Washington, D.C. is preparing for the United States' 250th birthday celebration on the National Mall. Officials have declared the event a national special security event, leading to increased security measures in the city.
Key Facts
The celebration marks 250 years since the founding of the United States.
It will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The event is officially classified as a national special security event.
This classification means extra security steps are required to keep people safe.
Washington, D.C. is expecting hot weather during the celebrations.
Homeland security officials are leading the security preparations.
Ambassador Monica Crowley, U.S. chief of protocol, is involved in organizing the event.
CBS News is covering the security and festivities related to the celebration.
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Planned Parenthood will once again receive federal funding starting Saturday, a year after Republicans stopped Medicaid money from going to its clinics. This change happens because the Republican ban on funding has expired.
Key Facts
Planned Parenthood lost federal Medicaid funding about one year ago.
Republicans used a law called the One Big Beautiful Bill to cut funding.
The ban on funding was tied to specific Senate rules.
The funding will restart as the GOP ban ends this Saturday.
Medicaid is a government program that helps pay medical costs for some people.
Planned Parenthood provides health services including reproductive care.
The shift affects many clinics that serve low-income patients.
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Tucker Carlson said in an interview that he wants to help build a new political party in the United States but did not give many details. He also said he does not want to run for office and criticized both major parties for their support of war and finance interests, calling for a party that focuses on the welfare of ordinary Americans.
Key Facts
Tucker Carlson expressed interest in helping create a new political party in the U.S. but gave few details.
He stated he does not want to be a political candidate.
Carlson criticized the Trump administration, especially its approach to the war with Iran.
He claims both Democrats and Republicans are controlled by similar interests, making U.S. politics like a one-party state.
Carlson said the government should prioritize the welfare of American citizens over foreign conflicts.
He recently stopped supporting both major parties and does not plan to back them in upcoming elections.
Carlson has tried to advise President Trump against military action in Iran but has not spoken to him since the war began.
He supports extremely strict immigration limits, citing job loss fears due to automation like AI.
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Shoko Kawata, mayor of a town in western Japan, is set to become the country’s first mayor to take maternity leave, sparking a national debate. Japan currently has no legal rules for elected officials taking time off for childbirth, and reactions from the public have been mixed.
Key Facts
Shoko Kawata is the mayor of Yawata, a town in western Japan near Kyoto.
She plans to take maternity leave for two months before and two months after her baby’s expected birth in mid-September.
There is currently no legal system in Japan that allows local elected officials to officially take maternity leave.
Kawata will temporarily delegate her duties to her deputy while on leave.
Public opinion is divided; some support her decision as a positive step for women in politics, while others say it is irresponsible to step away from public duties.
Kawata argues that criticizing maternity leave for politicians excludes women of childbearing age from public office.
Only about 4% of Japan’s 1,720 municipal leaders are women, highlighting gender imbalance in Japanese politics.
The debate is part of a broader conversation about supporting women in leadership roles and creating better systems for work and family life in Japan.
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Senator Mitch McConnell is still in the hospital and is getting better, according to his spokesperson. He was hospitalized on June 14, the same day emergency medical services responded to a call about an unconscious person at his home, though it has not been confirmed if it was him.
Key Facts
McConnell was hospitalized on June 14 and remains in the hospital as of late June.
Emergency medical responders were called to McConnell’s home for someone unconscious and performing CPR was reported.
The EMS call did not name McConnell, and his team has not confirmed if it was him.
McConnell’s spokesperson said he is recovering and working with his staff while the Senate is not in session.
McConnell is 84 years old and survived childhood polio.
He has had several recent health issues, including a hospital stay in February for flu-like symptoms and a concussion in 2023 after a fall.
He experienced minor injuries in 2024 from another fall.
In May, he appeared in public with a hand bandage during a committee hearing.
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The article shares quotes from America's Founding Fathers during the 1776 struggle against King George III and British rule. It connects these historical views to the celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday.
Key Facts
The content highlights thoughts from 1776 about the American Revolutionary War.
The focus is on the conflict between the American colonies and King George III of Britain.
The occasion is the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Major Garrett, a CBS News correspondent, presents these historical quotes.
The article is linked to CBS News coverage and apps for further viewing.
The Founding Fathers were key leaders who shaped early American ideas about freedom.
Their words reflect the reasons for America’s fight for independence.
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Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, Liz Murrill, was charged with criminal offenses for allegedly threatening local officials who opposed a new law changing the local court system. The law removed the job of a criminal court clerk who was elected after a wrongful conviction, and opponents said the law was meant to block voters’ choice.
Key Facts
Liz Murrill, Louisiana’s Republican attorney general, was indicted on criminal charges by a grand jury in New Orleans.
Murrill warned eight New Orleans officials, including the mayor and district attorney, they could lose their jobs if they opposed a new court-related law.
The law removed the Orleans parish criminal court clerk position after Calvin Duncan, a man wrongly convicted for many years, was elected to that post.
Republican lawmakers passed the law shortly before Duncan was set to take office in May.
