LOOKING BACK: THE WEEK IN REVIEW 7-12-26 TO 7-18-26

LOOKING BACK: THE WEEK IN REVIEW

 7-12-26 TO 7-18-26

"REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER"

BIG EDUCATION APE Analysis: Week of July 12–18, 2026

Here is an analysis of the themes, content, and framing from the "BIG EDUCATION APE" blog (curated by Mike Simpson) for the week of July 12, 2026, to July 18, 2026.

1. Daily Aggregations & Curation ("Today's Top News")

Throughout the week (with major entries like the July 14 and July 17 roundups), the blog functioned heavily as a news aggregator. Its signature series, "TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS," paired breaking mainstream news with a curated selection of grassroots education and political blogs. This approach positions the site not just as an independent voice, but as an active hub for the broader progressive and public education advocacy network.

2. High-Stakes Election Framing ("Remember in November")

A defining element across almost every post this week was the explicit tagline: "REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER." As a blog traditionally centered on public education advocacy and anti-corporatization, the content during this mid-July stretch leaned heavily into national electoral politics. The ongoing messaging explicitly tied local public education survival to upcoming federal and state elections.

3. Satire and Political Commentary

The blog injected creative commentary into the week's political landscape, most notably with the July 17 piece titled "TRUMP CANARD RÔTI: A RECIPE FOR THE END OF AN ERA." Framed as a "BEA Dispatch from the Kitchen of American Democracy," this post utilized heavy political satire and culinary metaphors (the "roasted duck" canard) to critique the current state of right-wing politics, populism, and policy proposals impacting public institutions.

4. Intersectional News Tracking

Rather than focusing narrowly on classroom issues, the "MORNING NEWS UPDATE" segments throughout the week tracked a wider array of domestic and environmental challenges—including the severe, ongoing North American heatwaves. The blog framed these systemic issues (climate, labor, public health) as intersecting pressures that ultimately impact school infrastructure, student well-being, and community resilience.

Summary Takeaway

During the week of July 12–18, 2026, Big Education Ape leaned intensely into its dual role as a political watchdog and media aggregator. The content shifted focus from standard pedagogical debates toward high-stakes national commentary and electoral urgency, consistently reminding its audience of the broader political context surrounding public education.

Big Education Ape: THE GIGAWATT REBELLION: AN UPDATE ON AMERICA'S HOTTEST NEW BIPARTISAN SPORT — TELLING BIG TECH TO TAKE A HIKE https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-gigawatt-rebellion-update-on.html 

Big Education Ape: AI RULES OF ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION: WHO'S GOT THEM, WHO NEEDS THEM, AND WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW RIGHT NOW https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/ai-rules-of-engagement-in-education.html 

Big Education Ape: VOUCHERS, CHARTER SCHOOLS & SPIES, OH MY! https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/vouchers-charter-schools-spies-oh-my.html 

Big Education Ape: THE TOP NEWS STORIES THIS WEEK 7-12-26 TO 7-18-26 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-top-news-stories-this-week-7-12-26.html

Big Education Ape: TRUMP CANARD RÔTI: A RECIPE FOR THE END OF AN ERA https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/trump-canard-roti-recipe-for-end-of-era.html 

Big Education Ape: THE WHITE HOUSE COMEDY CLUB PRESENTS: TRUMP, ONE NIGHT ONLY, THANK GOD! https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-white-house-comedy-club-presents.html 

Big Education Ape: WHO'S CRASH-TESTING THE AI YOUR KID USES AT SCHOOL? NOW, SOMEONE ACTUALLY IS. https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/whos-crash-testing-ai-your-kid-uses-at.html 

Big Education Ape: SEX, POWER, AND THE AMERICAN A.P.E.: FROM JFK'S HUSH MONEY TO EPSTEIN'S LITTLE BLACK BOOK https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/sex-power-and-american-ape-from-jfks.html 

Big Education Ape: PRESENT ARMS: THE PENTAGON'S NEW WAR ON LOW T https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/present-arms-pentagons-new-war-on-low-t.html 

Big Education Ape: "RETURNING EDUCATION TO THE STATES": A MASTERCLASS IN DÉJÀ VU OR HOW TO REBRAND JIM CROW WITH A PRESS RELEASE AND A TAX CREDIT https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/returning-education-to-states.html

Big Education Ape: AI SMACKDOWN FOR TEACHERS: LOVE LETTERS FROM THE SILICON VALLEY SUITORS (EPISODE: "FREE" EDITION) https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/ai-smackdown-for-teachers-love-letters.html 

Big Education Ape: SLEEPY DON VS. SLEEPY JOE: THE GREAT AMERICAN NAP-OFF OF 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/sleepy-don-vs-sleepy-joe-great-american.html 

Big Education Ape: BUELLER? BUELLER? THE LONG, STRANGE TRIP FROM PLAYING HOOKY TO CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/bueller-bueller-long-strange-trip-from.html 

Big Education Ape: OLDER THAN DIRT: A SATIRICAL FIELD GUIDE TO AMERICA'S GERONTOCRACY https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/older-than-dirt-satirical-field-guide.html 

Big Education Ape: TO BE OR NOT TO BE: TEEN ROLE MODELS IN THE AGE OF TECH https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/to-be-or-not-to-be-teen-role-models-in.html

Big Education Ape: DOWN THE 501(C)(4) RABBIT HOLE: HOW BILLIONAIRE DARK MONEY ATE AMERICAN EDUCATION NEWS (AND EVERYTHING ELSE) https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/down-501c4-rabbit-hole-how-billionaire.html 

Big Education Ape: THE GHOST OF ELI BROAD: TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF VULTURE PHILANTHROPY AND THE ONGOING DESTRUCTION OF AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-ghost-of-eli-broad-twenty-five.html 

Big Education Ape: WHO SAYS A LEOPARD CAN'T CHANGE ITS SPOTS? NEWSOM'S EDUCATION GAMBIT AND THE 2028 LONG GAME https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/who-says-leopard-cant-change-its-spots.html 

Big Education Ape: LOOKING BACK: THE WEEK IN REVIEW 7-5-26 TO 7-11-26 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/looking-back-week-in-review-6-28-26-to_02123669797.html 

TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS

7-12-26 TO 7-18-26 

SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2026

Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 12, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_01060108116.html 

Big Education Ape: LOOKING BACK: THE WEEK IN REVIEW 6-28-26 TO 7-4-26 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/looking-back-week-in-review-6-28-26-to_02123669797.html

MONDAY, JULY 13, 2026

Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 13, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_0664375780.html

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026

Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 14, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_01028142007.html

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2026

Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 15, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_0276465633.html

THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026

Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 16, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_01699076545.html

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2026

Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 17, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_01386043032.html

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2026

 Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 18, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_01028854727.html

EDUCATION SPECIAL
TOP 10 US EDUCATION NEWS 
TOP 10 WORLD EDUCATION 
 7-12-26 TO 7-18-26

Here is a breakdown of the leading stories, reports, and global benchmarks shaping the education landscape for the week of July 12 to July 18, 2026.

Top 10 US Education News Stories & Trends

This week, conversations in US education are dominated by structural changes in policy, funding debates, and the integration of artificial intelligence in K-12 and higher education.

1. The Evolution of State Curricula: Debates continue over local autonomy vs. standardized benchmarks, highlighting the unique US landscape where individual states dictate the vast majority of K-12 policy decisions.

2. AI Integration Guidance: School districts are rolling out updated policy guidelines for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year, moving away from outright bans on AI tools toward structured digital literacy programs.

3. Higher Education Affordability Crises: Public and private universities face intense scrutiny over rising tuition costs, driving increased student interest in community colleges and regional public alternatives.

4. Teacher Retention Incentives: Multiple states are introducing mid-summer legislative packages aimed at increasing base teacher pay to combat persistent vacancies ahead of the fall semester.

5. The School Choice Expansion: Legal and financial battles intensify across several states over the allocation of public funds for private schooling vouchers and tax-credit scholarship programs.

6. Standardized Testing Recalibrations: Discussions peak regarding the diagnostic value of standardized testing metrics and whether current frameworks accurately capture post-pandemic recovery.

7. Infrastructure Upgrades & Climate Resilience: With summer heatwaves breaking records, school boards face soaring capital expenditure costs to update HVAC systems in aging school buildings.

8. Digital Equity Gains: Federal and state initiatives report a closing of the "digital divide," though rural areas still lag behind urban centers in high-speed connectivity infrastructure.

9. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Surges: Enrollment in specialized trade programs continues to rise as high school students increasingly weigh the immediate ROI of vocational training against traditional four-year degrees.

10. Global K-12 Standing Inefficiencies: Fresh policy briefs analyze why the US excels globally in high-tier university research but consistently ranks behind peer nations in overall K-12 cost efficiency and math equity.

Top 10 World Education Systems (Q3 2026 Rankings)

According to the latest data consolidated by global education monitoring bodies (including the World Top 20 Project and the UN's "Education at a Glance" frameworks), these ten nations lead the world in systemic outcomes across early childhood enrollment, primary/secondary completion, and graduation rates.

Rank	Country	Core Systemic Strength
1	South Korea	Leading global metrics in high school completion and tertiary/college graduation rates.
2	Japan	Near-perfect early childhood enrollment and a holistic focus on student discipline and development.
3	Denmark	Outstanding system equity, strong early childhood education infrastructure, and high student welfare.
4	Slovenia	Consistently high primary and secondary completion rates backed by strong public funding models.
5	Finland	Highly respected, research-based teaching requirements where all educators hold a master's degree.
6	Sweden	Ranked among the highest for educational resource allocation, individualization, and safety.
7	Netherlands	Strong emphasis on bilingualism, varied tracking options, and high international test scores.
8	Hong Kong	Elite academic results in math and science, utilizing a rigorous dual-influence curriculum.
9	Belgium	High marks for early childhood accessibility and strong regional performance consistency.
10	Norway	Exceptional public funding per student, focusing on outdoor learning and strong social-emotional foundations.

You can check out the full World Top 20 Education Second Quarter Rankings to see how the global data models handle the tracking of early enrollment, graduation rates, and national benchmarks across these top-performing countries.

TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 19, 2026

TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS

JULY 19, 2026

REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER

U.S. NEWS

• Major Iceberg Lettuce Recall Across 27 States: Taylor Farms has initiated a sweeping recall of iceberg lettuce products spanning 27 states due to a widening federal investigation into a Cyclospora parasite outbreak.

• Severe Wildfire Smoke Prompts Health Alerts: Thick smoke drifting from active wildfires has driven air quality indexes to "unhealthy" and "hazardous" levels across multiple regions of the United States, keeping millions under active air quality alerts.

• Extreme Weather and Storm Outbreaks: Multi-state storm fronts have battered the central regions of the country, dropping torrential rains, sparking lightning fires, and leaving tens of thousands without power.

• Manila Clam Invasion Confirmed Along Northeast Coast: Marine researchers have confirmed that reproducing populations of invasive Manila clams have firmly established themselves as far north as Cape Cod and Boston Harbor, threatening local ecosystems.

POLITICS

• NYC Mayor Considers Detaining Israeli Prime Minister: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed active discussions within his administration regarding whether to detain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he arrives for the UN General Assembly this September.

• House GOP Unveils Continuing Resolution to Avoid Shutdown: House Republicans released the official text for a continuing resolution aimed at pushing the federal funding deadline past the upcoming midterm elections to avert a government shutdown.

• Public Trust in Supreme Court Hits New Lows: A major new national poll reveals that nearly half of all Americans now believe the Supreme Court bases its landmark rulings primarily on partisan politics rather than the Constitution.

• Debate Sparks Over Vow to Withhold State Election Funds: The Trump administration faced intense pushback from state election officials and legal experts after vowing to withhold federal funding from states that refuse to implement new federal voter roll verification programs.

WORLD AFFAIRS

• China's Tianwen-1 Captures Rare Deep Space Images: China’s Mars orbiter successfully captured rare, highly detailed close-up images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it swept through the inner solar system past Mars.

• World Cup Host Cities Scramble to Keep Up with Beer Demand: Global tourism numbers for the ongoing tournament have shattered expectations, forcing hospitality industries and bars in host cities to scramble to manage unprecedented supply shortages.

• Historic Antarctic Shipwreck Images Released: Deep-sea exploration teams released the first ultra-high-definition, close-up ocean floor images of legendary explorer Ernest Shackleton's final ship, revealing stunning preservation.

• Tensions Rise Over U.S.–Canada Smoke Tariffs: Diplomatic discussions cooled following a White House proposal to levy retaliatory tariffs on Canadian goods over drifting cross-border wildfire smoke, leaving legal mechanisms highly uncertain.

EDUCATION

• NYC Automatically Boosts Kindergarten College Funds to $1,000: The New York City Council finalized a massive budget expansion that automatically increases the city-provided college savings account for every public school kindergartener from $100 to $1,000.

• English Learner Graduation Gap Widens Nationally: New district data highlights a stark national trend: while English learners now account for over 22% of student enrollment in major districts like Philadelphia, their four-year graduation rate has fallen to 70% compared to 88% for native speakers, largely driven by older students balancing work and school.

• Mental Health Initiatives Restored in School Budgets: Amid fierce community pushback over proposed education cuts, urban school districts have successfully restored funding for in-school mental health clinics and early intervention programs.

• Native American Schools See Historic Graduation Gains: A federal audit of federally funded Native American K-12 schools shows a sharp upward trajectory in graduation rates, credited to newly implemented culturally tailored curricula and targeted retention funding.

