A new report says that if union membership in the US tripled, many workers would get paid more, with the median worker earning about 14.5% more. This change would shift $1.2 trillion annually to workers, reduce pay gaps between races, and improve worker benefits like health insurance.
Key Facts
Union membership in the US was over 30% in the 1950s but dropped to about 10% by 2025.
Public support for unions remains strong, with 68% of Americans favoring them in 2025.
Increasing union membership to 30% could raise the median worker's pay by $7,700 a year.
This pay increase would total around $1.2 trillion per year shifted to workers.
Higher union density would help reduce racial wage gaps and expand health insurance coverage.
Declines in union membership have coincided with growing income and wealth inequality since 1979.
Laws like the Protecting the Right to Organize Act could help increase union membership and improve workers’ collective bargaining rights.
States with more union members tend to invest more in public education, Medicaid, and voting rights.
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will stop most vehicle stops and require at least one officer on every arrest team to wear a body camera. This change follows two fatal shootings by ICE agents in Texas and Maine, where the agents were not wearing body cameras.
Key Facts
ICE will halt most vehicle stops nationwide.
Every ICE arrest team must have at least one officer wearing a body camera.
The policy change follows two fatal shootings involving ICE agents.
Both shootings happened in different states: Texas and Maine.
The agents involved in those shootings were not wearing body cameras.
The Department of Homeland Security made this announcement.
Body cameras are used to record interactions between officers and the public.
CBS News reported the new policy and the background of the shootings.
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The U.S. Mint will produce a new $1 gold coin featuring President Donald Trump's face. This coin is part of the 250th anniversary of the United States and aims to honor American values and freedom.
Key Facts
The U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the new $1 gold coin with President Trump's image.
The coin is part of the U.S.'s 250th birthday celebration.
U.S. law normally prevents living people from appearing on currency without a law change.
The Trump administration refers to a 2020 law allowing new coin designs for the 250th anniversary.
In May, the Treasury considered a $250 bill featuring President Trump but said it would need a legal change.
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee must review and approve commemorative coin designs.
Details about the number of coins to be released and who can buy them have not been shared.
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Jay Clayton is President Donald Trump’s nominee to become the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). His confirmation hearing may lead to replacing the current acting DNI, Bill Pulte, and allow Congress to renew an expired national surveillance program.
Key Facts
Jay Clayton is nominated by President Trump to be the Director of National Intelligence.
Clayton appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee for his confirmation hearing on July 15, 2026.
Bill Pulte, who has no national security background, has been serving as acting DNI since June 19, 2026.
President Trump delayed Clayton’s earlier confirmation hearing until Jamie McDonald, nominated as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, is confirmed.
Pulte is known for investigating political figures accused of mortgage fraud, but these targets deny wrongdoing.
Pulte cut hundreds of jobs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence shortly after taking the role.
The previous DNI, Tulsi Gabbard, resigned earlier than planned due to family reasons.
Renewing the lapsed surveillance tool depends on having an official DNI confirmed by the Senate.
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Illinois Representative Jesús "Chuy" García criticized the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency after two recent shootings involving ICE agents in Texas and Maine that resulted in deaths. He described ICE as a "lawless, rogue organization" amid growing tensions around these incidents.
Key Facts
Two fatal shootings involving ICE agents occurred recently in Texas and Maine.
Illinois Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García spoke publicly about these shootings.
Rep. García called ICE a "lawless, rogue organization."
The comments were made during an interview with CBS News.
These events have increased tensions around ICE's actions and behavior.
ICE is a federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement in the United States.
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Russ Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, will speak to the House Financial Services Committee about the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau's recent report. Since leading the CFPB, Vought has limited its activities by freezing funds and restricting investigations.
Key Facts
Russ Vought is the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
He will testify before the House Financial Services Committee.
The testimony concerns the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) semi-annual report.
Vought became head of the CFPB recently.
He has frozen the bureau’s funding.
He has blocked CFPB employees from conducting investigations.
These actions affect how the CFPB operates and enforces consumer protection.
