The U.S. Supreme Court decided 5-4 to let construction of President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom continue. This decision stopped a lower court’s order that had temporarily stopped the work.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court vote was 5 in favor and 4 against allowing the construction to proceed.
The construction is for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House.
A lower court had previously ordered a temporary stop on the construction.
The Supreme Court ruling reverses that temporary halt.
The case involves controls around construction activities at the White House.
Nancy Cordes reported this news for CBS News.
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Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned after having ongoing disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Driscoll gave his resignation directly to President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Dan Driscoll was the Army Secretary.
He had conflicts with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Driscoll decided to resign because of these issues.
He submitted his resignation directly to President Trump.
The resignation happened after several months of friction.
CBS News reported this information.
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President Donald Trump has been accused multiple times of falling asleep or closing his eyes during public events, including a recent White House announcement about medicine prices. The White House denies these claims, saying he was blinking or resting his eyes, and highlights his mental sharpness despite concerns about his age and health.
Key Facts
During a White House announcement, President Trump appeared to close his eyes several times.
The announcement was about nearly a dozen drug companies lowering medicine prices in the U.S.
Video clips showing Trump with closed eyes were shared widely on social media.
Some critics said he was asleep, while the White House said he was listening or blinking.
Trump has called President Joe Biden "Sleepy Joe," questioning Biden’s fitness for office.
Biden left office in 2024 amid concerns about his age and mental fitness; Trump highlights his own cognitive test results.
California’s governor nicknamed Trump “Dozy Don” after such incidents.
A timeline includes earlier claims of Trump falling asleep, such as at Pope Francis’ funeral in April 2025.
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President Trump will meet with oil and gas company leaders at the White House to talk about increasing U.S. oil refining capacity to help reduce gas prices. Energy Secretary Chris Wright will visit Venezuela soon after the country rejoined oil talks.
Key Facts
President Trump plans a meeting with oil and gas executives at the White House on Tuesday.
The meeting’s focus is on expanding U.S. oil refining capacity to lower gasoline prices.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright will travel to Venezuela on Tuesday.
Venezuela recently returned to participate in international oil discussions.
The discussions aim to address global oil production and pricing.
The White House is actively working to influence energy supply and costs.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill to prevent a government shutdown.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for removing the stop-start feature in cars, which automatically turns off the engine when the vehicle is stopped to save fuel and reduce emissions. Duffy expressed his dislike for the feature during an event in Detroit.
Key Facts
The stop-start feature in cars automatically turns off the engine when stopped to reduce pollution and save gas.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the stop-start feature his "pet peeve" and said he hates it.
Duffy publicly thanked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for removing this feature.
The announcement happened at an event held in Detroit.
The stop-start feature was part of efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.
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Voters in Massachusetts are holding a primary election on September 1, 2026. The main race is the Democratic Senate primary between Senator Ed Markey and Representative Seth Moulton. Voters are also choosing candidates for the U.S. House, governor, state legislature, and district attorney.
Key Facts
The Massachusetts primary election date is Tuesday, September 1, 2026, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
The Democratic Senate primary features incumbent Ed Markey, age 80, and challenger Seth Moulton, age 47.
Markey has served nearly 37 years in the House and has been a Senator since 2013.
Moulton is a six-term congressman and Marine Corps veteran, advocating for "generational change."
In the 6th Congressional District Democratic primary, key candidates are Dan Koh, Tram Nguyen, and John Beccia. Koh is the top fundraiser and has endorsements from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
In the 8th District, 13-term Representative Stephen Lynch faces a challenge from progressive Patrick Roath.
Governor Maura Healey is running mostly unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Two Republican candidates, Brian Shortsleeve and Michael Roger Minogue, are contesting the GOP gubernatorial primary; Shortsleeve supports abortion rights while Minogue does not.
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A new report by PEN America says public libraries in the US face many problems like political interference and censorship. These issues include banning books, attacks on librarians, funding cuts, and political control that limits what libraries can offer to the public.
Key Facts
The report is called Out of Circulation and was published by PEN America’s Freedom to Read Project.
Libraries are experiencing book bans, cancelled events, attacks on librarians, and political interference.
Books about LGBTQ+ people and topics on gender identity and sexuality are being banned more often.
Some politically appointed officials are overriding library boards that are elected by communities.
Examples include Riley Gaines, an anti-transgender activist appointed to a Tennessee library board, who called some books “filth.”
Laws in states like Idaho and Alabama are giving local governments more power to control libraries.
Libraries have faced protests, bomb threats, and even physical attacks related to events such as drag shows.
