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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
President Donald Trump’s motorcade drove across the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in May 2026, sparking questions about whether this caused damage to the pool’s surface that appeared afterward. Though damage, including peeling of the pool’s blue coating and cuts to its liner, has been reported, experts say it is not yet clear if the motorcade caused these problems.
Key Facts
In May 2026, President Trump’s motorcade drove over the drained, newly sealed Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial.
The pool had recently been repainted with a special blue coating made of polyurea for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
After the motorcade event, the pool showed signs of damage such as peeling coating and algae growth turning the water green.
Some damage was caused by a sharp object cutting the pool’s liner, according to a National Park Service report from June 9, 2026.
About 70 fence post tops were also thrown into the pool as part of the reported damage.
President Trump has blamed vandalism for the damage without providing evidence.
Experts say there is no definite proof that the motorcade or construction vehicles caused the coating to fail, but it remains one possible factor.
The National Park Service and the Interior Department are involved in a lawsuit concerning the pool’s damage.
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Dive team operations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area have been paused due to not having enough staff, equipment, and training. While paused, other local agencies are handling dive emergencies, and no date has been set for the team to restart. Lake Mead is very popular and has many visitors, but it is also one of the deadliest national parks, mostly because of drownings.
Key Facts
Lake Mead dive team stopped operations due to staffing shortages and lack of equipment and training.
Dive emergencies are now handled by nearby groups like the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search and Rescue Dive Team.
The National Park Service (NPS) said the team was not meeting safety and readiness standards.
Lake Mead had over 6 million visitors in 2025, making it one of the top 10 most-visited national parks.
The park covers 1.5 million acres with large reservoirs used for boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, and camping.
Lake Mead is known as the deadliest national park in the U.S., with about 20 deaths per year, mainly from drowning.
Unsafe conditions include sudden lake changes, no lifeguards, dangerous pool toys, and challenging weather like strong winds and extreme heat.
Declining water levels due to drought have exposed more infrastructure and made boating access harder and more costly.
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A new study led by USC estimates that dementia will cost the U.S. about $818 billion in 2026. This number includes medical care, lost earnings, unpaid caregiving, and declines in quality of life for patients and their families.
Key Facts
The study estimates 5.7 million Americans will have dementia in 2026, mostly people aged 65 and older.
The biggest cost, $320 billion, comes from reduced quality of life for people with dementia.
Family and friends provide 6.8 billion hours of unpaid care yearly, valued at $237 billion.
Medical and long-term care expenses total $222 billion, with Medicare and Medicaid paying about 70%.
Patients and families pay roughly $46 billion out of their own pockets.
People with dementia and their caregivers lose $23 billion yearly in earnings.
Early detection and lifestyle changes may reduce dementia cases and lower costs.
The research is funded by the National Institute on Aging and uses detailed modelling to estimate costs.
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President Donald Trump will meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday. This meeting comes one day after a tense discussion between President Trump and Republican senators.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday.
It follows a difficult meeting with Republican senators.
The earlier meeting was described as contentious or tense.
CBS News is reporting on these developments.
Caitlin Huey-Burns is the CBS News congressional correspondent covering the story.
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The US Supreme Court made two rulings that allow the Trump administration to reduce immigration protections. One ruling ended temporary protected status for many Haitians and Syrians, putting them at risk of deportation. Another ruling lets officials turn away some asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to remove temporary protected status (TPS) from many Haitian and Syrian immigrants.
TPS lets people from dangerous countries live and work in the US without fear of being deported.
Over 350,000 people with TPS could now face deportation despite ongoing dangers in their home countries.
The Trump administration has pushed to reduce TPS protections as part of its immigration policies.
The court also allowed border officials to block certain asylum seekers from entering at the US-Mexico border.
TPS holders contribute about $29 billion annually to the US economy.
Some Democrats and immigration advocates say these rulings put immigrant lives in danger and dismantle important protections.
The court’s conservative majority supports President Trump’s immigration agenda through these decisions.
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The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal judges cannot review many claims against the Trump administration’s decision to end temporary legal protections for Haitian and Syrian migrants. This decision allows the government to potentially deport hundreds of these migrants. Many Democrats strongly criticized the ruling.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court's decision was split 6-3 along ideological lines.
The ruling prevents federal judges from reviewing many challenges to ending protections.
The case involves temporary legal protections for Haitian and Syrian migrants.
Ending these protections may lead to deportations of hundreds of migrants.
Democrats on Capitol Hill condemned the decision as unfair and harsh.
The Trump administration made the decision to end these deportation protections.
Temporary legal protections had previously allowed some migrants to stay in the U.S. temporarily.
The ruling affects how and if courts can intervene in immigration enforcement decisions.
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The New York rape charge against movie producer Harvey Weinstein was dropped after the accuser said she could not endure another trial. Weinstein remains convicted of other sexual crimes in New York and California and is in jail awaiting sentencing.
Key Facts
Prosecutors dropped a New York rape charge against Harvey Weinstein after the accuser said she could not testify again.
