President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on more than 80 countries, replacing a 10% global duty that was set to expire on Friday. The administration said the new rates range from 10% to 12.5% and apply to countries such as the United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Australia, India, China and the 27 members of the European Union. The move follows a Supreme Court ruling that found several earlier tariffs to be illegal, allowing the previous 10% duty to lapse. Officials in the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union criticized the measures, saying they could raise costs for consumers and businesses and strain trade relationships. The European Union stated it would review the tariffs and consider appropriate responses. The new duties are expected to affect trade flows and may prompt further diplomatic negotiations, though the ultimate impact remains uncertain.
Congress, the White House, elections, and the policies shaping the country.
Pentagon's online list of service members killed in the Iran conflict does not currently include four soldiers who died during fighting over the weekend, even though their names appeared in a press release announcing the return of their remains to the United States on Wednesday. The Defense Casualty Analysis System website, updated Wednesday, shows 14 U.S. personnel killed in the conflict known as Operation Epic Fury, while a separate Names of Fallen list contains 13 names.
A New York Times report said the website initially listed 18 killed on Wednesday but was revised Thursday to exclude three service members killed in an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan and a fourth killed in a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone at Erbil air base in Iraq. By Thursday the defense department reported a total of 14 deaths.
Three military officials told the Times that the administration removed the four weekend deaths because they occurred after President Trump declared a cease‑fire in April. Pentagon spokesperson said the change resulted from temporary data disruptions expected to be corrected.
The revisions took place the day after Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to receive the remains of the four soldiers and to publicly honor them. Trump posted a chart comparing the 18 deaths in his Iran war with previous conflicts, misstating casualty figures from Iraq and Afghanistan, and asserted that the low death toll demonstrated the war's necessity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a claim contradicted by intelligence assessments that Iran ended its nuclear weapons program in 2003. He said the soldiers were heroes who opposed Iran having a nuclear weapon, and repeated that the 18 deaths were far fewer than the thousands lost in Vietnam.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie said the Pentagon's exclusion of the recent deaths reflected a claim that the war had ended in June when Trump signed a temporary cease‑fire at the palace of Versailles, calling the situation an "absurd ruse" and asserting that the defense secretary was breaking the law by acting without congressional authorization.
The Pentagon has not responded to inquiries about the list update, and the discrepancy in casualty reporting remains unresolved.
Alva López, a Guatemalan mother, and her two children returned to the United States on May 28 after being deported and separated under the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. The family was among those separated at the border in 2018 as part of a “zero tolerance” policy, leading to a class‑action lawsuit (Ms. L v. ICE) that resulted in a 2023 settlement limiting systematic family separations and providing temporary parole status and services. The settlement allowed the family to re‑enter the U.S. on parole in May 2026, but the Department of Homeland Security later limited their parole to two weeks, prompting concerns about their legal status. The Trump administration appealed a 2024 federal judge’s order that required the government to fund their return, and the administration has continued to detain and deport class members despite the settlement. The case illustrates how the reinstatement of family separation policies under the second Trump administration has placed previously separated families at risk of renewed removal. The situation leaves thousands of class members in legal limbo as their parole periods expire, and advocates warn that without sustained legal assistance families may remain vulnerable to detention and deportation.
President Donald Trump announced new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, which together represent about 99% of U.S. imports, effective Friday as temporary 10% worldwide levies expire.
The administration is applying Section 301 authority under the Trade Act of 1974, a provision previously used to impose tariffs on China, and Section 122 levies that expire after 150 days. Trump had initially relied on Section 122 and temporary IEEPA measures after the Supreme Court struck down his broader tariff plan in February.
The new tariffs target goods produced by forced labor, according to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who said the measures aim to correct a human rights abuse and a distortive trade practice. The United States will impose taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, while exemptions include oil, gas, fertilizer and products covered by the US‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement.
Senior administration officials noted that some countries, such as India, have adjusted their rates from 12.5% to 10% after tightening forced‑labor enforcement. Human rights advocates expressed cautious optimism. Martina Vandenberg, founder and president of The Human Trafficking Legal Center, said import bans can be an effective tool but urged a phased approach to allow countries time to implement enforceable mechanisms. Kenia Davis, a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, highlighted the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act as significant legislation that has raised awareness of labor trafficking. Isabelle Glimcher, senior research scientist at NYU Stern, noted that focusing tariffs on imported goods rather than domestically produced goods may limit their impact, though the threat has prompted some nations to amend foreign‑trade policies.
The USTR has opened a probe into whether 16 countries, accounting for about 70% of U.S. imports, overproduce goods and depress prices, a matter that remains unresolved.
The new tariffs will remain in effect for up to 150 days, after which the administration must reassess their scope as the midterm election season approaches.
Tampa City Council voted 4-3 on August 15 to block the transmission of a land‑use amendment for the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus to state agencies, preventing a scheduled state review of the proposed Rays ballpark and mixed‑use district. The amendment would rezone 115 acres to Regional Mixed Use‑100 and a 6‑acre strip along North Lois Avenue to Urban Mixed Use‑60, allowing up to 11,500 dwelling units and roughly 875,000 square feet of residential or nonresidential development. Council members Lynn Hurtak, Charlie Miranda, Bill Carlson and Guido Maniscalco supported the motion not to transmit, while Naya Young, Luis Viera and Council Chair Alan Clendenin voted against it. Hurtak said the amendment would permanently change what could be developed on the property regardless of the Rays project's outcome, and he called the state review a waste of time. Miranda questioned whether council members had been notified early enough in the process. Planning staff said the RMU‑100 designation could accommodate just over 11,500 units, while the UMU‑60 strip could allow about 370 units. Hillsborough County Public Schools estimated that the maximum residential capacity would add nearly 2,400 elementary, over 1,000 middle and nearly 2,000 high school students, raising projected enrollment at Alexander Elementary above 400% capacity, with Pierce Middle and Leto High exceeding 150%. The site borders Dale Mabry Highway, which operates at Level of Service F, below the adopted Level D standard. Existing transportation gaps include missing sidewalks on MLK Boulevard and no bicycle lanes on Tampa Bay Boulevard. The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority has requested coordination on future transit stops and amenities. The Environmental Protection Commission listed the property at 4014 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard as the W.T. Edwards brownfield site, currently awaiting cleanup, with no schedule or cost estimate provided. Tampa CRA board members delayed a vote on a proposed $100 million contribution beyond August, saying negotiations must occur directly with the CRA as a separate legal entity. Board member Bill Carlson said a home‑rule tax increment financing district is being considered, which would still require additional City Council votes. Because the council declined to transmit the amendment, state agencies will not review the plan as scheduled, and the Rays project now faces uncertainty on both its land‑use amendment and the CRA’s financial contribution.
Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback announced a proposal to eliminate Florida’s three‑day waiting period for most gun purchases, naming the legislation the "B.Y.R.O.N. Act" after Congressman Byron Donalds.
The three‑day waiting period currently applies to most firearm purchases except for individuals with valid concealed‑weapon licenses, law‑enforcement and correctional officers, military service members, firearm traders, and hunters who meet safety certification requirements. In a video posted to YouTube, Fishback said that a 90‑pound woman, a former teacher and School Board member, was confronted by Donalds, a 290‑pound, 6‑foot‑5 Black man, in a grocery store, and argued that immediate gun access could have allowed her to protect herself.
Fishback’s remarks have repeatedly referenced Donalds’ race while criticizing the congressman’s lead in the Republican primary. Attorney General James Uthmeier, who has endorsed Donalds, called a previous "slave" remark by Fishback "gross." Mason sued Donalds in 2024, alleging that he threatened and intimidated her during the grocery store encounter captured on video; the campaign described the lawsuit as "baseless and politically motivated." Fishback has also posted a video of himself firing an AR‑15‑style rifle and tagged Donalds with the caption "Pull up. Let’s see if you’re actually black," and a 41‑second ad titled "Byron Donalds is Black" in which he asserted that "race doesn’t matter." He has appeared on a podcast with individuals who have expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler, and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has sued Fishback and the Department of State, claiming that Fishback does not meet Florida’s seven‑year residency requirement for gubernatorial candidates. In 2020, Fishback voted in the presidential election in Washington, D.C., after previously denying it; he later admitted to providing his Florida ID and voting only in the presidential race. D.C. residency rules require at least 30 days of residency and a declaration that the voter does not maintain voting residence elsewhere; knowingly making a false declaration can result in a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both. Judge David Frank of the 2nd Judicial Circuit is set to rule on the residency case by 5 p.m. Monday.
