President Donald Trump’s approval rating for his handling of immigration has dropped to a record low of 40 percent, with 53 percent disapproving according to a recent Economist/YouGov poll. Although immigration remains his strongest issue compared to others, support for how he manages enforcement and border policies has weakened since early 2025.
Key Facts
Trump’s immigration approval fell to 40% in August 2026, with 53% disapproving, resulting in a net rating of minus 13.
The approval rating dropped 24 points from February 2025 when it was 51% approval and 40% disapproval.
The poll surveyed 1,589 U.S. adults from August 7-10, 2026, with a margin of error of ±3.2 percentage points.
Immigration has generally been Trump’s strongest policy issue compared to the economy or foreign policy.
Other polls, like AP-NORC, also show weakening support for Trump’s immigration handling, with 39% approval in August 2026.
Voters may support stricter border enforcement but dislike some deportation tactics or restrictions on legal immigration.
Since Trump's 2025 inauguration, 53.2 miles of new border wall and 42 miles of secondary wall have been completed.
Political support for Trump’s immigration policies is important for Republicans facing upcoming midterm elections.
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In August 2001, FBI agents in Minneapolis warned about Zacarias Moussaoui, who was suspected of planning a terrorist attack, but FBI headquarters altered their report to make the threat seem less serious. These changes made it harder to get permission to investigate Moussaoui fully, and FBI leaders doubted there was enough evidence to link him to foreign terrorism. Meanwhile, new information from French intelligence confirmed Moussaoui's dangerous extremist background.
Key Facts
On August 30, 2001, the FBI Minneapolis team identified inconsistencies in Moussaoui's story and suspected he was planning a terrorist act.
The Minneapolis agents described Moussaoui as having extremist views and unexplained money in his bank account.
FBI headquarters rewrote parts of the report to soften language about Moussaoui’s plans and the threat he posed.
These edits made it more difficult to get approval for a special surveillance warrant (called a FISA warrant).
FBI headquarters questioned Moussaoui’s identity and whether he had any foreign terrorist links.
French intelligence confirmed Moussaoui was linked to radical extremist groups and described him as "very dangerous."
FBI leadership, including the head of the FBI National Security Law Unit, did not believe there was enough evidence to pursue terrorism charges at that time.
The Minneapolis agents later told investigators that the changes to their report "dumbed it down" and blocked proper investigation steps.
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New Jersey has passed a law to protect people seeking abortions and gender-affirming care, as well as the healthcare providers who offer these services. The law prevents state agencies from helping with investigations from other states, shields providers from licensing penalties, and bans blocking access or harassing patients and providers.
Key Facts
New Jersey's new law protects patients and healthcare providers involved in abortion and gender-affirming care.
The law stops New Jersey state agencies from assisting out-of-state investigations related to these healthcare services.
Providers' professional licenses are protected from penalties for offering legal care in New Jersey.
It is now a crime to block clinic entrances or intimidate patients and providers seeking or offering care.
The law was signed by Governor Mikie Sherrill on August 20, 2024.
This law is part of a growing number of "shield laws" in Democratic-led states after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
23 states and the District of Columbia have some form of shield law protecting abortion and related care.
Some states explicitly protect care given via telehealth to patients in different states, but legal questions remain about cross-state protections.
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The U.S. Army has gone 150 days without a Senate-approved chief of staff due to political disagreements over the acting leader, General Christopher LaNeve. This vacancy occurs during ongoing military challenges, including conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership changes and promotion blocks affect the military’s top ranks.
Key Facts
The Army has been without a Senate-confirmed chief of staff for 150 days, the longest since 1972.
General Christopher LaNeve is the current acting chief of staff and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s preferred candidate.
Some Senate Republicans have concerns about LaNeve’s limited time as a four-star general and his political loyalty.
Over 20 senior military officers have been fired or sidelined under the current administration.
LaNeve once led the 82nd Airborne Division and served as Hegseth’s senior military assistant.
LaNeve has not been formally nominated by President Trump for the permanent chief of staff role.
Senate committee members, including Republican Senator Joni Ernst, have expressed reservations, though not solely based on LaNeve’s experience.
