In a move that has Democrats reaching for their lawyers and their smelling salts, a whistleblower report alleges the US Postal Service is about to unleash a computer system that could derail mail-in voting. Representative Robert Garcia, ranking member of the oversight and government reform committee, was quick to cry foul, calling the system "faulty, untested, and threatening to totally disrupt ballot delivery for millions of American citizens."
Senator Richard Blumenthal disclosed the whistleblower statement on Tuesday, warning of potential mail-in voting chaos. Garcia didn't mince words: "This unconstitutional and dangerous power grab must be permanently and immediately blocked." The controversy stems from an executive order signed by Donald Trump in March that requires the creation of a national voter file and mandates the USPS to prevent voters from receiving mail-in ballots unless they're on a USPS-approved eligible voter list. The Supreme Court has given a thumbs-up to Trump's efforts, but lower courts are still hashing it out.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also weighed in, accusing Trump of turning USPS into a "voter suppression machine." "A whistleblower is warning of a 'catastrophic failure' in our mail-ballot system - all because Trump is turning USPS into a voter suppression machine," Schumer tweeted. "Vote-by-mail is safe and secure. Trump himself voted by mail just last month. He knows he's failing the American people, so he's doing everything he can to rig the midterms."
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is expanding its investigation into beef prices, now targeting eight of the country's largest grocers. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward sent letters to Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Publix, Albertsons, Aldi, and Ahold Delhaize USA. Trump has also accused meatpacking companies of driving up costs - because why not add a little beef to the political stew?
In Massachusetts, progressive stalwart Ed Markey, 80, fended off a primary challenge from 47-year-old Congressman Seth Moulton, who argued Markey was too old to be effective. Markey's victory was hailed by Our Revolution, the group founded by Bernie Sanders. "Tonight's victory isn't just a win for Ed Markey or for our progressive movement. It's a rejection of the idea that generational change has to come at the expense of bold, progressive leadership," said Joseph Geevarghese, the organization's executive director. Markey, who's favored to win a third full term in November against Republican John Deaton, proved that age is just a number - especially when your opponent is a younger guy with less name recognition.
House Democratic leaders were less thrilled about two of their own, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Jared Golden, who defected to help Republicans pass a procedural vote. The resolution included a condemnation of socialism and called for Trump's SAVE America Act, which would ban mail-in ballots and require proof of citizenship. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, whip Katherine Clark, and caucus chair Pete Aguilar called it a "significant breach of trust" and demanded a "serious response" from the Committee on Caucus Rules. Congressman Josh Gottheimer called the resolution a trap: "If you actually want to take on socialism instead of playing political games, you don't slip in the SAVE [America] Act as a poison pill that you know no Democrat will vote for."
In other news, House Democrats are mourning the death of Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian college student who died by suicide after losing his temporary protected status and being forced to wear an ankle monitor. Jeffries described the administration's actions as "despicable cruelty," saying Trump's "mass deportation machine" ripped away Bel's legal status, threatened him with violence, and humiliated him. Bel, who came to the US in 2024, lost his status in July and died on Monday.
Trump announced he's nominating Hung Cao, a retired navy captain and former Senate candidate, to be the next secretary of the Navy. Cao has been acting secretary since April. "The Senate needs to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP," Trump said. The announcement comes amid a shakeup in military leadership, with army secretary Daniel Driscoll leaving after 18 months, prompting accusations that Pete Hegseth has "hollowed out" the ranks.
In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement, the House voted 413-2 to censure Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards for sexual harassment of two female staffers. The ethics committee found he created a hostile work environment by giving gifts, commenting on appearances, sending late-night texts, and paying for vacations. Edwards defended himself, saying regret is not an admission of guilt, but he's dropped his re-election bid. North Carolina Republicans have replaced him with state representative Jennifer Balkcom.
Finally, New York Governor Kathy Hochul slammed Trump for withholding $87 million in counterterrorism funds, calling it a betrayal of 9/11 victims. "Don't undermine our public safety efforts. Don't defund the police who thwart terror attacks. Don't play political games with people's lives," Hochul said. The Department of Homeland Security accused her of "manufacturing a funding crisis," but Hochul shot back: "Spare us the theatrics. And while you're here, cut the $87 million check you owe our cops and counterterrorism officials."