A bill to expand veterans benefits, called the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, stalled in the House of Representatives due to disagreement over how to pay for it. Some lawmakers and veterans' groups worry that new benefits could lead to cuts in future disability payments for certain veterans.
Key Facts
The bill, H.R. 9237, aims to improve benefits and healthcare for disabled veterans, survivors, caregivers, and families.
It was sponsored by House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost, a Republican from Illinois.
The Major Richard Star Act, part of the bill, would allow about 50,000 combat-injured veterans to receive both military retirement pay and disability compensation without reductions.
Some veterans oppose the bill because it could reduce future disability payments for conditions like tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and sleep apnea.
The Love Lives On Act would expand benefits to military widows and widowers who remarry.
The bill also includes support for caregivers, mental health programs, and improvements in claims processing.
Lawmakers disagree on how to fund the expanded benefits, causing the bill to be highly controversial.
The vote was delayed as lawmakers and veterans’ groups discussed concerns about the bill’s financial impact.
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The White House has suspended a teleprompter operator who was accused of betting on President Trump’s speeches. The operator is cooperating with an investigation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Key Facts
The teleprompter operator worked at the White House.
The operator was accused of placing bets related to President Trump’s speeches.
The White House press secretary confirmed the suspension.
The operator is on administrative leave, meaning temporarily removed from official duties.
The operator is cooperating with the CFTC, a government agency that regulates financial markets.
The announcement was made during a White House press briefing.
No further details on the investigation or outcome have been shared.
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Senator Jon Ossoff criticized President Donald Trump before his planned speech, saying Trump will claim that China interfered in U.S. elections. Ossoff described Trump as someone who has not accepted the results of the 2020 election.
Key Facts
Senator Jon Ossoff represents Georgia.
President Trump is scheduled to give a prime-time speech.
Reports say Trump will accuse China of meddling in U.S. elections.
Ossoff called Trump "the world’s most famous sore loser."
The criticism relates to Trump’s ongoing grievances about the 2020 election results.
The speech is expected to focus on these past election issues.
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The House Budget Committee approved a plan to move forward with a third reconciliation bill. This is an important step for Republican leaders as they try to finalize the bill before their August break.
Key Facts
The House Budget Committee voted 20-14 to advance the budget resolution.
This bill is the third reconciliation measure being considered.
The committee's approval is necessary before the full House can vote on the bill.
Republican leaders want to pass the bill before leaving for a month-long recess in August.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) was involved in the discussions around the bill.
Reconciliation bills are special budget-related laws that can pass the Senate with a simple majority, avoiding a filibuster.
This process is key to advancing major policy changes with a slim Senate majority.
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The article discusses voter preferences in a political race involving Abdul El-Sayed. It suggests that Black voters are not supporting El-Sayed, who is described as a left-leaning socialist, and instead are backing his opponent.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is a political candidate.
He is described as a left-leaning socialist.
Black voters are not supporting El-Sayed.
These voters are supporting his opponent in the race.
Similar patterns were observed in races involving Graham Platner and Darializa Avila Chevalier.
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Senator Peter Welch asked former Attorney General John Ashcroft about how a president and the attorney general work together during a confirmation hearing. The discussion focused on the relationship between these two roles in the government.
Key Facts
The event was a confirmation hearing for Todd Blanche.
Senator Peter Welch, a Democrat, led the questioning.
John Ashcroft, a former Attorney General, answered questions.
The main topic was the dynamic between the president and attorney general.
The hearing was covered by CBS News.
The discussion helps understand the balance of power and cooperation in U.S. government roles.
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Representative Becca Balint criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to require testosterone tests for U.S. military members aged 30 and older. Secretary Hegseth said that all service members will get these tests and can choose treatment if needed.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced testosterone screenings for military members age 30 and above.
The tests will apply to all service members, regardless of gender.
Service members who need treatment after the test can decide whether to receive it.
Representative Becca Balint made a comment linking the screenings to “homoeroticism.”
The policy is a recent announcement from the Pentagon this week.
Testosterone is a hormone that affects physical traits and health.
The screenings are part of military health measures.
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Senator Thom Tillis said he will not support Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general unless Blanche meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. Tillis expressed a generally favorable view of Blanche but emphasized the importance of this step in the confirmation process.
Key Facts
Senator Thom Tillis is from North Carolina and a member of the Republican Party.
Todd Blanche is the acting attorney general nominee.
Blanche recently answered several hours of questions during his confirmation hearings.
Epstein survivors have contacted the Justice Department seeking meetings.
Tillis wants Blanche to meet with these survivors before advancing his nomination.
Tillis described this meeting as an important step toward approving Blanche.
This demand reflects attention to the handling of Epstein-related cases in the Justice Department.
The nomination vote depends partly on Blanche agreeing to this meeting.
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New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows big differences in how much money people typically have across different states. Hawaii has the highest median net worth, while Oklahoma has the lowest. The data also highlights wealth gaps based on race and education.
Key Facts
The median net worth in the U.S. in 2024 is $204,900.
Hawaii has the highest median net worth at $643,300.
Oklahoma has the lowest median net worth at $61,080.
Wealth includes home value, retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s.
10% of households have zero or negative net worth, while 10% have over $1.8 million.
White and Asian households are more likely to have over $1 million than Black or Hispanic households.
Nearly 25% of Black households have zero or negative net worth.
Higher education levels correspond with higher median net worth.
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A White House teleprompter operator reportedly earned almost $100,000 by betting on President Donald Trump’s speeches using a prediction market website called Kalshi. CBS News confirmed this information through its reporting.
Key Facts
The person involved worked as a teleprompter operator at the White House.
They made nearly $100,000 in bets related to President Trump's speeches.
The bets were placed on Kalshi, a prediction market platform.
Prediction markets let people bet on outcomes of future events.
CBS News verified this information through their reporting.
The story focuses on U.S. government employees and activities linked to President Trump.
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Senator Thom Tillis said he will not support Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination until Blanche meets with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. Tillis wants this meeting before the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on Blanche’s confirmation.
Key Facts
Senator Thom Tillis wants Todd Blanche to meet Epstein survivors before voting to advance his nomination for attorney general.
Blanche is the acting attorney general and is up for confirmation by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Dani Bensky, an Epstein survivor, testified that her personal information was mistakenly made public by the Justice Department.
Blanche apologized for mistakes in releasing Epstein-related documents and said staff could meet survivors, but he must go through their lawyers.
The Judiciary Committee vote on Blanche’s nomination will happen in at least two weeks.
The committee is closely divided between Republicans and Democrats, making Tillis’s vote important.
Senator John Cornyn, another Republican whose support is needed, lost his primary.
Blanche faced questions about a $10 billion lawsuit settlement with President Trump related to IRS tax return leaks.
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George Santos, a former congressman from New York who was convicted in 2024 of wire fraud and identity theft, will appear on a Fox reality TV show. He will compete in the fifth season of “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” a show where celebrities face military-style challenges.
Key Facts
George Santos served as a representative from New York.
In 2024, he was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Santos confirmed his participation in a Fox reality TV show.
The show is called “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.”
It is a competition where celebrities face military-style challenges.
This will be the show’s fifth season.
The show airs on the Fox network.
Santos’ involvement marks a move into entertainment after his political and legal troubles.
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Mike Collins, a Republican Senate candidate in Georgia supported by President Donald Trump, is linked to his son-in-law David Alan Scheer, a white nationalist influencer. Scheer has shared antisemitic and racist content online, and he is involved in Collins’s political activities and campaign events.
Key Facts
Mike Collins represents Georgia’s 10th congressional district and is running for Senate in the 2024 midterm elections.
Collins was endorsed by President Donald Trump and has expressed denial of the 2020 election results.
David Alan Scheer, Collins’s son-in-law, is known for promoting white nationalist views and antisemitic conspiracy theories on social media.
Scheer has over 1.5 million followers across multiple social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram.
Scheer shared Nazi imagery and content from the Patriot Front, a white supremacist hate group.
Scheer voted from a property owned by Collins and appeared in Collins’s campaign photos and events.
Scheer made public statements calling for racial purity and exclusion of non-white groups from America.
Scheer has spread false claims blaming Jews for major historical events and conspiracy theories involving political figures.
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Gabriel Perez, a teleprompter operator for President Donald Trump since 2016, is under federal investigation for allegedly using his access to Trump’s speeches to place bets on specific words or topics. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is negotiating a settlement requiring Perez to give back his profits and stop these bets. Perez has been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
Key Facts
Gabriel Perez has operated President Trump’s teleprompter since 2016.
He is accused of betting over $100,000 on whether certain words or topics would appear in Trump’s speeches.
Perez allegedly placed bets on more than a dozen speeches, including major events like the State of the Union.
Kalshi, the betting platform used, detected suspicious trades and alerted federal regulators.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is handling the investigation and negotiating a settlement.
Perez continues to cooperate with regulators and was placed on paid administrative leave by the White House.
His job involves real-time control of the teleprompter as President Trump often deviates from the script.
