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Reflecting on a disappointing jobs report this week that was a setback for Donald Trump's administration, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that prospects don't look much better in the coming months.

In a week of wins for the president in the courtroom and in the GOP-controlled Congress, the stunning job report was a black cloud that, according to some business execs, will continue to linger.

As the Journal's Konrad Putzier and Lauren Weber wrote, "Many private employers aren’t hiring anymore," before adding, "Weighed down by high interest rates, a federal crackdown on immigration and uncertainty over tariffs, more companies are deciding they are better off with a smaller head count."

Pointing out that the 74,000 jobs added in the private sector is regarded as "anemic," the report added that growing companies like Warby Parker and not only slowing hiring but looking for ways to reduce expenses in an economy that has more questions than answers.

"American Vinegar Works, a six-year-old specialty-food company based in Worcester, Mass., is holding off plans to bring on an additional employee to fill orders, as well as sales staff, because of concerns about the economy," the Journal is reporting with owner Rodrigo Vargas admitting, "I just don’t know what’s happening. It makes me cautious.”

David Seif, chief economist for developed markets at Nomura, told the Journal, "It’s certainly a red flag."

The report goes on to note that those who are actively looking for jobs are finding a dearth of opportunities in the current climate.

Tom Lott, the head of talent acquisition at Berry Appleman & Leiden, told the Journal, "There’s just a fear and desperation in the candidate population that I haven’t seen in a very, very long time."

You can read more here.

Donald Trump's decision to snipe at former President Joe Biden at what was supposed to be a non-partisan appearance at the Iowa State Fair earned him a potshot on Friday morning on MSNBC.

According to MSNBC's Ali Vitali, Trump was not attending a MAGA rally when he told the crowd he "hates Democrats" and suggested "They hate America," when he lashed out at Biden who decisively beat him in 2020.

Speaking to the crowd, Trump boasted, "Remember, I used to imitate Biden couldn't get off the stage and I'd walk into walls and I called my wife because it's always on television and she said, I said, 'How was it, baby? How good was that? We had 44,000 people –– nobody else could do it.'"

"I have to brag a little bit, you know, because what the hell? It's a little truth to that. But I brag a little bit and say 'How. good was I?' 'You were really good, but you know what happened, You couldn't find this, you couldn't get off the stage?' I said, 'No, I was imitating Biden!'"

Following the clip, host Vitali told viewers, "It stands to note that was supposed to be a nonpartisan event there in Iowa."

"And maybe someone wants to tell the president that the 2024 election is over, he's not going against Joe Biden anymore," she dryly pointed out.

You can watch below or at the link

- YouTube youtu.be

Appearing on MSNBC the morning of July 4th, GOP political strategist Susan Del Percio warned Republicans that poll-conscious Donald Trump will let Republican lawmakers take the fall if the numbers don't change on the newly passed –– and highly unpopular –– budget bill.

Speaking on the morning after the megabill passed in both Republican-controlled chambers and now awaits the president's signature, Del Percio told host Ali Vitali, she will be curious to see how it will all pan out now that the president got what he wanted.

Noting that polling on the popularity of the bill has been way "underwater", the analyst stated the fight for the bill was "...all about Donald Trump and what he wanted and making his campaign promises happen."

"I mean, gone are the days where the national debt actually matters to Republicans," she continued. "But what I'm really curious to see is how much Donald Trump actually takes this bill out for a spin."

"Because he hasn't been able to sell it, really, right now. The numbers are upside down, not in his favor, and if he doesn't see the numbers turn around, I think he'll stop talking about it and it will be a big beautiful mess for anyone running for re-election in 2026," she predicted.

You can watch below or at the link.

- YouTube youtu.be

According to a former Republican lawmaker who fell out of favor with Donald Trump, walked away from his seat in the U.S. Senate and then saw a Democrat take his place, the president is unfazed by the GOP caucus taking another possible loss.

In a deep dive into two GOP lawmakers recently announcing they will not run in 2026, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), former Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) was asked about the shrinking number of Republican moderates in Congress by the Wall Street Journal.

After butting heads with Trump, Flake walked away from his seat, saw it filled by then-Democrat Kyrsten Sinema who was then replaced by Sen. Rueben Gallego (D-AZ).

As the Journal's Molly Ball wrote, the two recent announcements of departures are "the latest casualties of the president’s insistence on unstinting loyalty as the party looks ahead to a potentially difficult midterm election next year."

RELATED: Bullying misstep threatens to leave Trump presidency 'dead in the water': WSJ

Noting Trump nonchalantly responded to reporters by stating, "I didn’t get along with Tillis, and he resigned. Which I was happy about. He did us all a favor,” former lawmaker Flake begged to differ, stating the president once again made life more difficult for the GOP leadership.

After stating, "For me it became clear, just as I think it became clear to Thom Tillis, that if he were to be able to win a primary, he would have to change who he was completely,” Flake referred to his own departure in 2019 which led to the Democrats landing another seat in Congress and pointed out, "The president doesn’t care about that—he doesn’t care about the party."

The Journal's Ball added, "Departures like Flake’s were a common feature of Trump’s first term as Republicans with traditional values couldn’t bring themselves to change their ways and endorse Trump’s shifting whims. Many left office voluntarily, while others lost primaries to Trump-backed challengers. In today’s Trumpist party, such departures have become rare because there are fewer dissenters left. There have also been fewer occasions for Republicans to defy him and spark his wrath thus far, with Congress spending most of the year on a single piece of legislation."

You can read more here.