Pete Buttigieg said Child Protective Services (CPS) investigated his family because of an anonymous and false accusation of child abuse. The accusation was found to be baseless, and officials said it was politically motivated.
Key Facts
Pete Buttigieg and his husband were separated from their four-year-old twins for 24 hours while CPS and police investigated.
The investigation followed an anonymous report to CPS, which police and social workers later confirmed was false.
The false claim involved a woman alleging Buttigieg confessed to violent crimes at a conference in Alabama, which Buttigieg denies and says never happened.
Officials from Michigan state police stated false reports waste time and resources meant for real emergencies.
Buttigieg called the accusation a "politically motivated hoax" and linked it to recent family photos he shared on social media.
The incident caused emotional distress for Buttigieg and his family.
Buttigieg is a former U.S. transportation secretary and may consider running for president in 2028.
The police and CPS responded promptly, and the threat to the children was quickly ruled out.
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President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100% import tariff on any European country that introduces a new digital services tax on American tech companies. He said these tariffs would take effect immediately and override existing trade agreements.
Key Facts
President Trump shared his threat on Truth Social, targeting European nations planning new digital taxes.
The tariffs would be a 100% tax on all goods imported from countries that implement such digital services taxes.
Existing UK digital services tax, set at 2%, has been in place since April 2020.
The UK tax applies to tech firms like Apple, Google, Meta, and Amazon with large international and UK revenues.
The UK’s digital tax raised over £800 million in 2024-25, up from £678 million the previous year.
The U.S. has previously introduced tariffs on countries over issues like forced labor.
President Trump’s administration has announced several new import tariffs recently after some earlier tariffs were removed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The specific impact on the UK is uncertain because its tax has been in place for some time already.
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Billionaire Leon Black testified before the House Oversight Committee about payments he made to Jeffrey Epstein. After his testimony, the committee issued two subpoenas and asked Black to return for further questioning.
Key Facts
Leon Black is a billionaire who testified before a U.S. House committee.
The testimony focused on payments Black made to Jeffrey Epstein.
The House Oversight Committee conducted the interview.
After the interview, the committee issued two subpoenas, which are legal orders to appear and provide information.
The committee instructed Black to come back for additional questions.
Democratic Representative Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia, a committee member, spoke publicly about the event.
The testimony is part of a broader congressional investigation.
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House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has issued subpoenas to billionaire Leon Black after Black refused to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) related to Jeffrey Epstein during a private committee interview. The subpoenas require Black to appear for a deposition on July 16 and to provide the NDAs as part of the committee's investigation into Epstein and related matters.
Key Facts
Leon Black appeared before the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door interview about Jeffrey Epstein.
Black refused to answer questions regarding NDAs, saying he was not allowed to discuss their terms.
Chairman James Comer issued two subpoenas to Black: one for a deposition on July 16 and one to produce the NDAs.
The committee wants to know if Epstein was involved in the NDAs, their terms, and any payments related to them.
Representative Robert Garcia, a committee member, supports the subpoenas, stating the NDAs are crucial for understanding the case.
Black’s attorney claims the subpoenas were a political move and denies Epstein's involvement in the NDAs.
Black had a social relationship with Epstein since the mid-1990s and paid him over $170 million for financial services.
The investigation is part of a wider probe into Epstein and his connections with wealthy and powerful individuals.
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Native American tribes held events to mark 150 years since the Battle of Little Bighorn in June 1876. During this battle, Indigenous warriors defeated US Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his soldiers.
Key Facts
The Battle of Little Bighorn is also called the Battle of Greasy Grass.
It took place in June 1876.
Native American tribes united to win the battle.
US Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and over 200 of his soldiers were defeated.
The 150th anniversary was marked with song, dance, horse racing, and re-enactments.
The commemoration involved multiple Native American tribes.
This event is an important part of Native American history.
The anniversary was celebrated recently, as reported.
