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House Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing a budget plan called Reconciliation 3.0 to fund President Donald Trump's military actions in Iran. The plan seeks about $95 billion for defense, intelligence, farm aid, and election changes but faces opposition from some Republican lawmakers because it does not include spending cuts or ways to pay for the new costs.
Key Facts
President Trump has restarted military operations in Iran, needing funding for a 138-day conflict.
Speaker Johnson aims to pass a budget through a process called budget reconciliation, which requires only a simple Senate majority.
The $95 billion package includes up to $60 billion for military costs and $13 billion for intelligence related to the Iran war.
The plan also includes $12 billion for farmers and parts of the SAVE America Act, which involves election reforms.
Budget reconciliation lets Republicans pass this bill without Democratic support since they control the House, Senate, and White House.
Some House Republicans oppose the plan because it does not have spending cuts or any offsets to cover the new expenses.
Losing more than three Republican votes could cause the plan to fail, as Johnson has a slim majority.
A vote on the budget resolution is expected soon before the five-week summer recess.
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The United States has carried out attacks on Iran for six nights in a row, targeting southern parts of the country. Iran responded with attacks on US-related sites in nearby countries and warned that the conflict could spread further if the US continues its strikes.
Key Facts
The US military launched attacks on Iranian infrastructure in southern Iran, including an airport, communications tower, and a bridge.
Iranian media say the strikes caused power outages and material damage in several cities.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it attacked a US airbase in Bahrain and also targeted sites in Kuwait and Jordan.
Kuwait reported attacks by Iranian drones that damaged important facilities.
Iran warned that its attacks could expand if the US continues targeting Iran.
President Donald Trump had threatened to target Iranian power plants and bridges unless Iran returned to negotiations.
The US says it is open to diplomacy but will hold Iran accountable for attacks on ships in the Gulf.
Iran states it is focused on defending itself and does not plan to resume talks without US concessions.
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President Donald Trump will deliver a primetime speech about election security. Todd Blanche is attending his second day of hearings to be confirmed as attorney general.
Key Facts
President Trump plans a primetime address focused on election security.
Todd Blanche is undergoing confirmation hearings for the role of attorney general.
The hearings for Blanche have reached their second day.
The information was shared on CBS News.
The events are part of U.S. political and government activities.
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Authorities in southern California identified the remains of Thelma Gaston, a Los Angeles millionaire who went missing in 1981. Using new DNA technology and dental records, they confirmed the remains found near Sugarloaf Mountain were hers, solving a case that had lasted more than 40 years.
Key Facts
Thelma Gaston disappeared in June 1981 at age 80.
She was a wealthy woman with a $20 million estate, built from buying and selling properties.
Police suspected she was murdered by Lawrence Remsen, her former companion.
Remsen was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Gaston’s remains were found in late 1981 but were only identified in May 2026.
Identification was made possible by genetic genealogy and dental records.
Funding from a special grant helped investigators identify the remains.
The case had remained open for over 40 years until this identification.
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T-Mobile made a technical mistake while moving some customers to new phone plans, resulting in the loss of free phone lines that many longtime users had. The company said it is aware of the errors and is working quickly to fix the problem and restore any lost discounts.
Key Facts
T-Mobile forced many customers to switch from older plans to new rate plans.
Some customers lost free phone lines they had earned through previous promotions during this switch.
Losing these free lines caused some bills to rise sharply, sometimes by hundreds of dollars.
T-Mobile admitted the problem was due to a technical error in applying promotional discounts.
The company is fixing the issue by restoring discounts and backdating them where needed.
Other billing problems, such as incorrect charges for Hulu, are also being investigated.
T-Mobile promised customers would keep their benefits and said improvements would come with the new plans.
Free lines were originally offered as promotions for longtime customers with multiple paid lines.
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Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego is reported to have had sexual relationships with two House staffers during his time in the House of Representatives. Gallego did not confirm or deny the claims and called the reports "gossip."
Key Facts
The New York Post reported that Senator Ruben Gallego had relationships with two Democratic House staffers while serving from 2015 to 2025.
Gallego is a married father of three and described as "very flirtatious."
He refused to comment on the accusations when asked and called them gossip.
One source said the relationships reflect a pattern of poor judgment by Gallego.
Allegations arose amid increased scrutiny after the resignation of Representative Eric Swalwell over sexual assault claims.
The Senate Ethics Committee dismissed an earlier complaint against Gallego involving campaign finance and sexual misconduct.
Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna publicly mentioned hearing reports of inappropriate behavior by Gallego toward multiple women.
Gallego denied rumors connecting him to a controversial video involving Swalwell.
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Senate Republicans stopped a Democratic effort to end a Medicare program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to approve or deny medical care ordered by doctors. The vote fell along party lines, with 50 senators against and 46 in favor of ending the program.