Since 2021, about 23,000 book bans have been documented in school libraries, and over half of all book ban attempts happen in public libraries.
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President Trump's administration allocated $50 million in federal funds to speed up research on psychedelic treatments, such as psilocybin. The goal is to find new ways to help U.S. adults who have depression that does not respond to usual treatments.
Key Facts
The funding amount is $50 million from the federal government.
The money is aimed at researching psychedelic drugs for depression.
Psilocybin, a substance found in certain mushrooms, is one of the treatments being studied.
The focus is on treatment-resistant depression, meaning forms of depression that do not improve with standard medicines.
This effort is part of President Trump's administration’s health initiatives.
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The U.S. Supreme Court allowed construction of President Donald Trump’s new ballroom near the White House to continue by blocking a lawsuit from preservationists, without ruling on the legality of the project itself. This decision raises questions about the impact of Trump’s building projects on Washington DC’s landscape and how future administrations will handle his architectural legacy.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court stopped a lower court’s order to halt construction on Trump’s ballroom near the White House.
The court did not decide if the construction project was legal, only ruled on the preservationists’ right to block it.
The solicitor general said about 65% of the ballroom project is done.
Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, saying those in charge violated rules about what can be built at the People’s House.
The ballroom symbolizes elements of Trump’s rule, such as alleged corruption and disregard for preservation rules.
Some Democrats suggest removing or selling Trump’s buildings to distance from his administration’s legacy.
Others, like Governor Gavin Newsom, prefer leaving the structures intact and focusing on building rather than destroying.
The debate relates to how monuments and buildings reflect political values and historical memory.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson supports Representative Max Miller’s campaign to be reelected, even though Miller faces allegations of domestic violence. Johnson said Miller is a good member of Congress and is dealing with personal issues.
Key Facts
Mike Johnson is the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Max Miller is a Republican congressman from Ohio.
Miller is currently running for reelection to Congress.
Miller faces accusations of domestic violence from his ex-wife.
Johnson publicly supports Miller’s reelection campaign.
Johnson described Miller as a "great member of Congress."
Johnson acknowledged Miller has personal issues he is addressing.
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The article discusses how giving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) access to a specific trust fund during government shutdowns could help maintain normal air travel operations. This access would allow air traffic controllers to keep working and be paid, preventing disruptions in flights.
Key Facts
The FAA manages the safety and control of air traffic in the U.S.
Government shutdowns can stop FAA funding, affecting air travel.
Air traffic controllers may not get paid during shutdowns.
Delays and disruptions in flights can happen if controllers stop working.
Allowing FAA to use a special trust fund could keep payments going during shutdowns.
This would help maintain normal air travel and avoid major disruptions.
Congress has the power to change funding rules for the FAA.
The change aims to protect air travel even if parts of the government shut down.
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President Donald Trump has announced plans to remove the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a 25-year-old protection for US old-growth forests. Tom Schultz, the head of the US Forest Service and a former timber industry lobbyist, supports this rollback, which would allow more road building, drilling, and logging in protected forest areas.
Key Facts
The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was created in 2001 to protect about 45 million acres of national forest from development.
President Trump plans to cancel this rule, potentially opening protected forests to logging, drilling, and new roads.
Tom Schultz, Forest Service chief, previously worked for timber industry groups that would benefit from lifting the protections.
Schultz claims the rollback will help reduce wildfire risks and improve forest health through “active forest management,” which includes thinning forests by logging.
Environmental studies warn the change could threaten 400 endangered species and harm ecosystems.
Schultz is the first Forest Service chief without prior agency experience, coming from industry and state government roles.
Many officials in the Trump administration have industry backgrounds, including the energy and interior departments.
Some industry groups say the current forest management policy is too strict and hinders wildfire prevention efforts.
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President Donald Trump has pressured the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take action against broadcasters who report critically about him. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has supported the president's efforts by threatening or reviewing licenses of some media companies. This shows increased White House influence over the FCC, which was created to be an independent agency.
Key Facts
Brendan Carr, FCC Chair, has acted to support President Trump in confronting broadcasters.
Carr revived a complaint against CBS soon after Trump took office in 2025, related to a "60 Minutes" story.
Broadcasters like ABC owned by Disney have had their licenses reviewed prematurely after critical coverage.
In 2026, Carr threatened broadcasters over their coverage of the Iran war following Trump’s complaints.
President Trump has post messages on Truth Social urging the FCC to investigate NBC’s Kristen Welker.
The FCC, originally independent, became subject to White House supervision after an executive order by Trump.
Trump fired two Democratic commissioners from another independent agency, the FTC, and the Supreme Court upheld that action.
