Support Indiana flooding relief efforts: https://www.cicf.org/resource/options-to-support-recent-indiana-natural-disasters/
SUMMARY:
In this episode of HoosLeft This Week, Megan Alderman and Brad Meyer joined Scott as Netanyahu rejected a US-backed Gaza peace plan in a rare public break with Trump, even as settler violence intensified in the West Bank village of Qusra. From there the show covered revelations that Trump secretly swapped planes in Turkey over an Iranian assassination threat the CIA viewed with low confidence, and an Iran war stuck in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran demanding reparations and Trump threatening to claim the strait as US territory while the Strategic Petroleum Reserve hit its lowest level since 1983. The conversation moved through Lake Mead’s record-low water level and a brutal stretch of climate news — European rivers running dry, nuclear plants cutting output, and record flooding across Indiana that killed at least five people — before turning to the hollowing-out of government itself: FEMA’s staffing collapse, DOGE’s overstated savings, a $700 million drop in federal grants to Indiana, and a public health system under RFK Jr. now contending with cyclospora, salmonella, and a new executive order splitting up the MMR vaccine. The back half of the show covered revelations of DHS spying on protesters and unions, ICE’s new electric-shock gloves, and a wave of Tuesday primaries led by progressive wins for Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota and a narrow loss for Francesca Hong in Wisconsin, alongside primaries in Connecticut, Vermont, South Carolina, and Alabama. The show closed on Indiana’s own democracy fight — a contested recount that flipped a state Senate primary by three votes — and a look at down-ballot Indiana Democrats, including Pete Buttigieg’s new endorsements and Beau Bayh’s first campaign ad for secretary of state.
Guest info:
Brad Meyer: https://bradmeyer.org/
Dr. Megan Alderman: https://www.indianaprogressivedemocrats.com/
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00:34 - Intro and guest welcomes (Megan Alderman, Brad Meyer)
00:04:23 - Israel: Netanyahu rejects Gaza peace plan, West Bank settler violence intensifies
00:09:59 - Trump’s secret plane switch in Turkey amid Iran assassination threat
00:16:20 - Iran war: the Strait of Hormuz standoff and dueling reparations demands
00:23:02 - Mismanagement: low approval for Trump's Iran war, mental health crisis aboard the USS Lincoln
00:28:47 - Running low: the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Lake Mead
00:34:16 - Climate: Europe’s rivers run dry, Indiana’s historic flooding
00:44:48 - Gutting government: FEMA cuts, DOGE’s toll, and lost federal grants to Indiana
00:53:02 - Public health: cyclospora, salmonella, and RFK Jr.’s vaccine order
01:05:06 - Government surveillance: spying on protesters and ICE’s shock gloves
01:11:23 - Minnesota primaries: Flanagan’s win and Tafoya’s “embarrassing” comment
01:19:09 - Wisconsin’s primary and the data-center fight in the governor’s race
01:28:44 - New England, South Carolina, and Alabama primaries
01:32:21 - Trump’s assault on voting and the Copenhaver-Deery recount controversy
01:43:25 - Indiana Democrats: Buttigieg’s down-ballot endorsements and Beau Bayh’s new ad
01:55:30 - Wrap-up, guest info, and announcements
IN DEPTH:
Middle East
Israel
Netanyahu rejects US-led 15-point Gaza peace plan in rare public break with Trump (Guardian)
‘Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a US-backed 15-point peace plan for Gaza in a rare public break with Donald Trump. In a statement on Sunday, Netanyahu said that he was confronting a “wave of rumours about Israeli weakness and Israeli withdrawals on all fronts” an rebuked US pressure to end wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran without Israel’s buy-in.’
Netanyahu said the IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is fully disarmed: “And when I say the disarming of Hamas, it means heavy weaponry, lighter weaponry, all weaponry. And we are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament. Right now, we are talking with the Americans about this issue.”
‘Netanyahu, who is facing tough elections in October and pressure from hardliners in his own government, appears ready to test his relationship with Trump in public in order to shore up his reputation as a defender of Israel at home.’
‘The head of Trump’s Board of Peace hit back on Sunday, saying the plan remained the “only way forward”. Nickolay Mladenov, the board’s high representative for Gaza, told Israeli television: “The option we are offering today is the only way forward that ensures this tragedy does not happen again.”’
There’s a reason why Israel has done little to rein in settler violence. It’s not just Netanyahu (AP)
Israeli settlers have besieged the West Bank village of Qusra, trapping Palestinian residents inside their homes, cutting water and electricity, and preventing resupply. Palestinian officials have reported nearly 1500 attacks in 2026 alone, including instances where settlers staged takeovers of Palestinian homes.
Since capturing the West Bank in 1967, Israel has built almost 150 settlements, now populated by over half a million Jewish settlers. Radical settlers have also established unsanctioned outposts while still enjoying military and police protection. Netanyahu’s government has boasted of establishing over 100 new settlements, all of which are viewed as illegal by the majority of the international community.
Three million Palestinians in the territory live under Israeli military occupation with limited rights, while settlers live under civilian rule - a de facto apartheid situation. On Friday, Defense Minister Israel Katz – a hardliner looking to succeed Netanyahu as Likud leader – announced plans to transfer law enforcement of settlers in the West Bank from the military to police, who are overseen by even harder-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, himself a convicted terrorist.
The Biden administration and other Western governments had imposed sanctions on settlers, organizations accused of violence, and certain hard-line cabinet ministers. Trump withdrew US sanctions and appointed Mike Huckabee, a far-right Christian Zionist, as ambassador. Even Huckabee this week referred to these settlers as “terrorists.”
Netanyahu’s political opponents have criticized his government’s handling of the violence, but support continued settlement and reject Palestinian statehood.
Air Force One Debacle
Contradicting public statements, Trump took secret flight from Turkey amid Iranian threat (WaPo)
‘An Iranian assassination threat against President Donald Trump prompted an extraordinary operation last month in which he flew secretly from Turkey on an alternate military aircraft while the White House said he was aboard Air Force One.’
