Illinois Inspector General Mukasey Resigns Amid Harassment Investigation Complaints | The States

The 25th anniversary of September 11th, highlights from day two of the GOP's midterm convention, continued fallout over Illinois's vacant legislative inspector general position, and an economics breakdown of President Trump's price promises are covered on this episode of The States.

Ceremonies marking 25 years since the September 11 attacks took place in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, with President Trump speaking at the Pentagon alongside National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Center Square correspondents report from Ground Zero, where the names of all 2,977 victims were read aloud and a new seventh moment of silence was added to honor those who died from 9/11-related illnesses, and from the Pentagon, where correspondent Sarah Roderick Fitch shares her personal recollections of the day as a first responder in Washington, D.C.

Vice President JD Vance closed out day two of the Republican National Convention in Dallas with a speech framing the midterms around contrasts with Democratic candidates, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. Vance also discussed Medicaid fraud cases and reacted to a protester removed from the event. President Trump closed the convention discussing voter ID and his pledge to send $5,000 to every eligible adult if Republicans retain Congress, a proposal Senate Democrats Chuck Schumer and Alex Padilla criticized as a bribe, and the segment notes recent polling showing a majority disapprove of the president's handling of the economy.

Illinois legislative inspector general Michael Mukasey has resigned following accusations that he failed to properly document an investigation into a former state lawmaker accused of sexual harassment. Center Square Illinois reporter Sean Reid discusses the vacancy, Republican lawmakers' renewed push for ethics reforms including subpoena power for the inspector general's office, and separate allegations involving Democratic state Rep. Amy Murray-Briel.

The Center Square publisher Chris Krug and economist Dr. Orphe Divounguy examine a Washington Post quiz on eight consumer prices President Trump pledged to lower, discussing which prices a president can realistically influence and which are driven by broader market forces. The conversation centers on how the conflict with Iran has pushed up gas, energy, and grocery prices even as mortgage rates and prescription drug costs have declined.

The America's Talking segment includes coverage of the inaugural U.S. First Responder Ride for Resilience, a five-day, 343-mile cycling route from Boston to Ground Zero honoring FDNY members lost on 9/11, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's continued opposition to Enbridge's proposed Line 5 pipeline tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac, and California Republican lawmakers' pushback against two transportation funding bills awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature.