President Donald Trump has praised the U.S. economy by highlighting record job numbers and stock market highs. However, job growth has slowed compared to past years, and many Americans remain concerned about the high cost of living. The stock market has set multiple records recently, but economic challenges still affect many people.
Key Facts
The U.S. had nearly 159 million jobs in June 2026, the highest number ever recorded.
Job growth in Trump’s second term has slowed, with about 92,000 jobs added per month in 2026, which is low compared to historical trends.
During President Biden’s term, monthly job growth averaged around 329,000, boosted by a hiring surge after COVID-19 lockdowns.
High interest rates, stricter immigration rules, and retirements are slowing job growth now.
The S&P 500 stock index has set 64 new record highs since January 2025.
Stock market gains are mainly due to increased profits for major companies.
A July 2026 poll found only 32% of adults approved of Trump’s economic management.
Many Americans feel the economy is poor, citing high prices for food and gas as major concerns.
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Lindsay Clancy’s former father-in-law gave testimony in her murder trial. Clancy admits to killing her three children but says she is not guilty of first-degree murder because she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the murder of her three children.
She has admitted to the killings.
Clancy pleads not guilty to first-degree murder charges.
Her lawyer argues she had extreme postpartum psychosis, a serious mental illness after childbirth.
The trial included testimony from her former father-in-law on Thursday.
The case is being reported by CBS News.
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Senator Mitch McConnell has left a rehab center to keep recovering at home after a fall that hospitalized him. He plans to continue working with his staff while healing, even as some Senate matters, including a key vote, remain unfinished.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell is an 84-year-old Republican US senator.
He was hospitalized on June 14 after a fall at his home and had a mild case of pneumonia.
McConnell spent time in a rehabilitation center before being discharged to continue recovery at home.
His absence from the Senate has lasted 53 days, leading to concern and calls for more health updates.
McConnell’s office has shared photos but limited health details throughout his absence.
The Senate has important business pending, including a vote to confirm Todd Blanche as US attorney general.
McConnell plans to follow doctors’ advice with physical therapy and stay involved in Senate work remotely.
Kentucky governor Andy Beshear publicly asked McConnell for more information about his health.
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President Trump plans to sign two executive orders to limit birthright citizenship in the U.S., targeting children born through birth tourism and children of some foreign diplomatic staff. These orders aim to restrict citizenship for future births in specific cases, but they could face legal challenges based on the 14th Amendment.
Key Facts
The executive orders will deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. via commercial birth tourism.
Citizenship will also be denied to children born of certain foreign diplomatic staff and possibly those born in U.S. territories if laws change.
The orders focus on four groups: children of foreign diplomatic workers, children of people labeled as enemy aliens or terrorists, children born in U.S. territories if Congress changes the law, and children born to mothers who enter the U.S. deceptively for birth tourism.
The 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to almost everyone born in the U.S., but exceptions exist for diplomats and enemy armies.
The government argues parents who lie to enter the U.S. for birth tourism commit fraud, which justifies these restrictions.
A second order will direct officials to issue rules against birth tourism and related industries inside and outside the U.S.
U.S. law already bans tourist visas granted solely for the purpose of obtaining citizenship for a child born in the U.S.
The House Oversight Committee and Senate Homeland Security Committee are investigating birth tourism and its potential security risks.
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Senator Mitch McConnell has left a rehabilitation center and is now recovering at home. He will continue physical therapy and stay involved with Senate work.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell is an 84-year-old senator from Kentucky and a Republican.
He was hospitalized in mid-June after a fall and a mild case of pneumonia.
Last month, McConnell moved to a rehab center because he was not ready to return to the Senate.
He will now do intensive physical therapy at home.
McConnell will keep working with his staff and Senate colleagues during his recovery.
His absence has caused speculation about his health and future role in the Senate.
He expressed thanks for support from friends, colleagues, and medical staff.
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Brittany Boltinhouse was removed as Miss North Carolina USA 2026 after a review found posts she made in the past contained racist, homophobic, and transphobic language. The pageant organization replaced her with the first runner-up, Myla Hadley, who will compete in the Miss USA competition.
Key Facts
Brittany Boltinhouse won the Miss North Carolina USA 2026 title on June 28.
The pageant organization A Blaize Productions stripped her of the title after reviewing new information.
Miss USA CEO Thom Brodeur said the decision was due to repeated offensive conduct over several years.
The controversy involved social media posts from 2017 to 2019 using racist and discriminatory language.
Boltinhouse is the first Honduran to win Miss North Carolina USA.
The first runner-up, Myla Hadley, is now the titleholder and will compete at Miss USA.
Boltinhouse showed past support for President Donald Trump, but this was not stated as a reason for her removal.
The organizations emphasized the importance of upholding the pageant’s standards and leadership values.
