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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Senator Tommy Tuberville called Social Security a "Ponzi scheme" and said workers should be allowed to keep and invest their own retirement money instead of paying mandatory taxes into Social Security. He warned the program’s trust funds may run out money in the future unless lawmakers act, but he did not propose changes for current retirees.
Key Facts
Senator Tommy Tuberville made his comments during a Senate speech.
He called Social Security a "scam" and "Ponzi scheme."
Tuberville criticized mandatory payroll taxes that fund Social Security.
He suggested workers should be able to invest their Social Security money independently.
The Social Security trust funds are projected to run out unless Congress makes changes.
Tuberville said government uses Social Security money for other spending.
He did not propose specific legislation to end Social Security or change current retiree benefits.
Experts say calling Social Security a Ponzi scheme oversimplifies how it works as a social insurance program.
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Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson defended her decision to remove Police Chief Shon Barnes after a deadly shooting at a city food festival. The shooting resulted in three deaths, including a suspect, and multiple injuries, and the mayor said the decision to change leadership involved several factors.
Key Facts
A gang-related shooting happened at the Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle.
Three people died, including one suspect, and four others were injured, one being a 2-year-old child.
A 15-year-old was arrested at the scene and charged with assault, but his gun was not linked to the deaths.
Police Chief Shon Barnes was asked to resign by Mayor Wilson and was replaced by Andre Sayles as interim chief.
Barnes faced criticism for slow communication about the shooting and whether other suspects were at large.
Mayor Wilson said the shooting was one reason, but there were multiple factors for the leadership change.
Barnes was the city’s second Black police chief and credited with improving officer recruitment and reducing downtown crime.
Interim Chief Sayles said police will increase staffing at public events and that they are close to arresting more suspects.
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Two ransom notes were sent to the media after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie went missing nearly six months ago in Tucson. Authorities are using the notes and doorbell camera footage to find clues about what happened to her.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31 and reported missing the next day.
The first ransom note demanded $4 million in Bitcoin to release Nancy Guthrie safely.
The second ransom note claimed she died shortly after being taken, but this is not confirmed.
Investigators are analyzing the writing style of the ransom notes to identify the author.
Authorities are asking the public to report anyone who showed unusual behavior around the time of her disappearance.
Police want homeowners nearby to share any surveillance video that might help the investigation.
The case is being investigated by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office.
The notes and footage have not yet verified the truth about Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts or condition.
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President Donald Trump confirmed that the $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" has ended but said he wishes it still existed to compensate people who were harmed. The end of this fund and Trump's IRS settlement have caused delays in the approval of Todd Blanche as attorney general.
Key Facts
The "Anti-Weaponization Fund," planned to provide $1.8 billion, is no longer active.
President Trump expressed a desire for the fund to continue to help those who suffered harm.
Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general is delayed partly because of issues around the fund and IRS settlement.
Republican Senator John Cornyn wants official written confirmation that the fund is ended.
Cornyn and Senator Thom Tillis, both leaving office in January, are blocking Blanche’s confirmation vote.
Trump suggested Blanche’s nomination might be withdrawn temporarily until after Cornyn and Tillis leave office.
The IRS settlement gave Trump and his family immunity from current tax audits, which is also under scrutiny.
Trump insists that Blanche should be approved quickly, stating Blanche is a rare candidate for the role.
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President Donald Trump said the United States has not agreed to let Ukraine produce Patriot missiles, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement after their recent meeting. Talks between the two leaders covered many topics, but the U.S. remains cautious about allowing Ukraine to build these advanced missiles.
Key Facts
President Trump contradicted President Zelensky’s claim that the U.S. agreed to license Patriot missile production in Ukraine.
Trump emphasized the need to be careful about letting other countries build Patriot missiles.
Zelensky and Trump met at the White House earlier this week for about an hour to discuss the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine is seeking to defend itself from ballistic missile attacks amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
Ukraine is in talks with the U.S. Pentagon about possibly producing Patriot PAC-3 missiles, but this could take 12 months to five years.
