
Democrats are preparing to use Trump's West Wing renovations and DC arch as leverage to compel cooperation from his associates in investigations, while hundreds of election deniers run for office, Turning Point plans major midterm spending, Trump's $5,000 stimulus proposal faces hurdles, courts block Trump's mail-in voting restrictions, Census data on noncitizen voting is flawed, ICE funds a national voting database, Polymarket faces multiple government investigations, MAGA-affiliated staffers infiltrate the Census Bureau, and AI regulation remains unlikely despite voluntary safety agreements.
AI-generated summary
The article discusses Democratic strategies to investigate Trump associates ahead of the 2022 midterms, widespread election denial among Republican candidates, Turning Point's political spending, Trump's controversial stimulus proposal, legal challenges to voting restrictions, Census data controversies, ICE's voting database initiative, investigations into Polymarket, MAGA influence in the Census Bureau, and the lack of AI regulation despite voluntary safety agreements.
Democrats Have a Plan to Force Trump’s Associates to Cooperate With Investigations
Donald Trump’s West Wing renovations and DC arch could be on the chopping block, should Democrats win the midterms—they could also be leverage.
Hundreds of Election Deniers Will Be on the Ballot This November
197 election deniers are running for Congress or statewide office in 43 states. Many of them are seeking roles that would put them in charge of voting for the 2028 presidential election.
A Year After Charlie Kirk’s Death, Turning Point Plans to Spend Big on the Midterms
Turning Point will spend tens of millions on ads and turnout, sources say, with a focus on New Hampshire, Arizona, and Nevada.
Trump Probably Won’t Give $5,000 to Every US Adult if Republicans Win the Midterms
The eyebrow-raising proposal, delivered during the president’s speech at the midterm convention, would cost $1.2 trillion and would need congressional approval.
The Supreme Court Just Blocked Trump’s Efforts to Control Mail-In Voting for the Midterms
The ruling bars the United States Postal Service from implementing restrictions that experts and election officials say would upend voting in November.
A US Census Report on Noncitizen Voting Used Bad Data to Reach Faulty Conclusions
Trump has touted a recent Census report. WIRED found grave flaws in its analysis and the process behind it, and confirmed the identity of several of its authors—among them a one-time DOGE affiliate.
ICE Plans to Pay $5 Million to Create National Voting Database
As part of a broader DHS surge to investigate alleged voter fraud, ICE has announced it plans to pay up to $5 million to create what amounts to a federal voter database.
The US Government Launched 3 Previously Unreported Investigations of Polymarket Trades
The agency that oversees prediction markets has investigated Polymarket trades on Biden pardons and the Iran war—and even more potential insider trading at Google, documents obtained by WIRED show.
The Census Bureau Is Overrun With Staffers From a MAGA Think Tank
The US Census is home to vast troves of sensitive data on nearly every person living in the country, which is used for apportioning and drawing congressional districts as well as allocating federal funding based on population sizes.
Trump’s AI Safety ‘Accord’ Is a Fancy Pinky-Swear
Six major AI companies signed a voluntary agreement with the White House this week vowing to implement safeguards. It’s unclear how much that matters.
Washington Won’t Be Regulating AI Anytime Soon
Even with mounting concerns about AI models going rogue, legislation appears unlikely, and the White House is outright opposed to oversight.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Democrats will use control of Congress to investigate Trump associates if they win the midterms
Possible · Within months
Turning Point will spend tens of millions on ads and turnout in New Hampshire, Arizona, and Nevada for the midterms
Likely · Within months
ICE will proceed with plans to pay up to $5 million to create a national voting database
Likely · Within months

Greece, Germany, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands plan to open the first EU 'return hub' in an unnamed African country by mid-2027 to process rejected asylum seekers, with the EU states retaining responsibility and financing, despite legal and humanitarian concerns raised by past failed models in the UK, Italy and Denmark.

Senator Tommy Tuberville claimed on the Senate floor that airline pilots who participate in the furry fandom pose a threat to aviation safety, citing a viral audio clip of pilots making animal sounds. While fact-checkers found no evidence linking the pilots to the furry community, interviews with furry aviation workers confirmed a notable overlap between the fandom and the industry, attributing it to shared interests in roleplay, neurodivergence, and passion for flight, though they emphasize keeping their personal identities separate from work.

Senate Democrats defeated two Republican-backed bills on Wednesday: the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would have required AI data centers to cover their own energy costs, and the Stop Insider Trading Act, which would ban congressional stock trading but includes a controversial voter ID provision. Both bills failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome the filibuster, with votes of 57-43 and 53-47 respectively. Democrats criticized the bills as watered-down, while Republicans plan to use the votes in campaign messaging ahead of the 2026 midterms.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the idea of the UK rejoining the EU during a meeting in Madrid, with Macron saying 'Welcome back' and Sanchez calling Brexit a 'huge loss'. EU officials reiterated openness to UK engagement, while UK Labour leader Andy Burnham said Britain should consider various EU relationship options, though his party's manifesto currently rules out rejoining.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the idea of the UK rejoining the EU, with Macron saying 'Welcome back.' UK Labour leader Andy Burnham said Britain should consider various EU relationship options, though recent surveys show public support for rejoin faces potential backlash over Euro adoption and budget contributions.

The Trump administration rescinded Biden-era Title IX protections for LGBTQ students, reinstating a 2020 rule from the DeVos era. While the move is framed as a political gesture targeting transgender youth ahead of elections, legal experts note that existing federal protections under Title IX and Supreme Court rulings still prohibit sex discrimination, including based on gender identity and sexual orientation, meaning schools must continue to enforce inclusive policies.