Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is leaving his position after 18 months, according to the White House. His departure comes amid several leadership changes in the Army during President Donald Trump’s administration, with no official reason given.
Key Facts
Dan Driscoll served as Army Secretary for 18 months before stepping down.
The White House praised Driscoll for supporting President Trump’s goals, including military readiness and involvement in Russia-Ukraine negotiations.
Driscoll is a friend of Vice President JD Vance and an Iraq war veteran.
There have been multiple high-level leadership changes in the Army under President Trump, including the removal of Gen. Randy George and the resignation of Gen. Christopher Donahue.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly had tensions with Driscoll.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve replaced Gen. George as acting chief of staff and ended a drone modernization program that Driscoll supported.
Driscoll expressed sadness over the change and highlighted that civilian leadership chooses military leaders.
President Trump described Driscoll as a "disruptor and change agent" at the time of his nomination.
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In 2023, the Texas Legislature increased car insurance fees by $1 to fight theft of catalytic converters. This money funded thousands of Flock surveillance cameras across Texas, used by police to monitor highways and streets. Recently, Governor Abbott paused state funding for new local Flock camera grants.
Key Facts
Texas added a $1 fee to car insurance policies in 2023 to reduce catalytic converter theft.
At least $30 million from this fee has gone toward installing over 3,200 Flock cameras statewide.
The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority manages the funds and grants for these cameras.
The Authority has given 234 grants totaling $50.8 million to help police use the cameras and other crime-fighting tools.
Cities like Dallas, Laredo, and El Paso received large grants to install hundreds of Flock cameras.
Another $3 million was recently approved for 583 more cameras on Texas toll roads.
Governor Abbott's office has now paused state funding for further local Flock camera grants.
Most funding for local cameras now comes from federal sources, not the state.
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The prediction market company Kalshi has banned George Santos for life. The ban follows an investigation into claims that Santos made insider trades related to a bet on whether he would attend the State of the Union address.
Key Facts
Kalshi is a platform where people can make bets on future events, called a prediction market.
George Santos is a former Republican representative from New York.
Kalshi banned Santos permanently from using their platform.
The ban came after allegations that Santos used insider information to make a trade.
The trade in question was a bet about Santos attending the State of the Union address in 2024.
Kalshi investigated the claims before making the decision to ban him.
The situation was reported by CBS News political correspondents.
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The Trump administration announced a large oil deal with Venezuela’s interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez, previously vice president under Nicolás Maduro. This agreement challenges Senator Marco Rubio’s long-standing opposition to Venezuela’s ruling powers and raises questions about his 2028 presidential prospects.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump announced a joint oil venture with Venezuela, calling it the "biggest oil deal in world history."
The deal involves developing 17 Venezuelan oil fields estimated to hold 65 billion barrels of oil.
The U.S. will receive about 55% of the oil output through ownership and purchase rights.
The length of the deal is unclear, with Venezuela stating 25 years and a U.S. official saying 100 years.
Senator Marco Rubio helped negotiate the deal and called it beneficial for both countries.
Many Venezuelans still want Maduro gone but distrust both Delcy Rodríguez and Trump.
Critics say the deal supports an oppressive Venezuelan government and questions Rodríguez’s authority to make such agreements.
Economists and analysts warn this deal could damage Rubio’s political trust and future election chances.
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More than 600,000 Medicare beneficiaries have signed up for a new program that lets them get weight-loss drugs, called GLP-1 medications, for just $50 a month. This program, which started in July 2024 and runs until the end of 2027, aims to make these expensive drugs more affordable for seniors.
Key Facts
The program is called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program.
It caps the monthly cost of certain GLP-1 weight-loss drugs at $50 for eligible seniors.
GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound help treat obesity but used to cost over $1,000 per month.
The program launched on July 1, 2024, and will last through December 31, 2027.
Around 600,000 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the first two months.
Eligible seniors generally must have Medicare Part D and meet certain health criteria.
This is a temporary program to see how affordable drug access affects health and Medicare costs.
Experts warn about possible higher costs if the program does not become permanent or integrated into regular Medicare coverage.
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President Donald Trump announced a new oil reserve agreement with Venezuela, saying it will lower gas prices in the U.S. However, experts warn that the deal may take several years before it actually affects gas prices.
Key Facts
President Trump supports an oil reserve deal with Venezuela.
The deal aims to help reduce gas prices in the U.S.
Experts say the deal will take a long time to start working.
Chris Pilkerton, a U.S. Treasury official, discussed the agreement publicly.
The arrangement involves U.S. access to Venezuelan oil reserves.
Immediate effects on gas prices are unlikely.
The deal is part of U.S. energy policy under President Trump.
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The U.S. Supreme Court allowed construction to continue on a $400 million ballroom project at the White House while lawsuits are still ongoing. The court’s majority said the preservation group likely did not have the legal right to stop the work, which the administration says is important for national security.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court’s decision was split 5-4, allowing the White House ballroom construction to proceed.
