The latest on Senator Graham's passing, escalating U.S.-Iran strikes, and the fallout from the NATO summit.

1. 1
   Senate

   Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71

   South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham passed away suddenly over the weekend after a brief illness. The 71-year-old was a leading voice on Republican foreign policy and a close ally of President Trump. His death temporarily narrows the Republican majority in the Senate, allowing South Carolina's governor to appoint an immediate replacement.

2. 2
   Foreign Policy

   U.S. and Iran Exchange Heavy Military Fire

   The U.S. and Iran engaged in severe military exchanges overnight after Tehran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces launched drones and missiles at U.S. bases across the Persian Gulf in retaliation for U.S. bombings in southern Iran. The escalating conflict has severely disrupted shipping in the critical maritime chokepoint.

3. 3
   Congress

   Bipartisan Housing Bill Becomes Law Without Trump's Signature

   The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act officially became law despite President Trump's refusal to sign it. Trump withheld his signature in protest over Congress's failure to pass his preferred voter ID legislation. The landmark bipartisan bill aims to lower housing costs and remove building barriers across the country.

4. 4
   Diplomacy

   Trump Changes Tune at NATO Summit in Turkey

   President Trump's capricious shift in tone at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, has left U.S. allies apprehensive. Reports indicate his sudden pivot may be linked to an affinity for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The erratic behavior has raised new concerns about the stability and cohesion of the transatlantic alliance.

5. 5
   Courts

   Jan. 6 Case Against Proud Boys Dismissed

   A federal judge has ended a seditious conspiracy case against members of the Proud Boys involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. The dismissal came with a warning from the judge regarding President Trump's potential pardons for the defendants. The ruling concludes one of the most high-profile prosecutions related to the Capitol riot.

6. 6
   White House

   Whistleblowers Flag Rushed White House Contracts

   Democratic lawmakers and whistleblowers are sounding the alarm over no-bid contracts awarded by the Trump administration to political donors. Scrutiny has focused on rushed renovations at the Kennedy Center for a FIFA peace prize ceremony and a botched cleanup of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The reflecting pool project, aimed at making the water "American flag blue," resulted in a severe algae outbreak.