As the US and Canada gear up to impose dollar-for-dollar tariffs on each other in the coming months, where do the bordering nations stand?

Key Quotes: While President Donald Trump said, "[Canada's] ridiculously high tariffs on our Farmers and farm products has made life impossible for these great American Patriots, and has long created a 60 Billion Dollar Deficit," Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne called the nation's move a "proportionate, targeted, and strategic" response to protect the Canada's economic prosperity.

How The Media Covered It: Independent Journal Review (Right bias) emphasized the back-and-forth between the nations. It criticized, "Both sides blame the other for the lack of a deal… The conflict now centers on who asked for too much. [Canadian Prime Minister Mark] Carney says the US asked too much. [US Trade Representative Jamieson] Greer says Canada asked for too much."

BBC (Center) said, "Placing taxes on trade between what are historically two of the world's closest trading partners will undoubtedly lead to pain on both sides of the border." It suggested that increased trading costs among supply chains would "ultimately [hit] businesses of all sizes and consumers through potentially higher prices." The outlet also noted the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement's (USMCA) unforeseeable future amid the economic conflict.

A CNN Business (Lean Left) analysis more prominently focused on the trade war's potential harms to the US. It framed Canada's retaliatory tariffs as "some of the arrows Canada has in its quiver in a growing trade war with the United States." It highlighted potential restrictions on exports to the US that "[could] raise costs for American companies and consumers by making key inputs more expensive or harder to obtain."

Trade Timeline:

• January 2026: "Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements," Trump cautioned at the World Economic Forum in response to Carney's public criticism. "Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful, but they're not." However, Trump also mentioned his plans to implement a "Golden Dome" defense shield, which is expected to cover both the US and Canada alike. Read more.
• February 2026: Trump and Carney negotiated control of the Gordie Howe International Bridge on the US-Canada Border, after Trump threatened to block passage to and from the US. The bridge opened in July under joint US-Canadian control. Despite the ongoing tension between the countries, Carney called the deal "a great example of cooperation." Read more.
• July 2026: The Trump administration announced an impending 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of various Canadian imports set for August 19th, citing "trade discrimination" of American businesses. Carney called the motion a "direct violation of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)" (also called USMCA). Read more.
• August 2026: Trump delayed the 50% tariff for three days, two hours before they were set to commence, "based on the fact that Canada and the USA, subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!" However, negotiations fell through over the weekend, and Canada announced $20 billion worth of counter-tariffs on 700 US imports set for September 8th. Trump's 50% tariffs "on all cars, trucks, both large and small, automotive parts, and steel" are now set for January 1st. Read more.

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Two Democratic Party officials from Massachusetts have been charged for alleged COVID fraud.

The Charges: Massachusetts State Rep. Francisco Paulino was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly obtaining more than $700,000 in COVID unemployment insurance benefits and small-business loans. He was charged with eight counts of wire fraud and three counts of unlawful monetary transactions. According to federal prosecutors, Paulino used intermediaries and the identities of other people "to funnel pandemic-related relief funds to his own personal and business bank accounts" from April 2020 to December 2021. Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena was arrested August 14, accused of illegally obtaining more than $1.5 million in COVID relief money in a reportedly separate scheme.

Differences in Framing: Outlets across the political spectrum tended to cover many of the same details. However, outlets on the right like Fox News (Right bias) and The New York Post (Right) highlighted the "Democratic Officials" in the headline. Conversely, many outlets on the left like The Boston Globe (Left) and CBS (Lean Left), either didn't mention party affiliation at all, or didn't lead with it like outlets on the right.

RELATED: How Public Employees Used COVID-19 Relief Funds for Fraud

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President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to officially rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.

The Details: Trump directed the Interior Department to update the lake's name, however it only requires federal entities to recognize the change, according to The New York Times (Lean Left bias). The order called Lake Ontario a "tremendous asset" to the US due to its shipping and recreational benefits.

For Context: Over the weekend, the US announced it was imposing a 50% tariff of $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, while Canada responded by imposing $20 billion worth of retaliatory tariffs on American goods. Lake Ontario was originally named from an Iroquoian word, Ontarí'io, which means "great lake" or "lake of shining waters."

Response from Canada: The Times quoted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney saying, "We know that America is changing…Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always." Blaze Media (Right) quoted Ontario Premier Doug Ford saying, "He can kiss my a** as far as I'm concerned. We need to throw everything and the kitchen sink at him. He's arrogant, he's cocky."

How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the political spectrum contextualized the change within the ongoing tariff dispute between the US and Canada. Outlets on the left generally provided more analysis on what this move could mean for future trade talks.

Relations With Canada: Fox News (Right) and The Times included Trump's accusations that Canada "has been ripping [the US] off for a long time on trade." Fox cited Trump's frustration that Canada wants to "be treated like a state" and noted that "Trump [has] previously used geographic names to make political statements." The Times wrote that Canada is also part of NATO and is "also one of the United States' closest intelligence partners."

Pointing Fingers: Whereas Fox primarily focused on Trump's arguments that trade talks were failing due to what he described as Canada's unfair trade practices, NPR (Lean Left) characterized the change as Trump's retaliation for the failed talks. NPR said the new tariffs "are almost certain to raise the cost of goods for Americans" and mentioned criticism from Republican lawmakers. The Hill (Center) also shared a response from Vermont's Republican Gov. Phill Scott who called the move "petty and disappointing" and said that "We should be at the negotiating table, finding a path forward that strengthens both the U.S. and Canadian economies."

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The US Postal Service (USPS) said Thursday that new requirements for mail-in voting are in effect following a federal judge's lifting of a national injunction blocking the implementation.

The Courts: US District Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts lifted the injunction blocking key parts of President Donald Trump's March executive order two days after the Supreme Court lifted a separate injunction. The Supreme Court ruling said the challenge was premature, and the injunction should be lifted, at least until USPS implemented the new rules. Talwani lifted her injunction, citing the Supreme Court ruling. Two dozen states and the District of Columbia, following the injunction lifts, have filed a lawsuit against USPS and the Trump administration. Neither ruling addressed the legality, or constitutionality, of the rule.

Control Over Elections: Outlets on the left like The Guardian (Left bias) tended to highlight that "The constitution confers control over elections to states and Congress, not the executive." CNBC (Lean Left) called Wednesday's decision a "dizzying back and forth over whether Trump's desire to add hurdles to voting by mail will come to fruition by the Nov. 3 election." CNBC also highlighted voting-rights groups saying "USPS has no such authority," and that the rule gives the agency an "unprecedented gatekeeping role."

Radical Democrats: An opinion writer for ZeroHedge (Lean Right) said that Democrats are challenging Trump's Mail-in voting order "despite" the recent Supreme Court ruling. The article highlighted arguments both for and against Trump's order highlighting statements from both California Governor Gavin Newsom and White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis. However, while highlighting the statement from Bis, the writer said she "attack[ed] radical Democrats who 'continue to oppose commonsense measures that protect the security of mail-in ballots and ensure only Americans are electing American leaders.'"

Blowback From Republicans: The Hill (Center) focused on thoughts from election law attorney Ben Ginsberg, who said, "thanks to Donald Trump, there are many more low propensity voters in the Republican Party." It is because of these voters, and the rural areas in which many of them reside, that he believes "you're going to see some blowback from Republicans in the coming weeks." According to Ginsberg, "this is kind of a flawed political strategy wrapped in a rather vocally charged policy from the president."      

RELATED: California Vote Count: Delayed For Accuracy or Fraud?

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The Department of Justice on Wednesday announced several federal agencies were victims of a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group.

The Details: In a statement, the Justice Department (DOJ) said it seized hacking platforms "QScan" and "QTRouter," involved in the hacking of the Federal Reserve, US Senate, DOJ, NASA, the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies. Other targets reportedly included hospital networks, US military networks, power companies and financial institutions. According to the statement, the hacking platforms were operated by a state-run group employed by Chinese-based firm, Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Co., which it said "target[ed] US critical infrastructure and other sensitive networks" for clients like the Ministry of State Security and the People's Liberation Army.

For Context: According to an FBI affidavit, the hacking began in 2018 and continued through 2026. The Hill (Center bias) reported that in 2024, the Treasury Department charged 10 Chinese hackers-for-hire and two of the country's officials in an attempt to steal data from American entities.

'Exploitation at Scale': Many outlets reported on the extent of the hacking operation. Epoch Times (Lean Right) reported on the QCan capabilities to "find vulnerable systems and exploit them." The New York Post (Right) said the hacking services were able to infect thousands of devices across the globe. CNN (Lean Left) said that assessments of the damage will likely remain private due to security concerns.

'Cat-and-Mouse Game': CNN reported that cybersecurity has been a "source of simmering tension for years" between the US and China. USA Today (Lean Left) said that Chinese hacks and US disruptions have "become a virtually routine cat-and-mouse game" over the past decade It quoted a former senior attorney in the DOJ who said the decision to publicize the hacking scheme looks "like a 'name-and-shame' campaign where the U.S. essentially publicly calls out foreign hackers to let them know that we're onto them." The Hill said that the Chinese government "routinely denies allegations of hacking US networks."

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Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, agreed to pay $18 million and will limit how teenagers can use their social media platforms to settle a lawsuit brought by 29 states that claim the platforms were designed to addict children.

The Details: Meta agreed to pay the states for public health purposes, including crisis intervention services, after-school programs, mental health programs for youth, and outdoor activities for teens. Over the next decade, Meta will also restrict how teens can use Facebook and Instagram, including limiting under-18 users to 2 hours of use a day, blocking access from midnight to 6 a.m., and limiting notifications during school hours. Parents will also be able to choose to default their children's feeds to a chronological timeline rather than an algorithm. The settlement does not, however, require Meta to disable targeted advertising for users under 18.

For Context: The lawsuit alleged that Meta's products were harmful to children and that the company purposely misled the public about their safety. Meta's chief legal officer said in a statement, "Because teens move fluidly across dozens of apps, we need an industry-wide solution. We therefore call on our industry peers, TikTok and YouTube, to implement this new framework right away."