‘Trump announced on social media that he would use the “former Air Force One” rather than the plane that flew him there, a newer Boeing 747-8 gifted to the United States by Qatar. The security of the Qatar-provided aircraft has been called into question, and Trump said last month after the trip that it would undergo additional upgrades.’
‘In Ankara, Trump boarded the old Air Force One jumbo jet in view of television cameras. He was secretly shuttled minutes later to a smaller plane — an Air Force C-32A — via an airport catering truck typically used to load meals and other supplies preflight [...] That made Air Force One a “decoy” with media and some White House staff aboard.’
‘Trump had been in Ankara for a NATO summit with world leaders. The operation occurred a night after U.S. forces renewed military strikes on Iran at Trump’s direction following a breakdown of negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end their months-long war.’
‘A credible threat to Trump involving Iran set the “deception operation” in motion, the U.S. official said. The New York Times and CBS News reported last month that intelligence officials flagged a specific threat of an attack on the president or his jet, triggering additional precautions.’
CIA had ‘low confidence’ in Iranian threat before Trump switched planes in Turkey (WaPo)
‘The assassination threat was relayed by the Israeli government to the CIA, where analysts did not view the intelligence as compelling and conveyed that skepticism to Trump administration officials, one of the officials said.’
‘Despite questions about the Israeli intelligence, the elaborate plan enacted by the Secret Service in Ankara was done out of an abundance of caution, the first U.S. official said.’
‘The Iranian threat to kill Trump and other senior U.S. officials has been a major concern since the 2020 U.S. assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force. Those worries have only grown since the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in February.’
‘Some U.S. intelligence officials saw Israel’s sharing of the warning about threats to Trump’s life as designed less to inform than to influence the president’s decision-making and U.S. policy in the region, a current and a former U.S. official said.’
Iran-Strait of Hormuz
Iran demands U.S. pay for war damage before agreeing to reopen Strait of Hormuz (PBS)
‘Iranian national security officials issued a sweeping set of demands for Iran to open the strait. The U.S. must lift the naval blockade and withdraw nearby troops, remove sanctions on Iran, and release Iranian frozen assets, pay Iran reparations, and end attacks on Iranian proxies, including Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah.’
This appears to dash hope of a tentative deal reached last week, ‘when four regional and U.S. officials told “PBS News Hour” that Iran and Oman agreed that ships entering the strait would sail near Iran and ships leaving the strait would sail near Oman in a temporary deal that would restart the cease-fire’
Trump countered, saying, “Well, we’re going to ask for money for the damage they have done over a 50-year period,” citing ‘the thousands of American service members killed or wounded by Iranian bombs in Iraq,as well as tens of thousands of Iranian protesters killed by the regime and the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, although that was led by al-Qaida.’
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have also launched attacks on the internationally-recognized Yemeni government as well as cross-border attacks on Saudi energy facilities — the Houthis and Saudis fought a near-decade-long war that has been in a state of cease-fire for the last four years. The Houthis additionally threaten to shut down the Bab al-Mendab Strait — gateway to the Red Sea.
Trump keeps saying the US controls the Strait of Hormuz. Does it? (CNN)
President Trump claimed Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz is under US control: “They don’t have control. We have total control. We own it, and at some point, maybe they’ll do something, and then they get blown away.”
‘The US naval blockade of Iran is still in effect, barring ships from going to or from any Iranian port either inside or outside the strait. This has strangled Iran’s cashflow and closed the strait to Iranian maritime trade.’
‘There is still some traffic going through the Persian Gulf, headed to non-Iranian destinations. But that traffic is still just a fraction of pre-war levels. For instance, only 14 vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday – compared with the roughly 120 ships that used to cross daily before the war.’
‘That’s largely because “few merchant shipping companies and their ships are confident that the US can ensure their safe transit of the strait,” said Carl Schuster, former director of the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center.’
‘Those fears are hardly unfounded. At least four vessels belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were attacked by drones and missiles in the strait last week alone, the company said. And these attacks drive up insurance costs – further deterring shipping companies while the war rages on.’
Two More Tankers Attacked in the Strait of Hormuz (Maritime Executive)
‘Two tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz overnight Thursday, according to UKMTO and UAE state oil company Adnoc. It was the latest round of strikes instigated by Iran in an attempt to reinforce Iranian control of the strait, and the latest in a long string of attempts to halt Adnoc’s shipping operations.’
Adnoc has been at the forefront of efforts to circumvent Iran’s “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” system for the control of Hormuz,’ setting up a shuttle system to run crude around the Strait and transferring it to vessels in the Gulf of Oman.
‘This has put Adnoc’s tankers squarely in the sights of the IRGC, and the vessels have been attacked regularly. Thursday’s strikes mark the 17th and 18th times that its tonnage has been struck since the start of the conflict.’
Oil from wrecked tanker washes up along 12km of Oman’s coast (Arab News)
An oil slick from a wrecked Russian shadow fleet tanker carrying more than 800,000 barrels of oil, has begun to wash up on Oman’s coast, threatening a major wildlife sanctuary.
The vessel ran aground after it was hit by an explosion in June. ‘British company Ambrey said on Thursday that it was working to salvage the ship and had boarded the vessel with help from the Omani air force to assess its condition, AP reported.’
‘The incident comes amid heightened concerns over the environmental impact of attacks on shipping linked to the Iran war and Houthi militants in Yemen.’
Iran rejects ‘delusions’ after Trump says he wants the Strait of Hormuz to be a U.S. territory (NBC)
‘Speaking Friday at a police academy in Nassau County, New York, Trump said Iran was being “very badly defeated,” and once victory was secured, “pretty soon, I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.”’
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi retorted in a post on X early Saturday, “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by tweet, nor by aircraft carrier, nor by issuing an order, nor by an election speech. Iran neither fears threats nor cowers before displays of power. [...] the Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian; this strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and cease your fanciful delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade.”
Mismanagement
Just 29% of expected midterm voters say they approve of Trump’s handling of Iran (Independent)
CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said Tuesday that a July 2024 poll of likely voters in that year’s presidential election found that 53 percent were confident Trump would be able to handle the situation in Iran, according to a video clip posted online. But a July poll of this year’s midterm elections shows that just 29 percent now approve of how Trump is currently handling Iran.
