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Welcome back. In the news today: Takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries, including how a healthcare tycoon beat Trump’s preferred candidate in Georgia; a fact check of Trump’s comments about immigration; an exclusive dive into the private school voucher boom; and AP’s gardening expert shares her top tomatoes for a mouthwatering summer harvest. Also, it was a bit late for me to watch live, but did you see Lionel Messi’s hat trick last night?
Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson greets supporters before speaking at his runoff election night watch party Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
The cost to overcome a Trump endorsement? $100 million
In the Republican runoff for Georgia governor, Rick Jackson’s campaign spent more than $100 million, largely out of the billionaire’s own pocket, to defeat the candidate the president endorsed, Burt Jones. Read more.
Why this matters:
- Jackson’s win was another rare example of the president’s choice falling short in a primary battle. Trump’s efforts were more successful elsewhere. His candidate for U.S. Senate won a runoff in Alabama, and his pick for Oklahoma governor advanced to another runoff there.
Related coverage →
Full election results from Alabama, California, the District of Columbia, Georgia and Oklahoma
Georgia Republicans choose Collins for Senate and Jackson for governor, a mixed result for Trump
Trump-backed Moore wins GOP runoff for US Senate in Alabama, as Democrats focus on rising costs
Democrat Aisha Wahab advances in California special election to replace former US Rep. Eric Swalwell
Trump delays Jay Clayton’s nomination for intel director to try to push Congress on voting bill
Federal government seeks to halt the first US reparations program for Black people
RFK Jr. overrules experts to keep hantavirus cruise ship passenger in quarantine
Authorities say they disrupted planned drone, gun attack on White House UFC cage-fighting show
Most Americans see freedoms under threat but core to nation’s identity, AP-NORC poll finds
JD Vance went on television to plug a faith memoir. ‘The View’ had other plans
White House talking points claim victories in initial Iran deal but often don’t meet reality
Hot mics at the G7 capture world leaders’ chats between weighty topics
Trump administration uses hydrogen peroxide and tiny bubbles against algae in Reflecting Pool
Trump says illegal immigration increased car insurance premiums. Experts say otherwise
President Donald Trump this week credited his tough immigration policies for a drop in car insurance premiums, falsely blaming illegal immigration during his predecessor’s time in the White House for a prior increase. Read more.
What to know:
- Experts say that increased costs were primarily due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as riskier behavior on the roads and supply chain disruptions that led to higher repair costs. Now that insurers are on a better financial footing, they are cutting rates to stay competitive. There is no evidence to suggest that illegal immigration played a significant role in either the rise or the fall of insurance premiums.
Related coverage →
Judge upholds the conviction of former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan for helping immigrant evade ICE
Federal prosecutors charge 15 people with impeding agents during Minnesota immigration crackdown
ICE says relaxed detention standards ‘reduce the burden’ on contractors running its lockups
Adoptee threatened with deportation to Iran granted asylum
AP Exclusive: The private school choice boom leaves behind many kids in public school
In theory, voucher programs are supposed to give children an educational opportunity they wouldn’t otherwise have. In reality, students already in private or home school are most likely to benefit, an analysis by The Associated Press shows. Read more.
Why this matters:
- More families across the country are experimenting with private school as states — and soon the federal government — use taxpayer-supported scholarships to encourage them to leave public school. Soon, half of all American schoolkids will be able to apply for state money to finance a private education, and many states will offer the scholarships even to high-income families.
- In some cases, public school families aren’t aware of these scholarship programs. They may lack transportation to get their kids to private school. Some worry their child won’t survive in a more strict disciplinary environment. Sometimes, as in Texas, the law is written to benefit families who know how to navigate complicated education systems.
Related coverage →
Trump is shifting special ed, civil rights out of Education Department. Here’s what we know
Teens’ reading and math scores have stagnated, US test results show
Indiana becomes the latest state to receive flexibility from Trump on federal education spending
IN OTHER NEWS
AP Exclusive: Nvidia’s Jensen Huang says society needs ‘new social norms’ in age of AI
1 killed: Small plane crashes on southern Texas highway
Deadly mission: B-52 was in the air a very short time before crashing
Chicago cross burning: A person is in custody, police say
Animal theft ring bust: Police rescue hundreds of cats from being eaten in Vietnam
Pizza Hut: Chain will be sold for $2.7 billion
Today in History: In 1994, O.J. Simpson was charged with murder following highway chase
WATCH
Prague’s St. Vitus:700-year-old cathedral inaugurates new organ
A drink from home: Yerba mate is a shared bond for many World Cup fans
New resident: Tiny pony recovers in an apartment in Croatia
A halved Brandywine tomato appears at a home on Long Island, N.Y. on July 31, 2024. (Jessica Damiano via AP)
Planting your own tomatoes? Here are 5 of the best
Tomato prices are sky-high right now. So why not grow your own? Every year, AP gardening columnist Jessica Damiano experiments with new varieties. But she says that she keeps returning to the same five superstars, like that juicy Brandywine above. Check out all of the tomato tips, and if you want more of Damiano’s gardening wisdom, read her list of 10 top-performing new plants for this season.
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