While the Trump Administration is investigating an Air Force major for “undermin[ing] the [military’s] nonpartisan nature” after he attended an anti-Trump event at the U.S. Capitol, Pete Hegseth was in Iowa fundraising for Congressman Zach Nunn, an Air Force Reserve colonel.

Despite voting by mail himself, Trump asked the Supreme Court to validate his executive order which would limit mail-in voting.

Tina Peters, the former Colorado county clerk convicted of election tampering in 2020, was offered an elections position by a conservative county in California.

Harriet Hageman, the congresswoman known for unseating Liz Cheney, is now positioned to become a U.S. Senator for Wyoming.

A former aide to Anthony Fauci pled guilty to intentionally withholding coronavirus information. The case is based on evidence that Rand Paul shared with the DOJ.

A polling firm retracted two widely-covered polls in Wisconsin and California, saying they were fake and a “social experiment” to see how political information can spread.

The Trump Administration resumed its botched repair of the Reflecting Pool. The work has now gone on for five months. It is also now calling the ballroom project a “military complex” where construction is too far along to stop, and moving forward with painting the Eisenhower Building.

Economy

Steve Rattner details how none of Trump’s economic promises have come true.

The recent earthquake in Colombia caused nearly $10 billion in economic damage. 280 people are confirmed dead so far, nearly 150 are still missing, and 4,000 were injured.

International

The DOJ charged 17 individuals connected to Iran with hacking U.S. agencies, companies, and universities.

The U.S. isn’t negotiating with Iran, Israel bombed a Syrian military base that was going to be used by Turkey, and Iran launched more missiles at the United Arab Emirates.

Syria allowed the U.N. to inspect nuclear material that Bashar al-Assad developed with North Korea’s help. It was bombed by Israel in 2007.

Trump reduced military partnerships with South Korea and wants to meet with Kim Jong Un this fall.

Taiwan armed its coast guard as a way to increase its defense against anticipated Chinese threats, and Taiwanese citizens are preparing for an invasion.

Germany arrested a second Ukrainian who they say was part of the 2022 operation to destroy natural gas pipelines from Russia to Germany for European energy needs.

A center-left political party in Sweden is expected to gain control of its government from a far-right party.

Iceland is voting on whether to consider joining the EU, and Switzerland is voting on whether to strengthen its position on neutrality during global conflicts.

The Trump Administration is deporting 1,200 U.S. migrants to Liberia.

Minnesota

Amy Klobuchar released her first ad, mentioning her priorities of reducing healthcare costs, housing affordability, and auditing the state government.

Lisa Demuth highlighted her ideas for reducing state government fraud: increased oversight and technology investments, greater penalties, preventing government benefits from going overseas, and recovering stolen funds.

Mike Lindell is challenging the governor primary election results, asking for a hand recount and filing a petition to the state Supreme Court over alleged voting issues.

Several counties in Northwest Minnesota are considered “legal deserts” and in some cases struggle to have county attorneys.

Global Minnesota hosts its Global Business Outlook event on November 17.

Trump’s approval rating tanked to just 33 percent, a new low for him that’s among the lowest ratings in history.

The person who admitted to wanting to kill Scott Bessent last year at the U.S. Capitol got six years in prison.

Usha Vance is profiled in Vanity Fair by Kate Andersen Brower, who wonders how the Second Lady balances her personal views, her husband’s ambitions, and the Trump Administration’s policies.

Deb Haaland, the former congresswoman and Interior Secretary under Joe Biden who is running for New Mexico Governor, recently had a profile in Vogue.

The RNC chairman’s wife won a U.S. House primary in Florida.

Economy

World Liberty Financial, the crypto company owned by the Trump and Witkoff families, is doing business with Chinese AI models that the U.S. government says are national security and intellectual property threats.

Disney is suing the FCC for threatening to revoke ABC’s licensing because Trump dislikes the network’s shows.

Andreesen Horowitz is under a DOJ investigation for having partners sit on the boards of competing AI companies.

U.S. national debt is rising faster than expected.

International

Russia threatened Britain after Ukraine used British drones in attacks. It also accused the U.S. of providing intelligence to help Ukraine with strikes, is facing speculations over explosions at Italian and Bulgarian munitions plants which supply Ukraine, and wants to create a new world order with North Korea.

A Ukrainian nuclear power plant controlled by Russia was almost hit by a drone.

Russian sentenced an anti-war politician to 11 years in jail for his views. A Russian state bank economist was also fired for saying Russia won’t win its war with Ukraine and that its economy is trailing the U.S. and China. He seems to be right, as Russians are increasingly and rapidly pulling their money out of banks.

A Chinese company copied U.S.-funded technology and designs to build and sell effective robots.

Trump is allowing future Navy ships to be built aboard, creating a new national security threat.

Jared Kushner’s father is Trump’s ambassador to France, where he focuses on advocating for Israel. Kushner was notoriously imprisoned after he hired a prostitute to entrap his brother-in-law for informing authorities that Kushner was evading taxes. Trump pardoned him.

The WHO thinks the Ebola outbreak in Africa could be controlled within three months. Nearly 2,500 people have died.

Hungary has filed a criminal complaint over $13 million in government funds spent on social media content for Viktor Orban, the country’s corrupt former prime minister.

Minnesota

The state sued Texas governor Greg Abbott for refusing to transfer an ICE agent who has been charged by Minnesota officials with shooting a man in Minneapolis and lying about it.

Karen Tolkkinen assesses how Michele Tafoya would support different size farms as a U.S. Senator and encourages those opposed to “Big Ag” to vote for Peggy Flanagan.