ECONOMY

• Fed Rate Hikes Loom Despite Inflation Flatline: Economists widely agree the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady at its July meeting, but institutional banks warning signs are flashing that a rate hike may still land later this year if core service costs remain sticky.

• United Airlines Unveils Plan to Monetize the "No Middle Seat" Option: United Airlines announced a new "Economy Plus" configuration where passengers can pay a premium to guarantee an empty middle seat, which will be replaced by a shared cocktail table on newly ordered aircraft.

• Consumer Spending Shifts as Global Alcohol Sales Slump: Despite short-term spikes from major sporting events, global data confirms a structural, long-term decline in traditional alcohol sales as health-conscious consumers pivot permanently toward non-alcoholic alternatives.

• Midterm Election Uncertainty Chills Corporate Spending: Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) across major sectors indicate they are pausing large-scale capital investments until federal regulatory policies settle after the November midterms.

TECHNOLOGY

• India Launches First Privately Developed Orbital Rocket: Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket successfully completed "Mission Aagaman," placing multiple technology payloads into low Earth orbit and making India only the third country to achieve private orbital launch capabilities.

• Propellantless Spacecraft Tech Moves Closer to Reality: Aerospace engineers published breakthroughs in solar wind and solar sail momentum physics, successfully demonstrating new methods for spacecraft to navigate deep space without relying on traditional chemical fuel.

• Black Hole Thermodynamics Paradox Solved: Theoretical physicists released a revised set of thermodynamic rules for black holes, successfully solving a 50-year-old quantum mechanics problem regarding how information escapes event horizons.

• Stanford Scientists Solve Earth's Greatest Mass Extinction Mystery: Utilizing advanced computational modeling, data scientists mapped out how ancient marine life survived the Permian catastrophe 252 million years ago, altering our understanding of biological evolutionary resilience.

HEALTH

• Alzheimer's Spreading Mechanism Discovered: Medical researchers have successfully identified a specific brain protein responsible for helping Alzheimer's pathology migrate across neural pathways, opening a massive new door for targeted preventative drug therapies.

• 3,000 Steps a Day Proven to Fight Cognitive Decline: A comprehensive neurological study found that taking as few as 3,000 steps per day provides measurable protection for brain function and dramatically slows structural changes linked to dementia.

• The "Weight Loss Defense Mechanism" Decoded: New metabolic research outlines the exact evolutionary biological defenses that actively trigger the body to regain lost weight, explaining why long-term weight management is an uphill biological battle rather than a failure of willpower.

• International Medical Volunteers Celebrate 30+ Years of Cleft Care: A landmark multi-nation medical mission marked more than three decades of providing free corrective surgeries for cleft lips and palates, highlighting a transition toward fully self-sustaining local medical teams.

SPORTS

• Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever Drop 108 Points on Liberty: Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell spearheaded a massive offensive explosion, rallying the Indiana Fever back from a 13-point deficit to thoroughly dominate the New York Liberty 108-88 before a packed home crowd.

• British Runner Shatters Long-Standing Mile Record: An elite British track athlete stunned the sporting world by breaking a historic, fast-mile record that had remained completely untouched since 1999.

• Anticipation Mounts for World Cup Final Presenter: FIFA officials confirmed that the plan remains for the U.S. President to personally present the World Cup trophy following Sunday's highly anticipated championship match between Argentina and Spain.

• Lamine Yamal Captivates Global Soccer Community: Ahead of the tournament finale, profile coverage intensified around Spain's phenomenal teenage sensation Lamine Yamal as he prepares to anchor the national team on the world's biggest stage.

Big Education Ape: THE GIGAWATT REBELLION: AN UPDATE ON AMERICA'S HOTTEST NEW BIPARTISAN SPORT — TELLING BIG TECH TO TAKE A HIKE https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-gigawatt-rebellion-update-on.html 

Big Education Ape: AI RULES OF ENGAGEMENT IN EDUCATION: WHO'S GOT THEM, WHO NEEDS THEM, AND WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW RIGHT NOW https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/ai-rules-of-engagement-in-education.html 

Big Education Ape: VOUCHERS, CHARTER SCHOOLS & SPIES, OH MY! https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/vouchers-charter-schools-spies-oh-my.html 

Big Education Ape: THE TOP NEWS STORIES THIS WEEK 7-12-26 TO 7-18-26 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/the-top-news-stories-this-week-7-12-26.html 

Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS JULY 18, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_01028854727.html

Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: JULY 18, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/07/morning-news-update-july-18-2026.html 

Cheating with AI (Emma Whitford)* https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2026/07/18/cheating-with-ai-emma-whitford/ via @CubanLarry 

