COURIER covers Michigan's high-stakes primary and why Trump's "jokes" matter
Plus a first-of-its-kind California bill that would require hotels to disclose ICE activity, and more.
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Happy Friday Eve!
This week, we’re talking about the stories behind the headlines—from why Trump’s “jokes” need to be taken more seriously to what Democrats can learn from a parasite outbreak that took over the internet. We’ve also got the latest from Michigan’s high-stakes primary and a report on how Medicaid cuts forced a Georgia hospital to stop delivering babies.
Let’s get into it.
- Tymoni Correa-Buntley
P.S. If you haven't already, follow us on social (like and subscribe to our YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, Threads, and X/Twitter) to make sure you don't miss anything.
Stop saying Trump is joking when he’s not
Donald Trump has a habit of dismissing controversial comments as jokes—only for many of those “jokes” to become policy. In this week’s Stop the Presses, Mark Jacob argues it’s time for the media to stop treating Trump’s rhetoric as harmless.
What the diarrhea parasite teaches us about winning online
Trump and RFK Jr. cut parasite prevention funding, and an outbreak followed. While Democratic messaging stayed cautious, a troll account trolling RFK racked up 43K followers in two weeks. In FWIW, Gabriella Zutrau breaks down the playbook.
The missing standard for missing members
Congress has rules for just about everything—except what lawmakers should tell constituents when they're gone for months. Michael Jones examines the accountability gap exposed by Sen. Mitch McConnell's prolonged absence.
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Another week, another Elon Musk meltdown. This time, he's suing Minnesota over a law banning AI "nudification" technology. COURIER's Kat Tenbarge explains why the lawsuit is especially ironic, given Grok's history of generating the kind of content the law targets.
On COURIER’s TikTok, you can see the top post of the week here with 986.8k views and 180.6k likes. On COURIER’s Instagram, you can see the top post of the week here with 270.7k views and 31,000+ likes.
Obama, the last Democrat to win Iowa, appears in Campaign ad for Josh Turek
The Paralympian and Iowa Democratic candidate is running to flip a Republican-held Senate seat against GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson this fall. COURIER shared the video.
The true story behind the smear campaign against Dr. Anthony Fauci
After half a century of saving lives from AIDS and COVID, Dr. Anthony Fauci faced sham hearings and targeted leaks intended to humiliate him. The truth remains that public health officials worked tirelessly under impossible circumstances while political distractions took center stage. COURIER’s Allan Piper reports.
Trump says he’s done more for you than your parents
“I’m not going to knock your parents, but I have been better to you,” Trump said at a General Motors facility tour. The crowd erupted into applause in the now viral clip.
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Michigan’s November election is set — and the whole country is going to be watching
Michigan's August primary set the stage for one of the most consequential battlegrounds of the 2026 midterms. Here's what the results mean for the fight over the U.S. Senate, the governor's office, and key House races. The Gander has the story.
A Georgia hospital stopped delivering babies after Medicaid cuts
A Georgia hospital closed its labor and delivery unit after Medicaid cuts in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Now, expectant mothers like Kara Holden must travel more than an hour for prenatal care and childbirth, increasing the risk of dangerous complications for both mothers and babies. COURIER Georgia shares the story.
New California bill would force hotels to warn guests and staff if ICE is on-site
California lawmakers are considering a first-of-its-kind bill that would hit hotels with legal penalties if they fail to disclose federal enforcement activity on their properties. COURIER California has the story.
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