AP The Morning Wire - July 15, 2025 - by Sarah Nafta - The US Supreme Court allows President Donald Trump to lay off nearly 1,400 Education Department employees; MAGA faithful are angry about the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government is rattled after an ultra-Orthodox party announces its exit. Also, volunteers are bringing hope to the Texas recovery effort after catastrophic floods.

 

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By Sarah Naffa July 15, 2025

In the news today: The US Supreme Court allows President Donald Trump to lay off nearly 1,400 Education Department employees; MAGA faithful are angry about the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government is rattled after an ultra-Orthodox party announces its exit. Also, volunteers are bringing hope to the Texas recovery effort after catastrophic floods. Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks during a Senate Appropriations hearing in June on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) POLITICS How Trump plans to dismantle the Education Department after Supreme Court ruling Supreme Court justices on Monday paused a lower court order that had halted nearly 1,400 layoffs and had called into question the legality of President Donald Trump’s plan to outsource the department’s operations to other agencies. Now, Donald Trump and Education Secretary Linda McMahon are free to execute the layoffs and break up the department’s work among other federal agencies. Read more.

Why this matters: McMahon has said the department has one “final mission” – to turn over its power to the states. Among the most important decisions is where to put management of federal student loans, a $1.6 trillion portfolio affecting nearly 43 million borrowers. Trump in March suggested the Small Business Administration would take on federal student loans, but a June court filing indicated the Treasury Department is expected to take over the work. Gutting the Education Department will hinder the government’s ability to enforce civil rights laws, especially for girls, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students and students of color, said Gaylynn Burroughs, vice president at the National Women’s Law Center.

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What to know: The Justice Department last week said Epstein, who was facing charges of sex trafficking, did not leave behind a “client list.” Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested in February it was on her desk, though she later said she was referring to the overall case file. Bondi also said officials were poring over a “truckload” of previously withheld evidence. The Justice Department concluded, however, that public disclosure would not be appropriate and that much of the material was placed under seal by a judge. The move has angered right-wing influencers who were once bolstered by Trump’s own claims on this case, but are now feeling their demands are being squelched by his administration. Figures like commentator Tucker Carlson, right-wing activist Laura Loomer and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon claim the government’s handling of the case shows a lack of transparency.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Handling of Epstein files sparks clash between Pam Bondi and Dan Bongino WORLD NEWS Netanyahu’s coalition is rattled as ultra-Orthodox party announces exit over military draft law An Israeli ultra-Orthodox party that has been a key governing partner of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Tuesday it was leaving the coalition government, threatening to destabilize the Israeli leader’s rule at a pivotal time in the war in Gaza. Read more.

Why this matters: United Torah Judaism’s two factions said they were leaving the government over disagreements surrounding a bill that would codify broad military draft exemptions for their constituents, many of whom study Jewish texts instead of enlisting to the military. The issue has long divided Jewish Israelis, most of whom are required to enlist. The departure of a party that has long served as a kingmaker in Israeli politics doesn’t immediately threaten Netanyahu’s rule. But once it comes into effect within 48 hours, it will leave the Israeli leader with a slim majority in a government that could now more heavily rely on the whims of two far-right parties. Those parties oppose concessions in ceasefire negotiations with Hamas and have themselves quit or threatened to quit the government over moves to end or even pause the war in Gaza.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Syria announces ceasefire after sectarian violence Leaders of Holy Land churches condemn Israeli settler violence during a West Bank visit BBC Gaza documentary narrated by Hamas official’s son breached editorial guidelines, review says ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Extreme weather: Heavy rains and flash flooding sweep across Northeast Border tensions: Cambodia will start military conscription next year as tensions with Thailand persist Petroleum-based dyes: US ice cream makers say they’ll stop using artificial dyes by 2028 Beyoncé: Unreleased music stolen during ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour One Tech Tip: ‘Click-to-cancel’ is over, but there are other ways to unsubscribe Andrea Gibson: Poet and candid explorer of life, death and identity, dies at 49 Today in History: In 1799, the Rosetta Stone, a key to deciphering ancient Egyptian scripts, was discovered WATCH Texas: Volunteers bring hope to Kerrville after catastrophic floods ‘Swan Upping’: The annual count of swans on the River Thames A CHANGE OF PACE Revelers lying on the ground at the entrance to the bullring on the fifth day of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Spain, on Friday. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)  Top photos of thrilling moments and close calls at Spain’s San Fermín bull-running festival Tens of thousands of revelers celebrated Pamplona’s annual San Fermín bull-running festival in northern Spain. The highlight of the nine-day festival is the early morning bull runs, when thousands of runners sprint to avoid six bulls charging along a winding cobblestoned route to the city’s bullring.

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