The U.S. and Iran each fired barrages of missiles Thursday, as the took hold again and hope dimmed for any quick resolution. After a , the risk of a return to all-out war emerged once more, with the fighting even more countries. Jordan said Thursday , while Kuwait said a strike in the northern part of the country killed one person.
Todd Blanche鈥檚 nomination to become attorney general as lawmakers scrapped a planned committee vote after key Republicans demanded more assurances about the against the Internal Revenue Service.
Most Americans say the war in Iran has not been worth fighting, and Trump鈥檚 approval rating on Iran has fallen slightly , according to . The results are a stark repudiation of Trump鈥檚 approach to the conflict, which has dragged on far longer than he originally predicted.
Here’s the Latest:
Senate committee advances nomination of Dr. Erica Schwartz to be Trump鈥檚 CDC director
A Senate committee on Thursday advanced to be director of the nation鈥檚 top public health agency, setting aside concerns that she won鈥檛 stand up to political meddling.
If confirmed by the full Senate, the 54-year-old would become the 22nd director of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats. Her resume includes medical and law degrees, a stint as deputy surgeon general, and a leadership position at the U.S. Coast Guard.
Schwartz appeared to be on shaky ground after Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and others questioned whether she would be willing to stand up to , if the health secretary ordered CDC to do something unsupported by science and good public health practice. But Cassidy later expressed confidence that 鈥渟he knows what she鈥檚 doing.鈥�
鈻�
US-Iran conflict enters new phase as Saudi Arabia helps hit proxies and diplomacy stalls again
The stop-start appears to have entered a new phase with Saudi Arabia publicly joining military escalations against Tehran-backed proxies and an already to end the war faltering once again.
, if any, American or Iranian officials have for a path forward. The Republican president has vacillated for months between insisting a deal was near to end the war and Tehran鈥檚 nuclear program, and using vulgarities and .
The stakes for continued U.S. military action have never been higher for Trump and his party as the conflict, has months before voters get their say in November. The renewed fighting has killed and and raised concerns about the stockpiles of key U.S. air defense systems.
鈻�
Trump touted his tariffs in Michigan despite rising costs. Even some of his supporters are worried
Flying to a rally at General Motors this week, the president declared that 鈥渃ar companies are doing better than they鈥檝e ever done鈥� thanks to his tariffs, 鈥渁ll because of Trump.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing what tariffs will do for General Motors,鈥� the Republican leader said before autographing a white Corvette. 鈥淢ichigan is thriving,鈥� he told cheering supporters.
That鈥檚 not exactly true, according to many metrics. Tariffs have cost businesses in Michigan and across the country billions of dollars while stoking inflation that continues to run hot. Many Americans believe tariffs have pushed prices higher and the war in Iran has increased gasoline prices, hurting consumer confidence in the economy while keeping Trump鈥檚 approval ratings low.
There are few places where Trump鈥檚 boasts and economic reality are more likely to collide ahead of November鈥檚 midterm elections than in battleground Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday.
鈻�
Opposition to FIFA鈥檚 World Cup private equity plan grows
Global opposition is growing to FIFA President Gianni Infantino鈥檚 in revenue to private investors.
The FIFA project would be underwritten by a New York investment vehicle, Thrive Eternal, created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Trump鈥檚 son-in-law Jared Kushner. Infantino has had and held secret talks with potential backers in the U.S. about creating the $20 billion FIFA Forward Enterprise subsidiary with $4.2 billion of private equity.
鈥淔IFA鈥檚 unilateral actions appear to undermine the very foundations of continental football,鈥� the Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa warned in a letter Thursday to member federations that was seen by The Associated Press.
It circulated as the 55-nation European soccer body UEFA prepared to meet Thursday to shape a resistance strategy. The 35-member North American soccer body it is 鈥渄eeply concerned by the lack of due process鈥� in Infantino鈥檚 project.
鈻�
US economy turns in sluggish 1.5% second-quarter growth and inflation remains above Fed target
The U.S. economy expanded at a sluggish 1.5% pace from April through June as rising imports weighed on growth. But consumer spending rose. And the Federal Reserve鈥檚 favored measure of inflation grew more slowly last month, by 3.7%, but remained above the central bank鈥檚 2% target.
The Commerce Department reported Thursday that growth in U.S. gross domestic product 鈥� the nation鈥檚 output of goods and services 鈥� decelerated from 2.1% in the first three months of 2026 and came in below economists鈥� expectations.
The Fed on Wednesday chose to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the fifth straight meeting. But three regional Fed presidents dissented, saying they wanted to raise rates to combat elevated inflation.
Higher costs have frustrated Americans ahead of November鈥檚 midterm elections, which will determine whether Trump鈥檚 Republicans keep full control of Congress.
US filings for jobless benefits rise to 197,000 last week, but layoffs remain historically low
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but layoffs remain in the historically healthy range of the past few years.
U.S. filings for jobless aid in the week ending July 25 rose by 9,000 to 197,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The previous week鈥檚 figure was revised up by 1,000 to 188,000 but remains the lowest in more than 50 years.
Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet forecast 207,000 new applications.
Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered representative of layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the U.S. job market.
Urban League report says Trump harms Black Americans鈥� chances at American Dream
The American Dream may not be dead for many Black Americans, but a National Urban League report warns that it鈥檚 further away than at any point since the Civil Rights Movement.
