Democrats are running strong Senate and governor campaigns in states that President Donald Trump won by large margins in the 2024 election. Trump's approval ratings have dropped, which may be making these races more competitive ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
Democrats are competing in Senate and governor races in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas.
President Trump won these states by double-digit margins in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump's current job approval rating is about 35%, with around 59% of voters disapproving.
His net approval rating is roughly -24 to -26, which is lower than at a similar point in his first term.
Economic issues like inflation and gas prices, as well as Trump’s low approval among independents, affect voter sentiment.
Republicans control both the House and Senate and hold a majority of governor offices as of early 2025.
Experts see the political environment as challenging for Republicans going into the 2026 midterms.
Trump’s involvement in midterm races means voters are likely to consider his performance when voting.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Wyoming’s attorney general is investigating two Justice Department officials who monitored voting activities during the state’s August primary. The officials observed poll workers and questioned local election staff in Laramie County, which Wyoming election officials said was unusual and not properly managed.
Key Facts
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon called the monitors’ behavior “a bit aggressive” and “irregular.”
Two Justice Department officials monitored poll workers and voters on primary election day in Laramie County.
The monitors tried to interview voters and asked local officials about poll worker training and election equipment.
Local election officials did not allow interviews inside polling places and said monitors violated state election laws.
Wyoming law allows only certified poll watchers to observe elections, and monitors were not properly approved.
The Justice Department said monitors aim to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal voting rights laws.
The decision to send monitors came on short notice, and election officials say they were not properly informed.
Voting rights groups have expressed concern about changes in Justice Department focus under President Trump.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump's administration is appealing a judge’s decision that stopped new limits on mail voting before the upcoming midterm elections. The legal fight is over an executive order that would allow the U.S. Postal Service to reject mail ballots from states that do not meet specific voter list and envelope rules.
Key Facts
A federal judge in Boston blocked Trump’s executive order on mail voting before the midterm elections.
The executive order requires states to send voter lists and use a uniform envelope style for mail ballots.
The U.S. Postal Service could refuse ballots that don’t meet these requirements.
The Trump administration calls the order “commonsense measures” to protect ballot security.
States and voting groups argue there is not enough time or money to meet the new rules before the election.
The Supreme Court allowed the plan to proceed temporarily but has not ruled on its legality.
Nearly one-third of Americans vote by mail in elections.
The legal case will be reviewed by the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals and may return to the Supreme Court.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Milo Yiannopoulos, a British political commentator, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana after overstaying his visa. He did not attend his required immigration hearing and has been ordered to be removed from the country.
Key Facts
Yiannopoulos entered the U.S. legally in May 2019.
He stayed beyond the allowed time, violating U.S. immigration laws.
An immigration judge ordered his removal on July 22 after he missed his hearing.
He was arrested Thursday at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
He is currently held in ICE custody in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Yiannopoulos worked previously as a Breitbart editor and interned for former U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene in 2022.
He also worked on Ye’s (formerly Kanye West) 2024 White House campaign.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer claimed she reported Yiannopoulos to ICE before his arrest.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico faces challenges not only from his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton, but also from within his own party. Jasmine Crockett, a fellow Democrat and the candidate Talarico defeated in the primary, has chosen not to campaign with him and is focusing on supporting other Democratic candidates further down the ballot.
Key Facts
James Talarico is a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate in Texas.
He is competing against Republican Ken Paxton, the state's attorney general.
Jasmine Crockett, whom Talarico beat in the Democratic primary, has declined to campaign alongside him.
Crockett endorses party unity but prioritizes supporting candidates lower on the ballot instead of focusing on Talarico.
Crockett believes spreading attention to multiple candidates can encourage more voter turnout.
She expressed doubts about enthusiasm from Black voters for Talarico but expects them to vote Democrat regardless.
A poll shows 79% of likely Black voters in Texas support Talarico, while 12% support Paxton.
Talarico urged party members to avoid deepening divisions and appreciated Crockett’s earlier endorsement.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Marine One, the presidential helicopter carrying President Donald Trump, lost communication with air traffic controllers twice in August 2026 near Washington, D.C. Federal officials investigated and took steps to fix the issue, but the communication problem happened again just after a report said it was resolved.
Key Facts
Marine One lost communication with air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport twice in August 2026, once on August 4 and again on August 27.
On August 27, pilots warned controllers minutes before takeoff, but controllers did not respond or hear Marine One’s transmissions.
Another helicopter relayed Marine One’s messages to the control tower during the communication failure.
After takeoff, Marine One regained communication and flew President Trump to Joint Base Andrews.
On August 4, Marine One and a nearby commercial jet came within 0.82 miles horizontally and 700 feet vertically, though they were not on a collision path.
FAA rules require helicopters and planes near Reagan National Airport to maintain specific safe distances.
Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA revealed a radio transmitter was blocked from line of sight due to the White House Ellipse landing zone’s temporary location.
