American politician and attorney, senior U.S. senator from Connecticut since 2011
Paramount+ is rolling out a free, ad-supported tier and testing micro dramas as part of a broader product revamp. The moves are designed to attract new users, boost engagement, and drive future subscriptions, while streaming peers remain constrained by antitrust scrutiny over Paramount’s potential WBD acquisition.
The Senate has advanced the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill, with bipartisan support and a high-profile backdrop including Zelenskyy’s Washington visit. The package targets Russia’s energy sector and its so-called “shadow fleet,” while expanding sanctions to Iran. House passage remains uncertain as August recess looms.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted 8–5 to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly during a hearing on pandemic decisions and the origins of COVID‑19. Chairman Rand Paul has authorised sending the committees report to the DC US attorney for possible prosecution and has threatened to certify the citation to the Senate president if the chamber is not in session.
California has argued in Alameda County that anti-abortion groups mislead about high‑dose progesterone to reverse abortion pills. The case against Heartbeat International and RealOptions Obria is in trial, with a ruling due within 90 days after closing arguments in September 2026.
The backlog at USCIS has surged to over 12.1 million people, with 5.6 million waiting six months or more for decisions on citizenship, residency, and work permits. A growing number of military families are being detained or deported as protections for service members’ relatives are rolled back across this period.
Democrats have launched a formal inquiry into whether the Pentagon and Homeland Security are coordinating to deport service members and their families, citing DHS and DoD friction and new AP findings. The letter questions policies that have led to deployments delayed to care for detained relatives, while lawmakers demand accountability and policy restoration.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted to refer a contempt of Congress motion against Fauci to the Justice Department. Fauci has invoked the Fifth Amendment during questioning, citing long-standing constitutional protections, while Republicans argue the move highlights accountability for pandemic-era actions; Democrats caution it could impede future oversight.
Families and lawmakers have raised alarms about living conditions and mental health aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been continuously at sea since November and has not made a port call for more than 240 days. Reports have cited food shortages, plumbing failures, water contamination and multiple attempted overboard incidents; senators have asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers.
Bloomberg reports on the Indian aerospace and media sectors, highlighting Netflix India’s large-scale production on Operation Safed Sagar, IndiGo’s fleet considerations with Embraer E2s, Tata Group’s appointment of a new CEO for Air India, and Cooper’s challenges with her podcast business.
The GAO has found that DOGE’s Wall of Receipts savings claims are not reliably supported by the data. Audits show many terminated contracts and leases were not actually terminated, and the methodology behind grant savings remains unverified. The watchdog report covers January 2025 to July 2026.
The Senate has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by 86–11, granting the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on top buyers of Russian oil and expanding sanctions on Russia and Iran. The bill now heads to the House, which will consider it after its August recess.
The USS George Washington has left Da Nang and is relocating toward the Indian Ocean as the Lincoln remains in the Middle East, underscoring a sustained, high-pressure naval posture amid Iran-related operations and logistic strains aboard deployed carriers.
Stars and Stripes has dismissed editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer and reporter Lara Korte after the Pentagon issued notices of separation citing insubordination. The journalists have filed a First Amendment lawsuit in Washington, DC, arguing the department is attempting to curb the paper's editorial independence after recent disputes over coverage and management changes.
The Justice Department has reached a $400m settlement with TikTok and related entities over alleged violations of the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act. TikTok will pay $300m immediately and another $100m after a court vacates a 2019 consent decree tied to Musical.ly. The deal resolves a 2024 DOJ suit and includes stronger youth safeguards, the department says.
The Trump administration has mobilized a broad sanctions push to choke Iran’s economy, promising the toughest penalties in history. Officials say secondary sanctions will target countries and firms doing business with Tehran, with aims to isolate Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz as the war disrupts regional trade.
Trump has said the CIA director’s trip to Moscow is “semi-routine,” while expressing a desire to end the Ukraine war. Kremlin says Ratcliffe met with security services, not Putin, during the visit. Ukraine and Russia remain locked in conflict as US sanctions and diplomatic channels continue to shift.
The Postal Service’s plan to implement Trump-era mail ballot procedures has been temporarily halted by a federal judge and is being appealed. Whistleblower allegations describe a rushed setup that could disenfranchise voters if implemented before the midterms, with the Supreme Court weighing next steps.
The acting Navy secretary has been nominated by the president to a permanent post as U.S. forces confront intensified strikes with Iran. The Lincoln has spent nine months at sea, while domestic political shifts accompany the military movements.
Congress has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 and President Trump has signed it into law. The law expands sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a "shadow fleet" of tankers, and grants the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Public voices warn of AI risks at Washington rally; Sanders and Bannon urge speed limits and safety rules, while Trump downplays concerns as lawmakers debate approaches.
California has launched an executive panel to study and accelerate AI safety rules, including potential mandatory kill switches for frontier models and independent safety oversight. The move comes amid a broad national debate on AI governance as lawmakers consider federal frameworks and regulators weigh how to regulate the rapidly evolving technology.
The president’s move to allow Russian diesel into global markets has drawn swift criticism from lawmakers who say Congress was not consulted. Officials warn the policy could fund Moscow’s war while doing little to relieve U.S. fuel prices amid ongoing energy volatility.
President Trump has issued an executive order waiving implementation of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act and approved a deal to import Russian diesel. Lawmakers from both parties have condemned the move, saying it undermines sanctions meant to punish Russia for its war on Ukraine and could strengthen Moscow financially as Ukraine faces winter attacks.
The Trump administration has waived sanctions under the Lindsey Graham Act, arguing it serves national interest. The move follows a controversial deal to import Russian diesel to curb energy prices, drawing sharp rebuke from Ukraine and some US lawmakers.