President Trump is set to travel to Dover Air Force Base today to attend the dignified transfer of U.S. service members who were killed in recent Iranian strikes. The Pentagon yesterday identified the latest service member killed in Jordan as Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York. Earlier this week, the Defense Department identified two other service members killed in the conflict as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas. With these recent losses, the total number of U.S. casualties killed during the war in Iran has reached 18. The president's visit to the base comes as the rising death toll fuels mounting public and political questions regarding the ultimate aims of the war and when the conflict might conclude.
In a separate development, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before senators yesterday for an hours-long, at times contentious hearing to request $67 billion in supplemental funding for the Pentagon. Hegseth stated that the requested capital is vital to replenish depleted equipment and munitions, as well as to accelerate the delivery of necessary projects and equipment. He warned that without this additional funding, the military could face shortfalls in pay for service members. During the hearing, several lawmakers expressed frustration over the request, noting that they are being asked to approve significant funding for a war that Congress never formally authorized.
On the political front, Arizona Republicans selected U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs as their nominee for governor and state lawmaker Alexander Kolodin as the nominee for secretary of state during yesterday's primaries. Both candidates have openly opposed the results of the 2020 presidential election. Their campaigns were backed by Donald Trump and Turning Point, the political organization founded in Arizona by the late Charlie Kirk.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives voted yesterday to extend government funding through December 4, effectively pushing the deadline past this year's midterms. Although Democratic leaders opposed the extension, arguing that it fails to block funding for what they described as Donald Trump's violent mass deportation machine, six Democrats joined Republicans to advance the bill. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where it requires Democratic support to pass. If the bill fails to clear the Senate, the government risks running out of funding in September, just before the midterm elections.
In other news, the orange metro line in Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, has significantly improved travel and safety for women since its launch six years ago. Women in the congested city have historically relied on buses and rickshaws, often facing harassment and safety concerns. The metro has addressed these issues by providing a separate section for women, acting as a vital safety barrier. Additionally, in the field of mental health, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences Shireen Rizvi and co-author Jesse Finkelstein have released a book titled Real Skills for Real Life: A DBT Guide to Navigating Stress, Emotions and Relationships. Rizvi, a board-certified dialectical behavior therapy therapist, highlights the TIP technique—standing for temperature, intense exercise, paced breathing, and paired muscle relaxation—to help individuals manage extreme distress. Finally, a new study from the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America reveals that "job lock" remains prevalent, with 41% of people suffering from chronic conditions reporting that they remain in their current jobs specifically to retain health insurance coverage.
Commuters walk past a wall mural along the street in Tehran on July 21, 2026. Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
A metro train glides along an elevated track in Lahore on April 3, 2026. Arif Ali/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
