American senator and attorney from Missouri
President Donald Trump has said he will suspend the 18.4¢ federal gasoline tax "till it's appropriate" to ease rising pump prices, and has endorsed legislation Sen. Josh Hawley is introducing; the White House cannot act unilaterally and Congress must approve any suspension, which would cut roughly 4% from retail prices and reduce Highway Trust Fund revenue.
The AP and NYT report that Acting Attorney General Blanche faces House questions as Republicans push to set parameters around a $1.776 billion settlement fund linked to Trump allies. The fund’s fate shapes debates over immigration enforcement funding and potential payouts to Jan. 6 defendants.
The White House has issued a scaled-back executive order asking frontier AI firms to voluntarily share advanced models 30 days before release for cybersecurity review. Last week the administration has imposed export-style restrictions that forced Anthropic to cut access to its Fable and Mythos models, prompting industry alarm about ad hoc controls and the limits of the voluntary framework.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has moved toward ending federal monitorship after decades of oversight. Barbara Jones oversees the process with a path to a permanent compliance role; the union has implemented internal controls and vowed tougher discipline. The development follows ongoing mergers of union leadership and the approval of related reforms.
AP and FRONTLINE investigations have shown that U.S. AI models, cloud and internet providers and satellite services have been used to run industrial-scale romance and investment scams based in Southeast Asian compounds. The tools have enabled multilingual fake personas, automated replies and performance tracking; device and routing data tie much traffic to U.S.-registered firms and to Starlink connections in Myanmar.
The Senate confirms a permanent FEMA administrator candidate who has pledged objectivity and faster disaster decisions, amid concerns about partisan influence and staff downsizing.
During a Pride Night game, Giants players wore or modified Pride-themed caps; MLB warns against writing on caps, citing uniform rules. The incident has drawn political critique and calls for religious accommodation debates, with officials weighing legal and civil rights implications.
The Giants have faced backlash over Pride Night after pitchers wore Bible verses on rainbow caps. Posey has declined to revisit the topic, stating the focus remains on team matters while a broader controversy surrounding rights and identity swirls around MLB.
Governor Andy Beshear has pressed for a direct public update on Mitch McConnell’s health, urging him to prove his capacity to serve or resign. The push follows McConnell’s hospitalization after a June 14 fall and limited public updates from his office. Several lawmakers stress transparency amid ongoing questions about the senator’s ability to return to the Senate.
Anthropic and a web of AI safety groups are boosting political advertising through large donations to allied super PACs and nonprofits. FEC filings show rising spending as midterms approach. Major donors include Anthropic executives and OpenAI-aligned figures.
The political landscape remains deeply divided as parties press their bets ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democrats emphasize affordability and candidate momentum while Republicans highlight concerns about messaging and a changing economy. Trump’s address and congressional responses shape the campaign climate.
South Carolina Republicans are lining up to fill Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat after his death. Darline Graham Nordone is seeking a full term with Trump’s backing, while Ralph Norman and Russell Fry are mounting primary challenges ahead of the Aug. 11 vote. Filing closes July 28 and the November general election will determine the six-year term.
Dr Anthony Fauci has invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly while testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, refusing to answer questions about pandemic-era decisions, the origins of COVID-19 and alleged NIH-funded research in Wuhan. Chairman Sen. Rand Paul has said the committee will vote next week to hold Fauci in contempt and to refer the matter to prosecutors.