How the Media Covered It: Axios (Lean Left bias) called the settlement "social media's version of the landmark 1990s tobacco settlement," claiming that it "effectively reshapes the industry and the way young Americans experience some of their favorite platforms." Breitbart (Right) noted the states' claims against Meta but also included Meta's opposing argument that "states were cherry-picking features while ignoring safety tools it already offers, including teen accounts that default to private, time-limit reminders, parental supervision options, and restrictions on who can contact minors and what content they see." Reuters (Center) reported that the settlement payout only represents "about three to four months of profit" for the company.

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Theories have emerged about the state of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was "notably absent" from his father's funeral in July.

The Details: "Almost six months since his anointment, Iran's supreme leader has been entirely obscured from the public eye," reported The Atlantic (Left bias) on Tuesday. "Not a single contemporaneous picture, video, or audio recording of him has been released… Not even Mojtaba's close friends and relatives have seen him."

The outlet said sources "inside and close to the government" speculated that Khamenei succumbed to injuries sustained from the US-Israeli strikes that killed his father in February. Several regime officials reportedly speculated he "either passed away or is brain dead."

One of Khamenei's relatives claimed his absence was "due to security precautions," which The Atlantic contended was "not implausible" due to ongoing warfare. The relative, former regime official Mohammad Hossein Khoshvaght, called rumors of Khamenei's death "part of a psychological war hoping to demoralize Iran's officials and its people, for them to give up to the pressures and threats of America." Khoshvaght, along with another former official, said the leader is "in full health" and will soon address the public.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, "I don't think he's dead. He was very seriously wounded... if he is dead, they're putting on a pretty good show."

How The Media Covered It: The Atlantic inferred that "no one seems able to say for sure whether [Iran's leader] is alive or dead. And without a firm hand at the top, indecision can become a purgatory without a foreseeable end." Newsweek (Center) suggested that even if Khamenei is alive, "he is painfully out of his depth and wholly incapable of maintaining control" over Iran. New York Post (Lean Right) alternatively reported a more sensational claim: "Trump confirmed in March that he received a CIA briefing on intelligence that Khamenei may be gay, contending it 'puts him off to a bad start in that particular country.'"

For Context: Joint US-Israeli strikes reportedly killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in late February, leaving Mojtaba, his son, to succeed him as supreme leader in March. Subsequent reporting suggested Mojtaba was also injured in some capacity. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was "wounded and likely disfigured" on March 13th, though Trump said he was "probably alive in some form." Other reports said he may have been "in a coma" or had undergone surgery in Russia. Read more.

RELATED: Iranians Rally in Support of New Leader Mojtaba Khamenei; Many Remain Skeptical | AllSides

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The Trump Administration is reportedly planning to revoke business and tourism visas held by foreigners who have applied for asylum in the US.

Key Quote: "We are coordinating with DHS [Department of Homeland Security] to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently," said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

The Numbers: Outlets across the political spectrum have highlighted that "up to 200,000" visa holders may be affected. However, the figure, first reported by Associated Press (Lean Left bias) cited State Department documents and two anonymous US officials, but didn't provide any documents or direct quotes as evidence. Some outlets like The Guardian (Left) are reporting "200,000 visas will be revoked," instead of saying "up to 200,000," while failing to mention that this number hasn't been confirmed. Both outlets on the left and right quoted a statement by Pigott saying, "As the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis," however, only outlets on the right tended to specify that Pigott declined to comment on the number of visas that might be revoked.

Free Speech And Due Process: Outlets on the left like The Guardian were more likely to frame the "sweeping immigration crackdown" around rights groups saying, "the crackdown has violated free speech and due process rights and created an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities, who have raised concerns about racial profiling."

Abuse Of Immigration System: Outlets on the right like Fox News (Right) tended to frame the reported plans as a "historic mass visa revocation." Fox also highlighted that "the potential revocations come as the Trump administration cracks down on what it considers abuse of the immigration system."

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President Trump said he would allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef to be imported into the US with lower tariffs over the next 90 days. News outlets across the political spectrum noted Republican pushback and concern from cattle ranchers.

The Details: In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump blamed high beef prices and a shrinking cattle herd on the Biden administration, and said he the 90-day plan will allow more ground beef imports. Trump didn't share which countries the US is receiving beef from, but told reporters "there are a few" and later mentioned Argentina would be one. He said the beef would be sold at 25% below current market price.

For Context: Data from the Department of Agriculture showed the US cattle herd is at its lowest number in 75 years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, beef prices have risen over 11% in the last year.

Republican Pushback: Outlets across the political spectrum noted Republican pushback that the deal would harm American cattle ranchers. The Daily Signal (Right bias) said "even MAGA members [are] breaking with the president." It cited criticism from Republican lawmakers and rancher associations, and included a quote from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) who called the plan "worse than socialism." In a Substack piece, former CBS News anchor Dan Rather (not rated) said the idea "is so half-baked that even [Trump's] most ardent supporters are crying foul." The Daily Caller (Right) suggested the move could be an effort to address affordability concerns ahead of the midterms.

