The U.S. economy grew slowly at a rate of 1.5% in the second quarter of 2026. Consumer spending, which is a major part of the economy, increased strongly by 3.4%, but the overall growth was held back by a big rise in imports.
Key Facts
The U.S. economy grew by 1.5% between April and June 2026.
This growth was slower than the 2.1% seen in the first quarter of 2026.
Consumer spending rose by 3.4% in the second quarter, up from 0.5% earlier in the year.
Imports increased by 12.5%, reducing the GDP growth by 1.64 percentage points.
The import rise was partly due to more shipments of computer chips and other goods for artificial intelligence (AI).
Business investment grew, helped by the AI industry boom.
The economy remained steady despite tensions with Iran and higher energy prices.
The Commerce Department will release a final report on the second quarter’s GDP on September 30, 2026.
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Inflation in the United States stayed high in July, with prices about 3.7% higher than a year before, well above the Federal Reserve's 2% goal. Rising costs are linked to the ongoing war in Iran, higher gas prices, President Donald Trump's threats of new tariffs, and spending on technology like AI.
Key Facts
Inflation was 3.7% higher in July 2025 compared to July 2024.
Inflation increased since the Iran war started in February 2025, when it was 2.9%.
The Federal Reserve aims to keep inflation near 2%.
Gas prices rose due to the Iran war, contributing to higher overall prices.
President Donald Trump has threatened new tariffs on Canada and China.
Spending on AI technology has raised costs of computers, gaming consoles, and semiconductors.
Core inflation (excluding food and energy) stayed at 3.3% in July.
The Federal Reserve is divided on whether to raise interest rates to control inflation, with a key speech from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh expected soon.
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Darline Graham, chosen by President Donald Trump to replace Senator Lindsey Graham, is expected to win the Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina. She will likely face the Democratic candidate in the upcoming Senate election.
Key Facts
Darline Graham was selected by President Donald Trump as his preferred candidate to replace Senator Lindsey Graham.
She is currently leading in the Republican primary runoff election in South Carolina.
Her main opponent in the runoff was Representative Ralph Norman.
Winning the runoff puts her closer to becoming the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat.
The race is part of the upcoming general Senate election in South Carolina.
Lindsey Graham is stepping down, creating an open seat in the Senate from South Carolina.
CBS News is reporting on the election results and other races nationwide.
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Mary Peltola, a Democrat, is slightly ahead in Alaska's 2026 Senate race against the Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan. The race is close and complicated by a second candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., making the final outcome uncertain under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system.
Key Facts
Mary Peltola leads Dan S. Sullivan in recent polls by a small margin.
Polls and prediction markets give Peltola a 50-60% chance of winning.
Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system where voters rank candidates, and second or third choices can decide the winner.
Three of the four candidates advancing to the general election include Peltola, Dan S. Sullivan, and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.
The fourth spot is tight between Republican Gerald L. Heikes and Democrat David B. Leslie.
The winner could be influenced by which candidate wins the last general-election slot.
The second Daniel Sullivan’s candidacy has drawn criticism from Republican figures who say it may confuse voters.
Ballots counted so far show Peltola with about 48% and Sullivan close behind with about 43%.
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Supporters of Representative Ralph Norman booed President Trump during Norman’s concession speech after losing a Senate primary runoff in South Carolina. Norman acknowledged that President Trump had supported his opponent, which upset his followers.
Key Facts
Ralph Norman is a Republican representative from South Carolina.
Norman lost the GOP Senate primary runoff in South Carolina.
During his concession speech, Norman mentioned that President Trump supported his opponent.
Norman said that President Trump had the right to get involved in the race.
Supporters of Norman loudly booed when he talked about President Trump’s involvement.
The event happened on a Tuesday evening.
The boos showed clear frustration with President Trump from Norman’s supporters.
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Dolly Parton is known not only for her music but also for her generosity. She started a program called "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library" that gives free books to children to help them read and learn.
Key Facts
Dolly Parton is famous for her music and charitable work.
