The federal government could soon own stakes in seven additional companies, bringing the total Trump administration portfolio of private companies to 30.  The seven companies the administration is looking to take stakes in are part of the artificial intelligence supply chain and include GlobalFoundries, Kepler, Multibeam Corporation, Extropic, Thintronics, Obsidia Semiconductors, and Aeluma. The companies signed letters of intent, meaning additional negotiations need to take place before a deal is reached with the Commerce Department, the agency that will distribute the funds. The seven new prospective deals would add to the federal government’s growing portfolio of equity stakes in private companies. Since taking office, the Trump administration has negotiated ownership stakes in companies spanning semiconductors, critical minerals, battery supply chains, energy, and advanced manufacturing. The Trump administration’s equity stakes differ from those of past administrations, which would occasionally become a shareholder in private companies during periods of economic crisis. During the 2008 financial crisis, the Bush administration launched the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which allowed the Treasury Department to inject capital into struggling financial institutions in exchange for preferred stock and warrants. General Motors was one of the largest beneficiaries of TARP, and during the Obama administration, the government took a 60.8% majority equity ownership stake in General Motors. The U.S. Treasury Department gradually sold its shares over the next few years, with the last shares sold in December 2013. Ultimately, the shares were sold at a $10.5 billion net loss.  The Trump administration’s strategy differs from those interventions. Rather than taking a controlling stake to prevent the collapse of a company, the administration is acquiring minority, non-controlling ownership stakes in companies it views as strategically important to industrial policy and national security. The Trump administration also briefly considered taking a controlling stake in Spirit Airlines before ultimately deciding not to rescue the bankrupt airline.  The majority of the government equity deals, 18 out of the 30, have been made possible by the Commerce Department, which administers the money through the CHIPS Act. The Trump administration’s policy represents an evolution from how the CHIPS Act was implemented under former President Joe Biden. The CHIPS Act gave the Commerce Department $39 billion to award to semiconductor companies through grants and other financial incentives. Under Biden, the Commerce Department primarily distributed grants, loans, and loan guarantees with opportunities for the department to claw back money if company project deadlines were not met. The law also included clauses that allowed the federal government to share a portion of unexpected profits with taxpayers if projects substantially outperformed expectations. Recipients of the funds did not issue equity to the federal government. The Trump administration has retained the CHIPS funding program, but it changed the structure of some awards by negotiating non-controlling equity stakes.  That structural change is being questioned in the courtroom. Intel shareholders sued the company’s board and the Commerce Department for acquiring an equity stake, arguing that while the CHIPS Act authorizes Commerce to provide grants, loans, and loan guarantees, it does not authorize the department to take equity in private companies. The lawsuit contends that “nothing in the CHIPS Act contemplates the U.S. government acquiring an equity interest” in recipients. The case, pending in Delaware, could become the first judicial test of the Trump administration’s equity stakes.

A federal jury convicted Hadi Matar of terrorism charges linked to the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie. The 28-year-old from Fairview, New Jersey, was found guilty of attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, engaging in an act of terrorism that crossed national boundaries, and providing material support to terrorists, the Department of Justice announced earlier this week. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said, “Matar spent more than a year immersing himself in Hezbollah’s violent ideology and preparing to act on a fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollahs calling for Mr. Rushdie’s murder.” “His brutal attack on Mr. Rushdie during a peaceful speaking event is a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian terrorism. With today’s verdict, justice has been done, and Matar will pay for his crimes,” Eisenberg added. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo for the Western District of New York said that “Matar, who was born and raised in the United States, chose to align his values with the terroristic values of the leaders of Iran, which often promote violence, and in this case, the call for murder.” DiGiacomo said Matar spent months preparing to kill Rushdie and hoped to emulate radical Islamic terrorists he looked up to. The attack did not succeed. Rushdie survived the stabbing after members of the public and law enforcement jumped into action. The attack occurred on August 12, 2022, when Matar charged Rushdie and stabbed him in the neck just before the author spoke at the Chautauqua Institution in Mayville, New York. Rushdie’s injuries proved more severe and required him to be placed on a ventilator. The co-moderator of the event was also wounded. Evidence presented by the government shows Matar researched the fatwa for more than a year, checking whether it remained in force, before he decided to act on it. The fatwa was originally issued in 1989 by Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, endorsed in a 2006 speech by Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, and later reaffirmed in 2017 by then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes earlier this year. Before the attack, Matar discussed the fatwa and Hezbollah’s endorsement of it with people in Iran, Australia, and Canada. He constructed videos with titles such as Rushdie_Fatwa 2.0 and Rushdie_Fatwa 1.6 that combined footage about the fatwa with Nasrallah’s 2006 remarks. He also surrounded himself with symbols of Hezbollah martyrs.  Matar used a false identity to reach the event that Rushdie was speaking at in August 2022. He traveled as Hassan Mughniyeh and carried a counterfeit driver’s license under that name. The first name came from Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The last name came from Imad Mughniyeh, who once led the terror group’s external security operations. The Justice Department noted that Matar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sentencing is set for November 3 before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. This federal case follows Matar’s earlier state conviction. In May 2025, he received the maximum 25-year sentence for second-degree attempted murder, plus a concurrent seven-year term for the assault on event moderator Henry Reese. After the state sentencing, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said the attack continues to affect Rushdie. Schmidt described the author as traumatized and said he still has nightmares about the stabbing. Schmidt called it a serious setback for a man who had begun to reenter public life in his later years after long periods of hiding because of the fatwa. The federal conviction centers on the terrorism related counts tied directly to the same attack. Matar will next face sentencing on those charges in November.

