The House Ethics Committee found that Representative Chuck Edwards behaved inappropriately toward two young female aides by giving gifts, making personal comments, and inviting them to private events. The committee recommended that the House officially censure him, which means formally expressing strong disapproval, but Edwards denied any sexual intent and has not admitted harm caused.
Key Facts
Rep. Chuck Edwards is a Republican from North Carolina.
The Ethics Committee found his behavior toward two female aides was unprofessional and made them uncomfortable.
Edwards gave the aides expensive gifts repeatedly and made comments about their looks and clothes.
He invited them to dinners and vacations and sent notes showing affection.
There was no proof he made direct sexual proposals or had sexual contact with the aides.
The aides felt unable to fully reject his behavior because he was their boss and a Congressman.
Edwards admitted some actions might seem inappropriate but denies any harmful intent.
The full House must vote before Edwards can be officially censured, and that vote will happen in a few weeks.
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More than 20 states and the District of Columbia have sued the Trump administration to stop it from accessing personal information of millions of low-income families who receive aid through a federal program. The lawsuit challenges a new rule that would allow the government to share data like immigration status and Social Security numbers with other agencies or private groups.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington by a group of over 20 states and D.C.
The legal action targets a rule about the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
TANF provides over $16 billion annually to states and tribal governments to support low-income families.
The new rule would allow sharing sensitive recipient information, including immigration status and Social Security numbers.
States and D.C. want to stop the Trump administration from implementing this rule.
New York Attorney General Letitia James criticized the administration for using poverty programs against the people they serve.
Earlier, a judge blocked the federal government from withholding federal aid from some states over concerns about benefits given to undocumented immigrants.
States involved include California, Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington, and others; Kentucky and Pennsylvania governors also joined the suit.
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President Donald Trump said new talks between the U.S. and Iran will be the last chance to reach a deal. He expects talks to start soon to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and work toward Iran ending its nuclear program.
Key Facts
President Trump called the upcoming talks with Iran a "last chance" to make a deal.
The talks aim to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route.
The U.S. wants Iran to address concerns about its nuclear program.
President Trump said the process will happen in phases: first reopening the strait, then denuclearization.
He expects negotiations to start within the next day or two.
President Trump spoke about this during remarks in the Oval Office.
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Europe is experiencing a record-breaking hot and dry summer, causing large wildfires in Greece and France and the driest July in nearly 200 years in the UK. Firefighters are battling fires near Athens and Bordeaux, while drought conditions affect Wales and England.
Key Facts
Wildfires are burning west of Athens, Greece, with more than 1,000 people evacuated.
A helicopter crash fighting the fires killed two crew members and injured two others.
Firefighters in France are working to control a large wildfire near Bordeaux covering an area four times the size of Paris.
July was the driest month recorded in England and Wales in almost 200 years.
Over half of England and all of Wales are officially in drought.
The wildfires in Greece began partly due to a faulty power line from a wind farm, leading to arrests for negligent arson.
Europe is warming at more than twice the global average, increasing the risk of wildfires and drought.
Strong winds have worsened the fires in southern Greece, damaging homes and farms and closing highways.
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Spain plans to build a 1,600-foot fence around its area called Ceuta after thousands of migrants tried to cross the border from Morocco. This action follows a recent surge in people rushing into Ceuta, which caused deadly incidents.
Key Facts
Spain will build a fence 1,600 feet long around Ceuta.
Ceuta is a Spanish enclave located on the north coast of Africa, bordering Morocco.
Thousands of migrants tried to enter Ceuta from Morocco last week.
The border rush led to deaths and serious safety concerns.
The fence aims to control and contain border crossings.
Ceuta is an important entry point for migrants aiming to reach Europe.
The move is a response to pressure related to border security and migration issues in the region.
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Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, talked about his supporters and ideas for the Democratic Party. He discussed how he feels about being called a socialist and who he believes should be part of the Democratic Party.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.
He spoke with CBS News reporter Ed O'Keefe.
The conversation focused on El-Sayed's supporters and his political views.
El-Sayed addressed the label "socialist" in relation to his campaign.
He shared his thoughts on the future direction of the Democratic Party.
His primary opponent is Representative Haley Stevens.
The primary race is nearing its end.
The interview is available on the CBS News app and website.
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Greek police are investigating why a 26-year-old Afghan man, Sharif Ahmadzai, allegedly killed Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a 38-year-old Scottish charity worker, whose body was found inside a suitcase in Athens. Ahmadzai has admitted to hiding Ross’s body and using her credit cards but denies killing her. Authorities are focusing on events before her death and expect more test results to clarify the cause.
Key Facts
Elisabeth-Jane Ross was found dead inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens in July.
Sharif Ahmadzai, a 26-year-old Afghan man, was charged with intentional homicide after three days of questioning.
Ahmadzai confessed to moving Ross’s body and using her credit cards but denies killing her.
Police have CCTV footage showing Ahmadzai moving the suitcase on the night of July 16.
Ross was last known to have made a phone call on July 15, three days before her body was discovered.
Forensic tests suggest Ross was likely asphyxiated, but the autopsy was inconclusive due to body decay.
Ahmadzai is a former child refugee to Greece and a lightweight professional boxer and is married to a US citizen, Alaina Hall, who helped with the investigation.
Police are investigating possible motives, including theft, confrontation, or rejected advances.
Ross’s phone was used after her death to send misleading messages to delay the missing person report.
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A man detained at the Adelanto ICE immigration center in California showed a video of a water bottle containing worm-like creatures, claiming the water given to detainees is contaminated. The video comes amid a lawsuit about poor conditions at the facility, including lack of clean drinking water, and a judge's order for 24-hour access to safe water.
Key Facts
Carlitos Ricardo Parias, a detainee in Adelanto ICE facility, recorded a video showing a water bottle with worm-like creatures.
Parias shared the video via video call with his attorneys and said the bottle contained the water given to detainees to drink.
The Department of Homeland Security said the facility uses city water from Adelanto, the same as local residents and businesses.
The private company Geo Group runs the Adelanto ICE facility but did not respond to questions about the video.
A federal judge ordered ICE to make clean, drinkable water available 24 hours a day after a class-action lawsuit claimed dangerous conditions.
Lawyers said detainees have complained for years about poor water quality and unsafe conditions at the center.
Parias is also a TikTok creator who was shot by an ICE agent and is now facing removal from the U.S.
Advocacy groups are investigating if ICE is following the judge’s order after the new video surfaced.
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Republican Representative Max Miller is staying in the race for reelection despite domestic abuse allegations made by Emily Moreno, his former stepdaughter. Ohio Republicans have a deadline on Wednesday to replace him as the nominee if he chooses to withdraw, but Miller continues to deny the claims and plans to remain on the ballot.
Key Facts
Max Miller faces domestic abuse allegations made by Emily Moreno, who is the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno, Miller's former father-in-law.
Miller denies all abuse claims and says the accusations are false and politically motivated.
Miller plans to stay in the race and aims to win reelection in November.
Ohio law sets a Wednesday deadline for the Republican Party to replace their congressional nominee if the current candidate withdraws.
If Miller stays beyond the deadline, the GOP cannot replace him on the general election ballot.
Child Protective Services investigated allegations involving Miller and his daughter but closed inquiries as unsubstantiated.
A court-appointed parenting coordinator testified that they were not convinced Miller abused his ex-wife or daughter.
Miller described some abuse claims, such as boiling water and gun threats, as exaggerated or false.
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President Donald Trump stated that Iran has its last opportunity to agree on a peace deal with the United States. He said that if Iran does not cooperate, the U.S. could take severe action against it.
Key Facts
President Trump gave a warning to Iran about a final chance for peace talks.
He described the recent discussions with Iran as simple and expected to conclude quickly.
Trump used the term "decapitation" to refer to possible strict U.S. measures if talks fail.
The comments were made from the Oval Office, the President’s official workplace.
This message signals a strong U.S. stance toward Iran’s willingness to negotiate.
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Capital One closed hundreds of bank accounts linked to President Donald Trump and his businesses in 2021 after a long review by its anti-money laundering team. The bank says the closures were not political but were made to follow laws against money laundering. President Trump and his family say the closures were politically motivated and have sued the bank.
Key Facts
Capital One closed approximately 385 bank accounts tied to President Trump and his businesses in 2021.
The bank's decision followed months of anti-money laundering analysis and review.
Capital One states the closures complied with bank rules and government regulations.
President Trump’s family alleges the bank closed the accounts for political reasons following the January 6 Capitol attack.
The Trump family filed a lawsuit claiming the account closures were unfair and politically motivated.
Capital One granted several extensions to give Trump’s businesses time to find other banking options.
Capital One never publicly disclosed the reasons or the process behind closing the accounts until the court filing.
President Trump has also sued JPMorgan Chase over similar "debanking" allegations; that case is still pending.
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Todd Blanche, nominated to be attorney general, agreed to cancel a $1.8 billion fund meant to compensate President Trump’s political allies, which helped gain Republican support for his confirmation. However, a special deal that protects President Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization from certain tax audits remains in place, though it only covers past tax filings, not future ones.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche is nominated to be the U.S. attorney general and faced opposition from some Republicans.
Blanche withdrew a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund that was part of a tax dispute settlement.
A tax audit immunity deal protects President Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Jr., and the Trump Organization from audits related to past tax years.
This immunity does not apply to President Trump’s future tax filings.
The audit immunity was part of a settlement over Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS.
The deal has caused bipartisan concern about fairness in the tax system.
Legal experts question the lawfulness of the tax immunity agreement.
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams ruled that Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS was filed for an improper purpose.
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A Board of Peace official met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss a new deal to disarm weapons in Gaza and move towards civilian rule. The official also urged Israel to stop military strikes in Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement announced by President Donald Trump last year.
Key Facts
Nikolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace representative for Gaza, met with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Monday.
