Democrats are openly preparing to remake the Supreme Court when they regain enough power. Today, I break down the 2026 setup, Washington's $432.3 billion July deficit, MAGA Inc.'s $400 million war chest, Trump's Korea gamble, and the DNC's vote to abolish ICE.

American troops entered Messina on August 17, 1943, completing the Allied conquest of Sicily after 38 days of fighting. The victory opened another route into Axis-controlled Europe.

Question: Which amendment reserves undelegated federal powers to the states or the people?

Answer at the very end of today's briefing.

The Washington Examiner editorial board says voters should treat congressional control as a direct defense of the Supreme Court. The board points to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as a leading signal of Democratic plans to reshape institutions that block progressive policy. President Donald Trump currently stands between Democrats and any court-expansion bill because he can veto it. But the 2026 House and Senate elections determine who controls committees, confirmations, spending, investigations, and the legislative machinery needed for a later attack.

The Court has nine seats because Congress set that number by statute. Congress can change it again with enough votes and a president willing to sign the bill.

The missing media angle is permanence. Democrats may sell court expansion as a response to conservative rulings, but the damage would reach far beyond one ideological fight. Every future majority would face pressure to add seats whenever justices ruled against it. Gun rights, religious liberty, political speech, election rules, and limits on federal agencies would all become bargaining chips in a judicial arms race.

You would no longer have an independent backstop against political power. You would have another branch remade after every election. Republicans cannot wait for a presidential year to explain this threat because the groundwork starts with House and Senate control now. Watch whether 2026 candidates defend nine justices and whether senators protect the filibuster from a future court-packing vote.

Emma Kessler dreaded running her first half-marathon alone. Her boyfriend secretly trained for two months, packed his running shoes in the trunk, and then joined her for 13 miles. He gave her the one thing she needed most: someone beside her.

For more stories like this, follow @feelgoodnewsusa — real good news, no partisan spin.

Washington ran a record-setting July deficit of $432.3 billion, according to the Examiner editorial. The last monthly gap this large came during Biden's March 2021 COVID spending spree. There is no pandemic or declared war today. Social Security, Medicare, and debt interest are consuming more money while Congress finances normal government like a permanent emergency.

MAGA Inc. reported roughly $400 million available through late June. Trump adviser James Blair left the administration to help direct the super PAC's 2026 operation and has briefed Senate Republicans. That money can define candidates before Democrats do. It can also punish weak Republican incumbents who campaign as fighters and govern as spectators.

President Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce joint exercises with South Korea. Trump cited his relationship with Kim Jong Un and Seoul's refusal to assist efforts against Iran's nuclear program. No exercise list or reduction figure accompanied the announcement. Diplomacy can prevent war, but Kim must provide measurable concessions before America gives up valuable training time.

The Democratic National Committee made abolishing ICE official policy at its summer meeting in Austin. Resolution 27 advanced through the Resolutions Committee by a 25-12 vote before full adoption. ICE arrests, detains, and removes illegal aliens inside the country. Democrats are no longer dealing with a fringe activist slogan. Their national party has embraced it.

Jared Kushner met Hamas leadership in Egypt before talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump's team wants concrete disarmament and demilitarization steps, not another ceasefire that lets Hamas reload. The hard part is enforcement. Any agreement must identify who removes weapons, destroys tunnels, verifies compliance, and governs Gaza afterward.

Nearly 100 million dollars in bonuses will be distributed based on FedExCup standings after the BMW Championship. The payments are separate from the tournament purse and reward season-long performance. One strong playoff week can change a golfer's career earnings. The standings are not just a points list. They are a steep cash ladder.

Attorney General Todd Blanche defended US Attorney Jeanine Pirro after her office dropped a Reflecting Pool vandalism case involving former Olympian David Hearn. Blanche told NBC's Kristen Welker that one case should not define a prosecutor, while acknowledging Trump's frustration. DOJ needs prosecutorial independence, but the public also deserves a clear explanation when a prominent case collapses.

I see the same pattern in today's biggest stories. Washington wants more power, more money, and fewer restraints, then acts surprised when you stop trusting it. Elections matter because personnel, budgets, judges, and enforcement policy all follow control. I know you are paying attention because you understand exactly who gets the bill when Washington fails.

Today's trivia: Which amendment reserves undelegated powers?
Answer: The Tenth Amendment reserves those powers to the states or the people.

Stay alert. Power counts on you looking away. Reply with one story you want me to cover this week.

Stay free,

Brett Lee
Editor, Project Liberty
projectlibertyus.com

Follow: @projectlibertyus | @real_brett_lee