These are today’s top headlines.
Headlines
Trump Uses Decoy Plane to Avoid Iranian Missile Threat
President Trump was secretly moved to a different aircraft using an airport catering truck last month after U.S. intelligence detected a credible Iranian plot to strike his plane as he departed a NATO summit in Turkey. The president has described himself as Iran’s “number one target” amid the ongoing war, CBS News reported exclusively. Source
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake tore through western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people and injuring hundreds as rescue crews raced through the rubble of collapsed buildings in Cali, Pereira and Quibdó. Newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella called an emergency committee to lead the response, and international aid pledges poured in from across the hemisphere. See Details
Hopes for a quick reopening of the Strait of Hormuz faded Tuesday after Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reshuffled the country’s military leadership and Tehran insisted new conditions be met before lifting its blockade. President Trump said Washington was in “low-key” negotiations with Iran even as oil prices stayed elevated on the uncertainty. Read More
Politics
President Trump signed an executive order Monday narrowing the list of vaccines universally recommended for children, cutting the number of required childhood immunizations from 18 to 11 diseases. Source
Once a fixture of August recess, the traditional in-person town hall is disappearing from Capitol Hill, with only 11 lawmakers scheduling one for the rest of the month. Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska, who still holds them regularly, said the confrontational moments captured on video rarely reflect the full room. Source
A federal judge reinstated permits allowing construction to resume on a controversial ICE detention facility in Howard County, Maryland, after the county revoked them earlier this year over a public-comment dispute. The judge granted a preliminary injunction, ruling the case can continue while the disputed office-space project moves forward. Source
U.S. News
Taylor Farms recalled salsa and guacamole containing jalapeños from Walmart, Kroger, Target and other retailers across roughly 20 states over potential salmonella contamination. The California-based supplier said it has stopped sourcing from the Mexican farm identified as the likely source. Source
A federal judge approved the Trump administration’s request Monday to dismiss criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, while sharply criticizing the Justice Department’s reasoning for abandoning the high-profile case. U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis granted the dismissal but questioned the government’s methods in the ruling. Source
Democratic primary voters in Wisconsin and Minnesota head to the polls Tuesday in contests testing the party’s ideological divide, with democratic socialist Francesca Hong the front-runner for Wisconsin governor and Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan battling for Minnesota’s open Senate seat. The results could shape how far left Democrats swing heading into the midterms. See Details
Business
U.S. stock futures were little changed early Tuesday as investors weighed signs of progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz against lingering doubts a broader deal with Iran can be reached. The S&P 500 finished Monday roughly flat after a strong run the prior week, with Brent crude edging higher on the geopolitical uncertainty. Source
Trump Media is unwinding several planned cryptocurrency and digital-asset deals, citing “prevailing market conditions and shifting business and stakeholder priorities.” The company’s new API business, which sells data to high-frequency trading firms, has grown to about 10 customers as it looks to license content to AI developers. Source
Abandoned factories across the country are being resurrected to power the AI buildout, with a shuttered textile plant in Madison, North Carolina, now being converted into a data center. WhiteFiber CEO Sam Tabar said sites that once housed hundreds of manufacturing jobs are becoming the AI race’s “secret weapon” because they’re already built and already powered. See Details
Market Report
| Symbol | Last Close | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | DJIA | $53,975.98 | -0.11% |
| S&P 500 | SPX | $7,753.11 | -0.06% |
| Nasdaq Composite | IXIC | $26,605.36 | -0.32% |
| Alphabet Inc. | GOOG | $355.84 | 0.67% | Tesla, Inc. |
| TSLA | $330.88 | 0.70% | Apple Inc. |
| AAPL | $308.26 | -1.62% | Microsoft Corporation | MSFT | $506.06 | 1.21% |
World News
President Trump demanded Monday that Iran compensate victims’ families and Middle Eastern nations before the Strait of Hormuz reopens, after Tehran said it would not lift its blockade without compensation for war damage. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels also struck the Yemeni port city of Mocha for the second time in 24 hours, threatening to widen the conflict into the Red Sea. See Details
Spain could see temperatures as high as 43 degrees Celsius this week in what forecasters are calling Europe’s fifth heat wave of a record-breaking summer, with France and Italy also bracing for scorching conditions before the heat shifts east. Extreme heat has already been linked to roughly 25,000 deaths across Western Europe this year. Find out More
Video captured buildings crumbling across Pereira and Cali as Monday’s 7.4-magnitude earthquake devastated western Colombia, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration was closely monitoring the disaster and stands ready to support recovery efforts. More than two dozen structures collapsed in Cali alone, with rescue teams still searching for survivors. Read More
Entertainment
Hollywood’s summer box office has already crossed the $4 billion benchmark that was standard before the pandemic, driven by strong holds for “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” which became his highest-grossing film. It marks only the second summer since COVID to hit that mark, following the “Barbenheimer” summer of 2023. See Details
ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard is dealing with serious health issues that forced the band to cancel its August 5 Hollywood Bowl performance, sources told TMZ. Frontman Billy Gibbons had cited only “insurmountable obstacles” at the time, but the outlet reports Beard’s condition was the real reason behind the cancellation. Read More
Danny Boyle’s upcoming Rupert Murdoch drama “Ink,” adapted from James Graham’s Tony-winning play, will get a theatrical release in December ahead of its Netflix debut. The film is positioned to compete in the thick of awards season before streaming. Read More
Sports
The New England Patriots traded offensive tackle Caedan Wallace to the Miami Dolphins on Monday, receiving Miami’s 2028 sixth-round pick in the deal after previously planning to release him. New England also sent its 2029 seventh-round pick to the Dolphins as part of the swap. Source
The Kansas City Royals reportedly signed veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel to a major league deal Monday after the 38-year-old cleared waivers from Tampa Bay, even as the club dropped a 5-1 decision to the Los Angeles Dodgers and star Tarik Skubal. It’s a low-cost addition for a Royals team that has struggled to live up to preseason expectations. Read More
The Chicago Cubs hold a 98.8% chance of reaching the postseason as MLB’s playoff races tighten with under two months left in the regular season, with the Red Sox and Braves also surging. Most divisions remain hotly contested, and both wild-card races are open to nearly anyone. Source
Off the Wall
The Perseid meteor shower, one of the year’s most reliable displays, is ramping up toward its peak this week as Earth passes through debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle. Skywatchers with clear, dark conditions should be able to catch dozens of meteors an hour during the shower’s best viewing nights. Read More
