Latest News and Comment from Education

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JULY 28, 2026

  

MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JULY 29, 2026
REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER


Top 4–6 news stories for Wednesday, July 29, 2026, by category (kept strictly separate):

U.S. NEWS

  • ICE arrests surge at U.S. airports targeting foreign citizens with expired visas, expanding the Trump administration’s deportation efforts (per NYT reporting and related coverage).
  • American Airlines nationwide ground stop due to a brief IT/connectivity outage on Tuesday evening; FAA halted departures for under an hour before systems recovered, compounding storm-related delays.
  • Florida carries out two executions in one day (first such double execution in modern history in the state), including an 80-year-old, making it the most active death-penalty state this year.
  • Toxic wastewater bubbling up from the ground in Ohio.
  • Major wildfires in Oregon have burned over 1 million acres, forcing Interstate 84 closures.
  • Memorial Services Honor Late Sen. Lindsey Graham: Leaders from across the political spectrum gathered at the Washington National Cathedral for tribute services before Sen. Graham's casket was transported to South Carolina for public honors at the State House.

  • Sentencing in Georgia High School Shooting: A Georgia state judge sentenced Colt Gray to life in prison without parole following his conviction in connection with the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School.

  • U.S. Forces Intercept Regional Attacks: U.S. Central Command confirmed that American air defense systems successfully thwarted a surprise ballistic missile attack aimed at U.S. installations in Jordan.

  • Summer Severe Weather & Extreme Heat: Emergency managers across the Central and Southern U.S. issued heat advisories as extended mid-summer heatwaves strain regional power grids.

  • Federal Immigration Enforcement Scrutiny: Court filings released in Los Angeles brought renewed judicial and public focus onto federal immigration operations and officer conduct.

POLITICS

  • Sen. Rand Paul releases Anthony Fauci’s private pandemic-era diary (1,100+ pages spanning 2019–2022) ahead of Fauci’s Senate testimony; entries address COVID origins (including early notes questioning the wet market as the source), fame, and related topics, setting up a high-profile hearing.
  • President Trump meets Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (and separately Ukrainian President Zelenskyy) at the White House amid tensions over the Iran conflict; discussions cover next steps and related issues.
  • Funeral and tributes for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham in Washington, attended by Trump, Netanyahu, Zelenskyy, and others.
  • Trump administration moves on ending subsidies for Medicare drug premiums and seeks Supreme Court action on mail-in voting restrictions.
  • Senate confirms Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence; other midterm/primary developments continue.
  • White House Hosts Zelenskyy and Netanyahu: President Donald Trump held separate bilateral meetings at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

  • Push to Pass the SAVE America Act: The White House and Senate Republicans are pressing Majority Leader John Thune to delay or shorten the August recess to pass the SAVE America Act voter verification bill.

  • Senate Advances Russia Sanctions Bill: In an 86–12 vote, the U.S. Senate voted to advance a new Russia sanctions package that grants expanded executive discretion over tariff implementation and economic waivers.

  • Federal Spending Cap Negotiations: Bipartisan congressional leaders continue negotiations on agency budget allocations and emergency disaster aid prior to late-summer deadlines.

  • Debate Over Executive Branch Authority: Legal scholars and lawmakers continue debating ongoing executive restructurings and federal agency oversight ahead of the fall judicial calendar.

WORLD AFFAIRS

  • U.S. and Saudi Arabia conduct strikes on Iranian proxies/militias in Iraq after Iranian forces launched a surprise ballistic-missile attack on U.S. forces in the Middle East (missiles intercepted); relative calm pierced after days without exchanges.
  • Ongoing Iran war developments (now in its sixth month): reports of Iran acquiring Chinese shoulder-launched missiles; diplomatic messaging and mediation efforts continue amid Strait of Hormuz tensions.
  • Japan earthquake (magnitude ~6.8–7.1 in Kumamoto/Kyushu region) injures at least 100, traps people in a shopping mall, triggers tsunami alerts; rescuers search for survivors.
  • European wildfires and heatwave in France and Spain threaten firefighters’ containment efforts.
  • Assam floods in India (toll rising); other regional conflicts noted in reporting.
  • U.S.–Saudi Strikes on Iraq Facilities: Joint U.S. and Saudi airstrikes targeted logistics and weapons sites in eastern Iraq following a series of Iran-backed drone attacks in the region.

