The 7: Ambush of Idaho firefighters; 8 charts that explain the Supreme Court’s term; AI and your brain; and more

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July 4th Sale: 50¢ a week. Billed as $2 every 4 weeks for the first year. $12 every 4 weeks thereafter. Cancel anytime. → PUBLISHED BY READ ONLINE   By Hannah Jewell and Jamie Ross Listen to this briefing Good morning. It's Monday, June 30, and it's been a scorching month — see exactly how hot and humid it was in your area here. Now let's catch up from the weekend. An intercepted call captured Iranian officials downplaying the damage of U.S. strikes. The details: The officials can be heard remarking that this month's strikes on Iran's nuclear program, ordered by President Donald Trump, were less devastating than they expected. What else to know: Iran nearly managed to assassinate a former top Trump official in 2022, a new book revealed. And Republicans are clashing over Israel — it's a generational divide. Read this story       Senate Republicans are racing to pass Trump's massive tax bill this week. The latest: Republicans are seeking to vote on the bill today. If it becomes law, it would extend tax breaks, slash Medicaid funding and more — find a full breakdown here. Some pushback: Republican leaders are trying to prevent defections after a near-revolt over the weekend. One senator said he won't seek reelection following a threat from Trump. One more thing: A new rule is taking root in Trump's Washington: Don't write anything down. Read this story       Trump said he will move aggressively to undo nationwide blocks on his agenda. On Friday: The Supreme Court limited the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions. Trump now plans to challenge dozens of blocks on his top priorities. What else to know: Trump's birthright citizenship ban still faces an uphill battle in court — here's why. And the Supreme Court's term is over: These eight charts sum it up. Read this story       Firefighters were ambushed while responding to a fire in Idaho. Yesterday: Firefighters endured hours of sniper fire while battling a blaze near Coeur d'Alene that police said was set by the gunman. Two firefighters were killed. The latest: Authorities discovered the body of the suspect near a firearm on the mountain. The identities of the gunman and the victims are not yet public. Read this story       A school will shut down after Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan pulled funding. Back in 2016: The Facebook founder and his wife opened a school for disadvantaged children in California. But, in April, Chan told staff its two locations would close. The impact: About 400 kids will lose their school, which offers free tuition and other benefits. Zooming out: Zuckerberg has pivoted during Trump's second term — here's how. Read this story       Artificial intelligence might be changing our brains, but it's not clear how. Brain drain: Headlines often declare that using AI programs like ChatGPT makes us stupid and lazy. But research has been limited, and not entirely negative. There are worrying signs: Recent studies linked frequent AI use to worse critical thinking abilities, brain engagement and memory. In other tech news: Trump Mobile's phone service actually exists — we tried it out. Read this story       Advertisement   Lab-grown salmon is on sale for the first time in the U.S. Wildtype's sushi-grade, cell-cultivated salmon. It takes about two weeks to create a 220-gram, uniformly cut block of fish. (Business Wire/AP) What is it? Salmon made from cells cultivated in tanks in San Francisco. It was approved by the FDA last month, and was recently on the menu at a Haitian restaurant in Portland. What's the point? Advocates say lab-grown fish can help meet the growing demand for food with healthy protein, while also minimizing environmental and climate impacts. Read this story       Before you go … are you taking too many prescription drugs? Here are the risks. Plus: What to do if you have an overactive bladder. One more good read: Can France, land of smoking and joie de vivre, end its cigarette habit? It's about to find out. And finally … test your news knowledge with The Post's daily quiz, On the Record. Click here to play. Or try our word games, Keyword and Wridges. You're all caught up. See you tomorrow. (Illustration by Katty Huertas/The Washington Post) Do you know someone who would like this newsletter? Share it with them. Prefer push notifications? Download The Post's app to get one when The 7 publishes.  YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE Fact Checker Count the pinocchios: A weekly review of what's true, false or in-between in politics, from The Post's famous fact-checking team. Sign up ➝     You received this email because you signed up for The 7 or because it is included in your subscription. Manage newsletters | Unsubscribe 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071 DOWNLOAD OUR APP      ©2025 The Washington Post | Privacy Policy | Help & Contact