In a race that showcased Democrats’ struggle between the ideological left and center, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley managed a razor-thin victory over his democratic socialist challenger. In other contests, experience was rewarded in two governors’ races and voters went for generational change in voting out a House incumbent.
For Republicans, a contest to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham pitted his sister, Darline Graham, against far more experienced candidates. But she also had the endorsement of President Donald Trump and secured a spot in a runoff election later this month. Plus, AP's exclusive reporting about new ICE plans, Trump's Air Force One switcheroo and a look at the new executive order on vaccines. |
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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, right, talks as David Crowley listens during a primary debate in Milwaukee, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) |
Tuesday's takeaways: No clear direction for Wisconsin Democrats — By Nicholas Riccardi and Thomas Beaumont
Crowley eked out a stunningly narrow, surprise win that did not become clear until the predawn hours of Wednesday, but that seemed to settle little in the party’s national battle between party establishment candidates and an insurgent, populist movement from the left.
Crowley’s win by less than a percentage point over state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, showed neither side of the party debate was winning the argument convincingly.
Democrats in neighboring Minnesota weren’t as torn, solidly supporting progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan over centrist Rep. Angie Craig. But there are obvious differences — Minnesota has been reliably Democratic for several elections, albeit by smaller margins. And Flanagan has already won statewide elections before. Nonetheless, Republicans are hopeful the divisive, bitter primary gives their candidate, sportscaster Michele Tafoya, a chance in November.
Darline Graham advanced to a runoff Tuesday night in the primary for her brother’s seat. She was appointed to fill the remaining months of his current term after his death last month. While little was known about her, the family name and the goodwill toward her brother propelled her candidacy. Read more from Riccardi and Beaumont about Tuesday's top contests. |
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ICE plans to give officers gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks |
Federal agents walk down a street while conducting immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
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AP Exclusive: ICE plans to give officers gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks — By Ryan J. Foley
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers may soon be outfitted with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks intended to gain compliance from combative individuals.
ICE plans to spend up to $20 million to purchase thousands of “conductive distraction and de-escalation devices” for officers and agents by March, according to a notice published Monday by the Department of Homeland Security.
The devices are known as the G.L.O.V.E., which stands for Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter, and are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC of Lexington, Kentucky. They have been used in recent years by some jails and police departments.
DHS said Tuesday that it was working on a response to an Associated Press inquiry and offered no immediate comment. Jeff Niklaus, the founder and CEO of Compliant Technologies, wrote in an email, “Unfortunately, we are unable to speak on this subject.”
Read more from Foley about the new tactical plans from ICE. |
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Trump says Secret Service wanted him off Air Force One |
A catering truck is parked at Air Force One on the tarmac as the motorcade carrying U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to depart following the NATO summit at Ankara International Airport in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) |
Trump says Secret Service and the military wanted him off Air Force One in Turkey due to threat — By Will Weissert
Trump said Tuesday that he slipped away from Air Force One after a trip last month in Turkey because the Secret Service and military wanted him on a “different plane” due to a threat that he insisted didn't scare him. Trump downplayed the extraordinary nature of the subterfuge involved in his flight, which saw him stow away in an airport catering container to sneak onto another plane while Air Force One was sent into the sky, essentially as a decoy. He also downplayed the risk to the people — White House officials, security and support staff, and reporters — he left on the plane.
Trump's comments confirmed a report that first appeared in The Washington Post saying that Trump, following a NATO summit last month, was spirited onto a different plane because of a credible threat from Iran. The action was kept secret for weeks, until the newspaper's story.
Secret trips are not new for presidents, but this one is different. The fact that Trump’s whereabouts were concealed at the time and for weeks afterward is believed to be unprecedented.
Read more from Weissert about this extraordinary presidential situation. |
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FACT FOCUS: Trump signs EO urging child vaccine changes |
President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order about vaccines as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. looks on, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) |
While issuing an executive order on Monday aimed at getting states to revise childhood vaccine recommendations, Trump and others in his administration repeated several false claims about those vaccines, as well as their relationship to autism.
The order recommends separating the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three separate single-disease shots and administering childhood vaccines at separate appointments whenever possible.
But many public health experts expressed concern about the recommendations, saying that spacing out the shots could increase the risk that children would become infected with a vaccine-preventable disease before returning for another visit.
Claim: “You have the MMR, we want it in three separate vaccinations given at separate times. Together there could be a possibility they are quite lethal and separately, it looks like they are not at all lethal but just very effective." — Trump
Fact: This is false. Doctors say, and years of real-world evidence prove, that the current combination MMR vaccine is both safe and effective at protecting children from illness. Common side effects are mild and include a sore arm from the shot, fever, mild rash and temporary pain and stiffness in the joints. Doctors point out that separate vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are not available in the United States.
Analysis: “I’m concerned about an unintended consequence of people under vaccinating because of fear that giving a single dose of the MMR is going to put their child at risk when there’s no evidence to suggest that’s the case,” said Dr. Aaron Milstone, pediatric director of infection prevention at Johns Hopkins Health System and a fellow with the American Academy of Pediatrics. “There are many, many, many years of scientific data highlighting the safety of vaccines in children.”
Read more from Melissa Goldin and Laura Ungar on the new order. |
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