Monday, July 20, 2026

US, Iran again trading strikes

Plus: How ordinary Americans are coping with rising costs and a camp for kids dealing with medical crises. ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
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The Short List

Mon Jul 20 2026

 

Phaedra Trethan National Correspondent

@wordsbyphaedra

👋🏼 Hello and welcome to a new work week! I'm Phaedra Trethan, grateful to the talented Rebecca Morin for filling in while I enjoyed a week off with my family. 🫶🏼

Get USA TODAY at the top of your search results: Add us as preferred source on Google.

In Monday's news:

The U.S. and Iran continue to trade strikes, but neither side is ruling out a return to peace talks.
The World Cup ended Sunday with a thrilling extra time victory by Spain. The final's host country was also a winner. ⚽️
It's not just you: Everything seems to be more expensive. We talked to six Americans about how they're coping. 💸

But first: A mom had to shave her head during her battle against cancer. But her son and his friends wanted her to know she's not alone. Keep the tissues handy for our Video of the Day. 🥹 ❤️‍🩹

U.S., Iran fighting continues

An American service member was killed in northern Iraq in a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone, as the U.S. and Iran continued to trade strikes. Both countries, though, signaled they would be willing to resume talks aimed at ending the conflict.

Two other service members were killed during an earlier attack in Jordan, bringing the total of U.S. troops killed in the conflict to 17.

Watch: What President Donald Trump said about the strikes and the fallen U.S. service members.

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A heavily-damaged bridge which was hit by a U.S. strike is pictured along the road connecting Roudan and Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on July 18, 2026.

AMIR HOSSEIN KHORGOOEI, ISNA/AFP via Getty Images

It's a wrap on the World Cup ⚽️

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!

That was the call in the 106th minute of a thrilling World Cup Final match that saw Spain best Argentina, 1-0. But for many American and international fans, one of the biggest Cup's winners was the host United States. We were there for every minute of play (and a lot of time off the pitch, too).

Spain will host a gran fiesta for its winning team on the streets of Madrid. 🥳
Is it too early to think about 2030? Probably. But we are anyway! 🔮
Argentina's megastar Lionel Messi was emotional after what was likely his last World Cup. 😭
Is the Trump sports curse real? And did it doom Messi and Argentina? 🤐
Check out all of our World Cup coverage, including photo galleries, videos, analysis and more. 📋

Soccer Worldcup Esp Arg

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Final - Spain v Argentina - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - July 19, 2026 Spain's Rodri lifts the World Cup trophy alongside teammates as they celebrate winning the World Cup REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Amanda Perobelli, REUTERS

Real quick

This summer's weather woes continue as parts of the U.S. continue to deal with extreme heat, smoke and heavy rainfall. ⛈️ 🥵 💨
Federal health officials continue to try to find the source of an outbreak of a dangerous parasite linked to lettuce. 🥬
One person was arrested for allegedly setting off an incendiary device outside a federal building in New York City.
Online influencers Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate remain in custody in Miami pending extradition to Britain on rape and human trafficking charges.

How Americans cope with higher costs 💸

Dipping into savings to cover necessities. Finding a side hustle to make a little extra cash. Tapping retirement accounts.

These are some of the ways Americans are coping with the higher costs of living, from skyrocketing rents to grocery bills that seem to grow with each trip. We asked six people how they're making it work in a challenging economy. Here's what they told us.

Where kids and parents can 'reset'

For parents of medically fragile or terminally ill children, the constant demands of care, both physical and emotional, can be overwhelming. And it can be hard to find caregivers who have both the compassion and the capability to meet their child's complex needs. But one California facility gives families a chance to recharge, and their kids a chance to have fun while still receiving the care they require.

"You can have a child who is actively dying, and then have to walk out the door and go take care of a respite child who’s laughing and cracking up and having the respite stay of their life," one employee said.

Photos: What life is like for kids at George Mark House.

