July 9, 2026: New Strikes on Iran, Trump Says Ceasefire Is Over, What We Know About Mitch McConnell, Platner Drops U.S. Senate Bid, New 'Freedom Fuel' Gas Stations, and More.

Episode Format:

1. U.S. Launches New Strikes in Iran After Alleged Ship Attacks in Strait of Hormuz (1:17)

2. Trump Opts to Take Older Air Force One Plane From Turkey (5:19)

3. What We Know About Sen. Mitch McConnell's Health (6:56)

4. Graham Platner Drops U.S. Senate Bid After Sexual Assault Allegations (~18:01)

5. Trump Administration Announces New 'Freedom Fuel' Gas Stations. Here's What We Know. (~28:09)

6. Quick Hitters (~34:24)

7. Rumor Has It: NY Bill Removing 'Mother' and 'Father' From Legal Language, New ATF Rule Might Financially Benefit Donald Trump Jr., Texas Hospital Promoting Birth Plans in Mexico (~37:23)

8. Critical Thinking Segment (~46:23)

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U.S. Launches New Strikes in Iran After Alleged Ship Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/08/world/live-news/iran-war-nato-summit-ukraine-trump

https://www.reuters.com/world/iran-war-live-us-military-resumes-strikes-iran-after-attacks-hormuz-strait-2026-07-07/

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/us-iran-war-trump-says-ceasefire-over/

Trump Opts to Take Older Air Force One Plane From Turkey

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/09/politics/plane-trump-air-force-one-security

What We Know About Sen. Mitch McConnell's Health

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcconnell-home-ems-call-unconscious-cardiac-arrest-hospitalized/

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/08/mcconnell-health-update-beshear-hospitalization-kentucky.html

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/02/congress/mcconnell-remains-hospitalized-00986648

https://abcnews.com/Politics/kentucky-gov-andy-beshear-sends-letter-sen-mitch/story?id=134584074

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gyjpkzew1o

https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/2074593379187360157

https://x.com/ScottJenningsKY/status/2074537046752845872?s=20

https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/2074210061447307773

https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/2074564968251363718

https://x.com/LauraLoomer/status/2074620189123940383 

https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/gop-lawmaker-doesnt-know-mitch-mcconnell-alive/

Graham Platner Drops U.S. Senate Bid After Sexual Assault Allegations

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/06/graham-platner-sexual-assault-allegation-00987737

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/04/us/politics/platner-maine-senate-girlfriends-relationships.html

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/us/graham-platner-lyndsey-fifield-allegations-invs

https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2026-06-09/graham-platner-wins-democratic-nomination-to-challenge-susan-collins-in-november

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/second-explosive-platner-allegation-week-rocks-embattled-campaign-reeling-rape-accusation

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/what-happens-next-platner-drops-out-heres-who-could-replace-him-ballot-how-would-work

https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/graham-platner-maine-senate-democrats

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/maine-senate-candidate-platner-says-campaign-is-deciding-best-path-forward-after-new-sexual-assault-allegation

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/06/graham-platner-assault-allegation

https://www.wmtw.com/article/graham-platner-slams-alleged-sexting-scandal-as-gossip-and-journalistic-malpractice/71453038

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/graham-platner-timeline-senate-race-maine/71869363 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/maine-democrats-say-embattled-senate-candidate-platner-cant-pick-his-replacement-2026-07-08/

https://x.com/grahamformaine/status/2074214272628916296

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/maine-democrat-platner-on-defense-over-tattoo-takes-page-from-trump-playbook-to-keep-up-senate-bid

https://themainemonitor.org/platner-reddit-comments/

Trump Administration Announces New 'Freedom Fuel' Gas Stations. Here's What We Know.

https://freedomfuelnetwork.com/siteLocationsV7.html 

https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2074499867989123417?s=20 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/freedom-fuel-gas-station-trump/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/07/08/trump-promoted-freedom-fuel-discounted-gas-station-launches-in-philadelphia-area/

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5958968-white-house-launches-freedom-fuel-gas-stations/

Quick Hitters

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/08/politics/judge-orders-the-release-of-trumps-usd5-mil-to-e-jean-carroll

https://abcnews.com/Business/judge-allows-suit-airline-window-seats-window-proceed/story?id=134561478

https://abcnews.com/Politics/former-olympian-david-hearn-pleads-guilty-charge-reflecting/story?id=134616957

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-parasite-michigan/

https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/supreme-court/trump-supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-order-rehear/

Rumor Has It

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A8382/amendment/A 

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9316 

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-jrs-amazon-guns-could-make-millions-under-new-proposed-firearm-rule-2026-07-02/ 

https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/Stephanie_Muth_HHSC_Birth_Tourism_FINAL.pdf  

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/immigration/texas-hospital-childbirth-tourism-accusation/ 

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5959235-abbott-texas-birth-tourism/