The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to provide new military and reconstruction aid to Ukraine, with support from most Democrats and some Republicans. The bill authorizes up to $8 billion in loans and sanctions against Russia but still needs approval from the Senate.
Key Facts
The House used a discharge petition to force a vote on Ukraine aid.
Rep. Gregory Meeks led the effort; the petition took almost a year to gain enough signatures.
The bill passed with a vote of 226 to 195 in the House.
It allows up to $8 billion in military loans and funds for Ukraine’s rebuilding.
The bill adds new sanctions against Russia and supports NATO.
Some Republicans joined Democrats to pass the bill, despite party leadership resistance.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has requested more U.S. defense weapons, including missile interceptors.
The bill’s future approval in the Senate is uncertain.
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Some Republican governors in the United States have given June different names instead of Pride Month. They use titles like Nuclear Family Month and Strong Families Month to emphasize traditional family ideas.
Key Facts
June is usually known as Pride Month, celebrating LGBTQ+ communities.
Governors of Indiana and Tennessee called June Nuclear Family Month.
Nuclear Family Month focuses on families with one husband, one wife, and their children.
Alabama's governor named June Strong Families Month.
Alabama's proclamation highlights fathers as "head of the household."
These alternative names align with traditional views of family and parenting.
The alternative names are seen as responses to or replacements for Pride Month.
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The Republican-controlled House approved a bill to provide military aid to Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia. Eighteen Republicans and one Independent joined Democrats to pass the bill, showing some disagreement with President Trump’s foreign policy.
Key Facts
The House of Representatives is controlled by the Republican Party.
A bill was passed to give military help to Ukraine.
The bill also includes penalties against Russia. These penalties are called sanctions.
Eighteen Republicans voted for the bill, even though President Trump opposes it.
One Independent Representative from California, Kevin Kiley, also voted for the bill.
The bill had strong support from Democrats.
The vote shows some division within the Republican Party on foreign policy.
The bill’s passage is mostly symbolic but sends a message about U.S. support for Ukraine.
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President Donald Trump plans to attend at least one NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden next week after being invited by New York Knicks owner James Dolan. The NBA said this would make Trump the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.
Key Facts
President Trump is a longtime fan of the New York Knicks and Knicks owner James Dolan.
Trump plans to attend Game 3 on Monday and possibly Game 4 on Wednesday of the NBA Finals.
The Knicks currently lead the series 1-0 after beating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said some former presidents attended NBA Finals but no current president has before Trump.
Silver noted Trump attended Knicks games and NBA drafts before his political career.
Trump praised the Knicks’ defense against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
Trump’s attendance will require extra security, affecting fans’ transit and logistics.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also plans to attend the game but in a different section and will buy his own ticket.
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The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), led by appointees of President Donald Trump, voted to address concerns about Trump's proposed 250-foot "triumphal arch" near Arlington National Cemetery. The commission asked for more information and changes before giving final approval, following public criticism and staff recommendations.
Key Facts
The NCPC is responsible for federal government planning in Washington, D.C., and parts of Virginia and Maryland.
President Trump's appointees lead the commission, but staff members raised concerns about the arch project.
The commission did not fully approve the arch but asked the administration to provide additional details, like more visual illustrations from different views.
Nearly 1,700 public comments were submitted about the arch, with most opposing the project.
Critics said the arch is a vanity project and inconsistent with American values and that it could block views of Arlington National Cemetery.
Veterans and relatives of those buried in Arlington expressed worries about respect for the cemetery and how the arch would stand the test of time.
The commission's chair, Will Scharf, urged respectful discussion and said final approval will be considered at a later meeting.
President Trump thanked the commission on social media, but the commission clarified they had not given final approval yet.
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President Donald Trump announced a rally in Washington, D.C., to celebrate America's 250th birthday. This event will take place on the National Mall after some artists canceled their participation in the planned “Great American State Fair.”
Key Facts
President Trump announced a rally in Washington, D.C.
