In Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, Francesca Hong and David Crowley are running very close, showing a split between progressive and moderate Democrats. Other states, including Minnesota and Vermont, also held primaries where left-leaning candidates won in some races, while President Donald Trump’s endorsed candidates had mixed results.
Key Facts
In Wisconsin, Crowley leads Hong by a very small margin in the Democratic primary for governor, with about 94% of votes counted.
Hong supports progressive policies like ending ICE, a pause on new data centers, and higher taxes on billionaires and companies.
Crowley has the endorsement of Wisconsin’s current Democratic Governor Tony Evers.
Wisconsin’s Democratic voters are divided between moderate and progressive candidates.
In Minnesota, progressive Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan won her Senate primary against a more moderate opponent.
Trump-backed Republican Mike Lindell lost the Minnesota governor race to Lisa Demuth.
Vermont’s Democratic gubernatorial primary was won by Amanda Janoo; Republican incumbent Phil Scott ran unopposed and won.
The results highlight ongoing competition between Democrats with different political views and mixed influence of President Trump’s endorsements.
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At least 34 states and the District of Columbia have stopped or changed a practice where child welfare agencies used Social Security survivor benefits meant for children in foster care to pay for their care. The Trump administration pushed for these changes, calling the practice the "orphan tax," which is not an actual tax but the use of these benefits to offset foster care costs.
Key Facts
More than 330,000 children are in foster care across the United States.
Social Security survivor benefits are intended to help children whose parents have died and who qualify based on the parent's work history.
Some states used these benefits to reimburse foster care costs, taking money meant for the children.
The Trump administration urged states to stop this practice starting in 2025.
Federal guidelines say that benefits must be used for the child's current and future needs, not to cover government expenses.
Children can receive up to 75% of a deceased parent's Social Security benefit, averaging $1,179 per month.
States that have ended the practice include Alabama, California, New Jersey, Michigan, Maine, and many others.
Recent states to change the policy include Oklahoma, Iowa, Montana, Michigan, and Maine.
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President Donald Trump reportedly took a secret military flight out of Turkey last month as part of a covert operation. This operation was carried out because of fears that Iran was planning to assassinate him, and it involved transferring him between aircraft hidden inside a catering truck.
Key Facts
President Trump left Turkey on a secret military flight last month.
The operation was covert, meaning it was kept secret from the public.
The reason for the secret flight was a suspected assassination threat from Iran.
To move President Trump between planes, he was transported inside a catering truck.
The operation was organized with national security in mind.
The news was reported by US media sources.
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David Crowley won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor after rejoining the race late and receiving an endorsement from outgoing Governor Tony Evers. Crowley defeated Francesca Hong in a close contest, with both candidates offering different ideas and approaches to voters.
Key Facts
David Crowley is the Milwaukee county executive and won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor.
Crowley re-entered the race after previously leaving it and was endorsed by Governor Tony Evers.
Francesca Hong, a chef and former restaurant owner, ran on a progressive platform including childcare for all and a pause on new datacenter construction.
The race was very close, with polls showing Hong as a favorite before the final results.
Crowley argued he had the best chance to win against Republican Tom Tiffany, an ally of President Trump.
Hong’s past statements, like support for defunding the police and a tweet about canceling Thanksgiving, hurt her campaign.
Other candidates included Kelda Roys and Joel Brennan, while Sara Rodriguez and Mandela Barnes left the race.
The Wisconsin governor’s race is important because it could help Democrats control the state government.
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The Japanese ambassador to Australia said Japan was not upset by Prime Minister Albanese’s comments about a gift of melons from Japan’s leader. The ambassador noted that Australia reassured Japan that Albanese’s remarks were misunderstood. Meanwhile, Australian opposition leaders want an investigation into a leak of a diplomatic cable criticizing Albanese’s remarks.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made comments about receiving Japanese melons from Japan’s leader, Sanae Takaichi, during a podcast.
The comments caused a political controversy in Australia, called “melon-gate.”
The Japanese ambassador to Australia said Tokyo was reassured that Albanese did not mean his comments as reported.
Japan’s government said there was no ill intention from Albanese regarding the melon gift.
