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Psalm 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. New King James Version

July 21, 2026 Our Natural and Glorified Bodies “It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:43-44) In this portion of this great chapter on the resurrection—first that of Christ, then the future resurrection of the redeemed—death and resurrection are compared to seed-sowing and harvest. When a seed is planted in the ground, it is as though it has died and is buried. For a long time after its “death,” the seed cannot be seen, but eventually it rises again as a beautiful flowering plant, sheaf of grain, or even a lovely tree. Jesus made this same analogy in His teaching. “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24-29; note also Mark 4:26-29). Our human bodies, because of sin and the Curse, will eventually die and be buried. But one day, like the planted seed, they will appear again renewed and far greater than they were before: now immortal and glorified—that is, of course, if their real inhabitants (their eternal created spirits) have been born again through faith in the already-resurrected Savior. Our new bodies rising from the grave will be real physical bodies (like that of Jesus after He was raised). They will be “fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). Although “it doth not yet appear what we shall be . . . when he shall appear, we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2). Then in our glorious, powerful bodies, we as “his servants shall serve him” in love and joy forever (Revelation 22:3). HMM

⛰️ Parting shot: California sunset Photo: Phil Spector Reader Phil Spector of Delray Beach, Fla., sent us this mountain view from a summer trip to Napa Valley. 🍽️ It was taken last week on Darms Lane, which is about 5 minutes south of Yountville — home of Thomas Keller's iconic restaurant The French Laundry.

💰 House GOP's edge Data: Axios reporting; Chart: Kathleen Hunter/Axios The House Republicans' campaign arm brought in $17.6 million in June, leaving them with $92.7 million in cash on hand, we told you earlier today. Why it matters: The National Republican Congressional Committee is entering the final midterm stretch with a cash advantage over House Democrats, giving GOP leaders another talking point as they try to defy the historical trend that typically favors the party out of power. The NRCC outraised its counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, by $1.2 million in June. That helped them top the DCCC's $79 million in cash-on-hand as of June 30. Yes, but: The DCCC outraised the NRCC in the full second quarter, bringing in $37.4 million, compared to $35.4 million for NRCC. 💬 What they're saying: "Republicans are building a campaign machine to win. Democrats are still holding clown show socialist auditions for who gets to lose in November," NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella told us in a statement. DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement that the group's "strong quarter of fundraising combined with the incredible results of our frontliners and challengers show that across the battlefield, Democrats are assembling people-powered campaigns ready to win in November and make Hakeem Jeffries the next speaker of the House." 🔎 Zoom in: The NRCC's fundraising edge hasn't translated to individual candidates. Twenty-five GOP incumbents — and Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.), a former Republican — were outraised by a Democratic challenger in the second quarter of 2026, according to Punchbowl News. Zoom out: The Supreme Court's ruling last month allowing unlimited coordinated spending between national party committees and candidates supercharges the NRCC's fundraising advantage. Instead of being constrained by coordination limits, the committee can now funnel more of its financial edge directly into competitive House races. — Kate Santaliz

Senate watches the House Senate Republicans are warming to the idea of using a third reconciliation package to replenish the Pentagon's depleted weapons stocks. Why it matters: They still view reconciliation 3.0 as Plan B. ⛸️ For now, though, they're willing to let House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) attempt the legislative equivalent of a slushy triple axel: passing a rule, a short-term government funding bill and a budget resolution to unlock reconciliation. "The tale of the tape is going to be what the House can do," Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said. "Can the House pass it? I don't think that's a done deal. It's not offset, so I think there's going to be some troubled water there." ⚡️ But Republican senators aren't slamming the door on Johnson's plan, looking to keep Senate options open. "It's pretty clear that [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer would like to play shutdown politics," Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said. "So I don't have any problem with using reconciliation for that." "But beyond that, it gets pretty narrow, what I'd be willing to support." 🚗 Driving the news: President Trump is ramping up pressure on House Republicans to support the budget resolution ahead of a pivotal week on Capitol Hill. "I am asking all House Republicans to VOTE YES this week on the Budget Resolution, which is an important first step towards getting a Budget Bill," Trump wrote today on Truth Social. Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought will try to close the deal at the Republican conference tomorrow. The move is a clear signal the administration wants a fallback plan if the normal appropriations process isn't done by Oct. 1 — which looks increasingly likely. 🪖 Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow to defend the administration's supplemental funding request, including tens of billions of dollars to replenish munitions used in Iran. Between the lines: Senate Majority Leader John Thune is cautioning that reconciliation 3.0 still faces a steep climb, even if it clears the House. "Easier said than done," Thune told reporters. And not every Senate Republican is on board. "I am not a big fan of reconciliation whether it's 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0," Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said. Zoom in: The White House has sent a list of spending anomalies to appropriators — a necessary step for Congress and OMB to advance a short-term continuing resolution. The move is a clear signal the administration expects Congress to rely on a stopgap spending bill to avert a shutdown. That remains senators' preferred path. "I'd love a clean CR to get us through the election," Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said. Zoom out: Vice President Vance's private appeal to House Republicans last week did little to change the political math. Johnson faces a difficult challenge. The skepticism extends beyond the House. Some Senate Republicans want a larger package with more defense funding, while others insist that at least some of the roughly $95 billion in new spending be offset. The House proposal includes about $60 billion to replenish munitions and weapons stocks depleted by U.S. operations against Iran. The bottom line: The Senate is waiting on the House while pursuing a two-track strategy: keep appropriations moving while keeping reconciliation in reserve if negotiations break down. "We either need to keep appropriations moving," Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) told us, "or it's reconciliation 3.0." — Hans Nichols and Kate Santaliz

