Washington Examiner

A 28-year-old man died on Tuesday morning after being struck by a tractor-trailer while fleeing on foot from federal immigration agents during a vehicle stop in a St. Augustine gas station parking lot. The incident marks the third death in roughly one week connected to encounters with ICE agents. Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the traffic fatality.

US District Judge Kathleen Williams nullified a settlement resolving a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Donald Trump and his sons over the unauthorized disclosure of tax returns. The ruling found no genuine controversy existed because Trump had controlled the Treasury Department and imposed sanctions on the plaintiffs' lawyers. The settlement had included tax audit immunity for Trump, his family, and related entities.

Jay Clayton, President Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. He acknowledged that Joe Biden was certified the winner of the 2020 election through the Electoral College process but declined to state directly that Biden won the election. Democrats on the committee expressed strong criticism of his responses while Republicans hold sufficient votes to advance the nomination.

Todd Blanche is serving as Acting Attorney General while undergoing Senate confirmation for the permanent role. His hearing on Wednesday featured questions on his prior representation of Donald Trump and interactions with senators including John Kennedy, Cory Booker, Richard Blumenthal, and Sheldon Whitehouse. Claims about the duration of his acting role remain unverified across sources.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released June 2026 CPI data on July 14 showing a 3.5 percent year-over-year increase, down from 4.2 percent in May, with a 0.4 percent monthly decline. Core CPI rose 2.6 percent year-over-year. Multiple outlets attribute the headline drop primarily to lower energy prices linked to a temporary US-Iran agreement that later ended.

The House approved a procedural rules package 215-211, with all Democrats and one Republican opposing. Speaker Mike Johnson plans to attach the SAVE America Act, requiring proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and photo ID to vote, to the State Department appropriations bill. The vote followed weeks of resistance from Republican holdouts led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.

Lindsey Graham died late Saturday from heart disease, according to The Globe and Mail and Washington Examiner. Mitch McConnell, 84, has been hospitalized since mid-June. South Carolina's governor is scheduled to name a temporary replacement on Monday, while President Trump has recommended Graham's sister for the seat.

Kevin Warsh, identified as Federal Reserve Chair in multiple reports, testified before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday regarding the central bank's 2% inflation target and dual mandate. Sources describe statements emphasizing an unambiguous commitment to price stability after more than five years of elevated inflation. Perspectives differ on the implications for employment, monetary policy tools, and institutional credibility.

A two-day defense summit hosted by Sen. Dave McCormick at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, generated more than 30 agreements totaling nearly $10 billion in contracts and investments expected to create over 4,000 jobs. President Donald Trump concluded the event with a roundtable and announcements. The projects span shipbuilding, munitions, emerging technologies, and workforce development.

The Senate voted Tuesday on a motion to proceed to the $1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act, which failed by 50-46. All Democrats opposed the motion while Senate Majority Leader John Thune also voted against it. Democrats linked the vote to renewed U.S. strikes on Iran and related notifications to Congress.

U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged strikes on military facilities and assets over the weekend, according to multiple reports. Iran asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz while tanker traffic slowed and oil prices rose. An interim agreement signed last month has entered a crisis stage with no resolution from recent Oman talks.

Dr. Erica Schwartz has been nominated to lead the CDC and Sean Kaufman to head the Administration for Strategic Preparedness. Sen. Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, stated during proceedings that any equivocation on vaccine facts would prevent his support for the nomination. Schwartz previously served as deputy surgeon general in the first Trump administration.

Rep. Thomas Massie introduced an amendment to the annual State Department appropriations bill that would have reduced assistance to Israel. The amendment failed, with all sources agreeing that Massie was the sole Republican supporter and that ten members voted present. Multiple details including the exact funding amount, final vote tally, and number of Democratic supporters remain disputed across outlets.

Sen. Lindsey Graham died of heart disease on Saturday evening. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, who was sworn in to complete the term. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman had expressed interest in the seat after losing earlier primaries.

Federal and Michigan officials are investigating a possible link between Taco Bell and a cyclosporiasis outbreak in Michigan. Contaminated leafy lettuce is the leading suspected source, with some but not all ill individuals reporting having eaten at the chain. Taco Bell has removed lettuce and other fresh items from menus in multiple states while no FDA or USDA recall has been issued.

US military strikes on Iran continued for a third successive period, with operations reported to last five hours and targets including port cities. Iran responded with ballistic missiles toward Jordan and Bahrain plus strikes on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump stated the US would control the Strait and impose passage fees while oil prices reached four-week highs.

Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham Nordone to fill the Senate vacancy created by Sen. Lindsey Graham. The appointment followed President Trump's recommendation and precedes a special Republican primary next month. A Russia sanctions bill with 85 cosponsors is advancing in the Senate.

The Justice Department is investigating UAW President Shawn Fain for alleged improper pressure on union officials to provide financial benefits to his fiancée and her sister. Independent monitor Neil Barofsky substantiated claims of improper conduct and retaliation against Vice President Rich Boyer. Fain has denied the allegations and accused Barofsky of political bias linked to the union's Gaza ceasefire position.

