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State Department hosting international officials to talk left-wing terrorism
Counterterrorism experts say the Trump administration’s focus on the far left lacks context about the full range of threats from extremists across the political spectrum.
Maine Senate candidates sprint to build early edge in delegate race
Democratic candidates are pushing grassroots networks to attend county party events this weekend, hoping their supporters become delegates at the July 25 nominating convention.
CNBC rated Ohio 'Top State for Business.' Here's what that means — and what it doesn't.
Ohio Republicans are touting a CNBC business rating, but one of its authors says it doesn't mean that life is great for average Ohioans.
The science behind Massachusetts' wildfire smoke-darkened skies
You’ve seen the smoky skies and hazy sunsets in Mass. caused by wildfires in Canada. Here’s the science behind it, and how it can affect your health.
Californian pair indicted for operating darknet drug trafficking business in U.S. and South Florida
Two suspects from California accused of running a darknet drug trafficking business throughout the U.S. and in Miami-Dade and Broward counties were indicted on Wednesday, authorities said.
Trump rule that would politicize grants faces fight from scientists and many others
A Trump administration proposal would give political appointees power to screen and terminate federal grants. Scientists, local governments and a Republican senator are resisting.
Thune says he defers to McConnell and team on health updates
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said there have been absences from members of Congress for extended periods of time on both sides of the aisle when asked by NBC News' Ryan Nobles if there needs to be more transparency.
Democrats’ deepening Israel divisions: From the Politics Desk
Plus, a critical period for Ukraine.
The States Try to Topple WarnerMount…Thus Begins the Local Antitrust Era
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Well, it looks like it’s time for another strategy column. Can I finally avoid writing about M&A? No, it seems I cannot. Admittedly, I’m a week early with this column, since I usually put it out every other week. But this news couldn’t wait. This will make three “Most Important Stories” in a row with a merger or acquisition as its centerpiece. First, Roku-Fox (an acquisition), then Comcast-NBCUniversal (a divestment!), and now the State AGs and the WGA’s lawsuits against Paramount’s pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery (antitrust). M&A is usually the “most important” topic any given week, simply because a giant company merging or breaking up (or preventing those outcomes) can have the biggest impact on the streaming board. If you think about these companies as players in a game, changing the number of players is one of the biggest changes you can make. I shouldn’t really complain, either, since this lawsuit is very good news for customers and suppliers (econ speak for talent, workers and indie studios in Hollywood). So let me answer some questions about this potential trial, along with (shudder) making some heavily caveated predictions. I’ll also look at whether Hollywood must consolidate, whether or not the states can win, trouble at X-Box, Netflix’s YouTube binge, and more. Plus, I have five images that visualize this merger and the harm, including three brand new data looks you’ve never seen before. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Can The States and the WGA Stop Hollywood’s Consolidation (Crisis)? If every other newsletter and news outlet is writing about the same story, I try to avoid writing about it as well, but I can’t ignore a story this consequential. The story of the last year was the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery, and this development potentially extends that saga into 2027. As I tried to figure out my angle, I realized, like my last column, I’m again faced with a series of questions. These questions, though, are much more forward-looking. Will the states win? Will the WGA win? If so, what happens to Warner Bros. Discovery? Either way, will this chill the market for future mergers? So you know what that means: predictions. About the future, no less, the hardest thing to predict.1 Just remember: nothing here comes with a guarantee. And the more confident someone is in their predictions, the less you should trust them. This situation is incredibly fluid, nuanced, uncertain and tenuous. So let’s try to explain what may happen. Question: Why File this Lawsuit? I’ll admit, a few months back, I was fairly pessimistic about the fate of this lawsuit. Rumors had started bubbling up that the state Attorneys General (in particular California) wanted to settle with either some minor divestments (usually CNN) or behavioral remedies. And that tracked for me: the states usually settle lawsuits, like the recent John Deere right-to-repair suit. Yet, they plan to fight this. (As they did the LiveNation-Ticketmaster monopolization trial and the Nexstar-Tegna merger.) Honestly, that also makes a ton of sense. Frankly, this move is just good politics for these State AGs. Most are still running for higher and higher office in blue states—some folks have emphasized that only Democratic AGs joined this suit, but given the Ellison/Trump ties, and fears of retribution, that tracks—and a high profile case like this will help them move up the electoral ladder, especially since Paramount and its leadership (the Ellisons, father and heir) have sided with the other side of the political aisle. That makes them unsympathetic to Democratic voters and Hollywood workers in particular. Why did this lawsuit happen? In addition to the very real concerns about industry consolidation, this is why. That said, I don’t think we would have seen this lawsuit for Netflix and Warner Bros., simply because they’re more sympathetic and aligned with Democrats. But