Melat Kiros, a democratic socialist, won a primary election in Colorado by defeating longtime Representative Diana DeGette. This victory adds to other wins by democratic socialist candidates in recent elections.
Key Facts
Melat Kiros ran as a democratic socialist candidate.
Kiros defeated Diana DeGette, a long-serving Colorado Representative.
The election was a primary, meaning it decided who will represent the party in the general election.
Democratic socialists have recently won several primary elections.
The result was analyzed by CBS News election experts.
The win could indicate growing support for democratic socialist ideas in that area.
Diana DeGette has been a representative for many years before this loss.
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As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Democrats aim to win several governor seats currently held by Republicans, especially in states President Donald Trump won in 2024. Kansas is considered the most likely state to switch from a Democratic to a Republican governor, while several other states have close races that could go either way.
Key Facts
Midterm elections often result in losses for the president’s party.
President Trump’s recent decline in approval ratings is linked to concerns about the economy and gas prices.
Kansas is the top state expected to flip from Democratic to Republican control in 2026.
Other key swing states include Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Michigan.
Polls show close races in Iowa and Ohio, with Democrats either leading or tied with Republicans.
The Democratic Governors Association is actively working to win more governor seats this November.
Prediction markets give Republicans a 67-71% chance of winning the Kansas governor race.
Both parties have some advantage in their current states but the races remain competitive.
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Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have different ways of supporting President Donald Trump's national security plans as they prepare for the 2028 presidential race. They come from different backgrounds and have opposing views on issues like the Middle East.
Key Facts
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are both aiming for the 2028 presidential election.
They come from different regions and backgrounds: Rubio is the son of Cuban immigrants and has long Senate experience; Vance is from the Midwest and a Marine Corps veteran with only two years in the Senate before becoming vice president.
Rubio focuses more on Latin America, while Vance emphasizes opposing foreign wars.
They have shown differences in their approach to Middle East policy.
Both officials respect each other publicly and the White House denies any conflict between them.
Their differing views reflect divisions within the Republican Party.
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Steven Crichton, a therapist from Pontypridd, Wales, used a food bank to support his family after graduating from university. Now, he volunteers to help make food banks more welcoming and reduce the stigma around using them.
Key Facts
Steven lost his father to suicide when he was six and later struggled with mental health and heroin addiction.
Counseling helped Steven change his life and inspired him to study therapy at university in his thirties.
After graduating, Steven and his partner faced financial hardship and used a food bank to feed their children.
Steven found the food bank experience more dignified than he expected and now volunteers there.
He helped food banks improve service by allowing people to choose their own food and stopping labeling bags with marker pens.
Steven believes removing shame from food bank use helps more people get support.
The local food bank values Steven’s experience to train volunteers to better understand visitors’ needs.
Steven now runs his own therapy business and prioritizes giving back to charities that helped him.
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President Donald Trump and his businesses reported earning more than $2.2 billion in 2025, according to a new financial disclosure. This amount is the highest ever recorded for any sitting U.S. president.
Key Facts
President Trump made over $2.2 billion in 2025.
The income includes money from his personal earnings and his businesses.
This figure is unprecedented in the history of U.S. presidential financial disclosures.
The information comes from a recently released financial filing.
CBS News and The New York Times reported on the disclosure.
The news highlights President Trump’s financial activities during his current term.
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Tucker Carlson said he is starting a new political party for voters who feel neither the Republican nor Democratic parties represent them. He has recently criticized President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, especially on foreign policy and military actions.
Key Facts
Tucker Carlson announced he will help build a third political party in the U.S.
He believes neither major party currently benefits the country well.
Carlson has criticized President Trump’s foreign policy, particularly actions against Iran.
He no longer supports the Republican Party and said he won’t back the GOP in the 2026 midterm elections.
Third parties face challenges like getting on ballots and winning votes in the U.S. system.
Even a small number of Republicans joining a new party could affect close House and Senate races.
The Republican Party is currently divided between Trump supporters and critics within the party.
Carlson’s new movement might challenge Republicans in upcoming elections by drawing away voters.
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Authorities in Los Angeles arrested 10 people linked to a sex-trafficking operation that exploited about 51 underage girls and women. The suspects, connected to a gang called the Hoovers, recruited victims through false promises or force between 2021 and 2026 along the Figueroa corridor.
Key Facts
Ten people were arrested for running a sex-trafficking ring targeting minors and women.
The operation involved members and associates of the Hoovers gang in South Los Angeles.
Victims included runaways and foster kids recruited with lies or violence.
One suspect, Cameron Lockett, allegedly injured a victim and forced her to lie to police.
Another suspect, Caleed Mouton, arranged an abortion for an underage victim and ordered her to work the same day.
Mukeshkumar Ahir, a hotel manager, is charged with taking money from the trafficking activities by renting rooms.
Arrested individuals face prison sentences from 15 years to life if convicted.
Law enforcement has targeted the Figueroa corridor before due to repeated trafficking problems, despite police resource cuts in recent years.
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Sixteen children were rescued from very poor and crowded conditions in a rural Ohio home, where they had been confined to one small room for about four years. Authorities charged the children’s parents and grandparents with child endangerment and are seeking temporary custody of the children.
Key Facts
Sixteen children, aged between 1.5 and 18 years, were found confined to a 12x12 ft room in Ohio.
The children lived in dirty conditions with human waste, and some had serious developmental challenges.
The family’s parents and two grandparents face 16 counts of second-degree felony child endangerment.
Authorities found the children during a search unrelated to their situation.
Seven children were taken to hospitals, and two were flown to trauma centers; one was in critical condition.
The children were not enrolled in school, and the family moved frequently, avoiding medical and government records.
Neighbors were unaware of the children’s situation and had never seen them outside the house.
Officials are working to ensure justice and have requested temporary custody for the children.
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A 16-year-old boy was seriously hurt in a shooting near a mosque in Birmingham. Police are investigating the case but do not think the shooting is related to the mosque.
Key Facts
The shooting happened near a mosque in the Alum Rock area of Birmingham.
Police were called just before 5:30 pm on Wednesday.
The teenager suffered potentially life-threatening gunshot wounds.
He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Police said the shooting likely is not connected to the mosque.
Officers are staying in the area to talk to local people and address concerns.
Investigators are reviewing forensic evidence and CCTV footage.
Police asked anyone with information or video from dashcams or doorbells to come forward.
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President Donald Trump visited the new Theodore Roosevelt Library in North Dakota. During the visit, he interacted with an artificial intelligence (AI) version of President Theodore Roosevelt, which shared words about presidential challenges and leadership.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump toured the Theodore Roosevelt Library on Wednesday.
The library is located in North Dakota.
An AI program portrayed former President Theodore Roosevelt.
The AI Roosevelt spoke about facing difficult challenges as president.
It emphasized staying calm and putting the nation first.
President Trump engaged in a conversation with this AI version of Roosevelt.
The event combined history with modern technology at the library.
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President Donald Trump said he will give a long speech on the National Mall for the United States’ 250th birthday, even though the weather is expected to be very hot, with temperatures around 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to speak at the National Mall on July 4.
The event marks the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Weather forecasts predict temperatures around 107 degrees Fahrenheit on that day.
Despite the heat, President Trump promises to deliver a long speech.
The July 4 celebration is a significant national event.
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President Donald Trump spoke in North Dakota at the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. During his remarks, he criticized the Supreme Court, Spain, and NATO. This event also marked his first flight on the new Air Force One given to the U.S. by Qatar.
Key Facts
President Trump gave a speech in North Dakota.
The event was for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
He criticized the Supreme Court during his remarks.
He also criticized Spain and NATO.
This was his first flight on the new Air Force One plane.
The new Air Force One was a gift from the Qatari government to the U.S. last year.
CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes reported on the event.
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Americans are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with mixed feelings. While many show pride, there is also division and doubt about the nation's current direction and unity.
Key Facts
The United States is marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.
People have different ways of showing love for the country, including celebration, activism, and calls for change.
President Donald Trump has both supporters and critics among Americans during this time.
Many Americans feel the nation is divided and question its current government and values.
A recent poll shows fewer people believe the U.S. is the best country, with 44% considering it just one of the best.
Discussions about patriotism reference Mark Twain’s idea that loyalty should depend on the government’s actions.
The anniversary events reflect pride but also ongoing political and social disagreements across the country.
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A federal judge blocked a plan by President Donald Trump’s administration to limit mail-in voting by stopping the US Postal Service from refusing to deliver ballots in states that do not share their voter lists with the federal government. This decision follows a recent court ruling that also challenged the administration’s efforts to restrict mail-in voting and aims to protect voters’ access to timely ballot delivery.
Key Facts
Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled against a USPS plan linked to an executive order by President Trump to restrict mail-in voting.
The USPS plan would have required states to share voter lists with federal agencies and change voting procedures, or the postal service would refuse ballot delivery.
The ruling supports the NAACP, which argued that the USPS must ensure timely delivery of election mail as required by a 2021 legal settlement.
This legal settlement came after delays in postal service during the 2020 election threatened voters' access to mail-in ballots.
Another judge recently blocked the mail-in voting restrictions in 23 states and Washington, D.C., expanding the protections nationwide.
The court’s decision aims to prevent barriers that could unfairly affect Black voters and others who rely on mail voting.
Voting by mail helps reduce voter intimidation and problems on election day, according to civil rights groups.
The USPS did not provide a comment on the ruling.
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Writer E Jean Carroll is asking President Donald Trump to pay $5.8 million in damages after the Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal in her 2019 defamation case. A judge has ordered Trump’s legal team to respond by July 7 so the payment process can move forward.
Key Facts
E Jean Carroll accused President Trump of rape in 1996, which he denied.
Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump after he called her accusations lies.
A jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarded Carroll $5 million in damages in May 2023.
A second case awarded Carroll $83.3 million in January 2024, and Trump is appealing that decision.
The Supreme Court refused to hear Trump’s appeal of the $5 million ruling in June 2024.
Carroll’s lawyer says Trump has delayed payment by using new legal defenses repeatedly.
Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered Trump’s lawyers to respond by July 7 to speed up payment.
The total damages Carroll seeks have grown to about $5.8 million as interest has accrued.
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The EPA under President Trump approved three new pesticides that contain very strong chemical bonds, called carbon-fluorine bonds, which make them hard to break down in the environment. The EPA disagrees with the idea that these pesticides should be called “forever chemicals,” a term for substances that do not easily degrade.
Key Facts
The EPA approved three new pesticides containing carbon-fluorine bonds.
Carbon-fluorine bonds are strong and make chemicals hard to break down.
Some people call chemicals with these bonds “forever chemicals” because they last a long time in nature.
The EPA disputes or disagrees with calling these pesticides “forever chemicals.”
These actions happened during President Trump’s administration.
The approval of these pesticides may raise concerns about environmental impact.
The term “forever chemicals” is an international label for persistent chemicals.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to uphold birthright citizenship, confirming that children born in the United States are citizens regardless of their parents' immigration status. Norman Wong, great-grandson of Wong Kim Ark—whose case originally secured this right—said the decision protects fundamental rights for all Americans.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of maintaining birthright citizenship.
President Donald Trump had issued an order trying to end citizenship for children born to parents in the U.S. illegally or temporarily.
Wong Kim Ark was a Chinese American whose Supreme Court case established birthright citizenship in U.S. law.
Norman Wong, his great-grandson, spoke publicly in support of the ruling.
Wong emphasized the ruling protects rights for all Americans, not just specific ethnic groups.
The decision rejects President Trump’s attempt to limit citizenship based on immigration status.
Norman Wong began actively speaking out about birthright citizenship after Trump’s 2025 executive order.
The ruling confirms an ongoing legal precedent about citizenship rights under the U.S. Constitution.
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Many social adult daycare centers for seniors funded by Medicaid have opened quickly in a New York City neighborhood called Flushing, Queens. Federal investigators are looking into whether these centers are billing Medicaid correctly or committing fraud, as Medicaid payments for these centers in New York have risen sharply in recent years.
Key Facts
Social adult daycare centers provide meals, personal care, and social activities to seniors and people with disabilities.
Medicaid paid $3.35 billion nationwide in 2024 for adult daycare services, with 17% going to New York state’s 375 centers.
Spending on adult daycare in New York nearly quadrupled from 2018 to 2024.
Flushing, Queens, has 64 adult daycare centers in a one-mile area, the highest concentration in the U.S.
These centers bill Medicaid for services to over 90% of local Medicaid-eligible seniors in Flushing.
From 2018 to 2024, the number of seniors billed by these centers in Flushing increased by 390%, much higher than the 20% population growth.
New York State has referred 387 adult daycare centers for investigation since 2021, with some cases sent to the Attorney General.
Federal and state authorities are increasing efforts to find and stop fraud in Medicaid and other taxpayer-funded programs.
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A federal judge in Arkansas struck down several state laws that made it harder for citizens to gather signatures for ballot initiatives. The judge said these laws violated voters' free speech rights because they imposed unnecessary rules like requiring photo ID or reading long ballot questions before signing.
Key Facts
A federal judge threw out Arkansas laws that added extra limits on collecting signatures for ballot measures.
The ruling favored groups like the League of Women Voters of Arkansas and Protect AR Rights.
Arkansas added these restrictions after petitions to legalize abortion were rejected on a legal technicality.
The laws struck down included requiring petition signers to show photo ID and to read ballot questions aloud before signing.
The judge said these rules violated free speech since the state already checks if signers are registered voters.
The court noted Arkansas had not prosecuted cases of petition canvassers misrepresenting questions, so strict new rules were unnecessary.
Some challenges remain unresolved and will go to trial.
Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester defended the laws but has not yet commented on the ruling.
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The U.S. government has recently made changes affecting people with disabilities. The Department of Education’s role in overseeing special education is moving to the Department of Health and Human Services, and new rules from the Department of Justice may make it easier to place disabled individuals into institutions.
Key Facts
The Department of Education is transferring special education oversight to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy has made controversial comments regarding disabilities like autism.
Advocates and lawmakers have criticized these changes and comments.
The Department of Justice issued guidance that lowers the requirements for institutionalizing people with disabilities.
These shifts follow a White House initiative focused on addressing homelessness.
Disabled people have fought for decades to live and learn alongside non-disabled peers.
Some advocates worry these changes could reduce rights and inclusion for disabled individuals.
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