Alex Saab, an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, pleaded guilty to money laundering in a US court and agreed to forfeit $195 million. Saab’s plea deal includes cooperation with prosecutors and could involve testifying against Maduro, who faces separate charges in New York.
Key Facts
Alex Saab, a former Venezuelan official and aide to President Maduro, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges in Miami.
Saab agreed to give up $195 million and fully cooperate with US prosecutors.
He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Saab was extradited to the US in May by Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez.
The case involves embezzlement from a Venezuelan welfare program and transferring money to US bank accounts.
Venezuela has experienced food and medicine shortages due to ongoing political and economic problems.
Saab’s plea deal could lead to him testifying against Maduro, who denies weapon and drug charges in New York.
This is Saab’s second US criminal case; he was previously charged with money laundering and was freed in 2023 after a prisoner swap.
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Senator John Fetterman expressed frustration when reporters asked him about rumors of him becoming a Republican after his recent surprise speech at the Republican National Convention. Some former staff members have criticized his work habits, and his appearance at a Republican event caused confusion among Democrats.
Key Facts
Senator John Fetterman made a video speech at the Republican National Convention supporting the U.S. steel industry.
He said he would work with Republican Senator Dave McCormick and President Donald Trump to protect steel industry jobs.
Fetterman denied plans to switch to the Republican Party and said he remains a Democrat.
Former staff members have complained that Fetterman is disengaged from his Senate duties, sometimes skipping hearings and avoiding meetings.
The staffers created a social media account promising to share more criticisms, but no details were posted as of now.
Fetterman’s term as Pennsylvania Senator lasts until 2028, so he is not running for re-election this year.
Polls show his support has dropped among Democrats but increased among Republicans since 2024.
Reporters’ questions about his political loyalty have frustrated Fetterman, who asked them to wait until the next election.
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H.R. McMaster, who advised President Donald Trump on national security, spoke about a report showing that the U.S. war in Iran has cost $38 billion between February 28 and August 1. He said that the money spent on the war is justified.
Key Facts
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that the Iran war has cost $38 billion from Feb. 28 to Aug. 1.
H.R. McMaster was the national security adviser to President Donald Trump.
McMaster appeared on a show called "The Takeout" to discuss this report.
McMaster said the cost of the war is worth it.
The report covers a period of about five months in 2023.
The discussion was broadcast by CBS News.
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Some Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Congress are working together to address risks from artificial intelligence (AI). Several bills and groups are being formed to regulate AI, while other leaders, including President Trump, question the need for strict rules.
Key Facts
Senators Josh Hawley (R) and Richard Blumenthal (D) want a federal program to monitor AI systems.
They warn about AI agents hacking public websites and causing damage.
Representatives Russell Fry (R) and Suhas Subramanyam (D) started a caucus focused on AI small businesses.
Representatives Ted Lieu (D) and Nathaniel Moran (R) propose a law requiring AI systems to have a "kill switch" that a human can activate.
The Frontier Act is a bill supported by Representatives Lori Trahan (D) and Jay Obernolte (R) for AI regulation.
Bipartisan work on big issues has been rare lately but sometimes happens after crises.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) says Congress will not act on AI regulation before a long recess after Election Day.
President Trump called fears about AI controlling the world "a HOAX."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) thinks AI regulation is urgent and may gain support if Democrats regain the House.
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Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina filed a complaint against the leaders of the House Ethics Committee, accusing them of violating their own rules in handling an investigation into his behavior. This happens two weeks after the House voted overwhelmingly to censure him for sexual harassment and creating a hostile workplace.
Key Facts
Rep. Chuck Edwards filed a complaint against Ethics Chair Michael Guest and ranking member Mark DeSaulnier.
Edwards was censured by the House in a 413-2 vote for sexual harassment and hostile workplace violations.
Edwards claims the Ethics Committee did not follow its own rules during the investigation.
The committee says Edwards agreed to waive some procedural steps after seeing a draft report.
Ethics findings included gifts like jewelry, purses, guns, and tickets to events given by Edwards to two young female staffers.
Edwards apologized to his wife, family, and the women involved but denies breaking House rules.
Reports mentioned personal letters, outings, and gifts were part of the harassment evidence.
The Ethics Committee has not commented on Edwards' complaint; DeSaulnier said he believes the process was proper.
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A 13th Metropolitan police officer, PC Mason O’Connor, has been fired following a BBC undercover investigation that exposed racist and sexist behavior at Charing Cross police station. The investigation led to more disciplinary actions against officers who made offensive and violent remarks.
Key Facts
PC Mason O’Connor was dismissed for making a threatening comment to a female colleague in October 2024.
The BBC Panorama investigation aired in October 2025 after seven months of undercover filming.
The film showed officers making racist comments and boasting about using violence.