The Star Tribune hosts its annual North Star Summit on September 21-23. Speakers include Ro Khanna, John Phelan, Rebecca Cunningham, Rob Vischer, Kathleen Hennessey, and Marc Lacey.

Michelle Fischbach is doing a roundtable meeting with Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber members.

Ed Bastian is speaking at the Economic Club of Minnesota.

Culture

American Pope by Daniel Burke and Scott Detrow comes out from Macmillan on October 6.

A book on Zohran Mamdani set to be published in October has been canceled over allegations of plagiarism by the author.

The Social Reckoning by Sony Pictures premieres in theatres on October 9. Written and directed by legend Aaron Sorkin from, of course, The West Wing, The American President, Steve Jobs, and Charlie Wilson’s War. Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed by Jeremy Strong from Succession and The Big Short. Jeremy Allen White plays Jeff Horwitz, a real-life Wall Street Journal reporter who wrote a series of investigative reports on Facebook. Billy Magnussen, who was in No Time to Die as a CIA operative, plays an advisor to Zuckerberg. Peter Rice, one of the film’s producers, previously worked on Civil War, Romeo + Juliet, and Sideways.

A Chinese man, whose business went bankrupt in Britain and who was later living in the United Arab Emirates, made a $100 million investment in World Liberty Financial, the crypto company started by the Trump and Witkoff families. Where he got the money, most of which was pocketed by members of the two families, is unknown.

Pete Hegseth campaigned in Iowa for Zach Nunn, raising questions that the visit is also to help position Hegseth for a presidential run in 2028.

A Trump voter shares the story of his wife being detained by ICE, despite being in the country legally with a pending immigration case.

The White House said a CNN reporter’s children should be embarrassed about her questioning Trump in the Oval Office.

The DOJ is planning to send 1,000 poll watchers to targeted voting locations this November.

Colorado is suing the Trump Administration for blocking funds to the state after it convicted a county clerk of tampering with voting machines in 2020.

The Supreme Court denied a request from Trump to reconsider a $5 million judgement against him for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll.

Economy

As a sign of how the middle class is financially strapped, people are increasingly using pay-later loans for their mortgages, rent, and utilities.

Consumers spent less at retail stores in July and preliminary data indicates that sentiment will be down this month.

The costs of typical back-to-school supplies are up nearly 8 percent from last year.

Tyson Foods is closing three more beef processing plants in the U.S. due to low cattle supplies.

The Trump Administration delayed a rule which would have helped with faster identification of the cyclospora source. The administration continues to be slow to respond to the outbreak, just now sending FDA investigators to the Mexican plant believed to be where the issue originated.

The company which retrofitted the Qatari-donated jet into Air Force One fired its CEO for misconduct.

Mexico is investing in a 190-mile railroad from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean which they hope will be another option for global shipments.

International

Russia was plotting to assassinate a U.S. citizen in Poland.

With the latest U.S.-Iran ceasefire ending, Israel again is stoking the Mideast conflicts by striking Lebanon and killing 11 people including children.

Trump said he would bomb Oman if it interferes with the his and Israel’s war against Iran.

Attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz continue.

Some UK naval drones were found to be transmitting their location and operational status to China.

Last month a U.S. naval ship lost power for four days while it was deployed near China.

Sweden is positioning itself for nuclear defense amid worries over Russian threats.

The new British prime minister exchanged text messages with someone pretending to be Susie Wiles.

Canadian citizens gathered enough signatures to force their parliament to debate removal of the U.S. ambassador.

Minnesota

A judge denied the Trump Administration from getting voter registration lists.

A Liberian government official has received $36 million in government funding to operate 24 group homes in the Twin Cities.

James O’Keefe pretended to be a state resident and register voters at Minneapolis voting locations during the primary election, in an attempt to criticize state law allowing same-day registration where registered voters can vouch for others who want to vote.

His economic messaging is right on:

[P]eople are struggling. They’re struggling because the cost of groceries is too high. The cost of gas is too high. It’s too hard to see a doctor, and when you do, the cost of that is too high as well. They’re not asking for a lot. They just want to go to work, make a good living, be able to raise their kids, buy a home before they’re 40, take their family on the same vacation they went on as kids. And, right now, they’re seeing a system that doesn’t work for them. People just want to see results, want to believe that life can get better.

I think that there is a role for government to bring down prices in health care, and they can do so quickly. We also need more transparency.

Beshear also accurately calls out the corruptness and ineffectiveness of the Trump Administration:

We cannot allow Donald Trump’s presidency to be normalized, for people to think that’s the way that it’s supposed to be. And whatever my role is moving forward, I just want to make sure that we can bring this country back together and then get results for the American people.

Beshear has been in the headlines lately for questioning Mitch McConnell’s health status and asking the U.S. Senator to appear and speak publicly. McConnell and his team continue to avoid requests like this:

I have heard absolutely nothing back from Mitch McConnell. His boss are the people of Kentucky. And this is why the Senate, the Republican-controlled Senate, feels so broken. They feel like they’re not accountable to anyone.

All he needs to do is call into this show for two minutes or…do a video for two minutes to the people he’s supposed to serve. But you know what? He absolutely refuses to do it.

He also agrees with several Democratic government reforms that may not play well among independent and conservative-leaning voters:

[The government] should create term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court. No more gaming those appointments. It should also overturn Citizens United, and I think call for direct elections of the president and the vice president. That could actually make things work, a big idea that would, yes, change government, but in a way enshrined in the constitution where people would know it’s going to get better.

Beshear hasn’t yet made a final decision on running for president, saying he’s currently focused on electing Democratic governors this election cycle.

Other national media coverage for Beshear includes interviews with Meet the Press and Morning Edition, and the September 2025 cover story for Vogue. He also has his own successful podcast.

