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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told House investigators he met Jeffrey Epstein three times, including once on Epstein’s private island with Lutnick’s family. Lutnick corrected earlier statements about this visit, and House Oversight Chair James Comer warned that lying to Congress is a felony and would lead to accountability.
Key Facts
Howard Lutnick met Jeffrey Epstein three times between 2005 and 2012.
One meeting was a lunch on Epstein’s private island in 2012 with Lutnick’s family.
Lutnick initially said he avoided Epstein after 2005 but later corrected that claim.
Lutnick’s assistant knew he was in the Virgin Islands, which unsettled him.
Lutnick has no criminal charges related to Epstein and denies wrongdoing.
House Oversight Chair James Comer said lying to Congress is a felony and will be punished.
Lutnick said he and Epstein did not have a personal or business relationship.
The investigation raises questions about Lutnick’s credibility and connections with Epstein.
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Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass debated her main challengers about important city issues like wildfires, homelessness, and immigration. The debate took place about a month before the primary election to choose the next mayor.
Key Facts
Karen Bass is the current mayor of Los Angeles.
The debate included several candidates running against Bass in the mayoral primary.
Topics discussed were wildfires, homelessness, and immigration.
The mayor’s role was described as being like a CEO who sets the city’s direction.
The primary election is scheduled to happen in about a month.
Los Angeles is the United States’ second-largest city.
The candidates expressed different ideas on how to solve city problems during the debate.
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Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, has left the intensive care unit (ICU) after being hospitalized over the weekend. His spokesperson said he will now spend time recovering before leaving the hospital.
Key Facts
Rudy Giuliani was hospitalized over the weekend.
He stayed in the ICU during his hospitalization.
A spokesperson named Ted Goodman gave the update.
Giuliani has now been moved out of the ICU.
He will spend some time recovering before going home.
Giuliani is a former mayor of New York City.
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The US military fired on an Iranian-flagged oil tanker after President Donald Trump warned Iran to accept a deal to end the conflict or face more intense bombing. The tanker was disabled near a US blockade of Iranian ports, and negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain uncertain.
Key Facts
The US military fired several rounds to disable the rudder of an Iranian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday.
This action happened after President Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran on social media.
President Trump said if Iran does not accept a deal, the US bombing campaign will increase in intensity.
The incident took place as there were reports of potential progress in stalled negotiations between Iran and the US.
Iran’s top negotiator said the US is trying to force Iran’s surrender using measures like naval blockades.
The US operation against Iran, called Epic Fury, began in February with Israel’s involvement.
The tanker was trying to breach the US blockade of Iranian ports at the time of the attack.
President Trump posted the ultimatum on his Truth Social platform.
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The Trump administration has released a new counter-terrorism strategy that criticizes Europe for becoming a center of terrorism linked to migration. The strategy also targets left-wing extremist groups in the U.S. and focuses on fighting drug cartels in the Americas.
Key Facts
The Trump administration calls Europe an “incubator” for terrorism due to mass migration.
The strategy claims that open borders and immigration policies in Europe help hostile groups grow.
It says Europe is a key partner in counter-terrorism but is also a major terror target.
The strategy targets violent left-wing extremists, including anarchists and groups described as “radically pro-transgender.”
The U.S. is aggressively acting against drug cartels and illegal trafficking in Latin America with military strikes.
At least 191 people have died in U.S. strikes on drug boats since early September.
U.S. officials plan to meet with allies to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation.
President Trump has taken a strong stance against recognition of gender diversity and has banned transgender women from women’s sports.
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President Donald Trump’s administration released a new counterterrorism strategy accusing Europe of encouraging terrorism due to mass migration. The strategy also targets violent left-wing extremists and groups described as “radically pro-transgender,” while focusing on drug cartels in the Americas.
Key Facts
The new strategy calls Europe an “incubator” for terrorism linked to mass migration.
Europe is criticized for open borders and immigration policies that the strategy says increase terrorism risks.
The strategy is led by counterterrorism coordinator Sebastian Gorka.
It targets violent left-wing extremists, including anarchists and anti-fascists.
The strategy focuses on groups described as “radically pro-transgender” and highlights a case involving the killing of a Trump ally.
Drug cartels in the Americas are named a central focus of U.S. counterterrorism efforts.
President Trump’s administration has opposed recognition of gender diversity and transgender rights, including banning transwomen from women’s sports.
The strategy follows previous Trump statements warning about “civilizational erasure” in Europe due to immigration.
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Federal authorities arrested 18 people in Los Angeles near MacArthur Park as part of a drug crackdown targeting an open-air drug market linked to fentanyl and methamphetamine sales. The investigation involved undercover operations and surveillance, leading to charges against 25 individuals, with some connected to gangs.
Key Facts
18 people were arrested in Los Angeles near MacArthur Park for drug-related crimes.
Authorities charged 25 individuals with possession and intent to sell controlled substances.
Seven suspects remain at large and are considered fugitives.
The Drug Enforcement Administration worked with local police on this investigation since March.
Undercover officers and informants conducted drug buys to gather evidence.
Two suspects, described as a couple, allegedly supply fentanyl and methamphetamine for the 18th Street gang.
Other gangs involved include the Crazy Riders and MS-13, who pass drugs to street-level sellers.
Law enforcement seized about 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of fentanyl from one location.
This is not the first federal crackdown near MacArthur Park, which has a history of drug problems and homeless encampments.
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A judge has allowed the federal government to keep 2020 election ballots seized by the FBI from Fulton County, Georgia. The county had asked for the return of the ballots, arguing the seizure was improper, but the judge ruled that the county did not prove its rights were violated.
Key Facts
The FBI seized 2020 election ballots and materials from a Fulton County warehouse near Atlanta on January 28.
Fulton County, Georgia, is the state’s most populous county and includes most of Atlanta.
The county asked for the ballots to be returned, claiming the seizure was unconstitutional.
The Justice Department is investigating possible election irregularities and violations of laws about keeping records and preventing false ballots.
All official counts in Fulton County confirmed Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
The judge wrote that the seizure was not perfect but found no evidence that the county’s rights were ignored.
Fulton County failed to show it needs the documents back urgently or would suffer serious harm without them.
The Justice Department has provided Fulton County with copies of the seized documents.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has shut down the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, which investigated complaints about immigration detention centers. DHS says Congress did not fund the office in its budget, leading to the closure amid political disputes over immigration enforcement funding.
Key Facts
The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman was created in 2019 to oversee conditions in immigration detention facilities.
The office handled complaints about safety, medical care, and legal access for detainees.
Most of the office’s employees were put on leave last year before the shutdown.
DHS says Congress excluded funding for ICE and some border agencies in the recent appropriations bill.
Republican lawmakers are trying to use a special budget process to fund ICE without Democratic support.
Critics say the office’s closure violates existing laws requiring its operation.
The closure comes as concerns grow over conditions and deaths in ICE detention centers.
Private companies run some detention centers and have faced allegations of mistreatment and poor conditions.
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Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City, has left the intensive care unit after being treated for pneumonia. He will remain in the hospital for some time to recover.
Key Facts
Rudy Giuliani was hospitalized with pneumonia.
He was treated in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Giuliani has now left the ICU.
He will spend more time in the hospital to recover.
His spokesperson is Ted Goodman.
Giuliani and his family are grateful for support from others.
The situation is still developing and updates may follow.
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A judge ruled that the federal government can keep the 2020 election ballots seized from Fulton County, Georgia. The county had asked for the return of the ballots, saying the seizure was improper, but the court disagreed.
Key Facts
The FBI seized 2020 election ballots and materials from a warehouse in Fulton County, Georgia, on January 28.
Fulton County is Georgia’s most populous county and includes Atlanta.
The Justice Department wants to keep the ballots and any electronic copies they made.
Fulton County lawyers argued the seizure was improper and unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee ruled that the government can keep the ballots.
Fulton County has been the focus of claims by President Donald Trump and his allies about election fraud in 2020.
The seizure was part of an investigation related to the 2020 election.
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A judge has released a note that is said to be a suicide note from Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The note had been kept secret for years and was made public through a related criminal case involving Epstein’s cellmate.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
A judge released a note believed to be Epstein’s suicide note.
The note had been sealed and not available to the public for several years.
The release happened during a criminal case related to Epstein’s cellmate.
The New York Times reported on the release of this note.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 under controversial circumstances.
The note’s authenticity has not been officially confirmed in this article.
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A note allegedly found by Jeffrey Epstein’s former jail cellmate after Epstein’s first suspected suicide attempt has been made public. The note was kept sealed for nearly five years but was released after a judge’s order following a media request.
Key Facts
The note was reportedly found by Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein’s former cellmate, after Epstein’s first suspected suicide attempt in July 2019.
Tartaglione is serving a life sentence for killing four people.
The note includes messages like “They investigated me for month -- found nothing!!!” and “NO FUN... NOT WORTH IT!!”
Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Authorities found jail staff had made mistakes, such as sleeping and browsing the internet, when they should have been monitoring Epstein.
The note’s author is unknown and the note wasn’t mentioned in official reports on Epstein’s death.
A judge ordered the note’s release after The New York Times requested it be unsealed as part of a court case involving Tartaglione.
The note was stored in a courthouse vault for nearly five years before its release.
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A judge ordered the release of a note that Jeffrey Epstein may have written before his death in 2019. The note was found by his former cellmate and suggests Epstein was troubled, but its authenticity has not been independently confirmed.
