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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
President Donald Trump supports the Justice Department's nearly $1.8 billion fund aimed at preventing weaponization. However, lawmakers from both political parties are criticizing this fund.
Key Facts
The Justice Department has created a fund called the "anti-weaponization fund."
The fund is worth almost $1.8 billion.
Its purpose is to stop the use of weapons in harmful ways.
President Donald Trump defends this fund.
Lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties oppose or criticize the fund.
The criticism is happening on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers work.
CBS News reported this information through their congressional reporter.
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A federal judge dismissed criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was accused of human smuggling. The judge found the Justice Department pursued the case to punish Garcia for challenging his wrongful deportation to El Salvador.
Key Facts
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador last year.
He challenged the deportation by filing a lawsuit.
After this, the Justice Department charged him with human smuggling and conspiracy.
The judge ruled this prosecution was “selective or vindictive” and dismissed the charges.
The judge said the government’s timing and statements suggested an abuse of prosecuting power.
Under President Trump’s administration, the Justice Department was accused of targeting defendants for political reasons.
The Justice Department plans to appeal the dismissal.
Although freed from these charges, Garcia’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain due to ongoing deportation threats.
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The US government announced that people applying for green cards must now leave the country and apply from their home countries. This new rule changes a process that had been the same for over 60 years and may require many immigrants to leave their jobs and families while waiting for approval.
Key Facts
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the new policy in a memo on Friday.
Green card applicants currently living in the US will generally have to return to their home countries to complete their applications.
This policy ends the "adjustment of status" process that allowed applicants to apply for green cards from inside the US.
More than 1 million legal immigrants are currently waiting for green cards, according to immigration analysts.
The policy may cause hardship, such as forcing applicants to leave jobs, homes, and families for an unknown time.
Aid groups warn that this change could force vulnerable people, like trafficking survivors and abused children, to return to dangerous situations.
The policy is part of several immigration restrictions introduced during President Trump’s administration.
It is not clear how this new rule will affect green card applications that are already pending.
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President Donald Trump is preparing for possible new U.S. military strikes against Iran while continuing diplomatic talks. No final decision has been made, but defense officials are readying troops and reviewing plans amid rising tensions.
Key Facts
President Trump will not attend his son’s wedding due to urgent government matters related to Iran.
The U.S. military and intelligence agencies canceled some Memorial Day weekend plans in case strikes occur.
Troop rotations and recalls are being adjusted to reduce U.S. forces in the Middle East amid fears of Iranian retaliation.
A ceasefire began in April, allowing indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran on a longer-term deal.
The White House says President Trump’s "redlines" include preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons or enriched uranium.
Iran warned that further U.S. or Israeli strikes could escalate the conflict beyond the Middle East.
The U.S. recently sent a "final offer" to Iran through Pakistan, warning rejection could lead to military action.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. prefers diplomacy but is ready to use force if needed, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz by military means.
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Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, has endorsed Troy Jackson as his top choice in the state's Democratic race for governor. Polls show a close contest between Jackson and Nirav Shah ahead of the June 9 primary, with several candidates competing for the open governor’s seat after Janet Mills decided not to run.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running for U.S. Senate in Maine and has endorsed Troy Jackson in the Democratic governor’s primary.
Troy Jackson is a former Maine Senate President and has Bernie Sanders’ endorsement.
Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine CDC, is leading in recent polling for governor.
Other Democratic candidates include Shenna Bellows, Hannah Pingree, and Angus King III.
Several Republicans, including Jonathan Bush and Garrett Mason, are also running for governor.
Maine uses ranked-choice voting, where voters rank candidates, and the lowest candidates are eliminated until one has a majority.
Jackson and Platner share similar views on labor and organized labor support.
Polls show the governor’s race is competitive and unpredictable ahead of the primary.
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Many people are expected to travel by car and plane during the Memorial Day weekend. This holiday usually marks the start of the busy summer travel season in the United States.
Key Facts
Memorial Day weekend is a popular time for travel in the U.S.
A record number of travelers are expected on roads and in airports.
The holiday signals the beginning of summer travel season.
Both road trips and air travel will see heavy passenger traffic.
Transportation news sources are providing updates to help travelers prepare.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently made a sudden decision to allow more e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches onto the market without full review. Some FDA staff were surprised by the change and were not consulted before the guidelines were published. The move comes after President Donald Trump approved firing the FDA commissioner, Marty Makary, who resigned shortly after.
Key Facts
The FDA issued new guidelines allowing certain nicotine products to be sold before full safety and health reviews.
