Leading U.S. medical groups have released updated recommendations for flu and COVID-19 vaccines for this fall. They want to provide clear and science-based advice amid changes and confusion caused by last year’s government guidance. The flu vaccine is recommended for nearly everyone over 6 months old, and specific COVID-19 shots are advised mainly for older adults and those with health risks.
Key Facts
Several top U.S. medical groups issued updated vaccine guidelines to reduce confusion about flu and COVID-19 shots this fall.
Flu vaccines are starting now, and COVID-19 vaccines were recently approved by the FDA for updated versions.
The Trump administration last year changed some routine vaccine advice, causing mixed messages.
Most people aged 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine; it helps reduce severe flu outcomes like hospitalization.
Older adults (65+), pregnant women, young children, and those with chronic illnesses are at higher risk from flu.
New flu vaccine options include three enhanced vaccines for seniors and a new mRNA-based flu shot for those 50 and older.
COVID-19 vaccines are formally recommended and approved mainly for people 65 and older or those with health risks.
Family doctors suggest all adults consider COVID-19 shots, especially seniors and those with risk factors.
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The U.S. Mint started selling $1 coins featuring President Donald Trump as collectible items that can also be used as real money. These coins have a face value of $1, making them legal to spend, but not all stores may accept them.
Key Facts
The U.S. Mint began selling $1 Trump coins on Wednesday.
The coins are sold in rolls of 25 for $61 and bags of 100 for $154.50.
Although promoted as collectibles, the coins have a face value of $1 and are legal tender under federal law.
Legal tender means these coins can be used to pay debts and taxes, but businesses can decide if they accept them.
Past $1 coins, like the Sacagawea and presidential series, were unpopular and saw limited circulation.
Federal law usually bans portraits of living people on U.S. coins, raising legal questions about the Trump coin.
The Treasury Department said the coin is allowed because it commemorates the nation's 250th anniversary, which permits special designs.
The Trump coin is real money but might be tricky to use in everyday payments because of limited acceptance.
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Federal prosecutors have not confirmed whether they secretly got phone records of journalist Don Lemon using a rare legal request, according to Lemon’s lawyers. This request, made under a rarely used law tied to customs investigations, has raised privacy concerns because it was used in a case about a protest and civil rights.
Key Facts
Prosecutors served Verizon with a request in January for Don Lemon’s phone records from December 19 to January 20.
The request was made under 19 USC 1509, a law meant for customs investigations, not criminal cases.
This type of request does not require a court-approved warrant or grand jury subpoena.
Experts worry this practice violates the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches.
Lemon’s lawyers asked prosecutors for confirmation if Verizon complied, but prosecutors have not replied.
The Department of Homeland Security previously used this law to obtain phone records of another journalist, Georgia Fort, without her knowledge.
A judge had rejected a government attempt to get Lemon’s and Fort’s YouTube records, stressing special protections for journalists.
Many defendants in the case have asked for the case to be dismissed due to the government’s use of these summonses, claiming abuse of legal authority.
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Dan Driscoll resigned as U.S. Army Secretary after 18 months in the job, having been appointed by President Trump to help end the Ukraine war and update U.S. forces. His resignation follows a series of high-level departures and firings under Pentagon official Pete Hegseth, raising concerns about leadership, military readiness, and morale amid ongoing conflicts.
Key Facts
Dan Driscoll stepped down as Army Secretary after serving 18 months.
President Trump appointed Driscoll with goals including ending the Ukraine war and modernizing the military.
Pete Hegseth, a senior Pentagon official, has removed or pushed out many top military leaders across multiple branches.
The Pentagon now has fewer senior leaders during an ongoing war with Iran.
There are worries about low munitions supplies and military morale.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier spent a record 250 days at sea without a port stop before docking in Pattaya, Thailand.
Conditions and mental stress on the ship’s crew have been questioned by members of Congress.
The visit to Pattaya is the largest presence of U.S. military personnel there since 1975.
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A woman was arrested for reportedly filming jurors outside the courthouse during the trial of Lindsay Clancy. Authorities said she was capturing video as the jurors left the building.
Key Facts
The incident happened outside the courthouse where Lindsay Clancy's trial is taking place.
A woman was arrested on Tuesday for filming jurors.
The jurors were filmed as they exited the courthouse.
Authorities consider filming jurors during a trial a serious issue.
The trial involves Lindsay Clancy, who is the focus of the court case.
CBS News reporters Shanelle Kaul and Jessica Levinson covered the story.
The arrest came amid heightened security around the trial.
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A federal appeals court ruled that a judge did not have the power to overturn Bowe Bergdahl’s military conviction for desertion. The court said only military courts can change court-martial decisions, so Bergdahl’s case was dismissed in civilian court.
Key Facts
Bowe Bergdahl was a U.S. Army soldier convicted of deserting his post in Afghanistan in 2009.
He was captured by Taliban-linked forces and held for nearly five years before being released in a prisoner swap in 2014.
Bergdahl pleaded guilty in 2017 and was dishonorably discharged, but prosecutors wanted a 14-year prison sentence.
In 2023, a federal judge tried to overturn Bergdahl’s conviction, saying there was a conflict of interest with the military judge.
The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that civilian courts do not have the authority to overturn military court decisions.
Three judges, including one nominated by President Trump, agreed the case should be dismissed.
Bergdahl’s lawyer said they are considering their options after the ruling.
Bergdahl left his post to report poor leadership but was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.
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A nonprofit called Protect Democracy has sued four federal agencies to force them to reveal the secret rules used by President Trump's administration to review the safety of advanced AI models. The group says the government has made almost no information public about how AI models are tested before release or who is involved in the process.
Key Facts
Four federal agencies are being sued to disclose secret procedures for AI safety testing used during President Trump's term.
Protect Democracy claims very few details have been shared with the public or Congress about the AI review framework.
The government’s review process is only partially known to a few “trusted partners,” with little transparency on involved companies or legal authority.
OpenAI reportedly has a private agreement with the government to limit who can access its latest AI models.
The lawsuit demands release of all unclassified documents about the framework by September 30, including rules, participants, and selection criteria.
Protect Democracy expresses concern about possible bias favoring AI firms preferred by Trump and retaliation against firms seen as politically unfavorable.
There are worries that safety reviews may be incomplete or outdated, potentially exposing AI users to risks.
Some politicians criticize the government for lacking transparency and proper oversight of AI safety.
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An attorney who represents almost a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein does not expect the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take action on a list of names related to Epstein’s case. The list was issued by Representative Thomas Massie.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Epstein was involved in a criminal case relating to abuse and trafficking.
Nearly a dozen survivors of Epstein are represented by one attorney.
Representative Thomas Massie issued a list of names connected to Epstein.
The attorney believes the DOJ will not act on the list.
The Department of Justice is the U.S. government agency responsible for law enforcement.
The article does not mention if the DOJ has responded.
The focus is on legal actions concerning people linked to Epstein’s crimes.
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A Gallup poll found that 89% of Americans believe corruption is widespread in the U.S. government, the highest level recorded in the survey’s history. This marks a 10 percentage point increase from previous polls.
Key Facts
89% of Americans said corruption is widespread in the U.S. government.
This is the highest level of perceived corruption Gallup has ever recorded.
The percentage increased by 10 points compared to earlier surveys.
The poll was released on a Wednesday.
The survey was conducted by Gallup, a well-known polling organization.
The question asked was: “Is corruption widespread throughout the government in this country, or not?”
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A mixed martial arts event in Orlando, Florida, featured racist and antisemitic comments by a fighter and a spectator displaying a large swastika flag. Local officials and political leaders condemned the behavior but said the event was allowed under the U.S. Constitution's free speech protections.
Key Facts
The event took place at the Kia Center in Orlando and featured a fight between Paul Miller and Ben Azoulay.
Paul Miller, known as the “gypsy crusader,” used antisemitic insults and Nazi salutes during the fight.
A spectator was removed after waving a large swastika flag, a symbol connected to Nazi Germany.
Orlando city officials said they had to host the event due to First Amendment rights protecting free speech.
The city and venue expressed that they do not support the hateful views shown at the event.
Florida Democratic leader Anna Eskamani and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer condemned the antisemitism and called for stronger rules against hate.
US Senator Rick Scott also criticized the antisemitic actions, saying hate has no place in Florida.
Paul Miller has a history of white supremacist views and past criminal offenses.
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President Donald Trump met with a group of U.S. travel executives at the White House on Wednesday afternoon. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was also expected to join the meeting.
Key Facts
President Trump hosted travel industry leaders at the White House.
The meeting took place on Wednesday afternoon.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was expected to attend.
The gathering involved executives from the U.S. travel sector.
The event was available to watch live.
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A new Gallup survey shows that nearly 9 out of 10 Americans believe corruption in the U.S. government is widespread, the highest level in 20 years. This rise in concern coincides with President Donald Trump’s return to office and reflects low trust in government institutions across the political spectrum.
Key Facts
89% of U.S. adults say there is widespread government corruption, a 10-point increase from last year.
Democrats’ concern about corruption rose from 57% in 2024 to 91% after President Trump took office again.
About 90% of independent voters also believe government corruption is widespread, up 12 points since 2024.
President Trump earned over $2.2 billion in his first year back, with income from sources like cryptocurrency and early access to Truth Social posts.
Critics highlight potential conflicts of interest, including foreign investment in Trump’s crypto firm and acceptance of expensive gifts like a $400 million jet from Qatar.
Some Democrats accuse Trump and his family of benefiting from eased regulations on cryptocurrency.
Republicans have maintained a steady view, with about 80% seeing corruption as widespread regardless of which party is in power.
The U.S. now has the highest perceived government corruption level among wealthy countries in the OECD, while corruption perceptions in other countries have generally fallen.
