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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart spoke about recent political events on a news show. They discussed Todd Blanche’s delayed approval as attorney general, President Trump’s plan called the “anti-weaponization fund,” problems within the Democratic National Committee, and dropped charges related to vandalism in the Reflection Poll case.
Key Facts
Todd Blanche’s confirmation to be attorney general has been delayed or stalled.
President Trump has introduced an “anti-weaponization fund.”
There is ongoing turmoil or conflict within the Democratic National Committee.
Charges for vandalism connected to the Reflection Poll have been dropped.
David Brooks is a commentator from The Atlantic.
Jonathan Capehart is a commentator from MS NOW.
Geoff Bennett hosted the discussion on the political week.
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The Justice Department dropped the criminal case against former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. New information showed that the damage was due to poor construction and rushed work, not vandalism.
Key Facts
David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, was charged with damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The damage was initially blamed on Hearn causing at least $1,000 in harm, a felony with up to 10 years in prison.
The government later found that poor installation by contractors and fast work before America 250 events caused the damage.
Lawyers for Hearn said the case should never have been started and called for an apology.
Hearn pleaded not guilty and was scheduled for trial on September 28, 2026.
He was detained for five hours by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police after touching the pool’s coating during a bike ride.
Hearn competed in three Summer Olympics, with his best finish being ninth place in 1996.
The prosecution was seen by Hearn and supporters as politically motivated by the Trump administration.
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Federal prosecutors asked a judge to drop charges against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. New information shows the damage came from a contractor's poor installation, not vandalism.
Key Facts
David Hearn was charged with felony destruction of government property.
The charge involved damaging more than $1,000 worth of sealant at the bottom of the Reflecting Pool.
The Reflecting Pool project was supported by President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors now say a contractor’s "botched installation" caused the damage.
The U.S. Attorney's Office requested the case be dismissed based on this new evidence.
Hearn denied the vandalism accusations.
The U.S. Attorney's Office and Justice Department have not commented further.
This is a developing news story and may be updated later.
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A recent survey shows that nearly one in four Americans want company CEOs to understand how hard it is to afford everyday life and to stop being greedy. Many people are concerned about the high cost of living and believe CEOs should make products cheaper, pay workers more, and treat employees better.
Key Facts
About 25% of Americans surveyed want CEOs to recognize the high cost of living and make products more affordable.
Another 23% say CEOs should share their wealth, earn less, and stop being greedy.
Affordability was the top concern for 41% of those surveyed.
The survey included 1,001 registered voters and was done in June.
In 2025, the average CEO of big U.S. companies earned $17.7 million, a 6% increase from the previous year.
The typical full-time U.S. worker earned about $64,220 in early 2026, a 3.4% increase from the year before.
Other messages Americans have for CEOs include paying workers fairly (13%) and avoiding outsourcing or replacing people with AI (7%).
A separate study found that 71% of Americans feel their income is not keeping up with the rising cost of living, especially with food prices up more than 20% since 2022.
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A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jet crashed near Miramar air base in San Diego, California. The pilot ejected safely and is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
Key Facts
The crash happened on a Friday near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.
The pilot ejected just before the jet hit the ground and was transported to a local hospital.
The pilot's injuries are not life-threatening, and medical evaluation is ongoing.
Firefighters responded to a small vegetation fire caused by the crash near the site.
The F-35B is a version of the F-35 jet with a special engine for short takeoffs and vertical landings.
The crash was classified as a "Class A mishap," meaning the damage was severe, costing over $2 million or destroying the aircraft.
Since 2015, F-35 jets have had fewer crashes compared to other fighter jets when they were new, and pilot ejections are rare but have happened safely before.
The Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force operate more than 630 F-35 jets, which are expensive and advanced fighter aircraft.
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The US Senate held a hearing focused on the origins of COVID-19 and the government’s pandemic response, with Republicans, led by Senator Rand Paul, criticizing Dr. Anthony Fauci. The hearing repeated claims that COVID-19 came from a Wuhan lab but did not provide new evidence, continuing political divides on the topic.
Key Facts
The hearing was held by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Republicans questioned whether COVID-19 came from a lab in Wuhan, China, rather than naturally from animals.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US pandemic response, faced ongoing criticism.
A 2024 Republican report suggested the virus likely started at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Experts have said claims about the virus having unnatural traits and a single origin in humans are false.
Studies show the virus likely entered humans through at least two different ways.
President Trump and Senator Rand Paul support the lab leak theory.
President Trump criticized Fauci’s ideas publicly on social media.
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A recent CBS News poll found that 75% of Americans feel their income is not enough to keep up with rising prices caused by inflation. Many people also believe that President Donald Trump is not doing enough to reduce these higher costs.
Key Facts
75% of Americans say their income isn't keeping up with inflation.
Inflation means prices for goods and services are rising.
Many people feel the cost of living is becoming harder to manage.
The poll asks about opinions on President Donald Trump’s actions on inflation.
A significant number believe President Trump is not doing enough to lower prices.
