Primaries key takeaways: A centrist win, questions about Trump endorsement
In Wisconsin, centrist David Crowley narrowly defeated Democratic Socialist Francesca Hong in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, according to the Associated Press. Crowley, a Milwaukee County Executive, campaigned on his executive experience and positioned himself as the best candidate to defeat Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Hong, a state legislator, ran on a platform including universal childcare, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a yearlong pause on AI data center construction. Her campaign faced scrutiny over past social media posts, including calling Thanksgiving a "colonizer holiday." Crowley had previously dropped out of the race but rejoined with late support from outgoing Governor Tony Evers. In South Carolina, the Republican Senate primary results remain inconclusive, with a runoff scheduled for August 25.
In Minnesota, Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell lost the Republican gubernatorial primary to Lisa DeMuth, the state House speaker, by more than 11 percentage points. Lindell, who had previously claimed the 2020 election was stolen, did not concede and called the results "unreliable." DeMuth will face Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the general election. In the Democratic Senate primary, Peggy Flanagan defeated Rep. Angie Craig, and will face Michele Tafoya, who previously criticized Trump's 2020 election loss.
Where the accounts differ
ABC News reports that Crowley's victory suggests ongoing division within the Democratic Party over its direction, while Straight Arrow News highlights the broader context of progressive losses in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Intercept notes that Hong's defeat is a setback for the anti-data center movement, which she had championed, while FOX News emphasizes Crowley's moderate stance and his campaign's focus on uniting the party. The Daily Wire characterizes the outcome as a "gut-punch" to the Democratic Socialists of America, attributing Hong's loss to a lack of endorsements from key figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Washington Examiner focuses on the potential impact of a socialist governor on state policy, while Straight Arrow News mentions Hong's campaign's scrutiny over past social media posts, which ABC News also notes.
Karoline Leavitt stepping down as White House press secretary
Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, will resign at the end of August, President Trump announced in a Truth Social post. Trump stated that Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, specifically her two young children. Leavitt, 28, confirmed her decision in a social media post, explaining that balancing her role as press secretary with being a mother to her two children has been too demanding. She described the decision as "bittersweet." Trump praised Leavitt as one of his "most trusted aides" and said she will become one of his "top outside advisers" and an "influential voice within the Republican Party" ahead of the midterm elections. Leavitt, who became the youngest White House press secretary in history, has been a key spokesperson for the administration through various controversies, including the Signalgate scandal and the release of the Epstein files.
Where the accounts differ
Axios and The Guardian both state that Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her family, but Axios mentions that she is leaving to "spend more time with her family" while The Guardian notes she is leaving "so she can spend more time" with her family. The Guardian also mentions that Leavitt gave birth to a daughter named Viviana in May, which is not explicitly stated in Axios. The Guardian also notes that Leavitt ran for Congress in 2022 and lost, which is not mentioned in Axios. The Daily Wire and FOX News both mention that Leavitt recently returned from maternity leave after giving birth to her second child, a daughter named Vivienne, which is not mentioned in The Guardian. The Daily Wire also states that Leavitt was the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary, which is confirmed by Axios and The Guardian.
Flock camera CEO announces drastic new change to how company stores data
Flock Safety, a company that operates license-plate cameras, is reducing the amount of time it stores data from 30 days to seven days. The company is also requiring law enforcement to justify every search. CEO Garrett Langley stated that these changes are part of a broader effort to improve privacy and accountability. The ACLU has criticized Flock for contributing to a nationwide mass-surveillance network, claiming the company's cameras number around 120,000 nationwide. Flock argues its technology is essential for investigative work and that stronger safeguards can address concerns about abuse without eliminating the technology altogether.
Where the accounts differ
The New York Post and Mother Jones both report that Flock is shortening data storage from 30 to seven days and making audit assistance mandatory. The New York Post mentions that about 90% of investigative searches occur within seven days, while Mother Jones does not include this statistic. The New York Post attributes the claim about 90% of searches occurring within seven days to CEO Garrett Langley, whereas Mother Jones does not attribute the claim to a specific source. The Mother Jones article also notes that the ACLU criticized Flock's policy changes as "merely retreads of previous inadequate safety measures," which the New York Post does not mention.
Senate Democrats want answers on reported suicide attempts on warship
Senate Democrats are pressing the Trump administration about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier following reports of attempted suicides by sailors. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal raised "serious concerns" about the length of the warship's deployment and reports of supply shortages, contaminated water, and the deteriorating mental health of the crew. Families of sailors have said several crew members have tried to jump overboard or have been stopped from doing so in recent months. The Abraham Lincoln has been at sea since November. Blumenthal said falling morale could be a wider issue among ships during months-long deployments supporting military operations in the Middle East and Venezuela. Hegseth claimed that conditions on the Abraham Lincoln have been "completely misrepresented" and did not address the reported conditions directly. Sen. Ruben Gallego called for an official bipartisan visit to the Abraham Lincoln, criticizing Trump for not caring about the health and safety of service members. The U.S. military has hit back at the accusations, with U.S. Central Command issuing a social media statement calling the reports "unfounded."
Where the accounts differ
UPI reports that the Lincoln has been at sea since November and that a sailor went overboard but was rescued within an hour, citing three unidentified officials. NPR states that the Lincoln has been at sea for more than 260 days and that the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. Just The News mentions that the Lincoln has been at sea for more than 250 days, including at least 40 days of continuous combat operations. The Guardian notes that the Lincoln has not made a port call in more than 240 days, setting a record for consecutive time at sea. Newsweek states that the Lincoln has been deployed for just under nine months, with a brief port call in Guam in December. UPI and The Guardian both mention that Hegseth called the reports "completely misrepresented," while NPR and Newsweek attribute the same claim to Hegseth without specifying the exact quote.
Kennedy Center board votes to put Trump's name on building again
The Kennedy Center board voted Thursday to inscribe U.S. President Donald Trump's name on the building, with the inscription reading "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump." The decision was made during a board meeting that included virtual participation by Trump, who chairs the board. The plan to rename the building and close the main facility for renovations was approved in a 20-3 vote. The board also voted to close the main building for about two years while undergoing major renovations. A federal judge had previously ruled that Trump's name could not be added to the building's facade, and another judge temporarily blocked the closure plan. The board's resolution to add Trump's name was not on the formal agenda and was raised toward the end of the meeting.
The board's decision to add Trump's name to the building and close the main facility for renovations has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who is an ex-officio member of the board. Beatty, who previously sued to block the renaming, called the move a "transparent effort to circumvent the Court's ruling." The board's resolution to add Trump's name was reported by multiple outlets, including UPI, Just The News, and Axios, though the exact wording of the inscription and the process of its approval varied slightly between sources.
Where the accounts differ
UPI states the building's name will be changed to "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump" and its physical location will be renamed "President Donald J. Trump Plaza." Just The News and Axios report the inscription will read "Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump," with the name appearing beneath the main signage. New York Post mentions the board voted last December to rebrand it as the "Trump Kennedy Center," but this change was nixed by a federal judge. NPR and CBS News note the board's decision to add Trump's name was not on the formal agenda and was raised toward the end of the meeting, with some board members complaining it wasn't presented in writing. UPI and CBS News mention the closure of the main building for about two years, while NPR specifies the closure would last until 2028.
Three death row inmates executed by lethal injection in rare same-day string across US
Three men were executed by lethal injection on Thursday in Tennessee, Oklahoma and Alabama. Anthony Darrell Hines, 66, was pronounced dead at 10:43 a.m. local time in Tennessee for the 1985 murder of motel maid Catherine Jean Jenkins. Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, 70, was pronounced dead at 10:13 a.m. local time in Oklahoma for the 2003 killing of his girlfriend, Olimpia Fisher. Jeremy Williams, 42, was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. CDT in Alabama for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland. The executions mark the first time three death row inmates have been put to death on the same day in the U.S. since January 7, 2010.
The executions followed a pattern of increased use of the death penalty in recent years, with 47 executions carried out in 2025, a significant rise from 25 in 2024. Florida led the increase, conducting 31 executions since the start of 2025. Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma are among the states that have seen a rise in executions, with Tennessee carrying out its fifth execution of 2026 and Alabama potentially becoming its sixth if Williams’ execution proceeds.
