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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Nonprofit organizations across the U.S. are facing financial troubles due to cuts in federal funding and rising demand for their services. A recent survey shows many nonprofits worry about paying their bills and are seeing more people needing help.
Key Facts
Nonprofits like food banks and homeless shelters help many vulnerable people.
Inflation is higher, and federal programs like food stamps have faced budget cuts.
A survey of 380 nonprofit leaders found 66% worry about money stability.
The number of nonprofits spending more than they earn rose from 22% in 2022 to 39% in 2023.
Nearly 75% of nonprofit CEOs said more people are asking for help.
Government grants to nonprofits add up to at least $240 billion a year.
Most nonprofits cannot cover costs without government help.
Some nonprofit funding cuts applied to programs supported by both major political parties.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that President Trump has the power to take military action against Iran without needing approval from Congress. He said the president already has the necessary authority to make decisions about such operations.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke to lawmakers about military action against Iran.
Hegseth said congressional approval is not needed for these military operations.
He stated that President Trump has enough executive power to act on his own.
The discussion was about whether Congress needs to authorize a new military action against Iran.
Secretary Hegseth emphasized the president’s authority to resume military operations if he chooses.
This statement came during a congressional hearing on Tuesday.
The debate focuses on the balance of power between the president and Congress in foreign military decisions.
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President Donald Trump said he does not consider the financial situations of Americans when negotiating with Iran. He stated that it is not a factor that motivates him during these talks.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke to reporters about his negotiations with Iran.
He was asked if Americans’ financial situations influence his decisions.
He replied that these financial concerns do not motivate him at all.
Trump emphasized that other factors are more important in the talks.
This statement was made on a Tuesday, during a media interaction.
The negotiation with Iran involves diplomatic and political issues beyond finance.
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Twin brothers Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter were fired from their jobs at a company that worked with US government data. Shortly after being fired, Muneeb deleted 96 government databases and stole sensitive files before their accounts were completely disabled.
Key Facts
Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter had criminal records from a 2015 fraud case and later returned to tech jobs.
They worked at a company supplying software and services to 45 US federal agencies.
In 2025, they accessed and misused sensitive data, including passwords and government information.
The company fired both brothers on February 18, 2025, after discovering their actions.
Five minutes after the firing call, Sohaib’s access was terminated, but Muneeb’s was not.
Muneeb deleted about 96 US government databases and downloaded thousands of files, including tax info.
The brothers communicated as Muneeb destroyed data, discussing the deletions.
The government is investigating their unauthorized access and data destruction.
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Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy questioned military leaders Gen. Dan Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Senate hearing about possible military plans for the Strait of Hormuz and about new intelligence reports on Iran’s nuclear weapons program that may differ from President Trump’s previous comments.
Key Facts
Senator Chris Murphy is a Democrat from Connecticut.
Murphy asked about military options to open the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil trade.
He questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Murphy raised concerns about an intelligence report on Iran’s nuclear weapon capacity.
The intelligence report may conflict with statements previously made by President Trump.
The discussion happened during a Senate hearing on the Pentagon’s budget plan for 2027.
The hearing focused on defense spending and related military strategy.
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Campaigners for internet safety and children's rights have expressed frustration at Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government for slow action on blocking child abuse images on children’s phones. Labour MP Jess Phillips resigned, citing delays and lack of bold measures to stop children from taking or sharing naked pictures and called for stronger legislation.
Key Facts
Jess Phillips quit the government, criticizing delays in tackling child abuse images on children’s phones.
Phillips said she proposed solutions over a year ago to block children from taking naked images of themselves.
The government promised to work with tech companies rather than immediately legislate to block such images.
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) reported that 91% of child sexual abuse images in 2024 were self-generated by children.
Police recorded 7,263 offenses related to sexual communication with children last year, nearly double since 2017-18.
Campaigners say technology exists to block these images and it could reduce abuse at the source.
Some government departments support the measures, but Downing Street has delayed action for months.
Critics suspect close ties between government advisors and tech companies may have slowed progress.
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President Donald Trump's plan to build a missile defense system called the "Golden Dome" is now estimated to cost $1.2 trillion over 20 years, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This new estimate is much higher than the $175 billion cost the president mentioned last year.
Key Facts
The "Golden Dome" is a missile defense program intended to protect the U.S. using weapons placed in space and on the ground.
The program was ordered by President Trump in an executive order during his first week in office.
The goal is to have the system fully working before the end of President Trump’s term in January 2029.
The CBO report says the $1.2 trillion estimate is based on limited information from the Defense Department.
The system is inspired by Israel’s "Iron Dome," which is used to defend against rockets and missiles.
Congress has already approved about $24 billion for the project in previous spending bills.
The CBO previously estimated that just the space part of the system could cost up to $542 billion in 20 years.
Some lawmakers, like Senator Jeff Merkley, have criticized the program for being expensive and benefiting defense contractors.
