U.S. Senate Democrats introduced legislation on Thursday to require Congress to sign off on any deployment of federal troops to the polls, as President Donald Trump and his administration refuse to rule out the idea.

Fears of troops or other federal agents at voting sites have long loomed over the approaching midterm elections in November. Democrats and voting rights advocates have grown alarmed in recent months as Trump has publicly entertained the possibility. Other administration officials have mocked or sidestepped questions about possible deployments.

The legislation, the Protect Our Polls Act, would require Congress to pass a resolution approving any deployment beforehand. Federal law prohibits troops and other armed federal personnel from polling places, but contains an exception to “repel armed enemies of the United States” — fueling speculation that Trump could invoke this exception to bypass the ban.

“He is trying to nationalize the elections and he is telling us in his own words what he is trying to do,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, said at a news conference at the Capitol. “On top of that, Trump’s nominees for his Cabinet positions have come up here and refused to rule out uniformed military or federal law enforcement being sent to the polls on Election Day.”

White House justification

The bill would require the White House, 48 hours before any deployment, to provide Congress with intelligence, legal justifications, deployment plans and evidence that state and local officials are unable to address the threat themselves. 

It also prohibits military personnel from using federal funds to access election records, a provision designed to block troops from seizing ballots.

Slotkin is offering the bill alongside Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly of Arizona, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Alex Padilla of California, Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Raphael Warnock of Georgia.

“One of the things I’m very proud of is that I served to protect the Constitution of the United States and our democracy,” said Gallego, a Marine veteran. “I swore that oath, and the last thing any Marine, sailor, Army, Coastie, Air Force, spacemen — whatever they call them nowadays — wants to do is to undermine that. We’re here to protect democracy, we’re not here to undermine democracy.”

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement that if Democrats “really cared about securing our elections,” the party would pass the SAVE America Act. 

The legislation would require voters to provide documents, such as a birth certificate or passport, proving their citizenship. The measure has stalled in the Senate amid opposition from Democrats and a handful of Republicans.

In May, Trump told reporters that he would “do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections,” in response to questions about sending National Guard personnel or federal immigration agents to voting locations in November.

Amendments blocked

At a Senate hearing in April, Slotkin pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on sending troops to the polls. He called the questions “another gotcha hypothetical.”

The Democratic legislation comes a week after Slotkin said Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee blocked two amendments to ban troops at the polls during work on the National Defense Authorization Act. The committee typically works on the defense spending bill behind closed doors.

The Protect Our Polls Act has virtually no chance of passing the Republican-controlled Congress. Still, its introduction underscores the level of concern among Democrats as Trump’s efforts to influence the midterm elections come into focus.

The Department of Justice has spent a year demanding states turn over unredacted copies of their voter rolls, including sensitive personal data on voters. DOJ officials have said in court that the department wants to share the data with the Department of Homeland Security, which operates a powerful computer program that can identify possible noncitizen voters. 

The DOJ has sued 30 states and the District of Columbia for the data, but no judge has so far ruled in the administration’s favor.

Investigations

The Department of Justice is also engaged in several election-related investigations over past elections. 

The FBI raided a Georgia elections warehouse in January and seized ballots from the 2020 election. Election officials have been subpoenaed in Minneapolis and the FBI last week searched the office of an Ohio voting rights group.

And Trump signed an executive order that restricts voting by mail. It would require states to provide lists of voters to the U.S. Postal Service before using the mail to send ballots and directs Homeland Security to share lists of voting-age citizens with every state. The order remains in effect for now, despite a series of lawsuits challenging it.

“There’s a common theme here,” Padilla said at a Democratic forum on election security on Tuesday. “All of these things are illegal and many unconstitutional.”

If we asked you to guess which EVs are most likely to be involved in crashes, attract speeding tickets, or land their drivers with a DUI, our guess is you’d probably start with the GMC Hummer EV and Dodge Charger Daytona. And according to a new study from insurance comparison site Insurify, you’d be absolutely right.

The Hummer EV tops the rankings with a 7.5 percent ticket rate, an 8.3 percent accident rate, and a whopping 6.4 percent DUI rate. Not far behind is the Charger Daytona EV at 7.0 percent, 7.7 percent, and 5.4 percent respectively. Given both EVs pack huge power figures and larger-than-life personalities, neither result comes as a huge surprise.

Related: A Tesla Is Twice As Likely To Reach 250,000 Miles As A Subaru

What’s more unexpected is what comes next. The Kia Soul EV ranks third overall with a 7.1 percent ticket rate, 6.5 percent accident rate, and 4.8 percent DUI rate. The Chevrolet Bolt follows closely behind at 4.8 percent, 4.6 percent, and 4.2 percent.

Neither of those cars is particularly fast or powerful. One possible explanation is demographics. Both have historically appealed to younger and more budget-conscious buyers, groups that statistically tend to take more risks behind the wheel.

Digging deeper into the numbers reveals some interesting outliers. The BMW i5 posts a relatively modest 4.6 percent ticket rate but a hefty 6.7 percent accident rate, one of the highest in the study. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Blazer EV scores 6.2 percent for tickets and 7.0 percent for accidents, suggesting owners may enjoy using all that instant electric torque.

Cyber-Boozer

Surprised that Tesla’s Cybertruck didn’t make it to the top of the table? So were we, but it was hardly a saint. The angular pickup records a 4.9 percent ticket rate, which is the same as for a Model 3 and worse than for other Teslas.

The Model 3 is actually more accident-prone at 5.9 percent versus 5.4 percent for the Cybertruck. But Cuybertruck owners clearly like a drink, because their DUI rate (1.4 percent) is much higher than for any other Tesla product. Insurify data shows Model 3, Model S, and Model X drivers all post DUI rates of just 0.4 percent, while Model Y owners come in even lower at 0.3 percent.

EV Ticket, Accident And DUI Rates

Insurify, GM, Dodge

A long-term Yale study is challenging one of the biggest myths about aging. Nearly half of adults over 65 improved physically, mentally, or both over time, despite the common belief that aging means constant decline. Researchers found that people with more positive attitudes about getting older were significantly more likely to show these gains.

As newborn neurons make their way through the developing brain, they must squeeze through incredibly tight spaces to reach their final destinations. Researchers discovered that this physical journey routinely causes some of the most severe forms of DNA damage—double-strand breaks—yet the young brain has evolved an impressive ability to repair the damage almost immediately.

Researchers found that twisting layered sheets of hexagonal boron nitride can dramatically change the light produced by quantum emitters embedded within the material. The technique offers an unexpected new level of control over components that could power future quantum computers, communications systems, and sensors.

The global cobalt supply chain is more interconnected—and more vulnerable—than previously thought, with disruptions capable of triggering far-reaching cascades across multiple countries and industries. Researchers warn that protecting battery supply chains will require system-wide coordination because critical bottlenecks can turn local shocks into global problems.

Scientists have discovered that a gene normally considered a DNA-protecting "good guy" can become dangerous when cells make too much of it. The gene, EXO1, acts like molecular scissors that help repair DNA, but when overproduced it starts cutting DNA it shouldn't, creating damage linked to cancer.

Scientists found that thawing permafrost can trigger increased rock weathering, a natural process that absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. In some regions, this carbon uptake was strong enough to fully offset — or even surpass — river greenhouse gas emissions.

Animals from different species often rely on surprisingly sophisticated communication to work together, whether finding food, cleaning parasites, or gaining protection. New research suggests these interspecies “conversations” are flexible, evolved, and far more important to life in nature than scientists once realized.