  • Strait of Hormuz Security Escalations: Tensions rose in the Persian Gulf as the IRGC Navy intercepted additional oil tankers, prompting an emergency meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers.

  • Deadly Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake in Japan: A powerful earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan, resulting in at least 12 confirmed fatalities and extensive rescue efforts.

  • Keiko Fujimori Sworn In as President of Peru: Keiko Fujimori officially assumed the presidency of Peru during an inauguration ceremony held at the Legislative Palace in Lima.

  • Severe Floods Impact Northeast India: Heavy monsoon rain caused severe flooding in Assam state, displacing over 1.14 million residents and resulting in 68 deaths.

EDUCATION

  • Coverage remains lighter/more localized or India-focused in available headlines: Supreme Court orders in India related to NEET exam protest data safeguards and release of under-18 detainees.
  • Broader U.S. higher-ed/K-12 themes (from recent days) include AI impacts on entry-level jobs for new grads, Texas colleges considering Classic Learning Test scores, and Education Department regulatory changes, but no dominant single breaking national U.S. education story dominates July 29 headlines.
  • Gates Foundation Shifts Focus to Career Readiness: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a major evolution in its K-12 education strategy, integrating its math initiatives with postsecondary workforce credentialing and AI classroom tools.

  • Google Cloud Expands AI in Higher Education: Laureate Education partnered with Google Cloud in a three-year deal to integrate Gemini Enterprise and cloud tools across universities serving 500,000 students in Latin America.

  • Research Weighs AI Tutors vs. Human Instruction: Academic studies published across major university education programs highlight the strengths and limits of AI-driven personalized tutoring platforms.

  • Statewide Expansion of Dual-Language Programs: State education board updates emphasize new funding for dual-language immersion initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for English-language learners.

  • Teacher Workforce Development Efforts: School districts nation-wide launch pre-school-year training programs focused on integrating digital literacy and AI tools directly into daily lesson plans.

ECONOMY

  • Federal Reserve expected to hold interest rates steady at its meeting amid stubborn inflation and Iran-war oil price pressures (Fed Chair Kevin Warsh in focus).
  • Oil prices rise (Brent up ~4% in some reports) after the Iranian missile attack on U.S. forces, with impacts on inflation expectations and markets.
  • U.S. consumer confidence falls further in July (Conference Board index to 90.8) on weaker views of business conditions and the labor market.
  • Stock markets mixed: Dow gains while tech/Nasdaq faces pressure from AI-capex concerns and related earnings; broader worries about AI investment returns.
  • Trump administration plans to end certain Medicare drug-plan subsidies.
  • Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates Steady: The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) concluded its two-day policy meeting today, keeping benchmark interest rates unchanged as officials monitor ongoing price trends.

  • Oil Prices Surge on Geopolitical Concerns: Crude oil prices jumped more than 30% month-to-date driven by escalation in the Middle East, renewing concerns over transport and energy inflation.

  • J.D. Power Utility Sustainability Index Released: A new J.D. Power report indicates 64% of electric utility customers prioritize tangible economic and energy security benefits alongside clean energy goals.

  • 5G Standalone Core Infrastructure Growth: Telecommunications intelligence firm Dell'Oro Group reported that carrier spending on 5G Standalone core technology has tripled compared to 4G levels, despite near-term headwinds from server hardware costs.

  • Q2 Corporate Earnings Season Accelerates: Wall Street digest a wave of corporate earnings reports from major tech, industrial, and consumer goods companies.

TECHNOLOGY

  • American Airlines IT outage causes nationwide ground stop (cross-referenced as a major operational tech failure).
  • Google releases Gemini 3.6 Flash and 3.5 Flash-Lite models emphasizing speed and lower API costs.
  • Microsoft launches Sentinel Copilot (specialized cybersecurity AI) and agentic security tools.
  • Large deals and investments: Samsung-Broadcom ~$200B AI hardware partnership; Meta-BlackRock $14B AI data-center project in El Paso; Nvidia investments and related AI infrastructure moves.
  • Anthropic research on cryptographic attacks; broader AI spending and “bubble” concerns continue in market commentary.
  • Quantum Networking Roadmap Published: The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) released its official applications roadmap detailing infrastructure requirements for quantum repeaters, optical switches, and secure communications.

  • U.S. Bans Imports of Foreign Humanoid Robots: Federal authorities enacted new restrictions banning imports of foreign-manufactured humanoid robots over national security and supply chain considerations.