This situation raises questions about presidential speech security and ethics rules for White House staff.
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Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, said many Democrats in the House support an amendment to stop U.S. aid to Israel. He believes this shows that people’s views on this issue are changing.
Key Facts
Rep. Thomas Massie is the only Republican supporting the amendment to cut U.S. aid to Israel.
Many Democrats in the House of Representatives back the amendment.
The amendment would stop American tax dollars from being sent to Israel.
Massie spoke about this on the show MS NOW’s “Morning...”
He said the support for the amendment reflects shifting opinions on aid to Israel.
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President Donald Trump plans to give a primetime speech on July 16 focusing on the integrity of the 2020 election, which he lost. The speech may include information from newly declassified intelligence reports about foreign attempts to interfere in that election.
Key Facts
President Trump will address the nation on July 16 about election integrity.
The speech is expected to focus mainly on the 2020 presidential election.
White House officials have hinted the speech will discuss foreign interference in the 2020 election.
Trump has made claims about problems with mail-in voting that are unproven.
He supports the SAVE America Act, a bill aimed at tightening voter registration and ID rules.
The administration has not provided many details before the speech.
Trump said free and fair elections are essential for the country.
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At least one person has died in flooding caused by heavy rain in central Texas, in the same area hit by deadly floods last summer. Emergency officials are urging people to evacuate as the Guadalupe River continues to rise rapidly, causing dangerous conditions.
Key Facts
The flooding is happening along the Guadalupe River in central Texas.
Last summer, more than 130 people died in flash floods in this region.
Among those who died last year were 25 children and 2 counselors at Camp Mystic, a girls' summer camp near Kerrville.
The Guadalupe River rose 32 feet in just four hours during the recent floods.
Emergency officials are actively rescuing people as floodwaters rise.
Residents are being told by the National Weather Service to move to higher ground immediately.
Camp Mystic, the site of last year's tragedy, has not reopened and filed for bankruptcy this summer.
The flooding affects multiple counties including Uvalde, Kerr, and Kendall in South Texas.
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The U.S. Mint will produce a new $1 coin with President Donald Trump's face to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Although the coin is legal tender, many people may avoid spending it because of political opinions, making it likely to become a collectible rather than regular currency.
Key Facts
The new $1 coin features President Donald Trump's face and the phrases "In God We Trust," "Liberty," and "1776-2026."
The coin has a gold color but is made from nonprecious metals.
It will be released for circulation in the fall of 2024.
U.S. law generally prohibits coins bearing the image of living presidents, which may lead to lawsuits and protests.
People who dislike President Trump may refuse to accept or quickly spend the coin to get rid of it.
Supporters of President Trump are likely to keep the coin as a collectible or gift it to others.
A similar situation occurred in 1926 with President Calvin Coolidge's image on a coin, which also became a collector’s item.
Despite political feelings, most people use money for transactions, so the coin’s value and use are expected to continue.
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Heavy rain caused flash flooding in central Texas, leading to dozens of rescues and at least one death. Authorities warned people near the Leona River in Uvalde to move to higher ground due to the risk of a large wall of water.
Key Facts
Over 40 people were rescued from homes, cars, and floodwaters by Texas Game Wardens and fire departments.
More than a foot of rain fell since Monday, sometimes at a rate of 3 inches per hour.
The Medina River, usually shallow, rose significantly because of the rain.
A tornado near San Antonio caused strong winds up to 100 mph, damaging buildings and causing power issues.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed at least one death related to the flooding.
Residents in Uvalde were warned about a possible 20-foot wall of water from the Leona River overflowing.
Flood conditions are the worst some areas have seen since 2015.
The storm system brought both heavy rain and a tornado to parts of Texas.
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A federal appeals court ordered the release of Raheem Fulton, a Jamaican man in U.S. immigration detention with serious kidney disease, because his health condition and ongoing legal issues justify bail. Fulton faces deportation after a burglary conviction but requires regular dialysis and adequate medical care that ICE had not fully provided.
Key Facts
Raheem Fulton is a Jamaican national detained by ICE and faces deportation due to a burglary conviction.
He has end-stage kidney disease, requiring regular dialysis treatment to survive.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit granted him bail pending his legal appeal.
The court found his medical condition and unresolved legal claims meet the high standard for bail.
Fulton argued ICE failed to provide proper medical discharge planning before deportation.
ICE did not facilitate his kidney transplant evaluation despite medical referrals.
The government did not claim Fulton was a risk to public safety or likely to flee.
The court concluded that deporting Fulton without dialysis would likely cause his death.
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