Progressive candidates Francesca Hong in Wisconsin and Mary Kunesh in Minnesota are competing in important Democratic primary races. These primaries are part of broader discussions within the Democratic Party about its direction ahead of the midterm elections.
Key Facts
Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, is running in the Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor.
Voters in Wisconsin and Minnesota are participating in key Democratic primaries this week.
The Democratic Party is debating how far left its candidates should be.
The midterm elections are seen as critical for control of government.
Some Democrats worry that very left-wing candidates might hurt the party’s chances.
Candidates like Hong represent the progressive, or "far-left," wing of the party.
These primaries will influence the party’s strategy and messaging for the midterms.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump is dealing with rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran's control over a key waterway called the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is increasing its demands and aggressive language, creating challenges for Trump's administration.
Key Facts
President Trump is facing difficulties related to the Middle East region.
Iran is asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global oil shipments.
Iran has increased its demands and strong statements regarding its strategic position.
The situation creates pressure for the Trump administration to respond.
The Strait of Hormuz is an important waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A 2-year-old boy in Thomasville, Georgia, was stung by fire ants while playing outside, causing his face to swell severely. His parents quickly took him to the emergency room where he received treatment and has now recovered fully.
Key Facts
The boy’s name is Rolin; he is 2 years old and was playing with his brothers in the backyard.
He stepped into a new fire ant mound, causing multiple stings.
Fire ants are common in the southern U.S. and can cause serious allergic reactions.
Rolin’s face swelled quickly after the stings, prompting a fast trip to the hospital.
At the hospital, he was given epinephrine, steroids, and antihistamines to treat the allergic reaction.
Rolin was previously stung by ants without an allergic reaction, making this incident unexpected.
The family shares their experience to raise awareness and advises parents to act quickly if their child shows allergy signs.
Rolin has recovered and returned to normal activities, including playing outside.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A charity warns that Andy Burnham’s plan to stop people sleeping rough in England is at risk because many ex-prisoners cannot find housing after release. Nearly one in six people leaving prison last year had no place to live, which makes it harder to reduce homelessness and crime.
Key Facts
Around 15,155 people released from prison in England and Wales between April 2025 and March 2026 were homeless.
This number equals about 300 people per week and is an 18% rise from the previous year.
The percentage of prisoners released without housing has increased yearly for five years, from 10.6% in 2021-22 to 15.9% in 2025-26.
Safe housing after release helps reduce the chance of reoffending; 75% of rough sleepers reoffend, compared to just over 33% of those with homes.
South-central England has the highest rate of prison leavers released homeless at 20.7%.
Challenges include prisoners being released directly from court without support, short sentences that complicate housing plans, and poor training of housing staff.
The government is reviewing whether to block the early release of two convicted manslaughterers linked to the death of a police officer.
Burnham pledged £340 million extra funding over three years to end rough sleeping in England.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Darline Graham was appointed to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's Senate seat in South Carolina and is now running in the Republican primary to keep the seat. She has President Donald Trump's endorsement but faces questions from some Republicans about her experience and her role as a preferred candidate.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham passed away in July 2026, leaving a vacant Senate seat in South Carolina.
Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham’s sister, was appointed to finish his term the day after his death.
Darline Graham is running in the Republican primary to win a full Senate term.
President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Darline Graham.
Some Republican voters are uncertain because they feel Darline has been chosen by party leaders rather than voters.
Darline Graham has worked in several South Carolina state roles and with local organizations before becoming senator.
She supports President Trump's policies and plans to focus more on domestic issues like affordability.
Political experts say Trump's endorsement helps Darline Graham’s campaign since many voters are not familiar with her.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A child therapist explains that parents who quickly solve their children's problems can unintentionally weaken the children's confidence. Allowing kids to face challenges and learn from their mistakes helps them build self-trust and resilience.
Key Facts
Many parents find parenting harder than expected, with 62% saying so in a Pew Research report.
About 40% of U.S. parents are very worried their kids might have anxiety or depression.
