Fact-first summaries of the news — stay informed, stay grounded.
Your favorite news sources, one calm feed — fact-first summaries that always link to the
original story. No outrage bait, and we tell you when you're caught up. How it works
Liz Oyer, a former pardon attorney, spoke against Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, during his Senate hearing. She said Blanche fired her because she refused to restore gun rights to actor Mel Gibson, a friend of the president, and warned senators not to approve Blanche’s nomination.
Key Facts
Liz Oyer was a pardon attorney who was fired by Todd Blanche.
Oyer refused to recommend restoring firearm rights to Mel Gibson, who had a domestic violence conviction.
Mel Gibson is an ally and friend of President Donald Trump.
Todd Blanche said Oyer’s firing was not because of her recommendation but due to actions before President Biden’s term ended.
Oyer disagreed with Blanche and called his explanation false, citing documents as proof.
Oyer urged senators to reject Blanche’s nomination to protect the justice system’s integrity.
She accused Blanche of using the Department of Justice to serve President Trump’s personal interests.
Oyer said these actions harm the Department of Justice’s reputation and waste resources.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Toyota's 2026 RAV4 plug-in hybrid SUV includes a large 22.7 kWh battery that allows most daily driving to be done using electric power alone. It features a new powertrain with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine, two electric motors, and advanced electronics to improve efficiency and performance.
Key Facts
The 2026 Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid has a 22.7 kWh lithium-ion battery located under the cabin.
The SUV uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine operating on the Atkinson cycle, producing 186 horsepower.
There are two main electric motors: one driving the front wheels (203 hp) and one on the rear axle (55 hp).
The combined power output of the engine and electric motors is 324 horsepower.
The transmission is an electronically controlled variable ratio transmission (eCVT) using planetary gears, not typical belts or cones.
The RAV4 can switch between series hybrid mode, mostly using electric power, and parallel hybrid mode at high speeds.
Trim levels like SE and XSE offer up to 52 miles of all-electric range and about 40 miles per gallon combined fuel efficiency.
The Woodland trim adds off-road features but lowers fuel efficiency compared to other trims.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to use the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping route connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as a front in its conflict with the United States. Iran would rely on its allies, the Houthis in Yemen, to disrupt shipping in this area, which could increase tensions in the region and affect global trade.
Key Facts
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is an important passage for global shipping traffic.
Iran’s IRGC has recently threatened to interfere with shipping in this strait.
Iran would use its allied group, the Houthis in Yemen, to carry out this disruption.
The area is already unstable and a point of conflict between different groups.
Disruption here could impact international trade and the global economy.
Experts from security and maritime organizations are analyzing the threat’s seriousness.
The situation is linked to wider tensions between Iran and the United States.
Previous related conflicts involve attacks on ships and regional confrontations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Department of Defense plans to annually test military members over 30 for low testosterone. Some doctors question the effectiveness and cost of the program, saying low testosterone levels often have other causes and hormone treatment does not necessarily improve performance.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced yearly testosterone screenings for service members over age 30.
Younger service members can choose to be tested.
Testosterone replacement therapy will be available if treatment is recommended.
Experts warn testosterone levels naturally vary and are affected by stress, sleep, and lifestyle.
Low testosterone does not directly improve strength, focus, or combat ability when treated.
Professional medical groups recommend against general testosterone screening.
Testing is complicated because hormone levels change during the day and require specific timing.
Low testosterone symptoms can be caused by other issues common in military life like poor sleep or stress.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Mary Jo Campbell, the mother of Kris Jenner, has died at the age of 91. Kris Jenner shared the news on social media but did not provide the cause of death.
Key Facts
Mary Jo Campbell was the mother of Kris Jenner, the Kardashian-Jenner family matriarch.
She died at the age of 91.
Kris Jenner announced her mother’s passing on social media.
No cause of death has been given.
Mary Jo Campbell appeared on the family’s reality TV shows.
The Kardashian family first became famous with the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians in 2007.
Kris Jenner described her mother as a person who valued family and showed love and resilience.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
House Republican leaders plan to hold several important votes next week before the August recess. These include a budget reconciliation bill only supported by Republicans and a ban on stock trading for lawmakers.
Key Facts
The House will vote on a budget reconciliation bill created by Republicans.
This bill focuses on financial and budget matters.
There is a planned vote on banning stock trading for members of Congress.
These votes are scheduled for the last week before the House breaks for the August recess.
The agenda is set by House GOP leadership.
The goal is to complete key measures before lawmakers leave.
