Samuel Benson

Mike Lee’s “based” online persona and Trump-era theatrics are a source of growing alarm among LDS church leaders, @sambbenson reports. “Mike Lee is far-right,” said one emeritus general authority. “The church is not far-right.” politico.com/news/magazine/…

Scoop: A WSJ reporter was slated to be part of the travel pool this weekend when Trump travels to Scotland. After the paper's Epstein story last week, the WH booted them from the pool. w/ @iriesentner politico.com/news/2025/07/2…

In 1965, the government tried replacing migrant workers with high-schoolers. It was a disaster. wapo.st/3ICnXfQ

Trump told the journal he was preparing to file a lawsuit if it published an article. “I’m gonna sue The Wall Street Journal just like I sued everyone else,” he said. wsj.com/politics/trump…

Trump's USTR says striking trade deals is not his top goal subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/0…

🚨INSIDE THE ROOM — an intense standoff between hardliners + crypto committee Rs They’re now exploring a deal to add CBDC text to NDAA or another must-pass bill People talking past each other + just trying to get hardliners to stand down on rule. Speaker Mike Johnson trying…

NEW: USDA is terminating business development centers that served rural farm and food businesses, providing workforce development and technical training. Story below ⤵️

"Five months into its unprecedented dismantling of foreign-aid programs, the Trump administration has given the order to incinerate food instead of sending it to people who need it" waste, fraud, etc: it costs $130,000 to burn food worth $800,000 theatlantic.com/health/archive…

“To those who knew him best, Steve’s greatest masterpieces were not drawn for news outlets but, instead, were drawn for birthdays, wedding celebrations, and as holiday cards — delightful caricatures he gifted generously to friends, family, and colleagues.” sltrib.com/religion/2025/…

NEW from @YarrowGrace & @rachel_shin_ White House officials are promising that MAHA won't crack down on pesticide use after widespread agriculture industry backlash to the May report. (Spoiler: Lobbyists still don't fully trust them.) subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/0…

Republicans got farm bill provisions in their megabill. Now, they work to pass the rest — and need Democrats to play ball. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/0…

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Salt Lake City celebrated the 5,000th episode of their program, Music and the Spoken Word, holding the record as the longest-running live network broadcast, airing weekly for 96 years.

Mike Lee joked about the Minnesota killings. Leaders of his church were concerned. How the Utah senator’s online persona has further damaged his already frayed relationship with the Mormon Church: ow.ly/7Vyg50WozR7

United Farm Workers president Teresa Romero confirms at least one farm worker died today after sustaining injuries during yesterday's ICE raid in California. Statement:

Two DHS officials tell CBS News federal agents had criminal warrants related to the harboring and employment of immigrants in the U.S. illegally when conducting this operation at a California cannabis farm. There’s now a child labor investigation, as 10 child workers were found.

“Mike Lee is far-right,” said one emeritus general authority. “The church is not far-right.” politico.com/news/magazine/…

Brooke Rollins’ impossible Trump administration mandate — The #Agriculture secretary has spent the past several weeks trying to tame the intensifying political blowback from MAGA allies and immigration hawks. politico.com/news/2025/07/1…

This close-up on Brooke Rollins is an essential look at how power works now in the Trump admin and the GOP of 2025 "there’s no answer that won’t leave a key part of the MAGA constituency infuriated" From @jake__traylor @MyahWard @sambbenson 👇 politico.com/news/2025/07/1…