Child therapist Jill Hartrich says jumping in too soon to fix a child's problem can harm their confidence.
When children solve problems on their own, they learn to trust themselves and feel proud.
Parents should let kids experience natural consequences, like forgetting homework, instead of intervening immediately.
Offering empathy and encouragement, rather than fixing problems, helps children develop coping skills.
Praising children specifically for their effort after facing difficulty boosts their self-confidence.
Building the ability to handle distress is important for a child's emotional strength and independence.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Democratic Party in Wisconsin is holding a competitive primary race to replace Governor Tony Evers, who is not seeking reelection. Francesca Hong, a progressive candidate and state representative, leads the Democratic primary, facing criticism from some party members and challenges from Republican candidate Tom Tiffany.
Key Facts
Governor Tony Evers announced he would not run for reelection, leaving an open seat for the first time since 2010.
Francesca Hong, a state representative and former restaurant owner, is leading the Democratic primary polls.
Hong is identified as a democratic socialist and has faced scrutiny over past statements, which she has since clarified or retracted.
Some Democrats worry Hong might have difficulty attracting independent voters and could hurt other Democrats in Wisconsin elections.
David Crowley, endorsed by Evers, briefly ended his campaign but later re-entered and raised more campaign funds than Hong.
Republican Tom Tiffany, supported by President Donald Trump, is the likely GOP nominee for governor.
Absentee ballots have been cast for some Democratic candidates who withdrew but remain on the ballot.
The outcome in Wisconsin is viewed as an important test for the future direction of the Democratic Party and progressive candidates.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A trial started this week for a man accused of planning the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur. The trial comes nearly 30 years after Tupac was shot near the Las Vegas Strip.
Key Facts
Tupac Shakur was killed almost 30 years ago.
The murder took place near the Las Vegas Strip.
A man is on trial accused of organizing Tupac’s killing.
The trial began with jury selection this week.
Tupac Shakur was a famous rapper and cultural figure.
The case has remained open for nearly three decades before this trial.
The news was reported by FRANCE 24 and journalist Wassim Cornet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared a video about freezing her eggs, sparking a political debate about fertility and family choices. Some conservatives criticized her decision, while others, including people in President Trump’s White House, expressed concern that this backlash could hurt Republican support among women voters.
Key Facts
AOC posted a video of herself preparing to freeze her eggs, raising discussion about fertility and family planning.
Some conservatives criticized her for delaying having children and questioned the success of egg freezing.
Others, including conservative women and White House officials, said criticizing AOC is not a good message for Republicans.
President Trump supports fertility treatments like in-vitro fertilization and encourages families to have more children.
The debate highlights a split among conservatives on how to address birthrates and women’s reproductive choices.
Republican advisers warned their party not to engage too much in this discussion ahead of midterm elections.
AOC’s announcement united Democrats and divided Republicans on this issue.
Some conservatives emphasized traditional family approaches, while others defended women’s right to choose their timing.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Minnesota Democrats are choosing their nominee to replace retiring Senator Tina Smith in a primary race between progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and moderate Rep. Angie Craig. The candidates have strong support from different wings of the party and differ on key issues like immigration enforcement and support for Israel.
Key Facts
Peggy Flanagan is a progressive candidate supported by Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Angie Craig is a moderate backed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Both candidates emphasize holding federal immigration agents accountable for recent shootings in Minnesota.
Flanagan criticizes Craig’s past vote for a Trump-backed immigration bill, which Craig now regrets.
The race also involves differing views on Israel: Craig has ties to a pro-Israel group, while Flanagan opposes weapon sales to Israel and calls Gaza actions "genocide."
Issues of fraud investigations in Minnesota’s social services programs have been part of the campaign debate.
Republican Michele Tafoya is contesting the Senate seat, but no Republican has won a Minnesota Senate race since 2002.
Governor Tim Walz, who is not seeking reelection, has not endorsed either Democratic candidate.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump ordered a large and ongoing deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., starting in August 2025. This deployment, called “Make DC Safe and Beautiful,” involves thousands of soldiers and is expected to continue through the end of his term, costing about $1.4 billion.
