One year after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated, the youth group he helped create, Turning Point USA, has grown significantly in high schools and colleges across the U.S. Despite this growth, many young voters are less supportive of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, especially due to economic concerns and the war involving Iran.
Key Facts
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and ally of President Trump, was killed in an assassination at Utah Valley University in September 2025.
Turning Point USA has increased its high school chapters by 180 percent and college chapters by over 60 percent since Kirk’s death.
Kirk’s death led the Trump administration to increase actions against groups it calls domestic terrorists, including Antifa.
Young voter support for President Trump has dropped from 43% in February 2025 to 32% in August 2026 among men ages 18 to 29.
President Trump won 46% of young men’s votes in the 2024 election, an increase from previous years.
Economic challenges like inflation and financial insecurity worry many young voters, with half reporting inflation affects them “a lot.”
The war involving Iran has increased U.S. household expenses by about $750 on average.
Within Turning Point USA, there are debates over U.S. military support for Israel and Iran, with few young people supporting military action in Iran.
Turning Point USA plans memorial events to honor Charlie Kirk a year after his death and at the Republican midterm convention.
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TV host Jimmy Kimmel said his interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico will not be shown on television because of pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is led by a Trump appointee. The White House denied any threats were made, but Kimmel said the FCC has pressured ABC and its affiliates over guest choices and content.
Key Facts
Jimmy Kimmel announced that his interview with Democrat James Talarico will only be posted on YouTube, not aired on TV.
Kimmel said the FCC threatened his show and ABC over editorial decisions and guest bookings.
The FCC is led by Brendan Carr, an appointee of President Trump.
A White House spokesperson denied that the FCC threatened Kimmel or intervened with the interview.
Ken Paxton, supported by Trump, will face Talarico in the Texas Senate race in November.
The Texas race is important for control of the US Senate during President Trump’s current term.
ABC and Disney have been in conflict with the FCC and have sued the regulator over alleged unfair targeting.
Other TV hosts, like Stephen Colbert, have reported similar concerns about FCC pressure affecting political interviews.
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A surrogate mother filed an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in a custody dispute over a baby born with a serious heart defect. The surrogate wants custody because the intended parents sought an abortion, but a Texas court ruled the parents control medical decisions and the baby must receive lifesaving care.
Key Facts
The surrogate, McKenna West, refused to abort the baby despite the intended parents' wishes.
The baby was born in Texas with a condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which affects blood flow in the heart.
Texas Attorney General intervened to ensure the baby gets lifesaving medical care.
A Texas court recognized Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar as the legal parents and gave them medical decision rights.
The intended parents had requested to terminate the pregnancy in May after the heart defect was found.
West argues the parents might not provide needed care and seeks custody or conservatorship.
The case involves differing state laws on surrogacy, as there is no federal regulation.
The Supreme Court is not required to take the case, and the chances of emergency relief are low.
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President Donald Trump promised $5,000 payments to Americans if Republicans keep control of Congress after the midterm elections. This claim faced criticism from both Republican and Democratic politicians. Democratic Senator John Fetterman made a surprise video appearance at the same event.
Key Facts
The Republican convention is taking place in Dallas.
President Trump announced $5,000 payments to Americans contingent on Republican control of Congress.
Both Republicans and Democrats criticized this payment promise.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman appeared in a surprise video during the event.
The event marks an unusual midterm convention for the Republican Party.
The promise aims to gain support for Republicans in upcoming elections.
The White House correspondent Liz Landers reported on the event.
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Ohio Senator Jon Husted spoke at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. He said the event is a chance to share what the GOP has done. Husted is running against Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in the upcoming election.
Key Facts
Jon Husted is a Republican senator from Ohio.
He chose to attend and speak at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas.
Some other candidates stayed in their home states instead of going to the convention.
Husted said the convention gives the party a way to explain their work.
He is campaigning against Sherrod Brown, a Democratic senator.
The convention is focused on the upcoming midterm elections.
CBS News featured Husted discussing his campaign on their program "The Takeout."
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Charlie Kirk, a leader of the young conservative movement, was killed a year ago. His death has greatly affected the group he started, Turning Point USA, and his friends and allies are working to continue his mission. A reporter who wrote about Kirk talked about the future of the movement.
Key Facts
Charlie Kirk led a young conservative group called Turning Point USA.
He was killed one year ago.
