US and Iran Exchange Strikes as Ceasefire Negotiations Stall
US forces fired a Hellfire missile to disable a tanker attempting to pass through the American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and carried out self-defense strikes inside Iran. Iran launched attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait, which were intercepted, as ceasefire negotiations remained stalled.The United States and Iran exchanged strikes this week as efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement continued to stall. US Central Command reported it fired a Hellfire missile to disable an oil tanker attempting to break through the American naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and separately conducted what it described as self-defense strikes on targets inside Iran. Iran, for its part, launched attacks aimed at US military bases and at Bahrain and Kuwait. The US military reported those Iranian strikes were intercepted or failed. The exchanges mark a continuation of direct military confrontation between the two countries, with no ceasefire agreement reached as of this reporting. Secretary of State Rubio separately told Congress that diplomatic talks with Iran are ongoing. Romania, a NATO ally, confirmed it granted the US access to military bases for air refueling and defensive activities in connection with the heightened tensions. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and disruptions there carry significant implications for energy markets worldwide.
Russia Carries Out Large-Scale Attack on Kyiv and Other Ukrainian Cities
A major Russian missile and drone assault struck Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least 22 people and wounding more than 130 nationwide, in one of the largest such attacks in recent months.Russia launched one of its largest attacks on Ukraine in recent months, striking Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones. At least 22 people were killed and more than 130 wounded across the country. The attack on Kyiv struck residential neighborhoods, with residents describing significant damage to buildings. Sources note that Moscow had issued repeated warnings of a major strike in the days prior, and the delay before the attack occurred appeared designed to create sustained psychological pressure on the Ukrainian capital's population. The assault comes as Russia has increased the scale and frequency of its strikes on Ukrainian cities in recent months. On the battlefield, Ukraine has been developing new technology and tactics in an effort to counter Russian advances. The war, now in its fifth year, continues without a ceasefire agreement.
Trump Names Housing Finance Official as Acting Director of National Intelligence
President Trump appointed Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard. Pulte has no intelligence background, and the selection drew immediate criticism from lawmakers.President Trump appointed Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to serve as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte replaces Tulsi Gabbard in the role. Pulte has no professional background in intelligence or national security. He has been a vocal ally of the president and has frequently used social media to criticize those perceived as opponents of the administration. The appointment drew swift criticism from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who questioned whether someone without intelligence experience is suited to lead the nation's intelligence community. The director of national intelligence oversees the seventeen agencies that make up the US intelligence apparatus and plays a central role in briefing the president and Congress on national security threats.
Supreme Court Allows Alabama to Use Congressional Map That Eliminates Majority-Black District
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to allow Alabama to use a redrawn congressional map that eliminates one of the state's two majority-Black districts for the 2026 midterm elections, reversing a lower court decision that had found the map racially discriminatory.The US Supreme Court issued a 6-3 emergency ruling permitting Alabama to use a redrawn congressional map for the 2026 midterm elections. The map eliminates one of the state's two majority-Black congressional districts. A lower court had struck down the map, finding it racially discriminatory. The Supreme Court's majority reversed that decision, allowing the map to take effect while litigation continues. The ruling means Alabama's congressional delegation will be drawn under a map with six Republican-leaning districts and one Democratic-leaning district. Civil rights advocates described the ruling as a significant setback for Black voters in the state. The decision is the latest in a series of legal battles over Alabama's congressional maps that have been ongoing for several years, stemming from a landmark earlier Supreme Court ruling that found a prior Alabama map likely violated the Voting Rights Act. The current ruling does not resolve the underlying case on the merits but determines which map will be used during the pending litigation.
Justice Department Abandons $1.8 Billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' After Congressional Pushback
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the Justice Department is scrapping plans for a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund after Republican senators indicated they lacked the votes to advance a Homeland Security funding bill that included it.The Justice Department has dropped plans to establish a $1.8 billion fund that the Trump administration had described as an anti-weaponization measure. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche informed lawmakers of the decision, which came after Republican senators made clear they did not have sufficient votes to advance a Homeland Security funding bill that included the fund. The reversal represents a legislative setback for the administration, as opposition came primarily from within its own party rather than from Democrats. The fund had been intended to compensate individuals who claimed to have been targeted by what the administration characterized as politically motivated prosecutions.
