A Wisconsin prosecutor decided not to charge Elon Musk with election bribery after he promised $1 million to voters during a 2025 state Supreme Court election. The prosecutor said a jury would not find Musk’s social media posts to be a bribe, partly because no money was actually given for voting.
Key Facts
Elon Musk promised $1 million checks to voters before the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission said Musk likely broke state election law.
Brown County’s special prosecutor Tim Gruenke decided not to file charges against Musk.
Gruenke said no one was paid anything of value for voting, which is needed to prove bribery.
Musk corrected his post by limiting the money giveaway to people who signed a petition instead of voters.
Musk supported the candidate Brad Schimel, who lost to Susan Crawford in the election.
The 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race was the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history, with over $100 million spent.
Musk’s lawyers argued his posts were protected free speech under state and U.S. constitutions.
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A judge in Lindsay Clancy's murder trial rejected her lawyers' request for a mistrial. The judge criticized the prosecution after a witness mentioned Clancy's religious beliefs. Legal experts explained that religious beliefs do not affect the law in this case.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for murder.
Her lawyers asked for a mistrial, but the judge denied it.
A witness talked about Clancy’s religious beliefs during the trial.
The judge reprimanded the prosecution for allowing this topic.
Experts say religious beliefs have no legal impact on the case.
The news report included comments from legal analyst Joe Tamburino.
The story was covered by CBS News reporter Shanelle Kaul.
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The U.S. State Department plans to cancel tourist and business visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought or are seeking asylum in the United States. Officials say this action targets those who used visas meant for short visits but tried to stay permanently by applying for asylum.
Key Facts
The visa cancellations will happen gradually over time.
Tens of thousands, possibly over 200,000 visas, may be revoked.
The canceled visas include tourist and business visas given in the last ten years.
The government says using a visitor visa to apply for asylum is fraud.
Visa applicants must confirm they will not seek asylum and will return home.
Visa revocations do not automatically mean people will be removed from the U.S.; asylum claims must be rejected first.
The policy is promoted under President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership.
State Department officials emphasize that visas are a privilege, not a right.
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A new poll shows that most Democratic voters in key states for the 2028 presidential primaries oppose providing military aid to Israel. Many of these voters believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and support measures like sanctions and arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by YouGov for the IMEU Policy Project, a group supporting Palestinian rights.
It surveyed voters in six early primary states: South Carolina, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia.
In Michigan, 80% of respondents said they believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza; 91% of voters under 45 agreed.
52% of voters in South Carolina oppose selling weapons to Israel, which would act like an arms embargo.
Voters also support sanctions on Israel and enforcing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Despite Democratic leadership’s continued support for Israel, including President Trump’s administration before him, many grassroots voters are shifting their views.
Over 100 Democrats in the House previously voted to block weapons to Israel, showing growing party divisions.
Progressive candidates critical of Israel are winning Democratic primaries, signaling this issue could influence the 2028 presidential race.
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U.S. consumer confidence fell to its lowest point in seven months in August, mainly because gasoline prices stayed above $4 per gallon due to tensions in Iran. While people felt somewhat better about their current situation, they were less hopeful about the near future.
Key Facts
The consumer confidence index dropped to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July.
This is the lowest confidence level since January.
Gasoline prices have stayed over $4 per gallon partly because of ongoing conflict in Iran.
The index has been generally low all year, compared to above 100 at the end of 2024 and start of 2025.
People’s views of their current financial situation improved slightly.
However, their expectations for the short-term economy got worse.
The Conference Board provided this consumer confidence data.
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Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder, is trying to pay for a private recount of Minnesota’s governor primary election. After missing the payment deadline, he plans to ask a court to stop the Minnesota Secretary of State from enforcing restrictions against him.
Key Facts
Mike Lindell wants a private recount of Minnesota’s gubernatorial primaries.
He missed the payment deadline required for the recount.
Lindell plans to file a temporary restraining order against Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon.
Lindell’s campaign says the Secretary of State’s office restricted his efforts, making it hard to proceed.
The issue involves state election rules and funding for the recount.
Steve Simon is the Minnesota Secretary of State overseeing the election process.
Lindell is known as a supporter of Republican causes and has been involved in election-related controversies.
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Senator Ted Cruz suggested he might run for president in the 2028 election. Currently, Vice President JD Vance is the leading Republican candidate according to polls and prediction markets, but Cruz said the party will have a full discussion about its future leadership.
Key Facts
Ted Cruz hinted at a possible 2028 presidential run during interviews on August 21, 2024.
Cruz emphasized that the Republican Party needs to discuss its beliefs and direction, especially on economic and foreign policy issues.
Vice President JD Vance is currently the frontrunner for the 2028 GOP nomination based on polls and prediction markets.
Prediction markets show an 80% chance Cruz will run, while Vance has an 89% chance of running.
Real Clear Politics polls give Vance 40.4% support, Rubio 22.6%, and Cruz 3.1% for the GOP nomination.
Cruz previously ran for president in 2016, finishing second to President Trump in state wins and delegates.
Cruz did not run in the 2020 or 2024 presidential elections.
Prediction markets let people buy and sell contracts based on future events, offering a different kind of measure for political support than traditional polls.
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Rep. Debbie Dingell criticized President Trump for his threat to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America during a trade conflict with Canada. She suggested the lake should be called Lake Natalie, after a White House staff member, as a response to Trump’s comment.
Key Facts
President Trump threatened to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America.
The threat came amid a trade dispute between the U.S. and Canada.
Rep. Debbie Dingell responded by joking that the lake should be called Lake Natalie.
The name "Lake Natalie" refers to Natalie Harp, a White House executive assistant.
Dingell shared this comment on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
The exchange highlights tensions between the U.S. and Canada over trade.
This interaction involves a public political statement by a U.S. lawmaker.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a plan to limit data centers if he wins a U.S. Senate seat. He is the latest Republican candidate to support tighter rules on data centers, especially those linked to artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Key Facts
Ken Paxton is Texas Attorney General and a Republican Senate candidate.
He introduced a plan with four main points to restrict data centers.
Paxton wants to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s efforts on data center limits.
The plan targets data centers involved in AI infrastructure.
Other GOP candidates have also called for stricter data center regulations.
Data centers use large computer systems to store and process information for AI.
Paxton’s plan aims to control the growth and impact of these data centers in Texas.
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Multiple people, including children, were killed in a shooting at a house in Billings, Montana, which was also set on fire. The suspect later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and authorities continue to investigate the crime scene.
Key Facts
The incident happened on Sunday evening in Billings, Montana.
Multiple victims were killed, including adults and children; exact numbers and identities have not been fully released.
The suspect was found outside the home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and later died in the hospital.
Police describe the case as a family disturbance.
Firefighters faced delays due to access issues and had to wait until police secured the scene before entering.
The fire complicated the investigation and evidence collection.
Authorities ask the public to avoid the area during the ongoing investigation.
This event follows another mass murder in Oregon earlier this month, raising the total number of mass murders in the U.S. this year to at least 16 or 17.
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A federal judge in the United States rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s attempt to overturn her five felony convictions related to helping Jeffrey Epstein abuse underage girls. The judge called Maxwell’s claims without merit and said the evidence supported her guilt.
Key Facts
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in December 2021 of helping Jeffrey Epstein recruit and sexually abuse underage girls.
She is serving a 20-year prison sentence and can be released in 2037.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld her conviction in 2024.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review her case in October 2025.
Maxwell filed a petition herself under a federal law that allows convicted people to challenge their sentences.
The judge called her petition “lengthy and rambling” and said the new evidence actually confirmed her guilt.
Maxwell claimed her rights were violated, but the judge disagreed and noted contradictions in her story.
The judge said her prosecution was fair and warned that any further appeals would have no legal basis.
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Democratic strategist James Carville criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for meeting with Jared Kushner, who is President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. Carville expressed strong disapproval of dealing with Kushner and others linked to President Trump, saying they do not care about the United States.
Key Facts
James Carville is a Democratic political strategist.
Hakeem Jeffries is the House Minority Leader and a Democrat from New York.
Jeffries recently met with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.
Carville strongly criticized Jeffries for this meeting.
Carville described Kushner and others close to President Trump as dishonest.
Carville said they do not care about the United States.
The comments came in a public or media context.
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The U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Justice are increasing actions to protect parents' rights. They are focusing on schools that do not share information about students' gender identity or privacy matters with parents.
Key Facts
The Department of Education and Department of Justice are working together on this issue.
They are enforcing laws that give parents rights to know about their children's school information.
The focus is on cases where schools hide details about students' gender identity.
Privacy violations related to student information are also being addressed.
This effort aims to make schools more transparent with parents about their children.
The government agencies are taking stronger steps against schools that do not follow these rules.
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Newly released government records show that undercover federal agents in Minnesota pretended to be community members to watch and gather information on activists protesting against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). These agents joined online chats and protests, took photos, and followed protesters as part of a larger investigation into efforts to block ICE activities.
Key Facts
Federal agents acted undercover to spy on anti-ICE protesters and community activists in Minnesota.
One agent used the online name “peanutbutterjelly” to join chat groups on the Signal messaging app.
The undercover agent monitored protest planning, helped with fundraising and volunteer recruitment, and took part in meetings.
Agents took photos at protests, including of people in costumes and protest signs mocking public figures.
Agents also followed protesters away from demonstrations, tracking their movements.
These activities happened during heightened anti-ICE protests after two people were killed in January.
The Department of Homeland Security called this “Operation Puppet Master,” focusing on left-leaning groups and activists.
The spying occurred as part of a prosecution case charging 15 Minneapolis protesters with a conspiracy to obstruct ICE.
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Families of victims killed in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, have waited decades for the accused attacker to face justice in the United States. The terrorism trial of the main suspect, Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, was scheduled to start in Washington, D.C., but was postponed due to newly discovered evidence.
Key Facts
Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, killing 270 people, mostly Americans.
