GOP Digest — July 10, 2026 | Trump Clears Election Commission as U.S. Strikes Iran for a Second Night

Trump clears out the Election Assistance Commission:

On Thursday night the president removed the two remaining Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, from the bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission, while Republican Christy McCormick resigned. A White House official said the president "reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America's elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted," citing the Supreme Court's recent Slaughter decision expanding a president's removal power over independent agencies.

U.S. strikes some 90 targets in Iran as ceasefire is declared "over":

U.S. Central Command said American forces hit roughly 90 targets across Iran early Thursday, a second consecutive night of strikes, after the administration said Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz had ended the fragile ceasefire. Iran retaliated against U.S.-allied Gulf states, firing at Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan, while Trump said he would allow negotiations to continue.

Illinois Democrats reel from a "disgraceful week":

Illinois state Rep. Carol Ammons (D) was indicted on 10 federal counts, including wire fraud and lying to an FBI agent, days after former Rep. Harry Benton (D) resigned over an internal ethics report. Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie called for a special investigative committee that could ultimately lead to expulsion.