Vance Boelter, accused of killing Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, is expected to plead guilty. The Justice Department has decided not to seek the death penalty in this case.
Key Facts
Vance Boelter is charged with killing Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman.
The killings occurred in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in June 2025.
Boelter is expected to enter a guilty plea on Thursday.
The Justice Department agreed not to ask for the death penalty.
The Minnesota State Capitol opened for the public to pay respects to the victims.
The case is ongoing and updates may follow.
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Congress must decide by Friday whether to renew a law that helps the government collect foreign intelligence. Some lawmakers oppose it because they think it can be misused, while others want President Trump to change his nominee to lead U.S. intelligence agencies before they approve the law.
Key Facts
The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is set to expire soon.
FISA allows the government to gather information about foreign threats.
Critics from both political sides worry FISA can be abused.
Some lawmakers refuse to extend FISA until President Trump changes his nominee for the top intelligence job.
Republican Representative Mike McCaul from Texas spoke about these issues in a recent interview.
The deadline for Congress to act on this matter is Friday.
The nominee in question is expected to oversee U.S. intelligence agencies.
The debate reflects concerns about balancing national security and privacy rights.
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A Pew Research Center report says American politics is more complex than just red (Republican) versus blue (Democrat). The report divides Americans into nine groups based on their political and cultural beliefs, showing that few people fully support only one party.
Key Facts
The Pew Research Center surveyed over 10,000 Americans.
The survey identified nine different political and cultural groups.
These groups go beyond the usual Democrat and Republican categories.
Most Americans are not completely loyal to just one political party.
The political environment is described as polarized but more diverse than simple two-party division.
The findings were discussed by Amna Nawaz and Jocelyn Kiley.
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Voters in four states took part in primary elections to select candidates for upcoming general elections. The main focus was on Maine’s Democratic Senate race involving Graham Platner, with other results coming from governor and congressional contests in South Carolina, Nevada, and North Dakota.
Key Facts
Four states held primary elections on Tuesday.
Voters chose their party candidates for various races.
Maine’s Democratic Senate race drew attention because of Graham Platner’s recent scandals.
South Carolina, Nevada, and North Dakota held primaries for governor and congressional seats.
These primaries decide who will run in the November general elections.
The outcomes will influence the political landscape for the rest of the year.
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The U.S. military has launched new strikes against targets in Iran. At the same time, inflation in the United States reached its highest point in three years as of May.
Key Facts
The U.S. military announced recent strikes against Iran.
Inflation in the U.S. rose to the highest level seen in three years in May.
The military actions and inflation report were both highlighted in recent news coverage.
Inflation means prices are rising, making goods and services more expensive.
These events are part of ongoing developments in U.S. national affairs.
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Inflation increased by 4.2 percent in May, reaching the highest level in three years. This rise affects the cost of living for many Americans and poses challenges for President Trump and the Republican Party during an election year focused on affordability.
Key Facts
Inflation rose 4.2 percent in May.
This is the highest inflation rate in three years.
The increase is linked to the economic impact of the war involving Iran.
Higher inflation makes goods and services more expensive for consumers.
Inflation and affordability are key political issues in the current election year.
President Trump and the GOP face pressure because of these economic concerns.
The Labor Department released this inflation report on Wednesday.
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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates testified in a private session before the House Oversight Committee. The committee is investigating Jeffrey Epstein and his connections, including those involving Gates.
Key Facts
Bill Gates appeared before the House Oversight Committee for testimony.
The meeting was held behind closed doors, not open to the public.
The hearing focused on Jeffrey Epstein, a late convicted sex offender.
The committee is examining Epstein’s relationships with various people.
Democratic Representative Stephen Lynch attended the testimony.
The session is part of a broader congressional investigation.
Bill Gates’ involvement relates to his past interactions with Epstein.
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U.S. prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for Vance Boelter in a plea deal. Boelter is charged with killing Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and shooting a state senator and his wife.
