Wednesday, July 22nd

U.S. Central Command identified the third and fourth American soldiers killed in Iran's July 17 attack on a U.S. base in Jordan, and another soldier died in Iraq while disposing of a downed Iranian drone — the war's first sustained American losses. The deaths came as U.S. strikes entered an eleventh consecutive night, hitting Tabriz, Tehran and southern Iran in the campaign to secure Strait of Hormuz shipping. Defense Secretary Hegseth faced bipartisan grilling over the toll, and Trump said the U.S. has no interest in talks unless Tehran is ready for meaningful negotiations.

Full coverage →

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Senate Appropriations Committee the U.S. war with Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, up from an earlier estimate of about $30 billion. Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine asked Congress for $67.1 billion in supplemental Pentagon funding to cover operations, munitions and other immediate shortfalls. The request is part of a broader emergency package that also includes nondefense White House priorities. Senators from both parties questioned the war’s cost, strategy and lack of explicit congressional authorization.

Full coverage →

New Jersey officials are reviewing which elections included ballots from fewer than 400 improperly registered noncitizens after a Motor Vehicle Commission software error added about 6,600 people to the voter rolls. Gov. Mikie Sherrill said the affected applicants had identified themselves as noncitizens while obtaining driver’s licenses or state IDs between June 2023 and June 2024. She said the registrants were affiliated with multiple parties or unaffiliated and scattered statewide. The state removed the names and opened an investigation into the motor-voter failure.

Full coverage →