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Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. transportation secretary, was separated from his children after police received an anonymous safety report about him. Police and child protection services investigated and found the claim was false, possibly politically motivated.
Key Facts
An anonymous report claimed Buttigieg was a danger to his children.
Police arranged special interviews for his four-year-old twins as part of the investigation.
He was told not to be alone with his children until the investigation was complete.
Michigan State Police found no evidence supporting the claim and called it false.
The false report caused Buttigieg emotional distress and concern for his family.
Authorities warned that false reports waste resources that should help real emergencies.
Buttigieg compared the false report to "Swatting," which means falsely calling police to cause disruption.
Police believe the false report was politically motivated.
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A Utah judge found a prosecutor in contempt for speaking to the media during the murder case of Charlie Kirk. The judge did not agree to remove the death penalty option but said steps would be taken to protect the fairness of the trial.
Key Facts
The prosecutor, Christopher Ballard, spoke to the media about the case despite a court order not to.
Defense lawyers said Ballard’s statements could unfairly influence the jury.
The judge agreed Ballard’s comments could prejudice the trial but did not remove the death penalty option.
The judge plans to expand the jury pool and use more detailed questionnaires to reduce bias.
The case involves Tyler James Robinson, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, a political activist, last September.
There was a dispute over whether the bullet that killed Kirk came from Robinson’s rifle.
Ballard said the state has enough evidence for the case and explained ballistics results did not rule out Robinson’s involvement.
A preliminary hearing is set for July 6, and the judge will decide soon on allowing electronic media in the courtroom.
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The US military launched attacks on Iranian military targets after Iran attacked a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said the drone attack violated the ceasefire and indicated the US would respond to the incident.
Key Facts
The US military struck Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar stations.
The strikes were carried out by US aircraft.
The attacks were in response to an Iranian drone attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump called the drone attack a violation of the ceasefire.
The US Central Command confirmed the strikes in an official statement.
President Trump hinted at a US response before the strikes took place.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for international shipping.
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President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission released a draft report that suggests creating closer connections between church and state. The report emphasizes the importance of Americans understanding and defending their religious rights.
Key Facts
The report comes from President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission.
It proposes building "bridges" between church and state, which means closer relations.
This idea differs from the traditional U.S. principle of keeping church and state separate.
The report encourages Americans to know their religious rights.
It calls on people to stand up strongly when their religious rights are threatened.
The goal is to protect and preserve religious freedom in the country.
The draft was released publicly on a Friday.
This is part of President Trump’s broader focus on religious liberty issues.
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President Donald Trump received a report from the Religious Liberty Commission, which suggests changing the idea of separating church and state to instead focus on connecting them. The report supports a bigger role for religion in government, schools, and public life and praises recent Supreme Court decisions that allow more religious expression in public areas.
Key Facts
The Religious Liberty Commission was created by President Trump in 2023.
The commission is mostly made up of conservative Christian members.
The report is 224 pages long and combines policy ideas with philosophical arguments.
It proposes replacing the idea of separating church and state with building bridges between them.
The report supports more religious expression in government, schools, and public spaces.
It praises Supreme Court rulings that allow people to opt out of school lessons for religious reasons.
The report was released as a draft on a Friday afternoon.
President Trump received and reviewed the report in the Oval Office.
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Pete Buttigieg faced a false report that led police and child welfare officials to investigate his family, forcing him to stay away from his young children overnight. The report was found to be untrue, and Buttigieg said the incident was a harmful, politically motivated attack.
Key Facts
An anonymous call claimed Buttigieg was a danger to his four-year-old twins.
Police and Child Protective Services investigated but found no evidence supporting the claim.
Buttigieg was told not to be alone with his children during the investigation.
The false report alleged Buttigieg confessed to violent crimes in a town he never visited.
The incident happened shortly after Buttigieg posted Father’s Day photos of his family.
Buttigieg called the attack one of the darkest and ugliest moments of his career.
