Happy Friday night, everyone. It was a busy day, and I covered several major stories. Trump said he has left instructions for JD Vance if Iran were to assassinate him. We also learned new details about the fatal ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Witnesses say agents mocked his brother after the shooting, stripped Araujo of his identification before taking him to the hospital, continued firing into the vehicle after it had stopped, and are now seeking to deport the surviving witnesses. I also spoke with Ian from The Maine Newsroom about the rapidly changing Maine Senate race, covered the Trump administration’s rollback of endangered species protections, and much more.
I also have some important news to share. This platform is surging again. This year, we’ve outperformed major media companies, generating hundreds of millions of views. You made that possible. Together, we’ve built something independent, focused, and relentless. We’ve created a platform that has surpassed nearly every major media company in the world in engagement.
Here’s the news:
Lorenzo Salgado Aruajo:
Federal immigration officers fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo during an ICE operation in Houston, but the three migrants who were traveling with him dispute the government’s account of the incident. They told their attorney that officers opened fire almost immediately after exiting their vehicles and insisted Salgado Araujo never attempted to run over an officer. Their testimony directly contradicts the Department of Homeland Security’s claim that he “weaponized” his work van by trying to ram ICE personnel. The witnesses, interviewed separately while in immigration detention, all gave consistent accounts of the shooting.
After the shooting, witnesses said Lorenzo Salgado Araujo remained conscious and repeatedly called for help as he bled from his gunshot wounds. They alleged that ICE agents pulled him from the driver’s seat, threw him to the ground, and restrained the other passengers while he continued pleading for assistance. According to the passengers, medical aid was not immediately prioritized as they watched him deteriorate. Salgado Araujo was eventually transported to Ben Taub Hospital without any identification, where he was initially admitted as a “John Doe.” He later died from his injuries at the hospital.
The passengers also described what they considered degrading treatment immediately after the shooting. Victor Salgado, the victim’s brother, recalled an ICE agent mockingly asking him in Spanish, “Se querían escapar, verdad?” (”You wanted to escape, right?”) while Lorenzo lay gravely wounded nearby. He said the remark was made as the agents had already restrained the occupants and his brother was bleeding on the ground. The witnesses viewed the comment as callous given the severity of Lorenzo’s condition. Their attorney said all three men independently recounted similar details about the encounter.
The circumstances surrounding Salgado Araujo’s treatment after the shooting have become a central point of controversy in the case. His family, attorney, and supporters argue that the reported lack of urgency in providing aid, combined with the alleged mocking remark, raises serious questions about the officers’ conduct. They contend these actions conflict with DHS’s portrayal of officers acting solely in self-defense during a dangerous encounter. The attorney has called for an independent investigation, emphasizing that the witnesses’ accounts remained consistent despite being interviewed separately in detention. The case has intensified public scrutiny of ICE’s enforcement practices and the agency’s handling of officer-involved shootings.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire: For the Salgado family, life will never be the same. At no fault of theirs, Mr. Salgado was chased by a unmarked vehicles. Before he could identify himself and speak as a Houstonian, he was shot and killed. We will use all of our resources to pursue an independent and transparent investigation.
Responding to questions about the fatal ICE shooting in Texas, border czar Tom Homan argued that public distrust of ICE is driven by inaccurate media coverage and criticism from some members of Congress. He said many news outlets spread false information about the agency and echoed comparisons of ICE to a "secret police" force. Homan maintained that ICE is countering those narratives by releasing what he described as the facts about its operations. He concluded by claiming the agency is regaining public support because it is "putting the truth out there."
Trump and Iran:
Donald Trump said he has instructed the U.S. military to launch overwhelming strikes against Iran if he is assassinated, stating the country should be bombed at “levels they’ve never seen before.” His comments came amid reports that Iran is plotting to kill him, although he downplayed the latest intelligence and suggested Israel had not provided convincing evidence. The remarks followed a sharp escalation in fighting, with U.S. strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory Iranian attacks on American military bases. Trump also noted that he has long been a target of Iran and cited previous assassination threats against him. Security concerns surrounding the conflict even affected his travel plans, forcing him to use his older Air Force One because his new aircraft lacks full presidential security systems.
It comes as Trump’s temporary Air Force One—a retrofitted Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar—does not include all of the defensive countermeasures found on the previous presidential aircraft, including its advanced antimissile systems. Former Air Force officials said the accelerated retrofit left insufficient time to install the full range of security upgrades, raising concerns about using the aircraft for overseas travel, particularly near conflict zones such as Iran. The White House defended the plane as safe and equipped with “high-level security protocols,” while the Air Force acknowledged that some “less commonly used mission sets” were omitted from the temporary aircraft. The issue drew renewed scrutiny after the Secret Service reportedly advised Trump to return from Turkey aboard the older Air Force One because of security concerns.