Dick Cheney’s cardiologist assesses the available information on Trump’s health and concludes that he’s probably not doing well.

There is worry that prediction markets may influence or manipulate political elections.

Mary Peltola wants Kamala Harris to stay out of her Senate race.

UFC lost $30 million on the fight night at the White House in June.

The new season of Lioness from Taylor Sheridan premiered on Paramount+. New episodes come out every Sunday through September 20.

Economy

In a notable interview with Joe Kernen and Becky Quick, a clueless Scott Bessent says the economy is doing better because hourly-wage workers are earning 2.0-5.5 percent more per hour, and that the K-shape economy — a widening gap between rich and poor — is over.

Two people died from cyclosporiasis in Michigan, where cases of infection are nearing 11,500 people.

U.S. manufacturing activity is at its strongest pace since 2022, despite ongoing supply chain and consumer challenges.

Trump is criticizing oil companies for high gas prices, though his misguided war with Iran is at fault.

Amazon reached a valuation of $3 trillion.

International

Mideast experts say Iran sees the U.S. as weak each time Trump backs off on attacks.

Senators asked to visit the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln after reports of various malfunctions and sailor mental health issues. The aircraft carrier has been at sea for so long because a U.S. base in Bahrain was destroyed early in the Iran war.

Denmark is expanding its military presence in the Arctic.

An Australian tungsten mine that first opened before World War I, and has only operated during times of war, has reopened.

Minnesota

A record 1.1 million people voted in the recent primary election.

Peggy Flanagan says she is “running to make sure people can afford the lives they want to live.”

The governor’s race may be close, with Lisa Demuth being the biggest challenger Amy Klobuchar has faced.

If Klobuchar resigns or gets elected, who would get appointed to her U.S. Senate seat?

American Action Network is running ads in support of Brad Finstad.

Control of the state legislature will come down to races in Clay County, the Iron Range, St. Cloud, St. Peter, Rogers, Farmington, and Rochester.

Autism centers have faced allegations of fraud and been scrutinized for the public funding they receive. Turns out some of their owners are also involved in prostitution and sex trafficking.

Recent polls indicate Trump’s approval rating is in the low 30’s.

After months of ludicrously blaming others, the Trump Administration admitted in a court filing that its own $15 million renovation of the Reflecting Pool was at fault, which was always apparent.

The Trump Administration subpoenaed a freelance journalist over a 2025 New York Times story he co-wrote about a covert, failed mission in 2019 to place a listening device in North Korea. The journalist has also written books about the Trump family and U.S. government.

Capital One stopped doing business with the Trump Organization in 2021 because it’s anti-money laundering team identified suspicious transactions by the business, according to a filing by the bank in its lawsuit with the Trump family.

After the election of Zohran Mamdani and a few strong primary challengers across the country, the Democratic Socialists of America contemplate if they can run a presidential candidate.

U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno said his ex-son-in-law, Congressman Max Miller, who is seeking re-election, should not serve in Congress following ongoing allegations of abuse by Miller upon his ex-wife and their daughter.

Hunter Biden blames his father’s cancer for the bad debate performance in June 2024.

Conservative governors are calling the Council on American Islamic Relations a terrorist organization.

Economy

Consumer sentiment increased slightly from June to July.

Tax refunds helped citizens afford higher costs in the beginning of the year, but with that extra money spent, they’ll have to start dipping into savings or cutting back on spending.

In his latest state-capitalist move, Trump committed the U.S. to a 10 percent stake in a privately-owned mining company, which will seek critical minerals in Alaska with the Administration’s blessing.

Microsoft saw a record one-day gain in market value of $450 billion, with investors signaling they like the company’s focus and strategy on AI.

The drought in Europe is forcing Hungary to shutoff its nuclear power plant that provides 40 percent of the country’s electricity.

High food prices have become a political issue in Japan.

International

Venezuelans legally pursuing work and immigration in the U.S. were deported back to their home country by the Trump Administration, and are now assumed dead after being held by Venezuela in a building which collapsed in the recent earthquakes.

The head of U.S European Command, which oversees U.S. military actions in the Mideast, says he doesn’t have enough resources to defend Israel, serve any NATO needs, and protect the U.S. all at the same time.

U.S. AI models are being used by China to develop its defense systems.

The Philippines and Taiwan raised concerns after China’s military patrolled waters near their borders.

The Trump Administration is considering blocking France’s new ambassador to the U.S. after France criticized human rights positions taken by the U.S. at the UN.

Brazil is delaying approval of Trump’s ambassador nomination after not getting consulted on the pick, a Florida ally of Marco Rubio.

North Korea threatens military action over an increased presence by the U.S. in Japan.

The former vice president of Costa Rica so far seems to have the most support to be the next leader of the UN.

Minnesota

Michigan, South Dakota, and at least four other states have joined Minnesota in experiencing cyberattacks on community water systems, believed to be initiated by Iran.

The state Supreme Court is considering whether a city can decide to use paper voting ballots or if it must use electronic voting methods provided by the city’s county.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and political candidates will be participating in forums at Farmfest this week.

Elon Musk is planning to spend up to $120 million in U.S. Senate and House races in Alaska, Iowa, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.

Trump is blurring the lines between policy, politics, legal settlements, and fundraising for his pet projects, future library, and political operations.

Nearly all the states mentioned in a White House report on election interference by China say the federal government never notified them of such attacks, calling into question the claims made by Trump in a recent address to the nation.

U.S. Senate Republicans are pushing back against Todd Blanche’s confirmation as Attorney General because he won’t agree to pull back the unprecedented deal Trump got with the IRS.

