Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick apologized for incorrectly saying no American soldiers had died in the war with Iran. He clarified that 18 U.S. military members have died and expressed sympathy for their families, explaining he had been thinking about Venezuela when he misspoke.
Key Facts
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made a mistake during a TV interview about U.S. military deaths.
He originally said no Americans had died in the war with Iran.
Lutnick corrected himself, confirming that 18 U.S. service members have died.
He apologized and showed sympathy to the families of those who died.
Lutnick said he was thinking about Venezuela when he gave the wrong information.
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Billionaire Leon Black did not attend a House committee deposition about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, he filed a lawsuit claiming the committee cannot force him to share certain secret agreements. The committee is investigating Black’s relationship with Epstein and possible non-disclosure agreements.
Key Facts
Leon Black was a longtime client of Jeffrey Epstein.
The House oversight committee is investigating their relationship and any secret deals Epstein helped Black create.
Black has denied wrongdoing and expressed regret over his dealings with Epstein.
Black’s lawyers say the committee is abusing its power and want the court to stop the subpoenas.
Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia called for Black to be held in contempt for ignoring subpoenas.
Black previously refused to answer questions about secret agreements during a June interview.
James Comer, committee chair, said Black’s decision means he will be absent at the deposition and said they will decide next steps.
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The jury in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children, has been unable to reach a decision after six days of deliberation. Clancy admits she strangled her children but claims postpartum psychosis affected her actions, while prosecutors say she understood what she was doing.
Key Facts
The jury is deadlocked and has struggled to agree on a verdict for six days.
Lindsay Clancy is charged with killing her three children in 2023.
The children’s ages were 5, 3, and 8 months.
Clancy admits to strangling her children in their home basement.
Her lawyer says she acted under postpartum psychosis, a mental illness after childbirth.
Prosecutors argue she was aware of her actions during the killings.
The judge has been informed twice that the jury cannot agree on a verdict.
The trial is at risk of ending in a mistrial, which means no verdict is reached.
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Two months after a wildfire destroyed much of Lahaina, Hawaii, many residents who returned are not receiving mail delivery at their rebuilt homes. The US Postal Service (USPS) treats the rebuilt area as a new development, so it has stopped door-to-door mail delivery until enough homes are rebuilt.
Key Facts
A wildfire in August 2023 destroyed large parts of Lahaina, including homes and the local post office.
Some mailboxes survived the fire, but mail carriers are not delivering mail to the rebuilt homes.
USPS says the area is being treated as a new development, which under policy means no street delivery.
Only about 25% of homes damaged in the fire have been rebuilt so far.
Residents must now pick up mail at a main post office two miles away, which has long lines and limited hours.
The original Lahaina post office burned down and USPS plans to close it permanently.
Some elderly residents find it difficult to travel to the post office to get their mail.
The cheapest PO boxes that residents can rent do not fit packages and cost $250 per year.
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New York City will pause the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in most public school classrooms from kindergarten through eighth grade for one year. This decision aims to limit AI use while officials consider its effects on education.
Key Facts
The ban applies to New York City public schools for students in grades 2-K through eighth grade.
The pause will last for one year.
The city wants to study how AI affects teaching and learning before allowing its use again.
Parents and organizers have expressed concerns about AI use in schools.
AI tools include programs that can write, answer questions, or assist students digitally.
The ban does not specify restrictions for high school classrooms.
This is a temporary measure, not a permanent ban.
Officials plan to review policies on AI in education during the moratorium.
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Gloria Steinem, a well-known author and activist who played a major role in the U.S. women's movement, has died at the age of 92. She was a co-founder of Ms. Magazine and spent much of her life speaking at events and advocating for feminist causes.
Key Facts
Gloria Steinem died at her home in New York City.
She was 92 years old.
Steinem was a leading voice in the U.S. women's movement.
She co-founded Ms. Magazine.
She was known for her streaked hair and large aviator glasses.
She traveled widely to speak at colleges, community centers, rallies, and marches.
Her death was announced on her and her foundation's social media pages.
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House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries plans to lead an ambitious agenda focused on overseeing President Donald Trump’s administration and lowering living costs if Democrats win the House majority. However, his leadership will face challenges in keeping a diverse and sometimes rebellious group of Democrats united, as seen in a recent vote where two Democrats opposed the party line.