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A judge ruled there is likely cause to believe Mike Lindell broke Minnesota campaign laws by giving away pillows with his name on them at a parade. The case will move forward to a hearing to decide if he violated rules about giving valuable items to voters during an election.
Key Facts
Mike Lindell handed out pillows promoting his run for Minnesota governor at a Fourth of July parade.
The pillows had "Mike Lindell for Governor" printed on them and were valued at $34.95 each in the complaint.
Lindell said the campaign bought the pillows wholesale for $4.90 each and offered them for sale with a discount code.
Minnesota law forbids giving money or items of value to influence how people vote, with exceptions for small food or drink items under $5.
A judge found probable cause that the pillow handouts violated this law, so the case goes to a panel of judges for a formal hearing.
Lindell recently stepped down as CEO of MyPillow and is a leading Republican candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Lindell supports false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and faces challenges over his residency from the Minnesota GOP.
His opponents in the Republican primary include businessman Kendall Qualls and House Speaker Lisa Demuth.
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Rep. Max Miller from Ohio is facing pressure to quit after his ex-wife and daughter accused him of domestic violence. The allegations include claims that he threatened his daughter with a gun and hurt their young child.
Key Facts
Max Miller represents Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives.
His ex-wife and daughter have accused him of domestic violence.
The accusations include holding a gun to the daughter's head.
They also claim Miller caused a broken collarbone to their 2-year-old child.
Emily Moreno, daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno, made some of these accusations.
Miller is under public scrutiny and calls for his resignation are growing.
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President Donald Trump has privately expressed support for Vice President JD Vance as his preferred successor for the 2028 presidential election. Early polls show Vance leads the Republican field nationally but his margin in key states like New Hampshire has narrowed. No candidate from either party has officially announced a run yet, and the field remains uncertain.
Key Facts
President Trump told donors he wants Vice President JD Vance to succeed him.
Vance leads early national Republican surveys by double digits but has lost ground to Marco Rubio in New Hampshire.
On the Democratic side, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leads early polling in New Hampshire, ahead of Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris.
No major candidates have formally declared their 2028 presidential campaigns.
A July poll showed Vance leading Ocasio-Cortez and Newsom by about 7 percentage points among likely voters.
A significant share of voters remain undecided in early 2028 matchup polls, reflecting an unsettled race.
Marco Rubio holds a competitive but weaker position than Vance against leading Democrats.
Prediction markets show a tightening Republican contest with Vance slightly ahead of Rubio.
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Senator Angela Alsobrooks from Maryland plans to introduce a new law to stop tariffs on school supplies put in place by President Donald Trump. This change aims to make school supplies cheaper as families get ready for the new school year.
Key Facts
Senator Angela Alsobrooks is introducing the Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act.
The bill would remove tariffs on school supplies.
These tariffs were set by President Donald Trump after he took office again.
The goal is to reduce costs for families buying school items like backpacks.
The legislation is timed with the upcoming start of the school year.
It focuses on helping American families afford necessary school materials.
The proposal targets school-related goods affected by trade taxes.
The bill is part of efforts to address the impact of tariffs on everyday products.
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The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to remove the rule that limited local TV station owners from reaching more than 39% of US TV households. The FCC will now review mergers case-by-case to decide if they are good for the public. Critics worry this change will let a few companies control too much media.
Key Facts
The FCC voted 2-1 to lift the 39% ownership cap for local TV stations.
The rule dates back to 1941 and was last set at 39% in 2004.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr believes the change will help local broadcasters survive amid newspaper declines.
The FCC will evaluate TV company mergers above 39% to see if they serve the public interest.
Commissioner Anna Gomez opposed the move, saying only Congress can change the cap.
Nexstar’s planned purchase of Tegna would cover 80% of US TV households; the deal was approved by the FCC despite objections.
Critics say this decision risks media consolidation and reduces diversity of viewpoints.
Reporters Without Borders called the move a loss of an important protection against media control by a few companies.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new sanctions on five Cuban organizations and eight individuals connected to Cuba’s military purchasing. These actions are part of the Trump administration’s efforts to change Cuba’s communist government system.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio is the U.S. Secretary of State.
He sanctioned five Cuban companies and eight people linked to Cuba’s military buying activities.
The sanctions aim to target the Cuban government's military procurement.
The move is part of the Trump administration's plan to adjust Cuba’s communist government.
The Cuban government is referred to as a communist regime by the U.S. officials involved.
These sanctions are related to concerns about Cuba’s support for terrorism and surveillance activities.
The announcement was made on a Thursday.
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A Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress because he refused to answer questions by using the Fifth Amendment last week. The vote took place during a hearing related to investigations involving Dr. Fauci.
Key Facts
A Senate committee voted on Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.
Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment, which allows a person to avoid answering questions to prevent self-incrimination.
The vote came after a hearing held the previous week.
The hearing focused on questioning Dr. Fauci about certain topics under investigation.
Holding someone in contempt means the committee believes the person is not cooperating with Congress.
