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FILE - Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Ex-Trump prosecutor Jack Smith faces investigation by independent political watchdog

August 3, 2025

An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who brought two criminal cases against then-candidate Donald Trump before his election to the White House last year. The Office of Special Counsel confirmed Saturday that it was investigating Smith on allegations he engaged in political activity through his inquiries into Trump. Smith was named special counsel by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 and his special counsel title is entirely distinct from the agency now investigating him. The office has no criminal enforcement power but does have the authority to impose fines and other sanctions for violations.

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Shameem Syed, right, teaches students how to make a chicken stir fry during a cooking class at Olive Community Services, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Fullerton, Calif. The class was part of the organization's Intergenerational Summer Camp. (AP Photo/Zoë Meyers)

At this summer camp run by grandmas, kids learn cooking skills and life advice

August 2, 2025

At a summer camp in Fullerton, California, grandmas are in charge. Every week, they teach a group of 8-to-14-year-olds how to cook a new dish, and a handicraft such as sewing, embroidering, clay jewelry and card marking. The camp was designed to combat loneliness in older adults and give them an opportunity to share life skills with kids. It was organized with the Golden Connections Club, started by high school student Leena Albinali to foster interactions between teens and elders. Albinali says this connection is important because both groups have things to share with each other.

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FILE - Interim U.S. Attorney General for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro listens to President Donald Trump speak during her swearing in ceremony, May 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Senate confirms former Fox News host Pirro as top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital

August 2, 2025

The Senate has confirmed former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital, filling the post after President Donald Trump withdrew his controversial first pick, conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. Pirro is a former county prosecutor and elected judge. She has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since May. Pirro most recently co-hosted the Fox News show “The Five” on weekday evenings, where she frequently interviewed Trump. Trump yanked Martin’s nomination amid concern from some GOP senators about his outspoken support for rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

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FILE - People visit the Smithsonian Museum of American History on the National Mall in Washington, April 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

Smithsonian denies White House pressure to remove Trump impeachment references

August 2, 2025

The Smithsonian says the White House did not pressure it to remove references to President Donald Trump’s impeachments from an exhibit. The museum plans to include him in an updated presentation “in the coming weeks.” Concerns arose when Trump was no longer listed among impeached presidents, sparking fears of historical whitewashing. The Smithsonian said in a statement on Saturday that it was not asked by any government official to remove content. A spokesperson confirmed that future exhibits would include all impeachments. The museum says a previous placard was removed because it didn’t meet the museum’s standards in appearance and presentation.

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Former Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron speaks at the annual Fancy Farm picnic Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Fancy Farm, Ky. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Republican Senate candidates seeking to replace McConnell aim to define themselves at Fancy Farm

August 2, 2025

A renowned Kentucky picnic turned into a Republican political skirmish on Saturday. Three candidates competing to succeed longtime U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell picked apart one another at the Fancy Farm picnic in western Kentucky. Each is seeking to gain early momentum in their 2026 primary campaign. Taking the stage at the picnic in western Kentucky were Republican Senate candidates Andy Barr, Daniel Cameron and Nate Morris. Each tried to define himself and their opponents while speaking before a raucous crowd and a statewide TV audience. With Democrats mostly skipping the picnic’s political speeches, the crowd was divided among supporters of GOP candidates.

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Dr. Wafaa Alrashid, center, whose husband, Rami Othmane, a Tunisian musician, is detained at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, holds a sign during a rally outside the facility in Los Angeles Friday, July 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A Tunisian musician was detained in LA after living in US for a decade. His doctor wife speaks out

August 2, 2025

Federal immigration agents detained a Tunisian man in Southern California who had a pending green card application. Rami Othmane is a professional musician who is married to a U.S. citizen and doctor. Othmane was arrested July 13 and detained in downtown Los Angeles for several days before being transferred to Arizona. His wife, Wafa Alrashid, says her husband was held in “dehumanizing” conditions. The Los Angeles region has been subject to an aggressive immigration crackdown that has even ensnared some U.S. citizens and residents in the country legally. Many asylum-seekers and other immigrants have been arrested while attending regular check-ins with immigration.

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Jeannie Seely, soulful country singer behind hits like ‘Don’t Touch Me,’ dies at 85

August 1, 2025

Jeannie Seely, the soulful country music singer known for hits like “Don’t Touch Me,” has died at 85. Her publicist says she died Friday from complications of an intestinal infection. Known as “Miss Country Soul,” Seely was a trailblazer for women in country music, celebrated for her spirited nonconformity and hits in the ‘60s and ’70s. She was hospitalized in May after multiple surgeries and a bout of pneumonia. Seely never stopped working in country music. Since 2018, she’s hosted the weekly “Sunday’s with Seely” on Willie Nelson’s SiriusXM channel. She appeared nearly 5,400 times at Grand Ole Opry, which will dedicate its Saturday show to her.

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President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Washington. The President is traveling to Scotland. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

After a reference to Trump’s impeachments is removed from a history museum, complex questions echo

August 1, 2025

The Smithsonian’s removal of a reference to the 2019 and 2021 impeachments of President Donald Trump from a panel in an exhibition about the American presidency comes in the wake of Trump administration actions like removing the name of a gay rights activist from a Navy ship, pushing for Republican supporters in Congress to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and getting rid of the leadership at the Kennedy Center. A Smithsonian spokesperson said the removal of the reference, which had been installed as a temporary addition in 2021, came after a review of “legacy content recently” and said the exhibit eventually “will include all impeachments.”

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FILE - Clouds hover over the entrance of the Florida State Prison in Starke, Fla., Aug. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Curt Anderson, File)

DeSantis set a Florida record for executions. It’s driving a national increase

August 1, 2025

Under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has executed more people so far this year than any other state, setting a new state record. Across the country, more people have been executed in the first seven months of this year than in all of 2024. Florida’s increase is putting the country on track to surpass 2015’s total of 28 executions. Little is publicly known about how the governor decides whose death warrant to sign and when. DeSantis has said he takes capital cases “very seriously” and that for some crimes, “the only appropriate punishment is the death penalty.”

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Devon Wells, a junior at Perry Central High School, welds a metal calf feeder at Halo Farms, where he works, on March 12, 2025, in Perry, N.Y. (AP Photo/Lauren Petracca)

Rural US high schools are offering more college-level classes, but college can still be a tough sell

August 1, 2025

America’s rural high school students are less likely to go to college than their urban and suburban peers. Students in the most sparsely populated regions often face obstacles to attending college, including having to travel far to get to campus, a lack of public transportation, and inconsistent broadband access that limits access to online courses and financial aid. Family dynamics also often factor in, including a lack of exposure to college because parents didn’t attend and an underlying doubt about the value of a college degree and curriculum. Some colleges have stepped up efforts to recruit rural students.

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Anthony Matesic works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

It’s Trump’s economy now. The latest financial numbers offer some warning signs

August 1, 2025

President Donald Trump’s economic policies are facing scrutiny as weak indicators emerge. Job gains are dwindling, inflation is rising and growth has slowed compared to last year. More than six months into his term, Trump’s tariffs and tax changes have reshaped the economy. On Friday, a bleak jobs report showed a decline in manufacturing jobs, and Trump fired the head of the agency responsible for the data. Critics warn that Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs and tax changes could backfire. The White House, however, remains optimistic, claiming the best is yet to come.

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Dr. Wafaa Alrashid, center, whose husband, Rami Othmane, a Tunisian musician, is detained at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, holds a sign during a rally outside the facility in Los Angeles Friday, July 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

A Tunisian musician was detained in LA after living in US for a decade. His doctor wife speaks out

August 1, 2025

Federal immigration agents detained a Tunisian man in Southern California who had a pending green card application. Rami Othmane is a professional musician who is married to a U.S. citizen and doctor. Othmane was arrested July 13 and detained in downtown Los Angeles for several days before being transferred to Arizona. His wife, Wafa Alrashid, says her husband was held in “dehumanizing” conditions. The Los Angeles region has been subject to an aggressive immigration crackdown that has even ensnared some U.S. citizens and residents in the country legally. Many asylum-seekers and other immigrants have been arrested while attending regular check-ins with immigration.

