⚡ Today in History

On August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, banning practices used to block Black Americans from voting. In 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, killing more than 70,000 people. Today? Michigan Democrats nominated Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate, positioning him to become the first Muslim senator in American history if he wins in November.

Top News

Russia hits Kyiv again, killing 17 17 KILLED

Russia fired 24 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 115 drones at Kyiv and its suburbs overnight Tuesday. The strikes hit a retail warehouse, a delivery company and a train station outside the capital. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted none of the ballistic missiles, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, as the country runs low on Patriot interceptors. The attack killed at least 17 people and wounded 44 others, the third major strike on Kyiv in about a week.

Trump says Hormuz reopening “soon” as Iran denies direct talks

The US-Iran conflict entered its sixth month this week with no ceasefire in place. President Trump said Wednesday the Strait of Hormuz would reopen soon, while Iranian officials said they are negotiating only with Oman, not Washington directly. Iran and Oman have agreed on coordinates for a safe shipping corridor through the strait, a narrow passage that carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil. Oil prices have fallen this week on hopes a deal is close.

El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary in blow to AIPAC

Michigan Democrats narrowly nominated progressive public health advocate Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, defeating Rep. Haley Stevens. The race drew more than $60 million in outside spending, mostly from pro-Israel groups working to defeat El-Sayed. El-Sayed, who is Egyptian American, will face Republican Mike Rogers in November. A win would make him the first Muslim senator in U.S. history.

Ex-felon charged with starting Spokane's largest wildfire

A witness reported seeing Aaron Farinacci, 37, kneeling in dry grass northwest of Spokane, Washington, just before the Old Trails Fire ignited Saturday. Deputies arrested Farinacci Monday on a first-degree arson charge; he was carrying waterproof matches and a lighter, according to court records. Farinacci served time for killing his father in Arizona in 2010. The Old Trails Fire and two others have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced about 67,000 people to evacuate.

Chipotle pulls jalapeños after Salmonella outbreak link

Chipotle temporarily pulled jalapeños from restaurants in Minnesota this week after learning the supply may be linked to a salmonella outbreak. The company said it is working with health officials to confirm the source. Shares fell as much as 8% on the news before paring losses. Chipotle said protecting guests and employees remains its top priority.

Russian drone wreckage found inside Moldova

Wreckage from a Russian Geran-2 attack drone was found Wednesday near the village of Valeni in southern Moldova, close to the Ukrainian border. The debris adds to a string of Russian drone wreckage crossing into neighboring countries during the war's fifth year. Moldovan authorities opened a forensic investigation into how the drone entered the country.

World

Drone-hit vessel sinks off Yemen coast 10 MILES OUT

An uncrewed surface drone struck a vessel in the Red Sea's Bab al-Mandeb Strait on Tuesday, sparking a fire onboard. The ship later sank about 10 miles off the coast of Al Mukha, Yemen, the UK Maritime Trade Operations center said. No casualties have been reported. The strait sits at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, a route used by ships avoiding the blocked Strait of Hormuz.

Houthis claim attack on Saudi oil tanker

Yemen's Houthi rebels said Wednesday they struck a Saudi-flagged vessel in the Red Sea. The claim adds to a pattern of shipping attacks since the regional conflict widened beyond Israel and Gaza. Saudi Arabia has continued talks with the Houthis through Omani mediators to contain the fallout. Commercial shipping through the region remains at risk despite diplomatic efforts underway in Muscat and Rome.

Israel, Lebanon resume disarmament talks in Rome

Israeli and Lebanese officials met in Rome this week to work out details of a June framework requiring Hezbollah to disarm. Talks broke off Wednesday afternoon but are set to resume Thursday morning, an official said, calling earlier sessions productive. Israel has said it will not withdraw troops from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah gives up its weapons. Hezbollah has not yet agreed to disarm.

Iran executes 56 tied to protests since March, UN says

Iran has executed at least 56 people on national security charges since March, United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said this week. Twenty-seven of those executions were linked to anti-government protests earlier this year. More than 100 additional prisoners face similar charges and risk execution, Turk said. The tally comes six months into Iran's conflict with the United States over its nuclear program.

Ukraine hits more Russian oil refineries in Bashkortostan

Ukraine widened its drone campaign against Russian oil infrastructure this week, striking refinery facilities in the Bashkortostan region. Ukrainian forces also targeted warehouses used by Russian retailer Wildberries, which Kyiv says supports the country's military supply chains. Russia's Defense Ministry said it shot down 107 Ukrainian drones over the Tula region in a single overnight period. Both sides have escalated strikes on logistics hubs as the war grinds into its fifth year.

Politics

Vance touts $230B in fraud caught, presses Congress $230B FOUND

Vice President JD Vance told a White House roundtable Wednesday that a federal task force has identified $230 billion in fraud across Medicare, Medicaid and pandemic-era loan programs. The task force has already halted $56 billion in fraudulent payments, Vance said. He asked Congress to pass legislation forcing states to share benefit data with federal agencies. Vance said the changes should be written into law so a future administration cannot reverse them.

