Florida is holding important Republican and Democratic primary elections, featuring high-profile races for governor, U.S. Senate, and the House of Representatives. The contests include unusual candidates and issues, reflecting the state's strong Republican lean and its significance as President Trump's home base.
Key Facts
Florida is a key state for the Republican Party and President Trump, especially after redistricting to add more GOP-friendly districts.
Registered Republicans exceed Democrats by about 1.5 million in Florida, marking a big shift since 2018.
Rep. Byron Donalds is the leading Republican candidate for governor and could become Florida’s first Black GOP nominee and possibly its first Black governor.
The Democratic governor’s race features former Rep. David Jolly, who switched parties and has picked a former Democratic congresswoman as his running mate.
In the Senate race, Democrat Alex Vindman, known for his role in Trump’s first impeachment, is seen as running a weak campaign and faces a strong primary challenge from state Rep. Angie Nixon.
Republican Senator Ashley Moody, appointed last year, faces little opposition and benefits from support tied to Byron Donalds’ campaign spending.
Florida’s 25th House District race shows a contest between a pro-Israel establishment Democrat and a more progressive, anti-Zionist candidate.
An event supporting progressive candidates faced venue cancellations due to accusations of antisemitism linked to a featured speaker critical of Israel.
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Bryan Kohberger, who is serving four life sentences for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, filed a petition to withdraw his guilty plea and request a trial. This move came shortly before a Netflix docuseries about the case was released, with the producer suggesting the timing was intentional.
Key Facts
Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to the stabbing deaths of four students in Idaho.
He filed a handwritten petition from prison asking to withdraw his plea, claiming his lawyers did not represent him properly.
Kohberger said his guilty plea was made under pressure and broken promises.
Prosecutors have not yet responded to his petition.
The Netflix docuseries about the murders was released on July 29, 2026, right after Kohberger’s petition.
Joe Berlinger, the docuseries producer, believes Kohberger’s petition was timed to gain attention after the trailer aired.
The show focuses on the victims, not Kohberger or his family.
The Idaho Attorney General’s office said they are prepared to ensure justice is done.
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Florida held its primary elections following a new congressional map drawn by Republicans this year. The redistricting may allow Republicans to win up to four more seats in November, affecting several Democratic incumbents. Meanwhile, Republican Byron Donalds leads the primary race for governor as the current governor, Ron DeSantis, reaches his term limit.
Key Facts
Florida's new congressional map was created by Republicans and could help them gain up to four seats in the U.S. House in November.
Most Democratic incumbents at risk of losing their seats are Reps. Darren Soto, Jared Moskowitz, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Kathy Castor.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running in a newly redrawn district with a majority-minority population, leading to some tensions within the Democratic Party.
Jared Moskowitz faces a strong primary challenge from a progressive candidate in a competitive district.
Kathy Castor has a favorable chance to keep her seat despite changes in her district.
Republican Rep. Cory Mills is under scrutiny for scandals but continues to have President Donald Trump's endorsement.
Two Florida Republicans, Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Haridopolos, endorsed Ryan Elijah against Mills in the primary.
Byron Donalds is the leading Republican candidate for Florida governor, supported by President Trump and a major GOP donor, as Governor Ron DeSantis cannot run again due to term limits.
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Alaska’s Senate race features two candidates named Dan Sullivan: the current Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan, endorsed by President Donald Trump, and Dan J. Sullivan, a challenger. A special primary system allows multiple candidates from all parties to appear on the same ballot, and both Sullivans could advance to the general election along with Democrat Mary Peltola.
Key Facts
Senator Dan S. Sullivan is a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Dan J. Sullivan, also a Republican and retired teacher, challenges the incumbent with the same name.
Alaska’s elections have a top-four primary system where candidates from all parties compete together.
Alaska’s election officials tried to remove Dan J. Sullivan, saying his candidacy was meant to confuse voters, but the Alaska Supreme Court allowed him to stay on the ballot.
Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman, is running and aims to flip the Senate seat.
Alaska voted for President Trump in past elections, but Democrats hope to win due to voter dissatisfaction and rising prices.
The Senate race is important for control of the U.S. Senate next year.
Other notable Alaska races include the governor’s race, with current Governor Dunleavy term-limited, and the Begich family running candidates from both parties.
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The FBI reported a 9.7% drop in violent crime across the U.S. in 2025, the largest single-year decrease since 1936. The decline affected all types of violent and property crimes and was seen in cities big and small nationwide.
Key Facts
Violent crime fell 9.7% in 2025, the biggest drop since FBI records began in 1936.
Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter decreased by 18.1%.
Robbery dropped 18.5%, rape 7.6%, and aggravated assault 7.2%.