Key Facts
The program was started during President Donald Trump’s administration.
It uses AI to help decide if Medicare will approve or reject medical treatments suggested by doctors.
Democrats tried to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to stop the program.
The Senate voted 50 to 46 against ending the AI pilot program.
The vote was split by party, with Republicans supporting the program and Democrats opposing it.
CRA is a tool Congress can use to overturn federal rules or programs.
The AI pilot aims to make Medicare authorization faster and more efficient.
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President Donald Trump plans to accuse China of interfering in U.S. elections during his primetime speech on Thursday night. This information comes from sources cited by CBS News.
Key Facts
President Trump will give a primetime speech on Thursday night.
In the speech, he will claim that China tried to influence U.S. elections.
The report comes from sources mentioned by CBS News.
CBS News White House reporter Olivia Rinaldi provided the update.
The speech is expected to address election security and foreign interference.
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President Trump has said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was vandalized and drained for repairs. He has repeatedly changed the reported size of the damage but has not shown any proof of vandalism. Observers at the site did not see clear signs of the large damage he described.
Key Facts
President Trump claimed the Reflecting Pool was damaged by vandals using a knife or box cutter.
He first said the damage was 250 feet, then 300 feet, later 350 feet, and recently said 300 yards (900 feet).
No photos or evidence have been made public to prove the vandalism claims.
Media and visitors who saw the drained pool reported no obvious cuts or gashes.
A long line seen in the pool is actually a drainage channel, not damage.
The pool was painted blue for the US 250th anniversary, but algae growth turned it green.
Chemicals to kill the algae caused the blue paint to chip and float on the water.
President Trump has denied that the renovation or contractors caused the problems and blamed vandals instead.
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Iran recently launched missile and drone strikes on at least three U.S. military bases in the Middle East, including locations in Jordan, Bahrain, and Qatar. These attacks show Iran’s ongoing ability to target American forces despite U.S. efforts to weaken them, highlighting continued tensions in the region.
Key Facts
Iran struck U.S. bases in Jordan, Bahrain, and Qatar in early July 2026.
Satellite images show damage to buildings, including a warehouse at the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain and parts of Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Iran’s attacks focus on military targets rather than civilian areas to avoid strong U.S. retaliation.
Experts say Iran is testing U.S. and Gulf defenses and has found some weaknesses.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. is disabling Iran’s offensive capabilities and reimposed a naval blockade at the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes demonstrate that U.S. forces have not fully stopped Iran’s ability to carry out attacks.
Iranian attacks aim to threaten the Gulf countries' future plans and maintain leverage in the conflict.
CENTCOM, the U.S. military command for the region, declined to comment on the strikes.
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Wildfires in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota are causing heavy smoke and poor air quality in many parts of the Midwest and Northeast United States. The smoke is making the skies hazy and air quality unhealthy for residents in these areas.
Key Facts
Wildfires are burning in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota.
Smoke from these fires has spread far into the U.S. Midwest and Northeast regions.
The smoke makes the sky appear dark and hazy.
Air quality in many affected areas has become unhealthy.
Officials are monitoring the situation and providing updates.
The smoke is expected to affect air conditions for several days.
People in the affected regions are advised to limit outdoor activity when air quality is poor.
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Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, donated $1 million to Public First, a political group that supports candidates favoring stricter rules on artificial intelligence (AI). Several other Anthropic employees also contributed a total of $2.15 million during the last three months.
Key Facts
Dario Amodei is the CEO of Anthropic, an AI company.
He gave $1 million to Public First, a super PAC.
Public First supports candidates who want stronger AI regulations.
Other Anthropic employees donated $2.15 million together.
The donations were reported in a campaign finance filing on Wednesday.
A Google DeepMind engineer also made a contribution, according to the article.
The donations were made during the last quarter (three months).
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Several major U.S. TV networks will not show President Trump's prime-time speech live on their main channels but will offer coverage through streaming services. The speech is expected to focus on election security and may include contested claims about the 2020 election.
Key Facts
President Trump's speech is scheduled for 9 pm Eastern Time.
At least two of the four major TV networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) will not air the speech live on their main channels.
NBC will show the speech live on its streaming service NBC News NOW and air a special report afterward.
ABC will stream the speech on ABC News Live and ABC News Radio, with updates in regular newscasts.
ABC may interrupt regular programming to provide live updates if needed.
CBS and FOX have not announced their plans for airing the speech.
The speech is expected to focus on issues related to election security and claims about the fairness of the 2020 election.
Networks are cautious because the speech could include false information about the election.