Primary Elections Held in Six States Including California and Iowa; Trump-Backed Iowa Candidate Loses
Voters in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota held primary elections Tuesday. In Iowa, a candidate backed by the MAHA movement defeated the Trump-endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate. November races for governor and Senate seats in several states will shape the balance of power in Congress.Primary elections were held Tuesday in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota, setting up November general election contests that could affect control of Congress. In Iowa, Republican businessman Zach Lahn defeated Trump-endorsed US Representative Randy Feenstra in the gubernatorial primary. Lahn is aligned with the Make America Healthy Again movement. Lahn will face Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand in November. Iowa's Senate primary produced a matchup for November between Democratic state Representative Josh Turek and Republican US Representative Ashley Hinson, in what both parties view as a competitive race for an open seat. In New Jersey, Republican Justin Murphy, a Navy veteran, won the GOP Senate primary and will face Democratic incumbent Senator Cory Booker in November. In New Mexico, Republican Gregg Hull won his party's gubernatorial primary. In Montana, the Senate race will be a three-way contest involving the Trump-backed Republican nominee, an independent challenger, and a Democrat, following Senator Steve Daines's decision not to seek reelection. California's gubernatorial primary produced a close race among multiple candidates, with results still being counted. A New Jersey Republican congressman, Tom Kean Jr., who had been absent from Washington for several months for undisclosed reasons, won his primary after receiving a Trump endorsement.
National Science Foundation Moving to Shut Down $368 Million Deep-Ocean Monitoring Network
The National Science Foundation announced it is beginning the process of decommissioning the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $368 million network of deep-sea sensors that has collected marine and climate data for more than a decade.The National Science Foundation has announced it is initiating the shutdown of the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $368 million deep-sea observation system that has operated for more than a decade. The network of sensors and instruments collects data on ocean temperature, chemistry, currents, and marine ecosystems, and has been used extensively by researchers studying ocean systems and climate. The decision is part of broader federal budget reductions. Scientists and some Democratic lawmakers have objected to the shutdown, arguing the network provides data that cannot be replicated through other means and that dismantling the infrastructure would represent a permanent loss of research capability. Democrats in Congress pledged to oppose the decommissioning.
Six States Sue Trump Administration Over $795 Million Payment to Cancel Offshore Wind Project
Six states filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to pay energy company TotalEnergies approximately $795 million to cancel a planned offshore wind farm off New York, arguing the payment is unlawful.Attorneys general from six states filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Trump administration over its cancellation of a major offshore wind lease off the coast of New York. The administration agreed in March to pay French energy company TotalEnergies approximately $795 million — with some accounts citing figures closer to $1 billion including related costs — to terminate the project. The states argue the payment is illegal and that the administration lacks the authority to use federal funds in this way to cancel a previously approved energy project. The lawsuit centers on whether the executive branch can unilaterally compensate a company to abandon a wind farm lease that had received regulatory approval. The Trump administration has moved to halt offshore wind development broadly, framing it as part of its energy policy.
DOJ Expands Indictment Against Southern Poverty Law Center, Alleging Funds Were Directed to Extremist Groups
The Department of Justice announced a superseding indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging the nonprofit secretly directed more than $4 million to extremist organizations including the Ku Klux Klan. These are allegations; no findings of guilt have been made.The Department of Justice filed a superseding indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights nonprofit organization, alleging that it secretly directed more than $4 million to extremist groups including the Ku Klux Klan. The expanded indictment builds on an earlier charge. The SPLC has been a prominent organization that tracks and litigates against hate groups, and the allegations, if proven, would represent a significant contradiction of its stated mission. These are allegations contained in a criminal indictment; no court has made a finding of guilt. The SPLC has not been found to have engaged in the alleged conduct.
Trump Administration Tightens Medicaid Work Requirement Rules for People with Serious Illnesses
The Trump administration announced stricter rules for a Medicaid work requirement exception for people with serious illnesses, a change that could result in more people losing coverage.The Trump administration announced new rules that tighten an exception to Medicaid work requirements for people with serious illnesses. Under existing rules, individuals with certain health conditions are exempted from work requirements and can retain Medicaid coverage. The new rules narrow that exception, potentially making it harder for people with serious illnesses to qualify for the exemption. Analysts expect the change could result in a larger number of Medicaid recipients losing coverage compared to a broader exemption policy. Medicaid covers low-income Americans and people with disabilities, and work requirements have been a contested policy across multiple administrations.
