The U.S. Secret Service has investigated over 10,000 threats against people they protect in 2026. This number is 40% higher than last year, showing an increase in risky situations.
Key Facts
The Secret Service opened more than 10,000 threat investigations in 2026.
This is a 40% rise compared to the previous year.
The director of the Secret Service is Sean Curran.
The increase in threats is described as very high and unusual.
The environment of protection has become more unstable and dangerous.
These threats are directed at individuals whom the Secret Service protects, such as government officials.
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The House Judiciary Committee, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, referred former special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department for criminal investigation. The referral accuses Smith of lying during his testimony before Congress in December 2025.
Key Facts
Jim Jordan is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
The committee claims Jack Smith made false statements intentionally in his December 17, 2025 deposition.
Jack Smith is a former special counsel for the Justice Department.
The referral was sent to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for possible criminal action.
Smith's lawyers have not commented on the referral yet.
Top Democrat Jamie Raskin called the referral baseless and politically motivated.
Jack Smith had previously testified before the House Judiciary Committee on January 22, 2026.
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A Madison police officer shot and killed a man in his 30s after the man injured the officer with a knife while resisting arrest. The police chief said the shooting happened after the suspect tried to flee and that other video evidence will be reviewed. Protests followed the shooting, with community leaders calling for calm.
Key Facts
The shooting occurred in a busy neighborhood near the Wisconsin state Capitol.
The man shot was not identified by police, but community advocates said he was Black.
The officer who fired was injured by the man with a knife and used a taser that did not stop the man.
The man died later at the hospital after being shot.
Police were responding to reports of someone trying to enter parked cars before the incident.
A cellphone video with three gunshots was shared online but does not show the full event.
Protests took place after the shooting, with chants and public concerns about police violence.
The police chief asked for calm and said they would work with community leaders to handle the situation.
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House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan referred Special Counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department, accusing him of making false statements during congressional testimony. The referral is part of continued Republican efforts to examine Smith’s actions related to the investigations of President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Jim Jordan, a Republican and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a criminal referral about Jack Smith to the Justice Department.
Jordan claims Smith lied about his team’s access to members' private text messages during testimony last year.
Jordan says new documents from the Justice Department show Smith’s statements were false.
Jack Smith was the special counsel who led federal criminal cases against President Trump, which ended after Trump won the 2024 election.
Democrats, including committee member Jamie Raskin, say the referral is baseless and say Smith told the truth during his testimony.
Raskin explains that communications between Congress members and the White House are preserved as presidential records, which may be why Republicans are upset.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was the recipient of Jordan’s referral; Blanche previously worked on Trump’s legal defense team.
Smith has not publicly responded to the referral as of the article’s publication.
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The Republican leader of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jim Jordan, asked the Justice Department to investigate Jack Smith, the special counsel who charged President Trump, for allegedly lying to Congress. Democrats in the committee denied these claims, saying Smith answered questions honestly about phone records in an investigation linked to Trump’s actions after the 2020 election.
Key Facts
Rep. Jim Jordan sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department to charge Jack Smith.
The referral concerns Smith’s testimony about obtaining phone records of Republican lawmakers.
Smith said his team only got “toll records,” which show call details but not message content.
The Justice Department recently revealed Smith’s team got text messages between Trump’s White House staff and members of Congress from the National Archives.
Jordan accused Smith of lying and hiding the subpoena related to those texts.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will decide if criminal charges should be filed.
House Judiciary Committee Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin called the referral baseless and defended Smith’s honesty.
The Justice Department confirmed it received the referral and will investigate any criminal conduct.
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R. James Woolsey, who was the director of the CIA during President Bill Clinton’s administration, has died at age 84. He passed away from a stroke at his home in Washington, D.C.
Key Facts
R. James Woolsey served as CIA director under President Bill Clinton.
He had a short and challenging time in the role.
Woolsey died at age 84.
He died from a stroke.
His wife, Conchita Sarnoff Woolsey, shared the news with major newspapers.
He died at his home in Washington, D.C.
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Democrat Amish Shah won the primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District and will face Republican Jay Feely in the general election. The district is a key battleground, with Shah beating Marlene Galán-Woods, the national Democrats' preferred candidate. Feely, endorsed by President Trump, won the Republican primary.
Key Facts
Amish Shah, a Democrat and former state legislator, won the primary in Arizona's 1st District.
Shah will run against Republican Jay Feely in the general election.
Marlene Galán-Woods, supported by national Democrats, lost the Democratic primary to Shah.
The 1st District includes Scottsdale and nearby areas and is highly competitive.
The current GOP representative, David Schweikert, ran for governor but lost in the primary.
