For the best experience, read in browser.

More Stories

Blanche being sworn in for his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 15. (Getty Images)

Todd Blanche announced late Sunday that he's formally rescinding plans for a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" for people who claim to have been unfairly targeted by the government.  "My team and I have met with committee members and Senators over the past several weeks and addressed any concerns or outstanding questions," Blanche posted on X. Blanche's announcement follows an impasse with Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who threatened to block his nomination over the fund. Though Blanche claimed the fund was "dead" back in June, he'd previously resisted committing the promise to writing — and Trump has vowed to "push hard" for the fund in recent days. An order released by Blanche alongside his announcement also clarifies that a tax audit exemption for Trump and his family only applies retroactively, eliminating another sticking point for Cornyn and Tillis. A crucial committee vote is scheduled for Tuesday.

President Trump says talks with Iran will resume today, after canceling a planned attack — reportedly under pressure from Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He said he'd agreed to "to hold off any attack in that the perimeters [sic] of a deal has been agreed to," and the pause depends on "being able to rapidly make a DEAL." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly warned his Saudi counterpart over the weekend that "any aggression or hostile action" by the U.S. and Israel "would be met with a firm and proportionate response." Per CNN, before the pause in strikes, a U.S. military officer emailed troops inviting them to suggest "new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran" — a sign of how limited U.S. options for coercion are. 

At least 60,000 people have been evacuated as three major wildfires rage through Spokane County, Washington, with 0% containment as of late Sunday. More than 7,000 acres have been burned so far, with more than 600 structures burned as of Sunday morning — though more are expected to be discovered. The Pacific Northwest is experiencing its most severe fire season in more than 30 years as the climate crisis drives temperatures upward and dries out vegetation. Temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s later this week, which combined with a dip in humidity, could spark yet more dangerous conditions. 

Capital One stated that it closed the Trump ⁠Organization’s bank accounts in 2021 following a review by anti-money-laundering experts, marking the first time a bank has formally linked the business to money laundering concerns. Capital One is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Trump Organization alleging it was illegally "debanked" — i.e., denied services on religious or political grounds. The bank's filing states that "Capital One closed Plaintiffs’ accounts for anti-money laundering ("AML") reasons," and the decision was "the result of months of analysis and a careful review by Capital One’s AML team in accordance with bank policies and regulatory guidance." The Trump Organization and Eric Trump are claiming that the accounts were closed due to the bank's "woke" beliefs and a desire to benefit from the political atmosphere after the Capitol riots.

A young man opened fire in a newly opened In-N-Out on Saturday afternoon, killing three people and injuring seven others before he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said investigators were confident the gunman, identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, acted alone. He added that the attack was cut short thanks to the "heroic actions" of an off-duty state trooper and a civilian, who returned fire. “These people are true heroes in our community, and their actions diverted the shooter and no doubt saved many lives,” County Sheriff Jack Johnson added.

Extra Credit

Michael Livio; Dutton

• Bestselling author Riley Sager is coming out with his tenth thriller this week. We caught up with the prolific author to get the scoop on his new novel and what he says is his most divisive book.

• Lora McLaughlin Peterson — or as you may know her, LORAfied — has built up a huge Instagram presence thanks to her practical home hacks. Here, she shares 10 genius tips to simplify cooking.

• Sorel is a Wake-Up Call reader favorite, and this style is not one to miss. It gives you the added height of a wedge sandal, but with a comfy footbed that supports your arches.

The Total Package

QVC

This comprehensive iPad bundle offers a treasure trove of accessories. On top of the device itself, you'll also get a charging cable, power adapter, carrying case, Bluetooth keyboard, Bluetooth headphones, tablet hand grip, tablet stand, cleaning cloth, and a stylus. Plus, thanks to our partners at QVC, new customers can take 20% off with code 20NEWQ.

Hello, Good Buy!