Will Prices Drop?: The New York Times (Lean Left) analyzed where the beef might come from, but noted that more than 80% of American beef is produced in the US, so "even an increase in beef imports is unlikely to radically increase the supply of beef and lower prices." Rather also said Trump can't guarantee the imports will lower beef prices by 25%. USA Today (Lean Left) quoted a Georgia cattle rancher who said the move was "pitting the farmer against the consumer" as "cattlemen lose profits for the next three months at the same rate the beef is being discounted."

Online Theories: Theories circulated online about where the beef was coming from and what's in it. Straight Arrow News (Center) covered theories that the US would import a batch of beef that China rejected in March after finding the presence of an antibiotic, chloramphenicol, which is banned in multiple countries, including China and the US. NewsNation (Center) reported on theories suggesting a link between the imported beef and the Trump administration's recent move to slaughter wild horses for meat. The outlet noted horse slaughterhouses are illegal in the US, but wrote that some believe horse meat is being sold to the US for consumption.

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Dolly Parton, American country music singer and philanthropist, died on Tuesday at age 80. Parton's cultural influence transcended political and social divisions, with outlets across the political spectrum mourning the loss of the "beloved icon."

Trump Lowers Flags: Fox News (Right bias) reported that President Donald Trump ordered the American flag to be flown at half-staff for the next week in Parton's honor, whom the president called "one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER." Fox described Parton as "one of entertainment's most beloved figures," highlighting her influence in both pop culture and philanthropy.

A Prolific Songwriter: Wall Street Journal (Center) praised Parton's songwriting prowess, celebrating the more than 1,000 songs she has written and released. The singer Pink, while inducting Parton into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, said that Parton "She crafted heartbreaking and soul-stirring stories about the lives of people often overlooked," crafting "a narrative of painful, beautiful, poetic melodic commentary on what it's like to be human, and what it's like to be a woman in America," according to The Journal.

Philanthropic Work: Fox and The Journal both emphasized Parton's philanthropic work, particularly her founding of the Imagination Library, a literacy program that has donated more than 200 million books to children around the world. The Journal also noted that she contributed $1 to Vanderbilt University's virus research in 2020, helping kick-start Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine.

Subtly Subversive: The Guardian (Left) called Parton "subtly subversive" in her songwriting and image, claiming that Parton was writing songs "of a distinctly feminist bent" as early as 1968 with her hit "Just Because I'm a Woman," despite never identifying herself as a feminist. The Guardian noted that Parton "was clearly possessed of a far greater artistic and commercial ambition than she was given credit for" and called her the "godmother of the pop-country that has swept the charts in recent years."

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Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro signed an executive order on August 18 aimed at placing new restrictions on data center construction in the state.

The Details: In summary, the Governor's Press Office says Shapiro now requires prospective data developers to legally bind themselves to new state guidelines regarding "energy affordability, community engagement, workforce and economic development, transparency, and environmental protection" that give "local municipalities a greater say over development in their communities."

Key Quote: Shapiro said, "Over the past year, I've listened to the people of Pennsylvania… My message to data center developers is clear: if you can't agree to our strict requirements and get the community where you want to build to say 'yes,' you're not going to have the Commonwealth's support either. These are some of the biggest companies in the world – they can afford to be good neighbors."

Data Centers in PA: Data centers have been a particularly controversial issue in Pennsylvania over the past year. In December, Emerson College polling found that 42% of Pennsylvanians opposed them being built in their neighborhoods, with women opposing them more than men. Quinnipiac University polling published in July found 74% of registered Pennsylvania voters opposed data centers being built in their neighborhoods. The same polling found 34% of registered voters disapproved of Shapiro's handling of data centers, with 24% approving, including 40% of Democrats.

RELATED: The Insight: The Data Center Dilemma | AllSides

Political Context: Back in June, Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) introduced a bill in the US House aimed at curbing "large corporations' ability to litigate and attempt to overturn local decisions regarding data centers." Shapiro will face Pennsylvania's Republican Treasurer Stacy Garrity in Pennsylvania's gubernatorial race in November and currently holds a significant lead in the polls. After signing the order, Garrity called on Shapiro to return $5.7 million in campaign contributions he received from donors involved in AI and data center construction. Philadelphian outlet Broad + Liberty (Lean Right bias) highlighted this in a headline.

Fetterman's Take: Days after Shapiro signed the order, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) wrote on X, "AI supremacy and energy dominance underpins our national security. China continues to fuel and benefit from our overreaction. I reject the political pandering and hyperbole over data centers or AI doomsdaying." The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) said Fetterman, whom it described as "one of the more centrist Democrats" has "consistently pushed back against such data center and broader AI doomerism throughout the summer, as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been forced to take a policy position on an issue that's both new and subject to shifting public opinion."