those consolidation concerns are real. The “town”—meaning Hollywood and such—really is seeing the damage of mergers on this industry. That’s why the WGA also filed its own lawsuit in defense of workers as well. (Wildcard: What about Europe? Will they try to stop the deal, too? There have been some rumors out of the UK they may try to fight the deal, and UK enforcers just stopped a Getty Images-Shutterstock tie up, so there is precedence. This argument could go either way, though. On one hand, the EU doesn’t need to step in, cause they states are handling it. On the other hand, this could make the EU’s case easier. Just imagine if both sides coordinated. I’ll simply say, “We’ll see!”) Question: Will The State AGs or the WGA Win? Can the state AGs play David to Paramount-Skydance’s Goliath here? That’s really the whole thing, isn’t it? If you know this result, you could make a lot of money. When things are uncertain, it’s tempting to shrug and say, “Eh” meaning it’s a 50/50 proposition. I wouldn’t, though. When in doubt, you should expect that the merging parties succeed. AT&T did successfully buy Warner Bros., after all, and Disney bought Fox without any challenges. Many judges are extremely sympathetic to mergers, and I’d bet the state AGs get a judge who will allow the merger. (Even Obama-appointed judges often allow mergers.) As I understand it, we’ll see two main attacks. First, theatrical films. The AGs are arguing that, when it comes to share of box office and the number of both “wide releases” and blockbuster (or “tentpole”) films, the merging parties will have over 27% market share. Now, the Supreme Court once ruled from on high that any merger that exceeds 30% is presumptively illegal, but that’s guidance, not an ironclad bar. Still, the states will have to argue that this is close to having too much power, and with that power, this will likely further worsen the theater/studio splits in particular. Indeed, as Matthew Stoller pointed out, “just five studios are responsible for 95% of all blockbusters; if this merger goes through, then Paramount and Disney will control 60% of that.” So yes, movie studios will be very concentrated after this merger. Want me to visualize some of that? Well, here’s the share of films that grossed over $200 million at the domestic box office since 2022. (Note: this isn’t all films released in over 3,000 screens, but it is a good look at market power.) First, here are the 43 films by studio: Notice all the blue (Disney), orange (Universal), and purple (Warner Bros)? Yeah, those studios are powerful, and this combines Paramount with one of them. Here’s the look by studio and share of the films that grossed over $200 million: Now, if you look at that and also think, “Huh, should we break up Disney?” I’m with you. I’ve seen some folks poo-poo this idea that this is a real category, but it is! For an upcoming article, I’ve been pulling data on the share of top 100 films at the box office as a share of total box office, and it’s massive. Here’s the chart: (This analysis looks at The-Number’s top 100 films and total domestic box office each year.) To be clear, tentpoles make up 80.7% of the box office each year, so I do think it’s a genuine market. (To be clear, films grossing over $50 million make up 80% of the domestic box office, and films grossing over $100 million make up 64.1%.) I mean, the top 100 films at the box office make up 95% of each year’s grosses. Worse, the combined studios will likely cut output to flex that market power. Everyone can just look at what happened to Disney and Fox to see the precedent. (With fewer films, the remaining theaters have to give more for those few films that remain.) Here’s an image I’ve used a lot, the share of wide-release films from Disney and Fox over time: The AGs will also argue that this consolidation will also impact the cable industry. In this case, the consolidation is actually worse, but that environment is…complicated. Paramount will argue that the cable industry is shrinking. That said, predictions that cable will “go to zero” also don’t look very well supported by the data, as the declines are shrinking, meaning “cable” or “vMVPDs” will likely stabilize at some point. Can the state Attorneys General win on those two main arguments? I honestly don’t know. Again, I’d bet no, since history in general supports that, but it depends on the judge/jury and how they interpret the arguments. Notably, Paramount won’t face accusations about monopoly power in other areas, like streaming, news, sports rights, or vertical integration. I tend to disagree with leaving out sports rights, but I also see the appeal for a simpler case. The states also aren’t really pushing novel theories about labor harm either, which should help. (By the way, Sean McNulty at The Ankler wrote a great run through of potential options, and Capitol Forum also wrote a great paper on theatrical consolidation. Both these pieces predated the lawsuit. Matthew Stoller is also out with his analysis of the pros and cons of the case too.) In some ways, the WGA’s case is even stronger. Quoting Sean McNulty’s summary: “The WGA is citing WARNAMOUNT as crossing a 30% market share in multiple sectors, a number that the Supreme Court has precedent for deeming “presumptively anticompetitive” in a market. According to the WGA numbers, WARNAMOUNT would have represented: - 35% of film writing jobs between 2021 and 2024 - 36% of TV writing projects between 2022 and 2025 - 38% of overall deals between 2021 and 2024” Notably, antitrust enforcers did win recently in the Penguin-Simon & Schuster merger by focusing on labor impact, so don’t count this thinking out. (Wildcard: Will the states try to get a jury trial? Most likely no, they’ll let a judge handle it. If I’m them, though, I’d try to put this in front of a jury. Juries tend to understand monopoly power in a more realistic way than judges faced with legions of economists.) Question: What if They Win? What if They Lose?
