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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Planned Parenthood can now receive federal money again to cover healthcare services that are not related to abortion. This funding returned on July 5, one year after some clinics lost Medicaid payments following actions by Republicans. The change allows clinics to get paid for services like birth control and health screenings.
Key Facts
Planned Parenthood regained federal funding starting July 5.
The funding is for non-abortion services such as contraception and STD screenings.
One year ago, Republican efforts stopped some clinics from getting Medicaid payments.
Clinics can now bill Medicaid to be reimbursed for these healthcare services.
Anti-abortion conservative groups are unhappy about the return of this funding.
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Former defence secretary John Healey said the UK Treasury does not see defence spending as a way to boost economic growth. Healey resigned over disagreements about the country's military spending plans, especially the target to spend 3% of GDP on core defence by 2030.
Key Facts
The UK Treasury views defence spending as a cost, not a driver of economic growth.
John Healey quit his cabinet role because he wanted higher defence spending than planned.
The current Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is £15 billion, but £4.7 billion is not yet funded.
The UK pledged to spend 3.5% of GDP on Nato-qualifying defence by 2035 and 3% by 2030, according to Healey’s view.
The government’s current plan aims for about 2.7% of GDP on defence by 2030, below Healey’s target.
Healey believes defence spending can help create jobs and support new technology industries.
Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer announced increased defence funding, but Conservatives criticized unfunded parts of the plan.
Former PM Gordon Brown’s cabinet colleague Andy Burnham is expected to prioritize defence spending and reindustrialization.
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The DEA has started a hearing to move marijuana to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. This change would make research on marijuana easier but would not alter current criminal penalties or minimum sentences for its use or possession.
Key Facts
The DEA is holding an administrative hearing about marijuana’s legal classification.
The goal is to move marijuana to Schedule III, a less restrictive category.
Schedule III substances are seen as having a moderate potential for abuse and accepted medical use.
Moving marijuana to Schedule III would make scientific studies simpler to conduct.
This change would not affect criminal penalties or mandatory minimum sentences related to marijuana.
Current restrictions on marijuana possession and use would remain the same after rescheduling.
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The White House released a report accusing the Smithsonian Institution of showing a political and radical view of American history in its exhibits. The Smithsonian says it remains focused on impartial and nonpartisan scholarship. The report follows a review ordered by President Donald Trump to remove what the administration sees as improper ideology from federal museums.
Key Facts
The White House report is 162 pages long and criticizes the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
The report accuses the museum of promoting "anti-White activism," "illegal alien activism," and "transgender activism."
The Smithsonian oversees 21 museums, galleries, and the national zoo.
A Smithsonian spokesperson said the institution is committed to unbiased, independent scholarship for over 180 years.
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch said the institution is working toward "the promise of America."
The White House review began after President Trump’s March 27, 2025 executive order called "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History."
The order directed Vice President J.D. Vance and advisers to remove “improper ideology” from Smithsonian exhibits.
The White House report claims some exhibits aim to divide and discourage citizens rather than celebrate shared history.
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Michigan Democrat Mallory McMorrow has stopped her Senate campaign before the state’s primary in August. On the same day, President Donald Trump spoke in Washington, D.C., where he criticized communism during his Fourth of July speech.
Key Facts
Mallory McMorrow is a Democrat from Michigan.
She suspended her campaign for the U.S. Senate on Sunday.
The primary election in Michigan is scheduled for early August.
President Trump gave a speech in Washington, D.C., on July 4th.
In his speech, President Trump criticized communism.
Both events happened on the same day.
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The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a U.S. government program started by President Donald Trump in early 2025 to cut costs and reduce federal workforce, officially ended on July 4, 2026. Despite its goal to save money and reduce bureaucracy, DOGE faced criticism, legal challenges, and only achieved part of its savings target before being folded into other government agencies.
Key Facts
DOGE was created by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, with an 18-month mission to make the government smaller and more efficient.
By late 2025, DOGE was quietly ended early, even though its official end date was July 4, 2026.
Elon Musk led DOGE initially but left in May 2025 to focus on his businesses after facing criticism and investor concerns.
Over 260,000 federal employees left their jobs during 2025 through buyouts and early resignation programs pushed by DOGE.
DOGE reduced federal funding for many programs and canceled billions in government contracts.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) lost 83% of its programs under DOGE and is set to shut down in September 2026.
Federal worker unions filed lawsuits against workforce reductions and other DOGE actions.
DOGE’s mission to reduce waste and fraud in government continues under other government efforts.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, is under investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner for not declaring a £5 million gift he received before his election. Additional concerns have arisen after reports of undisclosed support from another political ally, leading opposition parties to ask for a deeper parliamentary inquiry.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage received £5 million from Christopher Harborne, a billionaire donor, before becoming an MP in April 2024.
Harborne has donated a total of £15 million to Reform UK since early 2023.
Reports claim Farage also received support from George Cottrell, an ally who paid for staff and security and provided a property near Buckingham Palace.
