Guardian US

Graham Platner, the populist Democrat Senate nominee in Maine, suspended his campaign and his farewell was a pity party filled with hate. The article contrasts his exit with Nixon's resignation over Watergate, though the stakes were smaller for Platner.

Graham Platner's exit from Maine's US Senate race creates an opening for Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former state legislator from Fort Kent. Jackson's background as a union member and his leadership in a 1998 logging blockade align with the need for a candidate representing working-class, inland, and rural Mainers.

Graham Platner, accused of rape by former partner Jenny Racicot, suspended his campaign for U.S. Senate. Politico reported details of the alleged 2021 incident, including Racicot's communications with a therapist and a boyfriend, while Platner denied the accusations.

Senator Ed Markey has proposed legislation to address AI-related harms, including energy-intensive datacenters, biased algorithms, and harmful effects on children. The package targets workplace surveillance, economic inequality, and other risks from unregulated artificial intelligence.

US private equity firm Apollo has entered a bidding war for easyJet with a £5.7bn all-cash offer. The airline’s board is 'minded to recommend' the deal after previously accepting a rival offer from Castlelake earlier this week.

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant who lived in the US for 35 years, was killed by ICE agents during a traffic stop in Houston. The agents were targeting two Guatemalans, not Araujo, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Donald Trump terminated the remaining members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission, which oversees mail-voter registration and election administration. The three commissioners were removed via resignation and email notification from the White House presidential personnel office just months before the midterm elections.

Donald Trump’s proposed 250ft arch in Washington received preliminary approval from the National Capital Planning Commission despite public opposition. The commission deferred a decision on applying a federal height-limit law to the project.

The National Weather Service reports an 81% chance of a very strong El Niño developing by year-end, with a 97% probability it will persist through spring 2027. This event could rank among the largest in the historical record and supercharge extreme weather globally.

Bipartisan lawmakers urged HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to implement strict hospice reporting rules to prevent discrimination and coercion in medically assisted suicide. They warned that older adults and people with disabilities risk being pressured to end their lives.

OpenAI released ChatGPT 5.6 after delaying its public rollout due to US government cybersecurity concerns. The Trump administration requested a restricted release to approved users, which OpenAI complied with, and the wider release followed testing by the Center for AI Standards and Innovation.

Graham Platner withdrew from the Maine US Senate race following a sexual assault allegation, prompting his former backers to seek a progressive replacement to prevent the nomination from going to an establishment Democrat. Progressive groups and lawmakers are now divided on whether to support a successor or wait for the party's replacement process to conclude.

Donald Trump's erratic behavior at the NATO summit in Turkey left his allies uncertain, as he alternated between criticizing their defense spending contributions and praising the alliance's unity. The Guardian's Dan Sabbagh reports on the impact of Trump's actions on NATO.

Erika Kirk, the widow of far-right activist Charlie Kirk, has requested a Utah judge to publicly display all exhibits related to her husband’s killing to prevent conspiracy theories. The motion comes during a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the alleged murderer, at Utah Valley University in Provo.

California universities are acquiring military-grade weapons like AR-15s, stun grenades, and sonic weapons under a 2021 state law that permits such equipment for civilian safety. Students express concerns these tools may be used to suppress dissent rather than protect safety.

Former US Olympian David Hearn pleaded not guilty to damaging Washington’s reflecting pool during a renovation project. He was indicted on a felony count of property destruction for destroying the pool’s lining material.

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City has sickened 28 people, with health officials testing building cooling towers for bacteria. Experts link the outbreak to the climate crisis, warning that rising temperatures are increasing exposure to the bacteria.

Chris Mufarrige, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s consumer protection bureau, is targeting Facebook scams and junk fees. Consumer advocates say he faces significant challenges in enforcing consumer protections.

San Francisco International Airport is seeking bids to build and operate a private luxury terminal, following similar initiatives in Los Angeles, London, and other cities. The terminal aims to offer a premium experience with reduced congestion and TSA line waits for those willing to pay a fee.

A US appeals court rejected Donald Trump's attempt to delay paying E. Jean Carroll over $5 million following her 2023 sexual abuse and defamation trial. The decision was made hours after Trump filed paperwork opposing the release of funds held in a court-controlled account since June 2023. Trump denies all wrongdoing.