President Trump is delaying the nomination of Jay Clayton to lead the U.S. intelligence community. He wants Congress to pass a voter ID law before approving a key intelligence surveillance program.
Key Facts
President Trump announced the delay while at the Group of Seven summit in France.
Jay Clayton was nominated to be director of national intelligence after Bill Pulte, the acting director, faced criticism for lack of experience.
Democrats opposed renewing an important surveillance program until Pulte's nomination was withdrawn.
President Trump accused Democrats of breaking a deal to renew the surveillance program after Clayton’s nomination.
Trump wants to keep Bill Pulte as acting director until Clayton’s replacement as U.S. attorney is confirmed.
Trump linked approval of the surveillance program (called FISA) to passing a voter ID bill he calls the "Save America Act."
The Republican-controlled Congress has not passed the voter ID bill because it lacks enough support, especially from Democrats.
Jay Clayton is currently U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and was formerly head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new survey finds that Americans feel less proud of their country and are divided on what it means to be truly American. Many people have lost faith in shared values like religion and the American Dream, and political divisions are growing deeper.
Key Facts
Only 51% of Americans say they are very proud to be American, down from 82% in 2013.
Less than half of Democrats think being born in America, believing in God, or being Christian is important to American identity.
Most Republicans believe these factors are important to being truly American.
Fewer than half of Americans believe that hard work leads to success, with 18- to 29-year-olds’ belief dropping from 50% in 2024 to 36%.
Only 18% of Americans are very proud of how democracy is working in the country today.
The survey shows a clear split, with Republicans and others having very different views on identity, faith, and democracy.
The Public Religion Research Institute conducted the survey online in May 2026 with 5,469 adults across all states.
The margin of error for the survey is about ±1.5 percentage points.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A private plane crashed onto a highway in Laredo, Texas, killing one of the six people on board and injuring the others. The plane had departed from Mexico and was heading to Austin but diverted to Laredo before crashing.
Key Facts
The crash happened late Tuesday on Texas State Highway Loop 20 in Laredo.
One person died, and the other five passengers were sent to the hospital.
Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased yet.
The plane was a Cessna Citation Latitude registered as N523QS.
The flight started in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, and was headed to Austin, Texas.
The crash site had jet fuel spilled on the road, requiring cleanup.
The loop road was closed for an extended time due to the crash.
The FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board are involved in the investigation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. State Department's July Visa Bulletin shows progress in family-based green card categories, allowing more applicants to move forward. However, employment-based green cards, especially for Indian nationals, face significant delays and some categories are now closed for the rest of the fiscal year.
Key Facts
Family-based green card categories like F1, F2B, F3, and F4 have moved forward, making it easier for some applicants to advance.
The F2A category, for spouses and children of green card holders, did not move in July after a big advance in June.
Employment-based green cards for India in the EB-2 and EB-5 categories are now unavailable until at least October 2026.
The EB-1 category for India moved backwards by two months, showing increased delays.
Some employment categories, such as EB-3 and EB-4, show progress, but filing dates remain the same as last month.
These changes reflect higher demand and processing delays mainly for Indian employment-based visa applicants.
Mexico and the Philippines saw mixed movement, with some family-based categories staying the same.
The Visa Bulletin guides when applicants can proceed with their green card process each month.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Trump has made a deal with Iran that has caused strong disagreements among his supporters, especially those who strongly support Israel. Many pro-Israel Republicans are upset because they see the deal as giving too much to Iran and worry it threatens Israel’s safety.
Key Facts
President Trump arranged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran aiming to pause fighting and start peace talks.
Pro-Israel conservative Republicans want to see the exact details of the deal but have not been given full access.
The deal may allow Iran to sell oil again and receive financial relief tied to its compliance with nuclear talks.
Some hawks believe the United States had Iran weakened and should not ease pressure now.
Critics doubt Iran will change its nuclear ambitions and question the wisdom of trusting its government.
Trump praised Iranian negotiators as reasonable, which angered hawkish Republicans.
Key Republican leaders and Israel have not been shown the official memo despite their involvement.
