The briefing for Thursday, July 9.

The United States and Iran exchanged their most intensive strikes since signing a ceasefire in mid-June, with US Central Command hitting 90 targets across Iran on Thursday after similar attacks Wednesday. Iran's Health Ministry reports at least 14 deaths and 78 wounded from the two days of American airstrikes. Tehran responded by launching attacks on US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait, with sirens sounding at least twice at the Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

President Trump declared the June 17 ceasefire agreement 'over' on Wednesday, calling Iranian leaders 'scum' and saying further negotiations would be 'a waste of time.' The collapse came after Iran was accused of attacking three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, violating terms of the memorandum of understanding. The US also reinstated sanctions on Iranian oil sales that had been temporarily suspended under the deal. Iran's parliamentary speaker accused Washington of repeatedly violating the agreement, saying 'the era of bullying and extortion is over.'

Despite Trump's rhetoric, he acknowledged that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could continue talks 'if they want,' suggesting diplomacy may not be entirely dead. Regional intelligence officials say mediators from Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are working around the clock to salvage the ceasefire. The original 60-day negotiation period hasn't expired, but both sides accuse the other of bad faith. At stake are lives throughout the region and the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies normally pass.

Democrat Graham Platner announced Wednesday he is suspending his campaign for US Senate in Maine following a sexual assault allegation from a former girlfriend. Jenny Racicot, 41, alleged that Platner entered her home uninvited in 2021 while intoxicated and sexually assaulted her despite her telling him to stop. Platner has denied the allegation, calling it 'false' and 'the worst thing that a person could do,' but said he was suspending operations because Democrats threatened to cut off campaign support.

The allegation was the latest in a series of controversies that included a Nazi-resembling tattoo, old social media posts blaming sexual assault victims, sexually explicit messages sent to women after his marriage, and accounts from three former girlfriends of threatening behavior. Despite these earlier issues, 72% of Maine Democrats voted for Platner in June's primary, propelling the oyster farmer and military veteran past Governor Janet Mills. His populist message and endorsements from Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren had made him the party's chosen challenger to five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins.

The Maine Democratic Party announced Wednesday it will hold a convention within two weeks to select a replacement nominee before a state-mandated July 27 deadline. The collapse threatens Democrats' path to a Senate majority, as Maine was considered a must-win race in their effort to flip four Republican-held seats. Republicans are already adjusting their strategy, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee noting that 'without Maine, Democrats have no path to a majority.' The dysfunction has exposed rifts between the party's progressive wing and establishment that could impact both 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.

Federal Reserve policymakers are deeply divided over whether inflation will remain elevated or cool as the Iran war winds down, according to minutes released Wednesday from their June meeting. Half of the 18 officials who submitted forecasts support raising the Fed's key rate from its current 3.6% by year-end, while the other half support keeping rates unchanged or cutting them. The minutes also revealed that 'a few' officials believed there was 'a case for raising' rates at the June meeting itself, though they ultimately voted unanimously to hold steady.

Officials expressed particular concern about artificial intelligence investment driving sustained inflation by pushing up prices for semiconductors, computer equipment and electricity. 'Many participants noted that ongoing strong demand for AI infrastructure would likely sustain upward pressure on prices for technology products and electricity,' the minutes stated. Apple announced last month it would raise prices for laptops and iPads due to more expensive memory chips. At the same time, some officials expect inflation to decline as gas prices cool and tariff effects fade.

The minutes represent the first released under new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who replaced Jerome Powell in May after repeated criticism from President Trump about not cutting rates quickly enough. Consumer inflation reached a three-year high of 4.2% in May after the US-Israel attack on Iran in late February, though gas prices have since fallen. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Tuesday that consumer expectations for inflation one year out rose to 3.7%, the highest in nearly three years, adding to policymakers' concerns about whether elevated price expectations could become self-fulfilling.

President Trump announced Wednesday at the NATO summit in Turkey that the US will give Ukraine the license to produce Patriot interceptor missiles domestically, addressing Kyiv's urgent air defense needs. 'We are gonna give you a licence to make Patriots,' Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 'I think they can produce them very quickly once we explain it.' Trump acknowledged he had not yet informed manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon of the decision but said 'that'll work out alright.'

Patriot missiles are considered among the world's best air defense systems but are extremely expensive—a single battery with missiles costs around $1 billion—and have lengthy production times of only 600 missiles annually. The US used more than half its stockpile during the Iran war earlier this year and has been reluctant to part with remaining systems. 'We have Patriots, but we don't have that many. We need them for ourselves too,' Trump said, explaining the licensing approach would allow Ukraine to produce its own rather than depending on US transfers.

Ukraine has faced increasing Russian ballistic missile strikes in recent months, with more than 20 people killed in attacks Sunday night when Ukraine's Air Force said a 'serious shortage' of interceptor missiles meant none of the 23 ballistic missiles fired were shot down. Zelensky has called ballistic missiles Russia's 'last major advantage' as fighting on the ground has stalled and Ukraine has learned to counter nightly drone attacks. Trump also acknowledged Ukraine's success in long-range strikes on Russian targets thousands of kilometers from the frontline, calling it 'an escalation that can help lead to an end' to the war.

The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from five states secured a settlement Wednesday requiring agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere to provide repair tools and software to equipment owners and independent repair shops. The agreement ends the company's practice of forcing farmers to use authorized dealers for repairs by withholding necessary diagnostic software. Deere must also prevent its dealers from retaliating against customers who choose to fix their own equipment instead of paying for the company's services.

The FTC lawsuit, filed in January 2025 along with attorneys general from Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, argued that Deere illegally restricted farmers and independent shops from servicing equipment including tractors, engines and construction machinery. 'For too long, Arizona farmers and independent mechanics have been at the mercy of Deere's monopoly over repair tools, forced to wait—and pay—for authorized dealers just to fix broken tractors and other equipment,' Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a statement.

This marks the second right-to-repair settlement Deere has reached this year, following a $99 million class-action settlement with farmers in April that compensated consumers. The FTC settlement instead focuses on changing Deere's practices going forward. Under the order pending approval by Judge Iain D. Johnston, Deere will pay $1 million collectively to the five states for antitrust enforcement costs and face strict compliance oversight for the next 10 years. The Illinois-based company maintained in a statement that the agreement 'reinforces its innovation of more flexible repair options' and represents 'good news for our customers.'