Posted by Matt Kiser
https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2026/07/07/day-1995/
Today in one sentence: The U.S. launched new strikes against Iran after U.S. Central Command said Iran attacked three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the attacks “unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire”; the U.S. reportedly gave Tehran details on Iranian asylum seekers while trying to deport them back to Iran; Trump said he’d consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and lifting sanctions tied its purchase of a Russian S-400 air-defense system; Trump suggested he could pull U.S. troops out of Europe after NATO allies refused to support his demand that the U.S. should control Greenland; Top Democrats urged Graham Platner to drop out of Maine’s Senate race after a woman accused him of raping her in 2021; Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized for more than three weeks and his office won’t say why; 60% of Americans say Trump is using his office for personal gain; and 95% of Americans believe the U.S. is suffering an affordability crisis, with half saying they’re having trouble affording everyday necessities, like gas and groceries, and two-thirds saying they have little faith that the federal government will improve the cost-of-living.
1/ The U.S. launched new strikes against Iran after U.S. Central Command said Iran attacked three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the attacks “unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire.” The strikes came after a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker, a Saudi oil tanker, and a third vessel were hit near the Omani route through the strait, where Iran has insisted that ships use its approved route and argued that it should be able to charge passage fees. A U.S. official characterized the military strikes as “not proportional,” and saying: “This is punishment. It won’t be over for a bit.” Separately, the Trump administration revoked its temporary waiver allowing Iran to sell oil in global markets. The U.S. said Iran “will only reap benefits if they exhibit good behavior” and that its actions in the strait were “wholly unacceptable.” (Bloomberg / Associated Press / NBC News / CNBC / New York Times / CNN / New York Times / Axios / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / CNN / CNBC)
2/ The U.S. gave Tehran details on Iranian asylum seekers while trying to deport them back to Iran, a lawsuit alleges. The complaint says State Department and ICE officials shared names and immigration files, then kept sending records even after the U.S.-Iran war began. DHS, however, denied that ICE shared “asylum application records,” saying it only works with foreign governments to secure travel documents and consular access. (Washington Post / NBC News / ABC News / Associated Press / NPR / New York Times)
3/ Trump said he’d consider selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey and lifting sanctions tied its purchase of a Russian S-400 air-defense system. Trump praised Turkey as an “extraordinary” ally and said it has been “much more loyal” than other NATO countries. A 2020 law, however, blocks the sale of F-35s to Turkey unless it gives up the Russian equipment, and Congress could still try to block the sale. Meanwhile, Israel opposes the sale, with Benjamin Netanyahu saying he urged Trump directly not to do it because giving Turkey the stealth jets would “destroy the power balance in the Middle East,” describing Recep Tayyip Erdogan as “not exactly a model ally” and warned that “when you give them that power, you’re going to see aggression in its wake.” Israel is currently the only country in the region with F-35s. (New York Times / CNN / ABC News / Wall Street Journal / Axios / Washington Post / Bloomberg)
4/ Trump suggested he could pull U.S. troops out of Europe after NATO allies refused to support his demand that the U.S. should control Greenland, saying the dispute had “hurt my relationship with NATO.” Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump also said he was “very disappointed with NATO,” criticized Europe’s energy and immigration policies, and said the war between Russia and Ukraine “doesn’t affect us” ahead of a planned meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she expected allies to respect the sovereignty of the Danish kingdom and that U.S. control of Greenland “is not going to happen.” (Reuters / CNBC / Politico)
5/ Top Democrats urged Graham Platner to drop out of Maine’s Senate race after a woman accused him of raping her in 2021. Jenny Racicot said Platner showed up drunk and uninvited at her home while they were dating, ignored her repeated objections, and forced himself on her. “I remember the specific moment where I thought to myself, like, ‘This is no longer my choice,’” she said. Platner denied the allegation, calling “any accusation of non-consensual behavior” “categorically false,” while his campaign claimed the allegations were “coached and coordinated by out of state establishment operatives” and timed to come “a week before the ballot deadline.” Platner later said in a video that “regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting,” he was “mindful of the political reality it will inflict” and was taking time to “reflect on the best path forward” for Maine and “the goal of defeating Susan Collins.” If Platner withdraws by July 13, Maine Democrats have until July 27 to replace him on the ballot. If he doesn’t, the party could be stuck with Platner as their nominee in a race that’s essential to retaking control of the Senate. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, meaning Democrats likely need to flip the Maine seat, where Susan Collins is the only Republican senator running in a state Democrats carried in 2024. (Politico / CNN / Associated Press / New York Times / NBC News / Wall Street Journal / Washington Post / CNBC / New York Times / Washington Post)
6/ Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized for more than three weeks and his office won’t say why. The 84-year-old Republican hasn’t cast a Senate vote since June 11, but his office says McConnell “continues to improve” and is working with staff while the Senate is out of session. Emergency dispatch recordings from June 14 indicate first responders were sent to McConnell’s Washington address for an unconscious person before reporting “CPR in progress” and “cardiac arrest.” McConnell isn’t named in the audio and his office declined to comment on it. John Thune, John Barrasso, and former McConnell adviser Scott Jennings all said that they’ve spoken with McConnell by phone for about 20 minutes, with Barrasso’s office saying McConnell was “fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate.” (Washington Post / New York Times / CNN / CNBC)
poll/ 60% of Americans say Trump is using his office for personal gain. (YouGov)
poll/ 95% of Americans believe the U.S. is suffering an affordability crisis, with half saying they’re having trouble affording everyday necessities, like gas and groceries, and two-thirds saying they have little faith that the federal government will improve the cost-of-living.(The Guardian)
The 2026 midterms are in 119 days; the 2028 presidential election is in 854 days.
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https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2026/07/07/day-1995/
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