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Harvey Levin, founder of TMZ, defended Dr. Anthony Fauci after Republicans criticized him during a Senate hearing. Levin expressed his support for Fauci publicly, highlighting Fauci’s service in public health.
Key Facts
Dr. Anthony Fauci is a top infectious disease expert in the U.S.
Fauci faced attacks from Republican senators during a Senate hearing.
Harvey Levin, who started TMZ, spoke out in favor of Fauci.
Levin shared his support on TMZ’s YouTube channel.
This defense was notable because Levin rarely shares personal opinions on that platform.
The hearing was described as tense and contentious.
Fauci has been a prominent figure during health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A new study shows that over half of the historic sites in the U.S. face some risk from wildfires, with thousands facing severe danger. Wildfires have already destroyed important cultural landmarks, causing permanent loss to heritage that is hard or impossible to rebuild.
Key Facts
Researchers studied 100,117 historic sites listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
3,446 of these sites face a severe risk of wildfire damage.
About 36% of the endangered sites are nationally significant landmarks.
Recent wildfires destroyed the Will Rogers Ranch House, Andrew McNally House, and Grand Canyon Lodge.
Historic buildings are especially vulnerable because they cannot be moved and often have features like old wood or open gaps that catch fire easily.
High-risk historic sites are mainly in the western U.S., but threats are increasing in the southeast and south-central states.
Preventing damage requires efforts like reducing nearby flammable plants, strengthening buildings, and improving firefighting resources.
The study warns that destruction of these historic sites leads to permanent loss of cultural heritage and community identity.
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The U.S. Senate unanimously voted to oppose any pardon or clemency for Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex crimes. The resolution was introduced by Senator Jacky Rosen to block a potential pardon by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
The Senate voted unanimously against pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell was convicted of sex offenses related to her association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Senator Jacky Rosen sponsored the resolution.
The resolution aims to prevent Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche from supporting a pardon.
President Donald Trump nominated Todd Blanche to remain in his role.
The move shows strong Senate opposition to pardons for individuals convicted of serious crimes.
Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes have received wide public and political attention.
The Senate’s decision is a clear statement about pardons related to this case.
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A lawsuit claims a Comcast store manager in Connecticut forced low-selling employees to have cream pies smashed in their faces as a punishment and motivation method. The lawsuit says the manager made others take part in and record these actions, creating a hostile work environment that led to an employee’s resignation.
Key Facts
The lawsuit alleges a Comcast store manager made the lowest salespeople monthly get a cream pie smashed in their face.
Employees were tied to chairs and assaulted as part of this punishment ritual.
The manager also made other employees participate in and video record the pie attacks.
The plaintiff, David Figueroa, said he was not told about this at hiring and resigned due to the hostile environment.
The lawsuit claims Comcast failed to supervise the store and should have known about the harmful policies.
Comcast said it disagrees with the claims and has zero tolerance for harassment.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for lost income and emotional harm.
A chart was kept ranking employees and marking those who were or would be assaulted.
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Sheriff Chris Nanos said that FBI Director Kash Patel was wrong about details in the Nancy Guthrie case. Sheriff Nanos also said he and Patel have never talked to each other.
Key Facts
Sheriff Chris Nanos criticized FBI Director Kash Patel’s statements.
Nanos said Patel’s claims about the Nancy Guthrie case were inaccurate.
The sheriff said he and Patel have never had a conversation.
The disagreement concerns details of a specific case involving Nancy Guthrie.
The article focuses on communication and accuracy between local and federal officials.
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A recent poll shows Americans are divided in how well they understand democratic socialism. While some see value in the ideas, others are unsure or do not understand the term, even as candidates linked to democratic socialism win key Democratic primary races.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by Reuters/Ipsos.
27% of Americans said democratic socialists hold several valid beliefs.
23% of respondents were unsure about or did not understand democratic socialism.
Candidates associated with democratic socialism have won elections in Democratic Party primaries.
The poll reflects differing views on democratic socialism across the United States.
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New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman described President Donald Trump’s $15 billion lawsuit against her newspaper as an attempt to intimidate them. In a TV interview, she spoke about the challenges she and her colleagues face from the Trump administration’s actions.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump filed a $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times.
Maggie Haberman is a White House reporter for The New York Times.
Haberman called the lawsuit a “bullying campaign.”
She spoke about the pressure faced by journalists from the Trump administration.
The interview took place on MS NOW’s show called “The Weeknight.”
Host Michael Steele asked Haberman how she and her team handle the administration’s tactics.
President Trump reportedly tries to get the reporters’ attention by calling them directly.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and some media outlets.
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Two people who attended Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan reported inappropriate sexual behavior by Jeffrey Epstein, a former donor to the school. An investigation also found many allegations of sexual abuse by nearly 50 staff members going back decades at the school.
Key Facts
Interlochen Center for the Arts runs a performing arts school and summer camp with students from around the world.
