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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he may ask the Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court decision. The appeals court ruled that the military policy banning active transgender troops, put in place during President Donald Trump’s administration and led by Hegseth, is unconstitutional.
Key Facts
A federal appeals court ruled against the military ban on active transgender troops.
The court said the ban, started under President Trump’s administration, violates the Constitution.
Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, supports the ban and may take the case to the Supreme Court.
The appeals court decision was made by a divided panel, meaning judges disagreed.
The policy to ban transgender troops was implemented last year.
Hegseth publicly responded to the court ruling by saying “see you at SCOTUS” (Supreme Court of the United States).
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Actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni are back in a New York court over legal fees after settling a long-running lawsuit last month. The case involves claims of defamation and retaliation linked to their work on the film "It Ends with Us."
Key Facts
Blake Lively’s legal team returned to court to ask for legal fees and damages from Justin Baldoni.
The two actors had reached a settlement last month after a years-long legal fight.
Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, sued Lively over defamation.
Lively claimed Baldoni spoke inappropriately about his sex life and tried to change sex scenes in the film.
Baldoni and Wayfarer countersued Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds for extortion and defamation, but those claims were dismissed.
A judge dismissed some of Lively’s claims but allowed her retaliation claim to continue.
The final details of the settlement have not been shared publicly.
The film "It Ends with Us," based on a book by Colleen Hoover, earned over $350 million at the box office in 2024.
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Senate Democrats introduced a bill called the Drain the Slush Fund Act to stop taxpayer money from being used for payments linked to President Trump. This comes after the Department of Justice ended the Trump administration’s “anti-weaponization” fund.
Key Facts
Senators Mark Kelly, Adam Schiff, and Elissa Slotkin introduced the bill.
The bill aims to prevent using government funds for payments connected to President Trump.
The DOJ recently ended the “anti-weaponization” fund created during President Trump’s administration.
The “anti-weaponization” fund was a source of government money used for specific payments.
The new bill seeks to block such funding to increase government financial oversight.
The legislation is part of ongoing efforts by Democrats to monitor and limit spending related to President Trump.
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The US Department of Defense has blocked journalists from entering its press office because it is now designated as a secured space due to speechwriters handling classified information there. Journalists can still access the Press Secretary’s office but must make appointments, reflecting ongoing limits on media access to the Pentagon under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
The Pentagon press office is now called a “Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility” due to classified work done by speechwriters.
Speechwriters in the office use a secure network called SIPRNet to handle classified information.
Journalists are no longer allowed inside the main press office but can visit by appointment.
The Defense Department stopped allowing media outlets to have permanent offices in the Pentagon earlier this year.
Journalists now need official escorts when inside the Pentagon complex.
The National Press Club called the restrictions a concerning step that reduces transparency and public oversight.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation criticized the Pentagon’s claim that the press office needed to be classified.
These changes are part of several media access limits introduced since President Donald Trump took office again in 2024.
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Human remains found in New Mexico's Carson National Forest were identified as Melissa Casias, a lab worker who disappeared nearly a year ago. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of death while her case was previously linked to online conspiracy theories about scientists who have died or gone missing.
Key Facts
Melissa Casias worked as an administrative assistant at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
She was reported missing on June 26, after failing to return from visiting her daughter and not showing up for work.
Personal items like her purse, ID, and cell phones were found left behind.
A hiker found her remains on May 28 in an area of the forest that had been searched before.
A handgun was found near the remains.
The cause and manner of her death are still under investigation.
Casias’ disappearance was connected to a conspiracy theory about multiple scientists who died or vanished with ties to US scientific research.
Official investigations, including by the US House Oversight Committee and FBI, looked into these cases amid public and political attention.
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The Northlake Police Department warned about a scam at gas pumps where scammers put screws in the nozzle holder. This trick keeps the pump running and charges your card while a thief fills their tank using your money. Customers should check the nozzle holder for screws and wait until the pump resets before leaving.
Key Facts
Scammers place small screws inside the gas pump nozzle holder to block the lever.
This prevents the pump from turning off and keeps charging the customer’s card.
A thief nearby then uses the pump to fill their own tank while the original customer is charged.
Customers should check the nozzle holder for screws before pumping gas.
Wait until the pump screen resets to zero and asks for a receipt before driving away.
Listen for the nozzle clicking back into place to confirm it is properly shut off.
Avoid accepting help from strangers who offer to hang up the nozzle.
If you see a jammed pump, do not touch it and tell the station attendant immediately.
Victims should contact local police and their bank if unauthorized charges appear.
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A South Carolina jury found store owner Chikei Rick Chow not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton. Chow said he shot the teen to protect his son, while prosecutors said the teen was shot in the back while running away.
Key Facts
The shooting happened in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2023.
Chikei Rick Chow, 61, is the owner of the convenience store and is Asian.
