President Donald Trump signed an order reducing the number of recommended vaccines for children from 18 to 11 and suggested splitting the MMR vaccine into separate shots. Several of his claims about vaccines, such as the number of shots children receive, the size of vaccine doses, the safety of the MMR vaccine, and a link between vaccines and autism, are misleading or false according to health experts and official sources.
Key Facts
The CDC previously recommended vaccines against 18 diseases for children; the new order cuts this number to 11.
The White House claimed children receive "72 jabs," but this counts all possible doses by age 18, including flu and COVID vaccines, not just for little kids.
The actual size of an MMR vaccine dose is about 0.5 milliliters, much smaller than the size of a soda bottle as President Trump suggested.
The CDC states serious side effects from the MMR vaccine are extremely rare; common risks may include febrile seizures in about 1 in 3,000-4,000 children.
No scientific evidence links vaccines to autism; increases in autism diagnoses are mainly due to better detection and criteria changes.
The World Health Organization confirmed in a large study that vaccines do not cause autism.
The timing of vaccinations overlaps with the age autism is usually diagnosed, which can cause mistaken associations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last inspected a Mexican farm tied to a Cyclospora outbreak in 2019. Since then, the farm has not been checked by American officials, as inspection rates of foreign farms have fallen due to budget and staffing cuts.
Key Facts
The FDA last inspected the Mexican lettuce farm connected to the Cyclospora outbreak in 2019.
Cyclospora is a parasite that causes intestinal illness.
The farm has not been inspected by U.S. regulators for more than seven years.
Inspection rates of foreign farms have dropped by 29% in the past two years.
Food safety advocates say the drop is caused by cuts to budgets and staff.
The reduced inspections have raised concerns about food safety from imported produce.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A report from the March of Dimes says that 5.8 million women in the U.S. live in areas without full maternity care. About one-third of the counties in the country do not have hospitals or full services for pregnancy and childbirth.
Key Facts
5.8 million women live in counties lacking complete maternity care.
One in three U.S. counties is called a “maternity care desert.”
A maternity care desert means there are no hospitals or birth centers with maternity services nearby.
The report was released by the March of Dimes, a health nonprofit.
The March of Dimes was founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Lack of maternity care means pregnant women may not get the care they need close to home.
This issue affects maternal health and access to safe childbirth services.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Pentagon reported that U.S. military actions killed 153 civilians and injured over 240 in Yemen during 2025, mainly from three airstrikes targeting the Houthi militia. These numbers do not include civilian casualties from U.S. airstrikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, which are linked to anti-drug trafficking operations.
Key Facts
In 2025, U.S. military airstrikes in Yemen killed 153 civilians and injured 243.
The strikes were part of Operation Rough Rider targeting the Iran-backed Houthi militia.
The deadliest airstrikes occurred near Sanaa, Ras Isa Port, and Saada in Yemen.
The Pentagon's civilian death count relies on intelligence and reports, without on-site investigations.
U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, aimed at drug traffickers, caused about 120 civilian deaths last year and 95 this year.
Some legal experts question the legality of these boat strikes, as they may violate rules against targeting civilians.
The Pentagon’s office dedicated to reducing civilian harm is facing budget and staffing cuts.
Civilian deaths from U.S. military operations dropped significantly after Afghanistan withdrawal but increased again with the Yemen campaign.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced that the federal government will stop using Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds to pay for gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatments for transgender children and teenagers. This rule will start in October and affects federal funding, but some states continue to protect access to these treatments using state funds.
Key Facts
The new policy ends federal Medicaid and CHIP payments for gender transition surgeries and hormone therapy for people under 19.
The change was announced by President Trump and Dr. Mehmet Oz on social media.
This move is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to limit services and protections for transgender youth.
About 27 states have laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors, mostly in Republican-led areas.
States on the West Coast and Northeast generally protect access to gender-affirming care and some have laws shielding providers and patients.
