Good morning. In today’s edition:

• 🏛️ Senate blocks military spending
• 🌎 Atmosphere found on Earth-like planet
• 🌁 Smoke blankets US cities

…and much more.

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~3.73-minute read (992 words).

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“Happiness is only real when shared.”

–Christopher McCandless (1968-1992)

Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a procedural vote to advance the ~$1.15 trillion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), preventing the annual defense bill from moving to the Senate floor in a 50-46 vote with all Dems against.

Some quick background: The NDAA has become law every year for more than six decades and is widely viewed as one of Congress' few annual must-pass bills. This year’s version would authorize a range of military priorities, including a 3.6% pay raise for service members and investments in shipbuilding, drone technology, and other Pentagon programs.

• While lawmakers have sparred over previous versions, it's uncommon for one party to block the Senate from even opening debate.
• The last time that happened was in 2010, when Republicans stalled a Democratic-led defense bill during a dispute over repealing the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Democrats cite two major sticking points

Lawmakers say they’re pushing back against President Trump’s military campaign in Iran, arguing Congress shouldn't advance its annual defense bill while the war continues without additional congressional oversight.

• The vote came a day after the White House notified Congress that US bombing operations have now resumed following a short-lived ceasefire.
• Since the conflict began, Congress has voted more than 10 times on war powers resolutions aimed at limiting or ending the military campaign, but none have become law.

The size of the defense budget is also an area of concern for Democratic lawmakers. While the NDAA would only authorize ~$1.15 trillion in military spending for FY2027, the White House is also seeking to add $350 billion to the budget via reconciliation, avoiding the need for Democratic support.

Some Democrats have balked at boosting America’s defense spending from ~$900 billion/year to the GOP’s proposed ~$1.5 trillion budget, arguing the extra money should be put towards other domestic programs.

Republicans and the White House say the increased spending is necessary to modernize the military, counter growing global threats, restore force readiness, and boost domestic manufacturing.

Looking ahead…Despite this week’s setback, it’s still early in the NDAA process. The House and Senate typically each pass their own versions before negotiators end up working out a compromise bill.

📊 Flash poll: In general, how do you feel about the US government’s current level of military spending?

• America is spending too much
• America is spending about the right amount
• America is spending too little

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Here are five stats from this past week that made our team go “whoa.” Hopefully you will, too.

🏢 US IPO market on pace to set a new annual record by the end of this week, with proceeds sitting at $141.2 billion to date.

🎲 Monopoly is the most well-known board game in America, with 81% of the population saying they’ve played it many/several times in their lives.

🛍️ US shoppers spent $26.4+ billion across this year’s Amazon Prime Day event, up 9.3% from the same period last year.

⚽ Roughly 25% of players at this year’s World Cup played for nations where they weren’t born, by far the highest rate in tournament history.

🏘️ The gap between median home prices ($350,000) and household wages ($101,000) for US adults under 40 is the highest it’s been in US history, at ~$250,000.

BUSINESS & MARKETS

• 🛢️ Chevron to join consortium of investors exploring the construction of a pipeline to connect Iraq’s oil patch with the Syrian coast; oil giant also intends to sign preliminary deals to invest in two Iraqi oil fields.
• 🏛️ President Trump’s media company is letting financial services companies pay for instant access to Trump’s posts on Truth Social, which often contain market-moving news.
• 📺 Netflix reports Q2 earnings and revenue in-line with economists’ estimates; streamer says viewers watched 97+ billion hours of content in first half of 2026, up 1.5% from second half of 2025.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• 🏒 NHL releases expanded 84-game schedule for 2026-27 season.
• 🚨 Today show weather anchor Al Roker confronted by intruder who snuck into the 30 Rock building and was later taken into custody.
• 🙏 Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, Kris Jenner’s mother and Kardashian family matriarch, passed away at 91.

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SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

• 🪐 Atmosphere detected around Earth-like planet located in habitable zone—where liquid water is possible—for first time, per new study; planet LHS 1140b, located 49 light-years away, has a mass 5.6x that of Earth and a 70% larger radius.
• 🦠 Cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes diarrhea, continue to climb across at least 34 US states, with Michigan reporting a nation-high 4,200+ cases and 102 hospitalizations; health officials say outbreak is linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell locations.
• ☄️ Meteorite that smashed through roof of a home in Hillsborough, NJ, in 2024 contains complex organic molecules and evidence of salty water, new study finds.

US, WORLD & POLITICS

• 🎓 Trump admin announces new limits on foreign student visas, capping their length at four years amid other restrictions.
• 🪖 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces annual testosterone screenings for all service members over 30, and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) if needed.
• 🏛️ White House suspends teleprompter operator under federal investigation for using insider info from President Trump’s speeches to place bets on Kalshi. | President Trump delivers primetime address regarding alleged foreign efforts to influence the 2020 US election.

☝️ Smoke from dozens of raging wildfires blanketed large swaths of the northeastern US and southern Canada yesterday, pushing air quality into hazardous territory across Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cleveland, and Toronto. Health officials are urging residents to limit time outdoors, with conditions expected to intensify in the coming days.

🤔 Did you know? Cool Ranch Doritos are branded as “Cool American” flavor throughout much of Europe, since ranch dressing isn’t a widely consumed or recognized condiment. In the UK, they’re sold as “Cool Original” instead.

📰 Worth a read: The luckiest gas station in San Francisco.

🖱️ What we’re clicking:

• Chipotle to open first restaurant in Mexico: What’s on the menu?
• The Ikea Marathon is coming
• Can you rank all 7 continents by size?

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How well did you pay attention this week? Find out here.

1. If a can of soup is 25% off, and the price after the coupon is $3.00, what is the original price (without tax)?
2. Diego is packing a lunch to bring to school. There are 6 types of sandwiches to choose from and 3 types of fruit. For the drink, Diego has 5 options. How many different lunches can Diego pack?
3. When I was 12 my brother was half my age. I’m 40 now, so how old is he?

(keep scrolling for the answers)

🐳 Thirty beluga whales that spent years stuck at Ontario’s closed Marineland theme park are headed for new homes after a long-delayed rescue plan finally won approval. The complex move will send the whales to accredited marine facilities across the US and Spain, giving the animals a fresh start after months of uncertainty. 

1. $4.00
2. 90
3. 34

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