  • Flight Testing Begins for Interceptor Drone: ZenaTech announced the start of flight testing for its Interceptor P-1, a low-cost, autonomous single-use drone designed to physically intercept hostile aerial systems.

  • Enterprise Generative AI Integration Expands: Technology companies showcase new enterprise features in generative AI models, driving adoption across education, software development, and administrative workflows.

  • Russian Charges Against Telegram Founder: Russian legal authorities filed charges against Telegram founder Pavel Durov alleging platform misuse and placed him on a federal wanted list.

HEALTH

  • Fauci diary release and upcoming Senate hearing dominate health-policy coverage, focusing on COVID origins, pandemic response, and related scrutiny.
  • Trump administration plans to end subsidies for Medicare prescription drug plan premiums.
  • Montana pushes back against strict federal Medicaid work requirements.
  • Ongoing issues: elevated measles cases (record levels noted in recent reporting), foodborne outbreaks (e.g., cyclosporiasis, salmonella), and heat-related health risks.
  • Rising rates of high blood pressure in pregnant women (new study).
  • Blood Pressure Guideline Study Highlights Medication Needs: Research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals nearly 23 million U.S. adults with elevated blood pressure could benefit from medication therapy to help prevent long-term cardiovascular events.

  • Federal Healthcare Safety Agency Restructuring: Reports detail major administrative changes at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) as federal health officials reevaluate biomedical research funding priorities.

  • Summer Heat-Related Health Advisories: Regional public health departments issued safety guidelines warning against heat exhaustion and dehydration during mid-summer temperature spikes.

  • Pediatric Imaging Radiation Safety Initiatives: Health advocates highlight software-guided emergency room protocols designed to minimize unnecessary CT scan radiation exposure for children.

  • Rural Maternal Healthcare Training Programs: Community healthcare providers roll out expanded emergency training initiatives aimed at lowering maternal mortality risks in rural areas.

SPORTS

  • MLB action continues with a full slate of games (Yankees, Dodgers, Ohtani injury updates, etc.).
  • Shohei Ohtani injury concerns (knee and additional issues casting doubt on pitching status).
  • Tour de France: France shortens the final stage to free up officers for wildfire response.
  • WNBA coverage includes Liberty vs. Sparks and broader league scrutiny/All-Star context.
  • Other notes: FIFA commercial plans for the World Cup draw criticism; various international football/track updates.
  • Protect College Sports Act Senate Bill Introduced: A reworked Senate bill proposes raising the allowable revenue-sharing cap to $25 million per school to fund athlete retention pools.

  • Major League Baseball pennant races: The Chicago Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 10-2 behind a 17-hit performance, while the San Francisco Giants shut out the Milwaukee Brewers.

  • Commonwealth Games Swimming Event: Australian swimmer Flynn Southam claimed gold in the 100m freestyle, snapping Kyle Chalmers' long-standing winning streak.

  • MLB Trade Deadline Approaches: Major League Baseball franchises prepare final roster moves and trade packages ahead of the mid-season deadline.

  • NFL Summer Training Camps Open: NFL franchises across the country kick off full-contact practices as preparations for the upcoming football season get underway.

Stories reflect major headlines circulating on the morning of July 29, 2026, drawn from outlets including NYT, NPR, Google News aggregates, and others. Coverage can shift rapidly; Iran-related military/diplomatic developments and the Fauci hearing are particularly fluid.


EDUCATION SPECIAL
TOP US EDUCATION NEWS TODAY
TOP WORLD EDUCATION NEWS TODAY


Major developments across national and global education policy, higher ed, and K-12 systems include:

šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø US Education News

1. Education Department Rescinds "Disparate Impact" Rules

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) officially eliminated the use of disparate impact analysis under Title VI regulations. Previously used as a key tool to evaluate civil rights complaints and systemic racial discrimination in schools, the administration frame the move as a major deregulatory step to clear administrative red tape, while civil rights advocates warn it narrows protections for minority students.

2. High-Profile Federal Investigations into K-12 Districts

The Department of Education launched several high-profile compliance investigations into local school districts:

  • Parental Notification & Student Gender Policies: Federal probes were opened against districts in Washington (Bethel), Colorado (Denver), Maryland (Anne Arundel), and Michigan (Ann Arbor) concerning district policies around student health, parental consent, and gender identity disclosures.

