The number of mail-in ballots rejected due to late postmarks has increased sharply in Washington and Oregon. This rise is linked to recent changes in how the U.S. Postal Service processes mail, which may delay postmarking ballots even when they are mailed on time.
Key Facts
Washington and Oregon are states that use vote-by-mail systems.
More ballots were rejected because their postmarks appeared after the deadline.
The U.S. Postal Service has changed operations by focusing on larger regional centers.
These changes aim to save billions of dollars but have caused delays in mail processing.
Delayed postmarks can cause valid ballots to be disqualified.
Senators and election officials have raised concerns about these delays before the upcoming midterm election.
The issue highlights risks to the voting process when relying on mail services.
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President Donald Trump responded sharply to a question about why some Republican candidates are not attending the GOP midterm convention in Dallas. He said the convention does not have enough space for everyone and questioned the reporter’s news outlet.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke on Wednesday about the GOP midterm convention in Dallas.
Some Republican candidates are skipping the convention.
Trump said the event cannot hold everyone who wants to come.
He responded to a question from ABC reporter Mary Bruce.
Trump questioned which news organization she represented.
He criticized the news outlet during the exchange.
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Republicans are holding their first-ever midterm convention in Dallas to support candidates and promote President Donald Trump's agenda ahead of the November elections. President Trump will give the main speech on Wednesday evening, and some Republicans are not attending due to limited space. Meanwhile, Democratic Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticized the convention, calling it a distraction from current American problems.
Key Facts
The Republican National Committee is holding its first midterm convention in Dallas, Texas.
President Donald Trump will deliver the keynote speech on the first evening of the convention.
The event lasts two nights and aims to support Republican candidates running in the 2026 midterm elections.
Some Republicans are not attending because the venue, American Airlines Center, cannot hold everyone.
The arena can seat up to 20,000 people.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, said the convention diverts attention from important issues like costs for families and ongoing conflicts.
Pritzker suggested Republicans are focusing on flashy events instead of addressing real problems.
The convention reflects continuing political battles ahead of the midterms in November.
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The official ethics watchdog for Congress has cleared Representative Ilhan Omar of any wrongdoing related to reports that she inflated her financial disclosures. The Office of Congressional Conduct voted overwhelmingly to dismiss the allegations against her.
Key Facts
The ethics watchdog is called the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC).
The investigation focused on claims that Rep. Ilhan Omar’s financial filings were inflated.
The OCC voted strongly to dismiss the allegations against Omar.
Rep. Ilhan Omar is a Democrat from Minnesota.
Omar’s spokesperson announced the clearing of misconduct claims on Wednesday.
The probe started after concerns about her financial disclosures were raised.
The dismissal means no formal charges or punishments will be made against Omar.
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Texas Democrat James Talarico discussed his plans if he is elected to the U.S. Senate. He talked about issues like affordability and his campaign against Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in an interview with CBS News.
Key Facts
James Talarico is a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate from Texas.
His opponent is Ken Paxton, the Texas Republican Attorney General.
Talarico spoke about his priorities, including making things more affordable for people.
The interview was conducted by CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe.
The discussion covered Talarico’s agenda if elected.
The interview is available on CBS News and their app.
Talarico is focusing on political issues important to Texas voters.
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Medicare is considering ending coverage for certain breast cancer biomarker tests, including the DCISionRT test, which helps predict the risk of cancer returning and benefits of radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer. Some doctors worry that losing this coverage could make treatment choices harder for patients, while Medicare says current evidence does not clearly show these tests work better than existing tools.
Key Facts
Medicare's MolDX program, managed by Palmetto GBA, proposes stopping payment for some DCIS biomarker tests.
The DCISionRT test examines proteins in tumor tissue to help predict cancer return and guide radiation treatment decisions.
DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) is a noninvasive breast cancer affecting over 60,000 women in the U.S. annually.
Some doctors believe the test helps avoid unnecessary treatments and targets those needing more aggressive care.
Medicare reviewed 57 studies and found no strong proof that these tests outperform current clinical methods.
The decision affects Medicare-covered patients but not those with commercial insurance, who still have access to the tests.
The issue represents broader questions about coverage for precision medicine, which tailors treatment to individual patients.
Medicare aims to make sure any coverage decisions are based on strong evidence, not simply cost savings.
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A new poll shows that most Americans now do not trust information from the federal government about elections, politics, foreign affairs, or the environment. This distrust has grown since 2024 and is higher than during the end of President Donald Trump’s first term.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts.
Most Americans say they have little or no trust in federal government information on elections and politics.
Public trust in government information about foreign affairs and the environment is also low.
