Thursday, 30 July 2026

The US launched a fresh round of 'heavy wave' strikes on Iran, hitting multiple targets including Qeshm Island and Bushehr, in response to Iranian missile attacks on US forces in Jordan the previous day. Iran vowed to 'punish the aggressor' in retaliation.

Trump announced a deal brokered by his Board of Peace for Hamas to fully disarm in 'carefully structured phases,' though Hamas and Israel have not yet commented on or confirmed the agreement.

The Trump administration activated the Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time in 30 years to pursue the deportation of an Afghan woman facing no criminal charges. The defendant is challenging the court's constitutionality, setting up a major test of the administration's authority.

Trump threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general unless two Republican holdout senators—John Cornyn and Thom Tillis—leave office, over their demands for written guarantees that the controversial $1.8 billion DOJ 'anti-weaponization' fund be terminated.

Two federal appeals courts rejected the Trump administration's policy on mandatory migrant detention in separate rulings, with the 9th Circuit striking down the practice and another court ruling the administration misconstrued 1996 immigration law.

The Trump administration issued a new asylum rule that experts warn could funnel more migrants into deportation proceedings, representing a 'massive shift' in US immigration policy.

The Senate rejected a measure to constrain Trump's authority over the Iran war in a 49-50 vote, as lawmakers continue to question the prolonged military conflict and the administration launches new retaliatory strikes.

A bipartisan Senate committee voted to block Trump's effort to dismantle the Education Department, with senators also seeking to reveal how much taxpayer money the dismantling effort has cost. The committee also voted to shield special education from RFK Jr.'s agency.

ABC News formally protested an FCC early license-renewal proceeding targeting eight ABC-owned stations, arguing the review constitutes retaliation for the network's coverage critical of Trump. Labor and public interest groups filed a brief supporting ABC.

US economic growth slowed to 1.5% in the second quarter, down from 2.1% in Q1, as tariffs and oil price spikes from the Iran war created supply-side headwinds. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its meeting, though Fed chair pledged to maintain efforts against inflation.