President Trump proposed a 20% reimbursement fee on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz after positioning the U.S. as its guardian, then rescinded the plan in favor of Gulf investment commitments. The announcement occurred four and a half months into an Iran conflict and followed an Oval Office meeting with the Iraqi prime minister. Sources report Trump citing calls from Gulf leaders preferring U.S. factory investments over fees.

An ICE-involved shooting killed a Colombian man in Biddeford, Maine. Former state Sen. Troy Jackson and Nirav Shah joined protests outside Sen. Susan Collins’s office, where demonstrators chanted against her reelection bid. Graham Platner withdrew as the Democratic Senate nominee following domestic violence and rape allegations.

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday proposing a 20% reimbursement fee on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz and declaring the U.S. as its guardian. He rescinded the fee order within 25 hours in favor of trade deals with Gulf states. Iran's foreign minister responded that reimbursement was justified but the rate was excessive.

President Trump has nominated Jay Clayton, who previously chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission, to serve as Director of National Intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard. Clayton is scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee, chaired by Sen. Tom Cotton, following an interim period in which Bill Pulte served as acting director. Democrats had conditioned renewal of foreign intelligence authorities on ending Pulte's acting role.

More than 100 wildfires are active in Canada, including nearly 200 in northern Ontario, with smoke carried southeast into U.S. states. The 1.1-million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was closed after 17 lightning-caused fires spread for over a week, while air quality alerts were issued across Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Washington, D.C. A freight train was halted by flames in Canada with no reported injuries to workers.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated at a Pennsylvania summit that Russian battlefield recruits face an average life expectancy of 20 to 30 minutes due to AI-powered drones. Separate estimates from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a Center for Strategic and International Studies report detail high Russian casualty rates since 2022. Ukraine's drone capabilities are also noted in the reporting.

Graham Platner suspended his campaign last Wednesday and withdrew from the Maine Senate race on Saturday following a sexual assault allegation by a Maine woman, after pressure from Bernie Sanders. Our Revolution endorsed Troy Jackson last week and is hosting a virtual rally with him on Monday night; Ro Khanna revoked his prior endorsement of Platner and backed Jackson last Thursday. Shenna Bellows is also seeking the nomination.

Lindsey Graham died over the weekend while serving as Senate Budget Committee chair, and Mitch McConnell is absent for health reasons, reducing the GOP Senate majority by two seats. The House-passed SAVE America Act, which requires voter ID, proof of citizenship for registration, and bans mail-in ballots, has no path through the Senate due to insufficient support to overcome a filibuster. The House returns Monday amid internal GOP divisions over attaching the measure to must-pass legislation.

Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, was detained by armed Israeli settlers in a West Bank military zone on Wednesday without prior Israeli military approval. He contacted the U.S. Embassy for assistance and later clashed with a Fox News host over details of the incident. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed settler violence in a separate interview, describing it as limited to a small number of individuals.

Donald Trump completed a court-ordered wire transfer of $5,625,005.48 to E. Jean Carroll after a New York jury found him liable for sexual assault and defamation. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, appointed by President Bill Clinton, directed the payment following the Supreme Court's decision not to review the case.

Meta announced an increase in its Louisiana data center investment from $10 billion to $50 billion for the Richland Parish facility nicknamed Hyperion. The project involves a nearly 10-million-square-foot, five-gigawatt installation that Meta states it will fully fund over a 20-year agreement with Entergy Louisiana. Separate reporting indicates the total cost may reach $250 billion.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died late Saturday at George Washington University Hospital from aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The 71-year-old retired Air Force Reserve colonel experienced chest pains the previous evening and contacted a staffer before being transported by emergency responders. His office attributed the death to a brief and sudden illness.

The House approved the Sunshine Protection Act by a 308-117 vote to establish permanent daylight saving time nationwide, with an opt-out option for states. Sen. Tom Cotton has opposed the measure despite prior Senate support and endorsement from President Trump. The bill builds on 2022 legislation that passed the Senate but stalled in the House.

Yoni Gontownik, Randy Brown, and Shamikh Kazmi formed Freedom Fuel Network, which opened 25 stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey advertising gasoline at $3.47 per gallon. The venture received public endorsement from President Trump and social-media amplification from the White House. All reported details originate from the Washington Examiner.

CENTCOM stated a maritime blockade of Iranian ports would begin Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, following U.S. strikes on Iranian defense and maritime sites. Iran and the IRGC reported attacks on tankers and U.S. positions, while the UAE reported one death from strikes on its vessels. Trump proposed a 20 percent cargo fee, contrasting with an earlier Oman routing plan developed with Iranian officials.

The United Kingdom designated the IMCR, also known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, as a terrorist organization on Monday along with proxies and volunteers linked to Russia's GRU military intelligence agency. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that support or assistance for the designated groups carries penalties of up to 14 years in prison. The action followed antisemitic attacks in London earlier this year, including arson incidents, and occurred under new legislation allowing bans on state-linked groups for the first time.

