Texas Senator John Cornyn supports keeping the state's open primary system, which allows independent voters to participate in Republican primaries. Some Texas Republicans want to change this and restrict voting in primaries to party members only.
Key Facts
Texas currently has an open primary system for elections.
Open primaries allow voters who are not registered with a political party (independents) to vote in that party's primary.
Some Republicans in Texas want to close the primaries, meaning only registered party members can vote.
Senator John Cornyn opposes closing the primaries and supports keeping them open.
John Opdycke, who leads an organization called Open Primaries, supports inclusive voting rules.
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Ben Shapiro, a conservative commentator, said that Vice President JD Vance spoke like a Democrat during a recent interview on Joe Rogan's podcast. Shapiro compared Vance’s views to those of well-known Democratic figures.
Key Facts
Ben Shapiro made his comments on a Thursday.
Shapiro listened to Joe Rogan’s podcast episode featuring JD Vance.
Shapiro said Vance’s economics sounded like Bernie Sanders’.
He said Vance’s foreign policy resembled Barack Obama’s.
Shapiro also mentioned that Vance’s ideas on conspiracy theories were like Ro Khanna’s.
JD Vance is the Vice President.
The discussion happened during a popular podcast hosted by Joe Rogan.
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President Donald Trump plans to make new statements about foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election. This speech continues his ongoing effort to question the results of the election he lost, despite courts and officials finding no evidence of widespread fraud.
Key Facts
President Trump will speak about alleged foreign interference in the 2020 election.
This is part of his ongoing efforts to challenge the 2020 election results.
Courts have rejected his claims about the election being stolen.
Election officials have found no proof of widespread fraud in 2020.
Independent investigations have also confirmed the election was fair.
The speech is seen as an escalation in his campaign to relitigate the election loss.
Liz Landers reported on the expected content of President Trump's address.
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Election officials in Maricopa County, Arizona, agreed on how to share responsibility for overseeing elections, ending a legal dispute. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the county recorder against the county board of supervisors.
Key Facts
Maricopa County is the most populous county in Arizona.
The county recorder, Justin Heap, who is a Republican, sued the mostly Republican county board of supervisors in June 2025.
Heap claimed the board took control of some election duties illegally.
The county board called the lawsuit unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer money.
The two sides negotiated with help from a mediator and reached an agreement this week.
The county board approved the settlement to end the legal fight.
Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee said they want to avoid more public disputes and negative attention.
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President Donald Trump is planning to declare a national emergency around the time of the midterm elections. Ty Cobb, a former White House lawyer who worked during Trump’s first term, discussed the legal limits of such a move and how it might affect future elections.
Key Facts
President Trump intends to announce a national emergency near the midterm elections.
Ty Cobb served as a White House attorney in President Trump’s first administration.
Cobb helped manage the response to the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller.
Mueller’s probe focused on claims of Russian interference in U.S. elections.
Declaring a national emergency has legal limits set by Congress and the courts.
This action by President Trump could set a precedent for how presidents influence elections.
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Heavy rains caused flash floods in Central Texas, affecting areas that had severe flooding during the 2025 4th of July. The floods led to at least one death and forced local officials to tell thousands of people to move to safer, higher places.
Key Facts
Flash floods struck Central Texas due to very heavy rain.
The affected areas were previously hit by severe flooding in July 2025.
At least one person has died because of the floods.
Rescue teams saved at least 70 people from flood dangers.
Local leaders warned residents to quickly seek higher ground to stay safe.
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President Donald Trump has not scheduled a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite reports from Israeli media that one would happen. Netanyahu has tried for weeks to arrange a meeting, but the White House has not confirmed it, reflecting growing distance between the two leaders.
Key Facts
Netanyahu has met President Trump six times since Trump returned to office 18 months ago.
Netanyahu has been trying for over two weeks to set up another meeting, but none is confirmed.
Reports that Netanyahu planned to visit the U.S. and meet Trump after Senator Lindsey Graham’s death were canceled when the funeral was postponed.
White House officials say Netanyahu wanted a meeting but did not get a positive response.
Trump was upset by Netanyahu’s public criticism of U.S. plans to sell jets to Turkey.
Israel gave the U.S. intelligence suggesting Iran planned to target Trump in Turkey, but U.S. and Turkish officials found no real threat.
Netanyahu has lost support within parts of Washington, including among Democrats and some of Trump’s backers.
A large group of House Democrats recently voted to reduce U.S. aid to Israel by $3 billion, showing political tension.
