Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett asked Congress for more money to improve security because threats against them have increased. They testified about the court's budget request, which includes funding for extra security agents and travel protection.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court is requesting over $228 million for the next fiscal year, an increase of more than $20 million.
Part of this request includes $14.6 million to add six more security agents per justice.
Justices currently have between four and eight security officers each, depending on their needs.
Threats against Supreme Court justices and federal judges have risen sharply, with a 38% expected increase for 2026.
The Supreme Court Police now handles residential security for justices, a job formerly done by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Since a 2022 leak about overturning Roe v. Wade, justices have faced more protests and threats, including a 2023 arrest of a person planning to harm three justices.
Justice Barrett shared that she had to wear a bulletproof vest and explain it to her children after the leak.
She also experienced a "swatting" incident where police were called to her home as a prank or threat.
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President Donald Trump reversed his plan to charge a 20% fee on cargo ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He said the change came after several U.S. allies made trade deals with the United States.
Key Facts
President Trump initially planned to impose a 20% fee on cargo ships using the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route in the Middle East.
The fee was intended to affect ships transiting this waterway.
President Trump later decided not to impose this fee.
He credited recent trade agreements with U.S. allies for his decision to walk back the fee.
The change was announced publicly and covered by CBS News.
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President Donald Trump canceled a plan to charge a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, he chose to focus on investment deals with countries in the Gulf region.
Key Facts
President Trump planned to charge a 20% toll on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
He decided to drop this toll plan.
He replaced the toll idea with investment agreements with Gulf nations.
The Strait of Hormuz is an important waterway for global shipping.
These moves aim to strengthen economic ties with Gulf countries.
The announcement was reported by CBS News.
Aaron Navarro provided details on the topic for CBS News.
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New projections for the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2027 suggest seniors may receive a small increase in their benefits. The official adjustment amount will be announced later this year.
Key Facts
The Social Security COLA is a change to benefits that helps keep up with inflation.
Projections indicate the 2027 increase will be modest, meaning not very large.
The exact COLA amount will be officially announced later in the year.
This adjustment affects seniors who receive Social Security benefits.
COLA aims to maintain the purchasing power of benefits as prices change.
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A recent survey shows that most Americans expect the war involving Iran to last a long time. About 79% of people surveyed believe the U.S. military will stay involved in the conflict.
Key Facts
The survey was conducted by Reuters and released on Monday.
About 79% of Americans expect a long-lasting war with Iran.
The survey reflects opinions amid renewed military actions between the U.S. and Iran.
Most respondents believe the U.S. will continue its military presence in the region.
The poll indicates widespread public concern about the ongoing conflict.
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President Donald Trump has paid over $5 million in damages to E Jean Carroll after a jury found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming her. The payment comes three years after the verdict and follows court orders preventing further delays.
Key Facts
President Trump was found liable for sexually abusing and defaming E Jean Carroll in a civil case.
Carroll accused Trump of attacking her in a Manhattan store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
Trump denied the allegations and defamed Carroll on Truth Social in 2022 by denying her claims.
In 2023, a New York jury awarded Carroll more than $5 million in damages.
Trump tried to delay the payment to appeal to the Supreme Court, but the court declined to hear the appeal.
A judge ordered Trump to pay the damages last week, ending the delay.
Trump’s legal team called the case a "hoax" and claimed it was politically motivated.
Carroll is a former magazine columnist and is currently 82 years old.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has told its officers to temporarily stop making traffic stops across the country after two fatal shootings involving agents. ICE has not officially confirmed this order, but multiple news sources have reported it.
Key Facts
ICE is the U.S. agency responsible for immigration enforcement.
Two deadly shootings involving ICE officers recently took place.
Because of these shootings, ICE has instructed agents to pause traffic stops temporarily.
The pause in traffic stops applies nationwide, across the United States.
ICE has not publicly confirmed this directive.
News organizations like NewsNation and The Hill have reported on the pause.
Traffic stops are routine stops of vehicles by law enforcement to check for legal issues.
The directive aims to address safety concerns for both officers and the public.
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The BBC’s latest annual report highlights serious challenges, including financial pressures and falling TV licence fee payments. The BBC needs a new funding model as fewer people watch live TV and licence fee income loses value when adjusted for inflation.
Key Facts
The BBC’s current funding comes mainly from TV licence fees, which have dropped by two million in five years.
The number of households paying the licence fee decreased by about half a million last year alone.
The licence fee model requires payment for watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer but does not apply to BBC radio-only listeners.
Changes in how people watch media, especially younger viewers preferring platforms like YouTube, reduce licence fee income.
The BBC claims the licence fee income has effectively fallen by about £1.2 billion after accounting for inflation since 2017.
Despite challenges, 94% of UK adults access BBC content monthly, and over half a billion people watch BBC content internationally.
The BBC says its traditional licence fee system is outdated due to shifts away from live TV viewing.
Younger audiences mainly use YouTube and streaming platforms, but the BBC remains a top five brand for UK youth.
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House Republican leaders plan to introduce and advance a new budget bill, called Reconciliation 3.0, this week. The Budget Committee is expected to review and vote on it on Thursday.
Key Facts
House GOP leaders are working on a third budget reconciliation bill.
The bill is referred to as Reconciliation 3.0.
Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the process is underway.
The Budget Committee will hold a markup session this week.
A vote on the bill in the Budget Committee is expected on Thursday.
The bill is designed and advanced by Republican members of the House.
Reconciliation bills are a way to pass budget-related laws with a simple majority.
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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been told to temporarily stop vehicle stops after two deadly shootings in Texas and Maine. ICE officers will get new training on how to conduct vehicle stops safely.
Key Facts
ICE will pause all vehicle stops temporarily.
The order came from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The pause follows two fatal shootings involving ICE in Texas and Maine.
ICE officers will receive new training on vehicle stops during the pause.
The stop on vehicle checks is meant to improve safety and prevent future incidents.
This change affects law enforcement practices within ICE.
The situation is still developing, and more updates may follow.
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Jon Stewart criticized President Donald Trump for giving a numerical rating of the late Senator Lindsey Graham’s life during a recent interview. Trump spoke about Graham on Fox News, referring to a moment after the January 6, 2021, riots.
Key Facts
President Trump recently commented on the life of Senator Lindsey Graham.
He gave a numerical score to Graham’s life during the interview.
The comments aired on the Fox News show “Fox & Friends.”
Jon Stewart responded by mocking Trump’s way of judging Graham’s life.
Lindsey Graham was a senator from South Carolina who passed away.
The comments involved a reference to events after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
Jon Stewart is a late-night TV host known for political commentary.
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Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, will finish his current Senate term. Meanwhile, Republican leaders are thinking about possible candidates to run in the special primary election to replace him.
Key Facts
Lindsey Graham, a U.S. Senator from South Carolina, has passed away.
His sister, Darline Graham Nordone, will serve the rest of his Senate term.
The term Nordone will complete is a temporary appointment until an election.
Republicans are planning for a special primary election to choose a permanent replacement.
Potential Republican candidates for the Senate seat are being discussed.
The special primary will decide who will run in the general election for the seat.
Darline Graham Nordone’s appointment is meant to keep the seat filled until voters pick a new senator.
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The article discusses how both Republican and Democratic leaders are praising Senator Lindsey Graham after his passing. It suggests that respecting his memory means balancing care for refugees with national security concerns and recognizing the flaws and potential of the United Nations.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham has recently passed away.
Leaders from both major U.S. political parties are honoring him.
The article emphasizes compassion towards refugees.
It also stresses the importance of national security.
The United Nations system has some problems but also offers opportunities.
The challenge is to tell the difference between the positive and negative aspects of the UN.
Supporting refugees and maintaining security can be achieved together.
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Writer E. Jean Carroll received over $5.6 million in a payment from President Donald Trump. This money came three years after a jury decided that President Trump was responsible for sexually abusing and defaming her.
Key Facts
E. Jean Carroll is a writer who sued President Donald Trump.
A jury found President Trump responsible for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll.
The jury had nine members who all agreed on the decision.
The judgment happened three years before the payment was made.
Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, announced the payment.
The total payment was $5.62 million.
The case involved claims of sexual assault and false statements harming Carroll’s reputation.
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Writer E. Jean Carroll has received over $5 million from President Donald Trump as part of a civil court judgment. The payment settles a 2023 jury ruling that found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation against Carroll.
Key Facts
A jury in 2023 found President Trump liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s.
The jury also found Trump defamed Carroll in a 2022 social media post denying her claims.
Carroll has now received $5.62 million as part of the civil judgment.
A federal judge ordered Trump to pay $5 million plus nearly $800,000 in interest after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal.
Trump had deposited $5.55 million in a court-controlled account during his appeal process.
Trump stated he would continue to fight the case despite the payment.
In a separate 2024 trial, Trump was ordered to pay $83.3 million for defamation related to Carroll's sexual abuse allegations and is appealing that judgment.
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Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, will be sworn in to complete his term in the U.S. Senate. She was appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster with support from President Donald Trump and will serve until the term ends in January.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham died at age 71, creating a Senate vacancy.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed Darline Graham to fill the seat.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. on the Senate floor.
Darline Graham has been commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind since 2019.
She also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and is president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind.
Darline has a bachelor's degree, a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, and is a certified public manager.
After their parents died, Lindsey Graham became Darline’s legal guardian when she was 13.
Darline said she plans to work hard to support President Donald Trump and continue her brother’s work on behalf of South Carolina and the U.S.
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Larry Millete was found guilty of first-degree murder in the case of his wife, Maya Millete, who disappeared in January 2021. Maya’s family and friends searched extensively and grew suspicious of Larry’s inconsistent stories while police investigated her disappearance.
Key Facts
Maya Millete went missing in January 2021 from her home in Chula Vista, California.
Her family last heard from her on January 7, 2021, shortly before her eldest daughter’s birthday.
Larry Millete, her husband, gave different explanations for her disappearance, including hiking trips and visits to wine country.
Friends, family, and neighbors believed Maya would not leave voluntarily or miss her daughter’s birthday.
A group called Team Maya organized regular searches in remote desert areas east of Chula Vista.
Police began investigating Maya’s disappearance in mid-January 2021 but shared few details publicly.
Billy Little, a former Navy criminal investigator, looked into the case and noticed suspicious signs at Larry’s home.
On July 9, 2026, Larry Millete was convicted of first-degree murder in Maya’s death.
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President Trump retracted his plan to charge a 20% fee on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, he said Gulf states would invest more in the U.S. through new trade and investment deals.
Key Facts
Trump initially demanded a 20% toll on ships using the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Nations maritime agency called this toll illegal.
Trump reversed the toll plan after talks with Middle East leaders.
Gulf states had already planned to invest over $2 trillion in the U.S. before this.
Trump said these investments would increase with new deals from Gulf countries.
The announcement surprised Gulf countries, who asked the U.S. for clarifications.
Trump spoke with the Qatari Emir and discussed the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions.
The U.S. naval blockade on Iran was set to begin shortly after Trump’s updated statement.
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President Donald Trump decided not to go ahead with a plan to charge a 20 percent toll on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, he will focus on making trade and investment agreements with countries in the Gulf region.
Key Facts
President Trump proposed a 20 percent toll on cargo moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposal was announced but then quickly canceled the next day.
The Strait of Hormuz is an important waterway used for commercial shipping.
Trump wants to promote trade and investment deals with Gulf states instead of charging tolls.
The move aims to support commercial shipping without adding extra fees.
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Maya Millete, a mother of three in Southern California, disappeared in January 2021. Her family and friends continue to search for her and have concerns about her husband Larry, who had marital problems with Maya before she vanished.
Key Facts
Maya Millete went missing from her home in Chula Vista, California, on January 7, 2021.
Maya was 39 years old and the mother of three young children.
Her husband, Larry Millete, had been contacting spellcasters to put a hex on Maya to keep her in the marriage.
Maya immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1995 with her family.
She and Larry met as teenagers working at a fast-food restaurant in Honolulu and later married after Larry joined the Navy.
Both worked for the Navy in Southern California; Maya was a contract specialist, and Larry was an optician.
Maya’s family and coworkers describe her as a strong, caring mother and a respected leader.
Maya disappeared suddenly before a planned family ski trip, and her family is still seeking answers.
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