Newsmax

Gray Media, South Carolina's largest television ownership group, is requiring candidates in this fall's gubernatorial and U.S. Senate debates to sign contracts barring them from joining rival broadcasters' debates without Gray's written consent. The clause, confirmed by multiple campaign sources, could limit other outlets' ability to host their own televised debates before the Nov. 3 general election.

Gubernatorial nominees Alan Wilson (R) and Jermaine Johnson (D) have tentatively set an Oct. 6 debate with Gray station WIS-TV, Gray's sixth debate broadcast since April. A Senate debate between Darline Graham and Annie Andrews remains under negotiation. Andrews' campaign said it signed Gray's pledge but has also accepted invitations from other stations, including SCETV and Nexstar- and Hearst-owned outlets, raising questions about how the exclusivity clause applies to debate clips and other coverage.

The dispute follows Gray's earlier partnership with the state GOP on primary debates and comes amid broader competition between Gray, Nexstar, and other networks for control of political debate coverage nationally.

Analysis marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks argues that the national unity seen in 2001 would be far less likely if a comparable crisis struck today. After 9/11, President George W. Bush's approval rating jumped from roughly 53 percent to as high as 92 percent in polling from Gallup and ABC News, reflecting a rare moment of bipartisan cohesion. By contrast, President Trump's current average approval sits around 38 percent, illustrating how deeply polarized the country has become.

The piece points to five structural shifts since 2001: the rise of social media and information silos, the decline of traditional media in favor of partisan cable "brands," rapid partisan blame-assigning after major events, eroding public trust in government — cited in a new Associated Press-NORC survey showing six in ten adults distrust federal information — and the widest wealth gap in three decades per Federal Reserve data. Together, these trends suggest that a modern-day catastrophic event would likely deepen division rather than foster the shared resolve seen after 9/11.

Sen. Sheila "Darline" Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman, the two Republicans vying in South Carolina's Senate runoff, traded sharp personal attacks in a Newsmax-hosted debate moderated by Greta Van Susteren ahead of the Aug. 25 primary to fill the seat left vacant by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Graham accused Norman of stalling President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," at one point suggesting Trump had to personally call Norman to secure his vote, and of taking $600,000 in COVID-era bailout money while opposing extended unemployment benefits. Norman denied holding up the bill, calling the attacks "silly season" politics, and said he used his leverage to strip clean-energy subsidies, including electric vehicle and solar credits, before ultimately voting for the final package.

Both candidates called for Anthony Fauci to be jailed following a Senate committee's contempt vote against him, and both backed Trump's handling of Iran and Taiwan, though with differing emphasis on avoiding prolonged military conflict. Norman also criticized federal overspending, while Graham cited her record trimming state agency duplication. Early voting begins Aug. 19.