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Senator Thom Tillis is asking President Trump to remove Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Tillis criticizes Hegseth’s handling of military affairs, especially after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned due to disagreements with Hegseth.
Key Facts
Senator Thom Tillis represents North Carolina.
Tillis was once part of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Tillis has publicly asked President Trump to fire Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense.
Tillis describes Hegseth’s management as “inept.”
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after conflicts with Hegseth.
Driscoll’s resignation increased criticism of Hegseth’s leadership.
The issues center around how military departments are being managed.
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A woman was arrested for filming jurors outside a Massachusetts courthouse during the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. The trial continues as jurors are still deciding on the case, where Clancy faces charges after admitting to strangling her three children but claims postpartum psychosis affected her actions.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the 2023 deaths of her three young children in Massachusetts.
Clancy admits to the stranglings but pleads not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility, citing postpartum psychosis.
The jury has been deliberating for five days but has not yet reached a unanimous verdict.
Dawn Light, a 56-year-old retired nurse, was arrested for filming jurors leaving the courthouse.
Light denies filming jurors but video was found in deleted files on her phone.
Light was charged with intimidating witnesses or jurors and was released without bail but ordered to avoid court and those involved.
The trial is livestreamed and has drawn large public and media attention.
The judge told the jury to continue trying to reach a decision despite earlier difficulties.
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Hispanic voters has increased over the summer, rising from 23% in May to 36% in late August. Although more Hispanic voters approve of Trump now, the majority still disapprove of his job performance.
Key Facts
In August, 36% of Hispanic voters approved of President Trump’s performance, up from 23% in May.
Hispanic disapproval of Trump fell from 65% in July to 59% in August.
Improvements in Hispanic support could help the Republican Party in the November midterm elections.
Hispanic voters were an important part of Trump’s coalition in his 2024 election victory.
Trump’s overall national approval remains low, especially among young voters aged 18 to 34, where his approval is -44.
Trump’s popularity is highest in Wyoming (56% approval) and lowest in Hawaii (18% approval).
Trump is unpopular in key battleground states he won in 2024, which could affect control of Congress in the upcoming midterms.
The White House states that Trump has a mandate from nearly 80 million voters to focus on jobs, inflation, housing, and other issues.
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A pro-Trump nonprofit group called Securing American Greatness launched its first ads for the 2024 general election. These ads, featuring President Donald Trump, are part of a national campaign that cost nearly $1 million to start.
Key Facts
The group Securing American Greatness is linked to President Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc.
They began running their first general election ads on Wednesday.
President Trump is the main figure shown in the ads.
The ads are part of a nationwide advertising purchase.
The political data firm AdImpact reported the group spent $995,000 starting Wednesday.
This effort shows organized support for President Trump in the 2024 midterm election cycle.
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Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge in Florida related to a rollover crash in March. This means he did not admit guilt but accepted the charge without contesting it in court.
Key Facts
Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover crash in Florida in March.
He faced a charge of reckless driving connected to the crash.
Woods entered a no contest plea for this charge.
A no contest plea means the accused does not admit guilt but accepts the penalty.
The case is related to driving under the influence (DUI) concerns.
The plea resolves the legal issue without a trial.
Woods’ case received public and media attention.
The incident happened earlier in 2024.
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House Democrats met to discuss changing their party rules after two centrist members voted with Republicans. These lawmakers helped pass some Republican bills that were expected to fail.
Key Facts
Two Democratic members, Jared Golden from Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez from Washington, voted with Republicans.
Their votes helped Republican leaders pass several bills.
The bills were mostly Republican messaging bills, meaning they promote Republican ideas.
These bills were initially expected to fail without these crossover votes.
House Democrats held a meeting to consider changing their party rules because of these defections.
The meeting happened on a Wednesday morning.
The discussion focused on how to prevent such defections in the future.
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The U.S. Department of Education is offering a temporary 1% interest rate reduction on federal student loans for borrowers who sign up for automatic payments by September 30, 2024. This lower rate will apply until June 30, 2028, aiming to help borrowers save money and manage repayments more easily.
Key Facts
Borrowers can get a 1 percentage point interest rate cut by enrolling in auto-pay by September 30, 2024.
The reduction started on July 1, 2024, and lasts through June 30, 2028.
Auto-pay means monthly loan payments are automatically taken from a bank account.
This is an increase from the usual 0.25% interest rate reduction for using auto-pay.
The offer applies only to Federal Direct Loans given out on or after July 1, 2012.
Borrowers who are in default on their loans must fix their account before qualifying.
The rate reduction stops if a borrower pauses payments through deferment or forbearance.
The program is part of President Trump’s student loan changes designed to make repayments easier.
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Dan Driscoll announced that he will step down as Army secretary, with his last full day being Wednesday. He did not explain why he is resigning after serving in the role for 18 months.
Key Facts
Dan Driscoll is the current Army secretary.
He has held the position for 18 months.
Driscoll said his last full day at the job will be Wednesday.
He has not given a reason for his resignation.
Driscoll is a third-generation Army veteran.
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