Adam Hamilton is running as a Democrat for the US Senate in Kansas, a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 1932. His campaign is gaining attention as the race becomes more competitive against Republican Senator Roger Marshall, despite Kansas being a traditionally Republican state.
Key Facts
Kansas has not elected a Democratic US senator since 1932.
Adam Hamilton won 35% of the vote in a recent Democratic primary with 11 candidates.
Hamilton’s campaign set a new fundraising record in Kansas for a quarter.
Major election forecasters say the Kansas Senate race is more competitive now but still favor Senator Roger Marshall.
Democrats need to win several seats in states carried by President Trump in 2022 to retake the Senate.
President Trump won Kansas by 16 points in the last election.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Hamilton could win if there is a large wave of Democratic victories nationwide.
Hamilton’s background as a church leader helps him communicate well with voters.
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Darline Graham and Ralph Norman will compete in a runoff election for the South Carolina Senate seat after Lindsey Graham’s death. Darline Graham, appointed to fill her brother Lindsey Graham’s term, is running for a full term with President Trump’s support, while Ralph Norman campaigns as a strong conservative.
Key Facts
Lindsey Graham’s unexpected death led to a special election in South Carolina.
Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham, Lindsey’s sister, to finish his Senate term.
Darline Graham decided to run for a full Senate term and won the top spot in the primary to reach the runoff.
Ralph Norman, a U.S. Representative known as very conservative, is Graham’s opponent in the runoff.
Graham is a political newcomer and career civil servant, previously leading the state’s commission for the blind.
President Donald Trump endorsed Darline Graham, stating he asked her to run.
Some opponents criticize Graham for her lack of legislative experience and comments about defense issues.
The runoff winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the November general election in a historically Republican state.
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A new memo from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel says private advisers to a president can use executive privilege to avoid subpoenaed questioning. This could make it harder for Congress or courts to get witnesses to testify about possible presidential wrongdoing.
Key Facts
Executive privilege lets presidents keep certain communications private.
The new memo says private advisers can also claim this privilege, extending presidential protection.
This change could block important witnesses from testifying in investigations.
In 2019, White House counsel Don McGahn refused to testify about President Trump’s actions, citing testimonial immunity based on executive privilege.
Courts often reject claims of executive privilege, as seen with Presidents Clinton and Nixon in past cases.
The memo’s approach is broader than previous ones and applies to private advisers, which is unusual.
Executive privilege has been claimed since the early days of the U.S., but courts usually limit its scope.
This policy change raises concerns about accountability and potential presidential corruption.
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South Carolina Republicans are holding a runoff election to choose who will replace Senator Lindsey Graham on the November ballot following his death. The candidates are Graham’s sister, Senator Darline Graham, and Representative Ralph Norman, with President Donald Trump backing Darline Graham.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham died suddenly in July.
Darline Graham was appointed to finish her brother’s term in the Senate.
Neither Darline Graham nor Ralph Norman won more than 50% in the Aug. 11 primary, leading to a runoff vote.
President Trump has endorsed Darline Graham and campaigned for her.
Darline Graham has no prior elected office experience and admitted limited knowledge on national security.
Ralph Norman, a U.S. House member since 2017, opposes Graham and is backed by former Governor Nikki Haley.
Darline Graham aims to continue her brother’s work but may take a more conservative approach.
South Carolina is a strongly Republican state with only one Democratic member in Congress.
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The South Carolina Senate runoff election is an important test for two wings of the Republican Party: supporters of the "America First" approach and the broader "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement. Although voters usually focus on local issues in primaries, this race is influenced by national politics and recent campaign events.
Key Facts
The runoff election is for a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina.
Republican primary voters are the main participants in this runoff.
The contest highlights a split within the Republican Party between the "America First" faction and the MAGA movement.
National political issues are playing a bigger role in this local election than usual.
A debate mistake by a candidate has added attention to the race.
The outcome could show how much influence each Republican faction has among voters in South Carolina.
The election takes place during a time when the United States' global position seems less stable.
This runoff is seen as a key event ahead of future national elections.