The 50th annual 鈥淪tate of Black America鈥� report released Thursday grimly describes 鈥� economic and political prospects as having worsened due to Trump鈥檚 policies. A copy obtained by The Associated Press says all Americans should be concerned.
鈥淲hile they have targeted and focused on Black Americans, these attacks are going to impact broadly working Americans, poor Americans, aspirational middle-class Americans, and this is what this report points to,鈥� said Marc Morial, the league鈥檚 president and CEO.
Morial urged concerned Americans to respond at the ballot box and with their pocketbooks. 鈥淲e cannot be dejected. We cannot be cynical. We must act,鈥� Morial said.
鈻�
Most say it鈥檚 important to keep gas prices down: AP-NORC poll
Many Americans continue to be concerned about the pocketbook impact of the Iran war, shows.
About 7 in 10 U.S. adults 鈥� 72% 鈥� say it鈥檚 鈥渆xtremely鈥� or 鈥渧ery鈥� important for the U.S. to prevent domestic oil and gas prices from rising, up slightly from 67% in March.
A similar share, 70%, say it鈥檚 highly important for the U.S. to reach a ceasefire agreement with Iran.
Americans鈥� goals for the Iran war may not be fully aligned with Trump, who has repeatedly said the war was launched to .
While about two-thirds of U.S. adults say it鈥檚 鈥渆xtremely鈥� or 鈥渧ery鈥� important to keep Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon 鈥� with Republicans especially likely to say this 鈥� Americans are more likely to prioritize low gas prices and a permanent ceasefire with Iran.
About two-thirds say the Iran war is not worth fighting: AP-NORC poll
Most U.S. adults say the war in Iran has not been worth fighting, according to a . About two-thirds of U.S. adults say the war with Iran, which , has not been worthwhile. That includes the vast majority of Democrats and independents, as well as about 37% of Republicans.
The poll shows little appetite among Americans for a prolonged conflict.
Only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults want to continue military action in Iran, while about 3 in 10 say the U.S. should pause military action and seek a renewed ceasefire through negotiations. About 2 in 10 want to completely stop military action in Iran and roughly one-quarter don鈥檛 know enough to say.
Trump announces a $22.5B makeover of Dulles airport that will eliminate the 鈥榩eople movers鈥�
Trump on Wednesday announced a of Washington Dulles International Airport that will end the use of the widely disliked 鈥減eople movers,鈥� the mobile lounges that have been used for decades to shuttle travelers to and from the main terminal.
In place of the people movers, the airport will add a new U-shaped passenger train, a central walking tunnel, more moving walkways and new concourses. An above-ground parking garage closer to the main terminal with space for 32,000 vehicles is also in the offing, according to Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
The airport makeover would add to a long list of renovation projects the Republican president is pursuing to leave a lasting mark on the Washington region after his term ends in January 2029. Among other undertakings, he is building a new and wants to build a towering near the Lincoln Memorial.
鈻�
Trump鈥檚 approval rating for handling of Iran has declined slightly: AP-NORC poll
The president’s approval rating on Iran has fallen slightly , according to a .
Just 28% of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling Iran, a slight decline from 34% last month.
Republicans also appear to be increasingly unhappy with the prolonged conflict: 61% approve of how Trump is handling Iran, an apparent decline from 71% in June.
The margin of sampling error for Republicans is 6 points, so that 10-point decline is considered slight 鈥� but it鈥檚 still noteworthy given Republicans鈥� higher approval of how Trump is handling the presidency overall. About 7 in 10 Republicans, 73%, approve of Trump鈥檚 job performance.
Trump鈥檚 overall job approval rating is 33% among U.S. adults. That鈥檚 slightly below where he was , and similar to where former President Biden stood about one and a half years into his presidency, as inflation peaked.
鈻�
Senate panel delays vote on Blanche attorney general nomination as key Republicans withhold support
Todd Blanche鈥檚 nomination to become attorney general stalled Wednesday as lawmakers scrapped a planned committee vote after key Republicans demanded more assurances about the against the Internal Revenue Service.
The Senate Judiciary Committee had been expected to vote Thursday on whether to advance Blanche鈥檚 nomination to the full chamber. But resistance from two Republican senators on the committee who could block Blanche鈥檚 nomination threw his confirmation into doubt.
A spokesperson for the committee said in a statement Wednesday night that the vote would be postponed 鈥渁s work continues to secure sufficient support.鈥� The delay came after hours of negotiations between the Justice Department and Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis over the controversial settlement that afforded Trump and members of his family protection from tax audits.
鈻�
The US and Iran trade missile barrages as hopes dim for a quick resolution
The United States and Iran each fired barrages of missiles Thursday, as the took hold again and hope dimmed for any quick resolution.
After a , the risk of a return to all-out war emerged once more, with the fighting even more countries: Jordan said Thursday it intercepted Iranian missiles for the second consecutive day, while Kuwait said a strike in the northern part of the country killed one person. Also this week, drones caused fires on ships at an Egyptian port, and Saudi Arabia said it came under fire from Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
The spiraling violence underscored the difficulty of that has sent the price of fuel and other basics soaring, jolted the world economy, and added to concerns about American stockpiles of weapons needed to defend its bases and allies. After an earlier hiatus had given hope that diplomatic efforts were moving forward, there was no public sign of progress.
鈻�
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