In a rebuke to Trump, South Carolina conservatives are not sold on his support of Darlene Graham to succeed her brother, Lindsey Graham, in the U.S. Senate.

A judge ruled that New Jersey does not have to provide its voter registrations to the Trump Administration.

Embattled, Trump-aligned congressman Max Miller received a new restraining order by his ex-wife, the daughter of U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, after Miller allegedly attacked her attorney.

Pope Leo may visit the United States within the next couple years.

Economy

The Wall Street Journal editorial board calls the economy under Trump “tepid.”

The European economy is outperforming the United States.

Mortgage rates reached a new high mark for the year.

California wineries are shutting down as drinking trends shift.

International

Trump and Israel’s misguided Iranian war has now expanded to Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen, and beyond the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have also been hit by Iran. Saudi Arabia has gone so far as to organize a new military coalition with 14 other countries.

While Trump claims that troops support the war’s mission, a new poll indicates that 80 percent of military families are experiencing elevated stress due to the war.

A Russian missile, launched at Ukraine, went into Poland and crashed.

Wildfires in France have forced its defense contractors to slow operations.

The Ebola outbreak in Congo has become the fastest spreading case of the disease and the second deadliest.

A major European diamond dealer gave Trump a diamond and gold ring. The Trump Administration later said diamonds were exempt from its latest round of tariffs.

Minnesota

Iran is believed to behind the recent water system cyberattacks across the state, as the country widens its response to Trump and Israel’s war, but Trump blames “grossly incompetent” Minnesota.

A man who threatened Peggy Flanagan online was sentenced to two years probation.

Angie Craig isn’t endorsing one of the three Democrats running to succeed her in the U.S. House.

Royce White is challenging protective orders preventing him from seeing his son and ex-wife.

Civic leaders are wondering if youth voter turnout will increase during the upcoming primary.

The Trump Administration is investigating the planned use of transgender dolls, developed by the U of M, in school activities and lessons with young children.

Michael Che of Weekend Update is doing comedy shows at First Avenue for a TV special.

Andy Beshear is again requesting that Mitch McConnell appear and speak to his ongoing health condition.

Ross Douthat and Sebastian Junger are among the journalists joining 60 Minutes, after Bari Weiss and Nick Bilton gutted the show.

Polling indicates that Max Miller is vulnerable in his re-election to a U.S. House seat in Ohio. Miller is a former Trump staffer who is accused of assaulting his daughter and ex-wife, who herself is the daughter of U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio.

Ken Martin is paranoid and under ongoing pressure at the DNC over budget and fundraising issues.

The U.S. Senate primary on August 4 in Michigan pits a progressive Muslim against a moderate congresswoman.

Trump and the DOJ requested the Supreme Court overturn an $83.3 million judgment against him for criticizing E. Jean Carroll during her sexual assault case against Trump. The Court previously rejected his request to overturn a separate $5 million payment he had to make to Carroll.

Economy

Boeing continues to operate at a loss, in part due to additional costs for manufacturing the new Air Force One planes due in 2028.

International

A Guatemalan couple deported by the Trump Administration for being in the U.S., after fleeing violence in their home country, were found murdered in Guatemala with their year-old child alive by their bodies.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia attacked militants in Iraq believed to be aligned with Iran.

China is providing Iran with air-defense missiles.

North Korea is working to expand its intelligence operations.

Minnesota

Tim Walz’s wife, Gwen, endorsed Angie Craig in the U.S. Senate primary. Walz and Peggy Flanagan have been rumored to be on bad terms since the 2024 presidential race.

The Trump Administration delayed $10 million in wildfire funds to Minnesota which would have helped prevent the fires currently burning.

The St. Paul police chief who filed a sexual harassment complaint against the city’s mayor is represented by Chris Madel, the attorney know for being aligned with conservative causes. Madel was briefly running for governor as a Republican and previously represented Alpha News, Ryan Londregan, and the Minnesota Police & Peace Officers Association.

A cyberattack disrupted city water systems across the state.

At the beginning of his first term in 2017, Trump’s businesses generated revenue of $594 million. In 2025, the beginning of his second term, they generated $2.24 billion, as Trump and his family ignore conflicts of interest between their businesses and his public position.

Democrat attorneys general and secretaries Of state have been meeting and preparing for possible election interference and intimidation by the Trump Administration.

Trump supported Lindsey Graham’s sister to succeed him in part because appointing Russell Fry to the U.S. Senate position would create one less Republican vote in the U.S. House.

Trump has cut the amount of national intelligence staff in half since the start of his second administration.

Conservatives opposed to JD Vance have started attacking him, as he’s believed to be a frontrunner in 2028.

The U.S. Transportation Department is believed to be renaming Penn Station in New York City after Trump.

Economy

In court documents, the Trump Administration admitted to intentionally canceling energy grants to parts of the country who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 and are represented by Democrats.

Businesses continue to sue the Trump Administration for its ongoing tariff schemes.

Over the next two years, the United Arab Emirates is planning to construct new shipping ports on its east coast off the Indian Ocean, helping to increase Mideast trade without going through the Strait of Hormuz.

International

Next week Trump is holding separate meetings with Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Benjamin Netanyahu. In September he’s holding a state visit for Xi Jinping.

While Trump alleges election interference by foreign adversaries in the U.S., he tried sending two State Department officials to Brazil to sow doubt in their elections and support the far-right presidential candidate.

Iran threatened to attack Britain and any other country who supports the U.S. and Israel war against them.

The new, harder-line Iranian leader is more interested in having a nuclear weapon than his father, who was killed at the beginning the war. This raises questions about Trump and Israel’s decision to start the war, which they claim was to stop Iran from having the weapon. Since the war began, it’s believed that Iran has recovered and relocated some of its nuclear components.

