Today's News with Larry Schweikart
TODAY'S NEWS, July 28-29, 2026
Episode Summary
Far more appears to have been hidden during the COVID era than previously acknowledged, with newly released documents involving Fauci, Biden's classified materials, and Wuhan research raising serious questions about what officials knew and when they knew it. The political picture is also shifting, with Republicans making substantial registration gains in Pennsylvania and Arizona while Democrats continue wrestling with their increasingly socialist wing. Trump is pressing ahead on immigration enforcement, election rules, transportation spending, and intelligence-community changes. Meanwhile, AI infrastructure and nuclear power are expanding, California's energy policy is creating increasing concerns, and several encouraging environmental and educational developments are emerging.
Episode Notes
Political News
- Newly released Rand Paul documents containing Fauci's COVID-era diary entries, along with Biden prosecutor transcripts, reveal considerably more than previously known.
- Biden reportedly acknowledged having classified material at his home and discussed it with his ghostwriter, who did not have security clearance.
- Fauci's writings allegedly show that a substantial number of experts considered deliberate manipulation or insertion of viral characteristics possible, despite his later public dismissal of the idea.
- Fauci reportedly admitted that Scott Atlas was correct about children not being major COVID transmitters and worked against Trump during the 2020 election.
- RFK Jr. has also alleged that Fauci experienced a serious heart problem after receiving a COVID vaccine and concealed it.
- Fauci's alleged investment in a San Francisco restaurant that received more than $307,000 in COVID relief adds another layer to the controversy.
- Pennsylvania's Republican registration gains have accelerated, shrinking what was once a Democratic advantage of more than 1 million voters to roughly 56,000.
- Arizona reportedly shifted toward Republicans in every county and every district.
- James Carville has openly distanced himself from the current Democratic Party, while Bill Maher has indicated openness to JD Vance.
- Democratic commentators continue warning that the party's socialist and DSA factions are becoming increasingly difficult to contain.
- Trump is challenging judicial delays surrounding USPS mail-in ballot regulations before the November elections.
- Trump is withholding billions allocated for large mass-transit projects.
- Zohran Mamdani is threatening to publish names of wealthy homeowners subject to New York City's second-home tax.
- Mamdani's proposed government-run grocery stores are reportedly expected to be among the city's most expensive.
- James Comey's attorneys are attempting to have his indictment dismissed.
- A Seattle shooting left three people dead while the city's mayor continues pursuing higher business taxes.
- The FBI arrested another alleged COVID-relief fraud suspect accused of stealing approximately $32 million.
- A prominent Democratic legal figure was sentenced to prison for tax evasion.
- Jay Clayton was confirmed as Trump's permanent DNI, replacing interim director Bill Pulte.
- Coyotes have reportedly taken over an abandoned West Hollywood complex.
AI News
- Illinois approved more than $165 million in incentives for an AI-related battery facility connected to Chinese interests, prompting local resistance.
- In Texas, land donated for a public park was reportedly resold for $10 million for a proposed data center.
- AI infrastructure is increasingly becoming a community-level battle over land, energy, water, incentives, and transparency.
- The broader argument remains that America needs AI infrastructure, but communities should not be misled or forced to absorb the costs.
Illegal Criminal Alien News
- An Illinois court ruled that discounted in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants is unconstitutional.
- ICE launched a nationwide crackdown on SIM farms allegedly operated by criminal organizations with Chinese backing.
- ICE continues major operations in New York City and Palm Beach.
- More than 300 arrests were reported in Palm Beach.
- ICE enforcement is increasingly reaching airports as well.
Cultural News
- What began as one father's weekly library trip with his daughter has developed into the broader "Library Dads" phenomenon, encouraging fathers to become more involved in their children's reading.
Economic News
- Durable-goods orders rose sharply, driven partly by AI data-center investment and aircraft purchases.
- Electrical-equipment orders are up nearly 7% year over year.
- California's declining refinery capacity is increasingly becoming a national-security issue.
- California reportedly requires approximately 58 million gallons of fuel per day for transportation and aviation.
- Multiple refineries have closed, forcing California to import increasing quantities of gasoline and jet fuel.
- Ford raised its financial outlook again, with SUVs and American trucks driving the gains rather than EVs.
- Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $5.5 billion to resolve lawsuits involving its baby powder.
- Portable small nuclear reactors could become commercially available as soon as next year.
International News
- Chinese-founded Shein reportedly experienced a 14% decline in sales.
- Trump says the United States has sold approximately $13 billion worth of Venezuelan oil since Maduro left the country.
- Mexico's rainfall is helping end a six-year drought.
- European air quality has improved significantly over the past decade.
- Several positive conservation developments stand out:
- Serbian imperial eagles had a record breeding year.
- Volunteer-built bamboo bridges in Taiwan doubled migratory crab populations.
- A puffin chick appeared at an English coastal site for the first time in 30 years.
- A hornbill species has resumed breeding after roughly 60 years.
- Hyundai is converting discarded fishing nets into automotive materials.
- A new monkey species was discovered in the Congo.
- BMW plans approximately 8,000 job cuts.
Entertainment News
- A brewery that reportedly celebrated Trump's death by giving away free beer has lost its license.
- Jared Leto faces sexual-misconduct allegations from four women in a BBC documentary.
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day is reportedly projected to generate a massive $465 million debut, suggesting superhero fatigue may have been overstated.
Medical News
- The COVID revelations continue to expand, with newly released communications involving Fauci, Ralph Baric, Peter Daszak, and other researchers.
- Fauci allegedly acknowledged that vaccine protection was "modest but declining" while recognizing that emphasizing this could undermine vaccine mandates.
- Newly surfaced material allegedly shows Peter Daszak asking a Wuhan researcher not to share certain data with American scientists.
- The U.S. government has ended federal support for research classified as "dangerous" gain-of-function research.
- A cited autism-clinic dataset reportedly found that 40% of recorded symptoms appeared within two days of vaccination, although timing alone does not establish causation.
Education
- American Indian schools reportedly reached their highest graduation rates in history, marking a significant improvement in educational outcomes.