Tropical Storm Bertha drifts toward land as Hurricane Fausto forms in the eastern Pacific NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tropical Storm Bertha formed Monday evening in the Gulf of Mexico south of the Florida Panhandle as it drifts erratically toward populated coastal areas bearing a threat of heavy rain, storm surge and damaging wind gusts, forecasters say. https://apnews.com/article/gulf-tropical-depression-flooding-c5f0b7264dad58ae7450fdd87436ec09?

The Price of Hubris (Andrew Harnik / Getty)   View in browser You could, if you were so inclined, tell a story of the Donald Trump era via memes. Pepe the Frog, “This Is Fine” Dog, “Covfefe,” Leopards Eating People’s Faces—things of that nature. One of the essential examples would be an October 2016 Twitter post by Jesse Farrar, parodying the enduring belief that the walls were closing in on Trump: The conviction that Trump was on the brink of final collapse remained popular in some quarters for years after Farrar’s post—as anyone who remembers the fevered anticipation around Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report and the subsequent letdown can attest—but at some moment, the tweet transformed from a riposte to naive pundits into a shorthand for the strangeness of American politics. During the previous decade, Trump weathered a series of scandals that would likely have been career-ending for any other politician: the Access Hollywood tape, in which he boasted that he would “grab” women “by the pussy” without consent; the firing of then–FBI Director James Comey; his indiscreet sharing of intelligence with Russian officials in the Oval Office; an impeachment for attempting to extort Ukraine; an egregious approach to COVID-19, followed by a bout with the disease that reportedly nearly killed him; a series of attempts to steal the 2020 presidential election, culminating in the January 6 insurrection; his absconding with sensitive documents to Mar-a-Lago after his term ended; and 34 felony convictions. Despite all of this, Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. The notion of his invincibility became canon. Perhaps Trump himself came to believe it. But the war in Iran has dealt a serious blow to the idea that Trump can slip out of any bind easily. Over the past three days, three American service members died in that conflict: two in Jordan, where Iranian missiles struck a military base, and a third in Iraq, killed by debris during the intentional destruction of an Iranian drone. The official American death toll in the Iran war now sits at 17. That number is low—still less, for example, than the toll from the 1983 invasion of Grenada—although the military appears to have been keeping quiet just how many troops have been injured. As my colleague Tom Nichols wrote over the weekend, the president’s limp attempt at consolation (“It’s a very sad thing,” he said) is especially dismaying because “Trump has offered no comprehensive explanation about why his administration is ordering U.S. military personnel to put their lives on the line.” And the death toll may begin to rise, because Trump appears to be on the verge of being drawn into a larger war. As the defense analyst Brynn Tannehill wrote in The Atlantic last week, the president faces only bad choices. The United States could effectively cede control of the Strait of Hormuz to Iran, accepting a fee system that breaks global precedent and centuries of American policy and granting a hostile power the opportunity to close an important shipping lane at any future moment. Or the White House could embark on a major ground war, because fighting over the past few months has shown the limitations of relying on air power. That would be politically hazardous, likely lead to more American deaths, and suck the U.S. into a long-running presence in the region, and it might still fail. Meanwhile, the conflict threatens to grow even larger as Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen threaten to close some traffic to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Deciding what to do is hard when you don’t know what you want. Trump has vacillated over whether the point of the war is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and whether the war has already achieved that. He’s offered different answers about whether one goal is regime change, and whether that has been achieved. He has suggested that the purpose is to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, even though it was open before the war and even though that may no longer be manageable. The administration has also struggled to explain to skeptical members of Congress why it needs more war funding. In short, Trump’s misadventure in Iran is a story of hubris. The president didn’t bother to plan or consider the dangers before he started a war, and now it has spiraled to a point where even he seems unable to find a way to wriggle out of a jam. For the first time in a very long time—to some extent, the first time in his life—Trump appears to be facing the consequences of his actions. These circumstances might give Trump’s critics and opponents a chance to feel some delicious schadenfreude if the results of the blunder were not so terrible. The costs are measured not only in the blood of American service members but also in the deaths of Iranian civilians and of merchant mariners trying to sail through the Persian Gulf, in the damage to the global economy, and in the erosion of American alliances and a long-standing global order. Being confronted with a snare that he can’t escape must be unpleasant for Trump, but people around the globe will face misery because of it. Related: Trump owes Americans a better explanation about Iran. The U.S. has only terrible choices with Iran.

