July 23, 2026
Congress, War, and History
Good morning, everyone!
If you missed it, be sure to check out my recent Note on when former President George H. W. Bush resigned his lifetime membership in the NRA following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
Today, we will look at a series of U.S. political developments and the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Let’s get to it.
United States
-President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer of four U.S. service members who were killed by Iranian strikes last week.
Speaking to reporters before the ceremony, Trump said Iran would “pay a big price” for the deaths of the service members.
He added, “All of them said very strongly, ‘We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.’”
-The average U.S. gas price stood at $4.06 yesterday, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to AAA.
-New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez holds a slight lead over former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in New Hampshire ahead of the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, according to a new poll.
Asked about the survey yesterday, Ocasio-Cortez said “polls are polls.”
-According to a new poll, former Congressman Trey Gowdy holds a wide lead over the Republican field for U.S. Senate, although he has stated that he will not be a candidate.
Earlier this week, Senator Darline Graham, who was appointed to serve the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s term following his abrupt death, said that she would be a candidate ahead of the special primary election to be held next month.
Trump endorsed her shortly before her announcement. However, Trump’s backing of Graham did not stop Congressmen Ralph Norman and Russell Fry from jumping into the race.
The winner of the vote will face off against Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election.
-Members of Trump’s Cabinet have launched TikTok accounts just days after the Department of Justice said it was safe to do so following the sale of the Chinese-owned app to a U.S.-approved buyer.
-The House of Representatives narrowly passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) yesterday, which authorizes a record $1.15 trillion in defense spending.
, the chamber passed a short-term funding bill to keep the government open through December 4. Absent congressional action, the federal government will shutter after September 30.
House Republicans also approved a $95 billion reconciliation bill.
Lastly, the House approved a bill that would restrict lawmakers’ ability to trade stocks.
-On this day in 1885, former President Ulysses S. Grant died at the age of 63.
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush nominated David Souter to serve as an associate justice on the Supreme Court.
Other Links:
Trump hypes Mike Collins’ Senate campaign at Georgia rally - NBC
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan refers Jack Smith to DOJ over alleged false statement - Axios
Colorado Republican unveils bill banning relationships between members and staff without Ethics disclosure - The Hill
Trump to seek Congress approval for Saudi Arabia nuclear energy pact that lacks safeguards, sources say - Reuters
Sen. Warnock urges Democrats to investigate officials who redrew maps - ABC
Sen. Wyden introduces bill to curb Trump’s tariff powers - CNBC
Amish Shah beats Democratic establishment pick in House primary in Arizona - The Washington Post
Model recruiter who introduced young women to Jeffrey Epstein found dead in France - CNN
National Guard deploys as flash floods in West Virginia inundate homes and businesses - AP
Africa
-Two Ghanaian nationals have called for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe South Africa’s recent anti-immigrant protest movement, saying it could amount to crimes against humanity.
Earlier this month, authorities in South Africa apprehended more than 1,200 people during the nationwide protests as some turned violent. The protesters have called for the immediate expulsion of migrants in the country, saying they take local jobs, commit crimes, and strain public resources.
The movement has caused tens of thousands of migrants to flee.
Meanwhile, South Africa has faced international condemnation as the movement has caused several diplomatic rows.
In a nationwide address last month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said, “The recent violent protests and criminal acts directed at foreign nationals in parts of our country do not represent the views of South Africa's people nor reflect our government's policy.”
-Annual inflation in South Africa surged to a two-year high last month.
-On this day in 1923, Haile Selassie I was born.
He would go on to serve as Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974.
In 1952, forces led by Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser toppled King Farouk I of Egypt.
Other Links:
Kenyan lawyers launch nationwide strike over judicial corruption and delays - Africa News
Tanzanian-flagged tanker from Yemen hijacked by suspected Somali pirates - AP
Chinese firms invest $900 million into new Angolan port - Semafor
Cameroon’s ruling party meets as Biya’s long absence draws criticism - Reuters
South Africa gets $1.5 billion World Bank loan for infrastructure - Reuters
Americas and the Caribbean
-U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that Washington had authorized more than $100 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba while lambasting the island nation’s Communist-run government.
In the last month, Cuba has been beset by widespread power outages and three separate electric grid failures caused by a near-total U.S. oil embargo. Washington imposed the blockade shortly after President Trump ordered the successful capture of Venezuelan strongman leader Nicolás Maduro, a close ally to Havana and provider of cheap oil.