Some Republican allies who supported Trump’s earlier hard line on Iran now speak out against the deal without directly criticizing Trump.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A mother shares her experience with her son Finley’s worsening health problems after his first birthday. After many visits to doctors and hospitals without clear answers, Finley was finally diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Key Facts
Finley started vomiting frequently and having rashes shortly after his first birthday.
Initial medical advice suggested a cow’s milk allergy, but removing cow’s milk did not help.
His symptoms changed to violent vomiting every morning and occasional rashes that appeared and disappeared quickly.
Finley experienced a seizure-like episode and vomiting blood, but early hospital visits gave inconclusive or incorrect explanations.
After multiple visits to different hospitals, Finley was finally transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
A CT scan revealed that Finley had a brain tumor.
Following the diagnosis, Finley received care from a team of specialists including oncologists and surgeons.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
California’s recent primary elections show changes in the Democratic Party’s leadership and direction. Many long-time leaders like Nancy Pelosi are stepping down, and new candidates face challenges reflecting the party’s shift and internal disagreements.
Key Facts
Democrats have won many special elections and have strong voter turnout but have low overall popularity ratings.
Republicans identify clearly with President Trump and MAGA, while Democrats struggle with internal divisions and unclear leadership.
Key Democratic leaders like Pelosi and Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are retiring or nearing the end of their careers.
California is the most populous and richest state, playing a big role in shaping national Democratic campaigns and funding.
Pelosi’s district in San Francisco is open for the first time in 39 years, marking a significant leadership change.
New Democratic candidates in California face tough competition and a party divided between its progressive and moderate members.
California raises about 20% of all Democratic federal campaign funds in the 2024 election cycle.
The state’s primaries act like a mini presidential race because of its size, diversity, and political importance.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump hosted a UFC fight event at the White House on his birthday, using the venue to promote a company he invested in and sell Trump-branded products. Courts have been slow or hesitant to stop such activities, leading to concerns that repeated legal challenges against Trump are tiring the judiciary.
Key Facts
President Trump held a UFC fight event at the White House, turning it into a for-profit spectacle.
The event promoted a company Trump invested in and sold branded merchandise.
Courts did not issue rulings in time to stop the fight, effectively allowing it to happen.
Legal challenges around Trump’s actions are often dismissed on technical grounds by courts.
Trump has lost 67 legal cases and won 7, with judges across political views agreeing on rulings.
Trump often criticizes courts after losing cases, calling them biased and corrupt.
Some judges, like Judge William Young, have openly called Trump a lawless bully.
The Supreme Court seems cautious or hesitant in fully confronting President Trump’s actions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday with a mixed martial arts event on the White House South Lawn, drawing comparisons to ancient Roman spectacles. Commentators connected his showmanship to past U.S. presidents’ displays of strength and highlighted differences between Trump’s style and traditional presidential behavior.
Key Facts
President Trump held a cage fight event at the White House to mark his 80th birthday.
The event featured a steel dome on the South Lawn, compared in size to the ancient Roman Colosseum.
Some media described Trump’s event as a show of imperial style and excess.
Past presidents like Theodore Roosevelt also displayed physical toughness, including boxing and jiu-jitsu demonstrations.
The article notes historical presidents’ macho and theatrical behaviors, such as horseback riding, hunting, and military landing ceremonies.
Andrew Jackson’s 1829 inauguration was notably rowdy and populist, showing earlier examples of crowd engagement and vulgarity.
The story suggests Trump’s event fits into a long American tradition of presidential spectacle, though with a modern TV-style flair.
Comparisons between Trump and authoritarian rulers like Xi Jinping highlight different approaches to power and empire-building.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A woman named Georgia Shaw used a hidden tracker on a roadside memorial for her brother, Benn Johnson, to find the person who kept stealing it. Benn died in a car crash in 2024, and after the memorial items were taken multiple times, the tracker led them to a man who said he did not want them to have a shrine.
Key Facts
Benn Johnson, aged 22, died in a car crash in Derby in 2024 caused by dangerous driving.
His sister, Georgia Shaw, set up a roadside memorial at the crash site that was taken down three times.
