Category: Politics

WASHINGTON, June 10 – Administration officials are preparing to host leaders from major defense companies at the White House as early as next week to address the need for faster weapons manufacturing, according to sources familiar with the plans.

This upcoming gathering represents the second time the administration has brought together top executives from the nation’s premier defense contractors to address production acceleration. The previous March session featured chief executives and senior leadership from BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Corporation, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace and L3Harris Technologies, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth participating.

Ongoing military conflicts with Iran along with weapons shipments to Ukraine over recent years have significantly reduced America’s weapons inventory.

The planned session occurs while Pentagon officials continue urging contractors to substantially increase their production speed. These efforts center around manufacturing agreements established earlier this year.

The completed arrangements include a multi-year contract to increase PAC-3 production threefold and expand THAAD interceptor manufacturing fourfold through Lockheed, plus additional multi-year contracts with RTX to enhance Tomahawk and AMRAAM air-to-air missile production. These arrangements, labeled as “framework agreements,” remain unconverted to actual contracts.

The White House, Lockheed Martin, RTX, Boeing and L3Harris have not yet provided responses to comment requests.

WASHINGTON – The White House has formally submitted Brian Johnson’s nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to the U.S. Senate for confirmation, according to an official announcement made Wednesday.

Johnson’s nomination for the director position was transmitted to senators as part of the formal nomination process, based on information released in a public notice.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Wednesday that the debut of a new international bridge spanning the Detroit River could face delays, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s previous threats to prevent its opening.

“Look, everyone’s working hard to make sure the bridge is open as soon as possible. There is no big drama. If it takes a little longer it will take a little bit longer, but this will benefit Canadians, Americans, business, tourists, residents for decades and decades to come,” Carney stated while entering Parliament.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is jointly owned by Canada and the U.S. state of Michigan, will hold its ribbon-cutting ceremony this Friday, though vehicle traffic may not begin flowing immediately afterward.

Earlier this week, Carney had indicated that the second crossing linking Windsor and Detroit would “be open at the end of the week.”

The upcoming Friday ceremony follows recent discussions between Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, according to an anonymous source familiar with the private conversations.

In February, Trump demanded that Canada transfer at least half of the bridge’s ownership to the U.S. federal government and meet other undisclosed conditions as part of his broader campaign addressing cross-border trade concerns.

The new crossing between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit represents a crucial economic link between the two nations. The structure bears the name of the legendary Canadian hockey player who played 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

Former Republican Michigan Governor Rick Snyder negotiated the construction agreement, with Canada funding the project to reduce traffic bottlenecks at the current Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor tunnel. Construction began in 2018.

Trump’s bridge threats coincide with this year’s scheduled review of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, as the president adopts an aggressive stance ahead of negotiations, including new tariff warnings.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Following ten years of creating waves in both South Carolina and national political circles, Representative Nancy Mace secured a distant fifth-place finish in her state’s Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, casting doubt on what lies ahead for one of the country’s most outspoken political figures.

Her gubernatorial bid reflected the unpredictable nature of her political journey. Mace sought President Donald Trump’s backing despite previously delivering sharp criticism of him regarding the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. She highlighted her battles with fellow Republicans over releasing documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case.

During the campaign’s closing stretch before Tuesday’s voting, she proposed legislation that would bar anyone not born in America from holding political positions or serving as judges. She questioned the eligibility of fellow gubernatorial candidate Rom Reddy, arguing his status as a naturalized citizen with an Indian mother and Italian father disqualified him.

“I didn’t come out of a slum in India,” Mace stated during a Greenville County event this month. “I am born and made here in America.”

As her campaign wound down, Mace made only occasional public appearances. She faced fundraising challenges and lacked any television advertising presence. Her primary communication method became social media platforms — a strategy that has served her well since winning her initial South Carolina House seat in 2017.

Following her defeat, Mace issued an extensive statement detailing her congressional accomplishments, claiming she had “taken on the rich and powerful in both parties” and “voted to release the Epstein files and lost some support for that.”

Among the four House Republicans who initially pushed for a discharge petition to force the files’ release, both Mace and Representative Thomas Massie lost their respective races, while Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene stepped down in January.

During her Tuesday evening concession remarks, Mace offered no hints about her future plans. She announced her support for Alan Wilson in the gubernatorial runoff, despite accusing Wilson just last year of shielding defendants in child sex abuse cases.

“When children needed him to act, Wilson looked the other way,” she said.

The June 23 runoff will pit Wilson against Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette. Trump’s endorsement of Evette prompted an angry social media response from Mace.

“Pamela Evette is NOT ENDORSED by DONALD TRUMP,” Mace wrote, incorrectly. “Do not believe her LIES.” Mace shared an AI-created image showing herself alongside Trump.

Mace’s background includes leaving high school to work at Waffle House before earning her diploma. She subsequently attended The Citadel, becoming the first female graduate of the state’s military college. In recent years, she has advocated for sexual assault victims and spoken publicly about being raped as a teenager.

Her political journey started in the South Carolina House before earning widespread Republican acclaim in 2020 for reclaiming a Charleston-area U.S. House seat that had briefly turned Democratic.

“For those folks that are out there today that maybe weren’t with us yesterday, I’m asking for a chance — a chance to prove to you that I will be a compassionate leader, a good listener, an independent thinker,” Mace said then.

President Donald Trump enacted legislation Wednesday that allocates nearly $70 billion in additional funding for immigration and deportation operations during the remainder of his presidency.

The legislation allocates $38 billion to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and $26 billion to the Border Patrol. The White House reports an extra $5 billion has been designated for unexpected expenses.

The president put his signature on the measure in the Oval Office one day following House Republicans’ successful passage of the bill by a narrow 214-212 margin, despite Democratic opposition. The signing concluded nearly six months of contentious debates over Department of Homeland Security funding that originated following the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, during federal immigration enforcement activities in Minneapolis in January.

Following those shootings, Democrats pressed for modifications to immigration enforcement procedures, leading to a standoff that resulted in the longest agency funding gap in history and eventually prompted Republicans to advance the funding independently.

The funding will support these agencies for the following three years. The new legislation front-loads standard yearly appropriations, guaranteeing a continuous funding stream as the Trump administration pursues its goal of deporting approximately 1 million individuals annually.

The bill had previously stalled due to disputes over $1 billion designated for White House security measures, including Trump’s new ballroom, along with a $1.8 billion compensation fund for his supporters claiming to be targets of political persecution. These provisions proved politically problematic and were ultimately removed.

The final version concentrated solely on immigration enforcement, an issue Republicans consider a key differentiator between the major political parties and one the GOP believes will benefit them in November’s midterm elections.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former Air Force Lt. Col. David Flippo has secured victory in the Republican primary for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District following an endorsement from President Donald Trump during the campaign’s final stretch.

Wednesday’s race results created a split between Trump and Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo along with outgoing Rep. Mark Amodei, both of whom supported former state Sen. James Settelmeyer. Amodei’s retirement announcement after serving 15 years created an open and contested primary battle for Nevada’s sole Republican-controlled House seat.

Democratic party officials had hoped Flippo would prevail, believing his candidacy would help them appeal to moderate voters come November. They selected the chief of staff to state Attorney General Aaron Ford, former majority floor leader Teresa Benitez-Thompson, as their nominee.

Taking to X late Tuesday evening, Flippo expressed gratitude to Nevada voters and pledged to work alongside President Donald Trump to “fight for the hard working men and women” in Nevada.

“I will never let you down!” he posted on X.

This 2nd District contest represents just one of multiple Nevada races drawing significant attention this election cycle. In southern Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Susie Lee is set to challenge Marty O’Donnell, a composer recognized for creating the “Halo” video game soundtrack.

Trump carried the district in 2024 and endorsed O’Donnell, who acknowledged Trump’s support in his victory remarks.

Tuesday’s primary voting also determined the gubernatorial general election matchup, with Ford defeating a progressive opponent in the Democratic primary to advance against Gov. Lombardo. The sitting governor, previously a Clark County sheriff, campaigns on his public safety achievements and job growth record while promising housing affordability initiatives in a potential second term.

Ford connects Lombardo to Trump when addressing rising costs statewide and has committed to reducing expenses for families. His November victory would make him the state’s first Black governor.

Among other statewide contests, Republican primaries for attorney general and secretary of state featured multiple candidates who promoted election conspiracy theories or questioned election procedures. Adriana Guzmán Fralick, who has voiced voting security concerns, claimed the GOP attorney general nomination and will compete against Democratic state Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro.

The Republican secretary of state primary, overseeing election administration, included Jim Marchant, a former state lawmaker claiming the 2020 election “was probably stolen,” and Sharron Angle, a former state lawmaker involved in efforts to prevent Nevada’s 2020 election result certification. A third competitive candidate, Shirley Folkins-Roberts, is an attorney who rejects claims of widespread Nevada voting fraud.

Regarding the 2nd District race, Flippo emphasized his grasp of regional priorities including mining operations, water rights and fuel costs. He attempted to characterize Settelmeyer’s extensive political history as a disadvantage, highlighting votes he claimed conflicted with conservative principles.

Flippo relocated to this district for the current election cycle following an unsuccessful southern Nevada campaign in 2024. The 2nd District encompasses all of northern Nevada, remaining predominantly rural while including the key battleground Washoe County, where Reno is located.

WASHINGTON – The economist chosen by President Donald Trump to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics told lawmakers Wednesday that he remains dedicated to preserving the agency’s independence and integrity while ensuring it continues delivering high-quality, “objective” economic data about the United States.

Brett Matsumoto, currently on leave from the economic data agency to serve with the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, delivered these comments during the opening of his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

The nomination of Matsumoto came earlier this year as Trump sought new leadership for the agency responsible for generating some of the nation’s most vital economic indicators. This followed the dismissal of former commissioner Erika McEntarfer in August, which occurred after the release of a monthly jobs report containing unusually large adjustments to previously published employment data.

Oklahoma lawmakers have approved new legislation designed to protect free speech on college campuses across the state. The measure prohibits public colleges and universities from engaging in discrimination against student groups based on their beliefs or viewpoints.

The new law was crafted as a response to situations where Christian and conservative campus organizations faced bans or limitations due to their positions on issues including abortion and LGBT matters. Under the legislation, all college students will be required to complete training focused on free speech principles at no cost.

WASHINGTON – As the president celebrates his 80th birthday milestone, political observers are pointing to mounting challenges that suggest his influence may be waning during his second term.

Almost a year and a half into his current presidency, the commander-in-chief faces resistance from multiple fronts. Legal challenges are mounting, his efforts to conclude military operations in Iran have hit roadblocks, and public approval numbers show decline. Even members of his own party in Congress are beginning to oppose his initiatives, although his base of loyal supporters continues to stand by him.

Despite these obstacles, the president continues to wield considerable influence in certain areas. He has successfully backed challengers against established Republican candidates in primary contests and maintains his aggressive approach to trade matters. Additionally, he has launched ambitious construction initiatives in the nation’s capital, representing one of the most extensive presidential building campaigns in recent decades.

These developments come at a crucial time, just months before November’s midterm congressional races, where Republicans are fighting to keep their legislative majorities. Should Democrats capture one or both chambers, it could accelerate the president’s transition into what political scientists call a lame-duck period – when executive power traditionally diminishes and domestic agenda items face greater obstacles.

Administration officials are working to counter any premature narrative of declining influence and have been emphasizing to Republican legislators that the president maintains the ability to support or derail their political careers, according to a presidential adviser who requested anonymity when discussing internal strategy.

However, with some Republicans demonstrating increased independence from the president’s positions, the same adviser conceded that some erosion of authority appears unavoidable.

“He’ll naturally start to lose leverage, especially after the midterms,” the adviser stated.

The president has confided to staff members that his occasional references to seeking a third term – which the Constitution prohibits – stem partly from his desire to prevent any public impression that he might become ineffective or fade into “irrelevance,” according to a former senior aide who spoke anonymously.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales responded by saying, “President Trump is the unequivocal leader of the Republican Party who is committed to maintaining Republicans’ majority in Congress.”

HEALTH UNDER SCRUTINY

Concerns about the president’s political position coincide with increased attention to his physical condition and energy levels.

A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted in February revealed that 61 percent of Americans believe the president has become more unpredictable with age, while an April poll showed majority concerns regarding his disposition and cognitive abilities.

The president, who holds the record as the oldest person to assume the presidency, plans to mark his 80th birthday on Sunday with a UFC cage fighting event on the White House lawn.

Following frequent travel during the early months of the year, the president has primarily remained at the White House or his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida since initiating military action in Iran on February 28. His domestic travel has been limited since that time.

His daily public agenda typically features “executive time” and closed-door policy discussions. He maintains a more prominent presence on his Truth Social platform, posting messages throughout the day and late evening hours.

Following a standard medical examination last month, the president proclaimed himself to be in excellent health, despite public appearances where he displayed swollen ankles – which his physicians characterized as a “slight” concern – and hand bruising.

A senior White House official, speaking anonymously, indicated the president wants to avoid comparisons to Joe Biden, his Democratic predecessor who faced fitness questions before departing office at age 82.

Nevertheless, the president has been photographed apparently sleeping at public functions, including during an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden on Monday. When video clips of him with closed eyes circulated widely online, administration staff responded on social media, asserting he was either blinking or concentrating intently.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle characterized the president as “the sharpest and most accessible president in American history.”

A WEAKENING HAND

Political experts acknowledge that even with reduced legislative influence, the president retains the ability to implement policy through executive actions and has greater freedom in international affairs, where chief executives traditionally have more unilateral authority.

Nevertheless, indicators of the president’s diminishing influence have emerged.

While a complete Republican uprising remains unlikely, some defeated incumbents who will serve until January have begun opposing elements of his agenda and signaling resistance to his cabinet selections.

During the past two weeks, small groups of Republican legislators in both congressional chambers have aligned with Democrats to criticize his Iran military actions, reject $1 billion in funding connected to his ballroom project, and force him to abandon his $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate political supporters who claim they suffered from “weaponized” legal prosecution.

As the president encounters difficulties advancing his policy goals, he has devoted increased attention to his building projects. He frequently promotes not only the elaborate ballroom currently under construction but also renovation work on the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall and a proposed triumphal arch.

The president will likely continue influencing the Republican Party through his role in selecting the party’s 2028 presidential candidate, widely viewed as a competition between Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

For the remainder of his term, observers should anticipate unpredictable actions from a president who values his reputation for being unforeseeable, said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University.

“His helter-skelter style of leadership, that’s not going anywhere, whether the Democrats take Congress or not,” he stated.

WASHINGTON, June 10 – The Microsoft founder appeared before Congress on Wednesday as lawmakers examine how the Justice Department managed the Jeffrey Epstein case, drawing attention to the tech billionaire’s connections with the convicted sex offender who targeted vulnerable women and girls from disadvantaged circumstances.

The technology mogul provided private testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is examining potential federal mishandling in prosecutions involving Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell, along with related matters.

U.S. Representative James Comer, the Republican committee chairman, requested the Microsoft founder’s appearance through a March letter seeking an in-person recorded interview.

The witness retained Jake Greenberg, who served as the oversight panel’s chief investigative official until December, to assist with preparation for his appearance, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. A committee spokesperson confirmed to Reuters the panel has not collaborated with Greenberg following his departure.

Epstein admitted guilt to a Florida state felony prostitution charge in 2008 and completed 13 months behind bars.

Federal authorities brought sex trafficking of minors charges against him in 2019. Epstein entered a not guilty plea to those accusations and died in what officials determined was a suicide later that year prior to trial.

Justice Department documents released this year revealed that the Microsoft founder and Epstein held multiple meetings following Epstein’s 2008 incarceration to explore expanding the tech mogul’s charitable work.

The materials also contained photographs of the tech billionaire with females whose identities are concealed. The Microsoft founder has stated previously that his association with Epstein focused solely on philanthropy-related conversations and has acknowledged meeting with him was an error.

The witness “took responsibility for his actions” during a February town hall session with employees of his foundation, a spokesperson for the charitable organization informed Reuters.

The Microsoft founder’s association with Epstein has impacted his foundation, which announced in April it had initiated an external examination of its interactions with the deceased financier. Electronic communications released in January by the U.S. Justice Department also revealed correspondence between Epstein and the foundation’s personnel.

The House committee’s investigation encompasses authorities’ management of investigations and prosecutions, plea agreements, Epstein’s death, shortcomings in fighting sex trafficking, ethics issues and postponements in releasing government records.

The Justice Department’s disclosure of millions of internal documents concerning Epstein exposed his connections to numerous influential figures in politics, finance, academia and business, including President Donald Trump, who maintained extensive social ties with Epstein during the 1990s and 2000s.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi, dismissed by Trump in April, encountered severe criticism regarding her case management, including allegations from critics that she attempted to protect Trump from examination.

Trump resisted releasing the documents until just before Congress decisively approved legislation mandating their disclosure.

A major immigration court facility in San Francisco has ceased operations, creating significant challenges for asylum seekers who must now travel considerable distances to attend their hearings.

The closed facility ranked among the nation’s most active immigration courts, processing thousands of cases annually. The court also distinguished itself by having one of the highest approval rates for asylum applications in the country.

Asylum seekers like Elin, who came to the United States from Nicaragua, now face the burden of traveling to Concord, California for their proceedings. The alternative courthouse is located several hours away from San Francisco, creating logistical and financial hardships for those awaiting their final asylum decisions.

The closure represents a significant disruption to the immigration court system in the region, affecting thousands of pending cases and the advocates who work to support asylum seekers through the legal process.

PORTLAND, Maine — Senator Susan Collins finds herself in a familiar position this election cycle — the Maine Republican is campaigning for reelection while Democrats rally behind a fresh face hoping to unseat her. Previously, it was state lawmaker Sara Gideon challenging her seat. Now, combat veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner leads the Democratic charge.

However, Collins has consistently presented challenges for Democratic opponents throughout her career — even against candidates who don’t carry Platner’s controversies, including criticism regarding his relationships with women, provocative social media content, and a former tattoo associated with Nazi imagery. The incumbent seeks her sixth term armed with widespread name recognition, a record-setting streak of consecutive Senate votes, and decades of securing federal dollars for her home state.

Collins stands out as one of the few Republicans who can sometimes enhance her local standing by maintaining space between herself and President Donald Trump. She has mastered this careful balance even as Trump’s increasing influence over the party contributed to the electoral defeats of two fellow Republican senators.

Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana fell in their primaries against Trump-backed challengers. Yet despite the president’s grievances with Collins, he chose not to actively oppose her campaign. Decades of experience have taught her when to align with the president for political benefit and when to demonstrate independence.

“She’s shown time and time again where her state’s electorate is. She understands what’s too far, she understands where she needs to be,” explained political consultant Matt Mackowiak, who worked for Cornyn’s unsuccessful reelection effort. Trump had endorsed Cornyn’s challenger, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Democrats require four seat flips to control the Senate following November’s elections and believe Trump’s declining approval numbers and the Iran conflict — along with resulting impacts on oil costs and the economy — might strengthen their prospects. Maine ranks among their primary targets, alongside Alaska, Ohio and North Carolina.

Platner aims to argue that Collins maintains closer ties to Trump than her independent image suggests — frequently highlighting how she supported his Supreme Court nominees, which contributed to the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, the pivotal 1973 ruling that established abortion rights, among other significant matters.

“Susan Collins may have started her career decades ago in Washington with good intentions, but she has become just as spineless and corrupt as the establishment she now serves,” Platner declared at a victory celebration on Tuesday.

Platner’s supporters welcome potential change, according to John Keenan, of Sullivan, Maine.

“I think Maine has grown tired of the same old system,” he stated. “And putting youth into the campaign, with new instead of a rubber stamp, is very refreshing.”

While preparing to face Platner in November, Collins must remain cautious regarding Trump. The president has repeatedly criticized her for occasionally opposing him on certain matters.

Nevertheless, he has held back recently — particularly as Collins avoided drawing a serious primary opponent and easily secured her Republican nomination.

The White House declined comment. Political advisers close to Trump indicated the president recognizes the importance of Republicans retaining Congressional control after November, which means accommodating Collins. Trump seeks to prevent a Republican collapse similar to the 2018 “blue wave” midterms when Democrats captured the House and disrupted much of his final two years’ agenda.

“Senator Susan Collins represents the people of Maine first and foremost and has proven herself to be a dedicated public servant,” stated Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci.

Collins spokesperson Blake Kernan noted the senator “has worked with five different Presidents throughout her Senate tenure, and has never agreed with any of them on every issue.”

“When she agrees with an effort, she will support it; when she disagrees, she does not hesitate to speak up for what she believes is the right outcome for Maine and for America,” Kernan added.

This approach failed other Republican senators.

Cornyn ranked among his party’s leading voices, advancing through leadership after entering the Senate in 2002. Paxton defeated him decisively in a runoff following Trump’s endorsement of the attorney general.

Serving since 2015, Cassidy voted to convict Trump during his post-January 6, 2021 Capitol siege impeachment trial. He lost his primary to Trump-endorsed state Rep. Julia Letlow.

Maine appears positioned for a more competitive November contest — demonstrated by Trump’s recent restraint in targeting Collins. This occurred despite her joining Democrats last week to block the nearly $1.8 billion fund the president sought to establish for allies he claims faced unfair law enforcement targeting.

“She’s always down in the polls and she survives,” Trump acknowledged when questioned about Collins during a New York Post interview last week.

Collins defeated Gideon, the Maine House speaker, by nearly 9 points in 2020, the same year Biden won the state by a comparable margin over Trump.

Mackowiak observed “there’s just no pathway to a MAGA senator from Maine.”

“It does appear that the Trump political operation is soberly analyzing the electoral environment in Maine and really kind of follows her lead as it relates to that state and that race, particularly this cycle,” he explained.

Chuck Ellis, a Republican from Westbrook who operates a digital marketing business, said Collins’ unwillingness to follow Trump completely can benefit her.

While acknowledging some “hard-line” voters might object, Ellis noted, “ultimately a lot of your conservatives, your Republicans, are people who are a bit more pragmatic.”

Following Collins’ opposition to the White House’s major tax cut and spending legislation last year, plus her vote against a proposal to recover $9 billion in foreign aid and public media funding, the president criticized her on social media.

“Republicans, when in doubt, vote the exact opposite of Senator Susan Collins,” he posted.

Then in January, Trump attacked the “stupidity” of Collins and four other Senate Republicans who joined Democrats to begin debate on limiting the president’s military authority in Venezuela.

She subsequently received a profanity-filled phone call from Trump.

Serving as chair of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins cast her 10,000th consecutive Senate vote last week, establishing a record.

“She has been able to do and show that ‘I am bringing money and resources from the federal government to Maine to help Maine,’” Ellis said.

The president likely won’t visit Maine before November despite traveling to other states with crucial Senate contests, including Iowa and Michigan. He might even personally campaign for Paxton.

Vice President JD Vance has visited Maine, where he promoted his anti-fraud task force. Collins skipped Vance’s Bangor speech last month where he acknowledged the senator’s separation from the Trump administration.

“If she was as partisan as I sometimes wish that she was,” Vance remarked, “she would not be a good fit for the people of Maine.”

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is scheduled to participate in a private interview with congressional investigators examining his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.

The House Oversight Committee will conduct the closed-door session to question Gates about his relationship with Epstein. Gates’ name appears multiple times throughout the Epstein-related documents that have drawn congressional attention.

The interview represents part of ongoing congressional scrutiny into various individuals who had contact with Epstein before his death in federal custody.

Bill Gates is scheduled to participate in a private congressional interview focusing on his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. The House Oversight Committee will conduct the behind-closed-doors session to examine Gates’ association with Epstein.

Visual coverage of primary election activities has been compiled from four states during recent voting proceedings.

The photographic documentation captures scenes from polling locations and election-related activities as voters participated in primary contests across the multiple states.

The images provide a glimpse into the electoral process as it unfolded during the primary election cycle in these four jurisdictions.

ATLANTA — Two Republican members of Congress from Georgia have filed impeachment resolutions targeting a federal judge in Atlanta who faced discipline following an investigation that confirmed she engaged in sexual activity with a police officer in her chambers, participated in a partisan political gathering, and provided false information to investigators examining the alleged wrongdoing.

U.S. Reps. Clay Fuller and Andrew Clyde submitted the resolutions against U.S. District Judge Eleanor Ross. Clyde posted on social media Tuesday that Ross’ “deeply disturbing actions prove she is incapable of displaying integrity or impartiality. She must be impeached and removed from the bench.”

The House Judiciary Committee holds the authority to determine whether to begin impeachment proceedings against Ross. Federal judges receive lifetime appointments and can only be removed through the impeachment process.

When contacted Tuesday afternoon, a person answering the phone at the judge’s chambers stated that Ross had no comment.

Ross received her nomination to the Northern District of Georgia in January 2014 from then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat, and gained Senate confirmation in November that same year. She previously held a position as a state court judge in DeKalb County, which encompasses a small portion of Atlanta, beginning in 2011. Prior to her judicial career, she spent more than ten years working as both a state and federal prosecutor, primarily in Atlanta.

The investigation into Ross started when one of her law clerks reported that the judge had repeatedly engaged in sexual conduct with a high-ranking uniformed police officer in her office while staff could hear. Additional allegations included improper supervision of clerks and an incident where she shouted and used profanity toward staff members.

Ross was issued a “private reprimand” following the investigation that substantiated the sexual activity and determined she attended a partisan event and initially provided false denials of the accusations.

The court’s investigation kept the judge’s identity and court location within the 11th Circuit’s jurisdiction confidential, which covers Alabama, Florida and Georgia. A person knowledgeable about the situation who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive information verified to The Associated Press that Ross was the judge who faced discipline.

Additionally, the Atlanta Police Department announced it has launched an investigation to establish whether the “high-ranking law enforcement officer” determined to have engaged in sexual activity with a federal judge in the judge’s chambers belongs to their department.

William Pryor, the chief judge of the 11th Circuit, initiated the original investigation of Ross. He requested her response to the clerk’s allegations and she answered the same day, “specifically denied” each claim. In a subsequent email the following day, the judge suggested to Pryor that the law clerk might have fabricated the allegations as revenge for being required to work in the office.

Pryor designated a special committee to conduct the investigation. That investigation received detailed documentation in a report included with the disciplinary order.

The committee’s examination of logs and security footage revealed an officer had regularly visited the judge’s chambers in uniform during lunch hours. Six clerks remembered seeing someone matching the officer’s description, with three recalling they overheard what could have been sexual activity in the judge’s office.

Three clerks recalled bringing summer interns on their initial day to observe the judge conducting a hearing in a criminal case. Immediately afterward, they informed the committee, the judge refused to have lunch with the interns, admitting to consuming too many martinis the previous night at a primary election victory celebration for a district attorney friend.

The clerks reported the judge failed to provide adequate guidance and “rarely, if ever, substantively edited civil orders the clerks drafted.” While clerks described an “eggshell culture,” the committee found no evidence of abusive conduct.

The judge eventually confessed to maintaining an extramarital sexual relationship with the officer but rejected the allegations regarding staff mistreatment, the committee documented. The judge acknowledged to the committee attending a “mixer” of former employees from a district attorney’s office where the judge previously worked but claimed it occurred in a separate room from the victory party.

Nevada voters will witness one of this year’s most hotly contested gubernatorial battles when they head to the polls in November.

The race pits Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford against sitting Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in what political observers are calling one of the most competitive governor’s races nationwide.

Ford, who currently serves as the state’s top law enforcement official, will be looking to flip the governor’s mansion from Republican to Democratic control by unseating the incumbent Lombardo.

The November election will determine which party controls Nevada’s executive branch as both candidates prepare for what promises to be a closely watched and hard-fought campaign.

The Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist is scheduled to appear Wednesday for questioning by House lawmakers examining connections to the convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The House Oversight Committee will conduct the interview with Bill Gates in a private session, following the same format used for other witnesses in their ongoing investigation. Committee transcripts are typically made public at a later date.

Committee chairman Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer issued the formal request for Gates’ testimony after his name surfaced repeatedly in Justice Department documents made public during the federal Epstein investigation.

