Salem News Channel

The Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate steady Wednesday as policymakers continued to weigh persistent inflation against signs of continued economic growth. The central bank kept its target rate between 3.5% and 3.75%. The decision was approved by a 9-3 vote, with three policymakers favoring a quarter-point increase. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh described the disagreement as evidence of a healthy policymaking process, saying robust debate helps officials reach better decisions. “There was a large majority support for the decision that we made in the room,” Warsh said. The three dissenting votes were the largest group of officials opposing a Fed decision in the same direction in nearly a decade. Policymakers supporting an increase cited concerns about inflation remaining above the central bank’s 2% target. Warsh did not signal what action the Fed may take at its next meeting. Officials are expected to closely monitor upcoming inflation, employment and economic growth data before deciding whether rates should remain unchanged or move higher.

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A Montana hiker is recovering after walking nearly 10 miles with a trekking pole lodged in his body following a freak accident on Granite Peak. David Cifaldi, a nurse, determined the pole had missed his vital organs and chose to hike out with two friends instead of waiting for a helicopter rescue. After a six-hour trek, he reached a hospital where doctors safely removed the pole. Cifaldi has since recovered and returned to work.

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A New Jersey man has been sentenced to just over six months in federal prison for repeatedly ramming his car into the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn earlier this year. A federal judge sentenced 36-year-old Dan Sohail to six months and one week behind bars, a term that will allow him to be released in about a week after receiving credit for time already served. Prosecutors had requested a longer sentence, arguing it would serve as a deterrent amid a rise in antisemitic incidents nationwide. The judge declined that request, saying the evidence did not support treating the January attack as a hate crime. Instead, the court pointed to psychiatric evaluations indicating Sohail's mental health struggles played a significant role in the incident. Authorities said Sohail drove his vehicle into a side entrance of the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters on Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway five times, knocking the door off its hinges and severely damaging his vehicle. No one was injured. The judge also ordered Sohail to pay $20,000 in restitution for the damage. Defense attorneys said Sohail had been battling depression and post-traumatic stress disorder and described the crash as an irrational cry for help while he was seeking acceptance within the Jewish community.

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President Donald Trump promoted his tariff agenda during a visit to a General Motors facility in Michigan, saying the policies are helping revive American manufacturing and encouraging companies to expand production in the United States. Trump argued the tariffs are strengthening domestic industry, reducing reliance on foreign imports, and creating more manufacturing jobs. While some businesses have expressed concerns about higher costs during the transition, the administration says the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term economic challenges.

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The United States and Iran exchanged another round of missile strikes overnight, marking a sharp escalation in a conflict that has now stretched into its fifth month with no immediate signs of easing. Jordan said it intercepted multiple Iranian missiles for the second consecutive day as projectiles crossed its airspace. Meanwhile, officials in Kuwait reported that an Iranian strike in the country's north killed one person, highlighting the growing regional impact of the fighting. The latest exchange comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled. The continued violence has raised concerns that neighboring countries could become increasingly drawn into the hostilities. The prolonged conflict is also affecting global energy markets, with renewed fears over oil supplies contributing to higher fuel prices and increasing economic uncertainty. Military officials continue to monitor the situation as regional tensions remain elevated and the risk of further escalation persists.

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Former FBI Director James Comey is asking a federal judge to dismiss the criminal case accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump on social media. In new court filings, Comey's attorneys allege federal investigators misled judges, submitted false statements, and withheld key evidence during the investigation. The defense also claims Comey was subjected to unlawful Secret Service surveillance and is seeking access to grand jury transcripts, arguing the indictment was the result of a vindictive and selective prosecution. The Justice Department has not yet responded to the latest allegations.

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Larry Elder discusses the stringent COVID-19 measures implemented by California Governor Gavin Newsom, which included severe lockdowns, business closures, and vaccine mandates. Elder highlights the surprising compliance of the public despite the restrictive measures, contrasting it with his expectation of widespread defiance. He criticizes the governor's hypocrisy, pointing out his attendance at a high-profile restaurant without adhering to the same social distancing rules he imposed on others. Elder also addresses the negative consequences of these mandates, such as learning losses among children due to virtual schooling, increased depression, business failures, and the financial burden on property owners with non-paying tenants. He argues that these measures were not based on sound science, citing the downplaying of alternative treatments to justify vaccine approval.

