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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Senator Susan Collins said she is disappointed that President Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Republican primary. Collins described Paxton as someone with ethical problems and expressed concern about his candidacy against Senator John Cornyn.
Key Facts
President Trump endorsed Ken Paxton for the Texas GOP primary.
Ken Paxton is the Attorney General of Texas.
Senator John Cornyn, the current Texas senator, faces a primary challenge.
Senator Susan Collins from Maine criticized Paxton’s ethics.
Collins said she does not understand why Trump chose to endorse Paxton.
Collins called Paxton “ethically challenged.”
The endorsement is important because it might affect Cornyn’s chances in the primary.
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The U.S. government has agreed to stop all tax investigations and claims against President Donald Trump and his family. This agreement is part of a settlement to end Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax return information.
Key Facts
The U.S. government will permanently drop tax claims related to President Donald Trump.
The settlement is connected to a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump against the IRS.
The lawsuit concerns the leak of President Trump's tax returns.
The government cannot examine or prosecute Trump, his sons, or the Trump organization's current tax issues.
The agreement is described as the government being "forever barred and precluded" from pursuing these tax matters.
The settlement document is posted on the Department of Justice (DOJ) website.
This deal aims to resolve ongoing legal disputes between Trump and the IRS.
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President Donald Trump showed reporters the construction site of a new White House ballroom, describing it as a secure, underground complex with features like a military hospital and research rooms. He said the project, which began with demolishing part of the East Wing, will not cost taxpayers and is funded through private donations.
Key Facts
The ballroom project is under construction at the White House and started by demolishing the East Wing.
The building will be underground, six stories deep, and include a military hospital, research facilities, and meeting rooms.
Security features include thick steel and four-inch-thick glass windows.
The roof will serve as a "drone port" to protect Washington, D.C.
A judge ruled Trump needs Congress approval to build the ballroom, but an appeals court currently allows construction to continue.
Trump claims he is paying for the project himself and that it will not cost taxpayers any money.
The total estimated cost of the ballroom has risen to $400 million, intended to be raised through private donations.
Some congressional Republicans are seeking $1 billion in security funding, which partly involves this project, but Democrats oppose this plan.
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Republican Tom Tiffany is running a close race for governor of Wisconsin against Democrats Mandela Barnes and Francesca Hong, despite high disapproval of President Donald Trump in the state. Current polls show Tiffany trailing slightly but competitive, while the Democratic primary remains divided with many undecided voters.
Key Facts
A recent survey shows Tiffany behind Mandela Barnes by about 4 points and nearly tied with Francesca Hong within the margin of error.
President Trump has a 57% disapproval rating in Wisconsin.
Democrats lead the generic congressional ballot by about 7 points in Wisconsin.
Tiffany holds a strong lead in the Republican primary with 71.7% support.
The Democratic primary is fragmented, with Barnes leading at 24.1%, followed by Sara Rodriguez, Francesca Hong, and David Crowley.
Nearly 39% of Democratic voters remain undecided ahead of the August 11 primary.
Wisconsin voters have a history of voting for both Republican presidents and Democratic governors, showing ticket-splitting behavior.
Experts expect a close and competitive general election race in November due to the state's political balance.
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Several Democratic senators are asking the White House to remove Kurt Olsen from his role as the election security director. They say his temporary appointment has lasted longer than allowed by law.
Key Facts
Kurt Olsen is currently serving as the White House election security director.
His appointment is classified as a special government employee (SGE) role.
Democratic senators claim Olsen’s service has gone beyond the legal time limits for an SGE.
They have formally requested that the White House remove him from this position.
The senators cite concerns about legality and adherence to appointment rules.
The issue centers around election security management within the White House.
No official response from the White House is mentioned in the article.
The senators’ action reflects ongoing oversight of election-related government roles.
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Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche defended a $1.8 billion fund created to pay political allies of President Donald Trump who say they were treated unfairly in prosecutions under the Biden administration. He spoke about this fund during a Senate committee hearing, where Democrats criticized it as improper.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is the acting US Attorney General.
The fund totals nearly $1.8 billion.
It is meant to compensate allies of President Donald Trump.
The allies claim they were unfairly prosecuted during the Biden administration.
Blanche defended the fund during a Senate committee hearing.
Democrats called the fund a "slush fund" and criticized it strongly.
The discussion took place on May 19, 2026.
The issue reflects ongoing political tensions between supporters of President Trump and the current administration.
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Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana lost his Republican primary after voting to convict President Donald Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial. Cassidy said he has no regrets about his vote and believes he upheld the constitution despite losing support from Trump and some Republican voters.
Key Facts
Bill Cassidy voted to convict President Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial related to the January 6 Capitol attack.
Cassidy lost his Republican primary after President Trump endorsed his opponent.
Cassidy said he has no regrets and feels good about defending the constitution.
His vote to convict was a major issue in his re-election campaign.
Cassidy supported other Trump-backed policies, like confirming the health secretary nominated by Trump.
Fellow Republicans mostly stayed quiet or suggested Cassidy’s loss was expected.
Senator Lisa Murkowski said Cassidy’s defeat will have consequences and appreciated working with him.
President Trump celebrated Cassidy’s political loss on social media.
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Vice President JD Vance answered questions on topics including Iran and the "anti-weaponization fund" during a White House press briefing on Tuesday. CBS News provided additional context after the briefing.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance participated in a White House press briefing.
He answered questions on Iran.
He discussed the "anti-weaponization fund."
The briefing took place on a Tuesday.
CBS News correspondent Natalie Brand gave more details after the briefing.
The event and reporting aimed to inform the public on current U.S. government issues.
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Republican strategist Karl Rove and journalist Bill Hemmer said the upcoming primary election in Kentucky is important for Republicans because President Trump supports removing Rep. Thomas Massie. Massie is trying to keep his seat in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District against a challenger.
Key Facts
Karl Rove is a Republican political strategist.
Bill Hemmer is a journalist.
Both discussed the Kentucky primary election on Monday.
The election will show how Republican incumbents are affected by President Trump’s influence.
President Trump is working hard to defeat Rep. Thomas Massie.
The Trump administration plans to increase the fine for immigrants who miss court hearings and are later deported from $5,130 to $18,000. This change aims to cover the costs of deportation and encourage immigrants to attend their hearings, as missed hearings have greatly increased in recent years.
Key Facts
The proposed fine increase is from $5,130 to $18,000 for immigrants who fail to appear at immigration court hearings.
This fine applies after an immigration judge issues an in absentia removal order, meaning the person is deported when they do not show up.
The number of missed immigration hearings rose from about 62,500 in 2022 to an estimated 309,700 in 2025.
The higher fine is meant to help pay the costs of locating, detaining, and deporting people who miss hearings.
The new fine proposal is open for public comment for 30 days starting May 20.
Some immigrants might pay the fine all at once, in payments, or include it in fees if they try to come back to the U.S. later.
Experts worry the $18,000 fine could be a heavy financial burden and question how well the government can enforce it.
Reasons for missing hearings include delayed court backlogs, outdated mail addresses, lack of legal help, and fear of ICE arrests at courts.
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Jahmiel Jackson, aged 24, is running for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 3rd District in the 2026 elections. He started as a Democrat but recently changed his party affiliation to Independent.
Key Facts
Jahmiel Jackson is 24 years old.
He is one of the youngest candidates for Congress in the country.
He plans to run in the 2026 midterm elections.
Jackson is running for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District.
He began his campaign as a Democrat.
He recently left the Democratic Party.
Now, he is running as an Independent candidate.
His campaign aims to change the current political landscape.
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The U.S. government has issued a highest-level travel warning advising Americans not to visit several African countries due to a spreading Ebola outbreak. Health officials say the risk to the U.S. public is low but have increased screenings for travelers returning from the affected regions.
Key Facts
The U.S. State Department gave a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
The Ebola outbreak started in the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo and spread to Uganda and nearby areas.
More than 500 suspected Ebola cases and 130 suspected deaths are reported in the affected regions.
Rwanda is under a "Reconsider travel" advisory.
Non-U.S. citizens who visited the affected countries within 21 days face entry restrictions into the U.S.
U.S. citizens returning from these regions are subject to extra health screening at airports and symptom monitoring for at least 30 days.
An American medical worker contracted a rare Ebola strain in Congo and is being evacuated for treatment.
Officials say there is no evidence of Ebola spreading inside U.S. communities.
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President Donald Trump has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Republican primary runoff against Senator John Cornyn. Paxton is a close ally of Trump but has faced multiple legal and ethical controversies, while Cornyn is a longtime Senate Republican leader.
Key Facts
President Trump supports Ken Paxton to challenge incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Texas Republican primary runoff.
Paxton has a history of legal troubles, including a federal corruption indictment settlement, impeachment by the Texas legislature, and a divorce amid allegations of affairs.
Paxton backed Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election results and supported him during Trump’s 2024 trial.
Many Senate Republicans, including Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, criticize Paxton for ethical issues and were disappointed by Trump’s endorsement.
John Cornyn served in Senate Republican leadership from 2012 to 2024 and is seen as loyal to the party and Trump, but he delayed endorsing Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign.
Cornyn and Paxton have clashed during the campaign over issues like gun regulation and immigration enforcement.
Trump has recently endorsed challengers against other incumbent Republicans, such as Senator Bill Cassidy in Louisiana and Congressman Thomas Massie in Kentucky.
Cornyn supporters argue that Paxton’s scandals and weaknesses could risk the Republican seat in a state that has historically voted Republican.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has not appeared publicly for six days, missing a planned rally and other party events. His absence comes amid an investigation into a £5 million gift he received from a crypto billionaire, which has led to questions about his finances and recent activities.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage cancelled a scheduled Reform UK rally in Sunderland six days ago without clear explanation.
The rally was important as it targeted a Labour stronghold area during the election campaign.
Farage is under investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog over a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
Farage initially said the money was for security but later called it a “reward” for his Brexit campaigning.
Shortly after receiving the gift, Farage bought a £1.4 million property in cash.
