A new Gallup survey found that trust in the mass media among Americans increased by 5% this year. This increase was mainly driven by people who identify as Republicans, following a record low level of trust in 2025.
Key Facts
Trust in mass media rose by 5% this year.
The survey measured trust in newspapers, television, and radio.
Only 33% of Americans said they trusted the media “a great deal” or “quite a bit.”
Republicans were the main group contributing to the rise in media trust.
Media trust had reached an all-time low in 2025 before the recent increase.
Gallup conducted the survey and published the results on Tuesday.
The survey reflects changes in public opinion about media credibility.
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The Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration’s policy to deport immigrants to third countries (not their home countries) to continue for now. The Court will decide on the legal questions related to this policy at a later date.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court permitted the continuation of a policy from President Trump’s administration.
The policy allows deportation of migrants to countries other than their home countries, called "third-country deportations."
Legal challenges have been made against this policy since President Trump’s second term began.
The Court has not yet made a final ruling on whether the policy is legal.
This decision is temporary, letting the policy stay in place while the legal issues are reviewed.
The story is ongoing and will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
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President Trump's administration filed 41 requests to the Supreme Court's emergency "shadow docket" in less than two years, matching the total over his entire first term. This is more than the Biden, Obama, and Bush administrations combined, raising questions about how the court uses this emergency process.
Key Facts
The shadow docket allows the Supreme Court to make quick decisions before regular appeals finish.
President Trump's administration filed 41 emergency requests in less than two years during his second term.
The Biden administration filed 19 emergency requests in four years.
The Obama and George W. Bush administrations filed a combined total of 8 requests over 16 years.
These emergency orders often lack explanation and are unsigned, making it hard for lower courts to understand them.
One recent request involved the Bureau of Prisons wanting to stop certain care for transgender inmates.
Supreme Court Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan have expressed concerns about the frequent use of the shadow docket.
Experts worry that overusing this process may reduce public trust in the justice system and democracy.
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Federal prosecutors have charged Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan national shot by an ICE officer in Austin, with assault. He was stopped by ICE agents because he had a final order of removal and was leaving a restaurant.
Key Facts
Wilber Rafael Garces Perez is a Venezuelan national.
He was stopped by ICE officers in Austin, Texas.
Perez had a final order of removal, meaning he was ordered to leave the U.S.
The stop happened as Perez was leaving a restaurant.
During the traffic stop, an ICE officer shot Perez.
Federal prosecutors later charged Perez with assault.
ICE is the U.S. agency that enforces immigration laws.
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President Donald Trump’s AI-powered website, America.gov, states that he lost the 2020 presidential election to President Joe Biden. The website uses official government sources to answer questions and includes links to the original information.
Key Facts
The website America.gov is run using artificial intelligence (AI).
It confirms President Trump lost the 2020 election to President Biden.
This contradicts President Trump’s claim that he won the 2020 election.
The site has a search bar for users to ask questions.
Answers given come from official government websites.
Links to these official sources are provided for users.
The AI references accurate, government-verified information.
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A former FBI agent, Jennifer Coffindaffer, says a recent ransom note related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is not real. The note demanded bitcoin and included an AI-generated video, but police and experts doubt its authenticity and are investigating.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared in Tucson, Arizona, on January 31, 2024.
A woman named Lauren Serpa received a ransom note saying Nancy was alive in Mexico and demanded six bitcoins (about $500,000) for her release.
Serpa reported the note to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which is investigating the claim.
The ransom note included a QR code for bitcoin payment and a video that Serpa says was created with artificial intelligence (AI).
Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer analyzed the note and called it fake, citing similar past ransom attempts with AI-generated images.
Coffindaffer received a similar ransom request in April and shared it with the FBI but did not make it public.
The note also mentioned the Mafia, but investigators have not confirmed this claim.
Authorities say they have limited options for acting against this possible extortion but continue to look into the case.
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President Donald Trump will campaign in Nebraska to support Republican Senator Pete Ricketts, who faces a strong challenge from independent Dan Osborn in the upcoming midterm elections. Although Nebraska usually votes Republican by a large margin, this Senate race is closer than usual, making Trump’s presence important for the GOP’s efforts to hold the seat.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to campaign in Grand Island, Nebraska, to support Senator Pete Ricketts.
Ricketts is facing a competitive race against Dan Osborn, an independent candidate and labor leader.
Nebraska usually votes heavily Republican, with Trump winning by over 20 points in 2024.
Dan Osborn performed strongly in a previous 2024 Senate race, losing by only 7 points to a Republican in the state.
Republicans are concerned about losing seats in the midterm elections due to President Trump’s lower approval rating.
The rally will take place at the Nebraska State Fair’s Pinnacle Bank Expo Center and is expected to help boost Republican voter turnout.
Polls suggest the race is close, with some showing Osborn leading by a small margin among likely voters.
Osborn criticized Ricketts for abandoning key campaign issues that Trump supported in 2024, including lower grocery costs and border security.
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Republican senators criticized special counsel Jack Smith during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about his investigations into President Trump. The hearing included arguments over accusations, a basketball team mix-up, and debates about subpoenas for phone records tied to the investigations.