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This photo provided by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows Austin Robert Drummond. (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation via AP)

Police find a car they say was driven by the man wanted in the death of 4 Tennessee family members

August 1, 2025

Authorities are searching for the man  wanted for the murder of four family members in Tennessee. They found a car they believe Austin Robert Drummond was living in and offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation believes Drummond, who had a relationship with the family, is still in the area and armed. Authorities said he left an infant, related to the victims, in a front yard. Drummond faces charges including four counts of first-degree murder. His criminal history includes robbery and gang activity. The investigation began after the infant was found Tuesday.

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Texas state Rep. Jon E. Rosenthal speaks during a public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Democrats say a GOP plan to redraw House districts in Texas harms Black and Hispanic voters

August 1, 2025

Democrats are arguing that a Republican plan for redrawing districts in Texas to create more winnable U.S. House seats for the GOP is an attack on Black and Hispanic voters. They also said Friday that the plan violates the landmark federal Voting Rights Act and is a power grab by President Donald Trump. The plan’s Republican author acknowledged during a state House committee hearing that his proposed map is designed to help the GOP pick up five seats in Texas, and that’s what Trump is seeking. Democrats have few options for thwarting the Republican plan during a 30-day special session. Calls for offsetting efforts in Democratic states intensified among Democrats outside Texas.

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FILE - The entrance to the Labor Department is seen near the Capitol in Washington, May 7, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Who is Erika McEntarfer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner fired by Trump?

August 1, 2025

Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has been fired after releasing a jobs report that angered President Donald Trump. Trump announced her dismissal on his Truth Social platform, accusing her of manipulating numbers without providing evidence. McEntarfer, appointed by President Joe Biden, had served as BLS head for a year and a half. Her firing has been criticized by former colleagues and associates, who describe her as nonpolitical and respected. They warn that the decision undermines the Bureau’s mission. McEntarfer has not commented on her dismissal.

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Hot dog spill shuts down highway in Pennsylvania commuters’ wurst nightmare

August 1, 2025

A truckload of hot dogs has spilled across a Pennsylvania highway after a crash, clogging the road toward the end of the morning rush hour. The wreck took place on Interstate 83 a few miles north of the Maryland line Friday. It briefly clogged the heavily traveled artery in both directions. Crews were stuck with a job they didn’t relish — rolling up the scattered tube steaks for disposal. State police said the tractor trailer had an unspecified mechanical problem that caused it to push into a passenger vehicle. When the truck scraped along a concrete divider, its trailer was ripped open and the contents scattered. For people had injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

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FILE - Adriana Kugler of Maryland, speaks during the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing to examine her nomination to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, June 21, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

Federal Reserve Governor Kugler steps down, giving Trump slot to fill

August 1, 2025

Federal Reserve governor Adriana Kugler announced that she will step down next Friday, opening up a spot on the central bank’s powerful board that President Donald Trump will be able to fill. Kugler, who did not participate in the Fed’s policy meeting earlier this week, would have completed her term in January. Instead, she will retire Aug. 8. In her resignation letter, she did not provide a reason for stepping down.

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The headquarters of the National Science Foundation is photographed May 29, 2025, in Alexandria, Va. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Judge allows the National Science Foundation to withhold hundreds of millions of research dollars

August 1, 2025

The National Science Foundation can continue to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars from researchers in several states until litigation aimed at restoring it plays out. A federal judge on Friday declined to grant a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by sixteen Democrat-led states. In April, the NSF announced a new set of priorities and began axing hundreds of grants for research focused on things like misinformation and diversity, equity and inclusion. A lawyer for the NSF said at the hearing that the agency has the authority to fund whatever research it deems necessary.

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Veteran federal judge T.S. Ellis III, who presided over trial of Trump aide Paul Manafort, has died

August 1, 2025

The commanding courtroom presence of U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III was evident in numerous high-profile trials. He died Wednesday after a long illness at the age of 85. His judicial career lasted more than 35 years and included the trials of former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and former U.S. Rep. William “Dollar Bill” Jefferson, as well as the plea deal of “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh. His acerbic wit sometimes drew muted complaints at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, but his legal reasoning was unquestioned.

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FILE - Flaco Jimenez performs during the Americana Music Honors and Awards show Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski, File)

Flaco Jimenez, Texas accordionist who expanded popularity of conjunto and Tejano music, dies at 86

August 1, 2025

Flaco Jimenez, the legendary accordionist from San Antonio who won multiple Grammys and helped expand the popularity of conjunto, Tejano and Tex-Mex music, has died. He was 86. Jimenez’s death was announced Thursday evening by his family on social media. His family said he was “surrounded by his loved ones and will be missed immensely.” His family did not disclose a cause of death. Jimenez had been hospitalized in January. His career achievements included five Grammys and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. He helped popularize conjunto music, which originated in South Texas and blends different genres and cultural influences.

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Trixie Garcia, daughter of musician Jerry Garcia, speaks during a ceremony to unveil the naming of Jerry Garcia Street, in honor of the Grateful Dead musician, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia has childhood street named for him in San Francisco

August 1, 2025

Several hundred fans turned out to name a tiny street in San Francisco after celebrated Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia. The legendary musician spent part of his childhood in the modest Excelsior neighborhood. City officials say the commemorative street name honors a San Francisco son who continues to bring joy with his music. The Grateful Dead celebrates its 60th with three days of live music and festivities throughout the city. Offshoot Dead & Company will perform three shows starting Friday at Golden Gate Park. Garcia, who died in 1995, would have turned 83 on Friday.

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Rate Field is seen during a Chicago Cubs versus Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic series baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

PHOTO ESSAY: Polaroids capture Chicago Cubs vs. White Sox ‘Crosstown Classic’

August 1, 2025

A fierce rivalry between Chicago’s North and South Siders comes to life each summer during the “Crosstown Classic,” when the Cubs and White Sox face off in their home stadiums. This unique series is loaded with team history and memories for both sets of fans, who hail from the North and South Sides respectively. Polaroids convey nostalgia, and there’s nothing that says nostalgia quite like baseball. The film format requires a level of intimacy not often seen in modern photo coverage of baseball games, when speed and instant images are prioritized.

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Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., center, speaks during a news conference after a policy luncheon at the Capitol Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Senate delays August recess for now as Trump presses for more confirmations

August 1, 2025

A stalemate over the pace of confirmations has delayed the Senate’s yearly August recess for now as President Donald Trump declares that his nominees “should NOT BE FORCED TO WAIT.” Democrats have slowed the confirmation process by forcing procedural votes on almost all of Trump’s picks. Caught in the middle is Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who says he will keep the Senate in session over the weekend to hold confirmation votes while also trying to negotiate a deal with Democrats. The two sides haven’t come to agreement yet and it’s unclear if Trump would be onboard with any bipartisan deal.

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FILE - People visit the Smithsonian Museum of American History on the National Mall in Washington, April 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

The Smithsonian removes a Trump impeachment reference from an exhibit but says it’s temporary

August 1, 2025

The Smithsonian Institution has removed a reference to President Donald Trump’s impeachments from an exhibit. It says it’s temporary. This decision comes as the White House presses for a more positive view of American history. A label about impeachment was added in 2021 to the National Museum for American History’s exhibit on presidential power. Smithsonian spokesperson Phillip Zimmerman said the section needed an overhaul. Trump is the only president impeached twice, in 2019 and 2021. Zimmerman says the impeachment reference will be restored after revisions. Since January, Trump has demanded changes across Washington cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, and the Kennedy Center.

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People ask questions as Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., holds a town hall meeting Friday, July 25, 2025, in Wasco, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending plan

August 1, 2025

Democrats are launching a nationwide summer blitz designed to force vulnerable Republicans to defend President Donald Trump’s big tax and spending bill, especially Medicaid cuts. The Democratic National Committee’s “Organizing Summer” will feature events in Alaska, Texas, Colorado and California over the coming week. The party’s message will be reinforced by online advertising and billboard trucks at county fairs targeting House Republicans in Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Jersey, among other states. The package Trump signed into law July 4 may become the defining issue of next year’s midterm elections. Republican leaders encourage their members to promote more popular aspects of the law in appearances where they’re less likely to face difficult questions or protests.