Comments by the wife of a U.S. soldier killed in the Iran war seem to contradict a statement by Trump that this soldier and three others recently killed had all expressed support for the war and its alleged mission to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. The Trump Administration is also fudging casualty data so it appears that less troops have died in the war.

Ebola continues to spread in Africa, with over 3,000 confirmed cases and nearly 1,500 deaths.

Trump is considering military action in Mali, where an al-Qaeda group has been terrorizing the African region.

Minnesota

Republican-endorsed candidates for governor and U.S. Senate face strong challengers who have better name recognition and more campaign funds, calling into question the benefit of the Minnesota Republican Party and its endorsement process.

This is backed up by new polling from KSTP and SurveyUSA which shows the endorsed Republicans trailing behind the other candidates:

• Republican governor primary

  • Mike Lindell — 35%

  • Lisa Demuth — 26%

  • Kendall Qualls (GOP-endorsed) —11%

  • Another Republican — 5%

  • Undecided — 22%

• Republican U.S. Senate primary

  • Michele Tafoya — 41%

  • Royce White — 10%

  • Tom Weiler — 7%

  • Adam Schwarze (GOP-endorsed) — 5%

  • Another Republican — 8%

  • Undecided — 28%

The other races included in the poll:

• Democrat U.S. Senate primary

  • Angie Craig — 40%

  • Peggy Flanagan — 40%

  • Another Democrat — 4%

  • Undecided — 16%

• Attorney General race

  • Keith Ellison (D) — 42%

  • Ron Schutz (R) — 38%

  • Undecided — 20%

Angie Craig and Peggy Flanagan are debating on MPR on Monday at 11:00 AM.

Bernie Sanders rallied with Peggy Flanagan at First Avenue.

Melissa Hortman’s father-in-law, a Republican, and other Hortman family members criticized Todd Blanche, Daniel Rosen, and the Trump Administration for not securing the death penalty for Vance Boelter.

MPR released a voting guide in advance of the primary where voters can see who’s running on their Democrat and Republican ballots.

New Jersey said 6,600 noncitizens were accidentally registered to vote in 2023 and 2024 due to a software error.

There will be funeral ceremonies for Lindsey Graham in the U.S. Capitol and Washington National Cathedral on July 28. His sister was appointed to complete his current term in the U.S. Senate and, with encouragement from Trump, she also recently announced she would run in the next election for a full term.

A modeling scout who recruited girls for Epstein was found dead at his Paris home.

The Boeing 747 donated by Qatar to serve as a new Air Force One — and to gain favor with Trump — is out of service for presumed security upgrades, after Trump was personally embarrassed for recently not being able to fly it out of Turkey.

Congressional Republicans continue to ignore their responsibility of providing oversight to the Iran war.

Economy

The average price of gas returned to $4.00 a gallon, as Trump resumed attacks on Iran and again created economic uncertainty for the world.

Over 1.5 million children have lost food support due to SNAP cuts.

Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, is selling stock trading firms early access to his posts for $100,000 a month.

Donald Trump, Jr.’s investment firm has grown to $3 billion and generates unprecedented returns of 200 percent by making investments aligned with his father’s policy decisions and connections.

During a test to see if they could partner together for a cyberattack, two OpenAI models broke out of the test, got themselves online, and hacked a digital library of other AI models to help them learn to pass the the test.

International

Trump has deployed more troops, medics, and aircraft to the Mideast as he contemplates options for Iran.

The Trump Administration is misleading the public on the Iranian war and withholding information on Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in the Middle East. The Iranian missile systems that Trump said were destroyed were used in to recently attack a U.S military base in Jordan which resulted in three American casualties.

Trump and Mideast allies are trying to keep Israel out of the latest attacks on Iran, to prevent the war from escalating further.

In a move that calls into question his reason for joining Israel in warring with Iran, Trump is planning to provide nuclear development technologies with Saudi Arabia.

Ukraine destroyed a Russian ship that was providing security near a home of Putin.

The long-standing authoritarian president of Nicaragua says the country will never have elections again.

Minnesota

The Trump Administration is withholding an additional $200 million in Medicaid funding from Minnesota for alleged fraud.

A lawsuit by the Trump Administration against Minnesota for preventing state and local law enforcement from cooperating with ICE was dismissed by a judge.

The request by Republican political donor Tony Lazzaro to have his sex trafficking sentence commuted by Trump was denied.

The relationship between the Trump Administration and Senate Republicans is “less than optimal,” as Trump puts legislative and nomination demands upon the Republicans without their input.

Senate Democrats failed for the ninth time to pass a resolution on congressional authorization for Trump’s war with Iran.

Gavin Newsom, a likely frontrunner for president in 2028, says the Trump Administration is investigating him related to tax matters and the corruption charges his chief of staff faced.

Several people were arrested for planning to attack the White House UFC event with drones and guns. The Trump Administration is using the threat to argue that the ballroom project should move forward.

Economy

Gas prices are just under $4 a gallon for the first time in three months. In total, Americans have spent $46 billion more on gas since Trump and Israel started their war with Iran.

Ice cream prices have risen 35% since 2019.

Economic challenges are piling up for small business owners, and farmers are expected to face high fertilizer prices through 2028.

The EU approved a trade deal with the U.S., maintaining the 15 percent tariff it has faced under Trump.

The Trump Administration has paid wind farm companies $2.5 billion to stop their developments and instead do natural gas and geothermal energy projects.

Pizza Hut was sold to a private equity firm.

International

Trump said the Russia-Ukraine war has “no impact” on America.