George Mark House

Daniel Lockwood, 14, center, is dropped off by his father Kevin Lockwood, right, and mother Sarah Lockwood, not pictured, at the George Mark Children's House.

Matthew Busch, for USA TODAY

A break from the news

This raccoon might be the cutest cryptid on the internet. Meet Jimothy! 🦝
With a name like "Phaedra," you know I'm a fan of Greek lit. So I was really excited to see "The Odyssey" this weekend. And I wasn't disappointed. 🍿 🎬
I take my coffee black. Now scientists say that's the healthiest way to drink it. ☕️

Phaedra Trethan is a national correspondent at USA TODAY. She'd love to hear from readers about The Short List, story ideas from across the nation and your favorite performances from "The Odyssey." (Mine were Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Elliot Page as Sinon.) Email her at ptrethan@usatoday.com.

Taylor Farms has recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from Mexico amid an outbreak of cyclosporiasis.

Taylor Farms produces much of the lettuce sold in America’s supermarkets and fast food restaurants. Many consumers would like to know which ones.

Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, sister of Lindsey Graham, is ceremonially sworn in Washington on July 14, 2026.
 

Sen. Darline Graham running to keep brother's seat after Trump endorses

South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham, who's filling the remainder of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham's term in the Senate, said she will seek a full term.

Lindsay Clancy, charged with the murder of her three children in Duxbury in 2023, appears in Plymouth Superior Court on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026.
 

Murder trial of mom accused of killing her 3 children begins

Jury selection began in the murder trial of a Massachusetts mother who is accused of fatally strangling her three children in 2023.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, posts a photo of himself and his wife, Elaine Chao ‒ a former chief of both the Transportation Department and the Labor Department ‒ on July 12, 2026. In a statement to his constituents, McConnell, 84, said a fall and a subsequent bout of pneumonia have kept him away from the Senate for about a month.
 

Why Mitch McConnell's health has the internet so confused

As conspiracy theories swirl about Sen. Mitch McConnell, experts say it's normal to wonder, but health speculation can be harmful in some cases too.

Troy Jackson, former Maine Senate President, announced his run for U.S. Senate shortly after Graham Platner suspended his campaign.
 

Troy Jackson likely to become U.S. Senate Democratic nominee in Maine

Troy Jackson looks all but certain to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate after a dominate weekend performance.

Warner Bros Discovery logo is seen in this illustration taken December 5, 2025.
 

Judge pauses Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Here's why

A judge is pausing Paramount's $110 billion Warner Bros. Discovery merger as a California-led antitrust lawsuit moves forward.

U.S. President Donald Trump deboards the plane as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, U.S. on July 19, 2026.
 

Trump says new Air Force One is being 'maxed out'

Just weeks after the new Qatar-gifted Air Force One made its first official flight, Trump said it will be sent for upgrades.

Samantha Morton is a two-time Oscar nominee earning glowing reviews for "The Odyssey."
 

Samantha Morton waited decades for a role like Circe in ‘The Odyssey’

Samantha Morton "wept" when she got the call to play Circe in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey." The witchy role may just land her a third Oscar nod.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 15: Jessie Cave attends the UK Premiere of "A Boy called Christmas" at The Natural History Museum on November 15, 2021 in London, England. A Boy Called Christmas will launch on Sky Cinema and in Cinemas from 26th November 2021. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
 

This 'Harry Potter' star turned to OnlyFans. We need to talk about it.

Jessie Cave played Lavender Brown in three "Harry Potter" films. Now, she makes hair content on OnlyFans. What does that say about society?

Colorado Rockies pitcher Seth Halvorsen (54) throws against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium.
 

Dodgers land reliever who throws 100 mph in trade with Rockies

The World Series champs just bought one of baseball's hardest fastballs at a discount. Why Colorado sold low, and what it cost Los Angeles.

Play Your Way to a Relaxing Break

Unwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. 

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