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A South Florida woman, Nancy Dello Stritto, received a new license plate with the letters "SQZ A55" after renewing her vehicle registration. She found the combination inappropriate but plans to keep the plate while notifying state officials.
Key Facts
Nancy Dello Stritto is a 77-year-old resident of Pompano Beach, Florida.
Her new license plate reads "SQZ A55," which some see as containing a crude message.
She was surprised and upset that the plate was issued.
Many family members and friends have encouraged her to keep the plate.
The issue has become a topic of discussion in her retirement community.
Florida license plates are made at a state prison and distributed through county offices.
The Broward County Property Tax Collector’s office sent the plate and said they will replace offensive plates for free.
Nancy plans to keep the plate but will inform the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
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Kathryn Ruemmler, who was White House counsel under President Obama, will testify before a House committee about her connection to Jeffrey Epstein. She has been linked to Epstein through emails and documents and recently resigned from Goldman Sachs, where she worked as chief legal officer.
Key Facts
Kathryn Ruemmler served as White House counsel under President Obama.
She is scheduled to testify before the House oversight committee about ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Documents and emails show Ruemmler accepted gifts from Epstein and advised him about questions on his crimes.
Epstein was a convicted sex offender who pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges involving minors.
Ruemmler resigned from her chief legal officer role at Goldman Sachs but may continue as an adviser.
Lawmakers questioned Goldman Sachs about Ruemmler’s relationship with Epstein and what she disclosed before joining the firm.
Ruemmler states she had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal actions and denies wrongdoing.
Her testimony will be private, with the committee expected to release a transcript later.
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Jay Clayton, chosen by President Donald Trump to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), will answer questions from the Senate Intelligence Committee. He was previously the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Key Facts
Jay Clayton is President Trump's nominee for the head of the ODNI.
He is replacing Tulsi Gabbard in this role.
Clayton used to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
He will testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday morning.
President Trump faced pressure concerning this nomination.
The ODNI oversees U.S. intelligence agencies and activities.
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House Republicans introduced a plan for a $95 billion budget package focused on defense, farm support, and helping states enforce voter ID rules in elections. This budget effort uses a special process called reconciliation to pass key Republican priorities.
Key Facts
The budget plan totals about $95 billion.
Funding will go to defense programs.
The package includes aid for farmers.
It provides money to help states enforce voter ID laws.
Republicans aim to use the budget reconciliation process to pass this plan.
This may be the last time Republicans use reconciliation to pass major legislation this way.
The plan was announced by House Republicans on Wednesday.
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President Donald Trump said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should keep doing traffic stops, despite the deaths of two men during recent stops. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had ordered a temporary pause on these stops to review the situation and possibly retrain agents.
Key Facts
Two men were killed by ICE agents during traffic stops within one week.
Both men were unarmed and were not the target of the operations that led to their deaths.
The agents involved did not wear body cameras during the incidents.
DHS ordered a temporary stop to traffic stops by ICE to review procedures and ensure safety.
President Trump disagreed with the DHS pause and said the traffic stops are important for fighting crime.
Trump claimed 25 million people crossed the border unchecked under President Biden.
Civil rights groups called the shootings extrajudicial killings and want ICE’s funding reviewed.
DHS has not confirmed when or if traffic stops by ICE will fully resume.
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Several lawmakers, including Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Tom Kean Jr., have been absent from Congress for extended periods due to health reasons. This has sparked a debate about whether members of Congress should be required to publicly explain long absences and provide updates on their health.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell was absent after a fall and pneumonia, and he shared a hospital photo after weeks of no public appearances.
Representative Tom Kean Jr. missed nearly four months of votes due to hospitalization for depression.
Currently, Congress does not require members to publicly explain long absences or provide health updates.
Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres plans to introduce a "Duty of Transparency Act" requiring public notice for extended absences.
The proposed law would ask lawmakers to inform constituents about how long they expect to be away and whether they can still perform their duties.
Some members, like Senator John Fetterman, have voluntarily shared updates about health issues during absences.
Both McConnell and Kean’s offices said the lawmakers stayed involved in congressional work during their absences.