Another officer, PC Lloyd Hunter, was recently fired for comments about enjoying using force and expressing hatred toward homeless people.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner described the footage as clear proof of misconduct.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating 15 other officers or staff.
More disciplinary hearings are planned, including one involving a detention officer’s treatment of detainees.
Both O’Connor and Hunter are banned from returning to the police force.
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Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers will not attend Tuesday’s debate against Abdul El-Sayed. Rogers says the debate moderator unfairly favors El-Sayed, so his campaign decided to skip it.
Key Facts
Mike Rogers is a Republican candidate for the Michigan Senate.
Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic candidate running against Rogers.
Rogers will not participate in a scheduled debate on Tuesday night.
The Rogers campaign says the debate moderator shows bias toward El-Sayed.
Rogers’ team wants debates to be fair and free from media favoritism.
Alyssa Brouillet is the communications director for Rogers’ campaign.
The decision was announced by the Rogers campaign through a public statement.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche said the White House will follow the Supreme Court's decision to block new postal service rules related to mail ballots. These rules were introduced by President Trump and aimed to change how mail ballots are handled.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court blocked new USPS rules about mail ballots.
These rules were created by President Trump.
Attorney General Todd Blanche gave a White House press briefing about the ruling.
The White House said it will comply with the Supreme Court’s decision.
The rules were intended to affect how mail ballots are processed and delivered.
The ruling came amid concerns about election mail handling.
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Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old pregnant woman in Texas, died from preeclampsia after she was denied an abortion that her family says could have saved her life. Her family has filed a lawsuit against Texas officials and her doctors, claiming that the state's strict abortion laws and medical neglect led to her death.
Key Facts
Tierra Walker died in 2024 at 20 weeks pregnant due to preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy-related high blood pressure condition.
Walker’s family sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, medical staff, and others for ignoring her need for an abortion.
The lawsuit claims that the Texas abortion ban and fear around abortion caused medical staff to withhold life-saving care.
Ken Paxton supports Texas’ near-total abortion ban and has taken legal action against abortion pill providers.
Walker suffered from chronic health issues including obesity, high blood pressure, asthma, and Type 2 diabetes.
She previously experienced preeclampsia in 2021, which resulted in the stillbirth of her twins.
During a hospital stay in October 2024, doctors treated her seizures as non-epileptic and focused on mental health treatments.
Walker’s family says she was repeatedly told her condition was “all in her head” and that the pregnancy would likely cause her death.
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The Supreme Court stopped the Trump administration from adding new rules to limit mail-in voting. This decision gives voters and election officials clearer guidance before the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court blocked new restrictions on mail-in ballots proposed by President Trump's administration.
This ruling affects how mail-in voting will be handled in the upcoming November midterms.
The decision provides clearer rules for election officials and voters using mail ballots.
Tammy Patrick from the National Association of Election Administrators talked about the impact of the ruling.
Mail-in voting has been a key issue in recent U.S. elections.
The ruling prevents sudden changes to mail voting rules close to an election.
The Supreme Court's decision supports existing mail-in voting procedures.
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Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania attended a retreat with top Fox News executives in Montana two months ago. This event brought together people from different political backgrounds.
Key Facts
Senator John Fetterman (Democrat from Pennsylvania) attended a retreat in Montana.
The retreat included important Fox News executives.
The event took place two months ago.
Fetterman is known for sometimes disagreeing with his own party.
The meeting involved political figures from different sides.
Fox News is a major news organization often associated with conservative viewpoints.
The retreat aimed to foster discussions between participants.
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President Donald Trump criticized the Supreme Court's choice to stop his plan to limit mail-in voting shortly before the election. Amy Howe, an expert on the Supreme Court, discussed this decision on News Hour with Amna Nawaz.
Key Facts
President Trump wanted to restrict mail-in voting before Election Day.
The Supreme Court blocked his effort.
This decision happened less than two months before the election.
Amy Howe is a Supreme Court analyst and co-founder of SCOTUSblog.
The decision was discussed on the News Hour program with Amna Nawaz.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche said it is unlikely there will be an investigation into Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, who reportedly paid for parts of Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding celebrations. Members of President Donald Trump's family say they do not know Kremlev, and the president said he is unaware of the oligarch and his payments.
Key Facts
Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch linked to President Vladimir Putin, reportedly paid for a private island rental and fireworks at Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding weekend events.
The wedding took place in Palm Beach, Florida, with a party later on a private island in the Bahamas in May 2026.
Kremlev is president of the International Boxing Association, an organization suspended by the International Olympic Committee in 2019 over financial and corruption concerns.
Attorney General Todd Blanche stated he does not plan to investigate because the Trumps say they do not know Kremlev.