The proposal awaits further legislative consideration and legal review, and its ultimate impact on Florida’s gun policy remains unresolved.
Truth Social announced that it will sell a monthly API subscription that provides near‑real‑time access to posts made by former President Donald Trump on its platform, priced at $100,000 per month. The service is aimed at firms that require rapid access to Trump’s statements for trading purposes.
The company, Trump Media & Technology Group, has struggled to grow its user base beyond Trump and his family. It previously secured a deal that required Trump to post political content on Truth Social before publishing elsewhere.
The API fee is roughly double the price that Twitter charges for access to its broader set of market‑moving posts, according to the Financial Times. Several Wall Street firms that engage in high‑speed trading may find the feed useful, while other executives have expressed concerns about fiduciary duties. One hedge‑fund executive said the subscription could be required to avoid falling behind competitors, while a crypto trader described the arrangement as a misuse of power and a poor look for a presidential platform.
Truth Social’s press release said the feed would generate a “high‑margin, recurring revenue stream” and that adoption was expected to increase before the August 1 launch. The company holds a 42 % stake owned by Trump. The business depends heavily on his continued presence, as disclosed in its SEC filings.
The service is scheduled to begin on August 1, and the company expects additional customers to sign up before then. It remains unclear how widely the API will be adopted beyond firms engaged in high‑frequency trading.
President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on more than 80 countries, replacing a 10% duty with rates of 10% to 12.5% that cite enforcement of forced‑labour import bans under ...
President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on more than 80 countries, replacing a 10% duty with rates of 10% to 12.5% that cite enforcement of forced‑labour import bans under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
The Supreme Court earlier this year struck down several of the administration’s tariffs as illegal. The administration says the new measures address non‑compliance with bans on goods produced using forced labour, a claim contested by many trading partners.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said the bloc would seek clarification, noting it had honored the 2025 transatlantic trade agreement and viewed the tariffs as a surprise.
Australia, Brazil, Norway and New Zealand expressed opposition, saying the tariffs were unjustified. Norway’s foreign minister said its own forced‑labour rules made the duty baseless. New Zealand’s prime minister called the move disappointing and said the United States had not provided evidence.
US trade representative Jamieson Greer said the United States had policed its own forced‑labour import ban for nearly a century and urged partners to do the same.
Critics, including House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, argued the forced‑labour justification was a pretext for a tariff policy based on dubious legal theory.
Former trade official Ryan Majerus noted the measures followed a months‑long investigation and were designed to be more resistant to legal challenges.
The administration differentiated rates: countries with enforced forced‑labour bans, such as Canada, the EU, India and the UK, faced the lower 10% rate, while China, Japan, South Korea and many others were assigned the higher 12.5% rate.
The announcement followed a 50% duty on Canadian goods, prompting Canada to cancel a planned joint celebration for a new US‑Canada bridge. Government officials said the latest measure was not unexpected and that further investigations into 16 economies for alleged excess industrial capacity were underway.
The White House indicated further tariff actions were possible as the administration continued its review of trade practices.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he will block the proposed merger between Paramount and its partner, citing antitrust concerns. The merger, valued at about $3.5 billion, would combine Paramount’s broadcast and streaming assets with the technology and content assets of its partner, creating a vertically integrated media company. Bonta said his office will file a lawsuit to prevent the transaction unless the companies agree to divest certain assets. The statement referenced a letter from the Department of Justice that echoed concerns raised by CNN analysts about the potential impact on news diversity and advertising markets. CNN analysts said the deal could concentrate ownership of major news outlets and reduce pluralism. Paramount representatives said the combination would lead to cost efficiencies and expanded content offerings for viewers. A spokesperson for the former Trump administration’s Department of Justice said the agency is monitoring the case but has not made a formal comment. The outcome of the antitrust review will determine whether the merger proceeds, and the case may influence future regulatory scrutiny of large media consolidations.
