What Happened Today - July 20

🟢 GovBrief Intensity Score 66

Low activity. Things are quieter than usual.

Previous 5 Days
🟢66|🟢70|🟢70|🔴135|🟠114

This is an indexed score based on news activity. 100 = our permanent historical baseline that is adjusted for weekdays and weekend days. Scores above 100 mean a busier-than-normal news day.

📢 They made a lot of noise today, but most of it was sound and fury.

Bluster, brags, and threats flew all day against immigrants, allies, and even football teams over their names and stadium deals that aren’t Trump’s to block. It’s all a desperate screen to hide the fact that his support is cratering and the Epstein scandal has him cornered.

Don’t rely on the algorithm to keep you informed. Let me send this to you every night, free and private, so that you always know what’s going on. Add your email at govbrief dot today, on Facebook, or on Substack at Gov Brief Today.

#GovBriefToday #Resist

Yesterday’s Most Read Story

White House, Pentagon, and GSA officials review SpaceX contracts after June feud with Musk, but find government too dependent on company to terminate deals.

Today’s GovBrief News

Fighting Back Immigration

Public support for Trump’s mass deportation policy has dropped 10 points since February, sinking his overall approval rating to 42 percent.

July 20, 2025

View Details

Human Rights Propaganda

In a culture war appeal to his base, Trump demanded the return of the Redskins and Indians names while threatening to block a D.C. stadium deal that Biden already approved.

July 20, 2025

View Details

Propaganda War

Trump celebrated six months in office by claiming to have ended “numerous wars” while major peace deals in Ukraine and Gaza remain elusive.

July 20, 2025

View Details

Criminal Justice Economy Immigration

Despite talk of a pass for farmers, ICE’s director is now warning of a criminal crackdown on any company that hires unauthorized workers.

July 20, 2025

View Details

Economy Federal Personnel Media

Days after suing the Wall Street Journal, Trump denied its report that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stopped him from firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

July 20, 2025

View Details

Economy Foreign Relations

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s tariff ultimatum has prompted the European Union to prepare for retaliatory action ahead of the August 1 deadline.

July 20, 2025

View Details

Federal Personnel Military Transportation

In North Dakota, a Delta regional jet’s near-collision with an Air Force B-52 marks the fourth major failure in military-civilian aviation safety this year.

July 20, 2025

View Details

Health Religion Science

The Trump administration is using a $1.5 million grant to pivot the 55-year-old Title X birth control program toward controversial, non-IVF infertility treatments favored by religious conservatives.

July 20, 2025

View Details

Action Center

What Happened Today – July 20

Yesterday’s Most Read Story

Today’s GovBrief News

Public support for Trump’s mass deportation policy has dropped 10 points since February, sinking his overall approval rating to 42 percent.

In a culture war appeal to his base, Trump demanded the return of the Redskins and Indians names while threatening to block a D.C. stadium deal that Biden already approved.

Trump celebrated six months in office by claiming to have ended “numerous wars” while major peace deals in Ukraine and Gaza remain elusive.

Despite talk of a pass for farmers, ICE’s director is now warning of a criminal crackdown on any company that hires unauthorized workers.

Days after suing the Wall Street Journal, Trump denied its report that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stopped him from firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s tariff ultimatum has prompted the European Union to prepare for retaliatory action ahead of the August 1 deadline.

In North Dakota, a Delta regional jet’s near-collision with an Air Force B-52 marks the fourth major failure in military-civilian aviation safety this year.

The Trump administration is using a $1.5 million grant to pivot the 55-year-old Title X birth control program toward controversial, non-IVF infertility treatments favored by religious conservatives.