Senator Ted Cruz predicted that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) will run for president in 2028, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will replace Senator Chuck Schumer. Cruz expressed concern about the direction of the Democratic Party but no candidate has officially announced a 2028 presidential run.
Key Facts
Ted Cruz shared his predictions about the 2028 election on social media.
He said AOC will launch a presidential campaign.
Cruz also said Zohran Mamdani will replace Senator Chuck Schumer in New York.
Cruz called these changes "bad for America" and called for two parties that love the country.
AOC has a strong presence among progressive voters and a large social media following.
Mamdani is gaining attention as a progressive leader in New York politics.
Recent polls show AOC with 22 percent support among likely 2028 Democratic primary voters.
No Democrat or Republican has officially declared their presidential candidacy for 2028 yet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dr. Anthony Fauci will testify before a Senate committee next Wednesday after being ordered to appear by Chairman Rand Paul. Paul has accused Fauci of hiding details about risky virus research linked to China.
Key Facts
Dr. Anthony Fauci is scheduled to testify in the Senate next Wednesday.
The hearing is before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Rand Paul, a senator from Kentucky and committee chairman, issued the subpoena for Fauci.
Paul accuses Fauci of covering up U.S. involvement in dangerous virus research in China.
Fauci was the nation’s top expert on infectious diseases.
The hearing aims to investigate claims about the origins and safety of certain viral research.
The hearing will be publicly held and could involve questions about government research transparency.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ben Wikler, former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, wrote a book called "This Is the Plan" that explains what Democrats can do to improve. He shared his ideas about the party’s future and lessons from Wisconsin in a conversation with Geoff Bennett on the PBS News podcast "Settle In."
Key Facts
Ben Wikler is the former chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
He wrote a book titled "This Is the Plan."
The book discusses lessons from Wisconsin, one of the most evenly divided states.
Wikler’s work focuses on what Democrats plan to do to address issues in the party.
Geoff Bennett interviewed Wikler on the PBS News podcast called "Settle In."
The conversation covers ideas that could help Democrats across the United States.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved a bill that eases rules on abortions performed after 24 weeks of pregnancy. The bill will now be considered by the state Senate and, if passed, would allow doctors to approve late-term abortions.
Key Facts
The bill is called H.5595.
The Massachusetts House voted 119 in favor and 33 against the bill.
It would loosen restrictions on abortions performed after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Doctors would need to approve any abortion done after 24 weeks.
State House Speaker Ronald Mariano announced the bill’s passage in the House.
The bill now goes to the Massachusetts state Senate for consideration.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new poll shows that more Republicans are blaming President Donald Trump’s policies for hurting the economy, though most still support him. Many Americans remain unhappy with the economy nearly 1 1/2 years into Trump’s second term, and economic concerns are a key issue ahead of the midterm elections.
Key Facts
The Pew Research Center poll found 28% of Republicans blame Trump’s policies for making the economy worse, up from 18% earlier.
Overall, 60% of respondents said Trump’s policies made the economy worse.
Only 24% of all voters described the economy as “excellent” or “good.”
Gas prices recently rose due to conflicts in the Middle East affecting oil supply routes.
Despite economic worries, 69% of Republicans still approve of Trump’s job performance.
Economic issues like inflation and jobs are top concerns for many voters before the November midterms.
The poll surveyed 1,602 adults from July 17-20 with a margin of error of ±3.3 percentage points.
White House said Trump remains focused on lowering costs and boosting American energy production.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A group of 25 states and the District of Columbia are suing FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. They say the Trump administration is withholding disaster and security grants unless states follow new election and immigration rules.
Key Facts
The lawsuit involves 25 states plus the District of Columbia.
States accuse FEMA and DHS of holding back about $148 million in grants.
The withheld funds are for disaster preparedness, emergency response, and homeland security.
New funding rules require states to verify voter citizenship, use specific types of ballots, and assist federal immigration enforcement.
States argue these conditions are unrelated to emergency management and are improper.
The lawsuit claims the administration's actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution’s Spending Clause.
Rhode Island’s Attorney General says the administration is unlawfully risking public safety.
FEMA says the rules are needed to protect election security and integrity.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United States has spent nearly $110 billion on its conflict with Iran. Despite saying the conflict is settled, President Trump's administration is asking for an additional $67 billion.
Key Facts
The US has spent almost $110 billion related to the war on Iran.
President Donald Trump's administration is requesting an extra $67 billion in funding.
The administration states that the war is already won or concluded.
The new requested funds would increase the total spending significantly.
This information was reported by Al Jazeera and Emma Withrow.
The cost includes military and related expenses in the conflict with Iran.
The article highlights the growing financial impact of this conflict on the US government.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration withdrew subpoenas that would have forced three New York Times reporters to reveal their sources about a story on President Trump’s Air Force One jet from Qatar. A federal judge criticized the government’s legal mistakes, leading to the withdrawal of the subpoenas.
Key Facts
The government had subpoenas for three New York Times reporters to testify about their sources.
The reporters covered a story on President Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet.
A federal judge named Arun Subramanian criticized the government’s legal work as sloppy.
