Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Trump Allegedly Sought Airport, Penn Station Renaming in Exchange for Hudson River Tunnel Funding 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall 
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges 
Iran–U.S. Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Major Hurdles Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Norway Opens Corruption Probe Into Former PM and Nobel Committee Chair Thorbjoern Jagland Over Epstein Links 
U.S. Announces Additional $6 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Cuba Amid Oil Sanctions and Fuel Shortages 
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms 
US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
Nighttime Shelling Causes Serious Damage in Russia’s Belgorod Region Near Ukraine Border 
Less than three months left until the US midterm elections in November and the primary victories in states have underlined which issues are seen as important for voters. The key issue of abortion rights was front and center following a Democratic victory in a special election in New York.
New York Democrat Pat Ryan won against Republican Marc Molinaro to represent the 19th Congressional District in New York. With 99 percent of the votes counted, Ryan won against Molinaro by 51.3 percent to 48.7 percent. The district is seen as a swing district, having voted for Barack Obama in 2012, Donald Trump in 2016, and Joe Biden in 2020.
Ryan will be serving in the seat until January, as the seat will disappear due to redistricting. Ryan is also running for different congressional seats during the November midterm races.
Ryan’s victory in the special elections also highlighted the key issue of abortion rights months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Ryan campaigned on the issue including the future of the country’s democracy, mobilizing voters who are outraged by the court’s decision.
Ryan’s election also follows the referendum in Kansas, where voters voted to preserve the state’s abortion protections despite a Republican-controlled legislature.
The November midterm elections will determine whether the Democratic Party maintains its majority in both the House and the Senate.
Democrats are hoping to use the referendum in Kansas, along with Ryan’s election victory and legislative achievements, to maintain their hold in both chambers. State primaries in Florida, Oklahoma, and New York also took place this week, where voters chose their party’s nominees for the November race.
Following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, states with GOP-controlled legislatures began enforcing their own abortion bans, with the Justice Department challenging said bans in the courts. Some of the abortion bans being implemented in such states provide little to no exceptions for rape and incest.
A federal judge Wednesday ruled to block the near-total abortion ban in Idaho in favor of the DOJ. The judge ruled in favor of the DOJ, with the department arguing that the ban conflicted with federal law.