His death changed the direction of the conservative youth movement.
Friends and political allies of Kirk are now responsible for continuing his work.
Robert Draper, a reporter from The New York Times Magazine, wrote a profile about Kirk.
Draper discussed the future of Turning Point USA in an interview with Geoff Bennett.
The Republicans’ midterm convention showed how Kirk’s influence remains strong.
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Stefany Shaheen, daughter of New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, won the Democratic primary for New Hampshire's First Congressional District. She said the time is up on the Trump administration and hopes to continue her mother's work in Congress.
Key Facts
Stefany Shaheen won the Democratic primary in New Hampshire's First Congressional District.
Her mother, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, is not running for reelection.
Stefany Shaheen aims to carry on her mother's work in Congress.
She made a statement saying the Trump administration's time is over.
The primary win happened on a recent Tuesday night.
Stefany discussed her win and future plans on CBS News.
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Senator Bernie Sanders plans to introduce a bill to ban AI superintelligence and create a government fund that would own half of AI companies. To become law, this bill must pass both the Republican-controlled Congress and be signed by President Donald Trump, who supports government investment in AI.
Key Facts
Bernie Sanders wants to ban AI superintelligence through new legislation.
He proposes a sovereign wealth fund owning 50% of AI companies in the U.S.
Sanders usually works with Democrats but is an independent senator.
Congress is currently controlled by the Republican Party.
President Donald Trump supports government investments in AI companies.
Trump envisions partnerships between AI companies and the American public.
Sanders expressed concerns about AI becoming more powerful than humans.
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The Supreme Court refused to approve a new congressional map in Missouri that the Republican Party wanted. This map might have helped Republicans win an extra seat in Congress.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court rejected a new congressional map for Missouri.
The new map was proposed by Republicans.
The map could have helped Republicans gain one more seat in Congress.
The decision keeps the existing congressional boundaries in Missouri.
This is not the first time the Supreme Court has rejected a similar request from Republicans in Missouri.
Separately, August was recorded as the hottest month worldwide.
In New York, thousands of drones recreated the Twin Towers to mark 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks.
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Jimmy Kimmel said the FCC, a government agency that regulates TV, pressured his show not to air an interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. To avoid FCC rules, the interview will be shown on YouTube instead of TV.
Key Facts
Jimmy Kimmel’s TV show won’t air the interview with James Talarico on television due to pressure from the FCC.
The FCC is the agency that regulates broadcast television in the U.S.
The interview will be posted on YouTube to bypass FCC regulations.
Stephen Colbert also moved a Talarico interview online earlier over similar FCC concerns.
The FCC’s “equal time” rule requires TV stations to offer similar airtime to all political candidates but was not usually applied to talk shows before the Trump administration.
Anna Gomez, a Democratic FCC commissioner, criticized the FCC’s actions as censorship.
ABC, which owns Kimmel’s show, sued the FCC over early license reviews linked to diversity policies, calling it a threat to their network.
President Trump publicly criticized Kimmel over previous jokes, contributing to tensions between the FCC and the network.
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Kevin Shaeffer, a retired Navy Lieutenant, survived the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. He was in the Navy Command Center during the attack and later shared his experience and reflections on the 25 years since that day.
Key Facts
Kevin Shaeffer served in the Navy and was retired at the time of the interview.
Shaeffer was inside the Pentagon's Navy Command Center when it was attacked on 9/11.
He was one of the few people in that area who survived the attack.
Shaeffer spoke about his experience with journalist Geoff Bennett.
The interview focuses on Shaeffer's memories of the event and how he escaped.
The discussion also covers the impact of the attack over the past 25 years.
The Pentagon is one of the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters.
The article was published near the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
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George Pataki was the governor of New York during the Sept. 11 attacks 25 years ago. He helped lead the state through the crisis and discussed the response to the attacks in a recent interview.
Key Facts
The Sept. 11 attacks happened 25 years ago.
George Pataki was governor of New York at that time.
The attacks changed New York and the whole country.
Pataki played a role in managing the crisis right after the attacks.
He shared his thoughts about New York’s response in an interview with Geoff Bennett.
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President Donald Trump announced plans to send $500 checks to about 1 million people in key states. He said these payments are for people who were charged too much for their health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).
Key Facts
President Trump made the announcement just before the midterm elections.
The payments will go to people who live in swing states, which are states that can vote for either political party.
