The Morning Brief: Marriage fraud, storms, elections, and inflation mark August 12

A marriage fraud scheme spanning a decade underscores a gap in immigration vetting that remains open. The Justice Department charged 11 people with orchestrating over 1,000 sham marriages between Chinese nationals and U.S. citizens from 2016 through July 2026, according to a 21-page indictment in the Southern District of New York. The network generated tens of millions in proceeds by charging foreign nationals as much as 100,000 dollars per fraudulent marriage to bypass legal immigration pathways. Attorney General Todd Blanche called it one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in U.S. history. The central unresolved question is how many of those 1,000-plus fraudulent marriages resulted in green cards being issued, and what process will govern identifying and revoking them.

Meanwhile, severe weather hammered the Midwest. Tornadoes, hurricane-force winds exceeding 100 miles per hour, and flooding swept the region on Tuesday, killing at least two people and leaving more than 700,000 customers without power across Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The National Weather Service confirmed at least three tornadoes touched down in Chicago's south suburbs. A 4-year-old boy was killed when a tree fell on a mobile home in Jennings County, Indiana. Another death was reported in Ohio after emergency crews could not reach a resident due to flooded roads. The region faces continued flood risk through Friday as additional rain rounds move through the Ohio Valley.

Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary delivered a narrow upset. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a centrist Democrat backed by outgoing Governor Tony Evers, defeated state assemblywoman Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, with 39.8 percent of the vote to Hong's 39.4 percent with 98 percent of votes counted. Crowley had suspended his campaign a month prior before relaunching with Evers' endorsement. If he wins in November, he would be Wisconsin's first Black governor. He will face Republican Representative Tom Tiffany in the general election. The race reflected broader contests this year between democratic socialists and centrist Democrats for major party nominations.

Inflation continued moderating. The Consumer Price Index rose 3.4 percent annually in July, down from 3.5 percent in June, marking the second consecutive monthly decline after inflation peaked at 4.2 percent in May. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, fell to 2.5 percent from 2.6 percent. Month-to-month, overall inflation rose 0.1 percent. The decline reflects slower food price growth and declining energy costs, creating room for the Federal Reserve to hold rates steady rather than increase them. However, wage growth at 3.2 percent annually continues to lag inflation, eroding purchasing power. The August inflation report is due September 11, ahead of the Fed's September 16 rate decision.

Abroad, a U.S. Marine was released after four years in Russian detention. Robert Gilman landed at Andrews Air Force Base on August 11 after being held in Russia since January 2022. The Trump administration said he was freed on humanitarian grounds without a prisoner swap, a departure from prior cases of U.S. Marines held in Russia, each of whom was traded for detained Russian nationals. Gilman had been sentenced to 10 years and was convicted of assaults on Russian prison staff in multiple incidents.

A Colombian earthquake's toll continued rising. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 181 people with civilian-run databases estimating nearly 4,000 unaccounted for. Video showed a baby being pulled alive from collapsed building rubble, held beneath the debris by a man whose lower half was trapped. A 32-year-old woman, Daniela Largo, was also pulled alive from beneath four concrete slabs in Pereira 36 hours after the quake, following a 10-hour rescue operation. The rescues offered rare moments of hope as search operations continue.

Trump and Iran traded competing assertions over the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump stated the U.S. has total control of the waterway and suggested keeping it. Iran's security officials countered that the strait will remain closed until the U.S. ends its military campaign, lifts its blockade, releases frozen assets, and regional wars in Lebanon and Gaza end. The competing claims represent escalating rhetoric during active conflict over a chokepoint vital to global energy supply.

In Minnesota, the Republican primary for governor defied Trump's endorsement. State House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the nomination, defeating MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, who led in limited public polling and carried Trump's endorsement. Republican insiders pursued a nominee they believed could defeat Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar in the general election, and the Minnesota GOP chairman raised residency questions about Lindell in the final weeks before the primary.