Tropical Storm Bertha has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to impact the Gulf Coast with severe weather. Meanwhile, a heavily armed Army veteran started a fire at a federal building in New York City.
Key Facts
Tropical Storm Bertha recently formed in the Gulf of Mexico.
The storm is heading towards the Gulf Coast.
Severe weather is affecting many parts of the United States.
An Army veteran, who was heavily armed, started a fire in a federal building.
This event occurred in New York City.
The news report covers multiple major incidents in the U.S. on the same day.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) surprised many by beating a long-time incumbent in 2018 and has since become a prominent voice for progressive ideas like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Her support comes mainly from young and educated voters, and she has helped increase interest in socialism among younger Americans.
Key Facts
In 2018, AOC defeated Joe Crowley, a well-established Democratic leader.
Some Democratic leaders initially dismissed or criticized her.
AOC strongly supports progressive policies such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
She has gained a large following, especially among young people and college-educated voters.
American socialism today draws support mostly from young, educated urbanites rather than traditional working-class groups.
The Democratic Socialists of America now has over 120,000 members.
AOC’s use of language sometimes clashes with broader public understanding, such as the debate over the terms "Latinx" and "Latine."
Her Green New Deal proposal aims to address environmental issues and help historically marginalized groups.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Melinda French Gates said it took three doctors to diagnose her perimenopause even though she had access to good healthcare. She explained that many doctors are not well trained in menopause, which makes it hard for women to get proper treatment.
Key Facts
Melinda French Gates experienced perimenopause in her early 40s.
It took three doctors to diagnose and treat her perimenopause.
Only about one-third of OB-GYN doctors in the U.S. receive training in menopause.
A 2022 survey showed that 31.3% of OB-GYN residents had menopause education during their training.
Many menopausal women struggle with symptoms that affect their work.
One in ten women have left or are thinking about leaving their jobs due to menopause symptoms.
French Gates discussed her experience and women’s health on the new podcast "Healthful".
The podcast episode is available on the Healthful YouTube channel and other podcast platforms.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump gave a speech about the 2020 election but did not show any evidence of election interference. His statements did not agree with official reports from U.S. intelligence agencies.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke about the 2020 election.
He claimed there was election interference.
He did not provide proof to support his claims.
U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed there was no interference.
His speech conflicted with these official reports.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UK government is encouraging some London-based civil servants to move to Manchester to work at a new government office called No 10 North. The office is currently at Heron House and will eventually move to a new building planned for 2032. Staff moving north will get relocation support, and the office aims to hire about 300 people within 18 months.
Key Facts
Civil servants in London have been offered packages to relocate to Manchester.
No 10 North is a new Downing Street branch currently based in Heron House, Manchester.
The longer-term location will be a "Digital Campus" building in Manchester, expected to finish in 2032.
The plan includes moving staff from Whitehall departments like Treasury and Cabinet Office.
Many government leaders from Northern England are involved, including Andy Burnham.
Around 300 new employees are planned to be hired within 18 months.
Some senior figures from Greater Manchester Combined Authority have agreed to move to No 10 North.
There may be a dedicated secretary of state and junior minister for No 10 North, but this is not confirmed yet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration denied any secret cooperation with Taylor Farms after federal officials first said, then retracted, that lettuce from Taylor Farms tested positive for a parasite called cyclospora. The FDA said the initial positive test was an error but continues to investigate a multistate outbreak linked to Taylor Farms lettuce.
Key Facts
Federal health officials initially reported a positive test for cyclospora in Taylor Farms lettuce but later said it was a false positive.
Taylor Fresh Foods donated $1 million to Make America Great Again Inc. in March 2025.
Taylor Farms executives met with White House and FDA officials to discuss weaknesses in the government’s outbreak response.
Taylor Farms hired former White House official Trent Morse to increase its Washington influence.
The Department of Health and Human Services called claims of collusion “fake news” and said decisions are based only on science and public safety.
The FDA confirmed the initial positive cyclospora test came from a rapid screening method and was later corrected.
