Former CIA Director John Brennan has filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department and several Trump administration officials. He wants a court order to protect records related to two federal criminal investigations about him.
Key Facts
Brennan is facing two Justice Department criminal probes linked to his actions while in office.
One probe examines if Brennan lied to Congress in 2023 about Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
The second probe looks into alleged conspiracies by officials from the Obama and Biden administrations to block President Trump from office.
Brennan’s lawyers claim the investigations are politically motivated and meant to punish opponents of President Trump.
Brennan has asked a judge to require the government and intelligence agencies to keep all relevant materials safe.
The case is assigned to Judge Jia Cobb, appointed by President Biden.
Key figures in the probe include Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and attorneys linked to President Trump’s team.
Some law enforcement veterans worry the investigation is staffed with people who want a politically driven indictment of Brennan.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article says that although left-wing candidates claim to represent working-class people, the people who support democratic socialism are mostly wealthy and well-educated. This suggests there is a gap between who the candidates say they represent and who actually supports them.
Key Facts
Left-wing candidates say they speak for working-class people.
Supporters of democratic socialism tend to be wealthier.
Many supporters also have higher education.
There is a difference between the candidates' message and their actual supporters.
The working class may not feel represented by democratic socialists.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump claims the U.S. Constitution gives him the right to take almost any action as president. Recent Supreme Court decisions have mostly supported him, and documents show he has made about $2 billion from various sources since returning to office, including cryptocurrency and foreign deals.
Key Facts
President Trump says Article 2 of the Constitution allows him wide powers as president.
The Supreme Court has made several rulings that have favored President Trump recently.
A report from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics revealed Trump earned around $2 billion after starting his second term.
His income sources include golf courses, Trump-branded products, cryptocurrencies, and overseas deals.
President Trump received a Boeing 747 airplane as a gift from Qatar.
There are concerns about conflicts of interest between President Trump’s official role and his private business interests.
The Supreme Court stopped Trump’s attempt to fire a Federal Reserve governor without cause.
The court allowed the government to end temporary protected status for some migrants, affecting many people from unsafe countries.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A U.S. Navy helicopter made an emergency landing on water in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday morning. One of the four crew members on board is missing, and efforts to find them are ongoing.
Key Facts
The helicopter involved was an MH-60S Seahawk.
The MH-60S Seahawk is a two-engine helicopter used for various missions like search and rescue, special operations, and combat support.
The helicopter was assigned to a U.S. aircraft carrier.
The emergency water landing happened in the Arabian Sea.
Four crew members were on board during the incident.
One crew member is currently missing.
The U.S. military is handling the search and rescue efforts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Federal prosecutors in Chicago are reviewing over 1,000 grand jury cases after charges were dismissed in the "Broadview Six" case due to prosecutorial misconduct. U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros announced new rules and a large review of past cases to improve trust in the legal process.
Key Facts
More than 1,000 grand jury cases in the Northern District of Illinois are under review.
The review includes cases dating back nearly 20 years and current pending cases.
The Broadview Six case involved protesters arrested outside an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois.
Prosecutors engaged in improper conduct, like influencing grand jurors and sharing information that should have been confidential.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg was found responsible for some of the misconduct.
Mecklenburg was later fired from her job working for Senator Dick Durbin.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros created new rules for prosecutors about when to share grand jury materials.
Boutros’s office is conducting a broad and detailed review of past prosecutions to prevent similar problems.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A heat dome is causing very high and humid temperatures in the U.S. Northeast just before Fourth of July celebrations. Cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia are experiencing heat warnings, with temperatures reaching into the 90s and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, increasing health risks especially in urban areas.
Key Facts
A heat dome is a strong area of high pressure that traps heat and humidity over a region.
Temperatures in the Northeast are forecast to reach the high 90s and possibly over 100 degrees Fahrenheit by Thursday.
Humidity will make the heat feel even hotter, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Cities are more affected because materials like concrete and asphalt hold onto heat.
New York City has set up cooling centers and organized teams to check on homeless people during the heat wave.
Officials warn that people, especially those not used to such heat, should stay cool and avoid outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day.
The heat wave coincides with major Fourth of July events such as parades and outdoor celebrations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
House Republicans have delayed their own legislative plans for two weeks because of disagreements over President Trump's SAVE America Act. This has left important bills and decisions waiting without progress.
Key Facts
House Republicans are divided over the SAVE America Act proposed by President Trump.
The disagreement has paused the Republican agenda for two weeks.
Important legislation is not moving forward because of this stall.
