Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega Declares His Nation Will No Longer Hold Elections

In Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega has declared his nation will no longer hold elections. Ortega made the announcement during a Sunday evening speech in Managua commemorating the 1979 Sandinista Revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Anastasio ⁠Somoza. President Daniel Ortega: “There won’t be ⁠⁠any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power. … The days when parties backed by the Yankees and the Somocistas would return to power are over. Never again.” It was Ortega’s first public appearance in two months. In 2021, he secured a fourth term as president following a monthslong crackdown on dissent, during which dozens of opposition figures, including seven presidential hopefuls, were arrested. A United Nations report earlier this year found President Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, whom he named co-president, eliminated all checks and balances on their power to build an authoritarian state in Nicaragua. www.democracynow.org

Trump Announces 50% Tariff on Imports from Canada

President Trump said Monday he would impose tariffs of 50% on a wide range of goods imported from Canada. The duties are set to take effect in 30 days, with exemptions for Canadian fuel, fish, fertilizer and critical minerals. Trump announced the tariffs after threatening to sanction Canada for wildfire smoke drifting over much of the U.S., and after declaring that Canada unfairly discriminated against U.S. autos, alcohol and dairy products. www.democracynow.org

Open Letter by 120 Prisoners Alleges Human Rights Abuses at Arizona’s Eloy Detention Center

In Arizona, an open letter signed by 120 prisoners at the Eloy Detention Center alleges a range of human rights abuses, including severe medical neglect, verbal and physical abuse by guards, and poor mental healthcare. Prisoners say anyone complaining about poor conditions is sent to solitary confinement — called “The Hole.” www.democracynow.org

Justice Department Activates Alien Terrorist Removal Court for First Time Ever

The Trump administration has activated the Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the first time since it was established by law in 1996. Congress approved the five-judge court for extraordinary cases when normal proceedings could expose classified material. It allows for the rapid deportation of foreign nationals deemed by the court to be “alien terrorists,” along with their immediate family members. Last week, the Justice Department submitted the first-ever application to the court, which has remained dormant for three decades. Details of the July 15 application are sealed, with a cover sheet marking its contents as classified. U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen, a George W. Bush appointee, subsequently issued an order asking the Trump administration to make a more “thoughtful” application. www.democracynow.org

State Department Alleges Cuba Infiltrated U.S. Politics Through Left-Wing Groups

In a new report, the State Department has accused the Cuban government of waging a “sustained campaign of subversion against the United States.” The report claims Cuba has backed a number of groups in the United States, including the National Lawyers Guild, CodePink, Pastors for Peace and the National Network on Cuba. In a statement, CodePink said, “This latest attempt by the State Department is just one of many politically motivated witch hunts designed to silence antiwar voices who dare to challenge U.S. militarism. It’s about justifying even more aggression against Cuba while turning advocates for peace into suspects.” The 100-page report also includes quotes from earlier New York Times reporting, including a reference to Amy Goodman and Democracy Now! www.democracynow.org

Trump Administration Sought Phone Records of New York Times Reporters and Their Families

The Trump administration is seeking to uncover the confidential sources who spoke to journalists at The New York Times about security concerns relating to President Trump’s new plane donated to him by Qatar. The Justice Department issued subpoenas to phone service providers to obtain several journalists’ phone and text messaging records, and their relatives’ phone records, including from one reporter’s mother and two of the reporters’ spouses. The Times has asked the judge to quash the requests. www.democracynow.org

Judge Halts Paramount Skydance’s $110 Billion Takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery

A federal judge has paused the $110 billion merger of Paramount Skydance with Warner Bros. Discovery, granting a request from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general. The judge scheduled an August 3 hearing on the states’ motion for a preliminary injunction to halt the merger. The Writers Guild of America filed its own lawsuit against the merger, claiming that it would negatively impact union members’ wages and lead to job losses. www.democracynow.org