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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
A man named Simon Levy is on trial in London for allegedly murdering two women and raping a third. The court heard that Levy has a history of sexual offenses since 2018 and has been charged with serious crimes involving women, some of whom were sex workers.
Key Facts
Simon Levy, 40, from North London, faces charges of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins and raping another woman.
Levy has been convicted of about 13 sexual assaults since July 2018.
He was arrested in April 2025 for the first murder before the second murder occurred in August 2025.
Prosecutors say both murders were sexually motivated, involving women who were sex workers or exchanged sex for money or drugs.
The surviving victim was trafficked into the UK and was raped and attacked by Levy in January 2025.
The victim lost consciousness after being strangled and seriously injured during the attack.
Levy’s lawyer says the surviving victim is not telling the truth and knew Levy before the alleged attack.
The first murder victim was found in March 2025 in a building stairwell in South London, near where Levy had been.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Donald Trump can remove independent agency officials, like Federal Trade Commission members, at will for policy reasons. This decision reverses nearly 90 years of legal rules that protected these officials from firing and increases presidential control over independent government agencies.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court decision allows President Trump to fire a Democratic FTC commissioner, Rebecca Slaughter, for policy reasons.
The ruling overturns a 1935 precedent that protected independent agency officials from being removed without cause.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, stating the president must have the power to remove subordinates at will.
Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson dissented, warning that the ruling gives the president too much power.
Independent agencies have historically operated with bipartisan leadership to regulate areas like stock trading, elections, and consumer protection.
The decision makes it possible for presidents to appoint officials of only one political party to these agencies.
President Trump called the decision a significant victory for presidential authority.
The ruling changes how independent agencies function but does not eliminate them.
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President Donald Trump criticized the Supreme Court decision that lets states count mail-in ballots received after Election Day. He said this makes it more important for Congress to approve the SAVE America Act, a law meant to protect voting rules.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled that some states can count mail-in ballots even if they arrive after Election Day, if the ballots were sent on or before that day.
This ruling involved a Mississippi law about mail-in voting.
President Trump disagrees with the ruling and called it a problem.
He wants Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act.
The SAVE America Act aims to tighten voting rules and prevent late ballots from being counted.
President Trump made these statements on a Monday after the Supreme Court ruling.
The issue centers around how ballots are counted in close elections.
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President Donald Trump has announced that renovations at the East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C., will begin on September 1. This project is part of a wider effort led by Trump to update several prominent public spaces in the capital, including the White House, the National Mall, and the Lincoln Memorial area, though some plans face legal challenges.
Key Facts
The East Potomac Golf Links, a public golf course over 100 years old, will start renovations on September 1.
President Trump toured the golf course with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and golf architect Tom Fazio.
Trump aims to make the golf course one of the best in the world and hopes it can host major golf tournaments.
Renovations are also planned for the White House Ballroom, the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and a new triumphal arch.
The $400 million White House Ballroom project involves demolishing part of the East Wing and has faced lawsuits over historic preservation and lack of congressional approval.
A nonprofit and local residents sued to block the East Potomac Golf Links project, but a deal allows the nonprofit to manage the course until renovations start.
The triumphal arch project has preliminary approval but is challenged by a lawsuit from Vietnam War veterans.
The National Garden of American Heroes, a statue project in West Potomac Park, is also being sued for violating rules about new monuments on the National Mall without Congress’s approval.
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Democrats involved in planning for the 2028 presidential election introduced a proposal to improve online safety for children. Their plan, called “Kids Over Clicks,” suggests banning social media use for kids under 16 and increasing privacy protections for young users.
Key Facts
The proposal is part of a Democratic policy group called Project 2029.
It focuses on protecting children on the internet and social media.
The plan recommends banning social media access for children younger than 16 years old.
It calls for stronger privacy rules to keep kids’ information safe online.
The proposal is the first one released by Project 2029 ahead of the 2028 election.
The goal is to create safer technology rules that prioritize children over online ads or clicks.
The plan may influence future Democratic policies on tech and children’s online safety.
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President Donald Trump said he was surprised that the Supreme Court decided not to review the case involving E. Jean Carroll. Carroll had won a lawsuit where Trump was found liable for sexually abusing her in the 1990s and for defaming her afterward.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court chose not to review the verdict in E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit against President Trump.
E. Jean Carroll accused Trump of sexually abusing her in a dressing room during the mid-1990s.
A court found President Trump liable for the abuse and for defaming Carroll.
President Trump expressed surprise about the Supreme Court’s decision.
The case involves both sexual abuse and defamation claims.
The Supreme Court’s decision means the lower court’s ruling stands.
This legal matter relates to events from several decades ago but has ongoing consequences.
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About 3 million fewer people had Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans in February 2024 compared to the same time last year. This decrease is mainly because federal subsidies that made insurance more affordable ended on January 1, causing many people to stop paying their insurance premiums.