Since then, Washington has sought to squeeze the island economically in a bid to win concessions on government reforms. To that end, the Cuban government adopted a sweeping economic reform package last month, privatizing broad swaths of the country’s economy.
In his remarks yesterday in the Philippines, Rubio said that the Trump administration is “prepared to be very realistic” and “patient” in how to bring about change in the country.
-United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk condemned Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s pronouncement that elections would no longer be held in the Central American country, saying, “People of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office.”
Ortega has ruled the Central American nation for a total of 28 years from two different stints in power. The strongman leader first came to power following the Sandinista revolution that toppled the Somoza dictatorship in 1979.
Since last year, the 80-year-old leader has shared power with his wife, Rosario Murillo, who now holds the title of “co-president.”
Other Links:
Mexican man killed after ICE encounter in Florida was on vacation, officials say - ABC
Brazil vows to retaliate if US imposes 25% tariffs on some of its products - The Guardian
Argentina Economy Shrinks for Second Month Amid Uneven Recovery - Bloomberg
Moody’s Upgrades Argentina to B3 From Caa1, Changes Outlook to Positive From Stable - The Wall Street Journal
In Peru hungry pelicans signal broader economic risks from El Niño - Reuters
Asia/Indo-Pacific
-Secretary Rubio met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi yesterday on the sidelines of a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Philippines.
Rubio said that the two leaders discussed ways to lay the foundation for a positive visit to Washington, D.C., by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September.
-Senior Chinese leader Wang Huning visited Tibet this week, saying the semiautonomous region must enforce a new ethnic purity law.
-On this day in 1921, the Chinese Communist Party was established in Shanghai.
Other Links:
Germany has deported a Uyghur man to China, his mother says - AP
Senate panel advances China auto bill that could bar Mercedes-Benz from U.S. - CNBC
Philippine, Chinese foreign ministers trade protests over South China Sea encounter - Reuters
Thailand presses on with Cambodia border fence after 2025 clashes - Reuters
China’s cyberscam crackdown pushed syndicates to target Americans: analysts - South China Morning Post
Inside North Korean summer camp welcoming Russia and China - CNN
Europe
-Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with his new military leadership in Kyiv yesterday, where he vowed that his country’s war effort against invading Russian forces would continue.
The meeting came amid widespread protests following Zelenskyy’s dismissal of the country’s defense minister and military commander-in-chief.
-U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson hosted his British counterpart, Lindsay Hoyle, on Capitol Hill this week.
Addressing reporters, Johnson said, “The United States and the United Kingdom are two of the most exceptional nations the world has ever known.”
-France recorded more than 5,700 excess deaths amid last month’s heatwave.
-On this day in 2001, Pope John Paul II hosted President George W. Bush at the papal summer residence Castel Gandolfo near Rome.
Other Links:
Ukraine targets Wildberries, Russia’s equivalent of Amazon - NBC
Russian Fuel Crunch Eases as Ukraine Shifts Focus of Attacks - Bloomberg
EU envoys try to overcome Greek objections for 21st Russia sanctions package - Reuters
Powerball ticket sales begin Tuesday in the United Kingdom - NPR
Firefighters battle one of Spain’s biggest-ever wildfires during heat wave across the Mediterranean - AP
Middle East
-President Trump said yesterday that the United States would strike Iranian power plants or bridges each time Tehran attacks a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, reviving a threat he has made since he first ordered the operation against Iran in February.
The standoff between Washington and Tehran took a new turn this week when Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen said they would blockade Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, potentially opening a new front in the war after fighting resumed earlier this month following a brief ceasefire.
Asked about the terrorist group on Tuesday, Trump said the U.S. military will “take care of business” if it follows through on its threat.
-On this day in 2008, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama traveled to the Middle East for a one-day tour of Israel and the West Bank.
In a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Obama praised what he called the “miracle” of Israel today.
Obama also met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu before traveling to the West Bank.
Other Links:
U.S. and Pakistan condemn Houthi Red Sea threats to shipping and Saudi Arabia - AP
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role - Reuters
Israeli Banks Threaten to Cut Off Palestinian Economy, Deepening Crisis - The New York Times
Lebanon’s prime minister visits shattered border village as deal with Israel begins - AP
Lebanon, Israel to hold next talks in Italy on August 4, Lebanese official says - Reuters
Lebanese army says troops deploying in ‘pilot zone’ after Israeli withdrawal - BBC
That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.
Slow day -- just screw-ups, no disasters. 😉Hooray Senator Warnock!⚖️
Thank for interesting news