A Pentagon report on the U.S. bombing of an Iranian school on the first day of the war is being reviewed by Trump officials. Most of the 175 victims were children. Trump originally claimed it was Iran’s own missiles that accidentally hit the school.

The number of Ebola cases in Africa has surpassed 800, though the actual amount is hard to track and expected to be much higher.

Finland ended its ban on nuclear weapons, allowing its NATO partners to bring the weapons into the country if necessary.

A Russian warship fired upon a British civilian sailboat in the English Channel.

China is training the Russian military on using drones against Ukraine.

Mexico can now void election results if it’s believed there was foreign interference.

Despite talks of Mideast peace and lowering oil prices, it is expected to take up to a year for energy prices to normalize in Asia.

South Korea invited Pope Leo to visit Seoul in August 2027 when it hosts the World Youth Day conference for young Catholics.

A lawsuit was filed to stop the upcoming UFC fights at the White House.

Trump pardoned a Republican former congressman who was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for insider trading.

Rahm Emanuel made a third trip to New Hampshire as he considers running for president in 2028.

A judge ruled that Trump cannot hold back USDA nutrition funding to states for refusing to follow his agenda.

Economy

Despite limited supply due to the Iran war, Europe is stockpiling natural gas so it hopefully doesn’t face high costs and shortages this winter.

Truck drivers are driving slower to save on fuel costs.

International

Trump still says the Iran war will end quickly, but it has reached the 100-day mark with fighting continuing and no clear path to its end.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany in London to discuss and advocate for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

A Russian drone hit a Ukrainian nuclear fuel storage facility near Chernobyl.

Peace talks between Israel and Palestine are being hosted by Egypt, while Israel continues to attack Gaza, despite last fall’s ceasefire, and has killed nearly a thousand Palestinians, including recently a 7 month-old baby boy riding in a car with his parents.

Trump wants to buy the Chagos Islands, where the Diego Garcia military base is located, after Britain said it would cede its sovereignty.

Trump continues to ignore the real impacts of the Iran war and how it’s hurting people economically.

Trump says Bill Pulte may look into “rigged elections” when he becomes Acting National Intelligence Director later this month.

The Trump Administration is taking further steps to fire more federal workers who don’t align with Trump’s agenda.

The remaining correspondents at 60 Minutes are considering whether they should stay at the show or not, after Nick Bilton was hired as executive producer and Scott Pelley, Sharyn Alfonsi, and Cecilia Vega were fired.

Deb Haaland, a former congresswoman and Interior Secretary in the Biden Administration, won the Democratic nomination for New Mexico governor. She was one of the first female Native American members of Congress and would be the first female Native American governor.

The Obama Presidential Center opens soon in Chicago.

A museum in London has an exhibit of paintings by Winston Churchill.

Economy

Retailers are seeing more frugal and selective shoppers, as the economy drags along due to the Iran war. Increased fuel costs are the biggest impact for consumers.

Corporations expect the war’s economic impact to continue into 2027.

Unemployment claims are increasing but still stable.

New World screwworm was found in Texas, and the parasite is expected to impact the livestock industry and further increase beef prices.

International

The International Atomic Energy Agency says there has been little change to Iran’s nuclear program, despite Trump and Israel going to war to take it out.

A North and South American health organization is taking steps to prepare for further spread of Ebola.

The Trump Administration is providing Bolivia with funding to help deal with protests after the conservative government made budget cuts and has failed to deal with inflation.

The National Security Council director for Europe and Russia is departing the position.

Ukraine is progressing in its effort to join the European Union.

Putin said he hasn’t yet thought about running for president again in 2030, which the Russian constitution allows.

Ukraine attacked an electricity plant which maintains Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. It is within Ukraine’s borders, but has been controlled by Russia.

NATO jets intercepted Russian military planes near Eastern European airspace 11 times over the past week.

The U.S. struck another boat in the Pacific accused of drug trafficking.

Trump will not implement the $1.8 billion retribution fund for supporters, after congressional Republicans criticized it and a judge is again scrutinizing Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS.

Last year a Trump official presented a plan to remove voting machines in half the country for national security reasons. A Trump proposal that would require states to give the USPS names of voters who receive mail-in ballots is open for public comment.

Trump appointed a home-building company executive with no national security experience nor security clearance as Acting Director of National Intelligence, the position previously held by Tulsi Gabbard.

The Palm Beach airport recently renamed after Trump, and which he family will profit off of, received a $10 million FAA grant for upgrades, much more than bigger airports have received in similar grants.

A New Mexico commission issued subpoenas related to Jeffrey Epstein, who owned a ranch in the state.

A new book covers the history and political impact of heartland rock: Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, et al.

Economy

High food prices are expected through the summer.

Trump is lowering tariffs on agricultural equipment to help U.S. farmers who have been facing high costs. Though with the crop season already underway, it’s unknown if there will be an actual immediate benefit to farmers.

Bernie Sanders plans to introduce the American A.I. Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, writing, “Since A.I. is built on the collective knowledge of humanity, the wealth it generates must benefit humanity.”

A livestock parasite that would cause billions of dollars in economic damage to the U.S. was found 30 miles from the border in Mexico.

The Australian wheat crop is expected to drop by 25 percent due to weather and geopolitical issues.

The significant amount of taxes in the UK is straining its economy.

With several successful AI chip companies, the South Korean stock market became the sixth largest in the world.

Pizza Hut is going to be purchased by a private equity firm.

International

The Iran War has resumed, with Iran and the U.S. attacking each other, and Iran bombing U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

U.S. and Chinese military leaders met in Hawaii to discuss improved communications.

The U.S. is planning to tell NATO that it will remove more of its troops from Europe over the next six to 12 months.