Key Facts
ACA enrollment dropped from 22.1 million people in 2023 to 19.2 million in 2024.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggested fraud crackdowns may have contributed to the drop.
Experts say the main reason is the end of federal subsidies, which raised the cost of insurance plans.
Many people faced large increases in their monthly payments after subsidies ended.
The data shows coverage loss after a grace period for nonpayment ended.
About 800,000 fewer people had signed up for ACA plans in January 2024 than in January 2023.
The enrollment decline could continue, possibly dropping to 17.5 million people this year.
ACA plans serve many workers without employer insurance, such as gig workers and farmers.
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President Donald Trump praised a recent Supreme Court decision that increased the power of the president to remove executive branch officers and agency appointees. This ruling changes earlier legal rules on how the president can fire certain government officials.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court issued a ruling called the Slaughter Case.
The decision expands the president’s power to remove executive branch officers and agency appointees.
This ruling overturns previous legal precedents that limited presidential firing power.
President Trump publicly applauded the court’s decision.
The ruling came toward the end of the Supreme Court’s current term.
The decision strengthens presidential control over some government officials.
It affects how the executive branch operates in terms of personnel management.
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Malik Beasley, a professional basketball player, was formally charged by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of an investigation into sports gambling. Another former player, Ed Davis, was also indicted in this latest set of legal actions.
Key Facts
Malik Beasley played in the NBA for nine years.
The Justice Department is conducting an investigation into sports gambling.
Beasley and Ed Davis were indicted, meaning they were formally charged.
The charges are part of the latest round in an ongoing probe.
Ed Davis is a former NBA player.
The indictments were announced on a Monday.
The news is reported by CBS News and covered by journalist Anna Schecter.
The investigation focuses on illegal or improper gambling activities related to sports.
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Luigi Mangione will appear in federal court on Monday for a pretrial hearing. This hearing is part of the early stage of his legal case before going to trial.
Key Facts
Luigi Mangione is scheduled to attend a federal court pretrial hearing.
The hearing will take place on a Monday.
A pretrial hearing typically involves discussing legal matters before the main trial.
CBS News reporter Anna Schecter provided the update.
The report was shared through CBS News platforms including their app and website.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump cannot fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook without proper legal cause and procedure. The Court emphasized the Fed’s independence but allowed presidents more freedom to remove leaders from other independent agencies.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court decided 5-4 that President Trump cannot remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook for now.
The ruling supports the Federal Reserve’s independence in setting monetary policy.
Trump tried to fire Cook, accusing her of lying on mortgage applications, but courts said proper legal steps weren’t followed.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that only Congress can change how Fed governors are removed, not the courts.
A separate ruling allows the president to remove leaders of other independent agencies more easily than before.
The Court overturned a 1935 decision that had protected many agency leaders from being fired without cause.
Lisa Cook said the firing attempt was politically motivated because she resisted political pressure on interest rates.
President Trump said the ruling was about procedure and promised to keep trying to remove Cook.
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Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate in Maine’s Senate race, leads Republican Senator Susan Collins by a small margin overall and holds a significant advantage among women voters. Despite controversies involving his past behavior, many voters still support him mainly because of his political views rather than his personal issues.
Key Facts
Platner leads Collins by 52% to 44% among women voters in Maine.
Overall, Platner leads Collins by about two percentage points in the race.
About three-quarters of likely voters know about Platner’s past controversies.
Nearly 28% of those aware of the controversies say they cannot support him, while 39% say it does not affect their opinion.
Platner’s controversies include a tattoo linked to Nazi symbolism and allegations of inappropriate messages and behavior.
Platner and his campaign have acknowledged some issues but said he has worked through them privately.
Most of Platner’s supporters say they back him because of his political stances, not his personal life.
The race is very close and Platner’s strength with women voters could be a key factor in the outcome.
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Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wants the court to reconsider a 1964 decision that protects the press from many defamation lawsuits by public figures. The court recently decided not to review a related defamation case involving lawyer Alan Dershowitz and CNN, but Justice Thomas argues the old ruling should be changed.
Key Facts
Justice Thomas called for revisiting the 1964 Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan.
That case set the "actual malice" standard, meaning public figures must prove that false statements were made knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth to win defamation suits.
Alan Dershowitz sued CNN in 2020 over alleged false reporting about his comments defending President Donald Trump’s impeachment.
The Supreme Court declined to hear Dershowitz’s case, but Thomas dissented, saying the court should review it.
Justice Neil Gorsuch joined Thomas in the dissent, showing some support for reconsidering the ruling.
Thomas argues the "actual malice" rule is not based on the Constitution’s text or history and that public figures should have stronger protections against defamation.
Overturning the 1964 ruling would make it easier for public figures to win defamation lawsuits.
