FBI Director Kash Patel explained that the FBI lowered some hiring rules to avoid rejecting applicants who were victims of crimes like sexual assault or trafficking involving animals. These applicants still must meet strict standards, but the rules no longer automatically disqualify people for past involvement in prostitution, theft, or bestiality under certain conditions.
Key Facts
The FBI changed hiring rules so applicants who were victims of sexual assault or trafficking, including cases involving animals, are not automatically disqualified.
Before, anyone involved in prostitution, theft, or bestiality was automatically barred from working at the FBI.
Now, applicants involved in prostitution can be considered if the acts were more than 10 years ago and happened fewer than three times.
For employment theft, eligibility returns if the act happened more than three years ago.
People involved in bestiality before they were 18 years old can be considered for hiring.
These changes aim to help victims of these acts who may later want to work in law enforcement.
Senators from both parties questioned Patel about why and how these new rules were made.
Patel emphasized that criminals on the "other side" of such acts remain ineligible; the changes focus on victims.
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Senator Mitch McConnell returned to the Senate after a months-long absence due to a fall that left him unconscious. McConnell is not running for reelection, and the race to replace him in Kentucky is between Republican Andy Barr and Democrat Charles Booker, with Barr currently favored to win.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell, 84 years old, was absent from the Senate after suffering a fall in June.
McConnell will finish his current term in January 2027 and is not seeking reelection.
Kentucky is a traditionally Republican state, making it a challenging race for Democrats.
Democrat Charles Booker is running to replace McConnell, trying to flip the seat from Republican Andy Barr.
An internal Democratic poll showed Barr leading Booker by 9 points, but independent polls are lacking.
Prediction markets give Barr a 95-96% chance to win the election.
Booker has previously run in Senate races but lost in Republican-leaning Kentucky.
McConnell returned to work on September 14 but said he is not yet fully recovered.
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Angie Katsanevas, a cast member of "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," said the show will include parts of her work advocating for causes in Washington, D.C. She filmed some scenes related to her efforts on Capitol Hill for the series.
Key Facts
Angie Katsanevas is a star on the TV show "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City."
She has been involved in advocacy work in Washington, D.C.
Some of her advocacy activities were filmed for the reality TV show.
Capitol Hill refers to the area in Washington, D.C., where the U.S. Congress meets.
The show will show parts of her time spent working on political or social causes.
This marks a new element for the show, including real-life political engagement.
Katsanevas’ involvement highlights a connection between reality TV and political advocacy.
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House Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee are asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) why it has not accepted Pennsylvania’s report of two measles deaths, which are the first in 35 years. The committee’s senior member Frank Pallone, Jr. sent a letter to the new CDC director Erica Schwartz requesting explanations.
Key Facts
Pennsylvania reported two deaths caused by measles.
These are the first measles deaths in the U.S. in 35 years.
The CDC has not accepted Pennsylvania’s report of these deaths.
House Democrats want the CDC to explain its refusal.
Frank Pallone, Jr., a senior Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote a letter to CDC director Erica Schwartz.
The letter demands answers about the CDC’s decision and actions.
The issue involves disease reporting and government health data accuracy.
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The UK government announced new rules requiring company bosses to meet face-to-face with employees who request flexible working hours and explain any refusals. These changes aim to give workers stronger rights and ensure employers carefully consider flexibility requests.
Key Facts
Employees in the UK can request flexible working hours.
Employers must meet employees in person to discuss these requests.
If an employer refuses a request, they have to explain why.
The rules strengthen the existing law where employers must consider requests reasonably.
The announcement was made by Louise Haigh, the UK first secretary of state.
The changes are part of wider improvements in worker rights, including sick pay and parental leave.
The UK government supports unions and their role in improving work conditions.
The new rules aim to balance business needs with workers’ family and personal responsibilities.
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A California man, Nathaniel James McGuire, admitted to bombing a Santa Maria courthouse in 2024 after police seized his guns. The explosion injured three people, caused significant damage, and was meant to target law enforcement officers and a judge.
Key Facts
Nathaniel James McGuire is 22 years old and from Santa Barbara County, California.
In September 2024, he threw a backpack bomb into the Santa Maria courthouse.
After planting the bomb, McGuire tried to return with two long guns and 10 Molotov cocktails but was stopped by police.
The bomb explosion injured three people and caused $35,000 in damage.
McGuire pleaded guilty to using a weapon of mass destruction and destroying a building with explosives.
He has been in federal custody since the attack and faces life in prison.
Officials described the attack as a terroristic assault targeting judges and law enforcement.
Threats against judges and court officials have increased sharply since 2015, with over 4,500 threats reported in 2021.
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President Donald Trump said the FBI, led by Christopher Wray at the time, mishandled the investigation into the 2024 assassination attempt against him. New documents revealed details about the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, including how he hid his identity when buying gun parts and that an anonymous donor paid for his cremation after he was killed.
Key Facts
The assassination attempt happened on July 13, 2024, during a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Crooks shot at Trump with an assault rifle from a rooftop, injuring Trump in the ear and critically wounding two others, and killing one attendee.