The delay in confirming a permanent chief of staff adds strain to the Army amid ongoing international conflicts and military modernization demands.
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Before running for president in 2008, Barack Obama was more popular and had higher favorability ratings than several potential Democratic candidates for the 2028 election at a similar point in time. Recent polls show some well-known Democrats like Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris have more unfavorable opinions from voters, while candidates like Jon Ossoff are less known.
Key Facts
Obama’s favorability in December 2006 was 42% favorable, 11% unfavorable, and 47% of people had no opinion.
Obama’s net favorability then was +31 points, meaning many more people liked him than disliked.
Potential 2028 Democratic candidates have lower net favorability ratings: Ossoff +7, Buttigieg +1, Ocasio-Cortez -6, Newsom -10, Harris -11.
Nearly half the public had no opinion of Obama before 2008, compared to fewer “no opinion” responses for current candidates.
Kamala Harris has 39% favorable and 50% unfavorable opinions in recent polling.
Gavin Newsom has 31% favorable and 41% unfavorable opinions.
Pete Buttigieg is about evenly split with 33% favorable and 32% unfavorable.
Jon Ossoff is less well known, with 57% of people not rating him yet.
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A woman shared her experience of feeling healthy and excited during her wedding and honeymoon, but then developing unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, and bruising. After returning home, her symptoms worsened, leading her to seek medical tests that revealed abnormal lab results related to her liver and iron levels.
Key Facts
The woman was excited and physically well on her wedding day and honeymoon in Italy.
She experienced unusual tiredness, shortness of breath, and dizziness during runs on her trip.
Symptoms worsened after returning home, making even light exercise difficult.
She continued gym workouts but noticed easy bruising on her legs.
Being a healthcare professional, she suspected issues like a pulmonary embolism and anemia.
After about a month of symptoms, she visited her primary care doctor who ordered lab tests.
Lab results showed abnormal liver enzyme levels, iron panel issues, and metabolic problems.
The story ends as she prepares to spend a holiday with family, aware of her health changes.
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating improved by more than 10 points among five key voter groups between two polls taken in August, though he still has more disapproval than approval. These changes could affect the November midterm elections as they suggest a possible shift in some voter attitudes toward the president.
Key Facts
Two national polls in August showed Trump’s net approval rating rising by double digits among five groups.
The groups with improved approval were independents, Black adults, college graduates, and adults aged 18-29 and 45-64.
Independents showed the largest rise, moving from a net approval of minus 53 to minus 37.
Black adults’ net approval moved from minus 66 to minus 53, and college graduates improved from minus 42 to minus 29.
Adults 18-29 and 45-64 saw improvements of 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Despite these gains, Trump’s approval rating stayed below 50% in each group.
Overall national approval shifted from 33% approving and 62% disapproving to 36% approving and 57% disapproving.
The margin of error for the polls was around plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, meaning results for subgroups have more uncertainty.
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Google has changed the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" on Google Maps for users in the United States. This change follows President Donald Trump’s executive order related to a trade dispute with Canada. People using Google Maps outside the U.S. and Canada will see both names.
Key Facts
Google Maps updated the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America" for users in the U.S. only.
This change follows a recent executive order by President Donald Trump.
In Canada, the lake will still be shown as Lake Ontario, its name for about 400 years.
Google users outside the U.S. and Canada will see both "Lake Ontario" and "Lake America."
Google said it follows a policy to use official government sources for map names.
Another map service, MapQuest, said it will keep the name Lake Ontario and not change it.
President Trump said the lake was renamed to honor its importance to the U.S. economy.
Trump shared an AI-created video showing cartoon geese protecting "Lake America."
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced changes to keep hundreds of criminals in prison who would have been released early. These changes are seen as political decisions made under pressure, but prisons are already nearly full, and the solutions to create more space will take time.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham expanded the list of prisoners who cannot get early release.
The Ministry of Justice warned that holding more prisoners could cause prisons to become overcrowded.
Burnham cited ending indefinite sentences and deporting foreign criminals as steps to help reduce prison numbers in the future.
Creating more prison cells in existing jails will take months and is only a long-term solution.