Chief Justice John Roberts disagreed with the decision, calling the project “likely unlawful” because Congress had not approved it.
The lawsuit was filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, arguing that President Trump lacks the authority to approve the project alone.
The Trump administration claims the project is necessary for national security and must be finished quickly.
Construction has included demolishing the East Wing, with crews working long hours every day.
The project plans an 8,400 square meter ballroom, expected to be finished by August 2028.
Lower courts ordered a stop to aboveground construction, but allowed underground work to continue.
Judges appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents have disagreed on who should decide the project’s fate.
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A woman carrying knives attacked people in Times Square, New York City, on Monday afternoon before police shot her. The woman had allegedly slashed at least two people, and police responded after reports of someone with knives near West 43rd Street and Seventh Avenue.
Key Facts
The incident happened in Times Square near 42nd and 43rd Streets and Seventh Avenue.
The suspect was a woman armed with two knives.
She allegedly injured at least two people by slashing them.
Police ordered the woman to drop the knives before shooting her.
Authorities said the case is not linked to terrorism.
The area was closed to foot and vehicle traffic during the investigation.
Officials have not released details on the conditions of the suspect or victims.
Times Square is a very busy area with many tourists and recent reports of violent incidents.
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Three cities in Kansas—Edgerton, El Dorado, and Emporia—have sued residents who started petitions to limit or ban large data centers because of concerns about water and electricity use. The cities say the petitions are legally wrong, while residents say voters should have the right to decide local rules through petitions.
Key Facts
Residents in three Kansas cities oppose large data centers due to worries about their impact on water and electricity.
Kansas law allows citizens to propose local rules by collecting enough signatures on a petition.
Edgerton, El Dorado, and Emporia filed lawsuits to stop these petitions from moving forward.
The cities argue the petitions misstate facts about city services and unfairly target data centers.
Edgerton does not provide water to the site of a proposed data center and does not control electricity there.
The petitions seek rules that would limit water use by data centers, but cities argue similar industrial projects would not face the same limits.
Edgerton’s lawsuit specifically names two residents and a local group who organized the petition.
Legal disputes focus on whether citizens have the right to directly approve or reject local ordinances through petitions.
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Three Democrats running for Congress in Kentucky, Michigan, and California talked about their election campaigns and shared their views on the future of their party. They expressed confidence as the midterm elections approach.
Key Facts
Marni Von Wilpert is a Democratic candidate from California.
Christina Hines is a Democratic candidate from Michigan.
Zach Dembo is a Democratic candidate from Kentucky.
All three candidates appeared on the CBS News program "The Takeout."
They discussed their campaigns and party direction ahead of the midterm elections.
The candidates showed confidence about their chances in the upcoming elections.
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The Supreme Court decided to allow construction on the White House ballroom to continue. Chief Justice John Roberts disagreed with the majority, saying this decision could upset the balance of power between Congress and the President.
Key Facts
The case involved building a ballroom at the White House.
The Supreme Court majority allowed the construction to move forward.
Chief Justice John Roberts opposed this decision.
Roberts was joined in dissent by the three liberal justices.
Roberts argued the ruling might interfere with Congress’s exclusive power to control government spending.
The issue touches on the separation of powers between Congress and the executive branch.
The disagreement shows a split among the Supreme Court justices on this matter.
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to a new low, according to a recent University of Massachusetts Amherst poll. Some of his previous voters now show less support, which could affect the Republican Party’s chances in the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
Trump’s approval rating fell to a net -32 points, with 32% approving and 64% disapproving his job performance.
The poll surveyed 1,000 people from August 21 to 26, 2026, with a 3.5% margin of error.
84% of Trump’s 2024 voters said they would vote for him again, down from 94% for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Some former Trump voters would choose a third party, not vote, or remain undecided rather than support Trump again.
Lower presidential approval ratings historically hurt the president’s party in midterm elections.
Other polls also show Trump’s approval rating below 50%, ranging from -14 to -32 net points.
Political experts warn that continued low approval could threaten Republican control of the House and Senate.
The decline in approval is linked to voter concerns about the economy, inflation, and the war in Iran.
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The UK government is spending £110 million to create more prison cells by converting unused spaces to reduce overcrowding in prisons. This funding is part of a larger plan to add 14,000 new prison places by 2031 and includes changes to stop some dangerous prisoners from being released early.
Key Facts
£110 million will be used to convert unused areas in existing prisons into more cells.
The government plans to build a total of 14,000 new prison places by 2031 with a £7 billion investment.
The money being spent now is from already announced budgets, not new funding.
Changes to sentencing rules aim to prevent some dangerous criminals from early release.
Plans include faster deportation of foreign offenders and ending certain past prison sentences.
There is criticism about early release plans potentially freeing dangerous criminals.
An additional £18.9 million will support victim services for emotional and practical help.
