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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
More than 1,300 professors from the University of California want to bring back the SAT and ACT exams for students applying to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. They believe these tests help evaluate students fairly.
Key Facts
Over 1,300 University of California professors signed a letter.
They want to reinstate the SAT and ACT exams for STEM applicants.
The SAT and ACT are standardized tests used in college admissions.
The University of California system had stopped requiring these tests recently.
Faculty argue the exams provide a consistent way to assess students' abilities.
The discussion was covered by the Wall Street Journal reporter Douglas Belkin.
The issue was talked about on the CBS News program "The Takeout."
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The U.S. government has added Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and several others to its list of sanctioned individuals as part of President Trump's increased pressure on Cuba. These sanctions target Cuban leaders’ property and bank accounts in the U.S. amid worsening economic problems on the island.
Key Facts
The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Cuban President Díaz-Canel, his wife, and three others including Alejandro Castro Espín and his son.
Alejandro Castro Espín is the son of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and has served as an adviser to Cuba’s Defense and National Security Commission.
The Trump administration has expanded sanctions against Cuba following an executive order by President Trump.
Sanctions freeze the individuals’ U.S. assets, although it is unclear how connected their finances are to the U.S. system.
President Trump has threatened military action against Cuba and mentioned ongoing economic pressures like fuel blockades.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently met senior Cuban officials to discuss potential economic and security cooperation if Cuba makes significant changes.
U.S. officials have targeted companies linked to the Cuban military, including GAESA, which controls much of Cuba’s economy.
Senator Marco Rubio, a key U.S. figure on Cuba issues, supports the sanctions and has revoked green cards of associates tied to Cuban government businesses.
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One in four births in England is now an emergency caesarean, which means the number of unplanned C-section surgeries has grown a lot in five years. At the same time, fewer babies are born naturally without using tools, while planned C-sections have also increased. Experts do not know exactly why emergency C-sections are up, and they want better data to understand the reasons.
Key Facts
Emergency caesarean births in England rose from 18% to 26% over five years.
Planned (elective) C-sections now make up 20% of births.
Vaginal births without instruments dropped from 53% to 43%.
England’s emergency C-section rate is higher than in Scotland (22%), Wales (20%), and Northern Ireland (16%).
England moved from 14th to 9th place among 42 countries in C-section rates from 2020 to 2025.
Stillbirths and newborn deaths have stayed about the same despite more emergency C-sections.
Emergency C-sections affect about one in three births among Black and Asian mothers, higher than the national average.
Experts think factors like age, obesity, medical conditions, and fear in maternity units may be causing the rise.
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The Biden administration has ended the policy requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to report deaths of people within 30 days after their release from detention. ICE says it will still report deaths that happen while people are in their custody but will not track those occurring after release, arguing it is no longer responsible at that point.
Key Facts
ICE no longer has to report deaths of individuals within 30 days after they leave detention.
The policy to report these post-release deaths began under President Biden.
ICE held about 60,311 detainees as of April 2024; the number dropped to 39,703 in January 2025.
In 2025, at least 33 detainees died, the highest number since 2004.
The deaths include people who died after release or while in hospitals.
Advocacy groups say deaths after release may be linked to medical neglect or other issues.
DHS and ICE defend detention conditions and health care, denying critics’ claims of poor treatment.
ICE states it remains committed to transparency about deaths occurring while detainees are still in custody.
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Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Maine, denied new allegations about abusive behavior toward women. The accusations came in a New York Times report based on interviews with several people, including a Republican operative who dated him. Platner called the claims politically motivated and did not say he would leave the race.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running for the US Senate seat in Maine as a Democrat.
A New York Times article reported allegations of abusive behavior towards women by Platner.
The report included claims from Lyndsey Fifield, a Republican operative who dated Platner from 2013 to 2015.
Allegations include physical misconduct, offensive comments about women, and troubling statements about rape.
Platner denies all claims of physical abuse and says the allegations are politically motivated.
Some other women gave both critical and positive accounts of Platner’s behavior.
Platner has a controversial past, including social media posts and a tattoo linked to Nazi symbolism, for which he apologized and covered up.
Platner has spoken openly about dealing with PTSD from his military service.
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President Donald Trump announced a $700 million investment in coal plants and a new export terminal. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey shared his thoughts about this announcement on CBS News.
Key Facts
President Trump made a $700 million investment announcement related to coal plants.
The investment also includes building a new export terminal.
The announcement took place on a Thursday.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is a Republican.
Governor Morrisey appeared on CBS News to react to the announcement.
The investment aims to support the coal industry.
The export terminal is likely to help coal shipments.
