US launches new wave of strikes against Iran after pause in violence
The United States has launched a new wave of strikes against Iran, targeting military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and maritime capabilities. The strikes came just hours after President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran "very hard" in retaliation for Tehran's attempted attack on US forces. Jordan's military said it intercepted five missiles fired from Iran, while Egyptian officials reported a drone sparked a fire at a port on the Mediterranean coast.
The new strikes follow a four-day lull in fighting between the US and Iran, which was intended to allow for diplomacy. However, the pause in violence was shattered when Tehran launched a surprise attack targeting a US base in Jordan. The US military said it completed a "heavy wave of strikes" against Iran on Thursday, with dozens of targets hit.
Where the accounts differ
The accounts from different outlets conflict on several points. Al Jazeera reports that Iran's economy has not collapsed despite five months of war with the United States, citing experts who say the country's diversified domestic economy and shadowy oil transfers have helped keep it resilient. However, The Hill notes that the US Senate has advanced a bill to impose harsher sanctions on Russia and buyers of Russian oil and gas, which includes extending existing sanctions on Iran.
CBS News reports that two-thirds of adult Americans say the war in Iran has not been worth fighting, according to a new AP-NORC poll. However, The Hill notes that 61% of Republicans approve of how Trump is handling Iran, an apparent decline from 71% in June.
The accounts also conflict on the number of casualties in the US strikes against Iran. CBS News reports that three members of the same family were killed and two others wounded in the US strike on Qeshm island, while The Guardian notes that the IRGC said three of its members were killed in a US attack on the northwestern Zanjan province.
Dr. Anthony Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment at Senate Hearing
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a career civil servant who spent 38 years at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (Niaid), declined to answer questions from Senator Rand Paul during a high-profile Senate hearing on Wednesday. The hearing was centered around an assertion by Paul that the Covid pandemic began in 2020 as a "leak" from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, even as virologists see a natural jump from animals to humans as more likely.
Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right under the US Constitution to refrain from answering questions, citing advice from his attorneys. Paul has interrogated Fauci in the past and appeared to know that Fauci would invoke the Fifth Amendment this time around. The senator had a copy of a law ready to hand to Fauci, which he claimed compelled Fauci to testify.
Where the accounts differ
The accounts conflict on the number of times Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment. According to The Daily Wire and New York Post, Fauci took the Fifth at least 111 times. However, FOX News reports that Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment "throughout the hearing" but does not provide a specific number.
Additionally, The Guardian reports that Paul had a copy of a law ready to hand to Fauci, which he claimed compelled Fauci to testify. This detail is not mentioned in other accounts.
Senate Committee Postpones Vote on Todd Blanche's Attorney General Nomination Amid Concerns Over Trump-IRS Settlement
The Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed its vote on the nomination of Todd Blanche as attorney general due to concerns over a settlement between President Donald Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. The settlement, which was reached in May, included a provision for a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" to compensate people who claim they were victims of political weaponization by the Justice Department. However, the fund faced strong bipartisan opposition and was blocked by a federal judge.
The postponement comes after Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis expressed concerns over the settlement, including its provision for tax audit immunity for Trump and his family. Cornyn has stated that he wants written assurances that the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is dead and that the settlement will only protect the Trumps from audits involving returns filed before May 19.
The Justice Department has provided a written proposal to address some of the concerns, but Cornyn has said it does not meet his demands. The committee spokesperson stated that the vote was postponed "as work continues to secure sufficient support" in favor of Blanche's nomination.
Where the accounts differ
- UPI and CBS News report that the settlement included a provision for tax audit immunity for Trump and his family, while NPR and Straight Arrow News do not mention this detail.
- The Daily Wire reports that the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" was met with fierce resistance from members on both sides of the aisle after its unveiling in May, but UPI and CBS News report that it faced strong bipartisan opposition.
- Straight Arrow News quotes Trump as saying he didn't endorse Cornyn because he thought Paxton would be a better candidate, while NPR reports that Trump downplayed the dispute by suggesting Cornyn was upset with him.
Russian strikes across Ukraine kill at least 8 civilians and wound dozens.
Russian forces launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine overnight into Thursday, killing at least eight civilians and wounding dozens of others. The attacks spanned regions across Ukraine, including areas far from the front line in the east of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia fired more than 70 missiles, a significant number of them ballistic, along with over 280 attack drones.
The heaviest casualties and damage were reported in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region and the western region of Lviv. In Lviv, at least 30 people were injured, according to Maksym Kozytskyi, head of the Lviv regional military administration. Rescue operations were underway at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian missile in Lviv.
Where the accounts differ
The accounts from NPR and The Guardian conflict on the number of missiles that crossed into Polish airspace. According to NPR, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that a Russian cruise missile entered Poland's airspace during the onslaught. However, The Guardian reports that only one missile crossed into Polish airspace, according to Polish Defence Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Additionally, NPR quotes Zelenskyy as saying that at least 10 Ukrainian regions were attacked, with dozens of homes, businesses, and infrastructure facilities destroyed or damaged. In contrast, Newsweek reports that Ukraine's air defences intercepted 55 missiles and 65 drones launched by Moscow, but does not mention the number of regions affected.
