President Donald Trump has announced his latest Washington-area construction project and floated withdrawing his pick for attorney general in the face of Republican opposition.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-Iran conflict threatens to widen, Japan’s earthquake death toll continues to climb, European countries are boycotting FIFA and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is launching a government-backed cooking show.
Here are six stories worth following:
Quote Driving the News:
“I will literally eat anything because I don’t have a gag reflex,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said while promoting his new cooking show.
Make Your Inbox Smarter
Sign up for these free email newsletters from U.S. News:
Pick Newsletters
U.S.-Iran Conflict Expands
What we’re watching: In recent days, Iran launched missiles toward U.S. bases in Jordan and Kuwait, Houthi rebels attacked targets in Saudi Arabia from Iraqi territory, unidentified drones struck near the Suez Canal in Egypt and Saudi Arabia publicly joined strikes alongside U.S. forces for the first time – all signs the war is expanding beyond its original fronts.
Why it matters: The renewed fighting threatens to draw more countries into the conflict, disrupt global energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea and increase pressure on the Trump administration as it weighs further military action despite mounting economic and political costs.
Trump’s Attorney General Pick Faces GOP Roadblock
What we’re watching: President Donald Trump is considering withdrawing Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general after two Republican senators blocked a confirmation vote over concerns about Trump’s controversial settlement with the IRS, which granted Trump and his family sweeping immunity against tax audits and created a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump’s allies.
Why it matters: The standoff marks an unusual challenge from within Trump’s own party and raises questions about whether Blanche, the president’s former personal attorney who currently serves as acting attorney general, can secure Senate confirmation to permanently lead the Justice Department.
European Countries Boycott FIFA Over Private Equity Plan
What we’re watching: European countries announced a boycott of all FIFA competitions to protest FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell a 20% stake in the World Cup to private investors. North American countries also rejected the plan.
Why it matters: The dispute could reshape the future of international soccer, jeopardize the World Cup’s global unity and spark one of the biggest power struggles between FIFA and its member associations in decades.
Trump Unveils $22 Billion Overhaul of Dulles Airport
What we’re watching: President Donald Trump announced a $22 billion, 10-year renovation of Washington Dulles International Airport that would replace its signature “people movers” – large, bus-like shuttles – with a rail system and add new terminals.
Why it matters: The Dulles overhaul is the latest in a series of high-profile construction projects championed by Trump, which have included plans for a $600 million White House ballroom, a monumental arch near the National Mall and other large-scale federal redesigns.
RFK Jr. Launches Celebrity Cooking Show
What we’re watching: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is launching “The Real Food Show,” a new government-backed web series featuring celebrity chefs that aims to promote the Trump administration’s updated dietary guidelines.
Why it matters: The series marks an unconventional expansion of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, using entertainment to encourage healthier eating habits while drawing attention – and criticism – amid multiple overlapping health crises.
Earthquake Death Toll Rises in Japan
What we’re watching: Rescue crews in southwestern Japan are shifting from search-and-rescue to recovery efforts after last week’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake killed at least 34 people, with thousands still in shelters as crews work to restore power and water amid dangerous summer heat.
Why it matters: The disaster has disrupted manufacturing, transportation and daily life across Kyushu, the southernmost island of Japan. The country has a long history of major earthquakes and is seen as one of the world’s most disaster-prepared nations.