The released papers contain names of influential figures spanning technology, finance, politics and various other sectors. While all individuals have rejected any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities, some continued relationships with him even after his history of sexual misconduct became public knowledge.

The documentation includes scheduled appointments between Gates and Epstein recorded in calendars, electronic messages discussing charitable initiatives, and photographs showing Gates at gatherings where Epstein was also present.

Records show their business connection started in 2011, which was three years following Epstein’s guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor, and continued through at least the end of 2014.

Federal prosecutors charged Epstein in July 2019 with sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. Authorities alleged Epstein established an extensive network involving underage girls, including some as young as 14, whom he sexually abused from 2002 to 2005. Epstein took his own life in 2019 while held in custody awaiting trial.

Gates, who leads the Gates Foundation, faces no allegations of misconduct related to Epstein and has stated he had no awareness of Epstein’s abuse of girls. He has maintained their meetings focused solely on charitable work and has described his connection with Epstein as “a huge mistake.”

Both Gates and his former spouse, Melinda French Gates, have acknowledged that his relationship with Epstein caused strain in their marriage.

The foundation confirmed in February that a limited number of staff members had interactions with Epstein due to his “claims that he could mobilize significant philanthropic resources for global health.” No joint charitable fund was established, and the foundation provided no payments to Epstein.

Foundation CEO Mark Suzman ordered an independent assessment in March to review the organization’s previous dealings with Epstein.

During a separate private questioning session in February, former President Bill Clinton answered lawmakers’ questions for over six hours regarding his connection with Epstein from more than twenty years ago. Epstein had made multiple visits to the White House during Clinton’s administration, and Clinton occasionally traveled aboard Epstein’s personal aircraft.

The former Democratic president stated he observed no indicators of Epstein’s sexual misconduct and ended their association well before Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea. Clinton has not faced any accusations of wrongdoing concerning Epstein.

Democratic members of the House committee have called for testimony from President Donald Trump, a Republican who maintained his own association with Epstein. Republicans have indicated they have found no evidence suggesting Trump engaged in any improper conduct during his documented friendship with Epstein.

BISMARCK, N.D. — Last year, the Trump administration made an unusual request to visitors at America’s national parks: alert officials to any displays or exhibits that portrayed Americans in an unfavorable way, whether from past or present times.

However, the majority of people who responded used the opportunity to condemn the initiative, based on an Associated Press review of 35,000 public comments submitted during the latter half of 2025 and recently released through legal action.

A visitor to a park in North Carolina described the administration’s actions as “un-American.” Another person criticized the concept of “having Americans call in and snitch on each other.”

“Hey Donald Trump!” one person wrote from North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park. “Trying to erase history doesn’t mean it didn’t still happen!”

According to the Associated Press review, a substantial portion — over half, not including duplicate submissions — represented opposition to the initiative itself.

Some responses to the administration’s request identified interpretive materials that officials might now attempt to reverse — and in dozens of instances already have, according to one organization.

However, given that the National Park Service recorded approximately 323 million visits across more than 400 locations last year, the 35,000 initial public responses received between June and January and disclosed after a lawsuit represented a modest reaction.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a directive last year targeting “inappropriate content” including any signage and displays “negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.”

The directive came after President Donald Trump’s order on “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” which aimed to highlight America’s accomplishments and the magnificence of its terrain.

The objective, Burgum stated, was to transform sites into “solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.”

A monitoring organization of librarians, public historians and data specialists called Save Our Signs, using photo documentation and news accounts, has tracked at least 59 signs that were taken down or altered.

These include signage addressing slavery, climate change, women’s rights and conservation involvement, and Native American history, according to Jenny McBurney, a government publications librarian at the University of Minnesota who participates in the organization.

“It seems to be anything that is sort of going against the ideology, this idea of America is perfect and can do no wrong, which of course we know is not true,” McBurney said.

Numerous modifications occurred at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, where the administration eliminated exhibits about the lives of nine people enslaved at the location during the 1790s under George Washington, the first U.S. president. Some of these exhibits were subsequently reinstated following a judge’s directive before additional work was stopped after the administration filed an appeal.

Over half the responses showed evidence of organization and criticized the effort. However, many others appeared individually written.

The responses became available through a Sierra Club legal challenge seeking their disclosure. Some praised the parks, including their personnel and informational materials.

“We had a great time learning about the development of this site including the difficult parts of our American story,” a visitor to Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis wrote. “We need those reminders to help us become even better in the future.”

Others turned playful: “Didn’t see any Bigfeets,” a visitor to Washington’s North Cascades National Park noted.

A significant number, however, targeted the administration.

“Trump’s idea of having Americans call in and snitch on each other … is straight out of the fascist playbook he’s literally acting like Hitler or Mussolini,” one visitor wrote.

Some visitors reported what they considered inappropriate references to historical figures, including Black leaders, connected to race and inclusion concepts.

A visitor to Missouri’s Harry S. Truman National Historic Site reported an installation they claimed celebrated the former president as a “founding father” of diversity, equity and inclusion and a “precursor” advocate of critical race theory, or a method of examining U.S. history through the perspective of racism.

“I came here to see his hat and maybe a piano, not to read about intersectionality and ‘equity frameworks.’ I nearly choked on my commemorative root beer,” the visitor wrote.

Another person objected that signage at Virginia’s Booker T. Washington National Monument characterized the Black leader as a “father of DEI and early architect of critical race theory.”

“This sign is blatantly misleading, politically loaded, and clearly designed to push a modern agenda by hijacking a respected historical figure. It’s like naming Paul Revere the first Uber driver because he got around fast,” the person said.

The Trump administration has provided little clarity about modifications it has implemented through the program.

“In many cases across the system, flagged materials remain unchanged,” an Interior spokesperson said in an emailed statement, while not answering questions about signs or exhibits that are or will be changed.

Additional sites where signage has been eliminated or modified include Maine’s Acadia National Park, Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, New York City’s Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Virgin Islands National Park, according to Save Our Signs.

“We hear from folks all over the country that history matters, that our national parks matter and that this is important to them,” McBurney said.

Citizens in four states participated in primary voting on Tuesday as Maine, Nevada, South Carolina and North Dakota held their latest round of election contests.

The voting day marked another chapter in the ongoing primary season happening throughout the United States.

This collection of images was assembled by AP photo editors to document the election activities.

Federal attorneys are urging a judge to dismiss a legal challenge aimed at stopping a planned Ultimate Fighting Championship bout scheduled for this weekend on White House property.

The administration filed court documents on Tuesday defending the June 14 mixed martial arts event, claiming the lawsuit was filed too late and that the event complies with all applicable laws.

Two residents from the Washington area have petitioned U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta for an emergency order to prevent the fight from taking place. Their legal challenge claims that sporting competitions are prohibited on the White House South Lawn and that the massive metal fighting structure being built requires congressional authorization.

In their response, federal lawyers argued the challengers failed to demonstrate potential success in their case or prove they would suffer any actual harm from the event.

“It would be easy enough to simply avert their gazes for the weekend,” the administration’s filing stated. “Instead, they seek to enlist the power of a federal court to impose their idiosyncratic preferences on the rest of the country and ruin an event designed to celebrate the United States of America.”

Legal representatives for the challengers have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

The planned White House spectacle, titled “UFC Freedom 250” and scheduled to coincide with the president’s 80th birthday celebration, features fights inside a towering 92-foot octagon-shaped arena. Preliminary weigh-ins are planned for the Lincoln Memorial.

The legal complaint accuses the National Park Service and Interior Department of improperly authorizing the event and demands the approval be overturned.

“This nation’s public monuments should not be loaned out for private exploitation,” the lawsuit states.

Government attorneys countered that current rules do not prohibit such events and pointed to the South Lawn’s long tradition of hosting public gatherings.

The president’s relationship with the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization extends back to the early 2000s, when he arranged for events at his former Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which later went bankrupt. UFC Chief Executive Dana White maintains a close alliance with the president.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Republican candidate Steve Hilton has secured his position in California’s gubernatorial general election, campaigning on a platform that the Golden State requires fresh leadership after more than a decade and a half under Democratic control.

Hilton will square off against Democrat Xavier Becerra, who previously served as the state’s attorney general and as health secretary in the Biden administration. The Associated Press had earlier confirmed Becerra secured sufficient votes to advance.

The Republican candidate confronts difficult electoral math this November, given that California’s registered Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by nearly two-to-one. Should he prevail, Hilton would become the first Republican to capture statewide office since 2006.

Despite the odds, Hilton remains confident about his chances.

“My mission is clear: to go to Sacramento, clean up the corruption, cut your costs, help your business, and fix our schools,” Hilton said in a statement.

“Xavier Becerra is the ultimate career politician. After 36 years in the political machine, his policies gave California the highest poverty rate, the highest unemployment rate, and the highest cost of living in America. Now he promises ‘no change’ to those policies,” Hilton said.

The results mean Democratic contender Tom Steyer failed to advance to the November contest.

Throughout his campaign, Hilton has targeted Democrats on issues including the state’s expensive living costs, homelessness problems and other challenges. His proposals include reducing prices for gasoline and housing, eliminating income taxes on the first $100,000 earned by Californians, establishing a lending program for first-time home purchasers, and maintaining current tuition levels at state universities.

President Donald Trump backed Hilton in April, which strengthened his support among Republican primary voters but may prove problematic in the general election.

Hilton, who lacks experience in elected positions, arrived in the United States from the United Kingdom in 2012, where he had advised Conservative Party leaders including former Prime Minister David Cameron. He hosted a Fox News program from 2017 through 2023 and obtained U.S. citizenship in 2021.

Hilton frequently references his parents’ escape from communist Hungary before settling in the U.K. as a defining element of his family background that influenced his conservative political beliefs.

Former California State Senator Richard Pan has secured his place on the November general election ballot following a competitive primary race in the state’s 6th Congressional District.

The Sacramento-area congressional seat was reconfigured by state Democratic leaders during last year’s redistricting process, creating what they believe will be a more secure district for their party come November.

In another race, Sacramento City Councilwoman Mai Vang earned her spot in November’s general election for a different California congressional seat, creating a matchup between two Democrats against veteran Representative Doris Matsui.

The 81-year-old Representative Matsui has served in the Sacramento-based position since her husband, former Representative Bob Matsui, passed away in 2005. Bob Matsui had represented the area since the 1970s.

At 41 years old, Vang represents part of a nationwide movement of Democratic candidates making generational appeals following Joe Biden’s presidency.

“People are tired of leaders who answer to their biggest donors instead of the families they represent,” Vang said in a statement after the race was called. “The squeeze on working families doesn’t check your party registration — and neither will I.”

Matsui’s campaign referenced a statement she issued last week expressing gratitude to voters. The Representative launched her first general election advertisement Tuesday evening, highlighting a local mother whose child has muscular dystrophy and who commended Matsui for supporting legislation that funds treatments for the condition.

California’s 52 House contests reflected broader national political patterns, including the effects of redistricting before this year’s midterm elections with Democrats controlling the map-drawing process, generational conflicts within the Democratic Party, and debates over whether moderate or progressive candidates perform better in competitive districts.

Two additional longtime House Democrats in California successfully survived challenges from younger opponents to reach the November election. Representative Brad Sherman, age 72 and serving his 15th term representing parts of Los Angeles, will compete against a Republican candidate in the fall. Mike Thompson, 75, is pursuing his 13th term representing a Northern California district.

In San Francisco, a well-funded progressive candidate failed to secure one of the top two positions for retiring Representative Nancy Pelosi’s seat. State Senator Scott Wiener and city Supervisor Connie Chan will compete to succeed the former House speaker.

Matsui’s 7th District seat is viewed as safely Democratic but underwent redrawing as part of the party’s strategy to gain five additional House seats in other areas. Voters approved these modifications through a constitutional amendment last year.

Democrats initially worried about being shut out of the general election in a San Diego-area district under the state’s primary structure, which advances the two highest vote recipients to November regardless of party affiliation. However, San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert successfully emerged from a crowded field of Democratic candidates and will compete against Republican Jim Desmond, a San Diego County supervisor.

The party experienced concern in a redrawn Sacramento-area district when an independent candidate and a longshot Republican initially held the top two positions after early vote counting. Subsequent results revealed that one of the Democratic contenders, former state legislator Dr. Richard Pan, had moved into the top two.

In Southern California, Democrats’ redistricting placed two prominent Republican House members in the same district, sparking a months-long primary contest between Representative Ken Calvert and Representative Young Kim over Trump loyalty. Calvert, whose previous district included more of the new territory, secured one of the two advancing positions.

In the Central Valley, Republican Representative David Valadao, considered among the most vulnerable House Republicans, awaits confirmation of his November opponent – either centrist Democrat and Assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains or progressive political science professor and school board member Randy Villegas.

DETROIT — A Michigan appeals court has overturned the conviction of a man found guilty of supporting a conspiracy to abduct Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020.

The appeals court unanimously reversed Joe Morrison’s conviction on Tuesday, determining that kidnapping cannot serve as the foundational violent crime needed to support charges under Michigan’s anti-terrorism statute. Morrison had been found guilty of providing material support for terrorism along with additional charges.

The 32-year-old Morrison has remained incarcerated since 2022. He initially received a minimum 10-year sentence for three offenses, though this was later shortened to six years.

The ruling drew sharp criticism from State Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, who denounced the decision as “completely and irredeemably nonsensical, outrageous and irresponsible.” Nessel announced plans to appeal the matter to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Morrison was tried alongside Pete Musico and Paul Bellar, though none of the three faced accusations of directly participating in the kidnapping conspiracy. Instead, they belonged to a militia organization that conducted training exercises with Adam Fox, a central conspirator currently serving 16 years in federal prison after his conviction.

Gov. Whitmer, a Democrat, was never injured in the plot. Federal agents and informants had infiltrated Fox’s organization for several months before authorities arrested 14 individuals in October 2020, dismantling the scheme.

Both Musico and Bellar received guilty verdicts in the same Jackson County trial as Morrison. Their attorneys plan to challenge those convictions before a separate appeals panel in July.

The broader investigation yielded varying outcomes for state and federal prosecutors. Five of the 14 defendants were cleared at trial, and Morrison’s overturned conviction adds to the mixed results.

Advertisements in New York featuring computer-generated people instead of real actors must now include clear disclosure labels or face state law violations, under new legislation that became effective Tuesday.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the legislation in December, with her administration describing it as groundbreaking nationwide legislation designed to increase transparency as AI-created performers become more common in media and digital marketing campaigns.

The state defines synthetic performers as “digitally-created media that appear as a real person,” with the requirements covering advertisements across all media formats.

“In New York, we are setting the rules of the road instead of letting AI run the show,” Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement. The “simple, honest disclosure” required by the law “protects consumers, respects our creative workforce and keeps New York at the forefront of responsible innovation,” she said.

Advertisements failing to “conspicuously disclose” their use of synthetic performers face penalties starting at $1,000 for initial violations, escalating to $5,000 for subsequent infractions.

The legislation includes several exemptions, notably for advertisements promoting movies, television programs, streaming services, video games and similar entertainment featuring synthetic performers throughout the entire production. Audio-only advertisements and those using AI exclusively for language translation are also excluded.

During the legislative process last year, the American Association of Advertising Agencies along with multiple advertising industry groups voiced strong resistance to the measure.

The 4As, as the organization is better known, said in one blog post that it would hurt advertisers by “injecting compliance uncertainty into the advertising process, burdening brands (and their agencies) who advertise in New York and undermining creative and technological innovation.”

Other organizations, like the The New York State Broadcasters Association, said in public statements during the legislation’s journey to become law that they were relieved to see some of those carve outs that were created through amendments, but remained concerned about the broad definition of a synthetic performer.

SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, provided the strongest backing for the legislation, having recently approved a new agreement with studios and streaming services that they claim offers additional safeguards against synthetic performers.

This measure represents one of numerous state-level initiatives nationwide aimed at protecting employment opportunities for actual people or addressing potential privacy and security concerns related to artificial intelligence. Current state regulations include restrictions on deepfakes in certain situations, limitations on personal data collection, and enhanced corporate transparency requirements.

Shortly after Hochul approved the synthetic performer legislation in December, President Donald Trump issued an executive order discouraging states from implementing AI regulations. The directive stemmed from concerns that varying state rules might hinder AI company development and allow China to narrow the gap with U.S. artificial intelligence capabilities. Executive order critics contend it enables technology companies to function with minimal regulatory supervision.

Millions of American retirees face potential benefit cuts as the Social Security trust fund approaches insolvency by late 2032, according to a new government report released Tuesday.

The Social Security Administration’s latest annual assessment shows the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund will be exhausted in the fourth quarter of 2032, moving up the timeline from the first quarter of 2033 that officials projected in last year’s report.

Once the fund runs dry, incoming revenue will cover only 78% of promised benefits, meaning retirees could see their monthly Social Security checks reduced by 22%.

The accelerated timeline stems partly from President Donald Trump’s tax legislation passed last year, which reduced income tax collections on Social Security benefits that help fund the program, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the separate Disability Insurance trust fund for Americans receiving long-term disability payments remains financially stable for the next 75 years, matching last year’s projections.

When both funds are considered together, they will reach insolvency in the third quarter of 2034, unchanged from previous estimates. At that point, combined income would support 83% of scheduled benefits, dropping to just 65% by 2100.

The report identified declining U.S. birth rates and reduced immigration as additional factors contributing to the worsening financial outlook for the retirement program.

The Social Security Administration operates under Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano, who received Senate confirmation in May 2025.

WASHINGTON — Federal officials announced Tuesday that Social Security’s retirement trust fund will encounter a funding shortfall by 2032, moving up the timeline by one year from previous estimates, according to a newly released annual assessment. Medicare’s hospital insurance fund remains on track to face benefit payment challenges in 2033, matching last year’s forecast.

Increasing medical expenses and federal expenditures have pushed the projected depletion timeline to less than a decade away.

The upcoming obstacle for these programs represents a partial funding deficit rather than a complete system failure. Following trust fund exhaustion, benefit payments will continue at decreased levels.

According to the trustees’ report, Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund bankruptcy timeline was previously moved to 2033 from an earlier projection of 2036.

Social Security’s combined trust funds, which provide benefits to elderly and disabled Americans, will face full benefit payment difficulties starting in 2034, matching the 2025 assessment. Following that point, available revenue would support approximately 83% of planned benefits.

Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano stated the Trump administration is “committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security” and “eliminating waste, fraud, abuse and ensuring program integrity.”

The program trustees, including the treasury secretary, labor secretary, health and human services secretary and the Social Security commissioner, emphasize that these latest results demonstrate the critical need for program modifications. These initiatives have confronted serious financial forecasts for many years. However, altering these programs has remained politically challenging, with legislators consistently deferring Social Security and Medicare’s problematic calculations to future generations.

AARP’s CEO Myechia Minter-Jordan stated in a release that the current figures “should be a wake-up call. Congress needs to act.”

“Americans have worked hard and paid into Social Security their entire lives, and they deserve to count on it when they retire,” she said. “No family should see any cuts to what they’ve earned in Social Security.”

Medicare currently serves approximately 70.1 million Americans, providing federal health coverage for individuals 65 and older, plus those with serious disabilities or medical conditions.

The last major Social Security benefit changes occurred about 40 years ago, when federal authorities increased the program’s eligibility age from 65 to 67. Medicare’s eligibility age has remained at 65 throughout its history.

A federal judge has overturned President Donald Trump’s massive increase in H-1B visa application fees, dealing a blow to an administration policy that drove costs from $215 to $100,000 per application.

The ruling on Monday came from a Boston federal court, where Judge Leo Sorokin sided with 20 states challenging the fee hike. Sorokin determined the Trump administration overstepped its legal boundaries by implementing such a dramatic increase without getting Congress to approve it first.

Trump had implemented the steep fee increase last September, claiming it would shield American workers from being displaced by foreign employees willing to accept lower wages. The new cost took effect just one day after being announced, and very few companies have been willing to pay the hefty price tag.

The H-1B visa program, established through the 1990 Immigration Act, allows American employers to bring in foreign workers with specialized technical abilities that are difficult to locate domestically. These temporary work permits are designed for individuals with bachelor’s degrees or equivalent experience in specialized fields.

Each H-1B visa remains valid for three years and can be renewed for an additional three-year period. According to Stephen Brown from Capital Economics, approximately 700,000 people currently hold H-1B visas in the United States, with another 500,000 family members living here as dependents.

The program has become particularly important for technology companies and higher education institutions seeking to fill skilled positions. Research from the Pew Research Center shows that since 2012, at least 60% of approved H-1B applications have been for computer-related positions. However, hospitals, financial institutions, universities and various other employers also utilize the program.

Annual limits restrict new visa issuance to 65,000, with an extra 20,000 available for applicants holding master’s degrees or higher qualifications. These permits are distributed through a lottery system, though certain employers like universities and nonprofit organizations are not subject to these caps.

Program critics argue that H-1B visas harm American workers by bringing in overseas employees who often accept lower compensation than domestic technology workers would demand. Staffing firms like Tata Consultancy Services frequently provide Indian workers to corporate customers. Pew data indicates nearly three-quarters of 2023 approved applicants originated from India.

“To take advantage of artificially low labor costs incentivized by the program, companies close their IT divisions, fire their American staff, and outsource IT jobs to lower-paid foreign workers,” the White House stated in its proclamation last year. A 2020 study by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute discovered that 60% of H-1B positions certified by the U.S. Labor Department receive wages below the median for those jobs.

Program advocates counter that H-1B visa recipients boost company productivity and work alongside native-born Americans rather than replacing them.

Judge Sorokin ruled the fee violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which controls how federal agencies create and implement regulations. “The Court finds that the Policy imposes a tax on H-1B petitions without the requisite delegation by Congress,” Sorokin wrote, contradicting a previous federal court decision that had supported the fee increase and allowed it to remain in place until its scheduled September expiration.

In the Boston lawsuit, the states contended the policy would hamper their capacity to recruit elementary and secondary school teachers, staff public colleges and universities, hinder academic research, and reduce the number of medical professionals.

WASHINGTON — Vice President JD Vance is calling on federal prosecutors to launch an investigation into Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison regarding claims they allowed extensive social services fraud to persist, raising questions about whether the White House plans to use a newly created Justice Department unit to go after political opponents.

The vice president, who has been chosen to spearhead the Trump administration’s anti-fraud initiatives while building his political credentials for a possible 2028 presidential run, referenced a House Oversight Committee report in his letter to the Justice Department. The Republican-controlled committee’s findings suggest Walz and Ellison knew about widespread government program abuse for years and allowed it to continue unchecked.

Federal prosecutors have not yet responded to Tuesday inquiries about whether they will launch such an investigation. It remains uncertain what federal law violations, if any, might justify examining the Democratic Minnesota leaders, who have stood by their fraud-fighting record and called a separate Justice Department probe involving state officials politically driven.

The state has faced ongoing scrutiny for enormous amounts of fraud within children’s programs and other social services, resulting in charges against numerous defendants during both President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration and President Donald Trump’s Republican presidency. However, Vance’s call for investigating state leadership represents a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s declared ‘war on fraud,’ which officials claim will remain non-political and non-partisan.

The vice president wants the investigation handled by a newly formed Justice Department unit that has faced heavy criticism over potential political interference due to its tight connections with Trump’s White House. Officials announced the division’s creation in January, initially stating its director would report straight to the president rather than following standard Justice Department hierarchy.

Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann criticized the House committee as ‘nothing more than a joke’ that keeps trying to ‘re-hash COVID-era fraud.’

‘Governor Walz is glad to see fraudsters are going to prison,’ Tschann stated in an email. ‘If the committee is concerned about corruption, they should investigate why President Trump continues to let fraudsters out of prison.’

Ellison rejected the accusations as baseless and characterized Vance’s request as ‘a political stunt from an administration that uses the machinery of government to target its perceived opponents while extending leniency to those aligned with its interests.’

‘It is deeply troubling to see official powers and public resources diverted away from serving the people and instead aimed at pursuing political adversaries,’ Ellison stated. ‘That is not what government is for, and it diminishes public trust in our institutions.’

The House committee claims that ‘fraud warnings were elevated to the most senior levels of the Minnesota state government’ while payments kept flowing ‘long after credible signs of fraud emerged.’ In his request, Vance stated that Minnesota officials or any other government leaders nationwide ‘must be held accountable’ if they enabled fraud, blocked efforts to stop it, or took revenge against whistleblowers attempting to expose it.

‘Minnesota state officials are not above the law,’ Vance posted on X.

The Trump administration has repeatedly confronted Minnesota officials not just over fraud issues but also regarding the extensive federal immigration enforcement operations that hit the Minneapolis-St. Paul region and other areas, sparking widespread demonstrations.

Federal prosecutors issued grand jury subpoenas to Minnesota officials in January as part of an investigation examining whether they interfered with or hindered federal law enforcement through their public comments. The current status of that probe remains unknown.

The Trump administration has promoted the establishment of the National Fraud Enforcement Division as an essential component of its campaign to stop taxpayer money misuse. The unit’s head, Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, brings extensive prosecution experience and has promised to handle cases ‘without fear or favor.’

However, critics have raised questions about the administration’s true intentions behind the new unit, noting that fraud cases were already handled by the agency’s Criminal Division, which announced the Justice Department’s largest coordinated healthcare fraud takedown in history last year.

House Speaker Mike Johnson held a meeting with President Donald Trump on Tuesday to address the contentious selection of Bill Pulte as the nation’s top intelligence official, a decision that has put crucial surveillance legislation in peril.

The president’s choice to place the mortgage regulator in the role of acting director of national intelligence has sparked a confrontation in Congress, with legislators expressing concerns that he might misuse his authority to target Trump’s political adversaries. This situation has created obstacles for renewing legislation that permits U.S. intelligence services to track certain overseas communications without requiring court authorization. The legislation is scheduled to lapse on Friday.

Steve Scalise of Louisiana, who serves as the second-ranking House Republican, explained that Johnson was consulting with Trump about future actions.

“One of the reasons that the speaker’s not here right now is he’s over at the White House working with the president to finalize this agreement on FISA,” Scalise informed reporters, referencing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

The reauthorization process hit a roadblock in the Senate on Friday when Republican critics aligned with Democrats to block consideration of the measure. This vote marked a notable defeat for Republicans, who maintain slim majorities in both congressional chambers.

Congressional approval from both houses will be necessary for the surveillance provisions found in Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits intelligence organizations to track emails and other communications from foreign nationals abroad without obtaining individual court orders.

While leading the lesser-known mortgage regulatory agency, Pulte utilized private information to advocate for mortgage fraud investigations targeting individuals the president viewed as adversaries. None of these individuals have faced criminal prosecution.

A Pride celebration hosted by New York City Council members has ignited intense debate about how taxpayer money should be spent. The American Principles Project released footage from the recent gathering, which showed transgender entertainers performing while city council members applauded from the audience. The conservative organization criticized the use of public funds for what they called promoting an LGBT agenda. In their response to the event, APP claimed that “John Jay and Alexander Hamilton are turning in their graves right now,” referencing two prominent New York founding fathers. The controversy centers on whether municipal resources should fund such celebrations, with critics questioning the appropriateness of the expenditure.

Municipal and county officials in Salt Lake City have initiated federal court proceedings to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from establishing a massive warehouse facility intended to house as many as 10,000 immigrants in their community.

The federal court filing, submitted this past Monday, represents another in a series of legal challenges brought by local authorities nationwide who were bypassed during DHS’s acquisition of industrial warehouse properties intended for conversion into regional immigrant processing and holding facilities.

The legal action focuses on DHS’s most costly property acquisition under this program: a $145.4 million purchase of an 833,000-square-foot warehouse spanning an area equivalent to approximately 15 football fields. The March transaction, involving a real estate development company with partial Deutsche Bank ownership, carried a price tag nearly 50% above the property’s assessed market value for 2025, according to official records.

Between January and March, DHS acquired 11 warehouse properties totaling over $1 billion during the closing period of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership, part of her $38.3 billion strategy for a revised detention approach aimed at expanding capacity and streamlining deportation procedures. The DHS Office of Inspector General has launched an inquiry into potential waste within the program, while Noem’s replacement, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, has suspended the initiative.

