Nearly 2,000 people in nine U.S. states have become sick from Cyclospora linked to Taco Bell and Taylor Farms’ lettuce. The CDC suspects iceberg lettuce from central Mexico and has found Taco Bell as a possible exposure source. Several lawsuits claiming injury and negligence have been filed against both companies.
Key Facts
At least 1,947 confirmed Cyclospora cases reported in nine states, with 98 hospitalizations and no deaths.
The CDC links the outbreak to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico supplied by Taylor Farms.
Taco Bell is identified as a likely exposure source for many infected patients.
Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled the suspect lettuce on July 17.
Lawsuits have been filed in Ohio, Michigan, and California, alleging personal injury and negligence.
The outbreak started around June 22 and continued through July 20, 2026.
The CDC warns actual case numbers may be higher due to underreporting and testing delays.
Since May 1, there have been 4,173 confirmed Cyclospora cases reported nationwide across 41 states.
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A federal judge ordered U.S. immigration officials to release Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a key witness in a deadly shooting involving an ICE officer in Houston. The judge said detaining Rojas Pliego violated his legal rights and blocked his deportation while investigations continue.
Key Facts
Judge Keith Ellison ordered ICE to release Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego within 48 hours.
The judge said holding Rojas Pliego violated his Fifth Amendment right to due process.
ICE must release him publicly in Southern Texas and notify his lawyer before releasing him.
Rojas Pliego was a passenger in a van when an ICE officer fatally shot the driver, Lorenzo Araujo Salgado.
The government said the driver tried to run over the ICE officer, but witnesses said officers were never in front or behind the van.
The local district attorney said his office is ready to prosecute ICE agents if criminal acts are found.
Araujo Salgado had lived in the U.S. for 35 years and was close to getting legal status.
Rojas Pliego has a pending U-Visa application that would protect him from deportation if approved.
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Senator Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly on July 11, will be honored with ceremonies in Washington and South Carolina. President Donald Trump will deliver a tribute during the funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral, and international leaders will attend.
Key Facts
Lindsey Graham was a Republican senator from South Carolina who died on July 11, 2026.
His body will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda and be honored by fellow senators.
The funeral service at Washington National Cathedral will include a tribute from President Donald Trump.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the funeral in Washington.
Zelenskyy plans to discuss new missile supplies and peace talks with the US during his visit.
Graham was a strong supporter of Ukraine and Israel and backed sanctions against Russia.
A second funeral service and public ceremonies will occur in South Carolina, including an F-16 flyover.
Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, was sworn in to finish his Senate term and will run in the primary to replace him on the ballot.
President Trump encouraged Darline to run for a full Senate term in November.
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President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for the seventh time during Trump’s second term. This meeting comes amid ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, and rising concerns about the war among Americans and some Republicans.
Key Facts
Netanyahu’s visit is his first meeting with President Trump since the war between the US-Israel coalition and Iran began on February 28.
The meeting was announced as Netanyahu plans to attend Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral in Washington, DC.
Public support for the US-Israel war is declining, especially among some Republican voters and MAGA supporters.
Israel has opposed a June 17 agreement between the US and Iran to stop fighting, calling it too favorable to Iran.
US Vice President JD Vance has criticized Israeli policies and warned Israel not to attack the Trump administration.
President Trump reaffirmed America’s strong support for Israel, saying Israel depends on US protection.
Despite public disagreements, US policy toward Israel has not changed significantly under President Trump.
The meeting occurs as President Trump signals a new diplomatic effort with Iran after a recent pause in fighting.
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President Donald Trump will give the eulogy at Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral in Washington, D.C. The service will be held at the National Cathedral, with attendance expected from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Graham died on July 11 from an aortic dissection caused by heart disease.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham died at age 71 from an aortic dissection linked to cardiovascular disease.
President Trump will deliver the eulogy at Graham’s funeral service in Washington’s National Cathedral.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy plan to attend the funeral.
A ceremony will be held at the U.S. Capitol with an Armed Forces Body Bearer team honoring Graham’s Air Force service.
The Capitol ceremony will be private and is meant for friends and colleagues.
After the Washington funeral, services will be held in South Carolina, including a procession at the State House and a flyover by F-16 jets.
Graham was a four-term senator known for working across party lines and a strong supporter of foreign policy measures, including new sanctions on Russia.
Senator Darline Graham, appointed to fill Lindsey Graham's seat, thanked people for honoring the late senator.
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Five months after the United States and Israel began a war against Iran, the fighting remains unresolved and has affected everyday life in America. Many U.S. voters report higher gas and food prices, military deployments, and debates about the war’s purpose and cost.
Key Facts
The U.S. and Israel started a war against Iran five months ago, expecting it to be brief.
Iran’s Supreme Leader was killed early in the conflict, but fighting continues without clear outcomes.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route, has been closed and reopened during the conflict.
Americans are feeling the war's effects through higher gas prices—over $4 per gallon—and food costs.
Lower- and middle-income families are hit hardest by these price increases.
Some Americans opposed the war, saying it was unnecessary and wasted money needed for social services.