Connecticut notches its best ever finish in CNBC state business rankings
Connecticut climbed to 23rd in CNBC's Top States for Business rankings. We asked the man behind the study what the state is doing right—and where it's falling behind.
USA Sports and Bundesliga announce exclusive multi-year U.S. media rights agreement
Matt Hong, President of USA Sports, joins CNBC’s “Halftime Report” to discuss the newly inked media rights deal.
From The Sports Desk: Argentina, England renew bitter rivalry in World Cup semifinals
Argentina is the defending World Cup champion and England is looking for its first title since 1966. The winner will face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.
"Hydration breaks" can help the "beautiful game" become a beautiful business
The 2026 World Cup has seen the "hydration break" become a point of contention, with in-stadium fans repeatedly booing (and the FIFA-fearful broadcasters not inclined to mention it) and Fox laughing all the way to the bank.
Trump administration live updates: U.S. launches daylight strikes on Iran
Get live updates and the latest news on the Trump administration as the U.S. strikes Iran, Todd Blanche testifies on his nomination for attorney general and intel chief nominee Jay Clayton appears at his confirmation hearing.
5 Eagles heading into 2026 poised for Pro Bowl jump
Here are five Eagles who might be poised for their Pro Bowl jump entering the 2026 season.
Florida falls slightly in CNBC business rankings
Florida is No. 8 among U.S. states.
More health workers go on strike as confirmed Ebola cases in Congo top 2,000, including 754 deaths
Health workers at the Bunia General Hospital went on strike on Wednesday, the latest group to have walked off their job at the epicenter over payment issues.
Strait of Hormuz remains 'de facto closed', no matter what the US says: Expert
Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, says the economics and legalities of President Trump's proposed toll on the Strait of Hormuz made his U-turn on this inevitable. He also explains why he believes the Strait remains de fact closed despite U.S. assertions on the contrary, noting that freight rates and insurance premiums have surged on Trump's latest comments.
ICE and the Senate react to the latest shootings: From the Politics Desk
Plus, the Supreme Court goes to CongressPlus, the Supreme Court goes to Congress
2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule: Bracket, matches, dates, locations, group tables, results, how to watch
The full schedule with dates, times and stadiums for all 104 games at the 2026 World Cup.
Sean Hannity: This is a political movement that has ‘lost their minds’
Fox News host Sean Hannity discusses former MSNBC host Joy Reid's criticism of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and the 'radical' agenda pushed by far-left Democrats on 'Hannity.'
Paramount-WBD merger could impact entertainment options
California Attorney General Rob Bonta joins "Here's the Scoop" to discuss how the merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery could impact the entertainment industry.
Magnolia Bakery in Chicago shut down over cockroach infestation, health violations
Magnolia Bakery's Chicago location was shut down after a failed inspection on Monday found several violations, including live cockroaches.
Apple looks to shrink AI models for iPhones
Apple is reportedly in very early discussions with PrismML, a Silicon Valley startup spun out of the California Institute of Technology and backed by Khosla Ventures, about technology that could dramatically reduce the size of powerful AI models so they can run directly on iPhones, CNBC reports. PrismML recently announced that it compressed Alibaba’s open-source […]
Majority of Fort Worth Council supports data center pause. Will it happen?