The Australian opposition wants the federal police to investigate the leak of a secret diplomatic cable about the incident.
The diplomatic cable was sent from Japan shortly after the podcast aired in July.
Albanese and Labor ministers defended him and criticized the opposition’s calls for an investigation.
Japan has not expressed any official concern or anger over Albanese’s remarks.
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Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation in England and Wales, said he is not confident that the probation service can handle the early release of prisoners planned for the autumn. Police leaders have asked Andy Burnham, who is leading a government review, to stop the killers of a police officer from being released early. Meanwhile, the government is also dealing with a heatwave emergency.
Key Facts
Martin Jones says the probation service manages 258,000 cases, nearly three times the prison population.
Early prisoner releases will increase pressure on probation services.
Police leaders, including all chief constables in England and Wales, want to prevent certain killers from early release.
Andy Burnham is chairing a government emergency meeting about the heatwave.
The government has closed 44 hotels used housing asylum seekers this year.
The Home Office still uses fewer than 160 hotels for asylum seekers.
The government’s recent changes on early release of prisoners have faced criticism from political parties.
The early release scheme aims to free up prison space but raises concerns about public safety.
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New research shows parts of California’s Sacramento Valley are sinking fast due to heavy pumping of underground water during recent droughts. This sinking, called land subsidence, can cause permanent damage to the underground water storage and affect farming and local infrastructure.
Key Facts
The Sacramento Valley sank as much as 1.5 feet in one year during the 2020-2022 drought.
Farmers pumped more groundwater when reservoirs and rivers had less water.
A study found the sinking shifted from being mostly reversible to permanently compressing underground sediments.
Permanent compression reduces the aquifer’s ability to store water, even when rains return.
Scientists used satellite data to observe land sinking across a wide area.
Traditional groundwater wells didn’t show the full extent of the problem.
The Central Valley is a critical farming area that depends on groundwater during droughts.
Land sinking can damage roads, bridges, canals, and increase flood risks.
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President Donald Trump criticized the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and effectively shut it down, claiming it wasted taxpayer money abroad. Despite this, millions of US tax dollars are still being sent overseas to rightwing think tanks in Europe that support Trump-aligned political ideas.
Key Facts
President Trump called USAID corrupt and ordered it closed, placing most staff on indefinite leave.
USAID was accused by Trump supporters of wasting money on foreign projects, like buying condoms for Gaza.
After USAID’s closure, US funds still go abroad, primarily to rightwing European think tanks promoting Trumpism.
The US State Department plans to give $12 million to conservative groups in the UK, including $7 million to the newly formed think tank 878, co-founded by Jacob Rees-Mogg.
The funding aims to support shared political and cultural values between the US and UK, with unclear and vague goals.
Some US officials say funding processes have been altered to benefit Trump-aligned causes.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned against US interference in German elections following these grants.
Critics say this spending contradicts Trump’s “America first” promise and may be an attempt to influence foreign politics.
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared that she is freezing her eggs, a process that allows women to delay pregnancy. While egg freezing can give more reproductive choices, high costs and limited insurance mean many women cannot afford it.
Key Facts
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez openly discussed her egg-freezing process to educate women about reproductive choices.
Egg freezing lets women preserve their eggs to have children later.
Birth rates per 1,000 women aged 15-44 in the U.S. dropped 23% since 2007, and women are having children at older ages.
The number of elective egg-freezing cycles in the U.S. grew from 4,153 in 2014 to 16,436 in 2021.
One egg-freezing cycle costs about $10,000 to $15,000, with medication adding $3,000 to $5,000 more, and storage about $1,000 yearly.
The median full-time working woman in the U.S. earned about $56,600 in 2025, making egg freezing expensive for many.
Only 21% of large U.S. employers cover elective egg freezing, leaving most women to pay out-of-pocket.
High costs and limited coverage create inequalities in who can use egg freezing technology.
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A video from Falls Church, Virginia, shows an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent pointing a gun at a U.S. citizen during an enforcement action. The woman recording the video says she was distributing business cards when ICE agents detained two men, and the authorities say she acted dangerously toward the officers.
Key Facts
The incident took place in Falls Church, Virginia, during an ICE enforcement operation.
