Representative Ro Khanna from California said he regrets not listening to his wife’s concerns about Graham Platner, a former Maine Senate candidate who is accused of sexual assault. Khanna had supported Platner’s campaign and even appeared at a rally with him last month.
Key Facts
Ro Khanna is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California.
Graham Platner is a former candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine.
Platner faces accusations of sexual assault.
Khanna had publicly supported Platner’s campaign.
Khanna attended a campaign rally with Platner in the recent past.
Khanna now says he should have listened to his wife’s warnings about Platner.
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A bipartisan election panel in Wisconsin found that Elon Musk probably broke the state's election bribery law by giving $1 million in checks to voters during a Supreme Court election. The panel voted mostly in favor of sending complaints against Musk to the local district attorney for further investigation.
Key Facts
Elon Musk gave out $1 million in checks to voters in Wisconsin.
This occurred during the state’s Supreme Court election last year.
House lawmakers questioned Jeffrey Kessler, head of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), about the Trump administration’s policies on controlling exports of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips. The discussion focused on how the government manages the sale of these important technologies overseas.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Kessler leads the Bureau of Industry and Security, which controls export rules for sensitive technologies.
He appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Lawmakers asked about the Trump administration’s record on selling advanced AI chips to other countries.
The BIS is responsible for enforcing export controls to protect U.S. technology.
The committee discussed the bureau’s budget during the hearing.
Advanced AI chips are important for both commercial and security uses.
Export rules aim to prevent sensitive technology from reaching rival nations.
This hearing shows congressional interest in how export policies are managed under President Trump.
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Two Republican lawmakers have asked the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to investigate the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) over its recent campaign against a large veterans benefits bill. The lawmakers are concerned that VFW’s use of strong imagery and statements may violate rules for organizations that help veterans with benefits claims.
Key Facts
House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost and Representative Jack Bergman requested the VA review the VFW’s actions.
The dispute is about the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, which includes over 60 veterans-related measures expanding benefits but also changing compensation for some conditions.
The VFW opposed parts of the bill, using social media posts showing veterans facing a firing squad image, prompting Republican criticism.
Lawmakers say this imagery is inflammatory and could encourage political violence.
The VFW states their campaign highlights harmful cuts to future veterans' benefits.
The investigation request asks if the VFW follows accreditation standards and if its conduct fits its role helping veterans with claims.
The VA has not yet said if it will start a formal investigation.
Some observers say investigating the VFW could be a way to pressure veterans’ advocates during a benefits debate.
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The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, stopping the twice-yearly clock changes. The bill now moves to the Senate, where its approval is uncertain.
Key Facts
The House voted 308 to 117 in favor of making daylight saving time permanent.
The bill allows states to stay on standard time if they had exemptions before the federal change.
Hawaii and most of Arizona already use standard time all year.
Supporters say permanent daylight saving time could improve sleep, health, and the economy.
Opponents worry that darker mornings in winter could harm health and safety.
The Senate passed a similar bill in 2022, but it was not approved by the House then.
President Donald Trump has expressed mixed opinions on the issue but said he would sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
Daylight saving time was first introduced in 1918 to save energy during World War I and has changed several times since.
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Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, known for safely landing a plane on the Hudson River in 2009, has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. He shared the news on his website, saying he experiences some memory problems but is focused on speaking openly about the condition.
Key Facts
Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is 75 years old.
He is famous for safely landing a damaged plane on the Hudson River in New York City in 2009.
He was recently diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
Symptoms include difficulty remembering names, forgetting recent stories, and trouble sleeping.
He described this as a new challenge that affects how he can be of service to others.
Sullenberger emphasizes the importance of talking openly about Alzheimer's disease.
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Senate Democrats blocked a $1 trillion defense bill because they oppose President Donald Trump’s ongoing war with Iran. The bill, which would raise defense spending and increase troop pay, failed to get enough votes as Democrats protested the continuing conflict.
Key Facts
The Senate vote on the defense bill was 50-46, falling short of the needed majority.
The bill is called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The NDAA includes a substantial increase in Pentagon spending and a pay raise for military members.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer opposed the bill due to the ongoing war in Iran.
The war in Iran has lasted five months without a clear plan to end it.
The White House recently announced it had resumed bombing strikes against Iran.
The renewed conflict has caused economic problems, including unstable gas prices.
Democrats say the defense bill should not approve or support further war actions.