Cyrus Carmack-Belton, the victim, was a 14-year-old Black boy.
Chow said he acted to defend his son, who he claimed was threatened by the teen with a gun.
Prosecutors said the teen had a gun but dropped it during the chase and was not threatening anyone.
The teen was shot in the back while running away from the store.
The incident caused protests and vigils in the community.
Chow had previous encounters where he used a gun against shoplifters but those were ruled self-defense.
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A federal judge ruled that a progressive group in Washington, D.C., can display a flag with the phrase "86 47" during protests. The judge decided that the flag is not a true threat against President Donald Trump and protects the group's right to political speech under the First Amendment.
Key Facts
The phrase "86 47" was also involved in the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.
A progressive group called Accountability NOW USA has been flying the "86 47" flag during protests to call for President Trump’s impeachment.
The Secret Service investigated the phrase as a possible threat against President Trump.
The Department of Justice argued that "86 47" could be seen as a call for violence against the president.
U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss granted a temporary order allowing the group to keep their protest permit despite the flag.
Judge Moss said political speech cannot be censored if it doesn’t clearly threaten violence.
The phrase "86" traditionally means "to get rid of" and does not officially mean "to kill," according to Merriam-Webster.
The flag was displayed during a protest near a courthouse, focusing on political expression rather than a violent threat.
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Newly released messages involving Lord Peter Mandelson and government ministers reveal internal tensions within the Labour Party under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The documents show frustration with Starmer’s leadership and include a minister’s comment about taxing people to pay for welfare benefits.
Key Facts
Lord Mandelson received security briefings and talked with intelligence leaders before his security clearance was complete.
The documents reveal frustration among some key Labour figures about Starmer’s leadership style, described as lacking energy ("verve").
Mandelson promised support to Foreign Secretary David Lammy for a US ambassador position, which did not materialize.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden expressed concern that Labour focuses too much on who can be taxed to pay welfare benefits.
The Labour Party is described by critics as the "welfare party," highlighting tensions over welfare and taxation policies.
Different newspapers focused on various aspects of the documents, from party infighting to leadership doubts.
The story highlights internal disagreements within the current UK government rather than external political issues.
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Second Lady Usha Vance stated that the Supreme Court and federal judges deserve respect amid growing personal attacks and political violence. She also discussed her husband Vice President JD Vance’s political future and shared that President Donald Trump surprised her with his sense of humor.
Key Facts
Usha Vance emphasized the need to treat Supreme Court justices and federal judges with respect.
She previously worked as a clerk for Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Chief Justice Roberts has warned that harsh personal criticism of judges is dangerous and should stop.
Attacks on judges have increased, coinciding with more violent political words from leaders and the public.
President Trump has criticized some judges who ruled against him, calling their decisions politically motivated.
A 2025 Gallup poll showed more Americans believe political parties use too much angry and extreme language.
Usha Vance is focused on childhood literacy and supports using artificial intelligence carefully to help children.
She did not mention President Trump’s recent criticisms of the Supreme Court during the interview.
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President Donald Trump said talks with Iran are ongoing, but Iran denied this. The article also mentions a scandal involving Graham Platner’s wife related to sexting.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump stated that negotiations with Iran are continuing.
Iranian officials said that no talks are happening.
There is a sexting scandal involving the wife of Graham Platner.
The news was presented on CBS News program "The Takeout with Major Garrett."
The report references current political and personal events linked to U.S. figures.
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Rapper Vanilla Ice said he will perform for anyone, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran, at a concert series in Washington, D.C. The event, organized by Freedom 250, has faced controversy as several artists dropped out, citing political connections to President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Vanilla Ice, whose real name is Robert Van Winkle, is scheduled to perform at a July concert on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The concert series is organized by Freedom 250, a group launched during the Trump administration to celebrate America's 250th birthday.
Several artists, including Morris Day, Young MC, Bret Michaels, and Martina McBride, have canceled their performances, partly due to concerns about political ties to President Donald Trump.
Freedom 250 says the event is nonpartisan and aims to unite Americans around the country's 250th anniversary.
Vanilla Ice said he does not get involved in politics and has never voted.
He stated he would perform for anyone, regardless of politics, including Putin, Iranian leaders, or Democratic politicians.
He emphasized that music should be separate from politics and that entertainers should focus on their fans.
The event will run from June 25 to July 10 and will include state pavilions, live shows, and fair attractions.
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The Pentagon has declared its press office a classified area, stopping journalists from entering because speechwriters who work with secret information use that space. This change is part of broader Pentagon efforts to limit press access, which have led to legal fights with major news outlets like The New York Times.
Key Facts
The Pentagon's press office is now a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, a space for handling classified information.
Journalists can no longer enter the press office because speechwriters who deal with classified material share the space.
The Pentagon has been restricting journalists’ ability to gather information since September, requiring them to avoid unauthorized information.
