A 2026 poll by YouGov for The Times found that singer Dolly Parton is the celebrity who best represents the American dream. A CBS News story explores the reasons why many people admire her.
Key Facts
Dolly Parton was named the celebrity best representing the American dream.
The poll was conducted by YouGov in 2026.
The poll results were published by The Times.
CBS News covered the story and provided additional details.
The coverage explains why Dolly Parton is admired by many Americans.
Dolly Parton is a well-known singer and public figure.
The story appeared on the CBS News app and website.
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Some U.S. House races in districts that President Donald Trump won in 2024 are now considered very competitive. Key districts in Florida and Michigan have shifted from leaning Republican to toss-ups, meaning either party could win. This suggests Republicans may face challenges in the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
Two districts, Florida’s 14th and Michigan’s 10th, moved from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up” in the latest Cook Political Report.
Michigan’s 8th District shifted from “Lean Democrat” to “Likely Democrat.”
Both Florida and Michigan supported President Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump won Florida by over 6.1 million votes and Michigan narrowly by about 2.82 million votes.
Florida’s 14th District favored Trump by 11 points after redistricting but is now a toss-up in the House race.
Michigan’s 10th District is an open seat, since the previous Republican representative left to run for governor.
Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the House with 218 seats, while Democrats have 212.
Midterm elections usually cause the president’s party to lose seats, making these shifts important for control of the House.
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Oswaldo Pirela, a minor league coaching coordinator for the San Diego Padres, was detained by U.S. immigration officers in Texas but has been released on bond and reunited with his family. Pirela’s family says he applied for asylum and had work permits, while the Department of Homeland Security claims he overstayed his legal entry.
Key Facts
Oswaldo Pirela works as a catching coordinator in the San Diego Padres minor league system.
He was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at El Paso International Airport on August 16.
Pirela was released on bond and returned home to Arizona, where his family lives.
The Padres confirmed his release but declined further comment to respect his privacy.
The Department of Homeland Security says Pirela entered the U.S. legally in 2014 but overstayed after 2018.
Pirela’s family disputes this and says he applied for asylum and had valid work permits.
Pirela previously played briefly as a minor league catcher in the Texas Rangers organization.
The Padres have a minor league affiliate team, the El Paso Chihuahuas, located in the city where Pirela was detained.
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President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance will be the main speakers at the Republicans’ midterm convention in Dallas next month. The event will promote the party’s candidates and policies while focusing on issues like tax cuts, healthcare, border security, and families benefiting from Republican policies.
Key Facts
The Republican midterm convention will take place over two nights in Dallas.
JD Vance will speak on the first night, and President Trump will speak on the second night.
The convention aims to highlight the Trump administration’s achievements and the party’s candidates.
Topics will include tax cuts, healthcare costs, border security, trade, and manufacturing.
The event will feature families benefiting from Republican policies and a tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
There will be no programming related to foreign policy or the war in Iran.
The convention plans to appeal to the “Make America Healthy Again” group within the party.
The event will promote banning stock trading by members of Congress, a policy supported by President Trump.
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Dolly Parton, a famous country music singer, has died at the age of 80. Her family shared the news on social media, and many fans have expressed their sorrow and talked about her impact on music.
Key Facts
Dolly Parton was 80 years old when she died.
She sold over 100 million music records worldwide.
She wrote more than 3,000 songs during her 60-year career.
Fans in Los Angeles and Washington DC spoke about how important she was to them.
The news was announced by her family on social media.
Dolly Parton was known as a music icon in country music.
The news was published about 9 hours ago.
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The Department of Justice warned that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts may be demolished if it is not allowed to undergo major renovations proposed by President Donald Trump. A legal battle is ongoing, led by Representative Joyce Beatty, against renaming the center to include President Trump’s name and against the shutdown for remodeling.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center opened in 1971 and is described by the DOJ as old, unsafe, and in bad condition.
The DOJ says without renovations, the building will fall apart and might be demolished.
President Trump wants extensive renovations and the center renamed to include his name.
Representative Joyce Beatty is fighting in court to stop the renaming and renovations without approval from Congress.
Beatty argues the center honors President John F. Kennedy and should not be renamed.
The Kennedy Center board, mostly Trump supporters, voted in December 2025 to rename the center to include Trump’s name.
President Trump plans to close the center on July 4 for about two years for renovations.
The DOJ suggested building a new outdoor amphitheater as a possible, but less suitable, replacement.
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Josh Smith, the No. 2 official at the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) who had been pardoned by President Trump for past drug crimes, unexpectedly left his job without explanation. During his time at BOP, Smith worked to change staff and improve prisoner rehabilitation but faced some tension with employees and controversy over contracts.
Key Facts
Josh Smith was deputy director of the Bureau of Prisons under President Trump starting in 2025.
Smith had a criminal past and was pardoned by President Trump in 2021 for drug-related offenses.
He served a five-year prison sentence before his pardon.
Smith aimed to improve rehabilitation programs for prisoners and replaced about 70% of BOP executive staff.
Some BOP employees questioned contracts awarded during his time in office.
Smith hosted a podcast called "Transparency Talks" and made surprise visits to prisons.
Reality TV star and convicted felon Todd Chrisley, also pardoned by President Trump, was allowed to visit prisons and appeared at prison events during Smith’s tenure.
Smith announced his departure without giving a reason; a BOP spokesperson confirmed the move but declined further comment.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced a new commission to help small defense contractors. The goal is to increase support and aid for these smaller companies that work on defense projects.
Key Facts
The commission is called the Smaller War Plants Commission.
It aims to boost assistance to small defense contractors.
The announcement was made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.
Small defense companies often face challenges getting government contracts.
The new commission will focus on helping these companies grow and compete.
This effort is part of a broader government strategy to strengthen national defense.
Both officials represent parts of the government focused on defense and small business support.
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Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, is running against Representative Ralph Norman in South Carolina's special Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate. The runoff election is taking place on Tuesday to decide who will move forward as the party’s candidate.
Key Facts
The runoff is a special election for the U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina.
Darline Graham is the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
Ralph Norman is a current U.S. Representative.
Both candidates are competing in the Republican primary runoff.
The runoff is scheduled for Tuesday.
The winner will become the Republican nominee for the Senate seat.
The election follows the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, creating the vacancy.
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A forensic psychologist testified in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of killing her three children. The doctor said Clancy was responsible for the killings, despite arguments that she had postpartum psychosis, a mental health condition.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for killing her three children.
Dr. Kirk Heilbrun, a forensic psychologist, testified during the trial.
He believes Clancy is criminally responsible for the deaths.
The defense claimed Clancy suffered from postpartum psychosis, a severe mental illness after childbirth.
The testimony happened as closing arguments in the trial were about to begin.
The trial is being covered by CBS News.
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Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed appeared on Fox News for an interview with host Jesse Watters. The interview was described as lively and included political discussion. A Democratic strategist provided analysis of the interview on CBS News.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is running for the U.S. Senate from Michigan as a Democrat.
He appeared on Fox News for an interview with host Jesse Watters.
The interview was energetic and involved political topics.
Chuck Rocha, a Democratic strategist and CBS News contributor, gave his analysis of the interview.
The interview aired on Monday night.
CBS News covered the interview and provided further insights.
Viewers could watch the interview via the CBS News app or website.
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Ralph Alvarado, chosen by President Trump to run for a House seat in Kentucky, has removed President Trump’s image and mentions from his campaign website. His website no longer shows a photo of him with the president or refers to him as a national candidate.
Key Facts
Ralph Alvarado was picked by President Trump to run for a House seat in Kentucky.
The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Andy Barr, who is leaving.
Alvarado’s campaign website used to show a picture of him with President Trump.
The website showed both giving a thumbs-up in that photo.
The campaign website no longer has President Trump’s image or mentions.
Alvarado has removed references to being a national candidate.
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Republican Representative Tom Barrett of Michigan is hopeful that the United States and Canada can reach a trade agreement to avoid ongoing trade conflicts. He also discussed his bill that aims to limit federal government interference with data centers.
Key Facts
A trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada is developing and could affect consumers across the country.
The economies of U.S. states near the Canadian border may feel the most impact.
GOP Rep. Tom Barrett represents Michigan, a state close to the Canadian border.
Barrett remains hopeful that a trade deal will be reached to ease tensions.
He introduced a bill to prevent what he calls federal government "overreach" regarding data center regulations.
The issue was discussed on CBS News program "The Takeout."
The trade issues and legislation discussed could affect statewide and national economic policies and infrastructure.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom has put his large Spanish-style house near Sacramento up for sale for $7.5 million. The home has seven bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, and many features like a tennis court and wine cellar.
Key Facts
The house is located in Fair Oaks, a suburb of Sacramento, California.
It covers 8.2 acres and includes a tennis court, pool, wine cellar for 5,000 bottles, cold plunge, and hot tub.
The property was listed for sale on Monday with a price of $7.5 million.
Newsom and his family moved into the home in 2019 after living briefly in the official governor’s mansion.
Newsom is considering running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
The family also owns property in Marin County, north of San Francisco, where the children attend school.
In 2020, protesters chained themselves to the property's fence to protest prison deaths linked to COVID-19.
In 2024, Newsom used the home to hold a fundraiser for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s vice-presidential campaign.
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A California couple and their surrogate are in a Texas court fighting over a newborn baby with a serious heart defect. The couple wants parental rights over the baby, while the surrogate is asking for sole control to make medical decisions.
Key Facts
The baby was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare heart defect affecting blood flow.
The surrogate, McKenna West, was 23 weeks pregnant when she considered abortion but decided to continue the pregnancy.
The baby, named Rumi by the couple and Gabriel by the surrogate, was born in Texas on August 12, 2026.
The couple has a restraining order preventing the surrogate from seeing or holding the baby.
The baby’s condition has worsened since birth, requiring surgery, blood transfusions, and medical care.
The surrogate seeks sole conservatorship to make medical decisions for the child.
The court has not yet decided on custody or conservatorship.
The case highlights conflicts over surrogacy, abortion laws, and parental rights.
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Republican voters in South Carolina are voting in a Senate primary runoff election. The race is between Senator Darline Graham, who is supported by President Donald Trump, and Representative Ralph Norman.
Key Facts
The election is a Senate primary runoff in South Carolina.
The candidates are Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman.
President Donald Trump supports Sen. Darline Graham.
The runoff is happening on a Tuesday.
CBS News senior correspondent Ed O'Keefe is reporting on the event.
Voters are choosing which candidate will represent the Republican Party in the Senate race.
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Two people who were not vaccinated died from measles in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Trump administration wants to move forward with renovating the Kennedy Center and is threatening to demolish it if plans fail. A federal judge denied Ghislaine Maxwell’s request to cancel her 2021 sex-trafficking conviction.
Key Facts
Two unvaccinated individuals died from measles in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Measles is a contagious disease preventable by vaccination.
The Trump administration is pushing for renovations at the Kennedy Center, a major arts venue.
If renovation plans are blocked, the administration may demolish the Kennedy Center.
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on sex-trafficking charges.
A federal judge rejected Maxwell’s request to overturn her conviction.
The news covers health, government actions, and legal decisions within the U.S.
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The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to continue with plans to limit mail-in voting before the November midterm elections. This decision is temporary and came just days before some states start sending out ballots.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court issued an emergency order on Monday.
This order lets the Trump administration move forward with restricting mail-in voting.
The ruling is temporary and may change later.
The midterm elections are scheduled for November.
Some states were about to begin mailing out ballots when the order came.
Critics say the restrictions could cause confusion in the election process.
Georgetown University law professor Steve Vladeck discussed the ruling on a news program.
Liz Landers reported on the Supreme Court decision.
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