Voters’ opinions on the war vary, with some supporting President Trump’s approach and others strongly opposing it.
Military families are directly affected by sudden deployments related to the conflict.
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Da’Jon Anthony Hayes-Burr, a 15-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, was fatally shot after previously being recognized for protecting a young girl from sexual harassment. A 14-year-old has been charged with murder, and the investigation is ongoing.
Key Facts
Da’Jon Hayes-Burr was shot and killed in Louisville’s Shawnee neighborhood on a Saturday night.
He had been praised earlier for defending a 12-year-old girl from a 45-year-old man’s sexual harassment.
Hayes-Burr and other boys stopped the man, who allegedly stabbed him during the confrontation.
The man who harassed the girl was arrested at that time, and Hayes-Burr was honored by the city council and Kentucky’s governor for his bravery.
A 14-year-old has been charged with Hayes-Burr’s murder, but their name and motive are not public because of the suspect’s age.
Louisville leaders and Hayes-Burr’s family are mourning his death and calling it a tragic loss.
Firearms have been the leading cause of death among children and teens in the U.S. since 2020.
An online fundraiser was created to support Hayes-Burr’s family after his death.
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Florida plans to carry out two executions in one day, which is very rare in the US. James Duckett and Dominick Occhicone are scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on the same Tuesday, marking Florida’s first double execution day since 1964.
Key Facts
The executions are scheduled six hours apart at a Florida state prison near Starke.
Florida has not done multiple executions on one day since 1964.
A similar double execution in Arkansas in 2017 had problems during the process.
Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, has increased the state’s executions, with 19 last year and 10 so far this year.
Experts warn that rushing executions can cause painful and botched deaths.
Florida has been secretive about its execution methods and has violated its own rules, including using expired drugs.
Both men sentenced, Duckett and Occhicone, had split jury decisions on their death sentences and questions remain about Duckett’s guilt.
Occhicone, at 80 years old, would be the oldest person executed in Florida if the execution proceeds.
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Two days of funeral ceremonies for Senator Lindsey Graham will start in Washington, D.C., with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attending. Both leaders will also meet President Donald Trump at the White House.
Key Facts
Lindsey Graham, a longtime senator from South Carolina, died at age 71 from a heart condition.
Graham was involved in foreign policy and was working on new sanctions against Russia.
Funeral events will begin at the U.S. Capitol and include a service at the Washington National Cathedral.
President Trump, who Graham supported later in his career, will speak at the funeral.
Netanyahu and Zelenskyy will attend the ceremonies and have meetings with President Trump.
Footage showed Graham expressing strong support for Israeli actions against Iran and praising Trump and Netanyahu’s leadership.
Despite Graham’s advocacy for aggressive policies, U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and Lebanon have been limited and less effective than he predicted.
Zelenskyy’s upcoming White House visit aims to improve strained relations with the U.S. amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
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Senator Bernie Sanders has had limited policy success during his 35 years in Congress and two runs for president. However, many Democrats feel his ideas and influence still shape the Democratic Party today.
Key Facts
Bernie Sanders is an independent senator from Vermont.
He has been in Congress for 35 years.
Sanders ran for president twice.
He has not achieved many major policy changes.
Many Democrats believe the party reflects Sanders’ influence.
The Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee recently met, showing ongoing internal party discussions.
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Members of the Democratic Party are growing frustrated with Ken Martin, the Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). They believe his problems are causing distractions that could hurt their efforts to win control of Congress in the upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Ken Martin is the current Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Some Democrats are unhappy with how Martin is handling his role.
Party members think Martin's issues are distracting the party.
The Democrats want to regain control of Congress in the fall elections.
Internal concerns about leadership could affect the party’s campaign efforts.
The situation has caused multiple news reports about Martin’s challenges.
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Democrats need to gain three seats in the 2026 midterm elections to control the House of Representatives. Newsweek analyzed 10 Republican-held districts that are most likely to flip to Democrats based on close past election results and current polling.
Key Facts
Democrats currently need a net gain of three House seats in 2026 to take control.
Newsweek ranked the 10 most vulnerable GOP seats by looking at narrow past election margins, presidential voting patterns, and if the seat is open or held by an incumbent.
Districts that voted closely for President Trump in 2024 rank lower for Democratic chances.
Polls and local political factors vary, with Democrats focusing on economic issues like cost of living.
Republicans rely on strong local support and expect President Trump’s campaigning to help their candidates.
Both parties agree these key districts will be heavily contested in the 2026 midterms.
Colorado’s 8th District is one of the closest races, with a narrow Republican win and nearly even presidential vote in 2024.
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President Donald Trump wants the Senate to cancel its August break to discuss the SAVE America Act, a bill focused on voting rules. Senate Majority Leader John Thune disagreed, saying the bill has already been rejected several times and it would waste time to debate it again.
Key Facts
President Trump supports the SAVE America Act as his top legislative priority.
The SAVE America Act aims to change voter eligibility rules.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune opposes canceling the August recess.
Thune says the Senate has already voted down the bill multiple times.