Although some states protect care, the loss of federal funding may make it harder for low-income families to afford treatments.
Court cases continue over restrictions, with the Supreme Court affirming states’ rights to limit gender-affirming care but not requiring them to do so.
Health officials from the Trump administration say these policies are meant to protect children from what they call unproven or harmful treatments.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new political forecast says the race for Ohio’s Republican Congressman Max Miller is now very close and could go either way. The forecast moved the race toward the Democrats, making it a "toss-up" as Miller seeks reelection.
Key Facts
Max Miller is a Republican Congressman from Ohio.
Miller is currently running for reelection.
Political forecaster Sabato's Crystal Ball updated the race status to "toss-up."
The update means the election could be won by either the Republican or Democratic candidate.
The forecast shifted the race to favor Democrats slightly.
The discussion involved CBS News reporters and editors talking about this change.
The article mentions Miller has faced scandals during his campaign.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Trump used secret methods to change airplanes twice when leaving a NATO meeting in Turkey last month. One of the plane switches involved moving through a catering truck to keep the president’s location hidden for safety reasons.
Key Facts
President Trump attended a NATO summit in Turkey last month.
After the meeting, he changed planes two times.
One plane change was from the main Air Force One to a smaller plane.
The transfer included passing through a catering truck as a secret security step.
These security measures aimed to protect President Trump from threats, including concerns about Iran.
The news was first reported by the Washington Post and confirmed by The News Hour.
The secret use of a catering truck to switch planes was not known before this report.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial focused on her mental health before she killed her three children. A nurse practitioner testified that Clancy showed signs of bipolar disorder but did not have postpartum psychosis, which is a key point in deciding her legal responsibility.
Key Facts
Nurse practitioner Rebecca Jollotta said Clancy showed symptoms of bipolar disorder, such as racing thoughts and insomnia.
Jollotta urged Clancy to increase medication and enter a special hospital program for mothers with mental health issues.
Clancy’s husband rejected the idea that she was bipolar.
Jollotta testified she did not believe Clancy had postpartum psychosis, as Clancy’s thinking seemed clear and she did not report hallucinations.
Prosecutors and the defense disagree on whether Clancy was legally responsible based on her mental state.
The defense might argue that Clancy was in postpartum psychosis when she committed the deaths.
A book titled Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts, recommended to Clancy, was found in her home after the murders.
The trial is now entering the stage with expert witnesses debating Clancy’s mental health condition.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump secretly left the NATO summit in Turkey by using a decoy plan to avoid an Iranian assassination threat. He switched planes in a hidden way and then returned to the main presidential plane after landing in the United Kingdom.
Key Facts
After the NATO summit in Turkey, President Trump used a secret plan involving a decoy plane to protect himself.
Trump hid inside an airport catering container to switch from Air Force One to another smaller government plane.
The decoy plane took off with White House officials, security, and reporters while Trump traveled separately.
In the UK, Trump quietly rejoined the original plane without being noticed.
This method of secret travel is believed to be unusual compared to past presidential trips.
The security measures were in response to a credible threat from Iran.
Trump had arrived in Turkey on a luxury jet gifted by Qatar, which lacked some defense systems found on official jets.
The White House has not confirmed details but did not deny reports about the secret travel arrangements.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Carmine Agnello, grandson of mob boss John Gotti, has started a 15-month prison sentence for fraud after a judge denied further delays for kidney donation surgery to his mother. Although Agnello argued he needed more time to donate a kidney to his ailing mother, the judge found no proof the surgery would happen soon and ordered him to report to prison immediately.
Key Facts
Carmine Agnello is serving a 15-month sentence at Federal Correctional Institution Fairton in New Jersey.
He pleaded guilty in 2024 to wire fraud related to $1.1 million in COVID-19 relief loans obtained under false pretenses.
Agnello aimed to delay prison by saying he would donate a kidney to his mother, Victoria Gotti, who has chronic kidney disease.