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FILE - Audience members gather at Made By Google for new product announcements at Google on Aug. 13, 2024, in Mountain View, Calif. (AP Photo/Juliana Yamada, File)

Google loses appeal in antitrust battle with Fortnite maker

August 1, 2025

A federal appeals court has upheld a jury verdict condemning Google’s Android app store as an illegal monopoly, clearing the way for a federal judge to enforce a potentially disruptive shakeup that’s designed to give consumers more choices. The unanimous ruling issued Thursday by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals delivers a double-barreled legal blow for Google, which has been waylaid in three separate antitrust trials that resulted in different pillars of its internet empire being declared as domineering scofflaws monopolies since late 2023.

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File - A sign marks the entrance to an ExxonMobil fuel storage and distribution facility in Irving, Texas, Jan. 25, 2023. Exxon Mobil reports earnings on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Q2 profits at Exxon Mobil and Chevron dip to lowest level in 4 years on subdued energy prices

August 1, 2025

Exxon Mobil’s profit dropped in the second quarter to the lowest level in four years as oil prices declined amid an increase in production by OPEC+, but the results still managed to beat Wall Street’s expectations. The oil and gas giant earned $7.08 billion, or $1.64 per share, for the period ended June 30. A year earlier it earned $9.24 billion, or $2.14 per share. The performance topped Wall Street’s expectations, but Exxon does not adjust its reported results based on one-time events such as asset sales. Analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research were calling for earnings of $1.49 per share.

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FILE - The Detroit skyline is seen, May 12, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Detroit’s mayoral primary

August 1, 2025

Detroit voters will take a key step toward choosing a new mayor in the municipal primary on Tuesday, when nine candidates will appear on the ballot in the city’s first open-seat mayoral race in a dozen years. The crowded field includes former police chief James Craig, city council member Fred Durhal, former city council president Saunteel Jenkins, Triumph Church pastor Solomon Kinloch, attorney Todd Perkins and current city council president Mary Sheffield. The top two vote-getters in the nonpartisan primary will advance to the November general election. Incumbent Mayor Mike Duggan is running for governor of Michigan as an independent.

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Prosecutors seek substantial prison term for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as they oppose bail

August 1, 2025

Prosecutors say they will seek a prison sentence for music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs that is substantially higher than the four to five years they initially expected he might face under federal sentencing guidelines. And they say they oppose the defense’s renewed request for bail because nothing has changed since his conviction last month on prostitution-related charges. He was acquitted of more serious sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. The written submission to a Manhattan federal court judge was filed late Thursday. Earlier in the week, a defense lawyer made a renewed $50 million bail request for Combs, pending his Oct. 3 sentencing.

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The trail head to the Devil's Den trail at Devils Den State Park remains closed Monday, July 28, 2025, in West Fork, Ark. Police in Arkansas are searching for a suspect in the deaths of a couple who investigators said were attacked while on the wooded walking trail with their two young daughters. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Teacher hired in Arkansas charged in Devil’s Den park killing of couple that was hiking with kids

July 30, 2025

Officials say a 28-year-old Arkansas man has been arrested in the killings of a married couple in front of their children at Devil’s Den State Park over the weekend. Arkansas State Police arrested the man from Springdale on Wednesday and charged him with two counts of capital murder. Police did not mention a possible motive. Clinton David Brink and Cristen Amanda Brink were found dead Saturday on a walking trail at Devil’s Den. Authorities have said their young daughters were not hurt and are being cared for by family members.

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Oahu residents evacuate Ewa Beach to the side of Kunia Road due to the threat of tsunami in Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP photo/Michelle Bir)

‘Over-evacuation’ may have prompted traffic problems before tsunami hit Hawaii, officials say

July 30, 2025

Hawaii officials say the timing of the tsunami warning and evacuation orders following this week’s massive earthquake off Russia helped make for severe traffic congestion in some areas. With hours of notice before the waves were to hit, some residents tried to run to the store for supplies or complete other errands. That complicated evacuation efforts that otherwise went smoothly. Hotels sent nonessential employees home early, putting additional drivers on the roads. A few tourists left for higher ground, rather than shelter on upper floors of hotels as called for in evacuation plans. Ed Sniffen, director of the state Department of Transportation, said that next time, he would like to provide more education about how people should manage that time.

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This photo provided by Florida Department of Corrections shows Edward Zakrzewski. (Florida Department of Corrections via AP)

Florida set to execute man for killing wife, 2 kids in new state death sentence record for 1 year

July 30, 2025

A Florida man convicted of killing his wife and two children with a machete in 1994 is set for execution. Thursday’s would be the ninth death sentence carried out in Florida in 2025, a new state record for a single year. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis also set 10th and 11th executions for August. A death warrant signed by DeSantis for Thursday directs that 60-year-old Edward Zakrzewski be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison. The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Zakrzewski’s final appeal. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year. Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each.

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The trail head to the Devil's Den trail at Devils Den State Park remains closed Monday, July 28, 2025, in West Fork, Ark. Police in Arkansas are searching for a suspect in the deaths of a couple who investigators said were attacked while on the wooded walking trail with their two young daughters. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Arkansas police arrest man in Devil’s Den park killings after dayslong search, finding him nearby

July 30, 2025

Officials say a 28-year-old Arkansas man has been arrested in the killings of a married couple in front of their children at Devil’s Den State Park over the weekend. Arkansas State Police arrested the man from Springdale on Wednesday and charged him with two counts of capital murder. Police did not mention a possible motive. Clinton David Brink and Cristen Amanda Brink were found dead Saturday on a walking trail at Devil’s Den. Authorities have said their young daughters were not hurt and are being cared for by family members.

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This undated image provided by the New York Police Department shows Officer Didarul Islam, who was shot and killed at a Manhattan office building on Monday, July 28, 2025, in New York. (New York Police Department via AP)

NYPD officer killed in Manhattan office shooting to be laid to rest

July 30, 2025

A New York City police officer killed during a shooting at a Manhattan office tower is being laid to rest. The funeral of Officer Didarul Islam will take place Thursday at Parkchester Jame Masjid Funeral Home in the Bronx. The 36-year-old will then be buried at a cemetery in New Jersey. Islam was among four people fatally shot Monday in a midtown building housing the National Football League’s headquarters. The gunman also shot and wounded a fifth victim before killing himself. An immigrant from Bangladesh, Islam had worked his way up the nation’s largest police force, serving as a school safety agent before becoming a patrol officer.

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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., walks from the Senate chamber as Senate Republicans vote on President Donald Trump's request to cancel about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting spending, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Trump calls GOP’s Hawley ‘second tier’ senator after bill to ban stock trades in government advances

July 30, 2025

President Donald Trump has lashed out at Sen. Josh Hawley after the Republican’s proposal to ban stock trading by members of Congress — and the president and vice president — advanced in a committee vote. It’s the second time in as many days that Trump laid into senators in his own party. A day earlier, Trump tore into veteran GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa over an obscure Senate procedure. Hawley’s stock trade legislation with the panel’s top Democrat sailed out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on a bipartisan vote. Trump called Hawley a “second-tier Senator” after the vote.

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A price for beef is displayed on the edge of a shelf at a grocery store in Mount Prospect, Ill., Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Ranchers say expanding herds to take advantage of record retail beef prices isn’t so simple

July 30, 2025

South Dakota rancher Calli Williams wants to benefit from high beef prices, but it’s not so simple. She and her husband have faced challenges like drought, limited grass for grazing, and rising land costs. Expanding herds is difficult due to biology; it takes years to increase cattle numbers. Despite recent rains, past drought impacts linger. U.S. cattle herds are at record lows despite retail beef prices soaring. Consumers are still willing to pay high prices, valuing beef’s taste. The Williamses hope to expand their operation and pass it down to their young sons. They’re remaining optimistic despite challenges from weather and markets.

