Good morning.
Federal authorities say they disrupted a serious terror plot targeting the White House’s high-profile UFC event, prosecutors in Minnesota have charged 15 people with allegedly obstructing federal immigration operations, and Alaska election officials have removed a Senate candidate they say appeared to be running primarily to confuse voters.
FBI Says White House UFC Event Was Targeted in Alleged Terror Plot
Federal authorities say they thwarted an attack on Sunday’s UFC event at the White House before it could be carried out.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, investigators uncovered a multi-stage plot involving explosive-laden drones and a secondary sniper team that allegedly intended to target the event, which drew thousands of spectators, military personnel, athletes, and political figures as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Patel said the FBI first learned of the threat in June and launched a multi-state investigation after intercepting encrypted communications involving more than 20 individuals. Authorities allege the suspects planned to use modified drones carrying explosive payloads to cause mass casualties and panic around the White House grounds.
Federal agents have since executed search warrants and made arrests across multiple states, including at least one confirmed arrest in Ohio.
Minnesota Activists Charged Over Alleged Anti-ICE Conspiracy
Federal prosecutors announced charges Tuesday against 15 individuals accused of coordinating efforts to obstruct immigration enforcement during the Trump administration’s “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota that deployed thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents throughout Minnesota and resulted in thousands of arrests.
According to prosecutors, members of two Minneapolis-area groups allegedly tracked federal agents, warned the public about enforcement activity, coordinated blockades, and attempted to interfere with immigration operations through both physical and digital means.
Twelve suspects were arrested Tuesday, while three others remain either in custody on unrelated charges or are still being sought by authorities.
Prosecutors allege activists crossed the line from protest into criminal conduct by erecting barriers, damaging government property, and assaulting officers.
The investigation remains ongoing, and prosecutors indicated additional arrests could follow.
Alaska Removes ‘Decoy Dan’ From Senate Ballot
Alaska election officials have disqualified a Republican Senate candidate whose name closely matches that of incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, concluding the campaign appeared designed to mislead voters.
In a sharply worded ruling, Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher found that Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy likely existed to create confusion and undermine confidence in the ballot.
Officials pointed to several factors, including his attempt to appear on the ballot as “Dan Sullivan,” efforts to use the incumbent senator’s middle initial, a campaign website that allegedly mirrored the senator’s branding, and reported ties to Democratic political operatives.
The controversy emerged after Republicans accused Democrats of attempting to siphon votes away from Sen. Sullivan through a same-name candidate strategy. Under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, both candidates could have advanced from the primary, increasing the potential for voter confusion.
Democrats have denied coordinating with the challenger, but election officials ultimately concluded the totality of evidence suggested a deliberate attempt to exploit the similarity in names.
Daniel Sullivan can still appeal the decision. For now, however, Alaska’s election authorities have made clear that they believe the state’s ballot should exclude candidates whose primary purpose appears to be confusing voters rather than winning office.
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