The Gates Foundation met with Epstein about 30 times despite staff concerns, an external review says

JAMES POLLARD

Updated 10:21 AM PDT, 

July 21, 2026

NEW YORK (AP) — Bill Gates and the staff of his charitable foundation met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein more than two dozen times even as employees expressed concerns about the reputational risk of working with him, an external review commissioned by the Gates Foundation found.

US greenlights Saudi nuclear enrichment without safeguards: Report

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman previously said he would acquire a bomb if Iran did
MEE staff Published date: 20 July 2026 19:22 BST | Last update: 1 day 13 hours ago

The Trump administration has greenlit Saudi Arabia's nuclear enrichment project, but with no safeguards in place to prevent the development of a bomb, CNN reported on Friday.

Barns, Go-Karts and Strip Malls: The Wild West of Private Schools That Collect Taxpayer Dollars

by Jennifer Smith Richards, Megan O’Matz, Mollie Simon and Jennifer Berry Hawes
Co-published with Arkansas Times, Mountain State Spotlight, and The Assembly
July 16, 2026, 5:00 am
Listen24:01

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.

Reporting Highlights

• Private Schools, Public Money: Friendly state legislatures are steering money to private schools, catalyzing huge growth in recent years with far-reaching consequences.
• Minimal Oversight: States examined by ProPublica have little interest in overseeing the schools: not who runs them, what they teach or how they perform.
• Troubling Backgrounds: In Florida, a public school teacher lost her license and was prosecuted over sexual abuse of a minor, but now she runs a private school.

Canada cancels joint bridge-opening event with US after Trump announces tariffs

 THE CANADIAN PRESS 

Story by Joey Cappelletti 

Jul 21 • 2 min read • Updated 5h ago

Key takeaways

• Bridge Opening: The Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor will still open to traffic on July 27, but the joint U.S.-Canada ribbon-cutting event is canceled.
• Trade Tensions: President Trump announced a 50% tariff on most Canadian goods, citing unfair treatment of U.S. automobiles, alcohol, and dairy, escalating tensions with Canada.
• Economic Impact: Canada financed the $4.4 billion bridge and plans its own ceremony, while tariffs could spark a broader trade dispute between the two nations.

O, Canada: We’re doing everything we can to put Trump back in his cage | Opinion By Robert Reich

Opinion by Robert Reich • 19h • 

Robert Reich is a professor of public policy at Berkeley and former secretary of labor. His writings can be found at https://robertreich.substack.com/.

Trump on Monday signed orders to impose a 50 percent tariff on a wide range of Canadian imports. The White House claims the tariffs are a “punishment” for Canadian discrimination against American cars, dairy, and alcohol.

Pentagon did not disclose dozens of US military injuries in Iran war

INDEPENDENT
Story by Maira Butt • 21h •

The Pentagon withheld information on dozens of military injuries suffered by US forces during the war in Iran, according to a report.

At least two service members were killed and one missing after Iranian attacks on the Muwaffaq Salti US Air Base in Jordan on Friday. They were identified on Monday as 25-year-old 1st Lt Tyler James Feehan from Ewa Beach, Hawaii and 19-year-old Pvt. Isabella Gonzales from Carrolton, Texas. But in the week leading up to the incident, Iran carried out three other attacks against the US in Jordan that injured dozens of service members and damaged several helicopters, US officials told the New York Times.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon says 300,000 workers are needed to rebuild American shipbuilding—with jobs paying $100,000 without a college degree

Preston Fore

Thu, July 16, 2026 at 8:08 AM PDT

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warned that the U.S. has fallen dangerously behind on shipbuilding, creating a massive shortage of skilled workers—and a lucrative opportunity for young Americans looking for AI-proof, high-paying jobs.

Trump’s IRS boss spied on colleagues’ emails when he worked at JPMorgan: report

INDEPENDENT

Ariana Baio 

Bisignano denied allegation that he had spied on colleagues while serving as an executive of JPMorgan Chase

Tuesday 21 July 2026 

Trump’s IRS chief Frank Bisignano allegedly abused his authority while working at JPMorgan Chase and spied on colleagues’ emails, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Canada has an ally in Maine against Trump's new tariffs

July 21, 2026

Source: Politico

President Donald Trump’s alarming proposal to impose a staggering 50 percent tariff on a wide range of Canadian goods has left Maine Republicans racing to separate themselves from the President's controversial stance, while simultaneously providing Democrats with a potent issue to capitalize on in the upcoming election.

The Andy Burnham Show Is Playing On Downing Street with New Cast and New Direction

July 21, 2026 

Source:  The Associated Press

United Kingdom's New Prime Minister Andy Burnham gathered his Cabinet for its first meeting on Tuesday, promising a “one-team approach.” The former mayor of Greater Manchester is reshaping the government following the departure of supporters of former PM Keir Starmer. Burnham emphasized that his administration would focus on becoming a “cost-of-living government”, his aim being to alleviate the economic hardships felt by millions.

Man stabs American tourists near the Acropolis in Greece

NBC News

The attacker was detained, while the two victims were transported to a hospital by ambulance, authorities said.
July 20, 2026, 11:44 PM PDT / Updated July 21, 2026, 5:15 AM PDT / 

Source: The Associated Press
By The Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece — A man stabbed and wounded two tourists Tuesday morning near the ancient Acropolis in Athens, Greece’s top tourist attraction, police said, in what appeared to be a random attack.

Only 25 U.S. theaters can show 'The Odyssey' the way it's meant to be watched. Find your nearest IMAX 70mm screen.

As fans race to secure tickets, we've mapped every U.S. theater showing Christopher Nolan's epic "The Odyssey" in IMAX 70mm.

Tom Parfitt, Jack Brewster

Updated Tue, July 21, 2026 at 7:06 AM PDT

Christopher Nolan's epic adaptation of The Odyssey arrived in theaters last week on a wave of critical acclaim — but not every screening looks the same.

Transcript: Trump Breaks Record Poll Low, Shocking Analyst: “Horrible”

The Daily Blast With Greg Sargent / July 21, 2026
THE NEW REPUBLIC / PODCAST
As Trump hits a new bottom that outdoes his predecessors—even Richard Nixon—a veteran Democratic strategist explains how her party can do more to exploit his historic weakness.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the July 21 episode of the Daily Blast podcast.

Trump's new tariffs are projected to increase inflation in the US, adding more financial strain on American consumers

By Yiannis Damellos

Source: USA Today

Trump's new tariffs are projected to increase the year-over-year inflation rate by 0.9% in the US and pose a unique challenge for the homebuilding industry, which relies on Canadian materials.

As of July 20, 2026, President Donald Trump’s administration has announced a new round of tariffs imposing a steep 50% duty on a variety of Canadian imports. While the intention is to counter what the administration calls unfair Canadian trade practices, American consumers could soon face significant financial repercussions.

Senate Testimony: Hegseth estimates Iran war has cost $37.5B so far and wants another $88,6B

July 21, 2026

Edited By  CURTIS YEE, MICHAEL WARREN, LUENA RODRIGUEZ-FEO VILEIRA and NELL CLARK

Here’s what we’re following:

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is testifying before the Senate Tuesday to make a case for U.S. President Donald Trump’s $87.6 billion supplemental funding request, mostly intended to replenish the Pentagon after the U.S. war against Iran. Hegseth said the war has cost $37.5 billion, so far. Hegseth provided the new estimate, up from earlier accounts, during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee, where his opening remarks were interrupted by protestors several times.
• Trump delivered a dim view of possible talks with Iran to end the war, telling reporters Tuesday that the U.S. has “no interest in meeting” until Iran is ready to convene “in a meaningful way.”
• Also on Tuesday, Trump hosted his first-ever meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is looking for a path to long-term calm after months of war at home between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Lebanon and Israel continue to hold rare direct talks mediated by Washington. Hours after the meeting, Trump made the surprise announcement that he’d allow U.S. carriers to resume direct flights to Lebanon for the first time in over 40 years.
• The U.S. military on Tuesday identified an American soldier killed disarming a drone in Iraq as Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of North Carolina. A day earlier, the military identified two U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. Seventeen U.S. troops have been killed since the start of the war.

SpaceX Is Learning a Nasty Lesson About Going Public When Your Main Product Is Experimental

 It's not looking good 

By Victor Tangermann

Published Jul 20, 2026 6:30 PM EDT

Illustration by Tag Hartman-Simkins / Futurism. 

Source: Marc Piasecki / Getty Images; Shutterstock

On Thursday, Elon Musk’s SpaceX was forced to call off the latest launch attempt of its enormous Starship spacecraft. According to the almost-trillionaire, several engines failed to start, unintentionally serving as the perfect metaphor for the company’s persistent Wall Street woes.

Democrats could take preliminary vote on their 2028 presidential primary calendar later this week

By MEG KINNARD and JOEY CAPPELLETTI
Updated 4:12 PM PDT, July 20, 2026

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Democrats could vote as early as this week on the order of their primary calendar for the 2028 presidential election, although the decision wouldn’t be final until the full Democratic National Committee agrees.

Nolan is a Genius, but Two Things Elevated His "Odyssey” to a Box Office Giant: Homer and Imax

July 20, 2026

By Yiannis Damellos

 

The Odyssey, the latest cinematic mythological masterpiece from visionary director Christopher Nolan, has defied all expectations and stormed the box office with an astonishing $124.5 million opening weekend domestically and a staggering $264.1 million globally. In one night, it paid back its total production cost with a profit.