Similar to other legal challenges filed nationwide, the Utah case contends that DHS breached federal requirements by bypassing mandatory environmental assessments and failing to seek input from state and local authorities prior to the acquisition.

“This kind of facility has no place in Salt Lake City, not only due to its inhumane nature but also because of our limited water supply, the increased strain on public utilities systems, and the potentially drastic public health and safety impacts it would have on our residents,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a statement.

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said the plan “is a dire threat to the very essence of our community values,” adding it would overwhelm infrastructure, harm businesses, and undermine public health and safety.

A recently established advocacy organization, Uproar Utah, also scheduled a Tuesday news conference to address legal action against the warehouse proposal.

DHS’s press office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Court challenges in other locations have achieved some preliminary victories.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has issued administrative orders blocking the operation of two planned detention centers until DHS can show they are complying with state and federal environmental regulations. DHS is appealing the orders.

In Maryland, a judge has granted a preliminary injunction halting construction activities at a Williamsport warehouse while a lawsuit is heard. In New Jersey, ICE is preparing a new environmental assessment and decision after a lawsuit was filed against its plan for a detention center in Roxbury Township. Other cases are pending in Arizona, Michigan and Georgia.

TORONTO (AP) — The Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Detroit and Windsor, Ontario will begin operations at the end of this week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday, despite previous threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to halt the project.

Trump had demanded in February that Canada surrender no less than fifty percent ownership of the crossing and comply with additional unspecified conditions as part of his ongoing disputes over trade relations between the two nations.

The crossing, which spans the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, represents a crucial commercial link between Canada and the United States. The project’s website had indicated the bridge was scheduled to begin operations earlier this year.

The span bears the name of the legendary Canadian hockey player who played 25 seasons for the Detroit Red Wings.

Former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, helped negotiate the agreement, with Canada providing full funding to reduce traffic bottlenecks at the current Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor tunnel. Construction began in 2018.

“Obviously the bridge will be open at the end of the week. A symbol of, but also a fact of cooperation between our countries,” Carney stated to media as he entered Parliament.

“Great for Canadians going across the border, Americans coming across the border, and for commerce,” he added, describing the development as “positive news.”

Trump’s opposition to the bridge comes as the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement faces review this year, with the president taking an aggressive stance ahead of negotiations and issuing fresh tariff warnings.

Carney has publicly criticized economic pressure tactics by the United States on the international stage.

Michigan Democrat Sen. Elissa Slotkin has described the Canadian-financed project as a “huge boon” for her state’s economic prospects.

Michigan represents a key swing state that Trump won in both 2016 and 2024 elections.

In an opinion piece published in The Detroit News this year, Snyder disputed Trump’s claims that Canada controls both the American and Canadian portions of the Gordie Howe bridge.

“Canada and the state of Michigan are 50/50 owners of the new bridge,” Snyder explained. “Canada was wonderful and financed the entire bridge. They will get repaid with interest from the tolls. Michigan and the United States got their half-ownership with no investment.”

The new Gordie Howe crossing will serve alongside the privately owned Ambassador Bridge as the second connection between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

The competing Ambassador Bridge handles the highest volume of U.S.-Canadian border traffic, processing 25% of total trade between both nations and playing a critical role in automotive manufacturing.

The Moroun family, who control the competing Ambassador Bridge, had previously filed lawsuits attempting to stop construction of the Howe bridge.

The leader of the Social Security Administration is preparing to defend his agency’s recent performance improvements before Congress this week, following extensive criticism over service delays and workforce reductions.

Commissioner Frank Bisignano will appear at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing Wednesday, where lawmakers are expected to grill him about customer service quality, benefit payment capabilities, privacy protection, and other operational concerns at the SSA.

According to his prepared remarks obtained by The Associated Press, Bisignano plans to highlight reduced wait times and improved service statistics while criticizing his predecessor’s policy that mandated appointments for field office visits.

In correspondence to legislators before the hearing, Bisignano claims his leadership has resulted in a 75% reduction in telephone wait times, resolution of problematic website functions, and service to 50% more individuals.

“I’ve been very clear. We will meet clients where they want to be met. You want to call us on a phone, we’ll have technology on the phone, or you can talk to somebody on the phone. You want to come to a field office, you can come with an appointment, or without,” Bisignano told The Associated Press in an interview.

However, skeptics contend these improvements stem from temporary personnel reassignments, greater dependence on digital platforms, and staff reductions that may create future service vulnerabilities, essentially moving problems around instead of addressing fundamental staffing issues.

Bisignano rejects such criticism. “People boo at Yankee Stadium, even when they’re winning,” he said.

The commissioner assumed control of the agency following a period marked by disruptive service modifications, executive departures, and unfounded claims by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk — who led the Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting initiative — alleging that millions of deceased individuals were collecting benefits.

The agency eliminated 7,000 positions at the beginning of the Trump administration. Approximately 2,000 workers were relocated last year to direct-service roles, including personnel whose regular duties don’t typically include handling phone calls.

While the SSA’s Inspector General — its internal oversight body — has documented continuing mistakes in benefit management and application processing, its most recent biannual congressional report also demonstrates measurable advancement in telephone service and technology implementation to expedite disability claim reviews.

The labor organization representing SSA staff and field office personnel reports that certain locations are critically understaffed. These include facilities in Ironwood, Michigan; Decorah, Iowa; Havre, Montana; Big Spring, Texas; Sheridan, Wyoming; Glasgow, Montana; Pierre, South Dakota; Cedar City, Utah; and Cody, Wyoming, according to the American Federation of Government Employees Council 220.

Nevertheless, Bisignano emphasized that no field locations have been shuttered and highlighted the agency’s dedication to accommodating clients’ preferred service methods.

“What I’m trying to achieve is to have a better way for the American public to interact with the Social Security Administration,” Bisignano said.

Bisignano additionally holds the position of chief executive at the IRS, a role established by the Trump administration. When questioned about a recent tax audit immunity agreement for Trump and his family that was included in the disputed settlement designed to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, Bisignano directed The Associated Press to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s recent congressional testimony, where he declined to discuss pending litigation.

Primary election day has arrived for voters in four states – Maine, Nevada, South Carolina and North Dakota – with political attention centered on a closely watched U.S. Senate battle in Maine.

While the outcomes appear predetermined, with Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Graham Platner both expected to secure their party nominations without significant opposition, Tuesday represents a crucial test for Platner. The veteran and oyster farmer continues working to restore his standing after his campaign was hit by multiple controversies.

In other races, President Donald Trump’s influence within the Republican Party faces another evaluation in South Carolina and Nevada, where he has thrown his support behind preferred candidates. Democratic leaders are looking to gain ground in Nevada as part of their wider effort to capture important gubernatorial positions.

South Carolina Republicans are working to narrow their candidate field in prominent races for governor and U.S. Senate on Tuesday, hoping to extend a statewide electoral winning pattern that has lasted for decades.

GOP candidates have emphasized their allegiance to President Donald Trump, who maintains strong popularity in South Carolina even as his national support shows some fluctuation during the ongoing conflict with Iran. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s strongest supporters in Congress, secured the president’s backing before officially launching his campaign.

For the gubernatorial contest, Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette against multiple challengers, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace. Tuesday’s primary will reveal whether the presidential endorsement can deliver Evette an outright victory or force a runoff election on June 23.

Democratic candidates face a challenging path as they seek their first statewide electoral success in South Carolina in two decades, with both their gubernatorial and Senate campaigns expected to be difficult battles.

In Maine’s 2nd District, Democratic voters are selecting their candidate for a seat that Republicans view as a prime opportunity to gain ground in the closely divided chamber.

Current Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat, has decided against running for reelection. The 2nd District encompasses much of rural Maine, where Trump has performed strongly in his last three presidential campaigns.

Former Gov. Paul LePage is expected to be the Republican nominee. Democrats must choose among former Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, state Sen. Joe Baldacci, former U.S. Senate candidate Jordan Wood, and social worker Paige Loud.

Nevada’s Secretary of State’s Office has introduced a new website aimed at creating transparency regarding mail-in ballots.

The platform displays data on how many ballots were distributed, returned and processed, along with tracking those needing voter corrections. Nevada automatically sends ballots to all registered voters unless they choose to opt out.

Nevada is among several competitive states where Trump challenged his 2020 defeat through unsubstantiated fraud allegations. The Republican secretary of state who served at that time examined various claims and discovered no evidence of widespread fraud. Trump has also consistently criticized mail-in voting procedures.

Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, a Democrat, explained he established the website to enhance transparency in Nevada’s electoral process and give voters real-time access to information about outstanding ballots.

A Boston federal judge has overturned the Trump administration’s steep $100,000 charge for new H-1B visas on Monday, going against a previous federal court decision that had supported the fee increase. The administration had implemented this significantly higher cost as a measure to stop foreign workers from displacing American employees.

U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin ruled in favor of 20 states that challenged the visa policy, determining that the executive branch overstepped its legal boundaries and broke the Administrative Procedure Act, which controls how federal agencies create and implement rules.

“The Court finds that the Policy imposes a tax on H-1B petitions without the requisite delegation by Congress,” Sorokin wrote.

The H-1B visa program targets highly skilled positions that prove challenging to fill with American workers. Technology companies with substantial resources represent the largest users, receiving almost three-quarters of all approvals for workers primarily from India. The challenging states contended that utilizing the H-1B system to address shortages of essential doctors and teachers had become increasingly problematic even before the fee increase took effect.

Educational institutions and state governments had expressed concerns that recruiting qualified professionals for teaching and medical positions was becoming increasingly difficult due to the financial barrier created by the higher visa costs.

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans are advancing nearly $70 billion in immigration enforcement funding on Tuesday, providing financial support for two Homeland Security agencies through the next three years and President Donald Trump’s remaining term in office.

Speaker Mike Johnson requires almost complete Republican attendance and solidarity to push the legislation across the finish line after weeks of legislative work. The measure faced delays when GOP members attempted to add $1 billion for enhanced White House security improvements, including Trump’s new ballroom, along with the Trump administration’s effort to establish a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund for presidential allies claiming unjust investigation and prosecution. These additions became politically problematic and were ultimately removed.

The current version focuses exclusively on immigration enforcement, which Republicans view as a key differentiator between the major political parties and a potential winning issue for upcoming midterm elections. The measure allocates $38 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $26 billion to the Border Patrol, and an additional $5 billion for unexpected expenses, supporting Trump’s deportation initiatives.

“It’s long overdue,” Johnson, R-La., stated regarding the legislation. “We have to fund border security and immigration enforcement, and it’s sad that Republicans have to do it on our own.”

This funding supplements the approximately $140 billion that the Republican-led Congress previously allocated to ICE and Customs and Border Protection last year through Trump’s tax and spending reduction package.

Democratic lawmakers opposed providing additional agency funding without substantial operational reforms following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. Democrats demanded requirements such as agents displaying identification badges during enforcement activities and obtaining judicial warrants before entering private property. The funding will proceed with minimal restrictions.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries pledged his party’s opposition to the measure.

“We believe that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people – not give ICE another $70 billion blank check so that they can unleash brutality on American citizens and violently target law-abiding immigrant communities,” Jeffries of New York stated.

The legislation results from months of congressional deadlock after Democrats blocked Department of Homeland Security funding following immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis and other cities nationwide, creating the agency’s longest shutdown period.

White House negotiations to modify ICE operations according to Democratic demands ultimately failed, prompting Republicans to use complex procedural tactics to bypass the filibuster and advance immigration funding without Democratic support.

Upon approval, the measure would proceed to Trump for signing, virtually guaranteeing continuous funding for his immigration enforcement and deportation programs through 2029.

Senate lawmakers completed their work on the bill last week during an overnight session extending into early Friday morning. The final 52-47 vote followed mostly party lines, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska as the sole Republican opposition.

The funding arrives during a critical period for the Department of Homeland Security, operating under new leadership after Trump replaced Kristi Noem with Secretary Markwayne Mullin in March.

Despite Mullin’s commitment to keeping the department away from controversy, the administration faces pressure from anti-immigration groups to fulfill Trump’s campaign pledge of conducting America’s largest deportation operation in history.

The administration has not yet reached its annual goal of 1 million deportations, though Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has indicated more operations ahead, including potential immigration enforcement in New York, the country’s largest city with strong Democratic representation.

Simultaneously, the administration is creating additional obstacles for legal immigrants seeking to remain in America by working to eliminate Temporary Protective Status, modifying green card application procedures, and causing some Dreamers — young individuals brought to the U.S. illegally as children — to experience delays in status renewals that permit them to stay and work.

Johnson faces narrow margins for success in the House. Republicans can only afford losing a few votes with full attendance. GOP leadership chose to send members home last week rather than risk early consideration Friday after the Senate’s overnight session.

The legislation represents a streamlined package, lacking the extensive details and directives typically included when Congress funds federal agencies.

Before the vote, Democrats characterized DHS as an agency that has purchased private aircraft for leadership, housed immigrants in poor conditions, and targeted American citizens.

“To give these rogue agencies another $70 billion now when they still have $100 billion in the bank from last year would implicate all of us in the escalating corruption and shameful actions of this department,” stated Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the ranking Democratic member on the House Judiciary Committee.

Republicans argued they were fulfilling their responsibility to protect the nation and support law enforcement personnel.

“Democrats can say whatever they want, but what it’s about is public safety. What’s it about is keeping Americans safe,” said Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn.

WASHINGTON — Throughout history, American presidents have brought athletics to the White House grounds in various forms. Teddy Roosevelt engaged in boxing matches. Richard Nixon enjoyed bowling.

Dwight D. Eisenhower installed a putting green on the property. George H.W. Bush constructed a horseshoe pit. Herbert Hoover participated in a fitness game that eventually bore his name, while George W. Bush welcomed young players for T-ball competitions.

Athletic activities have long been part of White House tradition on the famous South Lawn. However, nothing has compared to the UFC fighting event President Donald Trump is presenting for his 80th birthday celebration this Sunday, complete with an eight-sided wire-mesh fighting cage featuring an overhead dome with large screens and thousands of arena seats.

Often referred to as America’s backyard, the South Lawn has historically featured gentle sports and family-oriented celebrations like the yearly Easter Egg Roll or bipartisan congressional gatherings.

Using this same area for combat sports, honoring a president who enjoys such entertainment in a massive structure with an intricate overhead lighting system called The Claw, demonstrates another White House tradition that Trump is enthusiastically abandoning.

The president’s hints about potentially making the cage-fighting setup a permanent South Lawn installation further highlights how dramatically the White House atmosphere has shifted from its T-ball days.

“Sports has been central to presidents. I don’t know that it’s been quite the spectacle that it is with the Trump administration,” said Michael Patrick Cullinane, senior historian at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

Numerous early presidents demonstrated athletic prowess before assuming office. Abraham Lincoln and William Howard Taft gained recognition as skilled wrestlers in their youth. John Quincy Adams maintained such fitness that he took daily naked swims in the Potomac River during his presidency.

However, Teddy Roosevelt pioneered making athletics a significant aspect of White House operations by building a tennis court on the lawn. His spouse, Edith, worried about his heavy workload, and the grass court positioned outside his office aimed to encourage more leisure time.

Cullinane, author of “Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet” and history professor at Dickinson State University, explained that Roosevelt was passionate about tennis and, despite limited skill, played “long and vigorously.”

Roosevelt stepped onto the court each day at 3 p.m., regardless of weather conditions, for extended six-game matches against senior staff members. He also participated in boxing, conducting matches within the White House that were much more private than Sunday’s UFC event. During a sparring session with his military aide Col. Daniel T. Moore in 1905, Roosevelt suffered a detached retina in his left eye.

In a recent New York Post interview, Trump discussed Roosevelt, saying he “had a lot of energy, loved the outdoors.” He acknowledged awareness of Roosevelt’s White House boxing but offered no comparison to the UFC event.

Hoover utilized the lawn for a sport combining tennis and volleyball elements using 6-pound medicine balls that White House physician Adm. Joel T. Boone developed to enhance his physical condition. This activity eventually became known as Hoover-ball.

His replacement, Franklin D. Roosevelt, constructed an indoor swimming pool for polio treatment. Harry S. Truman removed an existing horseshoe pit from the White House property, but the first President Bush restored it in 1989.

His son began hosting T-ball games on the South Lawn starting in 2001 and oversaw 20 contests, concluding with Little Leaguers whose parents served in active military duty.

Eisenhower used his putting green near the Oval Office so regularly that golf spikes left marks on interior floors. Barack Obama converted White House tennis facilities into a basketball court, though they returned to tennis during a pavilion renovation project supervised by first lady Melania Trump in her husband’s first term.

Participating in or demonstrating enthusiasm for athletics has traditionally provided presidents opportunities to relate to ordinary citizens while displaying energy and health.

John F. Kennedy mostly concealed his golfing abilities due to concerns about negative political perception. However, he promoted images of himself and his family engaged in touch football and ocean activities to emphasize his youthfulness and vigor.

Nixon installed a single-lane bowling alley in the White House but spoke more publicly about his football passion, attempting to connect with sports enthusiasts despite initial adviser concerns about potential backlash. Obama annually made a public event of completing NCAA tournament brackets with his championship predictions.

Trump has appeared at numerous major sporting competitions, including Monday’s NBA finals trip to New York. However, bringing UFC to the White House represents an unprecedented presidential decision.

“There’s definitely precedence for athletic events, but this is a combination of athletic event and a celebrity event,” said Tevi Troy, a presidential historian and senior fellow at the Reagan Institute.

Troy observed that the numerous musical performers withdrawing from Trump’s celebration marking America’s 250th birthday demonstrates that “The entertainment world is just hostile to Republicans and Trump. So he goes to find his celebrities where he can.”

Trump has maintained UFC fandom for decades. His 2024 presidential campaign highlighted his relationship with the league’s chief, Dana White, and Trump attended fights nationwide, seeking to motivate typically non-political voters.

UFC cage competitions reflect Trump’s aggressive political style and sometimes align with his policy goals. While advocating for his immigration enforcement plans, Trump once suggested to White creating a league where migrants could fight each other, with the victor then facing the UFC champion. He proposed the “migrant guy might win.”

Cullinane noted that “UFC is dominated by men and this idea of masculinity,” meaning “whenever you aim for a certain demographic, you are almost naturally politicizing the sport.”

The South Lawn’s octagon required weeks to construct and was designed as temporary, unlikely to withstand extended weather exposure. Nevertheless, Trump has contemplated making it permanent.

The president has compared his birthday celebration to historic international festivities and The Claw to French architectural achievements. He mentioned on TikTok that Paris’ Eiffel Tower was originally built as temporary for the 1889 World’s Fair, but “They said, ‘You know we sort of like it,’” and eventually, “They never took it down.”

“You know, we’re building something in front of the White House that’s quite attractive to a lot of people,” Trump stated before adding, “And I’m looking at it, and maybe we’ll never, ever take it down.”

Troy suggested that two decades from now, UFC events at the White House might seem routine as cultural attitudes toward celebrity and sports evolve. If so, Trump’s tradition-breaking approach will have contributed.

“Trump, I think, is more willing than other presidents to be asked that question: ‘Why aren’t you doing it the way the previous presidents did?’” Troy explained. “Breaking the precedent doesn’t bother him.”

American voters demonstrate remarkable party loyalty even when their candidates face significant scandals, according to fresh polling data from Reuters/Ipsos that underscores the nation’s deepening political divisions where victory trumps candidate quality.

The survey revealed that two-thirds of voters aligned with political parties admitted they sometimes must support candidates they personally dislike simply to prevent the opposing party from securing power, based on polling conducted over six days and concluded this Monday.

This loyalty principle faces a real-world test in Maine’s primary election scheduled for Tuesday, where Democratic oyster farmer Graham Platner seeks to secure a Senate nomination that Democrats view as essential for gaining chamber control this November.

Among Democrats nationwide who know about Platner, only 17% indicated his Nazi-style skull-and-crossbones tattoo would prevent them from supporting him if they were eligible to vote in Maine’s contest.

An identical percentage of Republicans said they would avoid backing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who faces decade-old indictment charges for allegedly defrauding investors, if they could participate in the state’s November Senate race.

Both contests could determine Senate control, where Republicans maintain a 53-47 advantage currently. Neither Platner’s nor Paxton’s campaigns responded to comment requests.

The polling captured responses from 4,531 American adults nationally, including 546 Democrats familiar with Platner and 712 Republicans who knew about Paxton. Overall margin of error stood at 2 percentage points, rising to 4 points for the candidate-specific groups.

Roughly 76% of all respondents, with similar proportions across both parties, acknowledged frequently choosing “the lesser of two evils” in American elections.

Platner has issued apologies for his chest tattoo, explaining he received it during drinking with Marine colleagues nearly twenty years ago. He claimed ignorance about the design’s Nazi connections and covered it with different artwork last year after beginning his campaign.

The polling occurred as Platner faced additional scrutiny, including reports of sexually explicit message exchanges with women during his marriage. Platner publicly apologized for the text messages while characterizing reports about them and other past conduct as politically driven attacks.

Despite these controversies, Platner remains a formidable challenger to Republican Senator Susan Collins. His campaign emphasizes populist themes about Maine becoming financially inaccessible for working-class residents, earning support from influential figures including Chuck Schumer, a moderate and Senate’s top Democrat, plus Bernie Sanders, a progressive independent who aligns with Democrats.

Platner’s emergence illustrates America’s growing political polarization, with voters feeling they “just have to focus on not putting the other side in power,” according to Mia Costa, a Dartmouth College political scientist specializing in political psychology and partisanship.

Though Paxton secured his state’s primary victory with President Donald Trump’s backing, he confronts a formidable general election challenger in Democrat James Talarico.

Following his indictment, Paxton faced impeachment from the Texas House, and his wife sought divorce last year citing biblical reasons. He maintains innocence regarding all allegations and claims they represent political persecution.

Independent voters could prove decisive in both Maine and Texas competitions. Sixty percent of poll participants describing themselves as party-unaffiliated indicated their votes would more likely reflect individual candidate support.

“The more ‘normie’ candidate, as some people call them, will be trying to prevail among independents by pointing to the flaws of the candidate with issues,” explained Cal Jillson, a Southern Methodist University political science professor.

Talarico’s campaign highlighted Monday that the Democrat secured endorsement from Dan Cogdell, Paxton’s former defense attorney.

Some Democrats, including Virginia U.S. Senator Mark Warner, suggest Platner has emulated Trump’s approach to overcoming controversy during political advancement.

“Trump set a new standard,” Warner stated on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday program. “Whether that low standard is what we ought to proceed with, I think it’s going to be again in the hands of the voters.”

A Maine oyster farmer and military veteran is heading into Tuesday’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate while dealing with controversy surrounding his personal history, including claims about inappropriate messages and problematic body art.

Graham Platner, who served as a Marine and has positioned himself as an anti-establishment candidate, is expected to emerge victorious in Tuesday’s contest. Despite being new to the political arena, ongoing questions about his conduct could become significant issues if he secures the nomination to challenge sitting Republican Senator Susan Collins, age 73. Collins, known for her moderate positions, has secured decisive wins in every election since 1996, even as the state has shifted toward Democratic candidates.

Multiple women have accused Platner of sending them sexually inappropriate messages within the past year, according to reports. Additionally, previous romantic partners described concerning behavior to the New York Times.

The 41-year-old candidate has issued apologies for his actions, explaining that he dealt with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after serving in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Regarding the tattoo controversy, he stated he was unaware of its resemblance to Nazi symbols and had it altered last year.

Political experts view the Maine Senate contest as among the most hotly contested races in the upcoming November midterm elections, where both chambers of Congress are up for grabs. To gain control of the 100-member Senate, Democrats must secure four additional seats currently held by Republicans.

Despite some party members expressing concern over the revelations about Platner’s history, progressive supporters including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont continue backing his candidacy, and no major Democratic figures have urged him to withdraw. During a Sunday evening town hall event in Portland, Maine, that lasted an hour, Platner avoided discussing the controversies and wasn’t questioned about them.

While Democratic primary voters may overlook Platner’s background issues, they could prove more problematic in a general election battle against Collins.

“She doesn’t always vote the way I like, but I call her the lesser of two evils. I hate to say it, but the other side is… there’s a lot of negative things coming out that I wouldn’t want in a dog catcher in my town,” Barbara Fenlason, 76, a piano teacher from Verona Island, Maine, told Reuters last week.

Should additional scandals surface, Democrats have alternatives available. State regulations allow the party to substitute a new candidate if he wins the primary but withdraws before July 13. His main competitor, Governor Janet Mills, halted her campaign in April but announced last week she will remain listed on the ballot.

Maine Democrats will also select a nominee to defend a Republican-favoring House seat representing the state’s wooded interior regions.

With moderate Democrat Jared Golden stepping down, Democrats face a choice between state Senator Joe Baldacci, viewed as the most centrist option, and three progressive candidates: Matt Dunlap, the state auditor, former congressional aide Jordan Wood, and social worker Paige Loud. Paul LePage, the controversial former governor, is anticipated to secure the Republican nomination.

Results from these races may take several days to determine, as the state employs a ranked-choice voting method that requires additional time for vote counting.

Tuesday’s primary elections also take place in Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina. South Carolina’s competitive Republican gubernatorial primary features Representative Nancy Mace, who has sometimes clashed with party colleagues, and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, who has received backing from fellow Republican, President Donald Trump.

In Nevada, video game composer Marty O’Donnell has secured Trump’s support and is considered the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge sitting Democratic Representative Susie Lee in a district that leans Republican in the Las Vegas area. Additional Republican contenders include Jeff Gunter, a former ambassador to Iceland, and neurosurgeon Aury Nagy.

Lee faces her own primary opponent in cardiologist James Lally, who has opposed her stance supporting Israel.

WARNER, N.H. — A former Democratic powerhouse is testing the waters for a potential White House run, and his path to presidential ambitions includes pedaling through New Hampshire’s challenging terrain.

The ex-Democratic congressman who previously served as White House chief of staff, Chicago mayor, and U.S. ambassador to Japan hasn’t officially declared his intention to seek the presidency. However, his recent weekend journey through the state known for hosting the first presidential primary sent a clear message about his political aspirations.

His itinerary included traditional New Hampshire campaign activities: stops at union halls and cozy house parties. During one gathering in a Concord backyard, he mingled with voters while delivering remarks focused on middle-class struggles and problems with the current tax structure.

The centerpiece of his visit was an ambitious cycling expedition.

Across three days, he biked 117 miles through New Hampshire, starting in Portsmouth along the coastline and ending in Hanover near the Vermont state line. He branded this journey the “Spin-Free Tour,” referencing his direct communication style that he believes could benefit a Democratic Party recovering from significant 2024 electoral defeats.

“Tough times require a tough leader,” he shared with The Associated Press while taking a rest at a Warner coffee shop. “I don’t think this is just about learning the words to ‘Kumbaya.’”

Despite nearly three decades in top political positions, the 66-year-old finds himself without an obvious platform for launching a campaign. His potential Democratic primary opponents are generally younger and hold current positions as governors, senators, or recently served as vice president, giving them easier access to media attention.

Even with his extensive political background, he remains relatively unknown beyond political insiders. This became evident when a woman inquired about his identity after he departed the coffee shop. Upon learning it was him and hearing about his potential campaign plans, she asked, “A campaign for what?”

He’s relying on his persistent nature to address these obstacles.

While many prominent Democrats concentrate on criticizing President Donald Trump, he has unveiled numerous policy proposals covering topics from social media restrictions for minors to prediction markets and implementing a 75-year-old mandatory retirement age for public officials. This age limit would prevent him from pursuing a second presidential term if elected.

His travel schedule keeps him busy, discussing education matters in Mississippi and Michigan. He plans to visit Israel next month to speak about U.S.-Israeli relations as the Gaza conflict has created new political divisions, particularly affecting younger voters.

He frequently appears on various podcasts, from shows hosted by Katie Couric and Kara Swisher to programs about fly fishing. During these appearances, he often criticizes his own party for going too far in cultural discussions, especially regarding transgender rights issues. His centrist messaging echoes that of the first president he worked for, Bill Clinton.

