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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Ohio voters reconsider Republican Max Miller amid domestic abuse allegations
Voters in the red district are concerned with congressman’s alleged behavior and political future ahead of the midterms David Griffith was a registered Republican for years. But on Sunday evening, he watched Ohio congressman Max Miller stumble through an 18-minute statement in which the lawmaker attempted to defend himself against allegations of domestic abuse against his ex-wife and infant child. Continue reading...
Florida Democrat switches districts after DeSantis redistricting shake-up
Pia Dandiya, a first-time candidate, says voters care more about costs than district lines as she seeks a key open seat What is a sanguine new congressional candidate to do when the district they thought they were running in gets torn apart by a governor’s best efforts to gerrymander his state at the president’s behest? For Pia Dandiya, a first-time candidate for the Democratic party in Florida, the answer was simple: pick up some maps, hit the road, and embrace the challenge of conquering a different part of the state. Continue reading...
Beyond bodycams: Wisconsin killing reopens debate about police accountability
Community organizers demand systemic changes after police killed Corey Ruiz, a 38-year-old Black man, in Madison After bystander footage of police killing Corey Ruiz – a 38-year-old Black man in Madison, Wisconsin – spread online, many questioned why the officers were not wearing body cameras, a standard practice for more than 80% of police nationwide. Police said Ruiz was wielding a knife and injured an officer; multiple bystander videos showed he was shot while already detained and on the ground . Ruiz’s family called for mandatory body cameras in the city, along with charges for the four officers involved . People across the political spectrum echoed the demand for cameras, including Madison’s police chief. Continue reading...
Senate committee says it has copy of Fauci’s phone as it weighs holding him in contempt
Veteran US health official invoked fifth amendment right amid hostile questioning from Republicans last week US politics live – latest updates A US Senate committee says it obtained a backup copy of Anthony Fauci’s iPhone as it weighed whether to hold the veteran government health official in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer Republicans’ questions amid a hostile inquisition last week. The phone was used by Fauci during his time as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, including his time fronting the first Trump administration’s response to the Covid pandemic in 2020. Continue reading...
Raleigh bike brand faces chop after owner begins insolvency proceedings
Fate of historic bicycle name in hands of administrators after Netherlands-based Accell Group fails to find buyer The bicycle company that owns the historic Raleigh brand has started insolvency proceedings after failing to find a buyer. The Netherlands-based Accell Group said on Wednesday it had called in administrators after it failed to find a viable solution to continue its operations in their current form. Continue reading...
Woman, 47, charged after four men stabbed in Covent Garden
Stella Gollovena accused of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after assaults in central London A 47-year-old woman has been charged after four men were stabbed in central London. Stella Gollovena, of no fixed address, was charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, the Metropolitan police said. Continue reading...
Nigerian security forces free more than 300 hostages abducted by militants
President hails ‘successful’ rescue as country battles endemic kidnapping for ransom and insecurity worsens Nigerian security forces have rescued more than 300 abducted people in what the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hailed as the largest single-day hostage recovery in the country’s history. The release was announced on Wednesday after a joint operation, conducted by the military, police and counter-terrorism units, freed victims held captive in the dense forests of the Kainji Lake national park in the north-central region. Continue reading...
First Thing: Democrats look forward after progressive El-Sayed victory in Michigan
Abdul El-Sayed is latest leftwing candidate to capture nomination for November’s midterm elections. Plus: gender parity in Latin America’s city of cycling Good morning. The progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic primary for the US Senate in Michigan. Despite many backing his opponent, Haley Stevens, in the race, leading Democrats are now uniting behind the former public health official with the goal of retaking control of the chamber in November’s midterm elections. What does El-Sayed’s victory mean for the Democratic party? Though a contentious general election, in a battleground state, awaits, his rise could serve as a revision to the political establishment’s prior playbook of requiring candidates to run from the center in swing-state politics. What do the Democrats need to retake the Senate? Republicans currently control the chamber with 53 lawmakers. The easiest path for Democrats to take back the Senate requires holding on to their seats in Michigan and Georgia while ousting Republicans from blue state Maine as well as three other red states. What was the vote? Schwartz was confirmed by a 51-44 vote that broke largely along party lines, with Tim Kaine of Virginia the sole Democrat to support her nomination. Continue reading...