The FAA moved the transmitter to a better spot and reported no further issues during tests, but did not explain why the problem happened again on August 27.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Wyoming's attorney general is investigating U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) officials who monitored poll workers and voters during the state's August 18 primary election. The Wyoming governor expressed concern about the monitors’ actions, which some local officials said ignored state election rules.
Key Facts
Two DOJ officials visited polling places in Laramie County, Wyoming, on primary day, August 18, to observe election activities.
The DOJ monitors wanted to interview voters and check compliance with federal voting rights laws.
Local election officials did not allow interviews with voters inside polling places and declined some monitor requests.
Wyoming law permits only certified poll watchers to observe elections, not federal monitors conducting interviews.
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon described the monitors’ behavior as “aggressive” and “irregular.”
The state's attorney general, Keith Kautz, is officially investigating the DOJ officials’ actions.
DOJ said the monitors were there to ensure election transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal voting laws.
The decision to send monitors reportedly came on short notice, and local officials said they were not properly informed beforehand.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration plans to stop military aid to the Kurdish forces in Iraq, known as the Peshmerga, after their current agreement ends on September 30. This decision comes as Iran increases missile and drone attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan, raising concerns about regional security and US support for its allies.
Key Facts
The US will not renew the security assistance agreement with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), ending military aid to the Peshmerga forces.
The Peshmerga helped the US defeat the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
The aid cut is tied to the expiration of a memorandum of understanding on September 30, the same day US troops will withdraw from Iraq.
Iran and Iranian-backed militias have launched over 150 missile or drone attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan in recent months.
The Pentagon had proposed cutting the Peshmerga’s aid in its 2027 budget, citing that IS was defeated.
The Peshmerga has about 180,000 troops and received $61 million in 2026 for weapons, training, and pay.
Kurdish officials worry that ending US aid will create a security gap and strengthen Iran’s influence in the region.
The final decision on US security support to the Kurds is still under review, with some options being considered.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
British political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos, a supporter of President Donald Trump, has been reportedly detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana. The exact reasons for his detention are not yet clear.
Key Facts
Milo Yiannopoulos is a British political commentator and former editor of the US website Breitbart.
He is known for supporting President Donald Trump and his stricter immigration policies.
ICE records show Yiannopoulos is held in Louisiana, but details about his detention are unknown.
Yiannopoulos grew up in England and now lives in the United States.
He has been criticized for controversial comments on transgender people, Muslims, Black Lives Matter, feminists, and gay people.
In 2017, he was uninvited from a conservative conference after a video surfaced of him appearing to condone paedophilia; he later apologized and resigned from Breitbart.
Yiannopoulos has been linked with the alt-right movement but does not fully identify with it.
Neither ICE nor Yiannopoulos has made an official statement about the detention.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A judge has approved a hearing to consider claims that a man wants to take back his accusations of sexual abuse against Jerry Sandusky, a former Penn State football coach convicted in 2012. Sandusky is serving a long prison sentence for multiple counts of abuse, but his lawyers argue that some accusations were influenced by flawed questioning and pressure.
Key Facts
Jerry Sandusky, 82, was convicted of 45 counts of sexual abuse in 2012 and is serving a long prison term.
Eight men testified that Sandusky abused them when they were boys.
A man called RR now wants to recant his accusations against Sandusky, claiming he was coerced and his memories were influenced during questioning.
RR said trauma may have affected his memory and that he was told to confirm details he did not fully remember.
Sandusky’s lawyers say RR’s and other accusers’ memories were shaped by leading questions and pressure from prosecutors.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office said RR’s recantation is suspicious.
A court hearing is set for September 8 in Centre County to review these claims.
Sandusky’s abuse scandal led to the firing of Penn State’s coach Joe Paterno and over $100 million in settlements paid by the university.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Civil rights leaders, Democratic lawmakers, and many protesters gathered at the National Mall to honor the 1963 March on Washington. They highlighted the importance of the upcoming November midterm elections and announced plans for a 2026 “Defend the Vote” March to protect voting rights.
Key Facts
The event took place on the National Mall to remember the 1963 March on Washington.
Civil rights leaders and Democratic lawmakers spoke at the rally.
Hundreds of protesters joined the gathering.
The focus was on the importance of the November midterm elections.
A new March on Washington is planned for 2026, called the “Defend the Vote” March.
The 2026 march is organized by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and Martin Luther King III.
The march aims to support and protect voting rights.
Speakers expressed hope and determination for political change.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create the first US Space Academy, a training facility for future members of the Space Force, NASA, and the civilian space industry. The order also forms a commission to help establish the academy, led by NASA’s administrator and senior government officials.
Key Facts
President Trump announced the creation of the US Space Academy at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Texas.
The Space Academy will train people who want to work in the military Space Force, NASA, and civilian space jobs.
A new commission, led by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, will guide the academy’s development.
Other members of the commission include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.
The US Space Force, created in 2019 under President Trump, is the sixth branch of the US military.
The Artemis II crew, who recently flew around the moon, were honored with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor at the event.
Artemis missions are part of a US plan to return astronauts to the moon by 2028.