British prosecutors charge a man with murder in the death of former politician Ann Widdecombe British prosecutors charged a 28-year-old man with murder Monday in the death of former politician and reality TV contestant Ann Widdecombe. Read More.

Pamela Smart, serving life, seeks a new trial as a New Hampshire judge weighs her latest petition Lawyers for Pamela Smart, who is serving life in prison for orchestrating the murder of her husband by her teenage student in 1990, urged a New Hampshire judge Monday to allow her latest petition for a new trial to move forward. Read More.

China's new AI model halts new subscriptions as demand swamps capacity The new, powerful Chinese artificial intelligence model Kimi K3, which has caused a stir in the U.S. tech industry, has suspended new subscriptions after a flood in demand overwhelmed capacity within days of the launch. Read More.

Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, citing disputes over autos, alcohol and cheese WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday imposed 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, declaring that Canada has unfairly discriminated against American autos, alcohol and dairy products. https://apnews.com/article/trump-canada-50-tariff-autos-alcohol-cheese-ca268ef24992b16695954c4c2e5eae6a? ps:How much more pathetic can he get?? Ex-Olympian charged with damaging Reflecting Pool gets Sept. 28 trial date A judge in the nation's capital has set a trial date in September for a former Olympic canoe racer charged with deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the site of a troubled multimillion-dollar renovation project championed by President Donald Trump. Read More. Officials sought phone records of NYT journalists and their relatives in an effort to unmask sources President Donald Trump's administration sought phone records of several New York Times journalists and even those of some of their relatives, according to a motion unsealed Monday — an unusually aggressive attempt to unmask the confidential sources of reporters who wrote about Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. Read More. Feds advance plan to open 2,800 acres of Ohio’s Wayne National Forest to fracking The federal government took a major step forward Friday toward opening more than 2,800 acres of Ohio’s only national forest to oil and gas development. Read More.

Ex-soldier started a fire and fired a pellet gun outside a New York federal building, FBI says NEW YORK (AP) — A former U.S. Army soldier toting an anti-ICE sign set off fireworks, lit a fire and shot a pellet gun Monday morning outside a Manhattan federal office building, injuring three people before security officers subdued him, authorities said. https://apnews.com/article/incendiary-new-york-federal-building-immigration-e3b62b5cafb5ea777f5918670c48da72?

Trump’s Gas Price Boasts Blow Up in His Face The president’s victory lap over falling gas prices may have been premature as tensions with Iran threaten another spike. Donald Trump’s bragging about gas prices has blown up in his face following his renewed attacks on Iran. The temporary peace deal had given the president his first sniff of making good on his promise to lower gas prices following a dramatic spike caused by the outbreak of his war in late February. Prices at the pump have flirted with the $5 mark nationally and, in parts of California, exceeded $6. Now things are moving in the wrong direction once again for the White House, after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, and its government’s military wing, the Revolutionary Guard, said “this passage will ⁠not be safe for the transit of petrochemical products, nor even a single drop ‌of oil and gas,” the Guardian reports. It comes despite a bullish Trump writing on Truth Social in late June, “GAS PRICES COMING DOWN, FAST! REPORT ANY ABUSES AT RETAIL LEVEL!!! President DJT.” On Monday, the AAA put the national average price at $4.0030, up from Sunday’s $3.9980, which was up again from the average a week ago at $3.8720. That, in turn, was a far cry from the average one year ago, at $3.1410. The U.S. has once again imposed a blockade of the strait, dashing any optimism about prices that had sprouted last month during the brief pause in hostilities. While prices have not yet reached the highs seen earlier in the conflict, Axios reports that Trump was in the Situation Room with top advisors on Tuesday, where they discussed the possibility of expanding the scope of the operation. His actions appear at odds with his words, clashing with the narrative the president has peddled throughout his conflict that high prices would be but a blip. In March, eight days after the first bombs fell, he wrote in another Truth Social post, “Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!President DJT.” Now Americans are in their fifth month of being stung by the conflict, and as relations between Washington and Tehran worsen once again, it is feasible that consumers might not have respite any time soon. On the last day of June, he blamed high prices on someone else: retailers and the California government. In a shouty Truth Social post, he said, “Gasoline Retailers must get their Prices down, IMMEDIATELY! They’re too high considering that Oil is now at $68 a Barrel, and heading south. The Retailers must quickly react to this statement, and do what they know is right — DROP YOUR PRICE FOR OUR GREAT AMERICAN PEOPLE! “There will be no gauging, which is totally illegal. If Retailers don’t do this, big problems lie ahead! Start targeting around the $2.50 a Gallon number, and California should stop charging such heavy Taxes on their Gasoline. “Soon the Tax will be higher than the Product itself, and the United States will not stand for it, nor will the People of California, who are being abused by these ridiculous Taxes, and by their own Government. President DONALD J. TRUMP” In a statement to the Daily Beast, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said, “As the U.S. military degrades the terrorist Iranian regime’s ability to attack commercial vessels and disrupt the free flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas prices will plummet back to pre-conflict levels. “President Trump remains committed to unleashing American energy dominance, cutting costs, and putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking American families.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-gas-price-boasts-blow-up-in-his-face/?