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John Sandweg, who used to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), suggested that ICE should stop making traffic stops for now. He said this pause should last until the agency can review and improve how it handles these stops.
Key Facts
John Sandweg is the former acting director of ICE.
ICE has temporarily been making traffic stops.
Sandweg recommends pausing these traffic stops completely for now.
The pause is meant to allow time to review ICE’s traffic stop practices.
The goal is to ensure these stops are done properly and fairly.
Sandweg expressed his views publicly on Tuesday.
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President Donald Trump said Gulf leaders asked him to change his plan of charging fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Instead of tolls, they proposed making trade deals and investing billions of dollars in the U.S.
Key Facts
President Trump originally planned to charge a 20% toll on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Gulf state leaders, including kings and emirs, asked him to stop the toll plan.
They proposed investment in the U.S. through trade deals instead of paying tolls.
President Trump announced this change during a news briefing in the Oval Office.
The Gulf states offered to invest billions of dollars in the United States.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route for global trade.
The president said this was a result of direct discussions with Gulf leaders.
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Darline Graham has been sworn in as a U.S. Senator to finish the term of her late brother, Lindsey Graham. The oath ceremony happened three days after Lindsey Graham passed away.
Key Facts
Darline Graham is Lindsey Graham’s younger sister.
She took office to complete the remainder of Lindsey Graham’s Senate term.
Lindsey Graham died suddenly three days before the swearing-in.
Senator Chuck Grassley administered the oath of office.
Darline Graham is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.
The event took place recently, within the last day.
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A man died after being hit by a semi truck in Florida while fleeing from immigration agents during an encounter. This is the third death related to immigration enforcement in the U.S. within one week.
Key Facts
The incident happened Tuesday morning in St. Augustine, Florida, at a convenience store parking lot.
Four men were involved in an encounter with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), part of ICE.
One man ran into the busy road and was struck by a semi truck; he died at the scene.
The semi truck driver stopped and tried to help the injured man.
This death follows two other immigration enforcement-related shootings in Texas and Maine last week.
The dead man was reported to be 28 years old, but his identity has not been released.
It is unclear if the other three men fled or were arrested.
Border Patrol may have been present during the incident, but ICE has not commented.
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The CBS News program "The Takeout with Major Garrett" on July 14 covered recent events related to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency after deadly shootings occurred in Texas and Maine. The show also featured a discussion with an aide to Representative Ro Khanna about his experience when he was detained in the West Bank.
Key Facts
The news program aired on July 14.
It covered scrutiny of ICE following fatal shootings in Texas and Maine.
ICE is a U.S. government agency that handles immigration enforcement.
An aide to Representative Ro Khanna was interviewed about being detained in the West Bank.
The West Bank is a territory in the Middle East.
The program was available on CBS News and CBS News App.
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Two immigrants were fatally shot by ICE agents in one week, but neither incident was recorded on body cameras because many ICE officers do not have this equipment. Although plans exist to issue body cameras to all ICE officers, the rollout has been slow and incomplete, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Key Facts
ICE agents fatally shot two immigrants within seven days, with no body camera footage available for either case.
Many ICE officers still lack body-worn cameras, despite millions of dollars allocated for the technology.
Police departments across the U.S. commonly use body cameras, but ICE has been slower to adopt them.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had promised wider camera deployment after previous fatal incidents involving federal agents.
Some ICE officers began receiving body cameras in 2024, but the rollout slowed due to budget issues early in the Trump administration.
A DHS spokesperson blamed delays in issuing cameras on government shutdowns caused by Democrats.
ICE says body cameras are important for officer safety and to address increasing attacks on federal agents.
Advocates and legal experts say body cameras are essential for the public to understand and hold ICE accountable for its actions.
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President Donald Trump strongly supported acting Attorney General Todd Blanche before his Senate confirmation hearing. Trump praised Blanche’s leadership of the Justice Department and said crime rates dropped under his guidance.
Key Facts
President Trump publicly defended Todd Blanche ahead of the Senate confirmation.
Blanche is the acting Attorney General, leading the Justice Department.
The confirmation hearing will likely include difficult questions about Blanche’s time in office.
Trump praised Blanche’s leadership and credited him with reducing murder rates.
The announcement was made on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social.
The confirmation vote will decide if Blanche becomes the permanent Attorney General.
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Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare said that the way federal immigration agents from ICE handle recent shootings is very different from how local police usually work. He pointed out that ICE tactics do not match those used by other law enforcement agencies he has experience with.