Key Facts
House Democrats want to hold President Trump’s administration accountable and address high living costs if they regain House control.
Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become House speaker if Democrats win the majority.
The Democratic caucus includes a wide range of political views, including progressive members eager for big changes.
Two Democrats recently voted with Republicans on a key procedural vote, causing concern among party leaders.
A narrow majority in the House means individual lawmakers can strongly affect which laws pass.
Recent years saw internal party conflicts, such as GOP Speaker Kevin McCarthy being forced out by his own party.
Democratic leaders quickly responded to the dissent to discourage future disruptions.
The coming midterm elections will likely determine the House majority by a small number of seats in competitive districts.
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Billionaire Leon Black refused to attend a sworn deposition by the House Oversight Committee about Jeffrey Epstein and instead filed a lawsuit to stop the committee from enforcing subpoenas against him. The committee is investigating Black’s connection to Epstein, but Black argues the requests go beyond what the committee is allowed to do.
Key Facts
Leon Black was subpoenaed twice by the House Oversight Committee about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
One subpoena demanded documents like nondisclosure agreements (NDAs); the other required Black to appear for a deposition.
Black sued to block the subpoenas, saying they seek private information unrelated to the investigation’s purpose.
The House Oversight Committee says Black is defying its authority by not testifying.
Black co-founded Apollo Global Management and resigned as chief executive in 2021 due to Epstein-related issues.
Other prominent figures, such as former President Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, have also been questioned in the Epstein investigation.
Black claims he did not know about Epstein’s illegal activities until 2019 and that any payments to Epstein were for legitimate reasons.
The Justice Department has released files mentioning Black in connection with the Epstein investigation.
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Hillary Clinton expressed sadness over the death of Gloria Steinem, a famous activist for women's rights. Steinem died at her home in New York City at the age of 92.
Key Facts
Gloria Steinem was an important leader in the feminist movement.
She passed away at age 92 in New York City.
Hillary Clinton called Steinem the "architect" of women's equality.
Clinton said she feels very sad about Steinem's death.
Steinem influenced many people who support women’s rights.
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The author owns six guns and explains how guns are common in rural America. She works with volunteers from different political views to promote gun safety by giving away gun locks and building trust in rural communities.
Key Facts
The author has six guns, including a vintage Winchester and a Remington youth model.
She and her husband moved to a 100-year-old farmhouse in rural Virginia.
Their first gun was acquired to help with bats in the attic.
A second gun was bought for protection after suspicious activity near their home.
The author inherited additional guns from her mother.
The author works with the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative to find common ground between liberals and conservative gun owners.
Their approach focuses on local community work like cleaning rivers and distributing food to build trust.
Giving away gun locks is part of their effort to reduce preventable deaths caused by unsecured firearms.
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In the upcoming midterm elections, 77 Black women have won primary elections and will appear on the ballots. This number is historically high and shows increased political participation by Black women.
Key Facts
77 Black women are set to run in the midterm election.
Almost all primary elections have finished.
This number represents a record high for Black women candidates.
The candidates are from various districts across the United States.
Their participation is expected to lead to historic election results.
The increase reflects greater involvement of Black women in politics.
These candidates aim to win seats in Congress.
The midterm elections will be held in November.
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Hillary Clinton paid tribute to Gloria Steinem, a well-known feminist leader who died at age 92. Clinton praised Steinem for her work toward women's equality and encouraged younger people to continue her efforts.
Key Facts
Gloria Steinem was a famous American feminist and activist.
She died at age 92 at her home in New York.
Hillary Clinton described Steinem as a key figure in advancing women’s rights.
Rep. Don Bacon from Nebraska expressed support for Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina in calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be removed from his position. Bacon said he does not usually tell President Donald Trump who to hire or fire but agreed with Tillis on this issue.
Key Facts
Rep. Don Bacon is a Republican representative from Nebraska.
Senator Thom Tillis is a Republican senator from North Carolina.
Both Bacon and Tillis want Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be removed.
Bacon stated he usually does not advise President Trump on job decisions.
Bacon publicly supported Tillis’s call for Hegseth’s ouster.
Pete Hegseth currently serves as the Defense Secretary.
The calls to remove Hegseth come from members of the Republican Party.
