Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became Health and Human Services Secretary, measles-related deaths in the U.S. have surpassed the total from the previous 20 years. There have been five confirmed measles deaths since 2025, with a recent rise in cases linked to a decline in vaccinations.
Key Facts
Five measles-related deaths were confirmed in 2025 and 2026, more than double the three deaths recorded from 2000 to 2020.
Two recent deaths in Pennsylvania, including an unvaccinated adult and infant, are the first measles deaths there in 35 years.
The CDC recorded 2,777 measles cases in the U.S. this year—the highest number in over 35 years.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, meaning it was no longer spreading regularly.
Vaccination rates for the MMR vaccine have dropped nationally since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
About 78% of U.S. counties studied showed a decline in MMR vaccinations among children.
Health officials emphasize that the MMR vaccine is the best protection against measles.
Experts link the rise in measles cases and deaths to growing parental distrust of vaccines.
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Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine, supports President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Canada. Golden warned that if Canada chooses to retaliate against these tariffs, it could harm their own economy.
Key Facts
Rep. Jared Golden is a Democrat representing Maine.
He supports President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods.
Golden said that retaliation from Canada “won’t go well” for the country.
He expressed confidence that American goods are important to Canada’s economy.
Golden made these remarks in an interview with the Portland Press Herald.
The issue involves trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada over tariffs.
Tariffs are taxes on imported goods meant to protect local industries or influence trade.
Golden’s comments show some Democrats back President Trump’s trade policies.
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The final days of the Lindsay Clancy trial included a request to declare a mistrial, testimony from family members, and expert arguments about forensic psychology and psychiatry. The trial also focused on the question of postpartum psychosis and what the jury will decide next.
Key Facts
The trial involved Lindsay Clancy and included family member testimonies.
Lawyers asked the court to declare a mistrial during the final days.
Experts in forensic psychology and psychiatry gave opposing opinions.
The debate centered on postpartum psychosis, a mental health condition after childbirth.
The jury will decide the outcome after hearing all evidence.
The CBS News "48 Hours" podcast covered these trial details.
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President Donald Trump announced a plan to remove tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of imported beef to lower prices for American consumers. However, official details suggest that Argentina and several other major beef-exporting countries with existing trade agreements are excluded from this new import deal.
Key Facts
President Trump said tariffs would be removed on 300,000 metric tons of imported beef.
The beef should be sold at 25% below current market prices.
The goal is to help American families afford beef and support domestic beef production.
The White House has not confirmed which countries will supply the beef.
Argentina, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand appear to be excluded from this deal.
These countries have existing free trade agreements or specific beef import quotas with the U.S.
The plan targets suppliers outside of those with special trade agreements.
Agricultural officials declined to name the specific countries involved.
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President Donald Trump has claimed without evidence that California’s elections, especially mail-in voting, are fraudulent. California election officials say they are ready to handle increased scrutiny and are focusing on educating voters to clear up misinformation before the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump publicly accused California elections of fraud, particularly mail-in votes.
These claims about widespread fraud in California’s elections are not true.
California is a state that generally votes Democratic and is expected to favor Democrats in the midterms.
Election officials in California are preparing for increased attention and criticism ahead of the November elections.
Santa Clara County’s registrar of voters said their main focus is on educating voters.
Officials want to provide clear, accurate information to combat false claims and confusion.
They aim to maintain transparency and public confidence in the voting process.
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President Donald Trump’s war on Iran is causing serious money problems for the US navy. The navy has had to move funds meant for paying sailors and other uses to cover combat costs, leading to delays in some maintenance and budget stress. The Pentagon requested emergency funding, but it is unlikely Congress will approve it soon.
Key Facts
The US navy is using money from payroll accounts to pay for war expenses against Iran.
The war has caused a shortage of munitions and led to Iranian strikes on US bases in the Middle East.
Non-emergency maintenance on navy bases has been postponed due to budget issues.
The navy’s 2026 budget is about $300 billion, divided for personnel, shipbuilding, weapons, and daily operations.
Laws limit how the navy can move money between different parts of its budget.
A Pentagon memo warned about payroll shortfalls caused by money being redirected to cover overseas combat.
Emergency funding requests from the White House face low chances of approval in Congress because the war is unpopular.
Navy leaders are managing resources carefully to meet pay obligations and operational demands despite budget challenges.
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The jury is deciding if Lindsay Clancy, a former nurse, is responsible for killing her three children in January 2023. Her lawyer says she had postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness after childbirth, which made her unable to control her actions, while prosecutors claim she planned the murders.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for killing her three children by strangulation.
The defense says she suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare condition affecting about 2 in 1,000 women after childbirth.
Clancy attempted suicide after the killings, causing paralysis from the waist down.
Her lawyer argues she was in deep despair and had sought help for her mental health multiple times.
Prosecutors say Clancy planned the killings, including sending her husband away and timing his return.
They also say she hid her harmful thoughts from mental health providers to avoid being separated from her kids.
