States given clearance for mail-in voting as US supreme court thwarts Trump | First Thing

Supreme Court Permits States to Maintain Existing Mail Ballot Procedures Ahead of Midterms

The US Supreme Court has declined to alter state mail ballot distribution methods for the midterm elections, allowing jurisdictions to proceed with the systems already in place. The ruling leaves unchanged the processes used in prior election cycles and does not impose new restrictions on how states send ballots to voters.

A Democratic representative from California, Robert Garcia, described the outcome as consistent with existing election administration practices. Garcia stated that attempts to modify vote-by-mail access had not succeeded and that efforts to maintain voter access would continue. No statements from opposing counsel or other parties involved in the litigation were included in immediate public responses.

An anonymous Department of Homeland Security employee has described internal guidance given to staff examining voter registration records. According to the account, agency attorneys indicated that personnel would not face individual liability for potential violations of state rules on data access during those reviews. The same individual raised questions about the accuracy of the datasets provided for examination and the absence of documentation detailing their origin.

Microsoft has issued a draft code of conduct governing the development of its artificial intelligence systems. The document specifies that new models should not generate material related to weapons, violent content, sexually explicit material, or instructions for obtaining hazardous substances. It also states that systems should not be designed to simulate consciousness or claim legal rights. The company presented the code as a provisional measure while discussions about AI oversight continue in multiple countries.

Members of both major US political parties have introduced proposals for regulatory measures on advanced AI systems. Former President Donald Trump has characterized concerns about uncontrolled AI development as unfounded. The European Central Bank president has stated that Europe should expand its own computing infrastructure to reduce dependence on external suppliers. Chinese officials have rejected calls to restrict their domestic AI sector while noting internal assessments of risks to existing governance structures.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has instructed state regulators to enforce disclosure requirements for water consumption by data centers operating in the state. The directive applies to facilities that have not submitted required usage reports under existing statutes.

A ProPublica investigation reported that Russian national Umar Kremlev contributed funds toward expenses for the May wedding of Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson. The report, based on records and interviews, stated that costs included venue rental on an island and a fireworks display. Kremlev, previously convicted of a criminal offense, later became involved in boxing promotion and acquired interests in state-linked gambling operations and a vehicle dealership network previously owned by a critic of the Russian government.

A Department of Homeland Security inspector general report examined conditions at an immigration detention facility in Ochopee, Florida. The review found that some detainees were held in small outdoor metal enclosures and concluded that the practice did not meet agency standards for treatment. The findings were posted on the inspector general’s public website.

Additional items reported include the removal of performer Macklemore from remaining dates on a concert tour after remarks made during a show; the downing of an unmanned aerial vehicle by NATO aircraft near Vilnius, Lithuania; a statement by California Governor Gavin Newsom that he would not seek the presidency if Kamala Harris enters the race; adjustments by the Trump administration to methods for recording measles fatalities during an outbreak in Pennsylvania; progress by firefighters on containing a wildfire in northern California; and the return of Senator Mitch McConnell to the Senate chamber after an extended absence.

Data compiled by a research organization indicated that selected measures tracking democratic institutions in the United States reached their lowest recorded values in five decades. The same analysis attributed part of the decline to actions taken by the current administration affecting legal norms at home and abroad.

The 2026 Emmy Awards resulted in historic wins for actors Matthew Rhys and Jean Smart. Rhys became the first performer to receive multiple lead acting awards in a single year for work in separate programs. Coverage of the ceremony included lists of recipients and photographs from the event.

A crew member of the oil tanker Marida Marguerite described being held captive for nearly eight months after an armed boarding at sea. The account detailed the sequence of events following the seizure of the vessel.

Reports from South Africa noted that a US program intended to grant refugee status to Afrikaner farmers has processed fewer cases than initially projected. Local demonstrations in support of the initiative occurred in Pretoria.

A UCLA study used satellite observations and public records to identify oil and gas sites with the highest methane emissions in the United States. The analysis aimed to support improved monitoring by regulatory agencies.

A separate study examined the effects of road traffic noise on the vocalizations of gibbons in fragmented forest habitats. Researchers recorded changes in the timing and volume of morning calls in areas with increased human activity.

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