Wednesday, July 15th, 2026 - Elon Musk's WI Bribery, ICE's Deadly Week Forces Pause, Blanche Blocks Epstein’s Zorro Ranch Probe

Today's Headlines: ICE has halted most traffic stop arrests nationwide after killing two people in one week who weren't even their targets — and before that pause could even be properly announced, a third ICE-related death occurred in Florida when a man fleeing an early morning gas station stop was hit by a tractor-trailer, bringing the week's total to three. Elon Musk has been referred for potential criminal prosecution in Wisconsin after a bipartisan election board found probable cause he violated the state's bribery law by handing $1 million checks to voters during last year's Supreme Court race — his guy lost by ten points anyway, so the bribery was both illegal and ineffective. The Supreme Court is requesting $15 million in additional security funding after threats against justices jumped 25% last year and are expected to jump another 40% this year. On the Epstein Files beat, Todd Blanche's Senate confirmation hearing to become the real attorney general is today, right as New Mexico's attorney general accused him of obstructing the state's investigation into Epstein's Zorro Ranch — where documents allege Epstein had two women buried — so the timing is immaculate. On Iran, Trump dropped the Strait of Hormuz toll idea and went back to threatening Iranian civilian infrastructure, while also telling Netanyahu to pull Israeli troops out of Syria and Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Trump administration removed protections on nearly three million acres of Utah national monuments to allow drilling and mining, despite Utah officials saying there's little energy potential at Bears Ears and companies previously found Grand Staircase-Escalante's coal deposit unprofitable during Trump's first term — so the destruction is both gratuitous and pointless. And finally,  New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a one-year ban on data center construction in the state while assessing their environmental impact, which is the most rational thing anyone in government has done all week.

Resources/Articles mentioned:

NYT: Trump Drops Plan to Charge Ships Fees in the Strait but Will Restore Blockade: Iran War Live Updates

Axios: Scoop: Trump tells Netanyahu to move forces out of Syria and Lebanon

CNN: Elon Musk likely broke the law by giving voters $1 million, Wisconsin board says

Axios: Kagan: Threats against SCOTUS expected to soar

MS Now: New Mexico’s AG says DOJ is stonewalling probe of Epstein ranch — again

WaPo: Blanche to face skeptics in GOP after judge’s scathing criticism

WaPo: ICE halts most traffic-stop arrests in wake of fatal shootings

AP News: Man fleeing immigration officers in Florida is struck and killed by tractor trailer, police say

Axios: Trump cuts nearly 3M acres from 2 Utah national monuments

Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices