The New York Times has frequently used the word "divisive" to describe recent progressive and democratic socialist candidates and political events. Critics say this reflects a bias toward moderate Democratic leaders and a preference for unity that aligns with centrist party strategies.
Key Facts
The New York Times called several left-leaning candidates and primaries "divisive" or "polarizing" in recent reports.
Democratic socialist Abdul El-Sayed was described as winning a "divisive" primary in Michigan.
The Times used similar language for Wisconsin gubernatorial and New York political races involving progressive candidates.
The newspaper labeled historian Howard Zinn as "divisive" in a book review headline, despite debate among historians.
Critics argue the Times’s use of "divisive" suggests a preference for centrist Democratic campaigns and downplays genuine political differences.
The term "divisive" is less frequently applied to far-right Republicans but still shapes perceptions of the left as extreme or threatening.
Debate and disagreement have been central to American politics historically, contradicting the paper’s assumed ideal of unity.
Some say the Times’s language supports maintaining existing power structures within the Democratic Party rather than embracing progressive change.
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Republican and Democratic voters are upset about new data centers being built in their neighborhoods. Political experts say this issue is becoming important for people when they vote.
Key Facts
Data centers are large facilities that store and manage internet data.
Communities near these centers have concerns, including the impact on local resources and environment.
Both Republican and Democratic voters are unhappy about data center construction in their areas.
Voters plan to raise these concerns during upcoming elections.
Political strategists Harrison Fields and Sam Newton discuss how data centers influence voting decisions.
The issue is gaining attention as a significant local and political topic.
CBS News covered these reactions and provided expert analysis.
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A charity in Hull called Doreen’s gives free school uniforms to families who need help. Demand for these uniforms has grown a lot, as many parents struggle with high costs of school clothes. New government rules will limit the number of branded uniform items to help reduce expenses.
Key Facts
Doreen’s charity provides free, repurposed school uniforms in Hull.
The charity has helped over 100 children prepare for school recently.
School uniform costs average £442 for secondary and £343 for primary pupils.
New rules limit branded uniform items to three pieces plus a tie for secondary students.
The government expects these changes to save some families up to £50 per child.
Some parents say the overall cost of school clothing remains a major problem.
The charity’s co-founder hopes school uniforms will one day be free for all children.
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An independent arbitrator has ordered The Washington Post to rehire a columnist who was fired last year. The columnist was dismissed after posting controversial comments on social media following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, but a judge found the firing was wrongful.
Key Facts
The Washington Post fired a columnist last year over social media posts.
The posts were related to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
An independent arbitrator reviewed the case.
The arbitrator ordered the columnist to be rehired by The Washington Post.
A judge ruled that the columnist’s termination was wrongful.
The Washington Post did not prove sufficient cause for the firing.
The columnist had worked as an opinion writer for the newspaper.
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Thousands of residents in Gary, Indiana, have been without power for nearly two weeks following a severe storm with strong winds that knocked down trees onto power lines. City officials and the utility company are working to restore service, but some residents and local leaders have criticized the slow progress.
Key Facts
A derecho storm on August 11 brought winds up to 90 mph that caused widespread power outages in Gary, Indiana.
Over 14,500 people in Gary still lacked power as of Sunday, down from a peak of 374,500 outages.
The mayor of Gary called the ongoing outages “unacceptable” and urged the utility company Nipsco to restore power quickly.
Nipsco has about 700 lineworkers and 300 crews working on repairs and expects full service restoration by Tuesday.
Residents filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Nipsco of not properly trimming trees that caused power lines to fall, but the company denies this.
Indiana’s governor said the company should speed up repairs and highlighted support from the National Guard and other agencies.
The city hired outside groups to help assess damage and remove debris from the storm.
Local celebrities and organizations are co-hosting a relief event to provide supplies to those affected by the outages.
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The trial of Lindsay Clancy, a mother from Massachusetts accused of killing her three children, is moving toward closing arguments. The prosecution is still presenting witnesses to respond to points made by the defense. Closing statements could start as early as Monday.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy faces murder charges related to the deaths of her three children.
The trial is taking place in Massachusetts.
The prosecution continues to call witnesses to counter the defense’s case.
Closing arguments may begin soon, possibly on Monday.
CBS News is covering the trial and updates are available through their app.
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Experts gave different opinions about Lindsay Clancy’s mental state when she allegedly killed her three children. The trial includes testimony to help understand her mindset during the incident.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for allegedly killing her three children.
Experts testified about her state of mind at the time of the crimes.