Russian officials are telling Putin war costs are threatening the country’s finances.

Airport travel out of the hardest hit Ebola area in Congo is resuming.

A far-right political party in Australia is ahead in polls for the first time.

London’s mayor is blaming MAGA supporters and Russian propagandists for online posts attacking the politics and culture of the city.

The New Zealand prime minister says the country will remain nuclear-free, after its defense minister said they should consider nuclear-powered submarines like Australia.

The judge in Trump’s suit against the IRS has reopened the case to investigate misconduct, saying Trump and the DOJ had deceived and manipulated the court, making it a victim of fraud due to apparent collusion between Trump’s personal attorneys and Trump-appointed DOJ officials. The judge had originally closed the case because there was no settlement presented. Soon after, DOJ announced the Trump family would no longer be subject to IRS audits and that a $1.776 fund would be created to pay Trump supporters who were investigated by the government.

Trump’s selfish agenda and lack of focus on actual issues may hurt Republicans in the election.

Only one Republican on the U.S. House Oversight Committee attended a meeting where Pam Bondi took questions on handling of the Epstein case.

Tom Massie filed FEC paperwork to allow him to continue fundraising and run for office again in the future.

Gretchen Whitmer said she is not running for president in 2028.

Framers of the Constitution never envisioned Congress would be so deferential and aligned with a president and that political parties would become so influential.

Economy

Kevin Warsh, the new Federal Reserve chair appointed by Trump, wants to use a different measure of inflation which would be lower by not taking into account issues such as tariffs and geopolitical conflicts.

International

Mojtaba Khamenei says Iran will not relinquish the uranium it has been developing for potential use in nuclear weapons. Trump and Israel have said this is a necessity.

The U.S. has now killed over 200 people in boat strikes in the Pacific and Caribbean that the military says are drug traffickers, though no evidence has been shared and the attacks are illegal since the boats don’t provide an immediate threat.

The UN is facing a financial crisis, in part because the U.S. and China have not paid their dues.

Four U.S. airports are screening passengers from African countries for Ebola. Kenya temporarily stopped the U.S. from quarantining Americans with the disease in its country.

Last year wildfires across the world caused direct losses of $54 billion, the highest on record.

In a sham settlement and incredible abuse of power, Trump had the DOJ and IRS agree to never audit Trump family and business tax returns, and set up a nearly $2 billion fund to award Trump supporters who were investigated during Biden’s Administration.

Karl Rove writes, “Probably the hardest thing Team Trump needs to do is let Republican candidates create distance from the president.”

Trump says he doesn’t need current congressional approval for his arch in D.C. because a commission approved a similar, unbuilt project 100 years ago.

Trump called on Senate Republicans to fire their parliamentarian after she said his $1 billion ballroom project couldn’t be included in an immigration enforcement bill.

Susan Collins will be recording her 10,000th consecutive vote in the Senate.

A man received an $825,000 settlement after being jailed by a county sheriff for reposting a meme about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

The Supreme Court justices try to work through the political tensions facing the country.

Economy

The U.S. and EU are finalizing a trade deal effective through March 2028.

James & Kathryn Murdoch’s Lupa Systems bought New York magazine and Vox Media’s podcasts.

International

In recent phone conversations, Benjamin Netanyahu has encouraged Trump to keep warring with Iran.

Trump’s war with Iran and cuts to humanitarian aid are exacerbating famine in poor countries.

In some cases during the war, the U.S. has used $4 million missiles to take out $35,000 Iranian drones.

Iran said it would expand the war beyond the Mideast if it’s attacked by the U.S. again.

Syria may benefit as a transportation route if the Strait of Hormuz continues to be blocked. Syria’s president is a former al-Qaeda leader that was imprisoned by the U.S. for five years.

The Pentagon’s inspector general is investigating the U.S. attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean that Trump says are drug traffickers.

The U.S. is pushing Greenland for greater military presence, mineral rights, and to prevent adversaries from being present on the island.

Vladimir Putin met with Xi Jinping in Beijing.

A New York Times/Siena nationwide poll conducted last week gives us a sense as to how the votes may fall. The participants were 1,507 registered voters, with 35% identifying as Independent, 30% as Democratic, and 29% as Republican.

Voter Inclinations

50% of the respondents would vote for the Democratic candidate if the congressional election were held today, and 39% for the Republican candidate. 51% of Independents would vote Democratic versus 33% Republican.

50% of the participants are very dissatisfied with the Republican Party and 42% the Democratic Party. Independents are more dissatisfied with the Republican Party than the Democratic Party. 13% of Democrats and 36% of Republicans are very satisfied with their respective party.

49% of Independents consider themselves moderate. 45% of Republicans consider themselves very conservative.

Trump’s Leadership

57% of all respondents say the country is headed in the wrong direction. 65% of Independents have this view. 69% of Republicans say we’re on the right track.

49% strongly disapprove of the job Trump is doing. 54% of Independents agree. 59% of Republicans strongly approve.

Economy

49% of participants rate today’s economic conditions as poor. 51% of Independents hold this belief. 38% of Republicans say conditions are good.

50% strongly disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy. 55% of Independents agree. 39% of Republicans strongly approve.

56% strongly disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost of living. 61% of Independents have this belief. Only 29% of Republicans strongly approve.

44% of all respondents say Trump’s policies have hurt them personally.

Iran War

56% strongly disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Iran war. 63% of Independents believe this. 47% of Republicans strongly approve.

73% of Independents say going to war with Iran was the wrong decision and 62% of Independents don’t think the war is worth the costs.

72% of Independents believe presidents should not be able to use military force unless it’s approved by Congress.

