Good Tuesday evening. In this edition: Trump, Rubio insist Iran has agreed to nuclear inspectors despite Tehran's denials; and Senate votes to block further military action against Iran.
Plus, health care fraud, dreadlocks, housing bill, Senate GOP meeting and Paul vs. Fauci.
Iran Negotiations
President Trump pushed back on Iranian officials who say they have not agreed to allow nuclear inspectors into their country, saying they were "wrong" and accusing them of making "false statements."
"They told us inside and we have it down, 100% inspections. And if they were right, I'd cancel the meetings right now."
Vice President JD Vancetold reporters on Monday that Iran's negotiators agreed during the weekend talks in Switzerland to invite inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to the country's nuclear sites, calling it a "major milestone."
But Iran's foreign ministry denied that was the case, saying the country had made "no new commitments" regarding its nuclear program.
Iran, which claims its nuclear pursuits are for civilian purposes, began blocking inspectors from most of its nuclear sites after the U.S. and Israel launched the war in late February.
President Trump doubled down in a social media post this morning, accusing the Iranians and the media of "doing everything possible to make the U.S. Victory as small and insignificant as possible."
"Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!). This will insure [sic] 'Nuclear Honesty,'" he wrote on Truth Social. "If they did not agree to this, there would be no further negotiations!"
The president later told reporters he was in "no rush" for inspectors to enter the country, saying they would be on the ground "at the appropriate time."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio chalked up the Iranian government's denials to "domestic politics."
"We know what they agreed to do. Now they'll either do it or they won't. And if they do, the process moves forward, and if they don't, the president will have some decisions to make."
The secretary also said that neither Iran nor any other country would be allowed to charge tolls for passing through the vital Strait of Hormuz, as Iran had indicated it planned to do.
"That's the law. It's an international waterway. No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That's existing international law," he said. "That's the way it is in international waterways all over the world, and that's the way we expect it'll be here."
Despite the ongoing peace talks, the Senate registered its disapproval of the president's handling of the conflict by passing a resolution to block further U.S. military action against Iran.
The war powers resolution was approved in a 50–48 vote, with four Republicans — Sens. Bill Cassidy (LA), Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Rand Paul (KY) — voting in favor, and one Democrat — Sen. John Fetterman (PA) — voting against.
Two Republicans — Sens. Mitch McConnell (KY) and Dave McCormick (PA) — missed the vote.
The measure passed the House earlier this month in a 215–208 vote that saw four Republicans join all Democrats in favor.
President Trumplashed out at those Republicans, calling them "unpatriotic" and "GRANDSTANDERS" who "should be ashamed of themselves."
Despite both chambers approving the measure, it is largely symbolic because, as a concurrent resolution, it does not carry the force of law and will not go to the president's desk.
Even if it were binding, the president would certainly veto it, requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override.
Nevertheless, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee who sponsored the resolution, said he will seek to make sure the Trump administration complies.
"Regardless of what President Trump says, this measure is binding under the War Powers Resolution, and I will explore all legal avenues to ensure the Executive complies with the will of Congress," he said in a statement.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blancheannounced the Justice Department has charged 455 defendants for alleged health care fraud involving over $6.5 billion. "This announcement marks the greatest combined federal and state effort in combating health care fraud in history," he said at a press conference. The DOJ said the defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, submitted false claims to Medicare, Medicaid and other health care programs as part of the scheme. "We're taking back the money, the luxury cars, the jewelry and these alleged fraudsters will face justice," the acting AG said. The cases stem from the Trump administration's establishment earlier this year of a new task force to combat fraud.
The Supreme Courtruled that a Rastafarian cannot sue Louisiana prison officials who forcibly cut his dreadlocks despite his claim that it violated his religious rights. In a 6–3 ruling, along ideological lines, justices found that Damon Landor could not sue prison officials as individuals under a 2000 federal law that requires states to protect the religious rights of prisoners in state institutions. The decision upheld the Louisiana-based Fifth Circuit's ruling, which stated that state officials could not be sued in their individual capacities under the law. The underlying incident took place in 2020 at the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center, where Mr. Landor served a five-month sentence on a drug-related charge.
The Senateapproved a bipartisan bill on Monday evening aimed at lowering housing costs by an overwhelming 85–5 vote, sending the measure to the House. The bill, called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, aims to increase housing supply and bring down costs, including by limiting institutional investors' purchases of certain single-family homes. Each chamber had previously approved different versions of the bill, leading to bicameral negotiations that resulted in a breakthrough last week. The House debated the bill this afternoon and plans to vote on it later this evening.
President Trump is set to meet with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill on Wednesday after being invited by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), the chair of the Republican Steering Committee. Republicans are hoping the confab can help bridge the divide between them and the president, as the two sides have become increasingly at odds in recent months, including over the filibuster, SAVE America Act, "anti-weaponization" fund and director of national intelligence post. President Trump has repeatedly called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to approve the SAVE America Act, his voting restrictions bill that lacks the support to pass. "That's what being a leader is about," the president told reporters. "John is a leader and hopefully he can get the votes."
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to testify before his Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in July. Sen. Paul accused Dr. Fauci, with whom he has long clashed, of backing out of a voluntary agreement to testify before the committee this month over his role in allegedly covering up the U.S.'s involvement in a Chinese research lab that Sen. Paul says created the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. "Last week, Anthony Fauci notified us he will NOT voluntarily testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, even though he had previously agreed to do so," he wrote on social media. "Therefore, today I have issued a subpoena requiring him to testify before the Committee, in public, next month."
For your radar…
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer fields questions Wednesday from members of the House of Commons, his first Prime Minister's Questions session since announcing his resignation. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN2 at 7am ET.
Postmaster General David Steiner testifies Wednesday on reforming the U.S. Postal Service before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN3 at 9:30am ET.