U.S. District Judge Nusrat Choudhury denied further delay because there was no concrete evidence of an imminent transplant.
Prosecutors said Victoria Gotti’s infections required treatment before any transplant could happen.
Agnello was a reality TV star on "Growing Up Gotti" during the mid-2000s.
His grandfather, John Gotti, was a notorious New York mob boss who died in prison in 2002.
Agnello’s company had ceased operating before he applied for federal loans, which he allegedly used for other investments.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Voters in six U.S. states held primary elections to choose candidates for House, Senate, and governor races ahead of the November general election. These races could affect which party controls Congress and several key state offices.
Key Facts
Six states held primaries on August 11, 2026, including Alabama, Connecticut, Minnesota, South Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
In Wisconsin, the governor’s race features a contest between Democratic socialists and the Democratic establishment.
South Carolina voters chose a candidate to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham; his sister Darline Graham was appointed temporarily and is running for a full term.
Alabama held delayed primaries in certain districts due to recent changes in voting laws and redistricting after a Supreme Court decision.
Connecticut’s Democratic Governor Ned Lamont faced a primary challenge and will compete against a Republican in November.
Minnesota is selecting candidates to replace retiring Democratic Senator Tina Smith and Governor Tim Walz.
Vermont voters chose candidates in several races, including the Democratic primary for governor, who will face Republican incumbent Phil Scott.
These races are important because they influence the balance of power in Congress and key state leadership roles.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Trump’s administration announced that Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will stop paying for most gender-affirming hormone treatments and surgeries for transgender minors under 19 starting October 13. The policy will still cover mental health care for transgender youth but will gradually end payment for hormone treatments by April 2027.
Key Facts
Medicaid and CHIP will no longer cover gender-affirming surgeries and most hormone treatments for transgender minors under age 19.
The change will start on October 13, 2024.
Mental health treatment for transgender youth will continue to be covered.
Coverage for hormone treatments for those already receiving them will phase out by April 2027.
President Trump directed Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to implement the change.
At least 27 states have banned gender-affirming care for those under 18, and many hospitals have stopped offering these treatments.
Medical groups like the American Medical Association support access to gender-affirming care, while some groups question surgery benefits for minors.
The administration has proposed other policies restricting transgender rights, including bans on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports and limiting passport gender options.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Justice Department issued a memo stating that President Trump can use executive privilege to protect communications with outside advisers, not just government employees. Representative Grace Meng criticized this change during a CBS News interview.
Key Facts
The Justice Department released a memo about executive privilege.
Executive privilege lets the president keep some communications private.
Previously, this privilege mostly applied to government workers.
The new memo extends this privilege to private, outside advisers.
Representative Grace Meng is against this change.
Meng represents New York and is on the House Appropriations Committee.
She shared her views on the CBS News program called "The Takeout."
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Democratic candidate Alani Bankhead will continue her run for the U.S. Senate seat in Montana, aiming to replace retiring Senator Steve Daines. Her decision may affect the race by making it harder for Independent candidate Seth Bodnar to defeat the Republican nominee, Kurt Alme.
Key Facts
Alani Bankhead is running for the U.S. Senate seat from Montana.
The Senate seat is open because Senator Steve Daines is retiring.
Bankhead is an Air Force officer.
She announced she will not drop out of the race.
Seth Bodnar is an Independent candidate in the same race.
Kurt Alme is the Republican nominee for the Senate seat.
Bankhead’s continued campaign could split votes, making it harder for Bodnar to win.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
One year ago, President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in Washington, D.C., and sent thousands of National Guard troops to help. People are still asking how much the mission cost, whether it was allowed by law, and if it helped reduce crime.
Key Facts
President Trump declared a crime emergency in D.C. one year ago.
Thousands of National Guard members were deployed to the streets of the city.
The mission aimed to fight crime in the nation's capital.
Questions remain about the total cost of this deployment.
