Warren County, New Jersey

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker have sent a letter to FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson urging the agency to investigate alleged anticompetitive and deceptive practices among dominant online real estate platforms, naming Zillow Group as a key target. The Senate Democrats argue that consolidated control over home listings and search tools makes it harder for Americans to buy homes and worsens the broader housing affordability crisis.

The lawmakers are asking the FTC to use all available enforcement tools to restore competition across the online real estate marketplace, citing concerns about how platform dominance affects pricing transparency and consumer choice during home searches. The request adds to ongoing scrutiny of major real estate listing services and comes amid broader political attention to housing costs. No formal FTC investigation has been announced in response to the letter.

Republican Zac Haines and Democrat Cara Jacob, both political newcomers, are competing to represent Ohio Senate District 7, covering all of Warren County and part of Hamilton County, in the Nov. 3 election. The seat is open because incumbent Sen. Steve Wilson is term-limited. Haines, of Symmes Township, is CEO of a Blue Ash marketing agency; Jacob, of Montgomery, is a neurologist and professor at the University of Cincinnati.

The candidates diverge sharply on key issues. Haines favors continued income tax cuts, property tax relief tied to homeownership tenure or age, and lighter business regulation, including on data centers, which he wants governed by stronger transparency and accountability rules. Jacob opposes recent state tax cuts she says favored corporations, including the stadium subsidy for the Cleveland Browns, and calls for a property tax "circuit breaker," expanded homestead exemptions, and an end to tax exemptions for data centers. On housing, Haines emphasizes boosting supply through deregulation, while Jacob backs wage growth, limits on bulk housing purchases by investors, and expanded childcare access. Both say the state should better fund local schools and services.

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey (both D-MA) have announced they will vote against Question 8, the November ballot initiative seeking to repeal Massachusetts' regulated commercial marijuana sales and home cultivation while keeping possession and medical cannabis legal. Both senators cited strong public support and the risks of pushing consumers back to the unregulated market. Their opposition joins recent statements from Gov. Maura Healey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who also urged voters to reject the measure.

Multiple recent polls show the repeal effort trailing significantly, with opposition ranging from 55 to 71 percent. The state's Cannabis Control Commission reports adult-use sales have topped $10 billion since 2018, and industry advocates warn repeal could cost thousands of jobs and significant tax revenue. The measure, largely backed by Smart Approaches to Marijuana's SAM Action, has also faced legal challenges over signature-gathering tactics and ballot language, though courts and election officials have allowed it to proceed to voters.

President Trump rallied supporters in Vandalia, Ohio, urging them to "just pretend I'm running" ahead of the midterms, mixing crude attacks on Democrats with warnings that he would be less willing to help Ohio secure federal funds if Democrats win key races. He appeared alongside Senate candidate Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, both pledging to work closely with him despite his sagging approval. Trump also told the crowd he would push the Rate Payer Protection Act to address data center electricity costs if Husted wins.

Trump's national approval sits around 38%, with Ohio-specific numbers even lower, as majorities disapprove of his tariffs, immigration policies, and support for unregulated data centers—an issue Republicans fear could hurt Husted's race against Sherrod Brown. Ohio gas prices have risen 35% over the past year to over $4 a gallon, and Canadian retaliatory tariffs have hit billions in Ohio exports. Trump also defended his deportation push targeting Haitian immigrants in Springfield, a day after Gov. Mike DeWine, who skipped the rally, attended the funeral of a young Haitian immigrant who died by suicide following an immigration enforcement order. Protesters gathered outside the venue, and outside groups have made Husted-Brown the nation's second-costliest Senate race.

A Warren County, Kentucky daycare employee has been arrested after confessing to making threats that twice forced the business to be secured by law enforcement. The Warren County Sheriff's Office said it first received a complaint on Aug. 13 about threats made toward the daycare, initially suspecting a former employee or her spouse. Those individuals cooperated with investigators and were released after interviews and data requests to service providers.

A second threat complaint came in on Aug. 14, prompting deputies to return and secure the property again. Investigators traced the threats to a cell phone and IP address located at one of the two daycare sites, leading detectives to interview staff. Employee Kayla Canler confessed to making the threats and was arrested. She faces charges of second-degree terroristic threatening and filing a false report generating an emergency response, and is being held on a $5,000 bond.

Illinois Democrats gathered at the state fair in Springfield for their annual Democrats' Day, with Gov. JB Pritzker, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren delivering anti-Trump speeches while downplaying ideological rifts roiling the national party. Warren praised Senate candidate Juliana Stratton for standing up to AIPAC and corporate PACs, touching on divisions over Israel-Gaza policy and campaign finance that have proven more combustible elsewhere. But the celebratory tone was clouded by House Speaker Chris Welch's handling of a sexual harassment scandal involving former Rep. Harry Benton, and the recent indictment of Rep. Carol Ammons and her husband on fraud charges. Welch skipped the main event; three House Democrats have refused to join his working group on the harassment issue, calling its formation flawed.

A day later, Republicans held their own fairground rally, with Gov. candidate Darren Bailey and running mate Aaron Del Mar attacking Pritzker over cost of living, public safety and schools while avoiding mention of Trump. Senate candidate Don Tracy branded Stratton and Democratic Socialist allies as extreme, and House GOP leader Tony McCombie renewed criticism of Welch. Separately, the DNC narrowed its 2028 convention host shortlist to Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, excluding Chicago, which hosted in 2024 and remains in contention for 2032. Pritzker's campaign also launched a TV ad branding Bailey as extreme ahead of November.