The poll results reflect concerns about the economy among U.S. citizens.
Political strategists analyzed the poll findings.
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The Justice Department is dropping the criminal case against Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Officials said the damage happened because the contractor installed the pool incorrectly.
Key Facts
David Hearn, an Olympian, faced a criminal charge for damaging the Reflecting Pool.
The Justice Department is dismissing the case against him.
The damage to the pool was caused by a poor installation by the contractor.
The DOJ acknowledges the contractor’s flawed work led to the problems.
The incident involves a well-known monument, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The decision to dismiss the case came after reviewing the cause of the damage.
This is a recent development and the story may be updated.
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Labour's Bev Craig won the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection, taking 47% of the vote and securing the position after second preferences were counted. This win marks a return of key areas to Labour, who had lost ground to Reform UK and the Green party in recent local elections.
Key Facts
Bev Craig, Labour candidate and Manchester city council leader, won the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection.
Labour received 47% of the first vote, increasing to 66.3% after second preferences were counted under the supplementary voting system.
Reform UK came second with 21% initially, rising to 33.7% after second preferences.
The byelection followed Andy Burnham’s resignation after winning a parliamentary seat.
Labour regained areas previously lost to Reform UK and Greens in local elections earlier in the year.
Nigel Farage’s decision to step down as MP affected Reform UK’s campaign.
Labour's win signals possible recovery of voters lost under earlier party leadership.
The Green party’s slight drop in support contrasted with previous gains under new leadership.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked President Donald Trump to help get permission from Elon Musk to use Starlink satellites for targeting strikes inside Russia. Musk currently allows Starlink use only within Ukraine, not inside Russia, and Trump did not give a clear answer to Zelenskyy’s request.
Key Facts
Zelenskyy met President Trump in the Oval Office and requested help to get Elon Musk’s approval for expanded Starlink use.
Starlink is a satellite communication system owned by SpaceX, Elon Musk’s company.
Ukrainians use Starlink satellites in their own territory, including areas occupied by Russia, but not inside Russia.
Zelenskyy wants to use Starlink to guide military strikes inside Russian territory.
The U.S. is limiting Patriot missile production for Ukraine due to ongoing conflicts involving Israel and Iran.
Trump appeared to back away from a commitment to give Ukraine a license to make Patriot missile interceptors.
Two NATO intelligence agencies suspect Russia is developing anti-satellite weapons that could target Starlink satellites.
Elon Musk and SpaceX have not publicly commented on Zelenskyy’s request or expanded Starlink use.
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A federal appeals court has allowed about 450,000 student loan borrowers to have their debt canceled due to a class-action lawsuit against schools that misled students. This ruling could erase roughly $23 billion in loans for those affected.
Key Facts
The court blocked the government’s request to delay debt cancellation for nearly 200,000 borrowers, adding to a total of about 450,000 eligible people.
The lawsuit started in 2019, accusing schools of lying about accreditation, job prospects, and earnings.
The case has gone through different presidents’ administrations and changes in Education Secretaries but continued processing claims.
Borrower Defense rules let students get loans forgiven if their school committed serious misconduct.
Many affected schools were for-profit colleges that have now closed.
People currently in the settlement or with pending claims linked to specific schools qualify; new applicants cannot join.
The Department of Education said it tried to meet court deadlines but disagreed with the ruling rejecting their delay request.
This effort responds to demands for relief after years of delays and litigation involving multiple government administrations.
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WNBA player Brittney Griner has filed for divorce from her wife Cherelle Griner after eight years of marriage. The couple has a son, and Brittney is seeking joint custody and a fair division of their shared property and debts.
Key Facts
Brittney Griner filed for divorce in Fulton County, Georgia, in July 2026.
The couple married in June 2018 and separated on July 24, 2026.
They have a son named Bash, born in 2024.
Brittney is asking for joint physical custody of their son.
She wants an equitable (fair) split of their debts and assets, including both physical and non-physical property.
Cherelle Griner is an attorney and was a strong supporter when Brittney was detained in Russia in 2022.
Brittney was detained in Russia for 10 months before being released in a prisoner swap in December 2022.
Both Brittney and Cherelle have kept their personal matters private, with limited public statements.
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An Illinois sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, who was convicted of killing Sonya Massey, was denied early medical release from his 20-year prison sentence despite having advanced cancer. The prisoner review board unanimously rejected his request, stating the medical condition was already considered at sentencing.
Key Facts
Sean Grayson was convicted in October of second-degree murder for killing Sonya Massey.
Massey, a Black woman, was shot after calling 911 about a possible prowler in her home.
Grayson had colon cancer before the shooting and it had spread to his liver and lungs by January 2024.
The Illinois prisoner review board voted unanimously to deny Grayson’s early medical release.
Grayson was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence for his crime.
Grayson claimed Massey attacked him with boiling water, but bodycam footage contradicted this.
Sonya Massey’s family and their attorneys supported the denial of early release.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker called Massey’s killing a serious loss and emphasized the need for justice.