Senior U.S. officials are demanding that Iran publicly declare the Strait of Hormuz open and guarantee that its forces will stop attacking commercial ships. The officials said this commitment is necessary to rebuild confidence and allow negotiations over Iran's nuclear program to continue. While they described talks with Iranian leaders as making progress, they warned that the U.S. remains skeptical Iran will fully comply. Iran's ambassador to the United Nations responded that activity in the Strait of Hormuz is solely under Tehran's authority and conditioned future cooperation on the United States honoring its own commitments. The competing statements highlight the fragile state of diplomacy despite ongoing negotiations. It comes as Iranians continue to call for Trump’s death on the ground:
One video from Iran showed Iranians burning a Trump lego statue:
One question I had was this: If the Strait of Hormuz is already open, as the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed, why is it now demanding that Iran publicly acknowledge it’s open and pledge to stop firing on commercial ships? Which is it?
U.S. officials also blamed renewed attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz on internal divisions within Iran’s political system. They said hardline factions are attempting to undermine negotiations and the recently collapsed ceasefire by authorizing attacks on vessels. President Trump confirmed that the ceasefire is over but said his administration has agreed to continue talks with Iran under stricter conditions. Officials warned that any future nuclear agreement would require Iran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium or face potential military action. Together, these developments suggest the United States is pursuing diplomacy while maintaining the threat of force if negotiations fail.
Other News:
The Trump administration finalized a rule narrowing the definition of "harm" under the Endangered Species Act, removing longstanding habitat protections that had limited activities such as logging, mining, and development in areas critical to endangered species' survival. Administration officials argued the change reduces regulatory burdens on private property owners and better reflects the law's original intent, while maintaining that directly harming or killing protected species remains illegal. Conservation groups and environmental advocates warned the rollback could accelerate biodiversity loss by allowing destruction of habitats essential for feeding, breeding, and sheltering endangered wildlife, including species such as Florida manatees and monarch butterflies. The rule is expected to face legal challenges, with opponents arguing it contradicts decades of legal precedent and weakens one of the nation's most effective wildlife conservation laws.
An NBC News investigation reports that Trump administration political appointees are overruling career Justice Department antitrust attorneys by halting or weakening reviews of several proposed corporate mergers, including deals involving airlines, aerospace, and energy companies. Sources say DOJ leaders are pushing to approve mergers without lawsuits or the usual remedies designed to preserve competition, prompting concerns that reduced antitrust enforcement could lead to higher prices for consumers and taxpayers. Critics, including former antitrust officials, argue the shift represents an unprecedented rollback of consumer protections, while DOJ insiders say political leadership has discouraged litigation against corporations. The Justice Department has not publicly commented on the allegations, and officials familiar with the matter said some merger decisions are still pending.
Trump and the Department of Homeland Security are highlighting the arrest of an Australian green card holder accused of illegally voting in the 2022 and 2024 elections as part of their broader argument about noncitizen voting. However, FEC records also show that a Denise Migliore of Franklinton, Louisiana—the same name and hometown as the accused woman—made a $250 donation through WinRed to Republican congressional candidate Mayra Flores in 2025. While it has not been independently confirmed that the donor and the charged individual are the same person, if they are, it would complicate the administration's narrative by suggesting the alleged illegal voter also financially supported a MAGA candidate.
Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner officially withdrew from Maine’s U.S. Senate race, allowing the Maine Democratic Party to select a replacement nominee before the July 27 deadline to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Platner had announced plans to exit earlier in the week following a sexual assault allegation from a former girlfriend, which he has denied as “categorically false,” though his campaign had already been plagued by multiple controversies involving past comments and allegations about his personal conduct. His withdrawal ends uncertainty over whether he would remain on the ballot and has triggered a competitive race among several Democrats seeking the nomination. The party is now organizing a special nominating convention to choose its new candidate ahead of one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate elections.
Members of the Democratic Socialists of America are circulating a letter urging DSA candidates and elected officials to stop working with political consultant Morris Katz and his firm, Fight Agency, over their role in former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's scandal-plagued campaign. The letter argues Katz continued to back Platner despite mounting controversies and allegations, damaging both the campaign and the broader democratic socialist movement. Katz has defended his actions, saying his team advised Platner to suspend his campaign as soon as they learned of the rape allegation, while some progressive strategists argue consultants tied to other Democratic politicians facing misconduct allegations have not faced similar calls for blacklisting. The dispute has sparked a broader debate within progressive circles over accountability for political consultants and the future direction of left-wing campaigns.
