Thursday, August 13th

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley won Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor by less than one percentage point, defeating state Rep. Francesca Hong by roughly 3,000 votes after nearly all ballots were counted. Hong, a Democratic Socialists of America affiliate, had led most late polls by double digits, with several surveys showing margins from 11 to 22 points. Crowley’s win followed a volatile campaign in which he suspended his bid on July 8 and re-entered 10 days later. Hong endorsed Crowley after the result; he will face the Republican nominee, a Trump-backed congressman, in November.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her role at the end of August, less than a month after returning from maternity leave. Leavitt, 28, the youngest person to hold the post, said she made the decision to spend more time with her two young children. She gave birth to her daughter in May and returned to the White House in July. Trump said Leavitt will continue working with him as a top outside adviser; no replacement has been named.

Russia released Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old former U.S. Marine, on Tuesday after more than four years in custody, with U.S. officials saying Vladimir Putin approved a humanitarian pardon amid concerns about his health. Gilman was arrested in Voronezh on Jan. 17, 2022, accused of drunkenly kicking a police officer, and later received prison sentences totaling 10 years on disputed charges. President Donald Trump said he raised the case with Putin and that no prisoner swap was involved. Gilman was being flown back to the United States for medical treatment.