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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)

This could be, and even beyond the crypto currency, we are finding the government working on implementing on governments financial constraints limiting what they can buy and sell. Just start this on an individual basis.

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?

US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes early Monday, now into their ninth straight night, targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member. Iran responded by launching an attack targeting Bahrain, the home of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, and Kuwait. Read more. Why this matters: The latest attacks again showed how, step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month’s interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people. Meanwhile, benchmark Brent crude rose Monday above $90 a barrel, further fueling a global energy crisis sparked by the conflict. An average gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. also rose to $4, a key metric for Americans that puts more pressure on their wallets ahead of midterm elections this fall. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Video appears to show moment Iran missiles hit Jordan base, killing 2 US service members US gas prices hit an average of $4 a gallon US military identifies 2 soldiers killed in Iranian attack on Jordan as from Texas and Hawaii In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, too much cash is breaking the economy

Troy Jackson gains momentum in Democrats’ race for Maine’s US Senate seat The former state legislator moved into a strong position to replace Graham Platner after several of his opponents dropped out Sunday. Read more. What to know: The Democrats have been scrambling to pick a new candidate since Platner withdrew from the race after a woman accused him of sexual assault, which he denied. Over the weekend Jackson’s campaign touted they had secured hundreds of delegates who had promised to back him at the convention, including all of their preferred delegates for Maine's most populous county, Cumberland. His strength caused many of his opponents to withdraw. A nominating convention will meet July 25 to select a new candidate to face Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in November.

Trump presented the World Cup trophy to Spain. But to him, the real victor just might be the US President Donald Trump stood alongside Spain, which won the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Argentina, as they jumped up and down and gold confetti shot out of a cannon. Later, speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said he took pride in the country's success as a host, adding that “all over the world, people have come and they love our country.” Read more. Why this matters: The Trump administration was under considerable pressure to pull off a successful World Cup tournament because the U.S. will soon host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The White House faced warnings from human rights groups, and the tournament confronted backlash over high ticket prices. Trump also created controversy with a phone call he made to FIFA President Gianni Infantino earlier this month in which he asked for a review of a controversial referee call in Team USA’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The U.S. faced broader tensions with its World Cup co-hosts of Canada and Mexico. Still, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the final at Trump’s request, in a sign that soccer can overcome some geopolitical tensions. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Trump hails World Cup success How Ferran Torres scored the World Cup-winning goal for Spain to beat Argentina Goals, technology and hydration breaks: How the biggest World Cup in history will be remembered

