House Pulls All-Nighter - CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish - Podcast on CNN Podcasts
GOP rebels are now on board to move the president's big, beautiful bill forward, with a vote expected any time now. Plus, Sean Combs is found guilty on just two of five charges ... but is denied bail. How long could he be behind bars? And we explore how George Takei's lived experience has shaped his views on patriotism, protest and the state of democracy.
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WIRED
18 minutes ago
- WIRED
The Person in Charge of Testing Tech for US Spies Has Resigned
Jul 3, 2025 4:50 PM IARPA director Rick Muller is departing after just over a year at the R&D unit that invests in emerging technologies of potential interest to agencies like the NSA and the CIA, WIRED has learned. Photograph:The head of the US government's Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) is leaving the unit this month to take a job with a quantum computing company, WIRED has learned. Rick Muller's pending departure from IARPA comes amid broader efforts to downsize the United States intelligence community, including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which oversees IARPA. A person familiar with Muller's plans confirmed to WIRED his departure from IARPA. Born during the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, IARPA is tasked with testing AI, quantum computing, and other emerging technologies that could aid the missions of spy agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency. The Trump administration reportedly has been moving to cut the workforces of intelligence agencies as part of the president's broad efforts to dismantle diversity programs and streamline government operations. Influential Republicans in the US Senate also recently have proposed legislation that would cut several programs from the ODNI, though IARPA isn't among listed targets. Muller, a chemist and long-time computer science researcher, had overseen some quantum computing programs at the Department of Energy before taking the reins of IARPA in April 2024. His final day at IARPA will be July 11, according to the person familiar with his plans. He is joining IonQ, which is part of a race to commercialize quantum computing. IonQ declined to comment. The technologies used by spy agencies are often shrouded in secrecy. But much of IARPA's work is public. It has funded dozens of research projects at universities and other labs across the country, including efforts to improve systems for facial and speech recognition. In April, Muller told Federal News Network that the cybersecurity risks of large language models would be a priority for upcoming research. The Trump administration has fired workers and slashed government grants for research at several other agencies, sparking nationwide protests and jeopardizing the future of science. The ODNI is seeking a budget of about $82 billion for the coming year, an increase of about 11.5 percent over the amount requested for 2025. But Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, has touted cutting her workforce by 25 percent this year. Last week, Senator Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, described Gabbard's agency as an 'overstaffed and bureaucratic behemoth' at which 'coordinators coordinate with other coordinators.' He called for cuts and other changes that he characterized as 'vital to keeping our country safe from the wide range of threats that we continue to face.' Spokespeople for Cotton didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the senator's views on IARPA. The White House also didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. IARPA was modeled on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, which has long been considered one of the federal government's most advanced research and development units with successful bets on technologies for vaccines, location tracking, and language translation.
Forbes
19 minutes ago
- Forbes
Trump Temporarily Keeps NJ Liquor Licenses—But Faces Special Rules
New Jersey granted temporary liquor permits to two of President Donald Trump's golf clubs Monday—but is requiring alcohol profits be held in separate accounts and barring their payout to Trump's companies—as the state's investigation into whether his convictions disqualify the businesses from pouring enters its second year. President Donald Trump sips a glass after making a toast at the United Nations during the 72nd ... More session of the General Assembly in 2017. (AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski) AFP via Getty Images A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records tied to hush-money payments during the 2016 campaign, crimes each punishable by up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine. New Jersey law bars anyone convicted of crimes 'involving moral turpitude'—including 'dishonesty, fraud or depravity' severe enough to typically be punishable by more than a year in prison—from holding a liquor license, according to a state handbook, first reported by Forbes in June 2024. After Trump's conviction, New Jersey's Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) declined to renew the liquor licenses at his Bedminster and Colts Neck clubs, instead issuing a series of temporary permits—first for 90 days pending a hearing, then extended. On Monday, with the latest temporary licenses set to expire, the ABC issued six-month permits, letting the clubs continue to serve alcohol but requiring liquor proceeds be kept in separate accounts, banning their payout to Trump's companies and demanding extra records on the clubs' ownership, according to copies of the permits obtained by Forbes. Losing the liquor licenses would be one of the few direct penalties Trump could face from his felony conviction. 