Bill Barrow

U.S. health officials identified shredded iceberg lettuce from a Taco Bell supplier in Mexico as the likely source of a multistate cyclospora outbreak. Consumers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia were warned not to eat the lettuce, while Taco Bell agreed to stop using products from the supplier. More than 30 states had reported infections, with the national total surpassing the previous U.S. record. Cyclospora typically causes severe watery diarrhea, is generally treatable with antibiotics, and may be increasing because of improved detection and climate-related factors.

Donald Trump endorsed MyPillow founder Mike Lindell for the Republican nomination for Minnesota governor, mistakenly calling him the “Pillow Man” rather than his better-known “MyPillow Guy” nickname. Lindell, a prominent election denier, is running in a crowded primary scheduled for August 11. Trump has attacked Democratic Governor Tim Walz over alleged fraud in federal childcare spending, claims Walz disputes, while Democrats such as Senator Amy Klobuchar are emphasizing immigration enforcement, violence and school shootings.

Donald Trump endorsed MyPillow founder Mike Lindell in the Minnesota governor’s race, praising him while repeating false claims about the 2020 election. Lindell joins a crowded Republican field competing in an August primary. Trump continued attacking outgoing Governor Tim Walz over alleged childcare program fraud, while Democrats highlighted controversies involving federal immigration enforcement and other recent violent incidents. Amy Klobuchar leads the Democratic field as Republicans view Minnesota as a potential opportunity in the upcoming gubernatorial elections.

Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan’s book Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump sold more than 300,000 copies in its first week, the strongest debut for a hardcover nonfiction book in 2026. The book examines the first 14 months of Donald Trump’s second presidency, including military decisions, the Justice Department’s role, and changes to the White House. Its sales suggest continued public interest in Trump, while Trump has dismissed the book as mostly fabricated.

A new book examining Donald Trump’s second term has sold more than 300,000 copies in its first week, prompting additional print runs by publisher Simon & Schuster. Written by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, the book details internal White House dynamics, Trump’s approach to presidential power, and key decisions across his administration. The White House reportedly reacted with alarm, while Trump dismissed the work as fabricated. The book’s rapid sales mark the strongest hardcover nonfiction debut of 2026 and have placed it prominently in national political discourse.

National Guard members and U.S. Park Police are patrolling the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after algae and peeling affected a $14 million-plus renovation championed by Donald Trump. Trump has alleged intentional vandalism and claimed multiple arrests, but has provided no evidence, and the algae reportedly appeared more severe than before the renovation. Former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn said he was detained for five hours after touching a loose section of liner, while authorities have not clarified the number of arrests or applicable charges.

Donald Trump endorsed Georgia Congressman Mike Collins in the Republican Senate runoff, backing a staunch MAGA ally against political newcomer Derek Dooley, who is supported by Governor Brian Kemp. Collins has embraced Trump’s claims about the 2020 election and sponsored the Laken Riley Act, while Dooley argues that an outsider would be better positioned to defeat Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. The runoff highlights Trump’s influence over Republican primaries and his continuing but uneasy relationship with Kemp, as well as the party’s difficulty winning Senate races in Georgia since 2016.

The Justice Department sued Maine, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington over policies limiting confidential license plates for federal vehicles used in civil immigration enforcement. DOJ argues the restrictions obstruct federal immigration operations, endanger agents and violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause. The states maintain that the policies protect residents from abusive or unconstitutional enforcement and do not impede criminal investigations. Maine and Washington officials vowed to defend their policies, Massachusetts is reviewing the complaint, and Oregon has paused new plate issuance while it reviews its rules.

Donald Trump’s control over Republican primaries remains formidable, as shown by Ken Paxton’s victory in Texas, but Republican strategists fear his influence and policy choices could damage the party in the November midterms. Tariffs, higher energy prices linked to the Iran conflict, immigration policies and Trump’s dismissal of affordability concerns are creating vulnerabilities in battleground races. Democrats believe they can reclaim the House and potentially capture the Senate, while Republicans are relying on redistricting, Trump’s fundraising power and his support for loyal candidates. Internal concerns also surround the Republican National Committee’s messaging and the unclear plans for deploying MAGA Inc.’s substantial funds.

Burt Jones and healthcare billionaire Rick Jackson advanced to a June 16 Republican runoff for Georgia governor. Jones is relying on Donald Trump’s endorsement and his conservative record, while Jackson is campaigning as an anti-establishment outsider after spending more than $61 million on advertising. Democrats are choosing among Keisha Lance Bottoms, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves and Mike Thurmond. Jon Ossoff secured the Democratic Senate nomination and will face a Republican challenger selected from Mike Collins, Buddy Carter and Derek Dooley in a race that could affect control of the U.S. Senate. The primary also features numerous open U.S. House seats and contested judicial races, including a Democratic-backed challenge to Georgia Supreme Court Justice Charlie Bethel.

