Progressive U.S. Senate candidate has defeated moderate U.S. Rep. in Michigan’s Democratic primary, which became for the party鈥檚 direction. also included a Democratic primary victory by , who was targeted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee after denouncing Israel鈥檚 military action in Gaza.
President Donald Trump swings through Las Vegas on Wednesday for a speech on the economy after his at his Southern California golf course, where authorities arrested a man they said was claiming to be part of the security detail.
Here is the latest:
Trump will be talking about the economy at a Las Vegas casino
Hundreds of people waited in a long line wrapped around slot machines at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa to get in to see the president.
Tom Port, a professional driver, said he is saving money with Trump鈥檚 move to cut tax from tips.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 about the best thing he could have possibly done for me, considering a large portion of my income comes directly from tips,鈥� said Port, 36.
Terilyn Taylor, 60, a teacher in Las Vegas, said she likes Trump, but also thinks home prices, interest rates and gas prices are too high.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 all Trump鈥檚 fault,鈥� she said. But she would like to see the Iran war end.
鈥淚 thought the gas prices would be temporary, so I鈥檓 really ready for the Iran thing to be resolved,鈥� she said.
Temporary status officially ends for 350,000 Haitians
U.S. District judge Ana Reyes on Wednesday was forced to lift her stay that had blocked the Trump administration from terminate Temporary Protected Status for about 350,000 who had been living and working legally in the United States since 2010.
She issued the order after a Supreme Court ruling on June 25 that sided with the administration鈥檚 decision to end the program.
As part of its crackdown on immigration, the Trump administration terminated TPS for about 1 million people from more than a dozen countries, including Haitians.
鈥淎s a result of today鈥檚 order implementing the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision, Haitian TPS holders 鈥� all of them noncriminals 鈥� can no longer legally work, and many are subject to removal to Haiti,鈥� Geoff Pipoly, the lead counsel for the Haitians, said.
Brazil鈥檚 president calls the Trump administration鈥檚 decision to revoke ambassador鈥檚 visa 鈥榠rresponsible鈥�
The United States鈥� decision followed Brazil鈥檚 denial of visas last month for two American diplomats who sought to visit ahead of upcoming elections as well as what the U.S. said was Brazil鈥檚 stalling on approving Trump鈥檚 nominee to be ambassador in Brasilia.
While Brazil鈥檚 ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti is not being expelled from the United States, if she leaves she would have to reapply for a visa, Brazilian President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva said in an interview Wednesday.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 an irresponsible, ill-considered course of action for a country with 203 years of diplomacy and diplomatic relations,鈥� Lula said.
Plane took off as Trump鈥檚 helicopter approached Reagan airport
The FAA is investigating because it appears to be a violation of safety procedures put in place after last year鈥檚 midair collision between an airliner and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport.
A commercial jet took off Tuesday from the busy Washington, D.C., airport at the same time that Marine One left the White House for Andrews Air Force Base with the president aboard. The jet was climbing above Marine One as the helicopter approached, so the two aircraft were not on a collision course.
After a January 2025 collision that killed 67 people, the FAA decided all takeoffs and landings at Reagan would be halted anytime a helicopter passes by the airport.
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Bernie Sanders praises El-Sayed鈥檚 primary win as historic sign of 鈥榰nstoppable鈥� change for Democrats
鈥淎bdul鈥檚 victory was, in my opinion, the most extraordinary victory that I can think of in modern American politics,鈥� said Vermont independent Sen. Sanders during a call with reporters.
Sanders also congratulated two progressive candidates who won U.S. House primaries in the state and commended Rep. Haley Stevens for conceding a 鈥渢ough鈥� race.
Sanders said El-Sayed 鈥渢ook on鈥� the Democratic establishment and outside spending from groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He said the result was a sign of further change.
鈥淭he new Democratic Party is going to be broad-based. It鈥檚 going to be open and encouraging the participation of working-class people, of young people, of lower-income people. Democracy is messy, and I鈥檓 not going to sit here and tell you that everything is going to go 100% smoothly and there鈥檚 not going to be differences of opinion. That鈥檚 called democracy. I happen to believe in that. But that is the direction in which we are heading, and I think that is unstoppable.鈥�
Sanders dismisses concerns about El-Sayed鈥檚 electability
Asked about progressive Abdul El-Sayed鈥檚 ability to turn out core Democratic constituencies including Black and Jewish voters, Sanders said that El-Sayed鈥檚 economic message had broad appeal.
鈥淚 think his economic message will resonate across Democratic constituencies, and I think there鈥檒l be working-class Republicans who will support that,鈥� Sanders told reporters.
He argued that El-Sayed 鈥渉as the capability of expanding the voter turnout universe, and much many of those new voters will be voting for him.鈥�
Sanders dismissed concerns that El-Sayed鈥檚 criticism of Israel鈥檚 handling of the war in Gaza will alienate Jewish voters.
鈥淭o be critical of the right-wing extremist government of Netanyahu and his horrific policies in Gaza does not make you antisemitic,鈥� said Sanders, who is Jewish.
Democratic turnout in Michigan primary one of the highest in state history
The Democratic U.S. Senate contest in Michigan has surpassed turnout for previous Senate and gubernatorial primaries and almost every presidential primary going back to at least 1978, according to Michigan Secretary of State records.
As of noon ET Wednesday, a total of 1,528,280 votes had been counted. The total could end up being higher as ballots continue to be processed.
But it already surpasses the roughly 1,181,000 votes counted in the 2020 U.S. Senate Democratic primary, and the approximately 1,131,000 votes counted in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary.
The 2026 turnout total so far trails the nearly 1,588,000 votes counted in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. About 1,117,000 votes were counted in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards quits reelection bid after committee finds inappropriate conduct
The House Ethics Committee for unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides in his office. Edwards denied intending any of to be a sexual or romantic advance, but the committee said his behavior would 鈥渓ead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such.鈥�
State law requires Edwards to submit his Wednesday withdrawal in writing to the state Board of Elections before ballots are mailed to overseas voters and the military. Since the primaries were months ago, the Republican executive committee in his district will name a replacement.
is already juggling other disruptions as he tries to retain the GOP House majority, including in Ohio where Rep. Max Miller is under pressure to resign over .
The includes progressive Asheville, and farmer Jamie Ager, the Democratic nominee, is hoping to flip it.
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US removes Fly Baghdad from sanctions list
The U.S. removed sanctions on three Iran-linked companies, including Fly Baghdad Airlines, which was sanctioned in January 2024 for allegedly providing assistance to Iran鈥檚 Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. Also removed from the sanctions is Fly Baghdad鈥檚 CEO and two aircraft.
In addition to lifting sanctions on Fly Baghdad, the U.S. on Wednesday lifted sanctions on Iraq Express and another Fly Baghdad-linked company. A Treasury official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the sanctions said the decision to remove Fly Baghdad from the designations list was not indicative of any shift in U.S. policy toward Iran鈥檚 government.
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El-Sayed said he condemns antisemitism, wants to address 鈥榚verybody鈥檚 pain鈥�
El-Sayed said he wants to unify people rather than divide them, and that people should focus on ending wars and corporate influence in politics. He has previously faced criticism for calling Israel鈥檚 military campaign in Gaza a 鈥済enocide.鈥�
El-Sayed said 鈥渨e can be talking about everybody鈥檚 pain.鈥�
鈥淢y commitment to Jewish safety is the same as I鈥檝e got a commitment to my own kids,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the highest commitment I can offer.鈥�
Peters says El-Sayed needs to reach out to people to unify Democrats
Michigan Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, whose retirement led to the primary that Abdul El-Sayed won, said Wednesday that the new nominee needs to start reaching out to 鈥渇olks鈥� to unify the party.
鈥淚鈥檓 sure he will, and that it has to start immediately, which, he assured me will happen,鈥� Peters said.