Accounts for Farage’s media company stated no withdrawal of money matched the house purchase time.
Farage skipped the announcement of a new Reform candidate for the Makerfield by-election, posting only a brief supportive tweet instead.
Reform UK has made leadership changes recently, including replacing the party chair and removing the party treasurer from corporate roles.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) for being late in identifying the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The US has reduced its health aid but plans to open clinics in the affected areas while experts warn that cuts to US public health resources increase risks from infectious diseases.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio said the WHO was slow to identify the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda.
President Trump withdrew the US from the WHO, leading to job losses at the organization.
The US has committed about $13 million to help fight Ebola and aims to open 50 clinics in DRC.
The Ebola outbreak has killed an estimated 131 people in the DRC.
Experts say blaming the WHO is unfair because it faces limited resources and security challenges.
The WHO declared the Ebola outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern.”
The WHO warned against closing borders or restricting travel as it may make disease spread worse.
US health agencies are facing layoffs during President Trump’s second term, raising concerns about the country’s readiness against infectious diseases.
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President Donald Trump recently visited China for three days, accompanied by several top U.S. business leaders. An adviser said the trip was uncomfortable for some CEOs, who were not fully included in meetings and were seen by the Chinese as "useful idiots." The visit focused on improving U.S.-China relations, technology transfer concerns, and discussions about Taiwan.
Key Facts
President Trump visited China for the first time in nearly a decade by a sitting U.S. president.
Some top CEOs accompanying Trump, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Larry Fink, and Steven Schwarzman, found the trip awkward and exclusionary.
The Chinese reportedly did not allow some executives into key meetings, viewing them mainly as tools for gaining technology.
Adviser Peter Navarro criticized the U.S. approach to sharing technology in China, saying it has harmed American companies before.
Trump aimed to have Chinese leader Xi Jinping open China’s market to U.S. industries like tech, finance, agriculture, and aerospace.
The visit included a long discussion between Trump and Xi about Taiwan, a sensitive issue in U.S.-China relations.
Trump later criticized the Taiwanese president for wanting independence, which could lead to conflict with China.
Representatives from the involved companies did not comment on Navarro’s statements at the time of the report.
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Two teenage gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three men before dying by apparent suicide. Police had been searching for one teen after his mother reported he ran away with weapons, and the attack is being investigated as a hate crime.
Key Facts
The shooting took place at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest mosque in San Diego County.
The two gunmen were 17 and 18 years old.
The teens were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wounds shortly after the attack.
The mother of one teen called police about 9:40 a.m. saying he had run away with her guns and vehicle and was suicidal.
Police used license plate readers and alerted local schools to find the suspects before the shooting happened.
The mosque had non-Muslim visitors touring earlier that day to learn about Islam.
A security guard named Amin Abdullah was killed and praised for his heroic actions during the attack.
No students at the mosque’s school, which offers Islamic education, were harmed.
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Several candidates from well-known political families are running in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. These candidates often use their family names to gain recognition and support, while also trying to show their own unique ideas and values.
Key Facts
Jim Kingston is running for Congress in Georgia, hoping to take his father Jack Kingston’s old seat.
Jim Kingston says President Donald Trump has endorsed him.
Tom Begich, running for governor in Alaska, comes from a family with a history in Democratic politics.
Christine Pelosi, daughter of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is running for a California state senate seat.
John E. Sununu from New Hampshire is running in a Republican primary to return to the U.S. Senate; his family has held prominent political roles in the state.
Political science experts say family name recognition plays a big role in elections.
Candidates from legacy families try to balance using their family history with their own individual messages.
Political involvement across generations in families is compared to traditional trades passed down over time.
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Georgia is holding important primary elections for U.S. Senate and governor races. Republicans are competing to challenge Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and to win the governor's nomination, while Democrats are choosing their candidate to try to win the governor’s office.
Key Facts
Georgia’s primary election is set for Tuesday and includes key races for U.S. Senate and governor.
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is running for reelection without a primary challenger and has raised nearly $60 million.
Ossoff is critical of President Trump and focuses on fighting political corruption.
Republicans in the Senate race include Mike Collins, Buddy Carter, and Derek Dooley, each promoting different approaches and conservative records.
Buddy Carter has accused Mike Collins of misusing taxpayer money; Collins denies the claims.
The Republican governor’s race is marked by high spending, with billionaire Rick Jackson spending over $61 million.
Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, supported by President Trump, and others like Brad Raffensperger and Chris Carr, are competing for the Republican nomination.
Democrats have several candidates for governor, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and former Republican Geoff Duncan.
If no candidate wins a majority on Tuesday, the top two will advance to a runoff election in June.
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There is an ongoing discussion within the Democratic Party about the future direction of its progressive movement. Leaders are debating how wide the movement should be, who should lead it, and whether it should resemble the party's approach from 2016 or 2020.
Key Facts
The Democratic Party is having an internal conversation about its progressive movement.
People are considering how broad the movement should become.
There is debate about who will lead or define the movement.
The discussion includes whether the movement should follow strategies like those in 2016 or 2020.
This negotiation is happening quietly within the party.
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