‘Polling on which political party is more trusted to deal with wars, conflicts and terrorism also spells trouble for Republicans, who were ahead of Democrats by 18 percentage points in January 2025, Enten said. “That advantage, because of President Trump, has turned into a disadvantage on a core, key question that almost always favors Republicans. Now, Democrats have a two-point edge,” he said.’
“Just 27 percent of all voters believe [the US will ultimately reach a good deal with Iran], and get this: just 41 percent of Republicans believe it,” Enten said. “We are seeing below 50 percent across the board on this issue, and this is the reason I think, more than any other, that folks disagree with Trump on Iran because they, simply put, don’t see what the point of it is. They don’t see a way out of it.”
Sailor went overboard from the USS Abraham Lincoln this month as conditions on the ship prompt lawmakers’ demand for answers (CNN via Yahoo!)
‘A sailor went overboard earlier this month off of the USS Abraham Lincoln, three US officials told CNN, amid reports of worsening mental health for crew members on the ship during an extended deployment for the Iran war. The sailor was rescued within an hour, according to one of the officials, and was medically evaluated.’
‘News outlets Stars and Stripes and the Navy Times reported this week that there had been multiple attempts by crew members to jump overboard, citing interviews with sailors and families of those on board who described the impacts of the lengthy deployment.’
‘Since the Lincoln left its home port of San Diego last November, the aircraft carrier has been deployed for more than 250 days after being redirected to the Middle East to support US operations in the war with Iran, now entering its sixth month. With more than 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard, it has not made a port call in more than 200 days, setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea, according to Sen. Richard Blumenthal.’
‘Around 200 family members of Lincoln crew members voiced concerns over mental health and safety conditions to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and other senior officials during town hall meetings last Thursday in San Diego [...] Among the other concerns raised were reports of a lack of supplies, food shortages, water contamination and mail system disruptions
‘The USS George Washington carrier group, which finished a port visit in Vietnam on August 5, is currently headed to the Middle East to replace the Lincoln, a separate US official told CNN.’
Trump dismisses military families’ concerns about grim conditions on USS Lincoln (NBC)
‘President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed concerns from families of service members about the grim conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose deployment had been overextended in the Middle East due to the Iran war.’
NBC News asked Trump, who was speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, whether the deployments have gone on for too long and whether he’s worried about troops’ mental health. “No. No. No — not nearly long enough,” Trump said.’
‘It could take several weeks for the replacement of the Lincoln by the George Washington to be complete. It will likely take at least two weeks for the Lincoln to return to its home base of San Diego.’
Running on Empty
Oil in U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve falls below 300 million barrels, lowest since 1983 (CNBC)
‘The SPR fell by 6.1 million barrels to 298.7 million barrels last week, according to data released by the Department of Energy on Monday. The reserve, created in 1975, is at its lowest level since January 1983.’
‘President Donald Trump ordered the release of 172 million barrels in March after Iran choked off oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering the largest disruption of crude oil supplies in history.’
‘The minimum amount of oil needed to safely operate the SPR is about 70 million barrels, an Energy Department spokesperson told CNBC in July.’ Its ‘operational capability is at risk due to aging infrastructure, according to a May report from the Government Accountability Office. More than a quarter of its inventory was “not available for drawdown due to a combination of construction outages and cavern outages” [...] implying ‘that a minimum of 103 million barrels in the SPR today are not available for use.’
The U.S.’s Largest Reservoir Just Fell to Its Lowest Water Level (Time)
‘Lake Mead, the reservoir on the Arizona-Nevada border that is a crucial source of water for the American Southwest, sank to its record-lowest levels in the past week, raising concerns about deepening water supply cuts affecting millions of people.’
‘Water levels at the man-made lake formed by the Hoover Dam have dwindled to 1,040.3 ft above sea level, lower than the previous record set on July 28, 2022, since Lake Mead was initially filled in the 1930s. The reservoir’s surface measures more than 1,220 ft. above sea level at full capacity. Each inch of vertical height in the reservoir represents billions of gallons of water.’
‘Last week’s levels at Lake Mead are the latest sign of pressure on the Colorado River system, which is under threat from overconsumption and increasing temperatures, no thanks to a persisting megadrought in the region. The other large reservoir in the Colorado River Basin, Lake Powell, is also on track to hit record lows due to the same threats.’.
‘Melting snow adds to the system’s water supply, but this year’s warm winter has led to the worst snowpack on record in the Colorado River Basin’
‘The dwindling supply at Lake Mead puts hydropower at risk as the latest figures show it’s not far from the 1,035-ft operational threshold: when elevation drops to this level, some turbines at Hoover Dam will have to shut down, and its generation capacity would drop by 70%. A July 2026 forecast from the Bureau of Reclamation shows that Lake Mead water levels could come close to that threshold in the next few months and could fall below that by spring next year.’
Climate
Cruises are being cancelled across Europe as heatwave causes rivers to run dry (Sun)
Multiple European cruise providers have canceled sailings on Rhine, Danube, and Main Rivers as water levels have plunged due to repeated heatwaves and little rainfall.
‘Currently, the Danube is at the lowest level ever recorded and the Loire, which is France‘s longest river, has even partially dried up in areas.’
When extreme heat threatens Europe’s nuclear power (DW)
‘The state of the Danube is currently showing just how dependent nuclear power plants are on their local conditions. At the power station in Paks, Hungary — which normally produces about 40% of the country’s electricity needs — only one of four turbine units is still operating. Due to record-low water levels in the Danube, the country’s only nuclear power plant was even briefly at risk of a complete shutdown.’
‘In the summer of 2003, French nuclear power plants had to temporarily reduce their output by more than six gigawatts, and the most recent heat waves at the end of June and in mid-July 2026 saw the maximum available capacity was temporarily limited by eight to nine gigawatts. This corresponds to up to one-fifth of the nuclear power capacity normally available to France in the summer.’
‘In its upcoming nuclear power plant modernization program, France intends to take the consequences of climate change into account. Four of the six modern EPR2 reactors initially planned are to be built on the coast, in Penly and Gravelines. Only the third pair of reactors will be built on the Rhone River near Bugey. Cooling towers there are intended to limit the thermal load on the river and water intake.’
Jellyfish-hit French nuclear plant shuts down three reactors (Reuters)
‘Three reactors at France’s Gravelines nuclear power plant were shut down late on Monday due to a massive swarm of jellyfish, triggering preventative measures put in place last year after the entire plant went offline, operator EDF said. The plant in northern France is one of the largest in the country and is cooled from a canal connected to the North Sea. Its six units produce 900 megawatts of power each, or 5.4 gigawatts in total.’
‘Reactors 2, 3 and 4 were taken offline due to the swarm and reactor 1 was limited to 50% of output as a preventative measure. Reactor 5 was already offline for maintenance and reactor 6 remains fully operational, EDF said. The complete outage last year prompted the operator to implement new monitoring and trawling techniques to try to prevent or limit the impact of future events.’
‘The company has also partnered with a French fishing organisation and a sea rescue organisation, which monitor for swarms and can raise an alert to launch targeted trawling operations by fishermen to reduce the swarm’s density before it reaches the plant, the engineer said.’
‘Scientists warn such events could become more common due to factors including global warming, the arrival of invasive species, habitat loss of predators and over-fishing.’
UK records hottest day of the year as western Europe swelters once again (PBS)
‘Britain, like France, is experiencing its fifth heat wave of the year, with the first recorded in May. The latest extreme heat means 2026 has now had a record four days with temperatures of 36 C (96.8 F) or higher. It also has matched 2022 with two days reaching 38 C. Temperatures in France, meanwhile, have gone even higher, approaching 41 C (106 F) in several areas,’
‘Britain’s Southern Water, which oversees supplies in the south of England, has applied for a rare drought order which would ban businesses from nonessential water use, including cleaning cars and filling nondomestic swimming pools.’
Wildfires have also broken out in France, Greece, and the UK, following massive fires just weeks ago across the continent.
Thousands evacuated as wildfires burn across western U.S. and Canada (PBS)
‘In western Canada, over 20,000 people were forced to flee communities along Okanagan Lake in British Columbia over the weekend as a fast-moving wildfire destroyed homes and dozens had to be rescued by aircraft. In the U.S., crews in Washington that have been fighting three wildfires that began burning in the Spokane area for over a week continued cleanup near containment lines.’
‘Earlier [last] week, a man was arrested and charged with intentionally setting the biggest of the three Spokane-area blazes.’
‘In Utah, two helicopter pilots were killed when their aircraft crashed while they were fighting a wildfire Friday morning in the Fishlake National Forest.’
Flooding sweeps eastern Indiana, breaking 113-year-old record (AccuWeather)
‘The day after a destructive derecho tore across northern Indiana and parts of Illinois, rivers in eastern Indiana swelled, engulfing homes and reaching historic levels.’
‘The White River at Anderson, Indiana, reached 24.93 feet early Friday morning. This surpassed the previous record of 23.60 feet set in 1913, more than a century ago. The river had not been above 20 feet at this location since 1958.’
Cambridge City, Hagerstown, Yorktown, Metamora, Muncie, New Castle, Connersville, and Brownsville all experienced catastrophic flooding. Hamilton County suburbs Noblesville, Fishers, and Carmel also face major cleanup.
Live flood updates: Residents rescued; flooding expected to move south (IndyStar)
‘The Indianapolis Department of Public Works closed floodgates overnight in Broad Ripple and outside Rocky Ripple. The first closures began shortly before midnight, with crews hauling gates shut around the Indianapolis Arts Center, the Edgewater Apartments, and nearby homes and businesses on the south bank of the White River.’
‘The White River crested overnight at 24.6 feet at the gauge in Noblesville around 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 15, surpassing a previous record set more than a century ago.’
‘Public safety officials are warning residents to seek safe shelter in Rocky Ripple, Ravenswood and Broad Ripple as resources are overextended and rain continues to fall.’
‘At least five people have died in the storms that swept through Indiana this week, Indiana Department of Homeland Security executive director Jonathan Whitham said at an Aug. 15 news conference with Gov. Mike Braun.’
‘Gov. Mike Braun credited the state’s $1.14 billion rainy day fund with helping Indiana endure this week’s downpours — and said the state’s reserves would shore up its response to future storms.’
‘President Donald Trump will approve Indiana’s request for a presidential emergency declaration, Gov. Mike Braun announced [...] The declaration would make up to $5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency aid available to Indiana first responders, but Trump has not yet committed to providing a specific dollar amount, Braun said.’
FEMA-DOGE
Cuts leave FEMA ‘in the dark’ (Politico)
FEMA has cut its staff so quickly and haphazardly in the second Trump administration that it is unprepared for hurricane season. The agency has lost more than 20% of its staff due, driven by the president’s desire to eliminate the agency.
‘FEMA officials, who respond to hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods and other natural disasters every year, told the GAO that they were essentially “wandering around in the dark” because the Trump administration had not provided guidance on how to proceed with greatly reduced staff.’
‘The cuts to FEMA, many of which came through voluntary separation agreements, occurred during the early days of the second Trump administration when ELON MUSK and the Department of Government Efficiency chainsawed through the federal bureaucracy. Several agencies lost thousands of personnel so key that many were ultimately hired back.’
Chris Fugate, who headed FEMA during the Obama administration, said ‘the GAO report was too narrowly focused on hurricanes and said there is no “earthquake season.” He cautioned that a major disaster could happen at any time so the issues at FEMA need to be corrected as quickly as possible.’
Elon Musk’s DOGE Promised Savings, But It’s Cost Us a Fortune (Mother Jones)
Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) ‘published a report detailing the remarkable lack of transparency in how Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency conducted its affairs and how the savings DOGE reported fell far short of its claims.’
At the IRS, DOGE fulfilled a longtime wish of Republicans hostile to tax enforcement, cutting 28 percent of the workforce. The firings hobbled the agency’s ability to collect unpaid taxes and purse sophisticated avoidance schemes.
Musk’s “feeding USAID through a wood-chipper” has led to at least 800,000 deaths worldwide, with The Lancet estimating up to 14 million could die by 2030 if aid programs are not resumed.