“We did things that were really ridiculous,” he commented about Democrats during a recent episode of Couric’s podcast. “Rather than worry about classroom excellence, we were worried about bathroom and locker room access.”

The cycling tour serves multiple purposes for him.

It allows him to showcase his physical condition during a period when the age of political leaders has become a major concern, while also introducing himself to the state’s famously selective voters before other candidates arrive after the November midterm elections.

“It is early,” noted Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., who joined him at the Concord house party. “But what I’d say is the people in New Hampshire know how to vet candidates and they’re the most engaged electorate in the country.”

Martha Kruse, a 76-year-old retired special education teacher from Laconia, New Hampshire, represents exactly this type of voter. As an active local Democratic Party member, she made the trip to Concord specifically to meet him after hearing his interviews.

“I’m going away really enthused about him,” she stated, praising his decision to begin campaign preparations so early as “right on.”

Presidential aspirations seemed distant during a challenging 20-mile Saturday ride that included climbing more than 1,300 feet in elevation. Accompanied by friends and staff members, he cycled past homes where residents worked in their yards or celebrated a recent graduation on their front porches. He alternated between chatting with the group and riding solo, appearing comfortable while tackling steep inclines.

As summer weather arrived in New England, high humidity and occasional heavy rain created additional challenges. The cycling group made stops for refreshments every 10 to 15 miles, taking shelter under a barn during one downpour. Local activists met with him at the Warner coffee shop, where he spoke from a rocking chair.

Modern political realities occasionally interrupted the tour. The cyclists passed signs supporting Trump and criticizing his predecessor, Joe Biden. Throughout the journey, a support vehicle periodically followed with cameras capturing footage for later social media use, where he maintains an almost daily presence.

The upcoming midterm elections remained a concern. In nearby Maine, Graham Platner faced ongoing reports about his past behavior with women, causing some Democrats to worry about the party’s chances of securing a Senate majority. Drawing on his experience helping Democrats achieve major 2006 House victories, he said the “jury is still out” on whether Platner can succeed in the Senate race.

“Everybody is holding their breath whether this is the start of something or the end of something,” he observed.

Regarding the Democratic Party’s ideological direction, he believes moderate voices are gaining influence. He highlighted recent victories by Rebecca Bennett, who won a crowded Democratic primary in New Jersey for a competitive House seat, and Josh Turek, the new Democratic Senate nominee in Iowa.

“There’s a bigger character piece to this than ideological,” he explained. “There’s radical moderates and their profile and character speak to kind of fighting a system, which is what’s needed right now.”

While his bike tour didn’t match John McCain’s “Straight Talk Express” — the 2000 campaign bus where the Arizona Republican senator answered any question to gain attention and achieve a surprising New Hampshire victory over frontrunner George W. Bush — some voters expressed interest in his candidacy.

Don Daley, a 60-year-old state employee from Concord, observed him speak from a bench during the backyard gathering. He acknowledged that he probably “steps on a few toes.”

“But I think that’s what we need right now,” he said. “Some of our Democratic leaders haven’t been strong enough.”

A political organization with a history of focusing on presidential elections is now turning its attention to congressional races, launching a $50 million advertising initiative that kicked off Tuesday targeting over a dozen competitive contests, primarily in areas currently held by Republicans.

American Bridge 21st Century’s substantial investment brings additional financial support to Democratic efforts to gain control of Congress during the midterm elections. The party faces challenges in fundraising compared to Republican counterparts and has encountered setbacks in redistricting efforts that President Donald Trump set in motion the previous year.

“We really have to maximize our wins and gains this year, particularly in Republican territory,” stated American Bridge co-founder Bradley Beychok. “We are going all in.”

The organization, recognized for its research into political opposition, has been expanding its advertising operations. In the most recent presidential campaign, it revealed plans to invest $140 million targeting Trump’s rural voter base.

According to Beychok, the concept for this midterm strategy originated last year during an inauguration rally where he observed the message “Trump will fix it.”

“Trump made a big promise to these working-class voters that he was gonna bring down costs,” Beychok explained. He now contends “that Trump and Republicans really broke that covenant.”

The organization is focusing on House contests in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. For Senate races, they plan involvement in Alaska, Iowa, Michigan and Mississippi.

The group chose not to participate in Senate competitions in Maine, North Carolina and Texas, believing those races will have adequate funding from other sources.

Their advertising strategy encompasses digital platforms, streaming audio, television commercials, social media, direct mail and radio spots.

Beychok explained the organization is adapting to address issues on a “visceral level,” showcasing individual voters who can share personal stories about their economic situations.

Among those appearing in American Bridge advertisements is Brad Singleton, a 50-year-old personal trainer from Walford, Iowa. Singleton explained he maintained Republican registration for 32 years before recently switching to Democratic due to disappointment with the president.

The Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot marked the beginning of Singleton’s shifting perspective on the president, whom he described as having “threw a fit like a toddler” regarding the 2020 election outcome. However, by 2024, he supported Trump again, influenced by the Make American Healthy Again movement.

“I immediately regretted it,” Singleton stated. “Because of the economy, because of this war with Iran, because so many things that have happened.”

“I feel like Donald Trump cares about himself and his millionaire buddies,” he continued. “He does not care about me.”

Another featured voter is Jill Kordick, 64, a retired health care administrator from Norwalk, Iowa.

As a registered independent with moderate to progressive views, she indicated Trump’s second term motivated her increased political participation, including attending No Kings rallies and speaking at legislative meetings.

Kordick acknowledged the difficulty of changing Republican-leaning districts and considers how to attract voters disappointed by the president to support Democratic candidates.

“I don’t think it’s gonna be easy,” she stated. “I think there has to be some way to invite people to the table so that they can feel better about how they vote and not feel so stuck or embarrassed by what they voted for in the past.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Republicans are heading to primary elections Tuesday, looking to continue their decades-long dominance in statewide contests as they narrow down candidates for governor and U.S. Senate.

GOP candidates have emphasized their allegiance to President Donald Trump, who continues to enjoy strong support throughout the state even as his national standing has fluctuated during the ongoing Iran conflict. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of the president’s closest congressional allies, secured Trump’s backing even before launching his reelection bid.

For the gubernatorial contest, Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette against multiple challengers, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace. Tuesday’s results will show whether the presidential endorsement gives Evette enough support to avoid a June 23 runoff election.

Democratic candidates face significant challenges in their quest to break a two-decade drought in statewide victories, with both their gubernatorial and Senate campaigns expected to be difficult battles.

The fight for Trump’s backing has dominated much of the Republican primary season more than any other campaign element.

Before receiving the president’s official support, Evette regularly showcased images and footage of her appearances with Trump in her promotional content. She earned backing from departing Gov. Henry McMaster, a longtime Trump supporter whose endorsement signaled the president’s likely choice.

Mace had also sought Trump’s endorsement, and he did support her 2024 congressional campaign despite her criticism of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot by his supporters.

Rep. Ralph Norman, who ranks among the House’s most conservative lawmakers and belongs to the Freedom Caucus, was a strong Trump supporter during his presidency. However, in the 2024 race, Norman campaigned for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley rather than Trump.

Rom Reddy, a coastal business owner who has rejected campaign contributions and financed his own campaign, has promoted his political outsider status as a strength, making parallels between himself and Trump.

The state’s other major Tuesday contest features the Senate race, where Graham is running for the Republican nomination in his bid for a fifth term. As a close political advisor and frequent golf companion to the president, Graham has successfully fended off primary opponents in previous cycles. Several of this year’s potential challengers — including Project 2025 chief architect Paul Dans and former Lt. Gov. André Bauer — withdrew from the race months earlier.

Despite ups and downs in their relationship over time, Graham has maintained his alliance with Trump, who granted the senator’s long-sought goal of direct military action against Iran. Graham praised Trump’s strikes on nuclear facilities last year and recently noted he frequently discusses the continuing conflict with the president.

Graham’s primary opponents include Greenville businessman Mark Lynch, who argues Graham lacks sufficient conservative credentials for the state. Lynch describes himself as an “America First” candidate and campaigns as a Trump supporter, though the president has labeled him a “lunatic” and a “disaster for the Republican Party” on social media.

Democrats have been shut out of both the governor’s mansion and Senate seats in South Carolina for multiple decades.

McMaster won his 2022 reelection by almost 18 percentage points. Graham secured victory by 10 points in 2020, defeating Jaime Harrison in what became the state’s most costly campaign ever.

Some Democratic candidates are hoping to benefit from any Trump-related voter dissatisfaction this election cycle. In the gubernatorial primary, State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, viewed as an emerging party leader, faces multiple rivals including political newcomer Billy Webster, who founded a payday lending business and provided $2 million to his own campaign. Also running is attorney Mullins McLeod, who resisted party officials’ requests to end his candidacy after dashcam footage from his 2025 disorderly conduct arrest became public.

For the Senate Democratic nomination, Charleston physician Annie Andrews — who lost to Mace in 2022 — is competing against Brandon Brown, who owns a funeral home and previously ran for the House.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada voters headed to the polls Tuesday to select party candidates for governor and two closely monitored congressional races, as the state faces challenges including housing affordability issues, surging power demands from data centers, and reductions in federal funding for essential programs.

Nevada operates under a closed primary system, restricting voting in party contests to registered Democrats and Republicans only, following the unsuccessful attempt to create open primaries in 2024.

Multiple primary contests feature battles between establishment-endorsed candidates and outsider challengers promising reform. The November gubernatorial election is viewed as among the nation’s most competitive, while Democrats consider maintaining control of the 3rd Congressional District essential for their efforts to regain control of the U.S. House.

Here are the key races to watch:

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo faces significant vulnerability heading into the fall election season.

Democratic contenders seeking to oppose him include state Attorney General Aaron Ford, who has secured support from the Democratic congressional delegation and former Vice President Kamala Harris, alongside Alexis Hill, a northern Nevada county commissioner who positioned herself as a reform-minded alternative.

Both candidates centered their campaigns around cost-of-living concerns, addressing the state’s ongoing affordable housing crisis, among the nation’s highest fuel costs, and reductions to federal healthcare and nutrition assistance programs.

Ford primarily avoided engaging Hill directly, instead targeting his criticism toward Lombardo while contending that both the governor and Trump bear responsibility for Nevada residents’ financial struggles. Ford seeks to make history as Nevada’s first Black governor.

The Republican primary to succeed retiring longtime Rep. Mark Amodei has divided party leadership. President Donald Trump endorsed David Flippo, a presidential supporter without prior elected experience. Meanwhile, Amodei and Lombardo have thrown their support behind James Settelmeyer, a former state senator with extensive political experience.

The district encompasses northern Nevada, including Reno and Carson City, the state capital, plus vast rural territories.

Trump-endorsed candidates have achieved primary success nationwide, demonstrating his continued influence within the Republican Party as he approaches his presidency’s final years. He secured victory in this district during the 2024 presidential race.

The Republican nominee holds strong November prospects, with registered Republicans exceeding Democrats by 70,000 voters in the 2nd District. Republicans have maintained control of this seat since its establishment in the 1980s.

However, Democrats aim to appeal to the district’s substantial independent voter population this fall. Democratic candidates include Teresa Benitez-Thompson, former majority floor leader of the Nevada Assembly, and Greg Kidd, an investor who previously campaigned as an independent.

Nevada’s remaining three congressional members, all Democrats, face minimal primary opposition.

In the 3rd District, Republicans are competing to challenge Democratic Rep. Susie Lee in Nevada’s most competitive congressional race, characterized by slim Democratic registration margins, numerous independent voters, and historically close elections. Both Lee and Trump achieved narrow victories in 2024.

Republican candidates include Trump-endorsed Marty O’Donnell, a composer known for work on the “Halo” video game franchise who unsuccessfully sought this seat in 2024; Jeff Gunter, a dermatologist and former ambassador to Iceland; neurosurgeon Aury Nagy; and businessperson Tera Anderson.

These candidates focused their campaigns on border security, energy independence, and federal debt reduction.

Ford’s term limits and gubernatorial campaign have created competitive primaries for the state’s chief law enforcement position.

Democratic contenders include state Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro and Treasurer Zach Conine. Both pledged to challenge the Trump administration, following Ford’s approach of filing multiple federal lawsuits.

On the Republican side, Trump-endorsed attorney Adriana Guzmán Fralick faces Douglas County commissioner Danny Tarkanian. Tarkanian, son of legendary University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, has mounted unsuccessful congressional campaigns previously.

Both candidates emphasized “election integrity” themes, questioning voting system security. Nevada represents one of the swing states where Trump falsely alleged 2020 election fraud, despite officials finding no evidence of widespread irregularities.

Tarkanian pledged to investigate voter fraud claims, while Guzmán Fralick committed to pursuing the SAVE Nevada Act, modeled after Trump’s federal proposals.

Her proposed legislation would mandate Election Day vote counting completion, eliminate universal mail voting, and end automatic voter registration. Such measures would likely face insurmountable opposition in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Multiple Republicans are seeking the secretary of state position, which oversees elections, including several who falsely claimed Trump won the 2020 election. The primary winner will face Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar.

GOP candidates include Jim Marchant, a former state lawmaker and repeat candidate who claimed the 2020 election “was probably stolen”; Sharron Angle, a former state lawmaker who participated in efforts to block Nevada’s 2020 election certification; and Shirley Folkins-Roberts, an attorney endorsed by Lombardo who has rejected claims of widespread Nevada election fraud.

All candidates support voter ID implementation, which will appear on November ballots for the second time after passing decisively in 2024.

Angle promises voter ID enforcement if approved by voters and supports Trump’s executive order requiring documentary citizenship proof for voting. Courts have temporarily blocked that order, issued last year.

Marchant advocates eliminating electronic voting machines and ending universal mail balloting. He also supports mandatory paper ballots with hand counting, according to his campaign materials.

Folkins-Roberts pledged to maintain accurate voter registration records, implement voter ID requirements, and ensure timely election result delivery. She also seeks to eliminate automatic voter registration. In a News 4 Reno interview, Folkins-Roberts described Nevada’s elections as “good” but wants to enhance voter confidence through reforms.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Marine veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner has built a devoted base of supporters while weathering numerous scandals during his rise from political newcomer to frontrunner for the Democratic Senate nomination in Maine’s pivotal election.

The 41-year-old candidate competes in Tuesday’s primary for the opportunity to challenge veteran Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race Democrats consider essential for gaining Senate control this November.

Platner’s nomination prospects improved significantly when Democratic Gov. Janet Mills withdrew from the race in late April due to fundraising challenges, although her name remains on the ballot since she ended her campaign after the deadline. His only remaining Democratic opponent is David Costello, a former Maryland government worker who has run a limited campaign.

Multiple scandals have shadowed Platner’s candidacy, including reports of inappropriate text messages sent to women during his marriage and accusations from former partners that he treated women poorly. These issues have left some Democrats worried about their chances of capturing this crucial seat.

Speaking at a campaign event before Tuesday’s primary, Platner declared his intention to “take this seat back for working Mainers” by defeating Collins.

“We can build a government by working people, for working people,” he stated during a Friday rally in Bar Harbor. “We need to build a world in which everyone in this country has the time to live up to their full potential.”

Maine voters will also select Republican and Democratic gubernatorial nominees Tuesday in competitive races to succeed Mills. In the 2nd Congressional District, Democrats will pick a candidate to face former Gov. Paul LePage, who runs unopposed in the Republican primary. With Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden retiring, Republicans see an opportunity to reclaim a district that President Donald Trump won decisively in 2024.

The elections will utilize ranked choice voting, allowing voters to rank candidates by preference. Without a 50% majority winner, the last-place candidate gets eliminated and second choices are counted. This process continues until someone achieves a majority, potentially delaying results for several days.

Platner, who previously served as planning board chair in Sullivan, has attracted hundreds to campaign events across Maine, packing venues with enthusiastic supporters. His campaign emphasizes combating high costs affecting middle-class families, with income inequality as a central focus.

Progressive leader Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, provided early endorsement support that helped elevate Platner’s profile. Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer had backed the 78-year-old Mills.

Running as an anti-establishment outsider, Platner has promised to confront billionaires and Washington insiders, including Collins.

However, his background has drawn criticism from multiple political perspectives.

Past online statements by Platner surfaced last year appearing to support political violence, minimize military sexual assault, and criticize law enforcement and rural communities. Platner issued apologies for these remarks, explaining he was battling post-traumatic stress disorder and depression when he wrote them.

Questions also arose about a skull-and-crossbones tattoo linked to Nazi imagery. Platner explained he received the chest tattoo while drinking during military leave in Croatia. He maintains he only recently learned of its Nazi connections and has covered it with different artwork. While Platner claims ignorance of the symbol’s origins, a former girlfriend told the New York Times he was aware of its meaning.

Recently, he defended himself against reports of sexually explicit text exchanges with multiple women while married. Rather than directly addressing the messages’ existence, Platner criticized the aide who spoke to reporters and accused media outlets of spreading rumors.

Last week’s New York Times reporting detailed relationships with former girlfriends, some speaking positively while others described volatile and demeaning behavior. One woman alleged Platner physically restrained her arm during a dispute and confined her to a room. Platner’s campaign has rejected this claim.

A Platner-Collins matchup would contrast a progressive newcomer against one of the Senate’s most influential lawmakers and remaining moderate Republicans.

Collins, first elected in 1996, represents the sole remaining Republican senator from New England and is widely considered among her party’s most vulnerable incumbents this cycle, despite surviving previous electoral challenges.

Collins has emphasized her experience and leadership role as appropriations committee chair as reasons for reelection.

“It has been 92 years since a Maine senator was chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the most powerful committee in the Senate,” Collins stated in May. “When I took over last year I realized I had a once in a century opportunity to help the state of Maine and pursue national priorities as well.”

For governor, Democrats choose among Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows; former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson; former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Hannah Pingree; energy executive Angus King III; and former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Nirav Shah.

Republicans face an even larger gubernatorial field, selecting from former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Bobby Charles; healthcare executive Jonathan Bush; former Maine Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason; University of Maine System trustee Owen McCarthy; former Paris, Maine, selectman Robert Wessels; and business owners David Jones and Ben Midgley.

In the 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary, former Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, state Sen. Joe Baldacci, former U.S. Senate candidate Jordan Wood and social worker Paige Loud compete for the nomination. The victor will face LePage, a Trump supporter.

Tuesday brings primary elections across four states – Maine, Nevada, South Carolina, and North Dakota – with Maine’s Democratic Senate race drawing national attention despite its predictable outcome.

Graham Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer, will easily secure the Democratic nomination to face Republican Senator Susan Collins in November. However, recent scandals have put his candidacy and Democratic Party standards under intense scrutiny.

Just last week, reports emerged that Platner had exchanged sexually explicit messages with several women during his marriage. Additional allegations about his conduct in past relationships followed, including claims he confined a woman to a room.

His main Democratic rival, Maine Governor Janet Mills, ended her campaign in April when Platner’s lead became insurmountable, though her name remains on the ballot as a potential protest vote option.

The controversy tests Democratic leadership’s commitment to candidate accountability. During the height of the #MeToo movement, party leaders forced Senator Al Franken to resign over inappropriate conduct allegations. The response to Platner has been notably different.

Key supporters continue backing him, with Senator Bernie Sanders reaffirming his endorsement Saturday and Representative Ro Khanna appearing at a recent campaign event.

“I think President Trump set a new standard,” Senator Mark Warner said on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday, explaining the shifted political landscape.

Platner’s Tuesday night speech will be closely watched as he attempts to redirect focus toward challenging Collins while addressing questions about his past.

Meanwhile, former President Trump’s influence faces testing in South Carolina and Nevada after his Iowa governor pick recently lost. In South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial primary, Trump endorsed Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette against four other candidates including Representatives Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, plus Attorney General Alan Wilson and businessman Rom Reddy.

Senator Lindsey Graham could face his first-ever runoff against appliance business owner Mark Lynch, whom Trump called a potential “DISASTER for the Republican Party.” Candidates need majority support to avoid a June 23 runoff.

In Nevada’s 2nd congressional district, Trump-backed retired Lieutenant Colonel David Flippo faces former state Senator James Settelmeyer, who has endorsements from retiring Representative Mark Amodei and Governor Joe Lombardo.

Nevada Democrats are selecting their gubernatorial nominee to challenge Lombardo, considered among the nation’s most vulnerable governors. State Attorney General Aaron Ford, backed by the Democratic congressional delegation and former Vice President Kamala Harris, would become Nevada’s first Black governor if elected. He faces county commissioner Alexis Hill, who positions herself as a change candidate.

Political family connections feature prominently in both Maine and South Carolina races. In Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, Angus King III, son of Senator Angus King, competes against Hannah Pingree, daughter of Representative Chellie Pingree and former state House speaker.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Bush, a 57-year-old businessman and nephew of former President George H.W. Bush, emphasizes his outsider status and local business background despite his famous family ties.

South Carolina’s Wilson, running for governor, serves as state attorney general while being the son of Representative Joe Wilson, who has represented the state for 25 years.

Representative James Clyburn, South Carolina’s sole Democratic House member, appears safe in his primary after Republican lawmakers recently rejected redistricting efforts that would have threatened his majority-Black district. The influential Democrat is expected to play a major role in the 2028 presidential race.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former reality television star penned an autobiography titled “The Guy You Loved to Hate.” He’s tried his hand at music, putting out a track named “I’m a Celebrity.” He launched a business marketing crystals with supposed therapeutic benefits.

However, Spencer Pratt couldn’t make his most recent project work — an unlikely campaign to become Los Angeles’ next mayor. The Associated Press confirmed Monday that the former television personality failed to secure a spot in November’s runoff election against current mayor Karen Bass.

Rather than facing Pratt, a Republican who earned backing from President Donald Trump, Bass will compete against progressive Nithya Raman, a city council member who mounted a challenge to the Democratic mayor from her political left.

Pratt’s run for office was powered by his celebrity status — he appeared on “The Hills,” a reality series about young adults in Los Angeles — and supporter-created videos using artificial intelligence technology. However, his campaign also captured voter anger that elected officials have failed to tackle persistent city problems. Pratt consistently highlighted issues of homelessness, criminal activity and urban deterioration that have tarnished a city famous for its dining culture, scenic beauty and worldwide entertainment business.

“Enough is enough,” Pratt frequently declared during his campaign appearances.

Election workers needed several days to count ballots from the June 2 primary election, which is standard practice in a state where lengthy vote tallying has become a source of voter irritation and unfounded conspiracy claims. Last Friday, Pratt shared images of himself at city hall accompanied by just one word — “Patience.”

No Republican candidate has captured a mayoral victory in Los Angeles since 1997, leaving Pratt with significant obstacles as a political newcomer. His desire to enter politics was sparked by personal tragedy that brought real-world consequences to his celebrity background. His residence was among thousands lost in last year’s Palisades Fire, which became the city’s most devastating blaze on record.

“This is where I live,” Pratt declared in a campaign advertisement while positioned before a trailer on his destroyed property’s remains. “They let my home burn down. I know what the consequences of failed leadership are.”

Despite this claim, Pratt wasn’t actually residing in the trailer — TMZ subsequently revealed he was staying with his spouse and two young sons at the upscale Hotel Bel-Air. His anger reflected widespread disappointment with Bass, a Democrat who was traveling with a presidential delegation to Ghana when the fire started and has received criticism for sluggish reconstruction efforts.

Dennis Kamrany, a longtime Pacific Palisades resident who works in real estate and continues waiting for his home’s gas service to be restored more than a year after fire damage, said Pratt’s lack of political background wasn’t important.

“I’d rather have someone that’s a fighter, that has energy, that’s young, that is talking about common sense policies,” he stated.

“What the hell do we have to lose?” he continued. “We’re already in the dumps. Give somebody else a shot.”

Steve Hilton, a conservative media personality who emerged as the top Republican gubernatorial candidate, viewed Pratt’s mayoral bid alongside his own campaign as evidence that California voters desperately want relief from the state’s dominant liberal leadership.

“We’ve got a failed and broken system and you’ve got a couple of outsiders who’ve never run for office before,” Hilton said regarding himself and Pratt. “This is our moment.”

Democratic voters outnumber registered Republicans in California by almost 2-to-1 across the state, while Republicans represent fewer than 15% of registered voters in Los Angeles.

Given those numbers working against Pratt, insufficient Los Angeles voters believed he deserved an opportunity to manage a $15 billion budget and 50,000 city employees, including approximately 8,600 police officers, in America’s second-largest city.

Billionaire entrepreneur Rick Caruso encountered similar obstacles in 2022 during his mayoral campaign against Bass. The former Republican turned Democrat invested more than $100 million, mostly personal funds, on a public safety-focused campaign and lost by almost 10 percentage points.

Deanna Crane, 33, said she preferred “anyone with a pulse other than Spencer Pratt” for mayor.

While she shared Pratt’s criticism of how Bass managed last year’s fires, she cast her ballot for Raman instead.

Pratt emerged from the early 2000s youth-oriented reality television explosion in Los Angeles, where he established himself for nearly two decades. His career breakthrough occurred when he joined “The Hills” second season as Heidi Montag’s romantic partner. The pair — particularly Pratt — fully adopted their television roles as attention-seeking villains, even co-authoring “How to Be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture” in 2009, their wedding year.

Seemingly nothing was off-limits for Pratt when it came to generating headlines or pursuing publicity.

He took credit for circulating gossip about a private video involving “The Hills” cast member Lauren Conrad, though he later retracted this claim. Eighteen months after wedding Montag, they pursued divorce proceedings; months afterward, he revealed it was staged to promote Montag’s struggling music career. During their staged separation, he was also detained in Costa Rica for trying to board an aircraft while carrying a weapon.

In 2018, he discussed squandering a $10 million fortune on extravagant spending, including $4,000 wine bottles and $1 million in crystals. He also established Pratt Daddy, a crystal-selling enterprise. The company’s website claims the crystals helped address Montag’s post-operative discomfort “that even morphine could not relieve.”

Following their home’s destruction in the Palisades Fire, the family received criticism for accepting fan donations. Pratt maintained they weren’t wealthy even before losing everything. He also turned to TikTok content for income, attempted launching a reality series about their reconstruction journey, and began urging supporters to stream Montag’s music, including her 15-year-old release “Superficial.”

The album reached No. 1 on iTunes, supported by celebrities like Paris Hilton, Alix Earle and Flavor Flav. He marked the achievement with an Instagram video.

“Who needs a house, who needs clothes, who needs anything but this level of clout, pop, superstardom?” Pratt exclaimed.

The next mayor will probably gain international recognition when Los Angeles presents the Olympics in 2028.

However, declining regional population numbers reflect resident dissatisfaction with taxation, traffic congestion and widespread high costs.

While data indicates the city has achieved progress on homelessness, temporary camps and lines of deteriorating recreational vehicles remain widespread. Dirty, damaged streets and walkways are common.

Additionally, Hollywood production work has been relocating for years to less expensive filming destinations. The restaurant sector has been struggling.

Los Angeles’ challenges convinced some voters to consider Pratt as an option.

Susie Tho, 38, arrived to wait outside Pratt’s primary election night event hoping for a handshake opportunity.

Tho identified as a Democrat but supported Pratt. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she said she voted for change after watching the city “gone downhill.”

When Pratt initially declared his candidacy, she felt uncertain, but she said his debate showing, which she described as focused and well-prepared, convinced her.

“I just wanted a clean and safe street for my child to grow up in,” Tho explained. “I miss the LA that I grew up in.”

Former President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of California’s voting procedures, making unsubstantiated claims that the state’s elections are manipulated following disappointing results for candidates he supported.

Trump’s latest accusations target California’s vote counting timeline and what he describes as the lengthy period required by the Democratic-led state to tally ballots, continuing his ongoing narrative that elections work against him and fellow Republicans.

During a television appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” broadcast Sunday, Trump abruptly left an interview when host Kristen Welker questioned his unfounded claims that California election workers were engaging in fraud because they “aren’t even close” to completing their count days after voting ended.