False emergency calls, often known as “swatting,” have targeted many public officials recently.
These false reports cause dangerous police responses and distress to families.
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Leon Black testified before a House panel related to files about Jeffrey Epstein. The U.S. military carried out strikes in response to actions by Iran.
Key Facts
Leon Black gave testimony to a House of Representatives panel.
The testimony concerned files connected to Jeffrey Epstein.
The U.S. conducted retaliatory military strikes against Iran.
The strikes were in response to prior actions by Iran.
This news was covered on CBS News on June 26.
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The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Turk, has called for an independent investigation into the rising number of deaths in US migrant detention centers during President Donald Trump’s second term. So far this year, at least 19 deaths have occurred, sparking concerns about poor conditions and treatment in these facilities.
Key Facts
The UN rights chief wants a probe into migrant deaths, citing lack of transparency.
At least 19 deaths have happened so far this year in US detention centers, according to government data.
Deaths have increased during President Trump’s second term compared to previous years.
Some detention centers are run by private companies as part of expanded immigration enforcement.
Human Rights Watch reports the death rate in detention under Trump’s second term is more than double previous years and higher than under President Biden.
The people who died ranged in age from 19 to 75 and came from 20 different countries.
Some deaths involved the use of force or were classified as suicides.
The UN expressed concern about solitary confinement being used, which can increase suicide risk and is seen as torture after 15 days.
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A federal judge declared a mistrial in the case against Jonathan Rinderknecht, who is accused of starting a deadly California wildfire called the Palisades Fire. The jury could not agree on a verdict, and a new trial is scheduled for October 19, with Rinderknecht remaining in jail until then.
Key Facts
Judge Anne Hwang declared a mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous decision.
Out of 12 jurors, 10 believed Rinderknecht was innocent.
Prosecutors say Rinderknecht started the fire on January 1, 2025, using a barbecue lighter.
The Palisades Fire caused 12 deaths and destroyed neighborhoods north of Los Angeles.
The fire spread after burning unseen in tree roots and was pushed by strong winds through dry areas.
Conditions like drought and more people living near wildlands have made wildfires worse in the Western US.
Prosecutors plan to retry Rinderknecht and aim to prove his guilt before a new jury.
Some jurors felt it was unfair to blame Rinderknecht without proving fire crews’ role or other factors.
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About 100 people protested in Senatobia, Mississippi, after a police officer shot and killed a one-year-old boy named Kohen Kartier Wiley. The protesters are demanding transparency and the release of video footage from the shooting, which is under investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Key Facts
The shooting happened on June 14 when a police officer fired at a vehicle carrying Kohen Wiley and his mother.
Kohen, who was sitting on his mother’s lap, was killed; the mother was injured.
Police said officers responded to a report of stolen diapers, but no charges were filed, and the diapers were reportedly paid for.
Protesters and the family dispute the police version of events, especially the use of the word “juvenile” for the infant.
Law enforcement used tear gas during an earlier protest at the Walmart where the incident occurred.
Protesters marched through town demanding justice and the release of body camera and security footage.
Police placed barricades to block access to the police station during the protest.
The protests continued despite heat and police attempts to control the march.
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The Supreme Court made a rare public statement to clear up a misunderstanding between Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Sonia Sotomayor after a disagreement during a court ruling. The court ruled 6-3 to allow the Trump administration to end temporary protection status (TPS) for migrants from Haiti and Syria.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court issued a rare public statement about a misunderstanding between Justices Alito and Sotomayor.
The disagreement happened after a 6-3 ruling to end TPS for Haitian and Syrian migrants.
Justice Sotomayor read a dissenting opinion criticizing the decision from the bench.
Justice Alito said he was surprised by Sotomayor’s decision to read her dissent aloud and would have added more detail if he’d known.
The court confirmed that Alito was told in advance about Sotomayor’s plans, making the misunderstanding solely on Alito’s part.
