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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Senate Democrats blocked debate on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), opposing parts of the bill related to President Donald Trump’s military actions in Iran and closer US-Israel military cooperation. The vote failed 50-46, falling short of the 60 needed to start debate on the $1.15 trillion defense budget and related policies.
Key Facts
The Senate vote to begin debate on the NDAA was 50-46, mostly along party lines.
Democrats opposed the bill due to Trump’s escalation of the war in Iran and provisions increasing US-Israel military ties.
The NDAA is an annual defense policy bill that helps approve the military budget.
The bill proposed a $1.15 trillion budget for the Pentagon.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill would allow Trump to continue military actions in Iran without Congress’s approval.
A group of 14 civil liberties, foreign policy, and anti-war organizations urged senators to block the bill unless there was a vote on stopping funding for the Iran war.
The groups argued Congress should use its budget power to control war decisions, as the Constitution gives it that authority.
The bill’s failure to advance is a rare setback for legislation that usually passes easily because it is seen as essential for national security.
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A group of senators from both parties introduced the Promise Act to address Social Security’s financial problems. The bill aims to create a plan that keeps Social Security funded for the next 50 years without cutting benefits or raising taxes right now.
Key Facts
Social Security’s retirement trust fund may run out by 2032, causing a 22% benefit cut if Congress does not act.
The Promise Act directs the Social Security Advisory Board to develop a plan to keep the program funded for 50 years.
The bill does not raise taxes, cut benefits, or change eligibility immediately.
Senators Dick Durbin, Bill Cassidy, Tim Kaine, Thom Tillis, and Angus King support the bill.
Any plan from the advisory board would be introduced by congressional leaders and need approval from both the House and Senate.
Social Security faces a funding gap because spending is growing faster than income.
Previous efforts to fix Social Security’s funding have not passed in Congress.
Policy groups like the Bipartisan Policy Center and Progressive Policy Institute support the Promise Act.
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Indiana Senator Jim Banks introduced a bill called the Citizenship Act of 2026. This bill would make official President Donald Trump’s executive order about birthright citizenship, changing how people born in the U.S. to unauthorized immigrants are considered citizens.
Key Facts
Senator Jim Banks is a Republican from Indiana.
He introduced the Citizenship Act of 2026 on Monday.
The bill follows President Trump’s Day 1 executive order on birthright citizenship.
The bill aims to change the current rules about who is automatically a U.S. citizen when born in the country.
It targets people born to parents who enter the U.S. without permission or for “birth tourism” (coming to the U.S. just to have a child who becomes a citizen).
The bill would legally enforce these new citizenship rules.
This issue is part of a broader debate about immigration and citizenship laws in the U.S.
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An ICE agent in Biddeford, Maine, shot and killed a 26-year-old man from Colombia, leading the Department of Homeland Security to order ICE agents to stop most vehicle stops across the country. The agent said the shooting happened because of concerns for public safety.
Key Facts
The shooting involved a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
The victim was a 26-year-old Colombian man.
The incident took place in Biddeford, Maine.
The Department of Homeland Security ordered ICE agents to stop most vehicle stops nationwide after two fatal ICE shootings.
The ICE agent said the shooting happened due to fear for public safety.
BBC Verify reviewed video footage related to the shooting.
The order to halt stops applies immediately and across the whole country.
This is the second fatal ICE shooting that prompted the action.
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Senate Democrats blocked the progress of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) because they disagree with President Donald Trump’s actions in the conflict with Iran. They want the fighting to stop before approving the defense spending bill.
Key Facts
Senate Democrats stopped the NDAA from moving forward to protest President Trump’s renewed conflict with Iran.
The NDAA is a yearly defense bill that usually passes with support from both parties.
Democrats are upset because the US is still involved in fighting despite a recent war powers resolution aiming for a ceasefire.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate should not approve the defense bill while the Iran conflict continues.
President Trump threatened a 20% fee on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz but later withdrew this plan.
Trump said the US is protecting the Strait of Hormuz for the world but does not want to charge fees.
Republicans want the NDAA to pass because it funds military pay raises, new weapons, and counter-drone tech.
Republican leader John Thune criticized Democrats for blocking the bill and urged support for military members.
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The Wisconsin Elections Commission found that Elon Musk likely broke state law by giving $1 million checks to voters in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. The commission has referred the case to the Brown County district attorney, who may decide to press criminal charges for election bribery.
Key Facts
Elon Musk gave $1 million checks to some voters before the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission found probable cause that Musk violated state election laws.
The commission referred the complaints to the Brown County district attorney for possible criminal charges.
Musk and groups he supports spent at least $20 million backing Republican candidate Brad Schimel, who lost to Democrat Susan Crawford.
Musk’s political action committee offered money to voters to oppose “activist judges” before the election.
Three Wisconsin voters received checks, two in person at a rally in Green Bay.
There is an ongoing lawsuit seeking to stop Musk from making future cash payments to voters in Wisconsin.
Musk’s lawyers argue the payments are free speech protected by the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions.
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Two corpse flowers are blooming fully at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in California. This rare event happens every two to three years, and the flowers produce a strong smell like rotten meat or stinky cheese that lasts about one to two days.
Key Facts
The bloom is happening at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in California.
Corpse flowers come from Sumatra, Indonesia.
Each corpse flower blooms once every two to three years.
The bloom lasts only 24 to 48 hours.
The flower’s smell is often compared to rotten meat, stinky cheese, or boiled cabbage.
This blooming event is uncommon and attracts public attention.
