The Political Markup for July 31, 2026
Politics
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.