Shaw put a tracker inside a photo frame at the memorial to catch the person removing the items.
The tracker led Shaw and her family to a man’s home where he admitted to having the memorial pieces.
The man told Shaw he did not want the family to have a shrine for Benn.
Derbyshire Police are investigating the removal of the memorial items.
Derby City Council said they did not remove the shrine and had not been asked to do so.
Benn’s friend who caused the crash pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
For the first time, most U.S. families with a mom and a dad have both parents working full time, according to recent data analyzed by Pew Research Center. This change reflects more college-educated women joining the workforce and families facing higher living costs.
Key Facts
52% of different-sex couples with children had both parents working full time last year, a record high.
This is up 6 points from 10 years ago and 21 points since 1975.
The share of families where only the dad works full time dropped from 42% in 1975 to 23% last year.
White and Asian mothers working full time with their partners now make up about 54% and 52% of families, respectively.
About 60% of Black mothers have worked full time with their partners since at least 2000.
Hispanic mothers' work patterns have stayed mostly the same since 2000.
Mothers with postgraduate degrees are the most likely (69%) to be in families with both parents working full time.
Most dual full-time working parents say the arrangement helps their finances; families with a stay-at-home mom often believe it benefits their kids' wellbeing.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Vice President JD Vance appeared on the TV show The View to talk about his new book and topics like affordability, immigration, and race. He said the show's hosts were not as harsh as he expected, and one co-host, Joy Behar, told him he was "pretty good for a Republican."
Key Facts
JD Vance appeared on The View to promote his memoir called "Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith."
He discussed issues like affordability, the Epstein Files, immigration, and race during the interview.
Vance expected the hosts to be very critical but said they were only slightly harsh.
Joy Behar, one of the hosts, told Vance he was "pretty good for a Republican."
The View hosts have often been critical of President Donald Trump in the past.
Vance later spoke about the interview on Fox's Gutfeld! show.
The story is still developing, with more updates expected.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A small business jet crashed and caught fire on a highway in Laredo, Texas, killing one person and injuring five others. Drivers and emergency responders helped rescue passengers from the burning plane, which had mechanical problems and lost communication with the airport before the crash.
Key Facts
The crash happened late Tuesday night on Loop 20 highway near Laredo, Texas.
Six people were on the plane; one died at the scene, and five were taken to hospitals in stable condition.
The plane was a Cessna Citation experiencing mechanical issues and low fuel.
It lost contact with the Laredo International Airport tower shortly before crashing.
People nearby tried to break the cockpit window and open the door to rescue passengers.
The aircraft hit a light post and came to rest turned on its side with its tail section damaged.
No injuries on the ground were reported, but five officers were treated for smoke inhalation.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
In recent primary elections across several states, candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump won important Senate nominations in Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma. However, Trump-backed Burt Jones lost the governor’s run-off in Georgia. These races set the stage for key battles in the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
Burt Jones, endorsed by President Trump, lost the Georgia governor run-off to billionaire Rick Jackson.
Mike Collins, supported by Trump, won the Republican Senate run-off in Georgia and will face Democrat Jon Ossoff in November.
In Alabama, Trump-backed Barry Moore won the Republican Senate primary and is favored in the general election.
In Oklahoma, Trump’s Senate choice Kevin Hern won with nearly 64% of the vote; his gubernatorial pick Mike Mazzei reached a run-off.
Oklahoma voters rejected a proposal to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour.
California’s special election advanced Democrat Aisha Wahab to replace Rep. Eric Swalwell, who resigned amid allegations.
These primaries reflect voters’ choices as the U.S. prepares for midterm elections seen as important for President Trump’s second term.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said the Justice Department, led by President Donald Trump, is investigating him and his wife. Newsom claims the probe is political retaliation because he may run for president. Some Democrats believe this investigation could actually help Newsom gain attention and support for a possible 2028 presidential run.
Key Facts
Governor Gavin Newsom announced a Justice Department investigation into him and his wife.
Newsom says President Donald Trump ordered the investigation as political retaliation.
