Newsweek is reporting on a series of primary elections across several states, the ongoing Iran war, and a new medical device seeking U.S. regulatory approval.
In Maine, Newsweek is reporting that Graham Platner is poised to become the Democratic candidate in the state's primaries, despite a controversial personal history that includes extramarital sexting, self-identifying as a "retired shitposter," and having a Nazi tattoo. It said Platner's chances against Republican incumbent Susan Collins are narrowing, but his support for free health care has led Senate Democrats to prioritize his candidacy. A recent poll indicated Platner and Collins are statistically tied.
Newsweek is reporting that President Donald Trump faces new challenges in primaries following a setback in Iowa. In South Carolina, Trump has endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the Republican gubernatorial race, where she leads polls against other candidates including Nancy Mace, Ralph Norman, Alan Wilson, and Rom Reddy. Sen. Lindsey Graham, also backed by Trump, is expected to win his Senate primary. In Nevada, Trump's candidate, retired Lt. Col. David Flippo, is seeking the Republican nomination in the 2nd congressional district, competing against James Settelmeyer, who has endorsements from the retiring Rep. Mark Amodei and Gov. Joe Lombardo. In California, Trump-backed reality TV personality Spencer Pratt lost to progressive Democrat Nithya Raman in the Los Angeles mayoral jungle primary. However, Trump's pick for California governor, Steve Hilton, is projected to secure second place and will contest the election against Xavier Becerra, though Newsweek noted the state's voter demographics are unfavorable for Republicans.
Regarding the Iran war, Newsweek is reporting another fragile truce between Israel and Iran. It said the relationship between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under strain, with Trump issuing a warning to Netanyahu to "be very careful" or risk being "left alone against Iran."
Newsweek is reporting that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has addressed accusations that his party intends to cut Social Security and other federal programs. It said Johnson clarified that Republican efforts are focused on strengthening oversight and tackling "autopilot" spending in entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which he stated "have to be adjusted and fixed." Johnson emphasized that rooting out "waste, fraud and abuse" in federal programs is a central tenet of the Trump administration.
In other news, Newsweek is reporting that Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a prominent African soccer referee, was denied entry to the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026 without a clear explanation. Separately, Iran's football federation announced that its ticket allocation for the FIFA World Cup has been withdrawn just days before the tournament, despite having already begun selling tickets to fans. The federation criticized this action as "contrary to the spirit governing international competitions."
Finally, Newsweek is reporting that a new medical device called "C the Signs," designed to identify early cancer risk in patients by analyzing medical records, is currently seeking FDA approval. The company developing the tool hopes to make it available to Americans next year. It is already in use by over 11,000 healthcare professionals in the U.K.'s National Health Service, where it has detected 75,000 cancer patients and reduced diagnostic timelines by 21 percent. Newsweek noted that the FDA is considering a De Novo classification for the device, potentially making it the first of its kind approved in the U.S.