In today’s newsletter: Trump casts doubt on election integrity ahead of midterms. Wildfire smoke blankets the Midwest and northeast. And an iceberg lettuce supplier is investigated over the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
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Here’s what to know today.
Trump sows doubt about election integrity four months out from the midterms
President Donald Trump revived false claims about the 2020 election in a White House address last night, alleging again — despite extensive evidence to the contrary — that U.S. election systems are vulnerable to manipulation.
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Trump also announced the declassification of intelligence reports he said would reveal flaws, and urged Congress to pass his SAVE America Act legislation.
The legislation, which would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering and show photo identification at the polls, has stalled in Congress amid bipartisan opposition. Here’s what else to know about the bill.
Trump accused China of trying to “undermine my first administration and our 2020 campaign” and the U.S. intelligence community of covering up “shocking vulnerabilities” in the American election system.
Some Republicans questioned why the president would cast doubt on election integrity ahead of the midterm elections in November, while others wondered whether he was making a broader political miscalculation as voters focus on the economy, the Iran war and other issues.
Read a full analysis of Trump’s speech.
Maine Senate candidates battle for progressive mantle
Eight Democrats running for Senate in Maine clashed over their progressive priorities in the first debate since Graham Platner ended his campaign, triggering a scramble to replace him on the general election ballot. All are seeking to qualify for the ballot before the July 25 convention, when 601 delegates will choose the party’s nominee.
The candidates embraced some of Platner’s progressive policies and rhetoric, including Medicare for All, abolishing ICE and calling the war in Gaza a “genocide.” One candidate, former congressional staffer Jordan Wood, said he stood apart from his rivals by calling on Platner to leave the race long before the sexual assault allegation that ultimately forced him to withdraw.
A closer look at the candidates.
More politics news:
- For subscribers: A longtime teleprompter operator for Trump was placed on leave after allegedly making more than $90,000 by betting on the president’s remarks.
- For subscribers: Attorney general nominee Todd Blanche’s meeting with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein was “emotional” and “not productive,” one of the women said.
Wildfire smoke blankets the Midwest, and floods inundate Texas
Heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires darkened skies from the Great Lakes to parts of the East Coast yesterday, with air quality ranging from unhealthy to hazardous across the region. A lingering high-pressure system trapped smoke from dozens of fires in Canada and northern Minnesota, according to a National Weather Service meteorologist. Winds from the northwest are expected to help clear the skies, but forecasters warn the haze will persist in some areas.
Why the skies could remain hazy for weeks to come.
Meanwhile in Texas, at least two people have died after days of torrential rain triggered flash floods along the same river that was devastated by deadly flooding last summer. Rescuers have saved more than 200 people from rising waters, Gov. Greg Abbott said. Up to 28 inches of rain fell over three days in Uvalde County, while other areas received around a foot, with more rain expected today.
How residents said this week’s floods compares to last year’s.
Lettuce supplied to Taco Bell a possible source in cyclosporiasis outbreak
The FDA is investigating iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell by Taylor Farms in five states as a possible source of a growing cyclosporiasis outbreak. The foodborne illness, which can cause severe diarrhea, has sickened nearly 7,000 people across at least 34 states, including more than 4,000 in Michigan alone.
Taco Bell said it has “indefinitely” removed the suspected lettuce from its nationwide supply chain. Taylor Farms has also faced previous food safety investigations involving widespread illnesses.
World Cup: How multicultural players are reshaping the tournament
Nearly 1 in 4 players at this summer’s World Cup were born in a country different from the one they represent — more than double the rate from 2006 and a new record, according to data. Morocco’s team is a striking example: 19 of its 26 players were born abroad but have Moroccan heritage.
The share of players with parents from different countries is estimated to be even higher. One high-profile example is striker Kylian Mbappé, who represents his birthplace, France, rather than the countries of his parents, Cameroon and Algeria.
What the FIFA rules say about playing for a country.
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Staff Pick: More and more, Trump is talking about his mortality
Our White House team spends hours listening to every word Trump says. So when he begins repeating a phrase or a pattern starts to emerge, we pay attention. Sometimes the significance is obvious; other times, it is harder to spot.
In recent days, the president has appeared increasingly focused on his own mortality, continuing a pattern we first noticed after the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Later, after an alleged gunman tried to enter the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April, Trump spoke about studying assassinations and appeared to suggest he has a degree of respect for leaders killed in office. So when he began speaking more frequently about the possibility that Iran could be plotting to assassinate him, we took notice.
Our researcher Eleanor Skelly reviewed the president’s comments on the topic over the past few years, allowing us to put together a story examining how he has approached the issue and why he appears to be raising it more frequently now.
— Monica Alba, White House correspondent
Read All About It
- For subscribers: Does stopping a GLP-1 mean you’ll regain the weight? A trio of recent studies suggests that many former users are able to keep it off.
- For subscribers: Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized “equitable” access to AI in a speech kicking off the World AI conference in Shanghai.
- The U.S. attacked bridges and other key infrastructure in southern Iran overnight into Friday, capping nearly a week of strikes aimed at intensifying pressure on Tehran to give up control of the Strait of Hormuz.
- A Pro-Kremlin blogger who turned on Putin has been arrested and accused of spreading false information as Russia steps up its crackdown on domestic critics over the war in Ukraine.
- Andy Burnham, nicknamed the “King of the North,” will become leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party today — the final step before becoming the country’s seventh prime minister in a decade.
- New York City police arrested a man who shouted a racial slur at “TODAY” show co-anchor Craig Melvin.
- A driver of a Tesla that crashed into a Texas home and killed a 76-year-old woman overrode the driver assistance mode, a new National Transportation Safety Board report found.
- For subscribers: Videos show the Blue Angels flying over a Florida beach at an altitude so low that chairs and umbrellas were sent flying.
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It’s officially the peak of summer, which means these sweltering temperatures have us wishing for crisp fall weather. While we can’t manifest cool winds, we can invest in portable ACs, personal fans, and even UPF hats to help break the heat and stay safe from the sun. (P.S. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen!)
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