They discussed a plan to completely remove weapons in the Gaza Strip and end military rule there.
Mladenov urged Israel to halt airstrikes in Gaza during the meeting.
The disarmament deal is part of a ceasefire deal reached last year, announced by President Donald Trump.
The ceasefire calls for Israel and Hamas to stop military actions against each other.
Since the ceasefire, Israel has killed more than 1,250 people in Gaza, and the war has caused tens of thousands of deaths.
President Trump’s ceasefire plan includes 20 points to end Hamas rule and rebuild Gaza after war.
No airstrikes were carried out in Gaza on Monday following the official’s meeting.
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A political group in Texas called Somos Votantes is spending $6 million to encourage Latino voters to support Democratic candidates in key congressional districts. This effort includes voter education and advertising aimed at districts where Latino voters shifted toward President Trump in 2024. Winning back these voters is important for Democrats to gain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Key Facts
Somos Votantes is spending $2 million on voter education and registration efforts across Texas.
Its affiliated political group, Somos PAC, is launching a $4 million ad campaign targeting three South Texas congressional districts.
These districts are where President Trump won by large margins in the 2024 election.
Texas Republicans recently redrew district boundaries to favor their party, hoping to win up to five Democratic seats.
Latino voters have historically supported Democrats but shifted more toward Trump in 2024.
President Trump’s approval rating among Hispanics dropped from 41% to 29% since his second term began.
The Latino vote will be crucial for Democrats’ chances in the November midterm elections.
Somos PAC is focusing on harder-to-win districts rather than the most heavily targeted battlegrounds.
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President Donald Trump’s media company, Trump Media, is selling a special feed called Truth API that gives financial firms fast, automatic access to posts from his social media platform, Truth Social. These firms pay for this service to get timely and reliable information that could help them make quick trading decisions based on the President’s posts.
Key Facts
Trump Media offers a paid data feed called Truth API with real-time posts from Truth Social.
Financial companies use this feed to get automatic, machine-readable access to Trump’s posts.
The feed includes exact timestamps, records of edits, deletions, and consistent delivery.
Subscribers use the posts to make faster investment decisions in the stock market.
The service creates contracts, which require clear and reliable information delivery.
This system might encourage Trump Media to maintain order and consistency in the posts.
Experts suggest financial incentives may influence how posts are written or presented.
The technology aims to turn Trump’s social media messages into a valuable data product.
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President Donald Trump answered questions from reporters about the situation with Iran and the renovation of the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. This took place during a news event where CBS News reporters shared their main observations.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke with reporters on Monday.
Topics included the ongoing situation with Iran.
He also addressed the renovation of the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.
CBS News reporters Lindsey Reiser and Natalie Brand provided commentary after the event.
The event was covered and available through CBS News platforms.
The Oval Office was the location for the questions session.
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President Donald Trump criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dropping charges against Olympian David Hearn in a vandalism case related to the Reflecting Pool. Trump blamed the judge for being unfriendly and said this caused Pirro to back down.
Key Facts
David Hearn, a U.S. Olympian, faced charges in a vandalism case involving the Reflecting Pool.
Jeanine Pirro was the U.S. Attorney handling the case.
Pirro decided to drop the charges against Hearn.
President Trump said Pirro “choked” or failed to continue the case.
Trump blamed the judge for being very unfriendly toward Pirro.
Trump described the judge’s behavior as “vicious.”
Trump shared these comments with reporters publicly.
The case involved alleged damage to the Reflecting Pool, a notable landmark.
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The House Ethics Committee has suggested that Representative Chuck Edwards from North Carolina should be formally reprimanded by the full House. The committee found that Edwards acted in ways that broke the informal understanding of the rules against sexual harassment and unwanted advances.
Key Facts
The recommendation for censure came from the House Ethics Committee.
Rep. Chuck Edwards is a Republican from North Carolina.
Edwards is married.
The committee said Edwards engaged in "highly unprofessional" behavior.
His actions involved two other members of the House.
The report focused on violations related to sexual harassment rules.
The full House will decide if they approve the censure.
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A new poll shows former Representative Mike Rogers, a Republican from Michigan, leading Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed but trailing behind Representative Haley Stevens in the race for U.S. Senate. The seat is currently held by Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat.
Key Facts
Mike Rogers is a former Republican Representative from Michigan.
He is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat.
A recent EPIC-MRA poll shows Rogers ahead of Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate.
Rogers is behind Haley Stevens, another Democratic Representative from Michigan, in the poll.
44 percent of those surveyed said they would vote for Stevens or might consider voting for her.
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Several states led by Democrats have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. They are worried that the government will give immigration officials access to personal information about people getting Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a cash aid program for low-income families.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed by states with Democratic leadership.
The issue is about sharing data from the TANF program.
TANF provides cash help to families who need financial support.
The states say giving this data to immigration authorities breaks federal privacy laws.
The Trump administration supports sharing the data and defends its actions.
This case is one of several legal fights over government data privacy with the Trump administration.
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