Mail Voting Fight: A federal appeals court upheld a block on Trump’s mail-voting restrictions, keeping the Postal Service from enforcing tighter ballot rules as the Supreme Court weighs related challenges. Endangered Species Act: A coalition of 21 states sued the Trump administration over a rollback of the ESA “harm” definition that would narrow habitat protections for threatened species. Trump “Dividend” Politics: Trump doubled down on $5,000 checks for adults if Republicans keep Congress, while critics warn the plan could fuel inflation and market turmoil; the pledge is also tied to his claim that the Iran war ends “immediately” after the midterms. Iran & Energy Costs: As Iran attacks shipping near the Strait of Hormuz, Trump says oil prices won’t fall until after the election, linking foreign conflict to pump prices. AI in Government: The GSA is expanding OneGov access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT with discounted, pay-for-use pricing for federal and eligible state, local, and tribal agencies. Tech & Cybersecurity: A University of Toronto researcher urged independent testing of powerful AI models after work showing how AI threats could spread. Trade Tensions: The White House announced bans on select Canadian dairy, alcohol, and motorcycles as the U.S.-Canada tariff fight escalates. Health & Consumer Checks: Trump also promised $500 ACA refunds for people in 30 states who used Healthcare.gov. Local Impact: Colorado’s largest lumber mill is shutting down, dealing a blow to a rural community.