{"id":5808,"date":"2026-07-31T12:31:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T12:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/31\/top-democrats-accuse-republicans-of-becoming-gelatinous-blobs-on-iran-war-first-thing\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T12:31:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T12:31:53","slug":"top-democrats-accuse-republicans-of-becoming-gelatinous-blobs-on-iran-war-first-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=5808","title":{"rendered":"Top Democrats accuse Republicans of becoming \u2018gelatinous blobs\u2019 on Iran war | First Thing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"29cc01e7-bfeb-4e3c-b82a-b6992bdf8158\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Warren and other formally dressed people attend a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/a949d036928e27c6b16032592043284287b57d27\/75_0_4101_3281\/master\/4101.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.0226773957571\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Senator Elizabeth Warren (centre) criticised Republicans for not standing up to Donald Trump.<\/span> Photograph: Nathan Howard\/Pool Reuters\/AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"29cc01e7-bfeb-4e3c-b82a-b6992bdf8158\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Senator Elizabeth Warren (centre) criticised Republicans for not standing up to Donald Trump.<\/span> Photograph: Nathan Howard\/Pool Reuters\/AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">First Thing: Top Democrats accuse Republicans of becoming \u2018gelatinous blobs\u2019 on Iran war<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Senators Warren and Van Hollen attack Republican \u2018rubber stamps\u2019 in Congress for surrendering authority to Trump. Plus, could AI take your job? Some workers in China already know the answer<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Good morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Senior Democrats accused Republicans in the US Congress of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/31\/republicans-gelatinous-blobs-iran-war\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">becoming \u201cgelatinous blobs\u201d who will not stand up to Donald Trump<\/a> and \u201crubber stamps\u201d for his war on Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Elizabeth Warren, a US senator for Massachusetts, and Chris Van Hollen, a US senator for Maryland, argued that the Republican-controlled Congress had surrendered its constitutional authority to the president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In interviews with the Guardian, the senators urged their Republican colleagues to stand with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/democrats\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Democrats<\/a> and assert Congress\u2019s authority as a separate branch of the federal government<strong> \u2013<\/strong> with power over declaring war.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>What else is happening in Washington?<\/strong> Trump has said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jul\/31\/trump-hamas-disarmament-agreement-gaza-board-of-peace\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">a deal has been reached<\/a> for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. However, briefings from both sides exposed disputes over its implementation that could prove difficult to overcome.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"trump-says-he-may-temporarily-drop-attempt-to-make-blanche-us-attorney-general\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\"><strong>Trump says he may \u2018temporarily\u2019 drop attempt to make Blanche US attorney general<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"8b1d2ef0-273e-4e61-b3ee-78b609f96be0\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div id=\"img-2\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Blanche raises a hand as he is sworn in as he appears before the Senate judiciary committee this month\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/18230b5c5478f4e5d8b00f03821a5508e218edb1\/531_0_7200_5760\/master\/7200.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><a href=\"#img-2\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"8b1d2ef0-273e-4e61-b3ee-78b609f96be0\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">President says he has no objection to pulling his former lawyer\u2019s name until dissenting Republicans are out of office.<\/span> Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Donald Trump said yesterday he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/30\/todd-blanche-attorney-general-doj-nomination-trump\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">may \u201ctemporarily\u201d pull the nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general<\/a>, but would keep him in the role in an acting capacity until two Republican senators objecting to his confirmation leave office next year \u2013 an extraordinary escalation of an intra-party fight over an agreement to create a $1.8bn slush fund and give the president tax immunity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Two Republican senators \u2013 John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina \u2013 have refused to back Blanche\u2019s nomination until they receive written confirmation from the justice department that it is not moving forward with a widely criticized agreement creating a $1.8bn fund to compensate people claiming they were targets of political weaponization and granting the president, his family and business entities broad immunity from past tax investigations.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>What has Blanche said?<\/strong> Blanche has already said publicly that the payout fund to compensate victims of so-called government weaponization is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/02\/trump-weaponization-fund\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">not moving forward<\/a> amid bipartisan backlash. But Cornyn and Tillis had sought assurances in writing, something Blanche has refused to do. Cornyn also sought to clarify the terms of the tax immunity portion of the agreement.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"at-least-34-die-as-49000-cross-to-spanish-enclave-of-ceuta-from-morocco\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\"><strong>At least 34 die as 49,000 cross to Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"54528731-656f-458d-aea2-fb7f7f6e888e\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div id=\"img-3\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"People crowd on to a fence that extends into the sea\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/6bc408757f111ba305a07babd6ccfe679e1bd165\/860_0_4301_3441\/master\/4301.