12:30 Report is The Hill’s midday newsletter. Subscribe here or in the box below:
In today’s issue:
• Trump presses DOJ to pay him millions
• 3 shutdown off-ramps floated
• Senate Dem holds floor for 18+ hours
• President meets with NATO head
• Louvre reopens after $100M in jewels stolen
🎤 IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Trump wants the DOJ to pay him $230M:
President Trump is demanding roughly $230 million from his Justice Department to be compensated for the past investigations against him, according to multiple reports.
Could he get it?: The New York Times, which first reported the figure, cited people familiar with the matter who said it’s possible it gets approved by senior officials who previously defended Trump or others close to him.
This would be a huge deal: “The situation has no parallel in American history, as Mr. Trump, a presidential candidate, was pursued by federal law enforcement and eventually won the election, taking over the very government that must now review his claims. It is also the starkest example yet of potential ethical conflicts created by installing the president’s former lawyers atop the Justice Department.” (NYT)
Trump was asked about the report Tuesday: “I don’t know the numbers, I don’t even talk to them about it. All I know is that they would owe me a lot of money, but I’m not looking for money. I would give it to charity or something,” the president said.
GOP Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.) says it’s a bad idea: “It’s terrible optics, particularly right now,” Tillis, who is retiring, said, per CNN’s Manu Raju. “We’re talking about a quarter of a billion dollars transferring, maybe to the President when we’re in a shutdown posture.”
A former Trump adviser also questioned the move: Former Trump campaign adviser David Urban argues Trump should not seek compensation. “If the president wants to get an apology from the Department of Justice, or from somebody for doing him wrong — one thing. For John Q. Public to come out of their checkbook to pay him money, it’s not like Donald Trump’s brand has been hurt by that, right?” Urban told CNN.
Add a ‘help wanted’ sign to the White House’s front door:
The White House is searching for its next head of the Office of Special Counsel after Paul Ingrassia withdrew his nomination on Tuesday evening.
Ingrassia had been under mounting pressure to withdraw over racist text messages he reportedly sent, including referring to himself as having a “Nazi streak.” Several Republicans said they would not vote to confirm him before he withdrew.
But keep in mind: Ingrassia is still a White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, which is not a Senate-confirmed job. Some Democrats are calling for him to resign from the administration entirely.
“Withdrawing his nomination is not good enough. Ingrassia should be removed from the White House and government service altogether,” posted Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.).
⏱️ ON CAPITOL HILL
A senator’s version of 26.2 miles:
The Senate is waiting for its 12th round of government funding votes, but the upper chamber is currently paralyzed until Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) gives up the floor.
Merkley has been holding the Senate floor since 6:21 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, speaking for more than 18 consecutive hours to protest President Trump’s administration. The senator, who turns 69 on Friday, has touched on everything from accusing Trump of “weaponizing the Justice Department” to panning his deportation efforts and National Guard deployments to blue cities.
He’s still a ways from breaking the record: Democratic Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.) set the record earlier this year, speaking for more than 25 hours.
Real talk, how do we get out of this?: There has still been very little progress in the government funding fight. Republicans, who have broadly tried to ramp up pressure on Democrats, are eyeing several strategies:
The first — change the filibuster: Senate Republicans are talking more about changing the filibuster’s rules to end the shutdown. Their leader, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.), is not on board with this plan, though. Read Alexander Bolton’s reporting
The second — put Democrats in a bind: Senate Republicans are planning a vote to pay military members and essential workers. They’re hoping this drives a wedge within the Democratic Party, which could spark an end to the shutdown. Read Al Weaver’s reporting on this
The third — punt it even longer: Republican leaders are considering an extended funding extension, through January or possibly even for a full year. Read Emily Brooks’s reporting
➤ NEW REPORTING — WILL NANCY PELOSI RETIRE?:
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) plans to make an announcement about her future but is waiting until after the California election in November, according to Politico.
💎 OTHER NEWS
Nicolas Cage, are you up for a new role?:
^ The New York Times even has a detailed diagram for you.
The Louvre has reopened for the first time since four thieves stole roughly $102 million in jewelry from the Paris museum.
What’s wild about this story: They did it in broad daylight and in less than 10 minutes (!). Eight items were taken.
Have the thieves been caught?: No, they’re still on the run.
How it happened: The Times published a fascinating breakdown and detailed diagram of how the jewelry heist unfolded. It involved power tools and a truck-mounted ladder into a second-floor window. The graphics are helpful. Read: ‘How the Louvre Jewelry Heist Unfolded’
➤ QUICK HITS:
— Former Sen. John E. Sununu (R-N.H.), who served from 2003-2009, is officially running for Senate again in 2026.
— Japan’s new prime minister worked on Capitol Hill in the 1980s, per NPR. (Now, that’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming.)
— Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre published a book about serving under former President Biden. She no longer considers herself a Democrat, which makes this even more interesting. Five takeaways
— New York City mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani (D), Andrew Cuomo (I) and Curtis Sliwa (R) will face off in their second debate tonight at 7 p.m. EDT. Livestream
➤ MORE READS:
The New York Times: Trump Empowers Election Deniers, Still Fixated on 2020 Grievances
The Wall Street Journal: Democratic Donors Sit on Sidelines as Party Schism Persists
Vox: The buzzy word that Democrats have pinned their hopes on
The Washington Post: How Obama maneuvered behind the scenes to fight Trump on redistricting
COMING UP
The House is out. The Senate is in. President Trump is at the White House. (All times EDT)
2:20 p.m. Two Senate votes. Another is expected at 5:30 p.m. 📆 Today’s agenda
3:30 p.m. Entrepreneur Mark Cuban testifies on health care affordability. 💻 Livestream
4 p.m. Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meet in the Oval Office.
INTERNET BUZZ
🥜 Celebrate: Today is National Nut Day. Not the flashiest of days, but a trusty one.
AND FINALLY
You’ve been working too hard. Take a 15-second break to spend time with this giraffe.