Crooks was killed by a Secret Service agent at the scene.
President Trump accused the FBI under Biden’s administration of a cover-up and called it a "Democrat Plot."
FBI Director Christopher Wray was criticized by Trump for how the investigation was handled.
New documents show Crooks bought gun parts online using the false name "Bob Dole," delivered to his parents’ home.
An anonymous donor paid for Crooks' cremation shortly after the attack; his family reportedly could not afford the expenses.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Senator Chuck Grassley, is investigating how Crooks bypassed security measures.
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The Kennedy Center board, led by President Donald Trump and his allies, voted to close the center immediately for renovations due to its poor condition and financial problems. A federal judge blocked the board’s attempts to rename the center after President Trump or add his name to the building without Congress's approval.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center board is chaired by President Donald Trump and includes his Cabinet members and political supporters.
The board voted to shut the center immediately for repairs because the building is in bad shape and losing money.
The center is a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, and efforts to rename it after President Trump have faced legal challenges.
A federal judge ruled that adding President Trump’s name without Congress's permission is not allowed.
Last year, Congress gave $250 million to fund renovations for the Kennedy Center.
President Trump claims he has raised $17 million in donations to help the center financially.
The renovations will not start until higher courts rule on the legal fight over the naming of the center.
The center’s name was previously removed from the facade after a court order, and the building’s exterior has been covered with scaffolding and a tarp.
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The Senate voted 49 to 50 against moving forward with the Clarity Act, a bill to regulate cryptocurrencies. Democrats opposed the bill because they believe it does not do enough to prevent President Donald Trump and his family from potentially profiting from crypto businesses.
Key Facts
The Clarity Act is a cryptocurrency regulation bill that failed to pass in the Senate due to lack of support.
It received 49 votes in favor and 50 against; 60 votes were needed to advance the bill.
All Democrats and four Republicans voted against the bill.
The bill aimed to clarify regulatory duties between financial agencies overseeing crypto, like the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune supported the bill, saying it would protect investors and improve cryptocurrency rules.
Senator Elizabeth Warren opposed the bill, saying it risks families, the economy, and national security.
Democrats raised concerns that the bill's ethics rules are too weak to stop President Trump and his family from making profits in the crypto industry.
President Trump reportedly made $1.4 billion in crypto income last year, including from his meme coin business and family firms.
Democrats want stronger rules and a bipartisan agreement on cryptocurrency legislation.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche did not answer when asked if he requested Joe diGenova to resign from the Justice Department. Reports say there was a tense phone call between Blanche and diGenova before diGenova left his position.
Key Facts
Attorney General Todd Blanche was questioned about Joe diGenova’s resignation.
Blanche avoided answering whether he asked diGenova to resign.
Joe diGenova is known to be an ally of President Donald Trump.
Reports mention a tense phone call between Blanche and diGenova before the resignation.
Blanche said he would not discuss communications with prosecutors to protect fairness.
DiGenova recently left his role at the Justice Department.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accused of ordering agents to lie about who they are to get access to state voter lists and to create false proof of voter fraud before the midterm elections. Senators Chuck Schumer and Alex Padilla claim a whistleblower revealed these instructions and have asked DHS to stop these actions and provide an explanation.
Key Facts
DHS agents were reportedly told to "misrepresent themselves" to access voter rolls.
Agents were allegedly directed to break state laws to get private voter information.
The effort includes finding or inventing evidence of voter fraud.
Senators Schumer and Padilla publicly shared these claims citing a whistleblower’s information.
The allegations were made just weeks before the 2026 midterm elections.
DHS said it uses voter rolls and immigration data to investigate election fraud.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) said it is actively pursuing election fraud cases under President Trump.
Senators have demanded DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin halt these alleged practices and explain the situation.
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President Donald Trump criticized a federal judge who blocked his administration’s plan to rename part of the Kennedy Center to include Trump’s name. The judge, Christopher Cooper, made the decision to stop the renaming, which led to President Trump calling him “hostile and conflicted.”
Key Facts
President Trump wanted to add his name to the Kennedy Center.
A federal judge, Christopher Cooper, stopped this plan.
Judge Cooper was appointed by former President Obama.
President Trump called Judge Cooper “hostile and conflicted.”
The judge’s ruling halted the renaming effort by the Trump administration.
President Trump has made similar criticisms of judges who oppose his actions before.
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Senator Bernie Sanders said that artificial intelligence (AI) could be more dangerous to humans than nuclear weapons. He plans to introduce a law to ban creating AI smarter than humans and to pause advanced AI development, with penalties including up to 20 years in prison for breaking the law.
Key Facts
Sanders considers AI's potential threat to humanity greater than nuclear weapons.
He will propose a bill to permanently ban superintelligent AI that could escape human control.
The bill aims to pause the development of advanced AI and sets a 20-year prison penalty for violations.
Sanders compares the penalties for illegal AI development to those for illegal nuclear weapons development.
Some Republicans and Democrats are increasingly concerned about the risks of AI.
Several AI experts and CEOs have called for slowing down AI development due to safety concerns.
