A group of House Democrats has introduced the Save MEDICARE Act of 2026 to change how Medicare Advantage plans are paid and monitored. The bill aims to stop overpayments to private insurers and strengthen Medicare’s financial health.
Key Facts
The bill is called the Save MEDICARE Act of 2026 (H.R. 9544) and was introduced by Representative Lloyd Doggett from Texas.
Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance options that now cover about half of Medicare beneficiaries.
Lawmakers say Medicare Advantage plans receive billions of dollars in excessive payments, costing taxpayers more than traditional Medicare.
The bill proposes excluding certain diagnosis codes that lead to inflated payments to Medicare Advantage plans.
It wants to speed up audits and increase efforts to recover overpaid money.
The bill would give states more power to enforce Medicare Advantage rules.
It also requires Medicare Advantage and Part D plans to pay the Department of Veterans Affairs for services given to veterans.
The bill may not affect Medicare beneficiaries immediately but aims to save money that could improve Medicare benefits like dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
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New York City fire officials are responding to reports about a building in Manhattan that may collapse. The building, near 235 East 42nd Street, was once Pfizer’s headquarters and is being turned into apartments.
Key Facts
The Fire Department of New York got a call shortly before 8 a.m. about falling bricks near 235 East 42nd Street.
Officials describe the situation as a "major technical rescue response."
The building is located in Manhattan, New York City.
This building used to be the headquarters for Pfizer, a pharmaceutical company.
It is currently being converted into an apartment complex.
New York officials planned a news conference to give updates about the situation.
People were observed looking at the building because of its reported structural problems.
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President Donald Trump has accused the Smithsonian Institution of engaging in extreme political activism. This accusation relates to a disagreement about how American history should be presented.
Key Facts
President Trump is involved in a dispute about telling America's story.
He claims the Smithsonian shows strong political bias.
The issue concerns the way American history is told to the public.
The Smithsonian is a group of museums and research centers in the U.S.
This disagreement reflects wider debates over history and politics in the country.
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Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed a law that changes the country’s constitution to delay elections and extend his time in office. The law removes direct public voting for president and allows lawmakers to choose the president instead, while also lengthening presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years.
Key Facts
President Mnangagwa is 83 years old and has led Zimbabwe since 2017.
The new law postpones the next presidential election from 2028 to 2030.
Direct public voting for president has been removed; now, lawmakers will elect the president.
Both presidential and parliamentary terms have been extended from five years to seven years.
The changes were approved by Parliament in June with support from Mnangagwa’s ruling party and some opposition lawmakers.
Critics argue these changes violate the need for a national referendum to extend presidential terms.
The reforms have caused political tensions, including bans on public meetings and arrests of some critics.
Zimbabwe’s courts are reviewing several legal challenges against the constitutional amendments.
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A high-rise building in Midtown Manhattan undergoing conversion from offices to luxury apartments showed signs of structural damage, including falling bricks and buckled columns, which led to evacuations of nearby buildings, including a school with about 400 children. Officials reported no injuries and closed nearby streets while inspecting the building’s safety.
Key Facts
The building is located at 235 East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan.
It was formerly Pfizer’s global headquarters and dates from the 1970s.
Structural problems included falling bricks and buckling columns on the 21st and 22nd floors.
Floors between the 21st and 26th levels were sagging.
The building is being converted into luxury apartments with over 1,600 units, including adding more than a dozen stories.
Nearby buildings, including a school with about 400 children, were evacuated as a precaution.
No injuries were reported, and all workers inside the building were accounted for.
Streets near the site were closed to vehicles and pedestrians during the inspection.
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The former mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, and the former City Council president, Aaron Banks, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in a bribery case. This happened just before their trial and follows similar guilty pleas by others involved, including the Hinds County District Attorney.
Key Facts
Chokwe Antar Lumumba is the former mayor of Jackson, Mississippi’s capital city.
Aaron Banks is the former president of the Jackson City Council.
Both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy related to a bribery scheme.
Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens also pleaded guilty and resigned last week.
Angelique Lee, former vice president of Jackson City Council, and businessman Sherik Marve Smith had already pleaded guilty.
Owens was accused of accepting at least $115,000 from undercover FBI agents posing as real estate developers.
The bribes, totaling over $80,000, were directed to Lumumba, Banks, and Lee to help approve a development project.
Lumumba, Banks, and Owens face up to five years in prison and have sentencing hearings set for October 15, 2024.
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A former campus police officer testified that he found a spot on a rooftop that looked like a “sniper pad” near where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed. Prosecutors want to use this evidence to try Tyler Robinson for murder.
Key Facts
The testimony came from Christopher Bagley, a former police officer at Utah Valley University.
Bagley said the “sniper pad” was on a rooftop overlooking the place where Charlie Kirk was assassinated.
Charlie Kirk is a conservative activist who was killed.
Tyler Robinson is accused of murder in this case.