A new prison for 1,700 inmates will be built in Lancashire.
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The jury is still deciding in the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who admitted to killing her three children. Clancy says she should not be found guilty of murder because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a mental health condition, at the time.
Key Facts
The trial involves Lindsay Clancy, who killed her three children.
Clancy admitted to the killings but denies murder charges.
Her defense is that she had postpartum psychosis, a serious mental illness after childbirth.
The jury has been deliberating for three days and has not reached a verdict yet.
Jury deliberations will continue the following day.
CBS News legal expert Caroline Polisi is following the case and providing analysis.
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A 76-year-old green card holder with stage 4 prostate cancer, Loreto Javar, has been held by U.S. immigration officials for over two months after being detained during his citizenship interview. His family and advocates say the detention is causing him to miss cancer treatments and that the Philippine consulate has not yet helped with his case.
Key Facts
Loreto Javar, age 76, from the Philippines, has had stage 4 prostate cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
He was detained on June 23 during his interview to become a U.S. citizen in Tukwila, Washington.
Javar has been held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma for more than two months.
Due to detention, Javar has missed multiple cancer treatment appointments.
His daughter, Daisy Javar, requests his immediate release for humanitarian reasons.
Officials allege Javar was involved in a deadly 1970s incident in the Philippines and served prison time.
A grassroots group, Tanggol Migrante, is campaigning for his release and consulate intervention.
The Philippine consulate in Seattle has not responded to family requests for help so far.
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A teenager from North Carolina died after being infected by a rare brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. The infection is very rare but deadly and usually happens when contaminated warm freshwater enters the nose.
Key Facts
The boy, Moises Ponce Mendoza, died on August 31, 2026, from an infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.
Naegleria fowleri is a single-celled organism found in warm freshwater like ponds and lakes.
The amoeba is harmless if swallowed but deadly if it enters the nose and reaches the brain.
Symptoms include severe headaches, fever, nausea, stiff neck, seizures, coma, and often death within about five days.
Fewer than 10 cases occur annually in the U.S., mostly during hot weather when water temperatures rise.
Health officials advise avoiding getting water up the nose in warm freshwater, using nose clips, and not disturbing sediment in shallow water.
Another recent death from this amoeba occurred in Louisiana, showing the infection can happen in different states.
Scientists warn that climate change may be expanding the range of Naegleria fowleri further north in the U.S.
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A man is charged with stealing over $1.3 million from women he met online. He allegedly pretended to be a player for the San Francisco 49ers football team to trick them.
Key Facts
The man posed as a 49ers player to gain trust.
He targeted women through online dating or social media.
He stole more than $1.3 million from these women.
The case involves charges related to fraud and deception.
Authorities uncovered the scheme as part of a larger investigation.
Romance scams involve pretending to be someone else to steal money.
The stolen money came from multiple victims.
The man now faces legal consequences for his actions.
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A federal judge delayed a lawsuit that challenges the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. The delay will last until after the midterm elections, following a request by the Department of Justice.
Key Facts
A lawsuit aims to overturn the FDA’s approval of mifepristone, a medication used for abortion.
Judge Reed O’Connor from the Northern District of Texas paused the case.
The delay was requested by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The pause will last until after the upcoming midterm elections.
The FDA originally approved mifepristone to be used in early pregnancy.
This legal case is part of ongoing debates over abortion access in the U.S.
The delay means no immediate changes to FDA approval will happen before the elections.
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The Trump administration is ending most federal research on the Cyclospora parasite despite a large outbreak in the US. Scientists working on this research are leaving or moving to other projects as the USDA closes a research center near Washington, DC and moves work to Iowa.
Key Facts
The US has the largest recorded Cyclospora outbreak, with nearly 30,000 cases and over 900 hospitalizations this summer.
Cyclospora is a foodborne parasite that causes diarrheal illness called cyclosporiasis.
The USDA is shutting down the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center near Washington, DC, and relocating its work to Iowa.
Two of the three USDA Cyclospora research programs have lost funding; the third is losing its scientists.
Scientists are not moving to Iowa and are leaving or reassigned, causing a knowledge gap.
Cyclospora is difficult to study because it only grows inside the human gut and has a large, complex genome.
The outbreak was seen as a chance to learn more, but research has halted, and samples are only being preserved.
Experts warn it takes decades to build expertise studying parasites like Cyclospora, making the disruption serious.
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Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed criticized the Trump administration for increasing trade tensions with Canada. He called the move harmful to people in Michigan, a state that shares a border with Canada and depends on trade with its neighbor.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat from Michigan.
Michigan borders Canada, making trade with Canada important for its economy.
The Trump administration recently expanded a trade conflict with Canada.
El-Sayed described this expansion as a bad policy that hurts Michiganders.
The comments were made during a public statement on Monday.
The trade tensions involve tariffs or other barriers between the two countries.
El-Sayed's statement reflects concerns about the impact of national policies on local economies.
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