The rally is to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The event will happen on the National Mall, a major public space in Washington, D.C.
Several artists previously scheduled to perform at the “Great American State Fair” had dropped out.
President Trump criticized some artists for charging high fees without delivering quality entertainment.
The rally aims to replace or supplement the initial planned musical performances for the celebration.
The “Great American State Fair” is part of the larger 250th birthday plans for the country.
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President Donald Trump announced a $700 million investment to revive the US coal industry. He will use the Defense Production Act, a law that lets the president support key industries during emergencies, to fund the project and create new coal plants and export facilities.
Key Facts
The investment totals $700 million to support the coal industry.
President Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to help finance the project.
$500 million will be used to protect 14 existing coal plants and build a new export terminal in California.
$200 million will fund two new coal plants in Alaska and West Virginia, the first new plants in the US since 2013.
The new coal export terminal in Oakland, California, is expected to create more than 1,400 jobs.
The total investment is expected to support around 14,000 jobs across several states.
The coal plants receiving support are located in Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.
Rising energy prices, partly due to the war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, prompted the need for this investment.
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A Colorado court reversed the homicide convictions of two paramedics involved in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, who died after being restrained by police and given ketamine. The court ordered new trials for paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec due to errors in jury instructions, while upholding Cichuniec’s assault conviction.
Key Facts
Elijah McClain died in 2019 after police restrained him and paramedics injected him with ketamine.
The case drew attention during the 2020 social justice protests following George Floyd’s death.
Paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec were convicted in 2023 of criminally negligent homicide; Cichuniec was also convicted of felony assault.
The appeals court found mistakes in jury instructions on the homicide charges and ordered new trials for those counts.
The assault conviction against Cichuniec was upheld.
Cichuniec was released early from prison in 2024 and sentenced to probation.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser plans to appeal the court’s decision to overturn the homicide convictions.
The International Association of Fire Fighters supports the paramedics, highlighting the difficulty of making quick medical decisions in police custody situations.
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President Donald Trump announced plans to build a new, much larger ballroom at the White House, which has grown to include extra features like an underground hospital and secure military areas. The cost has doubled to $400 million, and Congress has been asked for more money for security despite promises the project wouldn't cost taxpayers.
Key Facts
President Trump announced plans for a new White House ballroom in June last year.
The ballroom will be about 90,000 square feet and seat 650 people, much larger than the current East Room which seats 200.
The project has expanded to include a rooftop drone landing area, underground hospital, bomb shelters, and secret military facilities.
The estimated cost has increased to $400 million, twice the original amount.
Congress has been asked to provide extra funds for security around the new complex.
The entire East Wing, which housed many offices including the First Lady’s, was demolished to make way for the project.
President Trump described the ballroom as important for hosting grand parties, state visits, and national security.
Construction started with digging that revealed plans for three underground levels.
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A judge dropped a murder charge against Aaron Spencer, a Republican candidate for sheriff in Lonoke County, Arkansas. The charge was dismissed because the police lost a dash camera memory card that might have recorded the shooting he was accused of.
Key Facts
Aaron Spencer was charged with second-degree murder for shooting Michael Fosler, who was accused of abusing Spencer’s teenage daughter.
Spencer won the GOP nomination for sheriff while awaiting trial.
The murder charge was dismissed due to police losing critical dash camera evidence.
The camera’s memory card went missing because it was not properly logged and stored.
Spencer claims he shot Fosler to protect his daughter from a predator.
Spencer’s lawyers said the lost evidence could have cleared him.
The judge said police actions were so bad that dismissing the case was necessary.
Spencer plans to focus on fighting sex crimes if elected sheriff.
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More than 1,300 professors from the University of California want to bring back the SAT and ACT exams for students applying to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. They believe these tests help evaluate students fairly.
Key Facts
Over 1,300 University of California professors signed a letter.
They want to reinstate the SAT and ACT exams for STEM applicants.
The SAT and ACT are standardized tests used in college admissions.