Thune believes debating the bill again would waste Senate time.
The discussion shows a disagreement within the Republican leadership.
The Senate typically takes a break in August, called a recess.
The outcome of the debate could affect voting law changes.
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The article explains how political parties change their positions gradually over time using six stages: recoil, squint, rationalize, submit, amplify, and purge. It uses the Republican Party’s acceptance of President Trump over many years as an example and suggests the Democratic Party may be starting a similar process with socialism gaining support among its members.
Key Facts
Political parties often go through a six-stage process when changing their positions.
Republicans moved through all six stages in accepting President Trump’s leadership.
The six stages are: recoil (reject), squint (quiet support), rationalize (excuses), submit (full acceptance), amplify (promote), and purge (remove dissenters).
Democrats show rising support for socialism, especially among younger voters.
Several Democratic socialists have recently won primary elections against established incumbents.
Language changes during these stages can be an early signal of bigger shifts.
Some Democrats warn against accepting extreme ideas and suggest strongly opposing them to avoid a full party takeover.
The process reflects how party bases influence political direction over time.
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President Trump's "self-deportation" program, called Project Homecoming, pays unauthorized immigrants to leave the U.S. The program has helped around 132,000 people leave and aims to remove 1 million unauthorized immigrants each year.
Key Facts
Project Homecoming started last year with nearly $600 million in funding.
About 132,000 immigrants have left the U.S. through the program through mid-July.
Around 70,000 more have signed up and are expected to leave soon.
The program offers a cash payment that increased from $1,000 to as much as $3,000 at one point.
About half of the self-deportations involve immigrants held in immigration detention centers.
People in detention leave faster, spending an average of 17 days in detention instead of 50.
Removing an immigrant through self-deportation costs about $2,500, less than the usual $18,245 for forced removals.
The government plans to spend about $2.5 billion in savings from the program and is seeking new contracts to continue it.
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Senator Mitch McConnell is staying in a rehabilitation center after a fall at his home in June. His office released a new photo and a brief medical update but did not provide detailed information about his condition or the cause of the fall.
Key Facts
McConnell is 84 years old and a Republican senator from Kentucky.
He has been in inpatient rehab for more than a month following a fall.
A new photo of McConnell with his wife was released to update the public.
McConnell is undergoing intense physical therapy daily.
His childhood polio affects his current mobility.
No recent video or direct interviews with McConnell have been made public.
The cause of McConnell’s fall and loss of consciousness has not been explained.
McConnell will miss Kentucky’s Fancy Farm picnic due to recovery.
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Ben Carroll became the 50th premier of Victoria after a leadership dispute that lasted 48 hours and was very public. He agreed to run only after party members told him the current premier, Jacinta Allan, had lost their support, leading Allan to step down and Carroll to be elected leader.
Key Facts
Ben Carroll became premier of Victoria after a two-day leadership battle within the Labor Party.
Carroll initially said he would not challenge Premier Jacinta Allan but changed his mind after a group of MPs urged him to run.
Jacinta Allan first refused to resign and nominated herself to keep her job.
Allan gave up after it became clear she did not have enough support and said stepping aside was best for the party and the state.
Attorney General Sonya Kilkenny unexpectedly nominated herself, causing more conflict before withdrawing her nomination.
Carroll was elected premier unanimously after Kilkenny’s withdrawal.
Carroll promised party unity and to include Allan’s supporters in his government team.
The party had to avoid internal fights just months before an election.
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Lok Darjee, born in a refugee camp in Nepal after his family was forced out of Bhutan, shares his journey to the United States as a refugee. He describes the hope and challenges of resettling in America and becoming a naturalized citizen and journalist.
Key Facts
Lok Darjee was born in a refugee camp in Nepal after ethnic cleansing forced his family from Bhutan.
He grew up without citizenship or a country to call home.
In 2009, his family was approved for resettlement in the United States.
Their initial destination was Cleveland, Ohio, but they eventually landed in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Darjee’s mother saw America as leaving behind her past, while he saw it as a new beginning.
He became a naturalized U.S. citizen and works as a journalist.
He reports on issues related to refugees and immigration in America.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet President Donald Trump at the White House after a period of decreasing influence and coordination between them. Their relationship has cooled amid differing views on how to handle Iran and recent U.S. foreign policy decisions.
Key Facts
Netanyahu is meeting President Trump for the eighth time since Trump returned to office.
Their interests have diverged, and communication has become less frequent in recent weeks.
Trump paused U.S. strikes in Iran and restarted talks with the Iranian government.
Netanyahu was not fully informed about Trump's plans and had to prepare Israel for possible major U.S. military action.
Trump signed a nuclear agreement with Iran in June, despite Netanyahu’s objections.
Netanyahu failed to stop the U.S. sale of F-35 jets to Turkey, a move he opposed.
Netanyahu was surprised by a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that didn’t require Saudi recognition of Israel.
Trump stated that the Saudi agreement would depend on Saudi Arabia signing a peace deal with Israel but has not discussed this with Saudi leaders.
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