Welcome to The Daily Politic Briefing! Good morning and thank you for joining us on this Friday, July 25, 2025. Today we bring you the most pressing political developments from Capitol Hill and beyond. From the escalating Epstein controversy dividing Congress to major reorganization plans at the USDA and calls for special counsel investigations, we're covering the stories that matter most in today's political landscape. Today's Top Stories First, we'll examine how the Jeffrey Epstein files have become a political battleground in Congress. Then, we'll look at Senate appropriations efforts racing against the August recess deadline. We'll also cover the controversial USDA reorganization plan, growing calls for a special counsel investigation into the Obama administration, potential tax legislation, and several key developments in congressional politics. Epstein Controversy Divides Congress Democrats are planning to use the Jeffrey Epstein controversy as a key talking point during August recess town halls, framing Republicans as protecting the powerful rather than vulnerable victims. However, this strategy isn't unanimous, with some Democrats in purple districts preferring to focus on economic issues instead. House Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself in a difficult position, trying to avoid Epstein-related votes while giving the Trump administration time to release information. In a significant development, Democrats successfully gathered enough Republican support to subpoena the Department of Justice's entire Epstein file. Speaker Johnson has insisted that Republicans are united in wanting maximum disclosure on the Epstein files and has expressed concerns about how Attorney General Pam Bondi's Justice Department has handled the matter. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for a "closed-door briefing to all senators" specifically regarding "Trump's name appearing in these files." Senate Rushing Appropriations Before Recess Turning to budget matters, Senate Republican leadership is considering bundling three spending bills into a single package before the August recess. This would include funding for VA and military construction projects, the Department of Agriculture and FDA, and the Departments of Commerce and Justice. While the Senate Appropriations Committee has already approved bills to fund the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, and the EPA, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to delay these until fall. USDA Reorganization Sparks Congressional Concern Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced sweeping plans to relocate most Washington-area USDA staff to five regional hubs across the country. This move has prompted Senate Agriculture Chair John Boozman to express disappointment over the lack of congressional consultation. Boozman is pushing for a hearing to understand the rationale behind this major reorganization. Meanwhile, USDA employees speaking anonymously have voiced concerns that despite the apparent decentralization, the move might actually concentrate more power in Washington. Calls for Special Counsel Investigation In a dramatic development, Senate Judiciary Republicans John Cornyn and Lindsey Graham are calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a special counsel to investigate former President Barack Obama and his administration. This follows DNI Tulsi Gabbard's presentation of declassified intelligence allegedly showing the Obama administration "knowingly lied" about Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election. The Congressional Black Caucus has responded with outrage, with 22 Democratic members calling for Gabbard's resignation. Tax Legislation on the Horizon Senate Finance member Steve Daines is discussing a potential second party-line reconciliation bill with committee colleagues. Daines supports President Trump's proposal to eliminate capital gains taxes on primary residence sales and suggests combini
