The Supreme Court ordered TV stations to offer lower prices on election ads not only to individual candidates but also to political parties and joint fundraising groups. This decision supports Republican campaign committees and affects how discounted ad rates are applied during elections.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court issued an order requiring TV stations to give political parties and joint fundraising committees the same discounted ad prices as individual candidates.
The decision came after petitions by the National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee.
U.S. law requires broadcasters to offer the "lowest unit charge" discount to legally qualified candidates for public office.
Before this ruling, it was unclear if parties and joint committees qualified for the discount since they are not individual candidates.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had earlier instructed TV stations to apply discounts to parties and joint committees.
Democratic candidates challenged the FCC’s interpretation in court and initially won at the Court of Appeals.
The Supreme Court blocked that ruling by issuing a stay until the FCC makes a final decision.
A recent Supreme Court decision also removed federal limits on how much parties can spend coordinated with candidates, increasing the role of party spending in elections.
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Lonnie Bunch, the first Black secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced he will retire at the end of 2026 after seven years in the role. His retirement follows a year of increased criticism from President Donald Trump’s administration, which accused some Smithsonian exhibits of political bias.
Key Facts
Lonnie Bunch has led the Smithsonian Institution since 2019.
He is the first African American to serve as secretary of the Smithsonian in nearly 180 years.
Bunch was the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016.
The Smithsonian includes 21 museums, the National Zoo, research centers, and educational programs.
President Trump’s administration criticized the Smithsonian in 2023 for showing biased views in some American history exhibits.
The White House demanded signs be placed outside some exhibits to claim the history was inaccurate.
Bunch announced his retirement with no specific reason given, but it comes amid this political pressure.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto praised Bunch’s decades of service and commitment to history and culture.
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President Donald Trump honored the victims and heroes of the September 11, 2001 attacks during an event at the Ellipse near the White House. A large steel beam from the World Trade Center was displayed as part of a memorial tour, and more commemorations are planned for the week.
Key Facts
The event took place at the Ellipse, near the White House in Washington, D.C.
President Trump promised to "never forget" the victims of 9/11.
A 21-foot, 17,000-pound steel beam from the South Tower of the World Trade Center was shown.
This steel beam is traveling across the country as part of the Steel Across America tour.
The beam will be part of a procession in New York honoring fallen firefighter Stephen Siller.
The week includes several commemorations, with a main event planned at the Pentagon.
President Trump will attend the Pentagon event on Friday.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation organized the event.
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Jewish communities in the United States now spend more than $1 billion each year on security to protect synagogues, schools, and other institutions from threats. This money comes from their budgets and reduces funds available for education, elder care, and social services.
Key Facts
Jewish security spending is over $1.015 billion annually, up 33% from an earlier estimate of $765 million.
This security cost covers more than 4,500 Jewish institutions, including synagogues, schools, community centers, and camps.
The reported figure does not include private Jewish businesses, so actual costs are likely higher.
The security expenses include guards, cameras, security staff, building reinforcements, and training.
The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) says this cost acts like a "tax" on Jewish life, taking money away from other important programs.
The overlap of Rosh Hashanah holidays with the 25th anniversary of 9/11 highlights changes in American views on public safety and security.
The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program helps some nonprofits with security costs but may not cover all expenses.
There is debate about increasing federal funding to protect religious freedom and public safety at various places of worship in the U.S.
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A federal appeals court blocked a program where the IRS shared taxpayer information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The court ruled this program likely broke federal laws protecting the privacy of tax records.
Key Facts
The IRS had a program to share taxpayer data with ICE for immigration enforcement.
Over 47,000 taxpayer records were shared with ICE under this program.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled the program likely violated tax confidentiality laws.
The court noted that some ICE requests for data lacked required information like names and addresses.
The court's decision supports taxpayer privacy protections in Section 6103 of the tax code.
The ruling limits the administration’s efforts to use tax data to help enforce immigration laws.
This case is one of two recent court decisions affecting government data-sharing before the midterm elections.
The program originated from a 2025 agreement between the IRS and ICE on people under deportation investigations.
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Corie Walsh, 40, is charged with the first-degree murder of her 2-year-old son in Illinois. The case has attracted attention because Walsh reportedly followed the Lindsay Clancy child murder trial and hired attorney Andrea Lyon, known for defending Casey Anthony.
Key Facts
Corie Walsh is accused of killing her son, Barrett, by hanging him in their Frankfort, Illinois home.
Barrett died from asphyxia caused by ligature compression of the neck on September 1.
A neighbor found the child, removed the ligature, and performed CPR while calling 911.
Walsh was found with self-inflicted injuries and taken to a hospital before being jailed.
Walsh’s defense lawyer is Andrea Lyon, who has experience in high-profile child murder cases.
Walsh reportedly talked about the Lindsay Clancy trial shortly before the incident.
Lindsay Clancy’s trial ended in a mistrial; her case involved questions about mental illness and criminal responsibility.
Walsh’s lawyer says Walsh was having a psychotic episode when the incident occurred.