Key Facts
The deployment began after an assault and attempted carjacking in D.C. in August 2025.
Roughly 4,000 National Guard troops are currently stationed in the capital, down from a peak of about 5,000.
The mission aims to address safety and security in Washington, despite violent crime being at a 30-year low.
The deployment is unprecedented in length and size for domestic National Guard use.
The total cost of the deployment is expected to reach $1.4 billion by the end of President Trump’s term.
Two soldiers were killed last year near the White House during this mission.
National Guard troops are also serving overseas, including in the Middle East amid conflict with Iran.
The National Guard usually responds briefly to emergencies like riots, natural disasters, or major events, making this long-term deployment unusual.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Violent crimes, including homicides, dropped significantly in many large U.S. cities in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year. This decline in crime began in 2022 and has continued under President Donald Trump's administration.
Key Facts
Homicides fell by 17.2% in 66 major U.S. cities in early 2026 compared to early 2025.
Other violent crimes also decreased: robberies by 16.6%, rapes by 6.2%, and aggravated assaults by 5.7%.
Some cities saw especially large drops in homicides: Washington D.C. (43.9%), Memphis (43.7%), Houston (38.3%), and Philadelphia (27.2%).
Aurora, Colorado, saw a 58.8% drop in homicides despite being falsely highlighted during the 2024 election.
Some smaller cities had big percentage drops but started from low numbers, such as Newark and Raleigh.
A few cities, like Honolulu and San Diego, experienced increases in homicides.
The Council on Criminal Justice also reported an 18% homicide decline in 30 cities starting in the second half of 2022.
The decline in violent crime happened across cities with different political leaders and policies.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump secretly left the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on a different military plane than usual due to a threat from Iran. The White House made it seem like he was traveling on Air Force One, but he actually flew on another aircraft.
Key Facts
The event happened during last month’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
President Trump used an alternate military plane for his departure.
This secret flight was linked to a threat from Iran.
The White House publicly led people to believe the president flew on Air Force One.
The information was reported by The Washington Post.
The alternate flight avoided drawing attention amid security concerns.
This happened in August 2026.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce the number of recommended childhood vaccines. The new order limits the vaccination schedule to 11 immunizations for children.
Key Facts
The order was signed on Monday, August 10, 2026.
It reduces the currently recommended number of childhood vaccines.
The vaccination schedule will now include only 11 immunizations.
The change applies to vaccines given to children.
This executive order was issued by President Donald Trump.
The goal is to limit the number of vaccines children receive.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The mother of PC Andrew Harper received a phone call from Downing Street about stopping her son's killers from being released early from prison. The prime minister and his officials are looking for ways to keep Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers in jail after recent changes made early release possible for some serious offenders.
Key Facts
PC Andrew Harper was killed in 2019 after being dragged by a getaway vehicle during a theft.
Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter in 2020.
New laws now allow some serious offenders to be released after serving half their sentence instead of two-thirds.
The government is trying to find a legal way to prevent Cole and Bowers from early release.
The prime minister has asked the justice secretary to stop early release for offenders like those who killed PC Harper.
PC Harper’s mother wants all killers of emergency workers excluded from early release, not just her son’s killers.
The Justice Secretary will report to parliament in September on the plans to address early release and prison overcrowding.
The family and supporters have created a petition to prevent early release for Cole and Bowers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A woman in the U.K. shared how her mother flew from the U.S. to support her during labor, especially due to her mental health history. Shortly after arriving, the mother suffered a serious medical emergency linked to a blood clot but was resuscitated multiple times before hospital treatment.
Key Facts
The woman and her husband moved from Arizona to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in March 2023.
The woman has Bipolar 1 disorder and a history of psychosis, making postpartum support crucial.
Her mother flew to England late in the pregnancy to help with the baby and support mental health.
The mother helped prepare for the baby and enjoyed exploring England before the emergency.
