GOP Turn on Trump After Surprise Move, Karmelo Anthony's Appeal | 6/25/26 FIRST LOOK

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1:17Hey, everybody. I'm Dave Rubin, and this is First Look. It's Thursday, June 25, 2026. We've got a packed show for you today. Senate Republicans erupt after President Trump unexpectedly torpedoes a major bipartisan housing package and ties it to a voter ID bill that currently doesn't have the votes to pass. The legal fight over Carmelo Anthony's conviction ramps up as a team of high-profile civil rights attorneys moves to overturn his murder conviction in the killing of Austin Metcalf. A JPMorgan Chase executive identified as the woman who dumped trash into the streets during the Knicks championship parade has now been fired.

2:03Let's dive in. We start in Washington, where President Trump is facing unusually public criticism from fellow Republicans after abruptly pulling support for a major bipartisan housing package that had already passed both chambers of Congress. The legislation, known as the 21st Century Road to Housing Package, was designed to address housing affordability, homeownership, rental costs, and housing supply issues across the country. It had overwhelming bipartisan support. It passed the House. It passed the Senate. it, and lawmakers expected Trump to sign it. Then everything changed. In a surprise Truth Social post, Trump announced he would refuse to sign the bill unless Congress first passed the Save America Act, legislation requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship for federal elections.

3:00Trump called the measure a national emergency and declared, today's housing news conference and signing is hereby canceled until such time as we pass the desperately needed Save America Act. Now, here's the problem. Many Republicans support the Save Act, but they also acknowledge it currently lacks the votes to clear the Senate, which means a housing package that already passed Congress is now effectively frozen. That decision immediately sparked frustration among Senate Republicans. North Carolina Senator Tom Tillis was particularly blunt. He said,

3:48Tillis argued Republicans had spent months crafting a bipartisan housing package that addressed real affordability concerns, then added, this housing bill was a very clear bipartisan effort to address some of the basics of affordability. And finally, it makes no sense. Texas Senator John Cornyn appeared equally baffled. He described the situation as inexplicable, then added, I don't know if there is precedent for it. Cornyn acknowledged Trump has enormous influence within the party, But he also pointed out a reality many Republicans privately recognize. The votes simply aren't there. As Cornyn put it, at some point, we gotta deal with reality.

4:35Even Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, one of Trump's strongest allies, admitted the challenge. Kennedy supports the SAVE Act, but he conceded the numbers aren't currently available. In classic John Kennedy fashion, he joked, I will stand on one leg and bark like a dog if that's what it takes to help this pass. Then added, but you can't make people vote in a way that they don't want to. Democrats, unsurprisingly, are thrilled. Senator Elizabeth Warren accused Trump of sacrificing housing affordability for political leverage. She argued the legislation would have helped first-time homebuyers, renters, seniors, growing families, urban communities, rural communities.

5:22Now, politically, this comes at an awkward moment for Republicans. With the midterms approaching, GOP lawmakers are eager to rack up legislative wins. Instead, many feel they've spent the past several weeks explaining why major priorities keep getting derailed. Whether it's immigration funding fights, counterterrorism disputes, or now housing policy, frustration is clearly growing among Senate Republicans. Now to Texas, where the legal battle surrounding Carmelo Anthony is entering a new phase. A coalition of prominent civil rights attorneys has announced it will represent Anthony in his effort to overturn his murder conviction for the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf.

6:05You'll remember the case. Anthony was convicted earlier this month of first-degree murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison after fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during the high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. The jury rejected Anthony's self-defense claim and found him guilty. Less than 24 hours after the verdict, Anthony formally filed an appeal. Now he's assembled a legal team that includes Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe, veteran appellate attorney Russell Wilson, civil rights attorney Brooke Cluse from Ben Crump Law, and several additional attorneys. The group says it will conduct an independent review of the trial record to determine whether any legal errors occurred that could justify overturning the conviction.

6:53In a statement, the attorneys said, we recognize the profound loss suffered by one young man's family and the uncertainty facing another. They also emphasize that they are handling the case pro bono. What's already generating significant attention, however, is Anthony's financial claim. According to court filings, Anthony stated that he is a penniless, destitute, and indigent person, too poor to employ counsel. That filing immediately drew scrutiny because Anthony's family previously raised approximately$625 ,000 through online crowdfunding campaigns. The money was reportedly intended to cover legal expenses, family support, living expenses.

7:37Critics are now asking an obvious question. How does someone whose family received over half a million dollars in donations qualify as indigent? And finally, one of the more bizarre stories to come out of New York's championship celebrations. The woman who went viral after dumping an entire trash can onto the street during the Knicks championship parade has reportedly lost her job. Video from the parade showed a woman spotting a Knicks-themed trash can, dumping all of its contents onto the sidewalk, and apparently attempting to take the container for herself. The footage spread rapidly online.

8:15Many viewers criticized the behavior as selfish, entitled, and emblematic of the worst aspects of large public celebrations. This week, the New York Post identified the woman as Angie Baez. According to the report, Baez held a senior position at JPMorgan Chase. She served as executive director of community and industry engagement for Card and Connected Commerce. The report also noted that she previously worked as executive director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Infatuation, a lifestyle and restaurant review company later acquired by JPMorgan Chase. After the story gained traction, J.P.

8:55Morgan confirmed her employment had ended. In a brief statement, the company said, This employee is no longer with the company. Before her profile was removed, company materials described Baez as someone helping lead efforts toward a more inclusive and equitable future. Her biography highlighted diversity, inclusion, equity, community engagement. And that's where many critics see the irony. The same person whose professional role involved lecturing others about equity and social responsibility was caught on camera throwing garbage into a public street because she apparently wanted to take public property home as a souvenir.

9:36That's not equity. That's entitlement. And it's a reminder that corporate virtue signaling often tells you very little about how someone actually behaves when nobody thinks they're being watched. Now, to be fair, everyone makes mistakes. But in today's digital age, one viral moment can quickly become a career-defining event. And for Angie Baez, that's exactly what appears to have happened. And that's your first look this Thursday. Quick recap. Senate Republicans are openly frustrated after President Trump froze a major bipartisan housing package in an effort to force action on the Save America Act.

10:14Carmelo Anthony has assembled a team of prominent civil rights attorneys to challenge his murder conviction in the killing of Austin Metcalf. And a JPMorgan Chase executive, identified as the woman who dumped trash into the street during the Knicks parade, has now been fired. We'll keep following all of it. I'm Dave Rubin. Thanks for starting your day with First Look. See you tomorrow.