The SAVE America Act is a key issue causing the infighting.
The conflict is happening within the Republican party in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United States has decided not to extend the USMCA trade agreement with Canada and Mexico beyond 2036. The agreement will continue as it is now, with yearly reviews, until it expires or a new deal is made.
Key Facts
The USMCA stands for United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
The deadline to decide on extending the agreement was July 1.
The US chose not to extend the deal until 2042.
The current agreement remains valid until 2036 with annual reviews.
President Trump signed the USMCA into law in 2020.
The USMCA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) from 1994.
The US Trade Representative said the US will work with Mexico and Canada to address trade issues.
The agreement could end if the countries decide or if problems aren’t resolved.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Vice President Vance said on Fox News that Democrats are moving toward communism because some Democratic candidates support socialist policies. He claimed these policies involve much bigger tax increases than just small changes.
Key Facts
Vice President Vance spoke on the Fox News show “The Ingraham Angle.”
He said recent Democratic primary wins by democratic socialists show a shift toward communism.
Vance argued the policies these candidates want involve large tax increases.
The discussion took place on Tuesday.
Vance responded to a question from host Laura Ingraham about democratic socialist candidates.
The vice president contrasted these policies with what he called “raising taxes a little bit.”
The comments focus on the U.S. political debate between Democrats and Republicans.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article says Democrats should focus on helping Americans with the rising cost of living. It suggests plans like making healthcare cheaper, improving access to childcare, and lowering utility bills to gain voter support.
Key Facts
Many Americans face a cost of living crisis.
Democrats want to reduce healthcare costs.
Expanding childcare access is part of their plan.
Lowering utility bills is another goal.
These efforts aim to regain trust from voters.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
E. Jean Carroll has asked a court to make President Donald Trump pay her nearly $5.8 million following a jury verdict that found he sexually abused her in the 1990s and defamed her in 2019. This request comes after the Supreme Court refused to hear Trump's appeal to overturn the 2023 civil jury decision.
Key Facts
A jury ruled that President Trump sexually abused E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.
The jury also found that Trump defamed Carroll after she spoke about the abuse publicly in 2019.
Carroll was awarded $5 million in damages by the jury.
Interest on the amount has increased the total to about $5.8 million.
The Supreme Court declined to hear President Trump’s appeal against the verdict.
Carroll’s lawyers say Trump is trying to delay paying the money.
The lawyers have asked a Manhattan federal court to order Trump to pay the full amount.
Carroll's legal team claims Trump has continued making statements they consider defamatory.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
John Brennan, who was the CIA Director, filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration. He wants a court to order officials to keep records from investigations that he says are aimed at him.
Key Facts
John Brennan is the former CIA Director.
He sued the Trump administration on Wednesday.
Brennan wants a court order to preserve records from investigations that target him.
He says these records are important to defend himself if he is charged again.
The lawsuit claims the investigations may be motivated by revenge.
The lawsuit names President Donald Trump and other top law officials as defendants.
It includes acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel.
The case was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure report shows his income and investments during his first year back in office. He earned money from branded products, share trading, and pensions from his past entertainment work, while First Lady Melania Trump made money from a documentary and sales of digital assets.
Key Facts
Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure report is 927 pages long, much longer than those of Vice-President JD Vance and former President Joe Biden.
Trump earned millions by licensing his name on products like his coffee-table book ($1.8 million), a branded Bible ($208,000), trainers and fragrances including a $249 Victory 47 perfume ($67,000), and a limited edition guitar ($36,000).
Melania Trump made $10.7 million from a documentary produced by Amazon, as well as $6 million from selling non-fungible tokens (a type of digital asset) and $520,000 from her book sales.
Trump’s financial report showed over 21,000 share trades in 2025, including investments in tech company Nvidia, which is important in AI and US-China trade relations.
Trump said his investments are managed by funds without his direct involvement.
He received $86,532 from two entertainment industry pensions based on his past acting and TV hosting roles, including his appearance in the movie Home Alone 2.
Melania was credited as a producer and the subject of the Amazon documentary, which cost $40 million to make and earned $7 million at the box office.
Trump quit the film and television actors’ union in 2021, but still collects pensions earned before the union merger in 2012.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Department of Justice told its staff to focus on prosecuting birth tourism fraud after the Supreme Court ruled on birthright citizenship. This guidance came after the court’s 6-3 decision changed how the government handles citizenship for children born in the U.S. to non-citizens.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court made a 6-3 ruling on birthright citizenship.
Birthright citizenship means a child born in the U.S. automatically becomes a citizen.
