AP - The Morning WIRE - By Amy Langfield - AUgust 02, 2026 - devastating wildfires in France, Spain, Portugal, Crete and elsewhere; Iran’s leaders show a united front over the war but there is an open rivalry over their country’s postwar future;

 

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By Amy Langfield August 02, 2026

Good morning and welcome to the Sunday edition of Morning Wire, where we give you the weekend rundown to get ready for the week ahead. Today, we look at some of the consequences of the European heat wave that has brought drought and sparked devastating wildfires in France, Spain, Portugal, Crete and elsewhere; Iran’s leaders show a united front over the war but there is an open rivalry over their country’s postwar future; and a women’s professional baseball league makes its debut. But first, more progressive Americans are swearing off traditional media, a shift that could impact Democratic primaries. UP FIRST Ryan Grim, co-founder of Drop Site News, records a segment for the YouTube daily news show, Breaking Points, Monday, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) A new media ecosystem is taking root on the left, reshaping Democratic politics Farah Berent, a physician assistant in Holland, Michigan, used to learn about politics from channels like ABC, CBS and CNN. But that changed as she decided that coverage of the war in Gaza was irreparably biased. “I couldn’t stand all the lies on the stations,″ said Berent, arguing that there wasn’t enough attention being paid to Palestinian suffering. “I started going to Instagram to get my news.” Berent is among many progressive-minded Americans who have sworn off legacy media institutions. They’re turning to a widening mix of independent podcasts, social media accounts and digital news sites, part of an increasingly influential ecosystem that has boosted this year’s wave of anti-establishment, left-leaning candidates. Liberals remain more likely than conservatives to trust mainstream outlets, but the splintering echoes how conservatives skeptical of their party created a collection of insurgent news sites years ago. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ FCC chairman defends actions against ABC, says broadcasters must operate ‘in the public interest’ Ken Martin hunkers down at the Democratic National Committee as a storm gathers around party leader Republicans rate Trump higher on immigration than on the economy or Iran, AP-NORC poll finds Breakneck pace in immigration courts is driving up deportation orders Regulators propose overhaul to law governing how banks lend to low-and-middle income communities Democrat’s TV ad targets data centers in drive to oust Republican from swing Pennsylvania House seat  Democrats see a chance to flip a seat as focus on abuse claims mounts against Ohio Rep. Max Miller Republicans want voters to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices and move court to the right Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt says states, not Washington, should control elections Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says he’s ‘very concerned’ Trump will interfere in the midterm elections Trump’s attacks on mail balloting and concerns over delays turn midterms spotlight on Postal Service  Trump blasts Pirro after she refutes his claim that Reflecting Pool was damaged by vandals FBI investigates as Michigan joins Minnesota in reporting cyberattacks on its water systems Marine Corps says F-35B stealth fighter crashed in California, pilot ejected safely Tax returns show California’s Newsom earning between $1.7 million and $2 million annually George Santos agrees to $35,000 settlement in federal probe over Kalshi trades TOP STORIES Houseboats sit in low water on the Waal river in Nijmegen, Netherlands, Thursday, due to drought conditions. (AP Photo/Patrick Post) Dry, hot summers are putting Dutch dikes at risk and threatening German river trade Jeroen Wouda and Dirk Boom walk slowly along a Dutch dike, prodding at the bone dry surface with metal rods and scanning the parched grass for patches of green that could give away the location of a leak. In a scene that brings to mind the fictional Dutch boy who heroically plugs a hole in a dike with his finger, the two men are hunting for cracks in the low-lying Netherlands’ famed water defenses caused by a drought that is gripping Europe and has fueled raging wildfires in France and Spain and sent the Danube and Rhine rivers to record low levels. In the Netherlands and neighboring Germany cargo ships have been forced to carry significantly less freight or risk running aground in shallow navigation channels. Farmers facing restrictions on irrigating their crops are warning of smaller fruit harvests and rising prices this season. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Remains of ancient mammoth emerge as Danube water levels fall in Bulgaria Hungary braces for a full shutdown of the Paks nuclear plant as the Danube River hits record lows Record-low Danube River affects tourism and industry as drought and heat grip Central Europe UN, scientists warn that strong El Nino will add fuel to ‘a planet already on fire’ Arizona, California and Nevada would share cuts under federal proposal to manage the Colorado River WATCH: Fishing closures are becoming routine as record heat warms rivers in the US West Iran’s leaders show a united front over the war but are divided over what the goal is With escalating attacks against U.S. bases and its allies over the past week, Iran’s leaders are showing considerable unity over their war strategy: hanging tough, determined to show Iran can endure more than America and its allies can. But within the leadership, there are sharp differences over what the endgame should be. The unusually open rivalry within the theocracy’s leadership points to a struggle for control over Iran’s postwar future. A huge question mark is where the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, stands. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump says he will order halt to Iran strikes after parameters reached for deal to end war Israel says it has serious concerns with Hamas disarmament deal Iraq and Turkey strike a 1-year oil pipeline deal to boost exports during ongoing Hormuz closures Photos show the scenes after the latest Israeli strikes in Gaza

ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS Migrants return to Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Friday. (AP Photo/Antonio Sempere) READ AP Photos: Major global news moments of July FACT FOCUS: Migrant crossing in Spain’s Ceuta breeds unsubstantiated claims Greece: 2 firefighting helicopters collide midair near Athens as Europe’s wildfire emergency rages Moscow: Mayor calls Saturday’s deadly bomb attack on restaurant a ‘terrorist act’ In-N-Out Burger: Idaho fast food restaurant shooting leaves 3 dead and 7 injured Nazca Lines viewing flight: Plane carrying tourists crashes in Peru, killing 13 people Pakistan: Body of famed international climber Nirmal Purja and 3 more found after avalanche Space junk: A discarded SpaceX rocket is on a collision course with the moon Inaugural season: Women’s Professional Baseball League makes a debut ‘Sopranos’ actor: Vincent Pastore, known for playing tough guys, dead at 80 Quiz: Test your knowledge of this week's news Today in History: In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait WATCH Italy: Resident captures video of rockfall as earthquake hits volcanic area near Naples Afghanistan: The emotional toll behind the education ban on women and girls Failed World Cup equity plan: UEFA declares no confidence in FIFA president Vatican City: