Jordan to Convene Emergency Meeting on “Imminent” Israeli Takeover of Al-Aqsa Compound in Jerusalem

Jordan is convening an emergency meeting today of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers over what it calls an “imminent” threat of an Israeli takeover of the Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem. The warning follows escalating incursions by Jewish religious activists, including a July 23 incident in which over 2,000 Israelis led by far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prayed at the site in violation of the status quo reserving worship there for Muslims. Speaking to The Guardian, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said, “We warn that tampering with the status quo … could trigger a religious conflict that will reverberate beyond Palestine and Jordan into the whole Muslim world.” www.democracynow.org

Federal Judge Grants DOJ Request to Dismiss Cases Against Oath Keepers Who Participated in the Jan. 6 Insurrection

A federal judge Tuesday granted the Justice Department’s request to dismiss cases against Oath Keepers members who participated in the January 6 insurrection. The ruling by Judge Amit Mehta vacates the seditious conspiracy convictions of founder Stewart Rhodes and other members who were found guilty of plotting to block the transfer of power after Trump’s 2020 election loss. In his ruling, Mehta strongly disagreed with the DOJ’s decision to drop the cases, but ultimately concluded that the government’s prosecutors had the authority to do so, writing, “Today’s epilogue diminishes the gravity ​of that day, denigrates the work of the prosecutors and law enforcement officers who secured these convictions, and excuses criminal acts ⁠that caused a centuries-long pillar of our democracy — the peaceful transfer of presidential power — to buckle. The court cannot write a different ending.” www.democracynow.org

Justice Department Subpoenaed Freelance Reporter Matthew Cole

The Justice Department subpoenaed Matthew Cole, a freelance reporter for The New York Times, demanding his testimony and more than two years of notes to identify his sources for a story last year about a botched 2019 SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea. The article, which cited roughly two dozen unnamed sources, described how U.S. Navy SEALs killed several unarmed North Koreans while trying to plant a listening device near the country’s coast. The Trump administration failed to notify Congress about the operation. FBI agents showed up at Cole’s home to deliver the grand jury subpoena earlier this year, which was issued by prosecutors in Virginia. Cole’s lawyer David O’Neil said Cole “will not be intimidated from continuing that important work. He will defend press freedom and the First Amendment from this administration’s brazen attacks on journalists, and he will honor his commitment to his sources.” www.democracynow.org

Italy to Place All 27 of Its Major Cities Under the Country’s Highest Heat Alert

Italy will place all 27 of its major cities under the country’s highest heat alert Thursday, as the country suffers its fourth heat wave this summer. In France, the weather office announced July shattered national records as the hottest month since 1900, when temperature data was first collected. In Poland, a deepening drought has pushed major rivers to record lows while another heat wave is driving temperatures toward 40 degrees Celsius (about 104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the south. A hydrologist at Poland’s Institute of Meteorology and Water Management warns the country likely faces its worst drought in years. Pawel Staniszewski: “There is going to be a huge problem because the low level of the rivers is coming, is step of the next problems with agriculture, with factories, with infrastructure. … We’re not ready. The climate is changing very fast. Now in Poland the climate is like 30 years ago in Budapest, like in Hungary, so we should be to ready and prepare ourselves.” www.democracynow.org

Third immigrant Dies in Detention at Notorious ICE Jail Delaney Hall

In New Jersey, a third immigrant has died after being detained at the Newark ICE jail known as Delaney Hall. That’s according to Democratic Congressmember Rob Menendez, who said the reported death took place in July and was not disclosed by ICE. He shared this video on social media. Rep. Rob Menendez: “An individual that had just been brought there suffered what they believe was a seizure. But you didn’t hear about this because they released him to University Hospital, so he was no longer in ICE custody. Why did they do that? Recently, ICE changed their rules, so they no longer report on deaths that happen 30 days after someone is released from ICE custody.” This came as news broke of the death of Salvadoran father Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, who had been detained at Delaney Hall since June. His family is demanding an independent investigation into his death, saying he was denied his medication and proper medical care at the ICE jail. His family said he was 39 years old. Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian immigrant, died at Delaney Hall in December. At least 23 people have died in ICE custody this year alone. Delaney Hall is operated by the for-profit prison company GEO Group. We will have more on this story later in the broadcast with New Jersey Congressmember Analilia Mejia. www.democracynow.org

GOP Congressmember Edwards Drops Reelection Bid After Sexual Harassment Allegations

Republican Congressmember Chuck Edwards of North Carolina announced he’s dropping his reelection bid after the House Ethics Committee recommended censure over sexual harassment allegations. The panel said Edwards “engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct towards two young female staffers.” This comes as GOP Congressmember Max Miller of Ohio is under a House ethics investigation over domestic abuse allegations. Miller says he will not drop his reelection bid. Miller is Republican Senator Bernie Moreno’s ex-son-in-law. www.democracynow.org

National Guard to Continue Washington, D.C., Deployment Through 2029, Costing $1.4 Billion

The National Guard is continuing its deployment in Washington, D.C., through January 2029 at a cost of $1.4 billion, according to the Pentagon. The cost estimate was provided to Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and lists a deployment of about 2,500 National Guard personnel. There are currently 4,600 service members stationed in Washington, D.C. www.democracynow.org