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A man named William Upham, a former marine and Republican write-in candidate in Florida, was arrested for threatening to kill President Donald Trump. He faces federal charges and could go to prison for up to five years.
Key Facts
William Upham, 35, is a former marine and a Republican write-in candidate in Florida's fifth congressional district.
He was arrested and charged in federal court for threatening to kill President Trump.
The Secret Service investigated after reports of Upham’s threats, including videos he posted online.
In the videos, Upham, wearing his military uniform, called for overthrowing President Trump and suggested killing him using specific military tactics.
Upham linked his threats to his religious beliefs, calling President Trump the antichrist.
He told a third party he made the videos to "declare war" on Trump and said he would kill the president when "God chooses."
Upham had access to firearms and had made troubling statements to law enforcement recently.
The acting US Secretary of the Navy said Upham is no longer a marine and does not represent the military’s values.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he survived an assassination attempt shortly after taking office in January 2025. The man involved pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in August. Bessent also announced that the Treasury Department will work to find charities and nonprofits that may be funding political violence.
Key Facts
Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, faced an assassination attempt two hours after his confirmation in January 2025.
Ryan Michael English carried weapons to the U.S. Capitol intending to kill Bessent or attack another federal target.
English pleaded guilty in March 2026 to federal charges related to the assassination plot.
English is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 2026.
Bessent said the Treasury will try to identify charities and nonprofits used to finance political terrorism.
The Treasury will also check if tax-exempt groups are used for foreign influence.
Political violence targeting U.S. officials, judges, and election workers has been rising since around 2020.
Nearly 90% of surveyed state legislators reported threats or attacks related to their political roles.
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Vice President JD Vance said on a podcast that the Trump administration did not handle the release of documents about Jeffrey Epstein well. He admitted this was a mistake. Political experts also discussed the situation on the podcast.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance spoke on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
Vance said the Trump administration mishandled how they shared files about Jeffrey Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
It is uncommon for the Trump administration to admit errors.
Political analysts Joe Borelli and Cameron French talked about this topic on the same podcast.
The discussion was reported by CBS News.
The Epstein files relate to sensitive legal and criminal information.
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Congress is divided over U.S. aid to Israel amid the conflict in Gaza and concerns about Iran. On Wednesday, more than half of House Democrats voted to stop U.S. military funding for Israel, while another proposal to boost U.S.-Israel cooperation revealed further disagreements.
Key Facts
Israel is engaged in a war in Gaza.
The U.S. is working with Israel on a military operation against Iran.
These events have caused strong disagreements among U.S. lawmakers.
Over half of House Democrats voted to end U.S. military aid to Israel.
A separate plan to strengthen U.S.-Israel cooperation is also controversial.
The division is especially noticeable within the Democratic Party.
The debate highlights differing views on U.S. policy toward Israel and the Middle East.
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Two nominees for important health positions under President Trump faced difficult questioning during a Senate hearing. Erica Schwartz, nominated for CDC director, and Sean Kaufman, nominated for assistant secretary for preparedness, both struggled to satisfy senators with their answers and views on vaccines.
Key Facts
Erica Schwartz is nominated to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Sean Kaufman is nominated for Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).
Schwartz has strong medical and public health credentials and military experience.
Schwartz supports vaccines and evidence-based medicine, unlike Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who opposes vaccines.
Kaufman has experience in outbreak response but has expressed anti-vaccine views, including false claims about vaccines causing autism.
Kaufman opposed vaccine mandates and criticized advocates of the hepatitis B vaccine birth dose.
Senators questioned Schwartz’s knowledge of CDC operations and her willingness to stand up to political interference.
Senators challenged Kaufman to clarify his controversial vaccine views during the hearing.
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President Donald Trump's administration has finalized new rules that limit the time foreign students and journalists can stay in the United States. Student visas will be capped at four years, while journalists may stay for up to 240 days, with Chinese journalists limited to 90 days.
Key Facts
Student visas will allow stays up to the length of the academic program, but no more than four years.
Foreign journalists are limited to 240-day stays and can apply for extensions of the same length.
Chinese journalists will be limited to 90-day stays with 90-day extensions allowed.
The Department of Homeland Security said the previous indefinite stays for students made it hard to track visa holders.
Over 1.1 million international students studied in the U.S. during 2023-24, contributing more than $50 billion to the economy.
The new rules faced criticism from media rights groups and higher education advocates who say the changes hurt press freedom and deter top students.
The rules were proposed under President Trump’s first term, reversed by President Biden, and now reinstated by President Trump in his second term.