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President Joe Biden said the radiation treatment he got for prostate cancer worked well. He spoke about this during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and shared his personal experience.
Key Facts
President Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
He received radiation treatment for it.
He said the treatment worked as planned.
Biden spoke about this during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September.
He shared a statement on the social media platform X.
His announcement aimed to raise awareness about prostate cancer.
The news office revealed his diagnosis earlier in May 2025.
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Some cities in the United States are trying to lower the voting age to 16 for local elections. CBS News explored these places to see how allowing younger people to vote is working in practice.
Key Facts
There is a growing movement in the U.S. to allow 16-year-olds to vote in local elections.
Some cities have already lowered the voting age to 16.
This change applies only to local elections, not national or state-wide ones.
CBS News correspondent Natalie Brand visited these cities to report on the results.
The goal is to involve younger people in local government decisions.
The effects of letting 16-year-olds vote are being observed and studied.
The movement aims to increase youth participation in democracy.
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The creators of the animated show "South Park" announced they will rename the show "South America." They said this change was inspired by similar renaming actions taken by President Donald Trump, Apple, and Google.
Key Facts
"South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone made the announcement on Tuesday.
The show’s new name will be "South America."
The change was inspired by renaming efforts involving President Donald Trump.
Apple and Google have also been involved in similar naming changes.
The announcement was made in a public statement from the creators.
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Police forces in Kent and Hampshire were surprised by large far-right protests against immigration that took place over a weekend. The government has instructed police to improve intelligence gathering after failures to properly assess early warnings about the protests.
Key Facts
Hundreds of masked far-right protesters gathered in Kent on Saturday and Portsmouth on Sunday.
Kent police received warnings about possible protests but did not fully assess them.
Protesters appeared well-organized, using walkie-talkies and legal knowledge to avoid arrest.
Police described the gatherings as mostly peaceful in Dover, but there were clashes in Hampshire.
The protests were coordinated on private social media groups, not publicly announced.
The government discussed the events with police chiefs and wants better readiness for future protests.
Far-right activist Daniel Thomas, linked to Tommy Robinson, is believed to have organized the Kent protest.
Lifeboat crews rescuing asylum seekers faced threats from right-wing protesters and were refused access to some ports.
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President Donald Trump threatened to ban the sale of Canadian plane maker Bombardier’s jets in the U.S. unless the company builds planes in America. Bombardier responded by highlighting that it already works closely with many U.S. companies and employs thousands of American workers through its supply chain.
Key Facts
President Trump said Bombardier must manufacture planes in the U.S. to sell them there.
Bombardier’s plane parts, like wings and engines, are made in the United States.
About 2,800 U.S. companies from 47 states are part of Bombardier’s supply chain.
Bombardier employs thousands of workers in the U.S., including in Kansas, Texas, Arizona, and Iowa.
Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall contacted the White House to support Bombardier’s U.S. jobs.
Canada responded to U.S. trade actions with tariffs on $20 billion of American goods.
Bombardier focuses mainly on private business jets after selling other parts of its previous businesses.
The Canadian government is comparing U.S. and foreign options for military aircraft purchases involving Bombardier’s technology.
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At New York University, students are using a campus swap shop to trade dorm items for free. This helps them save money and reduces waste by giving old items a second life instead of throwing them away.
Key Facts
New York University has a swap shop on campus for students.
Students can exchange dorm supplies without spending money.
The swap helps students save on the high cost of college living.
It encourages reusing items instead of buying new ones.
This initiative supports reducing waste and protecting the environment.
The program is especially popular during the start of the school year.
CBS News covered this story to show how students benefit from the swap.
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President Joe Biden shared an update on his prostate cancer with positive news about his radiation treatment. He encouraged men, especially Black men and those with family history, to talk to their doctors early about screening because early detection greatly improves survival rates.
Key Facts
President Biden was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in May 2025 after urinary symptoms led to testing.
The cancer had spread to his bones when found but is hormone-sensitive and treatable.
Radiation treatment completed in fall 2025 worked as planned.
Biden urged men at average risk to talk about prostate cancer screening starting at age 50.
Black men should start these conversations earlier, around age 45, due to higher risk.
Men with close family members who had prostate cancer should begin screening discussions from age 45 or sooner.
Prostate cancer survival is nearly 100% when caught early.
Biden thanked medical staff and supporters, and said he continues working on personal projects like his memoir.
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The article discusses a viewpoint that opposes what it calls "health fascism" and praises qualities like fatness and ugliness. It says Americans value self-improvement and beauty as positive and moral goals.
Key Facts
The article contrasts socialist ideas with American values.
It claims socialists celebrate fatness and ugliness.
It criticizes something called "health fascism," which likely means strict health or body standards.
It states Americans seek self-improvement and want to extend human life or capabilities.
The article says Americans praise and promote beauty because they believe it is a good thing.
The tone supports the idea of improving oneself rather than accepting decline.
