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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
A sex worker named Shy Sotomayor says Bryon Noem, husband of Governor Kristi Noem, used his business phone for paid calls over many years. She also shared that Bryon expressed interest in transitioning and had a long online relationship with her under pseudonyms related to feminization.
Key Facts
Bryon Noem used a phone linked to his insurance business to make paid calls to a dominatrix named Shy Sotomayor.
Sotomayor said Bryon paid her tens of thousands of dollars over nearly ten years.
He used aliases like “Crystal” and “Chrystalballz666” during conversations about feminization and transition.
Bryon reportedly asked to be called “Crystal” and expressed a desire to transition.
These claims conflict with Governor Kristi Noem’s political stance against transgender rights.
Ethics and national security experts say using a business phone for private payments could pose security risks.
Bryon Noem denied some allegations but did not specify which parts.
Kristi Noem has signed laws limiting transgender care and rights in South Dakota.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Rastafarian man who was forced to have his dreadlocks cut in prison cannot sue the prison officials for violating his religious rights under a federal law. The court said individual prison workers cannot be sued because the law only applies to the government entity, not its employees.
Key Facts
Damon Landor, a Rastafarian and former prisoner, had his dreadlocks cut against his religious beliefs.
Landor tried to sue the prison officials under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which protects religious rights in prisons.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority said Landor cannot sue the individual prison employees because they have not agreed to be sued under this law.
Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote that suing employees under RLUIPA is like trying to sue someone who never agreed to a contract.
The ruling confirmed a lower court’s decision that prisoners can’t seek money damages from individual employees even if their rights were violated.
Prison officials cut Landor’s hair at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center in Louisiana in 2020 after ignoring his request not to cut it.
The three liberal justices disagreed, saying the law is meant to protect prisoners by holding officials accountable.
Landor said he will keep trying to get justice and wants to prevent this from happening to others.
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Matt Gaetz announced he is returning to public service by joining the board of Triumph Gulf Coast, a Florida nonprofit that manages settlement funds from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This is his first official public role since resigning from Congress in November 2024 after being nominated for U.S. attorney general by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Matt Gaetz was appointed to the Triumph Gulf Coast board by Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez.
Triumph Gulf Coast oversees billions of dollars from an oil spill settlement to help Florida’s economy.
Gaetz served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2016.
He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 until his resignation in 2024.
Gaetz was a strong ally of President Donald Trump and played a role in removing House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023.
He faced investigations by the Department of Justice and the House Ethics Committee but was not charged.
President Donald Trump nominated Gaetz for U.S. attorney general in November 2024.
Gaetz resigned from Congress the same day his nomination was announced.
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The U.S. Senate voted to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to take military action against Iran without Congress’s approval. This decision is unusual because Congress has not previously authorized any military action in Iran.
Key Facts
The Senate took a vote to restrict President Trump’s war powers related to Iran.
Congress has never officially allowed military action against Iran.
The vote represents a rare challenge to the President’s authority on military matters.
Senators from both political parties expressed their views on the decision.
The move aims to increase congressional control over decisions involving war with Iran.
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Voters in New York, Maryland, Utah, and South Carolina took part in important primary elections on Tuesday. These elections included key congressional races and a governor runoff in South Carolina between two candidates supported by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Four states held primary elections on Tuesday: New York, Maryland, Utah, and South Carolina.
New York, Maryland, and Utah had important congressional primary races.
South Carolina had a runoff election for governor between two Trump-backed Republican candidates.
Primary elections determine which candidates will represent their parties in the general elections.
These races attracted attention because of the involvement of candidates supported by President Trump.
The results will shape upcoming political contests in these states and potentially influence the balance of power in Congress.
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Andy Burnham has chosen James Purnell, a former minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, to be his chief of staff as he prepares to form a government. Purnell is negotiating terms but would return to government after previously resigning in 2009 and working outside politics for several years.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham picked James Purnell as his potential chief of staff.
Purnell was a minister under former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Purnell resigned from government in 2009 in protest against Brown’s leadership.
He has worked for the BBC and a lobbying firm since leaving politics.
Burnham and Purnell have known each other since they were new members of parliament.
Burnham is expected to become prime minister soon after winning key party support.
Party members are debating who should fill senior government roles, especially the chancellor.