  • Federal Oversights: The administration also launched inquiries into two school districts over instructional materials and student exercises, while simultaneously opening civil rights probes into five university medical schools regarding their admissions practices.

3. Broad Shifts in International & Higher Ed Policies

  • Visas Capped for International Students: Proposed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rules set strict four-year limits on international student visas, forcing higher education institutions to navigate potential drop-offs in global graduate student enrollment.

  • Howard University Enrollment Fallout: Howard University un-enrolled over 500 incoming first-year students due to tuition/financial payment processing cutoffs, sparking regional responses where systems like SUNY and CUNY in New York opened spots to absorb affected students.

4. K-12 Operational & Policy Challenges

  • Public School Closures Surge: Driven by post-pandemic demographic drops and tight budgets, US public school districts closed over 1,000 school buildings over the past academic year, forcing widespread boundary rezoning.

  • Nutrition Limit Waivers: For the second consecutive year, the USDA granted temporary accommodations for school meal programs struggling to meet strict limits on foreign-sourced foods in cafeteria menus.

🌐 World & Global Education News

1. International Higher Ed Scrutiny & Talent Pipelines

  • UK Infrastructure & Heat Vulnerabilities: Outdated UK school infrastructure faced severe disruption during recent summer heatwaves, highlighting chronic underinvestment in modern ventilation and cooling systems across primary and secondary facilities.

  • Global Academic Pipeline Squeeze: Doctoral application volume across top global PhD programs fell roughly 15% year-over-year. Cuts in research funding, tightened visa durations in the US, and shifting geopolitical priorities are disrupting traditional international talent pipelines for science and medical research.

2. Emerging AI Integration in Classrooms

  • Humanoid & AI Tech Pushback: Schools internationally and in the US are grappling with rapid AI adoption. Recent pilots attempting to deploy AI assistant avatars and automated teaching tools in public classrooms faced swift community and union pushback over privacy, pedagogy, and human teacher displacement.

  • Assessment Overhauls: Major international testing boards and universities continue to rapidly restructure evaluation methods, stepping away from take-home open-book formats toward proctored, in-person, or oral exams to counteract generative AI workarounds.



Too hot for summer school? - The Hechinger Report https://hechingerreport.org/too-hot-for-summer-school/ 

These new exams will test California 4-year-olds’ English fluency with playful games | EdSource https://edsource.org/2026/ca-tk-language-screeners/763008 

Prop. 28 arts funding threatened by proposed bill, Austin Beutner warns - Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-07-29/california-bill-prop-28-arts-funding-beutner-lausd 

‘Preposterous’: Comey team attacks charges over alleged threat to Trump - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/29/james-comey-8647-sammy-the-bull-01014668 

Trump overrode his own agencies to deny four Democratic disaster requests - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/29/fema-democratic-disaster-requests-trump-01013938 

FIFA is going into business with a Kushner. Democrats smell blood. - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/29/gianni-infantino-fifa-election-trump-kushner-raskin-01014651 

Fed on collision path with Trump as rate hikes loom on horizon - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/29/fed-warsh-inflation-rates-trump-iran-01013845 

Microsoft Struggling With Hundreds of AI-Discovered Security Bugs — ProPublica https://www.propublica.org/article/anthropic-mythos-microsoft-software-vulnerabilities 

The Rapid Rise of Right-Wing Militias – Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/right-wing-militias-mary-mccord-patriot-front/ 


TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 29, 2026

TODAY’S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY’S BEST BLOG POSTS
JULY 29, 2026
REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER


Here are today's top news stories for July 29, 2026, organized across each requested category:

U.S. NEWS

  • Seattle Center Shooting: Investigation continues into a mass shooting incident at the Seattle Center that left three people dead and several others injured.

  • ICE Immigration Operations: Federal immigration authorities are expanding targeted operations ahead of the expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for specific national groups.

  • DOJ Disclosure Order: A federal judge ordered the Department of Justice to disclose internal communications regarding recent subpoena actions involving news organizations.

  • Historic Landmark Protections Revised: A federal panel overseeing national heritage policies voted to ease selected preservation regulations on historical sites.

  • Capitol Ceremonies for Sen. Lindsey Graham: Tributes and Capitol ceremonies took place following the passing of long-serving South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.

POLITICS

  • Trump–Netanyahu White House Summit: President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington to discuss Middle East security and diplomatic strategies regarding Iran.