Duncan’s supporters say the law is an effort by mostly white conservative legislators to overturn voters’ decisions in a mostly Black Democratic city.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, also a Republican, called the local criminal justice system chaotic and promised to pardon Murrill on all charges as soon as possible.
The Republican Attorneys General Association said Murrill was only giving a legal opinion and warning officials about the law in her job.
Critics say Murrill’s actions aimed to pressure officials into accepting the new law.
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A couple who climbed the Empire State Building appeared in court facing several charges, including reckless endangerment and burglary. A friend of the couple said they did not put anyone in danger during the climb.
Key Facts
The couple climbed the Empire State Building, a famous skyscraper in New York City.
They faced charges of reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, burglary, and base jumping.
They appeared in court on Thursday for these charges.
A close friend, Anna Martinez, spoke to CBS News about the couple.
The friend said the couple did not endanger anyone while climbing the building.
Base jumping is an extreme sport where people jump from fixed objects using a parachute.
The incident attracted media attention and a police response.
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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill was indicted by a grand jury in New Orleans for allegedly trying to intimidate local officials who opposed a new law changing the local court system. The law, supported by Republican lawmakers and Governor Jeff Landry, removed the Orleans Parish criminal court clerk position after a man wrongfully convicted was elected to the post.
Key Facts
Attorney General Liz Murrill faces criminal charges related to intimidation of New Orleans officials.
The officials include Mayor Helena Moreno and District Attorney Jason Williams.
The controversy centers on a law that abolished the Orleans Parish criminal court clerk position.
The law was pushed by Republican legislators and Governor Jeff Landry.
Calvin Duncan, elected to the clerk position, is a man who spent decades in prison for a wrongful conviction.
Governor Landry criticized the indictment and promised to pardon Murrill if convicted.
The Republican Attorneys General Association supported Murrill, saying she was giving a legal warning.
The Assistant Attorney General prosecuting the case said the matter involves preventing intimidation of elected officials.
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Pollstar has published its list of the top 20 global concert tours, ranking artists by the average amount of money they made per city and the average ticket price. BTS leads the list with the highest average box office gross per city, followed by Luke Combs and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band.
Key Facts
BTS earned an average of about $10.7 million per city with an average ticket price of $211.24.
Luke Combs ranked second, averaging about $7.6 million per city with a ticket price of $128.03.
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band ranked third with $4.5 million average per city and the highest average ticket price of $254.90.
The rankings are based on data from concert promoters and venue managers worldwide.
Other artists in the top 5 include Guns N’ Roses and Phish with millions of dollars in average earnings per city.
The list also shows the number of tickets sold per city for each artist.
Ticket prices vary widely, from less than $80 to over $250 on average.
The list is available on Pollstar’s website along with upcoming tour information.
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The FBI is assigning over 200 staff members to investigate the 2020 presidential election in Fulton County, Georgia. This effort focuses on reviewing more than 700 records by mid-July as part of a priority investigation connected to alleged election issues.
Key Facts
The FBI requested 260 analysts and specialists to work on the Georgia 2020 election probe.
The investigation centers on Fulton County, Georgia’s most populous county, including Atlanta.
FBI agents seized hundreds of boxes of ballots and documents in January 2026.
Each assigned staff member is to review about 708 records by July 17, 2026.
The Justice Department described the investigation as addressing “irregularities” in the 2020 election.
Georgia’s 2020 presidential votes were counted three times, including a hand count, confirming Joe Biden’s win.
President Donald Trump and his allies have made claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election.
Fulton County officials declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation.
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An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has caused more than 400 deaths and is still spreading, including a case reported in the large city of Kisangani. The outbreak mainly affects northeastern provinces of the country and has also spread to neighboring Uganda and South Sudan.
Key Facts
Over 400 people have died from Ebola out of 1,406 confirmed cases in the DRC.
The outbreak started in the northeastern Ituri province, where most deaths occurred.
The virus has spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, and reached Kisangani, a city with 1.5 million people.
A 24-year-old pregnant woman in Kisangani tested positive after being secretly moved from Ituri.
The Ebola virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids and is deadly.
No vaccine or specific cure currently exists, but treatments and vaccines are being tested.
Neighbors Uganda and South Sudan have reported cases and deaths linked to the outbreak.
Local distrust towards health workers is making Ebola control efforts difficult in affected areas.
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During a rehearsal for the Freedom 250 Fourth of July event linked to President Donald Trump, part of the stage structure broke and fell onto the performance area, stopping the show and nearly hitting dancers. It is unclear if anyone was hurt, and the event has faced other challenges like extreme heat and criticism.
Key Facts
The Freedom 250 event is planned to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary.
A large piece of the stage collapsed during rehearsal, interrupting performers.
No confirmed reports of injuries have been announced.
The event is connected to President Donald Trump through a nonprofit organizing several related celebrations.
Extreme heat has caused some event cancellations and affected rehearsals.
The multi-day Great American State Fair, part of these celebrations, has seen low attendance and criticism online.
Some U.S. states chose not to take part in the Freedom 250 events.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment on the incident.