The government reluctantly withdrew the subpoenas after the judge’s reprimand.
This is part of a pattern where the Trump administration is targeting journalists to reveal sources.
The Justice Department also recently withdrew subpoenas for reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
The subpoenas were related to national security stories.
The government wants to stop leaks inside the Trump administration.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune responded to White House criticism about delays in passing the SAVE Act, a election-related bill supported by President Trump. Thune said the Senate needs to find votes and suggested Democrats are blocking the bill. The White House urged quick action before lawmakers leave for recess in August.
Key Facts
The SAVE Act aims to require proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections.
President Trump is pressing Senate Republicans to pass the bill before the August recess.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump's patience is running out over Senate delays.
Senator John Thune said Democrats, not Republicans, are blocking the bill in the Senate.
The bill faces a difficult vote threshold of 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster.
President Trump gave a speech criticizing the Senate for stalling the legislation.
The House of Representatives has already approved the SAVE Act.
Thune has generally avoided public conflict with the White House despite pressure from Trump’s allies.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Yassamin Ansari, has asked for a congressional investigation into how the federal government handled the legal cases of Andrew and Tristan Tate. Ansari also requested that Barron Trump give testimony as part of the investigation to examine possible political interference.
Key Facts
Representative Yassamin Ansari wants the House Oversight Committee to investigate the Tate brothers' legal cases and their return to the U.S.
Ansari claims there may have been political interference or improper government conduct related to the Tate brothers.
She has asked for documents from the Justice Department, State Department, and White House, plus visitor records and communications.
Ansari requested testimony from Barron Trump, although he is not accused of any wrongdoing or involvement.
Andrew and Tristan Tate face criminal charges in Romania, including human trafficking and money laundering; they deny the charges.
The Tate brothers are also wanted by British authorities for extradition on other allegations.
The Tates previously met with U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt in Washington, D.C., a fact Ansari only learned about recently.
Andrew Tate is a former kickboxing champion and online influencer known for controversial views and social media presence.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration is concerned about the fast use of advanced U.S. air-defense interceptors and precise weapons in the Middle East, especially in the conflict with Iran. There are worries this rapid usage could affect America's ability to prepare for other conflicts, like in the Indo-Pacific region.
Key Facts
The U.S. is using a large number of advanced air-defense interceptors and precision-guided weapons against Iran in the Middle East.
Stockpiles of these weapons are shrinking faster than they can be replaced.
Defense companies need one to two years to increase production of some high-end missiles like the Tomahawk cruise missile.
U.S. forces are using more GPS-guided bombs and smaller precision weapons instead of long-range missiles.
Iran has targeted Gulf states like Kuwait and Bahrain, damaging critical infrastructure.
U.S. Central Command is managing military operations in the region.
Military officials worry that current missile stocks might not be enough if other conflicts arise, especially involving China.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. has strong stockpiles and is building more weapons.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Tina Smith from Minnesota announced her support for Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race. She said El-Sayed is a strong candidate for the U.S. Senate and shared a message on the social media platform X.
Key Facts
Senator Tina Smith represents Minnesota and is a Democrat.
She endorsed Abdul El-Sayed for the Michigan Senate race.
Smith called El-Sayed a fighter in her endorsement.
The endorsement was shared on Thursday morning.
Smith posted a video along with her message.
Abdul El-Sayed is running to become a U.S. Senator for Michigan.
The endorsement was made on the social media platform X.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Crime rates in Texas have been falling steadily since 2023, with McAllen reaching its lowest crime levels in 40 years by 2025. This decline is part of a wider trend seen both across the state and nationally in the United States.
Key Facts
Texas crime rates peaked in 2022 and have dropped each year since, with a 13% decrease from 2024 to 2025.
McAllen reported a 21% drop in its crime rate in 2025, marking its lowest level in decades.
Brownsville, another city in the Rio Grande Valley, also saw a 21% decrease in crime in 2025.
McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez attributes the decline to population growth, community involvement, and strong public safety funding.
Increased immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second term may have contributed to lower crime rates, but experts say it is too early to be sure.
National data show a 21% drop in homicides across major U.S. cities from 2024 to 2025.
Experts note declining crime rates occur in places with and without aggressive immigration enforcement.
Research indicates immigrants tend to commit fewer crimes than the average U.S. population.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. government is ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for people from Haiti, Honduras, El Salvador, and other countries. TPS is a program that lets people from dangerous or unstable countries live and work legally in the U.S. for a limited time. Many affected immigrants, like those in New Bedford, Massachusetts, face job loss, fear of deportation, and community hardship.
Key Facts
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a legal program allowing immigrants from unsafe countries to work and avoid deportation temporarily.
The U.S. government decided to end TPS protections for Haitians and Syrians as allowed by the Supreme Court in June 2026.
About 22,000 to 45,000 Haitian TPS holders live in Massachusetts.
Hondurans lost their TPS status last year, and Salvadorans’ TPS protection will expire in September 2026.
The end of TPS has led to job losses, fear of immigration raids, and community struggles in places like New Bedford, Mass.