  • Trump–Zelenskyy Discussions: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with White House officials and congressional leaders to address security aid and defense cooperation.

  • Supreme Court Emergency Voting Appeal: The Trump administration filed an emergency appeal asking the Supreme Court to allow executive rules regarding mail-in ballot screening.

  • Independent Trade Stance: President Trump reiterated a preference for bilateral and independent trade positions over broad regional frameworks with North American partners.

  • Justice Department Drops Labor Case: Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss criminal charges involving California SEIU leader David Huerta.

WORLD AFFAIRS

  • U.S. Intercepts Ballistic Missiles: U.S. Central Command intercepted multiple ballistic missiles targeting coalition military bases in the Middle East.

  • Joint U.S.–Saudi Airstrikes in Iraq: American and Saudi forces conducted targeted strikes against militia infrastructure in Iraq following recent drone attacks.

  • Major Earthquake in Japan: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Japan, triggering regional emergency response protocols.

  • Strait of Hormuz Maritime Security: Tensions remain elevated in the Persian Gulf as diplomatic efforts focus on keeping key shipping channels open.

  • Commonwealth Games Underway: The Commonwealth Games produced major international headlines, including Flynn Southam securing gold in the 100m freestyle.

EDUCATION

  • Title IX & Admissions Investigations: The U.S. Department of Education launched civil rights reviews into public school districts and select medical schools regarding admissions practices and parental notification rules.

  • Workforce Pell Expansion: States are integrating new P–20W data systems to implement federal Workforce Pell regulations linking vocational training to local industry needs.

  • Global EdTech Rankings Published: Industry reports highlighted significant global growth in digital learning, led by platforms expanding beyond language learning into math and science.

  • Consolidated State Education Governance: Indiana introduced a unified $26 billion education vision designed to streamline K-12, higher education, and workforce development agencies.

  • Federal Deregulatory Actions: The Department of Education announced streamlined compliance guidelines for career and technical education programs nationwide.

ECONOMY

  • Fed Rate Policy Decision: The Federal Reserve met for its July policy review, with markets weighing whether benchmark interest rates will remain held in the 3.50%–3.75% range.

  • Global Tech & Chip Stock Pressure: Semiconductor shares experienced pullbacks driven by heavy corporate AI expenditure and emerging international supply developments.

  • Crude Oil Price Fluctuations: Brent crude stabilized near $86.50 a barrel as energy markets balanced diplomatic news with Middle East supply risks.

  • Cooling Core Inflation: Underlying Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures showed core inflation moderating to 2.6%, accompanied by steady labor market growth.

  • Data Center Permitting Pauses: Local municipalities are increasingly pausing new data center developments to evaluate regional electrical grid capacity.

TECHNOLOGY

  • Open Secure AI Alliance Formed: Over 30 leading tech firms—including Nvidia, Microsoft, IBM, and SpaceX—partnered to release open-source defensive tools against AI threats.

  • Major AI Developers Skip Alliance: Top closed-source AI developers (OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic) notably did not sign on to the newly created defense coalition.

  • Open-Source AI Policy Letter: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivered an open letter signed by 50 tech leaders advising Washington against restricting open-weight AI models.

  • Enterprise Multi-Model Strategy: Industry experts urged businesses to implement multi-model AI architectures to maintain flexibility across competing AI systems.

  • Data Privacy Debate: Renewed scrutiny emerged over public search indexing and user conversation handling across major conversational AI platforms.

HEALTH

  • Insulin Protein Mechanism Uncovered: Researchers discovered a crucial helper-protein pathway in pancreatic cells that prevents misfolded insulin, opening new targets for diabetes treatment.

  • Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Nuance: A long-term study demonstrated that weight loss alone may be insufficient to prevent Type 2 diabetes in certain genetically high-risk groups.

  • GLP-1 Impact on Brain Craving Circuits: Neuroscience findings revealed that oral GLP-1 compounds directly dampen reward-driven eating circuits in the brain.

  • Dietary Shift & Agricultural Emissions: A landmark environmental health report indicated that global shifts toward plant-rich diets could reduce livestock land-use emissions by up to 85% by 2050.

  • Calorie App Precision Study: A nutritional audit revealed that popular AI calorie-tracking apps often underestimate meal caloric content by up to one-third.

SPORTS

  • MLB Mid-Summer Action: Major League Baseball feature games included a 14-0 blowout by the Tigers over the Orioles alongside crucial late-July pennant races.

