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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
A study by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health found that giving young people one-time cash payments of about $3,700 can help stop them from becoming homeless. The payments provide immediate financial help that can prevent housing loss.
Key Facts
The study was done by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
It focused on young people at risk of homelessness.
One-time cash payments averaged $3,700.
These payments helped reduce the chances of falling into homelessness.
Larry Cohen, from Point Source Youth, discussed the study on CBS News.
The research suggests direct cash help is effective in preventing homelessness.
The cash payments give young people the money they need right away to stay housed.
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President Donald Trump said stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon is the most important issue. Meanwhile, US inflation rose to its highest level in three years, largely driven by energy prices linked to the conflict with Iran. The Senate rejected a proposal to end US involvement in the conflict, and Kevin Warsh was confirmed as the new Federal Reserve chair.
Key Facts
President Trump said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is “the only thing that matters.”
US inflation rose 3.8% in April, the fastest increase since 2023, with energy costs a major factor.
Gasoline prices average over $4.50 per gallon, the highest in four years.
Food, electricity, and airline prices have also increased significantly.
President Trump said he is not focused on the economic hardship caused by the conflict with Iran.
The US Senate voted 49-50 against a resolution to end American involvement in the Iran conflict.
Kevin Warsh was confirmed by the Senate as chair of the Federal Reserve in a largely party-line vote.
Environmental and immigration groups welcomed the expected closure of Alligator Alcatraz, a remote immigration detention center in Florida.
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William Paul, son of Senator Rand Paul, apologized for making antisemitic and anti-gay remarks while drunk at a Washington DC bar. He said he does not really hold those views and is seeking help for his drinking problem.
Key Facts
William Paul made hateful comments about Jews and gays to Congressman Mike Lawler at a bar.
He blamed Jewish people for political issues related to Israel and the US war on Iran.
Paul was drunk during the incident and apologized on social media the next day.
He has a history of charges related to drunken behavior.
The incident happened amid a heated primary election involving Rand Paul’s ally Thomas Massie.
Massie is running against Ed Gallrein, who is backed by President Donald Trump and Paul Singer, a Jewish billionaire who supports gay rights.
William Paul told Lawler to watch more of Fox News host Tucker Carlson before leaving.
Paul is attending events with a Christian organization and has previously worked as a congressional aide.
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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified that he had only a few brief and unimportant meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, including a short visit to Epstein's private island in 2012. Lutnick said he and his family had lunch there but did not witness any illegal behavior and did not have a personal or professional relationship with Epstein after their first meeting.
Key Facts
Howard Lutnick is the U.S. Commerce Secretary and testified before the House Oversight Committee.
He met Jeffrey Epstein first in 2005 when Epstein invited him and his wife for coffee next door.
Lutnick described all interactions with Epstein as "meaningless and inconsequential."
He visited Epstein’s private island, Little St. James, in 2012 with his family and friends for a brief lunch.
Lutnick said Epstein’s staff arranged the island visit without his prior knowledge.
He reported seeing no young women or girls on Epstein's island during the visit.
Lutnick denied being connected to any illegal activities linked to Epstein.
He dismissed claims that he resembled a mask found at Epstein's estate as absurd.
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Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and personal attorney to President Trump, returned to his conservative talk show after recovering from viral pneumonia. He thanked his family, medical staff, and President Trump for their support during his illness.
Key Facts
Rudy Giuliani was hospitalized in early May with viral pneumonia and was on a ventilator in Palm Beach, Florida.
He returned to his show, “The Rudy Giuliani Show,” on May 13, 2026, saying he was improving but not fully healed.
President Trump called Giuliani during his illness to offer support.
Giuliani previously suffered injuries in a car crash in September 2025.
Giuliani was New York City mayor from 1994 to 2001 and was mayor during the 9/11 attacks.
He ran for president in 2008 but lost and later became President Trump’s personal attorney and adviser.
Giuliani promoted President Trump’s claims of fraud in the 2020 election, which were widely rejected by courts and officials.
Two former Georgia election workers won a $148 million defamation lawsuit against Giuliani; he made a deal to keep his assets by agreeing to compensate them and stop making negative statements.
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US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and billionaire Ted Waitt testified before a congressional panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein. Lutnick described three encounters with Epstein, including a visit to his New York home and a trip to Epstein’s Caribbean island, while Waitt spoke about his relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator.
Key Facts
Lutnick said he visited Epstein’s New York home in 2005 and found the environment uncomfortable.
He claimed to have cut ties with Epstein that same year after a disturbing comment.
In 2012, Lutnick visited Epstein’s island during a family vacation, despite previously saying he had no contact.
Lutnick was puzzled how Epstein’s staff knew about his vacation plans.
Lutnick and his family had lunch outdoors on Epstein’s island but did not enter any buildings.
Ted Waitt testified about his long-term relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell from 2004 to 2010.