TPS was created in 1990 to protect people fleeing countries affected by war, natural disasters, or unsafe conditions.
Haitian communities have experienced utility bill struggles and fear of leaving their homes due to immigration enforcement.
Pastor Lander Saintelus witnessed increased anxiety and hardship in his church congregation after TPS termination was announced.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pennsylvania lawmakers changed rules about reporting lead in school drinking water during the state budget process. Now, schools only need to report lead levels above five parts per billion, instead of any detectable amount.
Key Facts
Pennsylvania does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water, only to discuss it annually in public meetings.
Before the recent change, schools had to report any amount of lead found to the state.
The new rule, added quietly in budget negotiations, sets the threshold for reporting lead at more than five parts per billion.
Some school groups asked for the change, saying previous rules were unrealistic.
Environmental advocates warn that even low levels of lead are harmful to children and that the change reduces public awareness.
The original 2018 law required schools to test or discuss lead, plan to prevent exposure, provide safe water, and have the state share test results publicly.
There have been problems with enforcing and implementing the lead reporting law correctly.
Education officials only recently corrected their guidance to require reporting any detectable lead, which led to pushback and the new relaxed standard.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Lawyers for the singer D4vd are questioning how police tested evidence found in his home during a hearing about whether he will go to trial for murder and child sexual abuse. Prosecutors say D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, killed a 14-year-old girl to stop her from revealing their relationship. Burke denies the charges.
Key Facts
D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, faces charges including first-degree murder, sexual abuse of a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains.
Prosecutors claim he fatally stabbed 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez last year.
Police found possible blood traces in Burke’s former home and his Tesla car.
Defense lawyers questioned why certain items, like chainsaws in Burke’s garage, were not tested for evidence.
Multiple people lived at the residence, raising questions about other possible DNA sources.
A 14-year-old victim’s passport was found in January 2026 on a road embankment in Santa Barbara.
Cellular data and the Tesla’s system show Burke traveled to the area where the passport was found.
The hearing is expected to finish by early next week.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced new import tariffs of 10 to 12.5 percent on goods from 60 countries to target products made with forced labor. These tariffs will start immediately after previous temporary global tariffs expire and aim to protect U.S. workers by discouraging forced labor in international trade.
Key Facts
New tariffs range from 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners.
Tariffs target goods linked to forced labor that enter U.S. markets.
The tariffs start at 12:01 a.m. Friday after previous temporary tariffs expire.
The U.S. Trade Representative says these tariffs cover about 99% of U.S. imports.
Countries with some forced-labor restrictions face a 10% tariff; others face 12.5%.
Some products like oil, gas, fertilizer, and goods under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement are exempt.
This action follows a Supreme Court ruling that rejected previous broad global tariffs under a different law.
The tariffs rely on a law that allows the president to respond to unfair foreign trade practices.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Lawyers representing President Donald Trump's administration withdrew subpoenas that aimed to force New York Times reporters to testify about stories on security issues with the new Air Force One plane. A federal judge questioned the subpoenas, and the Justice Department admitted some mistakes in how they were issued but said the investigation into leaks would continue.
Key Facts
President Trump's lawyers issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists over reports about Air Force One security.
The reports said the new plane, a gift from Qatar, lacked advanced security features.
The Secret Service advised President Trump to use a different plane after a NATO summit.
A federal judge questioned why subpoena requests included journalists' families.
The Department of Justice acknowledged errors in how the subpoenas were served.
The subpoenas would have required journalists to appear before a grand jury.
The Justice Department said the leak investigation is still ongoing.
The new Air Force One jet, a $400 million Boeing 747-8, was donated by Qatar and unveiled by President Trump.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump said a possible US-Saudi civilian nuclear deal depends on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. The White House confirmed that talks between the US and Saudi Arabia are still ongoing.
Key Facts
President Trump stated the US-Saudi nuclear deal is "totally subject" to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.
The Abraham Accords create diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab countries like Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has not yet normalized relations with Israel.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that negotiations on the nuclear deal are still happening.
The proposed deal involves civilian nuclear cooperation, meaning peaceful uses like energy.
The deal is linked to broader diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.
The agreement would be between the US and Saudi Arabia.
The conditions emphasize political and diplomatic steps before finalizing the nuclear deal.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced a policy called the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which asks big technology companies with AI data centers to pay for the electricity generation and infrastructure they need. The plan aims to protect regular electricity users from higher costs caused by the growing demand for power from AI facilities.
Key Facts
The Ratepayer Protection Pledge is a voluntary agreement involving major tech companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI.
Companies agree to build or buy new power sources and pay for grid upgrades to support their AI data centers.
The goal is to stop these costs from being passed to regular electricity customers, like households and small businesses.
President Trump said expanding AI technology needs much more electricity—more than double the current production.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the policy helps the U.S. lead in AI while protecting consumers from higher electricity bills.
Environmental groups worry that even if companies pay for some costs, the growth of AI data centers could strain energy systems and increase pollution.
The pledge also encourages companies to hire and train local workers and provide backup power in emergencies.
Trump highlighted the importance of winning the global AI race, especially against China, by rapidly increasing energy production.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