FDA tobacco center staff responsible for regulating vaping were not consulted and learned about the change only hours before it became public.
The policy change happened just days before FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned.
The guidelines skipped the normal public comment period required by law.
President Trump approved a plan to remove Makary, with his resignation shortly following.
The new FDA statement claims the approach helps protect youth from nicotine addiction while supporting adults who want to quit smoking.
Underage vaping in the U.S. has dropped to the lowest level in over a decade due to recent restrictions and the pandemic.
Major tobacco companies, which have donated to political groups supporting Trump, are heavily invested in e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches.
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Senator Adam Schiff criticized Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard shortly after she announced her resignation. He said her leaving was the only positive thing she did for U.S. national security.
Key Facts
Tulsi Gabbard resigned from her position as Director of National Intelligence.
Senator Adam Schiff made public comments soon after her resignation.
Schiff said her resignation was the only positive action she took regarding U.S. security.
Schiff expressed sympathy for the reasons behind her departure but remained critical.
The statements took place on the same day Gabbard announced she was leaving her intelligence role.
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Six years after George Floyd's murder, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act has passed the House of Representatives twice but has not passed the Senate. Representative Glenn Ivey and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison discussed the current state of police reform efforts.
Key Facts
George Floyd was murdered six years ago in Minneapolis.
The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act aims to reform police practices.
The bill has passed the House of Representatives two times.
The bill remains stalled and has not passed the Senate.
Rep. Glenn Ivey is from Maryland and is a Democrat.
Keith Ellison is the Attorney General of Minnesota.
Both officials talked about police reform on CBS News.
Lawmakers continue to look for ways to advance police reform.
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Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt responded to Mayor Karen Bass’s worries about his AI-created campaign ads by calling her concern very funny. Bass criticized the ads for showing her as a Joker character in a violent, negative version of Los Angeles.
Key Facts
Spencer Pratt is running for mayor of Los Angeles.
Pratt used AI technology to create campaign ads.
The ads show Mayor Karen Bass in Joker makeup.
The scenes include people throwing tomatoes at Bass.
Bass described the ads as violent and dystopian.
Pratt dismissed Bass’s concern as “the funniest thing” he’s heard.
The disagreement highlights tensions in the Los Angeles mayor race.
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A fire and explosion at a Staten Island shipyard injured at least 16 people, including two firefighters and one civilian seriously hurt. The fire started in a basement metal structure, and the cause is still being investigated.
Key Facts
The incident happened at around 3:30 p.m. on Friday at a shipyard on Richmond Terrace, Staten Island.
Two workers were initially reported trapped in a confined space.
Firefighters found a fire burning in the basement of a metal building.
About 50 minutes after the fire started, a big explosion occurred.
At least 16 people were injured, including two firefighters and one civilian with serious injuries.
Officials are still investigating what caused the fire and explosion.
Emergency crews responded quickly to the scene.
The situation was ongoing at the time of the report.
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The Trump administration announced that foreigners in the United States who want to get a green card must now leave the country and apply for it from their home country. This policy change ends a long-standing practice that allowed many foreigners with legal U.S. status to apply for permanent residence while staying in the U.S.
Key Facts
Foreigners in the U.S. must apply for green cards outside the country under the new rule.
This is a change from over 50 years of allowing green card applications to be completed inside the U.S.
The change affects people on work, student, or tourist visas, as well as refugees and asylum seekers.
The policy aims to limit legal immigration for those already in the U.S. and those seeking to come.
“Extraordinary circumstances” might allow staying in the U.S. during the process, but USCIS gave no clear details.
Advocacy groups warn that this rule could separate families indefinitely.
USCIS said nonimmigrants should leave the U.S. after their visit since a short stay is not intended to start the green card process.
It is unclear how many people are affected or how the policy impacts current green card applicants already in process.
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Michael Cohen, who used to work as a lawyer for President Donald Trump, said he believes his case could show how the Justice Department’s new "anti-weaponization" fund works. President Trump supported this $1.8 billion fund, which is meant to help people affected by unfair use of government power, even though some Republican senators oppose it.
Key Facts
Michael Cohen was once President Trump's lawyer.
Cohen said he could be a "test case" for the Justice Department's "anti-weaponization" fund.
The fund has $1.8 billion set aside to compensate people hurt by misuse of government actions.
President Donald Trump defended the fund on social media.
Some Senate Republicans are against the fund.
The fund aims to stop government power from being used unfairly against individuals.
Cohen discussed his situation and the fund in an interview with CBS News.