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The South Carolina Senate runoff election is seen as a major test of President Donald Trump’s influence in Republican politics. President Trump supports political newcomer Sen. Darline Graham, who aims to succeed her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham.
Key Facts
The Senate runoff election in South Carolina is scheduled for Tuesday.
President Donald Trump is actively supporting Sen. Darline Graham.
Darline Graham is new to politics and related to the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
The race is closely watched as a sign of President Trump’s power in the Republican Party.
The Republican Party is divided in this election between supporters of Darline Graham and other candidates.
This election will help show how much influence President Trump has over Republican voters.
The seat became open following the death of Senator Lindsey Graham.
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President Donald Trump plans to pause tariffs on some beef imports to help lower food prices in the U.S. At the same time, he is increasing tariffs on important goods from Canada. This has caused disagreements with Senate Republicans.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to pause tariffs on 300,000 tons of ground beef imports.
The pause aims to address American concerns about high food prices.
Tariffs on key Canadian goods are being increased.
This move is causing tension between President Trump and Senate Republicans.
Senators disagree with the mix of lowering tariffs on beef while raising them on Canadian products.
The beef tariff pause is for products outside the normal quota limits (out-of-quota tariffs).
The situation involves trade policies between the U.S. and Canada.
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The Trump administration is increasing economic pressure on Iran as part of its response to ongoing conflict. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new plans to target Iran’s financial networks ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
The U.S. has been involved in a conflict with Iran for six months.
There are less than three months left before the U.S. midterm elections.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is leading the new economic approach.
The plan focuses on targeting Iran’s financial connections.
This approach is called "Plan C" by the administration.
The goal is to create a strong economic impact on Iran.
The current strategy aims to go beyond earlier efforts against Iran.
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Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed spoke on Fox News with host Jesse Watters about key political issues like health care, the economy, and transgender athletes. El-Sayed emphasized voters’ economic concerns and rejected culture-war debates, saying medical decisions should be made by families and doctors, not politicians.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan for the 2026 midterms.
He appeared on Fox News in a tense interview with host Jesse Watters.
El-Sayed focused on everyday issues like health care costs, gas prices, and groceries.
Watters challenged El-Sayed several times on transgender women competing in women’s sports.
El-Sayed said sports decisions should be made by athletic authorities, not politicians.
He compared debates about gender-care for minors to circumcision, saying these decisions belong to families and doctors.
Watters asked about Sharia law bans in courts; El-Sayed responded that U.S. law is governed by the Constitution.
The interview highlighted the clash between focusing on economic issues versus culture-war topics in campaigns.
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President Trump launched a new campaign called Operation Economic Outcast to increase U.S. sanctions on Iran. The plan targets countries and companies that help Iran’s economy, especially focusing on China, but so far the impact has been gradual rather than sudden.
Key Facts
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the start of Operation Economic Outcast by blacklisting over 60 Iran-linked targets.
The U.S. is expanding secondary sanctions, which punish countries that do business with Iran.
The U.S. government gave warnings but did not name specific countries or deadlines publicly, preferring quiet diplomacy first.
China buys about 90% of Iran’s exported oil and is a key focus of the sanctions threat.
Secondary sanctions could force China to choose between Iran and access to U.S. banks and financial markets.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit the White House on September 24, which may affect the timing and severity of U.S. actions.
President Trump has shifted from threats of military action to using economic pressure against Iran before the U.S. midterm elections.
The success of the sanctions depends on whether the U.S. will enforce them fully against major players like China and Dubai.
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Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old American citizen and nurse, was shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. His family is seeking justice and accountability, questioning the official reasons given for his death after watching the shooting on live news.
Key Facts
Alex Pretti was killed by two federal immigration officers during "Operation Metro Surge," an immigration crackdown.
He was an ICU nurse working for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Eyewitness video shows Pretti holding a phone and trying to help a woman before officers wrestled him to the ground and shot him about ten times.
Pretti’s family learned about the shooting by watching live news footage.
Federal officials and Trump administration figures accused Pretti of violent intent, calling him a domestic terrorist and assassin.
The family disputes these claims and wants a full investigation and accountability.
The shooting happened shortly after another fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by ICE officers in Minneapolis.
