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People near me at the Iowa State Fair were frantic. Do you see him yet? they panted. Do you think hell come out into the crowd to talk? When the presence of Secret Service officers made it clear that former President Donald Trump would appear at the Steer N Stein restaurant on the Grand Concourse, fairgoers formed a line whose end was out of sight.

Not all of them could squeeze into the restaurant, so they filled the street outside, one giant blob of eager, sweating Iowans. When the former president finally appeared, the scrum was so dense that they could barely make out his silhouette through the restaurants open side. You know, the other candidates came here, and they had like six people, Trumps giddy voice said through the speakers above us. The audience responded with hoots and cheers.

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One of the few rules of American politics to have withstood the weirdness of these past tumultuous years is that anyone who wants to be president of the United States must endure both the many splendors and the equally many ritual humiliations of the Iowa State Fair. It is an essential audition, at least for the GOP. (The Democratic Party has recently shuffled the order of its primary season, demoting the Iowa caucus from its first-in-the-nation status.)

If a Republican candidate, drenched in sweat and stuffed with fried butter, can pique the interest of Iowas choosy voters, then that candidate has a real shot in the caucuses and, perhaps, the White House. Sometimes, a long-shot outsider can work the crowds and gain an unexpected edge, as Rick Santorum did in 2012, and Ted Cruz did in 2016.

So the fair is a place to charm and be charmed. Early on in the weekend, it seemed to be working its magic.

Hes really very engaging, Shirley Burgess, from Des Moines, said of Mike Pence. I thought he delivers a much clearer message in person than what Im getting from him on TV. The former vice president had just wrapped one of several Fair-Side Chats hosted by Republican Governor Kim Reynolds. This was a new feature at the fair, at which the governor asks the candidates such hard-hitting questions as Whats your favorite walkout song?

The night before, Pence had been heckled by a man who asked how he was doing after Tucker Carlson ruined your career. Another said, Im glad they didnt hang you!

But on Friday morning, Pence drew a respectful crowd for his conversation with Reynolds at J.R.s Southpork Ranch. Attendees asked him polite questions, and half a dozen people personally thanked him for his integrity when Trump was trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Pence had company, however. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and the entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy also attracted crowds at the Pork Ranch and at the Des Moines Registers Soapbox venue. Most of the undecided Iowans who attended told me that theyd supported Trump in 2016 and in 2020. These voters appreciated his service, they said, but after eight years of idiotic rants on social media, baseless but relentless assertions of election fraud, and a string of criminal indictments, they were hankering for some new energy. You know, a leader without so much baggage, they told me; someone more classy.

Everything out of his mouth is like, Shut up, Donald, Charles Dunlap, a two-time Trump voter from Johnston, Iowa, told me. He was eager to hear from Ramaswamy and Haley, people he believed would institute similar policies to Trumpsjust without the drama.

But the intimate enchantment of the fairthe promise of thoughtful, measured considerationdissipated around 1 p.m. Saturday, when the former president arrived. What very quickly became clear was that the Trump-exhausted, change-minded Iowans Id met that morning were in the minority. Most folks? They still love Trump.

The former president skipped possible speaking slots at the Soapbox and with Reynolds (because of his strange beef with the governor), but showed up to mingle with his people. They packed into every fair establishment where the president might conceivably speak. Because his event wasnt on any official schedule, everyone was kept guessing. Parts of the fairground came to a standstill. People who just wanted to slurp lemonade and admire the prize-winning steers were annoyed. Why did we have to come on the day that all the politicians are here? a man pushing a stroller through the throng asked his wife. (Almost every Iowan, for the record, has at one point uttered the phrase.)

Given his commanding lead in the GOP primary polling, its not so shocking that Trumps presence would create such fervor. But seeing it, feeling it, was different. By contrast, the crowds that had gathered for the other Republican candidates didnt seem impressive at all. Suddenly, the entire GOP primary contest felt painfully futile, pathetic even. Why are they even doing this? For the also-ransbasically, the rest of the field alreadywas suffering the abuses of the campaign trail worth even the best-case scenario of being anointed Trumps running mate?