The murder rate fell to 4.1 per 100,000 people, tying the lowest rate since 1955-56.
Property crimes also declined by 12.4%, with motor vehicle theft down 22.7%, burglary 15.8%, and larceny-theft 9.8%.
Crime reductions were seen in all community sizes, with mid-sized cities (500,000 to 999,999 people) showing the largest drop of 15.3%.
Data came from 17,075 law enforcement agencies, covering more than 96% of the U.S. population.
The decline in violent crime began in 2022 under President Biden and continued through President Trump's second term in 2025.
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Australia’s government will make many changes to a new bill about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The changes aim to address concerns about funding cuts for people with disabilities, though some groups still criticize parts of the bill.
Key Facts
The Australian government will introduce 63 changes to the NDIS bill.
Some changes are technical, while others are significant.
A new rule allows people who lose funds suddenly to apply for more support within 90 days.
A minister will have power to cut funding in some support areas for many participants, by up to 99%.
Disability advocates and some politicians criticize these funding cuts as harmful.
New penalties will be created for people who misuse NDIS funding or give kickbacks.
The bill will likely pass in the Senate with support from the Coalition.
Tax law changes about property inheritance will be voted on separately on Wednesday.
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The 2026 U.S. midterm elections are experiencing many unusual tactics, such as fake candidates, secret political groups, and last-minute candidate changes. These actions aim to influence who wins Congress, especially in tight races for the House and Senate.
Key Facts
Democrats accuse a Green Party candidate in Pennsylvania of helping a Republican by splitting votes.
The Pennsylvania Green Party and some voters want that candidate off the ballot, claiming he is not a true Green Party member.
In Alaska, two candidates named Dan Sullivan are running, causing confusion; the court allowed both to stay on the ballot.
Some Democrats dropped out of Senate races to support independent candidates against Republicans.
Two lawmakers, Rep. Chuy García and Sen. Steve Daines, quit their reelection bids late to help chosen successors avoid competition.
Republicans created secret funding groups called super PACs to support certain Democratic primary candidates.
The pro-Israel group AIPAC used hidden super PACs to promote their favored candidates in Democratic primaries.
Playing in the opposing party’s primary elections to influence outcomes is becoming more common.
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A fire broke out in a Virginia middle school classroom where an 8-foot python named Nanner was kept. Local fire officials said the snake caused the fire by knocking over a heat fixture, but the teacher who owns Nanner says the fire started independently and the snake was trying to escape the heat.
Key Facts
The fire happened at Forest Middle School in Bedford County, Virginia, on August 13.
Firefighters found the python loose in the classroom when they arrived.
Officials said the snake knocked over a heat fixture, causing the fire that damaged several classrooms and killed a tortoise.
The teacher, Brittany Jacobs, said all heat fixtures were properly secured and could not have been knocked over.
Jacobs believes the fire started first, and that the snake escaped because it was trying to get away from the heat and flames.
Surveillance video showed the fire burning for 20 minutes before the snake left its enclosure.
Firefighters placed the python in a temporary holding area during the fire.
The school opened as scheduled after the fire.
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In Florida’s Democratic primaries, moderate candidates Alex Vindman and David Jolly are favored to win. They focus on traditional issues and appealing to a broad group of voters, rather than progressive liberal policies popular elsewhere in the country.
Key Facts
Florida has recently become a reliably Republican (red) state.
Alex Vindman, a retired army lieutenant colonel and impeachment witness against President Trump, is leading the Democratic Senate primary.
David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched to the Democratic Party last year, is leading the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Both Vindman and Jolly run moderate campaigns focused on economic issues, public safety, and avoiding strong progressive positions.
Florida uses closed primaries, meaning only registered party members can vote in their party’s primary.
Vindman supports a “Florida First” approach, focusing on the economy and social security.
Jolly opposes reversing Governor DeSantis’s ban on transgender athletes in girls’ sports, a stance different from more progressive Democrats in other states.
Republican candidates, including Byron Donalds, criticize Jolly as a “radical liberal,” but Jolly focuses on issues like rising living costs rather than culture wars.
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President Donald Trump has criticized U.S. allies for not supporting his Iran policy and is reducing military cooperation with some of them, including South Korea. His administration is also questioning NATO allies about their loyalty and may cut troop deployments based on their responses, signaling a shift toward demanding more reciprocal relationships.
Key Facts
President Trump ordered a big cut in the joint military exercises with South Korea, called Ulchi Freedom Shield, because South Korea declined to join the U.S. in efforts to denuclearize Iran.
These military exercises have helped deter North Korean aggression for about 50 years.