The following day, Trump challenged vote totals indicating that Republican Spencer Pratt, the former reality television personality he supported for Los Angeles mayor, had dropped to third position behind two Democratic candidates — current Mayor Karen Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman — nearly a week after voting concluded.

“Not possible for Spencer Pratt to have lost the L.A. runoffs after the big lead he had,” Trump posted. “Rigged Elections!”

State election officials have responded that California’s voting procedures include comprehensive security measures such as equipment testing, strict ballot custody protocols, and signature authentication processes.

Trump also referenced the gubernatorial primary, where his Republican endorsee, television commentator Steve Hilton, was running behind two Democratic contenders — former cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra and billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer.

“Now they’ll be working on great guy Steve Hilton,” Trump posted, appearing to imply that Democrats were altering primary tallies to prevent Hilton from reaching the final round.

California operates under an “open primary” structure where all candidates appear on one ballot regardless of party affiliation, with the two highest vote recipients advancing to a November general election runoff.

Bass has established herself as the leading candidate among 14 mayoral hopefuls, securing approximately 35% of votes tallied by Monday. Raman, who initially placed third, moved past Pratt for second position Sunday and maintained her lead Monday with 27.12% of counted votes.

Pratt, remaining in third with 26.69% of tallied ballots, maintained on social media Monday that he could still secure a November runoff position.

“Folks, we’re dealing with a fraction of a percentage point difference,” he posted on X. “There’s still hundreds of thousands of votes outstanding, and LA officials have given us the next three weeks to count!”

Sunday, Pratt suggested that a “net swing of more than 43,000 votes since Tuesday” originated from ballots submitted by homeless individuals. Referencing a recent annual survey of the city’s unhoused population that documented over 43,000 people experiencing homelessness nightly in Los Angeles, Pratt posted: “43,000, huh? Where have I seen that number before …? Probably nothing.”

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson added his own doubts about California’s election integrity.

“They are counting votes for weeks after the election,” he stated. When asked to provide proof of election manipulation, Johnson responded, “Some of these efforts are so diabolical and so far upstream it is impossible to prove.”

Republican attacks on California’s voting system extend Trump’s continued promotion of false assertions that his 2020 presidential campaign was fraudulently defeated.

Sources close to the White House and others knowledgeable about the situation indicate that emphasizing 2020 election fraud allegations reflects Trump’s approach to justify additional voting limitations and motivate his supporters before November elections that will decide congressional control.

Through portraying the 2020 election as fraudulent, Trump is also establishing foundation to contest Republican defeats and weaken Democrats should they regain authority, according to multiple election analysts.

California’s extended vote counting timeline results primarily from a mail-in ballot system created to boost voter turnout, which Trump has consistently claimed enables fraud.

Most California ballots in recent elections have been submitted by mail, with those postmarked by election day accepted for up to one week afterward, extending the time required for validation, processing and counting. States conducting voting primarily at polling locations can therefore complete their tallies more rapidly.

JUNEAU, Alaska — An Alaska Senate hopeful named Dan Sullivan admits that having the identical name and Republican party registration as the current senator provides him with “an instant megaphone” in the competitive primary contest. However, Sullivan insists his political bid isn’t fraudulent or orchestrated by Democratic operatives.

The candidate explained that acquaintances have jokingly called him senator for years and questioned whether he’d ever considered seeking office. He noted he’s been mulling over a run for over ten years.

“This is my choice,” Sullivan, a resident of the small fishing town of Petersburg, stated during a Monday phone conversation.

Previously, Sen. Dan Sullivan claimed the challenger Sullivan was “trying to trick” voters to benefit his primary opponent in the race, Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The sitting senator alleged the other Sullivan’s entry into the August primary was part of a coordinated Democratic scheme involving Peltola’s campaign to mislead voters, charges they reject. He warned of potential legal action to investigate the matter.

The situation has drawn national Republican attention as the party works to maintain their Senate majority during what’s anticipated to be a challenging midterm cycle for the governing party. Sullivan, the challenger, rejected assertions that his campaign serves merely as a ploy to damage the senator’s reelection prospects.

He stated he’s had zero communication with Peltola’s campaign — “zero, none, zilch” — and answered “no” when questioned whether state Democratic Party members or national Democratic operatives had approached him about running.

A Peltola spokesperson, Harry Child, stated the campaign “has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.” The Alaska Democratic Party’s executive director, Jenny-Marie Stryker, said her organization “is in no way affiliated with either Dan Sullivan.” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Monica Robinson answered “no” when asked if the group had encouraged the challenger Sullivan to enter the race.

Sullivan described having the same name as Alaska’s sitting U.S. senator as “a matter of fate” and maintained he’d committed no wrongdoing.

“I have every right to run for whatever office I’m qualified for, and I’m qualified for this office,” the challenger stated, continuing: “I think I’m doing what most Americans would think would be a patriotic thing to do when you’re unsatisfied with the status quo. You stand up and say, I’m going to fight for things I believe that are going to make my community better.”

Previous Alaska ballots haven’t identified incumbents, though the Alaska Division of Elections’ current online candidate roster does. It also separates the candidates using middle initials — Dan S. Sullivan for the senator and Dan J. Sullivan for the challenger.

Alaska conducts open primaries where the top four vote recipients, regardless of party, proceed to the ranked choice general election in November. Sen. Sullivan’s campaign fears having two Dan Sullivans on the ballot might mislead voters.

Sen. Sullivan’s campaign stated Monday, “Alaskans deserve a fair and honest election — not political games meant to manipulate the ballot and benefit Democrats.”

The challenger revealed he was affiliated with the limited government-oriented Alaskan Independence Party for decades, until the party’s termination late last year. Election authorities indicated voters registered with the party could switch their affiliation, but those who didn’t would be listed as “undeclared.” Sullivan said he was then categorized as undeclared until filing for office, when he registered as Republican.

He explained he was partially inspired by his deceased father, whom he characterized as a “true, compassionate, conservative Republican.” He said if forced to categorize himself, it would be “a pragmatic Republican centrist” — comparable to Alaska’s senior U.S. senator, Lisa Murkowski, but “with touches of a Rand Paul Republican in there.”

He mentioned growing up in the Chicago region but was attracted to Alaska and established roots nearly five decades ago in Petersburg. The fishing community of approximately 3,400 in southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest is nicknamed “Little Norway” for its numerous residents with Scandinavian heritage. He was employed by the U.S. Forest Service before switching careers to become an educator. He has since retired.

Like many Alaska communities, Petersburg lacks connection to the state’s primary road network and is reachable only by aircraft or boat. Juneau, the closest city, is roughly 45 minutes away by plane.

Petersburg is located on Mitkof Island, characterized by mountains, dense forest stands and swampy areas called muskeg. Sea lions resting on buoys and humpback whales and orcas are frequently spotted off its coastline.

Sullivan, who turns 69 this weekend, declined an interview request last Friday, he explained, because the king salmon were running and he wanted to fish.

Regarding his office bid, the challenger said he intends to conduct some fundraising and hopes to campaign in the state’s major cities, including Anchorage and Juneau, though he currently has no concrete plans and is working out the specifics.

He finds the current controversy surrounding his Senate campaign — and the incumbent’s response — somewhat unexpected.

“I guess my thought would be, ‘Dude, why don’t you just run your campaign?’ If you’ve got a strong record, run on your record. People will love you for it and you’ll be swept back into office,” he said Monday. “Why would he be concerned that a guy out of Petersburg is this huge threat?”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — City council member Nithya Raman has secured her place in November’s mayoral runoff against incumbent Karen Bass, creating an unforeseen contest between two former political allies who are both Democrats vying to lead the nation’s second-largest city with nearly 4 million residents.

The results eliminate Spencer Pratt, a Republican and former reality TV star from “The Hills,” from contention. While his celebrity status and willingness to challenge liberal policies in the heavily Democratic city attracted national media coverage, that attention failed to generate sufficient votes to reach the runoff.

Raman entered the mayoral contest at the last moment, despite having previously endorsed Bass for another term. With backing from the Democratic Socialists of America during her council election, the race will determine if voters in this overwhelmingly Democratic metropolis are ready to embrace more progressive solutions to persistent challenges including homelessness, deteriorating infrastructure, and rising housing costs.

The contest carries significant historical implications. Bass holds the distinction of being the first Black woman to serve as mayor, while Raman could become the first South Asian woman to hold the office.

Bass campaign strategist Douglas Herman released a statement saying, “A campaign against Nithya Raman, who allows encampments near schools and cuts the police force, is one Mayor Bass looks forward to winning.”

Though officially nonpartisan, with no party labels appearing beside candidates’ names on ballots, the mayoral contest revealed Bass’s political vulnerability as incomplete results showed her receiving less than 35% of votes — a weak showing for a sitting mayor.

Raman trailed in third place until Sunday but steadily gained ground with each vote tally update released by Los Angeles election officials since the June 2 primary.

As the incumbent, Bass embodies the Democratic establishment with endorsements from Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, plus support from powerful labor organizations. Her political resume includes service in the state Legislature and Congress before winning the mayor’s office in 2022, and she was considered as a potential running mate for former President Joe Biden in 2020.

Making her first citywide campaign, Raman has pledged to accelerate housing development, restore entertainment industry employment, and enhance city services in a municipality notorious for unclean streets, traffic congestion, and widespread homeless encampments throughout numerous neighborhoods.

“What we are doing right now is just not working,” Raman says. “LA’s primary strategy for homelessness has been to move encampments from one block to another, from your block to your neighbor’s block and back again. … It’s political theater.”

Determining Bass’s November opponent required nearly a full week due to California’s famously lengthy vote-counting procedures. All eligible voters receive mailed ballots, which are tallied if postmarked by Election Day and delivered to election offices within seven days.

Los Angeles, similar to other California counties, processes and counts mailed ballots approximately in the sequence they arrive, meaning the final submissions are the last to be tallied.

Tuesday evening after voting concluded, Los Angeles published results from early-returned and pre-processed mail ballots plus same-day votes. Those tallies placed Bass ahead with Pratt second and Raman third. Subsequently, the county has been processing and announcing results from later-arriving mail ballots.

Voting data indicates substantial numbers of Democrats retained their mail ballots until the campaign’s closing days before returning them, explaining why Bass and Raman have performed better than Pratt in votes counted since primary day.

Born in India, Raman relocated to the United States during childhood and obtained degrees from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she focused on urban planning studies.

She has resisted efforts to ban homeless individuals from establishing tents within 500 feet (152 meters) of schools and childcare facilities. Nevertheless, she seems to have moderated her opposition to no-camping zones designed to limit encampment expansion and clear streets. Despite voting against dozens of such measures on the council, she later indicated she would not obstruct them as mayor.

Raman’s stance on city policing has also evolved.

She previously advocated for a significantly reduced department and shared “defund the police” messages on social media in 2020. She opposed the mayor’s 2023 police contract, arguing it was too costly for the financially struggling city.

Recently, she stated the Los Angeles Police Department should maintain its current staffing of approximately 8,600 officers, down from roughly 10,000 in 2020. The police union has criticized her in advertisements, dubbing her “Flip Floppin’ Raman.”

In ethnically diverse Los Angeles, successful mayoral candidates must build coalitions across ethnic and geographic lines. To exceed 50% of votes and claim victory, Raman must attract additional supporters.

“I don’t think it’s impossible, but she is going to have to expand beyond her ideological base,” said Democratic consultant Bill Carrick, who views Bass as vulnerable.

“The people who didn’t vote for Nithya weren’t voting against her, they were voting for somebody else. Karen (Bass) had a good number of people who were voting against her,” Carrick added.

Despite their opposing political philosophies, both Raman and Pratt have appealed to voters dissatisfied with the city’s current direction.

Tanika Vickers, employed by a Los Angeles housing nonprofit, described feeling part of a group of working, taxpaying citizens who have been “forgotten.” She expressed frustration with tax dollar allocation, particularly “throwing” additional money toward homelessness without measurable results.

She supported Raman for mayor because she believed Raman was most capable of implementing her proposals and addressing the city’s needs.

“I think that we are all looking for change,” she said.

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department has designated several high-profile Chinese corporations, including technology powerhouse Alibaba, automobile manufacturer BYD, and internet search company Baidu, as entities supporting China’s military operations, barring them from securing contracts with the U.S. military.

The updated roster, released Monday by the Pentagon, now includes 188 Chinese organizations, marking an increase from approximately 130 entities listed previously. This expansion targets well-recognized private Chinese enterprises outside traditional defense sectors, demonstrating heightened concern over Beijing’s approach of leveraging civilian businesses for military advancement.

Established in 2021 through congressional direction, the designation aims to spotlight Chinese enterprises the Pentagon believes maintain connections to China’s armed forces — encompassing not just those under direct military oversight but also organizations supporting the nation’s defense manufacturing capabilities.

During last year’s update, Pentagon officials noted that Chinese military forces were working to obtain cutting-edge technologies and knowledge from Chinese corporations, academic institutions, and research initiatives that “appear to be civilian entities.”

Chinese Embassy representatives on Monday criticized the United States for “overstretching the concept of national security and making discriminatory lists to go after Chinese companies.” Embassy officials stated that Chinese businesses comply with legal requirements in their operating countries. “The U.S. should stop its wrong practice and create a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies,” the embassy said in a statement.

While companies appearing on this designation may continue U.S. operations, they encounter reputation challenges and potential additional regulatory constraints. The list previously included organizations like DJI, a leading consumer drone manufacturer.

Regarding Alibaba’s inclusion, Pentagon officials cited the company’s connection to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as evidence of its contribution to the country’s defense manufacturing sector. The technology company maintains listings on the New York Stock Exchange.

Defense officials indicated that BYD and Baidu share affiliations with the same ministry, which directs China’s technological and industrial strategies. BYD holds a leading position in worldwide electric vehicle sales, and President Donald Trump indicated in January his openness to Chinese automakers like BYD establishing U.S. manufacturing facilities and employing American personnel.

Nevertheless, multiple U.S. congressional members have expressed intentions to pursue legislation banning Chinese electric vehicles.

The updated list also features Chinese robotics firm Unitree, whose performing robots gained attention from Simon Cowell on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Pentagon officials stated the company “knowingly received assistance” from Chinese authorities through recognition as a small or medium-sized enterprise deemed highly innovative, globally competitive, and essential to national supply chains.

Alibaba, BYD, Baidu and Unitree did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

A federal court has overturned the Trump administration’s controversial decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, delivering a victory to states and employers who challenged the dramatic cost increase.

U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin in Boston ruled Monday in favor of 20 states, determining that the executive branch overstepped its legal boundaries and failed to follow proper federal rulemaking procedures when implementing the fee hike.

“The Court finds that the Policy imposes a tax on H-1B petitions without the requisite delegation by Congress,” Sorokin wrote.

The administration had defended the substantial fee increase as a measure to protect American workers from foreign competition for jobs. Previously, H-1B applications typically cost several thousand dollars, making the new fee structure a massive jump that created widespread confusion and concern among employers and workers.

H-1B visas target positions requiring specialized skills that are challenging to fill with domestic workers. Technology firms represent the largest user group, with approximately three-quarters of approvals granted to workers from India. The challenging states contended that recruiting essential professionals like doctors and teachers through the H-1B system was already problematic before the fee increase took effect.

The legal landscape remains complex, with multiple court cases producing conflicting outcomes. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a separate challenge in Washington, D.C. federal court and has appealed an unfavorable ruling, leaving the higher fee temporarily in place until September 2026. Religious organizations and labor groups have also filed suit in San Francisco federal court, potentially creating conflicting decisions across different appellate circuits.

State officials argued the policy would severely impact their capacity to recruit educators for elementary and secondary schools, staff public universities, support academic research initiatives, and maintain adequate medical personnel levels.

“The Proclamation makes various overtures to domestic economic policy goals to justify the unprecedented $100,000 fee,” plaintiffs wrote in their complaint. “But the Proclamation gives no indication that the President gave any consideration to how the fee would affect Plaintiff States and their ability to provide their residents access to education, healthcare, and other basic human needs.”

The Department of Homeland Security expressed strong disagreement with the court’s decision, characterizing it as inappropriate judicial interference with immigration policy reforms.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, our immigration system is being reformed to serve American citizens, American workers, and American families and to preserve our national identity — not to rapidly import foreigners who take American jobs, commit crimes, burden our welfare system, and erode our cultural and social fabric,” the agency stated.

WASHINGTON — Foreign nationals seeking to visit the United States for business or tourism will soon have the option to pay an additional $750 for faster visa processing through a new State Department initiative.

The department plans to announce a pilot “premium” service this week through a Federal Register publication, enabling applicants to secure interview appointments within 10 days of payment at selected U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.

According to internal documents reviewed by The Associated Press and confirmed by a State Department official who requested anonymity prior to the official announcement, the expedited service will operate from July 1 through December 31.

This premium option comes as the current administration has implemented stricter entry requirements for foreign visitors, including bond payments reaching $15,000 for certain countries, particularly in Africa, and extensive background checks covering years of personal information and social media activity.

These enhanced screening measures have created significant processing backlogs globally, generating widespread criticism from applicants and advocacy groups.

Citizens from nations outside the Visa Waiver Program currently face interview wait times extending several months or longer. While the $750 premium service — added to the standard $185 application fee — guarantees a quicker interview, it does not ensure visa approval.

Officials have not yet revealed which embassies and consulates will participate in the expedited program, though this information will be released before the July launch date. The six-month pilot could be extended based on applicant demand and program success.

Vice President JD Vance has installed a custom chicken coop at his official Naval Observatory residence in Washington, complete with a dozen baby chicks housed in a structure designed to mirror the Victorian home where the second family resides.

The henhouse, featuring a circular turret and artificial slate roofing, was provided by Carolina Coops, a North Carolina business that markets high-end coops and has built a substantial social media presence. Company owner and founder Matthew DuBoise confirmed the custom structure was finished on May 29.

“It’s something I thought was amazing to do for this country,” DuBoise explained during an interview. “It’s a place of history and a place of significance.”

According to a source familiar with the project who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly, no taxpayer funds were used for the coop’s construction. The same source revealed that the residence held a family gathering this past weekend where local 4-H students educated other children about the newly constructed coop.

Since 1977, vice presidents have made the 72-acre Naval Observatory grounds their home, with many leaving personal touches on the property. Joe Biden established a heritage garden, Mike Pence’s wife, Karen, introduced beehives, and Kamala Harris made updates including pink wallpaper in the house’s library. Dan Quayle installed a heated swimming pool on the premises in 1991.

Backyard chicken keeping has experienced renewed popularity in American households recently. According to a 2025 American Pet Products Association survey, 11 million U.S. households now keep chickens.

The Daily Wire initially broke the story about Vance’s new coop.

During his 2024 campaign appearances, Vance frequently referenced expensive egg prices as evidence of inflation he attributed to then-President Joe Biden. Vance would joke about his two young sons’ egg consumption, once claiming they “eat about 14 eggs every single morning.”

DuBoise explained that he instructed his team to create a custom design the Vances would adore. His designer took cues from the 19th century home, incorporating its circular turret and green accents.

As the finishing touch, Vance and his family selected 12 chicks to begin their flock, DuBoise noted.

DuBoise characterized having his business selected for the project as an “American dream” experience. He supervised the installation process and provided guidance to Vance, his wife, Usha, and their children. According to DuBoise, when Vance first saw the completed coop, the vice president’s expression showed pure delight.

“I couldn’t have been happier to see that excitement,” he said. “They’re just very, very happy, and I’m glad.”

A federal judge in Miami has demanded that Donald Trump’s legal team provide justification for missing a court-mandated deadline in the former president’s $10 billion defamation case against the BBC.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Roy Altman issued an order requiring Trump’s attorneys to explain why they shouldn’t face sanctions for their “apparent disregard of court deadlines” after they failed to respond by Friday to the BBC’s request to have the case thrown out. Attempts to reach Trump’s legal representatives for comment on Monday were unsuccessful.

The defamation case centers on Trump’s allegations that Britain’s publicly owned broadcaster deliberately spliced together portions of a speech to create the false impression that he directly instructed his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol following his defeat in the 2020 presidential race.

The BBC has previously issued an apology to Trump, conceding that their editing constituted poor judgment and recognizing that the altered footage incorrectly suggested he had explicitly called for violence.

In court documents filed in March, the BBC argued for dismissal of the lawsuit, contending that Trump failed to adequately demonstrate that the broadcaster deliberately published misleading content or acted with reckless disregard for accuracy.

A new national poll reveals President Donald Trump’s approval rating continues to hover near historic lows, with 35% of Americans supporting his job performance as the majority anticipate fuel costs will climb higher.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey, completed on Monday, found Trump’s approval unchanged from mid-May polling. This figure sits just one point above his current term’s lowest mark of 34% recorded in April, and remains close to his first presidency’s bottom of 33% from December 2017.

The Republican leader has encountered significant public dissatisfaction in recent months following his choice to engage in military action against Iran, resulting in escalated gasoline costs nationwide.

Although pump prices have declined somewhat recently due to speculation the Iranian conflict might conclude, 59% of poll participants predicted U.S. fuel prices would worsen over the coming year. Only 17% believed costs would improve, while remaining respondents were uncertain or expected prices to remain stable, according to the six-day survey.

Military operations against Iran began February 28 when Trump authorized strikes alongside U.S. ally Israel. Iranian retaliation has effectively halted shipping through a critical waterway that previously handled one-fifth of worldwide oil commerce. While the frequency of military exchanges has decreased since April, diplomatic efforts have not produced a permanent resolution.

Americans show particularly strong disapproval of Trump’s handling of household expenses, with just 22% supporting his cost-of-living management compared to 70% who disapprove. This represents worse performance than his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, who ended his presidency with 29% approval and 63% disapproval on cost-of-living issues.

Biden’s administration grappled with extended periods of elevated inflation, ultimately damaging his party’s prospects in the 2024 presidential race and contributing to Trump’s victory over Democrat Kamala Harris. Trump’s campaign centered on pledges to address inflation, but continuing high fuel costs are now threatening his party’s congressional control in November’s midterm contests.

Public support for Iranian military action remains limited, with 36% of Americans backing the strikes. An even smaller portion – 25% – believed the benefits justified the expenses.

The nationwide polling data showed registered voters would favor Democrats over Republicans 41% to 37% in today’s congressional races. While Republicans previously held advantages on economic management in last year’s surveys, that edge has disappeared. The current poll found 36% of voters trust Democrats’ economic plans compared to 37% supporting Republican approaches.

The online survey collected responses from 4,531 American adults with a 2 percentage point margin of error.

The White House announced Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump has formally transmitted Todd Blanche’s nomination to the U.S. Senate for consideration as attorney general.

The June 8 announcement moves Blanche’s nomination into the Senate confirmation process, where lawmakers will review his qualifications for the nation’s top law enforcement position.

WASHINGTON – Six Democratic senators called Monday for a federal investigation into Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over a family vacation road trip that was recorded for an online video series and funded by corporate donors whose businesses fall under his department’s regulatory oversight.

The lawmakers – Senators Patty Murray, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Ben Ray Lujan, Mazie Hirono and Richard Blumenthal – have requested the DOT Office of Inspector General examine the video project. In their request, they stated that Duffy’s involvement creates “serious questions about use of funds and potential misconduct.”

The controversy centers around the transportation chief’s participation in the filmed vacation trip that was financed by companies his agency oversees, raising potential conflict of interest concerns.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Houston defense attorney who spent nearly ten years representing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against corruption and securities fraud charges has announced his backing for Democrat James Talarico in a major U.S. Senate contest.

On Monday, Talarico’s campaign highlighted receiving support from Dan Cogdell, a Houston lawyer who served on Paxton’s legal team during the Republican’s landmark 2023 impeachment proceedings that resulted in his acquittal.

While Paxton’s history of legal issues forms a key component of Talarico’s campaign strategy, Cogdell’s endorsement did not reference worries about his former client’s legal past.

According to Cogdell, he holds no personal animosity toward Paxton and believes Texas legislators made the correct decision in clearing the attorney general. However, from a political standpoint, Cogdell expressed concern that Paxton prioritizes satisfying President Donald Trump over other considerations.

“I worked my ass off for the man for nine years,” Cogdell told The Associated Press during an interview. “But that’s a different inquiry, my obligation to Ken ended at the courthouse steps and my obligation as a citizen is to do what I think is the right thing.”

Cogdell emphasized that Texas faces significant challenges in areas like education and healthcare, “and to simply bootlick or rubber stamp Trump, that’s not what we need in D.C. right now.” He also recently conducted an extended interview with Talarico on Cogdell’s podcast.

When contacted for a response, a campaign representative for Paxton noted that Cogdell is a Democrat and characterized the endorsement as predictable.

Tony Buzbee, who served as lead counsel during Paxton’s impeachment trial, echoed this sentiment on X while announcing his own support for Paxton in the race.

Cogdell acknowledged his Democratic registration, though Texas does not require voters to register by party affiliation. He clarified that he views himself as a moderate who has historically donated more campaign funds to Republican rather than Democratic candidates.

Talarico has energized Democratic hopes for turning the statewide Texas seat blue as the party works to regain U.S. Senate control this November.

Paxton’s outsider campaign defeated Sen. John Cornyn in last month’s Republican Senate primary runoff, boosted by a Trump endorsement in the race’s final stretch.

WASHINGTON — Federal investigators have uncovered serious security vulnerabilities in a controversial program that permits Immigration and Customs Enforcement to obtain taxpayer records from the Internal Revenue Service, according to a newly released Treasury watchdog report.

The Treasury inspector general’s findings represent the first comprehensive review of the scope and problems associated with the taxpayer information exchange program, which sparked multiple court challenges and internal disputes when it was implemented in 2025.

Treasury’s inspector general, known as TIGTA, determined that the disputed 2025 arrangement between ICE and Treasury — which enables ICE to submit immigrant names and addresses for verification against tax databases — suffered from data formatting inconsistencies and flawed matching standards that produced inaccurate results.

The controversial program prompted the then-acting commissioner of the IRS to step down from the position.

According to the report’s findings, ICE submitted requests for address details on over 1.2 million individuals following the agreement’s implementation, with the IRS eventually supplying last-known address information for approximately 47,000 people.

TIGTA’s investigation revealed that the IRS’s computerized matching system contained significant defects. Data formatting problems from ICE’s submissions created unreliable matches, including instances where partial or incorrect addresses received validation as accurate information, the report indicates.

Treasury and IRS officials did not provide responses to Associated Press inquiries seeking comment.

The taxpayer and immigration data cross-checking initiative represents a component of President Donald Trump’s border security priorities and his comprehensive national immigration enforcement campaign, which has included deportation operations, workplace enforcement actions and implementation of an 18th century wartime statute for removing Venezuelan migrants.

This disclosure marks the second time that extensive taxpayer information sharing with ICE has come to light.

A federal judge ruled in February that the IRS violated federal law through its unauthorized disclosure of confidential taxpayer records to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, specifically referencing the same 47,000 information releases highlighted in TIGTA’s findings.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly determined that the IRS improperly provided taxpayer records for thousands of individuals to the Department of Homeland Security under the agencies’ disputed information-sharing arrangement designed to identify and remove people residing illegally in the United States.

The latest TIGTA report contains no formal recommendations, according to correspondence from Nancy A. LaManna, deputy inspector general for inspections and evaluations.

“However, we plan to share some concerns we identified during our review with the DHS Office of Inspector General,” her letter states.

Two residents from the Washington area are seeking court intervention to prevent President Donald Trump from holding an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House next week, according to legal documents filed in federal court.

The residents submitted their request on Sunday to U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, asking for an emergency order to stop the mixed martial arts competition and prevent the construction of a massive metal structure known as “the Claw” on the South Lawn of the executive mansion.

Judge Mehta responded on Monday by requesting attorneys to establish a timeline for addressing the urgent petition.

The planned event, titled “UFC Freedom 250,” is scheduled to align with President Trump’s 80th birthday celebration on June 14. The competition would take place within a towering octagon-shaped cage measuring 92 feet in height, with fighter weigh-ins planned for the Lincoln Memorial.