A 26-year-old Colombian national, Joan Sebastian Guerrero, was shot and killed by ICE officers in Maine on Monday after allegedly driving toward an agent during an operation. The victim was not the target of the arrest warrant. ICE subsequently directed agents nationwide to limit vehicle stops except for the most serious criminal cases and to obtain judicial warrants for residential entries.

US Vice President JD Vance stated 'Well, go to hell' during a Tuesday interview with Joe Rogan in response to reports of an Israeli-funded campaign targeting Iran negotiations. The remarks occurred days after renewed US airstrikes on Iran and referenced a Time magazine article alleging payments to former Trump adviser Brad Parscale. Vance also rejected accusations of foreign influence on his own positions.

Iran-backed Houthi forces fired a ballistic missile at Saudi Arabia that was intercepted by air defenses, according to reports. Yemen's Saudi-backed government conducted airstrikes at Sanaa International Airport on Monday to block an Iranian plane carrying Houthi delegates, which then landed at Hodeidah airport instead.

President Trump stated on Fox & Friends that an 11-hour negotiating session with Iranian representatives occurred on Sunday, during which a deal was reached before revisions were requested. U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets took place the same day, confirmed by a CENTCOM statement. Trump referenced prior deals and long-term U.S. protection of the Strait of Hormuz.

Washington Examiner reporting confirms DSA-affiliated candidates hold positions including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and Janeese Lewis George, alongside 2025 convention results showing Groundwork Caucus at 19.6 percent and Socialist Majority Caucus at 16.6 percent of first-rank National Political Committee votes. The organization does not release caucus membership totals. Daily Wire-sourced claims of increasing hostility to the Democratic Party remain unverified.

On May 15, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo was pulled over in Las Vegas by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for failing to come to a full stop before a right turn. Lombardo identified himself during the stop, and no citation was issued. The incident was recorded on body camera and reported by two outlets.

JD Vance appeared on the Joe Rogan podcast episode released Wednesday, stating the administration mishandled communications around the Epstein files release. He described internal differences with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles over transparency decisions. Vance also referenced Epstein's alleged connections to intelligence elements.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania stated during an interview at the Hill Nation Summit that he would leave the party if it formally became the anti-Israel party. He expressed concern that Democrats might turn their back on Israel. Two sources reported the remarks and related House votes on Israel aid.

Multiple right-leaning sources report that Sen. Lindsey Graham died at age 71, with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointing his sister Darline Graham Nordone to the seat on President Trump's recommendation. An August special primary is scheduled, while the FBI investigates circumstances of death. Date of death and medical details remain disputed or unverified across outlets.

U.S. Capitol Police arrested an armed individual at the North Barricade around noon on Monday. The incident involved a Ford Bronco containing a firearm and a dog; the area was closed for investigation. Police are examining the suspect's identity and motives, with all details drawn from a single source.

Supported forecasts indicate more than 100 million Americans will face triple-digit temperatures later this week, marking the second such event in a month, with prior peaks of 116°F in Phoenix and 110°F in Utah and Montana. The heat dome is shifting eastward, with Northeast highs including up to 101°F in the Washington D.C. area expected Wednesday and Thursday. Unverified projections of widespread new records, particularly overnight lows, remain under discussion.

Sen. Lindsey Graham died suddenly at age 71. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed his sister Darline Graham Nordone to fill the vacancy on Monday, with swearing-in scheduled for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. Nordone will serve the remainder of the term ending in the current election year.

CENTCOM stated that three Corsair unmanned surface vessels struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Iran's Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the reported first U.S. combat employment of sea drones. The operation was described as degrading Iran's capacity to attack commercial shipping. Coverage is limited to two right-center sources with several timing and scope details remaining unverified.

The Trump administration initiated a campaign against the ICC on Monday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiling the effort in a video address. Supported claims confirm Trump's prior opposition to the court and intensified actions in his second term. Unverified details include descriptions of a whole-of-government response and the US non-ratification of the Rome Statute.

Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democratic congressman from California, entered a West Bank military zone without Israeli government clearance and was detained, according to Washington Examiner and The Blaze reporting. A New York Times photographer accompanied the group, and Khanna was quoted in the New York Times regarding the incident. Multiple claims about Khanna's subsequent X posts remain unverified.

Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) hosted the Defense and Innovation Summit on a Tuesday at the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Approximately 500 companies attended, with 250 securing seven 20-minute meetings each. Roughly 70-80% of attending companies maintain business operations in Pennsylvania.

Washington Examiner reports supported claims that Iran sought to assassinate President Donald Trump on Air Force One ahead of the Butler, Pennsylvania anniversary and that Trump declared the memorandum of understanding with Iran over. New York Post reports unverified statements attributed to former IRGC commander Hossein Kanani Moghaddam regarding assassination capabilities, negotiation intent, and retaliation. All cited sources are right-leaning outlets, limiting perspective diversity.

Sen. Lindsey Graham died Saturday night of an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Washington Examiner and New York Post reported the death and related details. Multiple unverified claims about the circumstances remain unconfirmed.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law on Saturday after President Trump announced on Friday he would not sign it. Trump cited Senate inaction on the SAVE America Act in a Truth Social post. Reporting differs on whether the protest also involved voter ID legislation.