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FILE - Rain falls as Irene Valdez visits a make-shift memorial for flood victims along the Guadalupe River, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Kerrville, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Search for answers after Texas’ deadly floods brings lawmakers to devastated Hill Country

July 30, 2025

Texas lawmakers are expected to question local Kerr County officials on Thursday over their preparedness and response to the deadly July 4 floods that killed at least 136 people. Lawmakers have filed bills to address improving emergency communications and providing additional funding for affected areas. Republican lawmakers have been careful not to scrutinize the state’s response while emergency officials faced scrutiny from Democrats at a hearing last week. Lawmakers are also considering a highly partisan effort to redistrict the state’s congressional maps, making for a busy 30-day special session that has resulted in Democrats fleeing the state in protest.

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Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro points a photo of him during a motorcycle caravan by supporters to protest the Supreme Court trial where he faces charges for alleged involvement in a 2022 coup attempt, in Brasília, Brazil, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Nova)

Trump signs order to justify 50% tariffs on Brazil

July 30, 2025

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to impose his threatened 50% tariffs on Brazil. The order Wednesday sets a legal rationale that Brazil’s policies and criminal prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro constitute an economic emergency under a 1977 law. Trump earlier this month threatened the tariffs on Brazil in a letter to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. But the legal basis of that threat was an earlier executive order premised on trade imbalances being a threat to the U.S. economy. But America ran a $6.8 billion trade surplus last year with Brazil, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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The offices of Showcase Magazine, a monthly publication based in Danville, Va., where city Councilmember Lee Vogler was attacked and set on fire, is seen on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)

Virginia city councilman set on fire in workplace attack; suspect charged with attempted murder

July 30, 2025

Police say a city councilmember in Virginia was set on fire by a man who entered a local magazine office. Investigators say Wednesday the attack stemmed from a “personal matter” and was unrelated to his politics or work as councilman. Lee Vogler is an elected official in Danville, Virginia. Police say the suspect entered Vogler’s office, where he works at a local magazine, confronted him and doused him in flammable liquid. Authorities say both men then left the building and the 29-year-old suspect set Vogler on fire. The suspect was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding.

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Community Service Officers from the Old Orchard Beach Police Dept. patrol on bicycles, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Maine police chief says officer arrested by ICE is missed by colleagues and was eligible to work

July 30, 2025

Officials in a Maine town where immigration authorities arrested a police officer say the officer was a trusted member of the force who is missed by his colleagues. Old Orchard Beach officials are also expressing frustration with lack of information about the case from the federal government. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica, on July 25. Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Elise Chard said Wednesday that Evans was federally approved to work in the country in May, and that the town and police department haven’t received any information about Evans’ case and his current whereabouts.

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California governor signs executive order to support boys and men and improve their mental health

July 30, 2025

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order aimed at supporting men and boys and improving their mental health outcomes. It directs state officials to recommend ways to lower suicide rates among young men and to connect them with education and career opportunities. The issue has come increasingly into focus after Democrats lost young men to President Donald Trump in last year’s election. Newsom released an episode of his podcast Wednesday where he discussed how to support the well-being of men and boys. Men make up half the population but account for 80% of suicides in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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FILE - A doctor performs an ultrasound scan on a pregnant woman at a hospital in Chicago, Aug. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford, File)

What we know about a new health data tracking system being announced by White House

July 30, 2025

President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new private health tracking system to help patients access their health records and monitor wellness is raising a host of privacy concerns. The system, a collaboration between the federal government and Big Tech, aims to allow seamless sharing of medical records among doctors, hospitals, and health apps. Patient advocates and ethicists worry about how health information could be used. Digital privacy advocates are skeptical about data security, fearing the monetization of sensitive health information.

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Allen Hall, 71, poses for a photo in his room at a hotel in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, with a bracelet and chain given to him by Cornelius Taylor, who died after he was crushed by a bulldozer at a homeless encampment in January. (AP Photo/Charlotte Kramon)

Emotional journey for Atlanta’s homeless as city races to house 400 people before the World Cup

July 30, 2025

Atlanta promised to house all residents of an encampment where a homeless man was fatally injured earlier this year, but advocates say the city fell short. The resulting tension between advocates and the city illuminates the complexities of getting people off the streets in a city that has been crushed by the nation’s affordable housing crisis and where homelessness continues to surge. The city originally offered housing to 14 people living in the encampment but agreed to house more after residents and advocates said there were at least 30. But eight were living in a hotel paid for by advocates.

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FILE - Actor Alec Baldwin attends his trial for involuntary manslaughter for the 2021 fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during filming of the Western movie "Rust," July 12, 2024, at the County District Court in Santa Fe, N.M. (Ramsay de Give/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Judge dismisses lawsuit filed by Alec Baldwin for malicious prosecution in fatal ‘Rust’ set shooting

July 30, 2025

A New Mexico judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by actor Alec Baldwin for malicious prosecution in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the Western movie “Rust.” The judge in a ruling made public Wednesday dismissed the case without prejudice for lack of any significant action with the claim. Baldwin’s attorneys say settlement discussions have been ongoing and that they have been waiting to prosecute the case pending the outcome of those talks. Baldwin had alleged defamation, saying that prosecutors and investigators intentionally mishandled evidence. A judge last summer dismissed a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Baldwin in the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

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The Capitol is seen under dark skies in Washington, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate confirms Trump’s pick for counterterrorism agency, a former Green Beret with extremist ties

July 30, 2025

The Senate has confirmed Joe Kent, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the National Counterterrorism Center. Republicans looked past his connections to right-wing extremists and support for conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Kent has already been working for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. As the head of the National Counterterrorism Center, he will oversee an agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats. In the role, he plans to devote agency resources to targeting gangs and other criminal groups. He is the latest Trump loyalist to win Senate confirmation to the upper echelons of U.S. national security leadership.

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American Eagle’s ‘good jeans’ ads with Sydney Sweeney spark a debate on race and beauty standards

July 30, 2025

U.S. fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters wanted to make a splash with its new advertising campaign starring 27-year-old actor Sydney Sweeney. It has. The question is whether some of the public reactions the fall denim campaign produced is what American Eagle intended. Titled “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans,” the campaign has sparked a debate about race, Western beauty standards, and the backlash to “woke” American culture. Most of the negative reception focused on videos that used the word “genes” instead of “jeans” when discussing the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actor. Some critics saw the wordplay as a nod to eugenics, a discredited theory that held humanity could be improved through selective breeding for certain traits.

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FILE - Soprano Anna Netrebko attends a news conference on the premiere of Manon Lescaut in the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

Russian soprano’s case alleging national origin discrimination against the Met Opera to proceed

July 30, 2025

A federal judge says Russian soprano Anna Netrebko can move forward with her case claiming national origin discrimination by the Metropolitan Opera. The Met removed Netrebko after she refused to repudiate President Vladimir Putin over Russia’s campaign against Ukraine. The decision was made public Wednesday, a day after it was issued. The case, which will proceed alongside her claim of gender discrimination, has not been scheduled for trial. The Met said in a brief statement that the case was reinstated on purely technical grounds and will not succeed. An arbitrator ruled in 2023 that the Met violated the union’s collective bargaining agreement.

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Recall issued over energy drinks mistakenly containing vodka

July 30, 2025

Energy drinks that mistakenly contain vodka are being recalled in more than a half dozen states. High Noon is recalling two production lots of High Noon Beach Variety packs because some contain cans with vodka inside that were mislabeled as Celsius Astro Vibe Energy Drink. The company says the cans contain vodka seltzer and were mislabeled as “sparkling blue razz”-flavored Celsius Astro Vibe energy drinks. The packs were distributed to retailers in Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin. The company says a shared packaging supplier mistakenly shipped empty Celsius energy drink cans to High Noon. People who purchased the drinks with the specified production lot codes are encouraged to dispose of them.

