Today marks the one-year anniversary of the National Guard's presence on the streets of Washington, D.C., an operation initiated under the Trump administration as part of an anti-crime mission. Despite violent crime levels sitting at a 30-year low, President Trump declared a "crime emergency" and established the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force to justify the deployment. The armed troop presence has been extended through Inauguration Day 2029, making it the largest and longest deployment of its kind under the current administration. The nonpartisan watchdog group Project on Government Oversight estimates the total cost of this initiative will reach approximately $3 billion by 2029, while multiple studies indicate the deployment has had no measurable impact on violent crime rates.
Beyond the capital, the nation is focused on primary elections taking place in six states. In Alabama, voters in certain districts are heading to the polls for a second time this season due to newly redrawn congressional maps that shifted primary dates from May to August, raising concerns regarding potential voter confusion and turnout. Meanwhile, the Midwest is watching high-stakes races in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where progressive candidates are challenging traditional Democrats. This follows a recent upset in Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated incumbent Rep. Haley Stevens. Several Trump-endorsed candidates are also appearing on ballots, including Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder running for governor of Minnesota, and Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is running for the Senate in South Carolina.
International news is dominated by a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake in western Colombia that occurred yesterday, resulting in at least 130 fatalities. Authorities have warned that the death toll is likely to climb as search and rescue operations remain ongoing following the extensive destruction.
In domestic policy, President Trump signed an executive order yesterday aimed at revising childhood vaccination requirements. The order seeks to reduce the number of federally recommended vaccines from 17 to 11 and mandates the splitting of the MMR shot into individual components for measles, mumps, and rubella. This move mirrors previous goals set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January that were subsequently blocked by a judge; the new order is expected to face similar legal challenges.
Separately, the military has announced plans to begin screening service members for low testosterone levels. This decision arrives amid a surge in demand for testosterone therapy, fueled by social media trends and the influence of high-profile figures like Joe Rogan. The Food and Drug Administration has also indicated a potential revision of its criteria to allow for broader access to testosterone therapy for men experiencing low libido, regardless of the underlying medical cause.
In the arts, Cameroonian painter Marc Padeu is gaining attention for reimagining classical Western religious paintings, such as the Nativity and the Last Supper, by incorporating Black figures and African cultural elements. Padeu states his objective is not to rewrite history but to highlight universal themes of birth, sacrifice, and hope, noting that the ordinary laborers depicted in original religious scenes resonate with the workers of today. His collection is currently featured in a new exhibition at a London gallery.
Jan 12, 2024; SeaTac, Washington, USA; Alaska Airlines NOC (network operations control) center at The HUB building. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Alaska Airlines.
The Washington Monument is seen in the distance as members of the National Guard stand atop the steps at the Lincoln Memorial at sunrise on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2026. Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
The military plans to start screening service members for low testosterone, and social media is overflowing with claims about testosterone therapy. jarun011/Getty Images hide caption
