Washington, DC

1. GOP’s Iran skepticism
2. Warsh’s big week
3. Schumer’s spending line
4. Sanders’ latest flex
5. Dems shrug at rebellion
6. Newsom vs. DOJ
7. Ebola response criticism
8. Podcasters’ influence

PDB: Lawsuit challenges Trump ‘heroes’ garden

Trump to meet Ukraine’s Zelenskyy at G7 … Vance on The View to promote new book … DC votes in primaries, Georgia holds primary runoffs

Iran deal faces GOP skepticism

Republicans aren’t sold yet on President Donald Trump’s Iran deal, Semafor’s Burgess Everett and Shelby Talcott report. It’s an important moment for Republicans, many of whom hated former President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran but now may need to vote on Trump’s deal 11 years later. As a result, many are taking their time in assessing what’s in front of them. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is “withholding comment,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va., said “it’s too early to say,” and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said it’s “yet to be seen” whether the agreement is a good deal for the US. “Let’s find a way to wrap this up. But I don’t want to end up in the same situation with the [2015 Obama agreement],” Ernst said. Still, war-weary senators, like Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., are already mostly backing the agreement.

Will Warsh play nice?

One of the biggest questions hanging over Kevin Warsh’s first Federal Reserve meeting as chair today: Will he try to strong-arm his colleagues or work to earn their trust? Trump’s pick spent much of his confirmation process touting dramatic changes to how the Fed broadcasts its thinking; manages its balance sheet; adjusts interest rates for AI; and more. The next two days will offer an indication of “whether Warsh continues in the mode of ‘breaking heads,’ or is determined to bring about change through the channel of persuasion and discussion and dialogue,” said David Wilcox, a former Fed economist now with Bloomberg Economics and the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “I can’t remember a turnover, a change in the chairmanship, that involved as much uncertainty about what the basic approach will be going forward.”

— Eleanor Mueller

Schumer plans to play hardball

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Semafor that his party is going to play hardball on the Trump administration’s request for more defense spending, aligning with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., in her negotiations with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, over government funding. “They’ve asked for a huge defense increase that a lot of their own members don’t support. So it’s up to them, they’ve got to come to a reasonable top-line agreement — Patty and Susan — on the ratio of defense and non-defense,” Schumer said in a recent interview. Collins said she’s made multiple offers to Murray that have been rejected, which makes her “question whether they are simply trying to delay action on all of the bills.” The dynamic is already starting to raise questions about whether there will be yet another government shutdown in October.

— Burgess Everett

Sanders backs a Cori Bush comeback

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is endorsing progressive former Rep. Cori Bush’s comeback bid in Missouri, saying in a statement shared first with Semafor that “she will fight back against Republican attacks on our fundamental freedoms, and transform our economy, and our government into one that works for everyone, not just the powerful and well-connected.” Bush, who’d been a member of the “Squad,” was ousted last cycle by Democratic Rep. Wesley Bell in a deep-blue St. Louis district deluged in spending by the pro-Israel group AIPAC. Bush, an outspoken critic of Israel, launched a primary challenge last fall for what’s now the sole remaining safe blue seat in Missouri after Republicans redrew the map. “I am honored to be endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, a true leader in our movement to guarantee healthcare, housing, and childcare for all,” Bush said.

— Nicholas Wu

Why House Dems don’t fear a rebellion

House Democrats are betting that a future Speaker Hakeem Jeffries wouldn’t struggle with the type of aisle-crossing rebellion that’s often vexed current Speaker Mike Johnson, Semafor’s Nicholas Wu reports. Democrats don’t see much reason to fear the House maneuver known as the discharge petition, which allows any 218 members to bypass leaders in the majority party and force a bill to the floor. Several House sources told Semafor Democrats wouldn’t look to change it. Their party would have few incentives to break with Jeffries, who’d take office as the first Black speaker and lead a caucus eager to align against the Trump administration. “I’m trying to think of the issues you could get all Republicans and a handful of Democrats on” if the House turns blue next year, one senior Democratic aide said, “and I just don’t see it.”

DOJ zeroes in on Newsom

There are “several investigations” ongoing relating to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a source familiar with the situation told Semafor, shortly after Newsom accused Trump’s Justice Department of targeting him for political reasons. But the investigations emerged out of Sacramento and not from Main Justice, according to the source, who said they involve whistleblowers. The investigations involve the taxes of Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and also target Newsom’s former chief of staff, who recently pleaded guilty to a fraud scheme. Newsom denied any wrongdoing in talking points sent to Hill allies by his office; they claim the California Democrat was singled out because he is considering running for president. Federal investigators are “contacting family friends, donors, former employees, and associates, subpoenaing records, and asking questions about the Governor’s and First Partner’s finances, organizations connected to the First Partner, and even deeply personal family matters,” the talking points say.

— Shelby Talcott and Nicholas Wu

Ebola facility in Kenya draws criticism

The Trump administration’s Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya is drawing criticism from public health experts who warn it could undermine broader virus response, Semafor’s Lauren Morganbesser and Adrian Elimian report. Dr. Craig Spencer, a professor of public health at Brown University who survived Ebola in 2014, told Semafor that the Kenya facility and quarantine requirements could deter would-be American helpers. “It could lead potential volunteers to stay home, with the knowledge that they may not be able to be let back into the country if they’re infected,” Spencer told Semafor. The plan for the Kenya facility has faced local protests and legal challenges, but construction has continued and a State Department official confirmed that exposed but asymptomatic Americans may be transported to the facility for a 21-day quarantine period.

Political podcast listeners favor protests

Americans who listen to partisan podcasts and influencers are more likely than others in their political party to believe that citizens with “radical views” should be able to protest the government — as long as they’re not violent. New Gallup analysis of a 2025 study with the Kettering Foundation found that, among those who listen to influencers on the left, like Hasan Piker, 71% strongly back the right to peacefully protest, compared with 49% of Democrats overall. Four in 10 people who listen to Joe Rogan and other influencers on the right agree, compared with just 28% of Republicans overall. Liberal podcast listeners are also more likely than their broader Democratic counterparts to believe every citizen — even uninformed or “radical” ones — deserves the right to vote, and less likely to believe that US political leaders will be held accountable.

Blindspot: Lebanon and oceans

Stories that are being largely ignored by either left-leaning or right-leaning outlets, curated with help from our partners at Ground News.

What the Left isn’t reading: The Israel Defense Forces said over the weekend they killed a top Hezbollah commander, Ali Musa Daqduq, in Lebanon.

What the Right isn’t reading: A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to halt plans to close down an ocean monitoring initiative.

In this special episode of Compound Interest, Semafor’s Chief Commercial Officer Rachel Oppenheim sits down with Todd Heimes, Vice President and General Manager at our season sponsor, Amazon Business. Todd and Rachel sit down to discuss how Amazon Business is reshaping how organizations buy.

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Listen to the latest episode of Compound Interest now.

Disclaimer: This season of Compound Interest is sponsored by Amazon Business. This episode is commercial content produced by Semafor Global Studio with Amazon Business.

Beltway Newsletters

Punchbowl News: Former congressional adviser-turned lobbyist John Leganski’s forthcoming book Glory, Grief, and the Gavel: An Inside Guide to Running for Speaker of the House is