DHS Refutes Senator Ossoff’s Claims on ICE Detention Center Conditions
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has publicly refuted a series of allegations made by Senator Jon Ossoff (D‑Ga.) regarding the treatment of children and pregnant women in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. According to DHS, the claims are “false allegations” and lack factual basis.
Senator Ossoff’s report—titled The Abuse of Pregnant Women & Children in U.S. Immigration Detention—cites 510 credible reports of human rights abuses since January 20, including mistreatment of 18 children, 14 pregnant women, and physical or sexual abuse in 41 cases.
DHS has formally addressed several key claims from the report:
- Alleged mistreatment of children, including U.S. citizens: DHS asserts comprehensive medical, dental, and mental health screenings occur within 12 hours of arrival, followed by a full health assessment within 14 days. DHS noted this level of care often represents the most medical attention some children have received.
- Obstruction of congressional oversight and site visits: The department stated that neither Senator Ossoff nor his staff were denied access to ICE facilities; tours were granted and no complaints were raised during visits.
- Conditions for pregnant detainees: DHS maintains detained pregnant women receive regular prenatal care, mental health services, nutritional support, and community-standard accommodations, and emphatically noted that no pregnant detainee was forced to sleep on the floor.
- Food, hygiene, and communication standards: DHS confirmed that all detainees are provided proper meals (certified by dieticians), adequate medical care, and opportunities to contact family and legal counsel. They emphasized that ICE detention standards surpass those in most U.S. prisons holding citizens.
What to Watch Next
DHS’s rebuttal sets the stage for a broader debate over ICE detention practices and oversight. Senator Ossoff’s report has ignited bipartisan scrutiny over conditions in government custody, particularly for vulnerable populations. Advocates and congressional members may now press the department for more transparency, oversight, and potential reforms.
Nancy Mace Launches Campaign for South Carolina Governor
Republican U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Mace formally announced her campaign for governor of South Carolina. Mace launched her campaign on the campus of The Citadel, her alma mater, where she became the first woman to graduate from the Cadets in 1999. In her announcement, Mace stated, “God’s not done with South Carolina and neither am I,” positioning herself as a bold, unapologetic conservative and adopting the branding of “Trump in high heels” to emphasize her alignment with President Donald Trump.
Nancy Mace’s campaign platform focuses on eliminating the state income tax, implementing tough-on-crime policies, expanding school choice, banning the use of preferred pronoun requirements in classrooms, opposing transgender initiatives in schools, and overhauling the judicial system.
A key flashpoint in Nancy Mace’s campaign is her public feud with Attorney General Alan Wilson, a fellow Republican and a candidate in the same GOP primary. Four months ago, Mace delivered a nearly hour-long speech on the U.S. House floor, accusing her former fiancé, Patrick Bryant, and three other men of sexual assault, voyeurism, and misconduct. Mace claimed that Wilson’s office had shown systemic inaction despite her requests for investigations and victim advocacy.
Mace labeled Wilson the state’s “Do-Nothing Attorney General,” asserting he “ignored evidence” and delayed prosecution despite her pleas. Wilson categorically denied her claims, stating he was never informed by Mace or anyone in her office about the allegations before her speech and that no record of such a referral existed in his files. He called her assertions “categorically false” and emphasized that he only learned of the case once the speech was made public.
Meanwhile, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division confirmed it has been investigating allegations of assault and harassment involving Mace’s ex-fiancé since December 2023, after being contacted by U.S. Capitol Police. However, local law enforcement indicated that no report was ever filed by Mace herself.
This personal and political confrontation has escalated tensions between the two candidates, raising the prospect of a bitter and highly personal GOP primary contest.
Nancy Mace’s campaign launch at The Citadel Military College of South Carolina carries significant symbolic weight. In 1999, she broke a historic barrier by becoming the first woman to graduate from its Corps of Cadets, at a time when the institution was led by her father, Emory Mace, who served as Commandant of Cadets.
Her experiences at The Citadel, which she later recounted in her memoir, In the Company of Men: A Woman at The Citadel (2001), often serve as a cornerstone of her political narrative: a story of resilience, breaking barriers, and challenging entrenched institutions.
By launching her campaign at The Citadel, Mace aimed to highlight her outsider credentials and independence—not only as a woman who succeeded in a male-dominated institution, but also as a self-styled reformer ready to challenge South Carolina’s political establishment.
Mace enters a crowded GOP primary field that also includes Alan Wilson, Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, and Representative Ralph Norman. Early polling from March 2025 shows Mace polling between 16% and 29%, with Wilson often leading or closely trailing. This race remains unsettled, and Trump’s eventual endorsement could significantly influence its direction. With Governor Henry McMaster term-limited, this marks the first open race in 16 years, making the winner of the GOP primary heavily favored in the November 2026 general election.
Georgia Republican Stumbles Out of the Gate for 2026 Senate Race
As an incumbent Democrat in a southeastern state, Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff‘s seat ranks among the most vulnerable for the 2026 election. Still, his odds for re-election may have increased after a recent blunder by a potential opponent, Republican Congressman Mike Collins.
Collins’ campaign launch for the U.S. Senate in Georgia began with an unfortunate error: a campaign video posted on July 27 via his “Mike Collins War Room” account on X misspelled the state name as “Georiga” instead of “Georgia.” The video ended with the phrase, “Georiga, let’s ride!”
This mistake, which appeared to be unintentional, quickly went viral and became a hot topic online—especially since the typo remained visible on the campaign account for over 24 hours. Critics and social media users took the opportunity to mock the slip-up, with comments like “Is Georiga the 51st state?” The Collins team later explained that the video was created and uploaded by supporters rather than his official campaign account, which released its own version of the launch video (with the correct spelling) the following day.
Collins’ early digital misstep could potentially undermine his messaging regarding competence and voter trust.
“Mike Collins will certainly recover and move on from it,” AJC political columnist Ben Burnett told NewSouthPolitics.com. “But you can be sure, he’s going to take a little trolling. He’s a witty social media guy, himself. Collins gives plenty of clever one-liners. With a mistake like that, he knows he is going to hear about it.”
A silver lining could be found in the fact that Collins raised $22,000 in the 24 hours following his announcement, but beyond the embarrassment of a significant typo, the error raised broader concerns about the professionalism and attention to detail of a campaign that relies heavily on strong messaging.
Thanks to Gov. Brian Kemp’s support, Derrick Dooley is the early logical favorite to win the GOP primary. However, primary races, especially in midterm elections, can be brutal for political newcomers. Dooley, whose career background is in coaching college football, could fumble away his seemingly clear path to the party’s nomination.
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley Proposes Rebate Checks Using Tariff Revenue
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has introduced new legislation that would use federal tariff revenue to send direct rebate checks to working Americans, aligning with former President Donald Trump’s recent call to return tariff dollars to taxpayers.
The proposed bill, titled the American Worker Rebate Act, would provide checks of at least $600 per adult and child, amounting to $2,400 for a family of four. Modeled after the COVID-era stimulus payments, the rebates would be funded by what Hawley and supporters describe as “record-breaking” tariff revenue collected by the federal government.
“Americans deserve a tax rebate after four years of Biden policies that have devastated families’ savings and livelihoods,” Hawley said in a statement. “Like President Trump proposed, my legislation would allow hard-working Americans to benefit from the wealth that Trump’s tariffs are returning to this country.”
The U.S. collected nearly $30 billion in tariff revenue in June, and some forecasts project that total revenue could surpass $150 billion in 2025. If tariff revenue exceeds those projections, the bill would allow for an increase in the rebate amount.
Hawley announced the legislation shortly after Trump reiterated his support for a rebate-style policy tied to tariffs, further signaling alignment between the senator and the former president ahead of the 2024 election.
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper Raises $3.4 Million on First Day of Senate Campaign, Setting New Record
RALEIGH, N.C. — Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper raised $3.4 million in the first 24 hours of his U.S. Senate campaign, setting a new record for a Democratic Senate candidate and underscoring the competitiveness of the state’s 2026 race.
The total includes $2.6 million in direct contributions to Cooper’s campaign, with 95 percent of donations at $100 or less, according to his team. An additional $900,000 was raised through joint fundraising efforts with the Democratic Party, which enables larger individual contributions.
Cooper formally launched his campaign Monday, emerging as Democrats’ top contender for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. The race is expected to be one of the most closely watched and expensive in the country.
Cooper is likely to face Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who is expected to launch his campaign soon with the backing of former President Donald Trump. Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, had also been considered a possible candidate but opted not to run.
Former Rep. Wiley Nickel, who had previously entered the race, withdrew Tuesday and endorsed Cooper, effectively clearing the Democratic field.
“I proudly endorse Governor Cooper for U.S. Senate and look forward to doing everything I can to help him flip this Senate seat from red to blue,” Nickel said in a statement. He added that he still plans to remain involved in public service, with future plans to be announced soon. Nickel is now reportedly considering a bid for district attorney in Wake County, the state’s largest.