The FCC currently has more Republican members, and Trump is expected to replace the remaining Democrat commissioner with a Republican.
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The Trump administration is working to reduce complicated rules that federal agencies place on states when they receive grants. The goal is to help states manage federal funds more easily and improve services for people who depend on government programs.
Key Facts
The Trump administration focuses on reducing red tape, which means cutting down on complicated rules.
Federal agencies often set many conditions when states get grant money.
These multiple conditions can make it hard for states to use the funds effectively.
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is leading efforts to cut these federal "strings."
The change aims to simplify administration and improve state programs for citizens.
This effort is part of the broader goal to streamline government processes.
The removal of excessive rules could help states spend grant money faster and more efficiently.
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President Donald Trump's favorability rating improved slightly in a recent poll by TIPP, a pollster known for accurate election predictions. His favorable rating rose to 40%, while his unfavorable rating dropped to 50%, showing a small change compared to previous months.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted between August 25 and 28, surveying 1,461 adults.
Trump’s favorability improved from 39% in July to 40% in August.
Unfavorable ratings decreased from 52% to 50% over the same period.
Democratic respondents viewed Trump less negatively than in July, with their favorability rising from 13% to 16%.
Republican support for Trump remained strong, with 73% favorable opinions.
Independent voters largely viewed Trump unfavorably, with 27% favorable and 61% unfavorable.
Approval of Trump’s job performance stayed almost the same, with 38% approval and 52% disapproval.
Men were split almost evenly on approval, while most women disapproved of Trump.
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The U.S. Postal Service is preparing to launch a new computer system to handle mail voting, required by President Donald Trump’s executive order. A whistleblower claims this system was rushed and full of errors, risking delays and problems for voters who use mail ballots in the upcoming elections. A federal judge has temporarily stopped the system’s rollout, but the government is appealing the decision.
Key Facts
The Postal Service’s new mail voting system is being built in about three months, instead of the usual year or more.
The system aims to comply with an executive order from President Trump that restricts mail voting to verified voters on specific citizenship lists.
A whistleblower alleges the system has many mistakes and could cause thousands of mail ballots to be delayed or rejected due to scanning errors.
The new system would require ballot envelopes to include bar codes and meet Postal Service rules.
A federal judge paused work on the system, but the Trump administration is appealing the ruling.
About one-third of U.S. voters use mail ballots, making this system very important for election participation.
President Trump has criticized mail voting, claiming it leads to fraud, despite evidence showing very few cases of fraud occur.
The White House calls the mail voting changes “commonsense measures” to prevent fraud.
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The recalled beef from Argentina is not included in President Donald Trump’s plan to lower beef prices by importing foreign meat. This means the recalled product is separate from the proposed imports meant to reduce costs for American consumers.
Key Facts
Some beef from Argentina was recently recalled.
President Trump has a plan to import foreign beef.
The goal of the plan is to lower beef prices in the U.S.
The recalled Argentine beef is not part of this import plan.
The recall and the import plan are unrelated issues.
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A man shares how, at age 14, he wrote a suicide note but stopped after accidentally writing a question that made him reconsider. He explains that depression can distort how people see themselves, and that love alone may not always be enough to overcome those feelings.
Key Facts
The author was 14 years old and feeling bullied and alone when he wrote a suicide note in 1993.
The note included a question he hadn’t meant to write: "Is this how much you love them?" which paused him from going through with suicide.
He realized that depression makes it hard to accept love and makes negative feelings seem true.
He studied psychology and neuroscience to understand how our brains convince us of things, including harmful thoughts.
The brain acts like a "propagandist," making fears and worries feel very real.
The author traveled widely and now talks publicly about mental health and belief after overcoming his struggles.
He acknowledges that difficult thoughts can still return but can be resisted.
Help for people struggling with suicidal thoughts is available through lifelines like 988.
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A 17-year-old girl from North Carolina has been charged with murder for helping after an attack on a San Diego mosque that killed three people. She recorded a livestream of the shooting and shared the attackers’ manifesto, which showed plans for more violence.
Key Facts
The attack happened on May 18 at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Two teenage gunmen, ages 17 and 18, carried out the shooting and then killed themselves.
The girl faces three murder charges and one conspiracy charge for aiding the attack.
The attackers wanted to kill many people and livestream the violence.
The shooters had guns, a crossbow, and racist, antisemitic writings referencing white supremacist ideas.
A security guard at the mosque, Amin Abdullah, exchanged gunfire and helped protect about 140 children inside.
Abdullah and two worshippers were killed in the attack.
The attackers planned additional attacks on a Jewish temple and an African American high school.
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