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.0206928621251\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><a href=\"#img-3\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"54528731-656f-458d-aea2-fb7f7f6e888e\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">People trying to cross from Morocco into Ceuta.<\/span> Photograph: Antonio Sempere\/AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">At least <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jul\/31\/ceuta-spain-morocco-border-deaths\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">34 people have died trying to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta<\/a> after about 49,000 migrants breached the border with Morocco and poured into the tiny territory.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Spain sent \u200bmilitary and police reinforcements to Ceuta on Thursday after people crossed by land and sea. Spain\u2019s prime minister, Pedro S\u00e1nchez, was expected to join the interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, on a visit to Ceuta on Friday morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Rachid Sbihi, who leads a local workers\u2019 association representing Civil Guard officers, described the situation as a \u201cserious humanitarian crisis\u201d. He said: \u201cPeople are still entering. The reinforcements that have arrived are only helping the injured and other humanitarian efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>How did the people die?<\/strong> Many drowned but some were killed in a crush to cross the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach, Sbihi said.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Why have so many breached the border at the same time?<\/strong> It was not immediately clear what prompted so many people to cross to Ceuta.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"in-other-news\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\"><strong>In other news \u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"7ec7d246-e419-4872-8e49-5268335b7b9a\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div id=\"img-4\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A woman places flowers at a memorial\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/a6d2a57cd95b59289ffb67f17bafdf8c8f63685f\/370_0_3686_2951\/master\/3686.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.26559956592513\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><a href=\"#img-4\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"7ec7d246-e419-4872-8e49-5268335b7b9a\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">A woman places flowers at a memorial for victims of a 26 July shooting at Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food festival.<\/span> Photograph: Lindsey Wasson\/AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Seattle\u2019s police chief has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/30\/seattle-police-chief-food-festival-shooting\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">resigned amid criticism of the city\u2019s response to a fatal shootout at a food festival<\/a> last weekend, Katie Wilson, the mayor, said last night<\/strong>. The announcement followed hours of speculation about whether Shon Barnes would step down.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Anthropic \u2060said <\/strong><strong>on Thursday its AI Claude model <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/technology\/2026\/jul\/30\/anthropic-ai-claude-hack\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">hacked \u2060systems of \u2060three \u200borganizations during testing<\/a><\/strong>, days after rival OpenAI \u2060revealed a rogue agent had gone on a days-long \u2060hacking spree at AI \u200bfirm Hugging \u200cFace.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>George and Amal Clooney have been<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2026\/jul\/30\/george-clooney-amal-evacuate-french-house\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> forced to evacuate their home<\/a> in south-eastern France as a wildfire burned nearby<\/strong>, the actor\u2019s agent confirmed to Associated Press on Thursday. In a letter to the local mayor, the actor said that \u201cwhatever happens, they remain fully part of this community\u201d and would \u201ccontribute to its rebuilding\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"culture-pick-spider-man-brand-new-day-review-zendaya-saves-tom-hollands-semi-cronenberg-style-superhero\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\"><strong>Culture <\/strong><strong>pick: Spider-Man: Brand New Day review \u2013 Zendaya saves Tom Holland\u2019s semi-Cronenberg-style superhero<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"6bd33d5f-aa4a-4e5f-9464-b13fb2608899\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div id=\"img-5\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Still from the film showing Spider-Man\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/6f0ba2597bf0cfbae35dbcebbe2d9d4b0e5031a2\/220_0_2500_2000\/master\/2500.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><a href=\"#img-5\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"6bd33d5f-aa4a-4e5f-9464-b13fb2608899\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.<\/span> Photograph: CTMG\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In the new instalment of the Spider-Man franchise,Peter is back where he started, adored by New Yorkers for crime-fighting as Spider-Man, living in a scuzzy single room with all his screens and tech gear, his secret identity a secret once more, but pining for the people he loves. And he\u2019s not getting any younger. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2026\/jul\/28\/spider-man-brand-new-day-review-zendaya-saves-tom-hollands-semi-cronenberg-style-superhero\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">How much of a \u201cbrand new day\u201d is this?<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"stat-of-the-day-all-55-uefa-members-agree-to-boycott-fifa-competitions-if-world-cup-sell-off-plans-proceed\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\"><strong>Stat of the day: All<\/strong> <strong>55 Uefa members agree<\/strong><strong> to boycott Fifa competitions if World Cup sell-off plans proceed<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"1d9148da-5975-4096-b466-eeb0e906c9ab\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div id=\"img-6\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Infantino and Trump hand the trophy to Rodri of Spain as the rest of the Spain team look on\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/6b61debedab864c106be3f34b32d76b3c041757b\/115_0_4618_3694\/master\/4618.