Republicans Defy Trump’s Senate MAGA Power Grab Senate hopefuls aren’t waiting around for Trump’s preferred Lindsey Graham replacement. Republican Senate hopefuls are ignoring Donald Trump’s attempt to put his finger on the scale in the race to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The president, 80, made the push for Graham’s sister, newly sworn-in Senator Darline Graham, to run for a full term after she was appointed to fill her brother’s seat for the remainder of his current term last week following Graham’s unexpected death. But a growing number of GOP members are rejecting the president’s bid to clear a path for her in the special primary election next month and are instead jumping into the race. On Monday, Rep. Russell Fry, who represents South Carolina’s 7th congressional district, announced he was running for the seat. It comes after Rep. Ralph Norman shared over the weekend that he would run in the special election as well. Graham, who died just over a week ago, was running for reelection in November. While his sister was appointed to fill his seat through the current term, a special primary election must be held to choose a GOP candidate for the midterms. The special election will take place on August 11. Candidate filing opens on Tuesday and remains open through July 28. In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump praised Senator Darline Graham Nordone, who has never held elected office, as a “spectacular person” and “WINNER all of her life.” He wrote that if she chose to run for a full term, she would have his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” But on Saturday, Rep. Ralph Norman, who recently lost the primary for governor, said he was jumping into the race and that the state needed a true conservative. Even as Republicans are ignoring Trump’s attempt to be the kingmaker in the primary, they are looking to align with him as they try to win over GOP voters in the short campaign season. “I’m running to represent the people of South Carolina in the U.S. Senate because we need a fighter who will stand with President Trump and carry on Lindsey Graham’s legacy!” Norman wrote. “I’ve spent years fighting for the Palmetto State in the state house, in Congress, and now I want to get the SAVE America Act passed in the Senate!” While Norman admitted he asked Trump for his endorsement and did not receive it, he said he would not drop out if Graham decides to run for a full term and that he was in it to win. In his own announcement early Monday, Fry touted his MAGA credentials. The banner image on his X page notably features him standing alongside the president. “We need a conservative fighter in the Senate who delivers real results. I will be your conservative MAGA candidate in the special primary Senate election this summer,” Fry wrote in his announcement post. Fry ran uncontested in his House primary last month, so he is running for two seats at once. If he wins the special election primary, it would leave his safe Republican House seat exposed or vacant come November. The new Senator Graham has not shared publicly whether she would officially run for a full term after barely a week in the Senate. In an open letter to South Carolinians shared over the weekend, she wrote, “Now, it’s time for me to step up for South Carolina” and “In the most challenging of times, I’ve learned God often calls on ordinary people to do extraordinary things.” She added that she is not her brother and has her own way of doing things, but they were raised with the same values. While she thanked the people of the state and asked for their prayers, she did not specifically share what her plans might be going forward. Trump’s endorsement has proven to be powerful in the 2026 GOP primaries, but it has not always resulted in his preferred candidate’s victory. In the South Carolina Republican primary for governor, Trump’s original endorsement went to Lt. Governor Pam Evette, but she did not get enough support to avoid a runoff last month. In the end, Trump copped out and made a double-endorsement of both candidates in the runoff, including Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, who ended up winning. Trump’s endorsements in other 2026 primaries have also resulted in mixed results in recent months. However, the president was an early backer of the late senator in his reelection bid and helped him avoid a nasty primary despite facing well-funded GOP challengers. Graham won the June primary with more than 56 percent of the vote, but his closest challenger, Mark Lynch, still received nearly 29 percent, with more than 134,000 votes. https://www.thedailybeast.com/republicans-defy-trumps-senate-maga-power-grab/?

At Leadership Blue, Pete Buttigieg says Florida Democrats can win in November Leaders of the Florida Democratic Party believe they can break the GOP’s supermajorities in the Florida House and Senate in November. And every indication is that Donald Trump’s unpopularity will hurt his party in November. But there’s ample cause for caution. "When it's proven something doesn't work, one usually tries something else," former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said during a party gathering over the weekend. But Republicans aren't doing that — they're just trying to change the rules," he continued, referring to the congressional redistricting that went into law in May. Related: Moody leads Nixon by 8 points, Vindman by 10, in new poll of Florida Senate race AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Arizona’s state primary Arizona Republicans will choose a nominee in a state primary Tuesday to challenge Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in November. Voters across the state will also set the general election matchups for competitive U.S. House seats and for a full range of state and local offices. Read More.

