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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Two people climbed to the top of the Empire State Building's antenna in New York City and displayed a banner about love and peace. They took photos, hugged, and were later arrested by authorities.
Key Facts
The incident happened on a Wednesday around midday.
The two people wore black clothes and masks.
They climbed to the antenna, which is 1,454 feet (443 meters) high.
They showed a banner that said, "when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."
They were not secured by safety ropes.
They embraced and took selfies at the top.
Police arrested both individuals after they came down safely.
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Progressive candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are winning important primary races in several states ahead of the 2026 elections. Republicans are using these victories to argue that socialism is a growing threat in America, aiming to motivate their supporters by highlighting this shift.
Key Facts
Progressive Democratic candidates aligned with the DSA won primaries in New York, Colorado, Kentucky, Texas, Maine, New Jersey, and Philadelphia in 2026.
The DSA currently has two seats in Congress, and this election cycle’s wins could double that number if they succeed in remaining races.
President Donald Trump called communism the biggest threat to the U.S. since major past attacks and wars.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said communism is now present on American shores.
Republicans use the term "socialism" as a political tool because it sounds scarier to many voters than the policies themselves.
Some Republican strategists say that many progressive policies actually receive support when not labeled as socialist.
Democratic strategists worry that the rise of DSA candidates beyond large cities could hurt Democrats in more areas.
A recent Gallup poll found that only 54% of Americans view capitalism positively, the lowest since 2010, while views on socialism have remained mostly unchanged.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ended its recent term with mixed rulings for President Donald Trump, rejecting some of his major policies while supporting others. The court, led by a conservative majority, has continued to strengthen the power of the presidency in several ways.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court blocked Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship, ruling it violated the 14th Amendment.
The court stopped Trump’s reciprocal tariffs policy, saying he misused emergency powers.
The court upheld the independence of the Federal Reserve, preventing Trump from firing member Lisa Cook without following legal steps.
The court rejected Trump’s attempt to block states from accepting mail-in ballots after polls close.
The court confirmed the president can fire leaders of executive agencies, even if Congress intended those agencies to be independent.
The court ruled that presidents have “absolute immunity” for official acts, shielding them from criminal prosecution while in office.
Trump’s efforts to expand presidential power continue to influence political debates, especially around birthright citizenship.
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John Brennan, the former CIA Director, has sued the Trump administration to make sure records about investigations into him are kept safe. He is worried that the government might destroy or hide these records as part of a political attack against him.
Key Facts
John Brennan filed a lawsuit in Washington D.C. federal court to preserve records related to investigations against him.
Brennan’s lawyers say the Trump administration changed rules on keeping records, which is different from past practice.
The lawsuit claims the Justice Department has a history of irregular actions in cases that seem like political revenge.
Brennan believes these investigations are part of President Trump’s effort to punish his critics, including Brennan himself.
A Justice Department spokesperson called Brennan’s claim of a “retribution campaign” ironic but did not explain further.
Brennan plans to fight strongly if he is formally charged.
The lawsuit mentions past actions by the Trump administration that appeared to target political opponents, like subpoenas to Jerome Powell and an investigation of Minnesota’s Governor.
The court order Brennan seeks is meant to ensure records are kept intact for courts to review his claims about retaliation.
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The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing over 1,000 grand jury cases in Illinois after a major case was dropped due to prosecutor misconduct. The review aims to make sure all prosecutors followed ethical rules and to check if other cases might have similar problems.
Key Facts
The review covers grand jury presentations from nearly 20 years and ongoing cases in the Northern District of Illinois.
The review started because of problems in a case involving four activists protesting an immigration crackdown.
Prosecutors dropped charges against the activists after a judge raised concerns about misconduct during grand jury proceedings.
Misconduct included a prosecutor meeting privately with a grand juror and excluding jurors who disagreed about the case dismissal.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said the review is extensive and aims to restore trust in the justice process.
The judge made grand jury transcripts public, revealing strong disagreement from one grand juror about the case.
The case was part of the immigration enforcement actions in Chicago and nearby areas last year.
Boutros emphasized no one intended to mislead the court but apologized for the unacceptable conduct.
