House Republicans pass hard-right defense bill, handing wins to Trump  —  The House narrowly passed its marquee $1.15 trillion defense policy bill largely along party lines Wednesday amid a bitter partisan divide over President Donald Trump's conduct of the war against Iran and his push for a massive Pentagon spending boost.

Trump appears to downplay Iran war deaths in social posts comparing them to previous conflicts  —  The president twice posted statistics on deaths and lengths of previous wars.  —  Members of a U.S. Army carry team move the flag-draped transfer case holding the remains of Army Staff …

Jordan accuses Smith of lying to Congress in criminal referral to DOJ  —  House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) late Wednesday recommended criminal charges against former special counsel Jack Smith, pushing to tee up a prosecution of the man that led the criminal cases against President Trump.

Trump's Saudi nuclear deal risks igniting a Middle East arms race, lawmakers warn  —  Some lawmakers in both parties are warning that the newly inked U.S. nuclear agreement deal with Saudi Arabia could ignite a Middle East arms race at a particularly dangerous moment — when the Iran war is already provoking conflict across the region.

Amish Shah Wins Democratic Primary in Swing Arizona House District  —  Dr. Amish Shah, who beat the choice of the party's House campaign arm, will face Jay Feely, a Republican, in a battleground district that covers parts of Phoenix.  —  Dr. Amish Shah, a moderate Democrat …

OpenAI's models broke free and launched a cyberattack.  Congress wants new rules before it happens again.  —  An alarming cybersecurity incident involving OpenAI's newest and most advanced artificial intelligence technology has lawmakers hurrying to advance legislation that they say is needed …

Lisa Murkowski is undecided on Blanche's confirmation.  Her state is getting a windfall from DOJ. … A July 7 settlement over the federal government's unfinished work on the port of Alaska resulted in a $180 million payout to Anchorage — an announcement Blanche, who is currently …

Stock Market Today: Oil Prices Jump After Houthis Claim Attacks on Red Sea Tankers  —  Brent crude tops $98 and bond yields hover near 2026 highs  —  Oil prices are racing back toward $100 this morning after Tehran-backed Houthi militants claimed attacks on two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea …

Secret Service threat cases soar 40%  —  Threats against people the U.S. Secret Service protects are up about 40% from a year ago, the agency says, as it prepares for Friday's rescheduled White House Correspondents' Dinner. … - “This is roughly 10,000 so far this year and we are a little over halfway through the year,” he says.

Fox News Poll: Voters want major change amid economic and political discontent  —  Latest survey shows Trump approval stuck near record low  —  Several findings in the latest Fox News Poll show voters are unhappy and want major change, which bodes well for Democrats in November …

James Woolsey, Embattled C.I.A. Director Under Clinton, Dies at 84  —  He arrived in Washington a conservative Democrat and drifted rightward, supporting the 2003 invasion of Iraq and Donald J. Trump's 2016 presidential bid.  —  R. James Woolsey, a lawyer and arms control negotiator who had a brief …

Trump backs Iraq's prime minister.  Some Republicans want to see results.  —  A number of congressional Republicans are worried Iraq's new leader won't be the partner the U.S. needs in an increasingly turbulent Middle East.  —  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with both President Donald Trump …

Gerth: My too-early ‘tribute’ to Mitch McConnell  —  With McConnell allegedly on the mend, I figured I'd go ahead tell you what I think about him now - when no one can complain, ‘How dare you write that about a dead guy?’ … Following the unexpected death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on July 11 …

Inside the Democratic Socialist uprising  —  Candidates affiliated with (or sympathetic to) the Democratic Socialists of America (the DSA) have recently won several Democratic primaries.  Although this rise of the left takes a different form, it draws from prior social movements and Bernie Sanders' presidential candidacies.

Bari Weiss's Latest Hire Has an N-Word Problem  —  CBS hires another controversial ‘anti-woke’ media figure as it continues its shift to the right.  Plus: the shameless White House Correspondents' Association prepares to host anti-press Donald Trump.  —  ∙ Paid

Trump's Plan for Science: More Money for A.I., Less for Universities  —  Michael Kratsios, President Trump's science adviser, proposed overhauling how the government funds research.  Democrats said Mr. Trump's actions had weakened science.  —  President Trump's science adviser told lawmakers …

U.S. deploys B-1 bomber as attacks on Iran intensify  —  The U.S. military used a B-1 long-range bomber on Tuesday to strike Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran, U.S. officials said. … - Using B-1 bombers, which can carry two dozen 2,000-lb. bombs or dozens of cruise missiles …

Letter to Congress: End the Redistricting Wars by Adopting Proportional Representation  —  Gerrymandering persists because single-member districts allow it.  —  ·  —  Just now  —  An Open Letter to Congress:  —  The redistricting wars have thrust America's gerrymandering problem into a new and alarming phase.

Newsom appoints podcaster Scott Galloway to UC Board of Regents  —  Gavin Newsom on Wednesday appointed Scott Galloway, an entrepreneur and influential podcaster, to a seat on the University of California's Board of Regents.  —  If confirmed by the state Senate, Galloway …

Maine Democrat Troy Jackson has raised $1M for his Senate bid so far  —  Maine Democrat Troy Jackson has raised $1 million in the less than two weeks since he entered the race for Senate shortly after Graham Platner dropped out, his campaign told POLITICO on Wednesday morning.