The school hired a law firm in 2024 to investigate sexual abuse reports by faculty and staff.
The investigation expanded to include allegations against Jeffrey Epstein, who donated over $400,000 to Interlochen between 1990 and 2003.
Epstein attended the school as a camper in 1967 and had a lodge named after him, later renamed and demolished.
Two women said Epstein behaved sexually inappropriately toward them during their time connected to the school.
The investigation collected 70 accounts from alumni alleging sexual misconduct by 47 faculty or staff members from the 1950s to 2010s.
Interlochen gave the names of accused individuals to local authorities for review; none currently work at the school.
School leaders apologized and said they have since changed policies to improve safety for students.
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Senator John Cornyn canceled a meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche before a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Blanche’s nomination. Cornyn wants clearer, written proof that a fund linked to President Donald Trump’s IRS settlement will be ended and that IRS audits on Trump and his associates will be limited.
Key Facts
Senator John Cornyn canceled a meeting with Todd Blanche one day before a committee vote on Blanche’s AG nomination.
Cornyn’s main concerns involve President Donald Trump’s settlement with the IRS.
The Department of Justice created a $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” connected to the settlement, which Blanche called “dead” during his hearing.
Cornyn wants proof in writing that the fund will be formally rescinded.
The DOJ provided drafts rescinding the fund but did not offer changes related to limiting IRS audits on Trump and his associates.
Cornyn says the DOJ has not provided satisfactory documents that meet his requests.
Blanche’s confirmation as Attorney General depends on support from senators like Cornyn.
The dispute involves issues of government oversight and trust regarding enforcement actions connected to President Trump.
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Ars Technica offers a subscription called Ars Pro that lets readers customize how they view news articles on the site. Subscribers can choose different layouts, filter topics, and enjoy an ad-free experience with extra features like full-text RSS feeds and access to forums.
Key Facts
Ars Pro subscribers can pick from different page layouts, including classic and minimalist styles.
Customization options include filtering topics and adjusting the text layout.
Subscribers get an ad-free and tracker-free browsing experience.
Full-text RSS feeds are available only to subscribers.
Subscribers gain access to special forums and receive user badges.
An Ars Pro membership costs $25, while Ars Pro++ costs $50.
The article encourages users to set Ars Technica as a preferred news source on Google to support the site amid traffic drops caused by AI-generated summaries.
The subscription helps support Ars Technica’s journalism at a challenging time.
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A new U.S. study shows that serious mold infections may be more common and dangerous than previously known. Researchers found about 450 cases in hospitals near Atlanta over five years, with about one-third of those patients dying in the hospital.
Key Facts
The study was done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Invasive mold infections can be life-threatening, especially for older people and those with weak immune systems.
Researchers looked at hospital data from 2020 to 2024 in the Atlanta area.
They found about 450 confirmed cases out of nearly 1,000 possible ones initially identified.
Hospitals can expect 3 to 5 mold infection cases per 100 inpatient beds each year.
Mold infections often affect people weakened by conditions like COVID-19 or cancer.
Mold exposure risks may increase due to climate change and natural disasters like floods and hurricanes.
The study results provide a new estimate but may not apply the same way in other parts of the country.
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Tyler Robinson is waiting for a judge’s decision on whether he will stand trial for the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Prosecutors say there is enough evidence for a trial and plan to seek the death penalty. The case involves video evidence and witness statements.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is accused of killing Charlie Kirk with a rifle shot at a rally in Utah on September 10, 2025.
Prosecutors say the evidence clearly supports moving forward to a trial.
The judge’s decision is expected after a hearing scheduled for September 1, 2026.
Robinson faces charges including aggravated murder and firearm offenses.
Videos allegedly show Robinson on the roof where the shot was fired.
Robinson's roommate said Robinson confessed to the killing in messages and in person.
Defense attorneys have until August 11, 2026, to submit arguments.
Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty in this case.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former U.S. Representative from Georgia, married conservative commentator Brian Glenn in Las Vegas. The wedding took place at the Bellagio Hotel and was shared by Greene on social media.
Key Facts
Marjorie Taylor Greene was formerly a U.S. Representative from Georgia.
Brian Glenn is a conservative commentator.
The couple married on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
Their wedding was held at the Bellagio Hotel.
Greene posted about the wedding on the social media platform X.
The post included photos from the wedding.
Family members were present for the ceremony.
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Senator Lindsey Graham was honored with funeral ceremonies in South Carolina, where he was remembered as a hardworking public servant dedicated to his state. Earlier, leaders including President Donald Trump spoke of him as a persistent dealmaker.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham returned to South Carolina for his funeral.
The ceremonies were streamed by South Carolina ETV.
President Donald Trump and Vice President others praised Graham in a funeral service in Washington, D.C.
Graham was remembered as a hardworking and tireless politician.
Friends and colleagues recalled his deep connections throughout South Carolina.