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FILE - Sunken and damaged boats rest in the boat basin after a powerful tsunami sent repeated surges that broke up docks and tore loose boats in Crescent City, Calif., March 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Jeff Barnard, File)

A tiny California city prone to tsunamis saw the highest waves in continental US after quake

July 30, 2025

Officials are warning people to stay away from beaches and waterways in a small California city near the border with Oregon that has recorded dozens of tsunamis, including one that turned deadly more than 60 years ago. Officials said at a briefing Wednesday that no injuries had been reported, but a dock at the city’s harbor was damaged. City Manager Eric Wier says it was a long night with a lot of uncertainty, but the city didn’t see flooding. He says the downtown is high enough that it was open Wednesday morning.

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FILE - Federal agents stage at MacArthur Park Monday, July 7, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes,File)

ICE entices new recruits with patriotism pitch and promise of $50,000 signing bonuses

July 30, 2025

The agency responsible for President Trump’s mass deportations agenda is launching a recruiting campaign. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking what the campaign says are “brave and heroic Americans” to become deportation officers, lawyers, and investigators. The campaign uses patriotic imagery and slogans like “AMERICA NEEDS YOU.” The agency is offering up to $50,000 in signing bonuses and other benefits. This expansion is funded by a $170 billion bill from Congress, with ICE receiving $76.5 billion. But there are concerns about whether the rapid growth will potentially lower recruitment standards.

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FILE - Laura Loomer arrives at Philadelphia International Airport, Sept. 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)

More Trump administration figures who met Laura Loomer’s ire are out. A look at her influence

July 30, 2025

President Donald Trump has downplayed the influence of Laura Loomer, a right-wing provocateur known for her incendiary social media presence, in his administration’s decision-making. But the list of officials who have drawn Loomer’s ire and swiftly thereafter gotten the axe from Trump’s administration has been growing. The latest was Dr. Vinay Prasad, the FDA’s vaccine chief, who announced his departure this week after Loomer criticized him for past statements against Trump. Loomer has publicly urged Trump to remove aides whom she deems disloyal. Trump has praised Loomer but distanced himself from some of her controversial remarks.

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FILE - Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Sean Plankey, Senior adviser to the Secretary for the U.S. Coast Guard, right, help serve sailors and Coast Guardsmen at Naval Support Activity in Bahrain, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool, File)

Senate committee advances Trump nominee to lead cybersecurity agency that protects election systems

July 30, 2025

A Senate committee has advanced the nomination of President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The agency is tasked with protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure, including election systems. Wednesday’s vote sends the nomination to the Republican-controlled Senate. If confirmed, Sean Plankey will inherit an agency that has been mired in partisan tensions over the role it should play in combating false claims about voting or election fraud. During his Senate hearing this month, Plankey wouldn’t directly answer when asked whether the 2020 election was rigged and stolen.

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‘Downton Abbey’ star Elizabeth McGovern brings Ava Gardner’s tumultuous life to the stage

July 30, 2025

Elizabeth McGovern, known for her role in “Downton Abbey,” has written a play about Ava Gardner. The play, titled “Ava: The Secret Conversations,” explores Gardner’s relationship with journalist Peter Evans, who was tasked with ghostwriting her memoir. The production, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, features McGovern as Gardner and Aaron Costa Ganis as Evans. It begins performances off-Broadway in New York City this week. McGovern, who also sings with the band Sadie & The Hotheads, says writing songs helped her gain the confidence to write the play. She finds theater a refreshing escape from technology.

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Law enforcement video shows Bryan Kohberger in traffic stop months before Idaho murders

July 30, 2025

An Idaho sheriff’s office has released body-worn camera footage showing Bryan Kohberger during a traffic stop that occurred months before he killed four University of Idaho students in 2022. The video was released by the Latah County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday. The video shows an August 2022 traffic stop, when Deputy Darren Duke pulled Kohberger over for speeding on a highway that runs between Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington. Kohberger is driving the same white Hyundai Elantra that police say he drove on Nov. 13, 2022, when he killed Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Maddie Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves in a rental home near the University of Idaho campus.

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FILE - Director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Jen Easterly speaks to The Associated Press in Washington, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

Army secretary directs West Point to rescind appointment of Biden-era cybersecurity director

July 30, 2025

The Secretary of the Army has directed the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to review its hiring practices and rescind the appointment of a newly announced hire who led the nation’s cybersecurity agency under President Joe Biden. The directive Wednesday came just a day after Jen Easterly was announced as the new chair of West Point’s social sciences department. The move showed how vigorously the Trump administration has sought to wield control over higher education and the military. It also highlighted how deeply concerns about censorship have seeped into the administration. As the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Easterly faced criticism from Republicans that her election-related work veered into censorship. Easterly has denied those allegations.

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A demolition crew removes a slab of concrete from the remaining portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Demolition begins on last pieces of Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge

July 30, 2025

Demolition crews are working to remove large sections of the remaining pieces of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after its deadly collapse last year. Maryland’s governor on Wednesday praised the work so far. State officials hope to finish construction on a new bridge by 2028. Officials say the replacement span will be located slightly east of its predecessor, which allows demolition and construction to proceed simultaneously. The project has an estimated $1.7 billion price tag, but that number could rise due to supply chain issues, tariffs and other costs. Officials say the 2028 completion date could also change.

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FILE - This Jan. 28, 2019 file photo shows the entrance to the main Duke University campus in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

Trump administration freezes $108M at Duke amid inquiry into alleged racial discrimination

July 30, 2025

President Donald Trump’s administration is freezing $108 million in research funding to Duke University as the federal government accuses it of racial discrimination in the form of affirmative action. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke Wednesday on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The person says the National Institutes of Health halted the funding to the private university in North Carolina. Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Education Department sent a joint letter alleging racial preferences in Duke’s hiring and admissions. Duke has not commented.

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FILE - Radioactive waste sealed in large stainless steel canisters is stored under five feet of concrete in a storage building at the Savannah River Site, near Aiken, S.C., Nov. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, File)

Radioactive wasp nest found at site where US once made nuclear bombs

July 30, 2025

Workers at a South Carolina site that once made nuclear bomb parts have found a radioactive wasp nest. Officials say there’s no danger to anyone. Employees checking radiation levels at the Savannah River Site near Aiken found the nest on July 3. It was near tanks storing liquid nuclear waste. The nest had radiation levels 10 times above federal limits. Workers sprayed it with insect killer and disposed of it as radioactive waste. No wasps were found. Officials say the nest was likely contaminated from residual radioactivity. Watchdog group Savannah River Site Watch criticized the report for lacking details on the contamination source.

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This combination of photos shows Jennifer Hudson, left, Michelle Obama, center, and Issa Rae. (AP Photo)

Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival returns with star power and cultural legacy

July 30, 2025

The Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival is back for its 23rd year, celebrating Black filmmakers, actors and tastemakers. This nine-day event, starting Friday, features appearances by stars like Jennifer Hudson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Mara Brock Akil, Michelle Obama and Dwyane Wade. The festival has become a cultural reunion, drawing influential voices like Colman Domingo, Spike Lee and Tyler Perry. Set in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, it offers a platform for Black creatives to connect and share their stories. This year’s theme focuses on joy, with panels, screenings and discussions on Black storytelling, fashion, and history. The festival continues to affirm the value of Black storytelling.

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An earthquake off Russia has set off tsunami warnings and advisories. Here’s what to know

July 29, 2025

A powerful earthquake that struck off the coast of Russia has generated tsunami warnings and advisories for a broad section of the Pacific, including Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake registered a magnitude of 8.8 and was centered off the coast of Kamchatka peninsula. If you get a tsunami warning, move to higher ground if you are in a tsunami hazard zone. Some communities have buildings designated as meetup points during tsunami warnings, such as a school. Others might simply urge residents to retreat up a hillside.

