America First

The US Energy Information Administration projects solar generation in Texas will surpass coal for the first time in 2026, marking a major shift in the state that leads the country in both wind and solar capacity growth. The forecast underscores how falling solar costs and rapid buildout are displacing coal-fired power in the ERCOT grid, accelerating the energy transition in one of the world's largest power markets.

New York has filed a lawsuit against prediction market platform Polymarket, alleging it operates as illegal gambling. The legal action comes as online betting adoption surges: Bank of America consumer data shows platform usage rose 40% in July, with first-time use tripling since the start of the year. Regulators are increasingly scrutinising fast-growing betting and prediction platforms as mainstream consumer adoption accelerates.

A new opinion piece argues that an 'America First' foreign policy should start with an honest accounting of the real costs of American wars — financial and human — and asks who ultimately pays the price when the United States goes to war. The argument challenges policymakers to weigh the burden borne by service members and taxpayers before committing to future conflicts.