'We are pleased with this latest extension of our licenses and look forward to working cooperatively with the ABC to ensure that our valued members and guests continue to enjoy the finest services and amenities at our world-renowned clubs,' a spokesperson for the Trump Organization told Forbes in a statement. The Trump Organization contends Trump's conviction shouldn't matter because he isn't listed as a holder, officer or director on any New Jersey liquor license, according to a statement provided after Forbes' initial report. Key Background New Jersey regulators determined in 2024 that Trump holds a 'direct beneficial interest' in the clubs' liquor licenses, because he receives profits from them, countering his argument that the conviction shouldn't matter. Court records and Trump's financial disclosures show he is the sole owner of the clubs through a series of LLCs held by a revocable trust, of which he is also the sole beneficiary and sole provider of assets. The Trump Organization confirmed in an April regulatory filing in the United Kingdom that, as president, Trump retains control over his businesses. Other states, however, reached different conclusions: A spokesperson for California's alcohol regulator, for example, previously told Forbes because Trump transferred the license for his Los Angeles-area club to Donald Trump Jr. in 2017, he is no longer part of the license—even though he remains the sole beneficiary of the underlying business. The ABC does not appear to have publicly explained why it's taken more than a year to decide if Trump's felony convictions should cost his clubs their liquor licenses. Crucial Quote 'Profiting from a liquor license is a privilege, not a right granted by law,' Allison Inserro, a spokesperson for the New Jersey attorney general, told Forbes. She added the special conditions were 'consistent with the division's obligation to ensure that all liquor licensees comply with the law.' Big Number $49.2 million: That's the income Trump reported from his Bedminster and Colts Neck golf clubs in his June 2025 financial disclosure, which appears to cover all of 2024. News Peg Trump's conviction in May 2024 made him the first former U.S. president to become a felon. Surprising Fact Golf markers featuring the presidential seal have appeared at five Trump courses, including Bedminster, a potential violation of federal law barring its use for commercial purposes. Trump's Bedminster club received a 32 out of 100 health inspection score in May, the lowest grade in Somerset County, and was issued a 'conditionally satisfactory' C grade after it was flagged for 18 violations, including all three requirements in the 'food protected from contamination' category. On a subsequent reinspection, the club earned a B grade with a score of 86—the lowest score possible to still receive that grade. Forbes Valuation Forbes estimates Donald Trump is worth about $5.3 billion, with crypto making up the bulk of his wealth. Further Viewing After Years Of Lying, Trump Organization Tries To Figure Out How Big Its Properties Actually Are (Forbes) Trump's Properties Charged Defense Department $1 Million, New Documents Reveal (Forbes) How Trump Built A Golf Empire With Secret Financing (Forbes) Here's How Much Trump Received For Hosting Saudi-Backed Golf Tournament (Forbes) How Donald Trump Shifted Kids-Cancer Charity Money Into His Business (Forbes)
The Hill
19 minutes ago
- The Hill
Inside Trump's push to pass the ‘big, beautiful bill'
With the signature policy bill of President Trump's second term hanging in the balance this week, the president and his allies got to work, using a mixture of vinegar and honey to win over skeptics and ensure its final passage. It was a week of late night meetings and phone calls, stern posts on social media and cordial discussions at the White House as Trump and top advisers sought to win over skeptics of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Sources close to the White House argued Trump's dominance within the Republican Party and the political risks of drawing his ire loomed large as the administration corralled votes. But they also pointed to assurances the White House made to lawmakers to win their support as a sign that it was not just threats that got enough Republicans to 'yes.' Trump is expected to sign the legislation on Friday after it passed the Senate on Tuesday and the House on Thursday as both chambers embarked on marathon rounds of voting procedure, including pulling several all-nighters. 'The president's focus on relationships carried us through in kind of a cascade here when it came to be crunch time and the president was asking people to take tough votes, to come together, to unify,' a senior Trump White House official told reporters on Thursday. 'I've lost count of the number of meetings the president's had. I mean, putting the president on speaker to groups of members,' the official added. 