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The July 5, 2026, episode of CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" will feature several guests. They include NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, Dr. Debra Houry, NCAA President Charlie Baker, and a joint interview with two Florida members of Congress, Rep. Adriano Espaillat and Rep. Carlos Gimenez.
Key Facts
The show airs on CBS News at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday.
It streams later at 12:30 p.m. ET on Paramount+ and CBSNews.com.
Jared Isaacman is the NASA Administrator.
Dr. Debra Houry was the chief medical officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Charlie Baker is the NCAA President and a former governor of Massachusetts.
Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat and Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez, both from Florida, will appear together.
The show is hosted by Margaret Brennan.
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Victorian MP Moira Deeming has started a legal case against the Victorian Liberal Party president after she accused another party member, Matthew Guy, of assault. Police investigated and did not find any offence, but Deeming has refused to apologize and is set to appear before her party’s executive meeting for a decision on her future.
Key Facts
Moira Deeming is a member of the Victorian Parliament.
She accused fellow Liberal Party member Matthew Guy of putting her in a “headlock” at an event on May 23.
Victoria police investigated the claim and found no offence took place.
Matthew Guy has asked Deeming to publicly apologize.
Deeming says she misunderstood the meaning of “headlock” and won’t apologize.
Deeming has filed a legal suit against Brian Loughnane, Victorian Liberal president, to be heard in the Supreme Court.
The Victorian Liberal Party plans to meet to decide whether Deeming will remain a candidate.
Deeming’s lawyer states her complaint was made honestly and as a last resort.
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Germany's government has approved major changes to taxes, work rules, and pensions to boost the economy and reduce far-right support. The European Union upheld a large fine against Google for unfair practices, and a star wedding in New York is expected to bring big business to the city.
Key Facts
Germany’s ruling coalition agreed on wide-ranging reforms for taxes, labor, and pensions.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz expects the reforms to increase Germany’s economic growth rate from 0.4% to 0.7% per year.
Germany’s growth forecast was recently lowered due to higher energy prices from the US-Israel conflict involving Iran.
The EU Court of Justice confirmed a €4.1 billion fine against Alphabet (Google) for anti-competitive practices linked to Android phone deals.
This ruling marks a final defeat for Google in a long-running EU antitrust case.
A potential wedding between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in New York could generate $20 million, boosting the city’s hospitality industry.
The article mentions other global events but focuses mainly on Germany’s reforms, the Google fine, and the economic impact of the Swift wedding.
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President Donald Trump criticized Italy's leader, Giorgia Meloni, calling her unreliable and seeking his attention. Instead of isolating her, European leaders united to support Meloni, which strengthened their ties amid shared challenges like the war in Ukraine and issues with Russia and China.
Key Facts
President Trump questioned Italy's reliability as a wartime ally.
He accused Giorgia Meloni of seeking his attention in a negative way.
European leaders rallied around Meloni after Trump's comments.
This support softened past tensions related to Meloni's hard-right politics.
European countries are working more closely on defense and trade issues.
Challenges they face include the war in Ukraine, tensions with Iran and Russia, and trade deficits with China.
Trump's preference to deal with European countries one by one is becoming less effective.
The situation is pushing Europe toward more unity in foreign policy and economic matters.
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A man from California pleaded guilty to sending fake ransom messages to the family of Nancy Guthrie, who went missing outside Tucson, Arizona. He faces up to two years in prison or a $250,000 fine, while the FBI continues to investigate other possible ransom demands.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie, 84, went missing on January 31 near Tucson; her phone, medicine, and blood drops were found at her home.
The family received a ransom note with a bitcoin payment request, reported by a local TV station.
Derrick Callella, 42, from Hawthorne, California, sent false ransom texts to Guthrie’s daughter and son-in-law after following the case on TV.
Callella asked about the bitcoin payment but was not connected to the original ransom demand.
Authorities linked Callella’s texts to an email and phone number registered in his name.
The FBI said they are still investigating other ransom demands that might be real.
Callella pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on September 10.
Nancy Guthrie is the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie.
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The Supreme Court recently ruled that President Donald Trump has greater power to fire members of certain federal agencies. Two officials from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), who were fired by President Trump, are challenging their removal and planning to continue their legal fight.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court expanded President Trump's authority to fire officials at some federal agencies.
This change affects independent agencies like the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka, former NCUA members, were fired by President Trump.
Harper and Otsuka say their terminations were unfair and plan to contest them in court.
The NCUA is being compared legally to the Federal Reserve because of similar structures.
The case could set new limits on how much the President can remove officials from independent agencies.
The Supreme Court's decision is creating new legal questions about presidential power.
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A recent poll shows that about 29% of Americans would be willing to vote for a candidate identified as a democratic socialist. Meanwhile, 45% said they would not support such a candidate, and 26% were unsure.
Key Facts
29% of Americans are open to voting for a democratic socialist.
45% of Americans would not vote for a democratic socialist.
26% of people surveyed were undecided or unsure about voting for a democratic socialist.
The poll was conducted by The Economist and YouGov.
The poll reflects current attitudes toward democratic socialist candidates in U.S. elections.
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