The White House took down its “Build the Wall” online game after The Tetris Company raised concerns about copyright violation. The game’s design was very similar to Tetris, where players stack blocks to create a barrier.
Key Facts
The White House created an online game called “Build the Wall.”
The game was part of a MAGA-themed online arcade.
Players stack blocks to build a wall and stop zombies and alien-like creatures from crossing the border.
The game closely resembled Tetris, a popular block-stacking game.
The Tetris Company warned the White House about possible copyright infringement.
Following the warning, the White House removed the game from the site.
The removal happened shortly after the game was launched.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Associated Press (AP) has decided to keep using the name "Lake Ontario" instead of changing it to "Lake America," as President Donald Trump has ordered through an executive order. This decision continues AP's practice of using widely recognized place names.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as "Lake America."
The Associated Press announced it will continue to use the name Lake Ontario.
This order is part of a larger effort by President Trump to rename certain geographical locations.
The Gulf of Mexico has also been targeted for renaming by the president.
The AP is a major news organization that often sets standards for place names in the media.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new CNN/SSRS poll shows Democratic Senate candidates Troy Jackson and Abdul El-Sayed slightly leading in their races. The poll surveyed 880 registered voters in Maine and found Jackson with 48% support, ahead of the five-term incumbent senator.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by CNN and SSRS.
It surveyed 880 registered voters in Maine.
Troy Jackson, a Democrat, has 48% voter support.
Jackson is running against a five-term incumbent senator.
Abdul El-Sayed, another Democratic nominee, also has a slight lead in his race.
The poll was released less than two months before Election Day.
The races covered are key contests for the U.S. Senate.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Republicans are holding a midterm convention in Dallas two months before the general election. The event comes at a challenging time for the party, with President Trump’s approval rating declining and an unpopular war in Iran continuing.
Key Facts
The Republican midterm convention takes place over Wednesday and Thursday in Dallas.
The convention happens two months before the general election.
President Donald Trump and his party face important political challenges ahead of the election.
President Trump’s approval ratings have been falling recently.
The ongoing war in Iran has lasted more than six months and remains unpopular.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An AI researcher named Jacob Coxon warned that advanced artificial intelligence could threaten human survival by the end of this decade. His concerns have led several U.S. lawmakers to call for stronger government regulations on AI technology as it rapidly evolves.
Key Facts
Jacob Coxon resigned from the AI company Anthropic due to fears that AI development is moving too fast and could be dangerous.
Coxon and others believe AI systems could become superintelligent and gain control over important resources.
Evan Hubinger, another AI expert, estimates there is more than a 10% chance AI could kill all humans in the next ten years.
U.S. lawmakers like Representatives Greg Casar, Lori Trahan, Anna Paulina Luna, and Pramila Jayapal are urging Congress to pass laws regulating AI.
Some lawmakers propose banning superintelligent AI and holding hearings on the risks posed by AI technology.
Despite these concerns, Congress has not yet taken significant action on AI regulation.
Public opinion polls show many Americans worry about AI's impact on jobs, safety, and society.
AI technologies are advancing and affecting many parts of daily life, increasing the urgency of regulation discussions.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The head of the Smithsonian Institution has decided to resign after threats from President Trump's administration to stop government support. The Smithsonian aims to honestly present all parts of American history, including difficult topics like slavery and discrimination, without ignoring the country's positive achievements.
Key Facts
The Smithsonian museums want to show true parts of American history, including bad events.
They believe talking about slavery and discrimination does not take away the country's good achievements.
President Donald Trump's administration threatened to cut funding to the Smithsonian.
These threats led the Smithsonian's leader to decide to resign.
The Smithsonian relies on government support to operate.
The debate involves how American history is presented to the public.
The resignation reflects tensions between the Smithsonian and the current government.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump gave cash gifts totaling $157,000 to four close White House aides during the holidays, including $45,000 to Natalie Harp. The White House said the gifts were personal, legal, and not related to the staffers’ official duties.
Key Facts
President Trump gave $45,000 each to three aides, including Natalie Harp, and $22,000 to Walt Nauta.
The total amount in cash gifts to the four aides was $157,000.
The gifts were described as personal holiday presents, not connected to government work.
Federal employees cannot legally receive extra pay for their official jobs.
Natalie Harp is a longtime aide who often types President Trump’s social media posts.
