WASHINGTONPOST (Dan Merica) - The midterms are over. Sort of.
Most Americans don’t live in competitive House districts, so who will represent them in Congress next year was likely decided in the primary.
AXIOS (Holly Otterbein) - An aging Congress' dilemma: Can they regulate AI without using it?
Members of Congress and governors are under increasing pressure to regulate AI , but more than two dozen of them who spoke with Axios said they don't use the technology or have rarely done so. Why it matters: That striking admission — particularly among older, influential lawmakers — comes amid calls for an AI slowdown and warnings within the industry that it could end humanity if left unchecked. - Critics argue that it's impossible for politicians to grasp how rapidly the technology is changing — and the threats or scientific breakthroughs it might unleash — if they don't use it or even dismiss it. One House Democrat called it "f*cking absurd," arguing, "Anyone who's overseeing this has to be someone who's a regular user." -…
AXIOS (Mike Zapler) - Trump escalates war on federal data
The nerdy, traditionally apolitical world of federal data is increasingly getting swept up in the Trump administration's push to control every level of government. - Across the federal government, agencies are changing how they collect and publicize information. More and more, politics and ideology are part of the equation. Why it matters: Reliable, unbiased data informs nearly everything the federal government does — from distributing benefits and enforcing workplace discrimination laws to responding to public health threats. Driving the news: The administration's moves in recent weeks span an array of agencies and types of data. Measles. Reuters reported that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked the CDC…
AXIOS (Russell Contreras) - Household income hits record, but lower earners lose ground
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1968 to 2026 Annual Social and Economic Supplements ; Note: Census identifies breaks in the series in 2013 and 2017 due to methodological changes; Chart: Russell Contreras/Axios U.S. household income hit a record in 2025, but the lowest earners barely shared in the gains, new Census data show. Why it matters: On paper, Americans look richer than ever. But broader measures of financial security show millions still getting squeezed by medical costs , uneven income gains and a thinning public safety net. - The 2025 Census report largely captures the economy before the major safety-net reductions in President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" took hold. - That makes this year's record income…
ABCNEWS (ABC News: Top Stories) - Federal Reserve expected to raise interest rates for the first time since 2023
The consequential move arrives less than two months before the midterm elections.
NYTIMES (Jeanna Smialek and Matina Stevis-Gridneff) - Canada Could Become the E.U.’s First ‘Associate Member’
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the bloc’s executive arm, has invited Ottawa closer as both sides look to navigate complicated geopolitical challenges.
NYTIMES (James Loeffler) - For Trump, Jews Are Proving to Be a Very Useful Tool
Debates about Jews are never just about Jews.
NYTIMES (David Wallace-Wells, Rachael Bedard, Anthony Rostain and Jillian Weinberger) - What R.F.K. Jr. Gets Wrong — and Right — About Antidepressants
What’s missing in the national conversation on mental health medication.
YOUTUBE (CNN) - Fireworks sparked deadly fire in Washington, investigators say
Video from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Washington shows what investigators say started the Chelan Hills Fire on July 4. The blaze scorched nearly 10,000 acres and killed one person, according to CNN affiliate KING.
YOUTUBE (CNN) - Skyrocketing fuel prices spark protests around the globe
Protesters are taking to the streets around the world to voice anger about skyrocketing fuel prices and rolling blackouts, as the now monthslong US war with Iran drives up the cost of energy globally.