Firefighters start to contain Washington state wildfires as tens of thousands remain displaced
Fires have destroyed about 850 buildings and forced about 67,000 people to evacuate since they erupted last weekend Firefighters have taken advantage of cooler weather to begin getting a handle on wildfires that have displaced tens of thousands of people around Washington state’s second-largest city, but hotter, drier and breezier days lie ahead. Officials reported Wednesday that firefighters had established containment lines around the perimeters of all three fires affecting Spokane and that they were focused on reinforcing those lines. Temperatures were expected to climb from the 80sF the past two days into the upper 90sF (36C), with less humidity, late this week. Continue reading...
An Israeli professor lost a prestigious US job offer after speaking out on Gaza. Now the university is paying him $250,000
The University of Minnesota withdrew an offer from Raz Segal to lead its Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies after an organized campaign against his hiring When the University of Minnesota (UMN) extended an offer to historian Raz Segal to lead its Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in June 2024, it did so upon the near-unanimous recommendation of a committee of academics after a rigorous search process. The scholars had enthusiastically praised Segal, with one committee member describing a presentation he gave as “breathtaking”. But five days after making the offer, the university abruptly withdrew it, citing “perspective” it had received from members of the community. The reversal followed backlash over Segal’s criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, which he called “ a textbook case of genocide ” in an October 2023 op-ed published in Jewish Currents. Segal’s critics condemned the piece, published just days after the 7 October attacks in Israel, accusing him of justifying Hamas crimes – an assertion that Segal rejected and the article does not sustain. Continue reading...
Trump’s Gaza Board of Peace issues first building contract – for a military base
Exclusive: Louisiana firm awarded tender to build rudimentary outpost to house Moroccan troops Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, which was set up in January to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza , has finally issued its first construction contract in the devastated territory: a project to build a rudimentary 150-person military outpost to house Moroccan troops, a source familiar with the matter told the Guardian. The contract, which has not yet been finalised, was awarded to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based firm that has previously carried out work with the US government in countries such as Iraq. Continue reading...
Record high for referrals to Prevent anti-terror scheme including 20% rise for rightwing extremism
Programme aiming to stop people turning to terrorism sees 39% rise in referrals in year to September 2025 – the highest number on record A record number of people have been referred to the government’s anti-terror programme, with a 39% rise over the last year, including a 20% rise in referrals for extreme rightwing ideology, according to official data released on Thursday. A total of 10,293 referrals – up from 7,408 – were made to the Prevent programme in the year to September 2025, which is the highest number since records began 11 years ago. Continue reading...
‘It’s beautiful but fragile’: fears cruise ships threaten habitats in £150m redevelopment of Falmouth Docks
Plans involve dredging and expanding the docks to allow larger cruise ships to visit with up to 200,000 passengers annually Janavi Kramer had just enjoyed a swim with friends and was sitting on a bench taking in a wonderful Cornish view – headlands plunging into deep water, bobbing boats, a bustling harbour town. “We’re lucky to have this space,” said Kramer, who is an artist and scientific illustrator . “We use it for work, recreation and pleasure and it’s so scary to think that this could all be harmed. I worry about what we may be living with soon and what we’ll be leaving for future generations.” Continue reading...
The American left is making strides. But can they win in November? | Ben Davis
The left is increasingly winning within the Democratic party. But it still needs to prove that it can build general-election coalitions capable of beating Republicans The ideological struggle within the Democratic party continued on Tuesday night with primaries in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Virginia and Washington. The results showed an increasingly intense conflict within the party, with high Democratic primary turnout and bruising ideological battles up and down the ballot. The Democratic electorate is shifting, becoming more progressive and more willing to challenge party leadership, but not as quickly or uniformly as many assumed. Continue reading...
The real meaning of Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan | Robert Reich
We’re seeing America wake up to the tyranny that’s engulfed us With the victory of progressive Abdul El-Sayed over representative Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic primary, prepare yourself to hear enormous quantities of bullshit about the Democratic party now being “taken over” by the “left” or by “democratic socialists”. Or as the reliably establishment New York Times put it : “Can an insurgent candidate, with unabashedly liberal positions, win a general election in a moderate state?” Continue reading...
Exclusive: Emails reveal Palmer Luckey’s political fundraising as his company wins sole-source contracts
Co-founder of defense firm Anduril has donated $5.9m to Republicans and bundled more, while reaping billions in Pentagon contracts Wealthy Republicans on the west coast received an emailed invitation in July to an upcoming fundraiser titled “Keep the Senate”. The email, obtained by the Guardian, described the event as a “private roundtable and dinner with the National Republican Senatorial Committee” where donors can pledge $50,000 for seats at the head table, and mingle with legislative heavy hitters from Capitol Hill including the Senator majority leader, John Thune, and Mike Rogers, who is running for Senate in Michigan with Donald Trump ’s endorsement. One of the organizers listed on the invite was defense industry tycoon Palmer Luckey, the 33-year-old co-founder of sprawling weapons manufacturer Anduril Industries. Continue reading...