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Telstra’s CEO and other executives will appear before a parliamentary inquiry in Canberra after a nationwide outage disrupted emergency calls, businesses, payment systems, and train services in two Australian states. The inquiry will examine why the outage happened and how Telstra is handling customer compensation.
Key Facts
A nationwide Telstra outage affected emergency triple zero calls, businesses, payment systems, and trains in two states.
Telstra CEO Vicki Brady and other executives will attend a parliamentary inquiry on Friday.
The inquiry was called as an emergency hearing in response to the outage.
Greens spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young criticized Telstra for prioritizing profits over public safety.
Telstra is accepting compensation claims from customers and small businesses that can prove they were affected.
Critics say Telstra should offer automatic compensation to all impacted customers.
Representatives from the Australian Communications and Media Authority and communications department will also give evidence at the inquiry.
The inquiry aims to improve laws for better protection and reliable service from telecom companies.
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The Senate voted against a Democratic resolution to end a pilot program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to review some Medicare treatment requests. The program aims to reduce waste and fraud in Medicare, but some worry it could delay care for seniors who use original Medicare.
Key Facts
The Senate vote took place on Thursday afternoon and was divided mostly along party lines.
The Democratic resolution wanted to stop a CMS pilot program using AI in reviewing Medicare treatment approvals.
Republicans, led by President Donald Trump’s administration, supported keeping the AI pilot to reduce waste and fraud.
The pilot program, called WISeR, started in January and runs in Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington.
WISeR requires prior authorization for some medical services that may be at risk of fraud or unnecessary spending.
Private contractors using AI technology help decide if Medicare will pay for the services.
Forty-six Democrats supported repealing the AI pilot; 50 Republicans voted against the repeal.
Four senators did not vote, including three Republicans and one Democrat.
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The European Commission has enforced new rules under the Digital Markets Act that require Google to share search data with competitors and allow other AI services equal access on Android devices. These rules aim to increase competition and user choice in the EU but Google warns the changes might affect privacy and security.
Key Facts
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a new European law targeting big tech companies like Google, Apple, and Meta to promote competition.
Google must now let other AI assistants access Android features equally, not just its own Gemini AI assistant.
Google currently preloads Gemini AI on Android phones and gives it special permissions like responding to "Hey Google."
The European Commission wants users to install and use any AI assistant on Android without losing functionality.
Google has to share search data with other search companies for a reasonable fee to help competitors grow.
The Commission calls this data sharing necessary because previous Google offers did not meet competition requirements.
Google argues these measures could reduce privacy and security protections for users.
The EU says it designed the rules to protect user privacy while boosting competition and is willing to tweak them if needed.
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During sensitive Middle East talks, US officials warned Iran about a possible Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s main negotiators. The US aims to keep Israel, its close ally, from disrupting the talks with Iran, even though Israel denies the plot.
Key Facts
US officials quietly asked other countries to warn Iran of a potential Israeli assassination plot.
The targets were Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Israel rejected the report, calling it false.
Previous Israeli strikes killed other key Iranian negotiators involved in talks.
Ghalibaf survived two Israeli assassination attempts in recent years.
The US faces the challenge of managing Israel, its ally, to avoid spoiling the negotiation process.
Spoilers are actors who try to derail peace talks, often striking at critical moments.
The timing of the warnings coincided with public mourning in Iran and heightened political tensions.
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Several Palestinians were injured in different attacks by Israeli settlers and forces in the West Bank. These attacks come amid ongoing conflict related to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, with increased violence reported in recent months.
Key Facts
A 16-year-old Palestinian was shot in the chest by Israeli forces in Bani Naim and is in stable condition.
Israeli settlers beat a 30-year-old man in Abu Njeim, where he is now receiving hospital treatment.
Settlers attacked a family in Khirbet Emneizal, stole their sheep, and Israeli forces arrested seven people during the incident.
Attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank have increased since Israel started its war on Gaza in 2023.
The UN reports an average of six attacks by settlers on Palestinians or their property every day this year.
Israeli forces arrested 32 people across the West Bank on the same day, including 13 in Beit Ummar.
The UN Secretary-General criticized Israel’s move to give city status to the settlement of Givat Ze’ev, confirming it is illegal under international law.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice stated Israel must end its occupation of Palestinian territories as quickly as possible.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes on Thursday. This meeting follows pressure from lawmakers during recent hearings on Capitol Hill.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is the Acting Attorney General of the United States.
He will meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes on Thursday afternoon.
The meeting comes after lawmakers questioned DOJ officials during hearings on Capitol Hill this week.
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
The source of this information is a DOJ insider who spoke to NewsNation, The Hill’s broadcast partner.
The meeting will take place at the Department of Justice.
Senator Thom Tillis pressured DOJ officials to engage with Epstein survivors.
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