Kush Desai, a senior White House spokesperson, will leave his job in the White House next month. He will move to a new role as assistant director of national intelligence for strategic communications at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
Key Facts
Kush Desai is currently the senior deputy press secretary at the White House.
He plans to leave the White House next month.
Desai will take a senior communications role at the ODNI.
His new title will be assistant director of national intelligence for strategic communications.
Desai shared this news with NewsNation.
He is involved in searching for a replacement at the White House.
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Two recent polls show Republican Rick Jackson leading Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in the race for Georgia governor by a small margin. At the same time, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff holds a strong lead over his Republican challenger Mike Collins in the Georgia Senate race.
Key Facts
Polls show Rick Jackson ahead of Keisha Lance Bottoms by about 2-3 points in Georgia’s governor race.
Jackson leads 47.6% to 45.7% among registered voters in one poll and 48.7% to 46.7% among likely voters in another.
Bottoms had a small lead in earlier polls but recent data suggest a shift toward Jackson.
Likely voters who are undecided showed a slight lean toward Bottoms, narrowing Jackson’s lead to about one point in one poll.
Jon Ossoff, the Democratic senator, leads his Republican opponent Mike Collins by at least 10 points in the same recent polls.
Some voters who supported President Donald Trump also backed Ossoff, showing cross-party support in the Senate race.
The current Republican governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, can’t run again due to term limits, so this election will decide which party controls the governor’s office.
Georgia is considered a battleground state, having voted for President Trump in 2024 but for Joe Biden in 2020.
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A recent poll shows Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed leading Republican Mike Rogers by three points in Michigan. Multiple polls suggest El-Sayed holds a narrow advantage in the open Senate race.
Key Facts
A Rasmussen Reports poll found El-Sayed at 47% and Rogers at 44% among likely Michigan voters.
The poll surveyed 1,099 people via phone and online on September 22, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 points.
Other recent polls from Suffolk University, Washington Post/Schar School, and New York Times/Siena also show El-Sayed slightly ahead.
Election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball changed the race rating to “Leans Democratic” based on polling trends.
El-Sayed’s campaign says it is grassroots-funded, raising $14.5 million primarily from individual donors and refusing corporate donations.
El-Sayed supports issues like Medicare for All, higher taxes on billionaires, environmental protection, and lowering prescription drug prices.
Mike Rogers has criticized El-Sayed’s stance on safety issues and the economy, including linking higher fuel costs to the war with Iran.
The average prices for diesel and regular gas in Michigan have roughly doubled compared to last year.
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A recent poll shows Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, trailing Democratic nominee Amanda Janoo by 6 points ahead of the November election. Scott, once very popular, is facing a tougher fight as his approval falls among Democrats and after trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada have affected Vermont voters' opinions.
Key Facts
Vermont Governor Phil Scott is behind Democrat Amanda Janoo 43% to 49% in a University of New Hampshire poll.
The poll surveyed 882 Vermont residents from September 17 to 21, with a margin of error of ±3.4%.
Scott had been popular in this mainly Democratic state but now has lower support among Democrats (20%) compared to Janoo (73%).
Scott’s approval among Republicans has risen to 77%, but it has dropped to 35% among Democrats.
Trade conflicts between the U.S. and Canada have affected voter concerns in Vermont, with 71% disapproving of President Trump’s handling of trade talks.
The race was rated as "Solid Republican" or "Likely Republican" by major political analysts despite the closer poll numbers.
Janoo’s support grew significantly after winning the Democratic primary in August, narrowing Scott’s previous lead.
Vermont Democrats initially sought other candidates but ended up with Janoo after others declined to run against Scott.
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Caleb Flynn, a former "American Idol" contestant, is on trial accused of killing his wife. During the trial, his former mistress testified that Flynn made hateful remarks about his wife.
Key Facts
Caleb Flynn was a contestant on "American Idol."
He is currently standing trial for the murder of his wife.
Alleigha Botner, Flynn's former mistress, gave testimony in court.
Botner said Flynn made hateful comments about his wife.
The trial is covered by CBS News.
Flynn is also known as a music pastor.
The testimony is part of the evidence being presented in the case.
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Oregon's Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, said many people are very worried about the honesty of elections. This happens even though there is no proof of widespread cheating, and the Trump administration continues to say elections are not safe.
Key Facts
Dan Rayfield is Oregon's Democratic attorney general.
Many people feel afraid about whether elections are fair.
There is no evidence of large-scale voter fraud.
President Trump’s administration has repeatedly claimed elections are insecure.
These claims have increased public concern about election integrity.
The topic was discussed in a CBS News report.
Election integrity means the elections are fair and honest.
Oregon’s Attorney General spoke to reassure or address these fears.
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A U.S. appeals court has upheld the Pentagon's decision to exclude the AI company Anthropic from its supply chain. This ruling came after Anthropic refused to remove certain safety limits on its AI model Claude, leading to canceled military contracts and restrictions on the use of its technology.
Key Facts
The Pentagon blacklisted Anthropic when the company refused to remove safeguards on its AI model Claude.