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A tour van featuring a painting of musician Jerry Garcia travels through Haight Street in San Francisco, Saturday, July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)

The Grateful Dead toasts its 60th with concerts at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park

July 29, 2025

Tens of thousands of Deadheads are pouring into San Francisco for three days of Dead & Company concerts in honor of the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary. Fans say it’s appropriate that the jam band nearly synonymous with psychedelic San Francisco celebrate in their city of origin, and in Golden Gate Park. Members lived in a dirt-cheap Victorian in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood and became a significant part of the Summer of Love. San Francisco has planned a long weekend of events, including renaming a street for city native and guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995.

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FILE - Duane "Keffe D" Davis appears in Clark County District Court for a trial readiness status check at the Regional Justice Center on June 17, 2025 in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun)

Tupac Shakur slaying suspect files appeal with Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss charges

July 29, 2025

The man charged with ordering the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas is asking the Nevada Supreme Court to dismiss his murder charges. Duane “Keffe D” Davis filed an appeal with the court Tuesday after a lower court judge upheld his charges. Davis, the only man ever to be charged in Shakur’s killing, was arrested in September 2023. The 62-year-old has admitted in interviews and in his memoir that he provided the gun used in the shooting. His attorney said he had immunity from prosecution for statements made during interviews with federal and local authorities.

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FILE - Whitney Cooper casts her ballot on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, in Canton, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, file)

Court restricts who can bring voting rights challenges in a case involving voters with disabilities

July 29, 2025

A federal appeals court panel has ruled that private individuals and organizations cannot bring voting rights cases under a section of the law that allows others to assist voters who are blind, have disabilities or are unable to read. It’s the latest ruling from the St. Louis-based 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, saying only the government can bring lawsuits alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act. The findings upend decades of precedent and will likely be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Monday’s ruling followed the reasoning of another 8th Circuit panel in a previous case from 2023.

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The trail head to the Devil's Den trail at Devils Den State Park remains closed Monday, July 28, 2025, in West Fork, Ark. Police in Arkansas are searching for a suspect in the deaths of a couple who investigators said were attacked while on the wooded walking trail with their two young daughters. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Police release picture of man wanted for questioning in investigation into Devil’s Den park killings

July 29, 2025

Arkansas police have released a photo of a man wanted for questioning in their investigation into the killing of a married couple at Devil’s Den State Park. The attack happened over the weekend, and the couple were killed in front of their children. Police say the killer was likely injured during the attack. Authorities have asked the public to review photos and videos from the park on Saturday. The FBI is assisting with the investigation. Trails at the park remain closed, and rangers have increased patrols. The couple had recently moved to Arkansas from South Dakota.

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Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., speaks during a news conference on the Voting Rights Advancement Act, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Sen. Cory Booker in angry outburst says ‘complicit’ Democrats need a ‘wake-up call’

July 29, 2025

In a rare public outburst on the Senate floor Tuesday, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker took his Democratic colleagues to task, saying the party “needs a wake up call!” Booker angrily screamed at two of his shocked Democratic colleagues and blocked the passage of several bipartisan bills that would fund police programs, arguing that President Donald Trump’s administration has been withholding law enforcement money from Democratic-leaning states. The surprise Senate spat over police bills that have broad bipartisan support strikes at the heart of the beleaguered Democratic party’s dilemma in the second Trump era as they try to find a way back to power.

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FILE - Incumbent Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval participates in a candidate forum with Brian Frank hosted by the Cincinnati NAACP, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster,File)

5 people charged in ‘vicious’ brawl in Cincinnati that sparked safety debate in the city

July 29, 2025

Five people have been charged after a violent brawl in downtown Cincinnati over the weekend. A video of the fight, which happened early Saturday, shows several people throwing punches. One man was repeatedly punched and kicked while on the ground. A woman was also punched and left bleeding. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval called the incident “unacceptable.” Police Chief Teresa Theetge said more charges are expected. The brawl has sparked political debate, with some blaming city leadership for safety issues. The incident has also drawn attention online.

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A crowd seeks relief from the heat Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Old Orchard Beach, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

ICE says detained Maine police officer overstayed visa. The chief says he cleared a federal check

July 29, 2025

The chief of police in a resort town in Maine has called for an investigation into the arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of one of its officers. The chief says the officer was federally approved to work in the country in May. ICE on Friday arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica. The agency says Evans was illegally present in the U.S. and unlawfully attempted to purchase a firearm. ICE says Evans legally entered the U.S. in September 2023 and violated the terms of his admission by overstaying his visa. Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Elise Chard says federal officials authorized Evans to work.

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FILE - A Planned Parenthood sign is displayed on the outside of the clinic, Aug. 1, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

More than 20 Democratic-led states sue Trump administration over Planned Parenthood funding cuts

July 29, 2025

A group of more than 20 states are suing the Trump administration over efforts to cut Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood. The lawsuit challenges part of President Donald Trump’s big tax law that cut reimbursements to major providers of family planning services. The states argue the provision’s language is unclear about which organizations it applies to. They also say it violates free speech by targeting Planned Parenthood for its advocacy for abortion access. But the Trump administration says states should not be forced to fund groups that it says prioritize political advocacy.

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An immigration official wears a face mask depicting a cigar and beard as he waits to transport detained immigrants Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Baldwin Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Los Angeles County seeks ordinance preventing law enforcement from concealing their identities

July 29, 2025

Los Angeles County leaders want to prohibit law enforcement officers from concealing their identities while on duty, a response to recent immigration raids during which some federal agents refused to identify themselves or covered their faces. The Board of Supervisors voted 4—0, with one abstention, on Tuesday to direct county counsel to draft an ordinance that bars officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks, with limited exceptions such as for medical protection or during undercover operations. Officers would also be required to visibly display identification and agency affiliation while out in public.

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs asks for release on a $50 million bond ahead of sentencing in October

July 29, 2025

Sean “Diddy” Combs is asking a judge to release him on a $50 million bond while he awaits sentencing in October. Combs was acquitted of the most serious federal charges he faced, but convicted of lesser prostitution-related offenses. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, argued on Tuesday that conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn are dangerous. Agnifilo noted that others convicted of similar offenses were typically released before sentencing. In July, Combs was denied bail after being acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Judge Arun Subramanian said Combs hasn’t shown he is not a danger to the community.

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FILE - People stand in line during the last day of early voting, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, file)

Democrats try again to revive the Voting Rights Act but face long odds

July 29, 2025

Democrats are again trying to revive the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. But they face long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress. Senate Democrats reintroduced legislation Tuesday that would renew and expand parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 amid renewed debate over the future administration of American elections. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia was joined by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and four other senators during a news conference outside the Capitol. The push for the bill comes at a precarious moment for the Voting Rights Act. The enforcement mechanisms of the original law have been removed or hampered by two decades of court rulings and lapsed congressional reauthorizations.

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Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Trump says US will partner with Israel to run additional food centers in Gaza, but details are scant

July 29, 2025

President Donald Trump says the U.S. will partner with Israel to run new food centers in Gaza. This move aims to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region. Trump mentioned that Israel would oversee the centers to ensure proper distribution. The announcement comes amid pressure for the U.S. to do more about hunger in Gaza, but details were scant and it was unclear how the new food centers would differ from existing centers. The Trump administration recently withdrew from ceasefire talks, accusing Hamas of bad faith. Democrats in Congress have urged the administration to resume talks and criticized the existing food aid system.

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FILE - A Microsoft sign and logo are pictured at the company's headquarters, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Redmond, Wash. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond, File)

Microsoft Authenticator is ending password autofill soon. How to set up a passkey before Aug. 1

July 29, 2025

If you’re a Microsoft Authenticator user, you’ve probably received at least one notice that the app’s password management features are no longer usable and that your stored passwords will be inaccessible starting Aug. 1 unless you have the Edge browser. Authenticator has been a staple in providing multi-factor authentication, one-time passwords and biometric logins for services and some websites. Although the app will continue to provide authentication for passkey-compatible services, it is pushing its password management and autofill functions out to the company’s Edge browser instead.

