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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
The Department of Homeland Security, under President Donald Trump's administration, asked the Supreme Court to reinstate a changed immigration verification system. They want it back before the midterm elections because they believe its removal could affect election fairness.
Key Facts
The request was made to the Supreme Court on a Tuesday.
The system in question is called SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements).
SAVE helps check immigration status for various government benefits.
DHS claims the lower court’s order to stop SAVE is harmful to election integrity.
The Trump administration made these changes to SAVE before the midterms.
The DHS wants the system restored quickly for use in the upcoming elections.
The Solicitor General, D. John Sauer, spoke against the district court’s decision.
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On September 11, 2001, the U.S. Secret Service acted quickly to protect President George W. Bush and other leaders after the attacks on the World Trade Center. They followed emergency plans to move the president to safer locations, while agents in New York helped evacuate people from the buildings.
Key Facts
The Secret Service had a Crisis Center in Washington, D.C. monitoring the situation during the attacks.
Director Brian Stafford managed protective actions and considered threats to U.S. leadership.
The Secret Service activated the Continuity of Operations Plan, a federal plan to protect leadership during emergencies.
This level of activation was unprecedented, even compared to World War II.
Agents Tom Armas and John Buckley were inside the North Tower during the attack and helped lead people to safety after the South Tower collapsed.
Deputy Special Agent Edward "Eddie" Marinzel helped coordinate President Bush’s movements in Florida after the attacks.
The president was moved from Florida to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana instead of returning directly to Washington, D.C. for safety reasons.
These actions show the critical protective role the Secret Service played during the 9/11 attacks.
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Voters in New Hampshire are choosing candidates in a primary election to fill an open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Congressman Chris Pappas is competing for the Democratic nomination, while former Senator John E. Sununu is the leading Republican candidate, endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, is retiring after three terms.
Congressman Chris Pappas is running for the Democratic Senate nomination and has over $4 million in campaign funds.
Pappas’ main challenger in the Democratic primary is Dr. Karishma Manzur, a scientist and progressive activist without prior public office experience.
John E. Sununu, a former senator, is the front-runner in the Republican primary and has President Trump’s endorsement.
Sununu has sometimes criticized President Trump’s policies but remains the leading GOP candidate.
The Republican primary also includes Scott Brown, a former senator from Massachusetts and ex-ambassador.
New Hampshire Republicans control the state legislature but have not won a Senate seat since 2010.
The race is seen as important for both parties in the 2024 election cycle.
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President Donald Trump’s net worth is growing quickly, reaching about $6.5 billion, largely due to his business activities and stock trading. Despite this financial success, his approval rating has dropped to a record low of 33% among registered voters.
Key Facts
Forbes estimated President Trump’s net worth at around $6.5 billion in March.
Trump reportedly made $2.2 billion in 2025 from business interests like cryptocurrency sales and Truth Social posts.
Trump claimed on social media to have made “hundreds of billions” on stocks, although this figure is likely exaggerated.
The US government owns a nearly 10% stake in Intel, which has increased significantly in value, seen as a benefit to taxpayers.
Trump made over 1,000 stock trades in June, with his oil and gas holdings increasing by about $16 million due to the war with Iran.
Experts note that it is unusual and potentially problematic for a president to hold and trade individual company stocks.
A majority of Americans support laws to stop lawmakers and their families from trading stocks related to their work, but currently, such laws do not apply to the president.
Despite financial gains, Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 33%, a historical low.
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Norah O'Donnell has returned as a co-host on the TV show "CBS Mornings." She said she is feeling great to be back and is working alongside Gayle King and Nate Burleson.
Key Facts
Norah O'Donnell returned to co-host "CBS Mornings."
She joined Gayle King and Nate Burleson on the show.
O'Donnell expressed that she feels great after her return.
The announcement was shared on CBS News.
The show "CBS Mornings" is a morning news program on CBS.
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London Mayor Sadiq Khan criticized Westminster council for keeping strict rules that limit new bars and pubs in Soho, including bans on standing drinking ("vertical drinking"). Despite public opposition and a mayoral request to change the rules, the council is continuing with policies aimed at reducing nightlife activity, citing safety and policing concerns.
Key Facts
Westminster council has a "cumulative impact zone" that refuses most new bar and pub licenses in Soho unless under special circumstances.
81% of people who responded to a consultation disagreed with this licensing policy, and 84% said it would hurt business.
The council restricts vertical drinking, preferring pubs to have table service and seated customers only.
Mayor Khan demanded the council remove the cumulative impact zone and allow vertical drinking, but the council ignored this.
Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, supports vertical drinking as part of British culture.
Westminster council says some objections came from people misunderstanding their policy language.
The council argues that public safety and lack of police resources require strict controls on licenses.
Between 2023 and 2026, only 3.5% of licensing applications were fully approved as requested in Westminster.
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The White House marked Labor Day 2026 with a short video showing robots working in a factory, but no human workers appeared. This sparked discussion because Labor Day traditionally honors American workers, while the video focused on machines amid ongoing concerns about automation and job security.
Key Facts
The Labor Day 2026 video was 38 seconds long and showed automated machinery and robots in a factory.
No human workers appeared in the video, which ended with President Donald Trump signing a document.
The White House caption said the video celebrated workers and products made in America.
Critics said the video seemed "tone-deaf" by showing machines instead of people on a day meant to honor workers.
Around 542,000 industrial robots were installed worldwide in 2024, with high robot use in U.S. manufacturing.
Experts say many industrial jobs will change with new skills needed, making worker retraining important.
The White House later posted another message showing work boots at a construction site to emphasize human workers.
The video received mixed reactions, with some praising and others criticizing the focus on automation.
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Republican strategist Doug Heye criticized President Donald Trump for not using more money from his super PAC to support Republican candidates in the upcoming congressional elections. Heye said the GOP needs stronger financial backing to keep control of Congress.
Key Facts
Doug Heye is a Republican strategist and former communications director for the Republican National Committee.
Heye criticized President Trump on Monday for not directing enough super PAC money to GOP candidates.
The Republican Party is trying to keep control of the U.S. Congress in the fall elections.
Heye spoke about this issue during an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
Super PACs are political committees that can raise and spend unlimited money to support candidates but cannot coordinate directly with campaigns.
The financial support from Trump’s super PAC could impact the success of Republican candidates.
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A Virginia mother was found guilty of child abuse after allowing her 5-year-old son to walk alone to a nearby pond. This case has started a nationwide discussion about how much freedom young children should have and what counts as safe parenting.
Key Facts
The mother lives in Virginia.
She let her 5-year-old boy walk alone to a local pond.
She was convicted of child abuse because of this choice.
The case has gained attention across the United States.
People are debating how much independence children should be allowed.
The case raises questions about parenting rules and child safety.
News outlets like CBS News are covering the story.
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The Trump administration claimed that economic growth could balance out the $40 trillion federal debt. However, a government report shows the debt is expected to grow more than twice as fast as the economy in the next ten years.
Key Facts
The federal debt is about $40 trillion.
The Trump administration said economic growth could handle this debt.
A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) disagrees with this claim.
The GAO forecasts the debt will grow more than twice as fast as the economy over the next decade.
This means economic growth alone will not stop the debt from increasing.
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This article explains how different U.S. states teach about the September 11 attacks in public schools. Some states require specific lessons on 9/11 and related events, while others leave the decision to local school districts or offer general guidance.
Key Facts
Alabama requires fifth graders to learn about U.S. military actions since 1980, including post-9/11 conflicts, and high school juniors to evaluate the U.S. response to 9/11 such as the Patriot Act and Homeland Security.
Alaska has no statewide rule for teaching 9/11, leaving it up to local schools, but is starting to develop guidelines to help.
Arizona mandates 7th to 12th graders to receive age-appropriate 9/11 education around the anniversary date and provides recommended teaching materials.
Arkansas requires students to explain changes in U.S. foreign policy after 9/11, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and related legal cases.
California encourages schools to observe a moment of silence on September 11 and offers teaching prompts for certain history and democracy classes but leaves decisions mostly to local educators.
State laws and standards differ widely on how much detail and at what grade levels students learn about 9/11.
Some states focus on the impact of 9/11 on U.S. government powers and foreign policy.
Teaching about 9/11 is often included within broader lessons on modern U.S. history or international conflicts.
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A recent forecast shows Democrats and Republicans each have a 50% chance of controlling the U.S. Senate after the November midterm elections. This is a change from July, when Republicans had a better chance of keeping control, but now five key Senate races are too close to call.
Key Facts
The forecast comes from Decision Desk HQ, which runs 1 million simulations based on state-level polls and other data.
In July, Republicans had a 57% chance of keeping the Senate, Democrats had 43%. Now, both parties have an even 50% chance.
Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats; Democrats have 45 plus 2 independents who usually work with them.
Democrats need to gain 4 seats to have a majority of 51 seats. If the Senate splits 50-50, the Republican vice president (JD Vance) breaks ties, giving Republicans control.
Key states with close races include Maine, Texas, Ohio, Alaska, and Iowa.
Prediction markets are mixed: one gives Republicans a slight edge, while another favors Democrats.
The vice president can break Senate ties, according to the U.S. Constitution.
The forecast uses polls, political factors, and market data to predict control chances.
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A recent survey of 6,000 American voters shows that Democrats have a better chance of winning the upcoming elections by combining messages about lowering costs of living with fighting political corruption. Voters believe that addressing corruption makes promises to reduce expenses more believable.
Key Facts
The survey included voters important for the 2026 and 2028 elections and voters of color in the southern U.S.
71% of these voters are very worried about politicians rigging the system for their own benefit.
69% are very concerned about corruption wasting taxpayers’ money.
88% agree that both lowering costs and fighting corruption should be priorities.
73% are more likely to support candidates who promise to tackle both affordability and corruption together.
Voters see anti-establishment candidates as more willing to challenge the corrupt system.
Democrats are advised to link corruption by the Trump administration to economic struggles voters face.