A masked ICE agent pointed a handgun at a U.S. citizen sitting in her car.
The woman, Carolina Molina, was handing out business cards for psychological evaluation services near immigration law offices.
Molina said she saw ICE agents detaining two men and shouted at them while driving past.
ICE and the Department of Homeland Security called Molina an "anti-ICE agitator" and accused her of trying to harm officers with her vehicle.
A video shows an ICE agent at Molina’s car window with a gun drawn, telling her she almost hit officers.
Virginia Representative Don Beyer said he contacted Molina and called for an investigation into ICE’s actions.
Officials and Molina’s accounts differ on events and whether she posed a threat to ICE agents.
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Senator Andrew Bragg has proposed lowering Australia’s net overseas migration to 180,000 people per year to address housing shortages. Although some of his colleagues in the Liberal Party have not publicly supported this exact target, the opposition is considering migration numbers below 200,000 for future policy.
Key Facts
Andrew Bragg suggests reducing net migration to 180,000 annually to help fix housing supply problems.
This proposed number is the lowest since the mid-2000s.
Bragg referenced a past drop in migration from 300,000 to 175,000 between 2009-10 as a comparable example.
The Albanese government currently forecasts net migration to be 295,000 in the last financial year, dropping to 225,000 by 2027-28.
Some Liberal colleagues have not confirmed support for the 180,000 figure, with opposition leader Angus Taylor indicating a target below 200,000 but no final number yet.
Other party figures, like the shadow treasurer, haven’t committed to a migration number, focusing instead on long-term growth.
One Nation plans to cap visas at 130,000 but has not shared detailed plans.
Bragg also proposed simplifying construction codes and adjusting tax policies alongside migration limits.
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A mom from Long Island shared a video showing her twin girls comforting each other to sleep by talking, reading, and cuddling. The twins have shared a close bond since infancy, and their nightly routine was captured on a baby monitor, gaining over 1.3 million views on Instagram.
Key Facts
The twins’ names are Maple and Fiona, and they are identical.
Their mom, MariLuz Roth, is a developmental specialist.
The twins began sleeping in their own room at about 10 months old but kept their cribs side by side.
Their bedtime routine includes talking, reading books, and cuddling before falling asleep.
The close bond between the twins has been natural and developed over time.
The baby monitor video was shared on Instagram and went viral with 1.3 million views.
MariLuz started posting their story to show examples of love, empathy, and innocence.
The family’s routine includes saying goodnight to their dad before the bedtime activities.
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David Crowley won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor in a close race against Francesca Hong, a progressive candidate. Crowley will face Republican Tom Tiffany in the November election. Crowley initially stopped his campaign but later reentered and secured support from current Democratic Governor Tony Evers.
Key Facts
David Crowley is a moderate Democrat who won the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary.
Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, was considered the frontrunner before losing narrowly to Crowley.
Crowley briefly suspended his campaign in July but resumed after discovering campaign funding data errors.
Crowley had the support of Governor Tony Evers, who decided not to run for reelection.
Hong faced negative attention due to past social media posts calling for defunding police and other controversial remarks.
Other Democratic candidates, including Mandela Barnes and Sara Rodriguez, dropped out before the primary.
Wisconsin is a key battleground state where President Trump won by less than one point in 2024.
Crowley will run against GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany in the November general election.
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F-16 fighter jets stopped a plane that entered a no-fly zone near President Donald Trump during his visit to Geneva, Ohio. The jets used flares to get the pilot's attention and then escorted the plane away, according to NORAD.
Key Facts
F-16 jets intercepted a plane around 6:15 p.m. ET near President Trump's location in Geneva, Ohio.
The jets set off flares to alert the plane's pilot before escorting it out of the no-fly zone.
NORAD, an American-Canadian defense group, monitors restricted airspaces around the president.
President Trump was in Ohio for the Patriot Games, a sports event for teenagers celebrating the U.S. 250th anniversary.
Aircraft that break temporary airspace restrictions near the president are often intercepted by NORAD.
Two other civilian planes were intercepted near Bedminster, New Jersey, when Trump visited his golf course there.
"General aviation" refers to civilian planes that are not used for commercial flights.
