CNN analyst Maggie Haberman said that President Donald Trump’s approval ratings are dropping in almost all polls ahead of the midterm elections. She stated that there are no polls where President Trump is seen as popular.
Key Facts
Maggie Haberman is a political analyst for CNN.
She commented on President Trump’s approval ratings on CNN’s show “The Source.”
Approval ratings measure how much people support a political leader.
President Trump’s approval is falling in most polls.
This decline is happening as the midterm elections get closer.
Haberman said there are no polls showing President Trump as popular.
The midterm elections are important because they decide control of Congress.
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A whistleblower said the U.S. Postal Service rushed to create a new computer system to limit mail voting, which could cause problems for voters who use mail ballots. The system is part of President Donald Trump's order to restrict mail voting and is currently paused by a judge, but the government is appealing the pause.
Key Facts
The Postal Service is building a new computer system to limit mail voting.
The system was intended to be ready for the midterm elections.
The whistleblower said the work was rushed and had many errors.
Normally, this kind of system takes over a year to build, but they tried to finish it in three months.
A federal judge has temporarily stopped the work on the system.
The administration is appealing the judge’s order.
The case could return to the U.S. Supreme Court.
About one-third of all voters use mail voting, so this system affects many people.
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Olivia Rodrigo hosted a festival called Daisy Chain Fields to raise money for women’s charities that lost funding under President Trump. The festival raised $10 million, which was matched by Melinda French Gates, to support causes related to women’s rights and reproductive justice.
Key Facts
Olivia Rodrigo, 23, held the first Daisy Chain Fields festival to support women-focused non-profits.
The festival raised $10 million, matched by Melinda French Gates for a total of $20 million.
Women’s rights programs have seen funding cuts during President Trump’s administration.
Rodrigo has spoken out publicly on several social and political issues, including the overturning of Roe v. Wade and conditions in Gaza.
She asked the Trump administration not to use her music in government materials targeting immigrants.
Rodrigo wore a dress made by a Palestinian fashion brand to highlight reproductive justice in Gaza.
Taylor Swift has been more cautious about speaking out during President Trump’s second term, despite previous political endorsements.
The article discusses the role of celebrities in using their influence to support social causes.
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said President Donald Trump asked Apple to change the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America." This request followed an executive order from the president aiming to change the lake's name.
Key Facts
President Trump issued an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario.
He directly contacted Apple, a major tech company, about changing the lake's name.
The new proposed name for Lake Ontario is "Lake America."
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum shared this information publicly.
The request to Apple likely targets the name on digital maps or apps.
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A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) whistleblower says the agency rushed to build a new ballot-checking system that might reject many mail ballots. A senator is demanding answers about whether USPS broke court orders by building this system after President Trump signed an executive order related to checking voter eligibility.
Key Facts
A USPS whistleblower claims the agency built a new ballot system in weeks instead of the usual many months.
The system is based on a Trump executive order to list confirmed U.S. citizens eligible to vote and to reject ballots from those not on state lists.
Senator Richard Blumenthal asked USPS for details and records about the system and whether court orders were broken.
The system checks ballot barcodes against voter information from states and could reject entire batches if one barcode is wrong.
USPS traditionally only gave advice on election mail but never rejected ballots before.
The Postal Service and the White House have not responded to requests for comment.
There is an ongoing legal battle with 23 states and D.C. suing to block the executive order, with mixed court rulings so far.
The situation raises concerns about USPS’s ability to run this new system correctly and on time before elections.
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IRS audit revenue dropped by 35% in fiscal year 2025 after the agency lost nearly 10,000 audit and collection employees. The IRS collected $6.5 billion from audits in 2025, down from $10 billion the previous year, even though total tax revenue rose slightly.
Key Facts
IRS audit revenue fell from $10 billion in 2024 to $6.5 billion in 2025, a 35% decrease.
The IRS audit and collection workforce dropped to 17,517 employees by January 2026, nearly 10,000 fewer than in 2024.
The decline in staff is linked to layoffs and resignations driven by cost-cutting efforts under the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Large corporate audits increased by 17%, but audits of new business partnerships dropped by 30%.
Audits of individuals earning over $400,000 declined by 26% in 2025.
The IRS Global High Wealth program lost 27% of its employees after 2025 workforce cuts.
Despite fewer audits, total federal tax revenue reached $5.3 trillion in fiscal 2025, a 4.2% increase from the previous year.
Funding and staffing cuts to the IRS risk reducing tax enforcement, which experts say raises more money than the cost of the IRS itself.
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A judge told the jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial to keep discussing after they said they could not all agree whether to convict her for killing her three children in Massachusetts in 2023. The jury had been deciding for several days and this was the first time they said they were stuck.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the death of her three young children at her home.