Donald Trump Jr. described Kremlev as a "very close friend" and accepted the wedding gift, though the reason for the payment is unclear.
President Donald Trump said he never met Kremlev and denied the oligarch paid for the wedding itself.
First Lady Melania Trump said she did not attend the wedding or celebrations and has no relationship with Kremlev.
Democrats on Capitol Hill have expressed interest in investigating the payments due to national security and counterintelligence concerns.
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Senate Democrats stopped a bill that would regulate cryptocurrencies because they want stronger rules to stop President Trump and other officials from making money while in office. Kash Patel defended how he managed the FBI during a long Senate hearing. The U.S. military confirmed it has weapons stationed in space.
Key Facts
Senate Democrats blocked a crypto regulation bill.
They want better protections to prevent President Trump and officials from profiting while in office.
Kash Patel gave a nearly five-hour testimony about his time managing the FBI.
The U.S. military stated it has weapons in space.
The bill aimed to create broad rules for cryptocurrencies.
The hearing focused on oversight of the FBI.
The military confirmation marks an official acknowledgment of space weapons.
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Senator Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon both spoke at the same event focused on making decisions about artificial intelligence (AI) that put people first. The event brought together very different political figures, showing a rare agreement on the importance of AI safety.
Key Facts
Senator Bernie Sanders is a progressive political leader.
Steve Bannon is known for his MAGA (Make America Great Again) political views.
Both appeared at a rally about AI safety on the same day.
The rally emphasized the need for human-centered AI decisions.
This event highlighted unusual cooperation between opposing political figures.
The debate is focused on how to manage AI technology safely for humans.
The rally was covered by CBS News.
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The Senate voted to move forward with the Protect College Sport Act, a bill that would set national rules for paying college athletes and limit some coaching and transfer activities. The bill also aims to protect the NCAA from certain lawsuits and sets a five-year limit on how long athletes can compete in college sports.
Key Facts
The Protect College Sport Act passed a Senate vote to advance.
The bill would create nationwide rules for paying college athletes.
It limits how often athletes can transfer between schools.
The bill restricts coaching changes during the sports season.
It sets a five-year limit on athlete eligibility in college sports.
The NCAA would get protection from anti-trust lawsuits under this bill.
The bill would cap the amount of money shared from sports revenue with athletes.
The reforms aim to standardize rules across college sports programs.
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Two moderate Democrats voted with Republicans on Tuesday to help pass several bills. This is the second time in the month that Democratic leaders could not get all their members to oppose Republican proposals.
Key Facts
Two centrist Democrats voted with the GOP on multiple bills.
This happened twice in the current month.
Democratic leaders have struggled to keep their party united.
The actions helped Republican leaders move their agenda forward.
Other Democrats were unhappy about these defections.
These events may cause questions about Democratic party unity.
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Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky introduced a resolution in the House to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Massie claims Hegseth sent U.S. troops to fight in the Iran war without Congress’s permission, breaking the War Powers Act.
Key Facts
Rep. Thomas Massie is a Republican from Kentucky.
He introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The reason: Hegseth allegedly deployed the military in the Iran war without congressional approval.
Massie calls this an abuse of power and a violation known as "high crimes and misdemeanors."
The current House, controlled by Republicans, is unlikely to approve the impeachment.
The resolution could lead to a vote within days.
This action highlights debate over U.S. military involvement in the seven-month war with Iran.
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Tucker Carlson said the United States is planning to send 40,000 large bombs to Israel under President Donald Trump's administration. The U.S. is a major military supporter of Israel, but this planned sale is unusually large and has drawn attention because of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Key Facts
Tucker Carlson claimed the U.S. will send 40,000 bombs, including MK-84 and BLU-117 types, to Israel.
These bombs weigh 2,000 pounds each and cause large-scale destruction.
The reported weapons shipment is worth $2.8 billion and confirmed by a U.S. official.
Israel is one of the largest recipients of U.S. military aid.
There is debate within Trump's political supporters about involvement in overseas conflicts like the Gaza war.
The planned shipment could be the biggest U.S. transfer of bombs in modern times.
The Biden administration previously paused a smaller shipment of similar bombs in response to concerns about civilian casualties.
The conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, leading to a war in Gaza with many casualties.
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The Kennedy Center board decided to temporarily close the performing arts center because of money problems and needed building repairs. This decision came soon after a judge stopped the board from putting President Donald Trump's name on the building or its grounds.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center is a famous performing arts center in Washington, D.C.
The board voted to close the center for a short time.
The closure is due to financial difficulties and the need for structural repairs.
A federal judge blocked the board from adding President Donald Trump's name to the building or grounds.
The judge’s order happened right before the board’s closure decision.
Adding President Trump’s name was a recent plan by the Kennedy Center board.
The news was reported by White House correspondent Liz Landers.
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