Darline Graham won the Republican nomination to take her late brother Lindsey Graham’s place on South Carolina’s Senate ballot. President Donald Trump supported her campaign, and she will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November election.
Key Facts
Darline Graham won 52.4% of the vote against Ralph Norman’s 47.6% in the Republican primary runoff.
Lindsey Graham, a US senator for over 20 years, died after winning the primary in June.
Darline Graham was appointed to finish Lindsey Graham’s Senate term shortly after his death.
President Trump backed Darline Graham and urged voters to support her.
Trump’s MAGA Inc Super PAC spent over $800,000 supporting Graham’s campaign.
Graham will compete against Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in November.
The last Democrat to win a statewide race in South Carolina was in 2006.
Darline Graham is a career civil servant and former head of South Carolina’s Commission for the Blind.
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Country singer Jelly Roll made jokes about President Donald Trump’s weight during his guest spot on Jimmy Kimmel Live! He responded to criticism from Trump supporters by saying any president should expect some jokes and dismissed fans who said they would stop listening to his music.
Key Facts
Jelly Roll joked about losing 300 pounds, comparing it to losing the weight of President Trump.
He said most people want to lose Trump based on approval ratings.
Trump supporters on social media criticized Jelly Roll, calling him a "traitor" and a "fraud."
Critics accused him of abandoning his working-class image and insulting half his audience.
Jelly Roll replied that all presidents should be able to handle jokes.
He also laughed off the idea that his jokes shocked people.
Jelly Roll has won three Grammy Awards and has a past involving felony charges and drug dealing.
The White House did not comment on the story as of the report time.
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In July, the Trump administration arrested nearly 50,000 immigrants and deported about 34,000, which are the highest numbers since the start of his second term. Many arrests involved people without any criminal history, and enforcement methods have shifted to less visible approaches, such as traffic stops and routine check-ins.
Key Facts
About 1,500 people were arrested and 1,100 deported daily in July 2026.
Total arrests in July were 49,571, a 15% increase from June 2026.
51% of those arrested in July had no prior criminal convictions or charges.
Nearly 34,000 people were deported in July, the highest since this term began.
The Department of Homeland Security has a $70 billion funding increase to support enforcement.
Immigrants are arrested during appointments, traffic stops, outside homes, and at airports.
The 287(g) program allows local police to enforce immigration laws, often quietly.
Temporary Protective Status for Haitians and Syrians is ending, affecting tens of thousands.
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The former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, who was convicted of murdering Sonya Massey, has died in prison from cancer. Massey’s family says his death does not feel like justice because it does not bring Sonya back or fully hold Grayson accountable.
Key Facts
Sean Grayson, 32, was a former sheriff’s deputy in Illinois convicted of second-degree murder for killing Sonya Massey.
Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman, was shot in her home during a police encounter on July 6, 2024.
Body camera video showed Grayson threatening Massey and shooting her after she dropped to the floor and apologized.
Grayson was sentenced to 20 years in prison in January 2025 but died six months later from stage three colon cancer.
Massey's family expressed that Grayson’s death doesn’t provide justice or peace to their loss.
Sonya Massey had two children, aged 15 and 17 at the time of her death.
The killing led to protests, a federal justice investigation, a new Illinois law for stricter police background checks, and a $10 million settlement for Massey’s family.
Massey’s cousin emphasized the ongoing grief and anger the family feels after Grayson’s death.
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President Trump wants to raise the U.S. borrowing limit until the end of his term to avoid problems if Republicans lose Congress control. This effort faces challenges because the national debt has grown to $40 trillion, causing worry in financial markets.
Key Facts
The U.S. national debt has reached $40 trillion.
President Trump plans to raise the debt limit to cover borrowing through the end of his presidency.
Republicans may lose control of Congress after the upcoming elections.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson are involved in discussions about the plan.
Rising debt concerns are affecting confidence in the bond market, where the government borrows money.
The debt limit is the maximum amount the government is allowed to borrow to pay its bills.
Failure to raise the limit could cause financial instability or a government default.
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Republicans in Congress are preparing for a busy September with many important tasks to complete quickly. The top priority in the House of Representatives is to pass a short-term budget plan to keep the government funded.
Key Facts
Republicans are returning from a break in August and have many tasks to finish before the midterm elections.
