41st governor of Minnesota; former U.S. representative; Army National Guard veteran
Minnesota has enacted a state ban on prediction markets, criminalizing creation, operation or advertising of such markets starting Aug. 1. The move has triggered a federal lawsuit from the CFTC, which argues the state oversteps its authority and undermines federal regulation. The ban centers on markets tied to sports, elections, and other future events, with penalties up to five years in prison and fines for operators.
Federal prosecutors have charged dozens in the Minnesota Feeding Our Future network for pandemic-era fraud, with Aimee Bock's case highlighting the broader scheme. New indictments and sentencing developments are shaping ongoing scrutiny of Medicaid and related relief programs nationwide.
Vance Boelter has pleaded guilty in federal court to murdering Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. A sentencing date has not been set; prosecutors say the Department will not seek the death penalty under a proposed plea agreement. Boelter was captured the day after the shootings in Green Isle.
Vance has referred Minnesota Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison to the Justice Department for potential investigation, citing a House Oversight Committee report on fraud in state programs. The move follows reporting that whistleblowers faced discipline and that fraud warnings were not acted upon. The Justice Department has not commented.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has said federal agents have contacted friends, former staff and donors tied to him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and has accused President Donald Trump of ordering a politically motivated investigation as he considers a 2028 presidential run. Multiple outlets report the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California has been handling separate inquiries that began with local whistleblower tips, including probes into the first partner’s taxes and former chief of staff Dana Williamson, who pleaded guilty to federal charges.
In a new memoir, J.D. Vance has conceded that he mischaracterized Democrats as “childless cat ladies.” The admission appears in Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, published as he weighs a 2028 presidential bid. The remarks previously sparked backlash during his vice-presidential and Senate pursuits.
Part two of a mid-decade redistricting battle is reshaping district maps across 10 states ahead of the 2028 elections. Republicans seek up to 10 more House seats, while Democrats hope history and presidential politics constrain that push. Georgia postpones action; New York and other states rail toward constitutional or structural changes, and a special focus remains on election systems and QR-code vote tallies.
A federal judge has ruled that grand jury subpoenas in a Minnesota immigration probe were issued to coerce officials into aiding civil-immigration enforcement and to harass political opponents. The decision unseals findings that the subpoenas targeted Gov. Walz and other state and local leaders.
Officials say a string of fatal incidents involving immigration enforcement have prompted renewed scrutiny of DHS vetting and tactics. The Maine and Houston shootings have sparked demands for independent investigations and reforms as lawmakers push for oversight.
Canadian wildfire smoke is spreading toward the Great Lakes and Northeast, pushing air quality into unhealthy ranges. Officials warn residents to stay indoors, wear masks where needed, and prepare cooling options as heat intensifies.
Smoke from hundreds of active wildfires in Canada has blanketed large parts of the US Midwest and Northeast and made air quality hazardous in cities including Detroit, Chicago and New York. Authorities have issued health alerts, opened cooling centres and distributed masks; officials expect rain to disperse some smoke but warn that pollution will linger in the Upper Midwest.
Wildfire smoke from Canadian fires has blanketed the northeastern United States, affecting air quality ahead of the Spain-Argentina final in East Rutherford. Rain and thunderstorms are forecast to improve conditions, but health warnings remain in place for players, fans and residents.
Governor Walz has signed the Grandparents’ Happy Hour measure, allowing alcohol at senior living events with prior notice, removing usual licensing barriers. The law goes into effect August 1 and aims to boost social life and dignity for residents.
Federal officials have def rined hundreds of millions in Medicaid payments to California and Minnesota while reviewing alleged in-home care fraud. Governors Newsom and Walz say the move is political theater; federal reviewers cite rising in-home services spending and questions about program integrity.
Courts have blocked Minnesota’s prediction market ban, while federal agencies push for broader regulation and states push back. The cases test federal preemption versus state gambling authority, with ongoing litigation and potential appeals shaping the future of event-contract markets.
A federal judge has denied xAI's emergency request to block Minnesota's law banning AI-generated non-consensual nude images, allowing the statute to take effect while xAI's wider constitutional challenge continues. xAI has argued the law is overbroad, exposes platforms to $500,000 fines per image and lacks a safe harbour; Minnesota officials have pledged to defend the statute.
Coordinated cyberattacks on water facilities have expanded to multiple states. Investigations identify Internet-connected PLCs as entry points; authorities urge utilities to disconnect internet access and shift to manual controls. While some communities report disruptions, drinking water remains broadly safe, and officials warn the threat will persist.
Trump has disputed federal warnings that Iranian hackers targeted U.S. water systems, instead blaming Minnesota officials for a series of cyberattacks. Authorities have not publicly named a culprit, and investigators say threats to critical infrastructure remain a concern.
The FBI is investigating cyberattacks on water systems in Minnesota and other states. Authorities say Iranian hackers are a chief suspect, with warnings from federal agencies about threats to water and wastewater infrastructure. Local authorities report that most systems continue operating safely, with some utilities temporarily adjusting usage. No public health impacts have been confirmed.
Cyberattacks targeting water systems in multiple states have been linked by security researchers to Iran‑affiliated groups. Officials warn the threat is ongoing and could widen, with misleading claims about responsibility surfacing in political discourse.
In South Carolina, Darline Graham advances to a runoff for the Senate seat after Lindsey Graham's death, with Ralph Norman close behind; the result tests Trump’s influence in a crowded field ahead of the August 25 runoff and the November general election.
In Wisconsin, Francesca Hong has lost the governor's primary to David Crowley by less than 1 point, a dramatic turn after polls showed she led by double digits. The result mirrors a broader pattern of polling misses and rising momentum for progressive candidates in state races. Prediction markets also underestimated Crowley’s chances.