Key Facts
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare spoke about recent fatal shootings involving ICE agents.
Teare said ICE’s methods do not resemble traditional police work.
He compared ICE actions unfavorably to those of other law enforcement agencies he has worked with.
The comments were made in the context of ICE-related incidents in Houston.
The remarks were shared through a CBS News report.
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The Harris County District Attorney, Sean Teare, said his office is ready to charge ICE agents if they find any criminal misconduct in the fatal shooting of a Mexican immigrant, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, in Houston last week. The investigation is ongoing to determine what happened.
Key Facts
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant, was fatally shot in Houston last week.
The shooting involved federal ICE agents.
Sean Teare, the Harris County District Attorney, said his office is prepared to file criminal charges if wrongdoing is found.
The investigation is being handled by local prosecutors.
ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency that handles immigration enforcement.
District Attorney Teare spoke publicly about this readiness to act on CBS News.
No charges have been filed yet while the investigation continues.
The case has drawn attention due to the involvement of federal agents and the fatal outcome.
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The Trump administration told Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to stop most vehicle stops after two deadly shootings by ICE officers in one week. One shooting happened in Maine when an ICE officer killed a Colombian driver, and another happened a week earlier in Houston.
Key Facts
The Trump administration gave new instructions to ICE agents to mostly stop vehicle stops.
The order followed two deadly shootings by ICE officers within a week.
One shooting occurred in Maine where a Colombian driver was killed by an ICE officer.
The other shooting happened a week earlier in Houston with a motorist killed.
These incidents caused renewed criticism of ICE’s enforcement methods.
The decision aims to reduce risks during ICE operations involving vehicles.
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Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestine activist, filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s officials and private groups, accusing them of a coordinated plan to target and deport him. The lawsuit claims these groups and officials worked together to label pro-Palestine activism as anti-Jewish and to fast-track Khalil’s deportation.
Key Facts
Khalil’s lawsuit targets Trump administration officials and private groups like the Heritage Foundation, Betar, and Canary Mission.
The Heritage Foundation allegedly created "Project Esther," aiming to weaken the pro-Palestine movement by focusing on non-citizens.
The lawsuit names senior officials, including adviser Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and others.
Khalil, a Green Card holder and Columbia University student activist, was arrested in March 2025 and detained for 104 days.
A federal judge ordered Khalil’s release, but the Trump administration successfully appealed, and his deportation case is ongoing.
Khalil’s legal team claims the deportation process was unusually fast and is fighting both in federal and immigration courts.
The Trump administration alleges Khalil lied on his immigration application by not mentioning work with a UN Palestinian agency; Khalil denies this.
The case may reach the Supreme Court and hopes to stop the use of the alleged conspiracy to justify deportation.
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New York State has paused building large new data centres for one year to study their effects on electricity use and local communities. The state wants data centres to pay more for power, help upgrade the power grid, and invest in clean energy.
Key Facts
New York has a one-year ban on building data centres using 50 megawatts or more of power.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the moratorium to protect natural resources and keep utility bills from rising.
During this pause, no new permits for large data centres will be issued.
Data centres must pay higher costs for electricity and contribute to power grid improvements.
The state plans to remove sales tax exemptions currently available to data centres.
New York has 148 operational data centres, ranking sixth in the U.S. by number of centres.
Opposition to data centre construction is common among voters, with many concerned about environmental and health impacts.
Similar moratoriums or restrictions have been proposed or enacted in other states like Vermont, Michigan, and Virginia.
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Social Security recipients may get a smaller boost in benefits in 2027 than previously expected. Analysts now estimate the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) could be around 3.7 to 3.8 percent, down from earlier predictions near 4.7 percent, due to lower inflation and falling energy prices.
Key Facts
The 2027 Social Security COLA is now estimated at about 3.7 percent by one analyst and 3.8 percent by another group.
This estimate is lower than the 4.7 percent predicted just a month earlier.
Inflation in June rose 3.5 percent over the past year, less than many economists expected.
Falling energy prices, especially oil, helped reduce inflation and influence the lower COLA forecast.
The 2026 COLA was 2.8 percent, so the 2027 increase is still expected to be higher than last year’s.
Final COLA numbers will be announced in October after inflation data for July, August, and September is available.
COLA raises monthly Social Security payments to keep up with the cost of living, helping recipients manage higher costs for housing, food, and healthcare.
Currently, over 75 million Americans receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits and rely on COLA adjustments.
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