RELATED: The Wall Street Journal Has a Strong Pro-Data Center Bias | AllSides

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum framed the move as a change of course for Shapiro, with many highlighting that last year he touted Amazon's decision to spend $20 billion on data centers in Pennsylvania. An analysis from Axios (Lean Left) said his pivot "says plenty about the evolving politics of AI" and noted that he is "in the 2028 presidential mix." Chris Kelly of Pennsylvania's Scranton Times-Tribune (Lean Left) said for Shapiro, "any association with the data center invasion would be a heavy burden" on his presidential hopes. Kelly added, "Some may forgive Shapiro for his earnest early cheerleading for data centers, but no one should forget it." Salena Zito of Townhall (Right) called Shapiro's order "striking and a reversal of evolution in the state's approach." She said data centers have "become the boogeyman in the wings of both parties" and called for "neither fear of the industry nor unconditional approval of every proposal."

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More than 150 wallets on Polymarket International are thought to be involved in insider trading on US military information, according to a report by the Anti-Corruption Data Collective (ACDC).

The Details: ACDC found 556 accounts that it referred to as "Orcas," which it said typically opened accounts within days of a successful longshot bet and won big in niche markets. Of these, 152 of them placed longshot bets in military and defense markets, winning $8 million collectively at an average win rate of 97.2%, according to Reuters (Center bias). According to the report, those are the wallets most likely to be trading military secrets. CNN (Lean Left) reported that prior to the report's release, Polymarket referred "dozens" of accounts to the Justice Department for investigation into insider trading.

For Context: There have been several instances of suspected insider trading on prediction markets over the last year. In March, bets on a five-day pause on strikes on Iran and a US-Iran ceasefire deal made anonymous users roughly $580 million and $820,000. In April, a US soldier was charged with using classified information to bet on the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.

RELATED: The Insight: The Rise of Prediction Markets

How the Media Covered It: Reuters was the first to report on the ACDC report. It framed the finding within other suspected military insider trading this year. It also cited ACDC concerns of copycat trades by bots and "deep-pocketed" users. CNN and the Washington Examiner (Lean Right) both covered Polymarket reporting the accounts to the Justice Department. CNN cited comments from the Polymarket Founder and CEO about the company's efforts to crackdown on insider trading. The outlet wrote these "haven't stopped investigators getting involved" and noted Polymarket is currently subject to lawmakers imposing regulations. 

The Washington Examiner was the only right-leaning source AllSides only found coverage from.

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly broadcasted "Where and how should we kill Barron Trump?" on Iranian state media and allegedly placed a $10 million bounty on the 20-year-old's head.

The Details: The three-minute video, also translated to "Where to kill Barron Trump," said President Donald Trump's son is "fully monitored." It claimed to have tracked his Secret Service and escort vehicles' positions, as well as his Xbox, FIFA, and Discord accounts. The video, broadcast on Iranian state television's Channel 3, also alleged that "a girl" spied on Barron and leaked private information from an unspecified meeting. It concluded, "This is just the beginning! Barron Trump, wait for us!"

Similar Campaigns: The IRGC-linked outlet Tasnim News Agency (not rated) released the video "Where to Kill Melania?" in July, calling on "freedom fighters" to target the first lady's location. (The title is according to New York Post's [Right bias] translation. Euronews [Center] translated the title to "Where and how is Melania Trump accessible?").

The state also released a video called "Where to Kill [Donald] Trump?!," and it allotted a billboard in Tehran's Islamic Revolution Square that read "We will kill Trump" and depicted Trump dead in a coffin. Additionally, the US Secret Service is reviewing another video that claimed to show the president's travel paths.

RELATED: Israeli Officials Tell US That Iran Plans to Assassinate Trump | AllSides

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the political spectrum said they could not independently verify the legitimacy of the bounty. Israeli media such as The Jerusalem Post (Center bias) and The Times of Israel (Center) highlighted the story.

New York Post framed Iran's future in the conflict with the US pessimistically, highlighting, "Ahead of the Trump administration's rollout of crippling measures, Iran's currency, the rial, plunged to a new low, trading at roughly 1.5 million rials to the dollar." It also gave voice to Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who said last week, "No matter how much military power we have, if people are hungry and we do not have financial circulation and economic growth, we will not endure."

Euronews highlighted Iranian-run media commentators who justified the threats against President Trump under Islam's "qisas" rule. Mohammad-Javad Larijani, for example, said, "We will do whatever is in our power, and there is no international legal barrier to stop us." The outlet also cited Trump's January comment that the US would "wipe the Islamic Republic off the face of the Earth" if the state carried out threats to take his life.

RELATED: Trump Reportedly Switched Aircraft Amid Iranian Assassination Threat | AllSides

For Context: The Post reported, "Recently, Trump has been ratcheting up his pressure campaign on Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiling an 'economic D-Day' plan to decimate Tehran's economy." The president posted to Truth Social Monday, following the reports about Barron, "IRAN IS COMPLETELY COLLAPSING!!!" However, Raw Story (Left) highlighted, "Trump has frequently claimed that Iran was nearing collapse."

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary. Image Credit: @IsraelWarRoom/X via New York Post.