Waitt said he did not see any illegal acts and was uncomfortable with Maxwell’s connection to Epstein.
Neither Lutnick nor Waitt faces accusations of wrongdoing from Epstein’s victims.
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Vice President JD Vance said the Trump administration has a lot of work to do to improve the economy, following President Donald Trump’s remark that his deal with Iran was not motivated by Americans’ financial struggles. Inflation and gas prices have risen due to the war with Iran, and officials say they are focused on ending the conflict to help ease economic pressure.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged economic challenges facing the country.
President Trump said his main goal is preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, not focusing on Americans' financial situation.
Trump’s comment drew criticism from Democrats and some public disapproval.
Vance said Trump’s remarks were misunderstood and that the administration cares about the economy.
Inflation is the highest it has been in three years, driven in part by rising gas prices linked to the war with Iran.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said President Trump frequently discusses Americans’ finances with him.
The war in Iran has raised gas prices, currently averaging above $4.51 per gallon.
Officials believe reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil route, will help lower gas prices.
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A federal judge blocked US sanctions against Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on Palestinian territories, saying the sanctions likely violated her free speech rights. The sanctions were imposed after she criticized Israel’s war on Gaza and barred her from entering the US and using US banks.
Key Facts
Francesca Albanese is a UN special rapporteur on the Israel-occupied Palestinian territories.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on her in July 2025 after she criticized Israel’s war on Gaza.
Sanctions prevented Albanese from entering the US and using American banks.
Albanese recommended that the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigate war crimes by Israeli and US nationals.
Her husband and US citizen daughter sued the US government, saying the sanctions hurt their daily life.
US District Judge Richard Leon ruled that Albanese’s free speech rights were likely violated, despite her living outside the US.
The judge said Albanese’s actions were protected speech and only her opinion, not official ICC decisions.
Albanese said the sanctions are part of a US effort to weaken international accountability.
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President Donald Trump has begun his trip to China. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin explained the role of ICE agents at the upcoming World Cup soccer games.
Key Facts
President Trump started a visit to China.
The trip is a part of his official duties as U.S. President.
Markwayne Mullin is the current Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Mullin described what ICE agents, who work under DHS, will do at the World Cup games.
ICE agents are involved in immigration enforcement and security matters.
The World Cup is an international soccer tournament happening soon.
CBS News is covering the trip and related topics in their news programs.
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A US citizen named Lu Jianwang was found guilty of running a secret Chinese police station in New York City. He faces charges for acting as an illegal agent of China and destroying evidence linked to the station.
Key Facts
Lu Jianwang, 64, operated a covert station in Manhattan’s Chinatown for China’s Ministry of Public Security.
He was convicted of acting as an illegal Chinese government agent and obstructing justice.
The secret station aimed to monitor Chinese dissidents and political opponents in the US.
At least 100 similar stations exist worldwide, with rights groups accusing them of spying and threatening Chinese nationals abroad.
China says these are “service stations” helping with administrative tasks for its citizens overseas.
The station in New York was closed in late 2022 after an FBI investigation.
Lu Jianwang’s co-defendant, Chen Jinping, pleaded guilty to related charges and awaits sentencing.
Lu could face up to 30 years in prison.
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Senate Republicans blocked several Democratic efforts to reverse changes made to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) during President Donald Trump’s second term. These measures focused on rules about overdraft fees, credit report privacy, and mortgage lending.
Key Facts
Senate Democrats proposed multiple resolutions to undo changes to the CFPB made under President Trump.
The resolutions targeted policies including overdraft fees, credit report privacy, and mortgage lending rules.
Senate Republicans voted against all the Democrat-backed measures.
The CFPB is a government agency that protects consumers in financial matters.
Changes were made during President Trump’s second term which Democrats want to reverse.
The blocked efforts were part of Democrats’ attempts to restore stronger consumer protections.
The vote happened on a Wednesday session in the Senate.
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Denise Powell won the Democratic primary for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District and will run against Republican Brinker Harding in the general election. The district has a mix of Republican and Democratic support and plays a key role in how Nebraska’s Electoral College votes are split in presidential elections.
Key Facts
Denise Powell is the Democratic nominee for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District.
Republican Brinker Harding, from the Omaha City Council, is the Republican nominee.
GOP Rep. Don Bacon is retiring after 10 years in Congress.
Nebraska splits its Electoral College votes by congressional district, not all at once.
This system gives Democrats a chance to win at least one electoral vote in a mostly Republican state.
President Trump and supporters tried but failed to change Nebraska to winner-take-all electoral voting in 2024.
Powell criticized another candidate, John Cavanaugh, saying his election could hurt the Democratic hold on the district.
Cavanaugh argued he would not resign early and that Democrats expect to win enough state seats to maintain influence.
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Spencer Pratt, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate, lost his home in the 2025 Palisades Fire. He responded to reports that he is staying in a luxury hotel while claiming to live in a trailer on the burned land and criticized current Mayor Karen Bass for the fire damage.
Key Facts
Spencer Pratt lost his home in the 2025 Palisades Fire that destroyed over 6,000 homes.
Reports said Pratt is living at the luxury Hotel Bel-Air instead of a trailer on burned land.
Pratt stated he stayed at the hotel due to death threats and its armed security.
He called the trailer and hotel "temporary facilities" and said he currently has no permanent home.
Pratt's campaign focuses on the city's response to the wildfires and living conditions afterward.
He criticized Mayor Karen Bass for "letting" his home and thousands of others burn.
Pratt is known from the reality TV show "The Hills."
His campaign opponent is City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who Pratt referenced in his ads.
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A report called the Education Scorecard shows that American students have been learning less over a long time. CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver explains the reasons behind this decline in student learning.
Key Facts
The Education Scorecard measures how much students learn each year.
Results show a steady drop in learning among U.S. students.
This decline is being called a "learning recession."
The report looks at changes over many years, not just recent times.
CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver discusses the causes and impact of this trend.
The report aims to help schools and policymakers understand the problem.
Finding solutions could help improve education in the future.
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Senator Rick Scott from Florida urged President Donald Trump to take strong military action to end the threat from Iran. He said the U.S. military is very close to acting against Iran.
Key Facts
Senator Rick Scott made his statement on a Wednesday.
He called for President Trump to deliver the “final blow” to Iran.
Scott said the U.S. military is near taking decisive action against Iran.
The comments were made in the context of national defense and security.
The statement suggests growing tension between the U.S. and Iran.
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A federal judge temporarily stopped the Trump administration from enforcing sanctions against Francesca Albanese, a U.N. human rights investigator. The judge ruled that the sanctions likely violated Albanese’s First Amendment right to free speech.
Key Facts
Francesca Albanese is a United Nations human rights investigator.
Her recent work focuses on the Israeli military actions against Hamas in Gaza.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Albanese.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon blocked these sanctions temporarily.
The judge ruled the sanctions likely violated Albanese’s free speech rights under the First Amendment.
The First Amendment protects the right to express opinions without government punishment.
The court case challenges the government's ability to punish people based on their speech.
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A New York man, Lu Jianwang, was found guilty of acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government by running a secret police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown. He was accused of helping China locate a pro-democracy activist in the US and could face up to 30 years in prison.
Key Facts
Lu Jianwang, 64, helped open a "secret police station" in New York’s Chinatown in 2022 on behalf of China.
He did not inform the US government that he was working as an agent for China, which is required by law.
Lu allegedly helped China locate a pro-democracy activist living in California.
He was arrested in April 2023 and found guilty after a week-long trial in Brooklyn federal court.
Lu faces up to 30 years in prison for conspiracy, acting as an unregistered agent, and obstruction of justice.
The FBI said the case shows their commitment to stopping secret operations by foreign governments inside the US.
Another co-defendant, Chen Jinping, pleaded guilty to similar charges in 2024.
Similar cases include a California mayor who pleaded guilty to acting as an illegal agent for China.
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A small plane crashed off the Florida coast, and 11 people survived by floating on a life raft for five hours before being rescued by U.S. military crews. The pilot safely landed the plane in the water after engine failure, and all survivors were taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Key Facts
The plane was a Beechcraft 300 King Air turboprop traveling between two airports in the Bahamas.
It suffered engine failure about 50 miles off Vero Beach, Florida.
The pilot managed to ditch the plane in the ocean and get all 11 people onto a life raft.
Survivors spent five hours on the raft with no way to call for help.
A U.S. Air Force rescue team training nearby was redirected to find and save them.
The Air Force dropped extra survival supplies before rescuing the survivors by helicopter.
All survivors were taken to Melbourne Orlando International Airport and were stable.
The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the crash.
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A video shows a Chattanooga police officer rescuing a four-year-old girl from a burning apartment. The child and her family are safe after the officer's quick actions.
Key Facts
The incident took place in Chattanooga.
A police officer saved a four-year-old girl from an apartment fire.
The video captures the rescue moment.
The child and her family survived the fire without injury.
The officer’s response was quick and effective.
The event occurred recently, as reported on May 13, 2026.
This act highlights the role of first responders in emergencies.
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Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin spoke in an interview about several topics including the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the World Cup, a place called "Alligator Alcatraz," and the U.S. response to the hantavirus. He shared information about government activities related to these issues.
Key Facts
Secretary Markwayne Mullin is the head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ICE, a government agency that enforces immigration laws, had a role during the World Cup event.
"Alligator Alcatraz" was mentioned as a topic, likely related to security or wildlife concerns.
The U.S. government is addressing hantavirus, a disease spread by rodents that can affect humans.
The interview was conducted by CBS News reporter Nicole Sganga.
The discussion covered multiple subjects related to homeland security and public safety.
The interview is available to watch on CBS News platforms.
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