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Our pal Joey Hudson joins us live at the Washington National Cathedral, where dignitaries from around the world have gathered to pay their respects to the late Senator Lindsey Graham . As Senator Graham is laid to rest, we're already speculating on who will be in the running to fill his Senate seat for the long haul. Among those campaigning is Interim Senator Darline Graham Nordone, the Senator's sister—who was appointed to finish his term by Governor McMaster with President Trump's blessing, but whose campaign has sparked controversy as voters have yet to learn where she actually stands on the issues ------ M and M EXTRA: Two iconic talk radio hosts. One unfiltered daily conversation. No scripts. No spin. Just Mike Gallagher and Mark Davis breaking down the news the way it should be — with decades of experience and zero apologies. If you love smart unscripted talk show chemistry, you’re in the right place.

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Senator Rand Paul exposed Dr. Anthony Fauci by releasing his personal journals, which indicated that not only did he mislead the public about the source of the COVID virus, but Fauci was also obsessed with the media attention. At today's Senate hearing, Fauci was accused of hiding the true origin of the COVID virus and getting rich off the pandemic. Maybe that's why Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right more than one hundred times. ---- M and M EXTRA: Two iconic talk radio hosts. One unfiltered daily conversation. No scripts. No spin. Just Mike Gallagher and Mark Davis breaking down the news the way it should be — with decades of experience and zero apologies. If you love smart unscripted talk show chemistry, you’re in the right place.

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Hugh Hewitt interviews Noah Rothman about the Iran War.

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WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump plans to unveil a $22 billion plan to rebuild Washington Dulles airport, the latest in a series of major projects he announced in the U.S. capital region, sources told Reuters. Trump, who will be joined by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at the White House, has been pushing for a massive rebuilding of the airport that is the main international gateway for the national capital region. The plan is expected to include four new concourses. Duffy in May confirmed the federal government planned a $22 billion overhaul of Dulles. The White House and United did not immediately comment. United is the largest carrier at Dulles handling about 70% of the traffic. On February 25, Trump held a meeting on the airport's future that included Kirby, where the CEO pitched the idea of a merger with American Airlines . Kirby said he was dropping his pursuit of American in April. In ?December, Trump said he has a new design in mind for Dulles "because it's not a good airport. ?It ?should be a great airport... They have a great building and a bad airport." Critics say Dulles needs modernization and gripe about slow vehicles that transport passengers across the tarmac, which are expected to be phased out as part of the overhaul. USDOT in December criticized the "jet fuel smell in the concourses" and the "paltry" number of gates in ?the main terminal. The airport ?is operated by ?the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority under a 50-year lease approved by Congress. MWAA did not comment. In 2025, the airport authority ?approved a master capital plan to spend at least $7 billion overhauling ?Dulles in coming ?years. One open question is how the reconstruction will be funded and how much will add to the cost of flights per passenger. The airport, about 25 miles (40 km) from the U.S. capital, opened in 1962 and had a record year in 2025, handling 29 million total passengers, up 6.4%. This fall, it ?will ?get a new 435,000-square-foot (40,412-square-meter), 14-gate concourse serving United customers. Finnish ?architect Eero Saarinen designed the airport's terminal building, a distinctive structure with a sloping roof that sweeps up toward ?the sky on opposite sides.

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Senator Bernie Moreno Goes After Dr. Fauci on Capitol Hill

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July 29 (Reuters) - Michigan health officials reported 10,077 cases of cyclosporiasis on Wednesday, an increase of 397 cases since their last update a day earlier. An investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants sourced from privately held Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico, but authorities are still looking for other potential sources given the size of the outbreak. Consumers in the U.S. have been steering clear of some restaurant chains and buying less lettuce in grocery stores as a ?multistate outbreak of a parasitic disease has fueled confusion over what is safe to eat. Michigan's health department has reported 160 hospitalizations as of July 23, but no deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of 6,707 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis, and said it was aware of more than 11,500 additional cases that are not laboratory confirmed or require further investigation across 45 states. Health officials have said ?they are investigating additional potential sources of infection. In North Carolina, parsley and cilantro were commonly identified ingredients among people who fell ill, though there could be multiple ?sources of exposure, according to the state's health department. Cyclosporiasis, caused by the cyclospora parasite, can be contracted by consuming food — typically raw fruits and vegetables — or water contaminated with feces.

