Saudi Oil Tankers Attacked, Trump's New Tariffs, Wisconsin Police Shooting
July 24, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readA tanker attack in the Red Sea pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel, the Trump administration replaced one set of tariffs with another at midnight, and a police shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, has left a family grieving and a city demanding answers.
Oil Surges After Houthi Attack on Saudi Tankers
Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, sending Brent crude oil—the international benchmark—jumping more than six percent to $100 a barrel, its highest level since May. Prices eased back under $90 when markets opened the next morning, but the attack signaled a dangerous new phase in the regional conflict. The Houthis have threatened to blockade the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the narrow chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. Beyond the Strait of Hormuz, it is one of the most critical maritime corridors for global oil and fuel transport.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:02) **Oil Prices Surge After Tanker Attack** - Houthi rebels strike two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, pushing Brent crude above $100 a barrel.
- 2 (03:17) **U.S. and Iran Exchange Strikes** - The U.S. completes a 13th round of strikes in Iran, hitting military command centers and drone facilities, while Iran retaliates against U.S. bases.
- 3 (04:17) **Saudi-U.S. Nuclear Deal and Trump's New Condition** - Saudi Arabia signs an agreement allowing U.S. companies to build and run nuclear power plants on Saudi soil.
- 4 (05:35) **New Blanket Tariffs Replace Expired Ones** - A major import tax expires and is immediately replaced by new tariffs of 10-12.5% on 59 countries and the EU, citing forced labor.
- 5 (07:34) **Tariff Uncertainty Persists** - While the new tariffs follow a months-long investigation, President Trump retains the power to make quick decisions, like a new 50% tariff on some Canadian goods.
- 6 (08:41) **Political Gamble on Tariffs Before Midterms** - Polls show Americans dislike tariffs and the president's approval on the economy has fallen, making the policy a risky bet.
- 7 (09:28) **Wisconsin Police Shooting of Cory Ruiz** - Police in Madison shoot and kill 38-year-old Cory Ruiz during an arrest attempt after a struggle in which he allegedly pulled a knife.
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Show Notes
One of Trump's global tariffs expired overnight and he replaced it within the hour with a new one hitting 59 countries and the European Union, built on a different legal argument after the Supreme Court threw out his last batch.
And people in Madison, Wisconsin gathered to remember Corey Ruiz, who police shot and killed Wednesday after they say he pulled a knife during a struggle, though bystander video appears to show him on the ground when the officer fired.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Tina Kraja, Rebekah Metzler, Gigi Douban, Mohamad ElBardicy and Taylor Haney.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.
Our director is Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Stacey Abbott.
And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:54) Saudi Oil Tankers Attacked
(05:24) Trump's New Tariffs
(09:19) Wisconsin Police Shooting
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