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A judge questioned the U.S. Department of Justice about their plan to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant, to Liberia within weeks. Abrego Garcia was previously deported to El Salvador despite a court order and is currently facing human smuggling charges in the U.S.
Key Facts
Kilmar Abrego Garcia is originally from El Salvador and was living in Maryland with his family.
He was deported in March 2025 to El Salvador’s CECOT prison, despite a 2019 court order blocking such deportation due to risks of persecution.
The Trump administration claimed Abrego Garcia was involved with the gang MS-13, which he denies.
He was returned to the U.S. in June 2025 to face human smuggling charges in Tennessee and pleaded not guilty.
The DOJ wants to deport him to Liberia, which they say has strong human rights protections and is safe.
Garcia prefers Costa Rica, which has offered him refugee status, but the government insists on Liberia as the removal country.
Judge Paula Xinis pressed the DOJ for clarity on how quickly the deportation would happen and questioned the impact on ongoing criminal proceedings.
The judge ordered both sides to meet and come up with a joint proposal regarding the case.
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The Hill is providing a live program focused on the 2026 primary elections in Nebraska and West Virginia. The show includes reporters and political experts discussing the election results as they happen.
Key Facts
The live coverage lasts about 90 minutes on Tuesday night.
It focuses specifically on the Nebraska and West Virginia primaries in 2026.
Cory Smith from Sunrise on The Hill will lead the coverage.
The team includes The Hill’s campaign and congressional reporters.
Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), a group that analyzes election data, will participate.
Political analysts will offer insights during the broadcast.
The coverage will show real-time election results and updates.
The event is designed to help viewers understand the primary races as they develop.
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President Donald Trump spoke to reporters about several important topics, including the situation in Iran, inflation, and China, just before leaving for a trip to Beijing. Reporters from CBS News then gave additional information to help explain his comments.
Key Facts
President Trump met with reporters shortly before departing for Beijing.
He answered questions about the war in Iran.
He also addressed concerns about inflation in the United States.
China was another key topic in the discussion.
CBS News reporters provided background and explanations after his remarks.
The trip to Beijing is part of President Trump’s current presidential duties.
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The U.S. Department of Justice charged the operator of a ship involved in the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The accident happened in 2024 and caused the deaths of six people.
Key Facts
The Justice Department announced criminal charges related to the bridge collapse.
The ship operator is the person charged.
The incident took place at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Six people died because of the collapse.
The event occurred in 2024.
CBS News reported on the charges and the investigation.
The charges are part of the effort to address the accident’s cause and responsibility.
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Eileen Wang, the former mayor of Arcadia, California, has pleaded guilty to secretly working as an agent for the Chinese government. She faces up to 10 years in prison for her actions.
Key Facts
Eileen Wang served as mayor of Arcadia, California.
She pleaded guilty to acting as a covert agent for China.
Wang helped China by sharing information and advancing its interests secretly.
She could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
The case involves national security concerns related to foreign influence.
The guilty plea was reported by CBS News Los Angeles.
Arcadia is a city located in Southern California.
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President Donald Trump launched a project to fix and paint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, initially estimated to cost $1.8 million but now expected to cost $13.1 million. The project faces a lawsuit from a nonprofit group claiming Trump broke rules about changing historic landmarks by awarding the contract without competitive bids.
Key Facts
The Reflecting Pool project began recently and aims to finish by May 22, just before the 250th anniversary of the United States.
President Trump awarded a no-bid contract worth $6.9 million to a company he previously used for work on his golf courses.
The project's total expected cost has risen from $1.8 million to $13.1 million according to federal records.
The pool, built in 1922, has problems like leaks, bad pipes, algae, and bird droppings.
A nonprofit group, the Cultural Landscape Foundation, sued to stop the work, saying it harms the historic nature of the Reflecting Pool.
Originally, renovations were expected to cost $300 million and take more than three years.
The contract was awarded using an emergency exemption that allowed skipping the usual competitive bidding process.
President Trump said the project would fix leaks and make the pool more beautiful with a new paint color called "American Flag Blue."
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Marty Makary is leaving his job as head of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), President Donald Trump announced. Makary served for just over a year and faced criticism over policies such as flavored vapes and abortion pill approvals.
Key Facts
Marty Makary has stepped down as FDA Commissioner.
President Donald Trump confirmed the departure but did not say if Makary was fired or resigned.
Makary opposed allowing more flavored vapes, which Trump supported.
The FDA recently approved flavored e-cigarettes from a company in Los Angeles.
Makary faced criticism for approving a generic abortion pill, which made it cheaper and more available.
He also blocked some new drug approvals, including for rare diseases and cancer.
Makary was appointed by President Trump for his second term and confirmed in March 2025.
Makary is a British-American surgeon who became known during the Covid-19 pandemic for questioning government vaccine policies.
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Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security, did not support Xavier Becerra for governor of California during a recent interview. Mayorkas said he has no current preference in the California governor’s race and lives in Washington, D.C.
Key Facts
Alejandro Mayorkas is the current Secretary of Homeland Security.
Xavier Becerra is a former Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Becerra is running for governor of California.
Mayorkas was asked about endorsing Becerra at a Politico Security Summit in Washington, D.C.
Mayorkas said he is neutral, or “agnostic,” about the California governor’s race at this time.
Mayorkas lives in Washington, not California.
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President Donald Trump’s plan to build a missile defense system called the “Golden Dome for America” is now estimated to cost $1.2 trillion, much higher than his original estimate of $175 billion. The system aims to place weapons in space to detect and stop missile attacks and is partly inspired by Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense system.
Key Facts
The missile defense program is called the “Golden Dome for America.”
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the program will cost $1.2 trillion.
President Trump initially said the program would cost $175 billion.
The Trump administration ordered the missile defense system by executive order early in his term.
The system aims to stop missiles at different stages, using both ground and space-based parts.
Congress has approved about $24 billion for the program so far.
The program is partly inspired by Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense system against missile attacks.
The system is expected to be fully operational by January 2029, the end of Trump’s current term.
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A Republican lawmaker, Jen Kiggans, was criticized for agreeing with a racist comment about Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries during a radio show. The comment involved the phrase "cotton-picking," which has racist origins related to slavery, leading to strong condemnations and calls for Kiggans to resign.
Key Facts
Hakeem Jeffries is the top-ranking Democrat in the US House of Representatives.
On a conservative radio show, host Rich Herrera used the phrase “get your cotton-picking hands off of Virginia” about Jeffries’ involvement in Virginia redistricting.
Representative Jen Kiggans said “Ditto” and “Yes” in agreement with Herrera’s statement during the show.
The term “cotton picking” is viewed as racist due to its connection to slavery and forced labor on cotton plantations.
Kiggans later said she did not approve of the racist language and was agreeing only that Jeffries should not interfere in Virginia politics.
Jeffries’ office strongly condemned Kiggans’ response, calling it racist and harmful to democracy.
Top Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus called for Kiggans to resign.
This controversy happened amid a larger battle over redistricting and voting rights in the US, with recent Supreme Court decisions affecting enforcement of anti-discrimination voting laws.
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President Donald Trump’s proposed missile defense system, called the “Golden Dome,” is estimated to cost $1.2 trillion, much more than the $175 billion he initially stated. The Congressional Budget Office says the high cost is due to limited details from the Defense Department and the system’s complex design, which includes ground and space elements to detect and stop missile attacks.
Key Facts
The “Golden Dome” is a missile defense program aiming to protect the U.S. from advanced missile threats.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the program’s cost at $1.2 trillion.
President Trump first announced the program and expected it to be operational by January 2029.
The program was inspired partly by Israel’s "Iron Dome" missile defense system.
Congress has approved about $24 billion for the project so far.
The Defense Department has not provided enough details to fully estimate the long-term cost.
The CBO’s estimate is based on one possible approach and is not an exact administration proposal.
Senator Jeff Merkley criticized the plan as giving money to defense contractors paid by taxpayers.
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Marty Makary resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to disagreements over policies, including the approval of flavored e-cigarettes. Reports say President Trump pressured Makary to approve fruit-flavored vapes despite Makary’s objections. His departure follows other recent leadership changes within the FDA.
Key Facts
Marty Makary stepped down as FDA commissioner amid internal conflicts.
The FDA approved some flavored e-cigarettes from Glas Inc. after pressure from President Trump.
Makary reportedly opposed approving fruit-flavored vapes but was forced by the administration to do so.
President Trump called Makary a "great guy" but acknowledged he was facing difficulties.
Makary was expected to testify before Congress but will be replaced by acting commissioner Kyle Diamantas.
The FDA oversees drugs, vaccines, tobacco, and regulates a large part of consumer spending in the U.S.
Makary is a British-American surgeon confirmed as FDA commissioner in March 2025.
Makary also faced pressure from conservatives and anti-abortion groups regarding the abortion drug mifepristone.
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Social Security benefits may rise by nearly 4% in 2027 because of faster inflation. This increase would help seniors and others keep up with rising prices, but the exact amount will depend on inflation in the next few months.
Key Facts
The estimated cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security in 2027 is about 3.9%.
The average monthly Social Security payment in January was $2,071; a 3.9% increase would add roughly $81.
The COLA is based on inflation from July to September of the previous year, which means it looks backward at price changes.
Inflation rose quickly recently, partly due to higher fuel prices linked to the Iran war.
In 2026, the COLA was 2.8%, but inflation rates in early 2024 were higher, around 3.3% to 3.8%.
A higher COLA could increase the financial problems of the Social Security trust funds, potentially making them run out of money sooner.
Experts suggest limiting benefits for wealthy retirees to help fix some of Social Security’s money issues.
The final 2027 COLA will be determined in October after reviewing inflation data.
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