Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to cut 20% of general and admiral positions in the U.S. military, doubling last year’s 10% reduction. This move is part of his effort to shrink the senior ranks amid ongoing operations, though it is unclear if it will affect military activities during the Iran conflict.
Key Facts
Hegseth will announce the 20% cut during a "State of the Force" speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
The reduction doubles the 10% cut he ordered in 2025 for generals and admirals.
The military has about 841 active-duty flag officers (generals and admirals) currently.
Previous cuts involved consolidating commands, so fewer top officers oversee more responsibilities.
Hegseth has fired or sidelined several senior military leaders without explaining the reasons publicly.
Commanders nominated junior and mid-ranking troops to attend this year’s speech, focusing on high performers meeting fitness standards.
It is not clear if these cuts will disrupt military operations during the ongoing Iran conflict.
Some commands may be downgraded instead of eliminated, and parts of the military might be shut down.
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US consumer confidence dropped to its lowest point since 2014, mainly due to rising prices for goods and fuel. This decline comes a month before the midterm elections and after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in three years.
Key Facts
Consumer confidence fell significantly in September according to The Conference Board.
Higher costs for goods and services, especially gasoline prices, are the main reasons for the drop.
The average price for a gallon of gasoline rose from $4.08 to $4.45 in one month.
Consumer confidence dropped among all political groups in the US.
The Federal Reserve increased interest rates earlier this month, raising borrowing costs.
The next interest rate decision is scheduled for October 27-28.
A recent poll shows more consumers trust Democrats over Republicans to handle the economy.
US stock markets fell slightly at the end of the trading day, with the Nasdaq, Dow Jones, and S&P 500 all down a little.
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Former special counsel Jack Smith gave testimony before the Senate about his investigations into President Donald Trump. The Senate hearing focused on the details and progress of these investigations.
Key Facts
Jack Smith is a former special counsel.
He testified before the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
His testimony covered investigations connected to President Donald Trump.
The investigations are official inquiries led by Jack Smith.
Lee Holmes, a former chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed the testimony on a CBS News segment.
The testimony was part of a Senate hearing focused on legal matters involving the President.
CBS News provided coverage and analysis of the testimony.
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A Staten Island judge decided that New York City’s plan to tax second homes, called the pied-à-terre tax, was not done correctly. The judge said the city's Department of Finance did not handle the tax’s introduction properly.
Key Facts
The ruling was made by Judge Wayne Ozzi from New York’s Supreme Court.
The tax in question was proposed by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The tax targets owners of second homes, often called pied-à-terre properties.
The judge found that the city’s Finance Department made mistakes when rolling out the tax.
A group of New York City homeowners brought the case against the tax.
The decision stops the city from moving forward with this tax at this time.
The case highlights ongoing debates about taxing luxury or additional property ownership in NYC.
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Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for reporting on race and education in America, wrote a new essay about sending her daughter to a struggling school in Brooklyn. She discussed this personal decision during an interview on a PBS News podcast.
Key Facts
Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
She has reported extensively on race and inequality in American education.
She recently wrote an essay about her choice to send her daughter to a high-poverty, low-performing school in Brooklyn.
The essay looks at the challenges and realities of such schools.
Hannah-Jones spoke about this decision on PBS News' "Settle In" podcast.
The focus is on personal experiences and the wider issues in education.
The school her daughter attended has faced economic and performance difficulties.
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A Venezuelan delivery driver, Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, was charged with assault after being shot by a federal immigration agent in Texas. The charge says he hit an officer with his car's side mirror while trying to drive away during a traffic stop related to his immigration status.
Key Facts
Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez is 28 years old and was shot on September 20 in Austin, Texas, by a federal immigration agent.
He was charged with assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer.
Garcés Pérez still has a bullet lodged in his back and may need surgery to avoid losing feeling in his body.
The incident began when agents spotted Garcés Pérez’s car parked with emergency flashers on and pulled him over after finding he had a final order for removal from the US.
Garcés Pérez provided his license but did not get out of the car, explaining he wanted to wait for his wife to come get the car.
He then drove away quickly, hitting an officer with his side mirror, which led to the shooting.
The officer who shot him was not wearing a body camera; another officer arrived after the shooting and had a camera.
Garcés Pérez is in US marshal custody and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
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Federal prosecutors charged Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan delivery driver, with assaulting a federal officer after he was shot by an ICE agent in Texas. The charge states that Garces Perez hit an officer with his car’s side mirror while trying to drive away during an immigration stop.
Key Facts
Garces Perez was shot on September 20 by a federal immigration agent in Austin, Texas.
He has a bullet still lodged in his back from the shooting.
He is charged with assaulting, resisting, and impeding a federal officer.
The incident began when officers tried to stop him after seeing his car registered to him with a final order of removal.
Garces Perez declined to exit the vehicle and later drove off, hitting an officer with his side mirror.
The officer who fired the shot was not wearing a body camera; another officer’s camera footage arrived after the shooting.
ICE plans said its agents would have body cameras by the end of September.
Garces Perez faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted and his attorneys are seeking to stop his removal from the U.S.
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The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to continue deporting immigrants to third countries temporarily, stopping a lower court ruling that paused these removals due to concerns about fair legal process. The court plans to hear full arguments in December as the administration appeals the lower court’s decision.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court granted an emergency request letting the Trump administration resume third-country deportations.
A lower court had paused these deportations, saying immigrants must have a fair chance to raise safety concerns before removal.
The Supreme Court’s order was unsigned and temporary, with a full hearing scheduled for December.
Third-country deportations involve sending immigrants to countries they have no strong ties to.
President Trump’s administration increased the use of third-country deportations since his 2025 return to office.
At least 35 countries have agreements with the U.S. to accept these deportees.
Human rights groups estimate over 25,000 people have been deported to third countries under this policy.
The United Nations warned the U.S. these deportations put vulnerable people at risk of abuse.
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President Donald Trump launched America.gov, a new website that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help people find information from various government sites with one search. The website is still being improved and has been developed since the start of Trump’s second term.
Key Facts
The website is called America.gov.
It uses AI technology to make searching government information easier.
Users can access multiple government websites through one search on America.gov.
President Trump announced the website on a Tuesday.
Development started early in Trump’s current term.
The site is still being updated and improved.
The launch event took place publicly (specific details not provided).
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The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume deporting immigrants to third countries, which are countries other than the immigrant’s home country. The Court will soon hear a case to decide whether this policy is legal.
Key Facts
Third country agreements let the U.S. deport immigrants to countries that are not their own.
These agreements are used when immigrants’ home countries refuse to take them or when other options are blocked by courts or DHS.
The list of third countries includes more than 30 nations; some have high-level travel warnings from the U.S. government.
Some third countries are considered unsafe due to violence, unrest, or political problems.
More than 25,000 immigrants have been deported to third countries since February 2025.
Human rights groups warn that deportees may face danger, persecution, or difficulties with language and family separation.
The Supreme Court has put a temporary stop on lower courts blocking these deportations but has not ruled on whether the policy itself is legal.
The Court will hear the case on an expedited schedule to decide the policy’s lawfulness.
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U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson dismissed a poll showing her behind in Iowa’s Senate race against Josh Turek. The day before her comments, President Donald Trump announced a $15 billion steel mill project in Iowa, which could create thousands of jobs and impact the election.
Key Facts
Ashley Hinson is running for Iowa’s open Senate seat against Democrat Josh Turek.
A recent Marist Poll showed Turek leading Hinson by eight points.
Hinson said she does not trust the poll and expects to win on November 3.
Other polls show a close race, with some showing Hinson slightly ahead or tied with Turek.
President Trump unveiled a $15 billion steel mill project in Iowa, which will be the largest in U.S. history.
The steel mill is expected to create 1,750 permanent jobs and 6,000 construction jobs.
The project could add $95 billion to the U.S. economy over the next ten years.
Both candidates reacted positively to the steel project but highlighted different state challenges.
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Lindsay Clancy’s defense lawyers argued in court that she never admitted to killing her three children, which was a new point in her case. A legal expert from CBS News commented on this argument during her latest court appearance.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the deaths of her three children.
Her defense team said there is no proof she confessed to the killings.
This claim was not part of the original trial.
The argument was made during a recent court hearing.
A CBS News legal expert explained the significance of this defense strategy.
The case continues to develop with new legal arguments being presented.
The trial is being covered by major news outlets like CBS News.
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Boeing won a Pentagon contract worth over $20 billion to build the U.S. Navy’s next fighter jet, called the F/A-XX. This new aircraft will replace the current Super Hornet planes and work alongside the F-35 jets.
Key Facts
Boeing was chosen over Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin to build the Navy’s next fighter.
The contract is worth more than $20 billion.
The F/A-XX is a sixth-generation fighter jet, planned to be more advanced than current models.
The plane will support the Navy’s existing F-35 jets, including versions that take off from short runways or aircraft carriers.
Details about the final design of the warplane have not been fully shared yet.
Navy leaders have said the aircraft will have advanced sensors, better weapons, longer range, and work with both manned and unmanned systems.
The project had delays and debates among the White House, Pentagon, Congress, and defense companies before the award.
Boeing is also building the Air Force’s F-47 jet, which was introduced during a White House event with President Donald Trump.
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Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer argued in court that there is no solid evidence showing she killed her children. He asked the judge to rule her not guilty because the prosecutors did not prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, made a motion asking the judge to find Clancy not guilty.