Jay Feely is an NFL veteran and former CBS Sports analyst.
President Trump endorsed Feely in the Republican primary and has supported him multiple times.
Galán-Woods had distanced herself from the Democratic Party’s left wing after recent progressive wins.
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A new Fox News poll shows that Democrats have a bigger lead over Republicans on voters’ trust in handling the economy than they have had in 20 years. The poll also finds President Donald Trump’s approval rating remains low, especially on economic issues, while many voters feel the economy will get worse in the next year.
Key Facts
Democrats lead Republicans 54% to 45% on which party would do a better job on the economy.
This 9-point Democratic lead is the largest advantage since 2006.
President Trump’s approval rating on the economy is 33%, with 67% disapproving.
Overall, Trump’s approval rating stands at 39% approve and 61% disapprove.
54% of voters think the economy will worsen within the next year, while 45% think it will improve.
Some Republican voters report their finances have gotten worse during Trump’s current term.
The poll surveyed 1,003 registered voters between July 17-20, 2026, with a 3% margin of error.
Economic concerns such as inflation and cost of living remain top priorities for voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
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The U.S. Secret Service reports a 40% rise in threats against the people it protects compared to last year. This increase has made it harder for agents to investigate all threats, especially ahead of the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Key Facts
Threats to Secret Service protectees have increased by about 40% this year.
So far, the agency has recorded around 10,000 threat cases this year.
Mental health interventions related to these threats have increased ten times compared to last year.
These interventions include referrals and hospital commitments, both voluntary and involuntary.
The rise in threats is stretching Secret Service resources and time.
The spike in threats comes before the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday.
The original dinner was canceled after a shooting incident at the D.C. building where President Donald Trump was expected to speak.
The Secret Service protects not only the president but also Supreme Court justices, cabinet members, former presidents, presidential candidates, and visiting foreign leaders.
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Amish Shah has won the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, beating Marlene Galán-Woods. Shah’s win affects national Democrats because they had supported Galán-Woods, who changed from Republican to Democrat.
Key Facts
Amish Shah is a former state representative in Arizona.
Marlene Galán-Woods was a broadcast journalist and former Republican who switched to the Democratic Party.
Galán-Woods was married to the late Arizona state attorney general Grant Woods.
Decision Desk HQ projected Shah as the winner of the Democratic primary.
The 1st Congressional District in Arizona is an open seat, meaning no current officeholder is running.
National Democratic leaders supported Galán-Woods in the primary.
Shah’s win is seen as a setback for national Democrats’ preferred candidate.
The race is part of the upcoming general election for Arizona’s U.S. House seat.
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House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan recommended that the Department of Justice criminally charge former special counsel Jack Smith. Jordan accused Smith of lying to Congress during his deposition related to investigations into President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Jim Jordan is the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
He referred criminal charges against Jack Smith to the Department of Justice.
Jack Smith is a former special counsel.
Smith led criminal cases involving President Donald Trump.
Jordan alleges Smith made false statements during his congressional deposition.
The referral was made public on a Wednesday.
This action aims to start a prosecution against Smith.
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A police officer in Madison, Wisconsin, fatally shot a man in his 30s following a police response to reports of attempted vehicle break-ins. The shooting, captured on cellphone video, led to community protests and calls for an independent investigation.
Key Facts
Police responded to calls about a person trying to enter parked cars in a busy neighborhood near the state capitol.
The suspect fled on a bike but was stopped by officers; a struggle followed during which the suspect pulled out a knife and injured one officer.
Video shows multiple officers trying to arrest the man before one officer fired three close-range shots, killing him.
The officer who shot the man was injured by the suspect with a knife.
The man killed is reported by community advocates to be Black; police did not release his name or the race of the officers involved.
Madison city officials and community leaders are demanding a thorough and transparent investigation.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice will investigate the shooting because it involves police officers.
A similar fatal police shooting occurred in 2015 on the same street, which also triggered protests.
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The UK government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has paused a program that allows some prisoners to be released early. This decision came after the family of a police officer killed in 2019 expressed anger that two of the three killers might leave prison after serving half their sentences.
Key Facts
Early prison releases in England and Wales are under review after public concerns.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham ordered a pause on releasing inmates early.
The police officer, PC Andrew Harper, was killed in 2019 during a crime investigation.
Two of the convicted men involved in the officer’s death are eligible for early release.
Harper’s family strongly opposes the early release of the men, calling it insulting.
The review has caused disruption in prisons as plans are halted.
The issue has gained wide news coverage and public attention.
Other topics in the article include calls for a new tax on millionaires and legal action related to a television crash incident.
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The Republican Jewish Coalition has officially supported Senator Darline Graham from South Carolina. They highlighted her family connection to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, known for his strong support of Israel.