Prosecutors are using the rooftop finding to support their case against Robinson.
The hearing is part of deciding whether Robinson will go to trial for murder.
The event happened at Utah Valley University.
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President Trump announced at a NATO meeting in Turkey that the United States will end sanctions against Turkey. These sanctions were put in place after Turkey bought a missile system from Russia.
Key Facts
President Trump made the announcement during the NATO summit held in Turkey.
The U.S. will lift sanctions on Turkey soon.
Sanctions were originally imposed because Turkey purchased a Russian missile defense system.
President Trump described Turkey as very loyal.
The announcement followed a meeting between President Trump and Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The missile system involved is linked to Russia, which caused concerns for the U.S. and NATO.
The news was reported by CBS News correspondent Olivia Gazis.
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President Donald Trump and other NATO leaders are meeting in Turkey for a two-day summit during a time when the U.S. is reducing its traditional security role in Europe. Before the meeting, Trump demanded loyalty from NATO members and criticized several major European countries for not allowing U.S. forces to use their bases for possible actions against Iran.
Key Facts
The NATO summit is taking place in Ankara, Turkey.
The meeting lasts two days and includes leaders from all 32 NATO member countries.
President Trump emphasized loyalty among NATO members ahead of the summit.
Some NATO countries did not allow U.S. forces to use their bases for attacks on Iran.
Trump criticized big European NATO members: Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
The U.S. is stepping back from its usual military role in Europe.
The NATO alliance aims to show strong cooperation on security during the summit.
This year’s summit highlights some tensions and challenges within the NATO group.
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A great white shark was filmed eating a dead humpback whale near Rhode Island, which is a rare sighting in the area. The video was captured by the Atlantic Shark Institute while researchers were studying the whale for scientific samples.
Key Facts
The shark was about 8 feet long and appeared healthy and well-fed.
The whale was a humpback, approximately 40 feet long, and was already dead when found.
The whale carcass was near Block Island before washing ashore on Crescent Beach.
The footage was possibly the first of its kind recorded in Rhode Island waters.
Great white sharks are usually rare in this region unless a whale dies and attracts them.
Another great white shark was recently seen feeding on a whale carcass near Block Island.
Researchers spent hours searching about 50 square miles of ocean before finding the whale.
Samples were taken from the whale to help with scientific research.
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A federal judge decided that President Trump’s pardons for people involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot do not include a man from Virginia. This man is accused of planting a pipe bomb near the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican parties the night before the riot.
Key Facts
President Trump issued mass pardons for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot.
The pardons do not cover a Virginia man charged with planting a pipe bomb.
The pipe bomb was placed near the national headquarters of both major U.S. political parties.
The bomb planting occurred the night before the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
A U.S. District Judge made the ruling about the limits of the pardons.
The case highlights separate legal consequences beyond the pardons granted for January 6-related crimes.
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Two rare tornadoes hit central China's Hubei province, causing severe damage. The storms had winds reaching nearly 150 kilometers per hour and killed at least eight people.
Key Facts
Two tornadoes struck central China in Hubei province.
The tornadoes are considered rare for this region.
Winds reached up to 149 kilometers per hour (92.58 mph).
Buildings were damaged and cars were overturned.
At least eight people died because of the tornadoes.
The information was reported by Chinese state media.
The event happened in early July 2026.
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President Donald Trump said he will remove sanctions on Turkiye and will soon decide whether to resume selling F-35 fighter jets to the country. This announcement was made during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a NATO summit in Ankara.
Key Facts
The US had removed Turkiye from the F-35 program after Turkiye bought Russian S-400 air defense systems in 2019.
The US imposed sanctions on Turkiye under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), including export bans and financial restrictions.
President Trump said the sanctions will be lifted and the sale of F-35 jets will be considered soon.
A 2020 US law requires the president to confirm Turkiye no longer uses the Russian S-400 systems before selling F-35s again.
Turkish President Erdogan said Turkiye hopes for a positive decision on F-35 sales and reminded that Turkiye was promised five jets earlier.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes resuming F-35 sales to Turkiye, saying it would affect military balance in the Middle East and Israel’s security.
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who supports Israel, said he might accept the sale despite possible opposition in Congress.
The announcement comes amid tense relations between Turkiye and Israel over conflicts in the Middle East.
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President Donald Trump is meeting with world leaders at the NATO summit in Turkey. He is having talks with Turkish President Recep Erdoğan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Key Facts
The meeting takes place during the NATO summit in Turkey.
President Trump is attending the summit with other NATO leaders.
Turkish President Recep Erdoğan is one of the leaders meeting with President Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also meeting with President Trump.
The summit focuses on discussions important to NATO members.
CBS News reporters are providing coverage and analysis of the meetings.
The meetings involve political agendas, as noted by commentators.