He supported Republican candidates with funding in state and local elections.
Former Representative Trey Gowdy described Graham’s humble beginnings as the son of pool hall owners.
Graham knew many local officials and community locations in South Carolina.
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Hackers stole over 740,000 pieces of data from the UK's Department for Education (DfE) and a police legal database. The stolen information includes contact details of officials, school and university staff, police officers, and members of the public. The hacking group called ExfilSquad is demanding payment to stop leaking the data.
Key Facts
More than 600,000 data lines were taken from the DfE’s help-desk portal, including names, emails, phone numbers, and job titles.
A smaller amount of data was stolen from the DfE’s Turing portal, which manages a study abroad scheme.
The police national legal database (PNLD) was also hacked, exposing about 135,000 pieces of data mainly about police officers and criminal justice workers.
Some public members’ names and addresses were taken from the Ask the Police service, but no confidential victim or offender info was exposed.
The hackers, calling themselves ExfilSquad, posted samples of the stolen data online to pressure the victims to pay a ransom.
The DfE and PNLD deny that ransomware was used to lock their systems.
The stolen PNLD data includes passwords, which raises concerns about password reuse on more sensitive systems.
The UK government is working with cybersecurity agencies to investigate and respond to the attack.
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Several airlines, including Southwest, United, and Delta, have banned humanoid and animal-like robots from flights and checked luggage due to safety concerns related to their batteries. These robots often use lithium-ion batteries, which can pose fire risks if damaged or mishandled.
Key Facts
Southwest Airlines banned robots on flights in May, citing battery safety issues.
United Airlines started a similar ban on July 23, applying to robots in cabins and checked bags.
Delta Air Lines also prohibits robotic devices with large lithium batteries that exceed safety limits.
The bans are precautionary measures, not responses to specific incidents.
Humanoid robots mostly use lithium-ion batteries, which can be dangerous if they explode.
Some experts recognize the bans help safety but also note the challenge for researchers needing to transport robots.
JetBlue and American Airlines have not yet imposed bans or commented on the issue.
Airlines want to keep passengers and crew safe by limiting new technology that may pose risks.
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Five Kenyan security officers were killed near the Somalia border in Mandera county during an ambush by the armed group al-Shabab. The attack included gunfire on a patrol and a roadside bomb targeting reinforcements, highlighting ongoing violence in the region linked to al-Shabab’s efforts to pressure Kenya.
Key Facts
Five Kenyan security personnel died in an ambush near the Somalia border in Mandera county.
The attack involved gunfire on a Special Operations Group patrol and a roadside bomb on reinforcements.
Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack through its media outlet.
The group has carried out multiple recent attacks in northeastern Kenya, especially around Mandera.
Al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaeda and controls parts of southern and central Somalia.
Kenyan forces have been fighting al-Shabab since entering Somalia in 2011.
A recent report showed Mandera county had 38 terror-related incidents in one year, the highest in the northeast region.
The U.S. recently announced cuts to funding for the African Union mission supporting Somalia’s army against al-Shabab.
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President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to overturn an $83.3 million defamation judgment won by writer E. Jean Carroll. This follows an earlier $5 million damages award against him for sexual abuse and defamation in separate civil trials.
Key Facts
Two civil federal trials in 2023 and 2024 ruled Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against E. Jean Carroll.
Carroll accused Trump of assaulting her in the 1990s and defaming her after she made the abuse public in 2019.
Trump denied the allegations and claimed he never met Carroll.
The $83.3 million judgment relates to defamation statements Trump made while in office, including calling Carroll a "whack job."
Trump's lawyers argue he has presidential immunity for statements made while acting as a federal employee.
The Justice Department supports Trump's request for Supreme Court review, citing the Westfall Act, which protects federal employees from personal liability for official actions.
Lower courts have rejected Trump's attempts to overturn the judgments so far.
Carroll has received $5.6 million from the earlier case; the $83.3 million award is held in a court account pending further decisions.
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President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama have endorsed opposing candidates in three key races for the 2026 midterm elections in Iowa and Texas. These races will show how much each leader influences their party’s voters and whether Democrats can win back support in these traditionally Republican states.
Key Facts
Obama has backed three candidates: Josh Turek (Iowa Senate), James Talarico (Texas Senate), and Gina Hinojosa (Texas governor).
Trump has endorsed their Republican opponents: Ashley Hinson (Iowa Senate), Ken Paxton (Texas Senate), and Greg Abbott (Texas governor).
Trump won Iowa and Texas by large margins in the 2024 presidential election.
Democrats believe economic issues and Trump’s lower approval rating may help them compete in these states.
Polls show close races in Iowa between Trump-backed Hinson and Obama-backed Turek.
Obama’s endorsement video featured him praising Turek’s character and ability to win.
The Republican National Committee praised Trump’s endorsement record, noting a 99% success rate.
Democrats are also campaigning actively in Texas, hoping to flip the state in 2026.
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