Hamas-Israel deal; Todd Blanche; U.S. economy : NPR

Key Points:

• President Trump announced a new deal claiming Hamas will fully disarm and Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza, but Hamas insists on Israel's withdrawal first, and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has not responded; the agreement involves mediators from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar and follows a nine-month-old U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire.
• Trump is considering withdrawing his nomination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche due to lack of support from Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who demand written assurances that the DOJ will not proceed with a settlement related to Trump's IRS lawsuit and want clarity on tax immunity deals for Trump and his family.
• The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026 despite rising energy costs from the Iran war, driven by strong consumer spending mainly from upper-income families, though growth slowed from the previous quarter and could be affected by a potential stock market downturn.
• The new Dataland museum in downtown Los Angeles offers a unique multisensory experience using AI algorithms to create immersive environments that respond to visitors' biometric data, blending human and machine collaboration through art, sound, smell, and taste.
• Additional news includes the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 6.66%, a growing trend of solo living and activities among Americans, and NPR's exploration of the word "parasite," tracing its origins from Greek literature to modern usage.