•Democrats Block Military Pay: Senate Democrats vote for the 10th time to keep the government shut down and against paying U.S. troops. The president vows to fund the military anyway, daring Democrats to challenge him in court.

•Wall Street Jitters: Markets tumble as regional bank loans come under scrutiny, echoing 2008 fears of a hidden financial crisis. 

•Trump’s High-Stakes Diplomacy: The president prepares to meet Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and later, Vladimir Putin in Budapest, to push for an end to the war. Could Tomahawk missiles or direct peace talks shift the global balance?

•IRS Power Shift: The administration begins replacing left-leaning officials at the IRS with conservative loyalists, promising to target progressive nonprofits for audits after years of bias against conservative groups.

Erick Erickson breaks down the four major stories you need to know before the day ends. From political power plays in Washington to breaking developments the mainstream media is ignoring, this rapid-fire update cuts through the noise.

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Stay grounded, stay informed, and keep the faith.