News Wrap: Nearly 200 million Americans face extreme heat, severe weather

Geoff Bennett:

Nearly 200 million Americans have spent another day under a long list of heat advisories and severe weather warnings. Oppressive temperatures that scorched the Southwest for weeks have moved into much of the Midwest and the mid-Atlantic. Forecasts for Philadelphia's heat index topped out at 108 degrees today, and other cities reached the 100-degree mark as well.

Beyond that, severe thunderstorms are expected in the Great Lakes region and Ohio Valley.

New economic numbers today are the latest to show that inflation in the U.S. is easing. A government gauge that's closely watched by the Federal Reserve finds consumer prices rose 3 percent in June from a year earlier. That's the smallest annual increase in more than two years.

In Niger, soldiers declared an army general to be the new head of state today after ousting the democratically elected president this week. That came hours after the general addressed the nation, saying the civilian government failed to defend the country against Islamist insurgents.

Abdourahmane Tchiani, Niger Coup Leader (through interpreter):

The current security approach has failed to secure our country. We can no longer continue with the same approaches proposed to date, at the risk of witnessing the gradual and inevitable disappearance of our country.

Geoff Bennett:

The U.S. has about 1,000 troops in Niger, and it's unclear how the coup will affect that commitment.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin aimed tough talk at China today over its aggressive moves in the Pacific. He was in Australia for talks on providing submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology. He said directly it's aimed at countering Beijing, officially, the People's Republic of China.

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense: We have seen troubling PRC coercion from the East China Sea to the South China Sea to right here in the Southwest Pacific. And we will continue to support our allies and partners as they defend themselves from bullying behavior.

Geoff Bennett:

Meantime, Japan released a defense analysis that warns of the most serious security threats since World War II. It cites actions by China, North Korea and Russia and calls for a Japanese military buildup in response.

The U.S. House and Senate now face tough negotiations over an annual defense policy bill. The Senate passed its version last night. It includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for the military. But, unlike the House version, it does not curb troops' access to gender-affirming care or abortion. That leaves lawmakers to work out a compromise bill.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was moving to quash questions about his health and future. That's after the Kentucky senator froze up during a news conference this week. In a new statement, his office says — quote — "Leader McConnell appreciates the continued support of his colleagues and plans to serve his full term in the job they overwhelmingly elected him to do."

McConnell is 81 and is the longest-serving Senate party leader ever.

And, on Wall Street, the new inflation data fueled a new rally. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 176 points to close it 35459. The Nasdaq rose 266 points, and the S&P 500 was up 1 percent.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": a podcast examines the legal pitfalls victims of domestic violence face when they defend themselves; Jonathan Capehart and Gary Abernathy weigh in on the week's political headlines a Black-owned brewery in California bucks industry trends while fostering community.