The latest U.S. political developments for Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

1. 1
   Energy & Minerals

   USDA Approves $2.16 Billion Hermosa Critical Mineral Project

   The U.S. Forest Service has issued the final record of decision for the Hermosa Critical Mineral Project in southern Arizona. The $2.16 billion mining operation will produce zinc and manganese to support large-capacity battery manufacturing, aiming to decrease reliance on foreign imports. The fast-tracked approval aligns with the Trump administration's broader mandate to secure domestic mineral independence.

2. 2
   Foreign Affairs

   Trump Meets Erdogan Ahead of Tense NATO Summit

   President Trump arrived in Ankara, Turkey for a two-day NATO summit, kicking off the trip with a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The U.S. announced it will lift sanctions on Turkey, potentially allowing the sale of F-35 fighter jets despite objections from Israel. Meanwhile, Trump reiterated his frustrations with European allies regarding their reliance on American military power and failure to join the ongoing U.S.-led war with Iran.

3. 3
   Tech & Government

   Anthropic Sues Federal Agencies Over Blacklist

   Artificial intelligence developer Anthropic has filed a sweeping lawsuit against more than a dozen federal agencies and leaders, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The company claims the government is illegally retaliating against it for refusing to change its AI model's terms of use, which prohibit domestic surveillance and certain military operations. The suit comes shortly after the federal government placed the AI company on a blacklist.

4. 4
   Labor & Defense

   Federal Unions Sue DoD Over Canceled Contracts

   The American Federation of Government Employees and the National Federation of Federal Employees have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense. The unions are challenging an April memo issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that ordered the immediate termination of virtually all collective bargaining agreements for civilian workers. Union leaders argue the move violates the Administrative Procedure Act and harms national security by damaging morale.

5. 5
   Foreign Policy

   Rahm Emanuel to Criticize Netanyahu Amid Slipping Support

   A new AP-NORC poll shows U.S. support for Israel slipping, particularly among Democrats, as the ongoing Iran war disrupts American political coalitions. Amid these shifting dynamics, leading Democrat and potential 2028 presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel is preparing to deliver a sharply critical speech at Tel Aviv University. Emanuel reportedly plans to castigate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for driving Israel into a diplomatic "dead end" and losing global support.

6. 6
   Economy & Families

   Treasury Rolls Out Default Funds for Children's Accounts

   The U.S. Treasury Department has designated the State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF as the initial default investment for a newly launched program that provides a $1,000 investment to American children upon birth. The funds will be custodied on Robinhood and feature management fees capped at just 0.10%. The program is already garnering donations from corporate leaders and philanthropists to boost the accounts of low-income families.