President Donald Trump said that problems with oil refineries, not Iran’s closing of the Strait of Hormuz, are causing gas prices to rise. He noted that the amount of oil being produced remains high despite the conflict between the U.S. and Israel with Iran.
Key Facts
President Trump made the statement on Monday.
He said refinery problems are the main cause of higher gas prices.
Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route.
The U.S. and Israel are involved in a conflict with Iran.
Trump mentioned that oil production is still at record levels.
The Strait of Hormuz’s impact on gas prices is now less important.
Gasoline prices have been rising significantly.
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President Donald Trump supports making daylight saving time permanent, meaning clocks would not change twice a year. However, Republican Senator Tom Cotton does not agree with this idea and is not supporting the change.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to keep daylight saving time all year, without switching clocks in spring and fall.
Senator Tom Cotton is a Republican who disagrees with making daylight saving time permanent.
President Trump shared his personal phone number online to encourage support for permanent daylight saving time.
Cotton’s opposition shows there is not a full agreement within the Republican Party on this issue.
The idea is part of a broader debate in the U.S. about whether to keep changing clocks twice a year or not.
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Caleb Flynn, a former contestant on "American Idol," was sentenced to life in prison by an Ohio judge. He was found guilty of killing his wife while she was sleeping in February of this year.
Key Facts
Caleb Flynn appeared on the TV show "American Idol."
A jury found him guilty of murdering his wife.
The crime happened in February of this year.
The victim was asleep when the murder occurred.
The judge sentenced Flynn to life in prison.
The sentencing took place in Ohio.
The verdict and sentence were reported recently.
CBS News covered the story with a correspondent named Ian Lee.
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President Donald Trump’s administration has stopped Politico from joining the presidential travel group on Air Force One, adding to ongoing conflicts over press access. Several major news organizations are suing the White House, saying their constitutional rights to report freely are being violated by travel and event restrictions.
Key Facts
Politico was blocked from traveling on Air Force One as part of the presidential press pool.
The Trump administration had already barred Politico, CNN, and MS NOW from the White House.
President Trump claimed these outlets reported “fake news” but did not provide proof.
The three news organizations filed a lawsuit to protect their First Amendment rights.
A judge ordered the White House to restore the outlets’ press credentials during the lawsuit.
The administration argues certain stories threaten national security and justify limiting access.
The media organizations reject this, saying the ban punishes critical reporting.
The dispute centers on who controls access to limited spaces like Air Force One and presidential events.
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Marimar Martinez, a woman from Chicago who was shot five times by an immigration agent, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking damages. Her lawyers say new evidence will show she was shot while trying to turn her car away from the officer. Martinez was originally charged after the shooting.
Key Facts
Marimar Martinez was shot five times by an immigration agent.
She is from Chicago.
Martinez has sued the federal government for damages.
Her attorneys say new evidence will support her claim she was turning her car away when shot.
Martinez was initially charged after the shooting incident.
The lawsuit was filed on a Monday, according to the article.
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Caleb Flynn, a former American Idol contestant, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murdering his wife, Ashley Flynn, in their Ohio home. The jury rejected his claim that an intruder committed the crime, and he was found guilty of multiple charges including aggravated murder and tampering with evidence.
Key Facts
Caleb Flynn, 40, was convicted of killing his wife, Ashley Flynn, in February in Tipp City, Ohio.
He claimed an unknown intruder had broken in and killed his wife while he was asleep.
The jury found him guilty after an eight-day trial and short jury deliberation.
He was also charged with eight other crimes, including tampering with evidence.
His two daughters wrote letters asking him to admit guilt and expressing pain from losing their mother.
Evidence included incriminating text messages to a former mistress, police bodycam footage, and phone/Apple Watch activity.
Flynn sent messages expressing thoughts about killing Ashley and not wanting to go to jail.
Flynn did not testify, and his lawyers plan to appeal the decision.
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President Barack Obama will join a rally in Detroit with Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate in a key Michigan Senate race, on October 24. This event marks a show of support from established Democrats for El-Sayed, who is running as a progressive and has received backing from prominent figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Key Facts
Obama will rally in Detroit with Abdul El-Sayed and Jocelyn Benson on October 24, the first day of Michigan’s early voting period.
El-Sayed narrowly defeated congresswoman Haley Stevens by less than one percentage point in the Democratic primary.
El-Sayed is a doctor and former Wayne County health director, campaigning on Medicare for All and refusing corporate PAC money.
He opposes U.S. military aid to Israel and criticizes Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Stevens was supported by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and other party establishment figures.
AIPAC and allies spent $30 million trying to defeat El-Sayed, outspending his side nearly nine to one on ads.
El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in the general election for the Senate seat held by retiring Senator Gary Peters.
Obama is preparing a larger campaign effort, including recorded ads and fundraising events, to support Democratic candidates this election cycle.
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Caleb Flynn, a former "American Idol" contestant and pastor, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in Ohio. He was convicted of murdering his wife and falsely claiming an intruder committed the crime.
Key Facts
Caleb Flynn participated in the TV show "American Idol."
He worked as a pastor.
Flynn was convicted of killing his wife.
He tried to blame the murder on a home intruder.
The court sentenced him to life in prison with no chance of release.
The sentencing took place in Ohio.
This information is part of a developing news story.
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Caleb Flynn, a former pastor and past "American Idol" contestant, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of his wife, Ashley Flynn. He was found guilty of killing her and trying to make the crime look like an intruder’s attack.
Key Facts
Caleb Flynn, 40, was convicted of aggravated murder and other charges related to the death of his wife, Ashley Flynn, 37.
The murder happened in their home in Tipp City, Ohio, in February 2026.
Flynn reported to police that an intruder shot his wife, but prosecutors said he killed her to be with another woman.
He was sentenced by Judge Jeannine Pratt to life in prison without parole.
Flynn denied killing his wife during the sentencing but apologized to her family and daughters.
Ashley Flynn’s family spoke at the sentencing, explaining the pain caused by her death.
Flynn appeared emotional, expressing love for his daughters and regret for his actions.
The judge received over a dozen victim impact statements before sentencing.
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A museum called The People’s House has updated its replica of the Oval Office. The new design shows how President Donald Trump decorated the office during his second term.
Key Facts
The People’s House museum has a replica of the Oval Office.
The replica was recently redesigned to match President Trump’s second-term style.
The update allows visitors to see the look of the Oval Office during Trump’s presidency.
The new design includes a lot of gold-colored decorations.
This exhibit aims to give people a close experience of the president’s work space.
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President Donald Trump said the United States had a security threat that caused it to remove bombers from RAF Fairford in England. The US military confirmed it withdrew about a dozen B-1 bombers following a suspicious incident near the base.
Key Facts
President Trump said the US faced a threat related to Iran.
The threat led to the withdrawal of bombers from RAF Fairford in England.
The Pentagon confirmed it removed around a dozen B-1 bombers from the base.
The bombers were sent back to their home stations in the United States.
On 27 September, police were alerted about three suspicious vehicles near the airbase.
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force base used by US forces for bomber operations.
The removal of bombers happened shortly after the suspicious event was reported.
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The Trump administration has finalized new healthcare price transparency rules to help Americans better understand the cost of medical care before treatment. These rules require health insurers and employer health plans to provide clearer and more personalized pricing information, making it easier for patients to compare costs and avoid surprise bills.
Key Facts
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the new price transparency rules.
Insurers and employer health plans must provide standardized pricing details and personalized cost estimates.
Patients can now request cost-sharing information by phone, not just online.
The rules aim to help consumers know their out-of-pocket costs before receiving care.
Previous transparency rules led to an annual 6.3% drop in prices for expensive health services.
The new rules require in-network negotiated rates to be shown in dollar amounts instead of percentages.
Reporting by insurance companies will be reduced from monthly to quarterly to lower duplication and complexity.
The goal is to create a more competitive healthcare market and reduce price differences.
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A Laotian man named Phone Chomsavanh, deported by the United States to Eswatini under President Donald Trump's immigration policy, was released from prison after more than a year. He was sent to Eswatini, a country he had no ties to, and is now being deported to Laos.
Key Facts
Phone Chomsavanh was deported from the U.S. to Eswatini in July 2025 under a third-country deportation program.
This program sends immigrants to countries other than their home nations, often without their prior knowledge.
Chomsavanh had served his U.S. prison sentence but was still held in a maximum-security prison in Eswatini for over a year.
He had no chance to object, no hearing, and no notice before being deported to Eswatini.
About 500 immigrants have been deported to third countries under this policy, with some African nations accepting deportees for financial compensation.
Eswatini was paid $5.1 million by the U.S. to accept deportees.
The program has been criticized for lacking due process and has faced legal challenges in the U.S. and other countries.
The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the program to continue temporarily while reviewing the case.
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President Trump is sending one-time checks to millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help with healthcare costs. Experts say these payments may not fully cover the rising medical expenses many face.
Key Facts
President Trump announced $90 checks for over 20 million Medicare Part B enrollees.
About 1 million ACA plan enrollees will receive $500 refunds for overcharges.
The Medicare Part B premium increased by over $200 in 2026 and is expected to rise again next year.
The payments aim to lower healthcare costs but may not cover the full increase in expenses.
Nearly 30% of Americans have skipped or delayed healthcare due to costs, according to a nonprofit survey.
The White House supports actions like drug price agreements and increased price transparency to reduce costs.
President Trump has also promised $5,000 payments to every adult if Republicans control Congress after the midterm elections, but experts doubt this plan’s feasibility.
The ACA refund checks began going out on September 30, and Medicare checks will start in early October.
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Several U.S. states are trying different ways to lower high fuel prices before the midterm elections, mainly by pausing or cutting state gas taxes. Federal action to suspend the national gas tax has not happened, so states are using their own laws to help drivers deal with expensive gas.
Key Facts
The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents for diesel.
Ohio recently paused its state gas tax for 90 days with support from both political parties.
Georgia was the first state to suspend its fuel taxes, doing so for 60 days in March.
At least six states, including Utah, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia, have paused, lowered, or stopped tax increases on fuel.
Indiana also lifted restrictions on the use of dyed diesel fuel for farmers and timber workers.
The Trump administration was open to a federal gas tax holiday, but Congress has not approved it.
Suspending gas taxes might provide some relief but could also hurt government funds for highways and add to the national deficit.
Other states have allowed cheaper types of gasoline to be sold earlier to help reduce prices.
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Student activists vandalized a Cornell University building to protest how the school handled gang-rape allegations related to a 2024 fraternity incident. The university condemned the damage but said it is listening to community concerns and is investigating the vandalism.
Key Facts
Students broke a glass door and painted protest messages on Cornell’s Day Hall building early Monday morning.
The messages criticized the university for protecting rapists and punishing protestors.
The protest responded to a lawsuit about a 2024 gang rape involving seven fraternity members.
Only two of the accused fraternity members were expelled; others received lighter punishments, and none were arrested.
The victim’s lawsuit presented new allegations that differ from her original police statement.
The local district attorney is reviewing the case again due to these new claims.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed the state attorney general as special prosecutor for the investigation.
Cornell’s president announced plans to review fraternity and sorority roles on campus to prevent future incidents.
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Senator Thom Tillis says in a new book that voting to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services Secretary during President Donald Trump’s second term are his biggest regrets. Tillis also shares concerns about Trump’s team and urges Republicans to oppose the president more strongly.
Key Facts
Senator Thom Tillis calls his vote for Pete Hegseth's confirmation the biggest regret of his career.
Tillis also regrets not blocking Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from becoming Health and Human Services secretary.
Tillis supported Trump’s nominees at the time to avoid being the only opposing voice.
He was skeptical of serious claims about Hegseth’s behavior but could not confirm them.
Tillis says many Republicans privately criticize Trump but publicly support him.
He predicts Republicans will have major losses in the 2026 midterm elections.
Tillis criticizes some Trump policies like tariffs, immigration raids, and the Iran war.
He encourages Republicans to push back against perceived executive overreach for their own political success.
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President Barack Obama will campaign for Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, at a rally in Detroit on October 24. The election is closely watched because it could influence which party controls the Senate.
Key Facts
Obama will join El-Sayed for a campaign event in Detroit less than two weeks before the midterm elections.
El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee running for an open Senate seat in Michigan.
Other Michigan Democrats like gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson will also attend the event.
El-Sayed narrowly defeated Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris campaigned with El-Sayed recently on health issues.
Recent polls show a tight race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers.
Polls vary but generally indicate El-Sayed has a small lead.
The Senate seat is important for control of the U.S. Senate.
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The number of books banned in U.S. schools reached nearly 12,000 in the 2025-26 school year, according to a report by PEN America, a group that supports free speech. This is a large increase from about 6,870 book removals reported the year before. Many of these banned books were removed from classrooms.
Key Facts
Nearly 12,000 books were banned in U.S. schools during the 2025-26 school year.
The previous school year saw about 6,870 book removals.
The increase represents a significant rise in book bans in one year.
PEN America, a free-speech organization, published the report.
About 7,370 unique book titles were taken out of classrooms.
The study measures school book removals nationwide.
The report highlights concerns about restrictions on educational materials.
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Steve Hilton, a Republican candidate for California governor, released a campaign ad with sexual innuendo that has upset many in his own party. Several Republican leaders called the ad inappropriate while Hilton said it was meant to be satirical and provocative.
Key Facts
Steve Hilton is running for California governor as a Republican.
His campaign ad shows two young women making suggestive comments while filling out a ballot for Hilton.
The ad has been described as “creepy” and inappropriate by Republican colleagues.
Sonja Shaw, a Republican nominee, called the ad disturbing and said it harms the party’s image.
Michael Gates, another Republican candidate, also criticized the use of young women in the ad.
Hilton is behind in polls against Democrat Xavier Becerra, former health secretary.
Hilton said the ad was meant to be satirical and did not intend to offend.
Becerra responded by promoting his healthcare plan and mocking Hilton’s ad with the phrase “Steve, just try it!”
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