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Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse went to Capitol Hill to ask senators not to approve Todd Blanche as attorney general. Dani Bensky, one of Epstein’s survivors, spoke out against Blanche, calling him "walking perjury" because of concerns about his truthfulness and suitability for the job.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted sex offender.
Survivors of Epstein’s abuse are lobbying senators in Washington, D.C.
They want senators to reject Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general.
Dani Bensky, an Epstein survivor, publicly criticized Todd Blanche.
Bensky called Todd Blanche "walking perjury," implying he is not truthful.
The nomination is currently being considered by U.S. Senators.
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The guests for the August 2, 2026 episode of CBS News' "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" have been announced. They include lawmakers from both parties, a CEO of a tech company, and an independent former senator.
Key Facts
The program airs on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona will be a guest.
Republican Representative Mike Turner from Ohio will appear.
Clément Delangue, CEO of the tech company Hugging Face, is a guest.
Independent former Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia will join the show.
Heather Manchin, founder and CEO of Americans Together, is also a guest.
The show airs on CBS News at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
It also streams at 12:30 p.m. ET on Paramount+ and CBSNews.com.
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The U.S. government is looking into whether Iran caused a cyberattack on water systems in seven states, including Minnesota. Over 30 community water systems in Minnesota were affected. President Donald Trump said Minnesota, not Iran, is to blame for the attack.
Key Facts
There was a cyberattack on water systems in seven U.S. states.
More than 30 community water systems in Minnesota were affected.
The U.S. government is investigating if Iran is behind the attack.
President Donald Trump said Minnesota, not Iran, should be blamed.
The attack targeted the systems that manage water supply.
Homeland security officials are involved in the investigation.
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Prisciliano Trejo Ricano, a 29-year-old man from Mexico, died shortly after being released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention in Georgia. He was diagnosed with leukemia while in custody and had been arrested for driving-related offenses before being transferred to ICE.
Key Facts
Prisciliano Trejo Ricano died on July 22 after spending about three weeks in ICE custody.
He was released from ICE detention on July 16 with an order of recognizance, meaning he was allowed to go free under certain conditions.
He was initially arrested in North Carolina on June 19 for driving while intoxicated (DWI), hit-and-run, no driver’s license, and driving the wrong way.
ICE took custody of him on June 25 and transferred him to the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia on June 27.
Trejo Ricano was diagnosed with leukemia during his time in ICE custody.
His family said he had been in the DACA program but did not renew his status last year.
The detention center is managed by CoreCivic, and the group expressed sadness over his death and said detainee safety is a priority.
At least 55 people have died in ICE custody under President Donald Trump’s current administration, with concerns about medical care in detention centers being raised.
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Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, brother of the slain Mexican cartel leader "El Mencho," pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to conspiracy to traffic cocaine and methamphetamine. He faces at least 15 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation linked to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
Key Facts
Antonio Oseguera Cervantes admitted to conspiring to bring large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States.
His brother, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes ("El Mencho"), was the leader of CJNG and was killed by the Mexican army in February.
The death of "El Mencho" caused violent protests and blockades across 20 Mexican states, resulting in over 70 deaths.
CJNG is one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels and was designated a foreign terrorist organization by President Trump's administration in 2023.
Antonio faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and will be sentenced on November 13.
He was involved in trafficking approximately 992 pounds of cocaine and 99 pounds of methamphetamine from 1998 to 2022.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing a gun during the drug trafficking conspiracy.
The U.S. recently sanctioned more than 50 people and groups linked to CJNG, including its new leader Juan Carlos Gonzalez.
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An F-35B fighter jet crashed near a Marine Corps base in San Diego on Friday morning. The pilot safely ejected and suffered minor injuries; the cause of the crash is still unknown.
Key Facts
The crash happened near the Marine Corps Miramar air base in San Diego.
The pilot is not publicly named but is in stable condition after treatment.
The crash caused a small fire that firefighters quickly put out.
Officials called it a “Class A mishap,” meaning severe damage over $2 million or destruction of the aircraft.
Each F-35B jet costs about $109 million.
The F-35B is a stealth fighter jet capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings.
A similar Marine fighter jet crash occurred in Washington last month.
Investigations into such crashes can take several months to complete.
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A government contract that funded legal help for about 24,000 children in the U.S. without legal guardians has expired. This may leave many unaccompanied children without legal support, increasing their risk of deportation. The Trump administration has not said who will provide this help going forward.
Key Facts
The federal contract paid legal groups to represent unaccompanied children in deportation cases.
The contract ended recently, and there is no clear plan to replace it.
About 24,000 children in government-funded shelters received legal aid through this contract.
Legal groups could enter shelters to meet and represent these children under the contract.
The Trump administration has not explained why it let the contract expire.
Some providers said the government was withholding payments before the contract ended.
U.S. laws require legal help for unaccompanied children facing deportation.
Two Democratic lawmakers asked government officials to explain how children will continue to get legal services.
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