The majority of Fort Worth City Council wants a temporary moratorium on data centers. A supermajority is needed. This comes after the Fort Worth Zoning Commission voted not to recommend new rules for data centers within the city. Lone Star Politics speaks with Councilwoman Elizabeth Beck, one of the leaders of the effort.
Lone Star Politics: July 12, 2026
This week on Lone Star Politics, Fort Worth City Council is taking the next steps after the zoning commission voted not to recommend new rules for data centers within the city. Plus, a lawsuit at Texas Tech is looking to clarify the line between censorship and academic freedom.
Apple in talks with startup that shrinks AI models to run on an iPhone
PrismML says its compressed version of Alibaba’s Qwen model uses up to 15 times less memory, potentially advancing Apple’s AI push.
Here's where Wisconsin ranks among best states for business
USA TODAY NETWORK Wisconsin is the 22nd best state for business, according to a new analysis by CNBC. The America’s Top States for Business
Fun Science Projects: Elephant Toothpaste, Unpoppable Bubbles
Emily Calandrelli, science advocate and bestselling author, joins TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones to share some easy experiments from her upcoming book “Stay Curious and Start Exploring.”
From The Sports Desk: Spain, France meet in star-studded World Cup semifinal
Spain’s teenage phenom Lamine Yamal has only scored once during this tournament. Will he rise to the occasion today against Kylian Mbappé and France?
IBM plunges on preliminary Q2 miss, cites weakness in software, infrastructure businesses
CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla, Jim Cramer and David Faber discuss the news of the day.
SC isn't the best, or the worst, state for business in the US
South Carolina isn't the best, but not the worst, for business, according to CNBC's 2026 rankings.
‘Lettuce or salad greens' could be potential source of cyclosporiasis outbreak, health officials say
Thousands of cases of the parasite, which can cause "explosive" diarrhea, have been recorded in the Midwest.
NBC host gives health update after previously revealing cancer diagnosis on air
She shared the news on her Instagram page on Sunday.
Indiana is a top business state but fails residents, reports say
CNBC named Indiana a top state for business, but the state earned an F grade for quality of life and childcare.
Business declares war on Pentagon stock buyback, dividend restrictions moving in Senate
The provision was pushed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and was included in the National Defense Authorization Act on a bipartisan basis.
Surveillance captures thieves steal personal watercraft from Miami Gardens business
The owners say thieves cut through a fence and drove onto the property before taking the watercraft.
Entertainment community searches for missing Miami-Dade dancer
Entertainment community searches for missing Miami-Dade dancer
Conspiracy theories about Sen. McConnell’s health spread after his office posts hospital photo
Even two of McConnell’s GOP colleagues questioned the photograph, without evidence, in a sign of political distrust after his office spent weeks declining to explain his hospitalization.
Conspiracy theories about Sen. McConnell’s health spread after his office posts hospital photo
Even two of McConnell’s GOP colleagues questioned the photograph, without evidence, in a sign of political distrust after his office spent weeks declining to explain his hospitalization.
Debt is central to Bending Spoons' business model, says Jim Cramer
'Mad Money' host Jim Cramer takes a look at recent IPO Bending Spoons and how to play the Italian technology company.
Lettuce or salad greens could be source of diarrhea-causing illness, Michigan health officials say
The foodborne gastrointestinal illness has shown up in 31 states, and federal health officials say 86 people have been hospitalized.
Colorado drops significantly in national business rankings
Colorado, which sate as a top 10 state in CNBC's Top States for Business rankings from 2007-22, now places 25th.
Michigan health officials reveal potential source for cyclosporiasis outbreak
With cases of a parasitic infection that causes "explosive diarrhea" climbing into the thousands in Michigan, health officials believe they have the beginnings of a potential source for the outbreak.
How Lindsey Graham’s death quickly changes a busy Senate: From the Politics Desk
Plus, the latest on the war with Iran.
The unfinished foreign policy business Graham leaves behind
The South Carolina senator, who died Saturday, has built a legacy advocating for a muscular foreign policy.
Driver crashes into business in Novato
A driver crashed through a wall at HopMonk Tavern Novato Monday morning, according to police.