If Democrats win, they need to act on both reducing costs and fighting corruption to keep voter trust.
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Republicans will hold their first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, Texas. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are the main speakers at the event.
Key Facts
The event is the first Republican midterm convention.
It will take place in Dallas, Texas.
President Donald Trump will headline the convention.
Vice President JD Vance will also be a key speaker.
The convention is planned around the upcoming midterm elections.
The event is covered by CBS News.
This gathering is a new format for the Republican Party.
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After the September 11, 2001 attacks, a group of New York City chefs organized an effort called "Operation Chefs with Spirit" to provide food for the workers at Ground Zero. They fed rescue and recovery workers for two months using meals prepared in local kitchens and transported by boats on the Hudson River.
Key Facts
Chef Don Pintabona and other New York chefs wanted to help after the 9/11 attacks but did not know how at first.
Pintabona was inspired by a page from a dictionary floating near his home that had encouraging words like "persevere" on it.
The chefs began cooking meals and delivering them to staging areas like Stuyvesant High School for first responders.
Transporting food through damaged streets was difficult, so they used boats on the Hudson River to deliver meals.
The group worked continuously for about two months to feed Ground Zero workers around the clock.
"Operation Chefs with Spirit" was a volunteer effort organized quickly by chefs, food workers, city officials, and a boat company.
The experience remains memorable for those involved, even 25 years later.
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A memorial event marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, is planned at Utah Valley University. Some student groups are protesting the event, criticizing the university for supporting the memorial and expressing concerns about Kirk’s views.
Key Facts
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University on September 10 last year while addressing a large crowd.
Turning Point USA, a conservative group Kirk co-founded, is organizing the "Freedom Built to Last Memorial" at the university’s UCCU Center on the anniversary date.
Several student groups, including Students for a Democratic Society, plan to protest the memorial event outside the venue.
Protesters say the university’s decision to close campus that day is seen as endorsing Kirk’s and Turning Point USA’s views.
The university states the campus closure is meant to provide time for reflection and healing, not to endorse the event.
Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Kirk, will stand trial and could face the death penalty; he pleaded not guilty.
An open letter from UVU students criticizes the university and calls for the memorial event to be canceled due to concerns about racism and divisiveness.
The letter asks UVU to deny future event permissions to Turning Point USA on campus to protect marginalized students.
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Former Republican Representative Charlie Dent criticized President Donald Trump’s social media posts that called New Mexico “New America.” Dent said these posts are strange and could harm Trump’s own political team before the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
Charlie Dent is a former Republican Representative from Pennsylvania.
Dent described Trump’s posts about New Mexico as “bizarre.”
President Trump referred to New Mexico as “New America” in his social media posts.
Trump posted an AI-generated map related to this claim.
Dent believes these posts may damage Trump’s team’s chances in the midterm elections.
The comments were made during an interview on the show “State of Play” with Peter Alexander.
This criticism comes just before the U.S. midterm elections, which occur every two years.
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A U.S. Air Force officer who was shot down in Iran shared his story for the first time on 60 Minutes. He spent two days alone in the mountains of Iran before being rescued in one of the largest U.S. military rescue operations.
Key Facts
The officer was part of a two-person crew shot down over Iran in April.
The pilot of the fighter jet was rescued within hours, but the officer stayed hidden for two days.
He was injured during the ejection from the aircraft.
The officer evaded Iranian forces while waiting for rescue.
His mission call sign was Dude 44 Bravo.
The rescue was one of the most complex in U.S. military history.
The 60 Minutes interview also included military leaders like Gen. Dan Caine, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Admiral Brad Cooper.
The full interview aired on Sept. 13 on CBS and Paramount+.
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Representative Jared Huffman says Christian nationalism is a serious danger to American democracy. He claims this movement has created a hidden religious influence in the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Mike Johnson.
Key Facts
Jared Huffman is a Representative from California.
He wrote a book called "No Prophets."
Huffman believes Christian nationalism threatens U.S. democracy.
He uses the term "shadow theocracy" to describe religious influence in Congress.
The "shadow theocracy" is said to exist in the House of Representatives.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is linked to this influence.
Huffman’s viewpoint highlights concerns about mixing religion and government.
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Prediction markets are online platforms where people trade bets on election results. These markets are growing fast but face criticism because some states say they act like unlicensed casinos and could affect trust in elections. Election officials worry that betting on outcomes might damage democracy, while market operators compare the activity to regular stock trading.
Key Facts
Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket allow people to trade contracts based on election outcomes.
These contracts are priced between 1 and 99 cents and cover races for offices like mayor, governor, and U.S. Senate.
Some states are trying to ban or regulate these platforms, calling them unlicensed gambling.
Election officials are concerned that financial betting could reduce public trust in election integrity.
Operators say their markets have insider trading rules to stop candidates from betting on their own races.
Kalshi suspended and fined a North Carolina candidate for trading on her own election.
Markets tend to predict election results accurately but have had some high-profile misses this year.
Courts are currently deciding how much control states have over regulating prediction markets.
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