The briefing for Saturday, July 11.

The Trump administration finalized a rule Friday that narrows the definition of 'harm' under the Endangered Species Act, eliminating protections that have blocked development on critical wildlife habitats for decades. The change allows oil drilling, mining, and logging on lands home to threatened species as long as the animals themselves aren't directly killed or injured. Environmentalists warn the move could lead to extinctions by permitting habitat destruction, which they identify as the leading cause of species loss.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the action, stating that 'federal agencies abused the ESA to obstruct lawful land use and burden American families and businesses.' Administration officials say they're returning the law to its original congressional intent, citing a 2024 Supreme Court decision that limited federal agencies' authority to interpret environmental statutes. Republicans have long argued the 1973 law overreaches and hinders economic growth, while the administration frames the prior definition as an intrusion on private property rights.

The Endangered Species Act is credited with rescuing iconic animals including the bald eagle, American alligator, and California condor from extinction. The change was first proposed in April 2025, and environmental groups fought unsuccessfully to block it. Aaron Weiss of the Center for Western Priorities called it 'one of the most horrific attempts to harm wildlife in American history and a gift to the oil barons and foreign mining companies.' The move is part of a broader suite of wildlife protection rollbacks pursued under Trump, reversing changes made during the Biden administration.

Apple filed a federal lawsuit Friday accusing OpenAI of stealing trade secrets through former employees as the AI company develops its first consumer hardware product. The suit names OpenAI, two former Apple employees now at OpenAI, and io Products—a design startup founded by former Apple executive Jony Ive that OpenAI acquired last year. Apple alleges the defendants engaged in 'a pattern of theft' of confidential product development information, with at least two long-time Apple workers allegedly emailing themselves internal Apple data before joining OpenAI.

The lawsuit targets Tang Yew Tan, now OpenAI's chief hardware officer after 24 years at Apple designing the iPhone and Apple Watch, and Chang Liu, a senior electrical engineer who worked at Apple for eight years on sensitive projects. According to Apple, OpenAI interviewers allegedly told prospective hires from Apple to 'bring actual parts as props from Apple for show and tell' during interviews. Apple claims OpenAI's 'misconduct is normalized and exemplified by leadership' and that its 'nascent hardware business now rests on the shakiest of foundations, rotten to its core by its illegal reliance on misappropriated trade secrets.'

The suit marks a major rupture in the relationship between Apple and OpenAI, which had partnered to integrate ChatGPT into Apple devices. OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the company has 'no interest in other companies' trade secrets' and is reviewing the complaint. OpenAI is expected to release its first hardware product, described as a type of keyboard for use with AI tools, this month. Apple attempted to discuss concerns with OpenAI in February but says it was ignored. The company is seeking immediate prohibition of OpenAI's use of alleged confidential information and unspecified monetary damages.

A federal grand jury in Ohio indicted eight men Thursday on murder and terrorism conspiracy charges for their alleged roles in a thwarted drone and sniper attack planned for the UFC cage-fighting event at the White House in June. The indictment charges all eight defendants in two separate conspiracies: providing material support to terrorists and committing murder on federal government territory. Law enforcement officials learned of the possible threat to President Trump's UFC show on June 10, four days before the event was scheduled.

According to the indictment, the plot began in May when the group started amassing firearms, ammunition, body armor, explosives, drones, medical equipment, and communications gear. The Justice Department previously announced criminal complaints in multiple districts including Ohio, Missouri, Washington, Nebraska, and California. The new indictment represents an effort to streamline the case and prosecute the defendants together as a single conspiracy in Ohio.

Officials have stated the group members harbored fringe conspiracy theories and hoped the attack would destabilize the government. Court records do not clarify how close the would-be attackers came to being able to carry out the plan before it was disrupted. The indictment consolidates what were previously separate cases across multiple jurisdictions into one terrorism prosecution.

President Trump threatened Iran with missile strikes Saturday after the funeral of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei featured open calls for his assassination. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said '1000 Missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands of more to immediately follow' if Iran acts on threats against him. During Khamenei's funeral this week, mourners repeatedly displayed posters and banners calling for Trump's death alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump added that the U.S. military would 'completely decimate and destroy all areas of Iran.'

The threat comes as senior U.S. officials demanded Iran make a public statement declaring the Strait of Hormuz open and pledging to stop firing on commercial ships. According to unnamed officials cited by CBS News, Tehran privately acknowledged to Trump's advisers that recent attacks on ships were a mistake, blaming a 'rogue internal group.' One official said Iran 'came back to the table and said, we screwed up. We made a mistake. Let's keep talking.' Negotiations are scheduled for Saturday in Oman, with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner expected to lead talks alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Multiple days of U.S. airstrikes on Iran and Iranian retaliatory fire across the Mideast followed Iran's attacks on three ships in the strait earlier this week. The strikes violated a June ceasefire agreement where Iran pledged safe passage to commercial ships. Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi said Iran 'kept its word,' accusing the U.S. of violating the deal. Trump posted Friday that Iran asked to continue talks, adding 'we have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!' A Qatari delegation traveled to Iran Friday for separate talks aimed at defusing tensions and easing navigation through the strait.

China announced Friday it is temporarily blocking helium exports, a critical element for semiconductor manufacturing, as the Iran war disrupts global supply chains. The commerce ministry and customs agency said the ban takes effect immediately under provisions of China's Foreign Trade Law, but did not elaborate on specific reasons. Helium is essential for chipmaking and medical applications including cooling MRI machines. Since the Iran war began in late February, global helium supply has been severely disrupted and prices have risen substantially.

China produces only about 15% of its own helium and imports much of it from Qatar, which generates roughly one-third of the world's supply according to consultancy Trivium China. Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis, said the measure aims to protect local industries as global helium availability has become 'very tight.' He added that the move is intended more to secure domestic supply than for political reasons, noting 'such an export control measure is intended to protect the local industry, especially as it is critical to chipmaking.'

Cameron Johnson of Shanghai-based consultancy Tidalwave Solutions said it's unclear when global helium supply will normalize, adding that China's export ban 'basically tells me that they know there's simply not enough helium to do what they need to do.' The move comes as China accelerates self-sufficiency in chipmaking and artificial intelligence amid its technology race with the U.S. While Ng noted China is a relatively small helium exporter and the ban 'may not have a significant global impact,' there may still be pressure on worldwide supply due to the current supply shock.

President Trump announced Friday he will let a bipartisan housing bill become law without his signature, protesting the Senate's failure to pass strict voter ID legislation he has been pushing. 'I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,' Trump posted on social media. He had until Friday's deadline to sign, veto, or allow the measure to take effect without his signature.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act represents the broadest federal effort in decades to address housing affordability, aiming to lower costs and spur home construction. White House economists estimated a national shortage of 10 million homes earlier this year, and the bill could help close a portion of that gap by addressing state and local regulations that have made building difficult in job-growth communities. However, Trump called the bill 'a yawn' and 'so unimportant' compared to legislation requiring proof of citizenship for all voters.

Trump's refusal to sign undercuts his administration's claims that combating inflation is a priority and exacerbates tensions with his own party in a midterm election year. It cuts short Republican efforts to address voter concerns about rising costs. Trump had previously canceled plans to sign the legislation more than a week ago, announcing he was using it as leverage for his voter ID push. The measure will become law despite his protest, but without his express approval.