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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government for delaying plans to increase UK defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030. Badenoch outlined Tory proposals to fund this increase through changes to welfare benefits and tax rules, and called for a general election if the government will not commit to higher defence spending now.
Key Facts
Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader, wants defence spending increased to 3% of GDP by 2030, costing about £10 billion a year.
The current government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to reach 3.5% defence spending by 2035 but has delayed firm commitments.
Badenoch proposed funding the increase by reinstating the two-child benefit cap and reforming housing benefit and VAT exemptions on Motability vehicles.
The two-child benefit cap limits welfare benefits to the first two children a family has; it was removed by Labour but Conservatives plan to reimpose it.
Other proposed savings include changes to the British Business Bank funding and ending a VAT exemption on Motability cars for disabled people.
Badenoch accused Burnham of delaying defence spending decisions despite threats from countries like Russia and Iran.
She claimed current welfare policies could unfairly encourage higher child numbers among some families, affecting economic fairness.
Burnham’s Chancellor, John Healey, previously resigned over defence spending issues but is now seen by Badenoch as less committed to the 3% target.
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US Vice-President JD Vance spoke about his religious belief that the Antichrist might be among us and mentioned the idea of "end times," which refers to the end of the world in Christianity. A friend said these views are common among many Christian Americans, and Vance is focused on his role as vice-president and serving the country.
Key Facts
JD Vance is the Vice-President of the United States.
Vance shared his religious thoughts on a Christian podcast, saying he wouldn’t be surprised if the Antichrist was present in the world.
In Christianity, the Antichrist is seen as an enemy of God who appears during the final period before the world ends.
The "end times" refers to beliefs about the end of the world and God’s plan for that time.
Vance said he tries not to focus too much on these thoughts and concentrates on being a good leader and family man.
Rod Dreher, a friend and conservative writer, said Vance’s beliefs are common among many Republican Christians.
Vance converted to Catholicism in 2019 and aligns his faith with his family values and politics.
Vance is scheduled to give a White House press briefing following the departure of the Press Secretary.
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A man suspected of killing two people and injuring six others in a Minneapolis apartment shooting was facing eviction due to prior violent incidents and showing a gun to apartment staff. The suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and three of the injured were police officers.
Key Facts
The suspect is Carlton Neal Johnson, 35 years old.
Johnson had signed a lease at the Shoreline Plaza apartment in March 2025.
He was facing eviction after multiple incidents including assault and showing a gun to apartment management.
On June 11 and 25, Johnson openly displayed a firearm at the apartment and to residents.
Police were called several times due to Johnson’s behavior before the shooting.
The shooting occurred on September 2, 2026, killing two and injuring six, including three police officers.
One injured officer was in surgery with serious wounds; others had less severe injuries.
City officials reported some officers suffered effects from exposure to an unknown airborne substance during the incident.
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While overall homicides in many U.S. cities have decreased, killings related to domestic violence remain high or are increasing. Funding for domestic violence prevention programs has been cut under President Trump’s administration, even though demand for help, such as housing and legal support, is rising.
Key Facts
Homicides in Chicago dropped from 805 in 2021 to 425 in 2025, but domestic violence killings rose 15% between 2024 and 2025.
Kansas City and Ohio saw general homicide declines but had some of their deadliest years for domestic violence killings in 2025.
Domestic violence-related violent crimes grew from 25% of such crimes in 2020 to 27.5% in 2024, according to the FBI.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline received nearly 637,000 calls in 2020 and one million in 2025.
Housing and legal help are the most requested support services for people at risk of domestic violence.
Early in President Trump’s second term, some federal grants for domestic violence programs were cut or delayed because they didn’t align with the administration’s goals.
Although some funding was restored, the 2027 budget proposal includes nearly $30 million in cuts to grants that support transitional housing and legal aid for victims.
Experts say focusing only on criminal justice and immigration issues misses key risk factors like stalking and controlling behavior that lead to violence.
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Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa joined the social media app TikTok. He shared a video honoring his old family vacuum cleaner named Beth, which had become well-known online.
Key Facts
Senator Chuck Grassley is from Iowa and is a member of the Republican Party.
He created an account on TikTok on Wednesday.
Grassley posted a video about a family vacuum cleaner called Beth.
The vacuum cleaner named Beth had gained a following on social media.
The video showed several pictures of the vacuum over time.
Grassley said it was the right time to honor Beth in his video caption.
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