Editor's Note: a previous version of this summary inaccurately implied that Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel are funded by Israel's government. 

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) expanded access to abortions and transgender treatments on Thursday.

The Details: The new law expands shield laws for those seeking abortions and transgender treatments in the state, and it criminalizes "intimidation" and "interference" of services. Sherrill signed the bill, S2260/A2218, into law at a Planned Parenthood in Montclair, New Jersey, after it passed 25-15 in the Senate and 55-23 in the General Assembly in June. In a press release published on Thursday, she touted her administration's $52 million directive for abortion services in fiscal year 2027.

Could People Be Arrested For Praying Outside Abortion Clinics? The law specifically criminalizes "the intimidat[ion of a] person from becoming or remaining a patient, provider, volunteer, or assistant of reproductive healthcare services, if the conduct would cause a reasonable person to be intimidated."

While administrative spokeswoman Maggie Garbarino said the law doesn't prevent "lawful, peaceful protest or the exercise of constitutionally protected speech," she asserted that it does prevent "violence, threats, intimidation, physical obstruction, [and] property damage." But New Jersey Right to Life Director Marie Tasy contested the subjectivity in the law's wording: "Peaceful sidewalk counseling, prayer, holding signs, or simply offering help and alternatives outside a facility can easily be labeled 'intimidation' by someone who claims to feel threatened, leaving pro-life advocates open to criminal charges that are difficult to disprove and chilling constitutionally protected expression."

RELATED: Which Should Receive Funding: Planned Parenthood or Pregnancy Resource Centers? | AllSides

Is It Easier To Get An AR-15 Than An Abortion In The US? Sherrill claimed, "In the past four years, 13 states … have enacted [near] total abortion bans. It's easier to get an AR-15 in the United States than it is to get an abortion."

While each state includes nuanced legislation for both gun and abortion laws, the data is roughly as follows:

• 27 states have virtually no restrictions on AR-15s; 30 states have virtually no restrictions on abortion before "viability"
• 12 states have partial restrictions on AR-15s; 2 states have restrictions after 12 weeks gestation and 5 states have restrictions after 6 weeks gestation
• 11 states have near-total restrictions on AR-15s; 13 states have near-total abortion restrictions

RELATED: Biden Admin 'Weaponized' the FACE Act: DOJ Report | AllSides

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President Donald Trump said the US will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported over the next three months to help lower prices, but some Republicans and cattle advocates criticized the move as harmful to American ranchers.

The Details: Trump said importers had agreed to sell the beef at 25% below current market prices, according to multiple media reports. The White House stated that Trump plans to sign an executive order on the tariff waiver within two weeks. His announcement did not identify the companies or foreign exporters involved. 

"Today, I concluded a deal to substantially lower the price of ground beef for working American families," Trump said via Truth Social. "This deal will reduce prices for Americans while giving space for our Great American Beef Herd to grow again."

A Dispute Over the Herd: The National Cattlemen's Beef Association criticized the move, saying increased imports would not help rebuild the US cattle herd. CEO Colin Woodall said, "flooding the market with government-subsidized, below-market beef is not the way to rebuild the American cattle herd." Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., also warned that the policy could make it harder for ranchers to rebuild their herds.

Why Prices Are High: US beef prices have risen in 2026 as the cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level since the 1950s. The decline has been linked to years of drought, high feed costs and herd reductions. Imported beef already makes up part of the US supply, with much of the beef used for grinding coming from Australia and Brazil, according to economist Altin Kalo. The impact on grocery prices remains uncertain. Kalo told CNBC that imported beef is already selling at a steep discount and that the tariff has not been a major issue for importers.

How the Media Covered It: CNBC (Lean Left bias)  and Newsweek (Center) both highlighted GOP criticism of Trump's plan, specifically concerns about its impact on US ranchers. CNBC focused more on opposition from the cattle industry and uncertainty over whether the move will actually lower prices. Newsweek emphasized the political implications of high beef prices ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Newsmax (Right) presented the policy more favorably, emphasizing Trump's claim that it will lower prices while giving ranchers time to rebuild the US cattle herd. 

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After a week of negotiations that initially resulted in the delay of a 50% American tariff on Canadian goods, talks have collapsed, and Canada is set to implement a matching tariff on $20 billion of US products beginning on September 8.

Inside Scoop: Politico (Lean Left bias) said it interviewed "more than a dozen current and former Canadian and US officials, lobbyists and business groups" and reported that the deal "buckled under a combination of last-minute demands and political constraints on both sides." It added, "US officials blamed Canada for introducing new asks late in the talks, including seeking lower tariffs on heavy trucks, while Canadian leaders – including Prime Minister Mark Carney – pointed the finger at turf wars within the Trump administration over who controlled key pieces of the deal."

US Statement: The Office of the US Trade Representative said, "Despite the U.S. offer to Canada to receive the best treatment of any major exporter to our market, new demands and walk backs of other commitments by Canada have upended the careful balance reached in the past days… This week, the United States agreed to provide even better treatment to Canada, offering significant tariff reductions on steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber." It called it a "missed opportunity" that "would have led to supply chain coordination on aerospace, complementary actions to address unfair trade practices, critical minerals cooperation, increased enforcement against imports produced with forced labor, and the announcement of formal U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations."