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President Donald Trump made about $1.2 billion last year from various sources, with cryptocurrency businesses earning him more money than his real estate holdings. His financial report shows earnings from crypto tokens, real estate in foreign countries, lawsuits against media companies, and sales of branded products like watches and Bibles.
Key Facts
President Trump earned approximately $1.2 billion in the past year.
His crypto businesses brought in over $1.1 billion combined from selling governance tokens, stablecoins, and "meme" coins.
Real estate continued to generate income, including from new foreign property holdings.
He made tens of millions from lawsuits against media companies concerned about broadcast licenses and regulatory approvals.
Sales of branded items such as Bibles, guitars, and watches added millions to his revenue, with watches alone bringing in $4.7 million.
A Chinese billionaire purchased large amounts of Trump-related crypto, but later faced a lawsuit that was settled with a fine.
A company linked to the United Arab Emirates government invested $500 million in one of Trump’s crypto businesses shortly before his inauguration, with Trump receiving nearly $200 million from that deal.
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The Trump administration sued California and Virginia over their new laws that limit the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms. The Justice Department argues these laws go against the Second Amendment right to bear arms, while both states say their laws protect public safety.
Key Facts
The Justice Department filed separate lawsuits against California and Virginia over new gun laws.
Both laws restrict the sale of certain semiautomatic guns.
Virginia’s law bans the sale and manufacture of certain semiautomatic firearms and started this year.
California’s law stops gun shops from selling specific handguns that can be easily changed to fully automatic.
Virginia’s Attorney General and California’s Attorney General both support their states’ gun laws.
California claims its gun laws have helped reduce gun-related deaths.
The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear a case about whether banning semiautomatic rifles is constitutional.
The Supreme Court has recently made rulings that expand gun rights.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to ban a tax strategy called "buy, borrow, die" that some wealthy people use to avoid paying taxes. This strategy lets rich individuals borrow money using their assets instead of selling them and paying taxes, and their heirs inherit those assets without capital gains taxes. However, experts say this method is not widely used by the richest families, who mostly grow wealth by holding onto assets without selling.
Key Facts
The "buy, borrow, die" strategy involves buying assets, borrowing money against them, and passing them on to heirs who get a stepped-up tax basis.
Borrowing against assets avoids paying capital gains taxes because loan money is not taxable income.
When heirs inherit assets, they pay no capital gains tax on the increase in value during the original owner’s life.
Elon Musk and billionaire John Malone have used this strategy.
Governor Newsom calls this a loophole that benefits only the richest Americans and wants Congress to close it.
Analysis shows the strategy accounts for only 1% to 2% of economic income for the wealthiest 1%.
Experts say most rich people increase wealth by holding assets and letting gains grow without selling, deferring taxes.
Some states, including California, propose new taxes on unrealized gains to tax rich people’s total wealth, not just income.
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Melat Kiros won the Democratic primary for Colorado’s first congressional district. She said she will not support any party leader who takes money from corporate political action committees (PACs).
Key Facts
Melat Kiros is 29 years old and identifies as a democratic socialist.
She defeated long-time Democratic Representative Diana DeGette in the primary.
Kiros opposes leaders who accept campaign donations from corporate PACs.
She is part of a growing group of Democrats seeking changes in the party’s practices.
Her victory reflects a shift in support toward candidates challenging the party’s establishment.
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Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates have recently won many primary elections across the US, including in New York City, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. The group is growing quickly and aims to expand its influence beyond winning individual offices to create bigger political changes.
Key Facts
DSA-backed candidates won nine of ten Democratic primary races in New York City recently.
Zohran Mamdani was elected as New York City’s first immigrant, Muslim, and DSA member mayor in 2024.
Melat Kiros, a democratic socialist, defeated longtime US representative Diana DeGette in Colorado.
Janeese Lewis George is expected to become mayor of Washington DC.
Chris Rabb was selected as the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania’s third congressional district.
DSA’s New York chapter grew from 5,900 members in fall 2024 to 14,000 before the recent primaries, with more joining after the wins.
There are over 200 local DSA chapters across the US, with 20 chapters having more than 1,000 members each.
DSA leaders want to continue increasing their political power and influence beyond just winning a few offices.