Judge Joshua Hawkes dismissed Rep. Paula Stark's lawsuit seeking to be placed back on the ballot for House District 47. In an order issued after a July 8 hearing, Hawkes denied her request and ordered the clerk to close the file. He noted that Stark did not file a response; instead, she submitted a motion for reconsideration that was denied by a separate order. Stark's campaign missed the June 12 qualifying deadline. She said her treasurer, Joel Davis, submitted Form 6, a financial disclosure, but the clerk returned the form to him, so it was never filed. Several state employees said they never received or returned the form. Without Stark, no Republican challenger appears on the ballot; Democrats Jorge Figueroa and Anthony Nieves are running, which could flip the district that Stark won in 2022. Hawkes wrote that it is more likely Davis believed the form was unnecessary and did not submit it, rather than that staff returned it. He said the form was not filed before the noon deadline and that Stark did not demonstrate qualification. Stark, her attorney Anthony Sabatini and Florida Democrats did not respond to a request for comment.
President Donald Trump’s Justice Department has brought conspiracy charges against activists for actions such as wearing black clothing at demonstrations, providing face masks to protesters, joining book clubs, or distributing zines, arguing that these acts constitute participation in an organized criminal enterprise. Federal prosecutors have filed indictments in multiple states, including cases in Chicago and Spokane, Washington, alleging that activists are part of an antifa conspiracy.
Legal scholars note that the strategy aligns with the intent of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which was created to combat organized crime but has been used historically against labor unions, communist groups, and anti‑war activists. G. Robert Blakey, the principal author of the 1970 RICO statute, said the law was meant to enable a fair fight between individuals and powerful institutions, yet it has often been employed to target organizers rather than actual criminal conspiracies. Steffen Seitz, a litigation fellow at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law, observed that the administration is “trying to explicitly go after social movements, and conspiracy is something that allows them to do that particularly effectively.”
The use of conspiracy law expands the evidentiary universe available to prosecutors, allowing investigators to treat seemingly benign actions—such as attending a demonstration or wearing a sweatshirt that says “I’m Antifa!”—as proof of coordinated criminal intent. In 2023, Georgia’s attorney general invoked the state RICO statute against 61 “Stop Cop City” activists, alleging a sweeping criminal enterprise; a judge later dismissed the charges. The Department of Justice’s June indictment of 15 Minnesota anti‑ICE activists cited similar reasoning, claiming that online watch‑group chats and the distribution of masks indicated a plot.
Trump has repeatedly linked dissent to alleged conspiracies, designating “antifa” a domestic terrorist organization and releasing a playbook for investigating groups he describes as engaged in “anti‑Americanism, anti‑capitalism, and anti‑Christianity.” He has claimed substantial evidence of voter fraud and accused media outlets of participating in a plot to protect the radical left.
The growing reliance on conspiracy charges raises questions about the balance between national security objectives and First Amendment protections, and whether the administration will continue to criminalize dissent under the guise of combating organized crime.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Thursday that state prosecutors have charged 49 individuals as part of Operation Ice Breaker II, a multi‑agency investigation into fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking in Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns, Marion and Orange counties. The investigation, which began in fall 2025, used wire intercepts, surveillance and controlled purchases before executing search warrants on June 30, resulting in the recovery of narcotics, cash, cellphones and other evidence. Authorities said the operation targeted mid‑ and upper‑level distribution networks and remains ongoing, with additional arrests expected. Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said the takedown made the city safer and sent a message that drug traffickers will be held accountable. The Office of Statewide Prosecution will handle the cases together with the State Attorney’s Office for the 7th Judicial Circuit. The Florida Education Association endorsed Democratic nominee José Javier Rodríguez for attorney general, citing his record of supporting public education. Rodríguez, a workers’ rights attorney and former state senator, said the endorsement reflects his longstanding support for Florida’s public schools. He and incumbent Uthmeier are unopposed in the primary and will compete in the general election on November 3. The investigation remains active with further arrests anticipated.
The New College Foundation plans to amend its governing documents to replace the existing Alumni Committee with an Alumni Engagement Committee, a change that the alumni organization says could reduce its independence and potentially lead to legal action. The Board is expected to consider the proposal on July 29.
The foundation’s Governance Committee unanimously recommended the amendment, which would require the new committee to support the college’s mission as determined by the Board of Trustees and to coordinate with staff on alumni participation in mentorship, programming, networking and philanthropy.