Discussions include a long-term purchase of PAC-3 missiles and swapping production slots with other buyers.
U.S. defense contractors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have sent experts to Ukraine to assist with missile defense.
Ukraine faces increasing missile attacks and is looking for new defense capabilities for the coming winter.
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President Donald Trump said his $1.8 billion fund to compensate political allies targeted by the Justice Department is no longer going forward, but he continued to support the idea. Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are blocking the confirmation of Trump’s attorney general nominee until they get a written promise that the fund will end.
Key Facts
President Trump announced the anti-weaponization fund, intended to compensate some prosecuted individuals, is "dead."
Trump still expressed support for compensating those affected by Justice Department actions.
Senators John Cornyn (Texas) and Thom Tillis (North Carolina) are withholding support for Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general.
Cornyn and Tillis want a formal, written guarantee that the fund will not be created.
Todd Blanche is currently acting attorney general and has been involved in talks with the senators.
The fund is linked to a settlement and was seen as benefiting Trump’s political allies.
Cornyn and Tillis also want clarity on tax audit protections for Trump and his family offered in the same settlement.
Cornyn noted that tax audits might still apply to many Trump company subsidiaries despite claims of immunity.
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A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, was denied early medical release from prison where he is serving a 20-year sentence for killing Sonya Massey inside her home in 2024. Despite having advanced colon cancer, a review board decided not to grant him early release after considering his health and the circumstances of the case.
Key Facts
Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy, was convicted of second-degree murder for killing Sonya Massey.
The killing occurred in July 2024 after Massey called 911 about a possible prowler.
Grayson shot Massey inside her home while she was moving hot water on the stove.
He received the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the murder.
Grayson was diagnosed with colon cancer before the shooting, which later spread to his liver and lungs.
His request for early medical release was denied unanimously by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.
Officials and Massey’s family said releasing Grayson early would be unjust and disrespectful to Massey’s memory.
The case led to protests about systemic racism and attracted a U.S. Department of Justice review.
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Massachusetts is close to passing a law that lets doctors have the final say on whether a late abortion can be performed, removing a list of specific reasons currently required. The state Senate approved the measure, and it now goes to Governor Maura Healey, who supports abortion rights.
Key Facts
Current Massachusetts law allows abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy and later only for certain medical reasons.
The proposed law would allow late abortions based solely on a doctor’s professional judgment.
Supporters say the change is needed because some hospitals have refused to perform late abortions even when the fetus is not viable.
Opponents worry the law could permit abortions until birth, including in cases of healthy fetuses.
Governor Maura Healey has signed other laws that strengthen abortion access in Massachusetts.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling overturned Roe v. Wade, leading many states to restrict or ban abortions.
Massachusetts has a shield law protecting doctors who provide abortion services via telehealth to patients in states where abortion is banned.
Other states are making different changes, such as Colorado requiring student health centers to provide abortion pills and Oklahoma criminalizing certain abortion pill sales.
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President Donald Trump said Minnesota’s governor is responsible for recent cyberattacks on water systems in the state, but he gave no proof. Experts and authorities say Iranian hackers are likely behind these attacks, which targeted critical water system controls in Minnesota.
Key Facts
Over 30 water systems in Minnesota, including Plymouth, were hit by cyberattacks.
President Trump blamed Minnesota and Governor Tim Walz for the attacks without providing evidence.
Security agencies have warned Iranian hackers are focusing on U.S. water and other critical systems.
FBI and other agencies say Iranian cyberattacks on water systems have happened before.
Experts say it is reasonable to suspect Iran until proven otherwise.
The Minnesota governor and others say several states were attacked and point to a lack of U.S. cyber defense planning.
Local water plants often lack resources for strong cyber defenses, making them vulnerable.
The dispute occurs amid ongoing tensions between President Trump and Governor Walz over policy issues like immigration.