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FILE - People walk between buildings on Harvard University campus, Dec. 17, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Trump administration wants Harvard to pay far more than Columbia as part of settlement

July 29, 2025

The Trump administration is pressing for a deal with Harvard University that would require the Ivy League school pay far more than the $200 million fine agreed to by Columbia University, according to two people familiar with the matter. Harvard would be expected to pay hundreds of millions of dollars as part of any settlement to end investigations into antisemitism, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Harvard leaders have been negotiating with the White House as they battle in court to regain access to billions of dollars in funding terminated by the Trump administration.

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FILE - Salvage crews work on recovering wreckage near the site in the Potomac River of a mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a Black Hawk helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

NTSB hearings will focus on fatal Army helicopter-passenger jet crash. Here’s what to know

July 29, 2025

The National Transportation Safety Board will hold three days of hearings on the fatal midair collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter. The goal of the hearings is to pinpoint exactly what went wrong and how to avoid similar accidents. The crash occurred in January in the skies above Washington. It killed all 67 people aboard both aircraft. The NTSB’s hearings will be in Washington and will start Wednesday. They come at a time of heightened scrutiny of the safety of air travel amid the growing list of aircraft tragedies, mishaps and near misses in 2025, and as federal officials raise concerns over the nation’s overtaxed and understaffed air traffic control system.

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FILE - Virginia state Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, listens to debate during the Senate session at the Capitol, March 10, 2022, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Virginia judge bars Youngkin’s university board appointments rejected by Senate Democrats

July 29, 2025

A judge has ordered that eight university board members tapped by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin should be removed from their posts. His order is a victory for Virginia Senate Democrats who rejected the appointees in a June committee vote. Now the appointees will be immediately severed from their board seats at the University of Virginia, George Mason University and the Virginia Military Institute. The case comes amid the White House’s effort to reshape higher education, with a focus on DEI. Universities in Virginia have become a groundswell for political tension between academic leaders and the federal government, with boards at the center of those battles.

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How ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ became the surprise hit of the summer

July 29, 2025

Netflix’s animated musical film “KPop Demon Hunters” has become the surprise hit of the summer. Fans, culture critics and filmmakers theorize there are a few reasons the movie is connecting. It is because the film blends cultures, utilizes the best and brightest in K-pop music, features interesting animation and is based on original intellectual property. Fans are hungry for new animated and musical stories. And K-pop fans feel as though they have been accurately represented in “KPop Demon Hunters.” The movie follows the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X as they fight demons and save their fans.

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A "Help Wanted" sign is displayed at Illinois Air Team Test Station Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Lincolnshire, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

US job openings fell to 7.4 million last month as job market continues to cool

July 29, 2025

Employers posted 7.4 million job vacancies last month, a sign that the American job market continues to cool. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that job openings in June were down from 7.7 million in May. Layoffs were little changed. But the number of people quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects elsewhere — dropped last month. The U.S. job market has lost momentum this year, partly because of the lingering effects of 11 interest rate hikes by the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve in 2022 and 2023 and partly because President Donald Trump’s trade wars have created uncertainty that is paralyzing managers making hiring decisions.

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FILE - A sheet of new $1 bills is seen, Nov. 15, 2017, at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

US consumer confidence improves slightly in July, but Americans remain concerned about tariffs

July 29, 2025

Americans’ view of the U.S. economy improved this month, but Americans remain concerned about the impact of tariffs on their economic futures. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose two points to 97.2 in July, up from 95.2 the previous month. In April, American consumers’ confidence in the economy sank to its lowest reading since May 2020, largely due to anxiety over the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. A measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for their income, business conditions and the job market rose 4.5 points to 74.4, however that’s still well below 80, the marker that can signal a recession ahead.

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President Donald Trump, left, speaks with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell during a visit to the Federal Reserve, Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Federal Reserve likely to stand pat on rates this week, deepening the gulf between Powell and Trump

July 29, 2025

The Federal Reserve is expected to leave its short-term interest rate unchanged on Wednesday for the fifth straight meeting, a move that will likely underscore the deep divide between how Chair Jerome Powell and President Donald Trump see the economy. The Fed itself is increasingly divided over its next steps, and many economists expect that two members of the Fed’s governing board could dissent on Wednesday in favor of cutting rates. Trump says that because the U.S. economy is doing well, the Fed should cut rates but Fed officials, and most economists, say a solid economy means rates should be relatively high to prevent overheating and a burst of inflation.

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FILE - In this April 27, 2011 file photo, bottles of Procter & Gamble's Tide detergent are on display at a Target store in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

P&G to increase prices in part due to tariffs as shoppers remain cautious and delay purchases

July 29, 2025

Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble offered an annual earnings outlook that was below analysts’ projections and said it would raise prices on about a quarter of its products in the U.S. in part due to costs of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The assessment comes a day after the Cincinnati-based maker of such products as Crest toothpaste, Tide detergent and Charmin toilet paper, named Shailesh Jejurikar, currently chief operating officer, to succeed Jon Moeller as the company president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Moeller, who has been at the company’s helm since November 2021, will become P&G’s executive chairman.

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FILE - President Donald Trump talks to workers as he tours U.S. Steel Corporation's Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant, Friday, May 30, 2025, in West Mifflin, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

Trump’s tariffs could squeeze US factories and boost costs by up to 4.5%, a new analysis finds

July 29, 2025

A new analysis suggests President Donald Trump’s tariffs could increase factory costs by 2% to 4.5%. The analysis highlights potential challenges for domestic manufacturers relying on global supply chains just as the Republican president prepares to announce tariff hikes he says will boost the U.S. economy. While the U.S. stock market shows relief tariffs aren’t as high as initially threatened, concerns remain about higher prices and slower growth. Tuesday’s analysis by the Washington Center for Equitable Growth warns of economic and political costs, especially in swing states with significant manufacturing sectors, like Michigan and Wisconsin.

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Krill catch in Antarctica soars to record following collapse of conservation deal

July 28, 2025

Fishing for krill near Antarctica has surged to a record high, nearing a seasonal catch limit that could close the fishery early. This boom follows last year’s failure by several governments to approve a new management plan. In the first seven months of the 2024-25 season, krill fishing reached 518,568 tons, about 84% of the 620,000-ton limit. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources reported a nearly 60% increase in one area. Krill are crucial for marine ecosystems and climate regulation, but increased demand and fishing pressure threaten their stocks.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at a news conference at the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Justice Department files misconduct complaint against federal judge handling deportation case

July 28, 2025

The Justice Department has filed a misconduct complaint against the federal judge who has clashed with President Donald Trump’s administration over deportations to a notorious prison in El Salvador. Escalating the administration’s conflict with U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday on social media that she directed the filing of the complaint against Boasberg “for making improper public comments about President Trump and his administration.” The complaint stems from remarks Boasberg allegedly made in March to Chief Justice John Roberts and other federal judges saying the administration would trigger a constitutional crisis by disregarding federal court rulings, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by The Associated Press.

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U.S. President Donald Trump talks to the media as he meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Trump Turnberry golf club in Turnberry, Scotland, Monday, July 28, 2025. (Christopher Furlong/Pool Photo via AP)

Trump says he ended friendship with Epstein because he ‘stole people that worked for me’

July 28, 2025

President Donald Trump says his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein ended after Epstein hired people who had worked for Trump. The Republican president said Monday that he had warned Epstein about hiring Trump staff and that when Epstein did it again, “I threw him out of the place.” The place Trump refers to is his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Authorities say the disgraced financier killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The case has dogged Trump after he and his top allies stoked conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death.

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FILE - Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon speaks at the 2024 summer meeting of the National Governors Association, July 11, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Cheyenne to host massive AI data center using more electricity than all Wyoming homes combined

July 28, 2025

A massive AI data center proposed near Cheyenne, Wyoming, would use more electricity than all homes in the state combined. Mayor Patrick Collins calls it a “game changer.” The center is a joint effort by Tallgrass and Crusoe. It will start at 1.8 gigawatts and could expand to 10 gigawatts. Wyoming is a top energy producer and exports most of its electricity. The center would have dedicated energy produced by renewables and by burning natural gas. Although OpenAI is searching for data center sites, a Crusoe spokesperson declined to confirm if this project is part of the OpenAI Stargate effort.

