August 7, 2026

U.S. BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP | President Donald Trump signed two executive actions yesterday aimed at restricting birthright citizenship in the U.S. – one that would impose new restrictions on which people would be eligible for U.S. citizenship after being born in the United States and one that would restrict so-called "birth tourism," in which people travel to the U.S. to give birth while in the country. The executive actions follow a June Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump's previous attempt to limit birthright citizenship. [full executive actions: one | two] [White House fact sheet] [more]

TRUMP IRS IMMUNITY | According to updated court filings yesterday, the labor union representing Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service workers has joined a lawsuit asking a federal judge to block President Donald Trump's tax audit immunity granted as part of a settlement over his leaked tax returns. The lawsuit argues that Trump's immunity would force career employees to choose between following a political order and abiding by the law. [more]

U.S. EMPLOYMENT | According to Labor Department data released yesterday, the number of initial applications for unemployment benefits rose to 199,000 in the week ended August 1 – up 1,000 from the previous week. In a separate Department release today, the Labor Department says non-farm payrolls in the U.S. unexpectedly fell by 23,000 in July and the May and June payrolls were revised downward by 103,000 jobs. [full unemployment report] [full payrolls report] [more]

U.S. COVID-19 | The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted along party lines yesterday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, who helped lead the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in contempt of Congress over his refusal to answer questions at a recent hearing on his handling of the pandemic. Committee chairman Senator Rand Paul said Fauci's repeated invocation of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during his testimony was improper because Fauci received a pardon from President Joe Biden and, therefore, did not have to worry about the threat of prosecution. [more]

U.S. SOCIAL MEDIA | In the second phase of a landmark trial on social media harms, a New Mexico court yesterday ordered Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, to pay $567 million to address harms to young people from its platforms. Funds from the judgement will be used for treatment services for young people, awareness and prevention efforts, and screening services. [more]

ARIZONA | The Phoenix, Arizona, region experienced two Category 5 dust storms – known as haboobs – this week. Researchers say the storms were only the fifth and sixth dust storms in the last 16 years to reach Category 5 intensity. [more]

U.S. MORTGAGES | According to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac, the average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage in the U.S. rose to 6.69% this week – up slightly from 6.66% last week and the highest level since late July in 2025. [more]

U.S. WIND POWER | Offshore wind company RWE said yesterday that it has reached a $1.2 billion settlement with the Trump administration to abandon projects under development off the coasts of New York, California, and Louisiana. Reports note that the RWE agreement brings to about $4 billion the total the Trump administration has paid firms to walk away from offshore wind projects and leases. [more]

U.S. EDUCATION | The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed sweeping changes to the Head Start early education program yesterday, sparking criticism by education groups which say the changes threaten the foundations of the antipoverty initiative. [full HHS proposed rule] [HHS press release] [more]

MIDDLE EAST SECURITY | Amidst security concerns sparked by the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a collective defense agreement in Mecca today, stipulating that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all. [more]

THAILAND | Authorities say at least five people were killed, and more than 20 others were wounded, today when a 14-year-old student opened fire at a high school in Nonthaburi province northwest of Bangkok, Thailand. Reports say the shooter is also believed to have killed his two grandparents at the family home earlier in the day and that he shot himself at the school. [more]

SAUDI ARABIA AND YEMEN | Houthi rebel forces in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks yesterday along the Saudi-Yemeni border in which at least 11 civilians were wounded. [more]

ITALY | Amidst Europe's ongoing heatwave, Italy today placed all its major cities under the highest level of heat alert, signaling potential health risks for all populations. [more]

JAPAN | Okinawa's main airport has been closed, and hundreds of people have been forced to take shelter at evacuation centers, as Typhoon Dolphin moves over Japan's southern islands today. Meteorologists say the storm is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain, and high waves to the Okinawa region through Sunday before moving toward China. [more]

GAZA AND UGANDA | The Ugandan parliament approved the deployment of troops yesterday as part of the planned International Stabilization Force for Gaza, which was proposed in February, but has yet to be implemented. Other countries that have previously announced troop commitments for the effort include Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Albania, and Indonesia. [more]

SYRIA | The Minbar Ansar al-Rasoul militant group has claimed responsibility for a minivan taxi explosion yesterday in Damascus, Syria, in which 14 people were wounded, three critically. [more]

FOOTBALL | Jahmyr Gibbs has reportedly reached a three-year, $75.7 million contract extension agreement with the Detroit Lions, making him the NFL's highest-paid running back. The agreement comes just days after the Atlanta Falcons briefly made Bijan Robinson the league's highest-paid running back. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1782, George Washington ordered the creation of the first U.S. military decoration, the Badge of Military Merit -- today called the Purple Heart. [more history]