Artist Suse Lowenstein created 76 statues representing grieving female relatives of the victims.
Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, a former Libyan intelligence officer, is accused of building the bomb.
Al-Marimi was imprisoned in Libya for years before being brought to trial in the U.S.
The trial was initially set to begin in Washington, D.C., but was delayed because of new evidence.
U.S. officials have a recorded 2012 interview where Al-Marimi admitted involvement in making the bomb.
The bombing was reportedly ordered by Libyan intelligence, with approval from Moammar Gadhafi.
Family members planned to attend the trial but must now wait longer for justice.
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The Louisiana National Guard is ending an eight-month deployment in New Orleans, where troops helped patrol the French Quarter to boost public safety. The mission began with 350 troops deployed for New Year’s celebrations in late 2024 and will conclude by August 31, 2025.
Key Facts
The National Guard was sent to New Orleans after a deadly attack on Bourbon Street killed 14 people in late 2024.
Initially, 350 troops were deployed in December 2024; 120 troops remained for the final months.
Troops conducted over 4,000 patrols and helped law enforcement make 171 arrests.
The deployment focused primarily on the French Quarter, a popular tourist area.
Governor Jeff Landry requested the National Guard presence, and President Donald Trump approved it.
Mayor Helena Moreno, who initially opposed the deployment, later thanked the National Guard for their service.
Violent crime in New Orleans has been declining over recent years, following national trends.
The deployment also provided training opportunities for the soldiers involved.
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A legal watchdog group filed complaints against U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and two of her colleagues for seeking to charge six Democratic lawmakers with federal crimes. The complaints claim they misused their power to push politically motivated cases linked to President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Complaints were filed by the Legal Accountability Center in New York and Virginia against Jeanine Pirro and two assistants.
The complaints accuse them of unethical behavior for attempting to indict six Democratic lawmakers.
The lawmakers appeared in a video urging troops to refuse unlawful orders; all six have military or intelligence backgrounds.
A grand jury refused to indict these lawmakers, which is rare but has happened more during President Trump’s second term.
President Trump called the lawmakers’ actions “sedition punishable by death” on social media.
Critics say Pirro has pursued politically motivated cases, including one recently dropped involving a former Olympian.
The watchdog group also filed complaints against Pirro’s predecessor, who supported prosecuting Trump’s political opponents.
The group wants attorney disciplinary actions taken against Pirro and her team for their conduct in these cases.
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Nevada and the Southern Nevada Water Authority have filed a lawsuit against a new federal plan that limits Colorado River water use. The lawsuit says the plan unfairly cuts water for Nevada while not requiring similar reductions from upstream states.
Key Facts
Lake Mead is near its lowest water level since it was filled in the 1930s, about 190 feet below full capacity.
Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir, is also very low, at around 22% full.
These reservoirs supply water to about 40 million people and irrigate 5 million acres of farmland in the western U.S.
The new federal plan governs Colorado River water use after current rules expire in 2026.
Nevada may lose over 70% of its Colorado River water under the plan’s worst shortage scenarios.
Nevada’s annual Colorado River water allocation is about 300,000 acre-feet but could be cut by as much as 213,556 acre-feet.
Nevada officials say the plan unfairly spares Upper Basin states like Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico from mandatory water cuts.
The lawsuit claims the plan breaks federal laws and existing Colorado River agreements.
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The U.S. Treasury announced new sanctions against Iran aiming to cut off the country’s economic resources and end its military conflict. However, experts doubt the sanctions’ effectiveness because they do not target China’s major banks, which remain a key supporter of Iran’s economy.
Key Facts
The U.S. introduced new sanctions called Operation Economic Outcast to pressure Iran economically.
Sanctions target sectors like technology, shipping, and digital assets linked to Iran.
Sixty entities in countries including the UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, France, the U.K., and some Chinese private businesses were sanctioned.
The sanctions do not include major Chinese banks, which are critical to Iran’s economy.
Iran’s economy heavily relies on oil sales to China, which provide nearly half of the government’s budget.
The UAE recently cut all trade with Iran, affecting Iran’s access to foreign currencies.
Experts say Iran has financial workarounds and may survive despite the sanctions.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. will isolate countries that do business with Iran, but analysts remain skeptical about the sanctions’ impact without including China’s main financial institutions.
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Two unvaccinated people in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have died from measles, the first such deaths in the state in 35 years. The state has seen 393 measles cases this year amid a nationwide rise in infections, sparking health officials to promote vaccination.
Key Facts
Two unvaccinated residents of Lancaster County died from measles in Pennsylvania.
These are the first measles-related deaths in Pennsylvania in 35 years.
Pennsylvania has confirmed 393 measles cases across 28 counties in 2026.
The U.S. reported 2,777 measles cases this year, the highest in over 35 years.
President Donald Trump recently signed an order promoting separate vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella, instead of the combined MMR shot.
Health experts still recommend the two-dose MMR vaccine as the safest and most effective protection against measles.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause serious complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, or death.
The outbreak has led public health officials to increase efforts to encourage vaccination and educate people about the disease’s risks.
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