Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow announced she is stopping her campaign for the U.S. Senate. This changes the Democratic race to just two candidates, Rep. Haley Stevens and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, about a month before the primary election.
Key Facts
Mallory McMorrow is a Michigan state senator.
She suspended her U.S. Senate campaign on a Sunday.
Her exit leaves two Democrats in the primary: Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed.
The primary will take place on August 4.
McMorrow had been a strong contender in the race.
She did not endorse either remaining candidate but said she will support whoever wins.
This primary is important because Michigan is a swing state won by President Trump in 2020.
Democrats hope to win this Senate seat to help take control of the U.S. Senate.
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Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed concern about President Donald Trump making $1 billion from cryptocurrency. Moore said the way cryptocurrency is handled raises problems.
Key Facts
Maryland Governor Wes Moore spoke about President Trump’s $1 billion gain from cryptocurrency.
Moore said there is a problem with how cryptocurrency is managed.
He made these remarks during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”
The discussion focused on concerns related to cryptocurrency’s role and regulation.
President Donald Trump earned a large amount through cryptocurrency investments.
Moore did not provide specific details about the cryptocurrency transactions.
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Thieves stole around €4 million worth of jewellery from the Lalique Museum in northeastern France early on Sunday. About 20 pieces were taken after burglars broke into the jewellery room, and the museum will be closed for several days while the investigation continues.
Key Facts
The burglary happened at about 5:30 am local time in Wingen-sur-Moder, France.
Around 20 pieces of jewellery were stolen, with losses close to four million euros.
An alarm went off, but the security company soon found it was a cleaning lady who arrived first and called the police.
CCTV footage from the museum is being reviewed by investigators.
The Lalique Museum focuses on the work of Rene Lalique, a famous jeweller and glassmaker.
The museum opened in 2011 near the Lalique company's factory.
This theft follows a major jewellery heist last year at the Louvre in Paris, where around $102 million in jewellery was stolen.
The museum is closed for several days due to the burglary investigation.
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The U.S. Supreme Court decided that when the government sells a person's home to pay off a debt, the owner does not have the right to get the home's full market value. However, the government must still conduct the sale fairly. The Court sent the case of the Pung family back to a lower court to review if the home auction was fair.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled on government seizure and sale of homes to cover debts.
Property owners do not have the right to receive the full market value of their home in these sales.
The government must ensure the process of selling seized homes is fair.
The case involved the Pung family, whose home was auctioned to pay a debt.
The Supreme Court sent the Pung family’s case back to a lower court.
The lower court must decide if the auction of the Pung family’s home met the fairness requirement.
The ruling does not eliminate fairness standards, only clarifies compensation rules in these cases.
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Air quality in Washington, D.C., dropped to very unhealthy levels on Sunday after large fireworks displays on July 4th. Officials issued warnings for people, especially those with health risks, to limit outdoor activities due to the high pollution. The air quality is expected to improve over the next few days.
Key Facts
Washington, D.C., experienced very unhealthy air quality following July 4th fireworks.
A "purple" alert means air pollution is very high and outdoor activity should be limited, especially for vulnerable groups like those with lung or heart issues, children, and older adults.
Surrounding suburbs had an "orange" alert, indicating unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups.
Areas further from the city had better, "moderate" air quality with a "yellow" alert.
D.C. ranked sixth among the most polluted cities worldwide on Sunday according to IQAir.
Other U.S. cities like Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis also saw worsened air quality after July 4th fireworks.
The fireworks in D.C. were particularly large, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
A heat wave with temperatures above 100°F affected many July 4th events, including in D.C.
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Large crowds gathered in Tehran for the funeral of Iran's former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died in joint US-Israeli strikes at the start of a war. Ceremonies will last six days across Iran and Iraq, with burial planned in Mashhad.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s former supreme leader, was killed in US-Israeli strikes at the war’s start.