Union Matters     Unity--Paras Need a Boost, and Retirees Can Piss Off Unity strives to help members only when they calculate it will help Unity. ARTHUR GOLDSTEIN https://arthurgoldstein.substack.com/p/unity-paras-need-a-boost-and-retirees 

“This Is What Teachers Want From Their Leaders”     Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day... | The latest news and resources in education since 2007 https://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ 

glen brown: Trump’s Speech About 2020 Proved He Was a Loser — and Still Is https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2026/07/trumps-speech-about-2020-proved-he-was.html 

glen brown: "If he won’t save me, why should I keep his secrets?" https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2026/07/if-he-wont-save-me-why-should-i-keep.html 

Dropping SAT and ACT may improve access, but hinder college admissions      Education Research Report: Dropping SAT and ACT may improve access, but hinder college admissions https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/2026/07/dropping-sat-and-act-may-improve-access.html 

Curmudgucation   Communication Communication Communication PETER GREENE https://curmudgucation.substack.com/p/communication-communication-communication 

Of Vouchers and Darkness

by Andy Spears  – Tennessee Education Report https://tnedreport.com/2026/07/of-vouchers-and-darkness/ 

Choosing Democracy: What Is Democratic Socialism: DSA ? https://choosingdemocracy.blogspot.com/2026/07/what-is-democratic-socialism-dsa.html 

The Education Report     The Robot Teacher is Here A school district in New York is deploying a robot staffer built by a sexbot company ANDY SPEARS https://theeducationreport.substack.com/p/the-robot-teacher-is-here 

Open Letter to the National Assessment Governing Board: Stop Letting Others Lie About Our Children with Your Data NAEP Proficient is not grade level. It never has been. They have an ethical responsibility to correct the public misuse of the data. BRUCE LESLEY https://brucelesley.substack.com/p/open-letter-to-the-national-assessment 

TRUMP IN THE NEWS TODAY
REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER

The top news stories focusing on President Trump reflect a heavy emphasis on escalating geopolitical tensions and active military orders:

• Airstrikes Directed Against Iran: President Trump ordered a fresh wave of U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian military capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation, carried out by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), is designed to degrade threats to commercial shipping and serves as retaliation for a ballistic missile and drone attack in Jordan that killed two American service members.

• Strait of Hormuz Mission Pause: In a fast-moving development following the strikes, President Trump ordered the military to pause the Strait of Hormuz mission temporarily to allow a window of time for potential peace talks.

• Rhetoric on Iranian Oil: Alongside the military maneuvers, morning headlines highlight statements from Trump asserting a desire to target or secure Iran's oil reserves amid the renewed hostilities.

• Bipartisan Pushback on Foreign Policy: Iran's Supreme Leader publicly dismissed the administration's diplomatic overtures, stating that "Trump's signature is worthless" in light of recent U.S. actions.

• Domestic Friction Over Government Shutdown: Domestically, the administration is navigating public and traveler frustration tied to an ongoing congressional government shutdown.

Trump administration activates never-before-used ‘alien terrorist’ deportation court - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/18/trump-alien-terrorist-deportation-court-01004184

Trump’s rhetoric is more dangerous than voting machine flaws, experts say - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/18/trumps-rhetoric-voting-machine-flaws-01004123 

The World Cup came to town. The town had 10,000 people. - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/18/world-cup-small-city-mayors-stadiums-east-rutherford-01004040 

A Personal Selection of Nelson Mandela Best Quotes – M.A. Escotet https://miguelescotet.com/2026/a-personal-selection-of-nelson-mandela-best-quotes/ 

Ralph Norman to run for South Carolina Senate seat - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/18/ralph-norman-south-carolina-senate-01004233 

Shuttered ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ leaves complicated legacy in Florida - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/18/shuttered-alligator-alcatraz-leaves-complicated-legacy-in-florida-01001031 

Police Keep Losing Their Jobs For Using Flock Cameras To Stalk People – Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/07/police-losing-jobs-flock-cameras-alprs/ 

David Crowley reenters Wisconsin governor’s race with Evers endorsement - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/18/david-crowley-reenters-wisconsin-governors-race-with-evers-endorsement-01004326 

Red states reject Trump’s shift on overdose prevention - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/18/overdose-drugs-kennedy-trumps-harm-reduction-overdose-01004038 

What Do We Really Know About the Microplastics Building Up Inside Us? – Mother Jones https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2026/07/how-bad-microplastics-exposure-health-risks-science-studies-cassandra-rauert-interview/ 

Troy Jackson jumps out to big lead in race to replace Graham Platner in Maine - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/18/troy-jackson-maine-senate-platner-01004343