On Saturday, while Pence stood in the sun flipping pork burgers, people in the crowd whispered about him. Look at him sweat, someone behind me said. Hes a dweeb, and so is DeSantis, a young man from Cedar Rapids named Jacob, who declined to give his last name, told me. You just want to take their lunch money. Its instinct. Ramaswamy, whose big personality has charmed many Republicans, apparently felt the need to put on a non-dweeb showing after his interview with the governor, and rapped confidently to the Eminem song Lose Yourself. A sea of silver-haired onlookers, who found themselves trapped near the front of the stage, were obliged to awkwardly bob along.

DeSantis, more than anyone else, suffered at the fair. While he spoke with Reynolds, a plane flew in circles overhead, carrying a long sign that read Be likable, Ron! DeSantis pretended not to notice it. When the Florida governor took his turn in the Pork Tent, Trump supporters gathered behind his photo op, wearing green-and-yellow trucker hats handed out by the Trump campaign. They chanted and yelled insults as DeSantis and his wife flipped burgers.

And when Trump finally arrived on Saturday afternoon, he brought with him a posse of Florida lawmakers who had endorsed him over DeSantis. (Representative Matt Gaetz warmed up the crowd by saying that hed grilled burgers well done at the Pork Tent, but the most done you can be is Ron DeSantis.) Will the humiliation pay off in the end? DeSantiss campaign has to hope so. At least in Iowa, the Florida governor is running somewhat closer to Trump than he is nationally.

Earlier in the day, Id interviewed Matt Wells, a DeSantis supporter and a county chair from Washington, Iowa, who had been following the candidate around the fair all morning. Trumps people dont really know what theyre doing; its all an emotional thing, he told me. Wells worked for Ted Cruzs campaign in 2016. Theyd had a strong ground game then, as DeSantis does now, he said. Trump, Wells added, doesnt have any ground game here.

Helen Lewis: The humiliation of Ron DeSantis

Cruz may have won Iowa, but he quite memorably did not go on to win the 2016 election. I was about to bring up this fact when someone near us gasped. A dozen fingers pointed toward the sky, and people began to scream with excitement. There, in the bright-blue ocean above us, was a plane with TRUMP emblazoned on its side heading for the nearby airport. Someone whispered, Did I tell you that I shook his hand twice? The clamor grew louder.

Trump would be here soon. The man, the myth, had landed.

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Business

Microsoft is now worth over $4 trn, becoming only second firm ever to pass milestone

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July 31, 2025

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Microsoft is now worth over trn, becoming only second firm ever to pass milestone

Microsoft has become only the second publicly traded company after Nvidia to surpass $4 trn (£3.03trn) in market valuation, after registering huge earnings.

On Thursday, shares rose on Wall Street with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq climbing to new record highs.

Stocks in Microsoft jumped after posting better-than-expected results, helped by its Azure cloud computing platform, which is a centrepiece of the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) efforts.

Shares in Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, also surged after beating sales and profit targets.

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Is Trump’s AI plan a ‘tech bro’ manifesto?

Technology giants Apple and Amazon will report their results after Wall Street’s close.

Microsoft first cracked the $1trn (£760bn) mark in April 2019, but its move to $3trn (£2.27trn) took longer than technology giants Nvidia and Apple.

Nvidia tripled its value in just about a year and clinched the $4trn milestone before any other company on 9 July. Apple was last valued at $3.12trn.

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In comparison, the biggest UK company by market value is drug manufacturer AstraZeneca, worth $235.97bn (£178.55bn).

Companies ranked by market value (USD), according to tradingview.com

1. Nvidia (US) $4.43trn
2. Microsoft (US) $4trn
3. Apple (US) $3.12trn
4. Amazon (US) $2.47trn
5. Alphabet (US) $2.35trn
6. Meta (US) $1.95trn
7. Saudi Arabian Oil (Saudi Arabia) $1.56trn
8. Broadcom (US) $1.42trn
9. Berkshire Hathaway (US) $1.03trn
10. Tesla (US) $1.02trn
11. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Taiwan) $1trn
29. Samsung Electronics (South Korea) $338.06bn
36. Alibaba (China) $284.62bn
52. AstraZeneca (UK) $235.97bn

While sweeping US tariffs had investors worried about tighter business spending, Microsoft’s strong earnings have shown that the company’s books are yet to take a hit.

Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar bet on OpenAI is proving to be a game changer, powering its Office Suite and Azure offerings with cutting-edge AI and fueling the stock to more than double its value since ChatGPT’s late-2022 debut.

