Fact-first summaries of the news — stay informed, stay grounded.
Your favorite news sources, one calm feed — fact-first summaries that always link to the
original story. No outrage bait, and we tell you when you're caught up. How it works
US News
Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Lonnie Bunch III, the leader of the Smithsonian Institution, said he will retire. His decision comes as President Trump’s administration has disagreed with how the Smithsonian shows American history.
Key Facts
Lonnie Bunch III is the Smithsonian Institution’s first Black leader.
He is also the founder of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Bunch is 73 years old.
He announced his retirement on Tuesday.
The Trump administration has had disputes with the Smithsonian about how it presents American history.
The Smithsonian is a major group of museums and research centers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Amy Acton, who is running for governor in Ohio as a Democrat, thanked first responders after a man tried to attack her. The attack also injured several other people.
Key Facts
Amy Acton is a Democratic candidate for Ohio governor.
A man attempted to attack Amy Acton during a public event.
Several other people were hurt in the attack.
Acton publicly thanked first responders who helped after the incident.
The event was reported by CBS News journalist Ash-har Quraishi.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The trial of Lindsay Clancy, accused of killing her three children, ended in a mistrial because the jury could not agree on a verdict. Her lawyer hopes to reach a deal with prosecutors and has asked President Donald Trump to consider pardoning her.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is accused of murdering her three children: Cora, Dawson, and Callan.
The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision, resulting in a mistrial.
One juror believed Clancy was guilty despite having some doubt.
The jury considered charges ranging from not guilty by reason of insanity to first-degree murder.
The defense lawyer wants to negotiate a resolution with the prosecutors.
The lawyer has publicly requested President Donald Trump to consider granting Clancy a pardon.
The case is taking place in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
The judge asked the jury multiple times to try to reach an agreement before declaring the mistrial.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Vice President JD Vance has said that the Iran War is not a war. This statement has caused reactions because it differs from common understanding about wars.
Key Facts
JD Vance is the current Vice President of the United States.
He stated that the Iran War should not be called a war.
The Iran War generally refers to military actions involving the U.S. and Iran.
Wars are usually defined as armed conflicts between nations or groups.
Some people disagree with Vance’s statement about the Iran War.
The statement has led to debate among veterans and officials.
Vance served as a Marine before becoming Vice President.
The article suggests Vance’s claim affects his relationship with fellow Marines.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Millions of Social Security recipients may get about $75 more per month in 2027 if the forecasted cost-of-living increase happens. This increase is meant to help benefits keep up with rising prices for everyday needs like food and housing.
Key Facts
The projected increase, called the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), could be between 3.5% and 3.6% for 2027.
Last year’s COLA was 2.8%, so this would be a bigger increase.
The average monthly benefit might go up from about $2,086 to around $2,161.
The exact increase depends on each person’s current payment amount.
Inflation and global factors, like conflicts and climate issues, are pushing prices higher.
The final COLA will be officially announced by the Social Security Administration in October 2026.
Social Security benefits make up the main income for many retirees.
Experts say retirees should consider their own costs for things like health care and housing, which may rise faster than general inflation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, survivors and first responders continue to face health problems. Many struggle with ongoing physical illnesses and mental health issues related to the events of that day.
Key Facts
The 9/11 terror attacks occurred on September 11, 2001.
Survivors and first responders were exposed to harmful dust and trauma during the attacks.
Many have long-term physical health problems, such as respiratory diseases.
Mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and PTSD affect many survivors and responders.
Health struggles continue even 25 years after the attacks.
Programs exist to provide medical care and support for these individuals.
The health effects are a lasting consequence of the 9/11 tragedy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article compares the behavior and conflicts in President Donald Trump’s Republican Party to the drama seen in the Reality TV show "The Real Housewives." It shows how loyalty, public feuds, and social status in Trump’s GOP resemble the personal and public disputes played out on the TV series.
Key Facts
"The Real Housewives of New York City" TV show returned to Bravo with Carole Radziwill rejoining the cast.
The show focuses on loyalty, betrayal, and social rank among its cast members, which the article compares to politics in Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump, a former reality TV star, is said to understand these personal and public conflicts well.
GOP members’ loyalty and status shifts can be public and intense, similar to the show’s drama.
Examples include politicians like Liz Cheney losing her leadership role after opposing Trump, and Marjorie Taylor Greene losing Trump’s support after disagreeing with him.
Social media and “receipts” (proof like texts and screenshots) play a big role in both Housewives drama and GOP disputes.
Politicians can be exiled, return, or switch sides just like reality TV cast members.
