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South Carolina Republicans are organizing for the special election to fill Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat. Filing closes July 28, Aug. 11 GOP primary, and a November general election will determine the six‑year term. Endorsements complicate the field as multiple candidates announce bids.
Trump is increasing pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to scrap the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act, as Republican divisions over voting legislation intensify ahead of the August recess. The White House and Trump allies are pushing for a party-line vote, while lawmakers warn of votes and timing concerns amid a tenuous midterm landscape.
DoorDash has introduced a new, distance- and order-size-based service-fee structure while keeping a fixed merchant delivery fee. The change aims to reflect the effort involved in completing deliveries and improve fee transparency for shoppers. Affected markets will roll out in coming months with several big regions excluded initially.
The Fauci diaries have intensified scrutiny of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Senate panel has voted to hold him in contempt for refusing to answer questions, while states push for records. Republicans argue for accountability; Democrats defend the former NIH director amid a renewed focus on origins, lockdowns, and media coverage.
The Senate has passed a bipartisan short-term funding bill 90-6 to keep the federal government funded through Dec. 11. The measure blocks the administration from transferring funds to the Border Patrol, delays a national ban on intoxicating hemp products by one month, and pauses a proposed White House grants rule while negotiations on full-year spending continue.
The Biden-era safeguards on using delinquent child support to disqualify SNAP recipients have been rolled back. Federal guidance now allows states to strip benefits from noncustodial parents who owe child support and are failing to pay, a move intended to improve collections and reduce poverty among families reliant on food assistance.
The Reflecting Pool controversy has intensified as Jeanine Pirro’s bid to drop the Hearn case is supported by new information attributing damage to flawed installation rather than vandalism. President Trump has publicly criticized Pirro, calling her response “a mistake” and “choked,” while signaling uncertainty about Pirro’s continued role.
The National Guard remains deployed in Washington, D.C. under a federal surge begun last summer to combat crime. A Defense Department estimate puts average staffing at 2,500 through January 2029, costing about $1.4 billion, as local officials question autonomy and the measure’s efficacy while crime trends continue to fall.
Republicans on a Senate committee have voted to refer Dr. Anthony Fauci for possible contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a recent hearing. The measure, backed by committee chair Rand Paul, moves toward potential federal action despite a pre-emptive pardon covering actions through January 2025. The legal question centers on whether a pardon blocks Fifth Amendment protections in this setting.
The Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court to let construction on the president's 90,000 sq ft White House ballroom continue while courts hear challenges. A federal appeals court last week upheld an injunction requiring congressional approval for above‑ground work and stayed that order for 14 days. The administration argues the project includes vital security and military features and is roughly two‑thirds complete.
The Senate has confirmed Todd Blanche 50–49 as U.S. attorney general and he has been sworn in at the White House. Blanche has led the Justice Department in an acting capacity since April, previously served as the president’s private lawyer, and has rescinded a proposed $1.8bn compensation fund amid bipartisan concern about politicising the department.
President Donald Trump has named Will Scharf as White House counsel and assistant to the president, effective Sept. 1. Scharf has served as White House staff secretary and chaired the National Capital Planning Commission; he has represented Trump in major cases, including at the Supreme Court. The change comes weeks after Trump elevated other former personal lawyers to senior legal roles.
The government has announced that White House renovations are funded with a mix of private donations, federal funds and other sources. The ballroom project is bolstering security upgrades, with estimates rising toward $600 million. Lawmakers are pushing for oversight and transparency while the administration asserts security needs drive the work.
Vandals defaced the World War II Memorial with foam, red and green paint and the message “Clean hands Dirty $.” Melissa Farris has been charged with depredation of U.S. property and destruction of veterans’ memorials. The case follows related incidents at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, with President Trump and U.S. officials weighing in.
The Kennedy Center dispute has intensified over the past days as a federal judge has tightened constraints on the Trump-backed renaming plan. DOJ lawyers argue the center’s renovation and rebranding are essential to prevent ongoing deterioration, while the board presses to restore President Trump’s name amid a broader legal battle with Congress and critics watching closely.
IndyCar races through Washington, D.C., as part of the Freedom 250 celebration for America’s 250th birthday. Donald Trump waves the green flag to start the race, with a front-row audience including key allies and cabinet members. The event blends spectacle with political theatrics in the nation’s capital.
A gun attack has struck an outdoor techno event in Aarau, Switzerland, in the early hours of Sunday, killing a woman in her 20s and wounding others. Police have launched a large-scale manhunt, cordoned off wide areas and appealed for images and footage as investigators analyse cartridge evidence and video. Security has been increased across cantons.
A federal trial in Oakland has opened in which California and 28 other states have accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook children, harvesting their data and hiding internal research. The states are seeking damages that could reach roughly $200 billion and court-ordered product redesigns to protect under-13s.