New numbers show counties will pay nearly $420M for Medicaid this year With a potential cut in property tax revenue looming for Florida’s counties, other costs are on the rise. https://floridaphoenix.com/briefs/new-numbers-show-counties-will-pay-nearly-420m-for-medicaid-this-year/? A victory for ‘the right to tell people what they do not want to hear’ “‘It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.’” https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/07/20/a-victory-for-the-right-to-tell-people-what-they-do-not-want-to-hear/?

The Secrets of Huqoq The ancient Galilean village of Huqoq has emerged as one of the region’s most remarkable archaeological sites, offering an extraordinary window into Jewish life during the Roman-Byzantine period. Excavations have uncovered the remains of an entire settlement, including a synagogue, a natural spring, agricultural installations, ritual baths (mikva’ot), and three underground tunnel networks, signaling periods of danger. Archaeologists have also discovered bronze coins, a ring, and a dagger concealed within one of those underground passages. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/post-biblical-period/the-secrets-of-huqoq/? First Person: Did the Kingdoms of Saul, David and Solomon Actually Exist? Amihai Mazar (better known as Ami) is one of Israel’s most highly regarded archaeologists. He recently retired from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I remember long ago when I featured him on the cover of BAR together with his famous uncle, Benjamin Mazar, a former president of the Hebrew University and a famous archaeologist; Ami was angry. He didn’t want to be pictured with his uncle. Ami wanted to make it on his own—not because of his relationship to his distinguished uncle. Well, Ami certainly has now made it on his own. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/did-the-kingdoms-of-saul-david-and-solomon-actually-exist/? Fragment of Homer’s Odyssey Unearthed at Olympia Archaeologists working at the Greek site of Olympia, home of the ancient Olympic Games, discovered near the sanctuary of Zeus a Roman-period clay tablet containing 13 lines of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. The discovery was made by the archaeological project The Multidimensional Site of Olympia, led by Dr. Erofili-Iris Kollia, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ilia, and first announced by the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/homer-odyssey-tablet-olympia/?

Well, I must not be sealed then. Because I am still temped. And I still sin.

"The ministration of the earthly sanctuary consisted of two divisions; the priests ministered daily in the holy place, while once a year the high priest performed a special work of atonement in the most holy, for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Day by day the repentant sinner brought his offering to the door of the tabernacle and, placing his hand upon the victim’s head, confessed his sins, thus in figure transferring them from himself to the innocent sacrifice. The animal was then slain. “Without shedding of blood,” says the apostle, there is no remission of sin. “The life of the flesh is in the blood.” Leviticus 17:11. The broken law of God demanded the life of the transgressor. The blood, representing the forfeited life of the sinner, whose guilt the victim bore, was carried by the priest into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil, behind which was the ark containing the law that the sinner had transgressed. By this ceremony the sin was, through the blood, transferred in figure to the sanctuary. In some cases the blood was not taken into the holy place; but the flesh was then to be eaten by the priest, as Moses directed the sons of Aaron, saying: “God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation.” Leviticus 10:17. Both ceremonies alike symbolized the transfer of the sin from the penitent to the sanctuary" (GC 356, 357). The following sentence is the one which some people question or outright disagree: "By this ceremony the sin was, through the blood, transferred in figure to the sanctuary."