Key Facts
The Republican Jewish Coalition endorsed Senator Darline Graham on Wednesday.
Darline Graham is from South Carolina.
She is the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
Lindsey Graham was a long-time supporter of Israel.
Norm Coleman, the coalition's national chair, and Matt Brooks, CEO, made the announcement.
The coalition values Lindsey Graham’s dedication to the country and his friendship with their community.
The endorsement aims to back Darline Graham in her political efforts.
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The US House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion military spending bill that includes increased cooperation with Israel on military technology. The bill, reflecting President Donald Trump’s request for higher military spending, passed narrowly along party lines and now faces uncertainty in the Senate.
Key Facts
The House passed the military spending bill by a vote of 216 to 212.
Six Democrats voted in favor, and seven Republicans voted against the bill.
The bill proposes increasing US military spending from $900 billion last year to $1.5 trillion.
It includes expanded military technology cooperation with Israel.
Some lawmakers and voters oppose parts of the bill, especially the Israel cooperation and the overall cost.
Senate Democrats have already blocked debate on the bill, citing concerns about its cost and connection to the war on Iran.
The bill contains other controversial measures, such as aid for Ukraine and new voting restrictions under the SAVE America Act.
The NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) is usually essential legislation but is more disputed this year.
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The House of Representatives passed a bill that would stop members of Congress and their families from buying new individual stocks. The bill also requires voters to show photo ID to vote, which caused some Democrats to oppose the measure because of the voting rule and the bill's limited reach.
Key Facts
The House passed the bill by a vote of 232 to 198.
The bill bans members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from buying new stocks but lets them keep or sell stocks they already own.
The bill includes a voter ID requirement, meaning voters must show photo identification to cast a ballot.
Some Democrats opposed the bill because it does not ban stock trading by the president, vice president, or others in the executive branch.
Republican and Democratic members disagreed on combining stock trading rules with voter ID laws in a single bill.
Representative Bryan Steil of Wisconsin leads the effort for the stock trading ban.
Some lawmakers want the rule to cover all branches of government, not just Congress.
President Donald Trump's recent financial disclosures show many stock trades by his advisers involving companies related to his administration.
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New data shows that more than 43,000 people were detained by ICE in June, which is the highest monthly number since President Donald Trump began his second term. This increase reflects the current enforcement levels of immigration policies under President Trump.
Key Facts
Over 43,000 people were booked into ICE detention in June.
This is the highest number of detentions since President Trump’s second term started.
ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that detains people suspected of immigration violations.
The data was recently released and reported by CBS News.
The spike in detentions indicates increased immigration enforcement activity.
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Bears are appearing more often in areas where people live in the United States. These animals come into human spaces looking for food, which can cause worry among residents.
Key Facts
Bear encounters are increasing across the U.S.
Bears enter neighborhoods and other human spaces.
They search for food when they come into these areas.
People are sometimes able to capture these encounters on video.
The rise in bear sightings is causing fear among local communities.
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President Donald Trump shared posts comparing death numbers from the Iran conflict to those of past U.S. wars like Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, and Korea. He called the current situation a "military conflict" and highlighted lower casualties so far, while promising to respond after recent American deaths in Iran.
Key Facts
President Trump posted charts comparing deaths in the Iran conflict with those in Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, and Korea wars.
The Iran conflict has lasted about four months, with 18 American service members killed so far.
Trump refers to the Iran situation as a "military conflict," not officially calling it a war.
Four U.S. service members were recently killed in Iran after a ceasefire broke down two weeks ago.
Trump attended a dignified transfer ceremony for fallen soldiers at Dover Air Force Base.
The U.S. and Iran continue daily attacks, and Iran has blocked an important oil passage called the Strait of Hormuz.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the war has cost around $37.5 billion, with a request for $67 billion more in funding.
Some Republicans worry the Iran conflict could lead to a long military involvement and affect gas prices and political support before midterm elections.
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The House of Representatives approved a defense bill that includes President Donald Trump’s request for $1.15 trillion in national security spending and renames the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The bill also proposes a 5% to 7% pay raise for military members next year.
Key Facts
The bill passed with a close vote of 216 to 212.
It contains a large increase in defense spending, totaling $1.15 trillion.
President Donald Trump requested the spending increase.
The bill changes the Department of Defense’s name to the Department of War.
Service members will receive a pay raise between 5% and 7%, depending on their rank.
Democrats opposed the bill due to the large defense budget and conservative social policies included.
Republicans tried to offset the increased defense spending by cutting non-defense programs in other bills.
The National Defense Authorization Act usually has bipartisan support but was sharply divided this year.
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