MPs must declare any gifts or benefits related to their political work received within 12 months before election, unless they are purely personal.
Farage says he followed the rules and argued the £5 million was unconditional and intended for future security costs.
Farage registered smaller donations from Cottrell for a trip to Belgium and a US flight but not other reported support.
Parliament’s standards commissioner is investigating Farage’s failure to declare the £5 million gift.
Opposition parties want the investigation expanded to cover all reported support from Cottrell.
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On July 4, Roswell Encina, president of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, was on a Washington Metro train when a group of masked men from the white supremacist group Patriot Front boarded. The encounter lasted about 30 minutes and was captured in widely shared photographs during America’s 250th Independence Day celebrations.
Key Facts
Roswell Encina was riding a Metro train to a Fourth of July party in Maryland.
A large group of masked men from Patriot Front boarded the same train car after many families and tourists got off.
Patriot Front is a white supremacist group known for staged public appearances.
Encina did not know the group before but researched them discreetly during the ride.
The men did not confront Encina directly but the situation made him uncomfortable.
A Getty photographer on the train documented the scene, giving Encina some reassurance.
Patriot Front also held a march in Washington, D.C., on July 4 with around 400 members, carrying flags including Patriot Front and Confederate flags.
Encina reflected on the moment’s significance during America’s 250th anniversary and said it highlights ongoing challenges in U.S. democracy and society.
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President Donald Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office about the upcoming NATO summit and a phone call he had with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The call involved U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun. This took place during an event to launch "Trump Accounts."
Key Facts
President Trump held an event in the Oval Office.
The event was to launch "Trump Accounts."
He answered questions from reporters during the event.
He talked about the upcoming NATO summit.
He discussed a phone call with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The phone call concerned U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun.
Reporters from CBS News and The Athletic covered the event and related topics.
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The article suggests that the MAGA movement and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) share similar roots related to their views on government. It implies both groups see government as problematic or destructive.
Key Facts
MAGA stands for "Make America Great Again," a political movement supporting President Donald Trump.
DSA stands for Democratic Socialists of America, a political organization with progressive goals.
The article claims both groups have a common origin or background.
It highlights that both movements criticize or oppose the current role of government.
The article does not provide detailed evidence or examples.
It frames the government as destructive according to these movements.
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JD Vance wrote an essay in 2016 comparing President Trump's political appeal to opioid addiction. Ten years later, the essay was republished, showing how Vance changed from a critic of Trump to his vice president.
Key Facts
JD Vance wrote about President Trump's political appeal in 2016.
He compared that appeal to opioid addiction, which is a serious drug problem.
The essay was republished ten years later.
It discussed the role of a person enabling Trump's politics.
JD Vance shifted from criticizing Trump to supporting him as vice president.
The article highlights Vance's personal and political transformation.
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Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Reform Party, is facing media scrutiny over his funding sources, including money from a convicted criminal and a billionaire. Farage claims these investigations are part of an “establishment plot” to stop his political rise, using language similar to President Trump’s responses to political controversies.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage is the leader of Reform UK, a rightwing political party.
The media is investigating Farage’s personal funding, including money from George Cottrell, a convicted criminal, and Christopher Harborne, a cryptocurrency billionaire.
Farage says these investigations are an “establishment plot” and compares the situation to President Trump’s experiences with political attacks.
Farage and his associates, including Arron Banks and Richard Tice, have faced multiple claims about their funding transparency.
Farage has a history of not fully declaring donations and has been investigated multiple times for breaches of conduct.
The journalists investigating Farage’s funding come from the right-leaning Sunday Times, not left-wing media.
Reform party members worry that these scandals might harm Farage’s political image, similar to how scandals affected former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Farage denies breaches of rules but faces ongoing standards investigations regarding his funding.
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Senior doctors in England have voted to approve possible strike action over pay and pensions. The British Medical Association (BMA) says doctors want better pay after years of pay losses, while the government says strike action is not justified given recent pay increases.
Key Facts
76% of senior doctors (consultants) in England who voted support strike action in the next 12 months.
About 51.5% of eligible consultant doctors participated in the vote.
Resident (junior) doctors recently accepted a pay deal, ending three years of strikes.
The BMA says doctors’ real pay is 26% lower than 17 years ago.
The government says consultants earn more than £152,000 on average and have had large pay increases recently.
Consultants last held strikes between July and October 2023.
Doctors in Northern Ireland are currently striking over pay.
Another group of doctors (SAS doctors) also voted mostly in favor of strikes, but their vote did not meet the legal turnout required.
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A New York man sued U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), claiming his free speech rights were violated after federal officers visited his home to warn him about an email he sent to ICE’s former head. The email criticized ICE’s actions and compared its leader to a Nazi figure. The lawsuit argues that the government wrongly treated the email as a threat.
Key Facts
David Streever, a U.S. citizen from New York, sent a critical email to Todd Lyons, the former acting director of ICE, in January 2026.
The email included strong language calling Lyons “a monstrous human being” and referenced a Nazi leader, Reinhard Heydrich.