The stock trading ban aims to prevent conflicts of interest.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Maine Democrats will hold a debate to choose a new nominee for the U.S. Senate race after their original candidate, Graham Platner, withdrew due to sexual assault allegations. Several candidates, including Troy Jackson, Shenna Bellows, and Nirav Shah, are competing to replace Platner and face Republican Senator Susan Collins in the 2026 election.
Key Facts
Graham Platner, the original Democratic nominee for Maine Senate, withdrew in July after sexual assault allegations.
State law lets the Democratic Party select a new nominee through a nominating convention.
A debate is scheduled for July 21, 2026, with nine Democratic candidates invited.
Prominent candidates in the race are former Senate President Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and Nirav Shah, former state CDC director.
The debate will be broadcast by News Center Maine and split into two parts with different candidates.
A recent poll shows Jackson leading with 40% support, Shah with 23%, and Bellows with 14%.
The nominee will compete against Republican Senator Susan Collins in the 2026 midterm elections.
The new nominee will need to energize voters who were motivated by Platner but may now feel disappointed.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration has finalized a rule that limits how long international students can stay in the U.S. to four years unless they get special government approval. The rule also restricts when and how students can change their major or academic program, and it will take effect in September.
Key Facts
International students can no longer stay in the U.S. longer than four years without federal approval.
The rule sets limits on changing academic programs or majors for international students.
Current rules allowed students to stay as long as needed to finish their studies.
The Department of Homeland Security says the rule closes a loophole some students used to extend their stay.
Higher education leaders say the rule creates extra paperwork for schools and government.
International student enrollment is already falling, and this rule could cause more declines.
International students are not eligible for federal financial aid and often pay full tuition.
The Trump administration has also tightened visa application rules and imposed travel bans on some countries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ukraine's defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, was removed from his position, causing protests in multiple cities. He publicly criticized the army's top commander, leading President Volodymyr Zelensky to call for unity amid divisions in the military leadership.
Key Facts
Mykhailo Fedorov served as Ukraine’s defence minister for six months before being ousted.
Fedorov focused on modernizing and digitizing Ukraine’s army.
After his removal, Fedorov criticized the military’s highest commander in public.
Large protests took place in Ukrainian cities supporting Fedorov.
President Zelensky urged for unity among Ukraine’s military leaders.
The controversy highlights tensions within Ukraine’s military command.
The conflict happens amid Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the Russian invasion.
Fedorov was described by some as “Kyiv’s most successful defence minister.”
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Department of Defense plans to start yearly testosterone tests for military personnel over 30 and offer voluntary tests for younger service members. This move aims to keep troops ready and strong, but experts say it also reflects a growing cultural focus on testosterone beyond medical needs.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced annual testosterone screening for service members over age 30.
Younger troops can choose to have voluntary testosterone testing.
The policy is part of efforts to maintain military readiness and combat strength.
Testosterone is now widely promoted online as a way to boost energy, muscle, and masculinity.
Doctors report more men seeking testosterone treatment due to social media influence.
Studies show many advertisements and social media posts link normal aging or stress to low testosterone, encouraging unnecessary treatment.
Experts warn that testosterone should be used medically, not as a shortcut for improved appearance or performance.
Marketing and online communities influence men's views on testosterone and masculinity.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. House has approved a bill to make daylight saving time (DST) permanent, which means clocks would stay one hour ahead year-round. Airlines warn that changing to permanent DST would take a long time and cost money because they would need to adjust many systems and schedules. The bill still needs to pass the Senate and be signed by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
The House voted to keep daylight saving time all year, but the Senate must approve it next.
Airlines say switching to permanent DST could take up to 24 months to adjust their operations.
Changes would affect flight schedules, crew work times, and connections with international flights.
Airlines use complex global networks that need stable and predictable schedules.
Other industries with timetables, like trucking and railroads, will also need time to adjust.
Some experts think airlines might need only 6 to 12 months to make changes, not two years.
Permanent DST advocates say it could save energy by having more daylight in the evening.
Opponents worry about darker mornings in winter and possible health effects.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump will give a primetime speech from the White House on Thursday. He plans to talk mainly about voting machines and the integrity of elections.
Key Facts
President Trump is delivering a primetime address to the nation.
The speech will take place from the White House.
The focus will be on voting machines and election integrity.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the speech’s main topics.
This is Leavitt’s first press briefing after returning from maternity leave.
President Trump described the upcoming speech as a “very big speech.”
The event is scheduled for Thursday evening.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A top Russian government hacking group called Sandworm, linked to Russia’s military intelligence, is using a new trick called Clickfix to infect computers and steal information in Ukraine. This method tricks users into copying fake CAPTCHAs containing harmful scripts that install malware to spy on or control the device.
Key Facts
Sandworm is an elite Russian hacking group tied to military intelligence (the GRU).