Donald Trump said China agreed to buy 200 Boeing aircraft following his summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing, with the potential order rising to 750 planes. The White House has released no details and Boeing and General Electric have not confirmed the agreement; Trump said GE could supply 400 to 450 engines. The reported sale would be a major breakthrough for Boeing in China after nearly a decade without a significant order, although the company continues to face scrutiny over manufacturing and safety failures, legal costs and financial pressure following the 737 Max door-plug incident, the two fatal Max crashes and an extended machinists’ strike.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has evolved from a Washington media gathering into a major political and entertainment spectacle where presidents and comedians trade jokes. Notable moments include Ronald Reagan’s decision to forgo humor after receiving the remains of Americans killed in the 1983 Beirut embassy bombing, George H.W. Bush’s friendship with impressionist Dana Carvey, George W. Bush’s controversial 2004 joke about Iraq’s nonexistent weapons of mass destruction, and Stephen Colbert’s sharply critical 2006 monologue. Donald Trump’s absences and conflicts with the event are also highlighted, including Michelle Wolf’s controversial 2018 routine targeting Trump and Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The article concludes with Barack Obama’s 2011 mockery of Trump’s birther claims, an exchange that underscored the dinner’s role in blending political criticism, comedy and media scrutiny.

Georgia Democratic Rep. David Scott has died at 80 while seeking a 13th term in Congress. The longtime lawmaker was the first Black chair of the House Agriculture Committee, advocated for agricultural policy, consumer food aid and federal support for historically Black colleges and universities, and was a prominent member of the moderate Blue Dog Caucus. His declining health had prompted criticism and primary challenges, although he rejected calls to retire. House Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, paid tribute to Scott, whose death slightly narrows the Democrats' representation and marginally expands the Republicans' slim House majority.

U.S. forces boarded the M/T Tifani in the Indian Ocean after identifying it as a stateless, Botswana-flagged tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil. The Pentagon said the operation occurred without incident and reiterated that sanctioned vessels and goods supporting Iran could be intercepted anywhere in international waters. The action comes as a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire nears expiration and Pakistan seeks to broker negotiations. Gen. Dan Caine said the U.S. blockade extends beyond Iranian waters, including to vessels operating in the Pacific and those carrying goods deemed usable in armed conflict.

JD Vance faced heckling, criticism and a largely empty arena during a Turning Point USA campus event at the University of Georgia, highlighting the difficulty of persuading young conservatives to support the administration's Iran policy. Attendees also criticized Donald Trump's attacks on Pope Leo XIV and a meme depicting Trump as Jesus, while some said they could disagree with the president without abandoning the Republican Party. Vance defended the administration, urged conservatives not to disengage and offered shifting responses to the pope's opposition to the war. The event's security arrangements and Erika Kirk's withdrawal over unspecified threats further underscored tensions surrounding the gathering.

A traveler takes Amtrak’s Crescent from Atlanta to Washington after a government shutdown causes severe security delays at Atlanta’s airport. The 14½-hour journey offers a more predictable and spacious alternative to flying while prompting reflections on the historical importance of railroads, the decline of U.S. passenger rail, immigration, racial segregation and the political forces that shape mobility. The diverse passengers and landscapes along the route contrast with congressional paralysis: although the Senate reaches a bipartisan agreement to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, House Republican leaders reject it, leaving the shutdown unresolved.

Gas prices have risen sharply across the United States since the war with Iran began, with the national average reaching $3.48 per gallon from $2.90 a month earlier. Interviews with drivers in several states show that the increase is hurting people across the political spectrum, including Trump supporters, retirees and lower-income households. Polling indicates that roughly half of voters oppose U.S. military action against Iran, while three-quarters are concerned about its effect on fuel prices. Some drivers blame Trump or fuel companies for the increase, while others support the strikes but want a short, limited conflict. Electric-vehicle owners say the price surge reinforces their decision to avoid gasoline, although recent federal policy has reduced EV incentives.

Jasmine Crockett conceded the Texas Democratic Senate primary to James Talarico and urged Democrats to unite behind him. Talarico will face the winner of the Republican runoff between Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton. Crockett’s campaign had previously raised the possibility of legal action over voting challenges, though no decision was confirmed.

JD Vance’s team deleted an X post saying he visited Armenia’s memorial to honor victims of the “Armenian genocide,” with the White House blaming a staff error. Vance himself avoided the term, describing the visit as paying respects at the invitation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The wording is diplomatically sensitive because the U.S. historically avoided recognizing the Ottoman-era killings as genocide to preserve relations with Turkey, although Joe Biden formally recognized them in 2021. The incident occurred during Vance’s visit to support a U.S.-brokered Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal and could affect perceptions among Armenian Americans, though immediate diplomatic consequences remain unclear.

