Trump will not let the midterm calendar dictate national security. Iran talks are intensifying, but pressure remains. Also today: forced-labor tariffs, a Senate election fight, fresh DOJ scrutiny, and two major moves in American spaceflight.

Congress created the rank of General of the Army on July 25, 1866. President Andrew Johnson awarded it to Ulysses S. Grant, who had led Union forces to victory in the Civil War.

President Donald Trump said Friday that communications with Iran are getting "more serious." He also rejected the idea that the White House needs a peace agreement before the 2026 midterm elections. That separates diplomacy from the campaign calendar.

Trump is keeping talks open while preserving sanctions, military options, and other pressure against Tehran. No artificial deadline means Iranian officials cannot simply wait for Washington to panic over polling. It also tells Israel and Gulf partners that the United States is not preparing a rushed political spectacle disguised as a security agreement.

Iran funds armed proxies, threatens American allies, and has spent decades stretching negotiations while advancing its position. The press will focus on whether Trump can announce a deal. The real test is whether any agreement restricts Iran's nuclear work, limits its financing of militias, and includes enforcement with consequences.

Speed does not matter if Tehran can exploit loopholes six months later. Trump's approach gives negotiators time, but time must cost Iran through sustained sanctions and credible military readiness. Diplomacy works when the other side believes refusal will hurt more than compromise. Watch next for sanctions enforcement, inspection demands, and whether Iran offers measurable concessions instead of another round of promises.

President Trump announced tariffs and import restrictions aimed at products connected to forced labor, with China-linked supply chains at the center. Customs officials are expected to increase shipment detentions, exclusions, and sourcing demands under the anti-slavery enforcement push. Companies may face higher costs, but cheap goods should not depend on hidden coercion. The European Union must now choose between its human-rights claims and its commercial ties with Beijing.

The House passed a $95 billion budget resolution by a 216-214 vote. It includes $73 billion for defense and intelligence, $12 billion for agriculture, and $10 billion for states tied to SAVE America Act incentives. Trump is pressuring Senate Majority Leader John Thune to act. Senate Republicans now face a direct test: attach federal election money to stronger safeguards, or keep funding states without demanding basic standards.

Mike Lindell proposed a six-month window allowing illegal immigrants to apply for conditional work visas. Conservative activists immediately called the proposal amnesty, arguing it rewards illegal entry. Lindell is Trump's endorsed candidate for Minnesota governor, so the dispute will not stay local. Republican voters have heard temporary-amnesty promises before. Lindell must now clarify whether illegal status produces removal or another federal benefit.

The United States has spent about $3 billion supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, according to a Washington Examiner column. Yet Lebanon still has not disarmed Hezbollah, Iran's heavily armed proxy on Israel's border. Trump's June security framework depends on Lebanon's government and military taking action. American taxpayers bought years of training and equipment. Washington should now demand results before approving another check.

A watchdog asked the Justice Department to suspend clearances for Jack Smith team members pending review of alleged classified-information lapses. The request seeks an examination of storage, handling, and access controls while demanding the same standards DOJ applied against Trump. Clearances are based on trust, not job titles. Attorney General Pam Bondi's department should establish the facts quickly and apply one rule to everyone.

Relativity Space plans a second rocket factory near Cape Canaveral, expanding beyond its Long Beach operation. Building hardware near launch pads can reduce shipping risks and support faster production cycles. Florida is becoming the industrial center of American launch capacity, not merely a launch site. That matters for NASA, military missions, and competition with China.

Midjourney acquired Co-Star, a consumer astrology app offering daily horoscopes and compatibility readings. The deal reportedly closed this spring, though neither company disclosed the price. Midjourney is expanding beyond AI images into a product built around daily attention and personalized advice. Watch Co-Star's data policies and how deeply Midjourney inserts its systems into the app.

Gabriela Soto's supporters claimed ICE detained her while she was buying diapers. The Daily Wire reports that ICE custody followed a domestic-violence arrest involving an alleged assault. Her account helped fuel a hunger strike inside a detention facility. Emotional narratives travel fast, but lawmakers and the public deserve the arrest record before activists demand action.

SpaceX launched Starship on July 24, its first test flight since the company's June IPO. The launch placed the Mars-class rocket under new investor scrutiny as the FAA and safety teams monitored the mission. Public markets bring pressure for steady progress, but experimental rockets fail before they succeed. America needs Starship's heavy-lift capacity for military launches, satellites, and competition with China.

I see one test running through today's stories: accountability before promises. Iran wants time, Senate Republicans want delay, and Lebanon wants more American money. DOJ officials and corporate importers also want you to trust their internal rules.

I want proof, enforcement, and consequences.

Stay alert and demand results. Hit reply with what's on your radar.

Stay free,

Brett Lee
Editor, Project Liberty
projectlibertyus.com

Follow: @projectlibertyus | @real_brett_lee