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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Seven U.S. states are suing the Trump administration over a $928 million deal that stopped an offshore wind farm project by French company TotalEnergies. The deal redirects the money to fossil fuel projects, and the states argue that this action is illegal under federal law.
Key Facts
Seven Northeast states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont) filed the lawsuit.
The lawsuit challenges a deal between the U.S. Department of the Interior and TotalEnergies worth nearly $1 billion.
The deal ends construction of offshore wind farms and shifts investment toward domestic fossil fuel projects.
The states claim the agreement violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which limits the Interior Department’s power to cancel offshore wind leases.
The lawsuit names the Department of the Interior, Secretary Doug Burgum, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and the Department of Justice as defendants.
Offshore wind farms would provide significant clean energy and jobs in the affected states.
The Trump administration argues the deal lowers energy costs and improves energy security.
About 10% of U.S. electricity currently comes from wind power, with over 75,000 turbines nationwide.
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Iowa's 2026 elections are important because they reflect big changes in American politics that started around 2008 and helped lead to President Donald Trump's rise. Reporters from CBS News explain how the political events and primaries in Iowa show these ongoing shifts.
Key Facts
Iowa's elections in 2026 are seen as having a wider impact beyond the state.
Political changes since 2008 have shaped the current U.S. political landscape.
These changes helped influence the rise of President Donald Trump.
CBS News reporters Amanda Rooker and Major Garrett discuss these political trends.
Iowa's primary elections serve as a key example of these political dynamics.
Watching Iowa can help people understand larger shifts in American politics.
The article is based on a CBS News broadcast and coverage from a local CBS affiliate in Des Moines.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio answered questions from lawmakers about the Trump administration’s budget cuts to global health programs. Democrats criticized these cuts, saying they hurt efforts to control an Ebola outbreak in African countries.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, appeared before lawmakers for budget hearings.
Democrats questioned the impact of U.S. government cuts to global health funding.
The cuts happened under President Donald Trump’s administration.
These budget reductions are linked to problems responding to an Ebola outbreak in Africa.
Lawmakers debated how budget decisions affect global health and disease control.
The discussion took place on Capitol Hill.
The focus was on funding and resources to fight the Ebola virus.
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Millions of voters are casting ballots in key primary elections across six states, including California, Iowa, New Jersey, New Mexico, Montana, and South Dakota. These primaries will decide candidates for governor, Senate, House, and other important positions ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
California voters are choosing candidates for governor, Los Angeles mayor, and U.S. House seats in redrawn districts.
Iowa Democrats hope to regain influence, focusing on the governor’s race and U.S. House and Senate seats.
In New Jersey, Democrats are selecting a candidate to challenge Republican Tom Kean Jr., who has missed over 100 House votes due to illness.
New Mexico’s main race is for governor, with Deb Haaland, former Interior Secretary, seeking the Democratic nomination.
Montana Democrats are competing in a five-way race for a retiring Republican senator’s seat.
South Dakota’s elections include races for governor, U.S. Senate, House, and local offices, with incumbent GOP Governor Larry Rhoden facing three primary challengers.
The primaries are seen as important for control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
Some candidates have notable backgrounds, like Adam Hamawy, a doctor returning from Gaza and political newcomer in New Jersey.
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Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a Republican from New Jersey, said he will explain why he has been absent from Congress and plans to share details about his medical condition in the next few weeks. He has not voted since March 5 and recently received an endorsement for reelection from President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. represents New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He has not participated in any votes in Congress since March 5.
Kean plans to reveal his medical condition within a few weeks.
He recently received an endorsement for his reelection campaign from President Donald Trump.
Tom Kean Jr. is the son of a former New Jersey governor named Tom Kean.
The absence and upcoming announcement come amid questions about his health.
Kean is a member of the Republican Party.
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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche informed Congress that the Justice Department will not proceed with the planned "anti-weaponization" fund. This fund was intended to address concerns about the misuse of government resources.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is the Acting Attorney General of the United States.
He spoke to members of Congress on Tuesday.
The Justice Department had planned to create an "anti-weaponization" fund.
The purpose of the fund was to prevent government resources from being used improperly.
Blanche stated that the department will not move forward with creating this fund.
The decision removes a controversial aspect of DOJ policy.
Tom Dupree, a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General, provided analysis on this development.
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Two foreign researchers working at the National Institutes of Health are charged with smuggling monkeypox virus samples into the United States and lying to customs officers. They brought over 100 vials from the Republic of Congo without proper permission, raising concerns about safety rules at U.S. labs.
Key Facts
The two accused are Vincent Munster from the Netherlands and Claude Kwe from Cameroon.
They worked at the NIH’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, which studies dangerous diseases.
They traveled to Congo during a monkeypox outbreak and returned to the U.S. in January.
Customs officers found 113 virus sample vials in their luggage at Detroit airport.
The researchers said their case only contained testing equipment, which was false.
Transporting monkeypox requires permits and strict documentation by law.
The men face charges of smuggling and making false statements to federal agents.
The FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and Health and Human Services are involved in the ongoing investigation.