Only 10 human Guinea worm cases were reported in 2025, down from 15 in 2024, with infections limited to Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan. The decline brings the disease closer to eradication, but hundreds of animal infections—particularly in Cameroon and Chad—continue to sustain transmission risks. The Carter Center and health partners are expanding education, water-filter distribution and volunteer training while developing diagnostic tests that could identify infections before symptoms appear. Changes to U.S. support for the World Health Organization and international aid have created logistical challenges, but the program continues operating on the ground.

The Trump administration’s Justice Department sued the District of Columbia in federal court, arguing that the city’s restrictions on registering AR-15s and other semiautomatic firearms violate the Second Amendment. The lawsuit relies heavily on the Supreme Court’s 2008 Heller decision, which recognized an individual right to possess weapons in common use while acknowledging that gun rights are not unlimited. The administration says D.C.’s restrictions improperly rely on cosmetic features and accessory compatibility and expose residents to criminal penalties. The suit names the Metropolitan Police Department and outgoing Chief Pamela Smith as defendants but does not include individual D.C. plaintiffs. It is the administration’s second gun-rights lawsuit of the month and comes amid a broader federal intervention in Washington, including a disputed National Guard deployment.

Sarah O’Neill, a transgender data scientist at the National Security Agency, is suing the Trump administration in federal court in Maryland over President Donald Trump’s executive order recognizing only two immutable sexes. She says the order led the NSA to revoke workplace protections, restrict her use of female pronouns in written communications and bar her from using the women’s restroom. The lawsuit argues that these policies create a hostile work environment and violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 protects transgender employees from sex discrimination. O’Neill is seeking restoration of her workplace rights and financial damages.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued Donald Trump and several federal agencies to stop construction of his proposed White House ballroom, including the demolition of the East Wing. The lawsuit alleges violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and National Environmental Policy Act, arguing that the project proceeded without required design reviews, environmental assessments, congressional consultation or public input. The Trust is seeking a court order halting work until those reviews are completed, while Trump maintains that the privately funded project can proceed; plans are expected to go before a federal planning commission by year-end.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued Donald Trump and several federal agencies, asking a federal court to halt construction of his proposed White House ballroom until independent design and environmental reviews, public comment and congressional approval occur. The group argues that demolishing the East Wing and beginning construction without those steps violated federal statutes, the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, and exceeded presidential authority. Trump says the privately funded ballroom is needed to accommodate large events, but the lawsuit contends that private financing does not exempt the project from rules governing federal property. The administration expects to submit plans to the National Capital Planning Commission in December, roughly three months after construction began.

Donald Trump is pushing to rename the Department of Defense the Department of War, a change that would require congressional approval. The proposal revives the pre-1949 name and reflects Trump's argument that it more plainly conveys the military's mission, but critics see it as part of his broader rejection of the post-World War II international order. The article traces the evolution of the U.S. military's Cabinet structure from the 1789 War Department through the 1947 National Security Act, which created a unified military establishment, the National Security Council and the CIA, before Congress adopted the Department of Defense name in 1949. It also contrasts Trump's rhetoric with Harry Truman's postwar emphasis on maintaining military strength to preserve peace, while noting the United States' subsequent wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The planned U.S. military parade marking the Army’s 250th anniversary and coinciding with Donald Trump’s 79th birthday is presented as unusual for peacetime America but part of a broader international tradition. France’s Bastille Day parade helped inspire Trump after he attended in 2017, while Britain’s Trooping the Colour reflects monarchic ceremony. The article contrasts these democratic and constitutional traditions with parades in Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, China and Russia, where military displays project strength, reinforce legitimacy or showcase weapons and succession. It also recalls Nazi Germany’s 1939 parade for Adolf Hitler as a warning about the dangers of authoritarian militarism.

Donald Trump's planned Washington military parade, marking the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and coinciding with his 79th birthday, is unusual because it is being held during peacetime and is closely identified with the president. Although the United States has a long tradition of military reviews and victory parades, major national displays have generally followed wars or featured returning troops rather than a sitting president. The event has prompted bipartisan concerns over its cost and whether it blurs traditional civilian-military boundaries. Historical examples range from Andrew Johnson's 1865 Grand Review to victory parades after the Spanish-American, World Wars I and II, and the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Former football coach and U.S. senator Tommy Tuberville is campaigning to become Alabama governor while deliberately emphasizing his identity as “coach.” His career illustrates how sports fame can provide access to political office, though it does not guarantee electoral success. The article compares Tuberville with other athlete-politicians, including former president Gerald Ford, Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, Georgia football star Herschel Walker, basketball Hall of Famer Bill Bradley, baseball Hall of Famer Jim Bunning and MMA fighter Sharice Davids. Their records show varied outcomes: some built durable political careers, while others lost major races after their athletic fame proved insufficient. The growing visibility of women’s professional sports could create a larger pipeline of female athlete-politicians in the future.

