President Trump has said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was vandalized and drained for repairs. He has repeatedly changed the reported size of the damage but has not shown any proof of vandalism. Observers at the site did not see clear signs of the large damage he described.
Key Facts
President Trump claimed the Reflecting Pool was damaged by vandals using a knife or box cutter.
He first said the damage was 250 feet, then 300 feet, later 350 feet, and recently said 300 yards (900 feet).
No photos or evidence have been made public to prove the vandalism claims.
Media and visitors who saw the drained pool reported no obvious cuts or gashes.
A long line seen in the pool is actually a drainage channel, not damage.
The pool was painted blue for the US 250th anniversary, but algae growth turned it green.
Chemicals to kill the algae caused the blue paint to chip and float on the water.
President Trump has denied that the renovation or contractors caused the problems and blamed vandals instead.
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Wildfires in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota are causing heavy smoke and poor air quality in many parts of the Midwest and Northeast United States. The smoke is making the skies hazy and air quality unhealthy for residents in these areas.
Key Facts
Wildfires are burning in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota.
Smoke from these fires has spread far into the U.S. Midwest and Northeast regions.
The smoke makes the sky appear dark and hazy.
Air quality in many affected areas has become unhealthy.
Officials are monitoring the situation and providing updates.
The smoke is expected to affect air conditions for several days.
People in the affected regions are advised to limit outdoor activity when air quality is poor.
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Several major U.S. TV networks will not show President Trump's prime-time speech live on their main channels but will offer coverage through streaming services. The speech is expected to focus on election security and may include contested claims about the 2020 election.
Key Facts
President Trump's speech is scheduled for 9 pm Eastern Time.
At least two of the four major TV networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) will not air the speech live on their main channels.
NBC will show the speech live on its streaming service NBC News NOW and air a special report afterward.
ABC will stream the speech on ABC News Live and ABC News Radio, with updates in regular newscasts.
ABC may interrupt regular programming to provide live updates if needed.
CBS and FOX have not announced their plans for airing the speech.
The speech is expected to focus on issues related to election security and claims about the fairness of the 2020 election.
Networks are cautious because the speech could include false information about the election.
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The Senate voted against a Democratic resolution to end a pilot program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to review some Medicare treatment requests. The program aims to reduce waste and fraud in Medicare, but some worry it could delay care for seniors who use original Medicare.
Key Facts
The Senate vote took place on Thursday afternoon and was divided mostly along party lines.
The Democratic resolution wanted to stop a CMS pilot program using AI in reviewing Medicare treatment approvals.
Republicans, led by President Donald Trump’s administration, supported keeping the AI pilot to reduce waste and fraud.
The pilot program, called WISeR, started in January and runs in Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington.
WISeR requires prior authorization for some medical services that may be at risk of fraud or unnecessary spending.
Private contractors using AI technology help decide if Medicare will pay for the services.
Forty-six Democrats supported repealing the AI pilot; 50 Republicans voted against the repeal.
Four senators did not vote, including three Republicans and one Democrat.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes on Thursday. This meeting follows pressure from lawmakers during recent hearings on Capitol Hill.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is the Acting Attorney General of the United States.
He will meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes on Thursday afternoon.
The meeting comes after lawmakers questioned DOJ officials during hearings on Capitol Hill this week.
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
The source of this information is a DOJ insider who spoke to NewsNation, The Hill’s broadcast partner.
The meeting will take place at the Department of Justice.
Senator Thom Tillis pressured DOJ officials to engage with Epstein survivors.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to move forward with a Senate vote on a bill that would give $1.3 billion to help Ukraine with security and increase sanctions on Russia. The House of Representatives already approved this bill last month, though some Republican leaders opposed it.
Key Facts
The bill would provide $1.3 billion in security aid to Ukraine.
It includes measures to expand sanctions against Russia.
The House of Representatives passed the bill with a vote of 226-195.
Some Republican leaders in the House opposed the bill.
Eighteen House Republicans voted in favor despite their leaders’ opposition.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to bring the bill to the Senate calendar for consideration.
The bill aims to support Ukraine amid ongoing conflict involving Russia.
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President Donald Trump announced that 20 additional polluting factories will be exempt from clean air rules introduced during President Biden’s administration. These rules aimed to reduce harmful chemicals that cause cancer near many facilities.