The Quintessential Trump-era Politician
In 2020, I wrote an article about collaboration and collaborators. The title was History Will Judge the Complicit, and it started with the story of two famous East Germans, Markus Wolf and Wolfgang Leonhard, who both landed in East Berlin just after the end of the war. Although they came from very similar backgrounds, the former stuck with the regime, eventually becoming its spy boss; the latter, horrified by the brutal reality of Soviet-style communism, escaped. By way of juxtaposition, I also wrote about Lyndsey Graham and Mitt Romney. These two men also made very different decisions when confronted by Donald Trump’s assault on the ideals that they had both grown up believing: A glance at their biographies would not have led many to predict what happened next. On paper, Graham would have seemed, in 2016, like the man with deeper ties to the military, to the rule of law, and to an old-fashioned idea of American patriotism and American responsibility in the world. Romney, by contrast, with his shifts between the center and the right, with his multiple careers in business and politics, would have seemed less deeply attached to those same old-fashioned patriotic ideals. Most of us register soldiers as loyal patriots, and management consultants as self-interested. We assume people from small towns in South Carolina are more likely to resist political pressure than people who have lived in many places. Intuitively, we think that loyalty to a particular place implies loyalty to a set of values. But in this case the clichés were wrong. It was Graham who made excuses for Trump’s abuse of power. It was Graham—a JAG Corps lawyer—who downplayed the evidence that the president had attempted to manipulate foreign courts and blackmail a foreign leader into launching a phony investigation into a political rival. It was Graham who abandoned his own stated support for bipartisanship and instead pushed for a hyperpartisan Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden’s son. It was Graham who played golf with Trump, who made excuses for him on television, who supported the president even as he slowly destroyed the American alliances—with Europeans, with the Kurds—that Graham had defended all his life. By contrast, it was Romney who, in February, became the only Republican senator to break ranks with his colleagues, voting to impeach the president. “Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office,” he said, is “perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.” In the wake of Graham’s unexpected death on Saturday, I wrote about him again. He was, in many ways, the quintessential politician of Trump’s Washington, a man who shifted 180 degrees. Graham had been a fervent American patriot, proud reserve officer and military lawyer; he became one of the most important defenders of a president who believes soldiers are “suckers and losers” and shows no respect for law of any kind. As his politics changed, his language grew coarser and his behavior grew worse: He urged Israel to “level the place” in Gaza, and insulted the Danish prime minister in Munich, prompting a colleague, Senator Elissa Slotkin, to issue an apology. Here’s an excerpt from the article, which you can read in The Atlantic (gift link here) Like his close friend John McCain, Graham believed that America should stand at the center of a broad democratic alliance. The few times I met him were in that context, at the Munich Security Conference or at other European-American gatherings, which he once attended with great regularity. He also took seriously the practice of American democracy at home. In a 2014 conversation with The Atlantic, he described himself as a pragmatic politician who eschewed populist slogans. “I know Washington is broken, but what’s broken about it is everybody yelling and nobody trying to fix it,” he said. “I’m trying.” When Donald Trump first appeared in U.S. politics, Graham recognized him immediately for what he was: the spokesman for an alien ideology, one radically different from the idealistic patriotism that Graham had practiced and preached since childhood. Trump privately mocked the military that Graham loved as nothing but “suckers and losers.” He put falsehoods, cynicism, and personal greed at the center of his politics, while expressing disdain for transparency, accountability, and democracy itself. In 2015, Graham described Trump as a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot” who should “go to hell.” Also as a “nutjob.” When Trump won, Graham understood, as did so many others, that he would have to make some important choices. For a while, he went silent. In the spring of 2016, I saw him at one of those conferences in Europe. He seemed too depressed to speak. But then, like many other Republicans—and, more important, like many other people who have lived under political occupation or experienced radical regime change—he made the decision to abandon his previous ideals, to bury the patriotism that was once so important to him, and to become, instead, a loud, opportunistic collaborator. As I wrote in 2020, it’s very hard to look in to anyone’s heart and to understand their motivations from the outside. But it does seem that Graham had a deep need to be relevant, to be in the game, to be a player, at any cost. And that, rather than any particular achievement, is what he will be remembered for. Continuing to monitor conflicts of interest, ostentatious emoluments, outright corruption and policy changes that will facilitate outright corruption. (Read my original article, Kleptocracy Inc and check out the SNF Agora Institute chart) June 27 Trump diverted funds from more than 900 projects nationwide—including safety upgrades at national parks—to finance beautification projects around Washington, including $700,000 used to fix a White House walkway. June 28 After a years-long Department of Justice investigation into Abbott Laboratories over its management of a baby formula facility where potentially deadly bacteria turned up enough evidence to criminally charge the firm, top department officials instead opted for a financial penalty—illustrating