Julia Curlee served nearly 20 years in U.S. intelligence and was the first CIA officer to openly transition while still working there. She was fired early in President Trump’s second term and says politics in the White House hurt U.S. intelligence.
Key Facts
Julia Curlee worked for almost 20 years in the U.S. intelligence community.
She was the first CIA officer to openly transition as a transgender woman while still employed.
Curlee was dismissed early in President Trump’s second term.
She wrote an essay called “The wrong kind of American” about her experience.
Curlee says that political issues in the White House have weakened U.S. intelligence work.
She discussed her story further with journalist Amna Nawaz.
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Erica Schwartz has become the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In her first talks with CDC staff, she recognized that the agency is facing significant challenges.
Key Facts
Erica Schwartz is the newly confirmed director of the CDC.
She recently spoke with CDC employees for the first time since her confirmation.
During these talks, she acknowledged that the CDC is dealing with difficult issues.
The CDC is a major U.S. public health agency responsible for disease control and prevention.
Schwartz’s leadership comes at a time when the CDC needs to overcome these challenges to fulfill its mission.
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Senator Darline Graham said during a debate that she is "not that informed on national security." This statement surprised people watching the debate for the South Carolina GOP Senate primary runoff.
Key Facts
The event was a debate before the South Carolina Republican Senate primary runoff.
Senator Darline Graham admitted she is not well informed about national security.
Her comment caused gasps from the audience.
The debate and statement were discussed by reporters from Bloomberg and the Associated Press.
The news was covered by CBS News and available on their app.
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Poll results in some Democratic primary elections this year have been very different from the actual vote outcomes. For example, Abdul El-Sayed led by a large margin in polls but only narrowly lost to Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Senate race.
Key Facts
Some primary election results have not matched what public opinion polls predicted.
In Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, Abdul El-Sayed was ahead by many points in polls but lost by one point.
Pollsters Lisa Desjardins and Courtney Kennedy from Ipsos talked about these unexpected results.
The differences may indicate that polls are less accurate in some races this year.
Polling errors can happen when certain groups of voters are not fully represented or when opinions change quickly.
Understanding why polls miss the mark can help improve future election predictions.
This phenomenon affects public trust in how well polls reflect actual voter choices.
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First Lady Melania Trump announced a $2 million donation from IndyCar and Fox Corp. to provide scholarships for children in foster care at Indiana University and Purdue University. This gift supports her Fostering the Future program, which helps foster youth attend college and build their careers.
Key Facts
First Lady Melania Trump accepted a $2 million gift from IndyCar and Fox Corp.
The money will fund scholarships at Indiana University and Purdue University.
These schools recently joined a network of over two dozen colleges in the Fostering the Future program.
The program helps children in foster care get a college education and career opportunities.
The announcement was made in the White House Rose Garden.
IndyCar is sponsoring the Freedom 250 Grand Prix event in Washington to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
The Fostering the Future program aims to help foster youth achieve financial independence.
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Aisha Wahab, a progressive state senator, is expected to win the special election to take over the rest of Eric Swalwell’s term in the U.S. House of Representatives. She defeated Melissa Hernandez, the Bay Area Rapid Transit Board President, to fill the California seat after Swalwell left it.
Key Facts
Aisha Wahab is a state senator known for progressive views.
Wahab is projected to win the special election for California’s House seat.
The election fills the term left by Eric Swalwell.
Eric Swalwell previously held the seat and ran for California governor but dropped out.
Melissa Hernandez, a Bay Area Rapid Transit Board leader, was Wahab’s main opponent.
The election was organized to replace Swalwell mid-term.
Wahab will serve in the U.S. House of Representatives representing part of California.
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The House Ethics Committee is investigating sexual misconduct claims against Democratic Representative Jimmy Gomez of California. Angela Gonzales-Torres, a democratic socialist, is running against Gomez in California's 34th district and has discussed her political goals.
Key Facts
The House Ethics Committee is looking into sexual misconduct allegations against Rep. Jimmy Gomez.
Jimmy Gomez denies the sexual misconduct claims.
Angela Gonzales-Torres is a democratic socialist candidate challenging Gomez.
The election contest is for California's 34th congressional district, based in Los Angeles.
Gonzales-Torres has spoken publicly about her agenda and campaign goals.
The situation has received media coverage on CBS News.