The Justice Department wants to prioritize cases of birth tourism fraud.
Birth tourism is when pregnant women come to the U.S. to give birth so their child gets citizenship.
The DOJ’s Office of the Deputy Attorney General issued a memo instructing staff on this new focus.
This action is a response to the Supreme Court decision affecting citizenship rules.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
After the Supreme Court blocked President Trump's order to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to noncitizen parents, his team and supporters shifted to a new plan to stop pregnant foreign women from entering the country. Officials and allies want to fight "birth tourism," where visitors come to the U.S. to have babies who automatically gain citizenship by birth.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship as unconstitutional.
Trump advisors propose banning pregnant foreign women from entering the U.S. to stop "birth tourism."
"Birth tourism" means traveling to the U.S. mainly to give birth and get citizenship for the child.
The Justice Department is pushing prosecutors to investigate visa fraud and related crimes linked to birth tourism.
Estimates say 20,000 to 26,000 babies are born yearly in the U.S. to foreign visitors, out of 3.6 million total births.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and some Trump supporters consider birth tourism a serious problem.
President Trump has not officially endorsed banning pregnant visitors but has criticized birthright citizenship on social media.
The debate follows the Supreme Court decision and continues discussions about immigration rules and citizenship.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump’s financial disclosure report shows he earned about $1.4 billion last year from his cryptocurrency businesses, including the family company World Liberty Financial and the $TRUMP meme coin. His administration has supported actions and laws to promote and regulate digital currencies, aiming to make the U.S. a leader in the crypto industry.
Key Facts
President Trump earned roughly $1.4 billion last year from cryptocurrency ventures.
The earnings came mainly from World Liberty Financial and the $TRUMP meme coin.
Trump’s administration reversed some crypto regulations from the previous administration.
Early in his term, Trump signed orders to support digital assets and blockchain technology growth.
He appointed a new SEC chair, Paul Atkins, who is more favorable to cryptocurrencies.
Trump created a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” to hold government-seized Bitcoin.
The GENIUS Act, supported by Trump, became the first major law regulating stablecoins.
The administration’s goal is to make the U.S. the world leader in cryptocurrency innovation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump arrived in North Dakota after flying for the first time on the new Air Force One plane. The plane was gifted to the United States by Qatar.
Key Facts
President Trump took his first flight on the new Air Force One.
The new Air Force One was donated by Qatar.
President Trump landed in North Dakota after the flight.
CBS News covered the event with reporter Nancy Cordes.
The flight marked the maiden voyage of the gifted plane.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Two people climbed to the highest point of the Empire State Building in New York City. They showed a banner with a message about love and peace at the top of the building’s radio and TV tower.
Key Facts
The event happened in New York City at the Empire State Building.
The two climbers reached the very top of the building’s transmission tower.
They displayed a banner that read, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”
It is unknown how they managed to climb so high on the building.
The Empire State Building is a famous skyscraper with a radio and television transmission tower on top.
Authorities have not explained what actions they will take following the climb.
The incident was reported recently within the last hour.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Trump’s administration has stopped sending millions of dollars in federal money to New York’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. This unit is responsible for investigating and prosecuting fraud and abuse in Medicaid healthcare services.
Key Facts
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) is part of New York state and looks into fraud and abuse in Medicaid-funded healthcare.
President Trump’s administration decided to freeze millions of federal dollars that normally go to this unit.
The decision was communicated in a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General.
The funding freeze affects efforts to investigate providers who commit fraud or abuse patients covered by Medicaid.
Medicaid is a government health program that helps low-income people pay for healthcare.
The MFCU also handles cases of patient neglect or mistreatment in facilities paid by Medicaid.
The move reflects a federal action directly impacting a state program linked to healthcare oversight.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump held a Great American State Fair on the National Mall that had low attendance and several problems. Key attractions like a ferris wheel had power issues, many states did not take part, and some performers canceled. The event faced criticism for high food prices and controversy over a Confederate flag at the fair.
Key Facts
The fair took place on the National Mall and was called the Great American State Fair.
Few people attended the event, and the ferris wheel suffered power cuts on the first day.
Several states and territories declined to participate, despite claims of full representation.
Many musical acts withdrew after learning the fair had a political tone.
President Trump held a campaign-style rally during the opening night.
The fair closed early on the second day due to a storm and extreme heat.
A Confederate flag was displayed and later removed, causing at least one sponsor to leave.
Food and drinks were very expensive, with items like a pretzel costing $25 and turkey legs $23.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