This action may lead to further legal proceedings against Dr. Fauci.
The Senate committee members chose to take this step after Dr. Fauci’s refusal to testify fully.
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The Trump administration is paying over $1 billion to an energy company to cancel its rights to develop offshore wind energy in U.S. waters. RWE U.S. Offshore, part of a German energy firm, agreed to this deal and will give up its rights to produce wind power off the U.S. coast.
Key Facts
The Trump administration is involved in the payment.
RWE U.S. Offshore is a branch of the German company RWE.
The company will receive $1.22 billion in settlement money.
In exchange, RWE U.S. Offshore will give up its rights to build offshore wind projects.
The offshore wind rights are for areas off the U.S. coastline.
This is another case of the government paying companies to stop offshore wind development.
The announcement was made public on a Thursday.
The payment aims to prevent wind energy production in the designated area.
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Several influential people have died in 2026, including U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and aviation pioneer Wally Funk. The article lists notable figures from various fields who passed away in the first half of the year.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican known for his political flexibility, died from a tear in his aorta in July 2026.
Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer and the oldest woman to fly in space at age 82, also died in July 2026.
Funk had trained as an astronaut in the 1960s in the Mercury 13 program but was not allowed to become a professional astronaut at that time.
Other notable July 2026 deaths include former Qatari ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, singer Bonnie Tyler, former CIA director R. James Woolsey, cricketer Garry Sobers, and actor Sam Neill.
Influential people who died earlier in 2026 include Diane Crump, the first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby, and Aldrich Ames, a CIA officer who betrayed U.S. intelligence.
The article also mentions several entertainers, athletes, and cultural figures who passed away in January 2026.
The list covers people from diverse backgrounds and professions, including politics, sports, intelligence, music, and film.
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Senator Jon Husted of Ohio asked Representative Max Miller to resign from Congress and stop his campaign for reelection. Husted said Miller should focus on what is best for his daughter amid ongoing domestic abuse allegations that Miller denies.
Key Facts
Senator Jon Husted called on Rep. Max Miller to resign and quit his reelection campaign.
Husted knows Miller, his ex-wife Emily Moreno, and their daughter personally.
Miller denies allegations of domestic abuse made by his ex-wife.
Senator Bernie Moreno, Ohio’s senior senator, also said Miller is unfit to serve.
Miller must withdraw by Saturday under Ohio law to allow time for a replacement before Monday’s deadline.
Pressure on Miller is coming from both Republicans and Democrats.
The situation relates to Miller’s personal and political future ahead of the November election.
Max Miller is the representative for an Ohio congressional district.
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Senator Mitch McConnell has left a rehab center and returned home after a long absence from Congress. He plans to continue physical therapy at home and stay involved with his Senate work.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell is 84 years old.
He was hospitalized in June and has not appeared in public since then.
His office released pictures of him during this time.
McConnell’s current term ends in January 2027.
He will continue physical therapy at home based on his doctors’ advice.
He intends to keep working with his staff and other senators.
His return to the Senate floor is still uncertain.
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Super Pacs linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) have spent millions of dollars in a California special congressional race to support Melissa Hernandez and oppose progressive candidate Aisha Wahab. Wahab and Hernandez, both Democrats, will compete in a runoff election after leading a June primary.
Key Facts
The race is for Eric Swalwell’s former congressional seat in California’s East Bay.
Swalwell resigned after multiple sexual assault allegations.
Aisha Wahab, a progressive Democrat and state senator, is endorsed by the California Democratic Party and is a frontrunner.
Melissa Hernandez, a former mayor, is Wahab’s main opponent.
Super Pacs linked to Aipac have spent over $5 million in the race, supporting Hernandez and running ads against Wahab.
United Democracy Project, backed by Aipac, contributed $1.2 million, and Bold America Pac, backed by the same group, contributed $2.1 million.
Aipac has increased political spending to $67.2 million, focusing largely on Democratic primary races.
Wahab criticized the use of “dark money” in the race and encouraged voters to ask her about her record.
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The legal cases related to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol have mostly ended, with judges dismissing the last indictments against members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. President Donald Trump has pardoned some Jan. 6 defendants and his administration has taken steps that change how the events are officially remembered and handled.
Key Facts
Judges recently dismissed the final cases against leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta called this the end of prosecutions for January 6 but said the court cannot change what happened.
A judge appointed by President Trump acknowledged that January 6 was an attack on the peaceful transfer of power.
Some members of these groups were convicted of seditious conspiracy, with sentences up to 22 years in prison.
President Trump pardoned Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys, and reduced sentences for others.
The Department of Justice asked to overturn some remaining convictions earlier this year.
The Trump administration has removed federal workers connected to January 6 investigations and changed the narrative around the event.
A $1.8 billion fund meant to support officers harmed on January 6 was ended, and President Trump suggested some rioters should receive compensation.
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