Evening Wire: Hamas Has A New Leader & NYC Terror Attack? | 7.20.26

**Georgia Howe** (0:03)
An incendiary device was set off in Manhattan. The names of two Americans lost in an Iranian attack have been released. And the FDA walks back its claims that Taco Bell's lettuce provider caused an explosive outbreak. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Monday, July 20th, and this is Evening Wire.

**John Bickley** (0:23)
A man is under arrest after officials say he set off an incendiary device outside a federal office in Manhattan. At around 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning, a man lit a fire and set off fireworks outside 26 Federal Plaza. The office building houses the New York Field Office for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a cart found at the scene had anti-ice messages written on it. Officials say the suspect also threatened bystanders with an airsoft rifle before he was arrested by federal police. His cart also contained long firearms, fireworks, and other items. The FBI said in a statement that its New York Joint Terrorism Task Force has launched an investigation into the incident.

**Georgia Howe** (1:02)
We've now learned the names of the two Americans who were killed in an Iranian attack over the weekend. Daily Wire Foreign Affairs reporter Cassie Akiva has the details.

**Cassie Akiva** (1:11)
The Pentagon has identified two US. Army soldiers killed in last week's Iranian attack on a base in Jordan as 25-year-old First Lieutenant James Feehan of Iwa Beach, Hawaii, and 19-year-old Private Isabella Gonzalez of Carlton, Texas. Another American service member remains unaccounted for after CENTCOM recovered unidentified remains at the attack site, with the identification process still underway.
In Iraq, another American service member was also killed while disposing of an unexploded Iranian attack drone, though the soldier's identity has not yet been released. According to the White House, President Trump will travel to Dover Air Force Base to attend the dignified transfer of the fallen heroes. Meanwhile, Trump declared, quote, Every time Iran kills an American soldier, they will pay for that killing many times over. He added that he passed on this new directive onto Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Daniel Cain, along with other military leaders.

**John Bickley** (2:08)
Hamas announced the election of a new leader this morning. Daily Wire contributor Tim Pierce has the story.
A terror group said that 64-year-old Khalil al-Hayah will take over as head of its political bureau. Al-Hayah has been a member of Hamas since it began in 1987 and has been the lead negotiator in indirect talks with Israel over the war in Gaza. His election ends a nearly two-year period during which Hamas operated without a single head. Instead, the terror group has been run by a leadership council after its previous leader, Yaya Al-Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024 Al-Hayah is a veteran negotiator for the terror group, taking part in previous talks with Israel in 2014 and in talks with Syria in 2022

**Georgia Howe** (2:49)
Speaking of new leaders, the UK's new prime minister assumed power today. The Labour Party's Andy Burnham took the reins from Keir Starmer this morning, assuming office in the midst of an unsteady political climate. Burnham's predecessor served for just two years before mounting divisions within the party all but forced his resignation. Look for our report on the new PM tomorrow on Morning Wire.

**John Bickley** (3:11)
A small plane crashed into a house near the town of Fulshure, Texas on Monday morning. Daily Wire associate producer Justice Speuler has more.

**Justice Speuler** (3:18)
The Texas Department of Public Safety said the pilot, who was the only one on board, was taken to the hospital. Officials did not say how badly he was hurt. The Fulshure, Simonton Fire Department released a photo of the crash. A bright yellow, propeller-driven plane appears to have just missed the backyard pool and landed with one wing on the roof and the other on the ground. It's not clear what led to the crash, but the pilot appeared to be attempting to land at the nearby Private Kobe Trails airstrip.

**Georgia Howe** (3:48)
The New York City Council has cemented Mayor Mamdani's plan to pay cash for used drug syringes. Mamdani's first city budget directed three million to the program in which people can trade used syringes for cash at one of eight locations across the city. Under the program, a single syringe can net someone 20 cents. Up to 50 syringes can be turned over in a single day for a $10 payout. The program will be administered by the nonprofit Addiction Response Resources under an $11.1 million contract that extends to the end of next year. Critics say that Mamdani's plan will give taxpayer money to active drug users that can then be used to buy more drugs.