The legal challenge, submitted to the court on Saturday, claims that approvals granted by the National Park Service and Interior Department were improper and should be overturned.

“This nation’s public monuments should not be loaned out for private exploitation,” the plaintiffs said.

White House officials responded by characterizing the legal action as an “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory lawsuit” and defended the planned event by stating it “is no different than the various other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year.”

The legal filing argues the event breaks regulations that prohibit sporting competitions on the South Lawn and at the Lincoln Memorial, and claims the construction of such a large arena facility needs approval from Congress.

This legal challenge adds to other ongoing court cases involving Trump’s construction initiatives at the White House and throughout the capital, including his plan to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing, and his proposal to renovate and close The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

WASHINGTON — Maine’s state primary election Tuesday presents numerous competitive contests featuring candidates from well-known political dynasties.

The primary elections for U.S. Senate and House seats will determine the nominees for a midterm general election where Maine is anticipated to be crucial in determining which party controls both congressional chambers. Maine voters will also get the chance in November to showcase the state’s notably independent political character when selecting a new governor.

The candidate field includes a U.S. senator’s son, a congresswoman’s daughter, a former governor’s brother, and relatives of two presidents.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins faces no opposition in seeking renomination for a sixth term, positioning her to potentially become Maine’s longest-serving Senate member.

Collins stands as the sole Senate Republican representing a state that Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris won in 2024, making her a key figure in the battle for chamber control this November. Her 51% vote share in 2020 marked her weakest performance since receiving 49% in her initial successful campaign in 1996. Democrats consistently target her as a top incumbent to defeat, though her Democratic challengers have never exceeded 44% in her five prior races.

Graham Platner emerges as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination to face Collins. The Marine and U.S. Army veteran turned to oyster farming after serving combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Platner initially confronted a challenging primary against Gov. Janet Mills, whom some national Democratic leaders favored, but the second-term governor withdrew from the race in April due to fundraising difficulties.

Two other primary opponents remain for Platner, including one write-in candidate. Mills remains on the ballot despite ending her campaign.

Through May 20, Platner had raised more money than all candidates, including Collins, though Collins maintained a larger cash reserve.

Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders provided crucial early endorsement for Platner and maintained his support despite recent accusations that Platner sent sexually explicit text messages to multiple women while married. Earlier in the campaign, Platner faced separate controversy over a tattoo he previously had that was identified as a Nazi symbol.

In the 2nd Congressional District, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden announced in November he would not pursue a fifth term in a district Trump carried in 2024, along with its single electoral vote. Maine ranks among two states that distribute some presidential electoral votes by congressional district.

The Democratic candidates seeking to replace Golden include former congressional aide Jordan Wood, state Auditor Matt Dunlap and state Sen. Joe Baldacci, brother of Democratic former Gov. John Baldacci.

The Democratic winner will challenge former two-term Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who runs uncontested for the nomination.

Wood has significantly outpaced the entire field, including LePage, in campaign fundraising, though LePage held the largest cash balance as of May 20.

For the gubernatorial primaries, state Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former state Senate President Troy Jackson, renewable energy company co-founder Angus King III, former state House Speaker Hannah Pingree and former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Deputy Director Nirav Shah all pursue the Democratic nomination.

Republican candidates include former healthcare CEO Jonathan Bush, former U.S. State Department official Bobby Charles, former state Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason and businessman Ben Midgley.

King is the son of independent U.S. Sen. Angus King. Pingree is the daughter of Democratic U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree. Bush is related to Republican former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

Maine’s governor’s office regularly switches between parties. The state hasn’t chosen consecutive governors from the same party in 74 years.

While Maine contains 16 counties, elections are administered by the state’s hundreds of cities and towns, a typical New England practice. Portland stands as Maine’s largest city by far and serves as the core of the state’s Democratic support. The two congressional districts generally align with the state’s political makeup. The 1st Congressional District along Southern Maine’s coast leans heavily Democratic, while the expansive 2nd District northward encompasses most smaller, rural communities where Trump performed strongest.

The state employs a ranked-choice voting system where voters rank candidates by preference. When no candidate achieves a majority of first-place votes, the last-place candidate gets eliminated, and their votes get redistributed among remaining candidates based on those voters’ preferences. This continues until one candidate obtains a majority.

Key election details and data points the AP Decision Team will track during vote counting:

Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press will deliver vote results and announce winners in contested primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, state Senate and state House.

Registered party members can vote only in their party’s primary. Democrats cannot participate in Republican primaries and vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may join either primary.

January registration showed approximately 354,000 registered Democrats, about 309,000 registered Republicans and roughly 334,000 unaffiliated voters.

Around 69,000 Democratic primary votes and approximately 60,000 Republican primary votes were cast in 2022’s gubernatorial primaries, when both nominees ran without opposition.

Roughly 26% of Democratic primary votes and about 12% of Republican primary votes in 2022’s gubernatorial primaries were cast before primary day.

Through Thursday, approximately 56,000 ballots had been submitted for Tuesday’s election, including about 33,000 from Democrats, roughly 13,000 from Republicans and around 10,000 from unaffiliated voters.

During the 2024 general election, the state’s largest cities and towns typically released results from all voting methods simultaneously at night’s beginning.

In 2024’s general election, the AP initially reported results at 8:44 p.m. ET, 44 minutes after poll closing. Approximately 50% of total votes were counted by 12:54 a.m. ET, with counting halting at 4:11 a.m. ET. By 3:13 p.m. ET the following day, roughly 90% of votes were tallied.

The AP doesn’t make projections and declares winners only when determining no scenario exists for a trailing candidate to overcome the gap. For uncalled races, the AP will continue covering newsworthy developments, including candidate concessions or victory claims, while clarifying it hasn’t declared a winner and explaining why.

Under 2025 law, Maine recounts occur automatically for tied votes. Candidates for statewide or multicounty office may request and fund recounts, though charges are waived if the margin doesn’t exceed 1% of total votes cast or 1,000 votes, whichever is smaller. The AP may declare winners in recount-eligible races if determining the lead is too substantial for recounts or legal challenges to alter outcomes.

As of Tuesday, 147 days remain until the 2026 midterm elections.

President Donald Trump has rejected suggestions that initiating military action against Iran contradicts his campaign promise to avoid new conflicts during his presidency.

The statement comes as tensions escalate in the Middle East, with Israel and Iran engaging in recent retaliatory attacks that risk pulling the broader region into widespread conflict.

In other developments, Trump, who has long supported the New York Knicks, announced Friday his plans to attend the first NBA Finals game held in New York since 1999. The NYPD has responded by canceling watch parties near Madison Square Garden and advising game attendees to arrive at least two hours early due to heightened security protocols.

A recent survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals declining American confidence in their nation’s global standing as the country prepares to mark its 250th anniversary. The polling data shows growing uncertainty about the future of democratic governance, especially among younger Americans, creating a stark backdrop for the upcoming commemorative celebrations.

The research indicates only about 25% of Americans believe the United States surpasses all other nations globally, while 44% consider it among the world’s top countries alongside others. Approximately 30% now view other nations as superior to the U.S., representing a significant increase from the 19% who held this view in a June 2016 AP-NORC survey.

Legal action has been filed to stop a planned UFC event scheduled for the White House South Lawn, coinciding with President Trump’s 80th birthday and the nation’s anniversary celebration. The Public Integrity Project, representing two Virginia residents, filed the Saturday lawsuit claiming the Trump administration’s June 14 event approval violates federal regulations.

The legal challenge argues the authorization breaches National Park Service rules against sporting events on federal lands, lacks congressional approval for construction elements, and proceeded without required environmental assessments. White House officials dismissed the lawsuit as “an obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory” effort to block the event, comparing it to other standard South Lawn gatherings and permitted National Mall activities.

Trump has granted clemency to Stephen Buyer, a former Republican congressman from Indiana who completed nearly two years in federal prison for illegal stock trading using insider information after leaving office. Buyer received a 22-month sentence in 2023 for trades conducted while working as a consultant and lobbyist, along with orders to surrender over $350,000 in illegal profits and pay a $10,000 penalty before his 2025 release.

The Supreme Court declined to hear Buyer’s appeal in May without commentary or dissenting opinions. Trump’s “full, complete, and unconditional pardon,” dated Thursday and announced Friday evening, praised Buyer’s military service as a judge advocate general and his congressional career as “distinguished and highly productive.”

Security measures for Monday’s NBA Finals game have prompted police to cancel a watch party near Madison Square Garden, with the New York Knicks urging fans to arrive two hours early. Trump confirmed Friday his attendance at the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, adding to his list of major sporting events attended during his second term, including the 2025 Super Bowl, Daytona 500, and Ryder Cup.

The NYPD announced Sunday that the Game 3 watch party cancellation was coordinated with the Secret Service due to the presidential visit. “There will be no watch parties outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 3 only,” the department stated. “This was done fully in coordination with the Secret Service because of the presidential visit. We expect watch parties at Madison Square Garden to resume for Game 4.”

Addressing criticism about his campaign messaging, Trump told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in a Sunday interview that he “didn’t guarantee” there would be no wars if he returned to office. “First of all, I didn’t guarantee no war. Why would I have built the strongest military in the world?” Trump stated.

The interview aired just hours before Israel and Iran conducted retaliatory strikes threatening to escalate Middle Eastern conflicts into full regional warfare, marking the first hostile exchange since an April 8 ceasefire agreement. Trump also defended plans for a canceled $1.8 billion compensation fund for Republican allies and reiterated unfounded claims about California’s recent primary vote counting process before ending the interview early due to frustration with NBC’s Kristen Welker’s questioning.

Nevada voters will decide several key primary contests on Tuesday, with the state’s gubernatorial race drawing the most attention and campaign dollars.

Current Governor Joe Lombardo, who took office after his 2022 victory, will defend against six fellow Republicans seeking their party’s nomination. Meanwhile, six Democrats are vying for the chance to challenge for the governor’s office in November’s general election.

The governor’s race holds particular significance as Nevada remains a crucial swing state, and the eventual winner could influence the 2028 presidential race if the state keeps its position as the first western nominating contest for both major parties.

Lombardo made history in 2022 by becoming the sole challenger nationwide to unseat a sitting governor, narrowly defeating Democratic incumbent Steve Sisolak by just 1.5 percentage points.

The Democratic gubernatorial primary features state Attorney General Aaron Ford and Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill among the candidates.

Since there are no presidential or U.S. Senate contests on Nevada’s ballot this election cycle, the governor’s race has become the primary focus for campaign advertising expenditures, including spending by dark-money organizations that can collect and spend unlimited funds without revealing their contributors.

Several U.S. House seats are also up for grabs. The state’s only Republican representative, Mark Amodei from the 2nd District, has decided not to pursue an eighth full term. This seat is anticipated to remain safely Republican in the fall election, as Amodei secured reelection in 2024 with 55% support while Donald Trump captured approximately 56% in the same district during the presidential contest.

The Republican primary for Amodei’s seat includes former state Senator James Settelmeyer, financial adviser and small business owner David Flippo, and 11 additional candidates. Trump has given his endorsement to Flippo. The primary winner will likely claim the seat in November.

More competitive general election battles are expected for the districts currently represented by Democratic U.S. Representatives Dina Titus, Susie Lee, and Steven Horsford. All three Democrats are running for reelection, though only Horsford in the 4th District faces no primary challenger.

State legislative races include roughly half of Nevada’s 21 state Senate positions and all 42 state House seats. Democrats currently control both legislative chambers.

In Henderson, the state’s second-largest city, Mayor Michelle Romero is seeking another term in the nonpartisan race against four opponents, including former Henderson police Chief Hollie Chadwick. A runoff election in November will occur if no candidate wins a majority.

Clark County, which encompasses Las Vegas and Henderson, represents the state’s largest population center and typically accounts for about 69% of statewide election totals. Washoe County, home to Reno, ranks second in population and usually provides around 18% of statewide votes. These two counties serve as critical indicators for both Republican and Democratic primary outcomes.

Polling locations close at 7 p.m. Pacific Time (10 p.m. Eastern Time), but state regulations mandate that polls remain open until every voter in line by closing time has cast their ballot.

The Associated Press will report vote tallies and announce winners in contested primaries for U.S. House, governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state controller, state attorney general, state Senate, state Assembly, and Henderson’s mayoral contest. Statewide constitutional office ballots include a “None of these candidates” option, though this choice doesn’t appear for congressional or legislative races.

Primary participation is restricted to voters registered with each respective political party – Democrats cannot vote in Republican primaries and vice versa. However, eligible voters may register or switch party affiliation at polling sites on Election Day or during early voting periods.

Registration figures as of June 1 showed approximately 670,000 registered Democrats and about 659,000 registered Republicans. Around 162,000 voters registered with other parties, while 965,000 remained unaffiliated with any party.

Nevada’s 2024 primaries for U.S. Senate drew roughly 157,000 Democratic primary votes and about 171,350 Republican primary votes.

Mail-in ballots represented about 65% of votes in the 2024 state primary and approximately 57% in the 2022 state primary. Early in-person voting accounted for roughly 17% in 2024’s primary and about 22% in 2022’s primary.

By Friday, approximately 246,000 ballots had been submitted for Tuesday’s election – about 42% from Democrats, roughly 42% from Republicans, and the rest from other registered voters.

Nevada’s 17 counties follow different procedures for releasing early in-person and mail voting results. Most counties typically report all or nearly all early in-person voting totals in their initial update, while fewer than half include mail voting results in the first release.

Both Clark and Washoe counties traditionally include all early in-person voting results and partial mail voting totals in their first update before releasing any Election Day in-person results.

During the 2024 state primaries, the AP initially reported results at 11:04 p.m. Eastern Time – more than an hour past scheduled closing time, as the state waits until voting concludes in all counties before releasing any totals. The final vote update occurred at 11:55 p.m. Eastern Time for the Republican primary with about 94% of votes tallied, and at 2:28 a.m. Eastern Time for the Democratic primary with approximately 85% counted.

The AP does not make projections and only declares winners when determining no possible scenario exists for trailing candidates to overcome their deficit. For uncalled races, the AP continues covering significant developments like candidate concessions or victory claims while clarifying that no winner has been declared and explaining the reasoning.

Nevada does not conduct automatic recounts, but candidates may request and fund recounts regardless of vote margins. The AP may declare winners in races subject to potential recounts if the lead appears too substantial for recounts or legal challenges to alter the outcome.

As of Tuesday, 147 days remain until the 2026 midterm elections.

Voters in South Carolina will head to the polls Tuesday to select candidates for governor and additional state positions, marking another measure of President Donald Trump’s influence among Republican voters.

Ten candidates total—seven Republicans and three Democrats—are vying to replace Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who cannot seek reelection due to term limits following his decade in the governor’s mansion. The winner, regardless of political party, will hold significant influence during the early phases of the 2028 presidential contest, as South Carolina is anticipated to maintain its position hosting crucial first-in-the-South presidential primaries.

Trump’s recent backing of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette to take McMaster’s place may prove crucial in a state where he won three presidential elections with no less than 55% support. However, a recent Iowa Republican gubernatorial primary demonstrated that Trump’s support, though influential, doesn’t guarantee victory. In that contest, Trump’s chosen candidate, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, was narrowly defeated by businessman Zach Lahn.

Despite this, Trump’s backing remains highly sought after. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, who previously strongly supported Trump but later disagreed with him by advocating for the Jeffrey Epstein files’ release, continues to highlight a previous Trump endorsement on her gubernatorial campaign website.

Additional Republican gubernatorial contenders include U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman and state Attorney General Alan Wilson, whose father is Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson.

McMaster has also given his support to Evette.

Seeking the Democratic nomination are state Rep. Jermaine Johnson, attorney Mullins McLeod, and businessman Billy Webster, who previously served as chief of staff in the U.S. Department of Education during the Bill Clinton administration.

In the Senate race, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham confronts five Republican primary opponents as he seeks a fifth term. Graham also carries Trump’s endorsement.

Democratic candidates include Annie Andrews, a physician who ran unsuccessfully against Mace for her House seat in 2022.

Financial reports show Graham had spent over $29 million on his reelection campaign through May 20, significantly outspending all Republican and Democratic rivals. He concluded the primary campaign’s final phase with approximately $4.2 million in remaining funds, more than twice what the entire remaining Republican field possessed combined.

Mace’s gubernatorial campaign creates an opening in her 1st Congressional District seat. Primary ballots will feature seven Democrats and 11 Republicans, though one Republican, former Gov. Mark Sanford, has withdrawn from the race.

While none of South Carolina’s seven congressional districts is anticipated to be highly competitive in November, these seats became the focus of a mid-decade redistricting push supported by Trump to eliminate the state’s only Democratic-held district. The Republican-controlled state Senate blocked this initiative, leaving candidates to compete under current district boundaries.

Candidates must secure a majority to win outright, or face a June 23 runoff between the top two finishers.

The state’s most populated counties—Greenville, Horry, Charleston, Richland and Spartanburg—hold considerable sway in both parties’ primaries, though large counties with substantial Black populations, including Richland, Florence and Sumter, typically carry greater weight in Democratic races.

Key election details and data points the AP Decision Team will track include:

Voting concludes at 7 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press will report vote totals and announce winners in competitive primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, comptroller, state school superintendent, agriculture commissioner and state House.

All registered voters may vote in any party’s primary.

Registration reached approximately 3.4 million voters as of Friday. South Carolina doesn’t require party registration.

Previous Republican gubernatorial primaries in 2018 and 2022 each recorded roughly 368,000 votes. Democratic gubernatorial primaries saw approximately 240,000 votes in 2018 and about 182,000 in 2022.

Early voting comprised about 29% of Democratic primary votes and roughly 17% of Republican primary votes in 2022’s gubernatorial primaries.

By Friday, approximately 279,000 ballots had been submitted for Tuesday’s election, primarily through early in-person voting.

Most of South Carolina’s 46 counties typically report their complete or near-complete early in-person and mail voting tallies in the evening’s first update, usually before releasing Election Day in-person voting results.

During the 2022 primary, the AP issued its first results at 7:21 p.m. ET, 21 minutes after polls closed. The final vote update occurred at 1:14 a.m. ET, with 99.9% of votes tallied.

The AP doesn’t make projections and only declares winners when no possible scenario exists for a trailing candidate to overcome the deficit. For uncalled races, the AP will report significant developments like candidate concessions or victory claims while clarifying that no winner has been declared and explaining the reasoning.

South Carolina mandates automatic recounts when the margin between winning and losing candidates equals 1% or less of total votes. The AP may call a winner in recount-eligible races if the lead appears too substantial for a recount or legal challenge to alter the outcome.

Following Tuesday’s primary, 14 days remain until June 23 primary runoffs and 147 days until the Nov. 3 general election.

WASHINGTON — Tuesday’s state primary in North Dakota will feature a partial repeat of last year’s congressional nomination battle, as the state’s single U.S. House representative seeks renomination. The ballot also includes a constitutional amendment proposal and a mayoral race in the state’s largest city.

Republican U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak is pursuing her second term and confronts another primary contest from Alex Balazs, a former foreign service officer who finished fourth in last year’s race with 4% of votes trailing Fedorchak and other candidates. Fedorchak subsequently captured the general election with 69% of votes over Democrat Trygve Hammer, who is running once more and will face this year’s Republican primary victor.

Voters will select candidates for various top statewide positions, though most of these races feature unopposed candidates for offices including secretary of state, state attorney general and state agriculture commissioner.

Several of the state’s highest elected positions, including governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer and both U.S. Senate seats, will not appear on ballots until 2028 or beyond.

In a separate statewide decision, voters will consider a ballot measure that would prevent future proposed constitutional amendments from covering multiple subjects simultaneously. The measure would restrict amendments to addressing only a single topic.

Fargo, the state’s most populous city, will choose a new mayor to replace term-limited incumbent Tim Mahoney. Five candidates are competing for the nonpartisan position. This election brings two major changes from past mayoral contests. The City Commission decided in 2025 to convert the mayor’s role from part-time to full-time. Additionally, this marks the first mayoral election since the state prohibited the distinctive voting method Fargo residents had implemented in 2018. The city’s former “approval voting” system allowed voters to select unlimited candidates, with victory going to whoever received the most votes. This approach was intended to elect winners with widespread voter support.

State Legislature primaries also appear on ballots. Slightly more than half of North Dakota’s 47 state Senate positions and 94 state House seats face election in 2026. Republicans maintain commanding supermajorities in both legislative chambers.

North Dakota ranks among the nation’s most dependably Republican states. Republican presidential nominees have carried the state in the past 15 elections. The state was Donald Trump’s fourth-strongest in 2016 and 2020 elections, and his third-best in 2024 when he earned 67% of votes.

Polling locations close at 7 p.m. local time, translating to 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET. Most polling sites operate in Central time and close at 8 p.m. ET, while some Mountain time locations close at 9 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press will deliver vote tallies and announce winners in competitive primaries for U.S. House, state Senate, state House, Public Service Commission and state school superintendent, plus the general election for Fargo mayor and the statewide ballot question.

All eligible voters may participate in any party’s primary election.

North Dakota stands as the sole state without voter registration requirements. Any U.S. citizen who reaches 18 by the general election and has resided in North Dakota for 30 days before Election Day qualifies to vote. Approximately 594,000 eligible voters existed in North Dakota as of the 2024 general election.

Around 372,000 North Dakota voters participated in the 2024 presidential general election. Primary turnout runs significantly lower. During 2024 state primaries, roughly 20,000 voters joined Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate and governor when nominees faced no opposition. Republican participation that year reached about 83,000 voters in an uncontested U.S. Senate primary and approximately 93,000 in a contested gubernatorial primary.

Early in-person and mail voting accounted for roughly 41% of total votes across both parties’ 2024 primaries. This figure was about 48% during 2022 state primaries.

By Friday, approximately 37,000 ballots had been submitted for Tuesday’s election.

North Dakota’s 53 counties handle result reporting differently for early in-person and mail votes, but over two-thirds typically release complete or nearly complete results in their initial report. This encompasses all voting methods: early in-person, mail ballots, and Election Day in-person voting. The four largest counties – Cass, Burleigh, Grand Forks and Ward – generally release mixed vote types throughout the evening.

During the 2024 state primary, the AP initially published results at 9 p.m. ET, coinciding with final poll closures. The evening’s final vote update occurred at 11:56 p.m. ET, with approximately 99% of total votes tallied.

The AP avoids making projections and declares winners only when determining no possible scenario exists for trailing candidates to overcome deficits. When races remain uncalled, the AP continues covering significant developments like candidate concessions or victory claims while clarifying it has not declared winners and explaining reasons.

Automatic recounts occur in North Dakota primaries when vote margins equal 1% or less of votes received by the leading candidate. Primary candidates may request and fund recounts when margins exceed 1% but remain under 2% of the top vote-getter’s total. Ballot measures decided by 0.25% margins or less receive automatic recounts. The AP may declare winners in races subject to recounts if determining leads are too substantial for recounts or legal challenges to alter outcomes.

As of Tuesday, 147 days remain until the 2026 midterm elections.

Oversight agencies may find it difficult to monitor wagering on upcoming midterm elections, as thousands of contests create numerous opportunities for those with inside knowledge to profit illegally on expanding betting platforms, according to specialists and recent information.

A spike in questionable trading activity on the nation’s two biggest prediction market platforms has raised concerns that these rapidly expanding markets are opening fresh channels for insider trading violations.

One major platform suspended three congressional hopefuls in April after they placed wagers on their own electoral contests, while authorities are examining whether former congressman George Santos potentially engaged in insider trading on the same platform.

Specialists in insider trading violations believe this could represent just the beginning of a larger problem. With no fewer than 6,590 state and federal legislative positions being contested this year, an anticipated wagering surge will challenge protective measures in an emerging market where insider trading laws remain unclear and regulatory oversight is limited, according to industry observers.

“We may see a slow response or we may see no response if and when insider trading happens in the midterms,” said Ilya Beylin, a professor at Seton Hall Law School who has studied prediction market oversight. He noted that questionable trades could damage Americans’ confidence in democratic processes when polling already indicates many citizens believe the system faces threats.

Both major platforms and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which seeks oversight authority over prediction markets, maintain they possess adequate monitoring capabilities and resources to address these challenges.

The companies are strengthening their safeguards, with one platform prohibiting political figures and campaign staff from election wagering while another increases enforcement against trading based on private information. The Senate implemented a ban on prediction market betting by members and staff in April.

Monthly worldwide trading activity on the two leading platforms jumped nearly five times from September to approximately $24 billion in April, exceeding the roughly $14 billion wagered monthly through legal sports betting operations in the United States last year, based on research center data.

“As innovation expands the reach and complexity of our markets, we are continuing to grow alongside it, both operationally and technologically,” a CFTC spokesperson said, adding the agency will “enforce the law aggressively.”

Legal representation for Santos chose not to provide comment.

These markets enable participants to purchase and sell contracts based on whether specific events will occur, offering “yes” or “no” positions on various outcomes.

Participants can wager on congressional control by political parties, state legislature composition, individual contests, and related campaign events and candidate activities.

Beyond approximately 470 congressional races, 6,122 state and territorial legislative positions face election this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, plus local contests for prosecutor, mayor, judicial, and other positions. Every candidate creates potential insiders including campaign workers, polling specialists, fundraising staff, financial contributors, personal contacts and relatives.

Although insider trading faces prohibition in commodity derivatives markets, legal specialists note relatively few enforcement cases have occurred. Election-related insider information spans a wide range, from unreleased polling results to developing controversies, much of which regulators may not fully understand, according to Beylin.

“They will need to learn, and that learning process often involves trial and error,” he noted.

The scope of potential inside information continues expanding as election wagering becomes increasingly specialized. During the major election year of 2024, one platform featured 1,293 election-related markets with $7.26 billion in trading activity, according to the Anti-Corruption Data Collective, a nonprofit research organization.

With fewer significant contests last year, election markets on the platform decreased, but the ratio of markets to races increased seven-fold to 17.4, showing election wagering is becoming more detailed, according to Michelle Kendler-Kretsch, a researcher with the organization.

These markets increasingly emphasize race variables rather than simple winners and losers, including voter participation, victory margins, and candidate withdrawal timing, based on the group’s analysis, which has not been previously published.

For instance, one platform last year offered multiple markets on “inactive” ballot percentages, meaning votes for eliminated candidates, in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor.

This development “creates a more significant information asymmetry, while the number of potential insiders grows and the risk of insider trading increases,” Kendler-Kretsch explained.

Beyond the two major platforms, at least four other authorized U.S. platforms offer election contracts, several brokers provide access to these products, and additional companies plan to launch services. Like traditional markets, these companies provide initial oversight.

One platform recently established U.S. operations, though its primary exchange lacks U.S. regulation and typically hasn’t required identity verification checks. While it prohibits U.S. residents, authorities have noted concerns that these restrictions can be easily circumvented.

“We maintain a comprehensive market integrity framework” and focus on transparency, a company spokesperson stated.

Through internal monitoring, the platform has reported nearly 100 user accounts to law enforcement, including one allegedly used by a U.S. soldier for insider wagering on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s potential removal, the spokesperson said.

One platform defines insiders as individuals positioned to directly affect a contract’s outcome, said Robert DeNault, the company’s enforcement director. Besides identity checks, the company uses public records to identify federal politicians and campaign staff before trading and plans similar verification for local elections where information is available. It also monitors trading for unusual patterns.

The company can then focus on suspicious activity subsets, DeNault explained. “You can leverage the tools … to gather a lot of information,” he said, adding that while workloads can be substantial, they remain manageable.

Despite these tools’ capabilities, each lead requires human investigation, said Aitan Goelman, who served as CFTC enforcement director from 2014 to 2017. The cases one platform identified in April demonstrated the need for human verification of user identities.

With CFTC enforcement staffing at 105 positions, representing its lowest level in at least two decades according to budget information, and many experienced investigators having departed, the agency may lack sufficient personnel to examine numerous referrals, Goelman suggested.

The agency spokesperson said it relies on experienced staff and has maintained continuous hiring since December.

However, Goelman argued the agency’s resources were “not even close” to meeting its requirements.