Rogers clinches unopposed GOP nod for Michigan Senate seat

Former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers won Michigan's Republican Senate primary Tuesday without opposition, clearing the way for a November matchup with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. President Trump said this week he expects Rogers to perform better against El-Sayed than he would have against Stevens. The race is expected to be among the most competitive in the country and could help decide control of the Senate.

McKinney beats Thanedar in Detroit congressional primary

Democratic socialist State Rep. Donavan McKinney defeated incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar in Michigan's 13th Congressional District primary Tuesday. McKinney campaigned alongside national progressive figures during the primary season, framing the race as part of a broader leftward shift among Michigan Democrats. His win came the same night as Abdul El-Sayed's Senate primary victory over Haley Stevens.

Army missile stockpile shrinking, could take years to rebuild

The US Army's missile stockpile has dwindled after months of supporting Ukraine and Israel in overlapping conflicts, NPR reported this week. Replenishing the supply could take years given current production capacity, defense officials said. The shortage has already limited how many Patriot interceptors the US can send to Ukraine, which is battling near-daily Russian missile strikes. Officials say expanding production lines remains a slow, multi-year process.

Whitmer, Slotkin urge Democrats to unite behind El-Sayed

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who endorsed Haley Stevens late last month, congratulated Abdul El-Sayed on his primary win and called for party unity. Sen. Elissa Slotkin said she wants El-Sayed as a partner in the Senate ahead of the November election. Stevens conceded and pledged support, saying primaries exist so Democrats can settle disagreements before facing Republicans in the general election.

Markets

Dow hits record high as S&P snaps 4-day win streak 54,349

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 263 points Wednesday to close at a record 54,349, its fifth straight gain. The S&P 500 slipped 0.17% to 7,723.55, ending a four-session winning streak as investors booked profits on tech stocks. Strong earnings from Eli Lilly and Walt Disney helped offset losses in chipmakers. Futures were little changed early Thursday as traders weighed a possible Hormuz deal.

Gold nears $4,300 on Hormuz deal hopes

Gold climbed toward $4,300 an ounce Thursday, its fourth straight gain, rising nearly 6% over the week. The rally tracks growing hope that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz will ease inflation pressure and interest-rate worries. Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on a shipping corridor through the strait. Markets now expect just one more Federal Reserve rate increase this year, down from two.

Oil eases as Iran, Oman near shipping deal

Brent crude traded near $80 a barrel Thursday, holding a recent decline as diplomacy around the Strait of Hormuz advances. Iran and Oman have agreed on coordinates for a safe shipping route through the strait, though Tehran denies talking directly with Washington. Lower oil prices could ease pump costs for US drivers if the trend holds. Analysts caution the conflict has stalled before after similar optimism.

Bitcoin climbs toward $65K on ETF inflows

Bitcoin traded near $64,800 Thursday, up about 0.8% over the past day, as spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $211 million. BlackRock's IBIT fund accounted for more than $170 million of that total. Bitcoin has tracked the Dow closely in recent weeks, suggesting broader economic sentiment is driving crypto prices. Buyers have defended the $62,500 to $63,000 range multiple times this month.

SpaceX slumps 14% despite earnings beat, AMD sinks

SpaceX shares tumbled 14% Wednesday even after beating earnings estimates, as roughly $101 billion of shares became eligible for trading. AMD fell 5% despite doubling its data center revenue, reflecting investor worry over AI spending. Retail investors have kept buying SpaceX on net every trading day since its June IPO, according to VandaTrack. The stock remains nearly 50% below its intraday peak from mid-June.

Entertainment

Spider-Man: Brand New Day crosses $1.15B in a week $1.15B

Sony and Marvel's “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” opened to $355 million domestically, the second-biggest debut in box office history behind “Avengers: Endgame.” The film reached $1.15 billion worldwide within seven days, becoming the highest-grossing movie of 2026. About 24.1 million moviegoers bought tickets in its opening weekend, according to EntTelligence. Analysts now expect the summer box office to top $4 billion for the first time since 2019.

Don Jr. buys out Guilfoyle's stake in Florida mansion

Donald Trump Jr. paid $7.6 million this week to buy out ex-fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle's stake in the Florida mansion they once shared, according to a deed filed Monday. The couple bought the 11,000-square-foot home together for $9.7 million in 2021. The purchase closes out one of the last financial ties between the former couple.

Zac Brown Band marks 15th straight Fenway sellout with cruise giveaway

Zac Brown Band celebrated its 15th consecutive sold-out concert at Boston's Fenway Park this week by giving every attendee a free cruise vacation. The streak marks one of the longest sellout runs by a country act at the venue. The band has built its Fenway residency into an annual summer tradition since its first show there.

“The Pitt” leads Astra TV Award nominations

“The Pitt” picked up 12 nominations for the 6th Astra TV Awards, more than any other show this year. The Hollywood Creative Alliance will present the awards in Los Angeles on August 15. Nominations were announced in late May, with television coverage details still to be confirmed.

Hollywood eyes first $10B box office year since pandemic

Industry analysts say a record-breaking summer, powered by “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and “The Odyssey,” has raised the odds of a $10 billion box office year. Yearly grosses have not reached that mark since before the pandemic reset the theater business. Upcoming releases including “Dune: Part Three” and “Avengers: Doomsday” could help sustain the pace into the fall.