Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine, has been released by Russia after being held for over four years on charges related to assaults in prison. He is now in a U.S. military hospital in Texas for medical and psychological care.
Key Facts
Robert Gilman, age 32, was detained in Russia in 2022.
He was initially sentenced to 3.5 years for beating a police officer.
His sentence increased to over 10 years after further convictions for assaulting prison staff.
Gilman suffered severe abuse in prison, leading to a serious health decline.
He spent 47 days in a "dissociative stupor" before transfer to a hospital in Russia.
His health was described as life-threatening, prompting U.S. government intervention.
Russia released Gilman on humanitarian grounds.
Gilman’s family traveled to Texas to support him during his recovery.
U.S. Senator Edward Markey advocated for his release.
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Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director at the National Institutes of Health, said Americans began doubting public health experts because of how the U.S. government managed the COVID-19 pandemic under both President Trump and President Biden. Dr. Céline Gounder offered a response to these comments on CBS News.
Key Facts
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is the director of the National Institutes of Health.
He said skepticism about public health experts in the U.S. grew during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic response by both President Trump’s and President Biden’s administrations was criticized.
This criticism contributed to public doubt about health experts.
Dr. Céline Gounder provided a reply to Bhattacharya’s statements on CBS News.
The discussion took place in a CBS News broadcast segment.
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President Donald Trump secretly changed planes in Turkey last month due to a credible threat against Air Force One. More details about this secret plane switch are now being shared by CBS News.
Key Facts
President Trump faced a credible threat against his official plane, Air Force One, while in Turkey.
As a result, he switched to a different plane secretly.
The switch happened last month during his trip to Turkey.
CBS News reporter Aaron Navarro provided the new information.
This event was not initially made public.
The secret plane switch was part of security measures to protect the president.
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Primary elections are happening in six states, including Wisconsin and Minnesota. South Carolina is also holding a special election to choose a new senator to replace Lindsey Graham.
Key Facts
Six states are holding primary elections on the same day.
Wisconsin and Minnesota are two of those states with primaries.
South Carolina has a special election to replace Senator Lindsey Graham.
The elections are part of the process to select candidates for upcoming general elections.
Primary elections allow party members to choose their nominees.
Lindsey Graham’s seat in the Senate is becoming vacant, prompting the special vote.
These elections can impact the political balance in Congress.
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The FDA inspected fewer than 1,000 foreign food facilities in 2025, far below the nearly 20,000 inspections required by law to ensure food safety. The farm in Mexico linked to the U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak was not inspected for several years before the outbreak. The FDA has struggled to meet inspection goals due to limited budgets and staff cuts during President Donald Trump’s second term.
Key Facts
A law requires the FDA to inspect nearly 20,000 foreign food facilities annually, but the agency has not met even 10% of that goal in 10 years.
The FDA conducted about 1,000 foreign inspections in 2025, which is 29% fewer than the year before.
Budget constraints and layoffs during President Trump’s second term contributed to reduced inspection resources.
The FDA last inspected the Mexican farm linked to the outbreak, Taylor Farms de Mexico, seven years ago.
About one-third of FDA inspections find some kind of violation at foreign food facilities.
Only about 4.5% of the 47,000 foreign food producers shipping to the U.S. have been inspected since 2023.
The FDA uses a risk-based system to decide which facilities to inspect, focusing on companies' shipment size, prior inspections, and import history.
The FDA is working to increase staffing at foreign offices but has not asked Congress to change the current inspection targets.
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A whistleblower at the University of Cambridge won a legal case after reporting bullying against female staff in the Institute of Astronomy. The tribunal found that the university treated the whistleblower unfairly by launching a long and unsupported investigation against him.
Key Facts
Professor Wyn Evans reported bullying and misogyny against female staff in the Institute of Astronomy.
The tribunal found the university’s investigation into Evans was lengthy, baseless, and done in retaliation.
The university ignored Evans’s complaints under its whistleblowing policy.
The tribunal upheld 11 out of 14 claims that the university acted improperly.
Senior university leaders relied heavily on staff-prepared reports and correspondence, sometimes called “ghostwriting.”
The university’s vice-chancellor was found not fully involved in drafting responses and evidence presented.
This case raises concerns about how the university handles complaints of bullying and harassment.
The situation comes amid other controversies at Cambridge involving academic appointments and misconduct.
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A mother in Chicago noticed her baby was not developing as expected and eventually got a diagnosis of a rare genetic condition called STXBP1. This condition affects brain function and causes seizures and developmental delays. The mother encourages other parents to trust their instincts and seek help if they feel something is wrong.
Key Facts
Laura Johnson from Chicago noticed her baby Mila had developmental delays starting at 5 months old.
Mila lost skills she once had, like rolling over and holding objects.
Mila began having infantile spasms before her first birthday.
An EEG test showed Mila’s brain was having seizures almost all the time.
