President Donald Trump has described his final phone conversation with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, saying the two spoke shortly before Graham’s sudden death. Trump said the senator sounded tired but remained focused on advancing legislation and expected to meet with him again the following day. Trump recalls final call with Lindsey Graham  

Operation Slowdown Targets Speeding Across Texas Operation Slowdown is a statewide traffic enforcement campaign led by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and local law enforcement to reduce speeding-related crashes, serious injuries, and fatalities. During the campaign, officers increase patrols and use radar and other speed-detection tools to identify drivers exceeding posted speed limits.

The FBI 2020 election probe has intensified political tensions in Washington after hundreds of bureau employees were reportedly assigned to support an investigation centred on Georgia. Senate Democrats are questioning the scale, cost and purpose of the operation, while federal officials have released few public details. FBI 2020 election probe mobilises analysts nationwide An internal FBI memo obtained by the Associated Pr

Palm Beach airport renamed President Donald J. Trump International on Thursday, July 9, 2026, after a Florida law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, adding Trump’s name to a major South Florida travel hub near Mar-a-Lago. Palm Beach International Airport in South Florida was officially renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport on Thursday, July 9, 2026, following a Florida law signed by Gov. Ron DeSa

US opens H-1B visa fraud investigation The United States has launched a major investigation into alleged fraud involving the H-1B visa programme, with IT services company Cognizant among the firms named as authorities examine possible misuse. The probe was announced by US Labour Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito, who said investigators were looking into

Trump seeks rehearing on citizenship ruling US President Donald Trump said he would immediately ask the Supreme Court to rehear its ruling on birthright citizenship, arguing that the decision could encourage abuse of the immigration system. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that signs and billboards near the southern border and in Mexico were advertising service

President Donald Trump’s mention of Nicki Minaj at a White House event has turned into a major online talking point, shifting public attention from a policy-focused gathering to a viral celebrity-politics moment. The event, held in the Rose Garden, was organized to promote Trump Accounts, a child-focused savings initiative connected to the administration’s economic agenda. Minaj’s presence at the White House immediately attracted att

Washington air quality drops after fireworks Washington briefly became the world’s most polluted major city after a large Independence Day fireworks display linked to the Freedom 250 celebrations, according to air quality monitoring platform IQAir. The spike came after the July 4 event sent heavy smoke and fine particles into the air over the US capital, turning a patriotic celebration into a public health

Three US presidents who died on July 4 remain part of one of the most striking coincidences in American history. As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026, the story of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe adds a remarkable historical layer to Independence Day. Adams and Jefferson Died on America’s 50th Anniversary The most famous case came on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaratio

Pensacola police investigate deadly July 4 shooting A 19-year-old man was killed and six others were injured in a mass shooting in downtown Pensacola, Florida, early on July 4, according to police. Officers responded to reports of gunfire at about 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of Palafox and Intendencia streets, where large crowds had gathered after a fireworks disp

Eight injured in Brooklyn shooting At least eight people, including four children, were shot late on July 4,2026 during a family barbecue in Brooklyn’s Coney Island area, according to police details reported after the incident. Officers responded at about 10:37 p.m. near West 31st Street after receiving an emergency call about gunfire. The victims were taken to hosp

White House trolls Taylor Swift wedding with Trump-themed post The White House found itself at the center of online discussion after its official social media accounts shared a series of Taylor Swift-inspired posts during the wedding celebrations of Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce. The celebrity wedding, held on July 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, quickly became one of the biggest trending topics across social media. As f

What the Semiquincentennial means The United States is marking its Semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The term refers to a 250th anniversary and is being used to describe the country’s two-and-a-half-century milestone. The national commemoration is linked to America250, the official effort created to recognise the anniversary across the country, with events a

A founding document shaped by debate The United States Declaration of Independence is one of the most important political documents in American history. While Thomas Jefferson is widely known as its primary author, the declaration was not the work of one person alone. It was shaped through committee review, congressional debate and approval by representatives of the thirteen colonies. In June 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a

Report questions control of America250 events A congressional report has accused President Donald Trump of reshaping the United States’ 250th birthday celebration into a politically charged project focused on his personal image, policy priorities and business interests. The report, released by House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman, examines

Trump announces new Clean Air Act pardons US President Donald Trump said he was pardoning six people who, according to him, had been unfairly prosecuted under offences linked to the Clean Air Act. In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that the individuals were being punished for what he described as “fixing their car,” framing the cases as an example of what he has repeatedly called federal overreach under the Biden administration. The

Washington, D.C., is preparing for a major July Fourth fireworks show on Saturday, July 4, 2026, as Freedom 250 marks America’s 250th birthday with a large Independence Day celebration on the National Mall. The Freedom 250 fireworks display is scheduled for about 10:30 p.m. ET at the Washington Monument Grounds, following an evening program that includes remarks by President Donald Trump at 9:45 p.m. ET. Organizers describe the fireworks show as a roughly 40-minute display tied to

Illinois universal lead testing for children began Wednesday, July 1, 2026, replacing the state’s previous ZIP code-based approach. Under the new standard, children across Illinois are to receive automatic blood lead tests at 12 and 24 months, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Illinois Universal Lead Testing Replaces ZIP Code Limits IDPH announced the change on Thursday, June 25, 2026. Previously, automatic testing requirements foc

President Donald Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure shows more than $2.2 billion in reported revenue and income from cryptocurrency ventures, golf properties, licensing agreements, investments and legal settlements. The U.S. Office of Government Ethics released Trump’s certified annual financial disclosure on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The nearly 1,000-page filing provides an extensive but incomplete picture of his businesses, assets and incom

If an overseas absentee ballot has not arrived, the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot can serve as an emergency backup for eligible U.S. voters abroad. The FWAB is intended for voters covered by UOCAVA who requested a regular ballot on time but may not receive it early enough to return it by their state’s deadline. Related overview: Read how Americans abroad ca