While the comparison is not perfect, the article suggests reality TV offers a useful lens to understand political conflicts today.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is using polygraph tests to find military and civilian leakers at the Pentagon amid reports of weapon shortages and poor conditions in the U.S. war effort. President Trump supports this crackdown on leaks, while media outlets continue to report on problems related to the war and Pentagon secrecy.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is giving polygraph tests to about 50 people at the Pentagon to find leakers.
This is an unusual and large-scale use of polygraph tests in the Pentagon.
President Trump publicly supports hunting down leakers and threatens long jail terms.
Reports have highlighted shortages of U.S. weapons and poor conditions on an aircraft carrier.
Hegseth has limited reporters’ access to the Pentagon and stopped holding news briefings on the war.
Some Pentagon journalists have been fired, and “influencers” promoting pro-Trump messages have been brought in.
The war's unpopularity has lowered President Trump’s approval ratings ahead of the midterm elections.
Media and freedom of the press groups emphasize that leaks can reveal important information and serve the public interest.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Patrick Clancy’s lawyer has publicly asked people to stop spreading false claims against him related to the death of his three children. Lindsay Clancy, his ex-wife, was on trial accused of killing their children but the trial ended in a mistrial because the jury couldn’t decide.
Key Facts
Patrick Clancy is the father of three children who died, and his ex-wife Lindsay Clancy is accused of killing them.
Lindsay Clancy was charged with first-degree murder and pleaded not guilty.
Her lawyer said she had postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness, when the children died.
The trial lasted about six weeks in Plymouth Superior Court, Massachusetts.
The jury could not agree on a verdict, so the judge declared a mistrial.
Patrick Clancy’s attorney says he and his family are victims of widespread false accusations on social media.
The attorney warned that those spreading these false claims may face legal actions.
The case has brought attention to postpartum mental health and its serious effects.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Attorney General Todd Blanche will speak at a memorial event at the Department of Justice on September 11, 2024. The event honors the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in 2001, as the accused mastermind of the attacks faces legal proceedings.
Key Facts
Attorney General Todd Blanche is leading a 9/11 memorial event at the DOJ headquarters.
The event marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who claims to be behind the attacks, has been ordered to stand trial.
The attacks targeted the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C.
The DOJ is highlighting the anniversary with this official ceremony.
This event reflects ongoing legal and memorial activities related to 9/11.
The ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, shortly before the anniversary date.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump’s administration has asked the Supreme Court to review rules about mail-in voting. Election law expert David Becker provided an update on the legal situation.
Key Facts
The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to decide on mail-in voting restrictions.
The case involves rules that affect how people can vote by mail.
David Becker, an expert in election law, explained the status of the legal fight.
The request to the Supreme Court means the issue is still active in the courts.
This is part of ongoing debates about voting methods in U.S. elections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump suggested renaming the state of New Mexico to “New America.” New Mexico officials and lawmakers, mostly Democrats, opposed this idea and said the president was trying to distract people from bigger issues like the conflict with Iran and rising prices.
Key Facts
President Trump has renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” and Lake Ontario to “Lake America” through executive orders.
He supports changing New Mexico’s name to “New America” and shared this idea on social media.
The federal government cannot rename states; only New Mexico voters can approve a name change through a state vote.
New Mexico’s governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, and other local leaders oppose changing the state’s name.
Democratic senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján have spoken out against the renaming.
Congressman Melanie Stansbury said New Mexico is proud of its name and will not change it.
Even a Republican candidate for governor, Greg Hull, opposed renaming, citing the state’s history and identity.
Critics say the renaming efforts distract from other issues like the war with Iran and high living costs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump posthumously gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Welles Crowther, who died saving lives during the 9/11 attacks. The award was presented to Crowther’s family at an event marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Key Facts
Welles Crowther was an equities trader and volunteer firefighter.
He died during the 9/11 attacks while saving others.
President Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his death.
The award ceremony took place ahead of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Crowther’s mother and sister received the Medal of Freedom on his behalf.
The event was called Steel Across America, which remembers the 9/11 anniversary.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Dan Osborn, an independent candidate in Nebraska, criticized President Donald Trump’s border wall as a “symbol of racism” in leaked audio from a July meeting. Osborn is running against Republican Senator Pete Ricketts in a conservative state where winning requires support from some Republicans and independents.
Key Facts
Dan Osborn is running as an independent against Republican Senator Pete Ricketts in Nebraska.
Osborn called Trump’s border wall a “symbol of racism” during a meeting with Latino and Black Democrats.
Previously, Osborn had said he supported Trump’s border wall in his campaign ads.
Nebraska is a strongly Republican state, and Trump won there by more than 20 points in the last election.
