Air quality improving in northeast, while wildfire smoke hangs over midwest

NPR
Smoke from massive wildfires in Canada and Minnesota engulf the Washington, D.C. skyline on July 17, 2026, reducing visibility and casting a colored haze over the Lincoln Memorial.

Wildfire smoke and unhealthy air persist and shift direction, as Trump demands explanation from Canada.

(Image credit: Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

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