'I mean, really, he's the omnipresent force behind this legislation.' The bill took an exceptionally arduous path through both chambers. The House passed its initial version of the bill in May but once it got to the Senate, lawmakers there embarked on significant haggling and hand-wringing of Republicans who took issue with Medicaid cuts and what it meant for the national debt. The upper chamber spent the entire past weekend working to get the measure through before it eventually passed on Tuesday. The process even saw one high profile Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), announce he wouldn't seek reelection after expressing opposition to the bill, showcasing once again Trump's decade-long power over the party. White House officials also pointed to Vice President JD Vance as a key player in wrangling the necessary votes in the Senate, where Vance served for two years before being elected vice president. Vance attended GOP conference lunches for weeks leading up to the final votes, answering questions and defending the legislation. The vice president spent hours in the Senate this week leading up to the final vote, and he met with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a key swing vote, before she ultimately backed the bill in what she later described as an 'agonizing' decision. After its narrow passage in the Senate, it was back to the House, where White House officials pushed about a handful of GOP conservative and moderate lawmakers there to get behind the measure. Trump and Vance hosted conservative House Republicans at the White House on Wednesday for a conversation that appeared to ease concerns among some conservatives. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) after the meeting described Trump as 'wonderful as always. Informative, funny, told me he liked seeing me on TV, which is kind of cool.' Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the House Freedom Caucus who had indicated previously he would vote against the bill, said he was persuaded to vote in favor after getting assurances from the president that certain issues would be dealt with through executive action. White House officials on Thursday did not address any specific executive action that was promised. In terms of assurances, the officials said the administration worked with lawmakers to answer questions about the implementation of Medicaid changes and how it would affect their districts. Still, the bill was in a precarious state after several House Republicans had either voted against adopting the rule on the bill, a necessary procedural step before a full vote, or withheld their votes. As Trump and his team worked behind the scenes, prominent MAGA world figures went public with their calls for Republicans to fall in line. 'If you vote with the Democrats, you're not voting with the Republicans. Buckle the f— up. It's a binary choice,' longtime Trump adviser Jason Miller posted on X late Wednesday night. The Hill reported that Trump spoke with a handful of Republican holdouts around 1 a.m. Thursday as House GOP leaders were whipping votes to overcome a final procedural hurdle. 'His numbers are stronger than ever before with the Republican base. Republican voters are happier with him now than ever before,' one Trump ally told The Hill. 'Essentially, if you kind of screw with him, you've got a 95 percent chance of getting thrown in the blender.' Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) and Burchett all voted to advance the legislation. By the time the House adopted the rule around 3 a.m. Thursday in a 219-213 vote, its final passage was something of a foregone conclusion. But not before Democrats would stall the next step. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffires (D-N.Y.) held the House floor for more than 8 hours starting early Thursday morning to excoriate the the bill, breaking the record for the longest speech on the floor. The final vote eventually took place on Thursday afternoon, with thelegislation passing in a 218-214 vote. Two Republicans voted against it. 'Congrats to everyone. At times I even doubted we'd get it done by July 4!' Vance posted on X after the House vote. 'But now we've delivered big tax cuts and the resources necessary to secure the border. Promises made, promises kept!' The bill will likely be the signature piece of legislation of Trump's second term, especially if Republicans do not retain control of both chambers of Congress in next year's midterms. The bill will extend the tax cuts Trump signed into law in 2017, plus add temporary tax cuts on tipped and overtime wages. It will provide additional funding for border security, allowing the administration to press forward with aggressive deportations and crack down on those crossing the southern border. But the legislation also makes cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as a way to offset some of the spending. Those changes, which will take effect in the coming years, have caused consternation among some Republicans and have been the focus of outrage from many Democrats who warn it will cost millions of Americans health insurance and lead to the closures of some rural hospitals. Polling ahead of the bill's passage also showed the public appeared skeptical of the massive piece of legislation. A Quinnipiac University poll released last week found 55 percent of voters opposed the bill. A Fox News poll published Monday showed 59 percent opposed the bill. White House officials argued the bill would age well with voters as they learned more about what's in it. 'As the public learns about the pieces of the legislation and the Republican Party educates the voters on what is actually in the bill, you will see an overwhelming political boon for Republicans,' a senior White House official said. 'And you will see Democrats have just taken a very toxic vote.'