The Pentagon sent a survey to NATO countries asking how much they support Trump’s foreign policy and U.S. military activities.
The U.S. plans to reduce about 5,000 troops in Germany after criticism of Trump’s Iran strategy by German leaders.
Trump threatened to cut trade ties with Spain and considered suspending Spain from NATO after Spain refused U.S. base access for strikes on Iran.
Oman, a longtime U.S. partner, faces U.S. threats if it interferes with an Iran deal, despite helping broker negotiations.
The deadline for a peace deal with Iran passed without agreement, showing limits to U.S. military and economic pressure.
The U.S. Navy is temporarily pulling a carrier from Asia, which leaves the region without a carrier for a time.
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Alaska, long a Republican stronghold, is seeing tighter races this year. Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican, is competing closely against Democrat Mary Peltola, who could become Alaska’s first Democratic senator since 2014. Meanwhile, Governor and other state races are unsettled, and President Trump’s support in Alaska has weakened.
Key Facts
President Trump won Alaska by large margins in 2016, 2020, and 2024.
Republicans have held Alaska’s Senate seats and the governor's office for most of the last 20 years.
Senator Dan Sullivan (R) faces a tough race against Democrat Mary Peltola for the Senate seat.
Mary Peltola is the only Democrat to win statewide in Alaska since 2008.
Recent polls show Peltola leading Sullivan by a small margin, with her support between 51% and 49%.
Republican groups have spent over $17 million trying to retain the Senate seat.
Alaska’s governor race has many candidates, splitting the Republican vote.
President Trump’s approval rating in Alaska has dropped compared to previous years, partly due to concerns over rising living costs.
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Zohran Mamdani won the 2025 New York City mayoral election on a democratic socialist platform, gaining strong support inside the city but facing much lower approval in nearby suburban areas. Polling shows that while city voters generally support Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), suburban voters are more skeptical, highlighting a divide in political views between urban and suburban communities.
Key Facts
Mamdani won about 51% of the vote in the 2025 New York City mayoral race.
He defeated Andrew Cuomo in both the Democratic primary and the general election.
In New York City, Mamdani’s favorability rating reached about 55-69% in various polls.
In nearby downstate suburbs, his favorability dropped to around 31-34%.
The Democratic Socialists of America are viewed favorably by 49% of NYC voters but only 16% of suburban voters.
The DSA aims to build a larger national movement based on democratic socialism.
Polls show a widening political gap between city voters who support Mamdani and suburban voters who remain skeptical.
Mamdani’s success shows democratic socialism’s strong appeal in NYC but also its limited reach in surrounding suburban areas.
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In August 2001, the FBI's Minneapolis office sent a memo about Zacarias Moussaoui, who was suspected of planning an attack involving an airplane. The FBI’s Radical Fundamentalist Unit at headquarters did not take immediate action, focusing instead on obtaining a surveillance warrant. The CIA considered Moussaoui a possible threat but did not see him as an immediate danger or connect him to other intelligence.
Key Facts
On August 18, 2001, the FBI Minneapolis office reported on Zacarias Moussaoui, who was under suspicion for planning an attack involving a plane.
Moussaoui was reluctant to be interviewed or let authorities search his belongings or electronics.
The Minneapolis office believed Moussaoui and his roommate were linked to a larger radical fundamentalist group planning violent actions.
FBI headquarters focused on securing a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant rather than a easier criminal search warrant.
The FBI reached out to the CIA, which had no prior information on Moussaoui.
The CIA labeled Moussaoui as a "suspect airline suicide attacker" but did not see him as an immediate or connected threat.
The FBI and CIA underestimated the urgency and seriousness of Moussaoui’s case before the 9/11 attacks.
Intelligence used coded language for targets like the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which was revealed after this time.
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President Donald Trump called a CNN reporter a “fake reporter” after being asked if North Korea’s leader had asked him to reduce military exercises with South Korea. The exchange happened during a question about U.S. military drills in the region.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump was questioned by a CNN reporter about North Korea’s leader.
The question was whether North Korea requested the U.S. to scale back military drills with South Korea.
President Trump responded by calling the reporter a “fake reporter.”
The topic involved U.S.-South Korea military exercises.
The incident shows tension between President Trump and the media over coverage of North Korea.
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The UK government announced that disabled people in England will be able to use their bus passes to travel for free 24 hours a day starting next April. This change expands the current rules, which only allow free travel during certain hours on weekdays, and is funded by existing government budgets.
Key Facts
Disabled bus pass holders in England will have free bus travel all day and night from April next year.
Currently, free travel is limited to weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., unless extended by local authorities.