She created the "Dolly Parton's Imagination Library."
The program sends free books to children.
It helps encourage children to read and learn.
The program has gained attention for its positive impact.
The report about her work was made by CBS News.
Adriana Diaz is the reporter covering this story.
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Reform UK, led by Robert Jenrick, proposes giving taxpayers a £30 tax discount if they wait more than 30 minutes on hold when calling HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The proposal also includes linking the pay of senior HMRC officials to customer service goals and changing data privacy rules to reduce business regulations.
Key Facts
Reform UK wants to give taxpayers a £30 tax credit if they wait over 30 minutes on HMRC phone lines.
The tax credit would be limited to two times per tax year per person.
Reform claims HMRC’s poor phone service hurts working people and trust in the tax system.
HMRC improved call response times after MPs criticized them in a report early in 2025.
Reform plans to make senior HMRC officials’ pay depend on meeting customer service targets.
The party wants to replace current UK data privacy rules (GDPR) with lighter rules like New Zealand’s.
Labour criticized Reform’s plan, saying it would remove important protections for people’s private data.
HMRC has not yet commented on the Reform proposal.
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The Trump administration has paused all US immigrant visa applications to limit access for those who might need public assistance. Additionally, the administration plans to revoke visas of some asylum seekers who initially entered the US for tourism or business. Meanwhile, Instagram’s CEO denied hiding low use of a teen safety feature amid a lawsuit accusing Meta of harming young people’s mental health. In Pakistan, at least 14 newborn babies died in a hospital fire, prompting an investigation. Also, the administration warned that the Kennedy Center may be demolished without a $250 million renovation.
Key Facts
The US immigration visa process was paused in early August at all US embassies and consulates.
Visa applicants had their interview appointments canceled by email.
The administration wants to prevent visa holders from relying on US public benefits.
Up to 200,000 asylum seekers who initially came on tourist or business visas may lose their visas.
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said the company did not hide low usage of a teen safety feature called “Take a Break.”
A lawsuit accuses Meta of making addictive products that harm young people's mental health.
A fire at Pakistan’s largest state hospital’s maternity ward killed at least 14 newborn babies.
The Trump administration threatened to demolish the Kennedy Center unless a $250 million renovation is completed.
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Three U.S. Secret Service officials have been put on administrative leave while the agency investigates possible misconduct. The investigation is led by the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility, but no specific details have been released. The officials involved are not law enforcement agents.
Key Facts
Three Secret Service officials were placed on administrative leave on a Tuesday.
An investigation into possible misconduct is underway.
The Office of Professional Responsibility within the Secret Service is handling the investigation.
The officials are non-law enforcement personnel, meaning they do not perform police duties.
No further details about the nature of the investigation have been shared.
The information was confirmed by a Secret Service spokesperson.
The news was reported by The Hill.
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The Trump administration has taken actions to limit independent journalism. This includes removing leaders from the military newspaper Stars and Stripes after they reported on bad conditions on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln.
Key Facts
The Trump administration has taken steps to restrict independent media.
Leaders at Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper, were fired.
The firings happened after reports on poor conditions on the Abraham Lincoln ship.
Stars and Stripes serves as a news source for members of the military.
The reports focused on problems within the Navy during President Donald Trump’s time in office.
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The former chief constable of West Midlands Police, Craig Guildford, is being investigated for gross misconduct by the police watchdog. The investigation focuses on his role in banning Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from a match against Aston Villa due to a briefing document that may have contained inaccurate and biased information.
Key Facts
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) opened the investigation in January 2026.
Craig Guildford, three police officers, and one staff member are under investigation.
The ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans was for a match held on 6 November 2025 at Villa Park.
The briefing document, which influenced the decision to ban fans, may have included misleading and inaccurate information.
The police watchdog says Guildford may have failed to properly check the document for accuracy.
A senior officer involved in making the briefing is also being investigated for lack of impartiality.
The ban caused national and international debate and the government tried to have it overturned.