Critics say constituents often learn about absences only after long periods through news or other indirect sources.
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Utah has banned the book Different Seasons by Stephen King from all public schools after several school districts removed it for containing sensitive content. The state's education board enforces this ban based on a law that prohibits instructional material deemed harmful or pornographic for minors.
Key Facts
Different Seasons is a 1982 collection of four novellas by Stephen King.
The book inspired movies like Stand by Me and The Shawshank Redemption.
Four Utah school districts removed the book from their libraries, triggering a statewide ban on July 6.
Utah law bans books with “objective sensitive material,” including pornographic or harmful content to minors.
The state board of education maintains a list of 35 banned books as of mid-July.
The banned books list includes titles like The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
The ACLU of Utah sued the state in January, claiming the bans violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
The lawsuit argues that banning books infringes on freedom of speech and equal protection under the law.
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Officer Christian Yepes saved a woman’s life on the Brooklyn Bridge. This happened during his third day working with the New York Police Department’s Emergency Service Unit, which is a special team for difficult situations.
Key Facts
Officer Christian Yepes rescued a woman on the Brooklyn Bridge.
The rescue took place last week.
Yepes was in his third day with the NYPD Emergency Service Unit.
The Emergency Service Unit is a special police group trained for emergencies.
The news was reported by Anna Schecter on CBS News.
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Health officials in the United States are investigating a rise in cases of cyclosporiasis, an illness caused by a parasite that leads to diarrhea. They are working to find the source of the outbreak to help stop its spread.
Key Facts
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite called Cyclospora.
The illness mainly causes diarrhea and digestive problems.
Recently, the number of cyclosporiasis cases has increased in the U.S.
Federal and state health officials are searching for what is causing this outbreak.
Public health advice on how to avoid infection is being shared.
The parasite is often linked to contaminated food or water.
Washing fruits and vegetables well can help reduce the risk of infection.
Health officials are monitoring the situation closely to protect public health.
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Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, known for safely landing a passenger plane on the Hudson River in 2009 and saving 155 people, has announced he has Alzheimer's disease. This illness affects memory and thinking skills.
Key Facts
Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger performed a successful emergency landing on the Hudson River in 2009.
He saved all 155 people on board that flight.
He has now been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's is a condition that causes memory loss and difficulties with thinking.
This news was shared in a CBS News report.
Sullenberger is widely recognized as a hero for his actions during the emergency landing.
The announcement raises awareness about Alzheimer’s disease.
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Parts of Texas are experiencing heavy rain that is causing dangerous flash flooding. The state has declared a state of emergency to prepare for the flooding. This comes just over a year after deadly floods affected the Texas Hill Country.
Key Facts
Heavy rain is falling in parts of Texas.
The rain increases the risk of sudden flash floods.
Texas officials declared a state of emergency.
Flash floods can happen quickly and be very dangerous.
About a year ago, floods in Texas Hill Country caused many deaths.
Authorities are warning people and preparing for the flooding impact.
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The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would keep daylight saving time year-round and stop changing clocks twice a year. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Key Facts
The bill was passed by the House on Tuesday.
Lawmakers from both political parties supported the bill.
The bill aims to make daylight saving time permanent.
This would end the current practice of changing clocks twice yearly.
The Senate must approve the bill before it becomes law.
The change would affect timekeeping across the United States.
The bill is intended to provide more daylight in the evenings all year.
The House vote was part of a broader discussion on time change effects.
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Taco Bell is taking voluntary safety steps while health officials investigate reports of a stomach parasite that has made thousands of people sick since May. The exact cause of the illness has not yet been found.
Key Facts
Thousands of people have gotten sick since May with symptoms connected to a stomach parasite.
Health officials are investigating the cause but have not identified the source yet.
Taco Bell is responding by taking precautionary action on their own.
The investigation is happening across multiple states.
The company has publicly addressed the reports linked to the parasite.
No official confirmation yet if the parasite is connected directly to Taco Bell food.
The situation remains under active review by health authorities.
This news was reported on July 15, 2026.
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