Compounds responsible for the aroma of cannabis and many other plants may offer a surprising new way to relieve chronic pain. Researchers found that several cannabis-derived terpenes significantly reduced pain in mouse models of fibromyalgia and post-surgical pain, with one terpene, geraniol, showing especially strong effects. Unlike THC, these compounds are not associated with psychoactive effects, making them a potentially attractive alternative for pain treatment.

Researchers have concluded that nicotine vapes are likely to cause lung and oral cancers, based on evidence ranging from human biomarkers to animal and laboratory studies. The findings challenge the idea that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking and suggest health risks may be emerging much sooner than many expected.

The obesity treatment landscape is changing fast, with GLP-1 drugs opening the door to more effective care than ever before. Experts now envision a future where medications, minimally invasive procedures, surgery, and precision medicine work together to deliver better long-term results.

Despite centuries of study, scientists are still finding new details and even overlooked structures within the human body. As researchers explore anatomical differences between individuals, it’s becoming clear that the body is far more complex—and less fully understood—than textbooks suggest.

A surprising new study suggests the earliest primates didn't originate in tropical forests but in cold, dry parts of North America. Some may have even survived seasonal Arctic conditions by slowing their metabolism or hibernating. Researchers found that dramatic climate shifts, rather than warmth, played a major role in driving primate evolution and expansion. The discovery reshapes our understanding of how our own lineage began.

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For two decades, one Milwaukee father has been pouring into other fathers on the North Side through his nonprofit, which provides free courses meant to teach them about parenting, manhood and becoming role models. 

Terron Edwards is founder of Fathers Making Progress, which supports Milwaukee fathers with parenting skills, case management, mentorship and more. He launched the organization after previously doing work at New Hope Project focused on advocating for working poor non-custodial parents as well as fatherhood-related work at Northcott Neighborhood House. 

“The work I was doing at Northcott became a passion for me,” Edwards said. “Being a dad saved my life.”

Edwards, a father of five, said growing up was challenging because his father was killed. The pain he felt made him make poor decisions until he became a teen father.

“I decided that I wasn’t going to leave my son the way my father left me,” he said.

Understanding what the program has to offer

After receiving training in various fatherhood curricula, Edwards launched his first 12-week class in 2005, which was later called “Fathers Building Fathers.” 

Participants learned three modules that focus on manhood, navigating different relationships and traditional parenting lessons like discipline, stages of child development and more. 

“We have an alumni network that is made of longtime guys and support groups that focus on different topics, and sometimes there’s no topic,” Edwards said. “Sometimes it’s the opportunity for folks to have a safe space to talk through stuff.”

The organization began as an independently funded movement but was incorporated as a nonprofit during the pandemic in 2020.

Building brotherhood through vulnerability

Demetrius Simmons, 27 and a father of seven children, participated in 2019 before the program became the nonprofit Fathers Making Progress.

“I made a promise to all my kids that I wasn’t going to miss out on any days, I was going to be there and take my role as a father seriously,” he said.

Simmons said he loved how the initiative showed him what brotherhood was and created a safe space. 

“That’s a space to be vulnerable without judgment,” Simmons said. “I found that unique because a lot of times the world doesn’t show us the other side of places you can go and there will be people who will understand you.” 

Simmons had his first child at 18 in 2016, which resulted in him choosing to work and gain experience and provide over school. 

“By the time I had my second child, I had a system down packed,” Simmons said. “Then I got married and had a third child and was able to correct some of my mistakes I made from my first two.”

Chris Harris, 39 and a father of four, participated in the organization in 2011 after being invited by Edwards to attend a session. 

During Harris’ first visit he saw men sitting in a circle and venting about their personal situations. 

“That was very interesting to me because I had never seen that before,” he said. “I’ve been a member ever since.”

Harris describes his fatherhood as great even though it comes with its challenges. 

“Life is full of challenges so you can’t escape those with being a parent,” he said.

Building stronger generational cycles

Edwards’ other focus with Fathers Making Progress is ensuring that fathers develop strong generational cycles, which help them pass down patterns, behaviors and beliefs to the next generation. This can help them maintain a steady relationship with their child. 

