The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that lets President Trump impose tariffs and stronger sanctions on countries that buy energy from Russia. The bill now goes to President Trump to sign into law.
Key Facts
The bill gives President Trump the power to apply tariffs on countries buying Russian energy.
It allows for tougher penalties against the Russian government due to the war in Ukraine.
The legislation passed in the House on a Wednesday vote.
The bill took over a year and a half to reach this stage.
After passing the House, the bill is sent to President Trump for approval.
The goal is to limit support for Russia by targeting its energy buyers.
This action is part of U.S. efforts to respond to the conflict in Ukraine.
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The House of Representatives passed a new bill to increase sanctions on Russia and give President Trump more power to tax buyers of Russian oil and gas. The bill targets a network of old Russian tankers used to avoid sanctions and was sent to President Trump to sign.
Key Facts
The House passed the Russia sanctions bill with a vote of 262 to 159.
The bill allows President Trump to impose extra tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas.
It targets Russia’s "shadow fleet," which is a group of old tankers used to evade sanctions.
The bill is named after Senator Lindsey Graham, who led the effort and died in July.
Some Democrats supported the bill, but Democratic leaders opposed giving Trump more tariff powers.
Republicans blocked efforts to limit the tariff powers in the bill.
Some Republicans opposed the bill due to concerns over U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Senate passed the bill last month with strong bipartisan support, and President Trump endorsed it before the House vote.
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A news helicopter crashed, resulting in the deaths of three people. CBS Evening News covered the story, including a segment featuring Patrick Clancy from 60 Minutes.
Key Facts
A news helicopter crashed on September 16.
Three people died in the crash.
CBS Evening News reported on the incident.
Patrick Clancy, associated with 60 Minutes, appeared in the coverage.
The details of the crash were discussed during the CBS Evening News broadcast.
CBS News app and website offered additional information.
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The U.S. government paid federal workers $9.5 billion in 2025 for paid leave when they were not working. This happened because of workforce reductions and a deferred resignation program during President Donald Trump’s administration, which aimed to shrink the federal workforce.
Key Facts
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that paid administrative leave costs rose 435% from 2023 to 2025.
The government paid $9.5 billion to federal employees in 2025 for time off without working.
$6.7 billion of this was related to the deferred resignation program.
Federal workdays on paid administrative leave increased from about 4 million in 2023 to 21.6 million in 2025.
Around 144,312 employees used paid administrative leave through the deferred resignation program.
Since January 2023, the federal workforce decreased by about 355,000 employees.
The workforce cuts caused issues like delays in social security checks and longer wait times for Veterans Affairs services.
Some agencies, such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, have started rehiring staff after the cuts.
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Senator Rand Paul stopped a proposal from Senator John Kennedy to make tech companies create a “kill switch” for advanced artificial intelligence (AI). The proposed law aimed to control AI in case it becomes dangerous, but there was disagreement among Republicans in the Senate about this approach.
Key Facts
Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) proposed a law to require a “kill switch” for superintelligent AI.
The “kill switch” would allow humans to shut down AI systems if they become harmful.
Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked the effort to pass this legislation.
Paul objected to a broad government rule that would force tech companies to build such safety features.
The debate happened on the Senate floor with Republicans showing different views.
The main concern is how to manage AI that could become uncontrollable.
The issue reflects growing worry about AI safety and government regulation.
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President Donald Trump faced disappointing news when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 0.25 percent to 4.0 percent. This decision came despite President Trump urging the Fed to lower rates.
Key Facts
The Federal Reserve increased interest rates by 0.25 percent on Wednesday.
The new interest rate is now 4.0 percent.
This is the first rate increase made by the Federal Reserve in some time.
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh led the decision to raise rates.
President Trump had called for interest rates to be reduced instead.
Higher interest rates can make borrowing money more expensive.
The decision signals the Fed’s focus on controlling economic factors like inflation.
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Representative Virginia Foxx proposed banning reporters from the Speaker’s Lobby, a space near the House floor in the U.S. Capitol. She discussed her idea during an interview, mentioning that she shared it with Speaker Mike Johnson and his team.
Key Facts
Virginia Foxx is a Republican congresswoman from North Carolina.
She suggested that the press should not be allowed in the Speaker’s Lobby area.
The Speaker’s Lobby is a space close to where members of the House of Representatives work.
Foxx mentioned her proposal during an interview with journalist Paul Kane from 535 Media.
She said she talked about the idea with Speaker Mike Johnson, who is a Republican from Louisiana, and his staff.
The proposal aims to change how press access is managed near the House floor.
No details on when or how the ban might be implemented were provided.
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A political analysis group, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, has changed its ratings for eight U.S. House races, moving four Republican-held districts closer to Democrats ahead of the November midterm elections. This shift reflects increased support for Democrats, who hope to win more seats due to lower approval ratings for President Donald Trump and public frustration with economic issues.
Key Facts
Sabato’s Crystal Ball moved eight House races toward Democrats, including four that were once considered safe Republican seats.
Democrats lead the generic ballot polls by about 8.6 points, their biggest lead this election cycle.
Several districts that strongly supported Trump in 2024 are now considered competitive or leaning Democratic.
Republicans currently have a narrow majority in the House with 218 seats; Democrats have 214 seats and one independent.
Democrats only need to flip a few seats to gain control of the House of Representatives.
Republicans are experiencing difficulties energizing their voters ahead of the elections.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says voters are unhappy with rising prices and want Democrats in charge.
The races include districts in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, and Ohio that have become more competitive.
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Luis Galeano, a Nicaraguan journalist critical of his home government, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida despite having a pending asylum application and work permit. He fled Nicaragua in 2018 after threats and government actions against him and now faces deportation, which supporters say would be dangerous for him.
Key Facts
Luis Galeano is a Nicaraguan journalist who opposes the Ortega Murillo government.
He came to the US in 2018 seeking asylum, which has been pending for about seven years.
Galeano has a work permit and a social security number in the US.
ICE detained Galeano in Florida shortly after he started a second job driving for Lyft.
He is held at Krome detention center in Miami and has an immigration court date on October 2.
The Nicaraguan government has removed his citizenship along with at least 93 others opposing the regime.
Supporters warn deporting him to Nicaragua could put his life at risk.
US lawmakers and press freedom groups have criticized his detention while the US government publicly denounces the Nicaraguan regime.
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Senator Bill Cassidy warned that Social Security’s retirement trust fund may run out of money by 2032, which could lead to automatic benefit cuts. He emphasized the urgent need for Congress to act soon to fix the program’s financial problems and mentioned bipartisan efforts underway to address the issue.
Key Facts
Social Security provides benefits to over 70 million Americans, including retirees and disabled workers.
The Social Security retirement trust fund is projected to be depleted by 2032, according to the 2026 Trustees Report.
After depletion, payroll taxes alone will not fully cover benefits, risking cuts of more than 20%.
Senator Cassidy has worked on Social Security issues for six years and is pushing for reforms before his Senate term ends.
Cassidy and Senator Dick Durbin introduced the PROMISE Act to create a formal process for improving Social Security’s finances.
Possible solutions include establishing a separate investment fund for long-term Social Security funding.
Experts say urgent discussion and action are needed to avoid passing the problem to future administrations.
Congress will likely keep debating Social Security reforms as the 2032 deadline approaches.
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Senate Democrats are calling for the impeachment of Education Secretary Linda McMahon because she is working to dismantle the Department of Education. Secretary McMahon, following President Donald Trump’s plan, has cut staff and transferred the department’s functions to other agencies, aiming to close the department.
Key Facts
Senate Democrats want to impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon and investigate her actions.
McMahon has cut more than 40% of the Department of Education staff and closed regional offices.
She is transferring the department’s responsibilities to other federal agencies through agreements used by past administrations.
President Donald Trump supports closing the Department of Education and has tasked McMahon with this goal.
Critics say McMahon’s actions harm students, federal workers, and public education.
White House officials say McMahon’s work returns education control to the states and improves schools.
Another cabinet member, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is also facing possible impeachment.
Senator Angela Alsobrooks calls for several Trump Cabinet members to be removed for harming government functions.
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Mohammad Sharifullah, a member of the ISIS-K terrorist group, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for supporting the group that claimed responsibility for a 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport. The attack killed 13 U.S. service members and about 160 Afghans during the American evacuation from Afghanistan. Sharifullah was captured in 2025 and convicted for providing material support to ISIS-K, but not directly for the deaths in the bombing.
Key Facts
Mohammad Sharifullah was convicted by a federal jury for providing material support to ISIS-K.
The Kabul airport bombing on August 26, 2021, killed 13 U.S. service members and about 160 Afghans.
Sharifullah’s job was scouting a route to the Hamid Karzai International Airport before the attack.
He was captured near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in early 2025 by Pakistani intelligence and the CIA.
U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga sentenced Sharifullah to 20 years in prison, the maximum for his charge.
Sharifullah did not show remorse during sentencing and did not testify at trial.
Families of victims spoke about the loss and the impact of the attack during the sentencing hearing.
Prosecutors said Sharifullah pledged allegiance to ISIS-K as a teenager and supported attacks against civilians, including a 2024 attack in Moscow.
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Independent Representative Kevin Kiley from California said he will not join the Republican group in Congress if he wins reelection next year. Kiley was previously a Republican but changed to independent and confirmed he will stay separate from the Republican caucus.
Key Facts
Kevin Kiley is a California representative currently serving as an independent.
He used to be a Republican but left the party.
He plans to run for reelection next year.
If reelected, Kiley will not join the Republican caucus in Congress.
The Republican caucus is the group of Republican members in Congress who work together.
Kiley confirmed this decision during an interview with journalist Nicholas Wu.
His choice means he will be an independent lawmaker not formally aligned with either party’s congressional group.
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Two survivors of child sexual abuse have filed a lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein’s estate and its executors, saying the Justice Department failed to notify many victims found in Epstein’s large collection of illegal child sexual abuse images. The survivors want the court to force the estate to inform victims and provide compensation for the harm caused by these images.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Epstein collected child sexual abuse images starting in the 1990s.