Walt Nauta, a Navy veteran and close aide, was previously indicted for handling classified documents, but the case was dismissed.
Margo Martin is a communications advisor who documents Trump’s activities on social media.
Chamberlain Harris is Trump’s executive assistant and is on the US Commission of Fine Arts, which oversees White House projects.
No other White House staff members reported receiving cash gifts from the president.
Past presidents typically gave souvenirs or small personal items to staff, but cash gifts are unusual.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Republican lawmakers are worried that President Donald Trump’s trade dispute with Canada could hurt the GOP’s chances in the upcoming midterm elections. The trade disagreement has caused higher tariffs, which may negatively affect border states and create political problems for Republican candidates.
Key Facts
Trade talks between the U.S. and Canada broke down in late August over disagreements.
President Trump imposed new tariffs on Canadian goods during this dispute.
These tariffs are unpopular in key U.S. states near the Canadian border like Michigan, Ohio, and Texas.
Democrats are currently favored to win the House and possibly the Senate in November.
Some Republican leaders, such as Senator Susan Collins from Maine, oppose the tariffs and want to improve relations with Canada.
Collins succeeded in getting certain Maine products exempted from the tariffs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson supports restarting trade talks with Canada.
Polls indicate many Americans see these trade tensions as a problem for the U.S. economy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article criticizes a welfare plan linked to Vice President JD Vance. It argues that giving people money to stay home instead of working encourages them not to work and could be misused. The piece also mentions disagreements among conservative groups about this issue.
Key Facts
The welfare plan involves paying people to stay home and not work.
The article states this payment is essentially paying people not to work.
It suggests such a system could be abused or taken advantage of.
There is a disagreement or feud among conservative groups about this plan.
Vice President JD Vance is associated with the welfare plan discussed.
The article’s tone is critical of the welfare policy.
The debate concerns work incentives and government support.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A New York City police officer, who had just started his job during the September 11, 2001 attacks, talked about his experience. He still has the memo pad he used that day, which is now considered an important object.
Key Facts
The police officer began his career around the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
He used a memo pad during the attacks to write notes.
This memo pad has been kept as a valuable keepsake.
The officer shared his story with CBS News New York reporter Natalie Duddridge.
The memo pad serves as a personal reminder of the events on 9/11.
The interview was available to watch on CBS News and its app.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Missouri’s congressional elections face uncertainty because of a legal dispute over different proposed district maps. This fight has made it unclear which map will be used for the upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Missouri is dealing with a legal battle over the congressional district boundaries.
Multiple maps have been proposed for Missouri’s congressional districts.
Courts need to decide which map should be used for elections.
The dispute is causing confusion and delays in election preparations.
Congressional districts determine which voters are grouped together to elect representatives.
This situation affects Missouri’s representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The outcome of the legal case will impact election fairness and voter representation.
CBS News reported on the issue to explain the complicated situation.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new survey shows that most Americans do not trust information from the federal government. Nearly 6 out of 10 people say they only trust the government a little or not at all.
Key Facts
The survey was conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts.
It found that a majority of Americans have low or no trust in government information.
Almost 60% of Americans say they trust the federal government “only a little” or “not at all.”
The survey results were released on a Wednesday.
This marks an increase in skepticism compared to previous surveys.
The polling covered a wide range of government topics and communications.
The findings show a challenge for government transparency and communication efforts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Members of the Fire Department of New York’s (FDNY) Squad 18, who were not on duty during the 9/11 attacks, worked nonstop shifts searching through the rubble at ground zero. They were looking for missing firefighters to bring closure to their families.
Key Facts
FDNY Squad 18 members helped search ground zero on 9/11 despite being off duty.
They worked 24-hour shifts digging through debris.
Their goal was to find missing firefighters from the attacks.
The search was motivated by treating the missing as family members.
The effort aimed to provide answers for families of the missing firefighters.
The search took place at the site of the World Trade Center collapse.
The story was featured on the TV program "60 Minutes."
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A military expert and scholar says that recent decisions by the Pentagon under President Donald Trump are removing Black officers from leadership roles. This, they argue, harms racial equality in the U.S. armed forces.
Key Facts
The article discusses changes in military leadership during President Trump’s administration.
These changes involve removing or sidelining promoted Black officers.
A veteran and academic voices concern about these actions.