The University of California system had stopped requiring these tests recently.
Faculty argue the exams provide a consistent way to assess students' abilities.
The discussion was covered by the Wall Street Journal reporter Douglas Belkin.
The issue was talked about on the CBS News program "The Takeout."
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The U.S. government has added Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and several others to its list of sanctioned individuals as part of President Trump's increased pressure on Cuba. These sanctions target Cuban leaders’ property and bank accounts in the U.S. amid worsening economic problems on the island.
Key Facts
The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Cuban President Díaz-Canel, his wife, and three others including Alejandro Castro Espín and his son.
Alejandro Castro Espín is the son of former Cuban President Raúl Castro and has served as an adviser to Cuba’s Defense and National Security Commission.
The Trump administration has expanded sanctions against Cuba following an executive order by President Trump.
Sanctions freeze the individuals’ U.S. assets, although it is unclear how connected their finances are to the U.S. system.
President Trump has threatened military action against Cuba and mentioned ongoing economic pressures like fuel blockades.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently met senior Cuban officials to discuss potential economic and security cooperation if Cuba makes significant changes.
U.S. officials have targeted companies linked to the Cuban military, including GAESA, which controls much of Cuba’s economy.
Senator Marco Rubio, a key U.S. figure on Cuba issues, supports the sanctions and has revoked green cards of associates tied to Cuban government businesses.
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One in four births in England is now an emergency caesarean, which means the number of unplanned C-section surgeries has grown a lot in five years. At the same time, fewer babies are born naturally without using tools, while planned C-sections have also increased. Experts do not know exactly why emergency C-sections are up, and they want better data to understand the reasons.
Key Facts
Emergency caesarean births in England rose from 18% to 26% over five years.
Planned (elective) C-sections now make up 20% of births.
Vaginal births without instruments dropped from 53% to 43%.
England’s emergency C-section rate is higher than in Scotland (22%), Wales (20%), and Northern Ireland (16%).
England moved from 14th to 9th place among 42 countries in C-section rates from 2020 to 2025.
Stillbirths and newborn deaths have stayed about the same despite more emergency C-sections.
Emergency C-sections affect about one in three births among Black and Asian mothers, higher than the national average.
Experts think factors like age, obesity, medical conditions, and fear in maternity units may be causing the rise.
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The Biden administration has ended the policy requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to report deaths of people within 30 days after their release from detention. ICE says it will still report deaths that happen while people are in their custody but will not track those occurring after release, arguing it is no longer responsible at that point.
Key Facts
ICE no longer has to report deaths of individuals within 30 days after they leave detention.
The policy to report these post-release deaths began under President Biden.
ICE held about 60,311 detainees as of April 2024; the number dropped to 39,703 in January 2025.
In 2025, at least 33 detainees died, the highest number since 2004.
The deaths include people who died after release or while in hospitals.
Advocacy groups say deaths after release may be linked to medical neglect or other issues.
DHS and ICE defend detention conditions and health care, denying critics’ claims of poor treatment.
ICE states it remains committed to transparency about deaths occurring while detainees are still in custody.
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Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Maine, denied new allegations about abusive behavior toward women. The accusations came in a New York Times report based on interviews with several people, including a Republican operative who dated him. Platner called the claims politically motivated and did not say he would leave the race.
Key Facts
Graham Platner is running for the US Senate seat in Maine as a Democrat.
A New York Times article reported allegations of abusive behavior towards women by Platner.
The report included claims from Lyndsey Fifield, a Republican operative who dated Platner from 2013 to 2015.
Allegations include physical misconduct, offensive comments about women, and troubling statements about rape.
Platner denies all claims of physical abuse and says the allegations are politically motivated.
Some other women gave both critical and positive accounts of Platner’s behavior.
Platner has a controversial past, including social media posts and a tattoo linked to Nazi symbolism, for which he apologized and covered up.
Platner has spoken openly about dealing with PTSD from his military service.