Key Facts
Vance Boelter is accused of killing Melissa Hortman, the top Democrat in the Minnesota House, and her husband.
Boelter also allegedly shot state Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
The attacks happened on June 14, 2025, when Boelter posed as a police officer using a fake squad car.
Boelter was caught near his home in rural Green Isle after a large search effort.
Federal prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty in a plea agreement.
Boelter faces federal and state charges including murder and attempted murder.
A change-of-plea hearing was scheduled in federal court in Minneapolis.
The decision was authorized by the U.S. Attorney General.
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Two women who previously dated Graham Platner, a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maine, spoke out about how people responded to their accusations against him. Their stories were reported by the Free Press, a news outlet owned by Paramount.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running for the U.S. Senate in Maine as a Democrat.
Two women who dated him have made accusations.
These women spoke with the Free Press about the reactions to their claims.
The Free Press is part of Paramount’s news group.
Audrey Fahlberg from the Free Press discussed this topic on a show called "The Takeout."
CBS News provides video coverage of the story.
The women criticized how others responded after they shared their accusations.
The article highlights ongoing discussions about the candidate’s personal behavior.
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As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, discussions about the role of religion and the beliefs of the country's founders are gaining attention again. Journalist Judy Woodruff reports on these renewed questions as part of her series called America at a Crossroads.
Key Facts
The U.S. will celebrate its 250th anniversary next month.
Old questions about religion in America are coming back into focus.
There is renewed interest in what the founders believed about faith.
Judy Woodruff is covering this topic in a series named America at a Crossroads.
The anniversary is prompting reflection on America’s history and values.
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Graham Plater won the Democratic primary for the Maine Senate seat despite controversies. He will run against Republican Senator Susan Collins in the upcoming election, which could affect which party controls the Senate.
Key Facts
Graham Plater won the Maine Senate Democratic primary on Tuesday night.
Plater faced several controversies during the campaign.
He criticized Senator Susan Collins, calling her "spineless and corrupt" in his victory speech.
Susan Collins is the current Republican Senator from Maine.
The upcoming election will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.
CBS News political director Fin Gómez provided analysis on the race.
The race is considered important for the balance of power in Congress.
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The American Diabetes Association (ADA) apologized for removing five diabetes scientists from its annual meeting after they handed out an editorial criticizing the Trump administration's impact on biomedical research. The scientists were removed because they did not have permission to distribute the editorial, but the ADA later said it regretted how the situation was handled.
Key Facts
Five leading diabetes scientists were removed from the ADA meeting in New Orleans for distributing an editorial critical of President Trump’s administration.
The editorial was published in the ADA’s own journal, Diabetes Care.
Scientists were escorted out by police, who took their conference badges and threatened arrest if they returned.
The ADA initially said the removal was due to code of conduct violations and lack of approval to distribute materials.
ADA CEO Charles Henderson later apologized personally to the scientists for the incident.
The ADA said it must keep a nonpartisan environment at its events to comply with federal nonprofit regulations.
Several ADA leaders resigned after backlash from the scientific and diabetes communities.
Over 40 ADA officials criticized the removal decision and called for changes in the association’s leadership.
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President Donald Trump is continuing to support Bill Pulte as the temporary head of U.S. intelligence, despite Pulte having little experience in intelligence work. This has increased the chances that a law allowing the U.S. to collect intelligence overseas could expire, since lawmakers want a permanent director before renewing the law.
Key Facts
President Trump has not named a permanent director of national intelligence.
Bill Pulte is currently serving as the temporary director.
Pulte has limited experience related to intelligence.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allows intelligence gathering abroad.
Democrats say they will not support renewing Section 702 while Pulte is in the intelligence role.
Both Republicans and Democrats want a permanent intelligence chief appointed soon.
The lapse of Section 702 could affect U.S. intelligence operations overseas.
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Bill Gates said he made a serious mistake by meeting Jeffrey Epstein but denied any wrongdoing during a meeting with the U.S. House Oversight Committee. He said he never saw any sign of Epstein’s criminal activities and only met Epstein to discuss charity work.