  • Chicago Cubs Roster Shift: The Cubs designated veteran starting pitcher Jameson Taillon for assignment during a mid-season rotation retool.

  • NFL Preseason Camps Open: NFL franchises across the league officially opened summer training camps in preparation for the upcoming 2026 kickoff.

  • FIFA & UEFA Governance Debate: European soccer governing body UEFA voiced pushback against FIFA proposals to sell equity stakes in future World Cup tournaments.

  • Commonwealth Games Aquatics: Swimming and aquatic events dominated international sports headlines with several record-setting performances.




Tennessee: Big Money Backing Marsha Blackburn for Governor https://dianeravitch.net/2026/07/28/tennessee-big-money-backing-marsha-blackburn-for-governor/ via @dianeravitch 


Miles Taylor: Trump Just Quietly Tripled His Personal Hires for Top Jobs https://dianeravitch.net/2026/07/28/miles-taylor-trump-just-quietly-tripled-his-personal-hires-for-top-jobs/ via @dianeravitch 





Carol Burris: School Choice Is Weakening Public Schools, Which Enroll Most Children https://dianeravitch.net/2026/07/28/carol-burris-school-choice-is-weakening-public-schools-which-enroll-most-children/ via @dianeravitch 








Big Tech Chokes Off Popular Blogs That Challenge Them https://dianeravitch.net/2026/07/28/how-big-tech-chokes-off-popular-blogs-that-challenge-them/ via @dianeravitch 









Big Education Ape: STRIKE SECTION 219 FROM THE FY2027 NDAA: WHY THE U.S. MILITARY SHOULDN’T MARRY ITS LONGTIME HOOKUP WHILE THE PARTNER KEEPS IGNORING THE SAFE WORD https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/strike-section-219-from-fy2027-ndaa-why.html 






Big Education Ape: THE VOUCHER VULTURES ARE CIRCLING AGAIN SAME GRIFT, SHINY NEW ACRONYM https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-voucher-vultures-are-circling-again.html 








Big Education Ape: WHOSE BRIGHT IDEA WAS THIS? A 40-YEAR POST-MORTEM ON AMERICA'S SELF-INFLICTED STUDENT LOAN CATASTROPHE https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/whose-bright-idea-was-this-40-year-post.html 







Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 28, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_01269830616.html 







Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JULY 28, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/morning-news-update-july-28-2026.html 









More About Robot Teachers – Tennessee Education Report https://tnedreport.com/2026/07/more-about-robot-teachers/ 






This Week’s Free & Useful Artificial Intelligence Tools For The Classroom    Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ 





Critical Studies of Education & Technology: Digital Degrowth and Education – Q&A | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/digital-degrowth 






How Big Tech Chokes Off Popular Blogs That Challenge Them https://dianeravitch.net/2026/07/28/how-big-tech-chokes-off-popular-blogs-that-challenge-them/ via @dianeravitch 





The Best Correspondent’s Dinner Message That Should Not Go Unnoticed! - Nancy Bailey's Education Website https://nancyebailey.com/2026/07/28/the-best-correspondents-dinner-message-that-should-not-go-unnoticed/ 





glen brown: Threatening Seashells? https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2026/07/86-47.html 






Miles Taylor: Trump Just Quietly Tripled His Personal Hires for Top Jobs https://dianeravitch.net/2026/07/28/miles-taylor-trump-just-quietly-tripled-his-personal-hires-for-top-jobs/ via @dianeravitch 





Teacher Tom: Transforming How We Speak With Children https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2026/07/transforming-how-we-speak-with-children.html 






Kids who own cellphones have poorer reading comprehension scores     Education Research Report https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/ 






Sandy Rosen, presente | JD2718 https://jd2718.org/2026/07/28/sandy-rosen-presente/ 







TRUMP IN THE NEWS TODAY
REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER


Here are the top news stories surrounding President Donald Trump for July 29, 2026:

1. High-Stakes Diplomacy: Back-to-Back Meetings with Netanyahu and Zelenskyy

President Trump hosted consecutive meetings at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

  • Iran Conflict & Diplomacy: In his talks with Netanyahu—their first meeting since launching joint strikes against Iran earlier this year—Trump discussed the current pause in military strikes and ongoing indirect negotiations with Tehran. While Trump noted that "good talks" were taking place, he reiterated threats of target strikes if a peace agreement is not finalized.