Some recent polls show the race between Osborn and Ricketts is close, with both candidates around 47% support.
There is no Democratic candidate running in this Senate race.
Osborn says he won’t join either party’s group in the Senate if elected.
Republican campaign officials accuse Osborn of lying about his political views.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
New York City has released over 170,000 pages of documents showing that city officials knew the air after the 9/11 attacks was unsafe, despite telling the public it was safe to breathe. The documents reveal how the city handled information about toxic air and will help affected people access health benefits.
Key Facts
The documents include air quality reports, records of contamination, and internal city communications.
More firefighters have died from 9/11-related illnesses than those killed during the attacks.
The document release came after a settlement with the group 9/11 Health Watch, which sought greater transparency.
The city has created an online portal costing over $34 million to share these records publicly.
The portal contains materials from the office of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and other important reports.
The city plans to keep updating the portal and appoint staff to help victims get health benefits.
Since 2011, the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund has paid more than $16.8 billion to over 71,000 people affected.
Former EPA head Christine Todd Whitman admitted she was wrong to say the air was safe right after 9/11.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Some Republican lawmakers are now open to raising taxes on higher earners to help fix Social Security's money problems. The program’s trust funds might run out in the early 2030s, which could lead to automatic benefit cuts unless Congress acts.
Key Facts
Social Security provides money for retirement, survivors, and disability benefits to many Americans.
The program’s trust funds are expected to be depleted in the early 2030s.
If funds run out, Social Security benefits could automatically be reduced.
Republicans have historically opposed tax increases but some are now considering raising the payroll tax cap.
The current payroll tax only applies to earnings up to $184,500 (for 2026).
Senators Bernie Moreno (R) and Elizabeth Warren (D) support raising or removing the income cap for Social Security taxes.
Demographic changes—like more retirees and longer lifespans—are causing Social Security’s financial challenges.
Lawmakers face pressure to find ways to increase funding to prevent major benefit cuts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Republican Party leaders and members are gathering in Texas for their first-ever midterm convention. This event brings together prominent Republicans to discuss party strategies and goals ahead of upcoming elections.
Key Facts
The gathering is the Republican Party's first midterm convention.
It is taking place in Texas.
Prominent Republican figures are attending the event.
The convention focuses on planning for upcoming election campaigns.
The event aims to unify party members and strategize for success.
CBS News reported on the event with correspondent Shawna Mizelle.
The convention marks a new approach for the Republican Party during midterm years.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A singer known as D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, is on trial for the murder of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. The family of the victim wants Burke to receive the death penalty. Burke denies the charges, which include first-degree murder and sexual abuse.
Key Facts
Celeste Rivas Hernandez, aged 14, was found dead with her body parts in the trunk of Burke’s Tesla car.
Burke, 21 years old, started his music career by posting Fortnite video montages.
Prosecutors say Burke and Celeste had a sexual relationship starting when she was 13, which is below the legal age of consent.
Prosecutors claim Burke killed Celeste in April 2025 after she visited his home, allegedly to stop her from revealing their relationship.
Burke faces charges of first-degree murder, lewd acts with a minor, and mutilation of a body. He denies these charges.
Celeste’s family publicly called for the death penalty for Burke during a statement on what would have been her 16th birthday.
Burke’s original legal team withdrew from the case in August without explanation and was replaced by a public defender.
Burke is held without bail, and no trial date has been set yet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal appeals court has confirmed a decision that stops the IRS from giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the address information of millions of people. The court ruled against ICE’s broad request for these addresses.
Key Facts
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld a lower court’s ruling.
The ruling prevents the IRS from sharing address data with ICE.
ICE requested the last known addresses of millions of people.
The court considered ICE’s request to be too broad and not justified.
The decision protects the privacy of the individuals whose data was requested.
The case focuses on the limits of government agencies sharing personal information.
The ruling is related to how immigration enforcement gathers data.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Voters in New Hampshire are choosing candidates for Congress, governor, and the state Legislature. Senator Jeanne Shaheen is not running again, leading to many competitive races with familiar political figures trying to win nominations.
Key Facts
New Hampshire voters are selecting nominees for Congress, governor, and the state Legislature.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen decided not to run for reelection.
Shaheen’s decision led to many competitive races for her Senate seat and other offices.
Two Republicans competing to replace Shaheen are former Senators John E. Sununu and Scott Brown.
The Democratic primary for the Senate seat includes Representative Chris Pappas, who is leaving his Congressional seat.
Several candidates, including Shaheen’s daughter Stefany Shaheen, are running for Pappas’ former seat.
Many candidates are running again after previous campaigns.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