The Trump administration told a federal judge that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador, is being held at the country's Terrorism Confinement Center. A State Department official said Garcia is alive and detained under El Salvador's authority, but the filing did not explain what steps the administration is taking to facilitate his return, despite Judge Paula Xinis's explicit order requesting that information. The judge had criticized the government's failure to disclose Garcia's location and custodial authority.

Former Federal Reserve senior adviser John Harold Rogers was arrested and indicted on allegations that he stole restricted U.S. economic and financial information and sold it to Chinese intelligence officials for at least $450,000. Prosecutors say Rogers passed along proprietary data, Federal Open Market Committee materials, briefing books and information about tariffs and future policy announcements while posing as a professor at a Chinese university. He is also accused of lying to Federal Reserve and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau investigators. Rogers is being held without bond and is scheduled for arraignment in Washington.

Jimmy Carter will be honored at Washington National Cathedral before his remains are returned to Georgia for a funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church and burial beside Rosalynn Carter. Joe Biden will deliver the eulogy, with Donald Trump and other living former presidents expected to attend. Tributes emphasize Carter's humanitarian work through The Carter Center, including disease eradication, conflict mediation, election monitoring and advocacy for racial and gender equity, while also acknowledging his presidency's struggles with inflation, high interest rates and international crises. The ceremonies conclude six days of national mourning for Carter, who died at 100.

Jimmy Carter’s remains were transported from Georgia to Washington for three days of state funeral ceremonies, including lying in state at the Capitol and a funeral at Washington National Cathedral where President Joe Biden was expected to deliver the eulogy. The ceremonies incorporated military honors and symbols linked to Carter’s faith, naval background and presidency. The article contrasts the elaborate rituals with Carter’s reputation as a political outsider who struggled with Washington’s relationships and traditions, despite winning the presidency as a Democrat promising to change the capital’s ways. Donald Trump separately criticized Carter’s decision to transfer control of the Panama Canal, while acknowledging personal regard for him.

Jimmy Carter's six-day state funeral began in south Georgia with a motorcade carrying his flag-draped casket from Americus through his hometown of Plains toward Atlanta. Family members accompanied the procession, while residents gathered to honor the former president, who died at age 100 on December 29. Ceremonies include a 39-bell tribute at his boyhood home, a ceremony at the Carter Presidential Center, a period of repose in Atlanta, lying in state at the U.S. Capitol, and a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral. Carter will ultimately be buried beside his wife, Rosalynn, in Plains.

Six days of funeral observances for former President Jimmy Carter begin in Georgia, tracing his life from Plains and Archery to his political career and humanitarian work. The procession will visit key family and political sites before Carter lies in repose at the Carter Presidential Center. His remains will then travel to Washington for a Capitol Rotunda ceremony and a funeral at Washington National Cathedral, followed by burial beside Rosalynn Carter at their Plains home.

President-elect Donald Trump selected Brooke Rollins, a lawyer and former White House domestic policy chief with an agricultural background, to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pending Senate confirmation. Rollins has maintained a close relationship with Trump and later led the America First Policy Institute. The USDA oversees farming, forestry, food safety, animal and plant health, nutrition assistance, and school-meal standards. Her tenure could be particularly consequential if Trump imposes broad tariffs, since retaliatory trade measures could harm U.S. agricultural exports, increase pressure on farmers, and potentially raise grocery prices.

Donald Trump has pledged to end double taxation for Americans living overseas, but his campaign has provided no details about how the policy would work. The proposal is part of a broader tax agenda that includes exemptions for tips, overtime and Social Security benefits, as well as lower corporate taxes, with the latter expected to benefit corporations and wealthy Americans. Experts and critics note that eliminating U.S. taxation of overseas citizens could encourage wealthy taxpayers to move to low-tax countries. The pledge also contrasts with Trump's recent unsubstantiated claims that Democrats are seeking to manipulate overseas voting.

Republican North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson has criticized government safety-net spending while his family nonprofit, Balanced Nutrition Inc., received roughly $7 million in taxpayer funding since 2017 and paid at least $830,000 in salaries to Robinson, his wife Yolanda Hill and other relatives. The nonprofit helped stabilize the family’s finances and supported Robinson’s transition into politics, but state regulators opened a probe after identifying bookkeeping irregularities and more than $100,000 in unaccounted spending. Robinson denies wrongdoing and his campaign calls the inquiry politically motivated, while records also document the couple’s past bankruptcies, unpaid debts and tax problems. The scrutiny adds to Robinson’s broader political liabilities, including inflammatory comments about minorities and LGBTQ+ people, as he campaigns in a closely watched swing state.

