Iran has launched attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait and signaled it may abandon ongoing diplomatic efforts, marking a sharp escalation in the tit-for-tat cycle that began with American strikes [PBS]. Meanwhile, Trump has intensified rhetoric, threatening Iran's existence amid what remains a fragile ceasefire [The Hill]. The rhetoric-to-action gap continues to widen as both sides test each other's red lines.

ELSEWHERE: A constitutional clash is brewing domestically. Senator Fetterman warned that administration official Mamdani risks triggering a "constitutional crisis" by vowing to defy a Supreme Court immigration ruling, while Mamdani has doubled down, laughing off moderate criticism and defending his approach [Fox News, The Hill]. The showdown reflects deeper GOP fractures—the party is also diverging sharply on a housing bill even as Trump claims a Supreme Court victory [NPR Politics].

WESTERN CRISIS: Three firefighters have been killed and two injured battling wildfires erupting across the Colorado-Utah border, as the outbreak spreads across western states [PBS, Newsweek]. Meanwhile, extreme heat continues ravaging Europe—France has recorded approximately 1,000 additional deaths as the continent sets temperature records [PBS].

VENEZUELA UPDATE: Two boys have been rescued from earthquake rubble after days trapped, offering a glimmer of hope as search efforts enter day four [BBC]. The death toll continues rising as crews race against deteriorating conditions to find survivors [Al Jazeera, NPR].

LOW-PROFILE: Israel has struck Lebanon, testing the durability of a ceasefire agreement just days old [Al Jazeera].