July 5-11, 2026
BE PART OF THIS CHANGE ELECTION!
Dear fellow TSB member, if every TSB member could contribute just $100, we could mount an ambitious plan to do our bit to retake the House and the Senate and put a stop to this administration's illegal and corrupt activities. Please help us do so. Please also consider joining one of our activity groups on WhatsApp. We are rolling out our postcard writing campaign soon.
HEALTH
Federal Surveillance Cuts Coincide With Growing Foodborne Illness Outbreak. A nationwide outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that causes severe diarrhea, has sickened about a thousand people in Michigan and caused illnesses in 28 other states as federal monitoring of the disease has been scaled back. In July 2025, the CDC ended routine surveillance of six foodborne pathogens through its FoodNet program, citing insufficient funding, while critics argue broader Trump administration cuts to public health agencies weakened the nation's food safety system. Public health experts say FoodNet has long been a cornerstone of detecting and responding to outbreaks, warning that reducing surveillance makes it harder to identify contaminated food and protect the public. HUFF POST
DEMOCRACY IN DANGER
Justice Department Escalates Election Dispute by Threatening States Over Voter Registration Records. The Trump administration's Justice Department warned election officials in all 50 states that they could face criminal prosecution if they fail to maintain accurate voter rolls or refuse to provide requested voter registration records to the federal government. The move comes after federal courts rejected several Justice Department lawsuits seeking access to state voter data, with the administration arguing the requests are necessary to prevent illegal voting by noncitizens. State election officials and voting-rights advocates criticized the letters as an unprecedented attempt to pressure states and expand federal control over elections, noting that documented cases of noncitizen voting remain exceedingly rare. THE GUARDIAN
Trump Dismisses Bipartisan Election Commission Leadership, Leaving Federal Agency Without a Quorum. President Donald Trump fired the remaining members of the bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission, the independent agency that helps states administer elections, certifies voting systems and distributes federal election grants. The dismissals leave the commission without a quorum, preventing it from carrying out many of its statutory responsibilities just months before the 2026 midterm elections. Supporters say the move reflects the president's authority to reshape the federal government, while critics warn it could undermine confidence in election administration and further politicize oversight of U.S. elections. Democracy Docket
Report Raises Questions About Whether Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Violated the Election Laws He Enforces. A joint investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton may have cast ballots in six elections using the address of a home where he no longer lived, potentially violating the same state residency laws his office has aggressively enforced against other voters. Election law experts told the news organizations that the reported facts could constitute a violation of Texas law, although Paxton's campaign denied any wrongdoing and called the allegations politically motivated. The report has intensified scrutiny of Paxton's voter-fraud crackdown, highlighting the contrast between his public campaign against illegal voting and questions about his own voting practices. PROPUBLICA
WAR WITH IRAN
Analysis Estimates U.S. Iran War Has Cost Taxpayers More Than $100 Billion in Just Four Months. An analysis by Popular Information estimates that the first 120 days of the U.S. military campaign against Iran have cost American taxpayers approximately $103 billion, including combat operations, weapons, damaged military assets, support for Israel, and other related expenses. The report argues that the financial burden has far exceeded early Pentagon estimates and does not include many long-term costs, such as veterans' care or the replenishment of depleted weapons stockpiles. The findings have intensified debate in Washington over the fiscal and strategic costs of the conflict as military operations continue. POPULAR INFORMATION
Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire Over as U.S. Resumes Military Pressure While Leaving Door Open to Talks. President Donald Trump announced that the tentative ceasefire with Iran is "over" after renewed Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz prompted additional U.S. military strikes. While saying diplomatic talks with Tehran could continue, Trump argued that the ceasefire had become meaningless and vowed a forceful response to any further Iranian aggression. The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns about regional stability, global energy supplies, and the prospects for reaching a long-term agreement over Iran's nuclear program. FOX NEWS
CRIME
International Crackdown Targets Powerful Indian Crime Syndicate Accused of Global Violence. Authorities in the United States, Canada and India have expanded a sweeping investigation into the Lawrence Bishnoi criminal network, arresting or charging dozens of people accused of participating in a transnational enterprise tied to murder-for-hire, extortion, drug trafficking and intimidation. Prosecutors allege the gang orchestrated violent crimes across multiple countries through a network of associates, while investigators continue to examine its role in the 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and other alleged plots. The arrests underscore growing international cooperation against organized crime and highlight escalating concerns over the reach of criminal organizations operating across national borders. NYT
CAMPAIGNS
Graham Platner Officially Withdraws From Maine Senate Race, Forcing Democrats to Find a New Nominee. Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner officially withdrew from Maine's U.S. Senate race after suspending his campaign amid a sexual assault allegation that he has denied. His departure removes him from the November ballot and leaves the Maine Democratic Party with just weeks to select a replacement to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of the nation's most closely watched Senate races. The abrupt collapse of Platner's campaign has reshaped the contest and intensified the stakes in Democrats' effort to compete for control of the Senate. NBC NEWS
MEDIA ETHICS
CNN, CNBC and Kalshi Defend Media Partnership After Report Questions Disclosure Practices. Following an investigation by Popular Information and Public Notice, Kalshi, CNN and CNBC defended their financial partnerships and editorial practices amid criticism that the networks frequently promoted Kalshi's prediction markets without consistently disclosing their business relationships. CNBC said it provides disclosures when they are directly relevant, while CNN maintained that Kalshi's prediction data is only one of many sources used in its reporting and does not influence editorial decisions. The report argues that inconsistent disclosure creates potential conflicts of interest and raises questions about transparency when financial partnerships intersect with news coverage. POPULAR INFORMATION/PUBLIC NOTICE
CORRUPTION ALERT
Trump's Crypto Venture Generated Huge Profits for Him While Many Investors Suffered Heavy Losses. Nearly one million people who invested in President Donald Trump's $TRUMP meme coin have collectively lost an estimated $3.8 billion, even as Trump and affiliated businesses reportedly earned hundreds of millions of dollars in trading fees and related revenue. The stark contrast has fueled renewed scrutiny of the president's financial ties to the cryptocurrency industry and raised ethical questions about potential conflicts of interest. Critics argue that Trump's political prominence helped drive investor enthusiasm, while supporters maintain that buyers voluntarily accepted the risks of a highly speculative market.
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