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Microsoft beats Nvidia by market value
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UK ramps up AI adoption with Meta

On Wednesday, the firm announced Azure sales surpassed $75bn (£56bn) on an annual basis, while Azure revenue jumped 39% in the April-June quarter.

Overall revenue rose 18% to $76.4bn (£57.81bn) over the same period.

It is also forecasting a record $30bn (£22.7bn) in capital spending over the first quarter to meet soaring AI demand..

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Environment

ENGWE Engine Pro 2.0 e-bike at exclusive new $750 low, Anker eufy S220 solar cam $65, Linkind smart solar spotlights from $23, more

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July 31, 2025

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ENGWE Engine Pro 2.0 e-bike at exclusive new 0 low, Anker eufy S220 solar cam , Linkind smart solar spotlights from , more

Leading today’s pack of Green Deals is an exclusive 50% discount for our readers on the ENGWE Engine Pro 2.0 Folding e-bike at a new $749.50 low. Right behind it we have Anker’s eufy SoloCam S220 Solar Security Camera starting at $65, with some multi-pack discounts also available, as well as multi-packs of Linkind’s Smart Solar Spotlights starting from $23. From there we have a 3-in-1 tool bundle with replacement parts from Worx, a 60V 610 CFM cordless leaf blower from Greenworks, and more waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s ECOVACS Goat RTK robot lawn mower low price, Rad Power’s RadWagon 4 cargo e-bike discount, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Commute up to 68 miles with exclusive 50% savings on ENGWE’s Engine Pro 2.0 folding e-bike at a new $749.50 low

We’ve secured an exclusive and budget-friendly deal from Wellbots for our readers on the ENGWE Engine PRO 2.0 Folding e-bike at $749.50 shipped, after using the exclusive promo code 9TO5ENGWE50 at checkout for 50% off. This model would normally run you $1,499 here, which we’ve seen discounted as low as $1,149 from the brand over the last year. That price is getting strong-armed out of the way with this exclusive deal that gives you a 50% markdown, putting nearly $750 back into your pocket at the best new price we have tracked.

A great alternative option for riders who want a reliable means to get through their commutes without shelling out $1,000 or more on other brands, the ENGWE Engine Pro 2.0 e-bike is a folding model that saves on space while also providing some significant travel support. The 750W rear hub motor peaks at 1,200W and comes paired with a removable 16Ah battery for up to 68 miles of pedal-assisted travel (five levels supported by a torque sensor) at up to 20 to 28 MPH top speeds, depending on what your local laws allow. Of course, you’ll have the option for pure electric travel via the throttle, though keep in mind this reduces the mileage to around 30 miles on one full charge.

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For the low price you’re getting on ENGWE’s Engine Pro 2.0, you’ll be scoring some solid features, including hydraulic disc brakes for greater stopping power, puncture-resistant all-terrain fat tires so you don’t have to fear what you may ride over, and an 8-speed Shimano derailleur for versatile pedaling options. That’s not all, as you’ll also be getting a rear cargo rack, a full suspension system, and a smart LCD screen for performance data and setting adjustments – plus, the whole thing weighs in at 70 pounds, so it’s manageable regardless of your rural/suburban/urban environment.

rain falling onto Anker eufy SoloCam S220 solar security camera

Upgrade your home security with Anker’s solar-powered eufy SoloCam S220 camera at $65

Anker is offering its eufy SoloCam S220 Solar Security Camera at $64.99 shipped, after using the on-page promo code at checkout for $35 off the price, which is beating out Amazon’s pricing by $5. Coming down off its $100 full price tag while the savings last, this model has been regularly seen dropping to $70 and more recently going lower to $65 over the last handful of months, only beaten out by the $62 low we first saw appearing during Prime Day at the top of the month. You’re looking at 35% markdown while the savings last, giving you the second-best price we have tracked if you missed out on the one-time Prime Day low. You’ll also find the camera’s multi-pack options starting from $129.99 shipped here.