The FBI found tens of thousands of illegal videos and photos after Epstein's arrest.
Many victims pictured in the images may have never met Epstein.
The Department of Justice has not informed most victims that their images were in Epstein’s files.
Survivors are suing the Epstein estate and its co-executors to get notification and compensation.
The lawsuit seeks damages that could be up to $150,000 per victim per image.
Around 40 victims with identifiable information may be involved based on records from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The lawsuit hopes to address decades of unchecked possession and distribution of illegal images by Epstein.
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A new poll shows Democrat Amy Acton slightly ahead of Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the race for Ohio governor, with the race very close and within the poll’s margin of error. This election is to replace current Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who cannot run again due to term limits.
Key Facts
Amy Acton, the Democrat, leads Ramaswamy, a Republican, by 3 points (48% to 45%) in the latest poll of likely Ohio voters.
The lead is within the margin of error, meaning the race is very close.
Ramaswamy’s support has dropped by 1 percentage point since an April poll.
Ohio’s current governor, Mike DeWine (Republican), is term-limited and cannot run again.
Despite trailing, most voters believe Ramaswamy will win the race.
Both candidates have more unfavorable than favorable ratings in the poll.
Ohio has elected only Republican governors since 2011, but it has elected Democrats statewide before.
Several polls show the race is competitive, with slight leads switching between candidates.
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President Donald Trump will campaign for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley in North Carolina. Whatley is running to replace Senator Thom Tillis, who is retiring, and will face Democrat Roy Cooper in the election.
Key Facts
President Trump will hold a rally to support Michael Whatley in North Carolina.
Michael Whatley is the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat.
The current senator, Thom Tillis, is retiring and not seeking re-election.
Michael Whatley previously served as chair of the Republican National Committee.
Whatley will compete against Democrat Roy Cooper, a former governor.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday evening.
This rally aims to boost Whatley’s chances in the Senate race.
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A report by the ACLU and AFL-CIO finds that President Donald Trump's strict immigration enforcement could cause the loss of about 6 million jobs for U.S. workers and raise prices on everyday items like food and housing. The report says deporting many immigrants might hurt the economy because immigrant and native workers often work together in the same industries.
Key Facts
The report was released by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
It estimates around 6 million U.S. jobs could be lost due to increased immigration enforcement and deportations.
Immigrant workers make up roughly 20% of the U.S. workforce across many sectors.
Removing immigrant labor may cause businesses to reduce operations, delay projects, or hire fewer workers.
The report links immigration enforcement to rising prices for groceries, housing, and eldercare.
Experts say immigrant workers and U.S.-born workers often work in connected jobs, so deportations can harm the overall job market.
The report calls for Congress to create legal pathways to citizenship for immigrants contributing to the economy.
Some political voices suggest that economic problems stem from tariffs and trade policy rather than immigration enforcement.
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Leaked photos show serious damage at several US military bases in the Middle East after attacks by Iran. A military source said this damage has not been fully shared with the American public.
Key Facts
Photos were obtained by CBS, the BBC’s US partner.
The images show destroyed radar equipment, crushed trailers, and badly damaged buildings.
The photos were shared by an unnamed military member.
The source described the damage as major.
The damage is related to recent Iranian strikes on US bases.
The US government has not fully disclosed the extent of the damage to the public.
The report includes commentary from the BBC’s State Department correspondent.
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President Trump reacted to the Federal Reserve raising interest rates for the first time in three years by saying rates should be lowered quickly. The Fed increased the rate by 0.25% to between 3.75% and 4%, with officials expecting more hikes later this year.
Key Facts
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by a quarter percentage point, to a range of 3.75%–4%.
This is the first rate increase by the Fed in three years.
Most Fed officials expect at least one more rate hike this year, with some predicting two.
President Trump wants interest rates lowered to 1% or less.
He said the U.S. is the best credit in the world and is experiencing strong investment growth.
Trump suggested that trading deficits with other countries cost the U.S. at least $1.5 trillion a year.
He called the budget deficit a loss and said the U.S. cannot support other countries financially anymore.
Trump did not criticize the new Fed chair, Kevin Warsh, who was appointed by Trump.
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Federal officers arrested two workers from California homelessness non-profits for allegedly stealing millions of taxpayer dollars and taking bribes. The arrests are part of a larger effort by the U.S. Justice Department to investigate fraud in homelessness programs in California.
Key Facts
Michael Young, founder of Home At Last, is charged with stealing over $7.5 million, which he used for personal businesses.
Lakiya Malone, an employee of Special Service for Groups, is charged with taking over $180,000 in bribes.
Donye Mitchell, CEO of The Big Blue Umbrella, is wanted for allegedly misusing $1.2 million of grant money for personal expenses.
The probe is led by a homelessness fraud taskforce created by U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
The arrests relate to investigations into misuse of funds aimed at helping homeless people in California.
President Trump supports efforts to find and stop fraud in states like California, focusing on safeguarding taxpayer money.
The Trump administration has previously frozen federal funds to states and agencies over fraud concerns.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner warned that those who misuse funds for homelessness programs will face consequences.
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