The checks amount to $500 each.
The rebates are meant to compensate those who were overcharged for their ACA health insurance.
About 1 million people are expected to receive these payments.
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, provides health insurance to millions of Americans.
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The U.S. Supreme Court stopped Missouri lawmakers from using a new voting map for the November elections. The new map was seen as helping Republicans, possibly giving them an extra seat in Congress.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court blocked a federal judge’s order in Missouri.
The judge had allowed lawmakers to use a new congressional district map.
The new map favored the Republican Party.
Using this map might have given Republicans one more seat in Congress.
The block means Missouri must use the existing map for the midterm elections in November.
This decision affects how Missouri voters are grouped for the elections.
The ruling shows the Supreme Court’s role in election-related disputes.
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Jason Howell Sr. was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for selling heroin, which greatly affected his four children. The news team first spoke to the Howell family in 2019 and now, seven years later, they share how the family has dealt with their separation and worked to rebuild their lives.
Key Facts
Jason Howell Sr. received a 10-year federal prison sentence for heroin distribution.
His incarceration separated him from his four children.
The news team initially interviewed the Howell family in 2019.
The family has experienced significant challenges during the time apart.
Seven years after the sentence, the family reflects on the impact of the separation.
They have worked together to recover and rebuild their lives.
The story highlights the effects of prison on families left behind.
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The Republican National Committee (RNC) held a midterm convention, where Chairman Joe Gruters said it is important for President Donald Trump to be included on the election ballot. The party is preparing its strategy for the upcoming November midterm elections.
Key Facts
The RNC is having its first midterm convention.
Joe Gruters is the chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Gruters emphasized the need for President Donald Trump to be on the ballot.
The convention is focused on planning for the November midterm elections.
Midterm elections are important because they decide control of Congress.
The discussion took place during Day 2 of the convention.
The event was covered by CBS News.
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At a GOP midterm convention, President Donald Trump said the government would give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans keep control after the midterm elections. House Republican Steve Scalise said Congress would need to figure out the details of how this payment would work.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump announced a plan to give $5,000 to every American adult.
This offer depends on Republicans maintaining power after the midterm elections.
Steve Scalise, a House Republican leader, said Congress must work out how the payment would happen.
The announcement was made at a GOP midterm convention.
Details like funding and eligibility have not yet been explained.
CBS News reported on the event and provided coverage from the convention floor.
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Joe diGenova, an ally of President Donald Trump, resigned from leading a Department of Justice investigation into whether former officials conspired against Trump. The investigation, which started before diGenova’s appointment five months ago, has not yet brought any charges or provided clear evidence supporting the conspiracy theory.
Key Facts
Joe diGenova resigned from his role leading a DOJ investigation into a supposed conspiracy against President Trump.
He was brought back to the DOJ in April to help oversee this investigation.
DiGenova is a longtime Trump ally and served as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia during the Reagan administration.
The inquiry focuses on claims that former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired against Trump.
So far, the investigation has not resulted in any charges or shown proof of a conspiracy.
The investigation has issued subpoenas in Florida where the inquiry is based.
The inquiry centers on the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump.
Multiple other investigations found that Russia did interfere to support Trump’s 2016 campaign.
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Republicans are promoting a major law signed by President Donald Trump that includes tax cuts, changes to food aid, and stronger immigration enforcement. The law has helped millions with tax breaks but also led to fewer people getting food and healthcare aid, alongside increased immigrant arrests.
Key Facts
The law extends tax cuts from President Trump’s first term and adds new ones, benefiting millions of taxpayers.
Some tax benefits include no taxes on tips, overtime pay, certain auto loan interest, a larger standard deduction, and an increased child tax credit.
About 7.5 million people claimed no tax on tipped income, 29 million claimed no tax on overtime, and nearly 40 million families received a bigger child tax credit.
The average tax refund increased by approximately $350, or 11%, mainly continuing previous tax policies rather than adding new relief.
The law introduced stricter work requirements for people receiving federal food aid (SNAP) and healthcare, aiming to reduce enrollment.
As a result, SNAP enrollment dropped by about 4 million people nationwide, including over 800,000 children in some states.
More immigrants have been arrested and deported since the law was passed, with some deaths during deportation reported.
Republicans present the law as an example of their approach to governing, while Democrats criticized it and did not support it.
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