The plant is known as the "corpse flower" because of its strong, unpleasant smell.
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Andy Burnham, former Greater Manchester mayor, is returning to the UK parliament and gaining influence as Prime Minister Keir Starmer prepares to step down. The recent approval of the Hillsborough law, which addresses accountability for public officials, marks a symbolic moment in this shift of power between Starmer and Burnham.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham first spoke publicly about the Hillsborough disaster in 2009 and sought legal changes to increase government honesty and prevent cover-ups.
Burnham resigned as an MP in 2017 but is now returning to parliament and re-entering national politics.
The Hillsborough law was passed after a long delay, with Starmer presenting it in parliament, signalling a change in leadership.
Starmer announced he will step down after Burnham won the Makerfield byelection.
Starmer used his remaining time to push important policies like a social media ban for under-16s and a defence investment plan.
Internationally, Starmer engaged in supporting Ukraine, managing NATO relations, and trade agreements.
Burnham has been active on immigration issues, supporting refugee rights while pushing deportation of serious criminals.
The transition between Starmer and Burnham is ongoing, with Burnham expected to take over as prime minister soon.
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Senator Chuck Grassley said the Justice Department informed him that special counsel Jack Smith’s team secretly got text messages from 44 lawmakers during an investigation into President Donald Trump. Grassley is one of the lawmakers whose messages were reviewed.
Key Facts
Senator Chuck Grassley is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Justice Department told Grassley that Jack Smith’s team obtained lawmakers’ text messages.
The text messages were taken secretly as part of an investigation involving President Donald Trump.
A total of 44 lawmakers had their text messages reviewed.
Grassley confirmed he is included among the lawmakers affected.
Jack Smith is the special counsel leading the investigation.
The investigation relates to activities involving President Donald Trump.
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The Trump administration has told ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers to stop most traffic stops after two recent shootings where ICE officers killed drivers. One shooting happened in Maine when an ICE officer fatally shot a Colombian man, and another occurred in Texas a week earlier. The moves came amid protests and criticism of ICE’s enforcement tactics.
Key Facts
ICE suspended most traffic stops to detain immigrants after two deadly shootings occurred in just over a week.
One shooting happened in Maine where ICE officers shot and killed Colombian national Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, 26 years old.
The incident in Maine followed a fatal shooting by ICE in Houston, Texas, a week before.
The Maine shooting happened as officers tried to arrest someone at a home believed to be in the US illegally.
The ICE officer said he shot after the vehicle tried to flee; a senator said the officer fired because the man appeared to try to use the car as a weapon.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called the shooting a targeted killing and asked President Trump to explain.
Hundreds protested near an ICE facility in Maine over the shooting.
ICE officers involved did not have body cameras, raising questions about the exact details of the shooting.
The Trump administration has blamed these changes on safety concerns but did not provide full details on law enforcement tactics.
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A new poll shows that many voters who dislike both Democrats and Republicans are leaning toward voting for Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections. This group of voters could influence which party controls Congress in November.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted from June 17-22 and surveyed 2,000 Americans, with 356 identified as disliking both major parties.
Among these "double haters," 55% plan to vote for Democrats, 29% for Republicans, and 16% for independents, other parties, or are undecided.
Historically, the party in the White House loses seats in midterm elections.
President Donald Trump’s approval is declining, which may help Democrats gain seats.
Many voters who dislike both parties are unhappy with the economy and see the government as ineffective.
These voters are not strongly loyal to Democrats but are reacting against Republicans because they are currently in power.
Not all of these voters regularly vote, and overall midterm turnout is usually lower than in presidential elections.
Latino voters and other swing groups will also be closely watched in the 2024 midterms.
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Senate Democrats blocked a key defense bill because they oppose how President Trump has handled the conflict with Iran without Congress's approval. The bill usually passes easily but is now delayed due to disagreement over the war powers and recent military actions in Iran.
Key Facts
Senate Democrats voted 50 to 46 against moving forward with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Democrats oppose the Trump administration’s approach to the Iran conflict, saying it lacks Congressional approval.
The 1973 War Powers Resolution requires the president to report to Congress within 48 hours of military action without approval and limits it to 60 days without Congressional consent.
The Trump administration said hostilities in Iran ended in April but recently said they have resumed.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the timing of the vote amid renewed conflict with Iran.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune supports the bill and encourages Democrats to pass it, noting its benefits for national security and troops.
The NDAA includes funding for drones, naval shipbuilding, air force fighters, a new bomber, troop pay raises, and other support services.
The bill aims to reform defense purchasing, including allowing multi-year contracts to improve efficiency.
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A group of senators from both parties is introducing a bill called the PROMISE Act to address the expected shortage of money in the Social Security program by 2032. The bill aims to create a bipartisan advisory committee that will recommend solutions and require Congress to vote on a plan to keep Social Security funded for at least 50 more years.
Key Facts
Social Security’s retirement fund is projected to run short by 2032, one year earlier than previously expected.
The PROMISE Act is supported by senators from both parties and an independent senator.
The legislation would create an independent, bipartisan committee to suggest ways to fix Social Security’s funding problems.
It would force Congress to vote on a plan to secure Social Security’s finances for at least 50 years.
Social Security’s shortfall is due to lower birth rates, less immigration, and less trust fund revenue.
Past efforts to address Social Security’s finances have faced political challenges and opposition from interest groups.
Even if the trust fund runs out, Social Security will still pay benefits but at a reduced level.
Last major Social Security reform happened about 40 years ago, raising the eligibility age from 65 to 67.
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