Newsweek is reporting that the Trump administration has been accused of destroying evidence related to the Reflecting Pool. The publication also highlighted several public health concerns, noting Virginia's first-ever cases of mosquito-borne dengue fever and a flea-borne typhus outbreak in Los Angeles. It added that a diarrhea lettuce outbreak has officially turned fatal.
Newsweek focused on the political landscape in Ohio, describing it as a "dumpster fire" ahead of November's elections, despite Donald J Trump winning the state by 11 points in 2024. The publication specifically detailed the House race in Ohio's 7th District, represented by Max Miller, a Republican congressman. Miller faces accusations of domestic abuse from his ex-girlfriend, ex-wife and his father-in-law, Sen. Bernie Moreno, also an Ohio senator. Sen. Moreno has publicly stated that Miller is not fit to serve in Congress due to a "clear pattern of abuse," expressing his daughter's constant fear of Miller.
Newsweek said Miller missed a Tuesday deadline to withdraw from the race for a special election. President Trump called Miller the day before the deadline to express concerns about his candidacy, Newsweek reported, but Miller committed to staying in the race. During an interview on Jake Tapper's show, Miller denied all accusations of violence, comparing his situation to President Trump's past allegations. Newsweek noted that Miller later admitted to using illegal drugs "several years ago" and acknowledged withholding his daughter's stuffed animal during his divorce.
The publication drew a contrast with the Democratic Party, citing the example of Graham Platner in Maine, who dropped out of a Senate race after credible accusations of sexual assault and other issues emerged. Newsweek suggested a double standard, where Democrats often remove candidates facing serious allegations, while Republicans, in the "MAGA era," tend to give candidates a pass, influenced by the belief that one should "never apologize, never admit you were wrong, never show weakness."
Newsweek expressed concern that this approach could impact Republican voter enthusiasm in Ohio, particularly for candidates like Miller, Senate candidate John Husted, and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. It also raised questions about Democratic enthusiasm in Michigan for Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed among Jewish and Black voters. House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated he is staying out of the Miller controversy, which Newsweek suggested is a missed opportunity for the GOP to set a clear standard for candidate quality.