This decision canceled Anthropic’s military contracts and barred other Defense Department contractors from using its technology.
Anthropic claims the blacklisting caused billions of dollars in lost business and harmed its reputation before a planned public stock sale.
The case is unusual because the Pentagon rarely uses this power against U.S. companies.
The White House disagrees with Anthropic’s warnings about AI dangers; President Trump called those warnings a hoax.
The appeals court ruling conflicts with another court’s decision in California that ruled a broader ban on Anthropic illegal.
Anthropic is considering further legal action against the Pentagon’s designation.
The military has used Anthropic’s Claude AI in sensitive and classified operations, including one in Venezuela.
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spent over $20 million on warehouses it now plans to sell after expanding detention facilities without proper planning. This expansion was funded by a large increase in government money signed into law by President Donald Trump for immigration enforcement.
Key Facts
ICE bought 11 warehouses between January and April for about $1.07 billion.
By June, ICE started trying to sell 7 of these warehouses.
The agency spent $7.7 million on costs it cannot recover, like zoning and insurance, plus $12.8 million on utilities and security for these buildings.
President Donald Trump approved a law in 2025 giving ICE $45 billion to expand detention and $30 billion for arrests and deportations.
A government watchdog said ICE did not make a detailed plan before buying warehouses and expanding detention.
The warehouse plan was initially led by former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, but her successor, Markwayne Mullin, reevaluated it.
ICE planned to open 24 warehouse detention centers but changed course after legal and planning problems.
Some warehouses face legal challenges, including a lawsuit from Maryland’s attorney general that halted work.
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The US Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to use an expanded federal database to check the citizenship of registered voters before the November elections. Critics say this system may wrongly remove eligible voters, while the administration says it helps stop non-citizens from voting.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court blocked a judge’s order that stopped states from using Social Security numbers to verify voters' citizenship.
The database is called SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) and was redesigned last year to allow large-scale citizenship checks.
Some Republican-led states have used the database to cancel voter registrations flagged as non-citizens.
Critics warn the system may wrongly disenfranchise eligible voters, especially those who often vote Democratic.
A judge previously ruled the database is unreliable and threatens voters’ privacy and rights.
The Justice Department called the judge’s previous block "indefensible" and said using SAVE protects election integrity.
Non-citizen voting is very rare, with verified cases numbering fewer than 100 since 2000, according to data from the Heritage Foundation.
Some people wrongly flagged as non-citizens have been removed from voter rolls due to outdated or incorrect SAVE data.
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The Metropolitan Police uncovered what they believe to be the UK's largest phone smuggling network after a stolen mobile phone was tracked to a warehouse near Heathrow airport. Police arrested three men linked to the operation, seized over 5,000 stolen phones worth around £5.5 million, and sentenced the suspects to prison for their roles in the organized crime group.
Key Facts
A stolen phone was tracked by its owner to a warehouse near Heathrow, leading to a police investigation.
Over 800 stolen phones were found initially, wrapped in foil or bubble wrap, ready to be shipped to Hong Kong.
Operation Echosteep was launched involving specialists in armed robbery and drug smuggling.
Police arrested Amir Muhammad Khadikhel, Ismat Miakhel, and Mansoor Mohammed linked to the network.
More than 5,000 stolen phones worth about £5.5 million were seized during the investigation.
Stolen phones were hidden in unusual places like a shop basement trapdoor and inside a microwave.
Khadikhel and Miakhel were sentenced to nine and nine-and-a-half years in prison; Mohammed received six-and-a-half years.
The crime involved removing SIM cards to prevent tracking and used social media to recruit phone thieves.
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A high school teacher in Boone County, Kentucky, was placed on administrative leave after giving students a word-search puzzle containing a "deeply offensive" racial slur. School officials condemned the incident, apologized, and promised stronger efforts to prevent similar events.
Key Facts
The teacher gave out a word-search puzzle with an offensive racial slur.
The teacher’s name was not revealed.
The teacher was immediately placed on administrative leave on Thursday.
The school district called the language hurtful and said it went against their values of respect and inclusion.
Students reported the offensive material, and school leaders thanked them for doing so.
Boone County Schools’ superintendent expressed deep disappointment in the teacher’s actions.
Some students said the puzzle might have been altered or posted by mistake, possibly by someone changing the content online.
Counselors are meeting with students affected by the incident to provide support.
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A disagreement between the White House and the TV news pool about access to President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during their summit has paused for now. The standoff involved concerns over how closely reporters could film and photograph the leaders during their meetings.
Key Facts
The White House TV pool includes journalists and camera crews who cover the President and official events.
During the Trump-Xi summit, the White House set new rules limiting TV pool access closer to the leaders.
Media organizations raised concerns that these restrictions affected their ability to show the event to the public.
The standoff meant journalists and the White House temporarily disagreed over access and filming rules.
At the moment, the disagreement is on hold, but it may be revisited in future events.
This issue reflects ongoing tensions between the White House and media about transparency and coverage.
The summit involving President Trump and President Xi focused on U.S.-China relations.