The expert believes this hurts efforts to maintain racial fairness in the military.
The Pentagon describes its actions as based on merit and not race.
Critics argue that calling it "merit-based" hides the real impact on Black officers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Some Republican candidates in key election states are choosing not to attend the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, where President Donald Trump will speak. The convention is expected to bring together tens of thousands of Republican supporters ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
The GOP midterm convention is the first of its kind and will be held in Dallas, Texas.
Tens of thousands of Republicans are expected to attend the event.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the convention.
Some Republican candidates from competitive election areas are opting not to go.
The purpose of the convention is to rally support before the midterm elections.
The report was shared by CBS News correspondent Fin Gómez.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadoran immigrants in the U.S. will not end immediately, despite an approaching deadline. TPS allows certain immigrants to stay and work legally in the U.S. when their home countries face problems like conflicts or disasters.
Key Facts
TPS protections for Salvadoran immigrants were set to expire but remain active for now.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said an official announcement on El Salvador’s TPS will come later.
TPS helps immigrants avoid deportation and get legal work permits during crises in their home countries.
The Trump administration has aimed to end TPS for several countries, including Venezuela, Haiti, and Afghanistan.
The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to move forward with ending TPS for some countries.
El Salvador's TPS was scheduled to expire on September 9, 2026.
About 152,000 Salvadoran TPS holders work legally in the U.S. and contribute billions of dollars to the economy.
Ending TPS could force experienced workers out of important American jobs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A bipartisan group is urging President Trump to share the government’s plan for testing artificial intelligence (AI) systems before they are widely used. They say keeping the plan secret causes worries about openness and trust.
Key Facts
Organizations from both political parties want the government to release its AI testing framework.
The framework outlines how the government reviews advanced AI models before public use.
The current policy keeps these review rules secret.
The group says the government must be open about the review process.
Transparency is important to ensure safe and trustworthy AI deployment.
This request is directed to President Donald Trump’s administration.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The jury in Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial could not agree on a verdict, resulting in a mistrial. Clancy was charged with killing her three young children but claimed she was not responsible due to postpartum psychosis. The jury was split 11-1 in favor of not guilty by reason of insanity, but one juror would not agree.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy was on trial for strangling her three children in January 2023.
Clancy’s lawyer said she suffered from postpartum psychosis and was not responsible for her actions.
Prosecutors argued she understood what she was doing and should be found guilty.
The jury deliberated for seven days but could not reach a unanimous decision.
The final vote was 11 jurors for not guilty by reason of insanity and 1 juror against.
The holdout juror admitted to having reasonable doubt but still refused to agree with the majority.
Jurors were deeply affected by hearing a 911 call from Clancy’s husband on the day of the killings.
The judge repeatedly reminded jurors about the need to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder criticized Attorney General Todd Blanche for planning to speak at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas. Holder said this decision was unusual and inappropriate because of Blanche’s role as the head of the Department of Justice.
Key Facts
Eric Holder served as U.S. Attorney General during President Obama’s administration.
Todd Blanche is the current Attorney General and head of the Department of Justice.
Blanche is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas.
The event starts on Wednesday and is related to the upcoming midterm elections.
Holder called Blanche’s decision to speak at the convention “unprecedented” and “disgraceful.”
Holder’s comments highlight concerns about the impartiality expected from the Justice Department chief.
The Republican National Committee is the main organization supporting Republican candidates in elections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The US Treasury announced it will buy back $6 billion of government debt to help calm the bond market, which has seen rising yields due to inflation and geopolitical tensions. Despite this plan, bond yields have continued to increase, raising concerns about higher loan interest rates and pressure on the Federal Reserve to act on inflation.
Key Facts
The US Treasury will buy back $6 billion in government bonds to try to lower bond yields.
Rising inflation and conflict in Iran have made investors nervous about US bonds.
The 30-year Treasury bond yield reached 5.2%, the highest since 2008.
The US government debt topped $40 trillion for the first time, doubling in 10 years.
Higher bond yields can lead to more expensive loans like mortgages and car loans.
Brent crude oil prices surpassed $100 due to ongoing Middle East conflicts.
The Federal Reserve faces pressure to raise or lower interest rates amid inflation and President Trump’s call for lower rates.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh emphasized the Fed’s goal of price stability but did not confirm any immediate rate changes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