The House wants to pass a continuing resolution, which is a temporary budget plan to keep the government running.
Time is limited to complete major legislative priorities in September.
Both the House and Senate Republicans are involved in this legislative push.
The work is focused on funding the government and advancing other Republican policy goals.
This effort comes ahead of the midterm elections, increasing pressure to act quickly.
A continuing resolution prevents a government shutdown by extending current spending levels temporarily.
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Bernie Sanders is gaining strong support among progressive Democrats and continues to attract large crowds and fundraising. However, despite his popularity, recent primary elections show limited success in expanding that support to win broader votes beyond his core base.
Key Facts
Bernie Sanders is 84 years old and has run for president twice without winning.
He remains popular with many progressive Democrats and helps promote similar candidates.
Sanders, along with others like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, fills a leadership gap in the Democratic Party.
Progressive candidates have won some primaries in places like New York, Washington D.C., Colorado, and Florida.
Recent primary results in Michigan and Wisconsin showed narrow or unexpected outcomes, not reflecting strong enthusiasm.
Sanders left the Democratic Party in 2020 and now serves as an independent.
Winning Democratic primaries does not guarantee broader success in general elections where independent voters are important.
Republicans may use Sanders' association to label Democrats as socialists in future campaigns.
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Republican Mike Mazzei won the Oklahoma Republican primary runoff and is now expected to defeat Democrat Cyndi Munson in the November governor election. Markets show high chances of a Republican victory, continuing the state's history of voting GOP in governor races since 2006.
Key Facts
Mike Mazzei narrowly beat Attorney General Gentner Drummond in the GOP runoff to become the Republican nominee.
President Donald Trump endorsed Mazzei and criticized Drummond during the runoff campaign.
Mazzei will run against Cyndi Munson, the Oklahoma House minority leader, in the November 3 governor race.
No Democrat has won the Oklahoma governor’s office since 2006.
Prediction markets give Mazzei about a 96-98% chance to win the election.
Nearly $54 million was spent on the governor’s race so far, with Mazzei personally lending nearly $12 million to his campaign.
Mazzei focuses on managing government money wisely and supports ending property tax for seniors and veterans.
Munson emphasizes public services and affordability as her main campaign issues.
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Two candidates named Dan Sullivan advanced in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race after the primary election. The incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump, and challenger Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher with no party listed, will both appear on the general election ballot along with Democrat Mary Peltola.
Key Facts
The primary election in Alaska was held on August 18.
Both Dan S. Sullivan (incumbent Republican senator) and Dan J. Sullivan (challenger) moved to the general election.
Dan J. Sullivan sued to appear on the ballot after state officials questioned his candidacy.
The Alaska Supreme Court allowed Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot, listing him as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. without a party.
President Donald Trump endorsed Senator Dan Sullivan for reelection and criticized the other Dan Sullivan’s campaign.
The general election uses ranked choice voting, where voters rank candidates by preference.
Democrat Mary Peltola also advanced to the general election alongside the two Sullivans.
Other races in Alaska’s primary included the U.S. House and governor contests.
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A major abortion rights group, Reproductive Freedom for All, is endorsing Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine’s important US Senate race against five-term Republican Susan Collins. Jackson has changed his position on abortion rights, now supporting access, while Collins defended her 2018 vote to confirm a Supreme Court justice who helped overturn Roe v. Wade.
Key Facts
Reproductive Freedom for All endorsed Democrat Troy Jackson for US Senate in Maine.
Jackson is challenging Republican Susan Collins, a five-term senator.
Collins voted in 2018 to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who later joined the decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
The Roe v. Wade overturn led to many states passing strict abortion bans.
Jackson was once against abortion but has since changed his position and supports abortion access.
Jackson has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood since 2017.
Collins said she does not regret her vote for Kavanaugh despite backlash.
Planned Parenthood’s political action committee is spending over $600,000 on ads criticizing Collins’s abortion record.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats have not decided if they will try to impeach President Donald Trump again if they win control of the House. He said the party wants to focus on lowering the cost of living, making health care affordable, and holding the Trump administration responsible. Some Democrats want to push for impeachment, but others worry it would waste time and not achieve much.