On October 31, 2025, the mother experienced calf pain and swelling, signs of a possible blood clot.
The mother suddenly became short of breath and turned blue, requiring CPR from the husband twice.
Paramedics treated her at home and then at the hospital, diagnosing a pulmonary embolism caused by a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
The medical team warned the family to prepare for the worst due to the severity of the condition.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump faced a credible threat from Iran while traveling in Turkey, leading his security team to secretly move him from the main presidential plane to a smaller aircraft using an airport catering truck as a disguise. This operation was kept secret from the press and some White House staff until it was reported later.
Key Facts
The incident happened on July 8 during President Trump’s flight out of Turkey after attending the NATO summit in Ankara.
Trump initially boarded the familiar presidential plane (a Boeing 747) but was secretly moved off in a catering truck to a smaller Air Force C-32A plane.
The large presidential plane continued flying with reporters, serving as a decoy to hide Trump’s actual location.
Intelligence pointed to a real threat from Iran, which was believed to be planning an assassination attempt on President Trump.
Trump acknowledged the threat publicly by saying he was "number one on the kill list for Iran."
The White House did not comment on the catering truck tactic but confirmed using all means to protect the president from threats.
The press only learned about the secret move more than a month after it happened.
President Trump joked about the incident when asked why reporters had to keep their plane window shades closed.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
One year after President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in Washington, D.C., and sent National Guard troops to the city, overall crime rates have dropped by about 20 percent. The National Guard remains deployed to support law enforcement, and officials credit this presence with improving safety in the capital.
Key Facts
President Trump declared a crime emergency in Washington, D.C., last August and deployed National Guard troops.
The emergency declaration officially lasted 30 days, but thousands of troops are still stationed in the city.
The National Guard presence is planned to continue through President Trump’s current term, costing about $1.4 billion by January 2029.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department reported a 20 percent decrease in total crime since the deployment began.
The FBI announced nearly 15,000 arrests since last August related to "Operation Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful."
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser stated crime was already declining before the deployment and had reached a 30-year low.
The increased troop presence helped secure the city during the country’s 250th anniversary events and protect monuments.
The president described U.S. cities as possible "training grounds" for the military in combating internal violence.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the early wave of progressive activism, often called "wokeness," as a flawed first version. She argued that current political views should be judged on present beliefs, not past positions, highlighting a shift in Democratic politics following President Trump’s influence.
Key Facts
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used the phrase "Woke 1 was crazy" to describe the early period of American progressivism.
She made this comment while defending Wisconsin candidate Francesca Hong’s past support for abolishing police and prisons.
President Trump changed the Republican Party’s focus toward nationalism, border security, and opposition to progressive cultural ideas.
Trump’s administration has taken executive actions against federal diversity programs and what it calls “gender ideology.”
Democrats have debated whether focus on identity politics contributed to election losses.
Some voters felt support for transgender rights had gone too far.
The Democratic Party has shifted toward emphasizing economic issues over cultural identity in some campaigns.
Trump’s presidency triggered a progressive reaction that evolved into a new political environment, with Democrats moderating some earlier stances.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump secretly changed planes after a NATO summit in Turkey due to a credible missile threat from Iran. He was moved from Air Force One to a military plane hidden inside a catering truck, without the knowledge of journalists and some White House staff.
Key Facts
President Trump was at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
US intelligence detected a credible Iranian missile threat against his plane.
Trump initially boarded the old Air Force One plane in view of cameras.
He was secretly transported inside an elevated catering truck to a smaller military plane (C-32A).
Journalists and some staff stayed on Air Force One, unaware Trump was gone.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth helped keep the switch secret by boarding the military plane separately.
Trump flew from Turkey to the UK on the smaller plane, then switched back to the old Air Force One in the UK.
He later used a newer Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar for the flight back to the US.
White House did not officially confirm the plane switch.
The US has spent $400 million upgrading the new Boeing 747-8 for presidential use, including security features to protect against missile attacks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
