Politics

A gas station explosion in southeastern Rome early Friday morning left at least 20 people injured, including eight police officers and a firefighter, according to local authorities and emergency responders. The blast occurred shortly after 8 a.m. and sent a large plume of black smoke over the Italian capital.

President Donald Trump has notched a string of major victories just six months into his second term, fulfilling core campaign promises and setting the tone for America’s 250th anniversary celebration.

Dr. Phil McGraw’s media venture, Merit Street Media, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and launched a lawsuit against its primary distribution partner, Trinity Broadcasting Network. The Fort Worth-based media company, which began operations in early 2024, cited financial hardship and failed capital raises as key reasons behind its financial collapse.

The U.S. State Department, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, recalled Chargé d’Affaires ad interim John McNamara from Bogotá on July 3.

House Speaker Mike Johnson declared the newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) as “the most conservative legislation of our lifetime” during an interview with Newsmax on July 3.

Pro-migration advocates who once celebrated President Joe Biden’s mass immigration policies are now expressing concern as the political tide turns. Congress, reflecting public frustration, passed President Donald Trump’s $170 billion “One Big Beautiful Bill,” dramatically increasing funding for immigration enforcement and setting the stage for mass deportations.

Following the partial acquittal of rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs on major charges, an MSNBC panel sparked controversy by blaming the racial and gender makeup of the prosecution team. Legal analysts on Ana Cabrera Reports suggested that the presence of six white female prosecutors — referred to as “lawyer Barbies” — may have alienated jurors and contributed to the dismissal of the most serious charges.

A Mexican national living illegally in the U.S. has been sentenced to over 10 years in prison for the vehicular homicide of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd. Raul Benitez-Santana, 33, was convicted in a Snohomish County courtroom earlier this month and received a sentence of 125 months in prison and 18 months of community custody.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has broken her own veto record, rejecting 178 bills during the most recent legislative session—surpassing her 2023 record of 143. While Hobbs signed 264 bills into law, her repeated use of the veto pen has drawn scrutiny for blocking key Republican-led efforts on national security, election integrity, and education reform.

The Madre Fire in California surged to 35,530 acres in under 24 hours, becoming the state’s largest wildfire of the year. Fueled by dry grass, high temperatures, and gusty winds, the blaze erupted Wednesday near State Route 166 east of Santa Maria and is primarily burning through federal lands in San Luis Obispo County.