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Alyssa Burkett was attacked and killed outside her workplace in Carrollton, Texas, on October 2, 2020. The main suspect is Andrew Beard, the father of her child, and police found evidence linking him to the crime, including a GPS tracker and a disguised black SUV used in the murder.
Key Facts
On the morning of October 2, 2020, Alyssa Burkett was shot through her car window and then stabbed multiple times.
Burkett tried to get help, leaving a bloody handprint on a nearby window.
Andrew Beard, her child’s father, was named by Burkett’s mother as a prime suspect.
Police stopped Beard hours after the murder and seized his pickup truck.
Investigators found a GPS tracking device in Burkett’s car connected to Beard’s home.
A black Ford SUV used in the attack, bought specifically for the murder, was found abandoned near Beard’s house.
The SUV contained a fake beard and dark makeup used in disguise.
Beard later turned himself in and was charged with murder; his fiancée Holly Elkins spoke with police during the investigation.
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California’s primary elections are expected to face delays in reporting results due to a slow vote-counting system and a large number of late absentee ballots. This slow process may cause uncertainty about close races for days or weeks, affecting key contests like the governor’s race and congressional seats.
Key Facts
California has 58 county election offices that must verify many last-minute absentee ballots.
In past elections, more than 25% of votes in California arrived after election day and were counted later.
The state’s large number of registered voters (over 23 million) contributes to the workload for election workers.
California uses a “jungle primary” system where the top two candidates advance, increasing late voting strategy.
The 2024 governor’s race is closely contested among two Democrats and one Republican.
Critics, including Republicans and President Trump, have questioned the security and speed of California’s vote counting.
Some Republicans are pushing stricter voter ID and citizenship proof laws, which critics say could reduce voter participation.
Election experts warn that slow results can reduce voter confidence and invite false claims about election fraud.
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Alyssa Burkett was killed outside her office in Carrollton, Texas, in October 2020. Andrew Beard, who had a custody dispute with Burkett over their daughter, was charged with her murder, but investigators later found that Beard's fiancée, Holly Elkins, was involved in a plot related to the crime.
Key Facts
Alyssa Burkett, 24, was shot and stabbed to death outside her office in Carrollton, Texas.
Andrew Beard, father of Burkett’s 1-year-old daughter, was initially charged with her murder.
Beard and Burkett had a custody battle over their daughter Willow before the murder.
Beard’s fiancée, Holly Elkins, told police Beard was home during the time of the killing but later was found involved in a murder plot.
Witnesses said the attacker was a Black man driving a black Ford SUV.
The attacker shot Burkett through her car window, then stabbed her 44 times with a hunting knife.
Police found GPS tracker batteries and chargers during a search of Beard’s home.
The investigation revealed that Beard was only part of a bigger story involving the murder.
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Federal authorities arrested and charged four people for drug trafficking after finding a 2,000-foot-long underground tunnel connecting Mexico and the United States. The investigation lasted several months and targeted drug smuggling through this tunnel.
Key Facts
Four individuals were arrested and charged by the Justice Department.
The charges relate to drug trafficking activities.
Officials discovered an underground tunnel about 2,000 feet long.
The tunnel connects the U.S. and Mexico.
The investigation took several months to complete.
The tunnel was used to smuggle drugs across the border.
The operation was carried out by federal authorities.
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A Republican lawmaker, Representative Gus Bilirakis, has reintroduced a bill to create a bipartisan commission focused on making long-term fixes to Social Security and Medicare before their funds run out. The commission would study the programs' finances and recommend changes for lawmakers to consider, aiming to avoid sudden cuts or tax hikes.
Key Facts
Representative Gus Bilirakis reintroduced the Commission on Sustaining Medicare and Social Security Act.
The Social Security trust fund may run out of money as early as 2033.
The proposed commission would include experts from both political parties.
The panel would analyze finances and suggest reforms to lawmakers.
It would review whether cost-of-living adjustments truly match seniors' expenses.
The approach is based on a similar successful bipartisan commission from the 1980s.
Lawmakers would decide which recommendations to approve after receiving the commission's report.
Some experts worry that such commissions have delayed needed structural reforms in the past.
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John Humphrys, a former BBC presenter, shared a story about being drunk on air while reporting on President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974. Humphrys said he barely managed the broadcast and never drank before work again. He recently started a podcast where he talks about his early career and experiences, including reporting on the Aberfan disaster.
Key Facts
John Humphrys worked for the BBC for many years and presented the Today programme for 32 years.
In August 1974, Humphrys was reporting live when President Nixon resigned and admitted he was drunk during the broadcast.
Humphrys had consumed wine and cocktails before going on air that day.
After the broadcast, his assistant told him he could not be intoxicated on air again.
Humphrys quit drinking almost entirely after that incident.
He was born in 1943 and grew up in Cardiff, where he faced difficulties at school due to poverty.
Humphrys was the first journalist to arrive at the Aberfan disaster site in 1966, where a coal tip collapsed, killing many children and adults.
