Front Page
Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general
The Senate confirmed Todd Blanche, a former personal attorney to President Donald Trump, as attorney general. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy cast the deciding vote after Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski opposed the nomination; every Democrat voted against it.
The Guardian - The Wall Street Journal
Weak July jobs report pushes stocks to records
The U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, contrary to analysts’ expectations of job growth. The report prompted traders to reduce expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike, while all three major stock indexes rose and the S&P 500 reached a record.
Russian strikes near Kyiv kill three, including a child
Russian missile attacks near Kyiv killed three people, including a child, according to officials. The attacks came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine’s supplies of missile interceptors were dwindling.
National News
56 sets of remains found at Chicago funeral home
Authorities found the improperly stored and decomposing remains of 56 people at a Chicago funeral home. Illinois officials suspended the license of one of the directors, alleging that bodies were kept in an unrefrigerated area under “deplorable conditions.”
California wildfire kills one as police arrest suspected spark source
At least one person died in the Gann fire in California’s Calaveras County. Authorities say the blaze may have been started by a man using a chainsaw; police arrested 65-year-old Herbert Wayne Smith. The fire has destroyed seven buildings and burned more than 15 square miles.
Puerto Rico begins water rationing amid severe drought
Puerto Rico began 48-hour water rationing for more than 180,000 households as severe drought depleted reservoirs. Some residents are expected to go without water for two days at a time throughout August.
Al Jazeera - The Wall Street Journal
Politics
Senate passes stopgap funding bill to avert shutdown
The Senate passed a temporary spending bill more than a month before the government’s funding deadline. The measure would prevent a shutdown beginning Oct. 1 and fund the federal government through Dec. 11. It now goes to the House.
The New York Times - The Washington Post
Trump renews effort to remove Fed governor Lisa Cook
The White House notified Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook that President Trump was considering removing her over allegations of mortgage fraud. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling in June that blocked an earlier attempt and upheld the Federal Reserve’s independence.
Reuters - The Wall Street Journal
Appeals court keeps White House ballroom project blocked
A federal appeals court upheld an injunction pausing construction of President Trump’s proposed White House ballroom. The majority said Congress should decide whether the project can proceed, setting the stage for a possible Supreme Court showdown.
Business & Finance
U.S. EV owners face fewer attractive options as lease deals fade
Drivers who became accustomed to favorable electric-vehicle lease deals are now considering hybrids, gasoline-powered vehicles or higher prices, according to The Wall Street Journal. The shift marks a change in the U.S. electric-vehicle market.
Amazon data center in Texas tied to major gas-fired power plant
Amazon is investing in a natural-gas-burning power plant as part of a large Texas data center project. The planned facility is expected to be among the most polluting power plants in the United States, even as Amazon pledges to meet climate commitments.
Live-shopping platform Whatnot valued at $20 billion
Whatnot, a fast-growing live-shopping platform, nearly doubled its valuation in less than a year after new funding. The company is now valued at $20 billion.
World News
Colombia’s new president takes office with pledge to fight drug trafficking
Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in as Colombia’s president and promised a vigorous campaign against drug trafficking and armed groups. The Trump administration plans to provide his government with $1 billion in security assistance.
Typhoon Dolphin hits Japan as China prepares for landfall
Typhoon Dolphin struck Japan and was moving toward China, where ports were closed ahead of its expected landfall. Five elderly people in Japan suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including three who fell because of strong winds.
Iran and Oman reach a Strait of Hormuz framework
Iran and Oman agreed on a framework related to the Strait of Hormuz, but final approval from Tehran remained pending. U.S. officials said they expected a deal soon, while Iran reportedly vowed to block U.S. Navy ships from using the waterway.
Arts & Culture
Producer William Orbit dies at 69
William Orbit, who worked with Madonna, Blur, All Saints, Pink and U2, has died at 69. Tributes described him as a musical “genius and pioneer.”
Picasso print stolen from Milwaukee gallery returned after eight years
A 1949 Picasso print depicting a bullfighter, stolen from a Milwaukee gallery in 2018, was returned after someone dropped it at a local police station.
Netflix turns to an unusual billboard stunt to promote a film
Netflix paid an actor to spend three days inside a billboard on Los Angeles’ Sunset Boulevard as part of a campaign for an upcoming film. The stunt comes as the streaming company looks for a blockbuster after a summer slump.
Tech & Society
Meta ordered to pay $567 million in New Mexico child-safety case
A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million in a child-safety case. The penalty is in addition to $375 million the company was previously ordered to pay, bringing the total to $942 million. Meta plans to appeal.
