Raw Story

In perhaps one of the most bizarre legal whiplashes since the start of Donald Trump's second presidency, he dropped his lawsuit against polling expert Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Register on Monday — but then filed it again, in a different court.

Politico's Kyle Cheney, reporting on the development, expressed puzzlement by the move.

"UPDATE: Trump has refiled his suit against Selzer and DMR in Iowa state court, an odd move since the federal judge in the original case denied his effort to transfer back to state court," Cheney posted on X. "Appeal was pending when Trump dismissed earlier suit."

The suit stems from a poll released by Selzer and the newspaper days before the 2024 election. The poll, widely regarded as the gold standard for forecasting Iowa voters, had then-Vice President Kamala Harris carrying the state, which would have been a massive upset as Iowa has not been regarded as competitive in presidential contests since the Obama administration.

Ultimately, the poll was off, with Trump carrying the state decisively, and Selzer later announced her retirement from the polling industry. However, Trump sued Selzer and the Register under a novel legal theory that the poll was a deliberate act of fraud designed to mislead the voting public and depress turnout for his voters.

Legal experts widely view the lawsuit as meritless and an attempt to intimidate journalists who might report negative things about the president into silence.

“This frivolous effort is motivated solely by a president’s desire to punish perceived political opponents and to intimidate would-be critics into silence — a breathtaking assault on the First Amendment and the underpinnings of a free society," stated Robert Corn-Revere chief legal counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, in a press release about their legal brief in defense of Selzer and DMR. "Once you get past the groundless assertions, campaign-style hyperbole, and overheated conspiracy theories, there is nothing left.”

President Donald Trump took the opportunity Monday evening to hawk his line of fragrances — and earned swift reaction from critics Monday evening, many of whom were astounded by the eye-popping price.

Trump has a long history of pushing fragrances, dating back to at least 2004, when he launched "Donald Trump, The Fragrance" in partnership with Estée Lauder.

In 2015, Trump released the fragrance, "Empire by Trump." And last year, Trump introduced the "Victory 47" cologne and perfume as part of his merchandise line, available for pre-order beginning in June, as well as a new fragrance line called "Fight, Fight, Fight," which included both men's and women's scents.

On Monday, the president took to his Truth Social platform to push his new fragrances.

"Trump Fragrances are here. They’re called 'Victory 45-47' because they’re all about Winning, Strength, and Success — For men and women. Get yourself a bottle, and don’t forget to get one for your loved ones too. Enjoy, have fun, and keep winning!"

The internet immediately weighed in on the announcement.

X user Burt Macklin joked on X, "Just spent my entire life saving on his new phone service. Going to take out a few payday loans to get this new fragrance."

Fellow X commenter Drew Logan jabbed potential buyers, writing: "You are a complete f---ing loser if you buy this."

Fred Wellman, host of the On Democracy podcast, repeated a familiar Trump refrain in resharing the president's post: "Thank you for your attention."

Journalist Aaron Rupar wrote on X, "new frontiers of grifting."

Former MSNBC host and Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan questioned on X, "How is this legal?"

X user Kate from Kharkiv simply reacted, "Wtf? Lol"

CNN's Kristen Holmes homed in on the eyebrow-raising price.

"President Trump is launching his own fragrance line called 'Victory 45-47'. $199 a bottle," she noted.

And fellow X user Jeff Fleischmann remarked, "Trump launching fragrance line called 'Victory 45-47'. $199 a bottle. => Rumored to be made from 'essence' of his 'precious bodily fluids.' Appropriate warnings may or may not be listed on label. Use with extreme caution and ideally in the presence of a medical professional."

A panel discussion about Zohran Mamdani's shocking victory in New York City's Democratic primary turned heated after a liberal host slammed claims that Mamdani will "destroy New York."

During Monday's episode of "Piers Morgan Uncensored," former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he thinks Mamdani is an "enemy of America" and espouses a philosophy that "wants to destroy America."

"I think he's gonna destroy New York City. I think this is a disaster time for New York City. This guy becomes mayor, the city is gone," Giuliani said.

Those claims didn't sit well with Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks. Uygur described Giulian's comments as "deeply bigoted" and "total trash."

'Ignore every lie he just said," Uygur said.

Mamdani's victory in the New York Democratic mayoral primary has spurred a lot of criticism of his character and political beliefs. Some have described Mamdani as a supporter of Hamas despite offering no evidence. Others have criticized his affiliation with the Democratic Socialists of America.

