Trump looks to Supreme Court for ballroom lifeline 

Happy Friday! Have you noticed that *everything* is pickle-flavored now? Well, The Wall Street Journal sure noticed and says we should all blame Gen Z for that.

Question for you: What is the weirdest pickle-flavored food or drink you’ve come across? Please let me know what you’ve come across. The giant gummy pickle has to be at the top of my list.   

Trump asks Supreme Court to greenlight ballroom 

Trump asks Supreme Court to greenlight ballroom 

12 incumbents who lost their primaries

12 incumbents who lost their primaries

GOP’s new midterm strategy: Paint Dems as extreme

GOP’s new midterm strategy: Paint Dems as extreme

Daylight saving time battle pits GOP against Trump

Daylight saving time battle pits GOP against Trump

Programming note: I will be taking some time off, starting on Monday. A team of editors at The Hill will be taking the reins of the 12:30 Report while I’m out. You’ll be in great hands!  

🙏 IN THE WHITE HOUSE 

Please oh please can I have my ballroom?:

President Trump has asked the Supreme Court for permission to build his White House ballroom after a panel of federal judges blocked further construction without congressional approval.

The Trump team argues in his emergency appeal that it’s necessary for national security. Trump has pointed to recent shootings near him to make the case this ballroom is necessary to protect the sitting president. 🔎 Read the official request 

Keep in mind: This is the first time the battle over the planned 90,000 square-foot ballroom has reached the Supreme Court. 

What happens now?: The Supreme Court is in the middle of its summer recess, but this will land on its emergency docket (as is Trump’s mail-in voting executive order). If the justices don’t intervene in the next week, ballroom construction will stop. 

💬 Follow today’s live blog 

The president is traveling to Long Island, N.Y., to tout his administration’s efforts to combat crime. He will tour a police academy. Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel will join.  

💻 Watch Trump’s live remarks at 3 p.m. 

Republicans’ latest midterm strategy: Go after democratic socialists:

“Republicans are increasingly training their fire on democratic socialists and the Democratic Party’s progressive wing as they search for a winning message heading........

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