Elections & Voting Access: North Carolina has started mailing midterm ballots even as courts weigh Trump-backed rules that would put the USPS in a central role in checking and delivering mail votes, raising questions about what happens to already-cast ballots. Supreme Court Fight Over Maps: Missouri’s AG and secretary of state asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause a state ruling that would force a new congressional map before November, calling it an unprecedented constitutional crisis. US-Iran Escalation: U.S. Central Command says it struck three Iranian oil tankers after Iran launched ballistic missiles toward two U.S. Navy warships, warning it could destroy Tehran’s oil fleet and ratcheting fears of a wider conflict. Russia-Ukraine Diplomacy: As U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner head to Moscow then Kyiv, Russia ordered a pause in strikes on Kyiv for their visit, while attacks elsewhere killed civilians. Tech & Safety: NHTSA opened an audit of about 1,000 Tesla Cybercab robotaxi vehicles shortly after Austin launch, setting up a legal fight over whether the car can operate without traditional controls. Citizenship Policy: DHS issued an interim rule narrowing birthright citizenship for children of certain foreign government employees, expanding an exception beyond diplomats. Criminal Justice: After a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy case, the next steps could include a Sept. 29 hearing and possible retrial or plea talks.