The accuser, Jessica Mann, testified in three trials about the alleged 2013 rape.
Weinstein denies the charge, saying the relationship was consensual.
Mann wrote in court that the case has caused her ongoing harm and trauma.
Weinstein remains convicted of other sexual crimes in New York and California.
He is in jail and awaiting a September sentencing in New York, where prosecutors want a 20-year prison term.
After finishing his New York sentence, he is to serve 16 years in California for another rape conviction.
Weinstein's lawyers said he is relieved by the dropped charge and maintains his innocence.
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Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said he changed his mind about supporting a plan to limit President Trump's ability to take military action against Iran. He made this decision after getting a briefing at the White House.
Key Facts
Senator Bill Cassidy is a Republican from Louisiana.
He originally supported a plan led by Democrats to limit President Trump’s war powers regarding Iran.
After a briefing at the White House, Cassidy decided not to support the plan anymore.
The briefing influenced Cassidy’s change of vote.
The issue involves limits on the president’s authority to act militarily in Iran.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the closure of a temporary immigration jail called Alligator Alcatraz, claiming it helped deport 21,000 people and improve safety. The jail, criticized for poor conditions and human rights concerns, held mostly undocumented immigrants, some with criminal records, but many without charges. Critics argued the jail was costly and inhumane, leading to protests that pressured its shutdown.
Key Facts
Alligator Alcatraz was a temporary immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades, built quickly in 2023.
Governor DeSantis said it helped deport 21,000 people and improve safety in Florida and the U.S.
The facility was closed recently after about a year of operation.
Critics reported inhumane conditions including overcrowding and poor treatment of detainees.
The jail cost Florida about $1.2 million per day to operate.
Some detainees had criminal records, but many were held only for immigration violations, which are civil offenses.
Protests and advocacy groups played a role in calling attention to the jail’s treatment of people.
Tom Homan, a former Trump immigration official, defended the jail and said most detainees were criminals or had pending charges.
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A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) “anti-weaponization fund” to continue because officials have not provided a written promise that the fund has ended. The fund aims to compensate people who say they were unfairly targeted by government investigations but has caused concern because it might compensate some convicted in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Key Facts
The “anti-weaponization fund” was created by the DOJ to pay people claiming unfair government targeting.
Critics worry the fund may compensate those convicted of crimes after the January 6 Capitol riot.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ is not moving forward with the fund but did not provide a written cancellation.
Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled the lawsuit is not over because the fund’s future is unclear and no official written statement confirmed its end.
The judge noted President Donald Trump continues to support the fund and Blanche called it important.
DOJ lawyers argued previous statements about stopping the fund should end the lawsuit, but the judge disagreed.
The fund has caused bipartisan criticism and raised concerns among Senate Republicans about Blanche’s confirmation.
DOJ spokesperson pointed to Blanche’s public statements confirming the fund is dead but did not explain why no written confirmation was given to the court.
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The IRS managed to send out most tax refunds on time in 2026 despite big staff cuts and many tax law changes under President Trump’s new tax bill. However, experts warn that the agency faces problems ahead, especially with fewer workers available to help taxpayers who need assistance.
Key Facts
The IRS workforce dropped by about 27-28%, losing around 28,000 employees since last year.
The agency processed 138.6 million tax returns and issued 90.4 million refunds in 2026, both higher than in 2025.
Nearly all tax returns (98%) were filed electronically, allowing more automation to handle returns smoothly.
The new tax law, called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, caused over 100 changes to the tax code and led to unusually large refunds.
Staffing cuts led to longer wait times for help, with the average phone hold time rising to 14 minutes from 8 minutes in 2025.
The IRS did not do its usual seasonal hiring to support the busy tax season in 2026.
Experts warn that challenges will get worse in 2027 if the IRS does not prepare for more tax law changes and fewer workers.
The agency faced delays in answering taxpayer questions and resolving complex issues because of fewer experienced employees.
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Florida’s immigration detention center called “Alligator Alcatraz” is closing less than a year after it opened. Governor Ron DeSantis said the facility was a temporary solution and that the federal government can now handle immigration detention without Florida’s help.
Key Facts
The Alligator Alcatraz detention center opened in July last year and is located in the Everglades, Florida.
Governor DeSantis announced the facility is permanently closing because it fulfilled its temporary purpose.
The center supported federal immigration efforts and was praised by President Donald Trump.
The facility was criticized for environmental risks and poor conditions for detainees.
Florida spent $406 million from its emergency fund on immigration efforts linked to the center between August and February.
The emergency fund is running low, dropping from $47 million to $25.6 million recently.
The center is being repurposed to become a training airport for pilots.
Florida officials want to restore the Everglades area to a protected state after closing the facility.
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The National Park Service (NPS) reported damage to the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, saying the pool’s bottom liner was cut with a sharp object. This follows President Donald Trump’s claims that vandals caused harm to the recently renovated reflecting pool in Washington, DC.
Key Facts
The damage was reported on June 9, after the reflecting pool renovation was almost finished.
The liner along the pool bottom was cut with a sharp knife or razor, according to the NPS.
