☕ The (AI-imposter) Rubio

Good morning.

President Trump says he will begin serious talks with China to arrange a deal that would allow TikTok to remain available in America.

Asked about his confidence over the deal, he said: “I’m not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it’s good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it’s good for us.”

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• The death toll from flash floods that struck central Texas on Friday has risen to at least 111 people, with at least 173 still missing as search and rescue teams continue operations. The flooding hit during Fourth of July celebrations when torrential rain swelled the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, killing at least 87 people there, including 27 girls and staff from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has defended the Trump administration's response to criticism over National Weather Service budget cuts, saying the floods were “an act of God". Trump is expected to visit Texas later this week.

• President Trump has announced the U.S. would resume providing weapons to Ukraine after months of trying unsuccessfully to negotiate an end to the war with Russia. During a meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said "we have to, they have to be able to defend themselves", marking his strongest support yet for arming Kyiv. The decision comes less than a week after reports that the Pentagon had withheld arms shipments to Ukraine following Trump's review of U.S. munitions stockpiles after the strikes on Iran's nuclear sites last month. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the Defense Department would send "additional defensive weapons to Ukraine" at Trump's direction while working toward "a lasting peace." Trump told reporters he was "disappointed" that Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to end the war during their phone call last week.

• The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to carry out mass firings and restructuring across 19 federal government agencies on Tuesday. The administration directed the agencies to create and implement plans that significantly reduced government expenditure in the first months of Trump’s presidency. Lower federal courts had temporarily blocked this order on the basis that the President had not consulted Congress before issuing it. A majority of the Supreme Court lifted it yesterday, ruling the order itself was not illegal and the plans themselves had yet to come before the courts. The ruling allows the plans to be challenged in court once formulated.

• Mattel has launched the first Barbie with type 1 diabetes. The doll includes an insulin pump and glucose monitor, “to enable more children to see themselves” reflected. Toy manufacturer Mattel also said it hopes the doll will encourage more children to understand others with experiences different from their own. The Barbie was designed in partnership with a research and advocacy organisation called Breakthrough T1D to ensure accurate representation. Breakthrough T1D said the doll “helps raise awareness and normalises [type 1 diabetes] in everyday culture,” showing young diabetics they’re “seen, supported and never alone.”

I’ve got 1 minute

The Transportation Safety Administration will no longer require passengers to remove their shoes at airport security checkpoints, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday. The policy change ends a nearly two-decade requirement that began after a 2001 attempted bombing. Here's what you need to know.

What’s changing

All US airports will immediately stop requiring shoe removal for standard security screening. The change affects both domestic and international travelers at every TSA checkpoint nationwide.

"We have utmost confidence this will not lead to increased risk," Noem said during Tuesday's announcement.

Some passengers flagged for additional screening may still need to remove footwear, TSA officials said.

Why now?

A comprehensive review found modern security equipment can detect threats in shoes without requiring removal. The Department of Homeland Security assessed screening technology at each US airport over the past year.

"Multiple layers of security implemented by the TSA over the years" made the shoe policy unnecessary, according to Noem's statement.

The backstory

The shoe removal requirement started in December 2001 after Richard Reid attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes aboard an American Airlines flight from Paris. Passengers and crew subdued Reid before he could ignite the device.

Reid is currently serving a life sentence in a Colorado supermax prison. The incident led to the universal shoe screening policy, which has affected millions of travellers.

What’s next

TSA will roll out additional security improvements over the next six to nine months through a pilot program. The upgrades will enable passengers to keep their laptops in their bags and pass through security without interacting with an officer.

"This policy change will go a long way in facilitating smooth, seamless and secure travel for passengers," Airlines for America said in a statement.

The changes take effect immediately at all US airports.

I’ve got 2 minutes

Unknown actors have used artificial intelligence to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contacting government officials and foreign ministers through fake voice messages and texts. The State Department warned diplomats about the campaign last week after impersonators targeted at least six high-level officials.

What happened

The impersonators created a Signal account in June using the display name "[email protected]" and sent AI-generated voice messages that mimicked Rubio's voice to government contacts.

"Two individuals received voice messages from this account that sounded like the U.S.'s top diplomat," according to a State Department cable obtained by The Washington Post.

The fake Rubio account attempted to contact three foreign ministers, one U.S. Senator, and one Governor. Other State Department personnel were also impersonated through email, officials said.

The tech behind it

Experts say the AI impersonation requires minimal technical skill and widely available tools.

"You just need 15 to 20 seconds of audio of the person, which is easy in Marco Rubio's case," cybersecurity expert Hany Farid told The Washington Post. "You upload it to any number of services, and then you type what you want him to say."

This marks the second time Rubio has been targeted by AI impersonation. An earlier fake video this year showed him falsely claiming he wanted to cut Ukraine's access to Starlink internet service.

A broader campaign

The Rubio impersonation follows a May FBI warning about an "ongoing malicious text and voice messaging campaign" targeting senior U.S. officials nationwide.

"Malicious actors" were using AI technology to "elicit information or funds" from government personnel, the FBI said.

The warning came after hackers compromised White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles's phone, using the access to make calls and send texts while posing as her.

Government response

The State Department said the recent impersonation attempts were unsuccessful but warned that "information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised."

"If you receive a message claiming to be from a senior U.S. official, do not assume its authentic," the FBI cautioned in its May alert.

The State Department declined to provide additional details about the investigation or security measures being implemented.

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