Dem Breaks Ranks, Shocking Economy Numbers No One Expected | 6/29/26 FIRST LOOK

0:03Hey everybody, I'm Dave Rubin and this is First Look. It's Monday, June 29th, 2026. We've got a packed show for you today. Senator John Fetterman warns New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is inviting a constitutional crisis by pledging to ignore a Supreme Court immigration ruling. The U.S. economy grows faster than expected in the first quarter as investment and AI spending help offset persistent consumer headwinds. France reports roughly 1 ,000 excess deaths after Europe endures one of the worst heat waves in its recorded history. Let's dive in. We start with a remarkable warning coming not from a Republican, but from Democratic Senator John Fetterman.

0:48Over the weekend, Fetterman accused New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani of risking a constitutional crisis after Mamdani vowed to ignore a recent Supreme Court ruling supporting President Trump's immigration agenda. Appearing on Fox News' Saturday in America, Fetterman pointed out what he called a glaring double standard inside his own party. For months, many Democrats warned that Donald Trump could trigger a constitutional crisis if he refused to follow court rulings. But now, Fetterman says, those same voices have gone quiet after Mamdani openly suggested he would refuse to honor a Supreme Court decision.

1:30Fetterman said, I haven't seen the freak out now that the mayor of New York is saying I'm going to defy the Supreme Court ruling. He continued, continued, many members of my party are not calling him out, or they're defending him. Then Fetterman made his broader point. He said that when the leader of America's largest city announces he won't follow a Supreme Court ruling, that's exactly what people mean by a constitutional crisis. The controversy stems from two major immigration decisions handed down by the Supreme Court last week. In the first case, the court ruled that migrants stopped at the border before entering the United States are not automatically entitled to seek asylum.

2:12In the second decision, the court cleared the way for the Trump administration to move forward with ending temporary protected status for hundreds of thousands of Haitian and Syrian migrants while legal challenges continue. Together, the ruling significantly strengthened the administration's ability to carry out Trump's immigration agenda. Mamdani immediately condemned the decisions. In a video statement following the ruling, he declared the court's decision was, not something that our administration will ever accept. That statement immediately drew criticism from conservatives, who argued elected officials don't get to simply ignore Supreme Court decisions they dislike.

2:53Now it's also drawing criticism from within the Democratic Party. This isn't the first time Fetterman has broken with progressives. Over the past year, he's repeatedly warned Democrats that the party is drifting too far left. He's criticized activist politics, defended Israel, called for stronger border security, and increasingly positioned himself as one of the few Democrats willing to publicly challenge the party's progressive wing. Meanwhile, Mamdani has become one of the faces of that progressive movement. Along with candidates in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York, he's helped fuel growing debate about whether the Democratic Party is continuing its shift toward the far left.

3:36Whatever happens next, Fetterman's warning highlights an increasingly uncomfortable divide inside his own party. Because if Democrats spent years arguing that ignoring the courts threatens the Constitution, many Americans are now asking whether that standard applies equally when the person making those threats is a Democrat. Now to the economy. The Commerce Department released its final estimate for first quarter economic growth and the numbers came in stronger than many economists expected. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the U.S. economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.1 percent during the first three months of 2026.

4:16That exceeded Wall Street expectations. Economists surveyed by LSEG had projected growth closer to 1.6 percent. Interestingly, the government's estimate has gone full circle. The initial reading came in at 2%, then it was revised downward to 1.6%. Now, after the final revision, growth has been adjusted back up to 2.1%. So what drove the stronger performance? According to the Commerce Department, several areas contributed to GDP growth. Business investment, exports, government spending, and consumer spending. One of the biggest contributors was the ongoing artificial intelligence boom. Businesses continued pouring billions into computer hardware, information processing equipment, software, and research and development.

5:06The information technology sector was among the strongest performing industries in the economy. Manufacturing of durable goods also posted gains. Not everything was positive, however. Retail trade declined. Wholesale trade weakened. finance and insurance also dragged on overall growth. Economists say consumers are becoming more cautious. Many households are increasingly relying on credit cards, savings, and accumulated wealth to maintain spending levels. EY Parthenon chief economist Gregory Daco said the economy remains resilient, but warned that growth is becoming increasingly dependent on fewer sectors.

5:47He noted that high interest rates continue weighing on housing, Inflation remains elevated, wage growth has slowed, and consumer finances are becoming more strained. Meanwhile, fifth-third bank economist Bill Adams pointed to another encouraging development. With shipping traffic once again moving through the Strait of Hormuz after recent tensions in the Middle East, energy markets have stabilized somewhat. That has helped improve the broader economic outlook. Overall, the numbers suggest the economy continues expanding despite persistent headwinds. Growth may not be booming, but it's also proving considerably more resilient than many analysts predicted earlier this year.

6:31And finally, Europe continues dealing with one of the most severe heat waves in its recorded history. French health officials announced Sunday that approximately 1 ,000 excess deaths have already been recorded during the ongoing extreme heat event. Officials caution that the true number will likely rise as additional information becomes available from hospitals, nursing homes, and residential care facilities. According to France's public health agency, the overwhelming majority of victims were people over the age of 65. But officials stress that the health impacts extended well beyond elderly populations.

7:09The heat wave has shattered temperature records across much of Europe. scientists say it may be the most intense heat wave ever recorded on the continent. Europe has been warming faster than the global average, making these extreme weather events increasingly frequent. The heat wave began around June 20th and has affected multiple countries. Beyond the human toll, the extreme temperatures have also strained electrical grids, reduced power generation, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted transportation. The worst conditions have now begun shifting eastward. While temperatures have eased across much of France, some northeastern regions remain under heat advisories.

7:51French health minister Stéphanie Rist warned that the public health effects may continue for as long as 10 days, even after temperatures begin returning to normal. She cautioned the episode is not finished. Health officials continue urging residents to remain hydrated, avoid unnecessary outdoor activity during peak temperatures, and regularly check on elderly family members and neighbors. As Europe enters the heart of summer, officials fear this may not be the last major heat event of the season. And that's your first look this Monday. Quick recap. Democratic Senator John Fetterman warned that New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani risks creating a constitutional crisis by pledging to defy a Supreme Court immigration ruling.

8:39The U.S. economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter, fueled by business investment and continued spending on artificial intelligence. And France has reported roughly 1 ,000 excess deaths after one of the most severe heat waves in European history. We'll keep following all of it. I'm Dave Rubin. Thanks for starting your day with First Look. See you tomorrow.