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The Trump administration is working on a new plan that could let some parents get government money to take care of their own children at home. The plan uses existing child care funds but is causing a split among Republicans, with some supporting it and others criticizing it as unfair or socialist.
Key Facts
The proposal would allow certain married couples who meet income rules to receive government help for home child care.
The program would use money from the Child Care and Development Fund, started under President Bill Clinton.
President Trump has focused on family-related policies like expanding the child tax credit and creating Trump investment accounts.
Some Republicans call the plan "socialist" because it gives money to parents who stay home instead of working.
Critics worry it could cause fraud or encourage families to have more kids to get more money.
Supporters say stay-at-home parents should have access to the same funds as those using daycare.
The plan comes as Republicans prepare for midterm elections and try to improve support among moms.
The discussion reflects a bigger debate about government support for families and work choices.
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Ivanka Trump shared a video of her daughter horseback riding during a luxury vacation as gas prices in the U.S. reached record highs. The post led to criticism because many Americans are struggling with the high cost of living, including expensive gas.
Key Facts
Ivanka Trump posted a video of her 15-year-old daughter, Arabella, horseback riding on a beach at sunset.
The video was shared while U.S. gas prices hit a record high around $4.15 per gallon during Labor Day.
Critics said the post seemed out of touch with ordinary Americans facing financial struggles.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office responded to the post, highlighting the high gas prices.
The criticism also came from some supporters of President Trump, pointing out the contrast between average Americans and the Trump family.
Ivanka’s niece, Kai Trump, shared a video showing her expensive college dorm in Miami.
The high gas prices are partly blamed on global issues like the Iran war and supply disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump has promised to lower gas prices and said prices would drop significantly if the U.S. wins the conflict with Iran.
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A University of Iowa marching band member, Derek Phillips, collapsed from cardiac arrest during extreme heat at a football game and was later taken off life support due to severe brain damage. The university canceled the band’s halftime performance and provided support to students following the incident.
Key Facts
Derek Phillips, a third-year student and band member, collapsed before the halftime show at the season-opening Iowa football game.
He suffered sudden cardiac arrest and was treated in intensive care at University of Iowa Health Care.
His family decided to remove him from life support because of severe brain damage.
Temperatures at the game reached 94°F (34°C), one of the hottest in Iowa football history.
The marching band wore lighter uniforms and canceled their halftime performance due to heat concerns.
The university allowed fans to bring water bottles and adjusted other event times to cope with the heat.
University officials expressed their support to Derek, his family, and fellow students, offering counseling services.
Derek studied business analytics and information systems and was active in music, including summer tours with a drum and bugle corps.
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The TV show South Park will change its name to South America for its 29th season. This change responds to President Donald Trump’s recent moves to rename places in the U.S. with "America" in their names.
Key Facts
South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker announced the show’s new name, South America.
The name change is linked to Trump’s efforts to rename places like the Gulf of Mexico and New Mexico with "America."
President Trump shared a video suggesting New Mexico be renamed "New America," but the federal government cannot rename states.
The show’s parent company, Paramount Skydance, is merging with Warner Bros Discovery in a $111 billion deal approved by the Trump administration.
South Park has aired since 1997 and often satirizes political figures, including President Trump.
The new season of South America will start on September 16 and will be available on Paramount+ worldwide.
Trump’s renaming attempts have received criticism from Democrats who say it distracts from other issues.
South Park creators have previously mocked Trump through various controversial portrayals.
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President Donald Trump spoke about his experiences shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City. He described bringing construction workers to Ground Zero and recounted firefighters helping him escape a potentially collapsing building.
Key Facts
President Trump attended a "Steel Across America" event to honor first responders and 9/11 victims ahead of the attack's 25th anniversary.
He said he took a group of construction workers to Ground Zero soon after the World Trade Center collapsed.
Trump described a moment when two firefighters lifted him away from a building at risk of collapsing.
The building he referred to is now called One Liberty Plaza, which was damaged but did not fall after the attacks.
On the morning of 9/11, Trump was in his Trump Tower apartment and gave live interviews about the attacks.
Trump noted that his building at 40 Wall Street became the tallest standing building in Lower Manhattan after the towers fell.
Two days after 9/11, he visited Ground Zero to observe the recovery efforts and spoke with media.
His accounts of 9/11 have changed over time and have been a part of his public and political life.
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Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer asked President Donald Trump to pardon her after her murder trial of her three children ended in a mistrial. However, Trump cannot pardon her because her case involves state charges in Massachusetts and presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is charged with killing her three young children in Massachusetts in January 2023.
Her trial ended in a mistrial because the jury could not agree on a verdict.
Clancy’s lawyer, Kevin Reddington, asked President Trump to pardon her during a TV interview.
The president can only pardon people convicted of federal crimes, not state crimes like Clancy’s.
In Massachusetts, the governor has the power to grant pardons for state crimes.
Clancy’s defense argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a mental health condition causing hallucinations, when the killings happened.
Prosecutors said Clancy planned the killings and knew what she was doing.
The Massachusetts governor and a state board review pardon requests in the state.
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