Thousands gathered in Tehran for his funeral service on Sunday.
His second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was not present at the funeral.
His other sons—Masoud, Mostafa, and Meysam—attended the ceremony.
Iran state media say funeral ceremonies will continue for six days in Iran and neighboring Iraq.
The burial will take place in the former leader’s hometown, Mashhad, on Thursday.
International journalists face restrictions on reporting from Iran, including the BBC’s correspondent.
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A White House report criticized the leadership of the Smithsonian Institution, especially at the National Museum of American History, calling them radical activists and saying they cannot be trusted to tell America’s story honestly. This report was released as President Donald Trump plans to make changes to the Smithsonian and other cultural institutions he believes promote ideas that are too liberal.
Key Facts
The White House report targets Smithsonian leaders, accusing them of political activism rather than straightforward history education.
The report was released by the White House Domestic Policy Council on Independence Day.
President Trump announced an executive order aiming to change Smithsonian programs that the administration says promote “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology.”
Lonnie Bunch is the Smithsonian’s current secretary and is the first African American in that role.
Anthea M. Hartig is the first woman director of the National Museum of American History.
The Trump administration has also taken steps to influence other cultural organizations, including the John F. Kennedy Center and Columbia University.
The Smithsonian has not commented immediately on the report.
President Trump’s actions are part of a broader effort to reshape cultural institutions to align more with conservative values.
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Stephen Francis, a Jamaican track and field coach who helped turn Jamaica into a global sprinting leader, has died at age 64. He co-founded the MVP Track & Field Club, which trained many Olympic champions and world record holders.
Key Facts
Stephen Francis died late on a Saturday; no cause of death was announced.
He co-founded the Maximising Velocity & Power (MVP) Track & Field Club in 1999.
The MVP club produced top sprinters like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Asafa Powell.
Francis helped keep Jamaican athletes in Jamaica by providing high-quality coaching and training at home.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness praised Francis for dedicating his life to coaching instead of finance.
Francis received the Order of Jamaica in 2017 for his contributions to track and field.
The global athletics organization and leaders from other Caribbean countries acknowledged his impact on the sport.
His work inspired a generation of Caribbean athletes to believe they could compete at the highest levels.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson said Congress should work on changing birthright citizenship laws after the Supreme Court blocked President Trump's order to limit automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. Johnson and President Trump want lawmakers to act quickly to stop what they call "birthright tourism," where foreign nationals have children in the U.S. to get citizenship.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against President Trump’s executive order restricting birthright citizenship.
The Court confirmed that children born in the U.S. are citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment.
Chief Justice John Roberts said the decision follows a long-standing 1898 case affirming citizenship for children of immigrants born in the U.S.
President Trump asked Congress to start working on legislation to end birthright citizenship without a constitutional amendment.
House Speaker Mike Johnson supports Congress taking action to change the current law.
Johnson expressed concern that “birthright tourism” harms the rule of law and national security.
Trump argues the 14th Amendment was meant only for formerly enslaved people, not children of undocumented immigrants.
Multiple lower courts had blocked Trump’s policy before the Supreme Court ruling.
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Over 100 new wildfires started across the United States during the Fourth of July weekend, adding to an already intense fire season due to hot and dry weather in the West. Firefighters are actively battling many large fires, with evacuations ordered in some areas, while officials believe fireworks contributed to the new fires.
Key Facts
Since Saturday, 124 new wildfires have been reported nationwide, including six major ones.
Firefighters are currently managing 41 large fires, with mandatory evacuations in three places.
This year, nearly 37,000 fires have burned about 3.3 million acres across the country.
Officials suspect fireworks caused some of the new fires, especially in Colorado.
The National Interagency Fire Center is at Preparedness Level 4, meaning high resource demand across the nation.
Extreme heat, dry plants, and low humidity are creating dangerous fire conditions in several Western states like Colorado, Utah, and Arizona.