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A recent poll shows that President Donald Trump's popularity has improved slightly in early July, mainly due to more support from independent voters and Republicans. Although his overall approval is still negative, these changes could affect the 2026 midterm elections, where small shifts in voter opinion are important.
Key Facts
President Trump’s favorability rose from 37% in June to 40% in July.
His net favorability improved from minus 16 points to minus 12 points.
The poll was conducted by I&I/TIPP, known for accurate predictions in past elections.
Support among Republicans increased to 76% favorability from 72%.
Independent voters’ favorability for Trump rose from 25% to 29%.
Democratic favorability for Trump fell from 13% to 12%, with 83% unfavorable.
The poll surveyed 1,473 adults from June 29 to July 2, with a 2.8% margin of error.
Slight changes among independents could influence control of the U.S. Congress in the 2026 midterms.
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Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a Palestinian doctor from Gaza, has been held by Israeli authorities for over 18 months without charges. His lawyer says Abu Safiya was severely beaten and is in poor health, while Israeli officials deny these claims. The Israeli Supreme Court is reviewing a petition for his release and that of other detained Palestinian doctors.
Key Facts
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya was the director of Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza.
He was detained by Israeli forces in December 2024 when the hospital was evacuated.
Abu Safiya has been held without charge under Israeli law that allows detention of suspects indefinitely.
His lawyer reported that Abu Safiya was badly beaten by prison guards and is in a very poor physical and mental state.
Israeli prison authorities deny the claims of abuse.
The Israeli Supreme Court is set to respond to a petition demanding the release of Abu Safiya and other Palestinian doctors.
The Israel Defense Forces accused him of involvement with Hamas and holding a rank in their health department.
International groups and colleagues deny he cooperated with Hamas and have called for protection of medical workers in Gaza.
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French President Emmanuel Macron visited Damascus to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The visit focused on how Syria can rebuild its economy and infrastructure after years of war, relying mainly on support from Europe and Turkey.
Key Facts
Emmanuel Macron is the first Western European leader to visit Syria's capital, Damascus, in this era.
The meeting was with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Syria’s reconstruction and economic strategy will depend on help from Europe and Turkey.
Syria has faced years of war that severely damaged its economy and infrastructure.
Macron expressed strong support for improving relations and repairing ties with Syria.
Syria aims to attract investors to help rebuild the country.
Security challenges in Syria remain a significant obstacle to economic recovery and investment.
The visit also came amid security concerns, highlighted by several recent explosions in Damascus.
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The Christians United for Israel (CUFI) group held its annual conference in Washington, promoting strong support for Israel based on religious beliefs. Some Christians disagree with CUFI's view, arguing that supporting Israel should not mean ignoring moral questions about its government’s actions, especially regarding Palestinians. Recent surveys show growing numbers of American Christians have a less favorable view of Israel.
Key Facts
CUFI is a major Christian group in the U.S. that supports Israel based on a religious belief called Christian Zionism.
CUFI’s view links support for Israel to faithfulness to God, making criticism of Israel a religious issue for its members.
Many Christians do not agree with CUFI and believe that loving Jewish people does not mean uncritically supporting the Israeli government.
The modern state of Israel is different from biblical Israel and should be judged like any government.
Christian Zionist theology uses biblical promises to Abraham to justify political support for Israel.
The article’s author is a Palestinian-American Christian who criticizes CUFI’s approach as politically and theologically wrong.
A recent Pew Research survey found that 60% of American adults have an unfavorable view of Israel.
Among Christians in the survey, nearly half of Protestants and a majority of Catholics had negative views of Israel, and support among white evangelicals is declining.
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Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is pausing his campaign after being accused of sexual assault by an ex-girlfriend. The accuser claims that in late 2021, Platner entered her home intoxicated despite her clear refusal.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine as a Democrat.
He has been accused of sexual assault by his ex-girlfriend, Jenny Racicot.
The alleged incident happened in late 2021.
Racicot said Platner was blackout drunk when he entered her home.
She had sent him a message telling him not to come over.
Following the accusation, Platner is taking a break from his campaign.
The situation may lead Platner to drop out of the race.
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"The Blood of Dawnwalker" is a new vampire-themed video game developed by Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who previously worked on "The Witcher 3." The game features a unique day-night cycle where the main character, Coen, is human by day and a vampire by night and offers different gameplay experiences for each player.
Key Facts
Rebel Wolves is the developer of "The Blood of Dawnwalker," founded by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, former director of "The Witcher 3."
The game was first shown in 2025 under the name "Dawnwalker."
It takes place over 30 days and nights, with quests having set times to complete.
During the day, the protagonist Coen has no powers; at night, he battles his vampire nature.
The story involves a vampire demanding blood from the village families each night.
Gameplay changes based on player choices, leading to different outcomes and experiences.
The game was previewed in a six-hour hands-on session at a cathedral in Los Angeles.
Unexpected gameplay moments can occur, such as defeating a strong vampire enemy that seemed unbeatable.
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