The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that political parties can spend unlimited money coordinating with a candidate’s campaign. This decision overturns a long-standing federal law that set limits on such coordinated spending, citing free speech rights under the First Amendment.
Key Facts
The ruling came in the case Federal Election Commission (FEC) v. National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).
The court voted 6-3, with six conservative justices supporting the decision and three liberal justices opposing it.
The overturned law had been in place for more than 50 years and limited coordinated spending by political parties with candidates.
The court said limiting this spending restricts free speech protected by the First Amendment.
Unlike super PACs, which cannot coordinate spending with campaigns, political parties can coordinate directly with candidates.
The decision may increase political donations to party committees instead of super PACs.
The Federal Election Commission had defended the spending limits but reversed its position after President Trump took office.
Democratic party committees defended the limits in court, fearing more influence from wealthy donors.
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Seven former employees of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sued the agency after being fired. They were dismissed after signing a letter that criticized the Trump administration for ignoring science and helping polluters.
Key Facts
Seven former EPA staffers were fired after signing a dissent letter.
The letter said the administration was harming public trust in the EPA.
It accused the administration of ignoring scientific facts.
The letter claimed actions were taken to benefit polluters.
The fired employees filed two lawsuits against the EPA.
They argue their firings were illegal and violated their rights.
The lawsuits were filed on a Tuesday (exact date not provided).
This dispute involves environmental policy and government actions under President Donald Trump.
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President Donald Trump's recent tax filing shows he made $2.2 billion in 2025. Additionally, H. R. McMaster said that Iran is gaining all it wanted in talks with the United States.
Key Facts
President Trump made $2.2 billion in 2025 according to his tax filing.
H. R. McMaster commented on U.S. negotiations with Iran.
McMaster said Iran is achieving its goals in the talks.
The information comes from a CBS News segment called The Takeout with Major Garrett.
The news was shared on July 1.
CBS News provides access to the segment through its app and website.
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Representative Maxwell Frost from Florida asked the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to investigate companies that let tenants pay their rent in parts over time. These "rent now, pay later" plans have become more common as housing costs have grown across the United States.
Key Facts
Maxwell Frost is the youngest member of the U.S. Congress.
He sent a letter on Wednesday to the CFPB asking for a probe into "rent now, pay later" companies.
These companies include Flex and Livble.
They offer tenants the option to split rent payments instead of paying all at once.
Housing costs have been rising across the country, leading tenants to seek new payment options.
The CFPB is a government agency that oversees consumer financial protections.
The investigation aims to understand if these rent payment plans are fair and safe for tenants.
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John Brennan, former CIA Director, filed a lawsuit against President Trump’s administration. He wants a court to order the government to keep records from investigations that he says unfairly target him.
Key Facts
John Brennan served as Director of the CIA.
He sued the Trump administration on a Wednesday.
The lawsuit asks the court to require officials to preserve investigation records.
Brennan claims he is being targeted for criminal conduct that is not real.
He believes the records will reveal why government officials are investigating him.
The records would help him defend against possible future charges.
Brennan says any charges would be unfair and meant to punish him.
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Two Russian climbers, Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, climbed the Empire State Building in New York City to stage a marriage proposal. They were arrested after hanging from the building’s spire.
Key Facts
The climbers are from Russia: Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau.
They climbed the Empire State Building, which is about 1,500 feet tall.
Their climb was part of a marriage proposal.
They hung from the top spire of the building during the proposal.
The event was described as highly dangerous.
The climbers are featured in a Netflix documentary called “Skywalkers.”
Police arrested them after the stunt on Wednesday.
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New York City is facing a dangerous heat wave causing high electricity use, especially from air conditioning. The local utility, Con Edison, is asking residents to save power during busy hours, but the bright electronic billboards in Times Square will stay on, though their brightness may be lowered to save energy.
Key Facts
A heat wave is causing high temperatures and humidity across New York City and much of the U.S.
Con Edison, the city's utility company, told people to conserve electricity from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. to avoid power outages.
The city advised residents to set air conditioners to 78 degrees and avoid using major appliances during peak hours.
Times Square’s electronic billboards will not be turned off, but their brightness may be reduced to save energy.
Con Edison operates 65 different underground power networks in the city, so turning off Times Square screens would not free up much electricity for others.
Con Edison has spent $3.9 billion recently to improve the power system and prepare for more hot days caused by climate change.
Weather forecasts warn that heat and humidity could stay high through the holiday weekend in New York and other places.
Officials have activated emergency heat-response plans to protect people during this weather event.
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President Donald Trump responded to criticism about his cryptocurrency earnings, saying that many people are making money from crypto. A recent financial report showed he earned over $1 billion from cryptocurrency activities in 2025.
Key Facts
President Trump made over $1 billion from cryptocurrency ventures in 2025.
Critics claim he is using the presidency to profit from crypto investments.
Trump said that many people are benefiting financially from cryptocurrencies.