Three firefighters died recently in Colorado while fighting the Knowles Fire.
Large fires include Utah’s Cottonwood Fire (about 95,000 acres) and Colorado’s Aspen Acres Fire (about 87,000 acres).
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Tyler Robinson, charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a Utah event, will have a preliminary hearing this week to determine if there is enough evidence for a trial. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty and will present evidence, including DNA and witness testimony, while the hearing will be livestreamed and open to the public.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in the September 10 shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
The preliminary hearing will last five days and start on Monday in Utah court.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Robinson, citing aggravating circumstances.
DNA matching Robinson’s was found on the trigger of the rifle used in the shooting.
Robinson turned himself in after the shooting and allegedly sent a confession via text and left a note about targeting Kirk.
The hearing will include evidence such as DNA, witness statements, autopsy results, and video of the shooting.
Kirk’s family will be in court for the first time with Robinson during the hearing.
The judge will decide after the hearing if the case can move forward to trial.
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US Congressman Randy Fine said in an interview that “there is no such thing as Palestinian.” He represents Florida and is known for supporting Israel and making statements against Islam. His comment has sparked criticism.
Key Facts
Randy Fine is a US Congressman from Florida.
He said on the show The Next Generation that Palestinians do not exist.
Fine has a history of making statements that some see as against Islam.
He is known for supporting Israel in political matters.
His recent comment has caused criticism and controversy.
The topic relates to the identity of Palestinians in the Middle East conflict.
The interview aired publicly and attracted attention online.
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The Atlantic republished a 10-year-old essay by JD Vance criticizing President Donald Trump as "cultural heroin," describing Trump’s political appeal as a temporary comfort rather than a solution. Vance, once a vocal Trump critic, later became Trump’s vice-presidential running mate in 2024 after changing his views.
Key Facts
The Atlantic republished JD Vance’s essay from 2014 that criticized Trump’s political style.
Vance compared Trump’s appeal to “cultural heroin,” offering an easy escape but no real solutions.
The essay was originally published during Trump’s first presidential campaign.
At that time, Vance had not entered politics and worked at a venture capital firm.
Vance had described himself as a “never Trump guy” and had called Trump “unfit” for office.
He later ran for the US Senate in Ohio in 2022 with Trump’s support and won.
Vance became Trump’s vice-presidential running mate for the 2024 election.
President Trump marked the US’s 250th anniversary with a speech about a “golden age” despite low approval ratings.
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EasyJet has reached a preliminary agreement with the US investment firm Castlelake over a possible takeover offer valued at about £5.2 billion. Castlelake’s latest offer is £6.90 per share, higher than previous bids, but the deal is not final and must pass regulatory reviews and shareholder approval.
Key Facts
EasyJet is a low-cost airline based in Luton, UK, flying around 1,200 routes in 35 European countries.
Castlelake owns about 2.14% of EasyJet’s shares and has made multiple takeover offers before, all previously rejected.
The new offer from Castlelake is £6.90 per share, better than their earlier bids of £5.60 to £6.50 per share.
The takeover still requires approval from regulators and EasyJet shareholders.
EU rules require that EasyJet remain at least 51% owned by a European company; Castlelake is US-based but has plans to meet this rule.
EasyJet’s board said they would likely recommend this offer to shareholders if it becomes official.
EasyJet’s share price has dropped over 30% in the last year, partly due to tensions affecting travel, like the US-Israel conflict involving Iran.
Castlelake manages assets worth about $36 billion (£27.3 billion).
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Iran is holding large public mourning events after the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, its Supreme Leader, on February 28, which coincided with the start of a war with the United States. The government is showing a strong, organized display of grief, while questions remain about who will succeed Khamenei and the future direction of Iran’s leadership.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was assassinated on February 28, the opening day of a war between Iran and the US.
Tens of thousands gathered in Tehran for funeral and mourning ceremonies at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla.
