A U.S. appeals court has blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to build a ballroom in the White House because it lacks congressional approval. The court says Congress controls the White House property, and the president cannot make major changes without permission.
Key Facts
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit voted 2-1 to uphold an injunction stopping the ballroom construction.
Judges Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia were in favor; Judge Neomi Rao dissented.
The court emphasized Congress controls the White House property, and the president is only a temporary user.
The court stated no president has ever unilaterally demolished parts of the White House funded by taxpayers before.
The ruling warns that building the ballroom will cause permanent harm to the historic White House.
The injunction includes a 14-day delay to allow the Trump administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.
President Trump said he would appeal to the Supreme Court and argued the ballroom is needed for national security.
The ballroom idea was first proposed by Trump in 2011 and revived after he started his second term in 2025.
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President Donald Trump has taken actions during his second term that some say are hostile to Muslims, like immigration restrictions and harsh language. However, he has also built closer ties with Muslim-majority countries and gained more support from some Muslim voters, making the situation more complex than in his first term.
Key Facts
In 2015, Trump called for a complete ban on Muslims entering the U.S.
He restricted entry from several Muslim-majority countries, policies later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Many Muslim Americans saw Trump as unfriendly during his first term, with 74% expressing this view in 2017.
After a shooting by an Afghan national in 2025, Trump’s administration tightened immigration rules, affecting many Muslim countries.
Trump used inflammatory language about some Muslim countries and politicians, drawing criticism from Muslim groups.
Muslim voters in 2024 showed more mixed support: about 31% backed Trump, while 50% voted for Kamala Harris.
Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE early in his second term, announcing billions in economic deals.
Events like the Gaza conflict influenced the political views of some Muslim voters, causing shifts in their usual voting patterns.
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Colin Gray was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for giving his son the gun used in a deadly 2024 school shooting in Georgia. He has now asked for a new trial, claiming the jury's decision was not supported by the evidence.
Key Facts
The shooting happened on September 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
Two students and two teachers were killed in the shooting.
Colt Gray, the shooter and son of Colin Gray, was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Colin Gray gave his son a semiautomatic rifle as a Christmas gift, along with ammunition and accessories.
Colin Gray was convicted of second-degree murder for the deaths of two 14-year-old students.
He was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of two teachers.
Georgia law defines second-degree murder in this case as causing the death of a child by cruelty to children.
Colin Gray’s lawyers argue that the jury’s guilty verdict was not based on sufficient evidence and requested a new trial.
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The U.S. Senate race in Mississippi is gaining attention as Democrat Scott Colom challenges Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith for her seat. This race is part of a wider contest where Democrats aim to win at least four new Senate seats to gain control during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Key Facts
Scott Colom is the Democratic candidate trying to unseat Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi.
Democrats need to win at least four new Senate seats to gain the majority.
Colom could become Mississippi’s first Black senator since the Reconstruction era after the Civil War.
Mississippi’s last Democratic senator was elected in the 1940s before the political party shift in the South.
Economic concerns like inflation and the rising cost of living are motivating voter interest.
Republicans remain confident they will keep control of the Senate.
Fundraising and increasing voter turnout, especially among Black voters, are key to Colom’s campaign.
Retail campaigning (meeting voters in person) and local media ads are important in Mississippi’s smaller market.
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Sarah Matthews, a former deputy press secretary, said that Vice President Vance does not have the same charm as President Donald Trump. She made this comment after Vance posted a message on social media that criticized a conservative commentator’s weight.
Key Facts
Sarah Matthews spoke about Vice President Vance on CNN’s “NewsNight.”
Matthews said Vance lacks the charisma that President Trump has.
The comment came after Vance fat-shamed a conservative pundit.
The fat-shaming happened in a post on the social platform X (formerly Twitter).
Vance’s post was related to a public debate involving the pundit.
Matthews is a former deputy press secretary from President Trump’s administration.
The topic was discussed on a news program on a Friday.
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Senate Republicans say that agreeing to move forward on the Protect College Sports Act is delaying other Senate business. This bill would create rules for paying and recruiting college athletes. The delay is affecting a government funding deal, an attorney general confirmation, and the start of the Senate’s five-week break.
Key Facts
The Protect College Sports Act is a bipartisan bill about college athlete compensation and recruiting rules.
Senate Republicans say consent to advance this bill is holding up other Senate actions.
The delay is affecting a broader government funding agreement.
The confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general is also impacted.
The Senate’s planned five-week recess in August is being delayed.
Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) has spoken to GOP colleagues about the issue.
The bill is related to college sports and NCAA regulations.
The Senate needs unanimous consent to move forward on this bill.
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Hunter Biden spoke to BBC Newsnight about the pardon his father, President Joe Biden, gave him. He said the pardon was not good for his father’s reputation or for the American people but believed it protected the family from actions by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Hunter Biden is the son of President Joe Biden.
President Biden issued a pardon to Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden told BBC Newsnight that the pardon was "not good" for his father’s reputation.
He also said the pardon was not good for the American people.
Without the pardon, Hunter believes the Biden family would face uncertain treatment from President Donald Trump.
The interview covered many topics beyond the pardon.