WASHINGTON — With the United States gearing up for elaborate festivities marking its 250th birthday, a recent national survey reveals Americans are growing less convinced their nation stands apart from others worldwide.

Research from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows widespread concern about the future of American democratic institutions, especially among younger generations. This sentiment creates a stark backdrop as cities and towns across the nation plan commemorative events for the milestone anniversary.

The polling data shows just one in four Americans believes the United States surpasses all other nations globally, while 44% view it as among the world’s top countries alongside others. Roughly 30% now say other nations outperform the U.S., marking a significant jump from the 19% who held this view in a June 2016 AP-NORC survey.

The research reveals Americans continue to disagree on whether diversity defines the nation’s character, while consensus on other foundational elements appears to be weakening. Fewer citizens now consider democratically elected leadership as “extremely” or “very” crucial to America’s national identity compared to recent years. Currently, about two-thirds of adults view democratic governance as highly significant to the country’s identity, dropping from 80% recorded in 2021.

“It’s not that the democracy part is not working,” said Derricka Wall, 24, of Chickasaw, Alabama. “It’s the people that are actually being put in office that is the problem.”

Wall contends that elected officials have undermined America’s governmental framework, originally created to guarantee representation and prevent governmental overreach.

She described America as “not what it used to be. I feel like our founding fathers would be kind of disappointed with how it is now.”

The survey found younger Americans express significantly less belief in U.S. superiority compared to older citizens.

Among adults under 30, approximately 44% believe other countries surpass the United States, contrasting with 22% of those aged 60 and above who share this view.

Additionally, fewer young people consider democracy central to American identity. Only half of Americans under 30 hold this belief, compared with 81% of those 60 and older.

Wall explained that the founders who created the system of balanced governmental branches believed they were establishing protections against concentrated power. However, she thinks they couldn’t anticipate how quickly these safeguards would fail when officials stopped upholding them.

“I feel like they would actually roll out of their graves,” she said. “I feel they would be very disappointed in us.”

Dissatisfaction with political effectiveness spans beyond younger demographics. Kent Stage, 62 and a retired senior enlisted man in the Army, is a registered Republican in Indiana. He doubts the existing political framework can solve national challenges. He advocates for congressional term limits and increased working-class representation in government.

“I’ll trust the ambulance-chasing lawyer and a shady used car salesman before I trust the politician,” he said.

Stage, who is also a former Marine, thinks elected officials prioritize personal and family interests “while mine and yours still got to hit the old grindstone.”

The polling also reveals extensive doubt about America’s promise of opportunity. Approximately half of adults, 51%, believe the American Dream — the concept that hard work leads to advancement — was once valid but no longer applies. About one-third maintain it “still holds true” while 15% say it was never accurate.

Jack Hermanson, a 27-year-old software developer in Denver, said his faith in the American Dream shifted after watching his engineer husband’s job search difficulties. “That really shattered my impression that if you work hard, you get what you deserve,” Hermanson said.

Just 22% of Americans under 30 believe the American Dream remains valid, compared with 46% of Americans ages 60 and older.

Angela Toombs, 31, works at a senior living facility in Atlanta where her clients describe how easily they purchased homes while working entry-level positions in their twenties and express disbelief about the challenges facing Toombs’ generation. Toombs recently abandoned her apartment to rent a room for financial savings.

Doubt about the American Dream is more common among Democrats and independents than Republicans. Most Republicans, 57%, maintain the American Dream remains achievable, compared with about one-quarter of independents and 17% of Democrats.

Republicans also show much higher rates of viewing the U.S. as exceptional. About half of Republicans consider the U.S. superior to all other nations, compared with only 7% of Democrats.

Quintin Sharpe, 28, lives in a resort town on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. A financial planner who is Republican, he said the American Dream stays within reach and he takes pride in the country. “It’s been a great experiment.”

“The opportunity is there for those who want to work for it,” he said. Sharpe considers the country “a meritocracy, and the best ideas, the best work ethic, those with the best succeed regardless of race, skin color, any of those factors.”

He and his wife plan to mark the country’s 250th anniversary by watching fireworks over the lake.

Slightly more than half of adults — 56% — consider shared American culture and values as “extremely” or “very” significant to national identity, declining from 65% in 2017. Younger Americans show less likelihood than older ones to view unified values as important to U.S. identity.

However, Americans stay deeply split on the importance of embracing diverse viewpoints: About half of adults, 51%, consider the capacity for people to arrive from other nations to flee violence or seek economic opportunities as “extremely” or “very” important to American identity, while 55% say this about blending cultures and values from worldwide.

Only about 40% of Republicans view the mixing of global cultures and values as fundamental to national identity, compared with 76% of Democrats.

Rose Nunez, 70, of San Antonio, was a small business owner but now is a caregiver for family members. Nunez, who tends to vote for Democrats, said there is an unease and tension that are just beneath the surface, especially focused on Hispanics. She said some people have started carrying their papers showing their immigration status in case they are challenged.

“It is hard to celebrate when the feelings towards immigrants and communities of color are so strong,” she said of the upcoming America 250 celebrations.

She said even citizens are questioned now. If it gets to a point where being naturalized is challenged, “guess what, my mom would be leaving. She’s been living in this country since she was maybe four years old. She’s 93.”

The AP-NORC poll of 2,596 adults was conducted April 16-20 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

More than 2,000 women participated in Turning Point USA’s yearly women’s leadership conference this past weekend.

The gathering has raised questions about whether there may be divisions emerging within the conservative movement that helped secure President Trump’s victory in the 2024 election.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Several days following California’s primary election, Nithya Raman and Spencer Pratt continue awaiting results to determine which candidate will advance to November’s Los Angeles mayoral runoff against current mayor Karen Bass.

Election officials had not yet declared a winner by Sunday, with vote tallies showing Raman climbing to second position behind Bass for the first time since Tuesday’s conclusion of voting and start of counting. This development places Raman, who serves as a progressive member of the city council, in front of Pratt, who previously appeared on the reality show “The Hills.”

Previously holding third position, Raman has consistently increased her vote total compared to Pratt with each update released by Los Angeles election officials since Tuesday.

California’s ballot counting process moves at a notably slow pace due to state regulations that effectively require an extended tallying period. Every qualified voter receives a mailed ballot, and these are tallied if postmarked by Election Day and delivered to election offices within one week.

Los Angeles and other California counties handle and tally mail-in ballots approximately in the sequence they arrive, meaning the final submissions received are processed last.

Following Tuesday’s poll closure, Los Angeles announced results from early-returned and pre-processed mail ballots along with same-day voting totals. Subsequently, the county has been handling and announcing results from mail ballots that came in later.

Voting data indicates substantial numbers of Democratic voters retained their mail ballots before submitting them during the campaign’s closing days, which accounts for Bass and Raman performing better than Pratt in ballots tallied since primary day.

The mayoral contest operates on a nonpartisan basis, meaning no party labels appeared beside candidate names on ballots. Both Raman and Bass are Democrats, whereas Pratt is a Republican.

During election night, Bass maintained a 4.4 percentage point advantage over Pratt, who held an 8.1-point margin over Raman. Since that time, Bass’s margin over Pratt has expanded to nearly 8 points while Raman currently leads Pratt by approximately 0.4 points, representing 3,100 votes. The Associated Press calculates that slightly under 150,000 ballots remain to be processed.

The extended counting period has generated unsubstantiated fraud allegations from certain Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who announced his Department of Justice would conduct an investigation.

The president claimed that California Democrats were manipulating results to eliminate two candidates he supports — Pratt and Republican Steve Hilton in the gubernatorial race — from the top two positions, thereby preventing their participation in November’s general election. Democrat Xavier Becerra has secured advancement to the general election in the governor’s race, but The AP has not determined the second position. Hilton maintains a 4.3-point lead over Democrat Tom Steyer for the second advancement spot, though his margin has decreased by nearly half since election night.

Los Angeles’s general election will likely serve as an evaluation of Bass’s leadership whether she competes against Raman or Pratt. However, the two potential opponents would approach the campaign from distinctly different angles.

Pratt, representing conservative viewpoints, would present a more forceful opposition to liberal policies in the Democrat-controlled city. He has emphasized homeless reduction as a central campaign issue and has strongly criticized Bass’s handling of the January 2025 Pacific Palisades wildfire that destroyed his residence and thousands of other homes. His celebrity status has generated significant attention for his candidacy, though it remains uncertain whether this publicity will produce sufficient votes for runoff qualification.

Raman, conversely, is challenging Bass from a more progressive stance. She has committed to accelerating housing development, restoring entertainment industry employment, and enhancing services in a city recognized for unclean streets and damaged roadways. She won her council seat with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, although the organization has not formally endorsed any mayoral candidate. Her late entry into the race surprised many after she had previously endorsed Bass for reelection.

Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner will face voters directly at a town hall meeting Sunday evening in Portland, Maine, as his campaign works to address recent allegations concerning his past behavior toward women.

The gathering occurs just two days ahead of the Democratic primary election, where Platner continues to hold frontrunner status despite questions about whether the recent controversies have dampened voter support for his unconventional campaign.

Recent reporting by The New York Times on Thursday detailed accusations from a former girlfriend claiming Platner repeatedly seized her by the shoulders during disputes and on one occasion twisted her arm behind her back before confining her to a room. Platner has consistently denied these violence allegations as false.

Additional former romantic partners spoke with the Times, with some describing favorable interactions while others characterized him as unpredictable and demeaning. These revelations followed earlier reports disclosing that Platner had sent sexually explicit communications to multiple women during his marriage.

No prominent Democratic leaders who previously backed Platner have withdrawn their endorsements following these allegations. Platner seeks to defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the November general election.

At a Friday rally in Bar Harbor featuring California Rep. Ro Khanna, Platner received enthusiastic applause and stated that Maine residents “have my back.”

The military veteran has acknowledged ongoing battles with alcohol dependency and post traumatic stress disorder following his service, while maintaining he has transformed as a person.

These recent developments have intensified concerns among some Democratic supporters regarding Platner, who previously drew criticism for social media content that minimized sexual assault and for displaying a skull tattoo associated with Nazi imagery. Platner has issued apologies for the posts and concealed the tattoo, claiming he was unaware of its meaning when he received it.

Rahm Emanuel, considered a possible 2028 Democratic presidential contender who was campaigning in nearby New Hampshire over the weekend, expressed uncertainty about Platner’s chances against Collins.

“Everybody is holding their breath whether this is the start of something or the end of something,” he said. “If it’s the end, that’s one thing. If it’s the beginning of something and we’re not done, that’s another thing.”

Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner continues to lead in Maine primary polling despite growing discomfort within his own party regarding recent revelations about his personal conduct, just days before Tuesday’s primary election.

Several Democratic members of Congress appeared on Sunday morning television programs to voice their concerns about the party’s frontrunner for November’s Senate race, though no lawmakers urged him to abandon his campaign following news reports about inappropriate text exchanges with women during his marriage and allegations from former romantic partners who characterized his conduct as “toxic.”

New York Representative Tom Suozzi told CNN’s “State of the Union” that recent media coverage has highlighted his existing concerns about the candidate. “I’ve been unsettled about Graham Platner for a long time about the issues and the positions he takes on issues, not just the allegations about his personal conduct,” Suozzi stated.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner described the allegations as “disturbing” if proven accurate during his appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” However, Warner noted that President Donald Trump’s electoral success demonstrates politicians can overcome accusations of inappropriate behavior toward women.

“I think President Trump set a new standard,” Warner explained. “Whether that low standard is what we ought to proceed with, I think it’s going to be again in the hands of the voters.”

Platner’s campaign has not yet responded to requests for comment. The candidate has previously issued apologies for the text messages while dismissing the reports as politically motivated attacks.

California Representative Ro Khanna, who recently campaigned for Platner in Maine, suggested on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that Democrats should acknowledge the inappropriate behavior before moving forward with their focus on national priorities.

“We should focus on acknowledging it was misogynistic, acknowledging it was wrong, moving on with redemption,” Khanna said during the Sunday program.

Should Platner secure victory in Tuesday’s primary, he would likely face incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in what observers expect to be one of the nation’s most competitive Senate races.

Republican officials also criticized Platner during their television appearances. The candidate is set to conduct a town hall meeting in Maine on Sunday evening.

Pennsylvania Representative Brian Fitzpatrick called Platner’s history “very, very troubling” during his CNN interview. “We have to set a higher bar,” Fitzpatrick declared.

Pennsylvania Republican Senator Dave McCormick labeled Platner among the Democrats’ “extreme” nominees during Fox News’s “Sunday Briefing.”

“Who would have thought you could be a misogynist, have allegations of violence against women … and have the mainstream of your party endorsing you?” McCormick questioned.

A former Oregon Republican senator whose political legacy was tarnished by sexual harassment allegations has passed away at age 93.

Bob Packwood’s family announced his death on Saturday through an obituary distributed to news organizations, though no additional details about his passing were provided.

The longtime legislator initially fought to remain in the Senate where he had served nearly three decades, stating he didn’t want the controversy to define his legacy.

Years before the MeToo movement brought such issues to the forefront, Packwood became a prominent case study of how personal conduct could destroy a public figure’s reputation. Organizations like Planned Parenthood had previously honored him for his work.

Coming from a politically connected Oregon family – his great-grandfather participated in the state’s 1857 Constitutional Convention – Packwood carved out a reputation as someone willing to cross party lines, combining moderate social views with conservative fiscal positions. He even contemplated a presidential bid in 1980.

After winning his Senate seat in 1968, Packwood became known primarily for his strong support of abortion rights as a Republican, earning widespread respect from women’s advocacy organizations nationwide. That changed when the Senate Ethics Committee began investigating misconduct allegations in 1993.

Over two dozen women, including former staff members and other associates, came forward with claims that he had made unwelcome sexual overtures.

The ethics investigation expanded beyond the harassment claims to examine other potential misconduct. Packwood ultimately stepped down in September 1995 and subsequently launched a successful lobbying firm in Washington.

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who took over Packwood’s seat in 1996, acknowledged his predecessor’s work on abortion rights and tax policy but said the treatment of women defined his legacy.

“His horrible history as documented in his own diaries will forever overshadow that public record. Simply put, historians’ first line about Bob Packwood must include those women who he abused and assaulted for years and years,” Wyden said in a statement.

During his tenure leading and serving on the Senate Finance Committee, Packwood developed expertise in crafting legislative compromises, particularly on tax matters. He took special pride in helping shepherd the comprehensive 1986 tax reform that reduced top rates while eliminating numerous deductions.

Throughout his political career, observers characterized him using terms like blunt, independent, maverick, and political survivor.

“I think they probably all ring true,” Packwood told The Associated Press in December 1992.

“I would like to think that I am nobody’s lackey. I try to reach conclusions independently and then I’m willing to fight for those conclusions; if necessary, having to fight against my party or my party’s president,” he said.

At 36, Packwood won his initial Senate race by narrowly defeating Democratic incumbent Wayne L. Morse, an Oregon political icon who had represented the state for over two decades. His victory quickly established him as a rising Republican figure, leading to his election as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee by 1980.

However, he lost that leadership position after the White House supported a challenger following Packwood’s public criticism of President Ronald Reagan for alienating women, African Americans and Jewish voters.

The harassment allegations surfaced in The Washington Post just two weeks following Packwood’s 1992 reelection victory, featuring accounts from former female employees and acquaintances.

The Senate Ethics Committee also examined claims that Packwood had sought employment opportunities from lobbyists for his former wife, used staff to intimidate accusers into silence, and interfered with the investigation by modifying his personal journals.

In 1993, the Senate conducted two days of unusual floor debate about whether Packwood should be compelled to surrender his diaries, which reportedly contained entries related to the investigation. Senators voted 94-6 to enforce the committee’s subpoena.

Packwood challenged the decision in federal court and lost at every level, including when Chief Justice William Rehnquist declined to have the Supreme Court intervene.

After leaving the Senate, Packwood established Sunrise Research Corp. as his lobbying venture in 1997. The firm generated $1.5 million annually by 1999. Though business declined in later years, he told a Portland audience in 2010 that he still devoted roughly half his time to Washington lobbying activities.

While he found the work engaging, Packwood told the audience, according to The Oregonian, “it is not as much fun as being in the Senate.”

As Congress grew increasingly polarized after his departure, Packwood continued promoting centrist approaches and suggested Oregon adopt nonpartisan elections during his 2010 speech.

Packwood was married to Elaine Franklin, his former chief of staff who later became a Portland political consultant. The pair maintained residences in both the Portland region and Washington.

In a November 2002 conversation with the Salem Statesman Journal, Packwood indicated he had moved beyond the scandal that ended his Senate career.

“People have told me it must have been tough on me, or it seems unfair,” he said. “But you cannot go through the rest of life and say look what happened. Pretty soon you become a bore to your friends.

“I told myself I was not old enough to retire,” Packwood said, “so I have got to get at life and not complain about it.”

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal legal challenge has been filed attempting to prevent a planned UFC mixed martial arts event scheduled for the White House South Lawn, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebration and the country’s 250th anniversary commemoration.

The Public Integrity Project filed the lawsuit Saturday on behalf of two Virginia residents, arguing that the Trump administration’s approval of the June 14 event breaks federal law. The legal filing claims the authorization violates National Park Service rules that ban sporting competitions on federal park property, alleges Congress did not approve the large arch structure being built to overlook the venue, and states no environmental assessment was completed before construction began.

“This is fundamentally a private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain,” said Brendan Ballou, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. “And that is what is motivating this lawsuit.”

The White House responded with a statement calling the legal action an “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory” effort to stop Trump from hosting the competition, adding that the event was “no different than the various other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year.”

UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Construction teams are currently building an octagon-shaped fighting cage on the South Lawn. Trump has announced the completed UFC venue will include “a 5,000-seat arena right outside the front door of the White House.” Large viewing screens showing the matches will also be installed at a nearby park on the Ellipse, with the UFC planning to distribute up to 85,000 complimentary tickets for spectators at both sites.

The octagon structure and accompanying facilities represent the newest addition to the White House construction projects Trump is overseeing.

Former President Donald Trump rejected criticism that his military action against Iran this year contradicted his campaign promise of avoiding new conflicts during his presidency.

During a Sunday broadcast of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump clarified that he never made absolute guarantees about preventing warfare if returned to office.

“First of all, I didn’t guarantee no war. Why would I have built the strongest military in the world?” Trump stated.

The former president also stood by a cancelled $1.8 billion compensation program for his political allies and continued making unproven allegations about election irregularities in California’s recent primary voting process. The interview concluded abruptly when Trump grew irritated with NBC’s Kristen Welker’s challenging questions.

Throughout his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump frequently portrayed his Democratic rivals as advocates for military intervention while positioning himself as a peace-oriented leader who had avoided initiating “no new wars” during his previous term.

However, in the NBC discussion, recorded Friday in Wisconsin, Trump maintained that as a candidate, “I didn’t promise anything.”

“I don’t like these endless wars. This is not an endless war. We’ve been doing this for three months,” he explained regarding the Iranian conflict that commenced February 28.

Trump justified his actions by saying he was “doing the world a service” and “doing our country a service” to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities. Yet during the same conversation, he made conflicting statements claiming that previous U.S. military strikes had “obliterated” Iranian nuclear facilities.

He also justified his earlier decision to exit former Democratic President Barack Obama’s Iranian nuclear agreement, which he has consistently criticized, despite not securing the improved deal he had promised to negotiate.

“It takes years to do these things,” Trump explained.

California’s extended ballot counting process has attracted numerous election conspiracy theories, with Trump alleging since Tuesday’s voting that Democrats are manipulating results without providing proof. The Trump-appointed chief federal prosecutor in Los Angeles announced Friday that his office had initiated “multiple election fraud investigations.”

Late-arriving Democratic-favoring mail-in ballots have reduced vote counts for Trump’s endorsed candidates seeking the governor’s office and Los Angeles mayoral position. Although Trump frequently characterizes changing vote tallies as evidence of fraud, these shifts simply reflect California’s lengthy counting procedures.

During the interview, Trump maintained these changes indicated “cheating” and “a rigged election,” becoming increasingly agitated as Welker demanded supporting evidence.

“All I have to do is look. All I have to do is look,” Trump responded.

“But that’s not evidence,” Welker countered.

“And I listen. And I listen to people. And let’s see what happens,” Trump replied.

Trump supported plans that his Department of Justice announced it was abandoning to establish a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” through a settlement resolving Trump’s legal action against the IRS regarding leaked tax documents.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Wednesday the department was eliminating the proposal. This decision followed a judicial pause and concerns from both Democrats and some Republicans about inadequate oversight and potential payments to January 6, 2021, Capitol riot participants.

Trump told NBC he considered the fund “a great idea” and would be “disappointed” if not implemented.

When questioned whether January 6 police attackers deserved compensation, Trump said, “I wouldn’t be inclined to say so, but I have to see it.” He then made baseless and incorrect statements about the riot and Capitol attackers. Trump issued comprehensive pardons on his first day returning to office in January 2025 for over 1,500 individuals prosecuted for January 6 involvement.

The NBC interview occurred in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, before Trump’s scheduled appearance at a farmers’ roundtable discussion. Heavy rainfall repeatedly disrupted the recording as it struck the barn’s metal roof where filming took place, creating audio difficulties.

At the conclusion, Welker questioned Trump about the settlement fund and his California election claims. Trump raised his voice and began labeling Welker and media outlets as “crooked,” attacking her reliability and criticizing what he termed “the fake, dirty press.”

As Welker attempted changing topics, Trump continued speaking and both talked simultaneously. Trump terminated the interview, stating, “Let’s call it quits.” He removed his microphone, telling Welker, “Thank you, darling. Have a good time.” He mentioned providing sufficient interview time, stood up and departed.

Welker reported during the broadcast that she contacted Trump Saturday, and he acknowledged the rain created complications while agreeing to conduct another interview later.

Congressional members with national security backgrounds issued warnings Sunday that President Donald Trump’s selection of Bill Pulte as his temporary intelligence chief could block efforts to extend a crucial foreign surveillance program.

Both chambers of Congress are working against a Friday cutoff date to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits American intelligence organizations to track emails and other communications from foreign nationals abroad without requiring individual court orders.

Trump designated Pulte, who lacks any background in security matters, as acting director of national intelligence, taking over from Tulsi Gabbard who stepped down effective June 30.

Pulte will continue serving as head of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency while taking on the intelligence role. His interim selection has sparked anger from both Democratic and Republican congressional members due to his absence of relevant experience.

Democratic officials also contend Pulte has shown readiness to leverage his housing finance role to target Trump’s political opponents.

Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, described the selection as dropping a “live hand grenade” into congressional discussions just days before FISA’s expiration during ABC’s “This Week” broadcast.

Last Friday, the Senate prevented an effort to start FISA renewal discussions, though Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, informed reporters that another attempt would occur this week.

Democratic backing would be crucial for the legislation to advance through the Senate. Party members have indicated they will refuse support unless Trump withdraws Pulte’s temporary assignment.

Trump stated Thursday that he probably would not put forward Pulte for a “permanent” intelligence director role. However, Pulte can function as acting director for 210 days without requiring Senate approval.

Representative Jim Himes, the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the timing of Pulte’s selection creates uncertainty about FISA’s extension.

“You just could not have come up with worse timing,” he stated. “If we had to pass another bill in the context of Bill Pulte, I don’t think we could.”

Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who also joined the ABC broadcast, commented, “I don’t believe he’s statutorily qualified” considering his lack of experience.

However, McCaul, a former House Homeland Security Committee chairman and former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned it “would be the most grossly irresponsible thing I’ve seen Congress do in my 22 years in office” if legislators fail to extend FISA just before FIFA World Cup games begin in North America, and as weeks of celebrations start for the 250th anniversary of the United States.

While Pulte lacks qualifications for the permanent director position, Republican Senator Dave McCormick noted that the president has other officials available for intelligence guidance, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as Trump’s national security adviser.

“Bill Pulte is going to be a temporary fix until we get the right qualified person in there permanently,” McCormick stated on Fox News’s “Sunday Briefing” program.

Prior to Trump’s Pulte selection, both chambers were positioned to approve a compromise measure following lengthy negotiations. Now even Republicans anticipate the renewal might face delays.

“We write with regret to ask that you plan for a potential significant gap in foreign intelligence collection,” stated a letter that Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Chuck Grassley sent Friday to Rubio.

In their correspondence, first reported by Punchbowl, Cotton and Grassley attributed the situation to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the chamber’s top Democrat. But Himes characterized it as an acknowledgment that Pulte creates the problem.

“I think at one level they’re acknowledging reality, which is that the Pulte appointment has taken 702 reauthorization off the table,” Himes told CBS.

Britain’s second-highest government official confronted U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Sunday, saying he corrected Vance’s claims linking immigration to a university student’s fatal stabbing.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who also serves as justice minister, described a direct phone conversation with Vance on Saturday as “robust” following controversial social media posts by the vice president.

“We had an agreeable conversation because we have got a relationship, but I wanted to make him clear that I disagree with some of the facts that he was asserting and to present the facts to him,” Lammy stated during an interview with Sky News.

The confrontation followed Vance’s Friday social media post calling for “righteous anger” over the killing of Henry Nowak, 18, who died in December after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton, England.

Digwa, who is Sikh, gave false information to authorities, claiming Nowak, who was white, had racially attacked him. When officers responded, they initially considered the dying victim a suspect before discovering his wounds and attempting life-saving measures.

The vice president’s post suggested the killing resulted partly from “the mass invasion of migrants, many of whom despise the West and the people who love it.”

Lammy said he stressed several key points to Vance, particularly that the perpetrator was British and is now imprisoned.

“This has got nothing to do with mass migration,” Lammy declared.

A court convicted Digwa, 23, of murder for using an 8-inch Sikh dagger in the attack and sentenced him this week to life imprisonment with a 21-year minimum term.

Anti-immigration groups and politicians have exploited the incident for their causes. On Tuesday, law enforcement in Southampton faced projectiles including chairs, cans, rocks and flares during protests about Nowak’s death that drew far-right participants and others.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office released a Friday statement criticizing those “trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets” in response to Vance’s remarks.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is examining the responding officers’ actions as part of an investigation into potential police misconduct.

Mark Nowak, the victim’s father, has emphasized the case involves neither racism nor religion, expressing hope his son’s death will contribute to public safety rather than “further division, hatred or tension.”

Lammy also told Vance “it’s not helpful to tweet in this way, partly because of what the Nowak family have asked for, and reminded him about their desire not to make this an issue of division and hatred, but to make this an issue of common sense.”

The nation’s highest court is approaching the conclusion of its nine-month session with several high-profile decisions still pending, including cases that touch on deeply divisive cultural issues affecting Americans nationwide.

As the Supreme Court prepares to finish its current term by the end of June, justices are set to announce their decisions on two significant firearms-related cases. One involves a federal statute that prevents illegal drug users from possessing weapons, while another centers on restrictions in the state that limit carrying handguns on private commercial properties without explicit owner consent.

The court will also determine whether state legislation in two western states that prohibits transgender students from participating on female athletic teams at public educational institutions violates federal law. These cases come as various states have enacted similar restrictions on transgender participation.

With its current composition featuring six conservative justices and three liberal members, the court has consistently shifted legal precedents in a more conservative direction over recent years.

FIREARMS LEGISLATION

As the country grapples with ongoing gun violence and recurring mass casualty events, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Second Amendment’s protections broadly, expanding individual gun ownership rights.

Based on oral arguments heard in January regarding the state restrictions case, conservative justices seemed inclined to further broaden gun rights, expressing doubt about the constitutionality of requiring property owners to give “express authorization” before allowing handguns on their commercial premises. Similar regulations exist in four additional states.

Legal experts anticipate the court will strike down these restrictions. Hayley Lawrence, who leads the Duke Center for Firearms Law and advocates for gun control measures, predicted the outcome.

“It seems to me the state is going to lose 6-3,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence noted the court may also clarify the analytical approach it established in its 2022 New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen ruling, which requires any government firearm regulation to align with historical American gun control traditions.

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE USERS

In March, justices heard arguments about a federal criminal law that prohibits anyone classified as an “unlawful user” of controlled substances from owning firearms or ammunition. This restriction appears in the Gun Control Act of 1968, which identifies various groups, including convicted felons and fugitives, who cannot legally possess weapons.

The legal challenge originated from a case involving a man from the state who admitted to using marijuana multiple times weekly and faced charges under this statute. The same provision was used in charges against the former president’s son in 2023, though he later received a presidential pardon. The current administration supports maintaining the law.

University of Chicago law professor Darrell Miller observed that while the court seems doubtful about the drug user prohibition, justices also worry about creating precedent that could weaken other portions of the legislation, particularly restrictions on felon gun possession.

“The court is deciding a drug case but they have one eye on the felony possession statute,” Miller said.

TRANSGENDER STUDENT ATHLETES

The current administration has implemented various policies restricting transgender rights, including military service limitations that the Supreme Court previously allowed to proceed during ongoing litigation. The government now supports state laws in two western states that ban transgender athletes from competing on women’s and girls’ teams at public schools and universities.

During January oral arguments, conservative justices appeared likely to uphold these prohibitions.

Public opinion surveys suggest most Americans oppose allowing transgender athletes to compete on teams matching their gender identity, especially in college sports.

“There is vast consensus on this issue,” said William Bock, a sports law attorney at Kroger Gardis Regas who supports the state restrictions. “Seventy to 80 percent of the public doesn’t understand why people are fighting about this.”

Sasha Buchert, an attorney with LGBT legal rights organization Lambda Legal representing one of the challengers, remained optimistic about potentially overturning the state laws, noting the case arguments “went much better” than those in 2024 involving gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. In that previous case, conservative justices voted 6-3 to uphold a state ban on such medical treatment.

While the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that federal workplace discrimination protections extend to gay and transgender employees, the justices have since permitted various transgender restrictions to take effect.

In March, the court blocked a series of state laws that would have limited sharing information with parents about transgender public school students’ gender identity without the child’s consent, supporting Christian parents who challenged these privacy protections.

Beyond military restrictions, the current administration has also implemented policies preventing transgender individuals from using their gender identities on passports and barring transgender federal employees from using bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity.

The court has already decided one major LGBT rights case from this term, issuing an 8-1 ruling in March that overturned a state law prohibiting therapists from using “conversion” therapy aimed at changing LGBT minors’ sexual orientation or gender identity. The justices supported a Christian licensed counselor’s argument that the ban violated First Amendment free speech protections.

IMMIGRATION POLICIES

Immigration issues also feature prominently in current cultural debates. The court will soon rule on two major cases involving current administration policies: efforts to limit birthright citizenship and attempts to remove humanitarian protections called Temporary Protected Status from hundreds of thousands of immigrants from two Caribbean and Middle Eastern nations.

Based on case arguments, the administration may face defeat on birthright citizenship restrictions, similar to a February loss on tariff policies, but could prevail on Temporary Protected Status changes.

The court also has a pending decision involving religious rights, where a man practicing the Rastafarian faith sued state prison officials after guards forcibly shaved his head, violating his religious beliefs under federal law protecting incarcerated individuals from religious discrimination.

In a death penalty case, a man convicted of murder in 1997 in a southern state avoided execution after the Supreme Court in May upheld a judicial determination that he was intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for capital punishment under established precedent.

Following a wave of congressional redistricting before the midterm elections, a nationwide fight for partisan advantage is shifting into a new phase that may impact representation on issues ranging from taxation and social programs to education funding, housing policies, and infrastructure maintenance.

The Republican-controlled Legislature in a southern state will meet June 17 for a special session dedicated to redistricting for the 2028 elections. The session’s agenda covers new voting districts for Congress as well as state House and Senate seats — and possibly even the state’s utility regulatory commission.

This will be the first instance since a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision reduced minority voting protections that a state legislature will try to redraw its own districts. Republican lawmakers in one state and Democratic legislators in another may also pursue legislative redistricting before their 2027 and 2028 elections, respectively.

However, it’s unclear how many legislatures will take similar action, and whether this mid-decade redistricting trend will reach down to county commissions, city councils, and school boards that make numerous decisions affecting residents’ daily lives. The potential impact could be far-reaching.

“The stakes here are not political, they are deeply human,” said Joe Kennedy III, founder of Groundwork Project, a nonprofit that supports local civil rights and democracy organizations.

Voting district lines are usually redrawn once every ten years following each U.S. census to reflect population shifts. However, last summer, President Donald Trump encouraged Republican lawmakers in one state to redraw congressional districts to attempt gaining additional seats in the midterm elections. Other states subsequently conducted their own partisan gerrymandering efforts.

A 6-3 Supreme Court decision in late April then sparked additional redistricting activity. The court overturned a majority-Black congressional district in one state as an illegal racial gerrymander, giving Republicans in other states justification to reshape districts with significant minority populations that have elected Democrats.

A federal judge determined in 2023 that some congressional, state Senate, and state House districts in one state were drawn in a racially discriminatory way. The Legislature promptly passed revised maps with new majority-Black districts, though they produced minimal changes to Republican majorities in the 2024 elections.

The Republican governor has summoned lawmakers into special session to redraw districts again following the Supreme Court’s decision in the case from another state. This could enable Republicans to reverse the court-mandated changes they implemented in 2023 and potentially redraw other Democratic-held minority districts to benefit the GOP.

Republicans have not yet revealed specifics of their strategy. However, a Democratic state representative who is seeking the attorney general position criticized the planned redistricting as a way of “rigging maps to maintain power.”

Several months prior to the Supreme Court ruling, a study by Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter predicted that Republicans in 10 Southern states could eliminate 191 Democratic-held legislative seats — including 140 districts with Black or Hispanic majorities — if the Supreme Court weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities.

“If anything, our report was an understatement,” Cliff Albright, co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter, recently told The Associated Press. “What’s at stake is the future of this democracy.”

Other experts don’t anticipate that many seats being redistricted. But they do expect the Supreme Court’s ruling to have effects across states.

“We’re going to potentially see a lot of frenzied efforts at every level, including at the local level, to try out undoing district maps and configurations that have performed quite well in providing improved representation for communities of color,” said Kareem Crayton, vice president of the Washington office of the Brennan Center for Justice.

The precedent from the recent Supreme Court ruling is already being used in multiple states. Following the decision, a federal appeals court is permitting one state to use a state Senate map approved by Republican lawmakers in this year’s election rather than one imposed by a federal judge who determined the state had weakened the voting power of Black residents. The modification affects two state Senate districts in one metropolitan area.

The Supreme Court has returned legislative redistricting cases filed on behalf of Black voters in one state and Native Americans in another state to lower courts for additional review in light of its decision. An attorney general in another state has requested the Supreme Court do the same for legislative redistricting cases involving Hispanic voters in that state.

Approximately half the states have constitutional provisions that ban mid-decade redistricting of state legislative seats, said Justin Levitt, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles who operates the “All About Redistricting” website.

But even in states where it’s permitted, lawmakers may have less motivation to redraw their own districts than those for Congress, Levitt explained. Politicians who advocated congressional redistricting for the 2026 midterms often defended it as a method to counter gerrymandering in other states and secure as many seats as possible for their party. They had additional motivation because a shift of just a few seats nationally in the November elections could determine control of the closely divided U.S. House.

In contrast, most state legislative chambers are already controlled by one party.

“There’s a lot less incentive, if you already control the state legislature by 10 or 12 seats, to eke out an incremental one or two at the expense of really ticking off your own party membership, or at the expense of maybe risking losing seats in a broader way,” Levitt said.

The Supreme Court ruling making it harder to prove Voting Rights Act violations has already impacted some local governments.

Plaintiffs have voluntarily dropped a challenge to commission districts in one county. A federal court has accepted new legal briefs in a challenge to Board of Supervisors districts in another county. And one state’s attorney general has asked a federal appeals court to consider the case when deciding a challenge to how judges are selected in one county.

Over approximately the past four decades, data from the University of Michigan indicates that cities, counties, and school boards have been involved in more than three-fifths of the 466 lawsuits alleging violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits providing minorities less opportunity than other voters to elect the representatives of their choice.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean local governments will rush to redistrict due to a weakened Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court decision opened the door for officials to justify redistricting based on partisan goals. However, many local offices are officially nonpartisan.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Rob Sand officially launched his gubernatorial campaign Sunday, marking his first rally as the Democratic nominee for Iowa governor with support from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

The gubernatorial contest between Sand and Republican Zach Lahn is expected to be among the nation’s most competitive races as Iowa grapples with a state budget deficit, struggling agricultural economy and cancer crisis.

While Sand minimizes partisan politics, Democrats are counting on him to reverse their recent electoral setbacks in the state.

“We are all in on flipping Iowa,” said Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association and a potential presidential candidate in 2028. “It’s certainly time for a change, and I think the people of Iowa know that Rob Sand will always put them first and lead in a way that lifts families up and doesn’t leave them out.”

Sand faced no primary opposition, while his general election opponent emerged after Tuesday’s unpredictable five-way Republican primary.

Previously unknown in statewide politics, Lahn gained attention as a business owner condemning farm consolidation and corporate tax breaks, a regenerative farmer aligned with Robert F. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement and a former political operative who energized Iowa’s conservative base.

For the first time since 1968, Iowa has open contests for both governor and U.S. senator, along with three competitive congressional races. National political figures including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have recently visited the state.

Democrats face significant challenges with a 200,000-person voter registration disadvantage statewide and minority status in every House district. Sand and Senate candidate Josh Turek believe they can attract independents and Republicans frustrated with partisan politics and Republican control in both Washington and Des Moines, which they blame for state problems.

Turek will challenge U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who has already characterized Turek as a liberal ally of party leader Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Lahn has dismissed Sand’s nonpartisan messaging.

“Rob Sand is not a moderate,” Lahn said in his victory speech Tuesday. “He’s a liberal career politician pretending to be someone he’s not.”

Sand frequently criticizes partisanship, expresses skepticism of both major parties and advocates for divided government in Iowa. He believes most Iowans share these views.

If elected in November, Sand would likely work with Republican majorities in both legislative chambers, which recently approved measures limiting executive authority that outgoing Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed.

“I’m not here to tell you that the answer to 10 years of one-party control is to give the other party 10 years of one-party control. I don’t think that’s right,” Sand said Tuesday after voting in the primary. “But I do think that it’s time to say enough to the people who have had 10 years of one-party control. It’s time for balanced government in Iowa.”

Both Sand and Lahn avoid traditional party colors of blue and red in their campaign materials, choosing green instead. Both claim independence from party establishments and argue Iowans want new leadership, though Lahn’s Republican Party has controlled the statehouse for nearly a decade.

Sand’s campaign has contributed approximately $750,000 to the Iowa Democratic Party this cycle, funding Republicans criticize as inconsistent for a candidate claiming nonpartisan status. The Sand campaign explains this investment supports a state party-coordinated effort essential for his gubernatorial victory, while also helping other candidates.

As Democrats analyze their 2024 losses and debate party direction, Beshear offers his red-state leadership as a model for moving forward.

Beshear said he aims to be a “voice of reason in the chaos” of Trump’s administration and accepts being mentioned among potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates, while maintaining focus on the upcoming midterms.

Beyond rallying with Sand, Beshear will attend a “Beers with Beshear” fundraiser for congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott, who seeks to defeat Republican Rep. Zach Nunn in the competitive House district covering Des Moines. Beshear said he will also meet with Turek.

The Democratic Governors Association, led by Beshear, has provided the Iowa Democratic Party about $140,000 this cycle, according to filing reports.

Confrontations between protesters and police at a New Jersey immigration facility have emerged as a major focal point in demonstrations opposing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies since late May.

Over 80 individuals have been taken into custody during multiple demonstrations outside Delaney Hall in Newark, where protesters say they are standing with detainees who report substandard living conditions inside the facility.

The Trump administration has stood by the care provided to individuals held at the 1,000-bed center.

Here are the key details:

Geo Group, a private correctional company operating detention facilities nationwide, owns the center.

According to Cosecha, an immigrant advocacy organization, detainees began a hunger strike last month. They sent out handwritten letters outlining their requests, which include better living standards and improved healthcare access, claiming some individuals are being refused necessary medications.

Similar allegations of medical neglect for serious and ongoing health issues have been made by detainees at other locations across the nation, with hunger strikes announced at additional facilities.

Those held at Delaney Hall report receiving spoiled and moldy food, including items containing maggots, while being kept in overcrowded quarters without air conditioning. Democratic congressional representatives from New York City toured the facility during early protests and stated the detainees’ claims appear legitimate.

President Donald Trump and his administration have defended the facility’s management and rejected claims of any hunger strike, mistreatment, or substandard conditions.

“The fact is, we’re giving them the calories they want,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said recently. “This isn’t Holiday Inn.”

Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, complimented the meals following a recent inspection. “The spaghetti was good,” he told CBS News.

GEO Group has rejected the complaints as “a politically motivated campaign by outside groups to dismantle ICE and federal immigration detention by targeting the government’s facility contractors.”

Demonstrators, some equipped with gas masks and protective helmets, have utilized traffic cones, garbage bins and other materials as improvised barriers, attempting to prevent vehicles from accessing the facility.

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche posted photographs online showing bloody injuries and bruises suffered by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Social media footage shows officers in riot equipment using tear gas and striking demonstrators with batons. Some recordings captured mounted police advancing into the crowds.

On Friday evening, ICE officers detained four individuals on charges including assault on law enforcement, obstruction and making threats, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced on X. Newark police separately reported charging a Seattle resident with criminal mischief for breaking car windows.

“No one has the right to come into our city, destroy personal property, or incite violence,” Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda posted on social media. “Think twice before coming to Newark with any other agenda than to protest peacefully.”

A law enforcement officer faced charges for taking $10,000 in camera equipment from an Associated Press photographer who was hurt while reporting on the confrontation. The journalist, Angelina Katsanis, was hit in the knee by a wooden beam during fighting between police and demonstrators. After receiving medical care, she used a tracking device to locate her stolen equipment at his residence, the state’s attorney general announced Thursday.

Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill initially hesitated to get involved in the escalating demonstrations. However, as violence worsened, she announced the situation had become “grown unsafe” and “unacceptable” and deployed state police to maintain order.

State troopers established designated areas for protests and vehicle inspection points while ICE officers previously positioned outside the detention facility agreed to withdraw.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka implemented a 9 p.m. curfew and deployed city police to enforce it.

However, just one week afterward, the Democrat announced the city would reduce its police deployment, citing decreased arrests and reluctance to continue using taxpayer funds to protect a privately operated facility.

The state’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against Geo Group this week, claiming the facility prevented state health inspectors from having “full access” to investigate the allegations.

Officials from both the White House and Israeli Embassy in Washington are firmly denying claims published in a New York Times article that suggests the Pentagon has raised counterintelligence warnings regarding Israel.

A representative from the Israeli Embassy called the accusations that Israel conducts surveillance on the United States “completely false.”

“Israel does not gather intelligence on American entities, let alone US government officials,” the spokesperson said. “Israel intelligence collection efforts are aimed at its enemies, not its allies. Any claims to the contrary are either misinformed or politically motivated.”

A White House representative also challenged the newspaper’s account, declaring: “This entire story is false and sourced to someone who doesn’t have any knowledge of what’s going on.”

These denials came after the New York Times published an article referencing an earlier NBC news story claiming the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency had recently upgraded its counterintelligence evaluation of Israel to the most serious level, designated as “critical.”

The news report indicated this evaluation was shared within government circles in recent weeks and showed worries that Israeli intelligence operations might be attempting to gain access to private US discussions concerning Middle Eastern conflicts.

The individuals who were reportedly under surveillance included Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s top negotiator, Elbridge A. Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official, and one of his main deputies, Michael P. DiMino IV, and others.

The article stated that Pentagon leadership was worried that classified information not meant for distribution could be accessed by Israeli intelligence, even given the strong partnership between both nations.

One government source quoted by The New York Times indicated the internal evaluation classified Israel’s abilities in both traditional espionage and technical intelligence gathering at a “critical level.”

The article also mentioned that the document referenced multiple incidents that led to the increased threat assessment, although specific details about these events were not revealed.

The Pentagon chose not to provide comment regarding the report.

Legal representatives for jazz artist Chuck Redd announced that a Washington D.C. Superior Court judge has thrown out a contract violation lawsuit brought by the Kennedy Center after Redd pulled out of a Christmas Eve show to protest President Donald Trump’s control over the cultural institution.

The case was dismissed on Friday under the District’s Anti-SLAPP statutes, which protect against frivolous legal actions aimed at suppressing public criticism on issues of community concern.

Redd, who plays drums and vibraphone and has performed alongside notable musicians including Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Brown, had been hosting annual holiday “Jazz Jams” at the Kennedy Center beginning in 2006. He withdrew from last year’s show after Trump’s appointed board members at the Kennedy Center decided to incorporate the president’s name into the facility.

“The Center sued Mr. Redd because he publicly and rightly objected to adding Donald Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center, a living memorial to former President John F. Kennedy,” Lisa J. Banks, one of Redd’s lawyers, said in a statement. “The lawsuit against Mr. Redd was political retribution, pure and simple, by the Trump Kennedy Center, and the Court correctly saw it as such in dismissing the case with prejudice.”

In an email to The Associated Press on Saturday morning, Redd expressed that he is “very pleased with the judge’s ruling.”

The dismissal request, submitted in March, contended that Redd had no contractual duty to perform. The filing referenced an agreement from the Kennedy Center that the performer had never actually executed with his signature.

Kennedy Center officials have not yet provided a response to inquiries about the lawsuit’s dismissal.

A senior artificial intelligence policy advisor at the White House is preparing to step down from his role by the end of this month, according to a published report.

Sriram Krishnan, who serves as an AI policy advisor, intends to depart his White House position by June’s conclusion, The Information reported Saturday. The publication cited sources with knowledge of the situation.

Following his departure from the administration, Krishnan has been in talks about launching a policy organization, according to the same report. This new institution would employ engineers and focus on advancing the Trump administration’s artificial intelligence initiatives.

Reuters was unable to immediately confirm the details of this report.

Female Navy officers are expressing concern about their career prospects after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed all women from a recent promotion list to admiral rank.

The Navy had originally selected 31 sailors to advance from captain to one-star admiral, but Hegseth stepped in to remove nine individuals from that list, including three women and two Black men, according to a defense official who requested anonymity due to restrictions on publicly discussing the information.

This intervention means no women will receive promotion to one-star admiral this year, despite women representing approximately 25% of all Navy officers and nearly one-third of mid-level positions, based on 2024 military statistics.

The Associated Press interviewed eight female Navy officers across different ranks and experience levels following Hegseth’s decision, which The New York Times first reported. All requested anonymity due to concerns about potential retaliation from leadership.

Junior officers described viewing this development as evidence their careers could become politically influenced if they advance too high, with some expressing they now perceive limits on their promotion potential. Several said the action made them feel undervalued within the military structure and questioned whether this was intentional.

Defense officials have provided no explanation for removing the women or the other six individuals from the promotion roster.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated on social media this week that “military promotions are given to those who have earned them” and emphasized the Pentagon “will never consider the color of a service member’s skin or their gender as a factor in promotions.” The Pentagon did not respond immediately to requests for additional comment.

The Navy’s selection process for one-star promotions has maintained consistency and transparency historically. The service assembles a promotion board of officers who review eligible candidates’ records and select the most qualified individuals.

The board that chose the original 31 officers operated under direction from then-Navy Secretary John Phelan, a President Donald Trump appointee, to “recommend for promotion the best qualified officers within their respective competitive category.”

Phelan’s directive, issued before his sudden departure in April, instructed the board to evaluate officers based on performance, competence, character, and other qualifications.

The order also specified that given China’s significance in the Trump administration’s National Defense Strategy, “special consideration shall be given to officers who have excelled in their knowledge of the political military affairs and U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, and operational contingency planning for Indo-Pacific war plans.”

Hegseth has consistently argued, without providing supporting evidence, that women in military service receive preferential treatment and lack suitability for combat positions.

“For too long, we’ve promoted too many uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons based on their race, based on gender quotas, based on historic so-called firsts,” Hegseth addressed hundreds of military leaders in September.

He claimed this approach rendered the Pentagon “less capable and less lethal.”

Phelan’s guidance explicitly stated the Navy cannot discriminate based on factors like race and gender, specifically noting “this guidance shall not be interpreted as requiring or permitting preferential treatment of any officer or group of officers on the grounds of race, religion, color, sex.”

The complete roster of 31 promotion candidates received approval from Phelan, other Navy leadership, and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Dan Caine before reaching Hegseth, who decided to modify the list, the defense official explained.

Although Hegseth possesses authority to alter such lists, “it’s just not the norm,” according to Katherine Kuzminski, a researcher focused on military recruiting and retention at the Center for New American Security think tank.

Kuzminski observed that “this is a decision that’s not being made by the U.S. Navy — it’s being made by the secretary of defense” and noted Hegseth’s increasing involvement in operational military matters like promotions creates “tension” regarding future expectations of “normal” procedures.

Senior Navy officers who spoke with the AP voiced worries about the message this sends to younger sailors entering the service.

Beyond blocking the recent promotions of three women to admiral, Hegseth dismissed Adm. Lisa Franchetti shortly after assuming office. Franchetti served as the service’s top officer and was the first woman in that role. He offered no explanation for her removal.

Subsequently, he has also terminated two other female three-star admirals without providing reasons.

Officers interviewed by the AP said that while they continue encouraging female sailors to remain with the Navy, they recognize this message comes during challenging circumstances.

Kuzminski explained that rhetoric and actions concerning women in military service “affects individual service member decision-making and it also affects family unit decision-making,” including whether people pursue military careers.

Following the extended hold on military promotions by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., during the Biden administration, surveys indicated that partisan politics entering troops’ daily lives influenced their decision-making, Kuzminski noted.

One officer indicated this impact extends beyond women alone.

In discussions with fellow sailors in her unit, she reported that male service members expressed reluctance to navigate what appears to be increasing politicization of simply executing orders from previous administrations.

WASHINGTON, June 6 – Donald Trump is encountering growing pushback from within his own political party as Republican members of Congress, who have historically been hesitant to oppose him, are demonstrating increased readiness to challenge the U.S. president.

In recent days, various groups of Republicans across both chambers of Congress have emerged to criticize his Iran policies, deny $1 billion in funding connected to his White House ballroom, compel a reversal on his $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, and prevent his domestic surveillance legislation from advancing.

Congressional representatives also went against Trump’s wishes Thursday by approving legislation to deliver assistance to Ukraine while implementing additional sanctions on Russia, though the president appears likely to veto this measure.

While both Republicans and Democrats remain doubtful that Trump confronts a genuine uprising, an expanding group of Republicans is demonstrating readiness to oppose him, including individuals Trump has personally worked to remove from office, potentially threatening his most significant policy goals leading up to Election Day.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who declared his retirement from the Senate last year following his opposition to the president’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, explained the shift: “I think what you’re seeing as you get closer to the election is that people are going to vote the way they think their constituents want them to.”

Democrats mostly rejected this notion, arguing there has been no proof that the party broadly will stand against him on significant matters.

Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat who occasionally backs Trump-supported initiatives, stated: “The people that are breaking with him are ones that were put out by Trump. That actually demonstrates his absolute control over the party.”

A White House official, speaking anonymously, attributed Republican opposition to “election-year politics.” The official noted: “Not every single member will absorb the political cost on every single issue.”

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded: “While the media and Democrats attempt to sow nonexistent divisions, we look forward to continuing this close relationship to continue fulfilling President Trump’s agenda.”

For years, Republican legislators have demonstrated public loyalty to Trump through supporting controversial cabinet nominees, offering minimal resistance to his executive actions, and backing his key legislation despite concerns about increasing deficits and reductions to the Medicaid healthcare program for low-income Americans.

Legislative members and staff indicate that frustration and bitterness have intensified since Trump challenged the reelection campaigns of Republican Senators Bill Cassidy and John Cornyn and jeopardized the Republican legislative agenda through poorly timed public statements.

The turning point occurred around the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, when Trump’s opposition to Cornyn’s reelection and his announcement of the “anti-weaponization” fund compelled Senate Republicans to drop a $70 billion immigration enforcement funding measure and depart Washington feeling angry and frustrated.

“That was kind of like a perfect storm of events,” commented a Senate Republican aide.

The Senate eventually approved the immigration enforcement funding measure on Friday, with Republicans rejecting a Democratic proposal to eliminate the fund, despite concerns it might finance January 6 Capitol rioters and other Trump political supporters.

Trump appears committed to nominating loyalist Bill Pulte to succeed Tulsi Gabbard as temporary Director of National Intelligence, despite reservations from important Republicans.

Senator Mitch McConnell clearly stated he would not support Pulte for permanent DNI, explaining that the law demands nominees with substantial experience. In a statement, he declared: “No nominee who falls short of this requirement will earn my vote.”

Republican resistance in both chambers has remained largely symbolic thus far.

Three electorally at-risk Senate Republicans – Susan Collins, Jon Husted and Dan Sullivan – participated in a Democratic effort Thursday to eliminate Trump’s “anti-weaponization” fund through a measure that failed, alongside two additional Republican attempts to terminate the fund.

Republican Senator Jim Banks, a Trump supporter, said during the voting: “This whole exercise is to pass President Trump’s top agenda item to secure the border, fund ICE. What’s happening on the floor right now shows the solidarity that we have with the president.”

Trump’s upcoming major test will likely involve his anticipated nomination of former attorney Todd Blance as permanent U.S. attorney general, a decision that may encounter significant Senate opposition. The initial review would occur in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which includes Trump retribution target Cornyn, who indicated his support would depend on Blanche’s responses to specific questions.

Cornyn told reporters: “The attorney general is not the president’s private lawyer. I want to make sure he understands the difference and is committed to making sure that the law is enforced.”

President Donald Trump has granted a complete pardon to Stephen Buyer, a former Indiana Republican congressman who completed nearly two years in federal prison for conducting illegal stock transactions using confidential information after leaving Congress.

Buyer received a 22-month prison sentence in 2023 for trades he executed while working in consulting and lobbying roles. The court also required him to surrender more than $350,000 in unlawful profits and pay a $10,000 penalty. He was released from custody in 2025.

When issuing the “full, complete, and unconditional pardon,” Trump highlighted Buyer’s military service as a judge advocate general in the Army and his congressional career as “distinguished and highly productive.” The White House released the pardon, which bears Thursday’s date, on Friday evening.

Buyer stated the pardon “corrects a politically motivated prosecution” and described his experience as “horrific to be imprisoned for a crime that I did not commit.” He continues to assert his innocence.

On May 31, Trump used his Truth Social platform to post two letters advocating for Buyer’s presidential pardon. Buyer, an attorney and Gulf War veteran, concluded his congressional service in 2011. He participated as a House prosecutor during Democratic President Bill Clinton’s 1998 impeachment proceedings and joined Trump’s 2016 transition team working on veterans’ affairs.

More than 40 former Republican Congress members signed a letter claiming Buyer was “targeted by the deep state” due to his role in Clinton’s impeachment trial.

“Like you, Mr. President, Steve has been the victim of lawfare conducted by the Biden Administration,” they stated in their April 2025 correspondence.

Five sitting House Republicans authored a separate letter arguing that pardoning Buyer would deliver justice in his case. The June 2025 letter bore signatures from Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Ken Calvert of California, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, Jack Bergman of Michigan and Pete Sessions of Texas.

The 67-year-old Buyer faced conviction for insider trading connected to the $26.5 billion T-Mobile and Sprint merger announced in April 2018, plus illegal transactions involving management consulting firm Navigant when his client Guidehouse planned to acquire it in a deal revealed publicly weeks afterward.

The Constitution provides presidents with extensive authority to issue pardons for federal offenses. While pardons don’t eliminate a person’s criminal history, they can represent acts of compassion or justice.

President Trump made a trip to Wisconsin with the goal of convincing agricultural producers that his policies are benefiting their industry, even as they face challenges from elevated fuel costs and additional obstacles resulting from conflict in Iran.