Key Facts
Bill Gates admitted it was a “grave error” to meet Jeffrey Epstein.
Gates denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct.
The meetings began in 2011, three years after Epstein’s guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Gates said he met Epstein to raise money for global health projects but ended contact in 2014 after seeing no results.
Gates testified voluntarily before the House Oversight Committee behind closed doors.
Documents show meetings, emails, and photos linking Gates and Epstein.
Gates has not been accused of any crimes related to Epstein and said he never visited Epstein’s known properties.
Lawmakers had mixed reactions to Gates’s testimony, with some calling it intense and others describing him as cooperative.
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The United States refused entry to Somali World Cup referee Omar Artan, citing concerns about security vetting. Omar Artan has since returned to Somalia.
Key Facts
Omar Artan is a Somali referee for the World Cup.
The U.S. government denied him entry into the country.
The reason given was concerns related to security vetting, which means checking background for safety reasons.
Omar Artan returned to Somalia after being denied entry.
CBS News reported this situation with input from their immigration correspondent.
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The Florida Supreme Court decided to keep the new congressional district map in place for the 2024 midterm elections. The court rejected efforts to immediately block the map while a lower court reviews legal challenges claiming the map favors the Republican Party.
Key Facts
The Florida Supreme Court ruled 6-1 to let the new district map remain for upcoming elections.
The case was brought by voting rights groups alleging the map violates Florida’s anti-gerrymandering law.
The court said a lower court must first examine the case’s details before the Supreme Court acts.
Justice Jorge Labarga disagreed and wanted the court to review the map sooner due to tight election deadlines.
Governor Ron DeSantis’ team created the new map aimed to help Republicans win more seats.
The map redraw was partly in response to a Supreme Court decision limiting protections for minority voting districts.
The underlying legal challenge will continue, but the current map will be used for the elections.
Justice Adam Tanenbaum said elections will proceed smoothly under the current laws and officials.
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The U.S. military carried out new strikes on multiple targets in Iran following President Trump’s promise to hit Iran "hard." These actions are described by the U.S. as self-defense in response to Iranian aggression and come amid ongoing tensions and recent attacks between the two countries.
Key Facts
The U.S. Central Command announced strikes on several Iranian targets early Thursday local time.
President Trump vowed to take strong action against Iran to push for a deal on U.S. terms.
The strikes are called self-defensive responses to Iran’s repeated hostile actions.
Iranian media reported explosions and activated air defenses in several cities.
These attacks come after a previous round of nearly 20 U.S. strikes in retaliation for Iran shooting down a U.S. Apache helicopter.
Iran retaliated by launching drones at U.S. allies in the region.
A fragile two-month-old ceasefire has prevented major conflict but not stopped smaller exchanges of fire.
The situation remains tense and could escalate the conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson said that President Donald Trump’s comment, “I love the inflation,” was misunderstood and taken out of context. Johnson explained that Trump’s remark was not about the rising energy prices linked to the war in Iran.
Key Facts
House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke to CNN about President Trump’s comment on inflation.
Johnson said the comment was “totally out of context.”
President Trump made the comment during a reporter’s question.
There are concerns about rising energy costs connected to the Iran war.
Johnson is a Republican leader from Louisiana.
The discussion happened at the U.S. Capitol.
The comment has caused public confusion about President Trump’s position on inflation.
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Senator Josh Hawley and former NFL player Tim Tebow worked together to support a new law aimed at fighting child exploitation. President Donald Trump signed this law, which includes nearly $70 billion to fund immigration enforcement agencies like ICE and Border Patrol.
Key Facts
Senator Josh Hawley and Tim Tebow joined efforts to oppose child exploitation.
Their push led to a provision included in a larger immigration enforcement law.
The law provides nearly $70 billion in funding.
It fully funds U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.
President Donald Trump signed the law on Wednesday.
The law is part of the immigration enforcement reconciliation package.
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