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A new poll shows Mike Mazzei, recently endorsed by President Donald Trump, leading slightly in the Oklahoma Republican primary for governor. The poll surveyed likely voters and showed Mazzei and Attorney General Gentner Drummond as close competitors just days before the election.
Key Facts
Mike Mazzei, former state senator and budget secretary, was endorsed by President Trump last week.
A recent poll shows Mazzei with 24% support and Drummond with 20%, but they are statistically tied due to the poll's margin of error.
Other candidates in the poll include Jake Merrick (12%), Chip Keating (10%), and Charles McCall (7%).
About 25% of likely voters remain undecided according to the poll of 550 Republican primary voters.
The poll was conducted June 2-3 and has a margin of error of 4.18%.
Mazzei attributes his boost to aligning with President Trump’s policies on taxes, government spending, and the economy.
Other recent polls show similar close races among top candidates, with varying leads.
President Trump’s endorsement has helped his preferred candidates in many recent Republican primaries, though there have been some exceptions.
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President Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be the U.S. attorney general. Blanche is currently serving as the acting attorney general, who leads the Justice Department and oversees law enforcement in the country.
Key Facts
President Trump chose Todd Blanche for the attorney general position.
Todd Blanche used to be President Trump’s criminal defense lawyer.
Blanche is now the acting attorney general, temporarily holding the role.
The attorney general is the main law enforcement official in the U.S.
The Justice Department is the federal agency responsible for law enforcement and legal affairs.
Blanche’s nomination has raised concerns among some people, but the article does not specify what those concerns are.
Nancy Cordes reported this news for CBS News.
The report is available on the CBS News app and website.
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A U.S. House Armed Services Committee voted against removing a part of the defense budget that would increase military cooperation between the United States and Israel. The proposal now may move to a full House vote.
Key Facts
The committee rejected an amendment by Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna to remove Section 224 from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Section 224 requires the Pentagon to assign an official to coordinate U.S.-Israel military cooperation, including joint research and development.
Khanna argued the provision supports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push to shift U.S. aid to Israel toward military “cooperation” rather than direct aid.
President Donald Trump reportedly disagrees with Netanyahu’s actions related to Israel’s military moves in Lebanon.
Critics worry Section 224 might hide U.S. military aid to Israel by calling it cooperation, and could shield it from normal budget reviews.
Netanyahu supports changing the relationship with the U.S. from aid recipient to partner, focusing on advanced defense technologies.
The vote was done by voice, not a recorded roll call, with more “no” votes defeating the amendment.
Some public opinion polls show decreasing U.S. support for Israel’s military actions.
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A former correction officer named Tova Noel testified to Congress that she was not the orange figure seen on video near Jeffrey Epstein's cell the night he died in 2019. Epstein died by suicide while in federal custody, but many details about that night remain unclear due to missing video footage and conflicting accounts.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York.
A surveillance video showed an unidentified orange shape near Epstein’s cell stairs around 10:39 p.m. the night before his death.
Tova Noel, a former correction officer, said she was not the person seen in the orange shape on the video.
Most cameras failed to record the night Epstein died because of a hard drive failure; only limited footage is available.
Noel admitted she did not follow all required inmate checks on the night Epstein died but denied any role in his death.
Noel was working overtime on her first overnight shift back after a workplace injury.
She said she did not know about Epstein’s special confinement rules, including the need for a cellmate.
Noel denied receiving money from Epstein or anyone connected to him, though she would not disclose the full source of personal deposits.
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Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, visited the Delaney Hall immigration center in New Jersey without announcing it beforehand. He denied reports that the facility had cruel conditions or was overcrowded.
Key Facts
Tom Homan holds the role of border czar under President Donald Trump.
Homan made an unannounced visit to Delaney Hall, an immigration center in New Jersey.
There were reports claiming inhumane conditions and overcrowding at Delaney Hall.
Homan denied these reports during an interview with CBS News.
The information was shared by CBS News immigration correspondent Camilo Montoya-Galvez.
The interview was aired on CBS News and is available on the CBS News app.
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A recent poll shows that about 68% of Americans want the United States to quickly make a deal to end the war involving Iran. Only 11% disagreed, while 21% were unsure or did not give a clear opinion.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by The Economist and YouGov.
Nearly 7 out of 10 Americans want the Iran war to end as soon as possible.
68% of respondents support making a deal to end the conflict quickly.
11% of people surveyed do not want to end the war quickly.
21% of respondents were undecided or did not answer clearly.
The poll reflects U.S. public opinion on the Iran war.
The focus is on ending the conflict through negotiations or agreements.
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John Bolton, who was President Donald Trump's national security adviser, plans to plead guilty to keeping classified national security documents. This information comes from two people who know about the case.
Key Facts
John Bolton served as President Donald Trump's national security adviser.
He is expected to plead guilty to one charge.