There are concerns about the legality of sending the National Guard for this purpose.
Experts like Richard Hahn from the Niskanen Center are discussing the mission’s effectiveness.
The debate continues on whether this approach improved public safety.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump issued an order to change the vaccine schedule for children by splitting the combined MMR vaccine into three separate shots. Experts and the pharmaceutical industry quickly criticized the move as unscientific, unnecessary, and potentially harmful to children’s health.
Key Facts
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella and is usually given as two combination shots.
President Trump’s order would split the MMR vaccine into three separate shots, increasing the number of injections children get.
Separate vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella do not currently exist in the US and would require new development and testing by drug companies.
The combined MMR vaccine has been proven safe and effective through decades of use.
The pharmaceutical industry group PhRMA opposed the order, saying it lowers vaccine protection standards and is not based on scientific evidence.
Companies that make MMR vaccines, including Merck and GSK, said there is no scientific proof that separate shots would be better or safer.
Medical and public health organizations warned the order is dangerous and puts children’s health at risk.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s health secretary, who lacks a science or medical background, supports this policy change.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
In July, President Trump avoided a potential threat from Iran while in Turkey by quietly leaving Air Force One and moving into a catering container. This allowed him to board another plane safely, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Key Facts
The event happened in July during President Trump’s trip to Turkey.
Iranian forces had posed a threat to President Trump while he was in Turkey.
To avoid the threat, President Trump left Air Force One secretly.
He moved inside an aviation catering container, which is normally used to hold food and supplies for flights.
This container helped hide him as he was transferred to a different plane.
The Washington Post first reported this information.
CBS News provided further details and analysis on the incident.
A former CIA officer and Marine veteran discussed the security implications of the event.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Primary elections are happening soon in South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. These races will give clues about support for democratic socialist candidates and opinions among voters who support President Trump.
Key Facts
Primaries will take place soon in South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Wisconsin and Minnesota races could show how much support democratic socialists have.
The South Carolina primary may reveal voter attitudes toward President Trump.
South Carolina was one of the first states to strongly support President Trump.
CBS News reporters are covering the events from these three states.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration announced that Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will stop paying for hormone treatments and gender-affirming surgeries for transgender minors starting October 13, 2025. Mental health care for transgender youth will still be covered, but payments for hormone treatments will gradually end by April 2027.
Key Facts
Medicaid and CHIP will no longer cover hormone treatments and surgeries for transgender minors under 19 years old.
The policy starts on October 13, 2025.
Coverage for mental health treatment for transgender minors will continue.
Payments for hormone treatments currently received will stop by April 2027.
At least 27 states have already banned gender-affirming care for minors.
Gender-affirming surgeries for minors are rare; puberty blockers and hormone treatments are more common.
LGBTQ+ advocates and some medical groups oppose the policy and plan to challenge it legally.
The Trump administration has taken other actions restricting transgender rights, including barring transgender athletes from female sports competitions and limiting gender marker options on passports.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s order that aimed to create a national voter list and involve the U.S. Postal Service in limiting mail voting for the 2026 midterm elections. The judge ruled the executive order is unconstitutional because only states and Congress can set election rules, not the president or the Postal Service.
Key Facts
A federal judge in Boston, Indira Talwani, halted President Trump’s executive order on election rules.
The order sought to establish a federal voter list and limit mail-in voting by involving the U.S. Postal Service.
Judge Talwani cited the upcoming November 2026 midterm elections and the need to avoid last-minute election rule changes.
The ruling supports voting rights groups like the League of Women Voters, which challenged the order.
The administration argued that plaintiffs lack legal standing and that the order’s harms are not clear.
The judge said the executive branch cannot regulate elections, a power reserved for states and Congress.
President Trump continues to claim widespread voting by noncitizens and supports laws requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
The SAVE America Act, supported by Trump, passed in the Republican-controlled Congress to mandate proof of citizenship for voting.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