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Sixteen children, aged 18 months to 18 years, were taken from a rural Ohio home after officials found them living in very poor conditions. Four adults, identified as the children’s parents and grandparents, were charged with multiple counts of child endangerment. Some children needed urgent medical care, and the case is being investigated further.
Key Facts
The children were found in a home in Hamden, Vinton County, Ohio.
Authorities described the living conditions as extremely bad and unhealthy.
The children included an 18-year-old with developmental delays treated as a child in this case.
Four adults—Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr., and Elizabeth Siders—were arrested and charged.
Each adult faces 16 counts of second-degree felony child endangerment.
Some children were airlifted to trauma centers, and others were taken to hospitals.
The lawyers for the accused will likely be court-appointed.
Prosecutors said the case is a family matter, not related to human trafficking.
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Karen Norris Newsome, a 74-year-old woman from Darlington County, South Carolina, shared her life story, personal values, and Southern accent as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. CBS News interviewed her to highlight her experiences growing up and her connection to Southern culture.
Key Facts
Karen Norris Newsome is 74 years old.
She lives in Darlington County, South Carolina.
She spoke about her childhood experiences.
She shared her personal values.
She has a distinctive Southern accent.
The interview was done by CBS News.
The interview was part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations.
The focus was on personal stories reflecting American culture.
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After the Supreme Court confirmed that birthright citizenship is protected by the Constitution, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said federal law enforcement will focus on stopping “birth tourism.” This is when visitors come to the U.S. to have a baby so the child becomes a U.S. citizen.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment stands.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said prosecutors will target birth tourism cases.
Birth tourism involves visitors or undocumented immigrants giving birth in the U.S. to secure citizenship for the child.
The Justice Department’s fraud division is instructed to investigate and charge cases of birth tourism fraud.
The exact scale of birth tourism is unclear, with estimates of 20,000 to 26,000 births per year on tourist visas, less than 1% of all U.S. births.
President Trump has argued against birthright citizenship for children of non-citizen parents.
Trump’s executive order aimed to redefine who qualifies as “subject to the jurisdiction” under the 14th Amendment but was rejected by the Court.
Trump plans to push new laws to limit birthright citizenship, but such bills face high hurdles in Congress.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ), under President Donald Trump’s administration, sued Virginia over its new law banning assault weapons, including AR-15-style rifles. The DOJ claims the law violates the Second Amendment rights to own and buy guns. Virginia officials say the law is meant to protect public safety and will be defended in court.
Key Facts
Virginia passed a law (SB749) banning the sale, manufacture, and transfer of assault weapons like AR-15 rifles.
The DOJ filed a lawsuit in federal court saying the law breaks the Constitution’s Second Amendment.
The lawsuit argues that the Second Amendment protects not just owning guns but also buying and selling them.
The law took effect despite some local legal challenges that created uncertainty over enforcement.
Virginia’s Attorney General said the state will defend the law against the DOJ’s lawsuit.
The governor of Virginia supports the law, saying it aims to protect communities and law enforcement from gun violence.
The DOJ points to Supreme Court cases saying the right to bear arms includes the right to acquire common firearms like AR-15s.
The government asked the court to stop the law while the case proceeds, but no decision has been made yet.
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The US Supreme Court ruled that children born in the United States are automatically citizens, regardless of their parents' immigration status. This decision rejected President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship and confirmed that the 14th Amendment protects citizenship at birth.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled that birthright citizenship applies to all children born in the US, no matter their parents' immigration status.
President Trump issued an executive order to end automatic citizenship for children of parents who are in the US unlawfully or temporarily.
The court decision is based on the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.
President Trump has claimed the US is the only country with birthright citizenship, but at least 32 countries, mostly in the Americas, also grant it automatically.
Some countries have limited forms of birthright citizenship that depend on parents’ citizenship or ancestry.
President Trump has said birthright citizenship encourages "birth tourism," where people travel to the US to have babies who get citizenship.
Reliable data on birth tourism is limited; estimates show it accounts for less than 1% of births in the US.
Despite the ruling, the Trump administration plans to strengthen efforts against businesses and individuals involved in birth tourism.
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A 1-year-old boy named Kohen Wiley was shot and killed by police in Senatobia, Mississippi, during an incident where officers fired into a moving car. A new autopsy shows the child was shot from the side, which challenges police claims that the car was moving toward them at the time.