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Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times on Wednesday and declined to answer questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky subpoenaed Fauci to appear before a Senate committee Wednesday. It’s part of Paul’s yearslong accusations that the now-retired infectious disease expert had lied about the pandemic, something Fauci has called “preposterous.” Paul closed the hearing by saying lawmakers will vote next week on whether to hold the now-retired infectious-disease expert in contempt for refusing to testify.

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WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday issued another round of Iran-related sanctions, taking aim at Iran's efforts to "monetize the Strait of Hormuz" with designations of 10 entities and eight more tankers, the U.S. Treasury Department said. Six of the entities targeted for sanctions were based in China, it said. The sanctions followed a vow by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier on Wednesday to hit Iran hard, according to an interview with Fox News, after the U.S. military said it had intercepted multiple ballistic missiles launched by Iran toward American forces in the Middle East. The United States and Saudi Arabia jointly struck Iran-backed ?groups in Iraq on Wednesday. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated two firms, the Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Co and HormuzSafe Marine Services Authority, which it said were integral to an Iranian scheme to extract digital assets and other revenue from ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz through various insurance policies. “With its economy in freefall and inflation in the triple digits, the regime is desperate for cash,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “The United States will not allow Iran to hold global commerce hostage or use international shipping to finance the IRGC’s terrorism, aggression, and repression,” Bessent said, referring to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The new sanctions are part of a broader push by the Trump administration to leverage both economic tools and military strikes to intensify pressure on Iran and end a deeply unpopular war that has dragged Trump's approval ratings lower. "The Iran war demonstrates that this administration will use U.S. economic and military power in concert," said Jess Hoversen, a former OFAC official who is now chief economist at Column, a digital platform bank. OFAC has moved quickly to designate maritime logistics, currency exchange infrastructure, and procurement networks, even as the U.S. military has increased its strikes, she said. "Treasury is moving at an operational tempo, and combining military strikes with targeted sanctions could be a template for future conflicts," Hoversen said. Since the start of 2026, OFAC has sanctioned over 100 vessels linked to Iran's shadow fleet, which has been used to keep oil revenue flowing despite international sanctions.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Sen. Lindsey Graham is being buried in South Carolina, where a funeral in the state capital is drawing people who remember him as the son of pool hall owners who never forgot his roots. The Republican powerbroker was eulogized Tuesday in Washington by the president and other national leaders. Wednesday's funeral is featuring mourners who recall how he knew every mayor, went to many state festivals and helped any local Republican he could. The senator died suddenly on July 11 in Washington, likely from an aortic tear. He was 71. Now his sister is holding his seat and being challenged by eight other Republicans in a special primary.

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CAIRO (AP) — Iran has launched a barrage of missiles at American forces in the Middle East. The U.S., meanwhile, partnered with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to strike Iran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters. Iraqi militia officials said six Iranian advisers were also killed in the U.S.-Saudi strikes. The flare-up after several days of relative calm raised the risk of a return to all-out war. It also underscored the difficulty of winding down a five-month conflict that has jolted the world economy and is deeply unpopular among Americans. Saudi Arabia had accused the Iraqi militias of firing drones against its oil facilities.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday despite persistently high inflation and a spike in energy prices caused by the Iran war. The Fed’s rate-setting committee reached the 9-3 decision after two days of deliberations, marking the fifth straight meeting at which the benchmark rate was kept at around 3.6%. Dissenting in favor of a quarter-point interest rate hike were Beth Hammack, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland; Neel Kashkari, president of the Minneapolis Fed; and Lorie Logan, president of the Dallas Fed. Inflation has been stuck above the central bank’s 2% target for more than five years.

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Dr. Fauci is the Godfather of Stupid

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