One way to build strong generational cycles is through having a good coparenting system. 

“We have to be serious about coparenting, especially with the fact that marriage is already on a decline and divorce is on the rise,” Edwards said. “Dads can have all the tools in the world, but if they don’t have the access because of bitterness and other things then our work doesn’t mean anything if relationships aren’t strengthened.”

Harris said one of the challenges the organization helped him overcome was raising his children in different homes.

“They helped me to understand what it takes to be a better co-parent and how to do it effectively without leaving the other parent out,” he said.

Fathers Making Progress also builds stronger generational cycles through an initiative called “Boys to Leaders,” where men from his organization visit local schools to offer intergenerational workshops, mentorship and other free services.

“We help young men quantify what positive manhood is and what healthy relationships look like,” Edwards said.

Taking in all the lessons and sharing advice

Simmons said his greatest lesson is knowing that being a present father is everything.

Simmons remembers the emotions he felt after missing the birth of his middle son due to incarceration.

“That’s what really made me open my eyes up to a lot of stuff about fatherhood,” he said. “For the other two, I was actually there to cut the umbilical cord, but I wasn’t there for my other child and it made me feel some type of way.”

Simmons said he’s raising two bonus children who are from broken homes, but with support from the organization, he’s confident in not making the same mistakes again. 

Edwards also said that being present is his top lesson. 

“We don’t have all the answers and we don’t have to be the richest, but to show up intentionally for our children will mean the world to them,” Edwards said. 

He advises fathers to develop an understanding of what their beliefs and values are so they can pass it to their children.

“It’s essential that you are living by those as closely as possible,” he said. 

For co-parents, Harris advises them to learn how to work together before the baby is born to avoid confusion and disorganization.

“That’s going over child care, work schedules and things of that nature,” he said. 

Simmons, now a facilitator for Fathers Making Progress, wants young fathers to know that they shouldn’t let their situation define who they are. 

“You can always make your situation better,” he said. “What you put out in the world is what the world is going to give, so try your best to put as much good stuff in the world so you can receive just as much.”

Interested in participating or learning more?

If you are a father interested in taking free courses through Fathers Making Progress, click here to submit a request. 

The course will include meals, activities, gifts and more. 

Click here to view and sign up for other initiatives through the organization that spark your interest. 

‘Being a dad saved my life’: How a Milwaukee fatherhood program is changing the narrative is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

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It’s not hard to buy a used kei car outside of Japan, but for the past 20 years buying a new one in the West from an official franchised dealer has been almost impossible. Honda rights that wrong this summer when its Super-N lands in Europe with a bargain price and a full factory warranty.

If you haven’t met the Super-N before, it’s a pint-sized electric hatch based on Japan’s Super-One kei car and inspired by the now legendary City Turbo II hot hatch of the 1980s. More importantly, it starts at just £18,995 (equal to around $25,100 or €21,900 at current rates), making it both Honda’s cheapest EV in Europe and one of the cheapest EVs on sale in Britain.

At that price it should undercut rivals like the Renault Twingo E-Tech (sub-£20k est) and is only £345 ( $456 or €398) more than BYD’s most basic Dolphin Surf.

The Super-N measures just 3,599 mm (141.7 inches) long and 1,573 mm (61.9 inches) wide, yet Honda claims it can comfortably accommodate four adults while delivering the kind of packaging genius the brand built its reputation on. It has the same fold-up “magic” rear seat base that made the Honda Jazz so much more useful than a Ford Fiesta back in 2001, for example.

Related: Mugen’s Super-One Looks Like A Race Car. Its Motor Disagrees

In normal driving mode, the compact e-Axle produces 63 hp (64 PS / 47 kW), enough to get the little electric hatch from 0 to 62 mph in a leisurely 14.5 seconds. But press the BOOST button and output jumps to 94 hp (95 PS / 70 kW), cutting the sprint time to 10.0 seconds.

