Secret Plane Switch, AI's Invisible Mark & Partial Solar Eclipse - Wednesday, August 12, 2026

**Erica Mandy** (0:00)
Today is Wednesday, August 12th. We have the results from another big election day, what they say about the political landscape heading into the midterms. Also, the elaborate ruse meant to hide President Trump's whereabouts from Iran, and why people have had to evacuate from one of California's most popular tourist destinations. Plus, how AI is now leaving a hidden mark on everything it writes, why a major university is ditching grades for some freshmen, and how to watch a solar eclipse and a meteor shower both happening today.
Those stories and even more news coming up.
Welcome to The NewsWorthy, all the day's news in less than 15 minutes. I'm Erica Mandy. Thanks so much for being here. Let's do this.
We start today with the results from another big primary night, including some upsets, some close calls, and several races that now set up what could be very interesting general elections this fall. We'll start with the Minnesota governor race. US. Senator Amy Klobuchar easily won the Democratic nomination. Well, on the Republican side, House Speaker Lisa Damuth beat MyPillow founder, Mike Lindell, who was endorsed by President Trump.
Also in Minnesota, the Democrats' US. Senate primary pitted the party's moderates against progressives, and the voters once again went with the more progressive candidate. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan beat Congresswoman Angie Craig. She'll face former sports broadcaster Michelle Tafoya, who won the Republican nomination. Over in Connecticut, 14-term Democratic Congressman John Larson lost his primary to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin. Despite several big-name endorsements, Larson is now the 10th incumbent House member to lose a primary so far this year. In South Carolina, Trump-backed Darlene Graham did not get enough votes to win the Republican nomination for US. Senate outright, but she's also not out of the running. Graham will now face Congressman Ralph Norman in a runoff later this month, hoping to take the seat vacated by her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
The biggest swing state included in yesterday's elections was Wisconsin, and you'll remember a lot of attention was on the governor's race. Well, as of this morning, it's too close to call on the Democrat side. Progressive state representative Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley are neck and neck. Whoever wins will face Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany in November. Of course, that just barely scratches the surface of races on yesterday's ballots, and there are still several primaries left to go with Alaska, Florida and Wyoming up next week. Stay tuned.
We're starting to learn about an elaborate act of deception meant to throw Iran off President Trump's trail. It happened last month when Trump was returning home from the NATO summit in Turkey. US intelligence officials reportedly identified a specific threat from Iran, so the Secret Service came up with a plan, and news outlets like the New York Times and Washington Post reported the details of it just yesterday. They say Trump boarded Air Force One in public just like he normally would, but he didn't actually fly out on that plane. Instead, a catering truck pulled up to it, and when it left, Trump was inside. It took him to a smaller military jet that then flew him to Britain. Former Secret Service agents told Time magazine, this kind of deception is rare, but it isn't without precedent. Presidents have used secret or decoy travel before when security threats made it necessary. But they say what was unusual here was just how few people were in on it. Even White House staff and reporters on board, Air Force One, didn't know Trump wasn't actually there with them. When asked about it yesterday, Trump said he just follows the directions of the Secret Service and US military, but that any president who really matters is going to face threats, and it's just part of doing a good job.
A US Marine veteran who spent more than four years in a Russian prison was finally set free this week. Robert Gilman was arrested in Russia in 2022 for allegedly assaulting a police officer, but American officials have said the charges were unfounded, and over the last four years, they've raised concerns about his treatment in prison. Specifically, US Senator Ed Markey says Gilman was physically tortured and forced medication, and his health has severely deteriorated. Recent hospital reports from Russia have called his condition dire and life-threatening. While President Trump says he spoke about the case with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that Putin agreed to release him on humanitarian grounds. Arrests of Americans have become more common in Russia in recent years. So there have been concerns that Russians are targeting US nationals to use later as bargaining chips and talks with the US. But in this case, Trump says Russia did not demand anything in return. Gilman arrived back in the US yesterday. He was apparently greeted at the airport with hamburgers and milkshakes, though his current condition is unclear. Some reports suggest he's conscious and communicating, but still in need of and receiving serious medical and psychological care.