Genetic testing diagnosed Mila with STXBP1, a rare neurological disorder affecting 1 in 26,000 to 30,000 births.
STXBP1 causes developmental delays, seizures, movement and communication difficulties, with no current cure.
Treatment includes antiseizure medicine and therapies for physical, speech, and feeding challenges.
Laura shares Mila’s progress on social media and urges parents to trust their instincts and ask for more medical opinions if concerned.
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A year after President Donald Trump sent the National Guard to Washington, DC, residents and officials have mixed views on whether the deployment has improved safety. Some people feel safer with the soldiers around, while others and local leaders say the Guard should not be used for local policing and question the legality of the deployment.
Key Facts
President Trump sent thousands of National Guard troops to Washington, DC, in August 2025 due to a declared crime emergency.
The deployment was part of the Safe and Beautiful Task Force.
Some DC residents and groups protested the military presence, calling it a "hostile military occupation."
DC Attorney General sued the Trump administration, saying the Guard’s use violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits military involvement in local law enforcement.
A judge ordered the deployment to end in November 2025, but the decision was paused while the legal case continues.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized using the Guard for local police work.
Supporters say the Guard helped keep peace, but studies show little impact on reducing violent crime.
The Guard mainly patrolled busy tourist areas, not all neighborhoods with high crime.
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Australia’s Coalition parties will support One Nation’s new law to stop Australians linked to terrorist groups abroad from returning to the country. The bill aims to make it easier to cancel passports and create new penalties for helping returnees with terrorist ties.
Key Facts
The Coalition, including opposition leaders Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan, backs Pauline Hanson’s One Nation bill on foreign terrorist fighters.
The bill would allow Australian passports to be cancelled more easily for people with terrorist links.
It also proposes new penalties for anyone helping these people return to Australia.
The bill would create a "foreign terrorist fighter exclusion order" system enforced by federal courts at the home affairs minister’s request.
The Albanese government has used existing exclusion orders but cannot permanently block citizens from returning.
Labor is unlikely to help the bill move forward in the House of Representatives due to legal concerns.
One Nation’s plan reflects ongoing debates about balancing national security and legal rights for citizens.
The Coalition wants to work with One Nation and legal experts to refine the bill before Senate debate.
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Three Republican Senators—Thom Tillis, John Cornyn, and Bill Cassidy—approved Todd Blanche as attorney general. Critics say Blanche is not qualified and has previously acted against President Donald Trump’s interests.
Key Facts
Senators Thom Tillis, John Cornyn, and Bill Cassidy are Republicans.
They voted to confirm Todd Blanche as attorney general.
Todd Blanche is accused of lacking the necessary qualifications for this role.
Blanche has a history of actions that went against President Donald Trump.
The decision has received criticism because of these concerns.
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Human Rights Watch and other groups sued President Donald Trump’s administration to stop its actions against the International Criminal Court (ICC). They argue that U.S. sanctions on ICC officials and organizations hurt efforts to hold people accountable for serious crimes worldwide.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed in New York and challenges Trump’s executive order targeting the ICC.
The ICC is a global court that prosecutes crimes like war crimes and human rights abuses.
The U.S. sanctioned ICC officials, including former chief prosecutor Karim Khan, and some Palestinian groups.
Sanctions came after the ICC issued warrants for Israeli officials and investigated U.S. actions in Afghanistan.
The lawsuit claims the sanctions violate U.S. constitutional rights and religious freedom laws.
The U.S. plans to pressure countries to leave the ICC and restrict travel for ICC staff.
Some countries, including Venezuela, responded by deciding to withdraw from the ICC.
The ICC faces criticism and pressure from over 120 member countries, complicating its work.
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Democratic strategist James Carville supports Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, despite criticizing some of El-Sayed’s views. Carville said El-Sayed is preferable to the Republican opponent, whom he called a “clown.”
Key Facts
James Carville is a well-known Democratic political strategist.
Carville is backing Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
Carville disagrees with El-Sayed’s claim that Democrats are as problematic as Republicans.
Carville prefers El-Sayed over the Republican candidate in the race.
He described the Republican candidate as a “clown,” showing strong disapproval.
The endorsement highlights internal political differences within the Democratic Party.
The Senate race is taking place in Michigan, an important state for elections.
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Alabama voters are choosing nominees for U.S. House seats under a new congressional map that removes one of the state’s two majority-Black districts represented by Democrats. The primaries were delayed in some districts after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling led Southern Republican-controlled states, including Alabama, to redraw their voting maps as part of a party effort to keep control of the House.
Key Facts
Alabama has seven congressional districts for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Four districts are holding primaries under a new map that changes district boundaries.
The new map eliminates one of Alabama’s two majority-Black districts, which had Democratic representatives.
Primaries for the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th districts were postponed from May 19 to a later date.
The postponement followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision affecting Alabama’s congressional map.
Southern Republican-led states, including Alabama, redrew voting maps after the court ruling.
This redistricting is part of a Republican strategy led by President Donald Trump to keep their narrow U.S. House majority in the 2026 elections.
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Four major US human rights groups have sued the Trump administration over sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC). The lawsuit says these sanctions block efforts to investigate war crimes, violate free speech rights, and harm victims and advocates working with the ICC.
Key Facts
The lawsuit challenges a February 2025 executive order that imposed sanctions on ICC judges, officials, and others involved in investigating Israeli actions in Palestine.
The ICC is conducting 18 investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity globally.
The US government is not a member of the ICC and has long opposed its work, increasing pressure after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders in November 2024.
Sanctions include freezing bank accounts, travel bans, and blocking access to digital services for targeted individuals and groups.
The sanctions have also hindered non-targeted human rights organizations from supporting ICC cases or collaborating with sanctioned Palestinian groups.
The Trump administration’s campaign includes efforts to make countries leave the ICC through diplomatic pressure.
Plaintiffs say the sanctions violate US constitutional rights to free speech and association, and harm victims seeking justice.
Affected Palestinian group Al Haq reported serious financial difficulties and inability to pay staff due to the sanctions.
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A police officer in Arkansas was recorded tackling and punching an 18-year-old woman during a traffic stop. Civil rights advocates are calling for an investigation into the officer’s use of force.
Key Facts
The incident happened on August 1 near Manila, Arkansas, during a traffic stop for speeding and other violations.
The woman, Alisa Hackett, was driving 71 mph in a 60-mph zone with hazard lights on.
Officer Moisses Arellano punched Hackett in the head after she resisted arrest.
Arellano said he used one closed-fist strike to get Hackett to comply with commands.
Hackett was charged with several offenses including possession of alcohol by a minor and refusal to submit to arrest.
Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump demanded a public investigation and release of the officer's past use-of-force records.
A civil rights lawsuit was filed accusing Arellano of excessive force.
Hackett has changed her legal representation after initially filing the lawsuit.
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The Justice Department issued a memo saying President Donald Trump can use executive privilege to protect communications with private advisers, not just White House staff. This could allow the president to keep more information private during congressional investigations.
Key Facts
The memo comes from the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel.
It expands executive privilege to include conversations with private, non-government advisers.
Executive privilege lets the president keep certain communications secret from Congress.
This change could increase the number of people whose talks with the president are protected.
The memo was released on a Monday (specific date not given).
It affects how Congress can investigate the president and his team.
The opinion is about legal interpretation, not a new law passed by Congress.
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President Donald Trump criticized the Center for American Progress after the group released a report saying that sending the National Guard to cities did not lower violent crime. He expressed disagreement with the report's findings on television.
Key Facts
The Center for American Progress (CAP) is a liberal think tank.
CAP released a report last month about National Guard deployments.
The report said National Guard presence did not reduce violent crime in cities.
President Trump responded strongly to the report on Monday.
He called the think tank’s name wrong in a televised statement.
The criticism focused on the effectiveness of the National Guard’s role in controlling violence.
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South Carolina held a special Republican primary to choose a candidate to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham on the November ballot. Senator Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, was appointed to temporarily fill his Senate seat and has President Donald Trump's endorsement for the general election.
Key Facts
Lindsey Graham won the Republican primary on June 9 but died unexpectedly on July 11.
His death caused two vacancies: his current Senate seat and his place on the November ballot.
Ten Republicans competed in the special primary to replace him on the ballot.
Darline Graham, his sister, was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to serve out the rest of Lindsey Graham’s term.
Darline Graham has President Donald Trump's endorsement for the general election.
Other candidates in the special primary include Representatives Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, former Governor Mark Sanford, and businessman Mark Lynch.
Mark Lynch ran against Lindsey Graham in the June 9 primary.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) supports its recommended vaccine schedules for children after President Donald Trump signed an order to cut the number of recommended childhood vaccines in the U.S. from 17 to 11. The WHO says their guidelines help keep children safe and healthy worldwide.
Key Facts
President Trump signed an executive order to reduce recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11 in the U.S.
The decision was part of his administration’s effort to change vaccination rules.
The WHO defended its immunization guidelines on Tuesday after this announcement.
WHO’s vaccine schedules aim to protect children from various illnesses globally.
The U.S. had previously recommended 17 vaccines for children to prevent multiple diseases.
WHO believes reducing vaccines could affect children’s health worldwide.
The new U.S. order reflects a change in national vaccination policy.
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A new video shows an Arkansas state trooper punching an 18-year-old Black woman during a traffic stop after forcing her to the ground. The trooper says the woman was resisting arrest.
Key Facts
The incident involved an Arkansas state trooper and an 18-year-old Black woman.
The trooper punched the woman in the face during the traffic stop.
The woman was forced to the ground on the highway side.
The trooper claims the woman resisted arrest.
The video was recently released to the public.
The footage may be disturbing to viewers.
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