The information came from a recent financial disclosure report.
The discussion was covered by CBS News and included analysis from a MarketWatch correspondent.
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House lawmakers started their July 4th recess earlier than planned because some Republican members blocked Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan. The speaker wanted to combine the SAVE America Act with the yearly defense policy bill, but the effort did not succeed.
Key Facts
Lawmakers went on their July 4th recess early on Tuesday.
Some Republican Party members prevented Speaker Mike Johnson from merging two bills.
The bills were the SAVE America Act and the National Defense Authorization Act.
The National Defense Authorization Act is the annual defense policy bill.
The news was reported by CBS News and correspondent Nikole Killion.
The attempt to combine the bills failed due to opposition within the GOP.
Speaker Mike Johnson leads the House of Representatives.
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Two people climbed to the top of the Empire State Building's antenna in New York City and displayed a banner about love and peace. They took photos, hugged, and were later arrested by authorities.
Key Facts
The incident happened on a Wednesday around midday.
The two people wore black clothes and masks.
They climbed to the antenna, which is 1,454 feet (443 meters) high.
They showed a banner that said, "when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace."
They were not secured by safety ropes.
They embraced and took selfies at the top.
Police arrested both individuals after they came down safely.
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Progressive candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are winning important primary races in several states ahead of the 2026 elections. Republicans are using these victories to argue that socialism is a growing threat in America, aiming to motivate their supporters by highlighting this shift.
Key Facts
Progressive Democratic candidates aligned with the DSA won primaries in New York, Colorado, Kentucky, Texas, Maine, New Jersey, and Philadelphia in 2026.
The DSA currently has two seats in Congress, and this election cycle’s wins could double that number if they succeed in remaining races.
President Donald Trump called communism the biggest threat to the U.S. since major past attacks and wars.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said communism is now present on American shores.
Republicans use the term "socialism" as a political tool because it sounds scarier to many voters than the policies themselves.
Some Republican strategists say that many progressive policies actually receive support when not labeled as socialist.
Democratic strategists worry that the rise of DSA candidates beyond large cities could hurt Democrats in more areas.
A recent Gallup poll found that only 54% of Americans view capitalism positively, the lowest since 2010, while views on socialism have remained mostly unchanged.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ended its recent term with mixed rulings for President Donald Trump, rejecting some of his major policies while supporting others. The court, led by a conservative majority, has continued to strengthen the power of the presidency in several ways.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court blocked Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship, ruling it violated the 14th Amendment.
The court stopped Trump’s reciprocal tariffs policy, saying he misused emergency powers.
The court upheld the independence of the Federal Reserve, preventing Trump from firing member Lisa Cook without following legal steps.
The court rejected Trump’s attempt to block states from accepting mail-in ballots after polls close.
The court confirmed the president can fire leaders of executive agencies, even if Congress intended those agencies to be independent.
The court ruled that presidents have “absolute immunity” for official acts, shielding them from criminal prosecution while in office.
Trump’s efforts to expand presidential power continue to influence political debates, especially around birthright citizenship.
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John Brennan, the former CIA Director, has sued the Trump administration to make sure records about investigations into him are kept safe. He is worried that the government might destroy or hide these records as part of a political attack against him.
Key Facts
John Brennan filed a lawsuit in Washington D.C. federal court to preserve records related to investigations against him.
Brennan’s lawyers say the Trump administration changed rules on keeping records, which is different from past practice.
The lawsuit claims the Justice Department has a history of irregular actions in cases that seem like political revenge.
Brennan believes these investigations are part of President Trump’s effort to punish his critics, including Brennan himself.
A Justice Department spokesperson called Brennan’s claim of a “retribution campaign” ironic but did not explain further.
Brennan plans to fight strongly if he is formally charged.
The lawsuit mentions past actions by the Trump administration that appeared to target political opponents, like subpoenas to Jerome Powell and an investigation of Minnesota’s Governor.
The court order Brennan seeks is meant to ensure records are kept intact for courts to review his claims about retaliation.
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The Trump administration sued California and Virginia over their new laws that limit the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms. The Justice Department argues these laws go against the Second Amendment right to bear arms, while both states say their laws protect public safety.
Key Facts
The Justice Department filed separate lawsuits against California and Virginia over new gun laws.
Both laws restrict the sale of certain semiautomatic guns.
Virginia’s law bans the sale and manufacture of certain semiautomatic firearms and started this year.
California’s law stops gun shops from selling specific handguns that can be easily changed to fully automatic.
Virginia’s Attorney General and California’s Attorney General both support their states’ gun laws.
California claims its gun laws have helped reduce gun-related deaths.
The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear a case about whether banning semiautomatic rifles is constitutional.
The Supreme Court has recently made rulings that expand gun rights.
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President Donald Trump made about $1.2 billion last year from various sources, with cryptocurrency businesses earning him more money than his real estate holdings. His financial report shows earnings from crypto tokens, real estate in foreign countries, lawsuits against media companies, and sales of branded products like watches and Bibles.
