US national debt hits $40 trillion, Trump picks Dr. Heidi Overton to lead FDA, how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza
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Welcome back. Thanks for joining us. In the news today: The U.S. national debt hits a staggering $40 trillion record; Dr. Heidi Overton is picked by Trump to lead the FDA; and an AP investigation sheds light onto how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza. Also, our top tips for picking the best clothes to wear for extreme heat.
US national debt hits $40 trillion
The unprecedented milestone figure was recorded as defense costs, social programs like Social Security and Medicare and interest on the burgeoning deficit make up an enormous share of federal spending. Read more.
Why this matters:
- Experts say the exploding debt is already affecting Americans by raising borrowing costs for things like mortgages and cars. Advocates for a balanced budget also warn that the long-term trend of borrowing more and paying more in interest will force Americans to face tougher fiscal tradeoffs ahead.
Related coverage →
An alarmed bond market gets the Trump administration to act again
‘No serious dispute’ that Comey’s seashell post could be read as a Trump threat, prosecutors say
Longtime publisher of Stars and Stripes to retire, citing differences with Pentagon leadership
WATCH: Trump gives a tour of latest construction project: a new helipad
Kennedy Center tells court it won’t try to restore Trump’s name to the building before Sept. 8
Trump picks Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the FDA
Dr. Heidi Overton, a top White House aide, has worked on several of President Donald Trump’s second-term health initiatives and has become a champion of the president’s health goals. Read more.
Why this matters:
- In a Truth Social post, Trump said Overton would deliver on his priorities of faster cures, innovation, lower drug prices and more wins for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement. Overton has been critical of abortion pills and, if confirmed, would be positioned to roll back the Food and Drug Administration rules that made them more accessible. Overton needs to be confirmed by the Senate.
Related coverage →
New CDC director acknowledges agency problems in first large staff meeting
Moderna shares surge after it says its experimental mRNA cancer treatment passed a key test
Concerns about the New World screwworm have put Texas pet adoptions on hold
AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza
The smuggling of goods restricted by Israel into the Gaza Strip has boomed and become vital to Gaza’s economy, according to an Associated Press investigation based on court documents and interviews with traders, truckers and officials. Read more.
Why this matters:
- Smuggling rings — which have long flourished, circumventing two decades of Israeli blockades — pull in millions of dollars. Cigarettes and tobacco rake in the biggest profits for smugglers and merchants, officials and residents say. But everything from iPhones and solar panels to fuel and anesthetics are also brought in illegally.
- AP found a rush from all sides to profit. Payoffs go to Israeli troops, drivers, warehouse workers and others on both sides of the border, according to traders and court documents. The Israeli military said via email that it takes the issue of smuggling “very seriously and works to prevent it.”
Related coverage →
WATCH: Palestinian American says he is unable to freely leave besieged West Bank home
Israeli military launches criminal probes into killings of Hind Rajab and Palestinian paramedics
Israel’s deadly Gaza strikes cast doubt on ceasefire progress days after Kushner visit
Other major developments in the Middle East
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A woman pauses while she walks through a water mist machine installed by city administration to assist people in coping with the heat in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
A woman pauses while she walks through a water mist machine installed by city administration to assist people in coping with the heat in Bucharest, Romania, Aug. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
The best clothes for extreme heat
When it’s really hot out, deciding what to wear to the office has been a struggle. I’ve had way too many mornings digging through my closet, at the risk of missing my train. It seems simple. Just pick something light and loose. But textile researchers say it’s a little more complicated. The fabric matters. But so does how heavy it is, how the clothing is made, how it fits and what color it is. What works best also depends on what you’re doing and how much you’re sweating. Read the full article to find out what actually matters when choosing clothes for hot weather.
This is our flagship newsletter Morning Wire. You can subscribe here and we’ll email it to you daily.