The family of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who disappeared during a July 4 boat trip to Mississippi’s Horn Island and was later found dead, is demanding a deeper investigation, saying key details “are not adding up.” Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said the teen’s friends left the island with Wells’ phone and keys, and the family believes messages from social media apps may have been deleted before the phone was returned. Although authorities have said they do not currently suspect foul play, the family plans to conduct an independent autopsy and is urging anyone with photos or videos from the island to come forward. Crump also questioned why no one helped Wells or gave him a ride back to shore, arguing the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death remain unresolved.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Taylor Swift has reimbursed the city more than $160,000 to cover security and other public costs associated with her multi-day wedding celebration at Madison Square Garden. The payment comes after criticism that taxpayers would bear the expense of the heightened police presence, which included hundreds of officers during the July 4 holiday weekend. Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis had publicly called on Swift and Travis Kelce to repay the NYPD for the extensive security measures. Mamdani confirmed the permit fee had already been paid, saying the city was reimbursed for the event’s public safety response.
According to the New York Times, the Trump administration appointed Matthew Wielicki, a former geochemist and outspoken critic of mainstream climate science, to lead the U.S. Global Change Research Program, which oversees the federally mandated National Climate Assessment. Wielicki has argued that climate scientists exaggerate the dangers of global warming and has questioned the severity of impacts such as sea level rise, despite lacking formal training or peer-reviewed research in climate science. Environmental scientists and former contributors to the assessment warned the appointment could undermine the scientific credibility of the report, while the White House said it aims to restore what it calls "sound science" after dismissing hundreds of scientists working on the next assessment. The move is the latest step in the Trump administration's broader effort to roll back climate policies and reshape federal climate research.
A Ryanair-operated flight from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, was forced to return shortly after takeoff when a passenger window became dislodged, causing rapid cabin decompression. A 61-year-old man was partially sucked out of the broken window before nearby passengers pulled him back into the aircraft, and he suffered neck, shoulder, and friction-burn injuries. Witnesses described hearing a loud bang, seeing oxygen masks deploy, and feeling the plane quickly descend as passengers screamed in panic. The aircraft landed safely back in Thessaloniki, where the injured passenger received medical attention, and a replacement plane later transported the remaining travelers to Germany.
Cuba experienced its second nationwide blackout in five days after a complete collapse of the national power grid, marking the island’s ninth nationwide outage since late 2024 and fourth this year. Officials attributed the worsening electricity crisis to aging infrastructure and severe fuel shortages, which Cuban authorities say have been intensified by a U.S. fuel blockade imposed earlier this year. The repeated outages have compounded shortages of food, medicine, and drinking water, disrupting daily life and public services across the country. While the Cuban government blames U.S. sanctions for deepening the crisis, it has also introduced limited economic reforms as it struggles to stabilize the country’s deteriorating energy system.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from requiring California and Oregon local governments to comply with new anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conditions in order to receive certain federal grants. U.S. District Judge William Orrick ruled that the administration likely exceeded its authority by attaching grant conditions that conflict with Congress’ intent and lack clear legal justification. The injunction applies to grants supporting law enforcement, counterterrorism, immigration, disaster response, and wildfire relief for 11 cities and counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, and Fresno. The ruling is the latest in a series of court decisions halting the administration’s anti-DEI grant policies while legal challenges move forward.
FIFA's anti-discrimination partner, the Fare network, confirmed it has submitted multiple reports involving Mexico's World Cup matches, potentially over the recurring anti-gay chant known as "El Grito." While FIFA has not disclosed whether it will investigate or impose sanctions, Mexico's federation has previously been fined and punished for the chant despite repeated campaigns urging fans to stop using it. If investigations proceed, any penalties would likely be announced after the World Cup and could range from financial fines to matches played behind closed doors. The reports renew scrutiny of discriminatory behavior among fans and could create further disciplinary issues for Mexico following the tournament.
Apple has sued OpenAI and two former Apple employees, alleging they stole confidential trade secrets—including product designs, manufacturing processes, supplier information, and internal hardware strategies—to support OpenAI's expansion into consumer hardware. The lawsuit claims former employees Chang Liu and Tang Yew Tan improperly retained or accessed sensitive Apple information before joining OpenAI-related ventures, and that Tan continued gathering confidential details from former colleagues after leaving the company. Apple is seeking a court order requiring the defendants to stop using the alleged trade secrets, preserve evidence, and return all confidential materials. The lawsuit escalates tensions between the two companies despite their existing partnership integrating ChatGPT into Apple devices, and could complicate OpenAI's growing hardware ambitions.
See you soon.
— Aaron