DOGE consolidated data from IRS, SSA, state voter rolls, and other agencies into a massive DHS database. ‘It also goes well beyond the administration’s efforts to track down and deport undocumented immigrants. As Wired reported separately in January, a Department of Justice court filing indicated DOGE may have shared SSA data with an outside group that seeks to “overturn election results in certain states.”’
Important cuts to education and research programs have cost the US its global leadership position in science and innovation, particularly in medical research.
Consumer protection, from financial regulation to food safety have cost Americans protection against deceptive banking practices and against foodborne illnesses alike.
Federal grants to Indiana fell last year by more than $700M (ICC)
‘The state of Indiana took in $733 million less from the federal government last year compared to the previous year, according to an analysis by award indexer Granted.’
‘But when Medicaid is excluded from the results, the percentage drop grows to double digits. Competitive grants to Indiana fell to $6.7 billion, down 22% from the previous $8.6 billion subtotal.’
‘The Biden-era Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program represents the largest share of the $1.9 billion drop.’ [...] Indiana received $868 million in federal fiscal year 2024 to bring high-speed internet to every Hoosier. The line item for the one-time program then fell to zero in the 2025 fiscal year.’
‘Funding for New Empowering Rural America also decreased to zero, from nearly $679 million. The program, another initiative of former President Joe Biden’s administration, offered loans and grants to rural electric cooperatives transition for renewable energy projects.’
‘Indiana additionally netted $292 million less for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity program, which is meant to strengthen the nation’s ability to detect, prevent and respond to infectious diseases.’
Public Health
The Visible and Unseen Dangers Lurking in Floodwater (JHU)
Drowning and injury from objects swept up by rushing waters are obvious dangers, but unseen hazards are also posed by flooding.
‘Floodwater may contain hazardous household waste (e.g. bleach, antifreeze, weed killers, drain cleaners, and cleaning solutions), medical waste (soiled dressings, body parts, bodily fluids, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices) and industrial waste (paints, acids, bases, radioactive materials, heavy metal solutions, and wastewater with hydrocarbons) that can cause illness.’
‘Continuous, heavy rainfall can cause rivers to overflow and may overwhelm and damage water infrastructure like sewer and drainage systems, contaminating floodwater with animal and human waste.’
‘Water treatment plants are often located next to rivers, making water treatment and distribution systems particularly vulnerable when flooding occurs.’
‘Standing water creates the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, which are vectors for a number of diseases. Animal carcasses may carry Salmonella and E. coli, and their decaying flesh may attract rats and other carrion-feeders. And some fungi, which flourish in dank, wet environments, may take root.’
Health officials urge caution for Gulf Coast beachgoers during surge of deadly bacterial infections (PBS)
Health officials in Louisiana have confirmed nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection in the state this year. All nine were hospitalized and five died. The state is urging beachgoers to take extra precautions.
‘Vibrio bacteria thrive in seawater and in the brackish mix of fresh and saltwater found in estuaries and lagoons. Most infections are reported from May to October, and most happen in states along the Gulf Coast. Doctors say the Gulf is an ideal environment with the right amounts of salt and heat to let this organism proliferate.’
‘Florida, which tends to have more infections than other states, has reported 14 Vibrio vulnificus cases and two deaths so far this year, compared with 33 cases and five deaths for all of last year. Records show more cases in years when Florida is hit by tropical storms and hurricanes.’
Taylor Farms recalls jalapeño products at Walmart and Target over salmonella risk (CBS)
‘Taylor Farms, the agricultural giant whose lettuce has been linked to the deadly cyclospora outbreak, is recalling several prepared products made with jalapeños amid a salmonella outbreak linked to the peppers.’
‘The products, which include pico de gallo salsa and guacamole, were distributed to national retailers, including Walmart and Target, in 26 states, the company said in a statement on Sunday. Taylor Farms said it isn’t aware of any reported illnesses linked to the products.’
‘Taylor Farms said it voluntarily recalled the prepared foods after Coast Citrus Distributors, which had provided the company with its peppers, recalled its fresh jalapeños due to salmonella concerns.’
Nearly 1,900 cases of explosive diarrhea illness cyclosporiasis reported in Indiana (FOX59)
The Cyclosporiasis outbreak, which was first documented in the US in early May, has now caused nearly 1900 reported cases in Indiana alone. More than 20,000 cases across 46 states have been reported to the CDC.
Symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and explosive diarrhea. The majority of cases have occurred in women, with Allen County the hardest hit area of the state.
Michigan reports first 2 U.S. deaths in outbreak of cyclospora (PBS)
State health officials in Michigan announced the first cyclospora-related deaths last Monday.
Both victims had underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by intestinal distress and dehydration.
Doctors push back on Trump executive order to change childhood vaccine schedule (ABC)
‘President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order that makes recommendations about the childhood vaccine schedule and says that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine should be split into three separate shots [...] The order is already sparking pushback from the medical and public health communities, which have continued to reiterate decades of studies showing the safety and efficacy of the childhood vaccine schedule and vaccines more broadly.’
‘Trump said that children decades ago received a “small fraction” of currently required vaccines. “In those times, people were much healthier [...] And of course, the high rates of autism now observed did not exist. So, there’s a reason for such epidemic rates of autism. And we’re going to bring it back to much closer to where it was”
400 to 500 people died each year in the US before the introduction of the measles vaccine with approx. 48,000 hospitalized. Measles was declared eliminated in 2000, but cases have crept up recently as vaccine uptake has declined.
‘The rates of autism have increased in recent decades, but doctors largely attribute this to better awareness and diagnosis of the condition [...] Dozens of studies involving millions of people have not found an established link between vaccines and autism.’
‘The CDC had previously reduced the number of recommended shots on the vaccine schedule, though the changes had been stayed by a federal judge in March. Medical organizations pushed back on the vaccine policy changes, noting that there was no credible scientific evidence to justify them.’
ICE/Immigration
US conducted ‘mass spying campaign’ against leftwing groups and anti-ICE protesters, records (Guardian)
‘Newly disclosed records reveal the US government extensively spied on prominent leftwing organizations and on protesters as part of a vast operation into groups opposing the immigration crackdown in Minnesota earlier this year.’