President Joe Biden's planned May 19 commencement address at Morehouse College is facing backlash from faculty and alumni who oppose his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. An alumni letter accuses his administration of complicity in genocide and invokes Martin Luther King Jr.'s antiwar legacy, while Morehouse leaders say the invitation was accepted last September and will not be rescinded. The controversy could expose Biden to protests and further strain his support among Black voters as he campaigns against Donald Trump in a closely contested election, particularly in Georgia. Supporters are emphasizing Biden administration policies affecting historically Black colleges, including increased funding, student-loan relief, Pell Grant expansion and higher-education affordability.

A year after Jimmy Carter entered hospice care at home, his continued survival and public appearances have drawn attention to the varied realities of hospice, aging and end-of-life care. Experts explain that hospice provides comprehensive support rather than simply sedation, although patients generally forgo curative treatment and may be discharged if their condition stabilizes. Carter’s unusually long stay is not unprecedented, particularly for patients with dementia or fluctuating conditions. Advocates hope the Carter family’s openness will encourage more people to consider hospice and are calling for expanded Medicare long-term-care benefits and payment reforms so patients can receive more appropriate treatment and support.

Rosalynn Carter is scheduled to receive her final funeral service at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, the hometown she shared with former President Jimmy Carter. The service concludes a three-day public tribute honoring her life as first lady, political adviser, mental health advocate and global humanitarian. She will be buried near the Carter family's home, where Jimmy Carter still lives, following a procession through places central to her life and career.

Rosalynn Carter is remembered as a major political partner to Jimmy Carter and an influential first lady who expanded the role beyond ceremonial duties. She advocated for mental-health care, family caregivers, school vaccination requirements and women’s rights, while lobbying Congress, attending Cabinet meetings and undertaking diplomatic missions. After the Carters left the White House, she co-founded The Carter Center and continued humanitarian work, including disease eradication and election monitoring. Her influence, political determination and decades-long partnership with Jimmy Carter established her as one of the most consequential modern first ladies.

Rosalynn Carter’s three-day memorial schedule in Georgia will reflect her public service, humanitarian work, mental health advocacy, support for unpaid caregivers and deep ties to Plains and Maranatha Baptist Church. Her remains will travel from Americus to Atlanta for public repose at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, followed by an Atlanta service attended by President Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other dignitaries. A private burial and final service will take place in Plains, while the participation of 99-year-old former President Jimmy Carter remains uncertain because he is receiving hospice care.

Rosalynn Carter’s nearly 77-year marriage to Jimmy Carter is portrayed as a partnership grounded in love, mutual support, competitiveness and shared public service. She served as his political and business partner, represented the administration abroad and attended Cabinet meetings, while together they later founded The Carter Center, monitored elections and fought disease worldwide. Rosalynn died at 96 with Jimmy, 99 and in hospice care, at her side in Plains, Georgia; family and friends describe the couple as inseparable throughout their lives.

Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter supported Mary Prince, a Black Georgia woman who received a life sentence after pleading guilty to a murder she said was accidental and had not committed. After Jimmy Carter became president, Rosalynn sought Prince’s release and Jimmy served as her parole officer, enabling her to work as a White House nanny while prosecutors ordered a retrial and ultimately cleared her. Prince later received a full pardon and remained close to the Carter family. Rosalynn also helped free another prisoner subjected to an illegal sentence and exposed lawyers who exploited inmates. The article notes that activists criticized the arrangement as an extension of prison labor and racial inequality, despite the Carters’ efforts to assist individual prisoners.

Residents of Plains, Georgia, mourn Rosalynn Carter, who died at 96 after living with dementia, while her 99-year-old husband, former President Jimmy Carter, remains in home hospice care. The community remembers Rosalynn as more than a former first lady: she was deeply involved in local church and charitable work, maintained close relationships with residents and helped shape the town's identity. After Jimmy Carter's 1980 presidential defeat, the couple returned to Plains and pursued humanitarian and democracy work through The Carter Center. Rosalynn's legacy is also being recognized through local gardens, markers and a butterfly trail, while her burial in Plains is expected to sustain tourism and economic activity.

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, 96, entered hospice care at her home in Plains, Georgia, where she is surrounded by family and former President Jimmy Carter. The Carter family expressed gratitude for public support. Rosalynn Carter was diagnosed with dementia earlier in 2023, while Jimmy Carter has been receiving home hospice care since February. The couple, married for more than 77 years, founded the Carter Center after his 1980 presidential defeat.

Jimmy Carter celebrates his 99th birthday with Rosalynn Carter and family in Plains, Georgia, after entering home hospice care earlier in the year. Tributes from political leaders, celebrities and the public emphasize his decades of humanitarian work through The Carter Center, including disease eradication, democracy promotion and election monitoring. The occasion also prompts renewed assessments of his presidency, balancing the economic and foreign-policy crises of his term against his diplomacy, environmental focus and commitment to efficient government. Carter's longevity provides a lens on enduring U.S. debates over democracy, immigration, race and economic policy.

Thousands of admirers gathered at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta to celebrate Jimmy Carter ahead of his 99th birthday, with the event moved forward because of the risk of a federal government shutdown. Attendees highlighted Carter's humanitarian work, diplomacy, the Camp David Accords, the Iran hostage negotiations and the Panama Canal treaty, arguing that his legacy has improved with time. The celebration included museum access, tributes, trivia and birthday cards for Carter, who has been in hospice care since February, while his family planned a private gathering in Plains.

Many Republican voters welcome the chance to hear presidential contenders debate without Donald Trump, whose decision to skip the first Republican debate has intensified scrutiny of the party’s future. While some voters want alternatives such as Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Tim Scott, Mike Pence or Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump retains a substantial base and could still secure the nomination. Attendees at Erick Erickson’s Atlanta gathering expressed interest in a broader discussion of conservative policy and identity, but the field remains fragmented, making it difficult for any rival to assemble a coalition capable of challenging Trump.

Rosalynn Carter celebrated her 96th birthday at home in Plains, Georgia, with former President Jimmy Carter, family and friends, including butterfly releases and peanut butter ice cream. The couple are both in declining health: Rosalynn has dementia and Jimmy is receiving hospice care, though they remain together and active in their community. The occasion also highlighted Rosalynn's decades-long advocacy for mental health, comprehensive healthcare and stronger support for family caregivers, including efforts to establish a dedicated caregivers' office within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers marked the birthday with a screening of the film Unconditional.

Several Republican presidential candidates, including Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy, are appearing at the conservative Gathering conference in Atlanta shortly after Donald Trump was indicted in Georgia over alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump’s legal troubles have not weakened his standing among core Republican voters, and many potential alternatives remain reluctant to attack him directly. Pollster Whit Ayres argues that candidates must appeal to Republicans concerned about Trump’s general-election prospects without alienating his committed supporters. DeSantis avoided discussing the Georgia indictment and instead criticized Atlanta’s crime and governance, while Christie has been the only participating candidate to consistently condemn Trump’s alleged conduct. Rivals are largely hoping that future trials or other developments will damage Trump before he secures the Republican nomination.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary at their home in Plains, Georgia, as both face serious health challenges. Jimmy Carter, 98, has been in home hospice care, while Rosalynn Carter, 95, has dementia. The couple’s partnership extended from their family farming business and political careers to decades of humanitarian work through The Carter Center, including election monitoring and Guinea worm eradication. Rosalynn Carter also championed mental-health services and caregiver support. Their long-standing volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity, shared faith, communication and individual independence are presented as central features of their marriage.

Donald Trump is set to address Republican conventions in Georgia and North Carolina after being federally indicted on 37 felony counts related to the alleged retention and concealment of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. The indictment accuses him of defying demands to return the records, obstructing investigators and making false statements; Trump denies wrongdoing and calls the case politically motivated. His Republican rivals have largely criticized the Justice Department rather than Trump, reflecting his continued dominance in the 2024 primary, though the breadth of the federal case may create greater political risk. Trump is scheduled to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday, alongside aide Walt Nauta, while separate criminal investigations continue in New York, Washington and Atlanta.

Georgia Republicans are preparing for a state convention featuring Donald Trump shortly after his federal indictment over mishandling classified documents. A proposed rule would allow convention delegates to bar candidates from future Republican primary ballots for violating party principles, potentially targeting Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger over their refusal to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, as well as candidates judged insufficiently conservative on issues such as abortion and taxes. Critics argue that primary voters, not party activists, should choose nominees and warn that ideological purism could cost Republicans general elections. The convention highlights the continuing rift between Kemp and Trump, the growing influence of election-denial activists, and the broader struggle over the Georgia GOP’s direction ahead of 2024.

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, 95, has dementia and is living at home with former President Jimmy Carter, who is receiving hospice care. The Carter family said she is enjoying time with her husband, family and close friends in Plains, Georgia, and asked for privacy. The statement highlighted her lifelong advocacy for people affected by mental illness and for caregivers.

Former President Jimmy Carter remains in good spirits at home three months after entering hospice care, spending time with Rosalynn Carter, following public reassessments of his presidency and receiving updates on The Carter Center’s humanitarian programs. His grandson Jason Carter said the family expected the end to come sooner but now anticipates Carter turning 99 in October. Friends and admirers, including former UN ambassador Andrew Young, celebrated Carter’s legacy in Georgia, emphasizing his work on peace, racial equity, the Panama Canal, energy policy and Africa, while acknowledging that inflation, energy crises and the Iran hostage crisis overshadowed those achievements during his presidency.

