Good morning, everyone, and happy Sunday. No matter what is happening in the world, we have a tradition here, and today is no different. Every Sunday begins with good news because there is still so much of it worth celebrating.
Before jumping into all the good, non-political news, I briefly discuss Graham’s passing because it is likely to have significant consequences in Washington. For now, the Republican agenda in the Senate is effectively frozen as lawmakers navigate a much narrower working majority.
Today I will also continue my fight with the Department of Justice to secure the full release of the Epstein files. That effort comes as censorship and attempts to suppress information continue elsewhere. I will not stop. If you believe independent journalism matters, and if you want reporting that is not filtered, softened, or sold, I hope you’ll consider subscribing and helping us continue building this together.
Here’s the news:
Senator Lindsey Graham Dies, what you need to know:
Sen. Lindsey Graham, the longtime Republican senator from South Carolina, died Saturday night at age 71 after what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.” Emergency responders were called to his Washington home for chest pains before CPR was performed and he was taken to George Washington University Hospital, where he later died. Graham had just returned from Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and announced a bipartisan agreement with the White House on new sanctions against Russia. President Trump called him a “true American Patriot,” while South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster praised him as a fierce advocate for both the state and the nation. Under South Carolina law, McMaster can appoint a Republican to fill Graham’s Senate seat until the term expires in January.
Lindsey Graham’s death has triggered a fast-moving special election to fill South Carolina’s Senate seat, with Republicans facing an August primary for a full six-year term after Graham had already secured the GOP nomination for November. Under state law, candidate filing opens July 21 and closes a week later, followed by an Aug. 11 primary and, if needed, an Aug. 25 runoff. The Republican nominee will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November. President Trump said he already has someone in mind to support but declined to name a preferred candidate out of respect for Graham. Because South Carolina is a heavily Republican state, the GOP nominee is expected to enter the general election as the favorite.
In the meantime, Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint an interim senator to serve through the end of the year, though state law does not specify how quickly he must act. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette is viewed as a leading possibility for the temporary appointment because of her close relationship with McMaster and previous endorsement from Trump. Potential Republican candidates for the permanent seat include Rep. Nancy Mace, who is reportedly exploring a campaign, Rep. Joe Wilson, and businessman Mark Lynch, who challenged Graham in this year's GOP primary. Andrews, the Democratic nominee, has raised more than $8 million, but national Democrats are expected to focus resources on more competitive Senate races, making South Carolina likely to remain in Republican hands.
In the interim, Republicans are down another vote in the Senate, significantly complicating their legislative agenda. With Sen. Mitch McConnell still hospitalized, the GOP is effectively operating with a one-vote margin, making it far more difficult to advance major priorities. President Trump acknowledged today that the SAVE Act is unlikely to move forward under such a narrow majority. Graham's death also reduces Republicans' numbers on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee just days before it is expected to consider Todd Blanche's nomination. With only a one-vote edge on the committee, a single Republican defection could put Blanche's nomination in jeopardy.
Good news updates:
Alyssa Curtis, who grew up relying on food pantries, founded the Shame Free Collective to provide free food, hygiene products, and baby supplies with dignity and without judgment. What began as a single pantry in Michigan has grown into 20 community pantries, with a 21st on the way, supported by volunteers and donations of everyday essentials. Curtis says cuts to food assistance programs and rising costs have increased the need, with many parents skipping meals so their children can eat. Now a registered nonprofit, the organization aims to make sure no family has to face hunger with shame, while inspiring others to launch similar pantries in their own communities.
The historic Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, founded in 1786 as the first newspaper west of the Allegheny Mountains, will continue publishing after being rescued from bankruptcy through a sale to the nonprofit Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism. The institute, backed by hotel magnate Stewart Bainum Jr., said it aims to preserve local journalism with a diversified business model, making the Post-Gazette its second newspaper acquisition after the Baltimore Banner. The newspaper had reportedly lost about $350 million over two decades, and while restructuring is expected, limited print editions will continue. The Pulitzer Prize-winning paper is best known for its reporting on issues ranging from a Supreme Court justice’s ties to the Ku Klux Klan in 1938 to the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.
An 11-year-old Kentucky boy, Avory Woolery, is being hailed as a hero after diving into an apartment pool to rescue an unconscious drowning man when he realized no one else was helping. Avory said he put on his goggles, swam underwater, and pulled the man to the surface because he "wasn't going to let a man die." A bystander then began CPR until first responders arrived, and the man was transported to a hospital, where he remained in critical condition. Avory's father said he was incredibly proud of his son's quick thinking and credited his swimming skills with helping save a life.
After realizing her South Florida schools did not teach hurricane preparedness, 16-year-old Elise Raurell created Storm Smart, a student-led educational program that teaches classmates how to prepare for storms. Developed as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award after experiencing Hurricane Irma, the curriculum covers emergency kits, flood safety, downed power lines, and other essential hurricane precautions. More than 500 students have already received the materials, and the program is designed so students can teach one another, expanding its reach. Raurell says she hopes Storm Smart helps young people become better prepared while also building leadership and teaching skills.
Oregon has recorded five straight years without a single known pesticide-related bee death, according to the first statewide bee health report from researchers at Oregon State University. The milestone follows years of education and outreach launched after a 2013 mass bee die-off, including training more than 12,000 landscapers and agricultural workers on pollinator-safe pesticide practices. Scientists also created the Oregon Bee Atlas, documenting all 567 bee species in the state and providing practical guidance for protecting pollinators. Researchers say the results show that education, better habitat management, and informed pesticide use can dramatically improve bee health and protect biodiversity.