The charge involves retaining classified national security information.
This information was reported by two sources with direct knowledge.
The case relates to legal issues around classified government documents.
CBS News legal expert Jessica Levinson provided analysis on the matter.
The news was shared through CBS News and its app.
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Rep. Jamie Raskin spoke about the Justice Department's "anti-weaponization" fund, which is meant to prevent the misuse of government power. He expressed concern after Senate Republicans blocked a proposal to permanently stop this fund.
Key Facts
The Justice Department has an "anti-weaponization" fund.
The fund aims to prevent government agencies from misusing their power.
Senate Republicans rejected an amendment to permanently block the fund.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, spoke out about this issue.
Raskin said it is important to stop the misuse of government power.
This discussion took place during a segment called "The Takeout" on CBS News.
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President Donald Trump plans to attend an NBA Finals game in New York to support his hometown team, the New York Knicks. He accepted the invitation from the team's owner and may attend one or both games next week at Madison Square Garden.
Key Facts
President Trump is a longtime fan of the New York Knicks.
He was invited to the NBA Finals game by Knicks owner James Dolan.
The games Trump might attend are Game 3 on Monday and possibly Game 4 on Wednesday.
The Knicks lead the Finals series 1-0 against the San Antonio Spurs.
Trump praised the Knicks' defense against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said no sitting president has attended an NBA Finals game before.
Trump's presence will increase security and may affect fan travel at Madison Square Garden.
Commissioner Silver emphasized sports can bring people together despite political differences.
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Senate Republicans are trying to pass a $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill, a key priority for President Donald Trump. Democrats forced votes on several amendments, including one to block a $1.8 billion fund linked to Trump’s settlement against the IRS, which Republicans rejected.
Key Facts
Senate Republicans are pushing a $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies.
Democrats held quick votes on many amendments, known as a "vote-a-rama," to challenge parts of Trump’s policies.
One amendment aimed to block a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund from a Trump lawsuit settlement against the IRS.
The fund is meant to pay people who claim to be victims of politically motivated prosecutions.
Republicans rejected Democratic attempts to ban the fund completely and also rejected redirecting the money to a Justice Department anti-fraud fund.
Senate Democrats plan to propose amendments against tax audit immunity granted to Trump and his family.
Republicans hold 53 seats, below the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster, so passing the bill faces challenges.
The funding bill was delayed by a fight over including $1 billion for Trump’s White House ballroom security upgrades, despite Trump saying no taxpayer money would be used.
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Three women who dated Graham Platner, a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine, shared their experiences of uncomfortable and troubling behavior by him. These accounts were reported by the New York Times. CBS News covered this story along with other news from Capitol Hill.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running for the U.S. Senate representing Maine.
Three women who previously dated him described their experiences as "unsettling."
Their stories were reported by the New York Times.
The reports focus on Platner’s behavior in personal relationships.
CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion reported the story.
The information was shared along with other political news from Capitol Hill.
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The Senate is voting on a $72 billion funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The vote has been delayed for months, and it is uncertain if Republican leaders can get enough support to pass it.
Key Facts
The funding package totals $72 billion.
It supports both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The vote on the package has been delayed for several months.
Senators are expected to vote on amendments late into the night.
Republican leaders face challenges in gathering enough votes for approval.
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California takes a long time to count votes because many people use mail-in ballots, which can be returned up to a week after Election Day if postmarked on time. The state also carefully checks signatures and allows time to fix issues to make sure every valid vote is counted.
Key Facts
In the 2024 presidential election, about 13 million of 16 million votes in California were cast by mail.
California sends mail-in ballots to all registered voters automatically.
Mail-in ballots can be counted if postmarked by Election Day and received up to one week later.
Many voters wait until the last minute to mail their ballots, which slows counting.
Signature checks involve machines and manual reviews to confirm voter identity.
California focuses on a careful, strict process to ensure election security and accuracy.
The 2026 primary includes competitive races for California governor and Los Angeles mayor.
Governor Gavin Newsom urged counties to speed up vote counting to reduce misinformation about election security.
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Three Republican senators—Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski—voted in favor of a Democratic proposal to stop Bill Pulte from serving as the temporary director of national intelligence while holding another federal job. The amendment aims to prevent Pulte from leading both the National Intelligence office and the Federal Housing Finance Agency at the same time.
Key Facts
Three Republican senators supported a Democratic amendment on Thursday.
The amendment prevents Bill Pulte from serving as temporary director of national intelligence (DNI).
Bill Pulte is also the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
The amendment bars Pulte from holding both positions simultaneously.
Senators Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski were the GOP senators who voted for the amendment.
The vote took place in the U.S. Senate.
The national intelligence director oversees agencies that gather and analyze information related to national security.
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