Canadian Statement: Canada's Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney said, "For over a year, Canada has worked intensively and in good faith with the United States to negotiate a new comprehensive trade deal. We have been pragmatic, patient, and persistent. Our goal has always been to get the best deal for Canadians, never a deal at any price or on any time frame. Late last evening I instructed our negotiators to return to Ottawa. We cannot accept what the U.S. has offered, and we will not give what they have asked."

For Context: In 2025, US trade volume with Canada was over $700 billion, down from over $900 billion in 2024. During Trump's first term, his administration, alongside Canada and Mexico, replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with a new trilateral free trade agreement, the USMCA. Last month, the Trump administration declined to renew the USMCA and said it would pursue independent trade deals with each country.

Perspectives: An opinion by Steve Verheul, Canada's former chief trade negotiator, published by the Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail (Center), said the collapse "has left Canada in a difficult position, with uncertain and challenging times ahead" but "agreeing to the deal the U.S. was offering on Friday night would have been worse." An opinion published by The Washington Post Opinion (Lean Right) called the development "the latest sign that President Donald Trump's bulldozer approach to remaking the nation's trade relationships may be reaching its limits."

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has faced calls for new elections as his office faces corruption allegations, though he has expressed opposition to the idea.

The Catalyst: In July, Zelenskyy fired Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who many major mainstream outlets have described as "popular" within Ukraine. Fedorov had only served in his position for six months, and the firing prompted protests in Ukraine. On August 18, Fedorov called for elections in a YouTube video that Reuters (Center bias) described as a "bombshell" and "first such demand by a major Ukrainian political figure since Russia launched its full-scale invasion." Fedorov said, "Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. We must find a legal, safe and realistic mechanism that will allow Ukraine to renew its full democratic process even in the conditions of a long war." CNN (Lean Left) described Fedorov's address as "remarkable."

Corruption: A day after Fedorov posted his speech, the Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) launched a money laundering investigation into banks and lawmakers. Investigators say they found a scheme to misappropriate over $3 million to post bail for a former energy minister who was being investigated for money laundering. So far, a former lawmaker has been taken into custody, and Zelenskyy's deputy chief of staff, Iryna Mudra, was charged with money laundering.

New Comments: Zelenskyy replied to the calls for elections on Sunday and said, "I believe that if we want to destroy the country, then we can move towards elections during this kind of war." Also on Sunday, Fedorov told BBC News (Center) that Zelenskyy should be questioned on potential corruption in his inner circle, though he said he has never seen Zelenskyy engage in corrupt activities. He also said, "Not a single time have I received from him any task or assignment that would go against law or my sense of integrity."

Past Corruption Context: In November 2025, two of Zelenskyy's top ministers resigned after NABU and another corruption watchdog uncovered a $100 million kickback scheme. The investigation came four months after Zelenskyy attempted to neuter the watchdogs' powers but faced pushback from the EU and Ukrainian people.

Past Democratic Context: In December 2025, President Trump called for elections in Ukraine. Zelenskyy said he was "ready for elections" once the US and EU made security guarantees to Ukraine. In 2024, Zelenskyy fired his top general, Valery Zaluzhny, who had become increasingly popular with Ukrainians, prompting protests.

How The Media Covered It: Last week, when Fedorov released his address, an analysis from CNN opened by saying "a wartime president for six uninterrupted years must take many unpopular decisions," and framed elections as a difficult task that could lead to the defeat of Ukraine. Michael Brendan Dougherty (Lean Right) of National Review (Right) described Fedorov as Zelenskyy's "first serious political challenger" whose popularity is "likely" what prompted Zelenskyy to fire him. Kremlin-funded RT (Lean Right) highlighted framing and analysis from major mainstream Western outlets that suggested Zelenskyy may be "losing grip on power."

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) reached a $400 million settlement with TikTok on Friday.

The Details: The settlement, involving TikTok, its parent company ByteDance, and the companies' affiliates, "resolv[es] litigation concerning compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and its implementing regulations (COPPA)," according to the DOJ's press release. It marks the end of a 2024 lawsuit initially filed by the Biden administration and is reportedly "one of the largest recoveries ever obtained in a COPPA case."

Assistant Attorney Gen. Brett A. Shumate said the settlement "secures a significant monetary recovery and reflects the Department's commitment to ensuring children receive the full protections that Congress mandated."

The department reported, "Under the settlement, TikTok will pay $300 million immediately and an additional $100 million upon entry of an order vacating a prior consent decree entered against TikTok's predecessor, Musical.ly."

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) prior consent decree against Musical.ly suggested the company collected minors' personal information without parental consent, resulting in a $5.7 million fine. The TikTok litigation similarly involved allegations of COPPA violations by circumventing parental consent to collect personal information from users under 13 years old.

The department specified in its statement, "The claims resolved by the United States in the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability."