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President Donald Trump revealed that he secretly changed planes during a NATO summit in Turkiye because of a possible threat from Iran. He said the decoy plane he used was actually at higher risk than the main presidential plane.
Key Facts
The plane switch happened on July 8 during a NATO summit in Turkiye.
President Trump moved between planes using a catering truck and then boarded a military plane in Ankara.
The Secret Service and military advised him to take a different plane due to an assassination threat from Iran.
The original Air Force One plane continued to carry journalists and senior aides, who did not know the President had changed planes.
The White House did not announce the plane swap at the time; it became public after a report by The Washington Post.
President Trump said the decoy plane he flew on was more likely to be targeted by an attack.
The move was intended to protect the President from danger while maintaining secrecy.
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A man named Ronald H. Williams Sr. in Winfield, Kansas, called 911 to say he had killed his wife and four children. When police arrived, they found all six family members dead in a murder-suicide.
Key Facts
Ronald H. Williams Sr., 53, reported killing his entire family by calling 911.
Police established a perimeter and waited about two hours before entering the home.
Inside, police found six dead people: Williams Sr., his wife Kelly L. George, and four children aged 3 to 9.
Williams Sr. had a long criminal history and was a registered sex offender since 1997.
His charges included drug offenses, assault, attempted rape, and kidnapping in Kansas.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Winfield Police are investigating the case.
The shooting happened near 9th Avenue and Stewart Street in Winfield, Kansas.
Police heard a gunshot when first approaching the house and waited for backup.
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Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor is very close between Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, and David Crowley, the party establishment’s favorite. Crowley leads by a small margin with most votes counted, but late absentee ballots could change the result, possibly triggering a recount.
Key Facts
Francesca Hong and David Crowley are competing in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor.
Crowley currently leads Hong by about 2,000 votes, or 0.4 percent, with 98% of votes counted.
Around 28,000 absentee ballots from Milwaukee were delayed due to a data upload error.
If the final vote difference is less than 1%, the losing candidate can ask for a recount.
Both candidates are waiting for the last results before deciding their next steps.
The primary winner will face Republican U.S. Representative Tom Tiffany in November.
Democrats hope to use low approval of President Trump in Wisconsin to win the governor’s office and state legislature.
Wisconsin is an important battleground state that Trump won in 2016 and 2024.
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Jayme Franklin, a conservative brand CEO, responded to online rumors about why she had her hand on her stomach while standing behind President Donald Trump during a White House event. She clarified that she is pregnant and denied the false claims that she had a device to control the president.
Key Facts
Jayme Franklin is the CEO of a conservative brand called The Conservateur.
She was seen behind President Trump during an announcement about childhood vaccination changes.
Some people suggested jokingly that she had a "Zapper," a button to wake up President Trump.
Franklin denied these claims by saying, "I’m just pregnant you weirdos."
The event took place in the Oval Office with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. present.
Franklin praised President Trump’s announcement, supporting parents’ freedom to make health decisions.
The announcement focused on new federal vaccination recommendations for children.
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David Crowley won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, beating Francesca Hong. Crowley had support from the current Governor Tony Evers and will face Republican Rebecca Tiffany in the general election.
Key Facts
David Crowley won the Democratic nomination for Wisconsin governor.
Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, was Crowley’s main opponent.
Governor Tony Evers supported Crowley in the primary.
Crowley’s win surprised some people because Hong was seen as a strong candidate by the party’s progressive wing.
The results suggest concerns about far-left candidates in statewide elections.
Crowley will compete against Republican Rebecca Tiffany in the governor’s race.
The race is important for Wisconsin’s political future.
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David Crowley won the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, defeating state representative Francesca Hong. Crowley had the support of current Governor Tony Evers and his win is seen as a boost for the Democratic establishment in Wisconsin.
Key Facts
David Crowley won the Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin.
Crowley defeated Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist and state representative.
Governor Tony Evers endorsed David Crowley.
The race was close and competitive.
Crowley’s victory is viewed as a success for more traditional Democratic leaders.
Results were projected by Decision Desk HQ around 2:20 am Eastern time.
Francesca Hong had recently achieved progressive wins before this race.
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