After returning to the office, federal employees report low productivity, morale

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Trump vows revenge on Iran

Plus, test your soccer knowledge with our World Cup quiz.

Today’s Top Stories from NBC News TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026 In today’s newsletter: Trump enters an uncertain moment in an Iran war threatening to become a quagmire. Battleground Arizona gets ready for another set of hotly contested primaries. And test your soccer knowledge with our World Cup quiz. Here’s what to know today. ▼ The Lead ✱ FOR SUBSCRIBERS Trump enters a dangerous new phase in the Iran war (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images) President Donald Trump, angered by the deaths of three U.S. service members since Friday, has vowed revenge on Iran as the war between the two countries enters a dangerous and murky new phase. A senior White House official described the state of play as a “time of ambiguity,” with an April ceasefire collapsed and the “memorandum of understanding” that both sides signed last month in tatters. U.S. Central Command announced a new round of attacks yesterday afternoon. Also yesterday, the Defense Department identified two soldiers killed in Iranian strikes in Jordan as 25-year-old Tyler James Feehan of Hawaii and 19-year-old Isabella Gonzales of Texas. A third U.S. service member was killed in a separate attack in Iraq.  The sudden uptick in the pace and ferocity of the conflict spells trouble for Trump, as a war of his choosing threatens to become both a military and a political quagmire. Trump faces an Iranian regime that doesn’t need to defeat the U.S. so much as survive to fight another day. But he won’t let Iran’s strikes go unpunished, a White House official said. At home, he faces an American public that wants assurances that the end is in sight.  More on the complicated and limited options for ending the war. The best of NBC News. All in one place. Full access to exclusive articles and videos Stream full episodes of Nightly News, Dateline, and Meet the Press Subscriber-only live Q&As and newsletters LEARN MORE ▼ Top Stories ✱ FOR SUBSCRIBERS Arizona hosts another round of hotly contested elections A slate of primary races today in Arizona will set up competitive battleground races this fall. And even though it’s been six years, the 2020 election still continues to play a big role in campaigns. In the race for governor, Rep. Andy Biggs, the Republican frontrunner, has shied away from his past comments casting doubt on the presidential election results. The GOP is optimistic about taking on incumbent governor Katie Hobbs, but Democrats believe a Trump-aligned candidate like Biggs would have a tough time winning. The secretary of state race could also receive outsized attention this fall, as the winner will be the swing state’s chief election officer in 2028. And one of the most hotly-watched congressional races of the year will be in Arizona’s first district, with competitive primaries on both sides of the aisle. Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is the frontrunner on the Republican side, while former state Rep. Amish Shah is facing off with former journalist Marlene Galán-Woods for the Democratic nomination. What else to know about today’s election. More politics news: Sen. Darline Graham said she will run for a full term for the seat held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham, after Trump urged her to jump into the race. For subscribers: Trump’s primetime speech failed to unlock the votes needed to pass the SAVE America Act. Multiple Republican senators explained why there’s still opposition. New U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham rose to prominence as mayor of a northern city. NBC News traveled to Manchester and spoke to those who know Burnham to get a sense of who he really is and what his policies might be. Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods Trump announced 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, a move that risks pushing inflation higher and fraying relations with one of Washington’s closest allies. The tariffs include goods that had previously been protected from import taxes by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement but exclude energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals.  In proclamations signed yesterday, Trump claims that Canada discriminates against American autos, alcohol and cheese relative to other nations. But his argument rests in large part on retaliatory actions taken after he imposed tariffs last year.  How ongoing wildfires factored into Trump’s decision. ✱ FOR SUBSCRIBERS Robo-police and dancing humanoids at China’s AI conference Hundreds of thousands of visitors flocked to Shanghai for the World Artificial Intelligence Conference to catch a glimpse of China’s latest AI advancements. The conference, which ended yesterday, included over 1,000 official events, as attendees ranging from students to world leaders jostled to get a glimpse of the droids, and more. Exhibition halls lined with brightly lit TV screens, boxing robots, bionic hands and walls of computer chips greeted guests. On one floor, visitors could inspect racks of AI chips that could be implemented at data centers. On another, visitors shared walkways with dancing humanoid robots and attendees pushed through crowds for an ideal spot to watch robots face off in boxing matches.  NBC News tech reporter Jared Perlo shared what else he saw at the conference. ▼ Quiz Time Who won the Golden Boot as the World Cup’s top scorer? Harry Kane of England Erling Haaland of Norway Kylian Mbappé of France Lionel Messi of Argentina Find out the answer and test your knowledge of the 2026 World Cup. (The answer to the question is also at the bottom of this newsletter.) TAKE THE WORLD CUP QUIZ ▼ Staff Pick ✱ FOR SUBSCRIBERS Lake where a teen died is risky even for experienced swimmers When I started reporting on the death of 18-year-old Daniel Erving in Texas, I had several questions: What happened after he and two teens arrived at a Dallas-area lake one day in April? Why didn’t the two teens call 911? Why did they discard his clothing and cellphone, as alleged in an arrest warrant affidavit? Some of those questions were answered during interviews with police and the mother of one of the suspects charged with evidence tampering. But one question that I kept coming back to was how Erving, an experienced swimmer, drowned. Through research and an interview with a local instructor trainer for the American Canoe Association, I learned that Lake Ray Hubbard has a history of drownings and fatal boat accidents. The human-made lake is also massive. It measures 20,947 acres of water surface and has a maximum depth of about 40 feet, making it one of the largest in North Texas. And because it’s human-made, it’s full of debris under the surface, such as wood and trees, creating obstructions for people who dive or swim. Erving’s death, although ruled an accident by the county medical examiner’s office, remains under investigation as police probe what caused him to drown. — Minyvonne Burke, senior reporter ▼ Read All About It A federal judge temporarily paused the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. after 12 states sued to stop the deal. The FDA says Taylor Farms will still be investigated in the growing  cyclosporiasis outbreak despite a false positive test result from a lettuce sample. Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to strengthen as it moves west and unleash heavy rain on parts of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. A possible anti-ICE activist, who previously served in the Army and the National Guard, deployed an “incendiary device” outside federal offices in New York City, the FBI said. A man and his adult son have been charged with kidnapping two federal biologists at gunpoint in a Northern California forest. A woman in Australia has given birth to rare identical quadruplet girls. Doctors estimate the odds of conceiving spontaneous identical quadruplets at roughly one in 15 million. ▼ NBC Selected: Online Shopping, Simplified You don’t have to sweat just to reduce your energy bill. Here’s how to lower your air conditioning costs and still keep your home cool. Plus, Target is having a secret early back-to-school sale with major savings on backpacks, art supplies and more. Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson, Josh Feldman, Delia Sara Rangel, and Daniela Suarez.  By the way, the answer to the quiz question above is C. Kylian Mbappé of France. If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — send us an email at: MorningRundown@nbcuni.com If you're a fan, please forward it to your family and friends. They can sign up here. Download the NBC News Mobile App © 2026 NBC NEWS DIGITAL, LLC. 30 ROCKEFELLER PLZ., NEW YORK, NY 10112  UNSUBSCRIBE | MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION | VIEW IN BROWSER | PRIVACY | CONTACT  To ensure delivery to your inbox add email@mail.nbcnews.com to your contacts