BREAKING: Trump's Ballroom Blocked, Fed Purge Renewed, Cassidy Caves on Blanche

Good evening, this is Really American. It is Friday, August 7, 2026.

A federal court just told Trump his $400 million ballroom is illegal, and he’s already threatening to take it to the Supreme Court. He’s trying for a second time to force a Federal Reserve governor out of her job so he can control interest rates himself. Todd Blanche just locked up the votes to become attorney general after one senator caved. And in an interview that should embarrass him, Trump got told to his face that no, actually, people are not calling him one of the greatest presidents ever. Let’s get into it.

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COURT BLOCKS TRUMP’S $400 MILLION WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Trump has to halt construction on his 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom because he never got permission from Congress to build it.

The D.C. Circuit panel sided 2-1 with historic preservationists, writing plainly that “whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.” The court paused its own ruling for two weeks so Trump can appeal, and he’s already vowed to take it to the Supreme Court, calling the decision “unjust.”

Congress already rejected the administration’s $1 billion request for the project in May, and Democrats allege that $350 million was quietly redirected from a tax-cut law to pay for it anyway. Trump is now claiming the ballroom includes bomb shelters and “Top Secret Military Facilities,” and calling the court’s ruling a “National Security threat.”

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued back in December, says the ruling protects the public’s right to have a say over historic sites Trump has been bulldozing without asking anyone.

This is a president trying to build a personal monument with money Congress said no to, then dressing it up as a security emergency when a court finally stopped him.

TRUMP TRIES AGAIN TO PURGE THE FED

Trump is making a second attempt to force Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook out of her job, months after the Supreme Court blocked his first try on procedural grounds.

Dan Scavino, head of the Office of Presidential Personnel, sent Cook a letter this week giving her 21 days to respond to allegations about mortgage paperwork that the administration claims undermine her “honesty, trustworthiness, and competence.”

Cook’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, called the allegations “as baseless now as they were a year ago” and said the real goal is breaking the Fed’s independence. Trump has already appointed three of the board’s seven governors and has openly said he wants a majority to force interest rates down.

The underlying claims against Cook haven’t been proven in court. This is a president trying to fire an independent regulator because she won’t do what he wants, and rewriting the rules for removal to do so.

CASSIDY DELIVERS THE VOTE THAT CONFIRMS BLANCHE

Sen. Bill Cassidy announced Friday he’ll vote to confirm Todd Blanche for attorney general, the vote that all but guarantees Blanche gets the job.

Cassidy had been considered a critical holdout, especially after Sen. Lisa Murkowski joined Susan Collins in opposing Blanche over what Murkowski called a $1.8 billion “slush fund” and concerns about DOJ “politicization.” With Mitch McConnell still out, that defection would have sunk the nomination if Cassidy had joined them.

Trump lashed out at Murkowski just a day earlier, telling Punchbowl News “she’s not good.” Cassidy acknowledged he’ll face criticism for the vote but said “even critics admit that Mr. Blanche knows the law.”

Blanche’s own personal defense attorney is now on track to run the Justice Department, over the objections of two Republican women who voted to convict Trump after January 6.

TRUMP TOLD TO HIS FACE HE’S NOT ONE OF THE GREATEST PRESIDENTS

Trump got an unscripted reality check Friday when a reporter simply refused to let him spin.

In an interview with Punchbowl News, Trump was asked if Democrats might try to impeach him if they retake the House. He dodged with, “Well, a lot of people are saying I’m one of the greatest presidents ever.” Reporter Jake Sherman pushed back immediately: “They’re not saying that, though.” Trump’s response: “Yeah, but they know, they see the results.”

Pressed again on impeachment, Trump paused and admitted, “It’s hard to believe they could.” Two House resolutions calling for his impeachment are already filed, covering everything from threatening violence against members of Congress to unconstitutional deportations.

In the same interview, Trump reversed his past attacks calling Hakeem Jeffries “Low IQ” and a “THUG,” now saying Jeffries is “a nice guy” he could do business with. And on the midterms, Trump insisted voters aren’t angry at him, only at his own party: “They’re angry at Republicans, but they’re not angry at me.”

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See you soon.