He recently released a podcast called The Odd Couple, sharing stories from his career and life.
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New York and six other states sued the Trump administration over a deal that cancels offshore wind projects. The states argue the deal pays a French energy company to stop wind projects and invest in fossil fuels, which they say harms the economy and clean energy efforts.
Key Facts
New York and six other states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont) joined the lawsuit.
The Trump administration made a deal with TotalEnergies to refund $1 billion if the company invests in fossil fuel projects instead of offshore wind.
The lawsuit claims the deal harms states' economies, energy systems, and climate goals.
The states say the lease was canceled without following proper legal procedures.
The lawsuit names Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and other officials as defendants.
The states want a federal judge to cancel the lease cancellation and settlement agreement.
Separately, renewable energy groups sued over the Pentagon delaying national security reviews for onshore wind farms, stopping new wind projects.
The Pentagon says it is evaluating wind projects, but the process is complex and slow.
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The Department of Defense hired Elias Irizarry, who was convicted for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, stating he is a qualified and patriotic professional. Despite some concerns about his past actions, Irizarry expressed regret for his role and serves as a political appointee in a special operations position.
Key Facts
Elias Irizarry was convicted of a misdemeanor for entering and remaining in a restricted building during the January 6 Capitol riot.
He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 days in jail.
Irizarry was 19 years old at the time of the riot.
He was hired by the Department of Defense for a role related to Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict.
Pentagon officials acknowledged concerns about hiring someone linked to January 6 but defended the decision.
Irizarry described the January 6 attack as a disgrace and expressed shame over his participation.
The acting Pentagon press secretary called Irizarry a patriotic young professional.
The Washington Post reported on the hiring, prompting a critical response from the Pentagon’s press office.
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During a House Appropriations Committee hearing, Representative Madeleine Dean questioned Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about the progress of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The exchange between them became tense as Rep. Dean pressed for answers.
Key Facts
The hearing took place before the House Appropriations Committee.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was questioned.
Representative Madeleine Dean focused on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
The questioning became intense and heated.
The discussion centered on the status and details of the Epstein case.
This was a formal congressional hearing involving government officials.
The hearing was reported by CBS News.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is canceling a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate people who claimed government abuse. This decision came after strong opposition from Republican senators and legal problems.
Key Facts
The $1.8 billion fund was called the “anti-weaponisation” fund.
It was created to pay people who said they were abused by the government.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the fund will not move forward.
The fund faced political backlash, including from Republican senators.
A judge had temporarily paused the fund until June 12.
The fund resulted from a legal settlement over a $10 billion lawsuit involving Trump’s tax records and the IRS.
Blanche refused to guarantee in writing that the fund would be stopped during a congressional hearing.
President Trump publicly supported the fund and criticized media and Democrats for opposing it.
Senators want to focus funding on immigration enforcement and exclude unrelated spending priorities.
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Iowa has several important elections in 2026, including open U.S. Senate and governor seats. Democrats hope to win these races and gain control of Congress, despite Iowa usually voting Republican in recent years.
Key Facts
Iowa has open U.S. Senate and governor seats for the first time in decades.
Democrats want to use Iowa to help them take control of Congress.
Republicans currently hold all of Iowa’s congressional seats and control the state government.
More voters in some Iowa districts do not identify with any party than with Democrats or Republicans.
Democratic candidates Josh Turek and Zach Wahls are competing for the Senate nomination.
The winning Democrat will likely face Trump-endorsed Republican Ashley Hinson for the Senate seat.
House races in Iowa could be close, especially the 2nd Congressional District seat left open by Hinson’s Senate run.
The election is seen as an early test of President Donald Trump’s influence and policies.
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President Donald Trump will speak at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner on July 24 after a shooting disrupted the original event in April. The dinner will have tighter security and will be held at a smaller venue, the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Washington.
Key Facts
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was originally held in April but was stopped due to a shooting outside the venue.
President Trump was evacuated safely after the shooting.
A man named Cole Allen, 31, has been charged with attempting to kill the president and pleaded not guilty.
The rescheduled dinner will take place on July 24 with stronger security measures.
The new venue is the Waldorf Astoria hotel, previously owned by President Trump from 2016 to 2021.
President Trump said he accepted the invitation to speak and called the decision a sign of strength.
This was President Trump’s first attendance of the event in either of his terms.
The White House Correspondents’ Association emphasized that violence will not change their plans or public life.
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Republican Representative Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey, who has missed over 100 votes since early March due to health reasons, announced he plans to return to work in person within a few weeks. He said he will share more information about his medical condition when he returns.
Key Facts
Tom Kean Jr. is a Republican congressman from New Jersey’s 7th District.
He has not voted since March 5 and has been absent from Capitol Hill.
Kean is currently focusing on his medical recovery following a personal health issue.
He expects to return to in-person work soon, within weeks.
Kean promised to be transparent about his medical condition when he comes back.
He is running unopposed in the upcoming Republican primary for his district.
His absence and health have raised questions but Kean has provided few details so far.
He last commented publicly in late April, saying doctors expect a full recovery.
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