👋 Good morning! Welcome back. In today's edition: Spain wins the World Cup, Fox wins The Open, Ohtani presses pause on pitching, Kerr breaks the mile world record, Boston keeps winning, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...   🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES ⚾️ Ohtani pauses pitching: Shohei Ohtani has been removed from the Dodgers' rotation indefinitely as he continues dealing with knee irritation. The MVP frontrunner will remain in the lineup, but "it's going to be some time" before he pitches again, says manager Dave Roberts. 🏒 Bedard gets paid: Blackhawks star Connor Bedard signed a five-year, $75 million extension that makes him the third-highest paid player in NHL history by AAV ($15M). The 21-year-old has been Chicago's leading scorer in each of his first three seasons in the league. 🏎️ Kimi wins again: Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli won Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix for his sixth victory of the season, extending his lead atop the Formula 1 standings to 45 points through 10 races. 🏀 Three-team trade: The Thunder are trading defensive stopper Lu Dort and guard Ryan Nembhard to the Hawks in a three-team trade with the Mavericks. Former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher is heading to Dallas, while OKC will receive three second-round picks. 🥍 Pannell passes Rabil: Maryland Whipsnakes attackman Rob Pannell is now the all-time professional lacrosse points leader, recording his 658th career point on Friday to break Paul Rabil's record.   🏆 WORLD CUP SPAIN'S REIGN BEGINS AGAIN (Lars Baron/Getty Images) In a World Cup celebrated for its rampant goalscoring, defense had the tournament's last and loudest laugh. Spain, football's immovable object, emerged victorious in extra time over an Argentina side whose magic was nowhere to be found, sending La Roja to their second World Cup title. Spain 1, Argentina 0: As they've done all summer long, Spain defanged Argentina's attack, holding La Albiceleste without a shot in 90 minutes of regular time — a first in World Cup Final history. Despite that futile offense, goalkeeper Emi Martínez kept Argentina's hopes alive with a record 11-save performance. But the dam finally broke 39 seconds into the second extra period, when Ferran Torres thrashed the winner past a scattered defense. "I just saw the ball coming to me and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people," said the 26-year-old midfielder who became just the second substitute ever to score the winning goal in a World Cup Final. Big picture: La Roja haven't just become the latest World Cup champion; they've also extended their unbeaten run to 38 matches, the longest streak in men's international football history. Add in their wire-to-wire dominance these last five weeks, when they conceded just one goal in the entire tournament, and we're talking about an all-time great dynasty that may not end any time soon given the players who are powering it. Defensive midfielder Rodri, who won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, became only the 11th man ever to win the World Cup, Champions League, and Ballon d'Or. 29-year-old goalkeeper Unai Simón earned the Golden Glove, and 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí — not fellow 19-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal — was named Best Young Player. Spain's future is as bright as its present. Farewell to a legend: For Lionel Messi, even the power of a storybook ending couldn't compel the ball past the Spanish defense (or Mikel Merino's head), as there were no remaining tricks at the bottom of his magic hat. But bitter ending or not, few will forget the enormous privilege of watching the 39-year-old will his country to one great escape after another in what was surely his final World Cup. A drone show depicts the World Cup trophy over Manhattan. (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Looking ahead: Spain's well-deserved triumph closes the book on the 2026 World Cup, which exceeded every possible expectation to deliver an all-time great tournament. And now, the first World Cup hosted by three different countries will pass the baton to the first one hosted by six. That's right: While the 2030 World Cup will primarily be held in Morocco, Portugal and Spain — who will become the first defending champions ever to host the tournament — there will also be one match each in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay as part of the centenary celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the inaugural tournament held in Uruguay. Four years is a long time, but if the next edition is anything like this one, it'll be well worth the wait. Go deeper: From Spain with love: A World Cup final 50 million dreams in the making (Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports)   ⛳️ ACROSS THE POND FOX WINS THE OPEN (Michael Reaves/Getty Images) New Zealand's Ryan Fox played the most clutch golf of his life over the weekend at Royal Birkdale, mounting a historic comeback to win the 154th Open Championship for his first major title. Down, but not out: The 39-year-old Kiwi, now just the third man from New Zealand to win a major, barely made the cut at even par. But on Saturday he erupted for a major championship record-tying 62, elbowing his way into Sunday's final grouping alongside leader Sam Burns. A couple of bogeys nearly took him out of contention, but he stormed back with four birdies in his final six holes, including one at the last powered by a perfect approach and a clutch 11-foot putt to avoid a playoff and clinch the Claret Jug by one stroke. "You asked me to bring a trophy home and I am, aren't I?" he told his daughter via FaceTime after the victory. Promise, delivered. Wild stat: Fox's comeback wasn't just unlikely; it was unprecedented. He was tied for 85th after Round 1 and tied for 52nd after Round 2. Those are the lowest 18- and 36-hole positions in major championship history for a golfer that went on to win the tournament. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Stacked leaderboard: The top five comprised a laundry list of big names, including three others like Fox who were seeking their first major and, well, you know who. Cam Young (-9) finished solo second — his fifth top five of the year — coming from seven shots back on Sunday to take the clubhouse lead before Fox's final birdie shut the door. Burns (-8) finished third to cap off an unbelievable season of majors that saw him finish second at the U.S. Open, T7 at the Masters and T26 at the PGA Championship. Tommy Fleetwood (-7) finished T4 at the course he grew up sneaking onto. It was his eighth top-five major finish in the last 10 years, the most by any golfer without a win. Scottie Scheffler (-7) also finished T4, and probably would have defended his title if he hadn't ranked 105th in strokes gained putting. Zoom out: The major season's 100-day sprint has come and gone, and since Rory McIlroy won his second straight Masters we've seen three incredibly unlikely champions. Wyndham Clark won the U.S. Open (pre-tournament odds: 50-1), Aaron Rai won the PGA Championship (150-1) and Fox's odds were historically long (225-1) before winning The Open.   💯 STAT SHEET BIG NUMBERS (S Bardens/British Athletics via Getty Images) 👟 3:42.66 Scotland's Josh Kerr shattered the world record for the fastest mile ever on Saturday, running a 3:42.66 in the Diamond League meet in London to eclipse Hicham El Guerrouj's mark of 3:43.13 set all the way back in 1999. Called his shot: The two-time Olympic medalist and former 1500m world champion has had his sights set on this record since announcing "Project 222" in March with his sponsor, Brooks, which designed him a specialized speed suit and spikes tailored to his unique gait. Why 222? That's exactly how many seconds it would (and did) take to break the record. ⚾️ 13 straight wins The Red Sox (50-48) won their 13th straight game on Sunday, tied for their second-longest winning streak in franchise history. That's just two wins shy of matching their longest streak ever, set back in 1946 when some guy named Ted Williams won his first of two MVPs. Back from the dead: Before the streak, which began on July 3, FanGraphs gave Boston just a 13.4% chance of making the playoffs. Now? They officially hold a wild card spot, they're just six games back in the division and those playoff odds have increased to 59.3%. (A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images) 🏀 45 points Caitlin Clark busted out of her slump in a big way on Friday, dropping a career-high 45 points in the Fever's narrow win over the Storm. She also dished out 10 assists, making her the first player in WNBA history with a 40-point, 10-assist performance. Her four career games with 30 and 10, meanwhile, are as many as the entire rest of the league combined. But wait, there's more: Clark also nailed six 3-pointers, making her the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 200 career triples (74 games). The previous record was held by former 15-year vet Katie Smith (81). 🚴 25 wins On Saturday, Tadej Pogačar won his 25th career Tour de France stage, tied for the fourth-most ever. On Sunday, the Slovenian superstar may have locked up the entire race when his chief rival, Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, was forced to withdraw following a crash in Stage 15. Where it stands: Pogačar leads second-place Remco Evenepoel by five minutes as the race pauses today for its second and final rest day. Then it's six stages in a row before Sunday's conclusion, and with three mountain stages left, Pogačar's lead may grow even larger.   🇺🇸 SNAPSHOTS PHOTOS ACROSS AMERICA Bukayo Saka celebrates his hat trick. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images) Miami — England topped France, 6-4, in Saturday's third-place thriller, the highest-scoring World Cup game since 1982 and just the sixth with at least 10 goals. The victory gave the Three Lions their second-best finish ever, trailing only their lone championship in 1966. Golden Boot: Despite the defeat, Kylian Mbappé's brace gave him a tournament-high 10 goals to become the first man ever to win multiple World Cup Golden Boots. His 22 career World Cup goals are also the most ever, one better than Lionel Messi's 21. Lendeborg celebrates after being named Summer League championship MVP. (John Locher/AP Photo) Las Vegas — The Warriors defeated the Grizzlies, 94-90, in Sunday's NBA Summer League championship as Golden State's Yaxel Lendeborg (21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists) outdueled Memphis' Cameron Boozer (19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) in Sin City. Further reading: 12 big takeaways from NBA Summer League, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Steve Jones, including Caleb Wilson's impressive first impression, AJ Dybantsa's buttery drives, Chaz Lanier's hot hand and Darryn Peterson's expanded repertoire. (David Jensen/Getty Images) North Wilkesboro, North Carolina — The picturesque North Wilkesboro Speedway hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series points race in 30 years on Sunday, as Joey Logano led a career-high 323 laps en route to his first win of the season. In-Season Challenge: In addition to Logano's victory, Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland advanced to next week's $1 million winner-take-all championship of NASCAR's In-Season Challenge.   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: MONDAY, JULY 20 (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) ⚾️ Monday Night Baseball The end of the World Cup has left a serious void in the sports calendar, but baseball is here to pick up the slack, beginning with tonight's doubleheader on ESPN: Dodgers at Phillies (7pm ET) and Cardinals at Angels (10pm). If you ain't first, you're last: Ricky Bobby's mantra could be reasonably applied to MLB's Los Angeles-based teams this season, as the Dodgers (63-37) have the best record in baseball and the Angels (39-61) have the worst. More to watch: 🏀 WNBA: Aces at Tempo (8pm, NBCSN); Lynx at Storm (10pm, USA) … Minnesota (20-6) and Vegas (17-7) are two of the league's top three teams. 🏀 The Basketball Tournament: Round 1 (7pm, FS1) … The new-look TBT features 14 teams (down from 64) and a $2 million winner-take-all prize. Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.   ⚽️ MULTI-TIME WINNERS WORLD CUP TRIVIA (Alex Pantling/FIFA via Getty Images) Spain is the seventh country to win multiple men's World Cup titles. Question: Can you name the other six? Hint: Three Europe, three South America. Answer at the bottom.   ⚾️ RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME RIZZO'S REDEMPTION (Giphy) Anthony Rizzo nabbed a home run ball on Saturday at Wrigley Field, where he was watching the game from the bleachers after returning to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship. Redemption: This was, incredibly, the second time in less than a year that a HR came Rizzo's way in the bleachers at Wrigley. But while he couldn't hang on to the first one, he successfully corralled the second one. Consider yourself redeemed, Rizz.   Trivia answer: Brazil (5x), Germany (4x), Italy (4x), Argentina (3x), France (2x), Uruguay (2x)

