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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Billionaire Leon Black refused to appear before a US House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein and instead sued to challenge the committee’s subpoenas. Black argues the subpoenas are invalid and that revealing certain documents would harm women who want privacy.
Key Facts
Leon Black did not respond to subpoenas from the House Oversight Committee related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Black filed a federal lawsuit claiming the subpoenas have no valid purpose and violate privacy agreements.
He previously left a committee hearing in June when asked about nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) linked to Epstein.
Black says he hired Epstein for wealth management and paid him $158 million for legitimate services.
The committee may hold Black in contempt of Congress, which could lead to prosecution.
Black denies any wrongdoing related to Epstein and says he only learned about Epstein’s crimes after they were made public.
He faced allegations from a former partner who claimed abuse, but her lawsuit was dismissed due to a signed NDA and settlements.
Black left his investment firm, Apollo Global Management, in 2021, citing stress from media attention around Epstein ties.
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The Pentagon has paused a new rule that required all male active-duty and reserve military members aged 30 and older to get tested for low testosterone. This decision came shortly after the rule was announced.
Key Facts
The Pentagon issued a rule for mandatory testosterone testing for male service members aged 30 and above.
The rule applied to both active-duty and reserve military personnel.
The testing focused on screening for testosterone deficiency through blood tests.
The guidance was announced on a Wednesday.
The Pentagon decided to temporarily withdraw this testing requirement the following day.
This pause was confirmed by a Pentagon official to The Hill news outlet.
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A statement was made praising some Democratic Party members who voted to reject socialism. The statement also expressed opposition to other political systems such as fascism, communism, Nazism, and any form of collectivism.
Key Facts
Some Democrats voted to condemn socialism.
The speaker supports this vote and opposes socialism.
The speaker also opposes fascism, communism, Nazism, and collectivism.
Collectivism refers to systems where the group or state controls resources, not individuals.
The statement criticizes fellow Democrats who oppose the condemnation of socialism.
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Two people died and several others were hurt in a shooting at an apartment in Minneapolis. New information about the incident is recently becoming available.
Key Facts
The shooting took place at an apartment in Minneapolis.
Two people were killed in the shooting.
Several other people were injured.
Authorities are releasing new details about what happened.
CBS News correspondent Jonah Kaplan reported on the story.
Additional updates are available on the CBS News app and website.
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President Donald Trump is temporarily removing tariffs on up to 300,000 metric tons of imported beef trimmings. This move aims to reduce the cost of ground beef for consumers in the United States.
Key Facts
President Trump is lifting tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods.
The lifted tariffs apply to beef trimmings, a part of meat used in ground beef.
The limit for this tariff removal is 300,000 metric tons of beef trimmings.
This action is temporary, not permanent.
The goal is to lower ground beef prices in the U.S. market.
Tariffs usually make imported products more expensive.
Ground beef prices have been a concern for some consumers.
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Two months before the 2026 midterm elections, recent polls show Democrats leading in important Senate and governor races in several states that President Donald Trump won in both 2020 and 2024. These races in states like Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, and Texas are seen as important tests of political opinions during President Trump's second term.
Key Facts
Democrats are ahead in some key Senate and governor races in states won twice by President Trump.
These states include Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, North Carolina, and Texas.
Polls show these races as competitive or leaning toward Democrats two months before the election.
President Trump won 31 states in the 2024 election, after winning 25 in 2020.
In 2024, Trump flipped six states that Biden had won in 2020, helping him regain the presidency.
Republicans control both the U.S. Senate and House after the 2024 elections.
The 2026 midterms will test President Trump's popularity since returning to office.
In Iowa, Democrat Rob Sand leads Republican Zach Lahn in the governor race, which is open as current Governor Kim Reynolds is not running.
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A new poll shows that 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, with 52% of Republicans also showing support for unions for only the second time in 25 years. Despite this approval, union membership remains low, and efforts by Congress to make it easier for workers to join unions have stalled.
Key Facts
71% of Americans approve of labor unions, matching 2022 levels and near the highest since 1959.
Among Republicans, 52% approve of unions, the second time since 2001 that a majority have done so.
Only 11% of U.S. workers belonged to unions in 2025, down from 23% in 1983.
The number of union election petitions has increased, with over 3,200 filed in 2024.
Despite higher approval, 49% of Republicans want unions to have less power, while only 19% want more.
Major labor law changes, like the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, have passed the House but stalled in the Senate.
President Biden supported unions by joining striking workers and using executive actions to help organizing.
President Trump reversed some of these efforts, removing certain union rights for federal workers.
House Republicans are investigating several major unions over their political activities.
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Senator Thom Tillis of South Carolina asked President Donald Trump to remove Pete Hegseth from his job as Secretary of Defense. This request came after several important officials left the defense department.
Key Facts
Senator Thom Tillis is a Republican from South Carolina.
Tillis criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s priorities.
Tillis wants President Trump to remove Hegseth from his position.
There have been multiple high-profile departures from the Department of Defense recently.
The situation was reported by CBS News correspondent Nikole Killion.
The news highlights concerns about leadership stability in the Defense Department.
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New York City public schools will not allow the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in most classrooms for one year. This decision aims to manage how AI technology is used while schools learn more about its effects on education.
Key Facts
New York City public schools are banning AI in most classrooms for a year.
The ban is temporary, lasting one school year.
The purpose is to better understand AI's impact on teaching and learning.
The city wants to create clear rules about how AI should be used in schools.
Councilman Eric Dinowitz has spoken publicly about this decision.
The ban covers most but not necessarily all classrooms.
The move reflects growing concerns about using AI in education.
Schools plan to study AI tools before deciding on permanent policies.
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A federal judge questioned the Justice Department about new mail voting rules announced by President Donald Trump’s administration, which could affect the November elections. The judge is considering whether to block these new postal regulations that states and voting rights groups say may unfairly limit voter access.
Key Facts
A federal judge, Indira Talwani, held a hearing about mail voting rules imposed by President Trump’s administration.
The rules were announced shortly before the November midterm elections.
Democratic-led states and voting rights groups are suing, saying the new rules are unconstitutional.
The judge asked the Justice Department for detailed information on how the Postal Service will carry out the new rules.
The judge expressed concern that these rules might cause some mail ballots to be rejected, affecting voters’ rights.
The rules include new mail ballot design requirements, like unique barcodes for each ballot.
The Trump administration’s rules came from an executive order aimed at increasing federal control over elections.
The Supreme Court paused a previous block on these rules but did not rule on their legality.
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Gloria Steinem, a leading figure in the fight for women's rights, has died at the age of 92. She became well known in the 1960s for exposing the tough conditions of working as a Playboy Bunny and worked for over 60 years to advance equality for women in the US.
Key Facts
Gloria Steinem was a prominent voice for women's rights for more than 60 years.
She gained public attention in the 1960s through an undercover report on the Playboy Club in New York City.
Steinem faced discrimination and harassment while campaigning against sexism.
She helped achieve important victories like the US Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which protected abortion rights.
The Roe v. Wade decision was overturned in 2022, marking a setback in women's reproductive rights.
Steinem never retired from her activism work.
She died recently at the age of 92, according to a statement from her foundation.
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House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says that if Democrats win control of Congress, they will focus on holding President Donald Trump’s administration accountable and creating laws to lower living costs. However, some Democrats in the party have shown disagreement, raising concerns about keeping the group united.
Key Facts
House Democrats want to take charge of oversight on President Donald Trump’s administration.
They plan to introduce laws to reduce the high costs of living for Americans.
These plans depend on Democrats winning majority control in the midterm elections.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is leading the effort.
Two Democrats recently voted against their own party on a routine matter.
These disagreements show the party has some internal conflicts.
Party unity is important for passing their agenda but currently faces challenges.
Climate issues are not a major focus in this election for Democrats.
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A Coast Guard plane carrying Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and other officials had an engine failure. The plane made an emergency landing on Wednesday at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Key Facts
The plane was a Coast Guard aircraft.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin was on board.
Several top officials were also on the plane.
One engine of the plane failed during flight.
The plane landed safely at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
The incident happened on a Wednesday.
Emergency calls were made during this event.
No injuries were reported in the article.
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A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official reported that the agency was rushing to hire new officers and was not properly checking their backgrounds. This warning came during a big increase in hiring under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
An ICE official acted as a whistleblower by reporting concerns internally.
The report was filed in August 2025.
The whistleblower said ICE was cutting corners in background checks for new officers.
The agency was speeding up hiring during President Donald Trump’s term.
Some job offers went to candidates who had not been fully vetted.
The issues raised could affect the quality and safety of new ICE officers.
The report highlights challenges in managing a fast-growing workforce within a government agency.