Uygur added that there appear to be two kinds of people who criticize Mamdani: those who disagree with his economic vision for the country and those who want him to bend his head to Israel. Uygur said Giuliani appears to fall into the latter camp.

"If he's New York First, unacceptable!" Uygur said sarcastically. "He has to be Israel First. That's absurd. And they're deeply racist, and they're bigots, and I can't stand it."

You can watch the entire episode here.

Michael Steele, the former chair of the Republican National Committee and current MSNBC host, referenced marijuana when asked about Eric Trump's political ambitions.

Chris Jansing began Monday, "So, Michael, there is so much confidence in the power of Trump and the Trump name, his son Eric's interview with the Financial Times ignited talk of a potential Trump dynasty."

Jansing read a portion of the report where Eric Trump claimed that "the political path" for a family dynasty "would be an easy one," opening the door for another Trump to seek office after his father leaves the White House.

"'I think I could do it," Jansing read Eric's words. "And by the way, I think other members of our family could do it, too."

Eric Trump's wife, Lara, who hosts a show on Fox News after a brief stint as head of the RNC, could make that dynasty a reality. Rumors have swirled that she'll run for Sen. (R-NC) Tom Tillis's seat in next year's midterm elections, since he announced he won't run again.

Eric Trump "also said he's wholly unimpressed by half the politicians I see," Jansing read, with Eric adding, "I could do it very effectively."

"You know, if Americans are drunk on stupid, yeah, Eric Trump is your next president," Steele said. "Put that one in your pipe and smoke it. That's not some good ganja, let me tell you!"

Steele continued, sarcastically, "Sure, why not? You know, let's expand the grift. Let's widen the opportunity!"

He then got serious.

"Look, this is all unserious stuff," Steele remarked before talking about the impact a Trump dynasty would have on "real people."

"It's on the members of my party, the Republican Party, that have agreed to cut programs that they told the American people they would not cut, to expand the reach and the depth and breadth of dollars for to the benefit of those who are much, far wealthier than those red districts that they that they represent. And they will have to now look those voters in the eye, and they'll either continue to lie to them, and the voters will buy it, or they won't, and they'll unelect them. That's the politics of this."

Read the Financial Times article here.

Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt if New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani should be deported "based on rap lyrics" — even though he is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

"Does President Trump want Zohran Mamdani deported?" Doocy wondered during Monday's White House briefing.

"I haven't heard him say that," Leavitt replied. "I haven't heard him call for that. But certainly he does not want this individual to be elected."

"There's this Congressman Andy Ogles," Doocy noted. "He wants the Attorney General [Pam] Bondi to explore denaturalization proceedings because he thinks Mamdani could have misrepresented or concealed material support for terrorism based on rap lyrics he wrote in 2017."

"Does President Trump think this is a worthwhile use of the Attorney General's time?" the Fox News correspondent pressed.

"Well, I'll let the President speak to that," Leavitt deflected. "I have not seen those claims, but surely if they are true, it's something that should be investigated."

Watch the video below from Fox News.

Nearly 300 employees of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have signed onto a letter of dissent published Monday in opposition to President Donald Trump’s environmental regulatory rollbacks, who, at the risk of retaliation, argued the administration’s actions will cost lives.

“People are going to die,” said Carol Greider, professor of molecular and cellular biology at the University of California, speaking to The Associated Press. “And if we don’t have scientists at the EPA to understand how what we do that goes into the air affects our health, more people are going to die.”

The Trump administration has made significant budget cuts to the EPA and regulatory rollbacks on environmental policies, including broad pollution exemptions for industrial plants, while also vowing to halt environmental improvement projects for minority communities, among other initiatives.

The letter, signed by around 270 EPA employees, warns Trump that continued budget cuts and regulatory rollbacks not only threaten lives but also further scientific research necessary to combat climate change and other existential risks.

“Since the Agency’s founding in 1970, EPA has accomplished (its) mission by leveraging science, funding, and expert staff in service to the American people,” the letter reads, as reported by The Associated Press. “Today, we stand together in dissent against the current administration’s focus on harmful deregulation, mischaracterization of previous EPA actions, and disregard for scientific expertise.”

The letter of dissent mirrors a letter signed by hundreds of scientists at the National Institutes of Health objecting to cuts and mass layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Raw Story reported that at a hearing last week of the House Subcommittee on Health, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to commit to not retaliating against those scientists for their dissent.

“Americans should be able to drink their water and breathe their air without being poisoned,” said Amelia Hertzberg, EPA environmental protection specialist, speaking with the Associated Press. “And if they aren’t, then our government is failing.”