Judge finds Trump administration violated court order in mail-in voting litigation

The ruling from a federal judge in Massachusetts comes after the Supreme Court’s ruling Monday in a separate 

but related case.

August 25, 2026 / 11:01

By Jordan Rubin

A federal judge in Massachusetts found that the Trump administration violated her order that barred the government from moving forward with certain restrictions on mail-in voting. Yet even though she did not impose a remedy for that violation, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said it may ultimately benefit the voting rights plaintiffs who brought the case, because the violative government action makes it ripe to sue over.

"Not open tomorrow": Iran FM says temporary Oman route isn't Strait of Hormuz reopening

ANI

Updated At : 04:23 AM Aug 26, 2026 IST

Tehran [Iran], August 26 (ANI): Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said the temporary maritime route agreed with Oman does not mean the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that "militarily, the Strait of Hormuz is closed," as reported by ISNA.

Speaking in a television programme on Tuesday night, Gharibabadi said the understanding reached with Oman should not be interpreted as the reopening of the strait. "The understanding between Iran and Oman does not mean the opening of the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

John Roberts Gives Trump a License to Bulldoze the Law

The chief justice’s order turns the president’s illegal ballroom construction project into a fait accompli.
Kim Wehle
August 24

CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS on Friday handed Donald Trump a temporary stay of a lower federal court’s injunction halting construction of his White House ballroom and underground bunker until he seeks congressional approval, as the law requires. The injunction had allowed Trump to proceed with work on the bunker on the dubious claim that it’s vital to national security. As for the rest, all the lower court did was push the pause button to enable Congress to weigh in. The judge had no other choice, which is why the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed the ruling but gave Trump fourteen days to ask the Supreme Court to intervene. Trump got what he wanted: the high court let him override the law with impunity once again.

Trump’s Argentine Beef Gambit: Cheaper Meat, Happy Milei, Angry Ranchers and a GOP in Revolt

World News

August 25, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Facing intense pressure over the cost of living ahead of upcoming midterm elections, President Donald Trump has initiated a high-stakes gamble to drive down grocery store inflation. At the heart of his administration’s strategy is a massive influx of foreign agricultural imports, including beef—and all signs point to Argentina as the primary engine behind the plan.

Has World War III Already Started?

OPINION

By Bret Stephens

Opinion Columnist

Aug. 25, 2026, 4:00 p.m. ET

Shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, I wrote a column under the headline “This Is How World War III Begins.” More than four years on, I wonder how much I got right.

My argument was based on the origins of World War II, which did not simply start with Germany’s invasion of Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. Instead, the war was an accumulation of regional wars and crises, beginning with Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931, which gradually gathered into a single global conflict.

Beef war erupts between Trump and Senate GOP

 Stef W. Kight

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

7 hours ago -

Politics & Policy

More than a dozen Republican senators have now publicly criticized President Trump's decision to import tariff-free, discounted beef.

Why it matters: Affordability concerns are making the GOP's already bad electoral prospects worse, but Trump's latest move to try to drive down grocery prices is infuriating key parts of his base.

CIA chief travels to Moscow for unannounced talks, US media reports

3 hours ago
Joe Coughlan
John Ratcliffe reportedly travelled to the Russian capital on board a military plane on Tuesday

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has travelled to Moscow for unannounced talks, the BBC's US news partner CBS has reported. John Ratcliffe reportedly arrived in the Russian capital earlier on Tuesday. Neither Washington or Moscow have confirmed the nature of the visit or who he was due to meet. In-person talks between high-level American and Russian officials are rare.

Anthropic claims $30T AI market (just 12x the entire tech sector combined)

Author Louis Juricic
Published 08/25/2026, 12:22 PM
Investing.com -- Anthropic is set to tell prospective IPO investors its total addressable market exceeds $30 trillion, surpassing SpaceX’s already-record $28.5 trillion claim, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

To frame the audacity of the figure: the 191 technology companies in the S&P 1500 collectively generated $2.4 trillion in revenue last year, according to FactSet data cited by the Journal. Anthropic’s claimed market opportunity is more than 12 times that combined total. The company is looking at the full scope of work that could be completed with AI models as its methodology for the TAM calculation, people familiar with the matter told the Journal.

China hits out at 'illegal' new US sanctions on Iran and trading partners

10 hours ago
Ian Aikman

China has vowed to protect its interests after the US announced plans to widen economic sanctions against Iran and its trading partners, which include Beijing.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China was firmly opposed to what it called "illegal unilateral sanctions" and would take "all necessary measures" to safeguard its rights.

Goodbye Smoky Mountain Songbird

August 25, 2026

Dolly Parton came from the hills of East Tennessee, from a little mountain cabin and a family that knew more about making do than making money. She carried those roots with her all the way to Nashville, Hollywood and the world. Today her family announced that the Smoky Mountain Songbird has died, at 80. Her legend will live forever.