OpenAI tightens controls after identifying potential cybersecurity risk
OpenAI flagged a possible critical cybersecurity risk in an upcoming model and strengthened its controls, according to Reuters.
UK children report more explicit deepfakes featuring their likenesses
A service that helps remove intimate images from the internet reported a rapid increase in digitally manipulated or AI-generated explicit images involving children. A safety watchdog warned that AI and “nudification” tools have made such content easier to produce.
Sports
Dodgers lose seventh straight game on walk-off homer
The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-3, after Ryan Waldschmidt hit a two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning against closer Edwin Díaz. The loss extended the Dodgers’ skid to seven games.
High divers compete in the Seine amid water-quality concerns
Paris hosted its first high-diving competition in the Seine, with athletes diving from a 20-meter platform near the Eiffel Tower. Training was suspended after traces of hydrocarbons were detected upstream, but the affected area was treated and competition resumed.
The Associated Press via The Guardian
Australia begins new rugby era against Japan
Australia opened a new era under coach Les Kiss in an international match against Japan in Osaka. The squad includes new staff and a group of players described as hard-hitters, gritty performers and tactically minded contributors.
| SAT | 💧 | SUN | MON | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 🌧️ 71/90 | 81% | ☁️ 72/96 | ☁️ 78/93 |
| Los Angeles | 🌫️ 65/93 | 0% | ⛅ 64/91 | ☁️ 73/93 |
| San Francisco | 🌫️ 56/68 | 2% | ☁️ 55/79 | ☀️ 58/77 |
| Chicago | 🌦️ 69/84 | 3% | ☁️ 65/89 | 🌦️ 69/85 |
| Houston | ☁️ 78/96 | 31% | ☁️ 77/96 | ⛈️ 79/100 |
| Dallas | ☁️ 81/103 | 11% | 🌦️ 78/101 | 🌤️ 83/104 |
| Phoenix | ☁️ 92/111 | 9% | ☁️ 87/113 | 🌦️ 89/111 |
| Philadelphia | 🌦️ 73/93 | 46% | 🌦️ 72/95 | ☁️ 77/96 |
| San Antonio | 🌤️ 77/99 | 5% | ☁️ 77/98 | 🌦️ 77/101 |
| San Diego | ☁️ 66/84 | 0% | ☁️ 67/83 | ☁️ 71/81 |
| San Jose | ☁️ 60/84 | 0% | ☀️ 59/94 | ☀️ 69/102 |
| Austin | ☁️ 77/100 | 4% | ☁️ 77/98 | ☁️ 78/103 |
| Jacksonville | ☁️ 78/91 | 31% | 🌧️ 76/95 | ⛈️ 77/99 |
| Fort Worth | ☁️ 82/102 | 5% | 🌤️ 80/101 | 🌤️ 82/105 |
| Columbus | 🌦️ 69/91 | 42% | ☁️ 70/93 | 🌦️ 70/92 |
| Charlotte | ☁️ 73/92 | 9% | ☁️ 72/94 | ☁️ 70/93 |
| Indianapolis | ☁️ 72/91 | 23% | ☁️ 71/94 | 🌦️ 70/93 |
| Seattle | ☁️ 59/83 | 1% | ☁️ 56/80 | ☁️ 54/82 |
| Denver | ☁️ 63/102 | 3% | ☁️ 66/100 | ☁️ 77/100 |
| Boston | ☁️ 73/91 | 32% | 🌦️ 70/91 | ☁️ 69/88 |
| Nashville | ☁️ 72/92 | 31% | ☁️ 76/92 | 🌦️ 71/94 |
| Detroit | ☁️ 71/93 | 15% | ☁️ 64/92 | 🌧️ 69/86 |
| Portland | ☁️ 60/86 | 0% | ☁️ 56/87 | ☁️ 58/83 |
| Las Vegas | ⛅ 86/113 | 2% | ☁️ 83/113 | ☁️ 92/113 |
| Miami | ☁️ 80/88 | 13% | ☁️ 79/88 | ⛈️ 80/89 |
| Atlanta | ☁️ 70/94 | 10% | 🌦️ 71/94 | ☁️ 77/91 |
| Minneapolis | ☁️ 57/84 | 11% | ☁️ 66/85 | ☁️ 69/92 |
| Kansas City | 🌤️ 69/93 | 3% | ☁️ 75/105 | ☁️ 81/105 |
| New Orleans | 🌦️ 76/92 | 24% | 🌦️ 77/92 | ⛈️ 81/94 |
| Honolulu | 🌦️ 75/89 | 37% | 🌦️ 75/87 | 🌦️ 75/86 |
| Anchorage | ☁️ 52/68 | 12% | ☁️ 55/70 | ☁️ 56/69 |