Federal agents have been seeking documents from Newsom's family, friends, and former employees.
Newsom denies wrongdoing and says he has nothing to hide.
Some Democratic political strategists think the investigation could boost Newsom’s public profile and fundraising.
Newsom is currently seen as a leading Democratic potential candidate for the 2028 presidential race in prediction markets.
The investigation is compared to legal challenges faced by President Trump, which he turned into political support.
Traditional public polls show mixed or less favorable support for Newsom compared to prediction markets.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A small plane crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas. Five people survived after witnesses helped rescue passengers from the burning plane, but one person died.
Key Facts
The crash happened on a highway in Laredo, Texas.
The aircraft caught fire after the crash.
Witnesses quickly helped rescue passengers from the burning plane.
Five people survived the crash.
One person was reported dead.
Emergency responders attended the scene after the rescue.
The cause of the crash has not been mentioned.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned Andy Burnham not to challenge his leadership immediately if Burnham wins a seat in Parliament. Starmer wants the party to focus on the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral election and said leadership challenges would be harmful.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is running in the Makerfield by-election and would have to resign as Manchester mayor if he wins.
A by-election for the Manchester mayor position is expected by August 6.
Prime Minister Starmer called a leadership contest a "bad thing" and plans to fight any challenge.
Starmer said he would offer Burnham a cabinet job if Burnham wins the by-election.
Labour MP Wes Streeting said he might trigger a leadership contest soon after the by-election.
Starmer asked Labour members to focus on winning the Manchester mayoral election instead of leadership fights.
Some Labour MPs are worried about Reform UK possibly winning the mayoral election.
Burnham’s supporters believe winning the mayor election boosts his case for Labour leadership.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Georgia Republican voters chose President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate for the U.S. Senate but rejected his choice for governor in the primary elections. These results show mixed support for President Trump as the midterm elections in November will decide control of Congress during his second term.
Key Facts
Republican Mike Collins, supported by President Trump, won the primary and will run against Democrat Jon Ossoff for U.S. Senate.
Collins supports Trump’s claims that the 2020 election in Georgia was rigged, though he did not thank Trump in his victory speech.
In the governor race, Rick Jackson, who spent about $100 million of his own money, defeated Trump’s endorsed candidate, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones.
President Trump did not campaign in Georgia or travel with his endorsed candidate for governor.
President Trump congratulated Rick Jackson on social media after the win, noting Jackson campaigned closely to Trump’s style.
Ossoff, the Democratic Senate incumbent, criticized Trump as a “national embarrassment.”
These primaries are part of several happening in four states and Washington D.C. ahead of the November midterm elections.
The midterm elections will determine which party controls Congress for the last two years of President Trump’s current term.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Wes Streeting said he might challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for Labour Party leadership as soon as next week. He wants to end uncertainty in the party and would give Starmer a few days to decide before starting a contest.
Key Facts
Wes Streeting resigned from the cabinet last month.
He said Labour cannot continue with "uncertainty and paralysis."
Streeting wants to give Starmer the weekend to think before possibly starting a leadership contest.
A leadership contest needs support from 81 Labour MPs to happen.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, is also aiming to become Labour leader and prime minister.
Streeting claims he has the needed support from Labour MPs to trigger a contest.
Starmer is currently attending the G7 summit in France and would be a candidate if a leadership election starts.
Labour Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds did not confirm if the challenge would begin next week.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Mississippi police officer was placed on administrative leave after shooting and killing one-year-old Kohen Wiley during a response to a shoplifting call at a Walmart. The police shot at a vehicle that was driving toward officers, and Kohen died after being taken to the hospital.
Key Facts
The shooting happened outside a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi, on Sunday.
Kohen Wiley was one year old and was in a car with his mother and her friend.
Police say the driver of the vehicle almost hit an officer before the shooting.
An officer fired at the vehicle as it drove away and Kohen was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The officer who fired the shots was placed on administrative leave, which is normal after such incidents.
Protests took place outside the Walmart, and police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing Kohen’s family and plans to seek justice.
The Senatobia Police Department promises to share information as the investigation continues.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