There was a recent Blue Origin rocket explosion at Cape Canaveral that raised concerns about NASA’s future readiness.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tennessee’s governor proposed renaming Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton, the famous country singer who died recently at age 80. The proposal is meant as a tribute to Parton, but it may require changing the airport’s rules about naming places after people who have been dead for at least two years.
Key Facts
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee proposed renaming Nashville International Airport for Dolly Parton.
Dolly Parton was a country music star and Tennessee native who died of cancer at age 80.
The governor called Parton “our state’s favorite daughter.”
Governor Lee has talked about the idea with Dolly Parton’s representatives.
The current airport naming policy requires the person to have been dead for at least two years.
The Metro Nashville Airport Authority will discuss the proposal and naming rules at their meeting on September 17.
The proposal came shortly after Dolly Parton’s death on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods canceled the city’s $80,000 contract with Flock Safety, a company that makes automated license plate readers for police. He said the decision was made because there was too much risk that the technology could be misused.
Key Facts
The city of Tempe, Arizona, had a contract with Flock Safety costing $80,000.
Flock Safety provides automated license plate readers to police departments.
Mayor Corey Woods decided to end the contract.
The reason was concern about the potential misuse of the technology.
The decision was announced on a Thursday.
Mayor Woods spoke about this issue during an interview with NewsNation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Milo Yiannopoulos, a far-right commentator with past ties to President Donald Trump's political movement and rapper Kanye West, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana. Authorities have not yet explained why he was detained.
Key Facts
Milo Yiannopoulos was detained by ICE in Louisiana while in New Orleans before a Kanye West concert.
The reason for his detention has not been publicly released.
Yiannopoulos became known during President Trump's 2016 campaign as a Breitbart editor linked to the alt-right movement.
He lost popularity in conservative circles after controversial remarks in 2017 about relationships involving teenagers.
Yiannopoulos later worked closely with rapper Kanye West (also known as Ye) during West’s 2024 presidential bid.
He left Kanye West’s political team in December 2022 but remains friends with him.
Yiannopoulos mentioned a disagreement about campaign staff before stepping away from West’s team.
The detention renewed attention on Yiannopoulos's connections to Trump and West.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Milo Yiannopoulos, a British political commentator, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He is currently held at a detention center in Louisiana before a scheduled concert by rapper Ye.
Key Facts
Milo Yiannopoulos is a political commentator known for far-right views.
He was taken into custody by ICE, the U.S. agency that manages immigration enforcement.
Yiannopoulos is a British citizen.
He served as chief of staff for the rapper Ye, who was formerly known as Kanye West.
Yiannopoulos was in Louisiana ahead of Ye’s concert.
He is currently being held at an ICE detention center, according to ICE’s detainee database.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Melissa Farris, 41, admitted she vandalized the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. She said she wanted to draw attention to a cause she believes is important.
Key Facts
Melissa Farris is accused of vandalizing the WWII Memorial on the National Mall.
She told The Washington Post she did it to get the nation's attention.
The memorial is a public site that honors those who served in World War II.
Farris was 41 years old at the time of the interview.
The vandalism involved graffiti on the memorial.
She claimed her actions were meant to expose alleged wrongdoing.
Authorities are handling the case as a vandalism incident.
The National Mall is a common location for public demonstrations and memorials.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new study shows nearly one in three young American women aged 21 to 29 has never had a cervical cancer screening, more than doubling since 2005. The number of women not screened is rising in all age groups, increasing the risk of late-stage cancer diagnosis, especially among uninsured women, racial minorities, and those living in the South.
Key Facts
In 2023, 31.9% of women aged 21-29 reported never having a cervical cancer screening, up from 12.5% in 2005.
The number of unscreened women aged 21-29 grew from about 3.5 million to 6.2 million over the study period.
Among women aged 30-65, those never screened increased from 5.3% in 2005 to 14.8% in 2023, roughly 4.3 million to 9.2 million women.
Cervical cancer screening guidelines recommend Pap tests or HPV tests starting between ages 21-25 and continuing through age 65.
HPV vaccination rates among women aged 21-29 rose from 5.7% in 2008 to 54% in 2019, leaving 45.5% unvaccinated.
Nearly one-third of unvaccinated women have never been screened, missing two key protections against cervical cancer.
Cases of cervical cancer spreading at diagnosis increased by over 2% per year after 2017 among women aged 30-65.
Women without health insurance, from racial minority groups, and living in Southern U.S. states are less likely to have ever been screened.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump talked with astronauts aboard the International Space Station during his visit to NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston. The call happened on a Friday as part of his visit to the space agency.
Key Facts
President Trump visited NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston.
He spoke directly to astronauts living on the International Space Station (ISS).
The interaction took place on a Friday.
The ISS is a space laboratory orbiting Earth where astronauts live and work.
NASA's Mission Control Center manages operations for the ISS and other missions.
This visit was covered by CBS News correspondent Ed O’Keefe.
The communication was done via a live call from NASA to the ISS.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