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President Donald Trump announced a $700 million investment in coal plants and a new export terminal. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey shared his thoughts about this announcement on CBS News.
Key Facts
President Trump made a $700 million investment announcement related to coal plants.
The investment also includes building a new export terminal.
The announcement took place on a Thursday.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is a Republican.
Governor Morrisey appeared on CBS News to react to the announcement.
The investment aims to support the coal industry.
The export terminal is likely to help coal shipments.
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A new poll shows Mike Mazzei, recently endorsed by President Donald Trump, leading slightly in the Oklahoma Republican primary for governor. The poll surveyed likely voters and showed Mazzei and Attorney General Gentner Drummond as close competitors just days before the election.
Key Facts
Mike Mazzei, former state senator and budget secretary, was endorsed by President Trump last week.
A recent poll shows Mazzei with 24% support and Drummond with 20%, but they are statistically tied due to the poll's margin of error.
Other candidates in the poll include Jake Merrick (12%), Chip Keating (10%), and Charles McCall (7%).
About 25% of likely voters remain undecided according to the poll of 550 Republican primary voters.
The poll was conducted June 2-3 and has a margin of error of 4.18%.
Mazzei attributes his boost to aligning with President Trump’s policies on taxes, government spending, and the economy.
Other recent polls show similar close races among top candidates, with varying leads.
President Trump’s endorsement has helped his preferred candidates in many recent Republican primaries, though there have been some exceptions.
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President Donald Trump has nominated Todd Blanche, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be the U.S. attorney general. Blanche is currently serving as the acting attorney general, who leads the Justice Department and oversees law enforcement in the country.
Key Facts
President Trump chose Todd Blanche for the attorney general position.
Todd Blanche used to be President Trump’s criminal defense lawyer.
Blanche is now the acting attorney general, temporarily holding the role.
The attorney general is the main law enforcement official in the U.S.
The Justice Department is the federal agency responsible for law enforcement and legal affairs.
Blanche’s nomination has raised concerns among some people, but the article does not specify what those concerns are.
Nancy Cordes reported this news for CBS News.
The report is available on the CBS News app and website.
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A U.S. House Armed Services Committee voted against removing a part of the defense budget that would increase military cooperation between the United States and Israel. The proposal now may move to a full House vote.
Key Facts
The committee rejected an amendment by Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna to remove Section 224 from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Section 224 requires the Pentagon to assign an official to coordinate U.S.-Israel military cooperation, including joint research and development.
Khanna argued the provision supports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push to shift U.S. aid to Israel toward military “cooperation” rather than direct aid.
President Donald Trump reportedly disagrees with Netanyahu’s actions related to Israel’s military moves in Lebanon.
Critics worry Section 224 might hide U.S. military aid to Israel by calling it cooperation, and could shield it from normal budget reviews.
Netanyahu supports changing the relationship with the U.S. from aid recipient to partner, focusing on advanced defense technologies.
The vote was done by voice, not a recorded roll call, with more “no” votes defeating the amendment.
Some public opinion polls show decreasing U.S. support for Israel’s military actions.
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A former correction officer named Tova Noel testified to Congress that she was not the orange figure seen on video near Jeffrey Epstein's cell the night he died in 2019. Epstein died by suicide while in federal custody, but many details about that night remain unclear due to missing video footage and conflicting accounts.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in jail in 2019 at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York.
A surveillance video showed an unidentified orange shape near Epstein’s cell stairs around 10:39 p.m. the night before his death.
Tova Noel, a former correction officer, said she was not the person seen in the orange shape on the video.
Most cameras failed to record the night Epstein died because of a hard drive failure; only limited footage is available.
Noel admitted she did not follow all required inmate checks on the night Epstein died but denied any role in his death.
Noel was working overtime on her first overnight shift back after a workplace injury.
She said she did not know about Epstein’s special confinement rules, including the need for a cellmate.
Noel denied receiving money from Epstein or anyone connected to him, though she would not disclose the full source of personal deposits.
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