Guardian US

A Trump-appointed judge dismissed the seditious conspiracy case against Proud Boys leaders following a Department of Justice motion. The judge noted the dismissal was based on the DOJ's request, despite his view that the request lacked factual or legal basis. The leaders had been convicted of multiple crimes related to the 2021 Capitol attack.

Workers are draining the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool due to algae blooms and peeling paint. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated the draining was planned and noted possible debris from an Independence Day fireworks display.

Graham Platner officially withdrew his US Senate candidacy in Maine, ending a campaign marked by scandals, including recent sexual assault accusations. Maine’s secretary of state confirmed the withdrawal paperwork.

Trump has appointed Matthew Wielicki, a self-described 'Earth science professor-in-exile' who criticizes established climate science, to lead the US Global Change Research Program. Wielicki, who lacks formal climate science training, will oversee the federal government’s flagship climate impacts report amid reports of the program being 'gutted' during Trump's second term.

Graham Platner, the Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, faced accusations of sexual assault and a history of controversial behavior, including a Nazi-linked tattoo and offensive online posts, leading to his campaign suspension. The article explores why voters initially supported him and hesitated to abandon him despite the scandals.

The Trump administration repealed a key provision of the Endangered Species Act that protected habitats of endangered species from development, logging, and mining. The rule change removes a 50-year-old definition of 'harm' that included habitat protection, which had been upheld by the Supreme Court in 1995 to safeguard old-growth forests for spotted owls.

The NAACP has demanded the suspension of Donald Trump’s Memphis Safe Task Force following the deaths of two Black men in Tennessee, one in police custody and another by national guard troops. The group called for a federal investigation into the taskforce, citing insufficient civilian policing training for federal and military officers deployed there.

A man was shot and killed by ICE officials in Houston, Texas, after witnesses and the driver's lawyer disputed the Trump administration's claim that he 'weaponized' his vehicle. The three men in the van with him are being pressured to self-deport, and they denied an ICE agent was in front of the vehicle when the shooting occurred.

Missouri has declared a state of emergency due to severe storms and flash flooding affecting central, south-central, and south-eastern regions. Governor Mike Kehoe activated the Missouri state emergency operations plan to coordinate emergency assistance with local jurisdictions.

Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian immigrant pardoned by Minnesota officials in June over a 2006 conviction for first-degree criminal sexual conduct, has been deported to Laos by the federal government. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, announced the deportation.

The article highlights the US's 250th anniversary, the funeral of Ali Khamenei, a brutal heatwave in Europe, and the World Cup as captured by photojournalists over the past week.

Andy Burnham is positioning himself as Britain's next prime minister, criticizing his predecessor Keir Starmer's handling of the Gaza war and emphasizing the need for a strong foreign secretary and international alliances to manage challenges like dealing with Donald Trump.

President Trump accused of trying to rig the US midterm elections after firing three members of the Election Assistance Commission, paralyzing the agency responsible for election administration. The move is described as a 'brazen attempt' to control elections.

Delta Airlines reported a $1.4 billion profit despite its highest quarterly fuel expense in history. The company expects elevated airfares to continue due to strong travel demand and plans to pass all fuel costs to consumers.

A major bipartisan housing bill will become law without Donald Trump’s signature, as he refuses to sign it due to Congress not approving new voting restrictions. The 21st Century Road to Housing Act, passed with large margins by Congress after negotiations between Democrats and Republicans, is set to go into effect at midnight on Saturday.

The Trump administration is charging Minneapolis protesters known as the 'Minnesota 15' with conspiracy for opposing an ICE crackdown. Protesters, including musician Emmett Doyle, have pleaded not guilty and continue to resist through public demonstrations and performances.

Texas faces legal pressure to address extreme heat in prisons after a wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the family of Jason Wilson, who died in a 'brutally hot, un-airconditioned' cell at the Coffield unit in July 2024. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which operates the prisons, is highlighted as the agency under scrutiny.

The Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT) in Jackson, Mississippi, provides $1,000 monthly payments for 12 months to extremely low-income families led by Black mothers. Launched in 2018, it is the longest-running guaranteed income program in the U.S. with no strings attached.

The article discusses how Democrats should reconsider their image of a 'man of the people', highlighting Graham Platner, a Maine oyster farmer and former Democratic senatorial candidate. It critiques the progressive view of working-class heroes as bearded, buff white men, noting their treatment of women is often overlooked. The profile describes an encounter where a local man praises Platner, and the author is impressed by oysters as a metaphor for community building.

Trump was criticized as 'irresponsible and dangerous' for firing election commission members, with concerns it is part of efforts to interfere with elections. The Trump administration spent $2.7bn on wind power and $1.125bn on coal, criticized for favoring fossil-fuel companies.