July 20, 2026 By Sam Sifton Good morning. A third U.S. service member died this weekend during intense exchanges with Iran. The soldier was killed in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone. We have more on the war below, and a recap of the World Cup final — Spain’s win and the halftime show. But first, we’re taking your questions. In Maine. Ryan David Brown for The New York Times Your questions, answered Housing, debt, immigration. Political polls, political donations. There’s a lot going on, and a lot of it’s confusing. We asked you what you wanted to know, and then got the best beat reporters in the business to tell us what they know. Here we go: Political donations Recently one of our U.S. Senate candidates “suspended her campaign.” Now Graham Platner in Maine is as well. What happens to campaign donations when a candidate drops out before the election? — Dana Saxon, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan Candidates who drop out (or lose) almost always hold on to the money that they’ve collected. There is no obligation to return the cash — you just can’t pocket it for personal use. Losing candidates can hold on to millions of dollars for years, transfer the money to another entity like a state party, or use it to finance future campaigns. The only time it would be refunded to donors is if a candidate accepted money specifically earmarked for the general election and didn’t make it that far. — Theodore Schleifer, who covers campaign finance Deportations What happens to the assets of those who have been suddenly deported from the U.S.? Many had property, bank accounts, etc. Do the feds collect these? — Heather Cullen, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada People who are deported retain legal ownership of their home, vehicles, bank accounts and personal belongings. However, as a practical matter, they may have trouble gaining access to their assets from abroad. That means they risk losing their life savings and property. Lawyers often recommend that people at risk of deportation grant power of attorney to a trusted friend or family member to manage their affairs. — Miriam Jordan, who covers immigration A house under construction. Will Crooks for The New York Times Housing bill What does it mean for us renters (and hopefully future home buyers) now that the ROAD to Housing Act is law? Can I expect any quick fixes? — Anna Lamb, Cedar City, Utah The law is playing the long game. The logic is that if you remove regulatory, zoning and financing barriers, home builders will create more housing, and that will stabilize or bring down prices. (Read more about it here.) But the bill will have an immediate impact in a few places. It protects existing rental assistance in rural communities. It codifies protections for tenants in public housing that has gone private. And it authorizes a pilot program for smaller mortgages, which are hard to come by except in rural areas. There are also changes to rules about manufactured homes (what you probably think of as trailers). The law will make it easier to get loans to buy these homes, and it removes a requirement that the homes sit on a steel chassis, which could make them cheaper to build and buy. — Ronda Kaysen, who covers real estate Government savings accounts Is the new child savings account some kind of Trump scam? “If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.” What is the catch? — Jean Tribble, Montgomery, Alabama Not a scam! Any citizen under 18 with a Social Security number can get one of these tax-advantaged investment accounts, and babies born from 2025 through 2028 can get a $1,000 deposit from the federal government. That’s free money, no strings attached. Individuals can contribute up to $5,000 per year to these accounts. Philanthropists and governments can make unlimited deposits. The tech billionaire Michael Dell and his wife, and Micron, the U.S. chip maker, have already pledged huge sums to the program. Vanguard estimates that a kid who gets $1,000 a year from birth will have about $32,000 by age 18. That’s when people are allowed to withdraw the money for specific purposes, like college or buying a home. (They can also let it keep growing as a retirement account.) That’s a nice head start. — Tara Siegel Bernard, personal finance reporter National debt In answering a previous question about the national debt, you said some economists project that the U.S. will default in 20 years or so. What would that look like for our economy? — Jonnie Beth Bryan, New Orleans, Louisiana It’s a little like dominoes: The price of borrowing would likely skyrocket, starving businesses of cash, which could throw the economy into crisis. The solutions have always been the same — raise taxes or cut spending — but they won’t work if we wait too long, said Kent Smetters, an economist at Wharton. There’s another, last-ditch option: Print money. But doing so devalues the currency and makes everyone poorer. It’s a rock and a hard place. So we’re collectively betting we’ll grow our way out of this mess before it happens. If the economy gets bigger — say, because of an A.I. productivity boom — the government may collect enough in taxes to retire decades-old debt. — Evan Gorelick Nicolás Maduro arriving in Manhattan in January. Vincent Alban/The New York Times Venezuela Where are the Maduros? What is happening to them? — Penelope Cordes, Anchorage, Alaska Right where they have been since January, when a U.S. military operation seized the leader of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, on federal charges of narcoterrorism. They’re being held in a federal detention center in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Sunset Park. They have not been in court since March; a hearing last month was postponed. It’s difficult to imagine a trial before next year at the earliest. According to others imprisoned with him, Maduro spends much of his time reading the Bible. — Jonah Bromwich, who covers criminal justice THE LATEST NEWS War in Iran In Tehran. Arash Khamooshi/Polaris for The New York Times Escalating attacks between the United States and Iran could lead to a wider war those two countries can’t contain, analysts warn. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, says that the United States is still open to diplomacy with Iran. Throughout the conflict, the Pentagon has revealed little — including information about injured troops. The most clicked link in The Morning yesterday was about the death of two U.S. service members. Politics President Trump said the new Air Force One would be taken out of service to be “maxed out.” The plane has faced questions over security features. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, welcomed their fourth child. Around the World Andy Burnham will become Britain’s prime minister today. Follow updates here. Government employees in Tokyo, Japan’s capital, can now wear shorts to work. Not everyone is happy about that. Watch the video below. Noriko Hayashi for The New York Times Immigration The F.B.I. will no longer investigate confrontations with immigration agents, according to people briefed on the decision. The man fatally hit by a truck in Florida while running from an encounter with immigration agents had planned to return home to Mexico on Saturday, supporters said. OPINIONS Aleksey Kondratyev for The New York Times A.I. drones are the future of warfare. Humanity isn’t ready, W.J. Hennigan writes. Health care costs are soaring. Government price caps aren’t the answer, the health policy researchers Lorens Helmchen and Tony LoSasso write. Deeply reported journalism needs your support. The Times relies on subscribers to help fund our mission. Become a subscriber today. MORNING READS We’ve made all of these links free for you. Lindsey Makuwatsine for The New York Times Grandma hobbies: Gen Z is taking up crafts like knitting and quilting to learn skills and build community offline. Viral resistance: One reason Ebola is so hard to stop is that people get so angry at the health care workers involved. Metropolitan Diary: Playing our song. WORLD CUP Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times Spain is the men’s World Cup champion for the second time. The team beat Argentina in extra time, 1-0, after a long, simmering game filled with shoves and a red card that left Argentina with only 10 players. Ferran Torres’s goal came in the 106th minute. It may also have been the last World Cup game ever for Lionel Messi, who is 39. His teammates started a fight after the game. For more Trump and FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, were booed when they appeared to present the trophy. The 2026 World Cup was the biggest, most lucrative tournament on record, but it may ultimately be remembered for an American political scandal that shattered FIFA’s claim to neutrality. Hope, joy, exuberance, uncertainty, anxiety, agony and defeat were all on display in the tournament. See the fan videos. HALFTIME The halftime show. Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Madonna. Justin Bieber. All seven members of BTS. Shakira and Burna Boy. Gustavo Dudamel. Jason Sudeikis in character as Ted Lasso. Chris Martin. Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. The first World Cup final halftime show brought the star power, but it was so carefully executed that it offered little to remember, our critic Lindsay Zoladz writes. Read her review. TODAY’S NUMBER 15 — That’s how many margherita pizzas Spain’s World Cup team ordered for delivery in New Jersey after the game. They also got 15 plain and 10 buffalo chicken pies, a specialty of the restaurant. RECIPE OF THE DAY Bryan Gardner for The New York Times Kia Damon’s recipe for salt and pepper zucchini is a vegetarian take on the classic Cantonese version with shrimp. The panko recalls the crunch of shrimp shells, and a little bit of sugar evens out the big flavors of salt and pepper. Speaking of, the recipe calls for finely ground black pepper. Sure, but I’d use only a little — and a lot of white pepper to replace its volume. White pepper’s sneaky delicious, with a powerful warmth. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Brian F. O’Byrne in “The Last Ship.” Doug Hyun/TNT, via Everett Collection Watch “The Last Ship,” a dystopian series for optimists that takes place at sea as a viral pandemic ravages the world. There are lot of faces to recognize (Ebon Moss-Bachrach from “The Bear” plays a budding Dr. Evil) and the plotting’s comic-book fun. It’s on Netflix. Eat more fiber. Start with your snacks. Manage screen-free summer travel for younger kids with these cool back-seat activities discovered by the extremely patient parents at Wirecutter. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were gallivant, gallivanting and vigilant. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times and me. See you tomorrow. — Sam Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren

💸 Charted: The great AI wealth transfer Data: FactSet. (Hyperscalers are Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and Oracle. Semiconductor companies are Nvidia, Broadcom, Applied Materials and Micron.) Chart: Matt Phillips/Axios A "generational transfer" of cash is underway from AI hyperscalers to chipmakers, according to Bank of America analysts. Hyperscalers — think Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and Oracle — are plowing so much into chips and compute that it's draining their own free cash flow (cash left over after covering expenses and investments), Axios' Matt Phillips writes.

Stark quotes: Biden aides wish they'd been tougher on Israel The Shafei family eats during Ramadan last year in the remains of their home in Gaza. The image was part of a portfolio that won the Pulitzer for Breaking News Photography. Photo: Saher Alghorra for The New York Times Former President Biden unintentionally emboldened Israeli aggression against Gaza and Iran by repeatedly deferring decisions on withholding weapons, The New Yorker's David D. Kirkpatrick writes in an article out today, "The Enabler." Alarms about potential war crimes "began ringing inside the Biden Administration soon after Israel began its counterattack on Gaza" after the Hamas-led assault of Oct. 7, 2023, writes Kirkpatrick, who interviewed more than a dozen former senior Biden officials for the 13-page piece. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, told Kirkpatrick: "I will say straightforwardly — we should have put more pressure on Israel to take a different approach." Sullivan said Biden and top advisers feared that taking action to make Israel better protect civilians "risked both failing to change Israeli policy and leading Hamas to increase its demands." Sullivan said the administration "seriously thought about making a decisive break with Israel" in the spring of 2024, "in the run-up to Rafah, when Hamas was stalling in negotiations," and again in July 2024, "when Hamas was coming back." But risks abounded: "What about the hostages? What about Israel under attack from all sides? What effect would it have on the ceasefire talks and bringing this god-awful war to an end?" Former Secretary of State Tony Blinken told The New Yorker: "How can you not have regrets [about the Gaza conflict] given the toll that this took on innocent men, women and children?" But he repeated the gist of a Biden quote: "Question my judgments. Don't question my motives." Jon Finer — Biden's principal deputy national security adviser, and a former Washington Post correspondent who had covered previous Israeli military operations in Gaza — said: "It's obvious now, and was pretty clear then, that [Israel] simply did not tell us the truth about their plans and their timelines, and it made no sense to accept those claims at face value." Keep reading.

U.S. hits Iran again after troop deaths Satellite image shows Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan in February. Image: Planet Labs via Reuters The U.S. military launched fresh strikes against Iran last night after announcing the death of a soldier and the recovery of another's remains, Axios' Barak Ravid and Rebecca Falconer write. CENTCOM said an American service member was killed Saturday in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian attack drone. It also revealed that "unidentified remains" were found at the location of an Iranian missile attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan that killed two American troops on Friday. One soldier had been missing. President Trump told reporters that the U.S. hit Iran "very hard again." "We feel very badly, but you know those great people, those great patriots, were out there fighting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," he said. If the remains are confirmed to be a U.S. soldier, it would bring the American death toll in the war to 18. Keep reading.

⚽ The winning goal Covers: ABC and El País, two of Madrid's largest papers. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time, winning the World Cup and bringing the curtain down on the largest and flashiest tournament soccer has ever seen. President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and global politicians and celebrities attended the World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Spain's Ferran Torres scored the match's only goal in the 106th minute, in the second period of extra time. Spain controlled the game, taking the first 20 shots before Argentina got its first attempt off in the second half of extra time. Only the record-breaking 11 saves by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez kept the team in the match despite their otherwise lackluster performance. Argentina's Lionel Messi, 39, broke down in tears after what could be his last World Cup game. Two decades after his 2006 debut as an 18-year-old, the player many consider the greatest ever came up one game short. He had previously said the 2022 World Cup would be his last. If he plays in 2030, Messi would be among the oldest players ever at a World Cup. 🇪🇸 Spain's domination: The team — nicknamed La Roja for their red jerseys — suffocated opponents, allowing just one goal in the entire tournament. They also set a record for the longest undefeated run (38 games) in men's international football history. 🏆 The country of 49 million people is now the reigning champion of three of the sport's biggest tournaments: the World Cup, the Euros and the Olympics. Spain also won the last Women's World Cup three years ago. 📱 Watch the winning goal ... Tournament takeaways: From video reviews to hydration breaks.

🤖 AI drug boom Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images A proprietary survey shows AI is fueling automation that's changing the trajectory of early-stage pharma research, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim writes. Why it matters: The TD Cowen survey of 80 biopharma leaders and insiders finds AI is reducing drug developers' preclinical costs and timelines by as much as 70%. That's fueling demand for cutting-edge software, sequencing tools and computer models that will help churn out more experimental treatments in the next five years. 🖼️ The big picture: AI can't replace scientific intuition. But the way it can streamline the grueling R&D before human testing begins is making computer screens as important a feature of drug design as traditional laboratories. Brendan Smith, director of life sciences equity research at TD Cowen, says the hope is to generate large amounts of data to train the AI models and increase the odds of clinical success. 🥊 Reality check: AI hasn't yet discovered a drug that's won FDA approval. Keep reading ...

⛽ Gas back to $4 Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images The national average price of regular gas poked above $4 a gallon again this morning, hitting $4.003 on AAA's tracker. Why it matters: Midterms are 106 days away, and the U.S. is teetering on returning to all-out war with Iran — a politically dangerous combination for the White House and the GOP. A year ago, the average price was $3.14 a gallon. A month ago, it was $3.95. A week ago, it was $3.87. Gas first topped $4 a gallon at the end of March. The price reached $4.56 ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Mapped: Average price by state.

Squeezing China on AI Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios The Trump administration is showing signs it could ban cutting-edge Chinese AI models — a momentous move that could lock in dominance by OpenAI and Anthropic, Axios' Maria Curi writes. Why it matters: Parts of the administration have tried to implement de facto bans on foreign open-source models before, knowledgeable sources tell Axios. Last week's rise of Chinese model Kimi is reigniting those efforts. The big picture: U.S. companies are increasingly using open-source models from China because they're cheaper and, as seen by the rise of Kimi, just about as good as the domestic tech. Kimi and other Chinese models such as DeepSeek and GLM allow users to download and customize them. They have fewer guardrails, lower cost and more flexibility than the closed American models. Between the lines: The administration wouldn't need to impose an outright ban to get U.S. companies to drop those Chinese platforms. "What's actually happening is slower and more durable," a source familiar with government discussions said, citing procurement rules, Entity List threats and public pressure campaigns aimed at U.S. companies using Chinese models. Instead of a ban, another source familiar with government discussions described a push to highlight potential backdoors and lack of security with Chinese models, and the governance issue that brings. It's an offensive approach where the administration encourages a more innovative U.S. open-source ecosystem, the source added. Screenshot: @DavidSacks/X The other side: Some administration officials keen on keeping regulation from stifling innovation, including former White House adviser Sriram Krishnan, have left the premises. National security hawks have grown louder. With that shift in personnel — along with the rise of more powerful Chinese tech and fresh cybersecurity fears — momentum for a ban is picking up. Outside White House adviser David Sacks escalated the fight publicly yesterday, writing on X: "We are at a critical inflection point in AI policy. The leading closed labs, already a duopoly in terms of AI model revenue, want the government to eliminate their open source competition. They have laid their cards on the table. It is time for the rest of Silicon Valley — the vast majority that still values open competition — to do the same."

THIS DAY IN HISTORY July 20 1969 Neil Armstrong walks on moon American astronaut Neil Armstrong speaks these words to more than a billion people listening at home: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Stepping off the lunar landing module Eagle, Armstrong became the first human to walk on the surface of the moon. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 19th Century 1889 Homesteaders murdered by Wyoming ranchers Arts & Entertainment 1973 Actor and martial-arts expert Bruce Lee dies at age 32 1963 Jan and Dean’s “Surf City” hits #1 1988 “Die Hard” debuts, makes Bruce Willis a movie star Cold War 1948 President Truman issues peacetime draft Crime 1984 A serial-killing couple is apprehended 2012 Aurora shooting leaves 12 dead, 70 wounded Native American History 1881 Sitting Bull surrenders Natural Disasters & Environment 1977 A flood hits Johnstown—again Space Exploration 1976 Viking 1 lands on Mars U.S. Presidents 1969 President Nixon watches first lunar landing World War II 1944 Assassination plot against Hitler fails

US gas prices back up to an average of $4 a gallon again as the US and Iran launch attacks NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. gas prices jumped back to $4 a gallon on average Monday, as Washington’s latest fighting with Iran renews strain on the flow of fuel worldwide. https://apnews.com/article/gas-prices-iran-war-4-gallon-4b82825734ec3ded192351e53a4be69e?

The tongue is the only muscle in one’s body that is attached at only one end. James

ICE Officers at Maine Shooting Scene Were Wearing Body Cameras. They Were Not Turned On. Federal officers at the scene of a killing by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Maine were wearing body cameras, according to four ICE officials who reviewed images from the scene — but the cameras are on multi-function devices that ICE officers use as radio mics. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/16/ice-maine-shooting-body-cameras/? Trump’s Formula for Forever Wars President Donald Trump blew up the temporary ceasefire after the U.S. launched a series of airstrikes against Iran over the weekend. The two nations have continued to exchange strikes throughout the week, with Iran targeting U.S. allies in the Middle East, as Congress debates further entangling the United States military with Israel — a proposal that would give Israel enormous leverage over U.S. defense policy. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/17/spencer-ackerman-lindsey-graham-iran-war/? Would-Be Platner Replacements in Maine Rally Around “Abolish ICE” (or Something Close) In the wake of a deadly shooting of a young father in southern Maine on Monday, the abbreviated race to replace Graham Platner on the Democratic Party ticket for the 2026 Senate race quickly became centered on immigration — and most of the serious contenders are on the same page. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/16/maine-platner-replacement-abolish-ice-shootings/? In the Wake of Fatal ICE Shootings, Democrats Drag Their Feet Democrats in Congress have remained largely silent and inactive in the wake of ICE agents’ fatal shootings of two immigrant men in Maine and Texas, displaying lackluster energy compared to the party’s response to the killings of two white U.S. citizens earlier this year. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/17/democrats-congress-abolish-ice-killings/? It’s Scary As Hell Being Black in America Right Now There is a tangible heat to being Black in America this summer. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/19/nolan-wells-kohen-wiley/? ps:Not just this year, but for at least 250+ years!!!!! Two-Thirds of Shri Thanedar’s Campaign Cash Came Through AIPAC as He Lost Over $600K Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., lost more than $630,000 in investment income last quarter after he put $3.7 million in campaign funds into the cryptocurrency industry, according to a new filing with the Federal Election Commission released on Wednesday. Amid those losses, bundlers from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have stepped in to prop up his campaign. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/17/shri-thanedar-crypto-donavan-mckinney-michigan-aipac/? The United States of Betrayal Donald Trump — America’s self-proclaimed “peace president,” head of the world’s newly created Board of Peace, and the recipient of the first FIFA Peace Prize — has nonetheless been embroiled in more than 20 wars, interventions, and conflicts. And more loom on the horizon. Cuba remains on the chopping block. He began threatening Greenland, again. And Guatemala agreed to joint military operations with the U.S. against cartels. https://theintercept.com/2026/07/18/united-states-betray-allies-trump-foreign-policy/?

Spain wins the World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 on Ferran Torres’ goal in extra time EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — This is how good Spain was at the World Cup: Not even Lionel Messi had any answers. https://apnews.com/article/argentina-spain-world-cup-final-score-messi-fccc26aa12d9226e63d06b601b770617? ps:Congrats to Spain!! Mbappé wins another Golden Boot, and Spain’s Rodri gets Golden Ball with World Cup title EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kylian Mbappé kept the Golden Boot award and Spain wouldn’t let Lionel Messi get anything else. https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-golden-boot-awards-messi-mbappe-2036d505bc97ce3a116f20dd67db43e5? La Furia Roja Spain topped Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final yesterday, winning the global tournament for the second time and the first since 2010. The win denied Argentina back-to-back titles, a feat that hasn’t happened since Brazil in 1958-62. The Spaniards frustrated star Lionel Messi for most of the match, winning time of possession 65%-35% and forcing five yellow and one red card. Argentina had just two shots—neither of which was on goal—while Spain took 20 shots and put 12 on goal. Despite the dominance, Argentina forced Spain into extra time, with the winning shot coming at minute 106. Watch the goal and match highlights here. Separately, England topped France in Saturday's high-scoring third-place match, 6-4. French star Kylian Mbappé became the all-time World Cup top scorer (22 goals across three tournaments) at just 27 years old. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will serve as the main hosts for the 2030 World Cup.