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"355.9614551754006\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><a href=\"#img-6\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"1d9148da-5975-4096-b466-eeb0e906c9ab\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump presenting the World Cup to Spain.<\/span> Photograph: Allstar Picture Library Ltd\/Richard Sellers\/Apl\/Sportsphoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">European countries have agreed to boycott all Fifa competitions if Gianni Infantino pushes forward with his proposals to sell chunks of the World Cup to US-based private investment. In an extraordinary development, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/30\/uefa-agrees-to-boycott-fifa-competitions-if-world-cup-sell-off-plans-proceed\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">all 55 Uefa members resolved not to participate in future World Cups<\/a> or other Fifa-run events, saying in a statement that they \u201cunanimously and unequivocally reject\u201d the proposals.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"dont-miss-this-could-ai-take-your-job-some-workers-in-china-already-know-the-answer\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\"><strong>Don\u2019t miss this: Could AI take your job? Some workers in China already know the answer<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"1790dbd6-a600-4626-99ae-f8809b4af28f\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div id=\"img-7\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A woman stands beside a robot as it prepares tea\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/3ce356aad9a745854a5c27720db1c03216959a5a\/1364_788_3114_2492\/master\/3114.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.11432241490047\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><a href=\"#img-7\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"1790dbd6-a600-4626-99ae-f8809b4af28f\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Workers and a robot prepare tea beside each other at a booth at the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum earlier this year. China\u2019s rollout of AI has sparked concerns about the future of the jobs market.<\/span> Photograph: Jessica Lee\/EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In China, the deployment of AI is being encouraged at a scale unseen in the west. Across the country, workers are fearful about the impact of AI on their livelihoods as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jul\/31\/china-ai-jobs-workers-labour-market-technology\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the technology is rolled out at a staggering rate<\/a> in an increasingly precarious labour market.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"climate-check-europe-is-burning-and-if-trumps-war-on-the-climate-is-not-met-with-sanctions-things-will-only-get-worse\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\"><strong>Climate check: Europe is burning \u2013 and if Trump\u2019s war on the climate is not met with sanctions, things will only get worse<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"5194ebbf-4952-4c5f-8ce2-98d284c93158\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div id=\"img-8\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A firefighter walking in front of a huge wildfire in a wooded area\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/8308ebbe0e5aed3eabcc5662010311f58f6283bc\/668_0_6683_5346\/master\/6683.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"355.9733652551249\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><a href=\"#img-8\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"5194ebbf-4952-4c5f-8ce2-98d284c93158\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Fire erupts in Galicia, Spain, on 14 June.<\/span> Photograph: Brais Lorenzo\/EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cAre we understanding it yet? As Europe burns in the west, the south and the north, are we grasping the fact that our economies, food systems, political stability and even our ability to plan for the future, will all be charred in a world on fire? Meanwhile <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2026\/jul\/30\/europe-burning-trump-war-climate-sanctions-white-house\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the White House seems committed to ecocide<\/a>,\u201d writes Alexander Hurst for Guardian Opinion.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"sign-up\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\"><strong>Sign up<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"a80e9edd-d4d8-493a-8ba6-a592dd7badbd\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.EmbedBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div data-testid=\"embed-block\" class=\"dcr-bim5uz\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1uhxjbp\">Sign up for the US morning briefing<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you\u2019re not already signed up, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/info\/2018\/sep\/17\/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">subscribe now<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"get-in-touch\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\"><strong>Get in touch<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email <a href=\"mailto:newsletters@theguardian.com\" data-link-name=\"in body link | mailto:newsletters@theguardian.com\">newsletters@theguardian.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US news<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/series\/guardian-us-briefing\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">First Thing newsletter<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Top%20Democrats%20accuse%20Republicans%20of%20becoming%20%E2%80%98gelatinous%20blobs%E2%80%99%20on%20Iran%20war%20%7C%20First%20Thing&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/31\/first-thing-top-democrats-accuse-republicans-gelatinous-blobs-iran-war?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fjul%2F31%2Ffirst-thing-top-democrats-accuse-republicans-gelatinous-blobs-iran-war&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/jul\/31\/first-thing-top-democrats-accuse-republicans-gelatinous-blobs-iran-war\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1kq7f60\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senator Elizabeth Warren (centre) criticised Republicans for not standing up to Donald Trump. Photograph: Nathan Howard\/Pool Reuters\/AP View<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":5810,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5808"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5808\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5810"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}