The Senate just refused to tie President Trump's hands on Iran for the 13th time. I'll show you what that means for war powers, military readiness, and the risk of ground troops. Also inside: Iowa farmers sound the alarm, Musk funds the GOP machine, and Trump's DOJ tests a dormant terrorism court.

The United States issued its first patent on July 31, 1790, to Samuel Hopkins for a new process of making potash. President George Washington signed the patent under a system designed to protect American invention.

Property rights helped build the American economy.

Question: How many amendments were included in the original Bill of Rights?

Answer at the very end of today's briefing.

Senate Republicans blocked another attempt to force President Donald Trump to end military operations involving Iran. The measure failed to advance, leaving the White House in control of strikes and other actions short of a declared war. This was not an isolated protest vote.

The Senate has now considered 13 Iran-related war powers resolutions aimed at Trump. Sen. Bill Cassidy offered the most important distinction in the debate. He backed presidential flexibility but opposed sending American ground troops into Iran. Republicans argued that statutory limits would reveal America's boundaries to Tehran during an active threat. Democrats and several GOP skeptics said Congress must reclaim its constitutional authority before the conflict expands.

Cassidy's promise matters politically. It does not bind Trump, the Pentagon, or the next Senate vote. Congress has now chosen flexibility over an enforceable restriction, which means lawmakers also own part of the outcome if limited strikes become an open-ended conflict.

The overlooked issue is ammunition. Lawmakers are watching U.S. munitions inventories while Washington supports allies and prepares for threats from Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea. A weapons shortage can limit presidential choices long before Congress passes a resolution. America needs deterrence without drifting into another occupation that consumes troops, money, and public trust. What to watch next: whether Cassidy and other Republicans turn their ground-troop line into binding legislation before deployment orders arrive.

The Senate rejected its 13th attempt to direct Trump to end military action involving Iran. Supporters demanded a congressional check before the conflict grows. Opponents warned against restricting the commander in chief during an active threat. The result leaves current Iran policy under Trump's control unless Congress passes a binding restriction and survives a likely veto.

Iowa farmers told CNBC that tariffs are disrupting exports while fertilizer, equipment financing, fuel, and shipping remain expensive. Some still support Trump but want faster relief and dependable foreign buyers. Farm retaliation arrives quickly. Lost markets return slowly. Republicans cannot assume rural loyalty will survive indefinitely if producers keep losing money.

Elon Musk's super PAC plans to support the Republican apparatus across House and Senate battlegrounds. America PAC will add money, voter data, advertising, and turnout operations rather than create a third-party spoiler. That choice matters after Musk's feud with Trump. Close midterm races are often decided by organization, and Musk can finance it at national scale.

The Justice Department filed the court's first removal case against Nazira, an Afghan noncitizen tied by prosecutors to an ISIS-inspired Election Day 2024 plot. DOJ alleges she radicalized relatives and concealed pro-ISIS instruction. The government must prove every charge. If it does, this special court could become a faster tool for removing terrorism-linked noncitizens admitted after Kabul fell.

Rep. Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed used their final Democratic debate to fight over Israel, immigration, health care, corporate money, and outside spending. Stevens presented herself as the safer nominee. El-Sayed pushed the party left. The winner faces Republican Mike Rogers in November, with Senate control potentially riding on Michigan.

Columnist Greg Rooke attacked Gov. Mike DeWine's response to Haitian TPS as management instead of resistance. States bear direct costs through schools, housing, policing, and local services. Governors can direct agencies, cooperate with federal enforcement, and challenge policies in court. A Republican governor who refuses those tools leaves the bureaucracy in charge.

Fox Sports matched each contender's biggest deadline need with a realistic target. Bullpen arms, rotation depth, and right-handed bats dominate the board. Smart teams buy innings and outs, not headlines. One dependable reliever or starter can change an October series more than a flashy addition at a position already covered.

Amazon's projected $200 billion investment puts AWS and artificial intelligence at the center of its earnings story. That money funds data centers, chips, networking equipment, and power contracts. Faster AWS growth could justify the bill. Weak guidance would expose Amazon to margin pressure while affecting construction, utilities, chipmakers, and cloud suppliers across the economy.

Situational Awareness reportedly sold its public portfolio after its artificial intelligence trade turned against it. The fund was founded by a 24-year-old former OpenAI employee, with Citadel reported as the buyer. Full losses have not been disclosed. The lesson is old: clever branding cannot rescue bad timing, excessive risk, or a crowded trade.

President Trump has put alleged Chinese collection of American voter data into public view, calling it an election security nightmare. The hopeful part is that public attention gives Americans a chance to demand facts, protect their personal information, and insist on firm safeguards. Awareness is the first defense.

Power moved faster than accountability all week. The Senate left Iran decisions with Trump, governors faced pressure over immigration enforcement, and voters watched money reshape the midterms. I support decisive leadership, but every grant of authority needs a visible boundary and a public accounting. Forward this to one person who needs to read it this weekend.

13 Senate votes

The Senate has now voted 13 times on resolutions pressing Trump to halt Iran-related military action. That number matters because it shows Congress can stage repeated debates without settling who owns the decision to expand or end a conflict.

Today's trivia: How many amendments were in the original Bill of Rights?
Answer: The original Bill of Rights contained 10 amendments, ratified in 1791.

Keep watching the decisions Washington hopes you will miss. Weekend reading: full archive at projectlibertyus.com.

Stay free,

Brett Lee
Editor, Project Liberty
projectlibertyus.com

Follow: @projectlibertyus | @real_brett_lee