State TV broadcast the events, showing people praying and calling for revenge.
A few Western media outlets were allowed to film the ceremonies, which appeared carefully planned by the Iranian government.
Analysts debate whether the large crowds show true public grief or a government effort to appear strong.
Mojtaba Khamenei, possibly the next leader and the Supreme Leader’s son, has not made public appearances since the assassination.
Three of Khamenei’s brothers and other family members who died in the attack attended the funeral.
The ongoing political succession in Iran is uncertain following the assassination and attack on Khamenei’s family.
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Maryland Governor Wes Moore said he does not follow any specific political ideology, including democratic socialism. He responded after a news report mentioned ideas supported by democratic socialist candidates, like ending prisons.
Key Facts
Wes Moore is the Governor of Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party.
He said he does not "prescribe to an ideology," meaning he does not strictly follow one political belief system.
A Fox News reporter, Shannon Bream, mentioned ideas from democratic socialist candidates in recent elections.
Some democratic socialists have proposed ending prisons and other major changes to the justice system.
Moore clarified that he does not support all those ideas.
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A former top official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described serious disruptions at the agency after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tried to change its policies and staff. She said experts were removed from a key vaccine advisory panel, misinformation about vaccines spread, and scientific facts were ignored.
Key Facts
Dr. Debra Houry, former CDC chief medical officer, resigned last summer with three other officials due to concerns about chaos in the agency.
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel (ACIP) on June 9, 2025.
Kennedy appointed new panel members who lacked medical, science, or government experience and had ties to lawsuits against vaccine makers.
The new panel voted to remove thimerosal from flu vaccines and to stop recommending the universal Hepatitis B vaccine at birth.
The new members were not initially vetted for conflicts of interest or ethics, a process required for CDC advisory panels.
Dr. Houry said facts and science were ignored and that political appointees were making requests involving outdated issues.
Kennedy refused to receive a briefing from the CDC’s top official about a current measles outbreak.
CDC officials expressed worry that important scientific perspectives were not part of decision-making under Kennedy’s leadership.
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“Minions & Monsters” earned $36.4 million and was the top movie at the Fourth of July holiday box office in the U.S. It narrowly beat “Toy Story 5,” which earned $31 million over the same weekend.
Key Facts
“Minions & Monsters” is the seventh film in the “Despicable Me” series.
The movie opened on Wednesday and made $61.4 million in its first five days.
Globally, “Minions & Monsters” made $160 million in its debut week.
“Toy Story 5” earned $31 million during the Fourth of July weekend.
“Young Washington,” a movie about George Washington, came in third with nearly $21 million.
“Supergirl” earned $9.6 million but dropped 74% from its opening weekend.
The overall box office was down 24% compared to last year but up 12% from 2025.
Other notable films include “Obsession” and “Backrooms,” popular with younger audiences.
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A seaplane with 10 people on board made a rough landing in New York City’s East River on Sunday around noon. The plane stayed upright and was towed back to the dock. No injuries have been reported according to city officials.
Key Facts
The incident happened in New York City’s East River.
The seaplane had 10 passengers.
The New York City Fire Department described the landing as “hard.”
The plane stayed mostly upright after landing.
It was towed back to the dock after the landing.
No injuries were reported from the landing.
A helicopter was seen flying above the scene.
Photos and videos showed the plane leaning with its left wingtip in the water.
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro criticized Vice President J.D. Vance for using harmful language in his speeches about foreign policy. Shapiro said that such words could cause problems internationally and divide Americans.
Key Facts
Josh Shapiro is the Governor of Pennsylvania and a member of the Democratic Party.
J.D. Vance is the Vice President of the United States.
Shapiro said Vance’s foreign policy speeches contain “dangerous” and “destructive” language.
Shapiro believes this language harms the United States’ reputation in the world.
Shapiro also said the language divides Americans by separating some from others.
The criticism focuses on the tone and content of speeches about foreign policy.
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