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Many small racetracks in the United States face legal challenges because neighbors complain about noise. To support these racetracks, some states are passing laws called "right to race" laws that protect them from certain noise-related lawsuits.
Key Facts
Small local racetracks are receiving complaints from nearby property owners about noise.
Some property owners are filing lawsuits against racetracks over noise and other disturbances.
Several state governments are creating laws to protect racetracks from these legal complaints.
These laws are known as "right to race" laws.
The purpose of these laws is to allow racetracks to continue operating despite noise concerns.
Reporter Tim McPhillips visited a racetrack in Virginia to report on this issue.
The problem affects racetracks across different states in the country.
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Harvard Medical School agreed to pay $53 million to settle lawsuits from families of people who donated their bodies for research but whose remains were stolen and sold by a former morgue manager. Cedric Lodge, the former employee, was sentenced to eight years in prison for selling body parts without the school's permission.
Key Facts
Harvard Medical School settled lawsuits for $53 million over stolen body parts.
The theft was done by Cedric Lodge, the former morgue manager.
Lodge sold bodies’ brains, skin, hands, and faces on the black market.
The stolen body parts were donated between January 2018 and March 2023.
Lodge was sentenced to eight years in prison; his wife got just over one year for helping him.
Six buyers of the stolen remains were also convicted and sentenced.
Harvard apologized and promised to improve its Anatomical Gift Program.
The school will create a scholarship for medical students to honor body donors.
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Thousands of people in northwest Indiana have been without electricity for nine days following a severe storm that hit on August 11, 2026. Many residents are struggling to get food, charge phones, and stay safe while utility workers work to restore power, which may not be fully back until next week.
Key Facts
A deadly storm on August 11 caused power outages affecting over 370,000 customers in northwest Indiana.
As of August 20, about 68,000 customers, mostly in Lake County near Illinois, still had no power.
Power restoration has been slow, with some areas like Gary expecting electricity back only by Tuesday.
Schools in Gary remain closed due to the storm’s damage.
Residents are relying on donated food, free meals, and community aid centers.
People are using social media to find open laundromats and places with Wi-Fi.
Health risks include spoiled food, carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, and loss of medical device power.
Flash floods in Columbus, Ohio, caused rescues and added to the region’s emergency situations.
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Mike Rogers, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, has asked for a one-year pause on building new data centers. He made this request due to concerns about the impact of large server facilities linked to the growth of artificial intelligence.
Key Facts
Mike Rogers is a Republican running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
He proposed a one-year halt on constructing new data centers.
Data centers are large buildings that store and run computer servers.
These centers support the development of artificial intelligence technology.
Rogers's call reflects growing political concerns about data centers.
The pause aims to address potential issues related to these server warehouses.
This announcement was made in a public statement on Thursday.
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Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers started a group called “Democrats for Mike Rogers” to show support from some Democrats ahead of the November election. At the event, several Democrats, including state Representative Karen Whitsett, spoke in favor of Rogers.
Key Facts
Mike Rogers is running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican in Michigan.
He launched the “Democrats for Mike Rogers” coalition two months before the general election.
The coalition includes some Democrats who support Rogers.
Michigan state Representative Karen Whitsett, a Democrat, appeared at the event supporting Rogers.
The coalition aims to appeal to voters tired of political anger and division.
The general election will decide Michigan’s Senate seat.
This group shows cross-party support in a typically partisan race.
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President Donald Trump is increasing efforts to pressure other countries to reduce their economic connections with Iran. This move aims to cut off Iran's access to financial resources.
Key Facts
President Trump is pushing nations to stop or reduce trade and business with Iran.
The goal is to apply economic pressure on Iran.
Reducing economic ties may limit Iran's ability to fund its activities.
CBS News reported on this development with White House correspondent Nancy Cordes.
Matthew Kroenig, an expert from the Atlantic Council, provided analysis of the situation.
The report was available on CBS News and its app.
The actions are part of the Trump administration’s policy toward Iran.
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The United States' national debt has reached a new high of $40 trillion. This amount more than doubled in less than ten years. The article mentions responses from the Trump administration regarding this increase.
Key Facts
The U.S. national debt hit $40 trillion for the first time.
The debt has more than doubled in under ten years.
The increase in debt is due to years of government borrowing.
The article includes reporting on how President Trump's administration responded to the debt level.
The debt milestone was reported by CBS News.
The $40 trillion figure represents the total amount the U.S. government owes to creditors.
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"The Takeout with Major Garrett" has reached its 300th episode. To celebrate, Major Garrett reviews how the show compares to other well-known TV programs.
Key Facts
"The Takeout with Major Garrett" aired its 300th episode on Thursday.
Major Garrett is the host of the show.
The episode marks a milestone for the series.
To celebrate, the host looks at how the show ranks among famous TV shows.
The program is part of CBS News.
Viewers can watch the show through CBS News and its app.
The celebration highlights the show's success and longevity.
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Federal police arrested a 35-year-old woman, Jessica Bowie, for planning to bomb the New York State Capitol. Authorities say she intended to hurt officials there and was inspired by ISIS.
Key Facts
Jessica Bowie is 35 years old and lives in Albany, New York.
She was arrested after a plot to bomb the New York State Capitol.
Prosecutors say she wanted to harm officials inside the building.
Bowie expressed support for ISIS, a known terrorist group.
The information came from a criminal complaint filed in federal court.
An informant provided evidence of her plan.
The FBI intervened before the attack could happen.
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Minnesota and Wisconsin health officials warn people not to eat alfalfa sprouts from certain brands linked to outbreaks of E. coli and salmonella infections. So far, 41 people have fallen ill, with some hospitalized, and investigators are working to find the exact source of contamination.
Key Facts
23 people in Minnesota and 18 in Wisconsin became sick after eating alfalfa sprouts.
The infections include different types of E. coli bacteria and salmonella.
Two people were hospitalized due to these infections.
The sprouts come from Everything Sprouts, a Minnesota grower, sold under Calco and Everything Sprouts brands.
Health officials from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the federal government are investigating the outbreak.
E. coli strains involved can cause serious symptoms like stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea, and kidney failure in rare cases.
Salmonella poisoning can cause diarrhea, fever, vomiting, dehydration, and stomach cramps.
Alfalfa sprouts are hard to clean and easy to contaminate because they grow in warm water and the seeds can carry germs.
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The U.S. Army is ending the drone warfare mission of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Europe and returning it to a traditional infantry role. This change was directed by Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army’s acting chief of staff, amid a wider Army reshuffling.
Key Facts
The 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Italy and Germany, had a battalion focused on building and using drones in warfare.
This drone unit was created in November 2025 with about 600 soldiers specialized in drone tactics inspired by Ukraine’s use of drones against Russia.
Gen. LaNeve ordered the return of the battalion to regular airborne infantry duties.
The shift follows the removal of Gen. Randy George and leadership changes under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The drone unit will finish its ongoing exercises in Germany before ending its drone experiments.
The Army will use the unit’s drone-related findings to help shape future Army strategies and technology.
The 173rd Brigade also experimented with artificial intelligence and drones resistant to jamming.
Despite threats from Iranian drone attacks on U.S. forces, the Army decided to refocus the brigade on traditional infantry roles.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is ending summer gasoline rules earlier than usual to help lower high gas prices. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allowed sales of gasoline that can evaporate more starting September 1, instead of the usual mid-September date.
Key Facts
The Trump administration is lifting summer gasoline smog restrictions early this year.
The goal is to reduce high gasoline prices for consumers.
The EPA issued a waiver on Thursday to make this change.
Gasoline with a higher evaporation potential can be sold starting September 1.
Normally, these rules last until mid-September before changing.
Higher evaporation gasoline is usually allowed when there is less risk of smog.
This change aims to help with gasoline supply and prices in the short term.
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A 21-year-old recent college graduate, Rahil Prakash, created a website called Median Strategies that published fake election polls for states like Wisconsin, Nevada, and California. The website closed after a reporter questioned its legitimacy, and Prakash said the project was meant to show how easily false poll information can spread in politics.
Key Facts
Rahil Prakash, age 21, ran the anonymous polling website Median Strategies.
The website published fake election poll results in multiple states, including Wisconsin, Nevada, and California.
Median Strategies shut down after reporters investigated its polling practices.
Prakash described the project as a "short-term social experiment" using fake polls to test how quickly false information spreads.
Some real politicians and media cited the fake polls without verifying them first.
Prakash created the site alone using artificial intelligence technology.
He apologized to candidates affected by the false polls, such as Karen Bass and Nithya Raman.
Median Strategies was not funded by any campaigns or outside groups, and Prakash did not gain financially.
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