Alphabet Plans $80 Billion Stock Sale to Fund AI Infrastructure
Google's parent company, Alphabet, announced plans to raise up to $80 billion in equity to fund artificial intelligence infrastructure investments, in what analysts described as the largest equity fundraising in history.Alphabet, the parent company of Google, announced it plans to sell up to $80 billion in stock to fund a major expansion of its artificial intelligence infrastructure. Analysts described the fundraising as the largest equity share sale on record. The move signals the scale of investment Alphabet believes is required to remain competitive in AI development. Following the announcement, Alphabet's share price declined. The fundraising raises broader questions about the economics of the AI industry, given the enormous capital outlays companies are making relative to current revenues from AI products. Alphabet's announcement comes as multiple technology companies are committing hundreds of billions of dollars to AI infrastructure, including data centers, computing hardware, and power supply.
Anthropic Files to Go Public in Anticipated Large IPO
AI company Anthropic has filed to go public, setting the stage for what is expected to be a large initial public offering. The company has seen significant revenue growth over the past year, driven largely by AI coding tools.Anthropic, one of the leading artificial intelligence companies and maker of the Claude AI assistant, has filed paperwork to go public on the stock market. The filing sets the stage for what analysts expect to be a significant initial public offering. The company has reported rapid growth over the past year, with much of its revenue driven by AI tools that automatically write computer code. Anthropic is competing with OpenAI and other AI companies for market position. The IPO filing comes as investor interest in AI companies remains high, and as Alphabet's separate announcement of an $80 billion stock sale highlights the enormous capital demands of the AI sector.
Federal Reserve Chair Says September Rate Cut Is Possible, Cites Reduced Inflation Pressure
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said an interest rate cut is possible as soon as September, stating that the labor market is not currently a source of significant inflation pressure.Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that a reduction in the federal funds rate could come as soon as September, citing reduced inflationary pressure from the labor market. Powell's comments suggest the Fed sees the conditions for easing monetary policy potentially aligning later this year. The Fed has held rates at elevated levels as it worked to bring inflation down from its post-pandemic highs. A September rate cut is not guaranteed and will depend on incoming economic data in the months ahead. Lower interest rates generally reduce borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, affecting mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, and business investment.
Ebola Outbreak in Africa Widens as Vaccine Research Accelerates and US Quarantine Plan Faces Legal Setback
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola continues to spread in central Africa in what scientists describe as a rapidly widening epidemic. A Kenyan court extended its block on a US-proposed quarantine facility for exposed Americans, and scientists are accelerating work on vaccines and treatments.An outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola — a type that previously caused only two small outbreaks — is spreading in central Africa in what health authorities and scientists describe as a rapidly widening epidemic. The World Health Organization has revised downward its earlier estimates of suspected cases as testing has expanded and results refined, though frontline medical workers report major challenges remain. Scientists are accelerating efforts to develop vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, for which fewer medical countermeasures exist than for more commonly studied Ebola variants. In a related development, a Kenyan court extended its block on a Trump administration proposal to establish a quarantine unit in Kenya for Americans who may have been exposed to the virus. The proposal had sparked public protests in Kenya. The outbreak has direct implications for American travelers and for US global health policy, including Washington's relationship with international health organizations. A football friendly involving the Democratic Republic of Congo in Spain was also cancelled over health concerns related to the outbreak.
Studies Suggest Weight-Loss Drugs May Reduce Cancer Risk by Up to 30%
A series of studies presented at a major oncology conference found that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may reduce the risk of developing or dying from certain cancers by up to 30%, adding to evidence of the drugs' potential health benefits beyond weight loss.Multiple studies presented at a major international oncology conference suggest that GLP-1 weight-loss medications, already widely used to treat obesity, may also play a role in reducing cancer risk and improving cancer outcomes. Researchers reported the drugs could cut the risk of developing or dying from certain cancers by up to 30%. The studies add to a growing body of evidence that the metabolic effects of these medications extend well beyond weight loss. Doctors cautioned that the findings are early and require further investigation before firm clinical recommendations can be made. Millions of Americans currently use GLP-1 drugs for obesity and diabetes management. If the cancer-prevention potential is confirmed in further trials, it could significantly expand the clinical case for prescribing the medications.
Trump Signs Executive Order Seeking Voluntary Government Review of AI Models Before Release
President Trump signed an executive order asking AI companies to voluntarily submit their most powerful models for government testing up to 30 days before public release, marking a shift from the administration's previous hands-off approach to AI regulation.President Trump signed an executive order directing AI companies to voluntarily submit their most powerful models to the federal government for testing up to 30 days before releasing them to the public. The order represents a change in approach for the administration, which had previously taken a largely hands-off stance toward AI oversight. The move followed internal debates over how to exercise some government control over advanced AI development without disrupting innovation. Because participation is voluntary rather than mandatory, the practical effect of the order will depend on whether AI companies choose to comply. The order does not establish binding regulations or penalties for non-compliance.