USA TODAY is reporting that South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham faces a challenging special runoff election today, a key test for President Donald Trump's endorsement power. Appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster at Trump's request to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's term, she must now convince Republican voters to advance her to the November general election against hardline conservative Rep. Ralph Norman. Congressional correspondent Zachary Schermele and Terry Collins reported on the race.
Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion worth of U.S. imports, aiming to match President Trump’s tariffs "dollar for dollar," according to Bart Jansen. This action escalates the growing trade war between the two countries after talks collapsed last week and Trump imposed 50% tariffs on about 5% of Canadian imports. The Canadian duties, ranging from 15% to 50% on 700 products, are set to take effect Sept. 8.
USA TODAY's Washington bureau chief Susan Page said the "Iran war" is nearing its six-month mark, and its twists and turns should come as no surprise. President Trump is the latest commander in chief to see a decisive military campaign risk becoming a longer, more complicated conflict that could define his White House legacy.
Separately, USA TODAY reported the death of music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton at 80. It also noted that a once nearly-gone disease in the U.S. has killed two people in Pennsylvania, the first such deaths in the state in 35 years and the first in the U.S. this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.