Cooper, who previously served as chair of the Democratic Governors Association, was heavily recruited by national Democrats. He has twice won statewide elections in North Carolina while Trump was on the ballot, a sign of his crossover appeal in a swing state.
Rep. Don Davis, another potential Democratic contender, is now expected to forgo a Senate bid in light of Cooper’s entry into the race.
Cooper’s early fundraising haul surpasses the previous record for a Senate Democratic candidate, set by Amy McGrath of Kentucky, who raised $2.5 million in the first 24 hours of her 2020 campaign against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
With both Cooper and Whatley bringing strong national fundraising networks, the North Carolina race is poised to be a key battleground in the fight for Senate control in 2026.
Roy Cooper Will Run for North Carolina’s Open Senate Seat
According to reports from Politico and PoliticalWire.com, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper will run in the Democratic Primary in the 2026 US Senate Primary for the seat to be vacated by soon-to-be-retired Senator Thom Tillis.
“Roy Cooper is expected to announce his campaign for the North Carolina Senate as soon as Monday, according to two people directly familiar with the former governor’s decision” Politico reported.The popular, former two-term governor’s entrance into the Senate race — for a seat Republican Sen. Thom Tillis is leaving open with his announcement last month that he won’t seek reelection — is likely to transform the Senate race into the most competitive of 2026. Democrats, facing a difficult path to seizing control of the Senate next year, landed their dream recruit with Cooper, who would enter the race as a favorite.”
Cooper was succeeded by former state attorney general, Josh Stein, a fellow Democrat who coasted to a double-digit victory last November despite Donald Trump winning the state in the same election.
North Carolina, Georgia Rated Among Top Senate Battlegrounds Ahead of 2026 Elections
The 2026 U.S. Senate map features a handful of competitive races, but two of the most closely watched contests are shaping up in the Southeast—North Carolina and Georgia. With control of the Senate potentially hanging in the balance, both states are emerging as pivotal battlegrounds for Democrats and Republicans alike.
In North Carolina, the retirement of Republican Sen. Thom Tillis has opened the door to a high-stakes race in a state that has leaned red federally but remains within reach for Democrats. Meanwhile, in Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff is preparing to defend his seat in a state that has oscillated between parties in recent elections. Both contests are expected to draw national attention, millions in campaign spending, and heavy involvement from party leadership as each side scrambles for an edge in the closely divided Senate.
The 2026 U.S. Senate map features several competitive races, with two of the most closely watched contests located in the Southeast—North Carolina and Georgia. The balance of power in the Senate could hinge on these races, making both states critical battlegrounds for Democrats and Republicans.
After Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced that he would not run for re-election due to divisions within the GOP and pressure from pro-Trump groups, the Senate race has become highly competitive. North Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 2008, but political divisions have emerged, resulting in closely contested races. Both parties now view this Senate seat as a top target.
On the Republican side, the primary field is taking shape. Don Brown, an attorney and author, along with former teacher’s assistant Andy Nilsson, has officially entered the race. Political insiders are also keeping an eye on Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump, who has shown interest and would likely be a frontrunner if she decides to run. On the Democratic side, former U.S. Representative Wiley Nickel has formally launched his campaign and is gaining support. Former Governor Roy Cooper has also expressed interest and is considered the party’s strongest potential candidate. With North Carolina trending as a swing state—Trump won it by just over three points in 2024—this open seat is expected to attract significant national attention and funding.
In Georgia, Democrat Jon Ossoff is gearing up for his re-election bid after winning his seat in a historic 2021 runoff. He has already built a strong campaign apparatus, raising over $42 million and holding $15.5 million in cash as of mid-2025. Georgia has become one of the most politically volatile states in the U.S., narrowly voting for Joe Biden in 2020 and flipping back to Donald Trump in 2024 by just over two points. As a result, Ossoff is a primary target for Republicans in 2026.
Despite the importance of the race, Republicans have struggled to unify around a clear challenger. Governor Brian Kemp, once considered a strong candidate, has opted not to run. The current GOP field includes Representative Buddy Carter and Georgia Insurance Commissioner John F. King, with others like Rich McCormick, Mike Collins, and Tyler Harper reportedly considering bids. Early polling shows Ossoff with modest leads against his announced opponents, but the race is expected to tighten as Republicans finalize their candidate. Given Georgia’s narrow margins and recent history of shifting political allegiances, this Senate contest is anticipated to be one of the closest and most expensive of the election cycle.
Together, the Senate races in North Carolina and Georgia highlight the changing political dynamics in the South and could play a decisive role in determining which party controls the chamber in 2027.