The prison system for adult men is at 98% capacity currently.
The decision is described by the government as political, made partly because of public pressure over certain cases, including that of PC Andrew Harper.
There was a plan to announce these changes in Parliament, but the Prime Minister chose to announce them in a TV interview instead.
Families of victims asked for one clear announcement, not leaks over time.
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Volunteers from the Mono County Sheriff Search and Rescue team rescued a climber stranded on a small ledge in California’s Sierra Nevada after a more than 15-hour operation. The climber, Rob Martin, was stuck in a dangerous spot with only one foot on a narrow ledge, and rescuers worked carefully to bring him to safety.
Key Facts
The rescue took place near Mammoth Lakes, California, in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Rob Martin was stranded on a 6-inch-wide ledge with thousands of feet of drop below.
The rescue team spent over 15 hours to safely reach and free him.
The climber was switching his legs constantly to avoid getting too tired.
Any fall during the rescue could have been deadly.
The rescue team, made up of volunteers, is trained for technical and challenging operations.
The team works under the Mono County Sheriff’s Office, about 200 miles east of San Francisco.
The team praised Rob Martin’s determination and strength during the ordeal.
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The UK Prime Minister announced that people convicted of unlawful killing, including those who killed police officer PC Andrew Harper, will not be allowed early release from prison. Changes to the early release scheme aim to keep serious offenders behind bars while reducing prison overcrowding in other ways.
Key Facts
PC Andrew Harper was killed in 2019 during a crime involving a stolen quad bike.
Three people were convicted of manslaughter for his death in 2020.
Two of the convicted, Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, faced early release under the old scheme.
The Prime Minister said anyone guilty of unlawful killing will be excluded from early release.
Other offenders, like those convicted of indecent assault and dangerous driving causing death, will also stay in prison longer.
Prison overcrowding will be addressed by deporting foreign prisoners and releasing some serving indefinite sentences.
The justice secretary is reviewing the early release scheme, with results expected after Parliament’s summer break.
The changes come after public criticism over the possibility of early release for PC Harper’s killers.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that the killers of PC Andrew Harper will stay in prison and will not be eligible for early release under a new policy. The government plans to ease prison overcrowding by deporting foreign prisoners and ending certain indefinite sentences for offenders who have already served long terms.
Key Facts
PC Andrew Harper was killed in 2019 during a burglary incident involving a quad bike theft.
Two of Harper’s killers, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, were at risk of early release under the old rules.
Burnham stated that anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including manslaughter, will now be excluded from the early release scheme.
The prison system in England and Wales is over 97% full, prompting the need for new measures.
One plan to reduce overcrowding includes ending Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences, which have kept some prisoners indefinitely imprisoned past their minimum term.
About 2,271 people currently serve IPP sentences, with 856 never released due to safety concerns.
The government will deport hundreds of foreign prisoners after sentencing and bar them from returning.
New prisoner return agreements have not yet been signed with other countries, but officials are working to add more prison cells by converting existing space.
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Video footage shows an Arkansas state patrol officer pulling a hair and punching a passenger during an arrest after a high-speed police chase. The passenger was charged with resisting arrest and obstructing government operations.
Key Facts
An Arkansas state patrol officer used physical force during an arrest.
The officer pulled a passenger’s hair and punched him.
The incident happened after a high-speed police chase.
The passenger faced charges of resisting arrest.
The passenger also was charged with obstructing government operations.
The event was captured on video and made public.
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Olivia Rodrigo held a benefit music festival called Daisy Chain Fields to support women’s well-being. The event raised $20 million for nonprofits focused on women’s health, legal rights, and workplace protections. Philanthropist Melinda French Gates also donated $10 million during the festival, highlighting the power of young voices.
Key Facts
Olivia Rodrigo’s festival raised $20 million for women’s well-being charities.
A $10 million donation was made to 10 nonprofits, including Planned Parenthood and the National Women’s Law Center.
Melinda French Gates pledged an additional $10 million through her organization, Pivotal Ventures.
The festival featured women-led and queer artists to promote issues like women’s health and legal rights.
The event included a “philanthropy village” where attendees could learn about the nonprofits and their work.