the department’s move away from strict corporate enforcement under the Trump administration. June 29 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stacked the Defense Policy Board—which is charged with providing independent national security recommendations to the Office of the Secretary of Defense—with Trump allies, including tech billionaire Marc Andreessen, who has invested in defense contractors like OpenAI and SpaceX, after purging the panel last year. Trump purchased between $1 million and $5 million worth of stock in Axon—which makes about 90% of US tasers—two weeks before ICE solicited bids for a $220 million taser contract. The White House unveiled limited-edition US passports for America’s 250th birthday, featuring a portrait of Trump overlaid on the Declaration of Independence. June 30 Trump made around $1.2 billion from his various crypto companies last year, including more than $500 million from World Liberty Financial and $600 million from sales of his meme coin. Trump is considering issuing 250 pardons to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. These are expected to be largely doled out through the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s informal network of intermediaries. White-collar defense attorneys say they can typically win pardons for clients for $2 million. Last year, Trump administration officials awarded a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million to Clark Construction for the White House ballroom—negotiations in which the president was directly involved. July 1 The Amazon MGM Studios documentary about Melania Trump earned the First Lady more than $10 million. Trump made hundreds of individual stock purchases worth as much as $12.8 million the day before his announcement pausing “Liberation Day” tariffs for 90 days sent the S&P 500 soaring nearly 10%—one of the largest single-day gains ever. Mar-a-Lago and Trump National Doral saw record surges in revenue during Trump’s first year in office, earning $77.5 million and $121.9 million respectively, compared to average annual revenues of $25 million and $75 million during Trump’s first term. Entities across the Persian Gulf paid more than $300 million to Trump’s businesses last year, including $263 million from the sale of half his stake in World Liberty Financial to a firm backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a top UAE royal and brother of the country’s president. Kash Patel failed to properly disclose his stock purchase of a Department of Justice contractor, MicroStrategy, worth up to $250,000 last year, despite laws requiring disclosure within 45 days of the trade. July 2 Trump has been directing administration officials to steer more government contracts—so far worth more than $2.4 billion—to Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin aerospace firm, after Amazon gave $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, donated to the White House ballroom project, and reached a $40 million deal to license a Melania Trump documentary. Alongside the billions he made from cryptocurrency last year, Trump earned millions of dollars from real estate licensing fees, including $21 million from organizations in the UAE and $9.2 million in Saudi Arabia, along with smaller sums from merchandise sales, including $4.7 million from Trump Watches and $35,920 from 45 Guitar, a guitar brand endorsed by the president. House Democrats accused consultants tied to the Trump administration of financial fraud, alleging they gave prospective donors to America250—the bipartisan committee created by Congress to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial—the banking and routing numbers for Freedom 250, the White House’s fund for events like the UFC cage fight. Democrats also allege that Freedom 250’s CEO traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos to solicit donations from foreign government officials and business leaders. The Trump administration’s proposed rollback of gun regulations would lift the prohibition on mailing handguns to individuals, a significant win for GrabAGun—the direct-to-consumer firearm retailer on whose board Donald Trump Jr. sits and in which he holds a 1.1% ownership stake. GrabAGun currently must rely on a middleman to transfer firearms to customers. Trump’s financial disclosure revealed that he made more than 21,000 securities trades during his first year back in office, growing his investment account to at least $858 million across stakes in around 1,600 companies, compared to the 13 total trades Joe Biden made during his entire presidency. July 4 Nearly 1 million people who bought the president’s meme coin—Trump Coin—collectively lost $3.8 billion on the token, while he walked away with $636 million. July 6 Shares of Dell closed up 4.4% after Trump recommended people buy the firm’s computers during a speech announcing the launch of Trump investment accounts for children, boosting the more than $1 million worth of shares the president owns in the company. July 9 Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh named crypto investor and Trump ally Marc Andreessen to a task force aimed at modernizing the Federal Reserve, including rethinking its approach to inflation—a key factor keeping interest rates elevated. Palm Beach International Airport has officially changed its name to Trump International Airport—a move that will require Florida to pay royalties to the president’s family for licensing his name. I was there a few months ago, during a trip to Barcelona. The sculptures were a revelation, I’d never seen so many together before. Each one has its own personality. Enjoy the good weather, if you are lucky enough to have it. History Will Judge the Complicit The Quintessential Politician Autocracy Inc Open Letters, from Anne Applebaum is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Betting the 2026 Home Run Derby: Schwarber and Caminero Favored
Philly Heroes Schwarber and Harper Headline the Field of Eight for this Year's Home Run Derby
Dietitian Reveals No. 1 Plant-Based Protein to Boost Heart Health
Plant proteins also come with other healthy nutrients to support heart health.