Most Americans view rising living costs as biggest barrier to a better life, survey finds
When asked to detail what would make a better life in three to five years, 60% of US adults said greater financial security Americans may seem increasingly divided on beliefs and values, but in a new survey of more than 30,000 adults from across the country spanning generations and economic classes, a majority of Americans agree there’s a significant barrier to achieving a better life: the rising cost of living. When asked to describe what a better life in three to five years would look like, 60% of Americans said they wanted greater financial security, according to a survey that was conducted by the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the WK Kellogg Foundation in mid-April. Continue reading...
Why making Anthony Fauci the enemy will harm US public health for years
Republicans are trying to scapegoat the infectious disease expert, even as they have gutted healthcare amid outbreaks of measles, cyclosporiasis and Ebola Katie Miller, an erstwhile Trump administration official and wife of Stephen Miller, once relied on Dr Anthony Fauci to get through Covid. Now, she’s calling for his imprisonment – a reversal that illuminates the politicization of Fauci and of public health writ large, a trend that could have major repercussions for America’s preparedness for future crises. A US Senate committee will vote on Thursday morning over whether to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress after the physician and former public health official invoked his fifth amendment rights during a Senate hearing last week focused on Fauci’s actions during the Covid pandemic. Continue reading...
US senators urge crackdown on wildfire betting amid warnings of arson risk
Experts say growing trend on sites such as Polymarket and Kalshi could motivate people to start fires to win money A group of US lawmakers is sounding the alarm over prediction market platforms that allow users to bet on wildfires, as experts warn the emerging trend could raise the risk of arson. Democratic senators from six states sent a letter this week to the chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an independent government agency regulating platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi, urging it to rein in the practice. Continue reading...
Diageo shares bounce back as new CEO Dave Lewis lifts spirits with $1bn savings plan
Ex-Tesco boss known as ‘Drastic Dave’ for his cost-cutting zeal pledges more of the same at flagging Guinness owner Shares in Diageo have bounced after the Guinness owner’s chief executive, “Drastic Dave” Lewis, passed the first big test of his plan to revive the flagging fortunes of the UK-based drinks company. Lewis, a former Tesco boss known in the City for his cost-cutting zeal, promised to deliver $1bn of savings over two years through a “significant” restructuring aimed at making the company more agile. Continue reading...
Senate committee set to vote on holding Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress – US politics live
Hearing called after the former chief medical advisor invoked the fifth and refused to answer questions at a hearing on Covid-19 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. The Senate is expected to vote today on whether to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress. Continue reading...
Is King Charles a ‘white Briton’? Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe won’t say
Lowe questioned on BBC about definition in report for hard-right party that both parents need to be born in UK Rupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, refused to say he believes King Charles can be classified as a “white Briton” in an extraordinary interview on the BBC’s Today programme. Questioning Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, over his claims that “white Britons will become a minority by 2063”, the presenter, Nick Robinson, noted that the forecast Lowe referred to defined a “white Briton” as someone whose parents were both born in the UK. Continue reading...
All bodies of water in England polluted with toxic chemicals, official data shows
Environment Agency assessments find just 14.3% of country’s surface waters in good ecological status Every single English water body is polluted with toxic chemicals, new government data shows, while just 14.3% of surface waters achieved good ecological status. Each of the country’s rivers, lakes and estuaries was assessed by the Environment Agency as part of a six-yearly evaluation into England’s water quality. The EA checked for a range of toxic chemicals, from Pfas forever chemicals to microplastics. Waters were also checked against a range of standards covering wildlife, water quality and physical habitat. Continue reading...
Virginia teens at golf tryouts rescue family from drowning and then make squad
Gavin Cain, Andrew Tuggle and Jackson Castro were at golf team tryouts when they heard screams from nearby lake A trio of Virginia teenagers recently showed up to golf team tryouts, jumped into a nearby lake to rescue three people – including a preschooler who couldn’t swim – after their kayaks capsized, and then earned spots on the squad, according to officials who are hailing their actions as “heroic”. In events that authorities say demonstrate the kind of leadership that young people are capable of, Andrew Tuggle, 15, and 17-year-olds Gavin Cain and Jackson Castro showed up to the Culpeper Country Club links on the afternoon of 27 July to compete for places on Eastern View high school’s golf team, the local police department said in a statement. Continue reading...