US elections

Donald Trump is pushing a plan to restrict mail-in voting, a move that has reignited debate over US election procedures. Critics say limiting postal ballots could make voting harder for millions, while supporters argue the measures would protect election integrity.

A cyclospora outbreak and broader food safety concerns are being drawn into US midterm election campaigns, with the issue becoming part of political debate ahead of the vote. Candidates and commentators are framing federal food safety oversight and outbreak response as campaign topics, turning a public health matter into an electoral talking point.

The United States and Iran remain engaged in mediated negotiations, but significant disagreements persist over the terms of a potential agreement. Analysts say a deal is unlikely to be finalized before the upcoming US midterm elections, leaving the diplomatic track in limbo as political pressures build in Washington.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states can use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of people registering to vote. The decision lets states run voter rolls against the immigration-status system, a step several Republican-led states have sought. Supporters argue it protects election integrity, while critics warn it could wrongly purge eligible voters and raises privacy and accuracy concerns about the database.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says national security and military cyber forces will help protect US election systems ahead of the midterm elections. The announcement, widely reported by major outlets including AP News, signals a commitment to defending voting infrastructure from foreign interference and cyberattacks. The role of the military in domestic election security is likely to draw scrutiny.

Democrats say that if they take control of Congress in the midterm elections, they will open investigations into Donald Trump's family business dealings. The pledge, reported by Reuters, signals that a Democratic majority would use congressional oversight powers to scrutinise the Trump Organization's finances and potential conflicts of interest involving the former president's family.

The US Justice Department has announced charges and guilty pleas involving 12 individuals in election crimes cases. The department did not immediately provide details beyond the announcement. The move comes amid intense public scrutiny of election integrity and enforcement, and is likely to fuel debate over how aggressively federal authorities pursue misconduct related to voting and election administration.

CNN's Harry Enten has released a roundup of the political numbers dominating US politics, covering key Senate showdowns, signs of potential blue waves in upcoming elections, and questions surrounding alleged corruption involving Donald Trump. The roundup pairs polling data and historical trends with commentary on how these fights could shape the next election cycle.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has signed a directive aimed at defending the 2026 midterm elections from foreign threats. The announcement, published by the Department of War, is drawing attention in the United States and abroad, with the story trending in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Observers are weighing what role the Pentagon will play in election security and how the directive will be implemented ahead of the vote.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the American military to help defend the upcoming midterm elections against foreign interference. The directive puts the Pentagon in a role of safeguarding the electoral process from hostile overseas actors. The move is drawing attention to how far the military's election-related responsibilities will extend and how it will coordinate with civilian election agencies.

As the US midterm election season intensifies, members of Congress are spending less time in Washington and more time back in their districts campaigning. The squeeze raises familiar questions about whether legislation, spending bills and oversight can move forward when lawmakers' attention shifts to winning re-election. Commentators note the tension between legislative duties and campaign travel grows sharper with every week closer to the vote.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has signed a directive aimed at defending the 2026 United States elections from foreign threats. The move puts the defense department formally into election-security planning ahead of the midterm contests. The exact scope of the directive, which agencies will be involved, and what specific threats it targets have not been detailed, and reactions to the order have so far been limited.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed US cyber and intelligence agencies to make defending upcoming elections a top priority. The order tasks agencies with protecting electoral infrastructure against foreign interference and cyberattacks. It is likely to draw attention ahead of the next US election cycle, as election security remains a politically charged issue in Washington.

A Wall Street Journal reporter returned home to Miami to gauge how Hispanic voters there feel about President Trump and his immigration policies. Miami's large Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan communities have historically leaned Republican, and their shifting views on enforcement and deportation are being watched closely as immigration remains a defining issue heading into the next election cycle.

The Department of Justice has filed charges against additional Pennsylvania residents accused of voting despite not being US citizens, part of a wider enforcement push. The move follows earlier prosecutions in the state and comes amid heightened national scrutiny of voter eligibility rules ahead of upcoming elections.

Stephen Richer appeared before a US House committee hearing examining allegations of noncitizen voting in New Jersey. The hearing, highlighted by the Ash Center, brings election administration figures to Capitol Hill as Republicans press claims about voting integrity and Democrats challenge the evidence. Richer, a former Arizona county election official known for defending election administration, testified amid ongoing national debate over voter eligibility rules.

Since the 1950s, Congress's funding bills have routinely banned the use of taxpayer funds for publicity or propaganda, with the Government Accountability Office defining prohibited material as content that is purely partisan or self-aggrandizing. Commenters are raising this ban just weeks ahead of the midterm elections, implying recent government communications may test those long-standing limits.

New campaign finance disclosures in the United States reveal, for the first time in detail, how much American political campaigns are spending on artificial intelligence tools. The filings shed light on how campaigns are adopting AI for tasks like fundraising, messaging and voter outreach, and are prompting discussion about transparency, cost and the ethics of AI use in elections.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered military intelligence agencies to prioritize identifying and countering foreign threats aimed at the 2026 US midterm elections. The directive shifts intelligence resources toward election security, framing foreign interference as a defense priority. The move is drawing attention because it expands the military's role in election-related matters ahead of the midterms.

The US Supreme Court has sided with the Trump administration in a case involving its voter database, though the ruling is a narrow one with limited scope. The decision hands the administration a victory on election-data collection, but the Court's reasoning constrains how far the win extends, leaving broader questions about voter-roll access unresolved.

The Wall Street Journal outlines the possible consequences of Democrats winning in November, examining how unified Democratic control could shape policy in the United States. The piece is drawing attention as voters and commentators weigh the stakes of the midterm elections, including potential changes to legislation, economic policy, and the balance of power in Washington.