The IOPC investigation is ongoing and more updates will be released.
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Dolly Parton, a famous American country music singer and actress, died on August 25 at the age of 80. She was widely recognized in the United States and beyond for her contributions to music and culture.
Key Facts
Dolly Parton was a legendary country music singer.
She was also an actress.
She died on August 25, 2026.
She was 80 years old at the time of her death.
Parton was known for uniting people across different groups in the U.S.
Her death was reported by multiple news sources on August 26, 2026.
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President Donald Trump’s administration has temporarily paused visa interviews worldwide as part of immigration enforcement and training at U.S. embassies and consulates. This pause affects many countries, especially those with the most legal immigrants in the U.S., as visa services are adjusted during the training period.
Key Facts
The U.S. State Department confirmed a pause on visa appointments worldwide to enable training across U.S. embassies and consulates.
The pause affects visa applications at the interview stage and is part of broader immigration enforcement efforts led by President Trump’s administration.
Countries with the most legal immigrants to the U.S. include Mexico, Cuba, India, the Dominican Republic, China, and the Philippines.
Mexican immigrants make up the largest group in the U.S., representing 22.2% of the immigrant population as of 2024.
The administration has increased deportations and visa revocations as part of its immigration crackdown.
Up to 200,000 visas for people who have applied for or are seeking asylum may be revoked under new rules.
Visa types B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) issued from 2016 to 2026 could be canceled if holders have sought asylum.
Legal challenges have occurred against some immigration enforcement actions by the administration.
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The article discusses how discussions about gender pronouns should be kept out of elementary school classrooms. It uses a scene from the 1990 movie "Kindergarten Cop" to highlight a simple approach to teaching about biological differences without involving complex gender identity topics.
Key Facts
The 1990 movie "Kindergarten Cop" features a boy stating a basic biology fact about boys and girls.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character, a substitute teacher, does not create a debate around this fact.
The article suggests that young children’s education should focus on straightforward biological information.
It argues that complex discussions on pronouns and gender identity are not appropriate for grade school.
The main concern is to protect young children from being caught up in adult arguments about gender.
The piece implies that such topics are better suited for older students or adults.
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A mother from Ecuador and her 19-year-old daughter were taken into custody by U.S. immigration agents while receiving medical care in a Florida hospital after a car accident. Officials checked their papers and found their visas had expired, although they had asylum cases still being processed.
Key Facts
The mother and daughter are from Ecuador.
They were in a Florida hospital following a car crash.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained them during treatment.
Their visas had expired.
Both had pending asylum cases, meaning they were waiting for decisions on their request to stay in the U.S. legally.
Family members reported the incident.
The detention happened despite their ongoing medical care.
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Senators Dick Durbin and Bill Cassidy are working together to prevent a 22% cut in Social Security benefits starting in six years. They have proposed a bill to create a process for Congress to find ways to keep Social Security funded for at least 50 years.
Key Facts
Social Security benefits could be cut by 22% beginning in 2032 without action.
Senators Durbin (Democrat) and Cassidy (Republican) are leading efforts to prevent this cut.
Their bill sets up a bipartisan advisory board to gather public input and draft legislation to maintain Social Security solvency.
The advisory board’s bill would be introduced in Congress and debated by Senate and House committees responsible for Social Security.
Final approval requires a 60-vote majority in the Senate and a simple majority in the House.
The bill does not provide specific solutions but establishes a process to address funding challenges.
So far, the proposal has not gained strong support from other lawmakers.
Lawmakers and future presidents will likely face increasing pressure to address Social Security’s financial issues before 2032.
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Americans are paying more than $4 per gallon for gas on average, with prices highest in California. The rise in gas prices is linked to disruptions in global oil supply caused by tensions in the Middle East. Consumer confidence in the U.S. economy has fallen, and many people are changing their driving habits and making financial sacrifices.
Key Facts
Gas prices across the U.S. averaged $4.097 per gallon as of August 26.