World Cup fever has gone beyond the field as pets like Bug the Brussels Griffon, Billy Heartnose the cat, Elfi the dachshund, and Simba have gone viral for "predicting" match winners through playful games involving soccer balls, flags, bells, and Plinko boards. Their prediction videos have attracted hundreds of thousands of views and tens of thousands of followers, with success rates ranging from roughly 76% to 80%. Owners say the animals have turned the predictions into daily routines and are rewarded with treats after each pick. Fans from around the world have embraced the lighthearted tradition, cheering on both their national teams and the furry forecasters throughout the World Cup.
A volunteer group in Montana called the Barfairies is leaving $5 coffee gift cards on cars left overnight outside bars to reward people who chose not to drive after drinking. What began as a small act of kindness has grown into a nationwide campaign promoting responsible decisions and raising awareness about drunk driving prevention. Volunteers wake up before dawn to place the gift cards on vehicles, and videos of the effort have attracted millions of views online. Organizers hope the simple gesture encourages more people to choose a safe ride home and shows appreciation for decisions that can save lives.
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Australian barber Jon James is bringing free haircutting workshops to remote Indigenous communities through the Fade Wellbeing Barbering Program, teaching residents skills they can use long after he leaves. During a visit to Mornington Island, participants quickly learned advanced barbering techniques and each received a professional barber kit to continue cutting hair in their community. James also helped prepare a local bride, groom, and wedding party for their big day, an experience he described as deeply humbling. Organizers hope the program will create new opportunities, boost confidence, strengthen community connections, and even inspire local barber shops in areas that previously had no access to one.
A Colorado school district has deployed six electric school buses that not only transport students but also serve as backup batteries for the local power grid. Using bidirectional charging technology, the buses recharge overnight, complete their daily routes, then send unused electricity back to the grid during periods of peak evening demand. Officials say the system will reduce emissions, lower long-term operating and maintenance costs, and strengthen grid reliability without costing the district money thanks to a $2.4 million rebate. Highland Electric Fleets estimates that just 24 buses could help meet the peak electricity needs of about 100 homes, demonstrating how electric school buses can provide benefits far beyond transportation.
Scientists at Duke University have used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to grow specialized retinal blood vessel cells that successfully repaired damaged retinal tissue and restored retinal function in mice. The lab-grown cells integrated into diseased retinas, regenerated blood vessels, and showed particular promise against diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. Researchers say the breakthrough could provide a cheaper, more reliable source of retinal cells for future treatments and improve drug testing for a range of eye diseases. While the therapy still needs human testing, the findings offer new hope that stem cell technology could one day help restore vision in people suffering from retinal disease.
Researchers have identified a gene called DEAF1 as a key driver of age-related muscle decline, helping explain why muscles lose strength as people get older. The study found that exercise lowers DEAF1 levels, restoring the body's ability to clear damaged proteins and rebuild muscle, effectively helping aging muscles "reset." Experiments in fruit flies and older mice showed that reducing DEAF1 improved muscle strength, while increasing it accelerated deterioration. Scientists say the discovery could lead to new treatments that mimic some of exercise's muscle-preserving benefits, particularly for older adults or people recovering from illness who cannot stay physically active.
The U.K.’s National Health Service has approved two new non-invasive tests for endometriosis, Endotest and EndoSure, in a move experts are calling a “game-changer.” Endotest analyzes a saliva sample for microRNAs linked to endometriosis, while EndoSure uses abdominal sensors to measure electrical signals in the gut during a 45-minute exam. The tests could reduce the average diagnosis time from more than nine years to just days and dramatically reduce the need for invasive laparoscopic surgery. Doctors say earlier diagnosis will allow patients to begin treatment sooner, improve quality of life, and help reduce pressure on hospitals and surgical waiting lists.
Coffee farmers in Uganda's Masaka region are producing stronger, more resilient crops by adopting regenerative agriculture techniques such as mulching, cover cropping, shade trees, and drought-resistant seedlings. A partnership involving the Global Environment Facility, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Nespresso, and local coffee exporters created 30 demonstration farms to teach growers sustainable practices. Farmers report healthier coffee plants, improved yields, better income stability, and greater resilience to drought and unpredictable rainfall. Supporters say the program could strengthen Uganda's coffee industry while helping stabilize global coffee supplies in the face of climate change.
Scientists in Canada say they have confirmed significant deposits of naturally occurring “white hydrogen,” a clean energy source produced underground by ancient rocks, with successful exploration near Saskatchewan and promising research in Ontario mines. Exploration company MAX Power became the first to intentionally drill for natural hydrogen in Canada, discovering high hydrogen concentrations and gas flow that researchers believe could support future commercial production. Unlike most hydrogen used today, which is produced from fossil fuels or energy-intensive renewable processes, white hydrogen occurs naturally and could provide a cheaper, lower-carbon energy source for mining operations, remote communities, and heavy industry. Researchers say Canada’s geology may make it a global leader in natural hydrogen production, with similar rock formations found across Northern Ontario, Quebec, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories.
A 21-year-old England fan, Jacob Allmendinger, used his entire $13,000 house deposit to take his 80-year-old grandfather, Geoff Golliker, on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the World Cup after years of attending matches together. Their story went viral as they traveled across the U.S. and Mexico following England, inspiring an online company to promise to reimburse the cost if England met certain match results. After England advanced, the company unexpectedly transferred the full amount, leaving Allmendinger stunned and allowing him to continue the trip while still preserving his dream of buying a home. He said the experience with his grandfather has been priceless, adding that the overwhelming public response has reminded many people to cherish time with loved ones while they still can.
See you soon.
— Aaron