Peters had little to say about El-Sayed鈥檚 views on Israel and whether his win marks a shift for the Democratic Party. El-Sayed has criticized Israel鈥檚 conduct in Gaza as well as pro-Israel campaign spending to defeat him in the primary.
鈥淗e campaigned on that issue, and the results speak for themselves,鈥� Peters said.
Rogers calls El-Sayed an 鈥榚xtremist鈥� who represents 鈥榗omplete insanity鈥�
The Republican Senate nominee posted a lengthy statement on social media Wednesday, saying his general election opponent 鈥渋s leading a movement grounded in ideological fanaticism.鈥�
Rogers also swiped at El-Sayed for stumping with popular but controversial streamer , who has said 鈥淎merica deserved 9/11.鈥�
Rogers said he never imagined he鈥檇 face an opponent with that view, ascribing the comment to the candidate, not the online personality.
His own campaign, Rogers said, is based on the notion that 鈥淢ichigan has a future built on common sense.鈥�
AIPAC says it鈥檚 committed to defeating El-Sayed in November
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which spent roughly $30 million in a failed effort to defeat El-Sayed in the Democratic primary, says it鈥檚 committed to opposing him in the general election.
鈥淥ur members remain determined to ensure that voters reject Dr. El-Sayed and his radical anti-Israel agenda in November,鈥� the group鈥檚 statement said.
El-Sayed responded on Wednesday: 鈥淵ou want more pain?鈥�
The son of Egyptian immigrants made AIPAC and the tens of millions of dollars it spent to support Rep. Haley Stevens a centerpiece of his primary campaign. He has called Israel鈥檚 military campaign in Gaza a 鈥済enocide,鈥� described the Israeli government as 鈥渆vil,鈥� and argued that AIPAC鈥檚 influence distorts Democratic politics.
Thune calls race between Rogers and El-Sayed 鈥榓 great contrast鈥�
On Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the Senate Republican leader called the GOP nominee 鈥渁 great candidate, very experienced鈥� who is 鈥渞unning a terrific campaign.鈥�
Thune spoke as El-Sayed addressed supporters at a victory news conference in Michigan and issued a five-debate challenge to Rogers.
Thune called the Democratic nominee 鈥渢he extreme radical choice,鈥� and said Democrats are 鈥済oing to have to accept those positions that he has been advocating for in a general election setting, which I think puts us in a pretty good spot.鈥�
GOP Senate super PAC ad labels El-Sayed 鈥榙angerously radical鈥�
That鈥檚 the theme of a new commercial out Wednesday from the Senate Leadership Fund, the principal super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
The ad features video clips of El-Sayed 鈥渋n his own words,鈥� calling himself 鈥渄angerous鈥� and vowing that, 鈥渦nder my leadership, our state will not expend a dime enforcing federal immigration policy.鈥�
The group says it鈥檚 spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to air the ad.
El-Sayed talks affordability, hammers Mike Rogers as beholden to Trump
El-Sayed focused on affordability and healthcare in his speech, inviting people who voted for Trump in 2024 to 鈥渏oin this movement now.鈥�
He positioned himself as the candidate who will stand up to Trump, in contrast to Rogers, who El-Sayed said went to Florida 鈥渟o he could lick every single boot Donald Trump owns.鈥�
El-Sayed challenges Rogers to 5 general election debates
鈥淚 know you鈥檙e gonna say no because you鈥檙e a coward,鈥� El-Sayed, addressing his Republican opponent directly.
鈥淔ive debates, all right? If you鈥檙e willing to stand with me and have a conversation, you and I both know that you will wither in front of your own crimes.鈥�
El-Sayed quotes boxing legend while speaking to supporters
鈥淚n the words of Muhammad Ali, we shook up the world,鈥� El-Sayed told supporters.
El-Sayed was heavily outspent in his primary campaign, and his candidacy was opposed by the Democratic establishment.
JD Vance quips about future 鈥楶resident El-Sayed鈥�
The vice president was addressing a roundtable focused on combating fraud, and making the point that the work of a task force he鈥檚 leading needs congressional approval to prevent its results from evaporating once the Trump administration is over.