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A group of 89 organizations is warning Congress about many problems with the federal student loan system during the Trump administration’s changes. They say millions of borrowers face confusion, errors, and delays as the government changes repayment plans and manages loans.
Key Facts
The groups wrote a letter asking Congress to hold emergency hearings on student loan servicing issues.
Problems include wrong payment amounts, incorrect late notices, and trouble tracking loan forgiveness credits.
Borrowers face delays and confusion as the Education Department phases out the Biden-era SAVE repayment plan.
Errors have caused some borrowers to lose online account access or see false information about their loan status.
These issues could lead to more debt and hurt borrowers’ credit scores.
The Education Department says changes aim to make repayment simpler and improve borrower accountability.
The letter represents millions of borrowers, including students, veterans, people of color, and people with disabilities.
Experts say the loan system’s oversight has been reduced while these major repayment changes happen.
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The Cook Political Report says Democrats are making progress in some states that usually vote Republican. They have improved their chances in important Senate races.
Key Facts
The Cook Political Report tracks political trends and election forecasts.
Democrats are gaining support in several states that usually vote for Republicans (“red states”).
These gains are seen in key Senate races, which could affect control of the Senate.
The report was mentioned in CBS News coverage by Caitlin Huey-Burns.
This shift may influence the upcoming midterm elections.
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Democratic candidates running in the 2026 midterm elections are criticizing their own party more than before. They are focusing on fighting corruption and saying that both Democrats and Republicans have problems, reflecting voter frustration with politics in Washington.
Key Facts
Democrats are using more negative ads about their own party and both parties in general compared to past elections.
An Axios analysis found 47 ads in the last 30 days with this negative message, up from 19 in 2024 and fewer in previous years.
Instead of promising to work together with Republicans, many Democratic candidates now vow to fight political corruption and a broken system.
Candidates emphasize that politicians from both parties care more about donors and party leaders than voters.
Some Democrats highlight examples where they stood against their own party for what they believe is right.
The tone of Democratic ads contrasts with more positive messaging from Republicans, who are upbeat about the political status quo.
Voters are expressing growing frustration because basic needs are becoming harder to afford and trust in government is low, partly due to scandals.
Even the Democratic House campaign committee is running ads that criticize the political system in Washington.
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The White House video pool, which records and shares footage of events at the White House for news outlets, resumed work on Friday. This happened after President Donald Trump had temporarily banned three news organizations from the White House grounds during a dispute over media access.
Key Facts
The White House video pool records video for multiple news outlets.
It was stopped for several days due to a ban by President Donald Trump.
Three news outlets were banned from the White House grounds.
The ban happened during a disagreement about media access.
The pool started working again on Friday.
The situation was described as fluid, meaning it was still changing.
A source close to the issue confirmed the resumption but asked to stay anonymous.
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A government inquiry is looking into serious problems at the Manston migrant centre in Kent, where thousands of migrants were kept in overcrowded and poor conditions in 2022. The inquiry heard that officials and ministers, including two former Home Secretaries and former prime ministers, faced difficult decisions as conditions worsened, leading to health risks and the death of a detainee.
Key Facts
The Manston centre was designed to hold about 1,000 people for less than 24 hours but held around 4,000 migrants in November 2022.
Officials knew conditions were illegal and dangerous, especially for children, but had no alternative housing plan.
Hussein Haseeb Ahmed, a 31-year-old Iraqi man suspected of having diphtheria, died after delayed hospital care.
Families were packed together in unsafe conditions, with poor hygiene and medical care, including one person using a plastic wrapper as a bandage.
There were reports of racism and threats from some staff toward detainees.
Two former Home Secretaries, Dame Priti Patel and Suella Braverman, shared evidence that Number 10 Downing Street was involved in decisions.
The overcrowding was partly caused by a pause in placing migrants in hotels and hopes to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The inquiry is examining the role of senior officials and ministers in allowing poor treatment of children and others in the centre.
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Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, has a voting record that mostly supports President Donald Trump, but she has also voted against him on key issues. Her independence is a major topic in her 2024 reelection race, where Democrats argue she only opposes Trump when her vote does not influence the outcome.
Key Facts
Susan Collins has voted with President Trump about 95-96% of the time in 2025.
She is seen as one of the least pro-Trump senators compared to others like Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul.
Collins voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, which reduced her popularity among moderate Democrats.
She voted to confirm judges viewed as opposing abortion rights.
Collins has opposed some Trump policies, including tariffs and a proposal to send $5,000 to Americans if Republicans win the midterms.
She voted to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial after the January 6 Capitol riot.
Collins declined to support Trump in the 2024 election and voted against repealing the Affordable Care Act in 2017.
Her stance on key votes, such as during the Iran war and Medicaid cuts related to tax breaks, show moments where she broke with Trump.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked U.S. military members and their families to register and vote in the 2026 midterm elections. He warned that 300,000 troops did not register to vote in the last election.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the call on a Friday.
He urged troops and their families to register to vote.
The upcoming election is the 2026 midterm election.
About 300,000 troops failed to register to vote two years ago.
Service members can use a federal postcard to register, no matter where they live or work.
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