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Headlines
New Study Raises Questions About AI’s Liberal Bias
A new study found that three of the four leading AI chatbots are more likely to accept political falsehoods originating from the left than the right, and frequently cite sources that do not support their claims or do not exist at all. Find out More
The Kennedy Center’s Trump-appointed board voted 20-3 to rename the performing arts venue ” The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump,” and to partially close the center for two years of renovations. Find out More
Regional aid began rolling into western Colombia as rescuers raced to find survivors following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 265 people and left nearly 500 more reported missing, testing the young administration of President Abelardo de la Espriella. Read More
Politics
Seven sitting House Democrats have now lost primaries this cycle, five of them past retirement age, as younger challengers aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America topple longtime incumbents in what strategists call a hunger for generational change. Read More
A new poll shows Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico locked in a dead heat for the state’s open Senate seat less than three months before the midterm election. Source
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted Ohio Rep. Max Miller’s seat from ” Likely Republican” to ” Toss Up,” reflecting growing political fallout from domestic-related allegations against the congressman. Read More
U.S. News
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recalled nearly 13.4 metric tons of Argentine beef distributed in Texas and Florida after the products entered the market before a mandatory import reinspection was completed, though officials say no food-safety issue was involved. Find out More
Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealth Group executive Brian Thompson, is expected to plead guilty in a separate stalking case, according to a new report. See Details
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has retired after logging 549 days in space across four missions, the fourth-highest accumulated total in agency history, and more than 48 hours of spacewalks. Source
Business
The S& P 500 closed at a fresh all-time high above 7,800 for the first time Thursday, putting the index and the Nasdaq Composite on pace for a third straight weekly advance. Source
July inflation ticked up 0.1% from June, with the annual rate holding above wage growth for a fourth straight month as elevated energy costs continue to squeeze household budgets. Source
Applied Materials shares fell despite solid earnings results, part of a broader second-quarter earnings season that FactSet data shows is on pace for the S& P 500’s strongest growth rate since 2021. Find out More
Market Report
| Symbol | Last Close | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | DJIA | $53,839.99 | 0.13% |
| S&P 500 | SPX | $7,798.99 | 0.65% |
| Nasdaq | IXIC | $26,803.03 | 0.81% |
| Alphabet Inc. | GOOG | $343.94 | 0.46% |
| Tesla, Inc. | TSLA | $339.96 | 3.80% |
| Apple Inc. | AAPL | $305.26 | 1.00% |
| Microsoft Corporation | MSFT | $496.88 | 0.90% |
World News
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, a Pacific chain also claimed by Japan, prompting a formal diplomatic protest from Tokyo. See Details
Poland has arrested a Russian man, it says, who was recruited by Moscow to assassinate a Ukrainian-American citizen in Warsaw, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced. See Details
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military can maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports indefinitely by rotating ships in and out of the region, doubling down on President Trump’s stance that the U.S. is in ” total control” of the Strait of Hormuz. Find out More
Entertainment
” Spider-Man: Brand New Day” became the fastest movie of the year to cross $700 million domestically, extending its run as one of the top box-office performers of 2026. Source
Matthew McConaughey picked up a mandolin to perform a bluegrass cover of Ella Langley’s chart-topping ” Choosin’ Texas” on ” The Tonight Show,” prompting Langley to say on social media she may never recover from watching it. Find out More
” Lioness” star Michael Kelly praised creator Taylor Sheridan as one of the greatest storytellers in entertainment, crediting the ” Yellowstone” mastermind’s expanding television universe as the show enters its third season. See Details
Sports
The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Minnesota Twins 7-1 in the MLB Field of Dreams game at the permanent Dyersville, Iowa stadium, with the Twins continuing an inconsistent season amid a muddled AL Wild Card race. Source
The San Francisco 49ers opened their 2026 preseason against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium, with the team bringing back quarterback Brock Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey, and linebacker Fred Warner as it chases a sixth Super Bowl title. Find out More
LSU Cornerback DJ Pickett refused to give up his jersey number 5 despite former Heisman Trophy winner and current Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels protesting by issuing a cease-and-desist letter to the school demanding that it no longer use his name, image, and likeness. Find out More
Off the Wall
An Ohio bride and groom, both McDonald’s employees, tied the knot inside the restaurant where they work, with the bride handing sauce packets to an unsuspecting customer while still in her wedding dress. See Details