Key Facts
President Trump exempted 20 more polluting factories from clean air regulations.
The regulations were created during President Biden’s time in office.
The rules are designed to limit toxic chemicals released by industrial plants.
These chemicals can increase cancer risks for people living within about 31 miles of the plants.
Environmental groups criticized the move to remove these factories from the rules.
About 200 facilities were originally covered by the Biden-era regulation.
The exemptions reduce the number of factories subject to these cancer-preventing rules.
The announcement was made through an official proclamation signed by President Trump.
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that all military members aged 30 and older will be tested for low testosterone during their annual health checkups. This screening aims to monitor natural declines in testosterone levels as people age.
Key Facts
The new testosterone tests will apply to military personnel aged 30 and above.
Testing will be part of the yearly health screening for these troops.
Testosterone levels typically drop naturally with age.
The announcement was made publicly by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The goal is to better understand and manage the health of service members.
The announcement was shared in a video post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The term "testosterone deficiency" refers to lower than normal levels of this hormone.
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President Donald Trump's teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, is on unpaid leave after reports said he used his inside knowledge to place bets on what the president would say in speeches on the online market Kalshi. Kalshi alerted federal regulators about the bets, which may violate ethical rules about using job information for betting.
Key Facts
Gabriel Perez has operated President Trump's teleprompter since 2016.
Perez allegedly used knowledge from his job to win over $100,000 betting on Trump's speeches.
The betting took place on Kalshi, an online prediction market that allows betting on speech phrases.
Kalshi’s enforcement team flagged and reported the suspicious activity to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The White House said Perez is on unpaid leave and emphasized strict ethical rules.
Kalshi requires users to disclose their jobs and forbids bets based on inside information.
President Trump is aware of the situation and his spokesperson called it "unfortunate" and "a disgrace."
Trump has reported making significant profits from his crypto and business ventures according to ethical disclosures.
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President Donald Trump is scheduled to give a speech from the White House on Thursday night. He mentioned that the speech might cover various topics, including elections, and said he would make a "big announcement." PolitiFact will provide live fact-checking during the speech.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump will speak from the White House on Thursday night.
He indicated the speech could cover several issues, such as elections.
He said he plans to make a "big announcement."
PolitiFact will offer live fact-checking during the speech.
The event is being streamed live for public viewing.
The article highlights the importance of a free press in democracy.
Viewers are encouraged to support trusted journalism and civil dialogue.
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The article reports on the second day of Todd Blanche's Senate confirmation hearings to become attorney general. CBS News senior justice department reporter Sarah Lynch summarized the important points from the hearings.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is being considered for the role of attorney general.
The Senate is holding confirmation hearings to decide on his appointment.
This article covers the events of the second day of those hearings.
Sarah Lynch, a CBS News reporter, shared a summary of key moments.
The hearings involve questions and discussions about Blanche's qualifications and plans.
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The U.S. is considering a law to keep daylight saving time all year instead of changing clocks twice a year. The country tried permanent daylight saving time before, in the 1970s, but it did not continue. Changes in work habits and new sleep research are making the idea more relevant today.
Key Facts
Congress is reviewing a bill to end the twice-yearly clock changes and keep daylight saving time permanent.
The U.S. previously tried permanent daylight saving time in the 1970s, but it was not maintained.
Many people find changing clocks twice a year inconvenient or annoying.
More people are now working from home than before, affecting daily schedules.
New scientific studies about sleep suggest more complex effects of time changes.
The current discussion is part of a fresh look at daylight saving time's benefits and downsides.
If passed, this would change how Americans manage time throughout the year.
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President Donald Trump will give a live speech from the White House at 9 p.m. EDT on Thursday. He plans to talk about protecting the integrity of U.S. elections.
Key Facts
President Trump’s speech will happen at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time from the White House.
The topic is about ensuring the honesty and fairness of elections.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the speech and encouraged Americans to watch.
PolitiFact will provide live fact-checking during the speech in a chat feature.
The speech is considered important enough to call a "major address" by the White House.
The news outlet hosting the speech promotes supporting trusted journalism and civil conversation.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke to reporters about President Donald Trump’s upcoming primetime speech and recent military strikes on Iran. She also answered questions on other related topics during the briefing.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is the White House press secretary.