Key Facts
Hakeem Jeffries is the House Minority Leader and a Democrat from New York.
Jeffries said Democrats want to hold Trump and his allies accountable.
Democrats have not ruled out or confirmed a new impeachment effort.
The party’s main goals include addressing the affordability crisis and health care.
Some Democrats want a strong stance against President Trump, including impeachment.
Many strong impeachment supporters lost their seats in recent elections.
Some Democrats think another impeachment trial would take too much time and not help their agenda.
Convicting President Trump would require 67 Senate votes, which Democrats do not have.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is threatening to withhold millions of dollars in police and anti-terrorism funding from states and cities unless they adopt new voting rules that Trump supports. Several local governments, including Harris County in Texas, have filed lawsuits against this threat, arguing that it puts public safety at risk for political reasons.
Key Facts
The Trump administration wants states to use paper ballots, verify citizenship, and perform hand-counted audits on ballots.
Harris County (Texas), Columbus (Ohio), Nashville (Tennessee), and El Paso County (Texas) have sued the Department of Homeland Security.
The lawsuits say losing federal grants would harm public safety and counterterrorism efforts.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin threatened to stop funding states that don’t secure their elections as Trump wants.
25 Democratic-led states have also sued against Trump’s demands earlier this summer.
Some Republican-led areas are open to some of Trump’s election rule changes.
Local officials say current state and local election laws are sufficient and that the new rules would be costly and unnecessary.
Transitioning to paper ballots alone could cost El Paso County about $3 million.
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Jed York, owner of the San Francisco 49ers, was arrested in East Palestine, Ohio, for attempting to pay for sex during an undercover police operation. He pleaded no contest to reduced charges and was fined and sentenced to two days in jail. The case highlights differences in how men and women are treated in prostitution-related arrests and charges, especially in poorer communities.
Key Facts
Jed York was arrested on August 23 in East Palestine, Ohio, during a police sting targeting prostitution.
He agreed to pay $160 for sex but was caught in a trap with no woman present.
York was charged with engaging in prostitution (later lowered to disorderly conduct) and possessing criminal tools (his cellphone).
He pleaded no contest, was fined $1,150, and sentenced to two days in jail served at the same time.
Ohio law punishes buyers of sex more harshly than sellers, with buyers charged with a first-degree misdemeanor.
Similar incidents involved other NFL owners, like Robert Kraft, who was charged but not convicted.
Women arrested for prostitution often face tougher consequences, such as criminal records and fines, which affect their future employment.
The NFL may review York’s case under its personal conduct policy, which claims to hold owners to high standards, but enforcement is influenced by the owners themselves.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries met with Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, to discuss issues like affordability. The meeting caused tensions within the Democratic Party, with some progressives concerned about Jeffries’ approach to leadership.
Key Facts
Jeffries met with Jared Kushner to talk about housing, immigration, and affordability problems.
Kushner is under scrutiny for his connections with Saudi Arabia from Democratic investigators.
Some Democrats worry Jeffries is too willing to work with Trump’s allies instead of opposing them.
Jeffries does not support Medicare for All but wants health care to be a right for all Americans.
Jeffries and Kushner have a past working relationship on criminal justice reforms during Trump’s first term.
Some Democratic lawmakers find it unusual to meet with Kushner, who has no official government role.
Jeffries has not explained the meeting to the Democratic caucus.
Progressives say the real test is what Jeffries does with such meetings, not just who he meets.
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Two Jewish men explain that being Jewish is more than a religion; it includes shared history, culture, and ancestry. They support a California bill to let people identify as Jewish in ethnicity data, not just religion, to better represent and serve the Jewish community.
Key Facts
Jewish identity includes ancestry, culture, and peoplehood, not only religious beliefs or practices.
Many American Jews do not consider religion the key part of their Jewishness; over 25% say they have no religion.
Current U.S. government forms usually list Jewish only as a religion, which misses many Jewish people.
California is considering Senate Bill 1387 to allow people to choose "Jewish" as an ethnicity in state data collection.
Better data on Jewish ethnicity could help public health and policy, especially for issues like cancer risks that affect the Jewish population.
Historically, Jews were counted as a people ("Hebrews") in immigration records but later classified only as a religion.