There is disagreement about appointing Ed Miliband or Wes Streeting as chancellor due to political and economic concerns.
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A 19-year-old high school senior in New York City was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for setting fire to a homeless man on a subway train. The man suffered severe burns but survived due to quick help from emergency workers.
Key Facts
The teen’s name is Hiram Carrero.
He admitted to starting a fire that seriously burned a homeless man who was sleeping on the subway.
The attack happened on December 1, 2025, during early morning hours.
Carrero set fire by igniting a piece of paper.
The victim was trapped on a moving subway car but was rescued quickly from Penn Station to Times Square.
Prosecutors called the crime an attempted murder and requested up to eight years in prison.
The judge gave a sentence longer than the minimum required for arson: 5 1/2 years in prison.
The defense lawyer said Carrero had a difficult childhood and expressed remorse for his actions.
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A federal judge ruled that the Department of Justice and ICE must stop their new policies of arresting immigrants in courthouses. The judge said these policies were made without proper explanation and broke federal rules.
Key Facts
The judge who made the ruling was appointed by President Biden.
The policies increased arrests of immigrants at immigration courts starting in January 2025 under President Trump’s administration.
These policies also removed a 12-hour limit on how long migrants could be detained.
The judge found these changes violated the Administrative Procedures Act, which requires agencies to explain their actions clearly.
The ruling blocks these policies across the entire country.
The judge described the policies as “arbitrary and capricious,” meaning they were made without proper reasoning.
The court's decision is a setback for the administration’s effort to increase immigration enforcement.
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A federal appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump’s administration can continue using fast deportations of undocumented migrants anywhere in the United States, not just near the border. This reverses a previous court decision that had temporarily stopped this policy.
Key Facts
The appeals court decision was made by a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The court overturned a lower court ruling that blocked the expanded use of expedited removal.
Expedited removal means quickly deporting migrants without letting them see a judge.
Before, this fast deportation method was only used for migrants near the border or arriving by sea.
In January, President Trump expanded expedited removal to apply nationwide.
Immigration agents started removing migrants swiftly, even taking them from courthouses during immigration hearings.
The Trump administration sees this policy as important for carrying out large-scale deportations.
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The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing the government to deport green card holders suspected of crimes more easily. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has taken back subpoenas that demanded information from reporters at two major newspapers.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court supported the Trump administration's immigration policy.
The ruling makes it easier to deport green card holders accused of crimes.
Green card holders are permanent residents allowed to live and work in the U.S.
The Justice Department withdrew subpoenas issued to reporters.
The subpoenas targeted reporters at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
Subpoenas are legal orders requiring someone to provide information or testify.
This news was part of a roundup on Tuesday.
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The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing the government to deport green card holders who are accused of crimes more easily. Also, the Justice Department has stopped pursuing grand jury subpoenas against reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court made a decision supporting the Trump administration's immigration policy.
This decision gives the government more power to deport green card holders accused of crimes.
Green card holders are permanent residents who are not U.S. citizens.
The Justice Department had issued grand jury subpoenas to reporters from two major newspapers.
The subpoenas targeted reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
The Justice Department has now withdrawn those subpoenas.
This news was reported on a Tuesday news wrap.
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Federal student loans will change starting July 1. These changes will affect how borrowers repay their loans, with some facing higher monthly payments, stricter borrowing limits, and fewer chances to have their loans forgiven.
Key Facts
The changes begin on July 1.
The federal student loan system will be restructured.
Repayment options for borrowers will be updated.
Some borrowers may have to pay more each month.
There will be stricter limits on how much money people can borrow.
Fewer loan forgiveness options will be available.
Millions of borrowers will be affected by these changes.
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More than half of the continental United States is experiencing drought, while some other areas face extreme weather on the opposite side. Farmers are struggling with these unpredictable conditions, which add to the high costs they already face when growing crops.
Key Facts
Over 50% of the continental U.S. is currently in drought.
Some regions are dealing with extreme weather other than drought.
The unpredictable weather affects farmers and their crop production.
Farmers are already facing high costs to grow their crops.
The report includes interviews with farmers in southern Georgia.
The story is part of a series called Tipping Point.
Climate change is making weather less predictable for agriculture.
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Since Bill Pulte became acting director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), over 50 intelligence staff have been either fired or sent back to their original agencies. Six employees were let go, and 45 were reassigned, with no current plans for more job cuts.