‘Internal investigative reports show the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent undercover agents to community meetings in the Twin Cities and New York City, infiltrated Signal chats and obtained financial records of mainstream unions and left-leaning non-profit groups.’
‘Nearly 30 internal law enforcement reports were released on Thursday as part of a criminal case the Department of Justice has filed against 15 Minneapolis protesters. The defendants are accused of a “conspiracy” to “impede” US immigration officers during the Trump administration’s surge in the region.’
‘The records show that in January, DHS launched an inquiry called “Operation Puppet Master” to identify a “network of conspirators” organizing against [ICE]. A DHS report from February said the agency was looking into people who were “providing material support to violent opportunists and agitators”. The records suggest agents launched elaborate spying efforts targeting activists, protesters and mainstream progressive organizations opposing the Trump administration’s immigration policies.’
‘The records indicate that the investigations followed the directive of Trump’s executive order last year that designated “antifa” a “domestic terrorist organization” responsible for “riots” against ICE.’
‘The documents show that the government alleged major groups were connected to the criminal conspiracy, including the national labor unions AFL-CIO and Service Employees International Union; the local unions Minneapolis Federation of Educators and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees; and several large left-leaning groups, including the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ).’
ICE plans to give officers gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks (AP)
‘ICE plans to spend up to $20 million to purchase thousands of “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for officers and agents by March, according to a notice published Monday by the Department of Homeland Security. [...] The notice said the solicitation for a no-bid contract could be published as early as Friday.’
‘The devices are known as the G.L.O.V.E., which stands for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, and are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC of Lexington, Kentucky. They have been used in recent years by some jails and police departments.’
‘Compliant Technologies says the devices function as a normal pair of patrol gloves until officers press a switch to activate their electrical mode. The gloves must be applied directly to someone’s skin to deliver a pain stimulus that typically helps an officer gain compliance within seconds, according to the company.’
“ICE spent the last year showing this country they are too quick to use force. Now they will be able to deploy electric shocks with the slight push of a button that maybe nobody else can see them do,” said Jenn Rolnick Borchetta, deputy project director on policing at the ACLU. “Introducing gloves that can so easily be used to deliver terrible pain in encounters is a recipe for harm to the public.”
‘[John Peters, president of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths] said he expected the devices to be misused by a small number of employees, as with other policing technologies, but he said they are unlikely to cause injuries. He said it would be important for ICE to have robust policies and training in place.’
Indigenous Group Sues to Stop Big Bend Border Wall on Religious Grounds (Texas Observer)
‘The People of La Junta for Preservation, a nonprofit founded in 2024 that works to preserve Indigenous sites, and two Indigenous worshippers of Lipan Apache lineage are suing the federal government to stop the highly contentious border barrier construction and surveying activities in Big Bend [National Park].’
‘The plaintiffs argue that ongoing [CBP] construction and surveying activities in Big Bend National Park and across far West Texas have cut them off both from specific sacred sites and ecosystems fundamental to their spiritual practices in violation of Religious Freedom Restoration Act and American Indian Religious Freedom Act protections.’
‘The legal challenge comes as Southwest Valley Constructors, awarded a $1.7 billion CBP contract, began bulldozing sensitive ecological areas near Santa Elena Canyon August 6 to clear the way for a series of border barriers, surveillance systems, and patrol roads—part of a new $46.5 billion package of new wall funding appropriated by Congress under the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”’
‘Another plaintiff named in the suit, the Far Flung Outdoor Center in Terlingua, argues that its business providing parkgoers with guided river trips and other outdoor recreational services will be irrevocably harmed by the construction of border barriers.’
This is the latest in a series of actions looking to prevent the construction of border security measures in the area, including an April suit by the Center for Biological Diversity, and a June filing by the Tohono O’odham tribe. Last week, a federal judge ruled DHS could construct steel bollards across the levee system of Presidio, TX.
Tuesday Primaries
Minnesota
Peggy Flanagan wins Senate primary in Minnesota, notching another victory for progressive Democrats (PBS)
[Lt. Gov Peggy] ‘Flanagan defeated centrist Rep. Angie Craig with a pledge to fight the influence of corporations and confront Republican President Donald Trump.’
‘The outcome was another sign of progressive energy among Democratic primary voters. It comes a week after Abdul El-Sayed won a bitter and divisive primary in Michigan that fired up the left and fueled anxiety among party leaders that Democrats will alienate moderate swing voters.’
‘In the race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith, Craig lined up support from Democratic establishment figures including House [Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as senators from battleground states.’
‘Flanagan was backed by popular progressives including Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as Smith, who rallied with her in the campaign’s final weeks.’
‘Flanagan highlighted Craig’s vote for the Laken Riley Act, an immigration bill that passed early in Trump’s second term. Craig repudiated her support after Good and Pretti were killed. U.S. support for Israel and the influence of corporations and wealthy donors also figured prominently in a race that attracted tens of millions of dollars in spending by allies of both women.’
Minnesota GOP Senate Candidate Says ‘It’s Embarrassing’ To Be From the State (Mediaite)
Michelle Tafoya, a former longtime sideline reporter for ESPN and other networks, won the Republican nomination for US Senate on Tuesday.
On Wednesday — in a Fox News appearance — Tafoya said, ‘Minnesotans have told her that when vacationing elsewhere, they are reluctant to tell people where they live because it is “embarrassing.” The Republican candidate then said she agreed with that sentiment.’
‘Tafoya went viral on social media on Wednesday after a clip of her talking about the Iran war back in March resurfaced. On a conservative radio program, she addressed surging gas prices as a result of the conflict. “I think right now, at least just kind of keeping a stiff upper lip, maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks and so that gas goes a little further, until this thing is over and these gas prices come back down again,” she said at the time. “Let’s just try to be patriots about this.”’
Matt Little prevails in the 2nd District, expanding progressive wins in Democratic primaries (MinnPost)
‘The race to replace Rep. Angie Craig attracted two progressives, Little and state Rep. Kaela Berg, and a more moderate candidate, state Sen. Matt Klein. With 98% of precincts reporting, Little had won 47.2% of the vote, Klein 30.4% and Berg 16.7%.’