President Donald Trump publicly described Pretti as an "agitator" and suggested he might be an "insurrectionist."
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A mother was taken to the hospital after being stabbed multiple times by a man while protecting her 10-year-old son in Melbourne’s city center. The attacker was arrested at the scene after bystanders held him down, and police believe the attack was random with no clear motive.
Key Facts
The attack happened on Spencer Street, near Melbourne West police station.
A 27-year-old man allegedly punched the boy, then stabbed the mother with scissors when she intervened.
The mother suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is now stable in hospital.
The 10-year-old son was also taken to hospital as a precaution; the mother’s other two children were unharmed.
Police arrived quickly due to the location being near the police station.
The attacker has a criminal history including family violence and assault charges in other states.
Police suspect the man might have been experiencing a mental health episode during the attack.
Bystanders acted heroically by restraining the attacker until police arrived.
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Federal Labor MP Luke Gosling has been charged with breaching his bail conditions less than a month after being charged with assaulting Northern Territory's administrator David Connolly. Gosling is set to appear in court again in September.
Key Facts
Luke Gosling was charged with two counts of assault for an alleged incident on July 18 at a cultural festival in Darwin.
He appeared in Darwin local court on July 31 and was released with strict bail conditions.
Police allege Gosling breached one of those bail conditions on August 14.
Bail conditions include staying at least 50 meters away from Connolly’s house and maintaining distance at events where both are present.
Gosling is the federal member for Solomon, elected in 2016, and serves as a special envoy for defence, veterans’ affairs, and northern Australia.
Assaulting an administrator during official duties can lead to up to 14 years in jail under Northern Territory law.
Opposition leaders have called for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to remove Gosling from his envoy role until the case is resolved.
Gosling denies the assault allegations and said he will continue working as MP for Darwin and Palmerston.
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President Donald Trump’s administration has promoted voluntary deals with health and food companies to improve public health, such as reducing artificial dyes in food. These agreements lack strict rules and clear oversight, making it difficult to see if the promised changes are actually happening.
Key Facts
Republican Rep. Tom Barrett and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted Trump administration health efforts in Michigan.
The administration focused on voluntary deals with companies to improve health outcomes instead of strict government rules.
Efforts include removing certain artificial dyes from foods and drugs.
Companies pledged to stop using some synthetic dyes by 2025, but deadlines were later extended to 2027.
Only about 30% of companies kept their promises to remove these dyes so far.
These deals are popular with voters but have vague details and limited monitoring.
Critics say the deals lack transparency, making it hard to judge their real impact.
The administration uses these deals as examples of health progress during election campaigns.
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Major Jason Watson, a U.S. Air Force officer, has been charged with military offenses after protesting for the impeachment of President Donald Trump. He was arrested twice and placed in pretrial confinement before facing several charges under military law.
Key Facts
Major Jason Watson is a U.S. Air Force officer.
He protested for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Watson was arrested twice, including an arrest on the U.S. Capitol steps in July.
He entered pretrial confinement on August 18.
Watson faces military charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Charges include three violations of Article 88 for disrespecting the president.
He also faces five violations of Article 92 for disobeying orders.
Additionally, there are two violations of Article 133 for conduct unbecoming an officer.
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The U.S. military identified 2nd Lieutenant Leah R. Borsich as one of eight people killed in a plane crash in a remote part of western Alaska. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of a chartered Cessna 441 near a U.S. Air Force radar station.
Key Facts
The crash happened near Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site, about 450 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska.
Eight people died in the crash, including two pilots and six passengers.
2nd Lieutenant Leah R. Borsich, age 23, was a project programmer with the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
The plane was chartered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and two of its employees were also killed.
The radar site is part of a network that detects potential threats like missiles approaching North America.
NTSB investigators visited the crash site and will release initial findings in about three weeks.
A full report on the crash cause is expected within two years.
Military leaders praised Borsich’s leadership and service to the nation.
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Alan Jones and Jason Morrison, radio hosts from 2GB, frequently called the Sydney Morning Herald and reporter Kate McClymont “pigs in the media,” according to text messages shown in court. Morrison is accused of changing his testimony about an alleged assault involving Jones to protect him, and Jones faces charges of indecent assault and sexual touching.
