These are today’s top stories.
Headlines
Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Order Ending Birthright Citizenship for Children of Illegal Aliens
The Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s executive order seeking to end automatic birthright citizenship, with Chief Justice John Roberts leading a 6-3 majority in ruling that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to virtually all children born on U.S. soil. Trump said the ruling was “too bad” and called on Congress to act through legislation. Find out More
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that states may prohibit transgender athletes from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams, upholding laws from West Virginia and Idaho. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the majority that such bans are consistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause. Read More
In a third landmark ruling, the Supreme Court invalidated post-Watergate campaign finance limits on coordinated spending between political parties and their candidates, handing major party committees a significant fundraising boost ahead of the 2026 midterms. Source
Politics
House Republican leaders sent members home early for the Fourth of July recess after a bloc of conservatives blocked a procedural rule for the fiscal 2027 defense authorization bill over SAVE Act voter ID demands, stalling a raft of legislative priorities just days before the holiday. Find out More
New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. returned to the House floor and revealed he had been sidelined for nearly four months due to a severe depression diagnosis, delivering an emotional speech about his experience and the importance of mental health awareness. See Details
Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros defeated 15-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s Democratic House primary Tuesday, continuing a surge by progressive insurgents. On the gubernatorial side, Attorney General Phil Weiser won the Democratic nomination over Sen. Michael Bennet. Find out More
U.S. News
Sweeping changes to the federal student loan system took effect Wednesday, eliminating several Biden-era repayment plans, including SAVE, capping graduate borrowing at $100,000 lifetime, and launching a new Repayment Assistance Plan. About 7 million borrowers enrolled in SAVE must choose a new repayment plan within 90 days. Source
Federal authorities arrested and charged a New York woman accused of transferring more than $30,000 in cryptocurrency to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in one of the latest terrorism financing prosecutions to emerge amid heightened scrutiny of crypto-based transfers to foreign organizations. Read More
President Trump announced that the Republican Party will hold an unprecedented midterm convention in Dallas on September 9-10, aimed at energizing the GOP base ahead of November’s elections. Trump framed the event as a showcase for his administration’s achievements and a rallying point for congressional Republicans. Find out More
Business
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 170 points in early Wednesday trading after major averages closed out a strong first half of 2026 — the Dow up 8.9%, the S&P 500 up 9.6%, and the Nasdaq up 12.8%. A chip stock surge drove much of the gains, while gold and silver retreated as traders priced in potential central bank rate hikes. Source
Crude oil prices slid toward $70 per barrel Wednesday as recovering Strait of Hormuz traffic and fresh Iranian export volumes flooded global markets, with Brent crude on pace for its worst quarter since 2020. Peace talks resuming in Doha and a report that Iran has shipped more than 40 million barrels since the U.S. lifted its naval blockade are driving the sell-off. Source
It has been just over a year since Japan’s Nippon Steel completed its $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, committing to invest $11 billion in the Pittsburgh company through 2028 — but analysts note that nearly all of that money remains a promise rather than reality so far. Source
World News
Ukraine and Sweden signed a contract for 16 Gripen E multirole fighter aircraft, with deliveries scheduled for 2029-2030 and a separate donation of 16 older Gripen C/D jets expected by early 2027. Swedish defense maker Saab confirmed the deal Tuesday, valued at approximately 24.6 billion Swedish kronor. Source
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 105th founding anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, pledging to steadily strengthen ties between the two countries. The message came as North Korea and China have been deepening their military and economic cooperation. Read More
Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries are causing fuel shortages inside Russia, as videos circulated on social media showing brawls and long lines at gas stations across the country. The strikes represent a significant escalation in Ukraine’s campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure. Read More
Entertainment
Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein experienced heart failure due to pneumonia while incarcerated at Rikers Island and was transferred to Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward in Manhattan, sources told TMZ. Weinstein had been awaiting sentencing in September for a 2025 sexual assault conviction and has had multiple health scares in custody in recent years. Find out More
Construction crews were spotted erecting a massive castle-themed set inside Madison Square Garden ahead of the pop star’s July 3 wedding to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, with sources telling TMZ the legendary arena is being transformed into a “full-blown fairytale” venue for the 1,000-plus-guest event. Read More
Mark Harmon is set to return to a full-time acting role in the third season of “NCIS: Origins,” the prequel series that draws on his iconic character Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The veteran actor had appeared in an occasional voice-over capacity in the show’s first two seasons. Link
Sports
The United States men’s national team faces Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday evening at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in their first knockout-stage match of the 2026 World Cup. The Americans won Group D after victories over Paraguay and Australia, and are aiming for their first knockout-stage win since 2002. See Details
LeBron James officially informed the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday that he will not return for the 2026-27 NBA season, ending his eight-year stint in Los Angeles. The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat are all reportedly pursuing the 41-year-old, who is set to play in an unprecedented 24th NBA season. Find out More
Tournament co-host Mexico punched its ticket to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Ecuador on Tuesday night, with Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scoring. The result extends Mexico’s impressive unbeaten run at the tournament and sets up a potential showdown with England, Belgium, or Senegal in the next round. Read More
Off the Wall
Officials in Lopburi, Thailand — famous for its free-roaming macaques and annual Monkey Buffet festival — scrambled to recapture nearly 100 long-tailed macaques that broke out of their enclosure Tuesday morning. Staff managed to keep more than 1,000 other primates from following their lead as local police and agencies worked to round up the escapees. Find out More