The motion claims the evidence at trial was not strong enough for a jury to convict her beyond a reasonable doubt.
Prosecutors have not clearly said if they will have a new trial.
Reddington argued there was no direct proof or admission from Clancy that she killed her kids.
His current argument was different from earlier statements where he suggested Clancy accepted responsibility.
Reddington had previously tried to split the trial into two parts: one for guilt and another for mental state, but this was denied.
Prosecutors disagreed and said there is a lot of evidence showing Clancy killed her children.
Reddington said his argument is not new and focuses on the prosecution’s failure to prove probable cause.
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The White House launched a new website, America.gov, that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide accurate information. The site clearly states that President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, contradicting claims made by some about the election results.
Key Facts
The White House created a new AI-powered website called America.gov.
The website addresses misinformation about the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
It confirms that President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.
The site aims to provide reliable and verified information to the public.
This move responds to repeated false statements about the election outcome.
Major Garrett reported on this development for CBS News.
The website uses AI technology to help ensure facts are clear and accessible.
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The U.S. Supreme Court refused to stop the execution of Christa Pike, a Tennessee inmate convicted of murder in 1995. She will be executed by lethal injection, becoming the first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years.
Key Facts
Christa Pike was convicted of murdering a teenage classmate in 1995.
The Supreme Court declined to delay or stop her execution.
Her execution is scheduled for 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
The execution will take place at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Tennessee.
Pike will be the first woman executed in Tennessee in 200 years.
The method of execution is lethal injection.
Pike is 50 years old.
This case marks a rare instance of a woman being executed in the U.S.
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President Donald Trump has stopped fighting in court over the payment of $5 million to E Jean Carroll, who won a civil case against him for sexual abuse and defamation. The money has already been paid to Carroll, and Trump’s legal team will no longer try to block or delay the payment.
Key Facts
E Jean Carroll won a $5 million verdict in 2023 against President Trump for sexual abuse and defamation.
Trump previously fought the payment of this money through appeals but has now dropped those efforts.
The payment of $5 million plus interest was held in a court-controlled fund and released after the Supreme Court refused to hear Trump’s appeal.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit officially dismissed Trump’s appeal with prejudice, meaning he cannot try again on this issue.
The Manhattan federal court ordered the money be given to Carroll after the Supreme Court’s decision in June 2024.
Trump’s legal team issued a statement calling the case a political attack but confirmed the payment issue is settled.
Trump is still challenging a separate $83 million payment ordered against him in a related defamation case won by Carroll in January 2024.
The legal developments provide a clear end to the fight over the $5 million payout but not the larger $83 million case.
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Senator Tom Cotton asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to check and improve the military supply chains after parts meant for the F-35 fighter jet were found in China. The concern is to prevent important U.S. military technology from reaching China.
Key Facts
Senator Tom Cotton is the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Cotton questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about how F-35 parts ended up in China.
The F-35 is an advanced U.S. fighter jet used by the military.
There is a concern about supply chain security for military equipment.
Cotton urged a thorough review to prevent U.S. military parts from being sent to foreign countries like China.
The goal is to protect U.S. national security by ensuring sensitive technology is not shared improperly.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning local, state, and federal law enforcement officers in California from using gloves that deliver painful electric shocks. The ban will start next year and last until 2030, while the state studies the safety of these gloves.
Key Facts
The law bans law enforcement officers in California from using gloves that deliver electric shocks.
The ban starts in 2025 and will stay in place until 2030.
The ban was prompted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) buying $17 million worth of the shock gloves.
California wants to study the safety of these gloves and report findings by 2029.
The new law applies to local, state, and federal officers in California.
Some law enforcement officials oppose the ban, saying the gloves are non-lethal tools.
Courts might rule that California cannot restrict federal officers because federal law generally overrules state law.
The law is part of a series of measures in California aiming to protect immigrants and regulate immigration enforcement.
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President Donald Trump is considering Jay Clayton, the current Director of National Intelligence, for the role of AI czar to oversee artificial intelligence issues. Trump plans to decide on the appointment within a few days and aims to create a new government agency called the AI Force to manage AI safety and innovation.
Key Facts
Jay Clayton is the Director of National Intelligence and advises the president on intelligence matters.
Clayton described AI as both an opportunity and a threat during his confirmation hearing.
President Trump wants to appoint an AI czar to lead efforts in managing AI.
The exact responsibilities of the AI czar are not yet clearly defined.
Trump plans to create a new agency called the AI Force focused on AI oversight.
Trump hopes to choose the AI czar within the next three or four days.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and AI industry leaders recently met with Trump to discuss AI regulation.
David Sacks, a venture capitalist, previously held the AI czar role but left in March and now serves as an outside advisor.
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