The festival aimed to engage younger generations who often prefer informal giving and want authenticity.
The effort comes amid President Donald Trump’s attempts to change family planning funding for reproductive health clinics.
Attendees expressed hope and connection through music and activism at the festival.
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The Trump administration deported an Afghan man and several others to the Central African Republic, despite the man's legal protection from being sent back to Afghanistan. The Afghan man's family helped the US military and faced threats from the Taliban, who control Afghanistan.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump's administration deported dozens of people, including Afghans and others, to the Central African Republic (CAR).
An Afghan man in his early 20s, protected from deportation to Afghanistan by a US judge due to Taliban persecution fears, was among those deported.
The man's family members worked with the US military and received threats from the Taliban because of this.
One brother served in the Afghan National Army and lives in the US; another was a US-trained pilot killed by the Taliban.
The deportation flight to CAR included 12 Afghans, 8 Iranians, and people from Nepal and Nicaragua.
This was the third US deportation flight to the Central African Republic in 2024.
The US State Department advises citizens not to travel to the Central African Republic due to dangers like crime, kidnapping, and terrorism.
The Trump administration has made agreements to deport people to countries where they have no ties as part of its efforts to crack down on immigration.
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Conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson said President Donald Trump should be removed from office right away if he thinks about using nuclear weapons first. Carlson believes that even thinking about using nuclear weapons first should stop someone from being president.
Key Facts
Tucker Carlson is a conservative podcaster.
He spoke on Friday about President Trump and nuclear weapons.
Carlson said any president who considers first using nuclear weapons should be removed immediately.
He thinks just thinking about this action makes someone unfit to be president.
The statement focuses on the use of nuclear weapons as a reason for removal from office.
This is a political opinion expressed publicly by Carlson.
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Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed apologized for comments he made after an attack on a synagogue in the Detroit area earlier this year. He made the apology during a meeting with the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus to address concerns from Jewish voters before the November election.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
He previously made comments about an attack on a synagogue in the Detroit area.
The attack happened earlier in the year.
El-Sayed apologized publicly for his comments.
The apology took place at an event with the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus.
He is trying to reassure Jewish voters before the upcoming November election.
The Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus is part of the state Democratic Party.
El-Sayed acknowledged that he made a mistake in his earlier remarks.
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Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, apologized for comments he made after a synagogue attack in March. He said his words were misunderstood and he did not intend to justify the violence.
Key Facts
El-Sayed apologized to the Michigan Jewish Democratic Caucus for his earlier comments linking a synagogue attack to Israel’s actions.
The apology came during the Michigan Democratic Nominating Convention in Lansing.
The synagogue attack happened in March when a man drove into a building and shot a security guard before killing himself.
The attacker had lost family members in an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon shortly before the attack.
El-Sayed had previously said “hurt people hurt people” to explain the attacker’s behavior, which some criticized as justifying the violence.
El-Sayed defeated U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary for the Senate race.
He now faces Republican Mike Rogers in the general election, which is important for control of the U.S. Senate.
El-Sayed has faced other controversies related to allegations of antisemitism, including connections to a controversial commentator.
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A school district near Philadelphia is facing much higher fuel costs because diesel prices have increased sharply. This rise in diesel prices is linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Key Facts
The school district is located in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Diesel fuel prices have risen significantly.
Higher diesel costs are causing extra expenses for the school district.
The rise in fuel costs is connected to the war involving Iran.
These increased costs could total tens of thousands of dollars.
The situation affects the district’s transportation budget, including school buses.
The news report was covered by Ali Bauman for CBS News.
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President Donald Trump said that a new agreement with Venezuela will allow the U.S. to control billions of barrels of oil. He claimed this deal will help reduce high gas prices in the United States as the midterm elections approach.
Key Facts
President Trump announced a new deal involving Venezuela.
The deal gives the U.S. access to billions of barrels of Venezuelan oil.
The goal is to lower gas prices in the U.S.
Rising gas prices are a concern for many Americans.
The announcement came just before the U.S. midterm elections.
Venezuela is a country rich in oil resources in South America.
The article was reported by CBS News and includes a video report by Olivia Gazis.
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