鈥淕od forbid you鈥檙e going to have President El-Sayed in a few years,鈥� Vance said, referencing Abdul El-Sayed, who clinched Michigan鈥檚 Democratic Senate primary just moments prior to his remarks.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want him to undo all the incredible work that we鈥檝e been doing,鈥� Vance said.
Michigan Democrats rally around El-Sayed
Curtis Hertel, the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, urged unity within the Democratic Party.
鈥淲e have got to work together to take this country back,鈥� Hertel said. 鈥淚 can tell you what we need is a fighter … Abdul El-Sayed has been a fighter for the people over and over again.鈥�
McMorrow said that 鈥渇or all of the differences that we may have had in the primary, that those differences pale in comparison to the contrast that we face in November.鈥�
Republicans are counting on rifts inside the Democratic Party, but 鈥渢his is the start of a celebration of all of us coming together,鈥� McMorrow said.
Democrats stress unity after difficult primary
Before speaking to supporters on Wednesday morning, El-Sayed spoke to state party chair Curtis Hertel Jr.
El-Sayed was flanked by Mallory McMorrow, the state senator who dropped her own primary campaign earlier this year after failing to gain traction. She announced her support for El-Sayed, and Stevens has as well.
Hertel stressed Democratic enthusiasm as the party looks toward November.
鈥淵esterday was the highest turnout for Democrats in the history of a primary,鈥� Hertel said.
Van Hollen says El-Sayed鈥檚 win is a 鈥榳ake-up call鈥� to establishment Democrats
Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who backed Abdul El-Sayed, said in an interview that his victory is a 鈥渧ery significant win鈥� and shows that his politics has gained traction with voters.
鈥淭his should be a wake-up call to, you know, the Washington Democratic establishment and the Washington insiders in the pundit class,鈥� he said.
Van Hollen stressed how important winning in the fall is for the party. 鈥淲e need to win Michigan, he can win Michigan,鈥� the senator said, adding that El-Sayed鈥檚 鈥渂rand of populism can connect with voters across the political spectrum.鈥�
Stevens backs El-Sayed, pledges to support him vs. Mike Rogers
Haley Stevens said in a statement Wednesday that she is 鈥減roud to offer my support鈥� to Abdul El-Sayed, who won Michigan鈥檚 Democratic Senate primary.
Stevens said it鈥檚 important for Democrats to back him so the party can keep the Senate seat and win the chamber in the midterms.
鈥淒onald Trump and Mike Rogers want us to come out of this primary tired and divided, so their billionaire backers can come in and let multimillionaire Mike Rogers walk away with this Senate seat,鈥� she said.
Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary in major victory for Democrats鈥� progressive wing
El-Sayed鈥檚 defeat of Rep. Haley Stevens is a massive victory for the party鈥檚 progressive wing in a battleground state.
The real test of the progressives鈥� strength will now come in a November matchup against Republican Mike Rogers, a former congressman who ran unopposed for the GOP nomination. The seat is pivotal to Democrats鈥� chances of flipping the Senate and El-Sayed must now unite a divided Democratic base after a bruising primary.
The race remained tight throughout Tuesday night, with a winner not declared until early Wednesday. In his final remarks before the race was called, El-Sayed said 鈥渢omorrow we begin to mend fences.鈥�
House Democrats add 12 solidly Trump districts to their midterm election target list
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has expanded its list of targets to 58 House seats it believes are competitive, including districts Trump won easily less than two years ago.
The ambitious list reflects Trump鈥檚 with the electorate and Democrats鈥� belief they can capitalize on voters鈥� frustrations over the economy, and the chaotic nature of Republican control during Trump鈥檚 second term.
鈥淢AGA Republicans who historically have considered themselves 鈥榮afe鈥� have let down the people they were elected to represent, passing disastrous policies that are crushing working families and our communities,鈥� DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement.
Democrats need just to erase Republicans鈥� narrow majority and control the chamber.
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