By Lauren McCauley | Editor
“The patterns of dual assassinations — one of the body and then of the character— is disgusting, and there’s a pattern that if you’re not seeing it, it’s because you have your eyes closed.” - Sean Murphy, an attorney representing the family of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, told a congressional panel on Tuesday.
Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine tours the Maine Energy Marketers Association Technical Education Center in Brunswick on Sept. 3, 2026. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)
GOVERNMENT
By William Turton, Avi Asher-Schapiro, Molly Redden, Kirsten Berg, ProPublica
After meeting with the head of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ super PAC, Navatek CEO Martin Kao sent an initial $150,000 to the PAC using a shell company. Two months later, he told Navatek executives that Collins committed to getting the company $32 million in naval contracts, according to an internal company email reviewed by ProPublica.
IMMIGRATION
By Lauren McCauley
Highlighting the growing list of people killed by federal immigration agents, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree and other Democratic members of Congress heard from family members of those killed on Tuesday about the Trump administration’s pattern of obstruction and lies about the shootings and victims themselves.
ENERGY
By Alex Brown, Stateline
An eight-state coalition filed lawsuits Tuesday challenging the Trump administration’s payments to private companies to cancel offshore wind leases, escalating an ongoing legal battle over the government spending billions of dollars to block wind projects.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
NH judge suggests Trump’s most recent birthright citizenship orders may require new lawsuit | Ariana Figueroa, States Newsroom
GOP’s ‘rubberstamp’ of Trump puts US Senate in play, Dem campaign chair says | Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom
Lindsay Clancy case could spur legislative action on postpartum depression, psychosis | Sofia Resnick, Stateline
Judge reverses Trump administration’s cancellation of $7B solar grant program | Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current
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.