Quentin Fulks, the 33-year-old manager of Raphael Warnock’s successful 2022 Georgia Senate reelection campaign, has been named principal deputy campaign manager for Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection bid. Fulks attributes Warnock’s nearly three-point victory to presenting him as a pragmatic, results-oriented incumbent and reaching Republican-leaning voters outside Atlanta rather than relying exclusively on Democratic strongholds or progressive messaging. His experience managing Warnock’s fundraising, field, digital and communications operations, along with his willingness to challenge the candidate, is presented as a model for Democrats seeking narrow majorities. Fulks argues that moderate Republicans should not be dismissed and that Democrats can win them by emphasizing their governing record. His earlier failed Illinois tax referendum also shaped his understanding of early campaign framing and voter concerns.

Jimmy Carter’s 1976 Playboy interview became one of the defining controversies of his presidential campaign after remarks about lust, adultery and religious faith were reduced to the phrase “lust in my heart.” Interviewer Robert Scheer and historian Amber Roessner argue that Carter’s broader theological and policy comments were ignored, making him appear far more prudish or bizarre than intended. The early release of the interview also exposed Carter’s criticism of Lyndon Johnson and led to tensions with Johnson’s widow, Lady Bird. Gerald Ford and prominent evangelical leaders used the episode to attack Carter, while the media amplified it through headlines, satire and television coverage. Carter later maintained that the episode nearly cost him the election and remained frustrated for decades by what he saw as unfair reporting.

Quentin Fulks, Raphael Warnock’s 2022 Georgia reelection campaign manager, credits a strategy of presenting Warnock as a pragmatic, results-oriented incumbent and engaging Republican-leaning voters beyond Democratic strongholds. Warnock won by nearly three percentage points, helping Democrats secure an outright Senate majority and raising Fulks’s profile as a potential senior adviser to Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign. Fulks’s experience with a failed Illinois tax referendum shaped his emphasis on early message discipline, while his management style—delegating responsibility, requiring in-person collaboration and maintaining open communication—helped produce a large, coordinated operation and record fundraising. He argues that Democrats can expand their coalition by speaking to moderate Republicans without abandoning core principles.

Joe Biden said Jimmy Carter asked him to deliver his eulogy, although Biden stopped himself from discussing the request further. Carter, 98, is receiving hospice care at his Georgia home after ending further medical treatment following several hospital stays. Biden has maintained a longstanding relationship with Carter, dating to his early support for Carter's 1976 presidential campaign, and visited him with Jill Biden in 2021. Carter is expected to receive a state funeral in Washington, D.C., followed by a private funeral and burial in Plains, Georgia. The account also recalls Carter's later friendship with political rival Gerald Ford and the evolving Democratic appreciation of Carter's humanitarian and democracy work.

The article corrects several misconceptions about Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Carter’s administration negotiated the release of 52 U.S. hostages in Iran, although they were freed shortly after Ronald Reagan’s inauguration. The Carters did not found Habitat for Humanity but became its most prominent volunteers and advocates. Carter is also portrayed as a moderate Southern Democrat whose policies included deregulation, fiscal restraint, and positions that frustrated both liberals and conservatives. The article additionally clarifies Rosalynn Carter’s name pronunciation and the circumstances of the couple’s first meeting.

Jimmy Carter’s political life was closely intertwined with his extended Georgia family, especially his wife Rosalynn, mother Lillian and younger brother Billy. Relatives helped run his early campaigns and formed part of the “Peanut Brigade,” while Billy’s public persona, Billy Beer venture and controversial Libyan loan created political difficulties before Carter’s 1980 defeat. After leaving office, Jimmy and Rosalynn built The Carter Center and remained active in their Plains church. Their descendants have continued elements of the family’s public service, as Carter receives hospice care at home surrounded by relatives.

Jimmy Carter's rise from an obscure Georgia governor to the presidency after the Watergate era has remained a model for outsiders considering presidential campaigns. His grassroots strategy, outsider status, faith-based image and ability to match his message to public disillusionment helped propel him to the 1976 Democratic nomination and White House. Strategists David Axelrod and Steve Schale argue that successful candidates emerge when political circumstances create a demand for something different, citing Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Donald Trump as later examples. Nikki Haley's 2023 candidacy and calls for generational change reflect the continued influence of Carter's example.

Jimmy Carter’s route to the presidency was shaped by a series of contingencies rather than a fixed political plan. Growing up in Archery, a largely Black Georgia community, exposed him to racial and class divisions that later influenced his approach to civil rights and governance. His father’s death brought Carter back from a prospective Navy career to run the family peanut business, launching his local political involvement. He overcame election fraud in his first state Senate race, declined a likely congressional seat in 1966 to challenge the political choices facing Georgia voters, lost the governor’s race to Lester Maddox, and then won the governorship in 1970. Those experiences ultimately positioned the previously obscure governor to win the 1976 presidency through intensive campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire. Carter’s single presidential term included major achievements in environmental, educational and mental-health legislation, industrial deregulation, the Egypt-Israel peace agreement, normalized relations with China and Panama Canal treaties, but inflation, energy shortages and the Iran hostage crisis overshadowed his record and contributed to his failure to secure a second term.