The FDA’s investigation still points to Taylor Farms lettuce as linked to a cyclospora outbreak in several states.
Federal and state authorities continue to investigate and work to remove contaminated lettuce from the market.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Michigan appeals court overturned the convictions of two men, Pete Musico and Paul Bellar, linked to a 2020 plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Their convictions were dismissed because the court ruled that kidnapping is not covered under the state’s terrorism law.
Key Facts
Pete Musico and Paul Bellar were convicted for providing support for terrorism related to the Whitmer kidnapping plot.
Their convictions were overturned after a similar ruling dismissed co-defendant Joe Morrison’s conviction.
The court said kidnapping is not considered a violent crime under Michigan’s terrorism law.
Attorney General Dana Nessel plans to ask the Michigan Supreme Court to review the decision.
None of the three men were charged with directly planning the kidnapping.
The plot aimed to kidnap Governor Whitmer from her vacation home before the 2020 presidential election.
The conspirators opposed COVID-19 restrictions and feared losing gun rights.
FBI agents infiltrated the group and stopped the plan before it could happen.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Egg prices, which rose during President Biden’s time due to bird flu and other issues, have dropped significantly under President Donald Trump’s administration. However, rising gasoline prices caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict and ongoing tariffs have brought new inflation challenges.
Key Facts
Egg prices fell nearly 57% from January 2025 to June 2026, thanks to government efforts and recovery from avian influenza.
The USDA expects egg prices to continue declining by about 30% in 2026.
President Trump prioritized reducing egg prices and made it a focus early in his second term.
Inflation rose 4.2% in the year through May 2026, driven by higher oil prices due to the Iran war.
Gasoline prices jumped 21.2% in March 2026, the largest monthly increase since 1967.
After a brief drop below $4 per gallon, gas prices rose again over $4 in July 2026 amid renewed conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tariffs from President Trump’s global trade actions have increased prices on some goods, adding to inflation pressures.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pamela Smart, who is serving a life sentence for helping plan the murder of her husband by a teenage student, has asked a New Hampshire judge for a new trial. Her lawyers claim there were mistakes in the trial that violated her rights, including problems with transcripts of recorded conversations used as evidence.
Key Facts
Pamela Smart is serving life in prison for helping a 15-year-old student murder her husband in 1990.
The teenage shooter was released in 2015 after serving 25 years in prison.
Smart was convicted despite denying she knew about the murder plan.
Her trial was one of the first in the U.S. to be broadcast live on TV from start to finish.
Smart’s lawyers filed a petition in January asking to overturn the conviction.
They claim the transcripts of recordings played at trial had words that were not actually audible.
The inaccurate transcripts may have biased the jury by suggesting certain words were said.
A New Hampshire judge is reviewing the petition and will decide in 30 to 60 days.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Three teenagers have been sentenced to jail for murdering 16-year-old Kayden Moy during a stabbing attack on a beach in North Ayrshire. The offenders traveled to the beach armed and intended to retaliate against a rival group before stabbing Moy, who died after falling to the ground.
Key Facts
Kayden Moy was stabbed to death on Irvine Beach on May 17, 2025.
Cole Turley, 18, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to at least 16 years in jail.
Jay Stewart, 19, and a 15-year-old boy were also convicted and sentenced to minimum terms of 16 and 14 years, respectively.
The attackers belonged to the Murray Boys gang and targeted Moy, who was part of a rival group called Himshie.
After the stabbing, the attackers hugged each other and later mocked Moy by creating a rap song.
The attackers had traveled to the beach with weapons, including a lock knife and an extendable baton.
Stewart had past convictions related to weapons and had made threats toward Moy on social media.
The judge described the killing as "pointless and unnecessary," highlighting the violence as a tragic act of retaliation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal appeals court denied President Biden’s request to block the release of transcripts and audio recordings of his conversations with his biographer from about ten years ago. The recordings will be given to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative group, but the court allowed more time until August 3 for further appeals.
Key Facts
The court’s decision was a 2-1 ruling by three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The Heritage Foundation requested the tapes after a special counsel report mentioned them in connection with Biden’s memory and behavior.