Distrust in government information has increased since 2024.
The survey suggests that President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce parts of the federal government may have affected public confidence in the executive branch.
Democrats especially show lower trust in the executive branch’s information.
The poll reflects growing skepticism toward government sources as midterm elections approach.
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The Trump administration proposed new rules for the US census that would exclude undocumented immigrants from the count, affecting how government resources and political districts are assigned. The Census Bureau is also reviewing questions on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, suggesting some may be removed or changed.
Key Facts
The Trump administration wants to exclude immigrants without legal status from the US census count.
This change could affect how federal money and political districts are distributed.
Traditionally, the census counts everyone living in the US, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
The proposed rule still counts lawful permanent residents but excludes those with less permanent legal status.
The Census Bureau may use data from other government agencies to identify legal status.
The bureau is reconsidering questions on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, citing their sensitive nature and possible reduced usefulness.
Past attempts to add citizenship questions to the census were blocked by the Supreme Court.
Democrats and advocacy groups oppose the proposed changes and may challenge them in court.
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Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters said President Donald Trump’s policies are popular despite his low approval rating. The GOP hopes their midterm convention in Dallas will boost support and improve their chances in the upcoming elections.
Key Facts
The Republican National Committee is holding a midterm convention in Dallas, Texas.
Dallas is a state that used to vote mostly Republican but is now a battleground with close races.
President Trump’s approval rating is low, around 36-37% in recent polls, with more people disapproving.
RNC Chair Joe Gruters says Trump’s policies, like tax cuts for working families, are popular.
The convention is seen as an opportunity to connect Trump’s message directly to voters.
Historically, a president’s party often loses seats in Congress when the president’s approval is low.
Trump plans to campaign across the country following the convention.
Some Republican candidates in close races are not attending the convention, but Trump says most key politicians are there.
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Corey Lewandowski, an adviser to President Donald Trump, denied claims made by the Wall Street Journal that he managed billions of dollars in contracts for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He said the news report was politically motivated. Lewandowski was officially allowed by DHS to do private business while working as a special government employee.
Key Facts
Corey Lewandowski worked as an adviser to President Donald Trump.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Lewandowski controlled billions of dollars in DHS contracts.
Lewandowski rejected these claims and called the reporting politically driven.
DHS labeled Lewandowski a "special government employee," which means he was permitted to do private business while serving the department.
The controversy relates to Lewandowski’s role and activities involving DHS contracts.
The Wall Street Journal article sparked a response from Lewandowski defending his actions.
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The U.S. election system is currently facing many legal battles over voting rules, including mail-in voting and voter verification. President Donald Trump's efforts to change election laws have led to court cases, and many Americans doubt the fairness of the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
Over half of Americans doubt or are unsure if the 2026 midterm elections will be fair, according to a recent YouGov poll.
President Trump supports reforms to protect voting integrity but these changes have caused complex legal fights across states.
The administration wants the Supreme Court to allow expanded use of the SAVE system for voter verification, but critics say it risks wrongly removing eligible voters.
A federal judge blocked the use of the SAVE system for voter checks due to unreliable data.
The Trump administration recently made two separate appeals to the Supreme Court about mail-in voting rules.
States argue new mail-in ballot rules force rushed and costly changes during ongoing voting.
Missouri is involved in a legal battle over redrawing congressional maps, with conflicting court decisions and official disputes.
Some experts say the legal confusion may be a strategy to challenge future election results.
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AI-generated campaign ads are becoming common in U.S. elections, making it harder for voters to know what is true. Experts worry these ads could reduce trust in politicians and cause confusion about real and fake information.
Key Facts
AI campaign ads use artificial intelligence to create realistic videos or audio of candidates saying things they may not have actually said.
Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton used an AI-generated ad showing his opponent James Talarico delivering controversial statements, sometimes out of context.
Experts say these AI ads can make people distrust all political messages, even real ones, because they fear being tricked by fake videos.
Many Americans already trust politicians and institutions less, and AI ads may worsen this distrust.
Some states require disclosure labels on deepfake political ads, but rules vary widely and federal laws are mostly missing.
Not all AI political ads are meant to deceive; some are clearly jokes or memes with less risk of misleading voters.
The emotional effect of seeing a candidate in a negative AI ad can influence people even if they know it is fake.
Voters may get tired of constantly questioning media authenticity, leading to greater skepticism toward all campaign messages.
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FBI Director Kash Patel will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, September 15. This session is scheduled by the committee’s Democrats and will take place in Congress.
Key Facts
Kash Patel is the FBI Director.
He will testify on Tuesday, September 15.