They use Clickfix, which shows fake CAPTCHAs that ask users to copy text that contains malicious commands.
Once entered, the commands install malware that collects data or opens backdoors for more attacks.
At least one Ukrainian organization was infected with malware named FreakyPoll during this campaign.
The malware includes reconnaissance tools named GhettoVibe and ScoutCurl that gather information from infected devices.
Other malware used includes FluidLeech (pretending to be antivirus software) and LoadLoop.
Sandworm also targets Android phones by tricking users into installing harmful apps called CowardDuck.
Ukraine’s CERT warned that the attackers alter web pages dynamically using special programs to show these fake CAPTCHAs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A global survey by Gallup shows more people now believe their communities are good places for minority groups. The 2025 Gallup World Poll found that a growing number of adults around the world think their area is welcoming for gay or lesbian individuals and other minorities.
Key Facts
The Gallup World Poll was released in 2025.
It measures how people feel about their communities' acceptance of minorities.
More adults worldwide say their communities are good places for gay or lesbian people.
The survey shows an overall rise in positive attitudes toward minority groups.
It covers responses from many countries around the world.
The survey reflects opinions on safety, acceptance, and fairness toward minorities.
This is part of a long-term effort by Gallup to track social attitudes globally.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Iraqi authorities found about $19 million in cash and several kilograms of gold jewelry in secret locations connected to a former deputy oil minister. The money and items were hidden in these hideouts and have been seized by officials.
Linus Torvalds, creator and leader of the Linux kernel project, supports using AI coding tools to improve Linux. He says people who oppose AI use in the project can either create their own version or leave the project.
Key Facts
Linus Torvalds firmly supports integrating AI coding tools in the Linux kernel development.
Torvalds told critics to "fork it" (make their own version) or walk away from Linux if they oppose AI code.
The discussion focused on using Sashiko, an AI system that finds over half of the bugs fixed by human coders but produces some false positive bug reports.
Torvalds rejects demands that open source projects ban AI-generated code or edits.
He calls AI a practical and useful tool, comparable to other coding tools.
Studies show mixed results on AI coding tools improving developer productivity, but recent data suggests faster coding with AI by early 2026.
Torvalds has personally used AI tools for hobby programming projects.
Some developers in the open source community remain cautious or against AI coding tools.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senator Thom Tillis criticized Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, for the failure of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). During a Senate hearing, Tillis asked Vought to name a successful project from DOGE but expressed frustration over the lack of results.
Key Facts
Senator Thom Tillis is from North Carolina and is a member of the Republican Party.
Russell Vought is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
DOGE stands for the Department of Government Efficiency.
DOGE was closed due to not achieving its goals.
During a Senate committee hearing, Tillis questioned Vought about DOGE’s accomplishments.
Tillis expressed frustration about having to deal with the problems left by DOGE.
The hearing took place in the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report says a bird strike likely caused a helicopter crash in the Hudson River near New York City that killed six people last year. The crash involved a Bell 206L-4 helicopter carrying a family of five from Spain and the pilot.
Key Facts
The crash happened in April 2025 in the Hudson River near New York City.
Six people died: a family of five (including three children) from Spain and the pilot.
The helicopter was a Bell 206L-4 model.
Bird remains were found in the helicopter wreckage and the crash area.
The NTSB concluded the crash was most likely caused by a bird strike.
A bird strike means a bird hit the helicopter during flight.
The report was released by the NTSB on a Thursday.
Further updates on this story may follow as investigations continue.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United States carried out air strikes against Iran for the fifth day in a row. These actions are part of ongoing military operations involving U.S. forces targeting locations linked to Iran.
Key Facts
The U.S. military conducted air strikes against Iran for the fifth consecutive day.
The strikes took place on a Thursday.
U.S. forces are actively involved in these operations.
The targets are connected to Iran.
The information comes from CBS News and Pentagon reporters.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ebola is spreading faster than before in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with over 2,000 confirmed cases in just two months and nearly 800 deaths. Meanwhile, Uganda is close to being free of the virus after discharging its last Ebola patient and starting a 42-day monitoring period.
Key Facts
The current Ebola outbreak in DRC is the third-largest on record.
Over 2,000 cases have been confirmed in DRC within two months, with 796 deaths.
The previous big outbreak took over 10 months to reach 2,000 cases.
Most new cases in DRC are not linked to known contacts, making it harder to control.
Healthcare workers in DRC started a strike due to unpaid wages during the outbreak.
Uganda had 20 cases, mostly from infected people who traveled from DRC.
Uganda has not reported new cases since June 22 and began a 42-day countdown to be declared Ebola-free.
Early diagnosis and safe care have helped 377 people in DRC recover from Ebola.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