In June 2026, while Streever was in Finland, ICE officers visited his home in Rochester, N.Y., and gave his wife a warning notice about the email.
Streever and his attorneys say this warning violated his First Amendment right to free speech.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed the lawsuit on behalf of Streever in Washington D.C.
ICE stated it investigates all credible threats against its employees, including threats to the ICE director.
Another upstate New York resident also received a federal warning after criticizing ICE online.
Representatives of ICE and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin have not commented on the lawsuit.
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Virginia has increased the minimum and maximum weekly unemployment benefits starting July 5 to help workers who lose their jobs. The maximum weekly benefit rose from $430 to $478, and the minimum increased from $112 to $160, aiming to provide better financial support during job searches.
Key Facts
New unemployment claims filed on or after July 5 will get higher benefit amounts in Virginia.
Maximum weekly benefit increased from $430 to $478.
Minimum weekly benefit increased from $112 to $160.
To get the maximum benefit, workers must have earned at least $18,900.01 over two quarters.
Virginia’s unemployment rate was 3.8% in May, below the national rate of 4.3%.
The changes aim to help workers in high-cost areas like Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Virginia Beach.
Virginia’s benefits are more generous than some states but less than states like Washington and Massachusetts, which have benefits over $1,000 per week.
The benefit increase responds to rising living costs and economic changes affecting jobs.
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A new bipartisan bill in Congress, called the VA Home Loan Navigator Act, aims to help veterans more easily use their VA home loan benefits by offering free counseling and guidance. The program would provide trained counselors to assist veterans through the home-buying process and related issues at no cost.
Key Facts
The bill is named the VA Home Loan Navigator Act (H.R. 9404).
It was introduced by Representative Veronica Escobar (Democrat) and Representative Jack Bergman (Republican).
The VA home loan program helps veterans buy homes with benefits like no down payment and no private mortgage insurance.
Less than 15% of eligible veterans currently use their VA home loan benefits.
The proposed program would provide free, independent counseling to veterans who want help with VA home loans.
Counselors would assist with understanding benefits, loan applications, refinancing, foreclosure prevention, and more.
The service would be voluntary and would cost veterans nothing.
The bill has bipartisan support and aims to reduce confusion, misinformation, and scams targeting veterans using this benefit.
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This CBS News segment shares three uplifting stories: a woman creates a group where artists write and perform special songs for people going through hard times; a painter shows determination by continuing his art despite challenges; and a family helps make vacations easier to enjoy for people with disabilities.
Key Facts
A woman founded an organization that connects artists to create custom songs for people facing difficulties.
The group focuses on providing comfort through music during tough moments.
A painter demonstrates resilience by continuing his work despite obstacles.
A family works to provide accessible trips to help others enjoy vacations.
These stories aim to inspire and show how creativity and support can improve lives.
The segment is part of CBS News contributor David Begnaud’s "Beg-Knows America" series.
The report highlights acts of kindness and determination in everyday America.
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The article argues that the Democratic Party should focus on practical solutions for Americans. It suggests the party avoid socialism and instead adopt a Nordic style combining free markets with strong social programs.
Key Facts
The article discusses the direction of the Democratic Party in the United States.
It suggests the party should move away from socialism.
It recommends embracing a Nordic model, which means combining free markets with social programs.
Nordic countries like Sweden and Norway use this model to balance the economy and social welfare.
The article implies this approach is more practical for addressing American problems.
There is an emphasis on providing effective solutions for the American people.
The article centers around political strategy and policy ideas for the Democratic Party.
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Prosecutors in Utah are asking a judge to decide if there is enough evidence to put Tyler Robinson on trial for killing Charlie Kirk. The hearing will last five days and include videos, evidence, and witness statements. The court will also consider whether the death penalty should apply.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson, 23, is charged with killing Charlie Kirk on September 10 at Utah Valley University.
Kirk was a conservative activist and supporter of President Donald Trump.
Robinson turned himself in after the shooting and left a note confessing.
Prosecutors plan to show videos of the shooting and DNA evidence linking Robinson to the weapon.
The hearing is a preliminary step to decide if the case goes to trial.
The death penalty is being considered because the shooting endangered others at the event.
Kirk’s widow and parents, along with Donald Trump Jr., attended the hearing.
Robinson’s roommate won’t testify in person but their recorded statement will be used.
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President Trump said he watched the play that led to U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun receiving a red card and spoke to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review. FIFA later canceled Balogun’s one-game suspension, though some people criticized this decision and it was appealed.
Key Facts
Folarin Balogun, a U.S. soccer player, got a red card during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would have made him miss the next game.
The red card was given because Balogun stepped on the ankle of an opposing player, Tarik Muharemović.
President Trump said he watched the incident and believed it was not a foul or rule violation.
Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the call.
FIFA overturned the suspension, but the decision faced criticism and an appeal.
President Trump commented that the referee’s call was surprising and mentioned the referee had a questionable past.
Trump said he did not instruct FIFA on what to do but requested a review because he thought the red card was unfair.
This event took place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match in Santa Clara, California.
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