The incident happened in Massachusetts in 2023.
The jury has been deliberating for almost four days.
On the fourth day, jurors said they could not reach a unanimous decision.
The judge instructed the jury to continue their discussion.
Jurors previously requested to examine a knife Clancy used to cut herself and empty pill bottles found in her house.
The trial is ongoing, and the jury’s decision is still pending.
The article notes a warning about discussing suicide and provides a crisis lifeline number.
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President Donald Trump will meet with U.S. oil company leaders to discuss the price of oil. This meeting comes after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned due to ongoing conflicts with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Key Facts
President Trump is holding talks with U.S. oil company executives.
The main topic of the meeting is the price of oil.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned recently.
Driscoll’s resignation followed months of disagreements with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Pentagon is experiencing internal conflicts.
CBS News reporter Olivia Rinaldi covered the story.
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The New South Wales (NSW) government will restart pill testing at music festivals starting in October but will not expand it to the wider community. The government will continue the use of sniffer dogs, bag searches, and police at festivals despite concerns that these methods may increase risky drug use.
Key Facts
Pill testing will be available at up to 15 NSW music festivals each year starting October.
The testing allows festival-goers to anonymously check drug samples for safety, purity, and strength.
A 12-month trial tested 1,480 drug samples at 12 festivals and showed some drugs contained unexpected or dangerous substances.
8% of samples had unexpected substances; 4% of MDMA samples contained very high doses, which can be deadly.
The government will keep allowing sniffer dogs, police searches, and bag checks at festivals.
Experts say sniffer dogs and searches may cause people to take all their drugs at once, increasing overdose risk.
Some groups urge expanding pill testing beyond festivals into the community, but the NSW government rejected this.
Other Australian regions, like Victoria and the ACT, provide community drug checking with advice and support beyond festivals.
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The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating Charles Perrottet, brother of former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, over allegations of improper influence and payments related to fast-track government approvals for developments owned by fugitive developer Jean Nassif. Charles Perrottet has testified that he gave unpaid advice through a consultancy and denied wrongdoing, while ICAC probes meetings and payments linked to expedited development approvals during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Key Facts
ICAC is investigating Charles Perrottet, Jeremy Greenwood, and Christian Ellis for allegedly receiving $2 million from developer Jean Nassif, violating NSW laws banning political donations from developers.
Jean Nassif is a fugitive and owns multiple property developments, some of which may have been fast-tracked for approval under a new government process.
Charles Perrottet admitted to giving general advice to Nassif but says he was not paid personally; payments were made to his wife.
ICAC is examining a 2019 meeting where a "1%" payment was discussed, possibly linked to the value of Nassif’s fast-tracked properties.
NSW introduced a fast-track approval process in April 2020 to speed up construction projects that could create jobs quickly during the Covid-19 economic slowdown.
The fast-track process prioritized well-advanced projects with job creation potential and was rolled out in phases, including government and private projects.
There are allegations Nassif tried to influence political outcomes, including removing a building commissioner and local Liberal councillors.
Dominic Perrottet is not a target of the ICAC investigation.
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Many students miss school frequently, which harms both their schools and local communities. This problem, called chronic absenteeism, can lead to lower learning levels and bigger social challenges over time.
Key Facts
Chronic absenteeism means missing a large number of school days.
It negatively affects students’ learning and school performance.
When many students miss school often, the whole community can be impacted.
Missing school regularly can lead to lower graduation rates.
Schools and communities need to work together to reduce absenteeism.
Causes of absenteeism include health issues, family problems, and lack of transportation.
Addressing absenteeism early can improve education and community well-being.
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Federal records reveal that Homeland Security started an internal investigation into Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino just before he retired in March. This investigation was ongoing at the time of his retirement.
Key Facts
Greg Bovino was a Border Patrol commander.
Homeland Security began investigating him internally.
The investigation happened shortly before Bovino retired in March.
These details were found in recently released federal records.
The investigation was active when Bovino announced his retirement.
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A whistleblower told Congress that a new US Postal Service (USPS) system designed to screen mail-in ballots for the November midterm elections was rushed and poorly tested. The system risks rejecting entire groups of ballots because one scanning error cancels the whole batch, raising concerns about errors and delays before voting begins.
Key Facts
The new USPS system scans mail-in ballots against a federal voter list before delivery.
The system was created quickly, with about three months for work that usually takes nearly a year.
If one ballot does not match, the entire batch of ballots can be rejected.
The system was not fully tested until late August, just before ballots are sent to voters.
Senator Richard Blumenthal said USPS does not have the ability to use the system safely yet.