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FILE - California Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks during a news conference April 16, 2025, in Ceres, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

States file lawsuit against Trump administration over efforts to collect SNAP recipients’ data

July 28, 2025

A coalition of state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s demand for states to turn over personal data — including names, birthdates, and home addresses — for people who are enrolled in a federally funded food assistance program. The data demand appears to be part of the Trump administration’s effort to collect private information on mostly lower-income people who may be in the country illegally.

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President Donald Trump reads from a paper and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen listens after reaching a trade deal between the U.S. and the EU at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump is getting the world economy he wants — but the risk to growth could spoil his victory lap

July 28, 2025

President Donald Trump is getting his way with the world economy. Trading partners from the European Union to Japan to Vietnam appear to be acceding to his demands to accept higher costs in the form of high tariffs. Financial markets, at first panicked by the president’s protectionist agenda, seem to have acquiesced to a world in which U.S. import taxes — tariffs — are the highest they’ve been in decades. But high tariffs are likely to raise prices for American consumers and businesses that rely on imports and to make the U.S. economy less efficient over time.

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The trail head to the Devil's Den trail at Devils Den State Park remains closed Monday, July 28, 2025, in West Fork, Ark. Police in Arkansas are searching for a suspect in the deaths of a couple who investigators said were attacked while on the wooded walking trail with their two young daughters. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Police search for suspect in deaths of couple attacked while walking with daughters at Arkansas park

July 28, 2025

Police in Arkansas are searching for a suspect in the deaths of a couple who investigators said were attacked while on a wooded walking trail with their two young daughters. State police say Clinton David Brink and Cristen Amanda Brink were found dead Saturday at Devil’s Den State Park in Washington County in a suspected homicide. Their daughters, who are 7 and 9, were not hurt. Officials described the suspect as a white male wearing dark shorts, a dark ballcap, sunglasses and fingerless gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black, four-door sedan with a license plate partly covered by tape.

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FILE - North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a campaign event in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond, File)

Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will run for the US Senate in North Carolina in 2026

July 28, 2025

Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, giving Democrats a proven statewide winner in an open-seat race that is expected to be one of the most competitive 2026 contests. Cooper made the announcement Monday with a video released on social media and his campaign website. The former two-term governor will immediately become the front-runner for the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley plans to run for the GOP nomination, with President Donald Trump’s blessing. Cooper’s candidacy is a big recruiting win for Democrats, who see the seat as a top pick-up opportunity in what will be a challenging year.

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Suspect in Michigan Walmart stabbings is charged with a rarely used state terrorism count

July 28, 2025

A Michigan prosecutor has filed a terrorism charge against a man accused of stabbing 11 people at a Walmart store. The charge has been rarely used in the state’s courts since it was adopted more than 20 years ago during the outrage over 9/11. The prosecutor believes the terrorism charge fits because the attack near Traverse City on Saturday was intended to “put fear in the entire community.” Bradford Gille is also charged with attempted murder. An expert believes the terrorism charge will be hard to pursue because of Gille’s mental health. A not-guilty plea was entered.

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FILE - Reggie Daniels pays his respects a memorial at Robb Elementary School, Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas, created to honor the victims killed in the recent school shooting. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, file)

Texas county votes to release Uvalde school shooting records, ending legal battle

July 28, 2025

Leaders of the county where 19 students and two teachers were killed in the 2022 shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, have voted to release records related to the massacre. Monday’s 2-1 vote by Uvalde County commissioners ends a yearslong lawsuit filed by media organizations over disclosure of information from the shooting at Robb Elementary School. The decision by commissioners came a week after the Uvalde district’s school board voted to release its records in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. Both the county and the school district have not said when the records will be made public.

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An exchange of gunfire in Atlanta leaves 1 dead and 10 injured, police say

July 28, 2025

Police in Atlanta say one person is dead and 10 others were injured after an exchange of gunfire in a busy nightlife area. Police Chief Darin Schierbaum says officers responding to the Sweet Auburn neighborhood around 1:30 a.m. Monday found 11 people had been shot and one of them had died. He says one of 10 people hurt, an 18-year-old man, is critically injured. Police are looking for three males and a female who approached a streetcar stop. Schierbaum says it’s believed they initiated the exchange of gunfire, but police don’t yet know what prompted the shooting. Police are investigating 12 violent incidents that left 29 people injured and two dead over the weekend.

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FILE - Paul Dans, director of Project 2025 at the Heritage Foundation, speaks at the National Religious Broadcasters convention, Feb. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Project 2025 author Paul Dans will challenge Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina

July 28, 2025

A chief architect of Project 2025 is launching a Republican primary challenge to Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. Attorney Paul Dans joins a crowded field that will test the loyalties of President Donald Trump and his MAGA movement in next year’s midterm election. Dans tells The Associated Press the Trump administration’s federal workforce reductions and cuts to federal programs have been what he hoped for in drafting Project 2025. But Dans says there’s “more work to do,” particularly in the Senate. Dans is set to formally announce his campaign Wednesday in Charleston. Trump endorsed Graham early on. A senior adviser to Graham predicts Dans’ campaign will “end prematurely.”

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FILE - Wallis Annenberg, right, presents Elizabeth Taylor, center, and Sylvester Stallone with Devereux Foundation Awards at a ceremony, Thursday, July 12, 1984, Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, file)

Wallis Annenberg, billionaire philanthropist who backed arts, science and other causes, dies at 86

July 28, 2025

Billionaire philanthropist Wallis Annenberg has died in Los Angeles at the age of 86. Her family says Annenberg died Monday from complications related to lung cancer. Annenberg supported arts, science, education and animal welfare causes over several decades. Her name also adorns institutions across the Los Angeles area, including the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The Los Angeles Times says that during her 16-year tenure as president and chief executive of the Annenberg Foundation, the nonprofit donated about $1.5 billion to thousands of organizations in Southern California. Her father, Walter Annenberg, started the foundation after selling his publishing empire in 1989. He died in 2002.

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All 3 people aboard a small plane that crashed in the ocean off California died, officials say

July 28, 2025

Law enforcement officials say all three people aboard a small twin-engine plane that crashed into the Pacific Ocean off California’s central coast have died. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the fatalities late Sunday. The plane went down about 300 yards off Point Pinos. Officials have not disclosed the cause of the crash, which happened Saturday. Witnesses reported hearing the aircraft engine revving before a splash. Debris later washed ashore. The plane took off from San Carlos airport and was last seen near Monterey. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

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FILE - Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., center,, is joined from left by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., as they talk to reporters about the Laken Riley Act, a bill to detain unauthorized immigrants who have been accused of certain crimes, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Georgia Republican Mike Collins joins field seeking to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026

July 28, 2025

Georgia Republican Mike Collins is joining the GOP field to challenge Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026. The second-term congressman made the announcement Monday. He’s the newest major Republican to enter the race in the key battleground state. Already running in the GOP primary is U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, while former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley is expected to announce soon. State Insurance Commissioner John King dropped out. Collins styles himself as a “MAGA workhorse” and strong supporter of Donald Trump. He has a combative social media presence that has drawn publicity and criticism. Ossoff won his seat in 2021 and is campaigning for a second term.

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FILE - A person working on a laptop in North Andover, Mass., June 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

Creating realistic deepfakes is getting easier than ever. Fighting back may take even more AI

July 28, 2025

The use of deepfakes to impersonate high-level officials in the U.S. presents a growing security challenge. Deepfakes also disrupt corporate boardrooms and family living rooms. Advances in artificial intelligence mean it’s easier and cheaper than ever before to create lifelike audio and video. These deepfakes can be used for gaining access to sensitive systems, for committing corporate espionage and for stealing national security secrets. But the size and scope of the problem are also prompting research into the best ways to counter it. Tech companies say new programs will help governments, businesses and everyday people detect deepfakes and ensure the people they see on the screen are who they say they are.

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