‘To win and keep the 2nd District, Craig had to hew to the center because it includes urban voters who are loyal Democrats, suburban voters who belong to both parties and or are unaffiliated, and rural voters who are reliably Republican.’
‘Little is a completely different candidate, born of the surge of progressive activism in the Democratic Party that has emerged as a rebuke to the Trump administration’s tough immigration enforcement policies and its relationship with Israel.’
‘An attorney who specializes in personal injury and malpractice cases, Little raised his profile during Operation Metro Surge. He spent one or two days a week following federal immigration agents and posting some of those encounters on TikTok.’
‘Little, a former Lakeville mayor who also served a term in the state Senate, will face Republican Eric Pratt, a senior member of the state Senate Finance Committee and a former vice president of U.S. Bank, in November’s general election.’
Trump-backed Mike Lindell refuses to concede Minnesota election loss (USA Today)
‘Mike Lindell, a close ally of President Donald Trump known as the “My Pillow Guy,” said he’s not ready to concede in the Republican primary for Minnesota governor, and blamed potential voting irregularities despite losing by 11 percentage points to Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth.’
‘By the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 12, all of Minnesota’s precincts had been counted, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office. Demuth won with 179,546 votes over Lindell’s 134,198, a margin of 43%-32%. Demuth will square off against U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Democratic nominee for Minnesota governor, in the November election.’
Wisconsin
David Crowley wins Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor over Francesca Hong (PBS)
‘Crowley, the Milwaukee county executive, is vying to become Wisconsin’s first Black governor and pitched himself as the candidate best positioned to win in November against Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is endorsed by President Donald Trump.’
‘Crowley narrowly defeated democratic socialist Francesca Hong, who was hoping to ride the wave of recent victories by progressive candidates, including Abdul El-Sayed in neighboring Michigan’s U.S. Senate race last week.’
‘The photo finish is just the latest twist in a chaotic primary that saw two major candidates drop out amid scandals. Crowley had also dropped out in early July, but he got back in 10 days later with Gov. Tony Evers’ endorsement.’
‘The 37-year-old known for sprinkling her comments with profanity and leaning into her edgy and sometimes humorous social media profile excited the liberal wing of the party. Hong called for free childcare and healthcare and a moratorium on artificial intelligence data center construction. But she also wrestled with her past support for defunding the police, saying at the race’s only debate that she would not support cutting law enforcement funding.’
‘She also drew criticism for past social media posts in which she called for canceling Thanksgiving because “we should stop celebrating colonialism” and disparaged Valentine’s Day as “another day capitalism tells you how to show love.”’
Tiffany launches campaign in Mosinee with hard line on Data Centers, attack on Democratic opponent (WSAW)
‘Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Tiffany launched his general election campaign in central Wisconsin on Thursday, hitting back at his Democratic opponent and drawing a hard line against taxpayer-subsidized data centers and renewable energy on prime agricultural land.’
‘During his stop, Tiffany addressed growing concerns over the expansion of energy-intensive data centers and clean energy projects, like wind and solar, on Wisconsin’s agricultural lands. While acknowledging the necessity of local data centers to keep technology from being outsourced to China, the congressman insisted that their development must be strictly conditioned.’
‘Tiffany pledged to end the state subsidies signed into law by Gov. Evers for wealthy tech corporations, ban non-disclosure agreements to ensure full negotiating transparency with local governments, and guarantee that data centers do not increase residential utility rates.’
‘Tiffany voted against certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 election victories in Arizona and Pennsylvania — and, citing Trump’s claims of illegal voting – said he would have voted against certifying Wisconsin’s election results had that come up for a vote, as well.’
Connecticut
Generational Change Knocks Off A Veteran Democrat (HuffPost)
‘Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin easily knocked off incumbent Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) in a primary in Connecticut on Tuesday night, becoming the fourth challenger this year to defeat a significantly older incumbent Democrat in a primary.’
‘While never specifically saying the 78-year-old Larson was too old for the job, Bronin suggested a new approach was needed and implied Larson was out of touch after serving in Congress for 28 years.’
‘...while the other successful primaries for generational change this cycle involved millennial candidates who are members of the Democratic Socialists of America, Bronin is a 47-year-old mainstream liberal.’
‘While the state’s congressional delegation, including Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, rallied around Larson, Bronin ran with the backing of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and won the endorsement of the state Democratic Party at a convention earlier this year.’
‘Larson would be the 11th House incumbent to lose in a primary so far this election cycle, a historically high number.’
Vermont
The results from Vermont’s 2026 primary election (VT Digger)
Amanda Janoo, an economist who had never run for office before, won Vermont’s Democratic primary for governor over Aly Richards — the former head of a child care lobbying and advocacy group who also had the backing of a well-endowed political action committee — after a campaign that called for sweeping progressive policy changes. Janoo framed herself as the anti-establishment candidate, calling for new taxes and regulations on tech companies. She will face Republican incumbent Phil Scott.
Gerald Malloy, a veteran and defense contractor, won the GOP primary for Vermont’s single US House seat. He was the Republican US Senate nominee in ‘22 and ‘24, and will take on incumbent Democrat Becca Balint in November.
South Carolina
Sen. Darline Graham, Rep. Ralph Norman advance to GOP runoff in South Carolina (PBS)
‘Gov. Henry McMaster had appointed Darline Graham to serve the waning months of her late brother’s term. She picked up President Donald Trump’s swift backing, but the rare open Senate seat attracted a broad field, including some of the state’s top Republicans, setting up the latest test of the president’s command over the GOP base.’
‘Norman has long been a member of the House Freedom Caucus, comprised of the chamber’s most conservative members. He unsuccessfully ran for the GOP gubernatorial nomination earlier this year. [...] He ‘entered the Senate contest as one several politicians more familiar to South Carolina voters in their own right, and snapped up endorsements from the likes of Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah.’
The runoff will be held August 25 and the winner will take on Charleston physician Annie Andrews.