Key Facts
The note was written in 2019 and is believed to be a possible suicide note from Jeffrey Epstein.
It was submitted in court as part of a criminal case involving Epstein’s former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione.
Tartaglione said he found the note in a book the morning after Epstein died and gave it to his lawyers.
The note includes phrases like “time to say goodbye” and “No fun — not worth it!!”
Epstein died on August 10, 2019, in a New York jail, and his death was ruled a suicide.
Epstein had been charged with child sex trafficking and had a prior conviction involving prostitution charges.
The note was not mentioned in official Bureau of Prisons records.
Authorities are still looking into Epstein’s connections with wealthy and powerful people.
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A judge ordered the release of a possible suicide note linked to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in jail. CBS News reported the news but has not confirmed if the note is genuine.
Key Facts
A judge ordered the release of a note that might have been written by Jeffrey Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender who died in jail.
The note could be a suicide note.
CBS News has not verified the authenticity of the note.
The news was shared by CBS News correspondent Anna Schecter.
The note’s release happened on a Wednesday.
Epstein’s death raised many questions and investigations.
The note could provide more information about his death.
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A federal judge denied a request from Fulton County officials to make the FBI return hundreds of boxes of ballots from the 2020 election that the FBI seized in January 2026. The judge said the seizure was not perfect but there was no clear proof that the FBI acted wrongly or without a good reason.
Key Facts
The FBI seized hundreds of boxes of 2020 election ballots from Fulton County, Georgia, in January 2026.
Fulton County officials asked the court to force the FBI to return these ballots.
Judge J. P. Boulee ruled against the request on May 6, 2026.
The judge acknowledged the seizure was not perfect but found no evidence of violations like lack of probable cause or improper methods.
The case involves the 2020 election ballots, which are key voting records from that election.
The judge’s decision means the FBI keeps possession of the ballots for now.
The issue is part of ongoing legal and election-related matters in Georgia.
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President Trump is encouraging Republican lawmakers in Southern states to redraw congressional district maps late in the process. This effort aims to weaken Democratic seats and help House Speaker Mike Johnson maintain a Republican majority in the upcoming elections. Some state leaders are cooperating, while others resist due to legal or political concerns.
Key Facts
Republicans are pushing last-minute map changes in Southern states to target Democratic representatives.
Tennessee Republicans may remove the state’s last House Democrat, Rep. Steve Cohen, through redistricting.
South Carolina and Mississippi are also considering redraws that could threaten Democratic seats.
Louisiana paused its primaries and may redraw districts to affect Democratic lawmakers.
Alabama is waiting for the Supreme Court to lift a redistricting ban before acting.
Some leaders in Georgia and South Carolina refuse to hold special sessions or redraw maps despite pressure.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries believes Democrats can overcome these changes but warns it could limit their potential majority.
Democrats plan to work on redistricting reform nationwide to reduce partisan fights in the future.
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Sebastian Gorka, a senior official on the National Security Council, criticized people who oppose a war with Iran by using a phrase that implies they lack courage. He made these remarks while discussing the Trump administration’s new counterterrorism strategy.
Key Facts
Sebastian Gorka is the senior counterterrorism director at the National Security Council.
He spoke on a call with reporters about the Trump administration’s counterterrorism plan.
Gorka used the phrase “testicularly challenged” to describe critics of a potential war with Iran.
He said those opposing the conflict have a “low-T approach,” meaning low testosterone, implying they are weak on U.S. threats.
The new counterterrorism strategy from the Trump administration is described as long-awaited.
Gorka’s comments were made in the context of discussing threats to the United States from Iran.
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Stacey Abrams, a Democrat and voting rights advocate, spoke to Tennessee lawmakers about a plan to redraw the state's congressional districts. The proposed map would split the only majority-Black district in Tennessee and could weaken the chances of the state's only Democratic House member getting re-elected.
Key Facts
Stacey Abrams is a Democrat and former Georgia state House minority leader.
She works on voting rights issues.
Abrams testified before Tennessee lawmakers on Wednesday.
Tennessee is considering a new map for congressional districts.
The new map would break up the state’s only majority-Black district.
This district currently elects the only Democratic member of Tennessee’s U.S. House delegation.
The plan could reduce political representation for Black voters in Tennessee.
Lawmakers met in a special session to discuss this redistricting.
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Justice Neil Gorsuch of the U.S. Supreme Court spoke about the court's current state as it prepares to make many important decisions by July. He also discussed his new children's book during a rare interview.
Key Facts
The U.S. Supreme Court expects to make about 36 decisions by July.
Justice Neil Gorsuch gave a rare interview to CBS News.
The interview included discussion of a new children's book that Justice Gorsuch has released.
Justice Gorsuch addressed questions about whether the Supreme Court is more divided now.
The Supreme Court is at a busy point in its yearly schedule.
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