US News

Sen. Mitch McConnell returns to Congress after 3-month absence

September 14, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky came back to Congress after being away for about three months. His return marks the end of his long absence from Capitol Hill.

Key Facts

Senator Mitch McConnell is a Republican from Kentucky.
He was absent from Congress for around three months.
McConnell returned to Capitol Hill on a Monday.
His return was covered by CBS News.
The absence was noted as a significant break from his duties.

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CBS News

Lower-paid workers who change jobs seeing biggest pay raises in more than 3 years, report finds

September 14, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

Workers in lower-paying jobs who switch to new jobs are getting the biggest pay increases seen in over three years. This shows that changing jobs can help some workers earn more money faster.

Key Facts

Lower-paid workers who change jobs are seeing faster wage growth than before.
Their pay raises are the largest in more than three years.
The trend suggests that job switching is helping these workers increase their earnings.
The information comes from a report covered by CBS News MoneyWatch.
The report highlights a recent change in the U.S. labor market for lower-wage workers.

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CBS News

Blanche claims evidence for mail-in voting fraud is "common sense"

September 14, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

Attorney General Todd Blanche said that mail-in voting has a higher chance of fraud compared to voting in person with an ID. When asked for proof, he said it was just "common sense."

Key Facts

Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke about mail-in voting fraud risks.
Blanche claimed mail-in voting is more likely to have fraud than in-person voting.
He did not provide specific evidence to support his claim.
When asked for proof, Blanche replied it was "common sense."
The interview was conducted by CBS News reporter Nicole Sganga.
The discussion focused on voting security and fraud concerns.

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CBS News

Mahmoud Khalil lawsuit says Columbia University failed to protect pro-Palestinian activists

September 14, 2026 • PBS NewsHour

Summary

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist, sued Columbia University for not protecting him and other pro-Palestinian students from harassment. The lawsuit claims the university ignored their reports and retaliated, which led to personal information being shared online and Khalil being detained by immigration officials.

Key Facts

Mahmoud Khalil filed a civil rights lawsuit against Columbia University.
The lawsuit says the university failed to stop harassment against pro-Palestinian students.
It claims the university was "deliberately indifferent" to their complaints.
The harassment included doxing, which means sharing private information online.
Khalil was detained by immigration agents following the harassment.
The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in New York City.
It accuses the university of retaliating against students who reported the harassment.
The affected group is part of a pro-Palestinian campus organization.

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PBS NewsHour

Texas governor threatens to penalize datacenters not obeying water laws

September 14, 2026 • Guardian World

Summary

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered state officials to punish datacenters that do not report their water usage as required by Texas law. This move comes as Texas faces drought and a rapid increase in datacenter construction, which uses large amounts of water.

Key Facts

Governor Abbott directed the Texas Water Development Board to penalize datacenters not sharing complete water use data.
The Texas Water Code requires datacenters to provide accurate water usage surveys.
Abbott said some datacenters may have broken civil and criminal laws by failing to report water usage.
An audit is underway to check datacenter water consumption and efficiency efforts.
Datacenters must complete this audit or risk being denied access to the Texas power grid.
Texas has 335 datacenters and plans more, possibly becoming the state with the most datacenters worldwide.
In 2025, Texas datacenters used about 25 billion gallons of water; this could rise to 161 billion gallons by 2030.
The water used by datacenters may equal about 2.7% of Texas’s total water use, similar to the amount used by 1.3 million U.S. households.

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Guardian World

Donald Trump Jr and Bettina Trump say Putin ally paid for some wedding festivities as a 'gift'

September 14, 2026 • BBC Top Stories

Summary

Donald Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina said that part of their May wedding in the Bahamas was paid for by Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch connected to President Vladimir Putin. The couple called the gift generous, but ethics groups raised concerns about the close ties between a U.S. president’s son and a foreign national linked to Russia.

Key Facts

Bettina Trump confirmed on Instagram that Umar Kremlev helped pay for two nights of their wedding celebrations.
The wedding took place on a private island in the Bahamas and included expensive events like a $70,000 fireworks display.
Umar Kremlev is a Russian oligarch, leads the International Boxing Association, and has close ties to Putin, including receiving a top state honor.
Donald Trump Jr. is a private citizen, so accepting gifts from foreigners is not illegal for him.
Ethics groups say accepting such gifts can still create the appearance of a conflict of interest.
The wedding was attended by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who has worked on U.S. diplomatic talks.
Kremlev and Trump Jr. say they have a personal friendship but no business deals.
The Trump family’s connections to Russia were previously investigated during the 2016 election.

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BBC Top Stories

6 takeaways as Trump takes sledgehammer to power plant climate regs

September 14, 2026 • The Hill

Summary

President Donald Trump’s administration has removed most federal climate regulations for power plants. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new rule that greatly reduces restrictions aimed at lowering pollution from these plants.

Key Facts

The Trump administration’s EPA issued a final rule cutting most climate regulations for power plants.
The new rule eliminates many previous limits on greenhouse gas emissions from coal and gas power plants.
Some regulations remain, but they are much weaker than before.
The change reflects the administration’s priority of supporting fossil fuel industries over climate protections.
The updated rule replaces earlier regulations designed to reduce global warming pollution.
Critics worry this move will increase air pollution and harm climate goals.
Supporters claim it will reduce costs for power plants and boost energy production.
The rule is a key part of President Trump’s approach to energy and environmental policy.

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The Hill

DHS officers raise concerns over potentially illegal voter searches and unreliable data, whistleblower says

September 14, 2026 • Guardian World

Summary

A whistleblower revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told officers investigating voter fraud that they would not be punished for possibly breaking state laws when accessing voter information online. The whistleblower also raised concerns about the accuracy of the voter data DHS provided and the legality of how officers were asked to look up voter records.

Key Facts

DHS lawyers told officers they would not be personally responsible if they violated state laws while checking voter registration info.
Officers were asked to use voter data to search state websites, some of which require users to confirm they are accessing only their own information.
Accessing voter websites under false pretenses may be illegal, but DHS officers were reassured they would not face personal penalties.
The whistleblower worries this means DHS leadership knows the searches might be illegal but still requires them.
Officers found discrepancies when voter records in state databases did not match DHS data.
California posed a problem because officers could not access its voter registration system, yet were told to still create files on those individuals in a DHS database.
This could lead to thousands of inaccurate or unsupported records in DHS systems about California voters.
DHS has not publicly responded to these allegations.

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Guardian World

Trump Blames America's High Prices on Biden: What the Data Shows

September 14, 2026 • Newsweek

Summary

President Donald Trump says that rising prices in America are caused by President Joe Biden’s policies, claiming that inflation is Biden’s fault, not his own. However, recent government data shows inflation has slowed since 2022, but gas prices have risen and food prices have changed differently for various items.

Key Facts

President Trump blames higher prices and inflation on President Biden and the Biden Administration.
Inflation (the rate at which prices rise) peaked at 9.1% in June 2022 under Biden, the highest in over 40 years.
By August 2023, inflation slowed to 3.4%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Food prices at home rose 2.2% over the past year, with eggs becoming cheaper but beef staying expensive.
Gasoline prices increased sharply, with the national average above $4.30 per gallon, higher than at the end of Biden’s presidency but lower than 2022 peaks.
Global events and wars have disrupted oil supplies, affecting gas prices in the U.S.
Consumer confidence in the economy dropped in September 2023, and Americans expect inflation to rise to 4.6% in the next year.
The cost of living is influenced by both the overall price level and how fast prices are rising, both affected by different factors over time.

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Newsweek

Senate Candidate Destroys Flock Security Camera With Shotgun in Campaign Ad

September 14, 2026 • Newsweek

Summary

Montana Senate candidate Seth Bodnar released a campaign ad showing himself shooting a Flock Safety surveillance camera with a shotgun. The ad highlights concerns about digital privacy and the use of automated license plate readers, which are being debated in multiple states ahead of the 2026 elections.

Key Facts

Seth Bodnar is a Montana Senate candidate who destroyed a Flock Safety camera on camera in his campaign ad.
Flock Safety operates over 120,000 automated license plate reader cameras in 49 states.
Bodnar says the cameras track people doing everyday activities and store their vehicle data in cloud systems.
Flock Safety says it does not sell user data and that law enforcement owns the collected information.
No law enforcement agency has announced an investigation into the destruction of the camera shown in the ad.
In Tennessee, another candidate was charged with felony vandalism for shooting Flock cameras.
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley is investigating Flock Safety for allegedly operating an unauthorized national surveillance network.
Privacy concerns over AI-driven monitoring and digital surveillance are driving calls for federal regulation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

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Newsweek

Blanche says more 9/11 documents will be released

September 14, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

Attorney General Todd Blanche said the U.S. government will keep releasing more documents about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He explained that the government only holds back documents that contain real classified information to protect security, not to hide anything else.

Key Facts

More documents related to the 9/11 attacks will be made public by the government.
Attorney General Todd Blanche spoke about the document release on CBS News.
Some documents are still withheld because they contain classified (secret) information.
The government is not protecting itself or other groups by holding back these documents.
The release aims to balance public knowledge with national security needs.
The comments were made in an interview with CBS News correspondent Nicole Sganga.
The 9/11 terrorist attacks happened on September 11, 2001.

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CBS News

News Wrap: Kennedy Center warns of 'fiscal collapse' without Trump's name on building

September 14, 2026 • PBS NewsHour

Summary

Officials at the Kennedy Center say the center will face serious money problems unless President Trump’s name is added to the outside of the building. State election officials are preparing for possible issues with mail-in ballots before the midterm elections.

Key Facts

The Kennedy Center officials warn about a financial crisis without President Trump’s name on the building.
Some state election officials expect uncertainty around mail-in voting ahead of the midterms.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte criticized Russia for attacks near the Poland-Ukraine border.
The warnings come as the U.S. government and election officials focus on upcoming elections.
Adding President Trump’s name is seen as important for the Kennedy Center’s funding.

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PBS NewsHour

WATCH: McConnell returns to the Senate for the first time since his June hospitalization

September 14, 2026 • PBS NewsHour

Summary

Senator Mitch McConnell returned to the Senate on Monday after being hospitalized in June due to a fall and mild pneumonia. This was his first time back in the Senate since the incident.

Key Facts

Mitch McConnell is a Republican senator from Kentucky.
He was hospitalized after a fall at his home on June 14.
McConnell was treated for mild pneumonia during his hospital stay.
He was briefly unconscious after the fall.
McConnell was absent from the Senate for about three months.
His long absence led to criticism and online guessing about his health.
He returned to the Senate to cast his first vote since June.
McConnell is 84 years old.

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PBS NewsHour

Tracing notorious lawyer Roy Cohn's life and dealings with Trump

September 14, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

The article discusses a new book called "American Scoundrel" that explores the life of lawyer Roy Cohn and his relationship with President Donald Trump. The book explains how they met, worked together, and how Cohn influenced Trump.

Key Facts

The book is titled "American Scoundrel."
It focuses on lawyer Roy Cohn who was known for his controversial career.
Roy Cohn had a close partnership with President Donald Trump.
The book details how Cohn and Trump met and worked together.
Cohn had a strong influence on Trump's behavior and actions.
Authors Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark wrote the book.
The story was discussed on the CBS News program "The Takeout."

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CBS News

Trump says U.S. needs a "high IQ" president to handle AI

September 14, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

President Donald Trump said the United States needs a "high IQ" president to manage artificial intelligence (AI). This statement came after tech leaders like Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk called for a global slowdown in AI development.

Key Facts

President Trump believes a very smart president is needed to handle AI challenges.
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, wrote a long essay asking for a global pause on rapid AI development.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Elon Musk agreed with Amodei’s call on social media.
These tech leaders worry about how fast AI is advancing.
The discussion is happening while AI technologies are growing quickly and raising concerns.
President Trump shared his views in response to these discussions.

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CBS News

Putin-tied Russian oligarch paid for Trump Jr.'s wedding celebrations

September 14, 2026 • PBS NewsHour

Summary

A ProPublica report says a Russian businessman linked to Vladimir Putin paid for part of Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebrations in the Bahamas. The businessman is Umar Kremlev, who leads the International Boxing Association and reportedly covered hundreds of thousands of dollars in wedding costs.

Key Facts

The report comes from ProPublica, an investigative news organization.
Umar Kremlev is a Russian oligarch connected to Vladimir Putin.
Kremlev is the president of the International Boxing Association.
He reportedly paid for significant expenses related to Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding.
The wedding took place in the Bahamas.
The payments totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Justin Elliot, a journalist from ProPublica, helped investigate and report the story.

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PBS NewsHour

9/14: CBS Evening News

September 14, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

President Donald Trump and AI company leaders had different views about the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). President Trump also said that Ukraine is responsible for high oil and gas prices.

Key Facts

President Trump and AI executives disagree about warnings that AI could cause serious problems.
AI executives have expressed concerns about AI's potential risks.
President Trump blamed the situation in Ukraine for rising oil and gas prices.
The discussion took place during the CBS Evening News broadcast on September 14.
President Trump is currently serving his second term as U.S. President.

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CBS News

More than 1.2 million children have lost SNAP benefits since last July. Experts explain why

September 14, 2026 • PBS NewsHour

Summary

More than 1.2 million children lost food aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) between July 2025 and 2026. Experts say the drop is not because fewer people need help but results from changes in federal rules and spending cuts made by President Donald Trump's government.

Key Facts

Over 1.2 million children lost SNAP benefits from July 2025 to 2026; the number could be as high as 1.5 million.
SNAP helps families buy food, and losing benefits is harmful for children’s nutrition.
The drop in SNAP participation is linked to President Trump's tax and spending law cutting over $1 trillion from social programs.
The law added stricter work rules for adults on SNAP and shifted more program costs to states.
About 5 million people overall lost SNAP benefits since the law changed.
Economic conditions have not improved enough to explain why so many lost access to food aid.
Some immigrants lost SNAP eligibility, and fears about immigration status may stop others from applying.
Changes made during the COVID-19 pandemic that expanded SNAP benefits ended, contributing to the decline but not fully explaining it.

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PBS NewsHour

Former CIA chief John Brennan subpoenaed in Florida "grand conspiracy" probe

September 14, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

John Brennan, former CIA Director, was subpoenaed to testify in a Florida grand jury investigation about a possible conspiracy involving officials from the Obama and Biden administrations. The investigation focuses on whether President Trump’s rights were violated to keep him from office and whether Brennan lied to Congress. The lead prosecutor recently resigned, but the Justice Department says the investigation will continue.

Key Facts

John Brennan was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury in Fort Pierce, Florida, on October 15.
The subpoena was signed by Joe diGenova, who recently resigned from the investigation.
The probe looks into whether officials from Obama and Biden eras conspired to block President Trump from public office.
Brennan is considered a “target” in an investigation about allegedly lying to Congress on Russia election interference.
Prosecutor Kurt Olsen said Brennan is also a “subject” in a broader investigation covering issues related to Mar-a-Lago and civil rights violations against President Trump.
Brennan’s lawyers claim the investigation is politically motivated and are seeking a court order to preserve related documents.
Justice Department officials say there are no charges yet but the investigation is ongoing.
Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the investigation continues despite the prosecutor’s resignation.

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CBS News

VoteHub gives Talarico 55% chance of winning Texas Senate race

September 14, 2026 • CBS News

Summary

VoteHub now estimates that James Talarico, a Democrat, has a 55% chance to win the Texas Senate race. Talarico is running against Ken Paxton, who is supported by President Donald Trump.

Key Facts

VoteHub provides election chance estimates based on data and analysis.
The Texas Senate race is currently leaning in favor of James Talarico.
Talarico is a Democrat candidate.
Ken Paxton is the Republican candidate and is backed by President Trump.
The chance of Talarico winning is estimated at 55%.
Analysts involved include Cameron Kasky, aide to Rep. Ro Khanna, and Republican strategist Erin Maguire.

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