Visitors, residents and public figures are paying tribute to former President Jimmy Carter as he receives hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia. The community reflects on Carter and Rosalynn Carter’s accessibility and their enduring humanitarian work through The Carter Center, including election monitoring, public-health initiatives and efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease. Admirers also highlight Carter’s post-presidential diplomacy and service, including the Israel-Egypt peace agreement and his 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, while acknowledging the economic and foreign-policy challenges of his single presidential term.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger supports making Georgia an early presidential primary state in 2028, but not for 2024. Democrats, including President Joe Biden and Georgia leaders, want the state included in the party’s redesigned 2024 calendar to elevate diverse electorates and give candidates exposure in a key battleground. Supporters argue that an early primary would increase Georgia’s political influence and generate substantial economic activity. Georgia Republicans remain cautious, while the Republican National Committee has retained the traditional Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada order and would penalize states that move ahead. Governor Brian Kemp has not endorsed a change, though his advisers acknowledge its potential long-term benefits.

Newly reelected Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock says he plans to combine bipartisan deal-making with outspoken support for President Joe Biden if Biden seeks reelection in 2024. Warnock is promoting Atlanta as the site of the Democratic National Convention and supporting Georgia's early role in the presidential primary calendar. He highlights cooperation with Republicans on infrastructure, agriculture, military facilities and insulin-price caps, while sharply criticizing Georgia Republicans and Gov. Brian Kemp for refusing to expand Medicaid. The article also examines Warnock's narrow runoff victory, his stature as Georgia's first Black senator and controversy over his church housing allowance.

Bernice King used the annual Martin Luther King Jr. holiday service at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church to criticize politicians and institutions for quoting her father while failing to confront racism, economic and health-care inequality, police violence, restrictive immigration policies, militarization and the climate crisis. President Joe Biden and Senator Raphael Warnock invoked King’s legacy in appeals for democracy, community, faith and nonviolence, while other commemorations addressed misinformation, extremism, gun violence and service. Events included gun-safety and trauma-response kit distribution in Philadelphia and observances in Selma and Maine, underscoring both progress since King’s era and the continuing challenges to his vision of a “Beloved Community.”

President Joe Biden is returning to Georgia to speak at Ebenezer Baptist Church during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, following Raphael Warnock’s successful reelection and Democrats’ stronger-than-expected 2022 midterm performance. The visit highlights Georgia’s importance to Biden’s potential 2024 campaign, Democratic presidential-primary strategy, and efforts to mobilize Black voters. Biden is expected to emphasize King’s legacy and voting rights, although congressional action remains blocked by Republican opposition and the Senate’s 60-vote legislative threshold. The trip also comes as Attorney General Merrick Garland’s appointment of a special counsel to investigate Biden’s handling of classified documents threatens to disrupt the administration’s recent political momentum.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp emerged from his decisive 2022 reelection victory over Stacey Abrams with greater influence and independence from Donald Trump. After defeating Trump-backed challengers and refusing to help overturn Joe Biden’s Georgia victory, Kemp is being presented as a model for a more pragmatic, non-Trumpian Republican strategy aimed at independents and moderates while retaining conservative policies. He expanded his political operation, assisted Herschel Walker’s Senate runoff campaign without fully embracing Walker, and could pursue a Senate seat, a national ticket, a Cabinet role or leadership in the Republican Governors Association. At home, his strengthened position gives him broad control over Georgia Republicans, though his second-term agenda is relatively limited and focused on tax rebates, criminal justice, education and continuity.

Republicans are reconsidering their hostility to mail and early voting after Democratic candidates benefited from large leads established before Election Day in Georgia and Pennsylvania. The article attributes the GOP disadvantage largely to Donald Trump's unsupported claims that mail voting enables fraud, noting that these claims discouraged Republican voters from using methods that protect against weather, equipment failures and other Election Day problems. Republican officials and strategists, including Ronna McDaniel and John Thune, are urging voters to cast ballots earlier, while some conservatives continue to oppose expanded mail voting on principle. The 2022 results suggest that Republicans with effective early-voting operations performed better than candidates who embraced Trump's election conspiracies.

Raphael Warnock’s runoff victory, following Brian Kemp’s reelection, confirms Georgia’s transformation from a Republican stronghold into a premier battleground ahead of 2024. Democrats cite Joe Biden’s 2020 win, recent Senate victories, voter diversity and their expanding turnout infrastructure, while Republicans argue they retain an underlying advantage if they resolve internal divisions and nominate stronger candidates. The contrasting performances of Warnock and Kemp against those of Herschel Walker and Donald Trump highlight the importance of appealing to independents and moderates. Georgia is consequently positioned as both a likely presidential tipping-point state and a potential contest for influence in the parties’ 2024 nominating processes.