About 70 fence post tops were also thrown into the pool water.
The reflecting pool will be drained after Independence Day to assess and repair the damage.
President Trump claimed multiple people were arrested for vandalism, but only one person, David Hearn, has been arrested so far and denies the claims.
The blue coating applied during the renovation started peeling, and an algae bloom turned the water green shortly after completion.
Government documents show the cuts found were in foam sections under the pool and not clearly linked to the peeling coating or algae.
US Park Police are asking the public for help identifying a person involved in destruction of government property at the pool on June 19.
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Tucker Carlson, a conservative commentator, admitted that his past anti-Muslim statements were wrong and said he was "hysterical" in believing them. He also expressed a changed view of Israel and has recently distanced himself from President Trump and the Republican Party.
Key Facts
Carlson previously made strong anti-Muslim remarks, blaming Islam and Muslims for violence, which he now says were untrue.
He criticized his earlier views during a Sky News interview, saying he believed false ideas in the past.
Carlson’s opinion of Israel has shifted; he feels sorry for modern Israel and no longer supports his old views.
He has publicly withdrawn support for President Trump and left the Republican Party in 2026.
Carlson hosted Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a critic of Islam, and promoted negative ideas about Muslim voters and policies.
Advocacy groups like CAIR have called for Fox News to fire him due to his history of anti-Muslim and racist rhetoric.
His criticism of Israel has led to accusations of antisemitism, which he denies.
Public opinion on Islam and Israel in the U.S. has changed recently, with more partisan differences in views on Muslims.
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The Supreme Court made two important decisions on immigration cases involving President Donald Trump's policies. One decision allows the government to bring back a strict rule on asylum seekers, and the other lets the president remove deportation protections for people from Syria and Haiti.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court issued rulings on two major immigration cases.
One ruling allows the Trump administration to reinstate a strict rule limiting asylum claims.
This asylum rule restricts who can apply for asylum in the United States.
The second ruling permits the president to end deportation protections for Syrians and Haitians.
These decisions support policies from President Donald Trump's administration.
The rulings could affect many people seeking protection or living in the U.S. from these countries.
CBS News legal expert Jessica Levinson explained the decisions in detail.
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Inflation rose by 4.1 percent over the past year, the fastest rate in three years, according to federal data. Prices increased 0.7 percent in May, mainly due to higher energy costs, creating difficulties for President Trump and government decision-makers.
Key Facts
Inflation increased 4.1 percent over the last 12 months.
The May inflation rise was 0.7 percent for that month alone.
This is the fastest annual inflation rise in three years.
Much of the price rise was caused by higher energy costs.
The data was released by the federal government on a Thursday.
Inflation is measured by the Federal Reserve’s preferred price index.
The rising prices create challenges for President Trump and policymakers.
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Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin became angry during a House panel hearing when questioned about immigration policies under President Trump's administration. The questions focused on family separations of children during detention and deportation processes.
Key Facts
Markwayne Mullin is the Homeland Security Secretary.
He got upset during a congressional hearing with Representative Rosa DeLauro.
The discussion was about immigration policies from President Trump's time in office.
Family separation of children from parents during immigration detention was a key issue.
The hearing took place in a House panel, a group that reviews government actions.
The incident was covered by CBS News, including video footage.
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Olly Robbins, who was removed from his job at the Foreign Office due to a security clearance issue involving Peter Mandelson, is in talks to take a national security adviser role under Andy Burnham, the likely new UK prime minister. Robbins’s return is controversial because he overturned security advice against Mandelson, raising concerns among some Labour officials.
Key Facts
Olly Robbins lost his Foreign Office role after a scandal involving security vetting for Peter Mandelson.
Robbins overturned a recommendation to deny Mandelson security clearance.
Mandelson was linked to controversial figures, including those connected to convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
Robbins is in early talks with Andy Burnham’s team for a national security adviser position.
Some senior Labour figures are alarmed by Robbins’s return to a top government role.
Robbins was supported by some civil servants who said he acted on No 10’s wishes.
Robbins has considered legal action over damage to his reputation.
The national security adviser advises the prime minister on security matters and reports to the Cabinet Office.
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A sharp knife or razor was used to cut the liner at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool earlier this month, the National Park Service said. The U.S. Park Police responded to the report and are investigating the damage.
Key Facts
The liner is located at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
It was cut with a sharp knife or razor.
The incident happened earlier in the same month.
The National Park Service reported the damage.
The U.S. Park Police are involved in the investigation.
A sworn declaration about the incident was filed on Wednesday.
The damage could affect the pool’s water and maintenance.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other House Democrats are holding a forum to talk about threats to elections. They plan to discuss voting rights and proposed laws backed by Republicans, such as President Trump’s SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voting.
Key Facts
House Democrats are hosting a forum focused on election threats.
The event is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
The forum will look ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.
Democrats want to discuss concerns about voting access.
They will talk about Republican proposals to change voting rules.
One key proposal is President Trump’s SAVE America Act.
The SAVE America Act would require voters to prove their citizenship.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is leading the forum.
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