Newsweek is reporting that with three months until Election Day, it has examined 27 key midterm races across 19 states that could determine which party controls Congress. It said the RealClear Polling Generic Congressional vote gives Democrats a 6-point advantage. Kalshi and Polymarket indicate Democrats have an 86-84 percent chance of taking the House, while Republicans hold a 56-54 percent chance of retaining the Senate. Natalie Baldassarre, national press secretary for the Republican National Committee, told Newsweek that Republicans are united and well-funded, while Democrats believe national polls and recent elections show voter resistance to Republican policies.
Newsweek also reported that a majority of Americans who do not own homes believe homeownership is out of reach due to persistently high housing costs since the pandemic. Its new analysis of housing affordability found the Midwest dominates the list of states where homeownership remains most accessible, accounting for eight of the top 10 states. Chen Zhao, Redfin’s head of economic research, told Newsweek that low demand and limited job opportunities contribute to the Midwest's affordability. Existing home sales nationwide were up 2.8 percent year-over-year in June, with the Midwest seeing a 2.1 percent increase.
In the Pacific Northwest, Newsweek is reporting that Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide emergency as fast-moving wildfires continue to burn across the state, with major blazes threatening Spokane. The Old Trails Fire, Fairview Fire, and Meadowview Fire are burning in the Spokane area, having scorched more than 7,000 acres combined and remaining uncontained. Evacuation orders, including Level 3 "Leave Now!" warnings, have been issued for areas northwest of Spokane and around Airway Heights.
Newsweek said an analysis of Department of Labor data compiled by H1BScope revealed that seven employers sponsoring H-1B visa workers reported median salaries at least 50 percent higher than the national median for H-1B employees, which was $130,707. University of Pittsburgh Physicians topped the ranking with a median H-1B salary of $255,725. Other high-paying employers included Roblox, Citadel Securities Americas Services, Netflix, Credit Karma, Two Sigma Investments, and TT Commerce & Global Services.
Newsweek is also reporting on a political dispute in Ohio, where Republican Rep. Max Miller and Senator Bernie Moreno traded social media attacks over abuse allegations against Miller by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who is Senator Moreno's daughter. Miller denies the allegations and has not been charged. Senator Moreno accused Miller of "increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior." A recent poll indicated Miller and Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter were effectively tied.
Separately, Newsweek's "Dare to Dream" project asked readers about the meaning of the American Dream, eliciting personal and divided responses. The publication's American Dream Index, which scores U.S. ZIP codes based on six pillars of opportunity weighted toward mobility, found North Dakota, Utah, and Minnesota leading the nation, while some wealthy metropolitan areas are negatively impacted by housing costs.
In other news, Newsweek reported that an armed bystander was hailed as a hero by law enforcement after firing at a gunman during a shooting at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in southern Idaho, an action authorities said diverted the gunman and saved lives. President Donald J Trump spent the weekend flooding Truth Social with AI-generated images of himself, depicting him in various historical, political, science fiction, and pop culture settings. President Donald J Trump also renewed controversy regarding the geopolitical status of the Arctic, predicting Greenland would come under U.S. control before his presidential term concludes in 2029.
Newsweek also noted that a district east of Moscow published a map showing dozens of bomb shelters, directing residents where to take cover as Ukrainian drones increasingly target the Russian capital. President Donald J Trump said he agreed to cancel an attack on Iran so the countries could "rapidly make a deal" that includes the "complete and total opening" of the Strait of Hormuz. Tesla's operations in China are back in the spotlight after CEO Elon Musk dismissed a report the company may end operations there ahead of a possible merger with SpaceX. Finally, Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja, the record-breaking mountaineer featured in the Netflix documentary "14 Peaks," died after an avalanche struck his expedition on Broad Peak in Pakistan.