Seven Fake Gears

No, that won’t trouble a hot hatch. But in a car weighing only 1,097 kg (2,420 lbs), it’s going to feel pretty eager squirting away from city stoplights. Especially since Honda has even added a simulated seven-speed transmission and an artificial engine soundtrack. We first saw this kind of tech in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but even Porsche has jumped on the trend, this week adding it to the updated Taycan.

The Super-N’s range means the city is its natural habitat. A tiny 29.6 kWh battery delivers a WLTP combined figure of 128 miles (206 km), though Honda says urban driving can stretch that to 199 miles (320 km). Fast charging to 80 percent takes around 30 minutes.

Bose Hifi Is Standard

For enthusiasts, though, the biggest attraction isn’t the range or the price, or the fact that the CarPlay/Android Auto-enabled infotainment system is hooked up to a standard Bose audio system. Or that Honda plans to offer multiple exterior graphics packages to make the little box stand out even more.

It’s the fact that Honda has leverage its existing kei catalog to bring a quirky, affordable, lightweight small car to Europe that genuinely looks like it’ll be fun to drive and own. If only America could buy one too.

Honda

Global demand for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles is still growing, but only just. A surge in Europe is barely covering for weakness almost everywhere else, China included. North America is the glaring weak spot, with buyers there pulling back hard, and a 0.9 percent year-to-date gain worldwide shows how little cushion the rest of the market has left.

Analysts at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence report roughly 1.8 million EVs and PHEVs sold worldwide in May 2026. That’s 7 percent more than April, and 3 percent more than the same month last year. Stack up the year so far and the total reaches about 7.5 million units, just 0.9 percent ahead of where 2025 stood at this point.

Benchmark Mineral Intelligence Data Manager Charles Lester said regional performance remains highly uneven, with policy changes and local market conditions continuing to shape demand.

Read: Global EV And PHEV Sales Rise, But North America Lost Over A Quarter Of Its Buyers

Europe has been key to this growth. Sales there are up 23 percent year-over-year and hit around 420,000 in May, while total year-to-date sales sit at approximately 2 million, a 26 percent rise compared to January-May 2025. Benchmark credits EV incentive programs and higher fuel prices for keeping demand up.

Much of that lift traces back to Chinese-built EVs. They made up 19 percent of European EV sales in 2025, and the share has kept climbing through 2026 despite EU tariffs. In the UK, Chinese-made EVs and PHEVs account for roughly 32 percent of sales. Germany sits at 14 percent, a strong showing given how firmly local buyers stick with homegrown brands. France, by comparison, sits at 10 percent.

EV And PHEV Global Sales

Source: Benchmark Mineral Intelligence

Around the rest of the world, excluding China and North America, sales have also increased roughly 80 percent year-over-year to around 250,000 units. Year-to-date EV and PHEV sales have also shot up 89 percent to 1.1 million.

China Is Down

Things aren’t so rosy in China. While it is still the largest single market for new EV and PHEV sales, year-over-year sales are down 9 percent, to approximately 990,000 units in May. Similarly, year-to-date sales dropped 15 percent to 3.9 million against the same stretch last year. The good news is that May’s figures were up 11 percent from April, so it seems China is starting to recover.

Even with softer demand at home, Chinese NEV exports hit a record of nearly 450,000 units in May, with BYD, Chery, and Geely leading the push. Benchmark also notes battery demand has held up better than vehicle sales, as buyers increasingly move toward larger EVs with bigger packs.

Then there’s North America. Between the axing of the US federal EV tax credit last year and the resulting retreat by many legacy brands away from EVs, demand stays weak. Roughly 120,000 applicable vehicles were sold across the region in May, down 26 percent year-over-year. Through the first five months of 2026, sales were down 25 percent to 580,000. The analysis does not break down overall North American sales by country.