Key Facts
Alan Jones and Jason Morrison often insulted the Sydney Morning Herald and reporter Kate McClymont in messages.
Morrison sent a message in 2020 expressing relief that Jones was leaving the media company Nine Entertainment.
Morrison admitted to having a negative view of the Sydney Morning Herald and McClymont’s reporting.
Morrison is accused of editing his testimony about a lunch where Jones allegedly touched a complainant inappropriately.
The complainant said Jones put his hand under the table on the complainant’s leg or pants.
Morrison said he did not see or hear about inappropriate touching during the lunch.
Jones has pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of indecent assault and 2 counts of sexual touching involving six complainants.
The case began after media reports led alleged victims to come forward, triggering a police investigation called Strike Force Bonnefin.
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In Victoria, Australia, 121 Indigenous people died by suicide in the past five years, highlighting ongoing mental health challenges despite government recommendations focused on Aboriginal wellbeing and healing. Indigenous leaders say culturally appropriate healing centers have not yet been funded or established, and they call for more support tailored to their communities.
Key Facts
121 Indigenous Victorians have died by suicide in the last five years.
These deaths happened after a 2021 royal commission report on mental health, which recommended culturally focused solutions.
The Victorian government accepted all 65 recommendations from the report but has not fully implemented those related to Indigenous people.
Indigenous suicide rates are three times higher than the general population in Victoria.
The Victorian Aboriginal Health Organisation (VACCHO) asked twice to fund cultural healing centers costing $36.2 million over four years, but these centers are not yet funded.
Indigenous leaders say mainstream mental health services do not address the cultural trauma and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The state’s treaty process for Indigenous rights is linked to efforts to reduce suicide, but political parties differ on treaty laws and Indigenous representation structures.
The mental health minister supports treaty and Indigenous-led solutions, promising to advocate for healing center funding.
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A Sydney man named Mohommed Farhat was denied parole for a second time after vandalizing cars with anti-Israel graffiti and setting a vehicle on fire. A Supreme Court judge criticized the case, saying Farhat’s actions were wrongly seen as antisemitic and linked to terrorism, but the parole authority still refused his release, citing extremist beliefs.
Key Facts
Mohommed Farhat, 22, vandalized cars in Woollahra in November 2024 with anti-Israel graffiti and set a car on fire.
Farhat was initially scheduled for parole in December after serving 10 months in prison.
The New South Wales parole authority rejected his parole twice, citing concerns of extremist and antisemitic behavior.
Supreme Court Justice Desmond Fagan ruled Farhat’s actions were a “serious miscarriage of justice” and not terrorism-related.
Fagan said Farhat’s offenses were more about vandalism for payment, not hate or political extremism.
Justice Fagan criticized authorities for mislabeling the crime as antisemitic and for poor communication with specialist police.
The commissioner for corrective services intervened to revoke Farhat’s parole without consulting specialist counter-terrorism police.
The parole authority did not consider the Supreme Court judge’s ruling or evidence that Farhat showed no ideological motivation.
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A video shows an Amazon delivery driver hitting a 71-year-old man at a gas station in Elk Grove, California, after arguing over a parking spot. The driver turned himself in and faces charges related to elder abuse and battery.
Key Facts
The incident occurred on March 30 at around 3:15 p.m. at an ampm gas station in Elk Grove, near Highway 99.
The victim, 71 years old, had just parked when the driver, Terrence Wheeler, 30, wanted the same parking spot.
Wheeler, working as an Amazon delivery driver through a contractor, confronted and threatened the man inside the store.
Wheeler struck the man on the side of the head, knocking him down.
Police charged Wheeler with felony elder abuse, felony criminal threats, and misdemeanor battery.
Wheeler surrendered to police the same day and was booked into jail; his next court date is September 24.
The victim’s lawyers are suing Amazon and Wheeler, seeking $10 million in damages.
Amazon stated Wheeler was employed by an independent contractor, not directly by Amazon, and said the driver was released by the contractor after the event.
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