The recordings are from 2016 and 2017 when Biden spoke with his biographer, Mark Zwonitzer.
The Justice Department withheld the tapes at first but planned to release them after President Trump returned to office.
A lower court initially blocked and then delayed the tapes’ release to allow for further review.
Biden’s legal team argued that the recordings were private and should not be public because they were collected during a criminal investigation that led to no charges.
The case involves a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by the Heritage Foundation.
The court delayed the ruling until August 3 to give time for possible appeals.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Occupy Wall Street movement started around 15 years ago and brought many people together to protest economic inequality. Although it ended quickly, it helped train many activists and influenced new leftwing political leaders, shifting public views about class and power. Organizers now say movements need to build strong strategies and focus on real power to create lasting change.
Key Facts
Occupy Wall Street began about 15 years ago with widespread protests against economic inequality.
The movement ended quickly due to police actions, harsh weather, and internal challenges.
Organizer Yotam Marom believes Occupy failed partly because it lacked a clear plan for political change.
Occupy introduced the idea of the "99%" fighting against the wealthiest "1%."
The movement helped train many activists and led to the creation of new advocacy groups.
Leftwing politicians like Bernie Sanders and members of "The Squad" have roots linked to the movement’s impact.
Current social movements are learning that focusing solely on distrust of institutions can weaken efforts.
Building a diverse working-class movement with clear goals is seen as essential for future progress.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Salah Sarsour, a Muslim community leader in Wisconsin, spent over 80 days in federal immigration detention, which he says reminded him of his past time in Israeli prisons. He was released after a judge found his detention was likely in retaliation for his advocacy on Palestinian rights, but the government is still working to deport him.
Key Facts
Salah Sarsour is the president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque and a U.S. permanent resident for almost 30 years.
He was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March and released last month after a judge challenged the legality of his detention.
Sarsour claims his treatment in detention was "dehumanizing," causing him to lose over 30 pounds.
The Trump administration continues to seek his deportation, citing accusations related to past activities in Israel and claims he harms U.S. foreign policy.
Sarsour denies accusations made by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including alleged funding of terror groups and lying on immigration forms.
He was arrested as a teenager in Israel during the first intifada and spent two years in prison, claiming he was tortured and forced to sign documents he did not understand.
Civil rights groups, legislators, and community members protested his detention, seeing it as politically motivated.
Sarsour is also a board member of American Muslims for Palestine, an advocacy group criticized by the Trump administration.
His immigration case is ongoing with upcoming court hearings in Chicago, with his lawyers arguing the case is being fast-tracked for political reasons.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Representative Anna Paulina Luna asked the Trump administration to cancel over 265,000 student visas held by Chinese nationals studying in the United States. She based her request on claims of Chinese interference in U.S. elections and wants the State Department to stop issuing new Chinese student visas until a review is done.
Key Facts
Luna sent a letter on July 20 to Secretary of State Marco Rubio asking to revoke F-1 and J-1 visas for Chinese students.
There are about 265,919 Chinese students in the U.S., the second-largest group after Indian students.
Luna cited President Trump’s mention of newly declassified documents alleging Chinese cyber spying in U.S. elections since 2020.
She views Chinese student visas as possible tools for Chinese Communist Party influence in U.S. institutions.
Chinese students contribute around $14.6 billion yearly to the U.S. economy through tuition and spending.
The proposal to cancel all Chinese student visas could face pushback from universities, businesses, and diplomats.
Other Republicans, like Representative Riley Moore, support strict limits or bans on Chinese student visas citing national security concerns.
The administration’s response to Luna’s letter or any new visa policy has not been announced.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A former U.S. Army soldier named Andrew Arrabaca set off fireworks, started a fire, and fired a pellet gun outside a federal building in Manhattan, injuring three people. Authorities arrested him, and the FBI is investigating the incident, though it has not been labeled terrorism.
Key Facts
Andrew Arrabaca is 43 years old and a former U.S. Army mechanic who worked on Patriot missile systems.