Trump recommends South Carolina’s governor appoint Lindsey Graham’s sister to finish his Senate term
Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, is expected to announce his appointment of a temporary replacement for Graham on Monday.
NJBIA Op-Ed: NJ’s Low CNBC State Business Rankings Are a Call to Action
NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka, in an op-ed published Monday in BINJE, is urging state leaders to make predictability a top priority for
Sam Neill’s Blood Cancer Explained and Last Health Updates Before Death
The family of the “Jurassic Park” star announced his death on Monday, adding that he was still “cancer free” when he died.
Popular rec facility Hi-Five Sports leaving Northbrook Court Mall, new location coming
Hi-Five Sports, which draws hundreds of families and kids to the mostly-vacant Northbrook Court, is moving out with a new location coming soon.
The 10 best state economies in America in 2026
Economy is one of the most important categories in CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business rankings. Several states stand out for economic strength.
What You Need to Know About Aortic Tears and Bone Health
Dr. Ian Smith, physician and other of “The Last 15: Say Goodbye to Those Most Stubborn Pounds,” joins TODAY to share the warning signs of an aortic tear and breaks down how to improve your bone health.
The 3 biggest concerns about Eagles entering 2026 season
There are high expectations for the Eagles again in 2026 but this is a team with some notable concerns.
Trump administration live updates: GOP scrambles to find replacement for Lindsey Graham
Get the latest news and live updates on the Trump administration as Republicans scramble to find replacement for Lindsey Graham and McConnell give his first statement since he was hospitalized a month ago.
Republicans feel increasingly upbeat about their chances in the midterms
GOP strategists who spoke to NBC News said they are less worried than they were a few months ago about the Iran war and rising prices hurting their party.
Wall Street goes bowling for profits, driving up the price of a middle-class pastime
Fueled by private equity investments, Lucky Strike Entertainment went on a buying spree and now owns more than 1 in 10 American bowling alleys.
Major international trial finds healthy behaviors help brain health in older adults
The question researchers still want to answer is whether those changes translate to a reduced risk of dementia.
McConnell says fall led to hospitalization, breaking weeks of silence on health
Sen. Mitch McConnell on Sunday revealed for the first time that a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking the silence about his condition after weeks of mounting speculation about the Kentucky Republican’s health. McConnell, 84, said in a statement that he was “briefly unconscious” around the time he was first taken to the hospital and has undergone a battery of…
McConnell provides health update after long unexplained absence; says he suffered fall
McConnell is the longest-serving party leader in Senate history.
Chamber warns proposed National City tax could hurt local businesses
Business owners worry a proposed tax reform could increase costs while the city works to close its budget deficit.
Yahoo Sports launches college fantasy football leagues featuring Power Four players and Notre Dame
What we learned as Wheeler, Phillies head into break on high note in Detroit
Zack Wheeler struck out 10 over six scoreless innings as the Phillies entered the All-Star break on a high note.
Draymond believes ‘crazy' pitch to LeBron will make star free agent's brain work
Draymond Green confirmed that he spent time with LeBron James last week, and the Warriors star made the case for the 41-year-old to join Golden State.
Cristopher Sánchez earns NL start for All-Star Game in Philadelphia
Cristopher Sánchez will start the All-Star Game for the National League one year after unexpectedly being left off the roster.
Ohio ranked No. 1 state for business by CNBC in 2026
Ohio earned the top spot in CNBC's 2026 Top States for Business rankings, with the network citing the state's low business costs, strong infrastructure and workforce investments.