With a voice as unmistakable as a church bell in the Smokies, she wrote and sang about heartbreak, hard work, poverty, love, faith and the stubborn hope of ordinary people. Songs like Jolene, Coat of Many Colors and I Will Always Love You made her a country legend; her humor, independence and sparkle made her something even bigger — an American original.

Live updates: Canada to impose retaliatory tariffs on $20B in US goods as trade war escalates

Edited By CURTIS YEE, LUENA RODRIGUEZ-FEO VILEIRA and MICHAEL WARREN
Updated 12:02 PM PDT

Aug. 25, 2026

The move came after the Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs over the weekend on Canadian goods following the collapse of trade negotiations. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused Washington of trying to subordinate Canada.


Here’s what we’re following:

• Canada struck back at the United States on Tuesday with retaliatory tariffs on about $20 billion worth of American goods, including steel, dairy products, appliances and farm equipment, as the trade war between the once-friendly neighbors escalated sharply.
• Canada’s retaliation came after the Trump administration imposed 50% tariffs over the weekend on Canadian goods following the collapse of trade negotiations. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accused Washington of trying to subordinate Canada and said U.S. demands during the failed talks showed that Americans wanted to “destroy our major industries.” President Donald Trump intensified the confrontation Monday, telling Canadian leaders to “fall in line.”
• The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for Trump to move ahead with his executive order restricting mail-in voting, though it remains unclear how much his administration can implement before the fast-approaching midterm elections. Mail balloting has long been a favorite target for Trump, who has claimed that it breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and his own use of the voting method.
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new round of sanctions aimed at Iran on Monday and warned every country that does business with the Islamic Republic to sever those financial ties or face retaliation from the U.S. The announcement follows Trump’s pledge last week to unleash an “economic D-Day” against Iran, in an effort to sever it from the rest of the global economy.

What smart people say about Trump’s escalating trade war with Canada

News

By Ben Shimkus

Aug 24, 2026, 12:12 PM PT

Big Canadian tariffs are making a comeback

In Truth Social posts on Monday, President Donald Trump threatened a plan to impose another batch of 50% tariffs on Canadian-made products. This one impacts cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel, and would start on January 1.

NYC Delivery Protection Act Puts Amazon and City Hall on Collision Course

Legal News

By Catherine Sadler

August 24, 2026

4 Mins Read

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has thrown his support behind the NYC Delivery Protection Act, a bill that would require Amazon and other large delivery operators to employ their delivery workers directly rather than routing them through third-party subcontractors. If enacted, it would make New York City the first municipality in the country to impose such a licensing requirement on last-mile delivery facilities.

Trump administration plans to revoke 200,000 visas of asylum seekers

The state department will revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, whose holders have sought or are now seeking asylum

Associated Press

Tue 25 Aug 2026

Donald Trump’s administration said on Monday it planned to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the US, marking its latest step in a sweeping immigration crackdown.

Documents reveal Ambassador Bridge owner's private meeting with Ottawa ahead of Gordie Howe opening

CBC News

Canada
Experts say unusual mix of private and public interest raises questions about transparency at the border

Colin Butler · CBC News · Posted: Aug 24, 2026 1:00 AM PDT | Last Updated: August 24

The American owner of the Ambassador Bridge, Matthew Moroun, sought a meeting with senior Canadian government officials about the new Gordie Howe International Bridge three and a half months before the rival crossing opened — but what was discussed at that meeting remains largely a secret.

Canada to announce retaliatory tariffs as Trump tells its leaders to ‘fall in line’

BY ROB GILLIES

The US imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products early Saturday, and Canada said it would retaliate beginning Sept. 8 after last-ditch negotiations failed to resolve the latest strain in relations between the historic allies.

Updated 4:44 PM PDT, August 24, 2026

TORONTO (AP) — Canada will announce retaliatory tariffs against the United States on Tuesday after relations deteriorated sharply Monday, with President Donald Trump telling Canadian leaders to “fall in line” or face consequences “far WORSE” than existing tariffs and Prime Minister Mark Carney accusing Washington of trying to subordinate Canada.

US Postal Service issues new rule for mail ballots, but its impact on the midterms is uncertain

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI
Updated 2:32 PM PDT, August 24, 2026

The U.S. Postal Service unveiled new requirements for mail ballots less than two weeks before some states begin sending them and in time for the conservative majority of the Supreme Court to clear the way for President Donald Trump’s executive order limiting the method to be used in November’s elections.

Uncle Sam’s Long Hand Reaches for Iran — But China and Russia Are Holding the Other End

August 24, 2026

Photos: CBS NEWS

Washington can punish almost anyone who needs the dollar. But can it really sever Iran from a globalized economy without confronting China, Russia and the limits of American financial power?

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has given America's economic war against Iran a name worthy of a military campaign: Operation Economic Outcast. He says Washington is beginning an "economic onslaught" designed to sever Iran's financial connections around the world until the Islamic Republic "stands alone." That is a formidable threat. It is also a remarkably ambitious one.