Wildfires rage across France and Spain, fueled by heatwaves and drought.
Wildfires are sweeping across southwestern France and northern Spain, forcing thousands of people to evacuate their homes and vacation sites. The blazes have been fueled by a prolonged heatwave and drought conditions, which have left vegetation extremely dry and prone to burning. In France, the largest wildfire is located in the Gironde region near Bordeaux, where over 220,000 people were forced to flee at the peak of the crisis. Authorities have warned that the danger has not passed, despite some progress being made in containing the fire.
In Spain, crews are still battling fires in several regions, including Madrid, Ávila, Toledo, and Valencia. The largest wildfire on record is burning in Ávila, covering an area of roughly 195 square miles. Authorities have evacuated 79,000 people and told 30,000 others to stay in their homes.
Where the accounts differ
The accounts from different outlets conflict on the number of people affected by the wildfires. The BBC reports that over 56,500 people have been evacuated in the Madrid region alone, while NPR states that around 200,000 people had to evacuate their homes and vacation sites in France and nearly 100,000 in Spain.
Additionally, the Associated Press reports that investigators believe routine brush-clearing work near a high-voltage line may have sparked the Gironde fire, while Mother Jones attributes the formation of "fire clouds" or pyrocumulonimbus clouds to the intense heat and dry conditions.
Fed holds interest rates steady despite Trump’s renewed calls to lower them
The US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, with a 9-3 vote in favor of maintaining the current rate range of 3.5% to 3.75%. The decision was made despite President Donald Trump's renewed calls for rate cuts. Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh said that the central bank is committed to fighting inflation and restoring price stability.
The decision comes amid growing uncertainty over the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East on global oil prices and prices for consumers. Oil prices have risen significantly, with Brent crude reaching above $89 a barrel. The war in Iran has increased economic pressure, driven by rising fuel costs as the United States and Iran use the crucial Strait of Hormuz as a point of negotiation.
Warsh emphasized that the Fed's goal is to restore price stability and bring down inflation, which has been above the 2% target for more than five years. He also highlighted the importance of the Fed's independence and its commitment to making policy decisions based on economic data rather than politics.
Where the accounts differ
The accounts from The Guardian and BBC report that Warsh said there is no "magic wand" to ease the cost of living, while The Daily Wire reports that he said the Fed has "no tolerance for persistently elevated inflation." The UPI account states that three regional Fed presidents voted against the decision, saying they'd raise rates to fight inflation. However, The Guardian and BBC accounts do not mention this detail.
The Newsweek account focuses on the impact of the Fed's decision on mortgage rates, while NPR discusses the potential effects of AI on the economy and job market.
Democrats debate direction as Michigan voters weigh Senate candidates
The Democratic Party's future is being debated in Michigan, where two candidates are vying for a crucial Senate seat. Rep. Haley Stevens and former public health official Abdul El-Sayed have both campaigned at The Dovetail coffee shop in Warren, Michigan, a key community in Macomb County. Stevens has the support of Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Gary Peters, while El-Sayed is backed by progressive figures like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
The debate over the party's direction is not just about ideology, but also about demographics. Black voters are poised to play a decisive role in the primary, with some supporting Stevens and others backing El-Sayed. The two candidates have different approaches to issues like healthcare and immigration, reflecting the broader divisions within the Democratic Party.
Where the accounts differ
NPR reports that the debate is not just about left versus right, but also about generational and racial divides. Christian Science Monitor focuses on the role of Black voters in the primary, highlighting their potential to hand the progressive movement a high-profile defeat or victory. FOX News emphasizes Stevens' criticism of El-Sayed as a "celebrity candidate," while The Daily Wire reports that El-Sayed owns three rental properties, including two overseas, and has criticized "greedy landlords." Washington Examiner examines the primary as a test of socialism's reach with Black voters.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Calls on Senator Mitch McConnell to Prove He Is Fit to Serve or Resign
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has written a letter to Senator Mitch McConnell, urging him to prove he is fit to continue serving in the Senate or resign. This comes after McConnell's prolonged absence from Congress due to a hospital stay and rehabilitation. In his letter, Beshear stated that McConnell should directly address the people of Kentucky about his ability to serve and provide proof of his capacity to do so.
McConnell was hospitalized on June 14 after a fall at his home and has since been undergoing physical therapy and rehabilitation. His office released a statement saying he is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office. Beshear's letter also called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to investigate McConnell's condition if he does not prove he is capable of continuing his term.
The dispute has sparked debate over transparency surrounding aging elected officials' health. Some have questioned whether McConnell is fit to serve, while others argue that he should be given time to recover and return to work.
Where the accounts differ
The accounts from the Washington Examiner and Newsweek report on a letter sent by Beshear to Thune, but only the Washington Examiner provides quotes from Republican strategists criticizing Beshear's move. The New York Post does not mention these quotes. The Straight Arrow News account reports that McConnell has not cast a Senate vote or participated in official business since his hospitalization, while the other accounts do not provide this information.