Alumni Association Chair Chris Van Dyk said the proposal would “dissolve and reconstitute” the current organization, limiting its ability to criticize the Foundation, trustees or college administration. The board voted unanimously to oppose the proposal, and former presidents present expressed support for the opposition though they cannot vote. Van Dyk noted that a 2003 affiliation agreement transferred about $300,000 to the Foundation and said the association could seek its return or other damages if the restructuring proceeds. The board has asked Van Dyk to obtain approval from the Alumni Association’s Executive Committee before taking further action on the organization’s behalf.
The outcome of the July 29 board meeting remains uncertain, with the association awaiting a decision on how the proposal will affect its leadership and independence.
Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia presented reimbursement checks totaling $8.78 million to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, the Naples Police Department, and the Arcadia Police Department for their assistance with immigration enforcement. The payments, funded by the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, are intended to cover training costs and compensate agencies for time diverted from regular duties. Ingoglia, who was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2023, revived a program he initiated shortly after taking office, which had been dormant for several months before resuming in June. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office received $8.25 million, the largest share, while the Arcadia Police Department was allocated $377,185, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office $85,067, and the Naples Police Department $74,326, according to Ingoglia. Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said the funding will strengthen collaboration among law enforcement partners and support technology upgrades in the county jail, where the office houses undocumented immigrants under an ICE partnership. The Arcadia Police Department received a $377,185 check, and the Naples Police Department received $74,326, as announced during the ceremony in Naples. Ingoglia said, “We’re reimbursing you for training and when we’re taking you away from normal duties,” according to the remarks captured at the event. Earlier in the year, Ingoglia had presented similar checks to Central Florida agencies totaling $11.44 million, after which the program paused for several months before resuming in June. The funding will finance improvements to communication systems and detainee housing facilities in Collier County’s jail, and the state has not indicated whether additional reimbursements are planned.
Earlier this month, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir canceled a trip to New York for an international police summit at the United Nations after the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Hind Rajab Foundation asked New York Attorney General Letitia James to investigate him for alleged war crimes. Ben‑Gvir is a prominent figure on Israel’s far‑right and has promoted policies such as building a barrier around a prison and altering prisoner treatment. The request for an investigation cites concerns that his policies have affected New York residents, including participants in the Global Sumud Flotillas to Gaza. Najeh Abduljalil, a New York EMT who was on a boat delivering aid to Gaza, said Israeli forces fired a bomb 70 meters from his vessel, describing the act as intended to intimidate. Michael Fix alleged physical and mental abuse in Israeli prisons under Ben‑Gvir’s administration. A Palestinian‑American resident reported increased beatings, restrictions on family visits, and reduced food rations for Palestinian prisoners after Ben‑Gvir took charge of the prison ministry. The Center for Constitutional Rights and the Hind Rajab Foundation say the attorney general would have jurisdiction, but her office has not responded to multiple inquiries. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who pledged to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his campaign, said he lacks the authority to detain Netanyahu and has urged the federal government to consider legal action. He referenced former mayor Rudy Giuliani’s 1995 decision to prevent Yasser Arafat from attending a UN concert as a possible model. Mamdani said the city could also direct the New York Police Department to impede Netanyahu’s motorcade or call for an independent investigation into alleged harms by Israeli officials. No official response from the attorney general has been issued, and there is no indication that Ben‑Gvir will be arrested.
Trump administration announced new tariffs on more than 80 countries, ranging from 10% to 12.5%, effective Friday morning. The measures follow the expiration of a temporary levy and continue the president's effort to impose global duties without congressional approval, after a February Supreme Court ruling that found his prior use of executive power illegal. Countries affected include Canada, Mexico, China, the United Kingdom, Australia, India and members of the European Union. The administration set a 10% rate for nations that have adopted forced‑labor import prohibitions, such as Canada, the European Union, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom, and a 12.5% rate for those that have not, including Australia, Brazil, China and Japan. The tariffs are authorized under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, after the office of the United States Trade Representative conducted investigations finding evidence of unfair labor practices. The Supreme Court previously ruled the 1977 law the president invoked was not a valid basis for tariffs, stating that the power to regulate trade belongs to Congress. Analysts, including Alan Wolff of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, say the new tariffs represent further presidential overreach and are likely to be challenged in court. The New York Federal Reserve estimates that about 90% of the tariff burden will be passed on to U.S. consumers and businesses. A Harris Poll survey found 72% of Americans, including 64% of Republican voters, view tariffs negatively. Some small businesses consider tariffs a lower priority than other economic concerns such as rising costs and artificial intelligence. Since the February ruling, the government has reimbursed companies for tens of billions of dollars in tariff revenue. The tariffs are expected to face legal challenges, and their long‑term impact on trade and the economy remains uncertain.
