1. DEEP-SEA CLIMATE SENSORS — DISMANTLED
The NSF, at the Trump administration’s direction, is pulling 900+ deep-sea instruments from the ocean floor starting this month — scrapping the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a $368–370 million network that had been in operation since 2016 and was designed to run for 30 years. Project 2025 explicitly targeted the OOI, calling it “the source of much of NOAA’s climate alarmism” and advising that its “climate-change research should be disbanded.” Instruments are being removed from arrays off Alaska, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, and the Irminger Sea near Greenland — the last of which monitors the AMOC current, which scientists believe may be weakening. If AMOC collapses, the weather effects could be devastating. The equipment cost taxpayers $368 million to install. It is being removed and not reassigned — just eliminated. OceanographicScientific American
2. JULY 4TH TRUMP RALLY
Trump announced that America’s 250th anniversary celebration on the National Mall will include a “TRUMP RALLY” on Independence Day, writing on Truth Social: “On July 4th, at The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, in beautiful and safe Washington D.C., we are going to host the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all, a ‘TRIBUTE TO AMERICA.'” Freedom 250, the public-private partnership charged with coordinating the semiquincentennial events, does not describe the event as a “Trump rally” — their version calls it a “Salute To America 250 Celebration & Fireworks” and does not mention Trump by name. Several performers have dropped out over the event’s political nature. Trump subsequently announced plans to personally headline the fair’s opening activities. He’ll also be playing songs from his personal playlist via 300 military musicians. CNN + 2
3. TULSI GABBARD AND THE CULT
A bombshell Washington Post investigation revealed the scope of a relationship between Tulsi Gabbard and Chris Butler, 78, leader of the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), an alt-right sect of Hinduism. A years-long investigation unearthed a trove of emails, shared documents, and talking points between Gabbard’s advisers and Butler’s close allies centered on elevating Gabbard’s national standing and spreading Butler’s politics. A former SIF member alleged that Butler provided his advice and directives to Gabbard verbally. Between 2014 and 2016, Gabbard echoed the exact talking points outlined in SIF directives in interviews and policy memos on dozens of occasions, and an analysis of her House voting record was strikingly similar to the directives she was allegedly receiving from Butler. Butler has previously condemned U.S. intelligence and defense agencies as run by “madmen” — even while apparently guiding the woman who oversaw them. Gabbard has since resigned as DNI. The Daily BeastThe Daily Beast
4. MEDAL OF HONOR KNOT
During a White House ceremony on June 18, Trump presented the Medal of Honor to retired Army Major Nicholas Dockery and retired Marine Major James Capers Jr. After struggling with the clasp on the ribbon for nearly a minute, Trump tied it in a knot around Dockery’s neck, joking “Now that’s not coming off now.” Before presenting the awards, Trump joked: “Only a few have received our highest military distinction, the Congressional Medal of Honor. I wanted to give it to myself, but I was informed I couldn’t do it. And I couldn’t find anything I was worthy of. So, here we are.” Dockery, who once covered a grenade with his own body to save a fellow soldier, stood composed throughout. Photos showed the medal tied choker-tight around his neck. The Daily BeastAOL
5. KASH PATEL AND THE ALGAE CONSPIRACY
This one needs a slight correction from your notes , the underlying real story is actually better: Trump attributed the algae bloom to vandalism and alleged that a chemical was poured to destroy the site, even though the New York Times had reported before the renovation was complete that the algae would inevitably return if the underlying pipe infrastructure wasn’t fixed — which it wasn’t. The Trump administration spent $14.8 million renovating the pool, the algae came back almost immediately, and rather than acknowledge the engineering failure, they blamed enemies. Workers were then sent in with high-concentration hydrogen peroxide to kill the algae. Meanwhile, Patel has been confirming the FBI is investigating funding associated with left-wing activism under a presidential memo that targets those who espouse “anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity.” The algae Antifa hoax fits perfectly into that broader real pattern of manufactured enemies. Snopes + 2
6. QATAR AIR FORCE ONE — NUCLEAR FUNDS DIVERTED
The NYT traced a $934 million transfer of funds from a nuclear modernization program to what is believed to be the Qatari jet renovation — a transfer that was classified to hide its purpose. That money was supposed to fund the Sentinel program, a $77.7 billion modernization project for America’s aging nuclear missile system — which is already 81% over its original budget. The jet itself was a gift from Qatar, accepted by Hegseth in May 2025. After Trump leaves office, the plane transfers to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation no later than January 1, 2029 — transfer costs paid by the Air Force. To recap: Qatar gives the plane free. The Pentagon raids the nuclear weapons budget to retrofit it for $934 million. Trump flies it for three years. Then it becomes his personal property. MSN + 2