If you want to learn more about this solar-powered security device, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Daytime and Nighttime differences with Linkind's smart solar spotlights lining walkway

Save up to 34% on multi-packs of Linkind’s Smart Solar Spotlights starting from $23

By way of its official Amazon storefront, Linkind is offering its Smart Solar Spotlights starting at $22.99 shipped for a 2-pack. The price is coming down from its $35 tag, with them having spent a significant portion of recent months at $24, with some falls to $23 (including during Prime Day) and one earlier drop to the $21 low back in April. You’re looking at a 34% markdown here that cuts $12 off the tag for the second-best price we have tracked, landing just $2 above the all-time low. You’ll also find its larger bundles benefitting from discounts, with the 4-pack down at its second-best price of $48.99 shipped, after clipping the on-page 30% off coupon, while its 8-pack is down at a $90.98 low.

If you want to learn more about this outdoor lighting device, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man trimming around tree trunk with Worx GT revolution 3-in-1 string trimmer/edger/mini-mower

Pick up the Worx GT Revolution 20V 12-inch string trimmer/edger/mini-mower with spare parts at $83 (2025 low)

Amazon is offering the Worx GT Revolution 20V 12-inch String Trimmer/Edger/Mini-Mower kit that comes with a 2.0Ah battery, 2A charger, three replacement spools, a spool holder, and replacement edger wheels for $82.99 shipped. The combination of the tool and battery alone goes for $130 at full price directly from the brand’s website, where it’s currently priced, but we’ve been seeing this larger bundle package keep down to $100 for much of the time since late March. While we have seen it drop lower in the past, the additional $17 savings from its recent going rate is the best price we have tracked over the last 12 months, even beating out its Prime Day pricing by $2.

If you want to learn more about this 3-in-1 tool, be sure to check out our original coverage of the deal here.

man clearing large pile of leaves in yard with greenworks 60V 610 CFM cordless leaf blower

Clear out your yard with up to 610 CFM air flow through this 60V Greenworks cordless leaf blower at $142

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 60V 610 CFM Cordless Leaf Blower at $142.49 shipped. Normally fetching $200 directly from the brand’s website, where this model is priced $8 higher, we’ve been seeing it keep to $180 in full at Amazon since March, with discounts dropping costs lower between $160 and $140 on average. The lowest we’ve seen this model fall was to a $135 rate on the last of Prime Day’s 4-day event, with the deal today matching the event’s first three days of pricing. You’re looking at the third-lowest price we have tracked, saving you $58 off the MSRP and landing just $7 above the all-time low.

If you want to learn more about this 60V blower, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Technology

Apple reports third-quarter earnings after the bell

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1 hour ago

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July 31, 2025

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Apple reports third-quarter earnings after the bell

Apple CEO Tim Cook attends the world premiere of “F1” at Times Square in New York on June 16, 2025.

Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images

Apple reports fiscal third-quarter earnings on Thursday after the bell.

The June quarter is typically Apple’s slowest of the year by sales, ahead of new device launches in September that typically spur the company’s biggest sales surge of the year driven in the December quarter.

Still, Apple is expected to report nearly $90 billion in overall sales during the period, which would be a 4% increase from last year. Analysts expect it to guide for 3% growth in the September quarter.

But there are lots of questions swirling around Apple, whose stock is down 16% so far in 2025.

The biggest question facing Apple is what it will say about tariffs. In May, Apple said it would have about $900 million in additional tariff costs in the June quarter, but that it couldn’t predict beyond that. Apple will likely update investors on how it sees tariffs affecting the September quarter, a key indicator for how President Donald Trump’s trade war is affecting American technology companies.

Apple also said in May that it would manufacture U.S.-bound iPhones in India to avoid tariffs on Chinese imports. But the company’s move upset Trump, who said after Apple’s last earnings call that he didn’t want the iPhone maker building in India. India is in line to receive a 25% tariff as soon as Friday. Apple CEO Tim Cook may update investors on its India pivot on Thursday.

The company held its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, in which it announced major updates to its software for iPhones and other devices. Apple did not, however, announce major new artificial intelligence products or initiatives, disappointing some analysts. However, some investors believe Apple’s AI stumbles aren’t expected to show up in its results for years.

On the brighter side, Cook will likely shout out the movie “F1,” which is Apple Original Films’ first summer blockbuster and passed $500 million at the global box office last weekend.

Here’s how Apple is expected to do in the June quarter, per LSEG consensus estimates:

  • Earnings per share: $1.43
  • Revenue: $89.54 billion

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Apple returns to growth in China

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