Community groups in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, and other U.S. cities have formed networks to observe and respond to immigration enforcement actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The practice builds on earlier community monitoring efforts that began after the 1965 Watts uprising, when residents tracked police activity. Organizations such as the Black Panther Party and Uníon del Barrio in the 1990s expanded the model to border patrol surveillance. In 2026, as ICE increased its presence under the second Trump administration, these networks expanded to include businesses, churches, schools, and volunteers who document vehicle license plates, distribute rights information, and provide shelter.
In Los Angeles, Mercie, a fifth‑generation resident, responded to a social media post calling for community patrolling and joined a group that meets before dawn in an abandoned parking lot to monitor ICE movements. In Huntington Park, a run club created by Iris Delgado evolved into a rapid response network after witnessing an ICE operation near a Home Depot, using a WhatsApp chat to coordinate information and connect displaced families with legal resources. In Chicago, Reverend Lindsey Joyce of Grace Church organized a volunteer response that includes first‑aid kits and de‑escalation training after confrontations with law enforcement during protests. In Rogers Park, Julian Jackson, a former theater carpenter, led a bike‑based patrol that chased ICE vehicles after sighting them near a hardware store, documenting the encounters with photographs. In the San Francisco Bay Area, attorney Adam coordinated the production of 3D‑printed whistles and distributed rights guides to businesses, while in Minneapolis, Emily Phillips participated in weekly protests that escalated to confrontations with ICE agents, resulting in pepper‑spray incidents. In Los Angeles, teacher Maya Suzuki Daniels and her husband established the Harbor Area Peace Patrol, documenting ICE activity near Terminal Island and organizing paper‑crane ceremonies to commemorate Japanese American history. High school teacher Ron Gochez has incorporated the resistance into his classroom, training thousands of volunteers through the Community Self‑Defense Coalition, which reported training eight to ten thousand participants between February and June 2025.
As ICE activity intensifies, these community‑based networks continue to monitor enforcement actions, provide support to affected individuals, and maintain a presence in public spaces, while the White House and its allies asserted that the groups were possibly paid agents.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally in Oakland County, Michigan, on Monday as early in‑person voting begins for the August 4 primary. The rally aims to influence the primary election for Senate and governor seats.
Early voting opens Saturday, ahead of the primary in which voters will select nominees for U.S. Senate, governor, House and other statewide offices. Republican U.S. Representative John James, who has received Trump’s endorsement, is competing with businessman Perry Johnson for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, while the Senate primary features an unopposed incumbent, Mike Rogers.
The visit comes amid Republican concerns about rising gas prices, an unpopular war in Iran and tariffs that have strained the state’s auto industry. Democratic leaders note a close Senate primary between Representative Haley Stevens and candidate Abdul El‑Sayyed; the winner will face Senator Gary Peters’s successor, Elissa Slotkin, who narrowly beat Rogers in 2024. Republican Governor Gretchen Whitmer is term‑limited, and Johnson’s campaign has aired advertisements targeting James.
The rally will test how effectively Trump’s messaging can address economic and foreign‑policy concerns as Michigan’s voters prepare to choose nominees, and the outcome may shape the Republican Party’s prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
NEW YORK — The Trump administration withdrew subpoenas issued to three New York Times reporters after a federal judge found that the orders violated procedural rules governing journalist subpoenas.
The subpoenas had sought phone records of the reporters and two relatives in connection with a grand jury investigation into the source of a New York Times article about a Qatar‑gifted Air Force One jet that entered service in 2023 after the administration spent $400 million on its retrofit.
Judge Arun Subramanian said the subpoenas were issued contrary to regulations that require such orders to be a last resort and that the government had not shown that no other source could provide the needed information. He warned that continued disregard for the rules could result in sanctions against the attorneys.
A Justice Department lawyer, Sean Buckley, apologized for the mistakes, describing them as inadvertent errors made while moving quickly. He said the department remains committed to pursuing leakers of classified information and emphasized that the journalists were not the targets of the investigation.
