By Lauren McCauley | Editor
“Just baseline battlefield readiness. Bullets and bombs to finish the job.” - U.S. House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), on the latest Republican funding package, which includes an additional $60 billion for the military and war in Iran.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree speaks at a July 22, 2026 press conference in Portland, Maine about her support for abortion rights that earned her the endorsement of the Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund. (Photo by Eesha Pendharkar/ Maine Morning Star)
ELECTION 2026
By Eesha Pendharkar
Planned Parenthood’s local political arm endorsed Democratic candidate Hannah Pingree on Wednesday, saying she is the only candidate in the gubernatorial race who would expand abortion rights while arguing her Republican and independent opponents cannot be trusted to protect them.
ELECTION 2026
By Emma Davis
Presumptive Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson announced he’s raised more than $1 million since he entered the race earlier this month. However, it is still a far cry from the $11 million cash on hand incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins reported as of the last filing deadline.
IMMIGRATION
By Ariana Figueroa, States Newsroom
A supermajority of the U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus has asked Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to deploy body cameras to all federal immigration officers, following deadly shootings of immigrants in Texas and Maine.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
US House approves joint measure to curb Congress’ stock trading, require voter ID | Ashley Murray, States Newsroom
US House GOP pushes through budget blueprint for Iran war funding, farm aid | Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom
Number of women seeking a governor’s seat hits an all-time high | Amelia Twyman, States Newsroom
Feds have a new teen pregnancy prevention plan: Fertility and ‘reproductive goals’ | Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Stateline
Citing fraud, feds halt more than $1B in Medicaid money for California, Minnesota | Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline
Cyclosporiasis outbreak surges to over 4,173 confirmed cases | Shalina Chatlani, Stateline
Thanks for reading Top of the Morning. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.