Where the accounts differ
FOX News and The Guardian both report that Jeremy Williams was executed for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland, but FOX News states that Williams paid Holland’s mother $2,500 before sexually assaulting and strangling the girl, while The Guardian does not include this detail. The Daily Wire and The Guardian both mention that Williams’ mother and other family members visited him in the days before his execution, but FOX News does not include this information. The Intercept and NPR both report that Tennessee faced issues with IV lines during previous executions, but The Intercept provides more specific details about the execution of Tony Carruthers, including the use of a central line and the governor’s intervention. The Daily Wire and The Guardian both describe the execution of Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez, but The Daily Wire adds that he shot Fisher in the eye in 2003, while The Guardian does not include this detail. The Intercept and NPR both report that Tennessee’s execution of Anthony Darrell Hines was delayed due to IV issues, but The Intercept provides more specific details about the execution process and the state’s response.
Democrats press White House over Trump’s secret Turkey flight switch
President Donald Trump confirmed he secretly switched planes while leaving Turkey last month after a possible Iranian threat, saying the decision came from the Secret Service and military. “It’s only up to the Secret Service,” Trump told reporters late Tuesday at Joint Base Andrews. The White House had said Trump was aboard the older Air Force One. Trump had also posted that he would fly that plane “for old time’s sake” while the newer Qatari-supplied aircraft went to Mildenhall Air Force Base in England for service members to tour. The plane switch hid the president’s actual location for part of the trip from the press pool and some people traveling with him. Senate Democrats demanded a briefing after news reports revealed the operation, saying it was unacceptable that Congress was kept in the dark. Trump pushed back on concerns about the safety of reporters and staff who remained aboard the decoy plane, claiming the aircraft he actually flew on faced greater danger.
Where the accounts differ
Straight Arrow News and CBS News both report that U.S. intelligence detected a credible Iran-linked plot to fire a missile at Air Force One as it left Ankara. FOX News and New York Post also mention an Iranian missile threat, but FOX News adds that an unidentified person was seen with a shoulder-fired missile near the NATO conference in Ankara. CBS News and Straight Arrow News state that the threat was credible, while New York Post and FOX News describe it as a credible threat. Straight Arrow News and CBS News attribute the threat detection to U.S. intelligence, while FOX News and New York Post attribute it to U.S. and Turkish intelligence. ABC News and CBS News both report that Trump announced he would fly on the older Air Force One for “old time’s sake,” while Straight Arrow News and FOX News also mention this but do not specify the context of the announcement. New York Post and CBS News both state that the switch was part of a misdirection effort, while Straight Arrow News and FOX News do not mention this.
Max Miller Sued Over 'Nude Photo of Daughter, 2, Left Online for 23 Hours'
Rep. Max Miller, a Republican congressman from Ohio, has been sued by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, over claims that he and his attorney shared a nude image of their two-year-old daughter online. The lawsuit alleges that the image was part of a trove of documents Miller shared on social media during a livestream on August 2, in which he defended himself against domestic abuse allegations. The image, which Moreno's lawyers claim depicts the child's genitalia, was available online for about 23 hours before being removed. Moreno is seeking $150,000 in damages for each time the image was accessed, transferred, or downloaded, with the lawsuit stating that more than 400,000 people interacted with the posts containing the folder. Miller and his attorney have not yet responded to the lawsuit, though Minc has called the allegations "completely outrageous and false."
Where the accounts differ
Newsweek and The Guardian both state that the image was online for 23 hours, while Straight Arrow News and Washington Examiner mention the same duration. New York Post and Mother Jones do not specify the exact time the image was online. Washington Examiner and New York Post note that Miller apologized for the release, calling it an inadvertent upload and his attorney’s mistake, while Newsweek and The Guardian attribute the responsibility to Miller and his attorney. The Guardian and Straight Arrow News mention that the image was part of a larger set of documents shared during a livestream, while Mother Jones focuses on the legal filings related to a previous court case involving a civil protection order. The Guardian and New York Post include details about the police report describing Moreno’s concerns about her daughter’s broken collarbone and a handprint bruise, which are not mentioned in the other accounts.