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Multiple States Found With Thousands of Non-Citizens on Voter Rolls Beyond New Jersey
New Jersey officials disclosed a software error that registered about 6,600 non-citizens to vote between 2023 and 2024, with roughly 400 casting ballots. The Department of Homeland Security identified far higher potential numbers, including 35,152 in New Jersey, 190,832 in California, 15,903 in Nevada, and 14,576 in Pennsylvania. Several other states, including Oregon, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, Vermont, and Nevada, previously reported non-citizen registrations through motor vehicle automatic systems due to data or processing errors. Many states do not use the federal SAVE verification system for citizenship checks. Officials and the administration have cited these findings in calls for stronger voter roll maintenance and the SAVE America Act.
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Senate Rejects Iran War Powers Resolution After House Passage
The U.S. Senate on Thursday blocked a Democratic-led war powers resolution seeking to restrain President Donald Trumpâs military actions in Iran by a 47-49 vote. Republican Sen. Susan Collins joined Democrats in support while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman opposed the measure. Sens. Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski did not vote. The Senate action followed the Houseâs earlier 214-208 approval of a similar resolution where four Republicans sided with Democrats. The measures are largely symbolic and aim to require congressional authorization for continued hostilities. U.S. forces have conducted multiple nights of strikes amid ongoing conflict that has resulted in American casualties.
House Passes Stock Trading Restrictions With Voter ID Provision
The House of Representatives passed the Stop Insider Trading Act by a 232-198 vote on Wednesday. The measure, sponsored by House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil (R-WI), prohibits members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from purchasing new individual stocks. Existing holdings may be retained but require public notice at least seven days before any sale. Republicans attached a photo identification requirement for voting that draws from the SAVE America Act. Thirteen Democrats joined all Republicans in support. Critics, including the Congressional Black Caucus, called the bill insufficient for lacking broader reforms or coverage of the executive branch. The legislation now moves to the Senate.
New Jersey Joins Flawed ERIC System Allowing Non-Citizen Voter Registrations
New Jersey joined the Electronic Registration Information Center in 2022 to maintain voter rolls, yet its agreement bars reporting non-citizen status. The state does not use the federal SAVE system for citizenship verification, unlike 26 other states. A software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission improperly registered about 6,600 non-citizens as voters between June 2023 and June 2024 after they indicated non-citizen status during driverâs license applications. Roughly 400 of those individuals cast ballots in at least one election. ERIC bylaws prevent sharing non-citizen data with the system. SAVE enhancements under the prior administration enabled bulk processing and broader data checks at no cost, yet face ongoing legal challenges from activist groups.
Fifth Circuit Stays Lower Court Orders on Illegal Alien Detention
The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a published order staying three district court rulings that required bond hearings or release for illegal aliens in removal proceedings. The unanimous decision blocks the release of three individuals who entered the country unlawfully and allows the Trump administration to maintain mandatory detention policies pending en banc review. A prior divided panel had ruled in favor of bond hearings after 90 days on due process grounds, creating tension with earlier circuit precedent. The order grants the governmentâs motion and expedites the case with a hearing set for September. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate noted the ruling affirms that illegal aliens lack a constitutional right to remain free during deportation processes. This reinforces prior Fifth Circuit support for detention authority under federal immigration law for those who entered without inspection.
Three Airports Opt for Privatized TSA Screening Under Gold+ Program
Tampa International Airport, Charleston International Airport and Des Moines International Airport have joined the TSAâs new Gold+ privatized screening program. The initiative expands the existing Screening Partnership Program by allowing private contractors to own and manage screening technology in addition to staffing. Transitions are expected next year, with Des Moines citing improved technology for its new terminal. The TSA retains regulatory oversight while current officers may transfer to the private firm or seek other federal roles. The American Federation of Government Employees opposes the shift, arguing it risks lower pay, higher turnover, and reduced security standards. The program aligns with administration preferences for greater privatization following recent government shutdown disruptions.
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D.C. Judge Boasberg Faces Scrutiny for Repeated Dismissal of Pro-Life Free Speech Claims
Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of Washington, D.C. has again dismissed claims by pro-life groups seeking a jury trial over alleged selective enforcement of graffiti laws. The groups were arrested in 2020 for chalking âBlack Pre-Born Lives Matterâ on a sidewalk while Black Lives Matter messages went unpunished. The D.C. Circuit previously reversed Boasberg for applying the wrong legal standard in the free speech challenge. Boasberg then dismissed the case a second time, finding the groups were not similarly situated. Plaintiffs have appealed once more. Legal observers note a pattern of expansive judicial rulings by the chief judge that have drawn reversals, including in other high-profile matters.
Michigan Widow Shocked by $150K in ActBlue Donations Listed Under Her Name
An 88-year-old Michigan widow living in a trailer on a modest pension was listed in Federal Election Commission records as making nearly 15,000 donations totaling about $150,000 to Democratic causes through ActBlue over five years. The records show an average of about eight donations per day, including dozens to Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Elizabeth Waffle confirmed making a few small legitimate contributions but said the volume and total were impossible given her limited resources and lack of a computer. Journalist Charlie LeDuff reported the findings after reviewing the data with her. ActBlue faces ongoing scrutiny over donor verification practices amid broader investigations into potential irregularities.
Post-Grads With Low Incomes Form Core of DSA Support
Democratic Socialists of America membership draws heavily from individuals with postgraduate degrees who report household incomes between $30,000 and $60,000. Surveys of DSA members indicate about 80 percent aged 25 and older hold bachelorâs degrees or higher, with 45 percent in households below the $60,000 income threshold. This combination stands out because education and income typically correlate positively across the population. Many pursue adjunct teaching positions or entry-level nonprofit roles while voicing complaints about living costs in expensive urban areas. Some hail from more comfortable family backgrounds yet adopt lifestyles that emphasize financial strain, while others encounter student debt burdens and disappointing job outcomes after completing degrees in fields with limited economic return.
Newsom Claims California Serves as Global Model for Fire Management
California Gov. Gavin Newsom stated that the state is a model for others on fire management, with visitors from across the United States and around the globe examining its approaches. He highlighted investments in artificial intelligence cameras, drones, satellites, and predictive technologies during a recent event at Sacramento McClellan Airport. The administration points to expanded fire protection budgets nearly doubling under his tenure, along with increased personnel and aerial resources. Officials noted early detection systems including AI-enabled mountaintop cameras and new satellite programs. The remarks come amid ongoing wildfire seasons and prior challenges with water availability and response efforts in the state.
Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Support ISIS
A 21-year-old Kent, Washington, man pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. Saed Ali Mirreh admitted planning to travel from Seattle to Turkey and then Syria to join the group as a fighter. He was arrested in November 2025 at his home shortly before a planned departure. Communications with co-conspirators included discussions of jihad, physical training, firearms, and explosive devices. The case linked to an alleged ISIS-inspired plot in Michigan. Sentencing is set for October with a possible maximum of 20 years in prison.
đ International
Trump Ties Saudi Nuclear Deal to Abraham Accords Membership
President Donald Trump stated that a newly signed civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia is contingent on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords. The deal signed Wednesday involves nonmilitary nuclear technology with no enrichment of material allowed, according to Trump. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described it as upholding nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation standards while expanding U.S. industry access and jobs. The agreement has been sent to Congress for review. Some Israeli figures expressed concerns over potential proliferation risks in the region. Saudi Arabia has not yet normalized relations with Israel under the Accords brokered during Trumpâs first term.
Houthis Strike Saudi Tankers in Red Sea Amid Iran-Backed Escalation
Yemenâs Iran-aligned Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday. The group declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia days earlier in retaliation for perceived actions against Yemen. One tanker suffered a hit from an unknown projectile off the Saudi coast, resulting in a fire with no reported casualties. This follows Houthi threats to block the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which serves as an alternative route for Saudi oil exports bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Several tankers carrying Saudi crude reversed course to avoid the area, adding pressure on global shipping and energy supplies. The incidents coincide with ongoing Iranian actions targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. responses in the region.
Iran Denies Nuclear Work At Pickaxe Mountain Amid Fresh Threats To Gulf Allies
Iran rejected U.S. claims of nuclear activity at Pickaxe Mountain as a fabricated pretext for aggression. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any strike on Iranian bridges or power plants would prompt retaliation against energy infrastructure serving U.S. allies in the Gulf. Iranian forces claimed new attacks on U.S.-linked targets in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. President Trump has vowed to destroy a bridge or power plant for each Iranian strike on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and indicated plans to hit the mountain site heavily. Oil prices rose on the renewed tensions and threats to disrupt Gulf energy flows.
German State Bars AfD Candidates From Local Elections Over Constitution Doubts
Local election boards in Lower Saxony have begun excluding Alternative for Germany candidates from September municipal races. Authorities cite doubts about constitutional loyalty under new rules that allow reviews based on intelligence service classifications. AfD Bundestag member Martin Sichert was barred from a county board race in Friesland by a 5-1 vote. Another candidate, Reinhild Goes, was denied a mayoral bid in NĂśrten-Hardenberg. The AfD calls the moves a backdoor ban while officials reference the partyâs classification as far-right. Multiple other AfD applicants face similar scrutiny ahead of the vote.
EU Hits Google With Nearly 1 Billion Euro Fine Under Digital Markets Act
The European Commission fined Google 890 million euros on Thursday for violations of the Digital Markets Act. One fine of 460 million euros addressed self-preferencing of Googleâs own services such as flights and hotels in search results. A second fine of 430 million euros covered restrictions preventing app developers from directing users to offers outside the Google Play Store. EU officials stated the measures aim to boost competition and innovation. Google criticized the decision as forcing product degradation and removal of safety features. The company has 60 days to comply or face additional daily penalties. The action risks further trade tensions with the United States.
