Three firefighters die responding to Knowles, Gore fires

Trump chief accused of petty 'grudge' driving major military firings

The Trump Pentagon has been rocked by controversy over a recent spate of firings and blocked promotions, and now, one lawmaker has accused President Donald Trump's defense chief of being motivated by a petty "grudge" as he causes significant damage to the military.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has come under significant fire over the course of his tenure for removing several respected and experienced officers and blocking others from receiving promotions. He most recently took flak for the latter after the already-approved promotions of several Naval officers, most of them being either women or people of color.Critics have put forward various theories for what could be driving this trend, including a desire to punish or remove officers who took part in past diversity initiatives, or a plot to remove non-loyalists who might stand in the way of a 2028 "auto-coup" to keep Trump in power.During a Sunday appearance on CBS News's Face the Nation, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, put forward another theory of what is driving Hegseth: "personal" revenge for his own time in the armed services. Kaine specifically touched on the recent ouster of General Chris Donahue, a highly respected officer whose departure even caused alarm among conservatives.“Are you pushing out the truth tellers to surround yourself by yes-men? And in particular, it looks like the secretary is coming down hardest… on the Army,” Kaine told CBS host Margaret Brennan. “He served in the Army, he felt like he wasn’t treated well by the Army, that’s a grudge he’s carried that he’s described publicly."Kaine added: “And so, when you see Army officers forced out, you got to wonder, is this a personal thing, or is it really what’s best for the nation?”"Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, submitted his paperwork to retire earlier this week after a little over a year in his role, according to a Pentagon official," The Hill detailed in a report about Kaine's remarks. "Donahue's departure is the latest in a lengthy list of military leaders Hegseth has either removed or pushed out. That includes Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Navy’s chief of naval operations, Adm. Lisa Frachetti; the commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Linda Fagan; Gen. Randy George, the Army’s chief of staff; and Gen. James Mingus, the vice chief of staff of the Army."Donahue's ouster drew criticism from GOP lawmakers as well."Strong leaders are not threatened by accomplished commanders," Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina wrote in a social media post. "Weak ones are. [Hegseth's] paranoid micromanagement of senior military leaders and promotion lists is pure insecurity dressed up as reform."

3 firefighters killed on Colorado-Utah border as wildfires intensify

The deaths occurred as crews battled multiple fires across a parched region. Two other firefighters were injured.

Three firefighters die in Colorado blaze

Three firefighters died Saturday in a blaze in western Colorado, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Sunday. “Last night, we learned that three wildland firefighters—serving with the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service—lost their lives on Saturday, June 27, while responding jointly to the Knowles and Gore fires along the Colorado-Utah border,” Burgum…

Three firefighters die battling huge wildfires on Colorado-Utah border

A number of blazes have been raging across Utah and Colorado, leading both governors to declare states of emergency.

July Social Security direct payment worth $994 goes out in three days

The July 2026 Supplemental Security Income payments, worth up to $994, will be sent to recipients in three days. SSI payments are typically issued on the first day of each month. The program supports people with limited income who are blind, age 65 or older, or have another qualifying disability. The amount beneficiaries receive varies […]

Playing With Fire: Iran Hits Another Commercial Vessel in the Strait, US Promptly Unloads Bombs

Pakistan Forces Kill Three Militants in Karachi Camp Attack

Pakistan’s security forces have foiled a militant attack on a camp in Karachi Saturday night, killing three assailants and capturing one injured attacker, according to government statements.

Trump display at his State Fair already falling apart after three days: report

President Trump's carefully constructed vision for transforming the nation's capital is literally falling apart. The Great American State Fair, meant to showcase his grandiose architectural ambitions, has spiraled into a three-day disaster of musical acts boycotting, equipment failures, tiny crowds and now a deteriorating replica arch buckling under less-than-ideal weather conditions.According to New York Times reporting, the centerpiece of Trump's fair—a scaled-down version of his proposed 250-foot "Triumphal Arch"—is already showing signs of structural failure. The vinyl covering, stapled over a wood frame and emblazoned with "One Nation Under God," had begun "buckling" under the combined assault of high temperatures, humidity, and rain.The arch represents Trump's broader vision for the nation's capital: a planned White House ballroom, renovated golf courses, and the repainting and sealing of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool – all of which have come under scrutiny and criticism.Three days into a 16-day event, Trump's showcase for his ambitions is becoming another debacle, with sparse attendance under a sweltering sun, power failures disabling the Ferris wheel for hours, and a cancelled concert by headliner Vanilla Ice with days still to run.Trump's opening performance set the tone. As the Times noted, "Trump gave a short campaign-style welcome speech on Wednesday before a thin crowd, asserting that in his second term he had brought back a country that was 'dead' under his predecessor."