Prosecutors emphasize that Clancy had access to medical care and resources but chose to act on her own terms.
The trial has sparked attention to how postpartum mental health is treated in the U.S.
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President Donald Trump proposed a temporary pause on tariffs for imported ground beef to lower prices before the midterm elections. Experts say the claimed 25 percent price drop is unlikely and could hurt local beef producers.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to temporarily stop tariffs on imported ground beef.
The goal is to reduce beef prices ahead of the midterm elections.
The tariffs currently raise the cost of imported ground beef.
Some economic analysis doubts the price would drop by 25 percent.
Pausing tariffs might harm U.S. beef producers by increasing foreign competition.
The proposal is part of political strategy related to upcoming elections.
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Darline Graham won the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina after the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham. She is now asking voters to elect her for a full six-year term, but her victory speech suggested she may not be fully prepared for the role.
Key Facts
Darline Graham entered the Senate race after her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, passed away.
President Donald Trump supported Darline Graham’s campaign.
She won the Republican primary in South Carolina.
The seat is an important and high-profile position in the U.S. Senate.
Darline Graham asked voters to elect her for a six-year Senate term.
Observers noted that her victory speech was confusing and showed a lack of readiness for the job.
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President Donald Trump is the most admired Republican president among GOP voters, according to recent polls. Despite low approval ratings nationally, many Republicans still view him more favorably than past presidents like Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln.
Key Facts
A CNN/SSRS poll found 53% of Republicans admire President Trump most, compared to 18% for Reagan and 8% for Lincoln.
An Elon University poll showed 29% of Republicans consider Trump the best U.S. president, ahead of Lincoln (25%) and Washington (14%).
Trump ranks second overall among all presidents in the CNN poll, with 19% of all voters selecting him; Barack Obama leads with 30%.
Recent polls place Trump’s national approval rating in the mid-30% range, with around 34% approval and over 50% disapproval.
Even pollsters who usually give Trump higher ratings recorded historic lows for him in June.
Trump shared the poll results on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The polling suggests Trump’s influence among Republican voters remains strong despite challenges with broader voter approval.
The surveys were conducted earlier in 2024 with margins of error between about 3 and 5 percentage points.
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Former officials from the National Archives are asking a federal court to stop the Trump administration from ignoring rules about keeping presidential records. They filed a legal document saying the administration must follow laws designed to protect important government documents.
Key Facts
Six former archivists who worked under both Republican and Democratic presidents filed the legal document.
The document was submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The former officials want the court to reject the Trump administration’s approach to presidential records.
The issue is about following a law that requires presidents to keep official records properly.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) oversees preserving government records.
The Trump administration is accused of not following long-standing rules for preserving presidential documents.
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The U.S. Justice Department charged more than 80 people linked to a violent gang in Puerto Rico. The gang, called "Los Baja Deo," trafficked drugs like fentanyl and cocaine and was involved in shootings, kidnappings, and assaults.
Key Facts
Over 80 people were charged in connection with a Puerto Rican gang.
The gang is named “Los Baja Deo” and operated mainly in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.
They trafficked fentanyl, cocaine, and other illegal drugs.
The gang made nearly $50 million from drug sales.
They distributed at least 340 kilograms of fentanyl or drugs that contained fentanyl.
The gang was involved in shootings, killings, kidnappings, and assaults.
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges during a visit to Puerto Rico.
This action is part of the Trump administration’s focus on fighting violent crime and drug trafficking.
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A group of Democratic senators led by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto asked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop its plan to buy gloves that can give electric shocks. They raised concerns about the safety and proper use of these gloves by ICE officers.
Key Facts
ICE plans to spend up to $20 million on gloves that deliver painful electric shocks when activated.
The gloves look like normal patrol gloves but can shock someone when pressed against their skin.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and 15 other senators signed a letter asking ICE to cancel the purchase.
The senators worried about misuse and lack of proper training and oversight.
ICE says the gloves could help control people without using deadly force.
Deployment of the gloves will take months as ICE prepares training and policies.
The letter refers to past cases of force misuse by law enforcement in several U.S. cities.
The senators want ICE to share details about training and how glove use will be monitored.
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A Montana judge has halted construction of a new 32-bed psychiatric facility in Laurel until the state completes a new environmental study and allows public input. The lawsuit raised concerns about whether the town has enough water to support the facility, delaying plans to start building next week.
Key Facts
A judge issued a temporary stop to building a forensic mental health facility in Laurel, Montana.
The facility is meant to treat people involved in the criminal justice system.
The lawsuit was filed by a local group called Laurel CARED, focused on responsible economic development.
The court requires the state to redo its environmental study and gather public feedback.
Central concerns include whether Laurel has enough water to supply the facility.
The state had cited an earlier water study done for a nearby truck stop to claim water is sufficient.
Residents report water pressure problems in the area since the truck stop opened.
The state mentioned the possible use of eminent domain to access city water services.
Local rules say properties must be annexed by the city to receive water or sewer services.
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President Donald Trump is using various government actions to change how U.S. elections are run, including rules about voter lists, mail ballots, and voting districts. These changes have caused legal battles and concerns about confusing voters and reducing trust in elections.
Key Facts
President Trump wants to change who appears on voter rolls and how ballots are mailed and counted.
A federal judge recently allowed changes to the U.S. Postal Service's role in mail voting to proceed.
The new postal rules require states to redesign ballot envelopes and upload voter lists, or risk having ballots rejected.
Twenty-four state attorneys general and Pennsylvania’s governor sued against the postal changes, saying the requirements are difficult to meet.
Trump has pushed for the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote, a move critics say could prevent many eligible voters from registering.
The Department of Justice has sued many states for access to voter registration data, but most lawsuits were dismissed so far.
Trump removed Democratic members from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission because they resisted his proof-of-citizenship demands.
Changes to early voting and voting district lines have also been promoted by Trump, leading to disputes between Republican and Democratic states.
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Five MPs in Teesside have asked the government to provide more support to local police and fire services after nine people died in two tragic incidents. These included a car crash on the A66 involving police officers and a house fire believed to be set on purpose in Grangetown.
Key Facts
Nine people died in two events: seven in a crash and two in a house fire.
The A66 crash involved a police pursuit and a head-on collision between a police car and a car driving the wrong way.
Two police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, died in the crash.
The house fire victims were Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece Valentina Foster, 7.
Police believe the fire was deliberately started, and two men have been arrested for murder.
MPs said organized crime and gangs are involved in some incidents in the area.
They said local police are underfunded despite high crime levels.
The Prime Minister promised full support to local authorities after these events.
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Social Security benefits may increase by about 3.5% in 2027 due to inflation during President Donald Trump's second term. While higher payments can help beneficiaries, they mainly reflect rising living costs, not extra financial gain.
Key Facts
Nearly 75 million Americans receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2027 is estimated between 3.5% and 3.6%.
In 2026, the COLA was 2.8%, raising average benefits by about $56 per month.
Using the 3.5% estimate, the average retiree would get around $73 more each month in 2027.
COLA increases aim to keep up with inflation, which means higher prices for goods and services.
The "Trump Bump" nickname refers to inflation effects linked to policies from Trump's presidency, like tariffs.
The official COLA percentage will be finalized in October after reviewing inflation data from July to September.
Inflation rises mostly due to factors including tariffs and energy market disruptions related to conflicts in the Middle East.
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The trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children in January 2023, is in the stage of jury deliberations. Clancy pleads not guilty, claiming she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors argue she is responsible for the murders.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the murder of her three young children.
The incident happened at her home on January 24, 2023.
Clancy has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder.
Her defense says she had postpartum psychosis, a severe mental illness after childbirth.
Prosecutors argue that Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, should have known better.
If found guilty, Clancy could face life in prison without parole.
If found not criminally responsible, she would be sent to a mental health facility.
Jury deliberations have started after closing arguments from both sides.
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Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the murders of her three children in Massachusetts. She admits to killing them but says she was suffering from a severe mental illness called postpartum psychosis and was overmedicated. Her husband and first responders gave detailed testimony about the crime scene and her mental state before the deaths.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy faces charges of first-degree murder for the deaths of her three children aged 5, 3, and 8 months.
Clancy admits to killing her children but claims she was mentally ill and not responsible due to postpartum psychosis.
The killings happened in January 2023 in their home in Duxbury, Massachusetts.
After the killings, Clancy tried to kill herself by cutting her wrists and jumping from a window, which left her paralyzed.
Her husband, Patrick Clancy, testified that he noticed something wrong when he came home and found the house quiet and the bedroom door locked.
First responders described a chaotic crime scene and confirmed finding Clancy injured outside and the children in the basement.
Diary entries from Lindsay Clancy reveal she struggled with depression and caring for her youngest child before the incident.
The trial has centered on Clancy’s mental health and the medical treatment she received before the tragedy.
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Two unvaccinated people in Pennsylvania died from measles, including a newborn, marking the first measles deaths in the state in 35 years and the first in the US in 2026. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shared anti-vaccine messages online, questioning the deaths and spreading misinformation about vaccines and vaccination rates.
Key Facts
Two people died from measles in Pennsylvania, one of them a newborn baby.
These are the first measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania in 35 years.
Pennsylvania is experiencing a large measles outbreak with nearly 400 confirmed cases.
The US has reported nearly 2,800 measles cases this year, the highest since 1991.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US Health Secretary, posted anti-vaccine messages on social media after the deaths were announced.
Kennedy questioned the legitimacy of the reported deaths and blamed national vaccine rate declines on the Biden administration.
The Lancaster County Coroner said the newborn died of a ruptured spleen and was positive for measles but did not confirm measles as the direct cause.
Vaccine expert Paul Offit explained that measles infection can cause a ruptured spleen and said the deaths likely would not have happened without measles.
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