A growing number of drivers are pushing back against increasingly tech-heavy vehicles, saying they prefer the simplicity of analog controls over touchscreens and software-driven features. The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted what it described as a “vocal minority” of consumers seeking out older vehicles or newer models with fewer digital features, arguing that modern automotive technology has become more frustrating than helpful. Brett Doyle, a computer scientist from St. Louis, told the Journal that he and his sons continue repairing their four vehicles from the 2010s rather than buying newer models packed with digital features. “If I get hot in my car and want some air conditioning, I just want to turn a knob and have cold air come out,” Doyle said. “There’s this fatigue of having to learn one more new thing.” Others like Doyle have created online communities dedicated to finding older, more analog vehicles.   Sports writer Brandon Marcus said the movement is about reclaiming control behind the wheel, not simply reliving the past.  “The ‘no-tech car’ trend doesn’t just whisper nostalgia. It shouts intention. People want control back in their hands, not buried in menus or hidden behind software updates,” Marcus said. “This movement isn’t about rejecting progress. It’s about reclaiming the driving experience and deciding what actually matters behind the wheel.”  Supporters have pointed out that basic functions like adjusting the temperature or changing the radio station have become unnecessarily complicated as automakers increasingly rely on touchscreen interfaces, which they say can also be more distracting. Even some industry leaders have questioned how new technology is being introduced. Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa recently suggested the industry’s approach may be backward because its most technology-packed vehicles are often marketed to older buyers, while younger customers tend to purchase entry-level models.  “Sometimes, actually, your entry cars should start adopting these technologies because that’s where the younger customers are trying to go,” Espinosa said. For some consumers, concerns extend beyond convenience to privacy and security. Gordon Chang, author of “Plan Red: China’s Project to Destroy America,” told NewsNation that vehicles with Chinese autonomous driving technology could be used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to present national security risks via “rolling spy machines.” “Conceivably, they could use these as a weapon of mass destruction — crash into oncoming traffic, drive over a cliff, be disabled. Who knows what the Chinese will be able to do with these?” Chang said. Some automakers are already betting there is a demand for simpler vehicles. Startup automaker Slate markets what it calls “the most affordable truck in America.” Its base model, the “Blank Slate,” features hand-crank windows, physical climate-control knobs, and a smartphone mount instead of an extensive built-in infotainment system, leaving additional customization up to buyers.  Other affordable models have also retained more traditional controls. Edmunds notes that the 2026 Hyundai Venue keeps its technology relatively simple despite offering digital features, while the 2026 Mazda CX-50 relies on physical knobs for many functions rather than a touchscreen-heavy interface. 

Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, a potential 2028 presidential contender, suggested he may have played a role in bringing LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers after personally lobbying the NBA superstar to join the team months before the blockbuster signing.  In an interview with Politico Playbook, Shapiro said he first met James at the private club ZZ’s in New York City and used the opportunity to pitch Philadelphia. “I don’t want to suggest that I’m the reason why LeBron chose the Sixers, but when I saw him at this dinner in New York, I figured I had to shoot my shot,” Shapiro said. According to an anonymous source close to the governor cited by Playbook, Shapiro “was relentless until he finally got word” last Friday that James was headed to Philadelphia. Minutes after NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news of the signing online, Shapiro celebrated on social media by proclaiming it “LeBron James Day” in Pennsylvania.   “LEBRON IS COMING TO PHILLY,” Shapiro posted. “By the power vested in me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan… I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY. Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, King James.” LEBRON IS COMING TO PHILLY. By the power vested in me as the Governor of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a die-hard Sixers fan… I hereby proclaim today to be LEBRON JAMES DAY. Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, @KingJames. pic.twitter.com/JHsNkCFyyN — Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) July 24, 2026 Shapiro also said he believes James can make an impact beyond basketball. “I expect he’s going to bring a championship mentality to our team, and if he’s doing that in a way that also allows him to be a good father and husband, I think that’s great,” Shapiro said.  Shapiro added that he “thought that there was a lot of important philanthropic work he could do in Philly.”  James recently posted on social media about his new deal, saying he had briefly considered retirement before deciding to continue his career.  “I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn’t ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game,” James said. “I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and deicide [sic] if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.” “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James added. James joins Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey on a Sixers team hoping to bring Philadelphia its first NBA championship since 1983.

The mass migration event taking place in Ceuta, Spain, is a result of multiple push and pull factors that enticed thousands to make the swim from Morocco this week. Between Thursday and Friday, an estimated 60,000 migrants, mainly young men from Morocco, swam around or scaled border fences to reach nearby Ceuta, a Spanish territory of roughly 83,000 residents that sits on the African continent. As of publication, nearly three dozen people are dead, according to The New York Times. For days leading up to the surge, a steady flow of hundreds of migrants entered the Spanish enclave, which is located 11 miles from mainland Spain and can be accessed via ferry. Spain’s Interior Ministry in a Thursday statement attributed the earlier influx to “a court ruling to encourage the flow of undocumented migrants, mostly young people.” Earlier this month, Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants crossing by sea cannot be immediately deported. “It has been a slow trickle since the Supreme Court’s ruling, but today has been an explosion,” a spokesman for Spain’s Guardia Civil police told Reuters Thursday. Earlier this year, Spain’s far-left Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez allowed more than one million migrants to receive amnesty in an effort to counteract “MAGA-style leaders” shutting the doors to illegal immigration, according to The New York Times. The total number of applications was more than double what the government initially expected. “What should we do with these people? Some leaders have chosen to hunt them down and deport them through operations that are both unlawful and cruel. My government has chosen a different way: a fast and simple path to regularize their immigration status,” Sánchez wrote in a New York Times op-ed in February. “MAGA-style leaders may say that our country can’t handle taking in so many migrants — that this is a suicidal move, the desperate act of a collapsing country. But don’t let them fool you. Spain is booming,” he wrote. Sánchez traveled to Ceuta on Friday after deploying the Spanish military to quell the ongoing chaos. His government has so far refused to make an emergency declaration, as requested by the local government in Ceuta, since Spain’s civil protection procedures don’t consider migration flows a risk to national security, the Associated Press reported. During his visit, Sánchez pledged to start removing some of the migrants and fortifying the maritime border. “The Government will guarantee the safety of the residents of Ceuta, intensifying the presence of the Security Forces and Corps on the city’s streets. Additionally, we will deploy a physical containment barrier in the sea to facilitate repatriation at the border, in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling,” Sánchez said. “We will expedite the repatriation files of the migrants who arrived irregularly. And we will maintain cooperation with the Moroccan authorities to continue fighting against the mafias that traffic in human beings,” he added. Ceuta right now: “Pedro Sanchez, hijo de puta!” pic.twitter.com/qjA624PYP7 — Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) July 31, 2026 On the Moroccan side, authorities clashed overnight with migrants making their way to Ceuta, deploying tear gas and water cannons. In the streets, vehicles were set ablaze amid the chaos. But some migrants say that authorities in Morocco are helping facilitate their movement. Moroccan national Ajoub el-Arrot, 24, who entered Ceuta, Spain, told The New York Times that Moroccan authorities “opened the border and let everyone go by,” adding, “I don’t know why they let us through.” Migrants are continuing to flock to nearby Fnideq, Morocco, which has become a launching point for those making the trek to Ceuta. Tensions in Ceuta remain high as migrants who have not eaten in days scour the town for food, as local officials say there’s no plan to feed or shelter the new arrivals. Some of the migrants have already chosen to turn around because they’re not getting any food as grocery stores shut their doors to them. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP via Getty Images) President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the American people Friday, saying there could be a similar “invasion” of U.S. borders if Republicans lose in the upcoming midterms. “If we’re not in office, our country will be invaded at levels that made Spain look small time,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David.