• On today's episode: Trump ally Ken Paxton escalates Texas' redistricting fight with call for Beto O'Rourke to be jailed; National Guard troops have arrived in Washington; European leaders to meet before the Trump-Putin meeting later this week; civilians are killed by mortar strikes in Pakistan; Clashes erupt at Serbian anti-government protests, with dozens injured.04 US inflation held steady as mild tariff hit offset by cheaper gas, food.
• US July budget deficit up 20% year-over-year despite record Trump tariff income.
• Trump's Washington, DC, takeover begins as National Guard troops arrive.
• Friday's meeting will be a one-on-one between President Trump and Vladimir Putin..
• Zelenskyy to visit Berlin for meetings ahead of Trump-Putin summit.
• Land swaps with Russia are not only unpopular in Ukraine. They're also illegal.
• Europe's sidelined leaders urge Trump to defend security interests at his summit with Putin.
• Desperate parents pleaded with officers to act during Uvalde school shooting, video shows.
• Tennessee town approves deals to turn closed prison into immigration detention facility.
• Workers were heating coal when deadly explosion rocked Pennsylvania steel plant.
• Target store shooter fired randomly and had a history of mental illness, police say.
• Shooter attacked CDC headquarters to protest COVID-19 vaccines.
• Officials are investigating the cause of a Pennsylvania steel plant explosion that killed 2.
• US stocks rally to records on hopes for cuts to interest rates.
• US inflation unchanged last month, though core prices accelerated.
• Pete Alonso becomes the Mets’ new home run king, the Brewers stay hot against one of the majors’ best pitchers, an All-Star relief pitcher lands on the injured list, an NFL quarterback has thumb surgery, a college football contender names its starting QB and the WNBA’s top pick bests Caitlin Clark’s team. 21 NFL appeals Nevada Supreme Court ruling allowing Jon Gruden's lawsuit to proceed.
• A UFC fight at the White House Dana White says it's happening as part of deal with Paramount.
• Sha'Carri Richardson addresses domestic violence arrest and apologizes to Christian Coleman.
• Oklahoma QB John Mateer denies gambling, says Venmo transaction titles were 'inside jokes'.
• Typhoon Podul makes landfall in Taiwan.
• A heat wave scorches parts of Europe and fans wildfire threat in France.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX