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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Nearly two weeks after a strong storm hit Gary, Indiana, the city has been without electricity. Residents and local leaders want answers about the power outage and hope for better infrastructure and support from utility companies.
Key Facts
A severe storm damaged Gary, Indiana, about two weeks ago.
The storm caused a long power outage in the city.
Residents have been without electricity for several days.
Local officials and residents are asking for accountability from utility companies.
They want improvements to the power infrastructure to prevent future outages.
There are calls for measures to help customers affected by the power loss.
The situation has attracted attention within the United States.
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Representative Byron Donalds announced that Florida state Senator Bryan Ávila will be his running mate in the race for Florida governor. Donalds recently won the Republican primary for governor.
Key Facts
Byron Donalds is a U.S. Representative from Florida.
He won the Republican primary for Florida governor last week.
Bryan Ávila is a Florida state senator.
Ávila will be Donalds’ running mate in the governor’s race.
Ávila previously served as speaker pro tempore of the Florida House.
Donalds described Ávila as a strong supporter of conservative values.
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Former Governor Luis Fortuño says Puerto Rico’s infrastructure problems and the public power company’s bankruptcy have lasted for over ten years. He suggests that the Federal Oversight and Management Board should replace its current outside members with leaders from Puerto Rico to better solve these issues.
Key Facts
Puerto Rico's power company, PREPA, has been in bankruptcy for about ten years.
The island faces serious problems with its infrastructure.
The Federal Oversight and Management Board manages Puerto Rico’s finances and reforms.
Current board members are mostly from the U.S. mainland, not Puerto Rico.
Luis Fortuño recommends replacing these mainland members with local Puerto Rican leaders.
He believes local leaders understand the issues better and can fix problems more effectively.
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Two Colorado State Patrol troopers were shot during a traffic stop on Highway 24 near Woodland Park. The suspect, described as a white man driving a blue Subaru with obscured plates, was caught after a search in Teller County.
Key Facts
The shooting happened early Tuesday morning during a traffic stop.
One trooper was seriously injured; the other had minor wounds.
The suspect is a white man with shoulder-length brown or blonde hair.
He was driving a blue Subaru Impreza with no visible license plates.
Authorities warned the suspect is armed and dangerous.
Shelter-in-place orders were issued in a nearby neighborhood during the search.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation helped locate and arrest the suspect around 10 a.m.
Teller County Sheriff's Office released images of the suspect and his vehicle to the public.
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Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker made controversial comments about Jewish Americans' support for Israel, saying it could increase antisemitism. Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who campaigned with Piker, stated that nobody speaks for his campaign except him and his spokespeople and condemned antisemitism.
Key Facts
Hasan Piker criticized some Jewish Americans' support for Israel during a Twitch live stream.
He said this support could lead to increased antisemitism against American Jews.
Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from Piker’s comments.
El-Sayed emphasized his commitment to Jewish safety and condemned all forms of antisemitism.
Republicans, including GOP nominee Mike Rogers, used Piker’s remarks to criticize El-Sayed.
Several Democrats, such as Rep. Hillary Scholten and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, condemned Piker’s comments as antisemitic.
El-Sayed’s campaign said that no one speaks for them aside from El-Sayed and his official team.
The controversy is part of a highly contested Michigan Senate race.
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A federal judge rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's request to overturn her criminal conviction. The judge said her legal arguments were mostly without merit and that new evidence actually supported her guilt.
Key Facts
Ghislaine Maxwell asked a judge to overturn her conviction.
The judge, Paul Engelmayer, wrote a 67-page opinion rejecting her request.
Maxwell's arguments were called "frivolous," meaning they lacked serious legal merit.
Most of her claims were blocked because they were already decided in earlier appeals or could have been raised then.
She used new evidence from the Epstein Files Transparency Act to support her case.
The judge said the new evidence did not help her and mostly made her look more guilty.
The ruling confirmed the earlier decision that found Maxwell guilty of criminal charges.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom has put his Sacramento mansion up for sale at $7.5 million, which is twice the price he paid seven years ago. The sale happens as he prepares to leave office in January 2027, and the Newsom family plans to move to a home in Marin County.
Key Facts
Gavin Newsom bought the Sacramento mansion in 2019 for $3.7 million.
The mansion is 12,000 square feet with seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a pool, tennis court, and wine cellar.
The house is located 15 miles from the California State Capitol.
Newsom chose this home over the official governor’s mansion to have a more kid-friendly place.
The sale is managed by Sotheby’s International Realty, listing the home at $7.5 million.
Newsom cannot run for governor again because of term limits and will leave office in January 2027.
The Newsom family has already bought a $9 million home in Kentfield, Marin County, for their children’s schooling.
The sale may increase speculation about Newsom’s possible 2028 presidential run, though he has not confirmed any plans.
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Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for her role in sex trafficking underage girls. A survivor has expressed serious concern about Maxwell's attempt to gain freedom.
Key Facts
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted for involvement in sex trafficking.
The victims were minor females.
She is serving a 20-year prison sentence in federal custody.
A survivor of the trafficking has spoken out about Maxwell's efforts to be released.
The survivor described Maxwell’s attempt at freedom as very troubling.
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In July 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested nearly 50,000 people, the highest monthly total during President Donald Trump’s second term. This increase reflects a continued focus on large-scale deportations, with Texas and Florida leading in arrests due to their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Key Facts
ICE arrested 49,571 people in July 2025, a 15% increase from June.
The July arrests are the highest monthly total since President Trump began his second term.
Arrests increased 70% from 29,241 in February 2025.
Texas and Florida accounted for nearly 20,000 of the July arrests, aided by local cooperation agreements with ICE.
ICE has hired 12,000 new officers and agents since Congress added billions in funding last summer.
Arrest numbers rose significantly after a drop in February, following protests and political pressure in Minnesota.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin aimed to reduce ICE’s public visibility but enforcement levels remain high.
Arrest figures come from data ICE provided to the University of California, Berkeley, obtained through a government lawsuit.
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A recent poll shows Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, is now more popular with Republican voters than the state’s Republican Senator David McCormick. However, Fetterman’s support has dropped sharply among Democrats, and his political position has become more complicated due to his views on Israel and cooperation with Republicans.
Key Facts
73% of registered Republican voters in Pennsylvania view John Fetterman favorably.
Only 63% of Republicans view David McCormick favorably.
Just 22% of Democratic voters view Fetterman favorably, down from 74% two years ago.
Fetterman supports Israel’s military campaign and has criticized his own Democratic Party.
67% of likely Democratic voters say Fetterman supports President Trump too much.
Prediction markets show about a 7% chance Fetterman will leave the Democratic Party before 2026.
These markets give Democrats an 89% chance of keeping Fetterman’s Senate seat in 2028.
Fetterman continues to receive more positive than negative ratings overall and among independent voters.
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Republicans are looking to President Donald Trump to energize their core supporters for the upcoming midterm elections. An analyst discussed how Trump's recent endorsement of Darline Graham will be important in a special Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina.
Key Facts
Republicans want President Trump to motivate their key voters ahead of the midterm elections.
President Trump endorsed Darline Graham in a special Senate runoff election in South Carolina.
The runoff election is a test of Trump’s influence within the Republican Party.
Kyle Kondik, an election analyst, shared his views on the Republican strategy.
The discussion was featured on CBS News, focusing on political analysis.
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Prosecutors in Lindsay Clancy's trial questioned the last witnesses about her mental health. Clancy's defense team asked for a mistrial after a prosecution witness mentioned her religious beliefs, but the judge denied this request and warned the prosecutors.
Key Facts
The trial involves Lindsay Clancy.
Prosecutors questioned the final witnesses about Clancy's mental health.
A prosecution witness referred to Clancy's religious beliefs during testimony.
The defense team requested a mistrial because of this mention.
The judge rejected the mistrial request.
The judge reprimanded the prosecutors for bringing up religion.
CBS News legal expert Caroline Polisi provided analysis of the situation.
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Major Jason Watson, an Air Force officer, faces rare criminal charges after publicly criticizing President Donald Trump. Legal experts find this case unusual because it is uncommon for military personnel to be charged for expressing political opinions.
Key Facts
Major Jason Watson is an officer in the U.S. Air Force.
He publicly criticized President Donald Trump.
He has been charged with a rare criminal offense related to this criticism.
Legal experts say such charges against military members for political speech are uncommon.
The case has attracted attention because of its unusual nature.
Details of the charges and possible outcomes are being closely followed.
The news was reported by CBS News correspondent Charlie D’Agata.
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