California has the highest gas price at $5.623 per gallon.
The five states with the highest gas prices are California, Hawaii, Washington, Alaska, and Nevada.
The five states with the lowest gas prices are Indiana, Texas, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
The rise in gas prices started after February when the war in Iran disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route.
Consumer confidence in the economy dropped to the lowest level in seven months in August.
Polls show many Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump’s job performance amid the economic concerns.
Gas prices had briefly fallen below $3 per gallon before increasing sharply due to the global oil supply issues.
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A man named Benjamin Charles Parker killed his girlfriend, her mother, grandmother, best friend, and the best friend’s partner in a rural area of Washington County, Oregon. He also killed pets, set fires to the victims’ bodies, cars, and tried to burn down the house. Parker confessed to the murders, saying they were planned and related to a fight with his girlfriend.
Key Facts
Benjamin Charles Parker, 36, killed five people: his girlfriend Stella Kimsey, her mother Rowan Kimsey, grandmother Mary Kimsey, best friend Linsey Haraldsen, and Haraldsen’s partner Alvin Chu.
The murders happened near Forest Grove, about 30 miles west of Portland, Oregon.
All victims were shot with a .22 caliber gun multiple times.
Parker killed two dogs and two cats, injured another cat which was later euthanized.
Fires were set at the victims’ bodies’ locations, in two vehicles, and there was an attempt to burn the house.
Mary Kimsey told a friend about a violent fight between Stella and Parker before the killings.
Parker called his mother after fleeing, admitted the killings were planned, and said he was not ready to face consequences.
Investigators continue forensic work and expect the investigation to last several months.
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President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved two new chemicals used in datacenters, which may be harmful to health and possibly linked to “forever chemicals” called PFAS. A lawsuit claims the EPA ignored significant health risks by approving these chemicals despite limited safety data and existing law requiring protection from unreasonable risks.
Key Facts
The EPA approved two new datacenter chemicals that may cause serious health problems like sudden death, cancer, eye damage, nerve damage, and reproductive harm.
The chemicals are photoacid generators that may be PFAS, a group of very persistent and harmful chemicals often called “forever chemicals.”
The EPA admits it does not know the exact level at which these chemicals become deadly or harmful but approved them anyway.
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act, the EPA must limit or ban substances that pose an “unreasonable risk,” but the agency placed only minimal restrictions.
The approvals were fast-tracked, possibly under a 2025 Trump executive order aimed at speeding up chemical approvals for datacenters.
The chemicals are used in making semiconductors, involving complex steps where PFAS are essential but often released into wastewater.
PFAS are dangerous because they do not break down naturally and build up in the environment and people.
The name of the chemical producer and many details in EPA documents are kept secret through redactions.
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The article examines economic and policy issues during President Donald Trump’s administration that are affecting many Americans’ daily lives. It highlights rising costs caused by tariffs, energy prices, and some health care changes, which analysts say have made life more expensive for most families.
Key Facts
Presidential tariffs have increased prices on many goods, adding about $1,000 to $1,100 per household yearly.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran has driven up energy prices, costing roughly $670 more per household at the gas pump.
Energy bills have risen significantly, with the national average monthly utility bill reaching $280 in early 2026, a 12% increase since late 2024.
Republican policies have cut subsidies for clean energy and increased reliance on fossil fuels, which are often more expensive and polluting.
AI data centers contribute to rising electricity costs and use large amounts of water, with some support coming from President Trump and Republican leaders.
Food prices are rising partly due to fertilizer shortages linked to the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tax cuts favored corporations and the wealthy, with some funding coming from cuts to Medicaid and Medicare.
Changes under President Trump’s administration, such as ending Medicare drug price subsidies and altering vaccine schedules, have created more burdens for families.
Spending $464 million of taxpayer money on unused jets for deporting immigrants is noted as a wasteful expense.
The article notes that while the stock market has done well, most Americans do not benefit because stock ownership is concentrated among the wealthiest people.
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