Key Facts
Jack Smith led two federal criminal cases against President Trump in 2023, both dismissed before trial.
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt wrongly accused Smith of attending an Atlanta Hawks game, when Smith had attended a University of Iowa Hawkeyes game.
Senator Amy Klobuchar said Schmitt’s false claims and insults toward Smith deserved an apology.
Republicans claim Smith targeted Trump and Republican lawmakers unfairly, including subpoenaing phone records from Congress members.
Smith said subpoenas were necessary to find evidence of Trump’s efforts to delay the 2020 election certification.
Senator John Kennedy accused the Biden administration of pressuring the Department of Justice to prosecute Trump, with no public proof; Smith said he didn’t know of any such conversations.
Kennedy made remarks comparing belief in Smith’s claims to belief in the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny.
Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Darline Graham also criticized Smith, accusing him of abusing his power and bullying Republicans.
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The Department of Homeland Security is spending $20 million of taxpayer money on ads that praise President Donald Trump. Democratic senators say these ads break laws against using government funds for political promotion, and they have asked for an explanation from the department.
Key Facts
Homeland Security is using $20 million for ads that highlight President Trump’s achievements.
The ads have been criticized by both Democrats and Republicans as misuse of taxpayer money.
Two Democratic senators wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding answers within 48 hours.
The money originally was meant for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The ads run on TV channels including sports programming and include campaign-like messages.
Experts say these ads don’t qualify as public service announcements because they promote a political figure instead of sharing government program info.
Republican leaders also criticized the use of government funds for these ads.
More than $2.5 million has already been spent in one week on three ads, with a potential total of $20 million committed to the campaign.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a pause on hiring civilian tenured professors at U.S. military academies. He wants the academies to focus on hiring plans that support flexibility and directly help the military’s mission.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the decision to stop hiring civilian tenured faculty at U.S. military academies.
The pause affects civilian staff in permanent teaching positions.
The goal is to create hiring plans that improve flexibility in staff roles.
Hegseth wants faculty contributions to align closely with military training and readiness.
Military Service Academies train future officers for the U.S. armed forces.
This directive aims to better support the "warfighting mission," which means preparing for combat and defense.
The order was issued on a Tuesday.
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New York prosecutors have reopened a criminal investigation into an alleged gang rape at Cornell University that happened in October 2024. Text messages between the woman involved and a defendant show confusion about the events, while a civil lawsuit names seven men accused of assaulting the woman at a fraternity house.
Key Facts
The alleged assault occurred in October 2024 at a Cornell fraternity house called Chi Phi.
The woman claims she was drugged and raped by multiple men over seven hours.
Text messages between the woman and one defendant show both had fuzzy memories and were intoxicated.
The woman said in texts that none of the sexual activity was illegal and expressed liking some of the men.
Seven men are named in a civil lawsuit for the assault; two were expelled by Cornell after an internal investigation.
The other five men received lesser punishments and continued their studies.
No arrests or criminal charges were made initially, prompting public criticism.
The district attorney reopened the case after new allegations came out in the civil lawsuit, stating the original statement from the woman described consensual behavior.
CBS News released some text messages and videos related to the case, including messages from a group linked to the fraternity.
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President Donald Trump is holding rallies this week in states that strongly support Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. His visits aim to boost voter turnout in these areas rather than concentrate on more competitive states.
Key Facts
President Trump will hold rallies in Durant, Oklahoma, on October 1 and Mobile, Alabama, on October 2.
Both locations are in areas that heavily favored Trump and the Republican Party in the 2024 elections.
Durant is in Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District, which Trump won by over 50 points in 2024.
Mobile, in Alabama’s 1st Congressional District, was redrawn to favor Republicans after recent redistricting.
Later in October, Trump plans rallies in Ohio, Iowa, and Nebraska, states with closer Senate races.
Some Democrats say Republicans are worried about losing traditional strongholds like Alabama.
Republicans argue these rallies will increase voter turnout in important neighboring states like Texas and Florida.
Experts say it is common for presidents to visit safe areas during midterms to encourage their base to vote.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to visit several states with important Senate races to support Republican candidates before the midterm elections. He will also attend fundraising events as the GOP works to keep control of the Senate.
Key Facts
John Thune is the Senate Majority Leader and a Republican senator from South Dakota.
Thune will travel to states including North Carolina, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, and Iowa.
He recently campaigned in Georgia with Rep. Mike Collins, who is running against Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff.
Thune will participate in both fundraising and media events to help Republican candidates.
Some members of the GOP and President Trump have criticized Thune, especially about the SAVE America Act, an elections-related bill.
Thune said his endorsement may not help in primary races but could be useful in general elections.
Senate Republicans have raised over $500 million to support their candidates for the midterms.
Thune described the Senate races as very close and said the outcome could go either way, depending on voter turnout and campaign efforts.
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The Department of Education clarified that it is not banning students from certain college degrees but is creating a rule to hold colleges responsible if their programs leave students with heavy debt and poor job prospects. The rule compares graduates’ earnings to those of people with less education to decide if programs qualify for federal student loans.
Key Facts
The Department of Education denied reports that the Trump administration plans to ban some college degrees.
The new rule aims to stop colleges from offering programs that leave students worse off financially than if they had not attended.
The rule compares graduates’ median earnings four years after completing a program to those with only a high school diploma or a bachelor’s degree.
Programs failing this test may lose access to federal student loans.
Some degrees like social work, art, religious studies, music, teaching assistance, and cosmetology might be more affected due to lower earnings.
About 3% of programs at public and nonprofit colleges and one-third of those at for-profit colleges may fail the earnings test.
The Department of Education says this policy will protect taxpayers and help students avoid unmanageable debt.
A study showed that liberal arts degrees produce the lowest financial gains over 15 years but still return a positive benefit on average.
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President Donald Trump is choosing which government-funded ads to air on TV ahead of the midterm elections. These ads highlight his achievements and campaign messages, and they are funded by taxpayer money through the Department of Homeland Security’s budget.
Key Facts
President Trump personally selects the government-funded ads that started airing on September 23.
The ads promote Trump’s record and warnings about communism, socialism, and Marxism.
One ad mirrors a Trump campaign video but is labeled as paid for by the U.S. Government.
The Department of Homeland Security is paying for the ads using existing funds.
The ads have aired over 2,000 times on broadcast TV and over 50 times on cable.
The most aired program was Fox’s NFL coverage, with 340 showings.
Some Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, say the ads should not use taxpayer money.
Democrats criticize the ads as illegal government propaganda.
So far, about $2.5 million has been spent, which is small compared to the $100 million Trump's campaign is spending on midterm efforts.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new website called America.gov, which lets Americans apply for passports online. The website uses artificial intelligence to simplify the passport application process, replacing the older, slower system.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump launched the new artificial intelligence website for passport applications.
The website is called America.gov.
Americans can now apply for passports online through this site.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio presented and promoted the new website.
The new system aims to improve the previous slow and complex passport application process.
The use of artificial intelligence helps make the process easier and faster.
This change reflects an effort to modernize government services for citizens.
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President Donald Trump’s administration launched a new website called America.gov to help people find government information and services more easily. The website uses artificial intelligence (AI) to guide users to official sources and aims to let people complete some government tasks without visiting multiple agency sites.
Key Facts
America.gov is a government website designed to simplify access to official information and services.
The site uses AI technologies from Google and xAI to answer questions and direct users.
It does not store user information and follows security rules of the government agencies involved.
Users can get help with topics like passport renewal, elections, and citizenship applications.
The site was introduced by President Trump and officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
America.gov aims to let users complete government transactions directly in the future, like applying for a passport and uploading photos.
The website is managed by the National Design Studio, part of the Executive Office of the President created by Trump in 2025.
The site provides accurate, neutral answers, such as confirming Joe Biden won the 2020 election and correctly naming the Department of Defense.
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A new study shows that Generation Z, people born roughly between 1997 and 2012, are more interested in marriage than older generations. The study found that 72 percent of Gen Z singles want to get married, challenging the idea that young people are against long-term commitment.
Key Facts
The study was done by Match Group and Indiana University's Kinsey Institute, surveying about 5,000 single adults in the U.S.
72% of Gen Z singles want to get married, the highest percentage among all generations.
76% of all people surveyed believe romantic love can last forever.
Many Gen Z singles feel pressure to keep relationships casual but still want long-term commitment.
Gen Z has dated less than previous generations, making relationships feel more valuable to them.
Many singles prioritize emotional stability and compatibility over just excitement in relationships.
About 71% say being open about money helps build trust, and 70% are open to prenuptial agreements.
Economic and social uncertainties make the idea of a stable, committed partner more attractive to Gen Z.
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Top Senate Democrats have contacted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to inquire about delays in providing COVID-19 vaccines to low-income children through a federal program. They sent a letter to the CDC Director and HHS Secretary to ask for explanations and faster action.
Key Facts
Senate Democrats are concerned about slow distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to children from low-income families.
The vaccines are part of a federal program aimed at helping vulnerable populations.
A letter was sent to CDC Director Erica Schwartz and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is among the lawmakers pressing for answers.
The focus is on ensuring equitable and timely access to COVID vaccines for children in need.
The action highlights ongoing efforts to manage COVID-19 vaccination for different groups.
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Senator Eric Schmitt questioned special counsel Jack Smith during a Senate hearing about whether Smith had attended an Atlanta Hawks NBA game in February 2024. Smith denied going to that game and said he had been at a University of Maryland women's basketball game instead.
Key Facts
Senator Eric Schmitt asked Jack Smith if he attended an Atlanta Hawks game in February 2024.
Schmitt showed text message screenshots as evidence suggesting Smith was in Georgia.
Smith said he didn’t attend the Hawks game and could not remember being in Atlanta at that time.
Smith said he went to a University of Maryland women’s basketball game during the same timeframe.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar corrected Schmitt by pointing out that Caitlin Clark played for the University of Iowa, not Maryland.
The questioning was part of a Senate Judiciary hearing that involved discussion of past investigations related to President Donald Trump.
Schmitt suggested that Smith might have lied under oath (perjured himself), but made mistakes about the basketball teams involved.
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