The incident happened on the morning of July 20, 2026, outside 26 Federal Plaza in New York City.
Arrabaca carried a sign with the message "ICE Off Our Streets," showing opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
He poured gasoline and set a fire near an employee entrance of the federal building.
Arrabaca fired five to seven pellets from an airsoft rifle at the building.
Three people were injured during the incident, including someone attending an immigration court hearing.
FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating, but the attack is not currently classified as terrorism.
Arrabaca was arrested by federal security officers and a security contractor shortly after the attack.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, is set for a trial on September 28 in Washington, D.C., after being charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The pool has undergone a costly and problematic renovation project supported by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
David Hearn has been indicted on a felony charge for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The trial date is set for September 28, 2026, by Judge Todd Edelman.
Hearn pleaded not guilty and his lawyers want the case dismissed, citing poor preservation of evidence.
Three others face misdemeanor charges related to the Reflecting Pool for removing paint.
The damage charge involves at least $1,000 worth of harm, with up to 10 years in prison possible if convicted.
The Reflecting Pool renovation, led by President Trump for the country's 250th independence anniversary, has cost over $16 million, much higher than the initial $1.5 million estimate.
Critics say the renovation problems result from bad repair work, while Trump says vandals are responsible.
Supporters of Hearn argue this prosecution is politically motivated to shift blame from the administration.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is planning to lease 2,840 acres of Ohio’s Wayne National Forest for oil and gas drilling using fracking. This move is part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to expand energy development on public lands, although environmental groups are concerned about its effects on wildlife and recreation.
Key Facts
The lease sale will cover 41 parcels totaling 2,840 acres in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest.
The forest is divided into three separate areas located around southeast Ohio near Marietta and Parkersburg, West Virginia.
This would be the first time fracking, a method that uses high-pressure water to extract natural gas, is allowed in this national forest.
The lease sale is scheduled for September 15, 2026, but the winning bidders will still need federal permits to start drilling.
Environmental groups warn that fracking threatens endangered species like the Indiana bat and could increase noise, light, and traffic.
The Wayne National Forest already has conventional oil wells from before fracking technology was used.
Ohio state parks and wildlife areas have also opened about 22,000 acres to oil and gas development since 2024 through GOP-supported laws.
The Ohio Oil and Gas Association says the leasing process includes environmental reviews and public input and argues responsible energy development is possible with care for the environment.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dozens of U.S. senators, led by Senator Angus King, have asked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security for more information about ICE agent hiring and pursuit policies. They also want ICE officers to start using body cameras after two fatal shootings involving immigrants in Maine and Houston.
Key Facts
39 senators signed a letter requesting details on how ICE vets new agents and handles vehicle chases.
The letter was led by Senator Angus King from Maine and sent to DHS, which oversees ICE.
Two ICE officers shot and killed immigrants recently, one in Maine and one in Houston.
The Maine ICE officer who fired had a history of family violence, reported in court documents.
Family members believe ICE should not have given this officer a gun and authority to patrol.
Senators want ICE to consider domestic violence records when hiring agents.
They call for body cameras to be quickly issued to all ICE officers.
The senators emphasize the need for clarity and accountability after these shootings.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arizona Republicans will hold a primary election to choose a candidate to run against Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs in November. Voters will also decide candidates for U.S. House seats and various state and local offices.
Key Facts
Arizona’s Republican primary will pick a nominee to challenge Governor Katie Hobbs in the general election.
Katie Hobbs is one of few Democratic governors in states won by President Trump in 2024 facing a competitive race in 2026.
Four candidates are running for the Republican governor nomination: two congressmen, Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, and two businessmen, Ken Miceli and Scott Neely.
Andy Biggs has the endorsement of President Trump.
Former Trump-endorsed candidate Karrin Taylor Robson dropped out in February.
David Schweikert is not seeking reelection to Congress to run for governor.
In the race to replace Schweikert’s congressional seat, candidates include Joseph Chaplik, Jay Feely, and John Trobough.
President Trump endorsed Feely after encouraging him to run in a different district when Feely switched from the 5th to the 1st Congressional District race.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