President Donald Trump called worries about AI a "hoax" and said a strong president can handle the issue.
Sanders supports government regulating AI development and believes current tech leaders prioritize profit over safety.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche said there is no problem with a wedding gift given to President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., by a close friend who supports Russian President Vladimir Putin. Blanche shared this information during a press briefing at the White House.
Key Facts
Donald Trump Jr. received a wedding gift from a friend who is an ally of Vladimir Putin.
The gift was given around the time of Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding earlier this year.
Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed concerns about this gift.
Blanche said Donald Trump Jr. has described the giver as a very close friend.
Blanche made these remarks during a press briefing at the White House.
No legal or ethical issues regarding the gift were reported by Blanche.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche said Democrats are using concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) to influence the upcoming midterm elections. He supports President Donald Trump’s statement that worries about AI are a "hoax" and says the Justice Department will only investigate criminal acts involving AI, not regulate its development.
Key Facts
Attorney General Todd Blanche accused Democrats of timing AI concerns to affect midterm elections.
President Trump called warnings about AI dangers a "hoax" and opposed new government limits on AI.
Blanche said the Justice Department will investigate illegal acts involving AI using current laws.
Blanche stated the Justice Department’s role is to prosecute crimes, not regulate AI.
Senator Bernie Sanders plans to introduce a bill to ban the development of "superintelligent" AI.
Sanders and Representative Greg Casar want to slow AI development and add safeguards.
Democrats and independents have raised concerns about AI’s impact on jobs and national security.
Sanders suggested President Trump negotiate an AI development pause with China’s leader Xi Jinping.
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A cryptocurrency regulation bill called the Clarity Act did not pass a key vote in the Senate. The vote was 49-50, not reaching the 60 votes needed to continue discussing the bill.
Key Facts
The Clarity Act aimed to regulate cryptocurrency.
The Senate vote was 49 in favor and 50 against.
The bill needed 60 votes to move forward but fell short.
All Democrats and some Republicans voted against the bill.
This vote slowed down efforts to create clearer rules for crypto companies.
The cryptocurrency industry supports the bill to create regulations.
The vote was a setback for those wanting to regulate cryptocurrencies in the U.S.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke at a White House press briefing about the Justice Department’s possible role in regulating artificial intelligence (AI) and ongoing legal issues related to mail-in voting. After his remarks, CBS News reporters provided additional information on these topics.
Key Facts
Attorney General Todd Blanche led a press briefing at the White House.
He discussed the Justice Department’s potential involvement in making rules for artificial intelligence (AI).
Blanche addressed legal battles around the use of mail-in voting.
The briefing included a question-and-answer session with reporters.
CBS News reporters Ed O'Keefe and Nicole Sganga followed with further explanations.
The briefing took place on a Tuesday.
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President Donald Trump’s pollster, Tony Fabrizio, gave Republicans advice on how to handle criticisms of AI data centers. He suggests candidates support data centers only if companies pay for their own power and protect local resources, instead of giving simple support without conditions.
Key Facts
Tony Fabrizio, President Trump’s pollster, wrote a memo with advice for Republican candidates on AI data centers.
He warns that openly supporting more data centers without conditions will be harmful politically.
Fabrizio suggests candidates should demand that tech companies fund their own power needs and protect local water and utility costs.
The memo provides a three-step script: acknowledge voter concerns, reject projects that hurt families or communities, and accept projects only with strict conditions.
Fabrizio’s polls find 61% of voters support data centers if there are conditions; only 28% support banning them outright.
Without conditions, 65% of voters oppose building more data centers.
President Trump continues to support data centers, calling them beneficial for wealth and states’ economies.
Fabrizio plays a key role in guiding the GOP’s political messaging for the upcoming elections.
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The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported that the U.S. war in Iran has already cost about $38 billion. The CBO expects the monthly cost to increase by another $3 billion.
Key Facts
The Congressional Budget Office released its report on Tuesday.
The war in Iran has cost an estimated $38 billion so far.
Costs are expected to rise by $3 billion every month.
The report was covered by CBS News correspondent James LaPorta.
The report highlights ongoing financial impacts of the Iran conflict.
This information helps Congress understand the war's budget impact.
The report was made available through CBS News platforms.
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Pennsylvania has reported the death of an unvaccinated 18-year-old from measles complications, bringing the state's total measles-related deaths this year to four. The state is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in over 30 years, with hundreds of cases and many hospitalizations.
Key Facts
An 18-year-old unvaccinated person from Mifflin County died from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), a severe brain and nerve complication caused by measles.
A 40-year-old unvaccinated woman from Jefferson County also died of measles-related causes.
Two infants in Lancaster County, too young to get vaccinated, previously died from measles complications.
Pennsylvania has reported 693 measles cases across 38 counties this year, with 133 hospitalizations.
The state’s health department uses thorough investigations to confirm measles-related deaths.
The current measles outbreak in Pennsylvania is the worst the state has seen in over 30 years.
Changes in CDC reporting methods and controversies around vaccine information have affected national measles death data.
The CDC reports nearly 3,300 measles cases nationwide this year, more than last year's record number.
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