Monday, Aug. 18
Mayors' Association determined to stop federal law enforcement takeover
After President Trump deployed the first of 800 National Guard members to Washington D.C., The Associated Press said he is setting his sights on other cities. Despite Trump’s labeling of the capital as a “crime-ridden wasteland,” data from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department shows violent crime is down from a year ago.
Members of the African American Mayors Association feel their efforts to crack down on crime have been overshadowed by the inaccurate statements Trump has made regarding crime rates.
According to the AP, the mayors said Trump targeting cities like Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles and Oakland, California, all led by Black mayors, is “unfortunate.”
A reduction in crime rates was due to the mayors’ part in creating more youth engagement, gun buyback programs and community partnerships, the AP says.
Tuesday, Aug. 19
The Constitution limits Trump from cancelling mail-in voting
Trump alleged on social media he would eliminate mail-in voting and voting machines. The Monday post said he would put out another executive order to “help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm elections,” according to the AP.
Trump also said there was “MASSIVE FRAUD” as a result of mail-in voting and told viewers the U.S. is the only country to use mail-in voting. Neither of which is true, according to AP.
Despite this, the Constitution does not list the president as a person with powers over U.S. elections, the AP says.
“The president has very limited to zero authority over things related to the conduct of elections,” Rick Hansen, an election law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, told AP.
Wednesday, Aug. 20
Security clearances revoked for current, former government officials
The Trump administration sets sights on public servants by revoking security clearance for 37 officials, both current and former, according to the AP
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard accused the revokers in the memo of politicization or weaponization of intelligence to advance their own personal or partisan goals, failing to safeguard classified information, failing to adhere to professional analytic tradecraft standards and other unspecified detrimental conduct, according to AP.
Now, critics say these actions are part of a larger plan to create a diversion and wield power against those Trump sees as being against his interests.
Thursday, Aug. 21
Strong winds brew as Hurricane Erin moves along the East Coast
Hurricane Erin hit the coast of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, exhibiting strong winds and waves for beachgoers and locals in the area.
Although damage assessments are still underway, dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding are forecasted for the area, according to AP. Areas of the island of Bermuda faced active tropical storm warnings through Friday.
Coastal erosion is another high concern, where local weather reports noted waves as high as 18 feet, AP says. Debris and areas of land were washed into the road, causing damage.
Friday, Aug. 22
All foreign visas to be reviewed by the Trump administration
In the latest crackdown on immigration in the U.S., the Trump Administration seeks to review more than 55 million foreigners holding visas, AP says.
The review is looking for any violations that could lead to deportation. The State Department told the AP visa holders are subject to "continuous vetting,” an automatic process to monitor a person’s background to ensure they meet security requirements for a position of trust.
Violations could include staying past the authorized timeframe, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity or providing support to a terrorist organization, the State Department said via AP.
Any visa holder found in violation is subject to deportation, the department said, according to the AP.
Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 25
Deportation dispute intensifies as U.S. targets Kilmar Abrego Garcia
After being mistakenly deported in March to El Salvador, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is now facing deportation to Uganda by the U.S. for refusing a plea offer in his smuggling case.
Homeland Security alleges Garcia is an MS-13 gang member and a public safety threat, among other things, according to a statement from the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Friday.
In the statement, Noem says the Obama-appointed judge who ordered his release showed a “complete disregard for the safety of the American people.”
“Today we reached a new low with this publicity hungry Maryland judge mandating this illegal alien who is a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser and child predator be allowed free,” Noem said.
Garcia declined an offer late Thursday to be sent to Costa Rica in exchange for remaining in jail and pleading guilty to human smuggling charges, AP says. Following his decline, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said he would be deported to Uganda after reporting to authorities Monday.