The news was published recently and is categorized under U.S. domestic news.
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The National Park Service (NPS) is flushing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's pipes because many of them are clogged. The NPS said this clogging is due to neglect by past administrations, including problems from renovations during President Obama’s term, and the current $16 million renovation under President Trump has faced several issues.
Key Facts
The Reflecting Pool was partly refilled on August 7, 2026, to clear clogged pipes supplying water.
Over half of the 58 supply ports were not working because of buildup and needed cleaning.
NPS blamed the clogged pipes on years of neglect by previous administrations.
The pool has had leaks and cracks since it was built in the 1920s.
President Obama did a $35 million renovation in the 2010s, adding a water treatment plant, but leaks continued.
President Trump started a $16 million renovation focusing on repainting and filters but did not fix the pipes.
Algae growth and a peeling liner appeared during Trump’s renovation.
Vandalism charges related to damage were dropped after evidence showed renovation problems were responsible.
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Will Rosenzweig, a federal prosecutor, sued the Justice Department after being fired in September 2025. He claims his termination violated his right to free speech because he wrote critical comments about President Donald Trump years before joining the Justice Department.
Key Facts
Rosenzweig was a federal prosecutor in Miami for five years and was respected and praised in his office.
He was fired two weeks before a major Medicare fraud trial he was leading.
The firing happened shortly after a conservative commentator posted a blog Rosenzweig had written years earlier, which criticized President Trump.
The blog was inactive for over six years and included mostly non-political topics like travel and sports.
Rosenzweig received an email about his firing while out of town observing the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashana.
The lawsuit argues that firing Rosenzweig for past political opinions violates his First Amendment right to free speech.
The Justice Department has been conducting a wide personnel purge, including firing prosecutors involved in investigations related to Trump.
The Department of Justice declined to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.
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In rural Texas, a clinic inside a shipping container provides telehealth services to people who cannot travel long distances for medical care. This effort is a collaboration between Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Texas A&M University to improve healthcare access in areas with few doctors and limited internet.
Key Facts
The Davis Mountain Clinic in Fort Davis uses telehealth to connect patients with doctors and counselors online.
The clinic is housed in a converted shipping container and mainly serves people with no internet access.
Texas has many rural counties with no practicing pediatricians; 143 counties lack pediatricians as of 2024.
The clinic charges a $30 flat fee but offers free routine care like wound treatment and diabetes instruction.
The project is a partnership between two rival Texas universities working together to help rural healthcare.
Governor Greg Abbott announced $10 million in grants for rural hospitals and clinics to provide pediatric telehealth.
Texas leads the U.S. in rural hospital closures due to high costs and lack of enough patients.
Another similar container clinic recently opened in Burton, Texas, and there are plans to expand to about 40 more counties once funding is found.
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A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million to help treat youth mental health problems caused by its social media platforms. This payment is in addition to $375 million Meta must pay for violating state laws related to child safety and misleading parents.
Key Facts
The judge ruled Meta caused a “public nuisance” by contributing to a youth mental health crisis in New Mexico.
The crisis involves increased suicide and eating disorders among teens.
Meta’s platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, were found to have features designed to keep users, especially teens, engaged for longer times.
Meta must fund a mental health program including treatment, screening, prevention, and other related costs over five years.
The $567 million fund breaks down into $420 million for treatment and $90 million for screening and assessment.
The judge decided against requiring Meta to build new health centers, focusing instead on funding treatments and programs.
Meta also has to pay $375 million in civil penalties from an earlier jury decision for violating consumer protection laws.
New Mexico’s Attorney General Raul Torrez led the lawsuit against Meta, aiming to protect children from harm linked to social media use.
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Vice President Vance made a joke about journalist Marc Thiessen’s weight during a discussion about the cost of a $20 burrito and GOP debates on affordability. Vance later confirmed that he stands by the joke in an interview.
Key Facts
Vice President Vance joked about Marc Thiessen’s weight.
The joke happened amid talks about a $20 burrito price.
This issue was part of a larger GOP debate on how affordable things are.
Marc Thiessen is a columnist for the Washington Post and contributor to Fox News.
Vance defended his joke in an interview with Hugh Hewitt on Salem News Channel.
The online discussion about the joke continues.
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The Trump administration is continuing efforts to remove Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, despite a Supreme Court ruling allowing her to keep her job while she fights the attempt. The administration is appealing a lower court decision that favored Cook, who denies allegations of mortgage fraud.
Key Facts
Lisa Cook is a Federal Reserve governor nominated by President Joe Biden.
The Trump administration wants to fire Cook over mortgage fraud allegations she denies.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Cook can remain in her position while her lawsuit against the firing continues.
Chief Justice John Roberts noted President Trump can try again to fire Cook if she is properly notified and can respond.
The Trump administration is appealing a court decision that prevented her firing.
President Trump promised to take "appropriate action immediately" following the Supreme Court ruling.
Cook's lawyer described the Supreme Court decision as proof that the Federal Reserve is a unique agency.
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The White House is urging the Senate to approve a $95 billion budget plan that includes aid for farms and emergency funding related to the Iran conflict. Various agricultural groups are supporting this call for the Senate to pass the plan as part of a larger government spending package.
