Trump's Primetime Address, New Cholesterol Pill, & World Window

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Adam Rogers
July 17, 2026

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President Donald Trump used a rare primetime address yesterday to argue the U.S. election system remains vulnerable to fraud and to release previously classified documents related to the 2018 and 2020 elections. He also renewed his push for a federal voter ID law.
During the address, Trump repeated longstanding claims that past elections were unfair, despite courts, recounts, audits and election officials finding no evidence of widespread fraud that would have changed the outcome of the 2020 election. Primetime presidential addresses are typically reserved for major national events or emergencies.
Democrats accused Trump of attempting to undermine confidence ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, while the White House said the speech was intended to highlight election integrity. Several major television networks chose not to air the address live on their broadcast channels, instead carrying it on streaming platforms or special reports.

The FDA has approved the first pill that works like a popular class of injectable cholesterol drugs, offering a new option for people whose LDL cholesterol remains high despite taking statins. Merck will market the medication under the brand name Lipfendra.
The once-daily pill blocks a liver protein called PCSK9, helping the body remove more LDL, or "bad," cholesterol from the bloodstream. In clinical trials involving high-risk patients already receiving standard treatment, LDL levels fell by roughly 55% to 59% after six months.
PCSK9-targeting medications have been available as injections for more than a decade, but high costs and insurance restrictions have limited their use.

A meteorite that crashed into a New Jersey home last year contained prebiotic molecules and other chemical building blocks associated with life, according to a study published Wednesday. Researchers identified it as an exceptionally rare type of carbon-rich meteorite, making it one of only two such observed falls ever recovered.
Scientists found the meteorite had once been exposed to highly concentrated salty water, or brine, on its parent asteroid. The finding suggests liquid water once existed there and may have helped produce organic compounds, including amino acids and magnesium-based molecules found in living organisms.
The discovery adds to evidence that primitive asteroids may have delivered some of the organic ingredients needed for life to early Earth, though it does not indicate life existed beyond our planet. Fragments of the meteorite will now be preserved at the American Museum of Natural History.

The Trump administration will sharply shorten visas for foreign journalists, limiting most to 240 days and Chinese reporters to 90 days. (More)

A former Federal Reserve adviser was sentenced to more than three years in prison for lying about sharing sensitive economic information with Chinese intelligence. (More)

President Trump fired Seattle's newly appointed U.S. attorney less than an hour after a federal panel of judges swore him into office. (More)

The U.K. plans to slash bilateral aid to several African countries by up to 90% over the next three years to help fund higher defense spending. (More)

The former head of Italy's largest motorway operator was sentenced to 12 years in prison over the 2018 Genoa bridge collapse that killed 43 people. (More))

Nearly 500 Rohingya migrants are feared dead after two boats carrying refugees disappeared off Myanmar while attempting a dangerous sea crossing. (More)

US stock markets closed lower on Thursday (S&P -0.51%, Nasdaq -1.47%, Dow -0.20%), driven by a selloff in technology stocks. (More)

Uber agreed to acquire Delivery Hero in a $14.8 billion all-stock deal that would expand its delivery business to nearly 100 markets worldwide. (More)

TSMC will invest an additional $100 billion in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, bringing its total planned investment to $265 billion. (More)

The Miami Heat unveiled newly acquired star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will wear No. 7 after spending 13 seasons with the Bucks. (More)

American Jackson Suber shot a 5-under 65 in his British Open debut to take the first-round lead at Royal Birkdale. (More)

New York police arrested a man after he allegedly entered a restricted area near NBC's "TODAY" studio and shouted a racial slur at co-anchor Craig Melvin. (More)

Melatonin may help ease chronic muscle and joint pain in addition to improving sleep, according to a review of more than 2,000 patients. (More)

A new brain-inspired computing device uses self-generated heat and liquid ions to mimic neural memory and learning behaviors. (More)

The EU ordered Google to share Android features and search data with rivals, saying the move will boost competition in search and AI. (More)

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