🏛️ POLITICS
Story 1 of 6 (~3 min read)
Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment 111 Times at Senate COVID Hearing; Contempt Vote Looms
Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday, chaired by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), for a hearing on COVID-19 origins and pandemic-era decisions. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times, declining to answer questions about gain-of-function research and his conduct during the pandemic. Paul announced the committee will vote next week on a contempt resolution against Fauci. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) separately told reporters he regretted dismissing the lab leak theory as a partisan idea during the pandemic. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a state-level investigation into Fauci following the hearing.
How it's being covered:
NPR reports that Fauci said Paul was attempting to get him to say something that could put him in legal jeopardy, and that Paul announced a contempt vote would follow. (link)
The Guardian reports that Fauci accused Paul of having an "unhinged obsession" with him, and notes the hearing quickly became a forum for recrimination of the former health official rather than a substantive investigation into COVID origins. (link)
BBC reports that Fauci stated he feared Republicans could use his testimony to prosecute him for perjury, and includes detail on the tense atmosphere of the hearing. (link)
Axios reports that Paul said Fauci's use of the Fifth Amendment was itself informative, and notes the contempt resolution will go to a committee vote the following week. (link)
Fox News reports that Sen. Bernie Moreno dropped an expletive at Fauci during the hearing, that Paul ejected Fauci's lawyer from the room, and leads with a list of the "top 5 moments" including the contempt vote announcement. (link)
Daily Wire reports that Fauci refused to turn around to face individuals in the hearing room who said they were harmed by pandemic lockdowns, and includes an opinion piece stating Fauci what the outlet called "betrayed" his profession and the American people. (link)
Story 2 of 6 (~2 min read)
Todd Blanche AG Confirmation Vote Postponed as Republican Senators Withhold Support
The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a scheduled Thursday vote on advancing Todd Blanche's nomination as U.S. Attorney General after at least two Republican senators declined to commit their support. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) stated he would not back the nomination without written confirmation from the Department of Justice that a $1.8 billion fund—described by critics as an "anti-weaponization" slush fund—was definitively off the table. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) also withheld support, demanding written proposals to modify a Trump-era IRS settlement. The DOJ did not provide the written assurances Cornyn requested ahead of the vote.
How it's being covered:
NPR reports that resistance from two Republican senators threw Blanche's confirmation into doubt, and that the committee had been expected to hold the vote on Thursday. (link)
The Guardian reports that Cornyn's demand centers on a $1.8 billion fund described as a "slush fund" that the DOJ says it has no plans to pursue, and states the nomination seemed to be "in jeopardy." (link)
Washington Examiner reports that a committee spokesperson said the vote was pushed back because Blanche lacks the votes to advance, and notes the postponement as a setback in his confirmation process. (link)
Fox News reports that Cornyn and Tillis both demanded written proposals before they would support the nomination, and notes the demands specifically targeted the IRS settlement modification. (link)
Story 3 of 6 (~2 min read)
Fed Holds Rates Steady in 9-3 Vote; Bond Yields Hit 19-Year High
The Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-3 Wednesday to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged in a target range of 3.5% to 3.75%. It was the first time in a decade that three board members dissented, with Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan preferring a quarter-point rate increase. Following the announcement, the yield on the 30-year U.S. Treasury bond rose 14 basis points to nearly 5.24%, its highest level since 2007. President Trump had publicly called for rates to be lowered.
How it's being covered:
The Guardian reports the decision feeds fears that the Fed may not be moving fast enough to tame rising inflation, and notes it was the fifth consecutive hold since December. (link)
Axios reports that the Fed elected not to surprise markets with a hike despite "rampant speculation on Wall Street," and names the three dissenting officials who preferred to raise borrowing costs. (link)
Bloomberg reports that bond markets sent a warning to Fed Chair Kevin Warsh that "tough talk is not enough" on inflation, framing the bond rout as a credibility problem for the central bank's leadership. (link)
Daily Wire reports the meeting was "one of the most unpredictable" of the year and notes the Fed is balancing competing inflation and economic growth concerns. (link)
🌍 WORLD
Story 4 of 6 (~2 min read)
U.S. Resumes Airstrikes on Iran Following Iranian Missile Attack on Jordan Base
U.S. Central Command announced a "heavy wave" of airstrikes against Iran beginning at 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, targeting dozens of sites belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The strikes were described as retaliation for an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan on Tuesday; the U.S. military said all incoming Iranian missiles were intercepted. Video from Iran's Qeshm Island showed widespread damage, and Iranian media reported a couple and their two-year-old child were killed there. The renewed strikes came after President Trump had paused the bombing campaign the previous Friday to allow negotiations a chance to proceed. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said U.S.-Iran talks remained "ongoing."
How it's being covered:
NPR reports that the multiple flare-ups raised the risk of a return to all-out war after several days of relative calm. (link)
BBC reports that both sides restarted missile attacks after a short pause in hostilities, and characterizes the strikes as "heavy." (link)
Al Jazeera reports that the U.S. bombed multiple cities across southern Iran and includes video showing extensive damage on Qeshm Island, as well as the reported civilian deaths there. (link)
Axios reports that these were the first U.S. strikes since Trump's pause on Friday and that the strikes came after Iran targeted U.S. forces in Jordan, with all Iranian missiles intercepted. (link)
Washington Examiner reports that Trump committed to delivering Iran "a beating" before the strikes were launched, and includes the Pentagon's statement confirming the operation. (link)
Zero Hedge reports that oil prices climbed following the attacks, that Tehran denied seeking talks while insisting on Hormuz terms, and includes detail on joint U.S.-Saudi strikes in Iraq that killed at least 20 militants. (link)
Story 5 of 6 (~2 min read)
Netanyahu Calls Israel "Junior Partner" in Iran War; Meets Trump and Vance in Washington
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington this week for his first meeting with President Trump since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran on February 28. In the meeting, Netanyahu expressed skepticism about the chances of a deal with Iran and discussed increasing economic pressure through both military and non-military means. Netanyahu also held a separate one-on-one meeting with Vice President Vance, described as "direct," in which the two discussed their differences over Israeli government policy. Netanyahu publicly characterized Israel as the "junior partner" in the Iran conflict, emphasizing that Trump is leading the campaign.
How it's being covered:
Axios reports that Netanyahu expressed doubt about an Iran deal during the Trump meeting and that Vance has been the most Netanyahu-skeptical voice in Trump's inner circle, taking on a larger role in Iran war policy and negotiations as the conflict has progressed. (link) (link)
Washington Examiner reports that Netanyahu reiterated Israel's "junior" role, emphasizing that Trump is calling the shots, and includes background on the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes that initiated the war in February. (link)
Zero Hedge reports that Netanyahu told Fox News he is "not too bothered" by the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against him, stating that Israeli special forces would protect him if any country attempted to take him into custody. (link)
⚽ SPORTS
Story 6 of 6 (~2 min read)
Seattle Storm Co-Owner Apologizes After Berating Teen Girls Over Sophie Cunningham Support
Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was accused of cursing at two teenage girls, aged 16, during a Tuesday night WNBA game after they displayed support for Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham while wearing XX-XY Athletics apparel. The incident left one of the girls in tears, according to accounts published by independent journalist Brandi Kruse. The Seattle Storm organization subsequently issued an apology. Cunningham had recently made public statements in favor of policies excluding biological males from women's sports, generating ongoing controversy in the league.
How it's being covered:
Al Jazeera reports that the Storm apologized after the co-owner berated the girls, and provides background on Cunningham's statements that preceded the incident. (link)
NY Post reports that Cunningham called Keaton's behavior "truly embarrassing" and said the incident showed "the type of leader she is." (link)
Daily Wire reports that Keaton allegedly hurled expletives at the teenagers and includes detail on Storm player Stefanie Dolson wearing a "Trans Rights Are Human Rights" shirt the same evening as part of a team promotional campaign. (link)
📈 MARKET SIGNALS
Shell Q2 profit surged to $9.8 billion, its highest since the Ukraine war began, as Middle East conflict fueled a boom in oil trading and refining, Bloomberg reports. (link)
Microsoft shares rose after the company reported strong cloud growth and kept its capital expenditure outlook unchanged at approximately $190 billion for the year, reassuring investors that AI spending is producing returns, per Bloomberg and Zero Hedge. (link) (link)
Oil prices climbed following the resumed U.S. strikes on Iran, Bloomberg reports, while Axios notes China's decision to substantially reduce purchases on world markets helped prevent worse price spikes following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. (link) (link)
⚡ QUICK HITS
⚡ Japan 6.8 Earthquake Kills 13, Collapses Shopping Mall — A powerful earthquake struck Japan, killing at least 13 people, causing a mall explosion and collapse, and triggering more than 100 aftershocks with warnings of potential magnitude-7 follow-on quakes. (link) (link)
⚡ Rushdie Attacker Convicted on Federal Terrorism Charges — Hadi Matar, 28, who stabbed author Salman Rushdie in 2022 and is already serving a 25-year sentence, was found guilty of additional federal terrorism charges for attempting to aid Hezbollah. (link) (link) (link)
⚡ Russia Charges Telegram Founder Durov with Facilitating Terrorism — Russia's FSB charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov and issued an international arrest warrant, claiming the app failed to remove channels used for recruitment by Ukraine's intelligence services. (link) (link)
⚡ European Wildfires Kill Three Greek Firefighters, Spread to France — Gale-force winds on Crete fanned deadly wildfires across southern Europe, killing three Greek firefighters, while separate blazes burned for days in France's Gironde region in 40°C heat. (link) (link)
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