Click here for The New York Times story on the poll and the complete results.

Printed volumes of the Epstein files are on display at a New York City gallery called The Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room. Members of Congress have been invited to view the exhibit, which is expected to also be displayed in other cities.

Trump encourages a primary challenger to Lauren Boebert after she campaigns for Tom Massie.

Trump is bypassing protocol and getting started with construction of his arch.

DHS is moving forward with its plans for immigration detention facilities across the country.

Larry Hogan is creating a leadership institute at Washington College to focus on depolarizing politics.

The America’s Presidents exhibit has reopened at the National Portrait Gallery.

Economy

China is buying $17 billion annually in U.S. agricultural products over the next three years.

High diesel prices are increasing the cost of food.

Global oil inventories are decreasing.

Chevron has been selling off oil and gas facilities throughout Asia.

International

Israel secretly operated two bases in Iraq for its attacks against Iran. The Trump Administration knew of the bases but didn’t tell Iraq nor ask Israel to leave. Israeli soldiers at the bases killed Iraqi civilians and soldiers who discovered them.

The Trump Administration canceled a troop deployment to Poland without notifying Congress.

Iran is suspected of launching a drone which caused a fire near a United Arab Emirates nuclear power plant.

The Boards of Trade and Investment that Trump set up with China involve the same officials who would already be working on these topics. The last time the U.S. had a similar entity was in the ‘80s with Japan, and it caused more harm for American consumers than good.

Australia’s richest person has invested $100 million in four major U.S. defense contractors.

Mercedes-Benz is prepared to move into defense manufacturing as global turmoil continues and European countries seek to strengthen their positions.

The Ebola outbreak in two African countries is considered an international health emergency, though not a pandemic. There is no cure for this strain of the virus. Six Americans were exposed and the government is trying to evacuate them.

Trump’s envoy for Greenland, which he still wants to acquire, is visiting the country. JD Vance and Don Trump Jr. have previously done trips there.

Trump says privately that he doesn’t care about the midterm election outcomes.

Trump is pushing for the DOJ to settle his lawsuit against the IRS over his leaked tax returns. Trump’s suit had requested $10 billion. The Obama-appointed judge for the case is reviewing the conflicts of interest, since the DOJ is under Trump’s control. Tax info for other wealthy individuals had also been leaked. In those cases, the DOJ said it’s not liable for the actions of the contractor who leaked the materials. These other cases were settled and did not include any payments.

Trump may agree to forgo a settlement for himself in the IRS case in exchange for a $1.7 billion fund which would award payments to his supporters who were investigated during the Biden Administration.

Trump wants states to use federal citizenship lists to verify voters. The DOJ admits the lists would be unreliable.

Republican-aligned super PACs are helping typically unelectable Democrats in primary races, in an effort to prevent better Democrat candidates from winning and challenging the Republican candidates.

By having the FCC investigate ABC and The View for their political coverage, Trump is breaking with traditional Republican views on media coverage.

Kash Patel is under further scrutiny for his abuse of government resources for personal interests, this time for scuba diving at the Pearl Harbor memorial which contains the remains of service members.

The county clerk in Colorado found guilty of tampering with election machines in an attempt to help Trump in 2020 had her sentence shortened by the state’s Democratic governor.

Economy

Trump says, “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation.”

Americans have spent $45 billion more for gas and diesel during Trump and Israel’s war with Iran compared to the same period a year ago. If gas prices stay this high through the year, Americans will pay $172 billion more than last year.

Trump brought several business executives with him to China, but failed to secure any specific deals or policies that will benefit the American economy.

Amazon is being sued for not seeking tariff refunds and passing them onto consumers who had paid higher prices for products due to Trump’s tariffs.

International

Russia is attacking Ukrainian facilities of American companies and Trump isn’t doing anything about it.

Congress has failed to provide any oversight to Trump and Israel’s war with Iran, and may have missed the opportunity.

The U.S. House will vote on funding for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

France is conducting a legal inquiry into Saudi Arabia’s killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Brad Finstad, who represents the Southern Minnesota district of MN-1, was included on the list. Finstad’s race was shifted from Safe Republican to Likely Republican, indicating that his vulnerability has slightly increased.

The Center for Politics explains:

Jake Johnson (D), a local high school teacher, did outraise Finstad in the first quarter of 2026. As we think about what a really big hypothetical Democratic wave might look like, we thought it made sense to highlight some places that typically haven’t been competitive lately but were in 2018, the last big Democratic year. MN-1 fits that mold even though it is very much a longshot Democratic target.

In February, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added MN-1 to the seats it’s targeting in this year’s midterm elections, with the hopes of gaining control of the U.S. House.

This congressional seat has gone back and forth between the two political parties depending on the country’s political winds. Gil Gutknecht (R) represented it for 12 years before Tim Walz (D), another high school teacher who came out of nowhere, won and held it for another 12 years before becoming governor. Jim Hagedorn (R), whose father represented the same area in the ‘70s and ‘80s, then secured the seat before dying in office in 2022. Finstad won the special election to complete Hagedorn’s term, beating former Hormel Foods CEO Jeff Ettinger, and has held it since then.

Democrats are clearly motivated in this race, with Johnson outraising Finstad by over $130,000 in the first quarter this year. In 2025, Johnson tracked Finstad pretty well in fundraising, with Finstad just raising $6,000 to $17,000 more per quarter, not counting the first quarter, before Johnson got into the race. That extra quarter of fundraising, plus the connections that come with an incumbency, help Finstad to have a current cash-on-hand advantage of $833,714 versus Johnson’s $571,155.

Click here to read the Center for Politics’ full write-up on Finstad’s race and others.