Many experienced Pentagon reporters refused to accept new restrictions and gave up their press passes.
The Pentagon created a new press group of about 60 journalists from far-right outlets in October.
The New York Times has sued the Pentagon twice, challenging press restrictions.
Courts have ruled partly in favor of The New York Times, but some restrictive Pentagon policies remain temporarily.
The Defense Department has not commented publicly beyond social media posts on these changes.
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Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is testifying before a Senate subcommittee about the agency’s budget. The hearing comes amid protests at an ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, over conditions for detainees.
Key Facts
Secretary Markwayne Mullin is presenting the Department of Homeland Security budget to the Senate Subcommittee on Homeland Security.
The hearing started at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
There are ongoing protests outside an ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey.
Protesters are concerned about how detainees are treated inside the facility.
ICE detainees have been reported to die by suicide at a high rate, according to an Associated Press investigation.
Mullin previously acknowledged that ICE has been negatively viewed and admitted morale among staff has dropped.
The hearing is part of Congress’s role to review and approve government spending.
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Rapper Vanilla Ice will perform in the Freedom 250 concert series, held at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Some artists have said they will not join the event, which is organized by Freedom 250, a group started during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
Vanilla Ice is scheduled to perform in the Freedom 250 concert series.
The event is part of the Great American State Fair, a multi-day festival at the National Mall.
Several other artists have chosen not to perform at this event.
Freedom 250 is the organization running the concert series.
The group was launched during President Donald Trump’s administration.
President Trump appointed the CEO of Freedom 250.
Vanilla Ice stated he is willing to perform for any audience.
The event has received media coverage through CBS News and BBC.
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Graham Platner, the expected Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine, is facing criticism for sending sexually explicit text messages to several women after his marriage in 2023. This controversy has recently come to public attention.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is the likely Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine.
He was married in 2023.
After his marriage, Platner sent sexually explicit texts to at least six women.
The texting scandal is a new controversy surrounding his candidacy.
The story was reported by Caitlin Huey-Burns for CBS News.
The issue has raised questions about Platner's personal conduct during the campaign.
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Democrats in Maine are facing a difficult choice in their Senate primary, with Graham Platner as the likely nominee to take on Senator Susan Collins in November. Platner is untested and under media scrutiny for his personal relationships, while former candidate Janet Mills has not ruled out re-entering the race.
Key Facts
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer supported Janet Mills over Graham Platner in Maine's Democratic Senate primary.
The primary is eight days away, and Democrats are uncertain about fully backing Platner amid recent media reports about his relationships with women.
Democratic senators plan to meet with Platner to address concerns and hold fundraisers.
Some Democrats believe Platner can still win and are standing by him.
Janet Mills suspended active campaigning but remains on the ballot and has not officially withdrawn.
Maine law allows a party to replace a nominee if the winner withdraws by July 13, through a party convention, not a new primary.
Progressive Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren support Platner despite controversies, focusing on defeating Susan Collins.
Susan Collins is known for supporting President Donald Trump, which Democrats see as a key issue in the race.
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Former first lady Jill Biden has received criticism for comments she made in a "CBS Sunday Morning" interview and in her new book. CBS News political director Fin Gómez discussed the public reaction to her remarks.
Key Facts
Jill Biden is the former first lady of the United States.
She gave an interview on the TV show "CBS Sunday Morning."
She also released a new book.
Some of her comments in the interview and book have caused controversy.
CBS News political director Fin Gómez spoke about the response to these comments.
The backlash is happening publicly and being covered by news media.
The article focuses on the reactions to Jill Biden’s statements in media appearances.
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Maine Senate Democratic candidate Graham Platner is scheduled to meet with Senate Democrats on Tuesday. The meeting follows recent reports that Platner sent sexually explicit messages to multiple women after his marriage.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine.
He will meet with Senate Democrats on Tuesday.
A campaign official said the meeting has been planned for a long time.
Recent news reported that Platner sent sexually explicit messages to several women after he got married.
The news about these messages became public shortly before the scheduled meeting.
The meeting is connected to his role as a Senate candidate and possibly the new reports about his behavior.
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A former North Carolina police officer was fired and charged after video showed him punching a woman repeatedly during an arrest. The woman, who has mental health issues, was taken into custody and is recovering from injuries.
Key Facts
The officer, Karson Hyder, 22, was fired and charged with assault causing serious injury.
A video showed Hyder punching 34-year-old Cherrie Moore multiple times while arresting her.
Moore was arrested for breaking or entering and resisting an officer; some charges were later dropped.
Moore has bipolar schizophrenia and mentioned not taking her medication during the arrest.
Hyder turned himself in and was released on $10,000 bond; his first court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
Moore’s family and lawyer say she suffered a broken nose and busted lip from the arrest.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is also looking into the case.
There were protests in the community following the release of the video showing the arrest.
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