Key Facts
Kohen Wiley, a 1-year-old, was killed on June 14, 2026, when police fired into a car in Senatobia, Mississippi.
The family’s autopsy found that Kohen was shot from the side of the vehicle, not from the front as police initially said.
Kohen’s mother was in the passenger seat and says the driver was leaving the scene, not driving toward police.
Police were called about possible diaper shoplifting at a Walmart parking lot before the shooting.
The mother was critically wounded in the shooting.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing the family and asking for police body camera, dashcam, and Walmart surveillance videos to be made public.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is handling the case and has not commented, as the investigation is ongoing.
The shooting has sparked protests and discussions about police use of force in the community.
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The New York Police Department will deploy thousands of officers to secure large July 4th events, including fireworks, a Sail 250 celebration with many ships, and a World Cup soccer match. Police are also preparing for a possible wedding of pop star Taylor Swift and football player Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden. No specific threats have been reported, but officers will monitor crowds, waterways, and no-fly zones for drones.
Key Facts
NYPD will have a large security presence during Independence Day celebrations and a major World Cup soccer match.
Events include parades of about 100 sailing and naval vessels, fireworks, and jet flyovers.
A heat wave may increase the demand for emergency medical help.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s reported wedding may take place at Madison Square Garden, with police detail assigned there.
Security checkpoints will be set up for waterfront viewing areas during Sail 250 festivities.
Police aviation units and drone teams will watch for illegal drones near the fireworks.
Additional police units for counterterrorism, bomb detection, and plainclothes officers will support the events.
Special security measures will be in place at Penn Station for World Cup fans traveling to a Brazil vs. Norway match.
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California has made May 17 Bruce Lee Day, honoring the martial arts star as the first Chinese American with a namesake day in the state. The day recognizes Bruce Lee’s impact on culture, representation, and martial arts.
Key Facts
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law creating Bruce Lee Day on May 17.
Bruce Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940 to Chinese parents and later moved to Hong Kong.
He returned to San Francisco on May 17, 1959, the date chosen for the day.
Lee was a child actor, martial artist, and starred in the TV show “The Green Hornet.”
Hollywood studios often gave him racist roles and paid him less than white actors.
Lee became a major star in Hong Kong martial arts films like “The Big Boss” and “Fist of Fury.”
He died in 1973 at age 32 from an allergic reaction to medication.
The Bruce Lee Foundation and Asian American groups plan events to honor him annually.
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Governor Greg Abbott wants to ban new data centers that serve artificial intelligence (AI) from being built in rural Texas neighborhoods. He supports rules requiring these data centers to pay for their own power, water reuse, and infrastructure to reduce costs for local residents.
Key Facts
Abbott called for a ban on AI data centers in rural Texas during a campaign event.
He wants data centers to cover their own costs for power, water reuse, and infrastructure.
Abbott aims to eliminate tax breaks currently given to these data centers.
His new ban goes beyond earlier rules he proposed to limit the impact on communities.
Some rural counties have sought moratoriums or local control to stop data center construction.
Opponents worry large data centers could hurt water supply, air quality, and raise electric bills.
The data center industry argues these centers provide important services and property tax benefits.
Abbott previously praised Texas as a leader in AI development and has received tech industry donations.
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Wealthy celebrities like Barbra Streisand, Elon Musk, and Seth MacFarlane are donating money to candidates in important U.S. Senate races ahead of the November midterm elections. Democrats hope to gain control of the Senate by winning seats in states where President Trump has mixed approval ratings, while Republicans are targeting certain Democratic-held seats.
Key Facts
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate; Democrats need to flip four seats to take control.
Democrats are focusing on Republican-held seats in states like Maine, North Carolina, Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas.
Republicans consider Democratic seats in Georgia, Michigan, and New Hampshire potentially competitive.
President Trump’s approval rating is low, with 58% of Americans disapproving of his job performance.
Celebrities like Barbra Streisand have donated thousands of dollars to Democratic Senate candidates.
Actress Cynthia Nixon has supported progressive candidates in Maine and Michigan.
Melinda French Gates and Seth MacFarlane have also made significant donations to Democrats in key races.
Celebrity donations can provide financial support and influence public opinion during elections.
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