House Passes $1.15 Trillion Defense Bill With Proposed Department of War Name
The House passed a $1.15 trillion fiscal 2027 defense authorization bill by 216-212, but Senate negotiations and presidential action are still required.
National
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FCC Adds Foreign-Produced Robots and Inverters to Covered List
The FCC added foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices to its Covered List, affecting new equipment authorizations but not automatically banning devices already owned.
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Judge’s Release Order Limits ICE Detention of Houston Witness
Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego was released July 29 after a federal judge barred his deportation and required notice and a hearing before any new ICE detention.
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U.S. 30-Year Mortgage Rate Rises to 6.66%, Highest in a Year
The average U.S. 30-year mortgage rate reached 6.66%, raising monthly borrowing costs for buyers while making refinancing harder to justify.
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Musk’s America PAC Reports Plans for Up to $120 Million Midterm Push
America PAC is reportedly preparing a $100 million-to-$120 million Republican turnout effort, but upcoming FEC filings will show what is actually spent.
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Fed Holds Rates Steady as Three Officials Favor an Increase
The Federal Reserve held rates at 3.50% to 3.75%, but three officials wanted an increase as inflation stayed above the central bank’s 2% goal.
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Minnesota Water Cyberattacks Prompt Possible Iran-Link Investigation
More than 30 Minnesota water systems were targeted July 26-27. A Braham plant briefly shut down, while officials report no known water-quality impact.
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U.S. Pharmaceutical Tariffs Take Effect July 31: What Changes
Tariffs on some imported patented drugs begin July 31, but generic medicines and biosimilars remain excluded as companies face different rates and deadlines.
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DOJ Watchdog Finds Gaps in Federal MMIP Response
A Justice Department inspector-general audit found incomplete Savanna’s Act guidelines, staffing vacancies and weak performance tracking in the federal MMIP response.
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Senate Hearing Examines AI’s Impact on U.S. Communications Networks
A Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing will examine AI, network capacity, cybersecurity, reliability and whether federal policy should support infrastructure investment.
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Appeals Court Leaves $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Blocked for Now
A First Circuit order keeps the $100,000 H-1B payment requirement blocked while the administration appeals a Massachusetts ruling that vacated it.
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Mortgage Rates Reach 6.66%, Adding Pressure to U.S. Home Affordability
The average U.S. 30-year mortgage rate rose to 6.66% on July 30, raising monthly borrowing costs and limiting purchasing power for some buyers.
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Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Revive Mail-Voting Order
The Justice Department wants the Supreme Court to lift lower-court blocks on a voting executive order before officials prepare for the 2026 midterms.
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Comey Defense Motion Challenges FBI Warrants in Threat Case
James Comey’s lawyers seek a Franks hearing and dismissal, alleging warrant omissions and inaccurate statements. The government has not yet responded.
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Trump Administration Misses Birthright Citizenship Rehearing Deadline
The Trump administration did not file by July 28 to ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its birthright-citizenship ruling, leaving the order blocked.
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Severe Storms, Flash Flooding and Dangerous Heat Threaten Much of the U.S. Through Saturday
The National Weather Service forecasts overlapping severe storms, flash flooding and dangerous heat across different parts of the United States through Saturday.
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Cyclospora Outbreak Tests U.S. Food-Safety Response
The FDA says 1,947 people in nine states reported Cyclospora illness after Taco Bell exposure as a lettuce recall continues without a confirmed positive product test.
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CMS Will End Part D Premium Stabilization After 2026
CMS will end a temporary premium stabilization program for stand-alone Medicare Part D plans after 2026. Final 2027 plan premiums are expected in September.
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Anthony Fauci Invokes Fifth Amendment at Senate COVID Hearing
Anthony Fauci declined to answer senators’ questions at a July 29 hearing, leaving the Senate inquiry open without a confirmed contempt vote or referral.
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U.S. Consumer Confidence Slips as Gas Prices Rise Again
U.S. consumer confidence fell in July as national gasoline and diesel prices climbed, signaling household concern without proving that consumer spending has slowed.
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Pentagon Separates 4 U.S. Deaths From Iran War Tally
The Pentagon moved four U.S. deaths from renewed Iran fighting into a separate overseas-operations category, making the conflict’s total harder to track.
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U.S. tariffs on 60 economies take effect over forced-labor findings
New U.S. tariffs on imports from 60 economies are active, but rates, exemptions, existing tariffs and future textile quotas vary by product and country.