She addressed the media on Thursday.
President Trump plans to deliver a primetime speech soon.
There have been new military strikes against Iran.
Leavitt answered questions about these strikes and other matters.
The briefing was reported by CBS News.
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A Cyclospora parasite outbreak has caused thousands of infections across 34 U.S. states, with Michigan the most affected. Two companies, Gotham Greens and Little Leaf Farms, say their greenhouse-grown salad greens are safe and not linked to the outbreak.
Key Facts
There are 1,645 confirmed Cyclospora cases and 141 hospitalizations reported as of July 16.
The CDC is investigating over 5,100 possible additional cases related to the outbreak.
Cyclospora causes a stomach illness with symptoms like diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and fatigue.
Michigan has the highest number of reported infections.
Gotham Greens and Little Leaf Farms say their salad greens are safe because they grow in controlled greenhouses.
These companies monitor and treat water and maintain strict food safety practices.
Their products are sold nationwide in stores like Whole Foods, Walmart, and Kroger.
The White House is monitoring the situation and advises people to follow CDC and FDA food safety tips.
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Senator Adam Schiff questioned former Attorney General John Ashcroft about President Donald Trump's calls to prosecute his political opponents. Ashcroft was testifying before the Senate to support Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general.
Key Facts
Senator Adam Schiff asked John Ashcroft about President Trump's desire to prosecute his political enemies.
John Ashcroft is a former U.S. Attorney General.
Ashcroft appeared before the Senate to support Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general.
President Trump has publicly called for legal actions against some political opponents.
The questioning took place during a Senate hearing.
The hearing is part of the process to approve Todd Blanche as attorney general.
CBS News reported on the event and made video coverage available.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio led a meeting with leaders from over 60 countries to discuss political terrorism linked to left-wing groups. He called for international cooperation to stop this type of violence, seen as a key issue for Republicans before upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio organized a conference on left-wing political terrorism.
More than 60 countries participated in the meeting.
The event was part of the Trump administration’s effort against political violence.
Rubio described a rise in violence from communist and Marxist groups.
This focus contrasts with studies showing fewer left-wing attacks compared to far-right violence in the U.S.
Participants were mostly officials from Europe and Latin America.
Rubio said left-wing terrorism is often overlooked in counterterrorism strategies.
The topic is important for Republicans ahead of midterm elections.
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A teleprompter operator for President Trump allegedly made $100,000 by betting on whether certain words or phrases would be said during Trump’s speeches. This activity took place on a prediction market called Kalshi, which allows people to bet on future events based on inside knowledge. Kalshi noticed unusual bets, froze the operator’s funds, and reported the case to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which is investigating.
Key Facts
Kalshi is a prediction market where people bet on events by buying contracts tied to future outcomes.
The teleprompter operator, Gabriel Perez, had access to President Trump’s speeches and sometimes changed his bets during the speeches.
Perez allegedly made $100,000 by betting on specific words and phrases being mentioned during Trump’s talks.
Kalshi discovered suspicious betting activity connected to a federal employee and froze his account.
The CFTC, the federal agency overseeing such markets, is investigating Perez for possible insider trading.
The Trump White House warned employees earlier to avoid using private information to place bets on these markets.
Similar cases of government insiders using secret information to profit on prediction markets have occurred before.
Kalshi is fighting state laws by seeking federal regulation from the CFTC for its markets.
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Top officials in President Donald Trump’s administration held a meeting with representatives from 66 countries to talk about the threat of left-wing violence. They focused on criticizing leftist groups and did not address right-wing violence, using strong language to describe leftist activists as dangerous to society.
Key Facts
The event was led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and included top advisers like Stephen Miller and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The meeting was called a “ministerial on the resurgence of political violence” but focused only on left-wing violence.
Officials used harsh language, calling leftists “enemies of civilization” and linking leftist groups to violence and terrorism.
They did not discuss right-wing violence, including the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
President Trump had labeled “antifa” as a domestic terrorist organization the year before.
Rubio suggested the US had mostly defeated terrorism related to the 2001 attacks and was now shifting to fight leftist violence.
The officials proposed working with other countries to confront leftist groups internationally.
The discussion referenced a 2023 presidential memorandum about national security and combating such threats.
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