The system comes from a March executive order by President Donald Trump changing mail-in voting rules.
Courts have repeatedly blocked parts of the order amid legal challenges.
USPS faces questions from Congress about why the system continued being built despite court orders to stop.
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The jury in Lindsay Clancy’s trial, who is accused of killing her three children, remains unable to reach a unanimous verdict and has been told to keep discussing the case. Clancy says she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a severe mental illness after childbirth, while prosecutors argue she knowingly committed murder.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy, 36, is on trial for killing her three children by strangulation.
She admits to the act but claims postpartum psychosis caused her actions.
Prosecutors argue Clancy was aware of what she was doing and intended it.
The jury is deciding between murder, manslaughter, or acquittal based on mental health.
If convicted, she could face life in prison; if acquitted, she may be confined to a mental health facility if deemed dangerous.
Clancy’s legal team says she suffered from worsening mental health and used many medications that may have worsened her condition.
The trial has included testimony from her former husband, family members, and medical professionals.
After the criminal trial, both Lindsay and her former husband plan to sue medical and mental health providers for alleged malpractice in her care.
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A whistleblower raised concerns that the U.S. Postal Service’s computer system has many errors. These problems could cause trouble for mail-in voting in the upcoming November midterm elections.
Key Facts
The whistleblower revealed issues with the USPS computer system.
Errors in the system may affect mail-in voting.
The problems could impact the November midterm elections.
The USPS tried to create a new, complex system in about three months.
Senator Richard Blumenthal shared the whistleblower’s warning publicly.
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Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is leaving his position after 18 months, according to the White House. His departure is part of several changes in military leadership during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
Dan Driscoll has served as Army Secretary for 18 months.
He is stepping down, but no specific reason was given for his departure.
Driscoll is known to be a friend of Vice President JD Vance.
There have been reported tensions between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Army has experienced many leadership changes recently.
The White House praised Driscoll for supporting President Trump’s goals, including improving military strength and readiness.
Driscoll helped with negotiations related to Russia and Ukraine.
The White House statement highlighted his leadership during important military operations.
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Jurors in the trial of Lindsay Clancy said they could not reach a decision after four days of discussions. The judge told them to keep talking and try to come to an agreement.
Key Facts
The trial involves Lindsay Clancy, who faces murder charges.
Jurors have been deliberating for four days.
They reported that they are deadlocked, meaning they can't agree on a verdict.
The judge instructed the jurors to continue their discussions.
No verdict has been reached as of now.
This development was reported by CBS News.
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Jurors in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy told the judge they cannot reach a decision after four days of discussion. The judge has asked them to continue talking to try to reach a verdict.
Key Facts
The trial is for Lindsay Clancy and involves a murder charge.
Jurors told Plymouth Superior Court Judge William Sullivan they are deadlocked, meaning they cannot agree.
This happened on the fourth day of their deliberations.
The judge has asked the jurors to keep discussing the case.
The case is being covered by CBS News reporters Shanelle Kaul and Caroline Polisi.
The hearing is taking place in Plymouth Superior Court.
No verdict has been reached yet.
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Tyler Robinson is appearing in court in Utah where a judge will decide if there is enough evidence to move his case to trial for the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The court hearing will focus on whether the prosecutors have probable cause to continue and if factors exist to consider the death penalty, but it will not decide guilt or innocence.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is charged with killing Charlie Kirk at a public event in Utah in September 2025.
Prosecutors say the shooting was deliberate and politically motivated.
Evidence includes an engraved shell casing and hostile messages connected to Robinson.
The court will decide if there is enough proof to go to trial and if the case qualifies for a death penalty consideration.
The hearing is not a trial and will not determine Robinson’s guilt.
Key questions remain about Robinson’s motive and if others were put at risk during the shooting.
Robinson’s home and devices were searched in a long investigation, but no detailed planning or manifesto was found.
Experts say trials often answer legal questions but may not fully explain why a person commits a crime.
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A man in Oklahoma, Ryan Bassham, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after an explosion at a marijuana extraction facility killed two employees. The blast damaged nearby businesses, and authorities believe unsafe chemical use caused the accident.
Key Facts
Ryan Bassham, 35, turned himself in and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
The explosion happened early Thursday at Solos Extracts near Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Two employees, Michael Newman and Stephen Scott, died in the explosion.
Prosecutors believe the employees were illegally handling dangerous chemicals.
The facility was trying to update its marijuana license and narcotics registration.
A fire marshal found outdated and hazardous equipment at the facility before the blast.
After the explosion, large amounts of liquid propane and other dangerous materials were found onsite.
The explosion damaged nearby businesses but no other people were hurt.
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