Senate Judiciary Committee holds Aug. 5 nomination hearing as August break approaches
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a nomination hearing Aug. 5, 2026, in Washington as the Senate faced pressure over its planned August break.
United States
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FCC places California telecom company with Chinese links on national-security risk list
The FCC added California-based Digitalsystem Technology to a national-security risk list on July 7, citing links to Chinese telecommunications firms and ownership by a Chinese national.
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U.N. Calls for Maximum Restraint to Preserve U.S.-Iran Ceasefire on July 2, 2026
The United Nations urged the United States and Iran to maintain restraint and return to diplomacy, while emphasizing the importance of unified Security Council support for the ceasefire.
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North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile Before Expected U.S.-South Korea Drills
North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile toward the sea on August 6, according to South Korean and Japanese authorities, days before expected annual U.S.-South Korea military exercises.
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Wildfire Smoke, Catastrophic Flooding and Expanding Fires Hit the U.S. in Three-Front Emergency
A July 17 snapshot showed hazardous wildfire smoke in the East, catastrophic flooding in Texas and expanding fires in the Pacific Northwest as firefighting resources stretched across 15 states.
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FAA and NTSB investigate commercial jet departure as Marine One left Washington
The FAA and NTSB are investigating why a commercial passenger plane was allowed to take off as Marine One, carrying President Donald Trump, departed the White House area for Andrews Air Force Base.
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AppLovin shares fall nearly 20% after mixed quarterly results
AppLovin shares dropped 19.6% on Aug. 6 after the digital-advertising company reported mixed quarterly results, even as aggregate S&P 500 earnings growth remained unusually strong.
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Appeals court blocks Trump administration’s termination of multibillion-dollar clean-energy grant program
A divided federal appeals court ruled Aug. 4 that the Trump administration improperly terminated a Biden-era program supporting clean-energy projects, giving the nonprofit coalition chosen to administer the grants a legal victory.
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CMS proposes changing Medicaid health-care-tax financing rules used by states
A new CMS proposal would amend the indirect hold-harmless threshold for health-care-related taxes and could require states to reassess Medicaid financing arrangements.
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Senate panel advances Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination amid disputes over Trump administration fund
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Todd Blanche’s nomination on Aug. 4, sending it toward a possible full-Senate vote as lawmakers approached the August recess.
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EPA Proposes Nationwide Monitoring of 30 Emerging Drinking-Water Contaminants, Including PFAS
The proposed sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule would require sampled public water systems to collect data on 30 chemicals, but it is not a final rule or a new enforceable PFAS limit.
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Justice Department charges 455 defendants in largest-ever national health care fraud takedown
The Justice Department says the coordinated action involved more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims and opioid-abuse schemes across 56 federal districts.
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Justice Department Challenges Milwaukee Mask Ban and ID Rules for Federal Officers
The Justice Department filed a federal complaint on July 23 challenging Milwaukee policies involving masks, identification and vehicles used by federal law-enforcement officers.
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Labor Department advances national AI apprenticeship strategy and modernizes workforce skills data
The Labor Department is pursuing a nationwide plan to add artificial-intelligence skills to registered apprenticeships while updating federal systems used to classify jobs, record wages and match workers with credentials.
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White House Orders 180-Day Review of Defense Supply Chains and Foreign Suppliers
An executive order directs the Department of War to map critical defense supply chains from raw materials to end-use products and develop restrictions for unreliable foreign suppliers.
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USDA expands 2026 farm safety-net and disaster payments, including automatic help for some past losses
The Farm Service Agency announced final changes to USDA farm and disaster programs, including automatic payments for many eligible 2024 and 2025 losses when agency records are sufficient.
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Greenworks recalls 554,780 Kobalt yard tools over USB-C battery fire risk
Greenworks Tools recalled about 554,780 Kobalt yard tools and batteries after USB-C charging while the battery is installed could cause a short circuit and fire.
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GAO says programs handling $1.2 trillion face persistent fraud-management gaps
A new Government Accountability Office review finds continuing weaknesses in fraud-risk controls across 20 federally funded programs administered by states and local governments.
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Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building stays open through Sept. 7 for America’s 250th anniversary
The Smithsonian’s historic Arts and Industries Building opened June 16 and will host public access and cultural programming through Sept. 7, 2026.
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DOE draft study calls for major transmission expansion as data centers and industry raise power demand
The Energy Department has opened a 60-day public-comment period on a draft study that identifies new transmission needs tied to data centers, manufacturing, electrification and grid congestion.
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June wholesale report puts inventories at $944.7 billion and sales at $794.1 billion
The U.S. Census Bureau is set to publish its June 2026 Monthly Wholesale Trade report at 10 a.m. on August 6, offering an updated federal read on wholesale sales, inventories and inventory-to-sales conditions.
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FTC proposes policy targeting AI companies that suppress warnings about inaccurate outputs
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking comment on a proposed Section 5 policy statement addressing how AI companies present information about accuracy and system limitations.