The testimony will occur before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The announcement was made by the Democrats on the committee.
The information was shared on the social media platform X.
The hearing is part of congressional proceedings.
Kash Patel’s testimony may involve topics relevant to the FBI and justice matters.
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Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm denied claims that it used political connections for special advantages. The firm responded after Representative Jamie Raskin suggested it might benefit from insider political influence.
Key Facts
Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm faced accusations of using political ties for unfair advantage.
Representative Jamie Raskin raised concerns about possible insider political influence involving the firm.
The firm publicly rejected these claims on Tuesday.
The issue was reported by CBS News.
No evidence was presented in the article confirming the accusations.
The firm emphasized that it operates independently without special political help.
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Just two months before the election, two court orders in Missouri conflicted over which congressional map to use. One judge blocked the old district lines, while the Missouri Supreme Court said to use the old lines instead of a new map supported by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Missouri’s congressional district map for the November election is unclear due to conflicting court orders.
A federal judge temporarily stopped Missouri from using the old district lines.
The Missouri Supreme Court ordered the state to use the old district lines for the election.
The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision to stand.
The new congressional map was drawn by Republicans and supported by President Donald Trump.
Legal disputes over redistricting in Missouri have lasted more than a year.
Some Missouri voters are unsure which congressional district they belong to for the upcoming election.
This confusion comes just eight weeks before Election Day.
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The United States experienced its hottest summer ever recorded, with temperatures averaging 74.4 degrees Fahrenheit between June and August 2026. Many parts of the country faced extreme heat, drought, and lower than average rainfall, especially in the West and Southwest.
Key Facts
The average summer temperature was 74.4°F, the highest since records began 132 years ago.
August 2026 had an average temperature of 75.6°F and a daytime high average of 88.6°F, both record highs.
Summer 2026 was about 3.5 degrees hotter than the 20th century average summer temperature.
Record warmth was widespread in the West, Southwest, southern Rockies, and parts of Florida.
California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado all had their warmest August temperatures on record.
Nighttime low temperatures were also at record highs in several Western states.
Average rainfall from June to August was slightly below the 20th century average, with some areas like California experiencing very dry conditions.
Drought affected over 59% of the U.S. by early September, spreading further into central regions.
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The Hill’s show "Rising" will provide live primetime coverage of the Republican National Committee’s first midterm convention. The event takes place on September 9-10 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas and features speeches by President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance.
Key Facts
The Hill’s “Rising” will air live in primetime from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EDT.
The coverage is for the Republican National Committee’s first midterm convention.
The convention happens on September 9 and 10.
It is held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Key speakers include President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance.
The focus of the convention is on modern American history.
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President Donald Trump will speak at a special Republican event in Dallas on Wednesday. This event is unusual because it is held in the middle of the election cycle to encourage voters to support Republicans in the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
The Republican Party is holding a midterm convention in Dallas.
This is the first time such a midterm convention has been organized this way.
The event aims to get voters ready for the November midterm elections.
These elections will decide who controls Congress during President Trump's last two years in office.
President Donald Trump will appear and speak at this convention.
PolitiFact will provide live fact-checking during the event starting at 4 p.m. EDT.
The coverage encourages support for trustworthy news and civil conversation.
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President Donald Trump said he might pardon his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. Trump expressed frustration with how the legal system treated Cohen, who was a key witness in the 2024 New York hush money trial and later withdrew his statements.
Key Facts
President Trump said he would consider giving a pardon to Michael Cohen.
Michael Cohen was Trump's former attorney and fixer.
Cohen was the main witness in the 2024 New York hush money trial.
Cohen later took back (recanted) the statements he made in the trial.
Trump criticized the way the legal system handled Cohen’s case.
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A WalletHub study ranked all 50 U.S. states on happiness based on health, work, and community factors. Hawaii, New Jersey, and Utah were among the happiest, while West Virginia and Louisiana ranked lowest. Experts say happiness in these states relates to security, connection, and access to resources like healthcare and nature.
Key Facts
WalletHub compared states using 30 measures including work hours, commute times, economic security, and health indicators.
The 10 happiest states include Hawaii, New Jersey, Utah, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, Connecticut, Minnesota, California, and New Hampshire.
The least happy states are West Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alaska, and Kentucky.
Experts link happiness to feeling safe, having good jobs, healthcare, schools, and strong social connections.
Access to nature and stable local economies also support happiness by reducing stress and increasing positive feelings.
In 2025, 30% of U.S. workers reported high burnout; many Americans now focus on well-being and aging healthily.
Happiness rankings provide useful data but may not reflect personal experiences, as people value factors differently.
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