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Trump Faces Deafening Jeers at World Cup Trophy Ceremony The president got to hear what people really think of him. President Donald Trump was greeted by a deafening chorus of in-person booing at his beloved World Cup during a humiliating walk of shame.Trump, 80, walked onto the field following Spain’s victory over Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday. However, the crowd gave the president an instant popularity check with a rousing sea of jeers as he headed to present the winners with their medals and trophy. The boos could be heard ringing through the stadium as Trump waved to the crowd, flanked by security. As the president continued to wave, the booing also kept going. According to HuffPost White House reporter S.V. Dáte, “Ambient crowd noise was about 78 decibels” before Trump walked onto the field. “Booing brought it to 84,” which is the equivalent of a passing diesel truck and the point where prolonged exposure can result in gradual hearing loss. The boos were so loud at times that they overpowered the background music being played. One X user suggested that Trump’s appearance “Probably made the whole world boo at home, too.” Another X user filmed themselves as the booing echoed through the stadium, initially thinking someone was fighting after the game, before realizing the negativity was directed at the president. The booing sounded even louder in footage filmed by attendees watching in the upper levels. Trump was joined by his friend and ally, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is also a controversial figure with sports fans. X account Anonymous shared footage of British commentator Gabby Logan remarking on the booing, saying, “Not the warmest of receptions there, not quite sure which one that’s directed toward.” The president’s post-game booing followed soccer fans also jeering him before the game had even begun. That time, the jeers came after Trump appeared on the Jumbotron just after Jennifer Hudson performed the national anthem. The unpopularity of the president saw networks quickly swap from an image of Trump to an aerial shot of the stadium. Online footage of fans watching the World Cup being televised at an outdoor event in Vancouver showed Trump being soundly booed. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House for comment. After his walk of shame to present the trophy to the winning team, Trump had another cringe moment when he stood next to Spain’s team as they celebrated their victory over Argentina by lifting the trophy up into the air. That led Infantino to dart across the stage toward Trump, appearing to try to escort him away to let the champions celebrate as a team. One social media user posted, “The best part of Spain winning the World Cup, is seeing them ignore Donald Trump on stage!” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-faces-deafening-jeers-at-world-cup-trophy-ceremony/?