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Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina responded to President Donald Trump's criticism after opposing a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate people who say they were wrongly targeted by the government. Tillis called out some of the administration’s policies and warned that certain ideas are hurting the Republican Party’s chances in upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Senator Thom Tillis announced last summer that he will not seek reelection.
President Trump called Tillis a "RINO" (Republican in Name Only) and criticized him on social media.
The dispute centers on a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund created to compensate people who claim unfair treatment by the federal government.
Tillis is one of the strongest critics of this fund among Republicans in Congress.
Tillis criticized Trump’s allies’ housing proposals, military leadership changes, and handling of the Ukraine war.
Tillis warns that certain policies are damaging the Republican Party’s chances in the November elections.
Other Republicans, like Senator Bill Cassidy and Representative Thomas Massie, recently lost primaries to Trump-backed candidates.
The White House spokeswoman said President Trump is the leader and motivator for the Republican Party and is focused on maintaining their majority in Congress.
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An explosion and fire happened on a barge at a Staten Island shipyard in New York City on Friday, injuring 16 people. Among those hurt are firefighters and emergency medical workers, with three individuals seriously injured and taken to nearby hospitals.
Key Facts
The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on a barge at a Staten Island shipyard.
The fire quickly escalated to a two-alarm fire.
An explosion was reported at about 4:20 p.m.
Sixteen people were injured, including 13 firefighters, two EMS personnel, and one civilian.
Two firefighters and one civilian have serious injuries and were rushed to hospitals.
Agencies such as Hazmat, Department of Buildings, and Department of Environmental Protection responded.
The shipyard location is on Richmond Terrace between Lockman and Andros Avenues.
Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire quickly after the explosion.
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Senator Ted Cruz said that about half of the Senate Republican members strongly criticized acting Attorney General Todd Blanche during a meeting. The main issue was a proposed $1.8 billion fund meant to prevent the misuse of government power, which caused intense disagreement.
Key Facts
Senator Ted Cruz represents Texas and spoke about a recent Senate GOP meeting.
About half of the Senate Republican Conference expressed strong anger toward Todd Blanche.
Todd Blanche is the acting Attorney General.
The disagreement was about a proposed $1.8 billion fund.
The fund is meant to stop the "weaponization" or misuse of government power.
The meeting took place at the U.S. Capitol on a Thursday.
Cruz described the mood at the meeting as “fireworks at an epic level.”
Cruz said he was surprised by how intense the reaction was.
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Tulsi Gabbard stepped down as the director of national intelligence because her husband has cancer. Her resignation happens at a time when President Donald Trump might be thinking about restarting military actions against Iran.
Key Facts
Tulsi Gabbard resigned from her role as director of national intelligence on a Friday.
She said her husband's cancer diagnosis was the reason for her resignation.
President Donald Trump may be thinking about restarting the war with Iran.
Gabbard's departure is connected to recent events related to U.S. policy on Iran.
CBS News reporters Aaron MacLean and Samantha Vinograd provided analysis on the situation.
The news was shared by CBS News and is available through their app.
The article links Gabbard’s resignation to wider U.S. government decisions about Iran.
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Sarah Kellen, who used to work closely with Jeffrey Epstein, gave a private testimony to a House committee about her involvement with Epstein and said she was abused by him. The testimony is part of an investigation into how the federal government handled cases related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Key Facts
Sarah Kellen was Jeffrey Epstein’s personal assistant.
She testified in a closed-door session on Thursday.
Kellen said she was a victim of Epstein’s abuse.
She helped manage Epstein’s interactions with girls and young women.
The testimony was requested by the House Oversight Committee.
The committee is investigating the federal government’s response to Epstein’s case.
The investigation also involves Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend.
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Tulsi Gabbard resigned as the US Director of National Intelligence after 15 months in the position. Her time in the role was marked by disagreements with President Donald Trump and internal changes aimed at reducing staff and addressing inefficiencies.
Key Facts
Tulsi Gabbard served as the US Director of National Intelligence for 15 months before resigning.
She was an unusual choice because she was a former Democrat with no major intelligence experience.
Gabbard often disagreed with President Trump, especially on issues related to foreign interventions.
She reduced the agency’s staff by about 30% and offered early retirement to some employees.
Gabbard created a taskforce called the Director’s Initiatives Group to investigate topics like the origins of Covid-19 and election interference.
This taskforce was disbanded in December amid controversy and ended fully by June.
Gabbard’s inner circle included Alexa Henning, who strongly defended Gabbard and took a confrontational stance toward critics.
President Trump publicly dismissed Gabbard’s views during a key military operation against Iran in 2025.
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