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Tucker Carlson, a right-wing media host, said that Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign feels very similar to President Trump’s style. He made this comment during a podcast while talking about the Michigan Senate race between El-Sayed and former Republican Representative Mike Rogers.
Key Facts
Tucker Carlson called Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign “literally Trumpian.”
The comment was made during a podcast episode released on Wednesday.
Carlson discussed the Michigan Senate race with conservative commentator Saagar Enjeti.
The race is between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers.
Mike Rogers is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan.
The conversation focused on campaign styles and political strategies.
Carlson is known as a right-wing media personality.
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President Donald Trump has repeatedly talked about a wealthy, overweight friend who told him that the weight-loss drug Ozempic costs much more in the U.S. than in Britain. Trump described the friend as a smart but heavy New York financier and shared that the drug is not effectively helping him.
Key Facts
The friend is an unnamed, very wealthy, and overweight businessman from New York with ties to Wall Street.
Trump says the friend paid about $1,300 for Ozempic in New York but only around $86 or $87 for the same drug in London.
Ozempic is a medication often used for weight loss or diabetes treatment.
The friend asked Trump not to reveal his identity, fearing damage to his reputation.
Trump has mentioned this friend and the price difference publicly multiple times since May 2025.
Trump calls the friend “brutal,” “vicious,” and “wild” but also “smart as hell.”
Despite using Ozempic, Trump says the friend has not lost weight and remains very overweight.
Trump used this story to highlight the difference in drug prices between the U.S. and other countries.
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Maria Bartiromo is leaving Fox Business after more than 12 years with the network. There is speculation about whether she might join President Donald Trump’s administration because of her close relationship with him.
Key Facts
Maria Bartiromo worked at Fox News Media for 12 ½ years.
She was a high-profile host on Fox Business.
Fox News Media thanked her and wished her well in a statement.
Bartiromo has developed a strong connection with President Donald Trump over the past decade.
Her departure was unexpected and has raised questions about her future plans.
She is seen as an influential figure in conservative media.
It is not yet known if she will take a political role or join the Trump administration.
The story is still developing and may be updated.
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President Donald Trump denied media reports that U.S. military munitions are dangerously low during the war with Iran. He said the military is producing weapons at record levels and has more than enough supplies, while calling some news outlets dishonest.
Key Facts
President Trump said the U.S. military is making munitions faster than ever and has more than needed.
He called some media outlets "treasonous scum" for reporting shortages in weapons.
Earlier reports said the U.S. had fewer interceptors for missile defense systems like Patriot and THAAD.
Offensive weapons like Tomahawk and JASSM missiles have been used heavily in the conflict.
Experts say it could take at least two years to replenish key U.S. weapons supplies.
Shortages might weaken deterrence against more advanced military threats than Iran.
Some federal actions have targeted media, including efforts to remove broadcast licenses and subpoena journalists.
President Trump has promised severe punishment for leaks about military stockpiles.
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Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins said the VA is making important improvements in how it serves veterans under President Donald Trump’s administration. These changes focus on faster, easier access to benefits, including healthcare and disability claims, while some proposed adjustments to disability ratings have raised concerns among veterans.
Key Facts
VA Secretary Doug Collins highlighted "major improvements" in VA services during a meeting in New Jersey.
The improvements include cutting backlogs, speeding up claims, and expanding digital access to VA services.
More than 250,000 new veterans enrolled in VA healthcare in the current year.
The VA is working on better support for veterans transitioning from military to civilian life.
Proposed changes to disability ratings for conditions like tinnitus and sleep apnea are part of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (TCAVA).
Some veterans’ groups oppose these rating changes, leading to delays in House discussions about the bill.
The VA aims to focus decisions on what is best for veterans, not the department’s interests.
Efforts include making paperwork simpler and increasing outreach to eligible veterans not yet enrolled.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wants to make a permanent rule that limits airplane flights within one mile of Mar-a-Lago. This rule would stop flights below 2,000 feet in this area to improve security.
Key Facts
The FAA proposed a new rule to have permanent flight restrictions around Mar-a-Lago.
The restricted zone covers one nautical mile (about 1.15 miles) radius around the property.
Flights from the ground up to 2,000 feet above sea level would not be allowed in this area.
These restrictions were previously temporary but are now suggested to become permanent.
Mar-a-Lago is the private club and residence of President Donald Trump.
The FAA said this measure aims to improve safety and security in the area.
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