NPR is reporting that President Donald J Trump's assertion that the war in Iran is already won is being challenged by ongoing conflict, rising costs and shifting public opinion. The outlet said the five-month-long war has seen surging gas prices, requests for billions more in funding and the deaths of four more U.S. service members last weekend. A new Politico poll indicates that just over one-third of self-identified MAGA supporters believe the war is worth the costs, a significant drop from the spring. Trump, who campaigned against endless wars, is now considering a "massive" escalation with no clear exit strategy. The House of Representatives approved a resolution to remove U.S. forces from hostilities with Iran, a rebuke to Trump.
In other news, NPR said new two-tiered tariffs of 10% and 12.5% were imposed on goods from the United States' 60 biggest trading partners after a global 10% tariff expired. Many U.S. allies criticized the new tariffs. The outlet also reported that President Trump is campaigning more frequently for midterm candidates this year than in 2018, rallying for a dozen candidates in toss-up races. Arizona's Republican voters backed Trump's picks for governor and a key U.S. House seat in recent primaries, choosing candidates who have openly opposed the 2020 presidential election results.
The Trump administration signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, allowing American companies to operate commercial nuclear power plants on Saudi soil. The deal, expected to last decades and be worth billions, requires congressional review. Trump later stated the deal hinges on Saudi Arabia normalizing ties with Israel. Before its summer recess, the House cleared a $1.1 trillion military funding bill and a $95 billion budget blueprint to extend government funding through Dec. 4. The budget bill also authorizes parts of an elections overhaul sought by Trump.
Maine Democrats are holding a nominating convention to select a new U.S. Senate candidate to replace former nominee Graham Platner, who faced a scandal-plagued campaign. Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson is the apparent front-runner to challenge Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Separately, NPR reported that nursing, the largest healthcare profession in the U.S., is growing, with efforts to recruit more men. The University of Alabama at Birmingham's School of Nursing has seen success in this area, and the national median wage for registered nurses exceeds $90,000 annually.
South Carolina has been chosen to host the first Democratic presidential primary in 2028.