Immigration and Customs Enforcement made nearly 49,571 arrests in July, the highest single‑month total during the second Trump administration. According to data provided by ICE to the Deportation Data Project at the University of California, Berkeley and Los Angeles and analyzed by the Associated Press, the July figure represented a 15 % increase over 43,021 arrests in June and a 70 % increase over 29,241 arrests in February. The rise followed a shift in enforcement tactics after early‑year changes that reduced high‑profile city operations and expanded reliance on traffic stops and state and local law enforcement partners. State and local agencies accounted for 6,500 of the July arrests, or 13 % of the total, up from less than 5 % a year earlier, according to the same data. Texas and Florida together represented about 20,000 of the arrests, reflecting the states’ extensive 287(g) agreements that allow local police to assist ICE. In Florida’s Key West, a 36‑year‑old Haitian asylum seeker who worked as a cook and family provider was arrested by local police and transferred to ICE; the restaurant manager said the man had no criminal record and was the primary support for his family. More than half of those arrested in July had not been convicted of any crime, and fewer than one‑quarter had a criminal conviction, according to the data. Approximately half of the arrests were non‑custodial, meaning agents arrested individuals in the community rather than from detention facilities. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin pledged a less public approach during his confirmation hearing, but the enforcement numbers have remained high; his tenure has included several fatal encounters between ICE officers and immigrants. Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol agent Greg Bovino oversaw high‑profile operations in cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and Minneapolis, which drew criticism for aggressive tactics. Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies said the administration changed its tactics but remained effective in enforcement. Patricia Quiñonez, a journalist covering the Venezuelan immigrant community in Utah, reported that traffic‑stop arrests have risen sharply, with people lacking driver’s licenses or with expired vehicle tags being detained for immigration status. The data do not indicate a change in the administration’s goal of increased deportations, but they show a broader expansion of enforcement activities. ICE has not released monthly enforcement figures since the beginning of the second term, limiting independent verification of the trend.

The Trump administration warned in a court filing that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts could be demolished unless a $250 million renovation is completed, according to lawyers representing the president. The filing argued that without the work the 100‑foot‑high complex would deteriorate into an unsafe, decrepit structure requiring demolition, and suggested a possible outdoor amphitheater on the site as an alternative.

The dispute arises from the administration’s effort to place Donald Trump’s name on the Kennedy Center, a memorial created by Congress for John F. Kennedy. A federal judge previously ruled that only Congress may change the center’s name, and the administration’s recent filing contests a legal challenge brought by Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, who sued after the center displayed Trump’s name on its marble facade.

The court filing, the first time Trump allies have raised demolition as a threat, asserts that the proposal complies with the injunction because the official name would remain the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with added wording acknowledging Trump’s role. The Kennedy Center’s board, now largely composed of Trump appointees, voted to rename the grounds and update signage, prompting Beatty’s lawsuit. A federal judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name in June, and an appeals court later rejected the administration’s request to keep the name pending appeal. Beatty’s lawyer described the filing as legally baseless.

The center has experienced declining ticket sales and staff reductions since Trump took control, and critics have condemned the move as an attack on a national cultural institution. Hands Off the Arts and other advocacy groups warned that the threat reflects broader concerns over the administration’s focus on personal branding at the expense of public heritage.

The case is scheduled for a hearing before Judge Christopher Cooper in federal court on Thursday, where the dispute over the center’s naming and potential demolition will be addressed.

Donald Trump is investing time and money in the Republican Senate primary runoff in South Carolina, scheduled for Tuesday, to support Lisa Graham, a candidate seeking the nomination to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham on the November ballot. The effort represents one of his most extensive interventions in a midterm contest and will test the extent of his influence in a state where he previously endorsed other candidates. Graham, who previously worked for the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and led the Commission for the Blind, had no prior elected office before being appointed by Governor Henry McMaster in July to fill the remainder of the late senator’s term. Her opponent, Representative Ralph Norman, is a longtime incumbent with a record in Congress. Trump’s political action committee allocated $827,000 for text messaging and phone banking for Graham, according to a Federal Election Commission filing. It is one of the largest expenditures by his group in the election cycle. Trump held a rally in Myrtle Beach on August 23. He told attendees to “pretend I’m on the ballot.” He said Graham “knows politics well” and “loves our military.” Analysts said the rally and the financial backing indicate a clear personal commitment from Trump. Matthew Bartlett, a Republican strategist and former State Department appointee, said a loss for Graham could damage the administration’s reputation. Andrew Boucher, chair of the Charleston County Republican Party, described the rally as “a clear message indicating his full support.” Trump’s past involvement in South Carolina includes a dual endorsement in the June gubernatorial runoff, where he supported Attorney General Alan Wilson after earlier backing Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, which resulted in Wilson’s victory. Norman has criticized Graham’s lack of experience, citing her debate performance in which she said national security “is not my thing” regarding Taiwan, and has labeled her an “unknown” candidate. Graham’s campaign has spent just over $1 million on advertising, supplemented by at least three outside groups that have contributed more than $6 million in total, according to AdImpact. Norman has received over $700,000 from former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and related groups, including a $200,000 ad buy by Stand for America. The South Carolina Republican establishment, including Senator Tim Scott, Governor Henry McMaster, and Representative Russell Fry, has endorsed Graham. Former Governor Mark Sanford has endorsed Norman. Polling and turnout expectations suggest that lower voter participation, common in late‑summer runoffs, may benefit Norman, a candidate with greater name recognition, according to a national GOP operative who spoke on condition of anonymity. Spokespeople for both campaigns did not respond to requests for comment. The runoff will conclude the primary season’s most closely followed test of Trump’s clout, and the outcome remains undecided as both candidates work to mobilize supporters before the August 27 deadline.

Retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan earned a place on the November ballot in Alaska’s all‑party primary, which took place on Wednesday. His inclusion could affect the general election contest between Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, a race that may determine control of the Senate. Alaska uses a top‑four, all‑party primary system that advances the four highest‑vote‑getting candidates to the general election. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, a Republican first elected in 2020, faces a challenging reelection in a state that Donald Trump won by 13 points in 2024. Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, who won a special election in 2022, is seeking to flip the seat. Republican officials argued that Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy was intended to siphon votes from Peltola and therefore sought to keep him off the primary ballot. Both Dan J. Sullivan and the Peltola campaign have denied any coordination. Sullivan’s campaign has begun running advertisements that highlight his middle initial to distinguish him from the other candidate with the same name. Advocates of the state’s ranked‑choice voting system contend that it mitigates the spoiler effect, though the presence of multiple candidates may still influence the general election outcome. Outside groups contributed more than $2 million to the primary to promote various fringe candidates, and may repeat similar spending before the November election. Peltola has replaced her campaign manager and made other staffing changes as she works to mount a competitive challenge in a traditionally Republican state. The November general election will determine whether the Senate seat remains with Republicans or shifts to Democrats, with the potential impact of multiple candidates on the result. It remains unclear how the primary’s crowded field will translate into voter behavior in the general election.

South Carolina Republicans chose Darline Graham as their nominee for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, advancing her to the November general election ballot. The decision came after she won the party’s special primary runoff against Representative Ralph Norman, a five‑term congressman. Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Her campaign highlighted her family connection and her pledge to support Trump’s agenda, while some analysts noted that her limited experience in elected office raised questions among voters. The primary runoff was conducted under South Carolina Republican Party rules, following the initial primary held earlier this month. Graham’s victory secures her place on the ballot for the seat that will be contested in the upcoming general election. She will now face the Democratic nominee, who has not yet been determined, as the state prepares for the November contest.

Stanley Druckenmiller, a billionaire investor, said he used artificial intelligence to write his Wall Street Journal op-ed criticizing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s involvement in the bond market. The piece, which opposed Bessent’s proposal to double the size of Treasury debt buybacks, sparked discussion about AI use in journalism. Druckenmiller told Notus that he was not embarrassed and said he was proud of using AI at age 73. He added that his ideas had been public for more than 15 years and that he preferred to be a great writer but acknowledged his limits. Paul Gigot, the Wall Street Journal editorial page editor, defended the op-ed, stating that contributors’ arguments reflected their genuine opinions and that Druckenmiller’s standing was beyond doubt. The controversy emerged as the media industry continues to grapple with guidelines for AI‑generated content. Similar debates have arisen after a UC Berkeley professor used AI to edit an op‑ed and after a New York Times freelance journalist faced plagiarism allegations linked to AI use.

Florida Chamber of Commerce and FloridaCommerce announced the eight products that advanced to the final round of the second annual Coolest Thing Made in Florida competition. The competition, which received more than 100 nominations from manufacturers across the state, uses a bracket format to highlight manufacturing talent.

The eight advancing products are:

- Arro Tech, GEON E61, Bay County

- Arthrex, TightRope PRO, Collier County

- Danfoss, Turbocor HVAC TGS380 with Active Cooling, Leon County

- Koozie Group, Garyline Cubbie RPET Bottle with Straw Lid, Pinellas County

- Lockheed Martin, NASA’s Orion spacecraft, Brevard County

- Northrop Grumman, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, St. Johns County

- Rovex Technologies, Rovi Autonomous In-Hospital Transport Robot, Alachua County

- Sandvik Mining, Sandvik Electric Rotary Blasthole Drills, Alachua County

Public voting runs through September 8 to select the final four. From September 15 to September 29 the final four will compete for two finalist positions, followed by final-round voting from October 12 to October 23. As part of National Manufacturing Week in October, the Florida Chamber and FloridaCommerce plan to visit the two finalist manufacturers to recognize their contributions to the state’s economy. The winner will be announced on October 28 at the Florida Chamber’s Future of Florida Forum and Annual Meeting in Orlando. Voters can view the bracket and cast ballots at CoolestThingMadeInFlorida.com.