  • Ukraine Defense Cooperation: President Zelenskyy met with Trump to discuss anti-ballistic missile defense systems and broader strategic cooperation, while also attending ceremonies in Washington honoring the late Senator Lindsey Graham.

2. Emergency Push to the Supreme Court on Mail-In Voting

The Department of Justice filed an emergency request asking the Supreme Court to allow a March executive order to take effect ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.

  • The order directs federal and state agencies to establish "state citizenship lists" to restrict the distribution of mail-in ballots.

  • Lower courts in 23 states and Washington, D.C., had previously blocked the order following multi-state lawsuits challenging the administration's authority over state election rules.

3. Policy Mandate: Ban on High-Risk "Gain-of-Function" Research

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officially released a sweeping framework prohibiting federally supported, dangerous gain-of-function (DGOF) research.

  • The policy fulfills a prior presidential executive order aimed at overhauling oversight across federal life-sciences research and biosecurity protocols.

4. Senate Advances Russia Sanctions & DNI Confirmation

  • Intelligence Leadership: The U.S. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

  • Tariff Authority: The Senate voted to advance a new Russia sanctions package that includes provisions granting expanded presidential tariff powers.



Notable concurring opinions from this term | SCOTUSblog https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/07/notable-concurring-opinions-from-this-term/ 

Eliminate the summer recess | SCOTUSblog https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/07/eliminate-the-summer-recess/ 

San Francisco mayor backs national robotaxi rules after Waymo meltdowns - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/san-francisco-waymo-washington-01013227

Trump-Netanyahu meeting: Why Trump’s Saudi nuclear deal is making Israel uneasy | Vox https://www.vox.com/podcasts/496828/trump-netanyahu-saudi-nuclear-deal-israel-iran-enrichment-abraham-accords 

Data center boom sparks lobbying surge - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/data-center-boom-sparks-lobbying-surge-01010295 

The island without childcare for babies https://hechingerreport.org/the-island-without-childcare-for-babies/ 

Former Newsom aide challenges his version of their affair - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/former-newsom-aide-ruby-rippey-affair-01013608 

Trump administration appears not to have asked Supreme Court to rehear birthright citizenship case | SCOTUSblog https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/07/trump-administration-appears-not-to-have-asked-supreme-court-to-rehear-birthright-citizenship-ca/ 

United Auto Workers Divests From Israel - In These Times https://inthesetimes.com/article/united-auto-workers-divests-from-israel-uaw-palestine-gaza 

AFSCME Leader Lee Saunders to Retire as Unions Face New Opposition - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/us/politics/lee-saunders-afscme-retirement.html 

Teachers Want Schools to Stop Young Children From Using AI - Freedom For All Americans https://freedomforallamericans.org/teachers-young-children-ai-schools/# 

Not every California student can afford to transfer. Community college bachelor’s degrees could help | EdSource https://edsource.org/2026/california-community-college-bachelor-degrees/762949 

Georgia High School Shooter Discussed His Notoriety With Mom | HuffPost Latest News https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ap-us-georgia-high-school-shooting_n_6a68ec2be4b0fddbd711e067 

State Department will dispense $600M for vaccines RFK Jr. held up, Collins says - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/vaccines-rfk-collins-gavi-rubio-01013690 

Mikie Sherrill refuses DOJ demand for data on NJ noncitizen voters, citing privacy laws - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/sherrill-doj-demand-data-noncitizen-voters-privacy-01013856

Trump administration bans foreign-made robots and power gear amid fears of Chinese influence - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/trump-administration-bans-foreign-made-robots-and-power-gear-amid-fears-of-chinese-influence-01013995 

Investigation of School Epstein Helped Finds Abuses Went Beyond Him - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/arts/music/jeffrey-epstein-interlochen-arts-abuse.html 

Trump commemorates Graham’s life — with sunny Netanyahu and Zelenskyy meetings - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/trump-zelenskyy-netanyahu-graham-01013912 

AI staffers urge US to help ‘deliberately pace’ tech development - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/ai-staffers-urge-u-s-to-help-deliberately-pace-tech-development-01014132 

OpenAI's rogue models roamed the internet for 4 days and staged a second attack - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/openai-rogue-models-hugging-face-breach-01014572 

Jensen Huang presses lawmakers for lighter touch on AI - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/28/jensen-huang-presses-lawmakers-for-lighter-touch-on-ai-01014510