Alabama
Special primary round-up: Low turnout, few surprises in congressional races (AL Reflector)
Special primaries were called after SCOTUS’s Lousiana v Callais decision, which gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, allowing the state legislature to approve the use of a previously-outlawed map. State lawmakers invalidated the May 19 primary results in the affected districts, setting up Tuesday’s special no-runoff contests.
‘The Alabama Secretary of State’s office reported turnout of 5.24%, continuing a downward trend through the year. The May 19 primaries drew about 23% turnout, while fewer than 11% of registered voters cast ballots in the June 16 runoff.’
In District 1, former Rep. Jerry Carl won the GOP nomination after having lost his primary to Rep. Barry Moore in 2024. Moore is the party’s nominee for US Senate this year.
District 2 Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) is the most likely victim of redistricting, this district going from 48.7% to 39.9% Black under the new maps. State Rep. Rhett Marques won the Republican nomination.
7th District incumbent Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) will face GOP nominee Ammie Akin in the state’s lone remaining Democratic-leaning seat.
War on Voting
Judge again bars Trump administration from implementing order that sought to limit mail voting (AP)
‘A federal judge on Tuesday ruled against President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to create a federal voter list and directly involve the U.S. Postal Service in election operations in a way that would limit mail voting.’
‘U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani had already halted the order Trump signed in March, his second one attempting to set national election rules. On June 25, she sided with Democratic state attorneys general in granting summary judgment, preventing the core parts of Trump’s order from taking effect.’
‘Tuesday’s ruling creates another legal hurdle for the Trump administration to overcome should it get the initial injunction lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court.’
‘The Trump administration in late July requested that the Supreme Court halt lower court decisions that have blocked the sweeping changes in nearly half the country.’
‘Trump’s executive order, the second one aimed at elections during his second term, comes as he continues to suggest that there is widespread voting by noncitizens. Along with his executive orders, Trump is pushing legislation in the Republican-controlled Congress to create a proof-of-citizenship mandate. The SAVE America Act has passed the House but has stalled in the Senate.’
Top Democrats simulate election threats as Trump continues assault on voting (Guardian)
‘In a Washington DC conference room last month, some of the most senior Democrats in the US Senate gathered to plan for a prospect that only recently would have felt more akin to science fiction: they started to wargame democracy.’
[Senate minority leader] ‘Chuck Schumer [...] and senators including Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff, Mark Warner, Elissa Slotkin and Raphael Warnock were among those in the room as a team of legal experts offered scenarios.’
Scenarios considered: realistic AI deepfake videos showing “evidence” of widespread election fraud; threats to withhold OMB funding for states that refuse to turn over their voter rolls; threats of FCC action against news outlets debunking deepfakes; armed vigilantes at ballot drop boxes (this one happened in 2022); the firebombing of an early voting site; and a last-minute deployment of DHS and/or National Guard to polling stations.
‘Voting rights advocates pointed toward Trump’s July primetime address as indicative of the president’s intentions – rhetorical attacks on the integrity of voting machines and elections offices, potentially escalating into more direct interference.’
Trump-backed challenger jumps ahead of Republican senator in Indiana recount (ICC)
The Indiana Recount Commission on Monday flipped a Republican primary race in favor of Trump-endorsed Paula Copenhaver over incumbent State Senator Spencer Deery, who opposed congressional redistricting, turning a three-vote Deery lead into a three-vote margin for the challenger.
‘The commission threw out eight votes for Deery and two for Copenhaver — all largely for technical reasons over missing signatures or initials from county election officials on absentee or provisional ballots.’
‘The three-member Recount Commission was divided 2-1 on tossing out seven of the eight votes that Deery lost [...] In the split votes, Republican commission member Paul Mullin joined with Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales, who, by law, is the commission’s chairman. Democratic member Michael Claytor voted that all those ballots for Deery should be counted.’
‘Morales was a vocal advocate of the congressional redistricting push. Mullin has previously represented Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Banks in election law cases — and political groups allied with Banks were estimated to have spent more than $1 million in supporting Copenhaver’s campaign.’
Samantha DeWester, Deery’s attorney, said she plans to appeal: “This is unprecedented. Ballots don’t get tossed for a signature missing from a clerk. It’s now going to set the tone going forward for people that are losers of elections that want to overturn them on technicality stuff. I mean, they just disenfranchised a bunch of voters.”
Indiana Democrats
Buttigieg’s plan to help Dems win again starts with the Indiana state legislature (Politico)
‘The former Transportation secretary and South Bend, Indiana, mayor is [...] backing a crop of mostly long-shot, down-ballot Democrats in his former backyard. The slate of endorsements in the Indiana state House and Senate, shared first with POLITICO, is the first move in what his team say will be a number of state-by-state endorsements.’
‘“This is an area where Democrats should learn from Republicans who spent many years patiently and cleverly building up power all the way up from the school board level,” said Buttigieg, fresh off endorsement wins, including Rep. Rebecca Cooke in Wisconsin and former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin in Connecticut, who defeated Rep. John Larson (His preferred candidate for Minnesota Senate, Angie Craig, lost.)’
‘Buttigieg is backing Indiana state House candidates Ryan Kominakis, Tiffany Stoner, Kim Townsend and Lindsay Gramlich, and state Senate candidates Scott Houldieson and Gabrianna Gratzol. He is also endorsing Beau Bayh for secretary of state and Coumba Kebe for state treasurer, the same office that drew Buttigieg into politics in 2010.’
‘Buttigieg, who now lives in Michigan, has said he is “more likely than not” to run for president again in 2028. He has hit early Democratic nominating states such as Nevada and touched down in all seven presidential battleground states.’
Beau Bayh ad kicks off potentially expensive Indiana secretary of state campaign (ICC)
‘Democrat Beau Bayh’s campaign on Tuesday released what is the [secretary of state] race’s first broadcast ad 12 weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 election.’
‘The Bayh campaign said it was making “an initial six-figure buy on TV and digital” but did not give any specifics. Federal Communications Commission filings on Tuesday showed television ad time purchases by the campaign in the Indianapolis and South Bend markets.’
‘Bayh [...] ended June with about $2.3 million in his campaign fund, making him the best-financed Democratic candidate in several years as he tries to become the first Democrat to win a statewide office since 2012.’