Meta has agreed to safeguards for users under 18, including a two-hour daily limit, a nighttime access block, non-algorithmic feeds by default, muted notifications during school hours, and bans on extreme makeup filters. The changes apply to Instagram and Facebook in participating U.S. states, with broader adoption possible after judicial approval and potential alignment with rivals.
The settlement with U.S. states requires Meta to implement default teen-safety measures, hard two-hour daily limits for under-18 users, and overnight shutdowns. The company will strengthen age checks and hide like counts for minors, with several protections turning on by default. Critics warn real safety gains depend on how the rules are enforced and what remains optional.
Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 48 states to strengthen age-verification and safety tools on Instagram and Facebook. The deal does not admit liability and carves out ongoing oversight, with audits and time-bound improvements. Other platforms like YouTube and TikTok are urged to follow suit.
The FBI has seized cryptocurrency linked to Hamas’ fundraising and disrupted its online platforms. Authorities have also taken control of domains and platforms used for fundraising and recruitment, and gathered information on thousands who attempted to donate.
Prosecutors have dropped the felony case against 67-year-old David Hearn after acknowledging the damage to the Reflecting Pool stemmed from a botched installation. The judge is weighing whether to allow refiled charges in the future, while Trump presses for a renewed pursuit.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the multistate cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce over after cases have fallen sharply. Federal investigators have linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce imported from central Mexico by Taylor Farms; about 12,800 people were infected, 570 were hospitalised and two people died.
A procedural vote on the Clarity Act has failed to reach the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, leaving the crypto-regulation bill in limbo as lawmakers head into the midterms. The measure, which would establish a federal framework for digital assets, faces divided support and ongoing opposition over ethics provisions and broader regulatory concerns.
The whistleblower disclosures have prompted lawmakers to demand answers as officials face scrutiny over how voter data is accessed and logged. Officials say state restrictions on voter lookups are at risk of being bypassed as federal probes seek data across multiple states.
Sports leagues have pressed regulators to permanently revoke betting privileges for anyone who threatens or harasses athletes, coaches or staff. The initiative seeks uniform rules across states to curb harassment as legal sports betting expands.
Ovechkin has participated in a campaign video for United Russia, sparking backlash as Russia’s parliamentary elections unfold. Capitals say he is Russian and not in politics, while critics call for accountability as international responses mount and questions about the player’s influence in Washington grow.
The FAA has paused some incoming flights to Los Angeles International Airport due to staffing shortages at SCT, the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control. The delay affects arriving and departing schedules as authorities work to manage air traffic in a major regional airspace.
Missouri remains under the 2022 map for November elections after the Supreme Court blocked changes and lower courts weigh conflicting rulings. Absentee voting is underway, with state courts holding hearings amid a nationwide redistricting push tied to midterms.
The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed the Department of Homeland Security to resume using the revamped SAVE database to verify voter citizenship, reversing a lower-court ban. Three liberal justices have dissented. Voting rights groups warn the system has flagged U.S. citizens and could lead to wrongful removals ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms.
The Federal Reserve's inspector general has found major management and oversight failures in a $2.4bn–$2.5bn renovation of two Fed buildings but has not found reasonable grounds to refer criminal charges against former chair Jerome Powell. The report has fuelled political attacks and prompted Warsh to order an independent audit of project costs.
Democrats and civil rights groups have raised alarms about a proposed Trump administration rule that would exclude noncitizens from the census count, potentially altering representation and federal funding. The rule, posted in September, invites public comment until Nov. 2 and is expected to face litigation as opponents warn it could shift power to areas with fewer immigrants.
A federal judge has ordered a halt to tree removal at East Potomac Golf Course while the administration pursues a plan to redevelop the park. President Trump has announced intentions to close the course for 15 months to fund a 106-year-old redevelopment, prompting a legal challenge from the DC Preservation League and two golfers. The dispute centers on balancing public access with renovation ambitions.
Three National Guard members discharged their weapons after Jarrell Lamont Jackson, 41, allegedly opened fire during a fight in southeast Washington. Jackson is charged with firearm offenses; the guard member struck in the leg and Jackson was wounded. The incident follows the deployment of thousands of National Guard members to D.C. amid a broader crime-fighting mission.
Trump has reiterated his stance on Iran, insisting Tehran cannot acquire a nuclear weapon while weighing whether to finish the conflict quickly or push for a diplomatic deal. Mediation efforts from Qatar have intensified as regional powers seek de-escalation amid renewed attacks in the region.
Former FBI director James Comey has been accused in newly unsealed court filings of transmitting and conspiring to transmit national defence information tied to a 5 October 2016 New York Times story. Comey has denied wrongdoing, his lawyers have moved to dismiss and the Justice Department has filed an "information" to toll the statute of limitations.
Federal documents unsealed show the Trump administration has bypassed a grand jury to file a criminal information against James Comey over past leaks, part of a string of politically charged actions ahead of midterm elections. The developments include allegations tied to a 2016 Times story about a foreign-terrorism-related Yahoo data order and a looming judge's review of the information filing.