Politics & World Affairs — July 15, 2026

Blanche faces Senate confirmation test. Attorney general nominee Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing is Republicans' first major nomination battle since Sen. Lindsey Graham's death. Epstein-related scrutiny is expected.

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U.S. bars citizens in Congo. The Trump administration placed Americans in Congo, where the Ebola death toll passed 700, on a do-not-board list. Citizens must spend 21 days in a third country before returning home.

According to Ars Technica, a second American infected with Ebola was transported to Germany for treatment, a development that preceded the new travel restriction. The do-not-board designation means U.S. citizens currently in Congo cannot fly directly home; the required 21-day stay in a third country corresponds to the disease's monitoring period. The policy comes as the outbreak's fatalities in Congo continue to climb.

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Justices request more security funding. Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett made a rare joint appearance before Congress, describing escalating threats against justices and their families and requesting increased security funding.

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Bangkok pub fire kills 32. The death toll from Bangkok's deadliest blaze in 17 years rose to 32, with 15 people in intensive care. Police are investigating whether blocked exits and negligence contributed.

Al Jazeera · Read more →

U.S. reimposes Iran port blockade. The U.S. military reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports and launched a fourth consecutive day of strikes. Iran threatened to block all remaining regional oil-export routes.

According to the AP, the blockade is intended to stop Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint for global oil transport. The reimposition came amid ongoing U.S. strikes, and Tehran responded by warning it could shut down the export corridors still operating in the region. President Trump was reported to be considering a broader military offensive, suggesting the confrontation could escalate further.

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