Most of the current court justices appear not interested in revisiting the case at this time.
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The US Supreme Court refused to hear President Donald Trump’s appeal to overturn a $5 million verdict in favor of E Jean Carroll. A jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and defaming her, and lower courts upheld this decision.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal on Monday.
A jury in 2023 found Trump liable for sexually abusing E Jean Carroll and defaming her.
Carroll had accused Trump of raping her in 1996 in a Manhattan store dressing room.
The $5 million verdict was related to Trump’s 2022 social media posts calling Carroll’s claim a “hoax” and a “con job.”
Trump’s lawyers argued the trial was unfair because the judge allowed testimony from other women accusing Trump of sexual abuse.
The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the verdict, citing a “pattern of conduct” consistent with Carroll’s claims.
Carroll was awarded an additional $83.3 million in a second trial for defamation, which Trump is also appealing.
Carroll’s lawyers said the testimonies from other women were relevant and the judge’s rulings were consistent with federal rules.
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Craig Williams, a former Conservative MP and close aide to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling by placing bets on the 2024 general election date using confidential information. Several others, including Amy Hind, also admitted to related charges, while trials for more defendants are scheduled for the next few years.
Key Facts
Craig Williams was an MP and served as parliamentary private secretary to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from 2022 to 2024.
Williams admitted to using secret information about the 2024 election date to place bets before it was publicly announced.
Williams placed bets of £250, £100, and £22.50 on the election date.
Amy Hind also pleaded guilty to cheating by betting on the election date, attempting larger bets that failed before succeeding with a £100 bet.
The Gambling Commission investigated after Williams placed a bet on 19 May 2024, before the official election announcement on 22 May.
About 15 people face cheating allegations related to election betting; some plan to plead not guilty.
Trials for these cases are set for September 2025 and January 2028.
Defendants risk prison sentences of up to two years if found guilty.
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The U.S. Supreme Court decided that mail-in ballots are allowed to be counted if they are sent by Election Day, even if they arrive later. This ruling came in a close 5-4 vote and rejected a challenge by Republicans against a Mississippi voting law.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court made the decision on a Monday.
The vote was 5 in favor and 4 against.
The ruling says mail-in ballots can be counted after Election Day as long as they were mailed by Election Day.
This decision prevents a change sought by the Republican Party.
The case involved a law from Mississippi about counting mail-in votes.
The decision affects how mail-in ballots are handled in elections.
The ruling was covered by CBS News.
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The U.S. Supreme Court will announce its last decisions of the current term on Tuesday. Important rulings are expected on topics like birthright citizenship, rules for transgender athletes, and campaign finance laws.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court will release all remaining opinions from this term on Tuesday.
Chief Justice John Roberts made the announcement as the court ended its session on Monday.
Expected decisions include cases on birthright citizenship, which determines who is automatically a U.S. citizen at birth.
The court will rule on bans involving transgender athletes in sports.
Campaign finance, which covers rules about money in political campaigns, will also be addressed.
These decisions could impact laws and policies across the country.
The announcements conclude the Supreme Court’s current session.
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The article discusses tensions within the left-wing group in the United States, focusing on criticism directed at Scott Wiener, a political figure, because of his position on the Gaza conflict. It mentions that activists associated with the Democratic Party's progressive wing are becoming more outspoken.
Key Facts
Progressive activists in the U.S. Democratic Party have gained influence recently.
Scott Wiener has faced criticism from these activists over his views on Gaza.
The article describes this internal conflict as a common pattern in far-left politics.
New York City has seen electoral victories by candidates associated with democratic socialism.
The article suggests these activists are now more openly expressing their beliefs.
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The Supreme Court blocked President Donald Trump's effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook by refusing to pause a lower court ruling that protects her position. The 5–4 decision keeps Cook on the Federal Reserve board while the legal case over the president’s firing authority continues.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court voted 5–4 against pausing a court order that blocked Cook’s firing.
Justices Roberts and Kavanaugh joined the liberal justices in the majority.
Lisa Cook was hired under President Biden and her term runs through 2038.
The Federal Reserve Act allows governors to serve fixed 14-year terms and can only be removed “for cause.”
Cook was the first Federal Reserve governor in 111 years to face firing.
President Trump fired Cook in August 2025, citing mortgage fraud allegations she denies.
Lower courts ruled the firing might have violated both the law and constitutional rights.
The Supreme Court’s decision does not settle the larger legal question about the president’s authority.
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The article argues that the current U.S. Constitution is outdated and suggests creating a new constitution that better fits today’s society and challenges.
Key Facts
The author believes the current Constitution no longer meets the needs of modern America.
They propose writing a new constitution designed for the 21st century.
The article implies changes would help address current social and political issues.
No specific details about what changes are needed were provided.
The idea is framed as a way to “set things right” for the country’s future.
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