There are differing views among experts about her mental condition.
Testimony aims to clarify her mindset during the event.
CBS News legal contributor Rebecca Roiphe explained the expert opinions.
The case is being closely followed and reported on by news outlets.
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Navy sailor Joshua Aviles has been serving on the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East for nine months. During his deployment, he learned that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained his father.
Key Facts
Joshua Aviles is a U.S. Navy sailor deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
He has been deployed for nine months in the Middle East.
His father was detained by ICE, the U.S. agency responsible for immigration enforcement.
Aviles discovered this information while still on active deployment.
The news was reported by CBS News correspondent Camilo Montoya-Galvez.
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Some Republican candidates, like Rep. Max Miller and Victor Marx, show that controversial behavior linked to former President Donald Trump is becoming more accepted in American politics. This change happens because many Republican voters still strongly support President Trump.
Key Facts
Rep. Max Miller is running for office as a Republican.
Victor Marx is a Republican candidate for governor.
Both candidates have shown controversial behavior related to President Trump.
President Trump has strong support among many Republican voters.
This support influences the acceptance of certain behaviors in the party.
The trend shows changing norms in American Republican politics.
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The Trump administration will announce new sanctions against Iran. At the same time, Canada plans to match a 50% tariff imposed by the U.S. on Canadian goods.
Key Facts
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will announce new sanctions on Iran.
The U.S. has imposed a 50% tariff on Canadian goods.
Canada’s Mark Carney said Canada will respond by matching the U.S. tariffs dollar for dollar.
The sanctions against Iran come alongside ongoing trade tensions with Canada.
The situation involves both U.S. foreign policy and trade relations with Canada.
The announcements were reported by CBS News and correspondents including Weijia Jiang.
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President Donald Trump said New York officials pressured his former lawyer Michael Cohen to testify against him in a hush money trial happening in 2024. He claimed prosecutors threatened Cohen with jail if he did not testify.
Key Facts
President Trump blamed New York Attorney General Letitia James and District Attorney Alvin Bragg for pushing Michael Cohen to testify.
Michael Cohen is a former lawyer and fixer for President Trump.
The trial involves hush money payments connected to President Trump.
The events relate to legal cases happening in New York.
President Trump said Cohen was threatened with jail time if he refused to testify.
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The Trump administration has proposed a new fee of $103,265 for employers applying for H-1B visas, which allow companies to hire skilled foreign workers through a yearly lottery. This fee would be in addition to current costs and apply mainly to visas capped at 85,000 per year, not to those exempted like some university jobs.
Key Facts
The new $103,265 fee targets employers seeking H-1B visas under the 85,000 annual visa limit.
It includes the 20,000 visas reserved for workers with U.S. master’s or higher degrees.
The fee is extra, on top of existing H-1B application charges.
Universities and some nonprofits are mostly exempt from this fee because their visas are cap-exempt.
This proposal replaces a prior $100,000 fee from a 2025 executive order that a court blocked.
Many critics say the H-1B program hurts U.S. workers by lowering wages and job opportunities.
Supporters claim the program helps fill jobs in technical fields when U.S. workers are not available.
The proposal must go through the federal review process before becoming official, with publication scheduled for August 25.
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The Washington Post has been ordered to rehire opinion columnist Karen Attiah and pay her back wages after she was fired over social media posts about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. A private arbitrator ruled that the newspaper did not prove Attiah committed serious misconduct.
Key Facts
Karen Attiah was fired by The Washington Post as global opinions editor on September 11, 2023.
Her firing was linked to social media posts she made on the day Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at a Utah college.
The Post accused her of "gross misconduct" and violating its social media policies.
The posts included critical comments on white violence and gun control in America.
An arbitrator found The Post did not prove Attiah engaged in gross misconduct.
The arbitrator ordered The Post to rehire Attiah and give her back pay.
Attiah’s posts focused on racial issues and political violence linked to Kirk’s death.
The decision highlights the dispute between journalistic freedom and social media conduct policies.
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Sean Grayson, a former white police officer convicted of murdering Sonya Massey, a Black woman, in Illinois in 2024, has died in prison at age 32. Grayson was serving a 20-year sentence after being found guilty of second-degree murder for shooting Massey during a police call at her home.
Key Facts
Sonya Massey, 36, was shot by police officer Sean Grayson during a July 2024 incident after she reported a suspected intruder at her home in Illinois.
Grayson said he shot Massey because he thought she was about to throw boiling water on him.