Key Facts
The plan is worth $95 billion in total.
It includes financial support for farmers.
It also provides emergency funding related to the war in Iran.
The White House is actively promoting the plan.
Agricultural associations such as the American Sugar Alliance support the proposal.
The plan is part of a third budget reconciliation package.
Budget reconciliation is a process that allows certain budget bills to pass with a simple Senate majority.
The Senate's approval is needed to pass this budget framework.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles hired Shawn Christopher Lewis, who has a history of multiple DUI convictions and currently faces misdemeanor battery charges. Lewis works as a community resource specialist and helps with public affairs, despite his ongoing legal issues.
Key Facts
Shawn Christopher Lewis works for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
He has been convicted of driving under the influence three times (2013, 2015, and 2021).
Lewis is currently charged with misdemeanor battery after allegedly attacking a man in Sacramento.
He was also booked for resisting arrest and public intoxication during his recent arrest.
Lewis was on probation from his last DUI conviction when arrested.
He started his job after an open application process and continued working in the legislature until July.
Some former Justice Department officials criticized the hiring, saying it may harm trust in law enforcement.
The Justice Department is increasingly hiring people with criminal histories to fill staffing shortages.
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A wildfire in California's Sierra Nevada foothills has killed at least one person and destroyed several buildings. Officials believe the fire was started by a man using a chainsaw who has been arrested and may face charges.
Key Facts
The wildfire, called the Gann fire, burned over 15 square miles in Calaveras County.
One person, a dog breeder named Susan Solari, died in the fire near Angels Camp.
Herbert Wayne Smith, age 65, was arrested for allegedly causing the fire by using a chainsaw without clearing dry brush nearby.
Smith said he did not mean to start the fire and was cutting scraps to raise money for his birthday meal.
Smith had been charged in 2018 for starting another fire and was on probation.
As of Friday morning, the fire was 40% contained and had burned more than 10,000 acres.
Investigators are checking if the fire caused the death found in a burned home.
Wildfires are also burning in Washington state, where three major fires have destroyed at least 800 buildings.
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President Donald Trump is suing the BBC for $10 billion, claiming a 2024 documentary unfairly edited his speech from January 6, 2021. A federal judge in Florida paused an order requiring Trump to disclose his business financial records while considering a revised complaint focusing only on damage to his reputation.
Key Facts
President Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC over a 2024 documentary editing his January 6, 2021 speech.
The lawsuit claims $5 billion for defamation and $5 billion for unfair trade practices.
The BBC apologized for the edit but denies defaming Trump.
The controversy led to the resignations of the BBC’s top executive and head of news.
A federal judge temporarily blocked an order that Trump disclose his financial information during the lawsuit.
Trump’s lawyers want to narrow the complaint to focus only on reputational harm, hoping to avoid financial disclosures.
The judge found Trump’s argument for amending the complaint convincing enough to pause financial disclosures.
Trump has a history of filing lawsuits against media and sometimes dismissing them before full investigation.
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President Donald Trump said voters are angry at Republicans in Congress but not at him personally. Recent polls show his approval rating is low, in the low to mid 30 percent range, with most voters disapproving of his performance during his second term.
Key Facts
President Trump stated that voters’ frustration is with Republicans in Congress, not with him.
He said he does not need to campaign for other Republican candidates because he already won his own election.
Trump expressed uncertainty about whether his supporters would vote for Republicans without him on the ballot.
Multiple recent polls show Trump’s approval rating ranges from 32% to 40%, with disapproval between 58% and 66%.
Polls indicate Democrats have gained ground on economic issues, with some showing this is the first time in nearly a decade that Democrats lead Republicans on the economy.
A polling average tracker reported Trump’s net approval rating at about -20 to -25, marking a low point in his second term.
Some pollsters link the decline in approval to renewed U.S. military strikes on Iran, which many respondents see as costly.
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The trial of Lindsay Clancy is ongoing. Medical experts testified about her care before and after the deaths of her three children. The jury also heard parts of her journal and saw important places from the night of the incident.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the deaths of her three children.
Medical professionals testified about her treatment before and after the children died.
Jurors heard excerpts from Lindsay Clancy's personal journal.
The court reviewed key locations related to the events on January 24, 2023.
The main issue is understanding what was going on in Lindsay Clancy’s mind that night.
CBS News correspondent Erin Moriarty discussed the trial with reporter Kristina Rex.
The coverage includes emotional and graphic details from the court.
The story is part of the "48 Hours" podcast and CBS News reporting.
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency will give body cameras to its officers within the next two months. However, ICE has a policy allowing officials to decide which video footage is released to the public, based on what they consider the agency's best interests.
Key Facts
ICE will provide body cameras to all its officers soon, with more than half already equipped.
The full rollout of body cameras is expected within two months.
ICE’s policy lets officials decide whether to release body camera videos to the public.
The decision to release footage depends on what is seen as best for the agency.
This policy gives ICE significant control over transparency related to body camera videos.
The body cameras are intended to record interactions involving ICE officers in the field.
The policy could affect public access to information about ICE enforcement actions.
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