The Republican-led Congress will review the new visa limits before they take full effect.
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Air quality emergencies are affecting at least 21 U.S. states because of wildfires. President Donald Trump spoke about the elections and claimed that China has accessed voter data.
Key Facts
Wildfires have caused poor air quality in at least 21 states.
The air quality emergencies mean the air is unsafe to breathe in those areas.
President Donald Trump commented on the upcoming elections.
He alleged that China has been able to access data about U.S. voters.
These claims about voter data access raise concerns about election security.
The information was reported during the CBS Evening News broadcast on July 16.
The wildfires and election issues are current topics in the United States.
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A new poll shows California’s former Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra, has a strong lead over Republican Steve Hilton in the race for governor. Becerra has support from about 61% of likely voters, while Hilton has around 36%. The November election will decide California’s next governor since current Governor Gavin Newsom cannot run again due to term limits.
Key Facts
Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton advanced from California’s June top-two primary to the November general election.
Becerra received about 28% of the primary vote, and Hilton received 24.6%.
The recent poll surveyed 1,578 Californians, including 1,003 likely voters, with a 3.8% margin of error.
In the poll, Becerra leads Hilton 61% to 36% among likely voters.
California uses a top-two primary system where the top two vote-getters run in the general election regardless of party.
California has been a Democratic stronghold in recent statewide races.
Governor Gavin Newsom cannot run again because of term limits.
Experts say Becerra has strong support from Democratic voters and can now focus on attracting independents and some Republicans.
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The White House is bringing back a rule that lets immigration officials refuse green cards to migrants who use certain public benefits. This rule checks if applicants might depend on government help like Medicaid, housing aid, or food stamps.
Key Facts
The rule concerns the “public charge” test for green card applicants.
It applies to migrants who use benefits such as Medicaid, food stamps, or housing assistance.
Immigration officers can deny green cards based on this test.
The policy was originally introduced during President Trump's earlier administration.
The purpose is to limit green cards for those seen as likely to rely on public support.
The policy affects people applying for permanent residency in the U.S.
Using safety net programs can impact an applicant’s immigration status.
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President Donald Trump will give a televised speech on Thursday night about election integrity and voting systems. The address will focus on concerns related to voting processes.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to speak during prime time on Thursday night.
The main topic is election integrity, which means making sure elections are fair and accurate.
He will also talk about voting systems, or the methods used to cast and count votes.
The speech aims to address concerns about how elections are run.
The information was reported by CBS News.
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Maine Democrats will hold their first Senate debate since Graham Platner left the race last week. The candidates are expected to talk about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions after a shooting involving an immigrant in Maine.
Key Facts
Maine Democrats are having their first Senate debate since Platner withdrew.
Graham Platner ended his campaign last week.
The debate will likely cover ICE operations in Maine.
The focus on ICE comes after a fatal shooting of an immigrant in Maine.
The debate is taking place in Biddeford, Maine.
CBS News correspondent Lilia Luciano is reporting from the event.
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A group that predicts election results changed its predictions for two U.S. House races, one in California and one in Maine. This change reflects the ongoing competition between Democrats and Republicans to control the House of Representatives during the midterm elections.
Key Facts
The prediction changes were made by Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
The California House race prediction was shifted toward the Democrats.
The Maine House race prediction was shifted toward the Republicans.
These shifts show how closely contested these races are in the middle of the election cycle.
Control of the House of Representatives is important for setting U.S. government priorities.
Midterm elections happen halfway through the President’s term and often change the balance of power in Congress.
Election handicappers use data and polls to forecast which party is likely to win races.
This update came during a wide effort by both parties to win seats in Congress.
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President Donald Trump will give a live televised speech on Thursday evening, with many expecting him to talk about election security and the ongoing conflict with Iran. The speech comes amid his continued claims about election fraud and recent military actions related to the Iran war.
Key Facts
The speech is scheduled for 9 pm Eastern Time on Thursday.
President Trump has promised "really big news" but did not specify the details.
Many expect the speech to focus on election security due to Trump's claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Trump recently appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence; Pulte has no intelligence experience but is linked to efforts supporting Trump's election claims.
The Save America Act, which would require strict voter ID rules, is pending in Congress and is a key issue for Trump.
Trump ended a ceasefire deal with Iran last month and has resumed military strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, affecting global energy costs.
White House officials say the speech will cover multiple topics, a "potpourri," including possibly the Iran conflict.
Trump has rarely delivered prepared, primetime White House speeches, which often involve reading from a teleprompter.
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