He was convicted of second-degree murder in 2025 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Grayson was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 and was denied medical release despite his illness.
He died in prison at age 32; his lawyer confirmed the death but did not give the cause.
Massey’s family expressed sadness but said Grayson’s death does not bring her back.
The shooting sparked protests and discussions about police brutality in the United States.
President Joe Biden said that Sonya Massey "should be alive today" following the incident.
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Wildfires are spreading in Nevada, and crews are working to stop the fires. At the same time, President Donald Trump’s administration plans to announce new sanctions against Iran.
Key Facts
Wildfires are currently burning in Nevada.
Firefighters and crews are actively trying to control and stop the fires.
The Trump administration is preparing to announce new sanctions on Iran.
Sanctions are government actions that limit trade or relations to pressure a country.
These events were highlighted in CBS News’ Eye Opener update.
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Five people were found dead in a rural area near Forest Grove, Oregon, after firefighters responded to a fire. The suspected killer, Benjamin Charles Parker, was later found dead from an apparent suicide in Washington state. Authorities are still investigating and do not believe the murders were random or that the public is at risk.
Key Facts
Five victims were discovered during a fire response near Forest Grove, Oregon.
Forest Grove is about 30 miles from Portland.
Many dead pets were also found at the scene.
The suspect, 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker, lived at the homicide location.
Parker was found dead in his car in Enumclaw, Washington, apparently by suicide.
Officials say the murders do not appear to be random.
The sheriff described the scene as very complex and concerning for the community.
The investigation is ongoing and authorities believe there is no public danger.
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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump appeared together in public at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, where a short, silent conversation between them was recorded and shared online. Melania recently made a public joke about her limited appearances, which have attracted attention, and longtime aide Natalie Harp was also seen with the president at the event.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump appeared together at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
Video showed them having a brief, silent exchange inside a viewing suite, but their words cannot be heard.
Melania Trump recently joked about being missed due to her few recent public appearances.
Melania has made fewer public appearances compared to previous first ladies and often chooses selective official events.
Melania was last seen publicly on July 19 at the FIFA World Cup final before appearing at this race.
Longtime Trump aide Natalie Harp was also seen in the viewing suite with the president during the event.
Social media users debated the nature of the president and first lady’s interaction, but no official comment has been made by the White House.
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff recently brought renewed attention to Natalie Harp’s close proximity to President Trump.
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California may become the first state in the United States to officially recognize Jewish identity as both an ethnic and racial identity, not only a religion. This change reflects growing concerns about rising antisemitism.
Key Facts
California is working to classify Jewish identity as ethnic and racial, beyond just religious.
This would be the first legal recognition of this kind in the U.S.
The move responds to increasing incidents of antisemitism.
Recognizing Jewish identity this way could affect state laws and protections.
The classification aims to provide better legal tools against discrimination.
The decision is part of broader discussions on race and ethnicity in America.
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Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey in her home, has died at age 32. He was serving a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder and had stage three colon cancer that spread to other organs.
Key Facts
Sean Grayson died on Sunday; no cause of death was given.
Grayson was convicted for fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her home after she called 911 about a prowler.
Massey, a Black woman, was killed on July 6, 2024; the incident was recorded on body camera footage.
At trial, Grayson testified he believed Massey threatened him with boiling water and religious words before he shot her three times.
Grayson was six months into a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder.
He had requested early release on medical grounds but was denied by the Illinois prisoner review board.
The case led to protests over systemic racism and a justice department review.
Illinois passed the Sonya Massey Act, requiring stricter background checks for police hires, and Massey’s family received a $10 million settlement.
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A woman named Hayley blocked her best friend Jessica on social media for three weeks to secretly raise money for Jessica’s family, who faced financial hardships after a storm damaged their home and a workplace injury affected Jessica’s husband. Hayley started a fundraiser with her own money that received wide support online, eventually raising over $6,000 before revealing the surprise to Jessica in person.
Key Facts
Hayley and Jessica have been best friends for over 16 years.
Jessica’s family faced financial struggles after a winter storm damaged their home and her husband became unable to work due to injury.
Jessica took on two jobs to manage bills and support her family.
Hayley began a fundraiser to help Jessica’s family, contributing $1,000 herself.
Hayley blocked Jessica on social media to keep the fundraiser a secret.
The fundraiser gained attention online, raising over $6,000 in donations from strangers.
Hayley continued to talk with Jessica by phone during this time.
After three weeks, Hayley visited Jessica and revealed the fundraiser and donations to her in person.
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