse Ballard Partners (run by top Trump fundraiser Brian Ballard) has hired RFK Jr.’s daughter-in-law (& ex-campaign chief) Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, who was an intelligence official in the Trump WH.

As the kratom industry opposes government bans, it has downplayed addiction risks. But examples keep piling up. The latest, Adam Fetcher, a prominent Dem/progressive flak, was fired by Minneapolis amid an investigation into theft & fraud allegedly to fuel a kratom habit.

Minneapolis chief communications officer fired amid allegations of theft from employeesAdam Fetcher, a former press secretary in the Obama Administration, was ousted following allegations that he stole from colleagues.www.startribune.com

The rapper Boosie BadAzz wanted a Trump pardon, so he paid $600k to the convicted fraudster lobbyists Jacob Wohl & Jack Burkman. “They were talking like they had Trump on speed dial,” Boosie told @notus.com. Now, he’s seeking a partial refund, but Burkman says his firm is “essentially bankrupt”

How Boosie Badazz's Pardon Push Turned Into a MAGA MessThe rapper hired two operatives known more for antics than advocacy to help him secure clemency from Trump. Boosie is now fighting to retrieve $300,000 from them.www.notus.org

“Free advice to the Israelis: It’s not a good idea to detain long-shot presidential candidates,” @rokhanna.bsky.social said. “Not how you’re going to build good will with the next American president, whoever that is.”

An American Politician is Blocked by Israeli Settlers in the West Bank (Gift Article)Representative Ro Khanna was barred from leaving for 90 minutes. Where past U.S. leaders toured the region to show support for Israel, today’s Democratic presidential aspirants are going to bolster th...www.nytimes.com

The DOJ on Friday subpoenaed 4 @nytimes.com reporters who exposed security concerns about the Qatari-gifted Air Force One. The subpoenas — some delivered by federal agents at reporters’ homes — mark an escalation of the Trump administration’s intimidation campaign against independent media.

Times Journalists Subpoenaed as Trump Escalates Pressure on Media (Gift Article)The Justice Department is seeking to compel testimony from reporters who wrote about the new Air Force One. The Times called the move a “brazen act.”www.nytimes.com