The government allocated £60 million to fund the change, taken from existing budgets in two departments.
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, had earlier extended bus pass hours locally.
The prime minister supports the change as a way to help reduce living costs.
Some politicians praise the move as helpful for disabled people’s daily lives.
Critics question how the new policy will be fully paid for, despite funding coming from budget transfers.
Andy Burnham has introduced other policies aimed at reducing costs for households and businesses but faces questions about funding.
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Florida voters will take part in primary elections on Tuesday to choose party nominees for important state and federal races in the November elections. These are the first elections using new congressional districts designed by the Florida legislature, which favors Republican candidates. Key races include the Republican and Democratic contests for governor and several congressional seats.
Key Facts
Florida’s new congressional districts, created by a Republican-led legislature, will be used in the Tuesday primaries.
The redistricting aims to help Republicans keep control in the November midterm elections.
The Republican governor’s race includes Congressman Byron Donalds, who leads with President Trump’s endorsement.
If Byron Donalds wins the general election, he would be Florida’s first Black governor.
Current Governor Ron DeSantis is term-limited and has not endorsed a candidate to succeed him.
Florida has shifted from a swing state to a Republican-leaning state over the last decade.
Democrats struggle to win major statewide races but hope to improve their chances this November.
In one congressional race, Representative Randy Fine, known for anti-Muslim comments, faces challenger Daniel Bilzerian, who has posted anti-Jewish content.
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An arrest warrant has been issued for Green Party leader Dr. Jill Stein after she did not show up for a court hearing. The case relates to assault and trespass charges from a protest at Washington University in 2024.
Key Facts
Dr. Jill Stein was accused of assault and trespass during a protest at Washington University in April 2024.
The protest focused on the war in Gaza and resulted in over 100 arrests.
Only Jill Stein and one other person faced charges after the protest.
Stein was formally charged in March 2025.
A court hearing took place on a Monday, where Stein and her lawyer did not appear.
A judge in St. Louis issued a failure-to-appear arrest warrant for Stein.
Prosecutors attended the hearing despite Stein's absence.
Newsweek requested a comment from Stein but did not receive a response by publication time.
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Victoria’s premier, Ben Carroll, plans to change the legal definition of “corruption” before the upcoming state election. These changes will give the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (Ibac) more power to investigate government wrongdoing, including new powers to track how public money is spent.
Key Facts
The Victorian government will expand Ibac’s powers and change the corruption definition before November’s state election.
The new definition will allow Ibac to investigate a wider range of misconduct, not just crimes.
A royal commission into Victorian construction is expected to have its terms of reference released soon.
The government will create a special prosecutor role to work alongside the royal commission.
The current corruption law limits Ibac to look only at criminal offenses, missing some questionable behavior.
A parliamentary inquiry recommended broadening corruption definitions to include misconduct and breaches of public trust.
Former Ibac commissioner Robert Redlich supports the changes, saying they will close gaps where corruption is not currently punishable.
The changes will allow Ibac to follow the money spent by government contractors and subcontractors.
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Water service was fixed for about 7,400 homes in Kent after many had no water or low water pressure. The problem was caused by hot weather, high water use, broken pipes, and power problems. Some areas still have issues, and people are asked to use water only for important needs.
Key Facts
More than 8,000 homes in Kent experienced water supply problems.
Issues were from long hot weather, high demand for water, pipe breaks, and power outages.
Water was restored in towns like Herne Bay, Rough Common, and Blean.
Around 400 homes in Benenden, Cranbrook, and Rolvenden still have low or no water.
Some homes in Herne Bay may have on-and-off water supply.
A bottled water station reopened in Cranbrook, one of the worst-hit areas.
South East Water urged customers to use water only for essential needs due to low water storage levels.
Residents were warned it might take a few days to fully restore water supply.
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More than half of the U.S. states have joined a major lawsuit against Meta, the company behind Instagram and Facebook. They accuse Meta of creating addictive features that harm children and collecting data from kids under 13 without permission. The trial is held in federal court in California and could last six to eight weeks.
Key Facts
29 U.S. states have joined together to sue Meta over child social media addiction claims.
The lawsuit claims Meta designed addictive features that harm young users and lied about the risks.
The trial is taking place in Oakland, California, with top Meta executives expected to testify.
The states allege Meta collects data on children under 13 without parental consent, which breaks laws.
The lawsuit asks for up to $200 billion in damages and changes to make Meta’s products safer for children.
Meta denies all claims, calling the lawsuit unproven and financially unreasonable.
Features like infinite scrolling, constant notifications, and "likes" are said to push kids to spend too much time online.
A recent separate case against Meta led to a $567 million penalty in New Mexico.
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