Trump’s World Cup Stunt Gets Savaged in Hot Mic Moment The president’s attention-seeking moment was called out on Australian TV. President Donald Trump’s cringeworthy stage invasion during Spain’s World Cup victory ceremony was savaged in a brutal hot mic TV moment.Trump, 80, conducted a walk of shame, where he was booed while he crossed the field following Spain’s victory over Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday. According to HuffPost White House reporter S.V. Dáte, “Ambient crowd noise was about 78 decibels. Booing brought it to 84,” roughly the sound of a passing diesel truck.After the president presented the trophy to one of the team’s star players and Golden Ball recipient, midfielder Rodri, he refused to leave the stage as they celebrated their victory over Argentina by lifting the trophy up into the air. Trump’s friend and ally, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, ran over to the president to attempt to move him out of the way of the victorious team. However, Trump was still lingering next to the team as smoke machines and confetti cannons kicked in, and the team’s celebrations were captured on camera. The attention-seeking moment was referenced by Australian broadcaster SBS, which has been airing all the World Cup matches. As Trump was awkwardly loitering on the stage, an SBS commentator can be heard saying, “They can edit him out of that,” as footage of the celebratory moment, with added U.S. president, was shown on Australian TV. The Daily Beast has contacted SBS for comment. The SBS footage quickly gained traction and was shared online, with one social media user writing: “Editing Trump OUT is the best idea I’ve heard yet! Let’s just edit him right out of everything.” Another said Trump had tried to “upstage & hog the limelight from Spain and called him ”a colossal embarrassment to America. His selfishness is childlike.” The president has already had several embarrassing moments at this year’s World Cup, including personally getting involved in a controversial referee decision. Trump contacted Infantino, who invented a Peace Prize for Trump last year after he was snubbed by the Nobel committee, when Team USA superstar Folarin Balogun was handed a red card. The suspension was dramatically overturned. However, the American team was beaten by Belgium in the game Balogun was originally due to miss because of his suspension. Footage widely shared on social media showed Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku leading his team in imitating Trump’s awkward dance style after he scored the final goal of the match. The players formed a circle on the sideline and pumped their fists in and out, while keeping their feet planted on the ground, in a brief victory dance to reference the U.S. president. That led the progressive news outlet Meidas Touch to call out the “Trump curse,” which continued through the matches. That curse was blamed after England lost to Argentina in a semifinal, shortly after English captain Harry Kane had discussed golfing with Trump. “I think Kane is a great player,” Trump, 80, had said earlier this month. “I played golf with him, and I like him a lot. He’s a good golfer, too. He’s really great.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-world-cup-stunt-gets-savaged-in-hot-mic-moment/?

Ukraine fires 400 drones toward Moscow as Zelenskyy grapples with protests Ukraine fired more than 400 drones toward Moscow in its latest major attack on the Russian capital, the city’s mayor said Monday. https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-missiles-zelenskyy-f42baa61109fcb43b7efabf5334c4f50?