How to Watch American Ninja Warrior Season 18, Episode 7
Watch American Ninja Warrior live with TV channel, start time and streaming info. Stream Season 18 on Fubo — no cable required, free trial available.
Science 4 Everyone: What happens to runoff water after heavy downpours?
Storm Team4 meteorologist and science teacher Ryan Miller explains what happens to the environment when there's runoff water after a heavy storm.
Lindsey Graham dead at 71, leaving a legacy as a Trump booster, foreign policy hawk and powerful chairman
Graham served in Congress for more than three decades, during which he evolved from a critic of President Donald Trump to one of his most zealous supporters.
Trump says he spoke with Sen. Lindsey Graham hours before his death
President Donald Trump said Sen. Lindsey Graham called him to discuss the SAVE America Act on Saturday.
FlexWork Sports fumbled Tetairoa McMillan youth football camp
The far more clickable headline would be that Panthers receiver and 2025 NFL offensive rookie of the year Tetairoa McMillan was a no-show for a youth football camp on Wednesday, July 1.
Lindsey Graham was booked for TV Sunday. Then his death shocked Congress
Lawmakers were stunned to learn of Graham's sudden passing. He was scheduled for a TV appearance on NBC's \
Special Report: Looking back on the political legacy of Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who had held his Senate seat since 2003 and was seen as a war hawk and significant voice on defense and foreign policy, has died at the age of 71 from a “sudden illness.” NBC News’ Julie Tsirkin and Meet the Press Moderator Kristen Welker report on Graham’s rise in Congress, his relationship with President Donald Trump, and his views on the wars in Iran and between Russia and Ukraine.
New Medicaid work requirements in Nebraska prompt ‘extreme mass confusion’
In the first state to implement the Trump administration mandate, Medicaid participants are anxious for information — and are struggling to get it.
Before Ricky Bottalico was a Phillies voice, 1996 All-Star Game gave him a mic
Ricky Bottalico was the Phillies’ lone All-Star in 1996. Nearly 30 years later, that strange week at the Vet still follows him.
Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after ‘brief and sudden illness’
Graham had just returned from Kyiv, Ukraine, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Health officials warn of measles exposure at PHL Airport on July 4th
A person with measles traveled through PHL Airport on July 4, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced on Saturday.
Phillies select Tyler Spangler, a “total package” shortstop, in MLB draft
The Phillies selected high school shortstop Tyler Spangler with pick No. 36 overall in the MLB draft.
Jude Bellingham has dragged England to the World Cup semifinals
Editorial: Buckeye State rated best for business
Ohio’s designation by the cable TV business channel CNBC as “America’s Top State for Business” is a very significant achievement that will bring JobsOhio ...
‘I'm not gonna be the fifth option': Zack Wheeler declines late All-Star invite
With a first-half résumé as one of baseball’s most effective pitchers, Zack Wheeler feels disrespected by a late All-Star Game invite.
Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak widens on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Guggenheim among sites affected
The museum’s cooling tower is among 31 that have tested positive for Legionella bacteria, which can thrive in water systems.
An anti-inflammatory diet may protect against dementia in some older adults
Recent research suggests that healthy eating habits matter, even when people are already at increased risk of cognitive decline.
From booksmaxxing to looksmaxxing: Why the viral trends concern some mental health experts
People are self-optimizing everything — protein, skincare, fitness — to such a degree that "maxxing" is one of social media's most popular suffixes.
U.K. rattled by killing of politician Ann Widdecombe as murder probe continues
The death has renewed unease about the safety of Britain’s politicians, after two others were killed in the last decade.
The last MLB Draft of its kind? Plus: Sinner makes Wimbledon final, again
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Let’s talk about high school. Coming up: ⚾ MLB Draft’s endangered future 👊 Ex-teammates brawl ⭐ Haaland-Kane clash Major League Baseball’s draft begins today at 1:30 p.m. ET on NBC. (Our live blog will be here.) If commissioner Rob Manfred gets his way, it’ll be the last draft before the rules begin to change, and what comes next will be worse. MLB and its player union continue to swap proposals ahead of a...
Virginia Climbs to No. 3 in CNBC's 2026 Top States for Business — Here's What Moved the Needle
Gov. Spanberger credits strategic investments and affordability gains, while a methodology change rewarding infrastructure does some of the heavy lifting.