TPS is a program that protects migrants from deportation when their home countries are unsafe, created by Congress in 1990.
The ruling lets the Department of Homeland Security remove legal protections for about 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians.
Public statements about internal Supreme Court disagreements are very uncommon and usually only happen for retirements or health matters.
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The Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention center in Florida has been closed after one year of operation. Environmental groups, immigrant-rights advocates, and the Miccosukee Tribe are calling for an independent investigation into the environmental harm caused by the facility during its operation.
Key Facts
The detention center operated for 12 months and cost $608 million to build.
It was built near the Everglades and the Big Cypress National Preserve, a large swamp habitat for animals like Florida panthers.
Environmental groups say the center harmed the environment by paving 20 acres without permits and installing bright lights that disturbed local wildlife.
The Miccosukee Tribe joined a lawsuit against the center to protect tribal rights because their villages are nearby.
Despite the closure, trucks still bring hazardous materials to the facility and remove human waste.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended the waste management process and the center's design to minimize environmental impact.
The detention center deported about 21,000 people during the Trump administration’s immigration efforts.
Advocates also raised concerns about the poor treatment of detainees held at the facility.
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President Donald Trump criticized what he called “godless communists” who oppose religions, especially Christianity, after progressive candidates won recent Democratic primaries in New York. These candidates are members of the Democratic Socialists of America, a group different from communists, and there are no communists currently running or elected in the US.
Key Facts
President Trump used the term “godless communists” to attack progressive candidates in Democratic primaries.
He made these remarks on his Truth Social account and at a conservative Faith and Freedom Coalition meeting.
Progressive candidates backed by New York’s Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently won primary elections.
The candidates supported by Mamdani are members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), not communists.
Democratic socialism focuses on achieving social goals through elections, unlike communism, which historically favors a single controlling government.
Many DSA members, including some candidates, are religious and support faith; religion and socialism have a history in the US.
There are currently no communist candidates or officials in the US government.
Trump’s remarks come as Republicans prepare for midterm elections amid low approval ratings and economic concerns.
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The Trump administration has issued new requirements for federally funded health programs, emphasizing parental control in education and reducing support for overdose prevention methods like harm reduction. These changes may affect efforts against the opioid crisis and could influence vaccine requirements in schools by pressuring states and local programs to follow new federal priorities.
Key Facts
Health programs receiving federal funding must agree to new priorities set by the Trump administration within five business days.
New priorities include promoting “parental authority” over children's education and reducing use of overdose prevention methods like harm reduction.
The changes may impact progress against the opioid crisis and public health efforts like vaccinations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent the notice to state, territorial, tribal, and local health programs focused on immunizations, HIV, hepatitis, and tobacco.
Staff within the CDC were reportedly unaware of the new requirements until the notice was sent.
Vaccine mandates are usually set by states or localities, but the new priorities may pressure them to reduce these mandates by linking compliance to federal funding.
Experts warn the move indicates increased political control over public health policies and could undermine public health goals.
The US Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to questions about the memo when asked.
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A U.S. federal judge has ordered the Justice Department to explain why it dropped criminal charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. The judge said the DOJ’s explanation was too brief and asked for more details by July 13.
Key Facts
The DOJ decided not to pursue charges against Gautam Adani, who was accused of bribery in India related to a solar power plant contract.
Adani’s lawyers asked for the case to be formally dismissed.
U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis said the DOJ’s reason for dropping the case was not clear enough.
The DOJ must provide a better explanation of its decision by July 13.
Adani’s legal team argued the case should be dismissed because U.S. law does not apply and the bribery could not be proven in India.
The charges were dropped shortly after Adani promised a $10 billion investment in the U.S.
Adani’s lawyer Robert Giuffra is also a personal lawyer for President Donald Trump.
A member of Giuffra’s legal team, James McDonald, has been nominated by President Trump for a top federal prosecutor position.
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