Key Facts
President Trump earned approximately $1.2 billion in the past year.
His crypto businesses brought in over $1.1 billion combined from selling governance tokens, stablecoins, and "meme" coins.
Real estate continued to generate income, including from new foreign property holdings.
He made tens of millions from lawsuits against media companies concerned about broadcast licenses and regulatory approvals.
Sales of branded items such as Bibles, guitars, and watches added millions to his revenue, with watches alone bringing in $4.7 million.
A Chinese billionaire purchased large amounts of Trump-related crypto, but later faced a lawsuit that was settled with a fine.
A company linked to the United Arab Emirates government invested $500 million in one of Trump’s crypto businesses shortly before his inauguration, with Trump receiving nearly $200 million from that deal.
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The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing over 1,000 grand jury cases in Illinois after a major case was dropped due to prosecutor misconduct. The review aims to make sure all prosecutors followed ethical rules and to check if other cases might have similar problems.
Key Facts
The review covers grand jury presentations from nearly 20 years and ongoing cases in the Northern District of Illinois.
The review started because of problems in a case involving four activists protesting an immigration crackdown.
Prosecutors dropped charges against the activists after a judge raised concerns about misconduct during grand jury proceedings.
Misconduct included a prosecutor meeting privately with a grand juror and excluding jurors who disagreed about the case dismissal.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros said the review is extensive and aims to restore trust in the justice process.
The judge made grand jury transcripts public, revealing strong disagreement from one grand juror about the case.
The case was part of the immigration enforcement actions in Chicago and nearby areas last year.
Boutros emphasized no one intended to mislead the court but apologized for the unacceptable conduct.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to ban a tax strategy called "buy, borrow, die" that some wealthy people use to avoid paying taxes. This strategy lets rich individuals borrow money using their assets instead of selling them and paying taxes, and their heirs inherit those assets without capital gains taxes. However, experts say this method is not widely used by the richest families, who mostly grow wealth by holding onto assets without selling.
Key Facts
The "buy, borrow, die" strategy involves buying assets, borrowing money against them, and passing them on to heirs who get a stepped-up tax basis.
Borrowing against assets avoids paying capital gains taxes because loan money is not taxable income.
When heirs inherit assets, they pay no capital gains tax on the increase in value during the original owner’s life.
Elon Musk and billionaire John Malone have used this strategy.
Governor Newsom calls this a loophole that benefits only the richest Americans and wants Congress to close it.
Analysis shows the strategy accounts for only 1% to 2% of economic income for the wealthiest 1%.
Experts say most rich people increase wealth by holding assets and letting gains grow without selling, deferring taxes.
Some states, including California, propose new taxes on unrealized gains to tax rich people’s total wealth, not just income.
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Melat Kiros won the Democratic primary for Colorado’s first congressional district. She said she will not support any party leader who takes money from corporate political action committees (PACs).
Key Facts
Melat Kiros is 29 years old and identifies as a democratic socialist.
She defeated long-time Democratic Representative Diana DeGette in the primary.
Kiros opposes leaders who accept campaign donations from corporate PACs.
She is part of a growing group of Democrats seeking changes in the party’s practices.
Her victory reflects a shift in support toward candidates challenging the party’s establishment.
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Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) candidates have recently won many primary elections across the US, including in New York City, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. The group is growing quickly and aims to expand its influence beyond winning individual offices to create bigger political changes.
Key Facts
DSA-backed candidates won nine of ten Democratic primary races in New York City recently.
Zohran Mamdani was elected as New York City’s first immigrant, Muslim, and DSA member mayor in 2024.
Melat Kiros, a democratic socialist, defeated longtime US representative Diana DeGette in Colorado.
Janeese Lewis George is expected to become mayor of Washington DC.
Chris Rabb was selected as the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania’s third congressional district.
DSA’s New York chapter grew from 5,900 members in fall 2024 to 14,000 before the recent primaries, with more joining after the wins.
There are over 200 local DSA chapters across the US, with 20 chapters having more than 1,000 members each.
DSA leaders want to continue increasing their political power and influence beyond just winning a few offices.
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Sixteen children, aged 18 months to 18 years, were taken from a rural Ohio home after officials found them living in very poor conditions. Four adults, identified as the children’s parents and grandparents, were charged with multiple counts of child endangerment. Some children needed urgent medical care, and the case is being investigated further.
Key Facts
The children were found in a home in Hamden, Vinton County, Ohio.
Authorities described the living conditions as extremely bad and unhealthy.
The children included an 18-year-old with developmental delays treated as a child in this case.
Four adults—Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr., and Elizabeth Siders—were arrested and charged.
Each adult faces 16 counts of second-degree felony child endangerment.
Some children were airlifted to trauma centers, and others were taken to hospitals.
The lawyers for the accused will likely be court-appointed.
Prosecutors said the case is a family matter, not related to human trafficking.
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