July 18 1600 UTC Brief

In the Middle East The Trump administration has still not signed off on a draft nuclear deal that would let Saudi Arabia enrich uranium for its civilian program, without the safeguards meant to keep that path from wandering into weapons territory. Negotiations reportedly wrapped in October, but the agreement is still waiting on a presidential signature, which is a fairly important final step. At the same time, the U.S. and Iran are trading heavy fire, Israel continues bombing in Lebanon, and Kuwait is reporting strikes in Mangaf. Iran says it is suspending commitments under its interim deal with Washington as the fighting widens and critical infrastructure, including desalination plants, comes under threat. In U.S. news House Democrats are wrestling with a sharper split over Israel policy after 103 members backed an amendment to cut off foreign military assistance to Israel. The vote underscores the divide between the party’s left wing and its leadership, and it may shape how Hakeem Jeffries’ team handles the issue if Democrats retake the House. Elsewhere in the political system, a Washington Post-Ipsos poll found confidence in the Supreme Court slipping, with 46 percent of adults saying the justices are guided more by ideology than by law. And in New York’s swing House districts, Republicans are trying to turn Democratic infighting into a campaign issue. Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota is spreading across a wide stretch of the country, with dangerous air conditions expected to continue through Saturday. Some areas could get a brief break if storms move through, though that is a small comfort if your lungs are currently reviewing their options.