How The Media Covered It: Initial coverage of this story was largely similar across the political spectrum, and outlets on both the left and right republished Reuters' (Center bias) report. The Verge (Lean Left), Reuters, and Fox Business (Lean Right) all noted that TikTok did not immediately respond to their requests for comment. However, Fox was the only outlet of the three to highlight that the Biden administration spearheaded the lawsuit – a fact omitted in the DOJ's press release.

For Context: The DOJ's release stated, "Since the Justice Department filed its complaint in 2024, TikTok has undergone significant changes to its ownership, management, compliance functions, and privacy practices. The company has implemented extensive measures designed to strengthen safeguards for younger users, improve age-related controls, and enhance parental oversight."

The US and ByteDance announced a joint-venture deal on TikTok in January, granting the US majority ownership of the platform in compliance with President Donald Trump's executive order from September. Read more about the deal here.

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A Missouri judge ruled Wednesday that the state's referendum process can't be used to block legislature-drawn congressional maps, allowing a recently implemented map that is expected to favor Republicans to remain active for the November midterm elections.

The Details: Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Green ruled that the referendum provisions in Missouri's constitution don't apply to congressional redistricting. The ruling struck down a suit from The People Not Politicians (PNP) coalition. The case involving referendum use can now move to the state's Supreme Court.

For Context: The maps were already used in primary elections earlier in August. Then, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a citizens' petition that sought to bring the maps to referendum and reportedly had over 300,000 signatures. In May, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the new map and rejected an argument that said submitting referendum petitions should automatically suspend the new map. Missouri's redistricting is part of a broader wave of recent redistricting efforts by both Democrats and Republicans.

Key Quotes: Green wrote in the ruling, "The Missouri Constitution does not supply any statement – let alone a clear one – reallocating authority over congressional redistricting away from the General Assembly to a referendum process." PNP Executive Director Richard von Glahn said, "The most important thing that happened today is that there was a ruling. The state has tried to slow down the judicial process for months and now that we are out of Cole County, the real decision will be made. Our case now moves forward."

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum framed the new map as favoring the GOP, but outlets from the right explicitly wrote in headlines or opening lines that the new development is a "win" or "victory" for Trump and Republicans. Outlets from the left and center more often framed the map as "backed" by or "favoring" Republicans.

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President Donald Trump announced "Economic D-Day" against Iran and its allies Wednesday as many debate who controls the Strait of Hormuz.

Evidence Is Clear: CNN Business (Lean Left bias) opinion writer David Goldman said the "focal point of the Iran war" is "the battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz." The article explained that the "competing rhetoric" between Iran and the US has "caused considerable confusion and doubt." However, according to Goldman, "the evidence is clear" showing that "The United States, patrolling the strait with its navy, is gaining ground—and Iran is losing much of its control of the critical waterway." Goldman, as evidence cited Kpler, a service tracking ships via both transponder and satellites, saying that "more than 80% of liquids transits" through the strait over the last two weeks have utilized the Omani route or have been "dark" transits, meaning they turned off their transponders. Head of crude oil analysis at Kpler said "It increasingly looks like Iran has at least partially lost control of the strait." Goldman mentioned Trump saying that the US has "total control over the strait," and asserted that while this is not true, Iran also does not have total control.

'In Price, Is Knowledge': Bloomberg (Center) opinion writer Javier Blas approached the question of control through the lens of oil prices. Referencing an old market saying, "In price, is knowledge," Blas asserted that "At less than $90 a barrel, it isn't screaming shortage." Blas said that while the release of "strategic reserves is helping," as well as China slashing its oil imports, "that's not the full story." The "market skepticism about [US Energy Secretary Chris] Wright's optimism" over the amount of oil flowing through the strait "is understandable" according to Blas, however, "the naysayers are a bit too sure of themselves." Blas said that with "available data, we can safely say that, at the very least, 5 million barrels a day are transiting Hormuz," which contradicts the figures given by Wright. However, when the emphasis, according to Blas is on "available" data which he explained is quite limited due to the ongoing conflict, we may be missing much of what is really happening, positing that oil is flowing through the strait "perhaps more successfully than we think."

3-Month Low:  CNBC (Lean Left) framed coverage around statements from an Iranian government and military backed agency known as the Persian Gulf Strait Authority saying that "Hormuz remains blocked." The article also cited Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi saying the US "has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures," adding "Case in point: The war on Iran. Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz." CNBC said that "While both sides continue to make contradictory claims," data from Kpler shows ship traffic through the waterway at a "3-month low."

RELATED: Trump Says He Will Make Strait of Hormuz US Territory | AllSides

'Notable Success': Outlets like Axios (Lean Left) and The New York Post (Right) highlighted a "stealth operation" from the US that is reportedly guiding millions of barrels of oil daily through the strait near the Omani coast. The Post mentioned that the operation does not come without costs, explaining that the US is "forced to deploy ships, helicopters and planes to intercept attacks from Iran," further explaining that "intercepting the strikes is notably higher than what it costs Iran to attack using its cheaper suicide drones." Axios called the operation "a notable success even as the broader war remains at a stalemate."

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