This bill would recognize Jewish identity more accurately without involving political issues related to Israel.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is considering using new electric-shock gloves to help officers make arrests with less harm. The gloves have raised concerns about misuse and safety, but some experts say less-lethal tools can reduce injuries compared to other force options.
Key Facts
ICE is proposing electric-shock gloves as a less-lethal method for officers during arrests.
There is public concern that the gloves could be abused or cause unnecessary pain.
Some people want clear rules, training, and body cameras to monitor the use of the gloves.
Research shows that using Tasers has lowered injuries to suspects and officers in some cities.
A lawsuit claims a Kentucky inmate was shocked many times with such devices before dying.
Legislators and activists are divided on ICE’s role; some want it abolished, while others do not.
Experts argue that officers need options between doing nothing and using deadly force.
Calls for improvement focus on better training and supervision instead of banning tools outright.
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Hasan Piker is a 34-year-old left-wing online commentator who has become involved in politics by supporting Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Despite his large online audience, most Democratic voters do not know him, but his recent controversial comments about American Jews and Israel have drawn criticism from many politicians.
Key Facts
Hasan Piker has a large following on Twitch but is unknown to 60% of Democratic voters, according to an April poll.
Piker is closely linked to Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, leading Republicans to call them running mates.
Piker made a comment suggesting American Jews denying their investment in Israel invite violence, which many politicians called antisemitic.
Several Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, condemned Piker’s statements.
Republicans have used Piker’s comments to attack El-Sayed during the Michigan Senate race.
Piker responded by saying he welcomes the criticism and accused supporters of Israel of defending violence.
The Democratic Party has tried to use social media influencers like Piker to reach younger voters after losing some to President Trump.
Despite controversies, Piker remains popular among young left-wing audiences and supports progressive candidates.
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Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), supports giving more power and resources to state Democratic parties instead of focusing mostly on Washington, D.C. insiders. Despite criticism of his fundraising and leadership style, Martin plans to serve his full four-year term until 2029 and push for long-term party reforms.
Key Facts
Ken Martin is the current Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
He moved from Minnesota, where he led the state Democratic Party, to Washington, D.C.
Martin favors strengthening state parties and grassroots organizing over centralizing power in Washington.
He has faced criticism and calls for resignation from some politicians and media figures in D.C.
The DNC currently has $16 million in cash but $17.9 million in debt, while the Republican National Committee has $130.4 million in cash and no debt.
Martin supports giving more influence to democratic socialists and leftist challengers within the party.
He believes the Democratic Party will see historic success in the 2026 midterm elections.
Martin intends to complete his term ending in 2029 despite internal party disagreements.
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In July, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 49,571 people, the highest monthly total since President Donald Trump began his second term. This number is much higher than earlier months in 2025, with large arrests in Texas and Florida, where local police help ICE with immigration enforcement.
Key Facts
ICE arrested 49,571 people in July 2025, the highest since President Trump’s second term started.
July arrests increased by about 15% from June and 70% from February 2025.
In January 2025, before President Trump took office again, monthly arrests were about 8,000.
Arrests rose steadily during 2025 after limits on targeting immigrants were eased.
After protests in January 2025, arrests dropped but then increased again in June and July.
Nearly 20,000 arrests in July happened in Texas and Florida.
These two states have agreements that let local police help ICE with immigration enforcement.
ICE hired about 12,000 new officers and agents last year, helping boost arrest numbers.
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Trade talks between the US and Canada recently collapsed, leading to new tariffs between the two countries. This break in talks highlights tensions under President Trump’s administration, which continues to push hard on trade and security issues with allies like Canada.
Key Facts
US Vice-President JD Vance made public comments about Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney that were seen as dismissive.
Canada ended trade negotiations abruptly, causing a return to tariffs between the two countries.
The US and Canada have $872 billion in yearly trade with each other.
Tensions between the US and Canada date back to negotiations on the USMCA trade deal, which replaced NAFTA.
President Trump has referred to Canada as the "51st State" and criticized Canada’s contributions to regional defense.
Trump’s administration sees economic security as linked to national security, targeting major trading partners like Canada.
Despite moves in other global regions, the US continues to assert a dominant position in trade and military power.
The recent trade dispute tests the limits of US power under President Trump, showing it can face pushback even from close allies.
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