Good morning, everyone!
Welcome to all of our new readers. It is an honor to have you here. Each day, we will strive to learn something new about the world, both its past and present.
Today, we will look at U.S. politics, the situation in the Middle East, and this day through history.
Let’s get to it.
United States
-The average U.S. gas price stood at $4.06 yesterday, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to AAA.
-In a speech in Atlanta on Sunday, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff addressed President Donald Trump’s perceived closeness to his aide Natalie Harp, saying, “He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie on their apparently defenseless flying palace gifted by the emir of Qatar.”
Harp, 35, credits Trump’s signing of the 2018 Right to Try Act for allowing her access to experimental medical treatments that saved her life. She has worked for Trump since 2022 and has served in the role of Executive Assistant to the President since he returned to office last year.
The New York Times has previously reported on the closeness between the two, with Harp reportedly writing to Trump in a series of devotional letters, “You are all that matters to me” and “I want to bring you joy.”
Asked about Ossoff’s remarks yesterday in the Oval Office, Trump said, “You mean Pee Wee Herman?” referencing Ossoff.
-Trump’s approval rating has reached a new low, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
-Republican Mike Rogers holds a lead over Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race, according to a new Fox News poll.
In Texas, Republican Ken Paxton holds a slight lead over Democrat James Talarico, according to a new Emerson College poll.
-Trump will visit South Carolina on Friday to campaign with Senator Darline Graham.
His visit comes as Graham, the sister of Lindsey Graham who was appointed to serve the remainder of his term following his death, is facing off against Congressman Ralph Norman in a runoff election for the Republican nomination.
-Arizona Senator Mark Kelly is laying the groundwork to launch a 2028 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, according to Politico.
-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is traveling to Iowa in what the Pentagon said was a “personal capacity,” fueling speculation over a possible presidential run.
-The Democratic National Committee formally approved the early-state calendar for the 2028 presidential primary, with South Carolina slated to kick off the contest.
In remarks at the party’s summer meeting in Austin, Texas, party chairman Ken Martin said, “Our 2028 nominee, whoever they are, will have to earn the support across the full breadth of America. Every region, every demographic, every generation.”
-Prescription drug prices declined at the sharpest rate in more than 60 years in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Experts attribute the decline to the availability of more generic options and discount GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.
-Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appeared on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s podcast.
View it here:
-Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming will hold statewide primary elections today.
View a full list of the elections here.
-On this day in 1927, Rosalynn Carter was born in Plains, Georgia.
In 1988, Vice President George Bush accepted the Republican nomination for president in New Orleans.
Other Links:
Trump administration briefly pauses contentious border project in Texas’ Big Bend National Park - AP
Judge refuses to block Trump administration from building border wall along tribe’s reservation - ABC
Trump fails to undo E. Jean Carroll verdict at Supreme Court - Axios
Trump administration can’t scrap plan to move FBI headquarters to Md., judge rules - The Washington Post
Teen lifeguard and boy he rescued are honored at White House after Trump saw dramatic viral video - AP
Ethics Committee probing Jimmy Gomez for ‘inappropriate sexual contact with a House staffer’ - Politico
Nancy Mace debuts tattoos she got to ‘reclaim her body’ - USA Today
The Other Kushner Steps Into the Spotlight With $12.5 Billion Lakers Deal - The Wall Street Journal
US stocks edge further from their record after oil prices rise - AP
‘Beau, where are you?’: Jill Biden says she prays to late son about Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis - ABC
Lindsay Clancy’s mother, sister testify about her mental health struggles - The Boston Globe
Luigi Mangione’s state murder trial postponed indefinitely amid double jeopardy fight - AP
Africa
-Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema extended his lead over his main rival following last week’s general election.
Preliminary results showed Hichilema, who is seeking a second five-year term, with roughly 62% of votes cast, to 36% cast for challenger Brian Mundubile.
As results were being tallied, Mundubile claimed in a video posted to his social media that he had received reports of result manipulations, a claim a spokesperson for Hichilema called “lies.”
In 2021, Hichilema defeated incumbent President Edgar Lungu, whom critics accused of electoral fraud and violent suppression of dissidents. Hichilema’s election was viewed as a victory for political and economic reforms.
Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa and is home to roughly 6% of the world’s copper reserves and ranks as a top global producer of the rare mineral.
-The United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting today to discuss sanctions on Libya.
-On this day in 1964, South Africa was barred from participating in the Tokyo Olympics due to its refusal to rein in its system of racial apartheid.
The country would not compete at the Olympic Games until 1992 after the Afrikaner government took steps to dismantle apartheid, including a landmark referendum.
Other Links:
Unpaid health workers strike as Congo’s Ebola contact tracing falls behind - Africa News
Moroccan security forces arrest nearly 300 migrants trying to reach Spain’s Ceuta - AP
Somali troops push militiamen out of Baidoa after fierce fighting - Reuters
IMF to visit Uganda next month for negotiations on new programme - Reuters
‘Ghana was the crime scene’: The country leading the demand for slavery reparations - BBC
Americas and the Caribbean
-Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva formally kicked off his reelection campaign Sunday in São Bernardo do Campo.
At the same time, conservative Senator Flavio Bolsonaro kicked off his campaign in Rio de Janeiro.
Bolsonaro is the son of conservative former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for his efforts to remain in office following his election defeat to Lula in 2022.
Lula, 80, is seeking a fourth non-consecutive term amid concerns over his age. The leftist leader served two terms from 2003 to 2011, before returning to office in 2023 after defeating Bolsonaro.
The vote is scheduled for October 4.
-Secretary Hegseth said yesterday that Washington could possibly join Colombia in joint strikes against Colombian armed groups after new Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella floated the idea after assuming office last week.
-On this day in 1989, Colombian presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán was assassinated by cartel hitmen during a campaign rally near the capital, Bogotá.
Other Links:
US considers sanctions on Brazil judge in new test of diplomatic ties - Financial Times
78% of Argentine households earn below national average - UPI
Peru’s Economy Unexpectedly Slows as Fishing, Agriculture Slump - Bloomberg
Peru steps up fight against illegal gold mining as activity enters protected Amazon reserve - AP
Avocado pickers in Mexico welcome restart of exports to US, but security fears remain - AP
Asia/Indo-Pacific
-President Trump said yesterday that his decision to “substantially reduce” joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises planned for this week was related to Seoul’s refusal to aid Washington’s war effort against Iran.
Over the weekend, Trump announced that he had ordered the Pentagon to scale down the annual exercises while citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Pyongyang has long regarded the annual drills as “invasion rehearsals.”
Yesterday, Trump said that Kim had “always treated me with great respect.”
-Taiwanese President William Lai said this week that his government’s record defense spending was an investment in “peace.”
On Thursday, Lai’s cabinet is expected to unveil its 2027 budget that includes a record $31.40 billion in defense spending, exceeding 3% of gross domestic product for the first time.
The defense increase comes as Taipei contends with increased Chinese military activity around the self-governing island. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has pledged to bring it under its control by force if necessary.
Lai has said that the island is an independent, sovereign nation that would not give up its “free way of life under pressure.”
In his New Year’s address, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that his country’s “reunification” with Taiwan was “unstoppable.”
-On this day in 2023, President Joe Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at Camp David for trilateral talks.
Other Links:
Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 68, overshadowing Independence Day - AP
Heavy rains kill 1 in South Korea and flood major streets in Philippines - AP
China surprises oil markets again with a return to stockpiling in July - Reuters
China’s economy slows further in July as retail sales barely grow, investment slump steepens - CNBC
Cambodian opposition figure’s daughter appointed PM’s envoy in rare concession - Reuters
Europe
-Ukraine launched one of its largest aerial attacks against Russia since the beginning of the war in 2022.
On Sunday, Ukrainian forces lobbed hundreds of drones across Russia, killing at least six people.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces have retaken 288 square miles of territory held by Russia so far this year.
Currently, Russia controls approximately 19% to 20% of Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory.
-British Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with someone impersonating White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, according to press reports.
-On this day in 1991, Communist hardliners launched a coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
In 2025, President Trump hosted Zelenskyy and several other European leaders at the White House to discuss his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Other Links:
NATO fighter jet shoots down drone in Romania near border with Ukraine - CBS
Ukraine energy company says its facilities seriously damaged after 13 Russian strikes in a week - AP
Jason Arday, Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism, is found dead - NPR
UK’s Burnham urges reflection on death of academic Arday - Reuters
Parliamentary investigation resumes into Farage hours after he wins Clacton by-election - BBC
Belgian wildfire approaches Germany as Greece probes deadly blaze - AP
Middle East
-Iran has shifted its war policy from defensive to “fully offensive” against the United States as negotiations to end its months-long conflict with Washington have stalled, according to a senior Iranian official speaking to Reuters.
Meanwhile, President Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz. The remark came after Tehran said it was finalizing a deal with the Gulf nation to manage shipping through the strategic waterway.
-Global oil prices remained elevated yesterday amid the ongoing regional conflict.
-In an interview on Fox News yesterday, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and lead Middle East negotiator, said that Hamas “could be very close” to disarming following rare talks with the terrorist group’s senior leadership over the weekend in Egypt.
View it here:
-On this day in 1952, President Harry Truman hosted Saudi Arabian Minister of Interior and Public Health Prince Abdullah Faisal in the Oval Office, where the prince thanked Truman for his invitation to visit America’s national parks.
Other Links:
Houthis Claim Strike on Saudi Vessel as Red Sea Violence Escalates - The New York Times
Qatar denies capturing three Iranian pilots after downing fighter jets - BBC
Kushner’s talks with Israel, Hamas end without breakthrough on Trump Gaza plan - Reuters
Israel’s Ben-Gvir advocates killing ’30 to 40’ people in Gaza nightly while speaking to ex-hostage - AP
New Syria-Iraq crude pipeline still years away, sources say - Reuters
That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.
Hegseth running for President?
Interesting to see what's next.