Key Facts
Bill Pulte is the new acting director of the ODNI.
About 51 intelligence staff were affected by personnel changes.
Six staff members were fired from their positions.
Forty-five staff members were sent back to their home agencies.
Requests for suggestions about cuts came from Pulte to deputies and other directors.
Some deputies wanted more cuts, but Pulte decided 51 changes were enough for now.
No one from the counterterrorism team has been fired.
No further firings are planned at this time.
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CBS News created a special series called the "Bicentennial Minute" during the 1970s to celebrate America's 200th birthday. As the 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) approaches, CBS News revisits one of these episodes featuring actor Michael York.
Key Facts
The "Bicentennial Minute" was a short TV segment about American history.
It aired on CBS News for over two years in the 1970s.
The series marked America’s 200th anniversary, also called the bicentennial.
Michael York, a British actor, appeared in one of these segments.
The country’s 250th anniversary will happen in 12 days.
CBS News is reflecting on this earlier coverage as the new milestone nears.
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White House officials denied reports that President Donald Trump received the weight-loss drug retatrutide through the FDA's compassionate use program. Retatrutide is made by the company Eli Lilly but is not yet approved by the FDA.
Key Facts
The drug retatrutide is designed to help with obesity and is made by Eli Lilly.
Retatrutide is not yet approved by the FDA for general use.
The FDA has a compassionate use program that allows certain unapproved drugs to be given to people in special cases.
A report said President Trump got access to retatrutide through this program.
The White House denied this report, saying it is not true.
The story was clarified on a Tuesday by White House officials.
No confirmation was given about who accessed the drug through the program.
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A New York City coffee shop refused service to Democratic Representative Dan Goldman because of his position on Israel and Gaza. The coffee shop refunded his order and told him he was not welcome.
Key Facts
The incident happened at a coffee shop in New York City.
Rep. Dan Goldman is a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The coffee shop disagreed with his views on Israel and Gaza.
They gave him a refund and said he could not remain there.
This event caused public reactions and media coverage.
Political commentators Hyma Moore and Tiffany Smiley discussed the situation on CBS News.
The refusal of service was based on a political disagreement.
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Former Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is leading his Republican opponent Michael Whatley by double digits in polls for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race. This seat, held by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis, is considered an important chance for Democrats to gain control of the Senate in the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
Roy Cooper holds a 14-point lead over Michael Whatley, with 48% support versus 34%, according to a recent Catawba College poll.
The poll surveyed 1,000 North Carolina voters from June 1 to June 10, with a margin of error of ±3.83 percentage points.
Cooper’s lead is driven mostly by independent voters who support him over Whatley by more than two to one.
Other polls show Cooper leading by 8 to 11 points among likely voters in North Carolina.
Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket give Cooper about an 85-86% chance of winning.
North Carolina narrowly supported President Donald Trump in 2024 and is considered a key battleground state.
Democrats last won a Senate seat in North Carolina in 2008.
The current Republican senator, Thom Tillis, is retiring, opening the seat for the 2026 election.
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The U.S. Senate passed a major housing bill aimed at making housing more affordable. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, a supporter of the bill, shared his positive views about the legislation on CBS News.
Key Facts
The U.S. Senate approved a large federal housing bill on Monday.
The bill is considered one of the biggest housing laws passed in the last 20 years.
The law focuses on making housing more affordable for Americans.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is a strong supporter of this bill.
Mayor Gloria spoke about the bill on CBS News’ program "The Takeout."
The bill passed with overwhelming support in the Senate.
The legislation aims to address housing challenges across the country.
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The US government website climate.gov, which provided climate research and information, was taken down under President Donald Trump’s administration. A group of volunteers and former staff restored the site as climate.us, preserving the climate data and educational materials for public use.
Key Facts
Climate.gov was created to provide easy access to US government climate research and resources.
The website was shut down and redirected to NOAA.gov during President Trump’s administration.
The shutdown was said to be due to not meeting “gold standard science” according to official statements.
Volunteers and former climate.gov staff saved and restored the website’s content.
The new site, climate.us, launched with 15 years of climate news, reports, data, and educational tools.
A nonprofit organization was formed to maintain and expand climate.us.
The new team plans to develop more resources to help the public understand climate change.
The restoration includes access to the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a key climate report.
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