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Authorities released an early ransom note in the case of Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her home near Tucson on February 1, 2026. Police hope that someone will recognize the writing style of the notes, which include a demand for $4 million in cryptocurrency and a message saying Nancy Guthrie died shortly after being kidnapped.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, went missing from her home near Tucson on February 1, 2026.
Two ransom notes were sent to a Tucson TV station days after her disappearance.
The first note said Nancy was safe but scared and demanded $4 million in cryptocurrency for her release.
The ransom would increase if the first demand was not met, with a threat to kill her if unpaid.
The second note stated Nancy died shortly after being taken and was buried outdoors.
Authorities want people familiar with the writing style to come forward.
Two videos from Guthrie’s doorbell camera may show an unidentified man preparing before the kidnapping.
Police ask for information on anyone acting strangely, changing appearance, or leaving the Tucson area suddenly.
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Jurors in Massachusetts toured the home where Lindsay Clancy strangled her three children in January 2023. The visit helped jurors see the crime scene and nearby places connected to the case during the murder trial.
Key Facts
Jurors viewed the inside of the Clancy family home and the basement where the children died.
They also saw the yard where Lindsay Clancy was found after jumping from a second-story window.
Clancy’s lawyers say she suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness after childbirth.
Prosecutors say Clancy planned the murders and used errands as a trick to get her husband away.
Lindsay Clancy killed her children ages five, three, and eight months.
She is paralyzed from the waist down after attempting suicide that night.
If convicted, Clancy faces life in prison without parole; if found not responsible due to mental illness, she would be sent to a mental health facility.
It is unusual but allowed for jurors to visit crime scenes when it helps their understanding.
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The Pima County Sheriff's Department released ransom notes related to the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie. One note demanded $4 million in bitcoin for her release, while a later note claimed she died shortly after being taken.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped, and ransom notes were sent to a local TV news station.
The first ransom note was sent on February 2 and demanded $4 million in bitcoin by February 5.
The note warned that if payment was not received, the ransom would increase to $6 million by February 9.
The kidnappers claimed Nancy Guthrie was safe but scared and threatened harm if the ransom was not paid.
The second note, sent on February 6, said Nancy Guthrie died from a heart-related issue soon after the kidnapping.
The sheriff’s department released the notes because of unique writing patterns that might help identify the kidnapper.
They asked the public to report if they recognize the writing style.
The investigation is ongoing.
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The trial of Lindsay Clancy has begun three years after the deaths of her three children. Patrick Clancy, her now ex-husband, has testified, with the prosecution saying Lindsay planned the killings and the defense saying she suffered from postpartum psychosis.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the deaths of her children Cora, Dawson, and Callan.
The deaths happened three years ago.
Patrick Clancy, Lindsay’s ex-husband, testified in court.
The prosecution argues Lindsay planned the killings carefully.
The defense says Lindsay had postpartum psychosis, a mental illness that affects some mothers after childbirth.
Jury selection and opening statements have taken place.
CBS News analysts covered the trial and testimony.
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Fox News anchor Dana Perino questioned Francesca Hong, a leading Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor, about her connections to the Democratic Socialists of America and her previous statements on reducing police funding. Hong had made social media posts in 2020 showing support for defunding the police.
Key Facts
Dana Perino is a Fox News anchor who interviewed Francesca Hong.
Francesca Hong is the front-runner in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor.
Hong is linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a political organization.
In 2020, Hong posted messages on social media supporting defunding the police.
The term "defund the police" means reducing police budgets to shift funds to other public services.
Perino focused her questions on Hong’s past remarks and her political affiliations.
The interview was part of the coverage of the Wisconsin governor’s race.
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President Donald Trump said he does not think Iran was responsible for a cyberattack on water systems in Minnesota. Instead, he blamed state officials for poor management. This view differs from U.S. officials who suspect Iran was involved.
Key Facts
A cyberattack targeted 30 municipal water systems in Minnesota.
U.S. officials preliminarily believe Iran might be behind the attack.
President Trump disagrees and does not blame Iran for the hacks.
He says state officials were "grossly incompetent" in handling water system security.
The coordinated attack affected public water facilities in Minnesota.
The incident raised concerns about cybersecurity in critical infrastructure.
President Trump made his comments on Friday.
The investigation into the attack is still ongoing.
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The Pima County Sheriff's Department in Arizona released two ransom notes linked to the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, who was taken from her home in February 2026. They are asking the public's help to identify who wrote the notes, hoping to find clues from the style of writing.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie, 84 years old and mother of TV host Savannah Guthrie, was kidnapped from her Tucson-area home on February 1, 2026.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department released redacted ransom notes sent to local media after the kidnapping.
The department says the notes have unique word choices and sentence patterns that could help identify the writer.
The notes give insight into the kidnapper’s thoughts and how their attitude changed over time.
Officials hope someone who knows the writer will recognize their distinctive style.
Nancy Guthrie is still missing six months after the kidnapping.
The FBI is involved in the investigation.
The case is ongoing and updates are expected.
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A contract that pays for legal help for migrant children who arrive in the United States alone is ending. Without this legal support, these children may face a higher risk of being deported because they will have less help navigating immigration court.
Key Facts
The contract pays for legal services to about 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children.
Nearly 100 legal groups provide assistance under this contract.
The contract expires at the end of this week, and the government has not said who will take over legal help.
Legal groups currently visit government shelters and represent children in immigration court.
Without legal aid, children have a greater chance of deportation.
Some legal providers say they have not been paid for over six months.
The Trump administration has requested detailed client information that providers say they cannot ethically share.
Shelters and court proceedings involve unaccompanied children who are under government care as required by law.
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Kathryn Ruemmler, a former lawyer for President Obama's White House, talked privately with the House Oversight Committee about her email contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. She said she met Epstein in 2014, called him a skilled liar, and said she never saw proof that he committed crimes.
Key Facts
Kathryn Ruemmler was a lawyer in President Obama's White House.
She had email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes.
Ruemmler met Epstein for the first time in 2014.
She described Epstein as a "masterful liar" during the interview.
The interview was done behind closed doors before the House Oversight Committee.
Ruemmler said she did not see any evidence that Epstein committed crimes.
She said she would have reported Epstein to the police if she had any evidence of abuse.
The transcript of the interview was released recently.
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An F-35B military jet crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. The pilot ejected safely and was taken to a medical facility, while the crash caused a fire that firefighters responded to.
Key Facts
The crash happened on a Friday afternoon near Miramar Air Base in San Diego.
The U.S. Marine Corps called the incident a “Class A mishap,” meaning it caused severe damage, costing over $2 million, or involved the loss of a military aircraft or life.
The pilot safely ejected from the jet and was recovered by rescue personnel.
The pilot was transported to a medical facility for treatment; no further details about their condition were provided.
The crash site showed black smoke and fire retardant materials on the ground.
Firefighters attended the scene to control a vegetation fire triggered by the crash.
The F-35B is a version of the F-35 stealth jet that can take off from short runways and land vertically.
The F-35B is used by the Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.
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The Trump administration plans to enforce stricter English language rules for Mexican train crews crossing into the United States to improve safety and protect American jobs. The new rule aims to make sure crew members can understand important safety information and limits how far Mexican crews can operate inside the U.S.
Key Facts
The Trump administration wants Mexican train crews to understand safety information in English when crossing into the U.S.
Two major rail unions support the proposed rule to improve safety and crew certification standards.
The railroads affected include Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).
Inspections found many Mexican crews struggled to understand English notices about hazardous materials and emergency actions.
The new rule limits Mexican crews from operating trains more than 10 miles inside the U.S.
This rule aligns with efforts to ensure truck drivers in the U.S. also understand English for safety reasons.
Rail unions have raised concerns about safety and job security related to foreign crews working in the U.S.
Union Pacific and CPKC have been encouraged to review their current practices and improve language communication.
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