The New York Times’ chief newsroom lawyer, David McCraw, said the agency’s concession confirmed that the subpoenas were unlawful, but added that they should never have been issued. He said the newspaper will continue to report on matters of public interest despite the legal pressure.
The administration issued a statement saying the grand jury has a right to hear testimony from material witnesses and that the investigation into unauthorized disclosures remains ongoing.
University of Florida announced on Tuesday that it will receive a $1 million donation from Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. to create the Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr. Chair in Constitutional Law at the Levin College of Law. The endowed chair is intended to attract a nationally recognized scholar and support faculty work on public policy and legal issues. Culverhouse, a Sarasota attorney and chief executive of Palmer Ranch Holdings Ltd., made the gift as part of a broader effort to strengthen UF’s legal education. The announcement follows a recent appointment of Stuart Bell as UF president and includes a prior $1.1 million donation in 2020 that established scholarships in the name of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis. Culverhouse said he is excited about the future of the university under Bell’s leadership and proud to support the vision. Bell said the gift reflects confidence among supporters in the university’s ability to shape legal education and public policy. The contribution is the largest to UF since Bell assumed the presidency. In addition to his legal and business roles, Culverhouse has contributed to various charitable organizations in the Sarasota area, including Season of Sharing, the Church of the Redeemer, All Faiths Food Bank and Legal Aid of Manasota. The new chair position will be established pending faculty selection, and the university has not disclosed a timeline for its implementation.
Robyn Hattaway and Marcus Herman are the leading fundraisers in the Florida House District 31 primary as the Aug. 18 election approaches. Both candidates have increased spending on campaign materials and advertising in the final weeks before the primary. From June 27 to July 10, Herman spent $49,000 on flyers and polling services from Tampa‑based Electoral Communications Group. Hattaway spent $39,000 on advertising from Tallahassee‑based Public Concepts during the same period. Hattaway’s campaign committee, Friends of Robyn Hattaway, added $7,200 in expenses. She also reported $1,300 in spending for the week of July 11‑17. Herman has not yet filed his weekly report, which is due Friday. Cumulatively, Hattaway has recorded $95,000 in expenditures compared with Herman’s $60,000, giving her a larger spending advantage since the campaign began. She has raised $211,000 across her campaign account and political committee, while Herman has raised $122,500 and carries $17,500 in loans. Hattaway has received the endorsement of Senator Debbie Mayfield. Other Republican candidates, former Satellite Beach council member Mindy Gibson and educator Matt Woodside, have also filed reports. Gibson’s combined spending through July 10 reached $25,000, and she has raised $42,000 with $10,000 in loans. Woodside has raised $44,000 and spent less than $12,000. The Republican primary winner will face Democrat Daniel Cicirelli, who has raised $4,200 to date. The primary will determine the Republican nominee for the November general election.
Data for Progress released a poll showing that 61% of likely American voters believe extreme weather events have become more frequent over the past five years, and 88% support state policies that require employers to provide heat protections such as drinking water, shade, rest breaks, and air conditioning. The survey was conducted during a summer of high temperatures, drought, and flooding. President Donald Trump has described climate change as a hoax, but the poll shows that a majority of voters differ. According to the poll, 72% of Democrats, 63% of Independents, and 46% of Republicans said extreme weather has increased. Respondents linked climate change to worsening wildfires (64%), droughts (63%), flooding and flash flooding (62%), hurricanes (59%), severe thunderstorms and hail (59%), and heatwaves (67%). The share saying climate change makes heatwaves worse was highest among all events, with 48% of Republicans indicating the same. Grace Adcox, senior climate strategist at Data for Progress, said heatwaves have the largest footprint in the United States and may serve as an opening for climate conversation. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island senator, noted that the data add to evidence that the public is ahead of politicians on climate impacts. Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, said the poll’s findings align with Yale’s own research. Jennifer Marlon, a senior research scientist at Yale, said many Americans still attribute warming to natural cycles, a misconception the poll does not resolve. Jessica E. Martinez, executive director of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, said 88% support for heat protections shows the public expects every worker to be protected. The poll suggests that policies protecting workers from extreme heat could gain bipartisan support, even as federal action on a heat standard has stalled.