Congress members from both parties are concerned about the United States’ $40 trillion national debt. Despite efforts by Republicans and Democrats to address the issue, lawmakers find it hard to make significant progress.
Key Facts
The national debt has reached $40 trillion.
Both Republicans and Democrats have tried to reduce the debt.
Republicans say high government spending and entitlement programs are major causes.
Democrats focus on other factors contributing to the debt.
Lawmakers agree the problem is becoming harder to ignore.
Congress has struggled to take strong action to cut the debt.
The debate reflects ongoing political disagreements about solutions.
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The United States has started sending deported migrants to Liberia under a new agreement, with plans to send about 1,200 people. These deportations are part of a broader U.S. immigration policy where migrants, including some asylum-seekers, are sent to countries that are not their own.
Key Facts
Twenty migrants were deported from the U.S. to Liberia, the first of about 1,200 planned under a new deal.
The Trump administration has agreements with around two dozen countries to deport migrants, nearly half of these countries are in Africa.
Some African countries accepting these deportees are South Sudan, Ghana, Rwanda, Cameroon, and Sierra Leone.
Many details of these agreements are kept secret, and some African governments say these moves are humanitarian.
Some deportees sent include asylum-seekers who had legal protection from being returned to their home countries.
The U.S. spent at least $40 million deporting about 300 migrants to countries outside their home nations.
Critics say this practice is used as a legal loophole to return people indirectly to countries they fled.
Some countries involved have authoritarian governments, raising concerns about the deportees' rights and protection.
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has tried to lower long-term borrowing costs by doubling the size of a bond buyback program. Despite this, interest rates on key government bonds rose because investors remain concerned about rising national debt, heavy borrowing by technology companies, and the Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation.
Key Facts
The 10-year Treasury note yield rose to 4.69%, nearly back to its level before the buyback announcement.
Treasury plans to double bond buybacks to $4 billion per operation to reduce bond supply and raise prices.
Higher bond yields increase borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, affecting mortgage rates.
The national debt surpassed $40 trillion recently, a record high.
The government budget deficit is expected to top $2 trillion this year.
Treasury Secretary Bessent said a new plan to reduce the deficit may be announced soon.
Heavy bond issuance by large tech companies is increasing supply, pushing yields higher.
Some financial experts say reducing the deficit mainly depends on Congress, not Treasury actions.
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Tulsi Gabbard, former Director of National Intelligence, gave an update about her husband’s rare bone cancer. She said he was diagnosed earlier this year and that his illness influenced her decision to leave the Trump administration.
Key Facts
Tulsi Gabbard was the Director of National Intelligence.
Her husband, Abraham, was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer.
The diagnosis happened earlier in the year.
Gabbard resigned from the Trump administration partly because of her husband’s illness.
She provided this update several months after leaving the White House.
The cancer is described as very rare.
Gabbard’s announcement was emotional and personal.
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New emails show that U.S. immigration officials and Iranian authorities worked together to deport Iranian nationals from the United States back to Iran during late 2025 and early 2026. This cooperation between ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and Iran was not publicly known before.
Key Facts
ICE is a U.S. government agency that handles immigration enforcement.
The cooperation occurred quietly without public announcements.
The deportations took place over a period from late 2025 to early 2026.
Emails between U.S. and Iranian officials reveal this collaboration.
The Iranians involved were returned to Iran from the U.S.
The information was reported by CBS News.
This reveals a new aspect of how immigration deportations were managed.
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Dan Green won the Republican primary for Florida's 9th Congressional District and will compete against Democratic Rep. Darren Soto in the general election. The district was recently redrawn to favor Republicans, making the race more competitive.
Key Facts
Dan Green won the GOP primary for Florida's 9th Congressional District.
Seven candidates competed in the Republican primary.
Democrat Darren Soto has held the seat since 2017.
The district boundaries were changed through gerrymandering to benefit Republicans.
The redrawn district is no longer protected by Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
The University of Virginia's Center for Politics rates the race as likely to be won by a Republican.
The general election will be competitive between Green and Soto.
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President Donald Trump will appear on the radio show of Michael Cohen, his former lawyer who later opposed him and testified against him in court and Congress. The interview will be broadcast on Cohen's WABC program on Thursday evening and Sunday.
Key Facts
Michael Cohen was once President Trump's personal lawyer and fixer.
Cohen later became an opponent of Trump, calling him a "Cheeto-dusted cartoon villain."
Cohen testified against Trump in court and before Congress.
Cohen served prison time related to covering up actions for Trump.
President Trump will be interviewed on Cohen’s radio show, airing on WABC.
The interview is scheduled for Thursday evening and Sunday.
Cohen’s public reunion with Trump follows a pattern of former Trump allies returning to support him.
Other recent examples of this include Elon Musk and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
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The Trump administration is working to repeal the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which has protected nearly 45 million acres of national forests from road building and logging. Officials say removing the rule will help improve forest health and reduce wildfire risks by allowing more local control over land management.
Key Facts
The Roadless Rule was created in 2001 to stop road construction and timber harvesting on 45 million acres of national forests.
The Trump administration argues the rule creates problems for forest management and wildfire prevention.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said forests need active management to prevent wildfires and insect damage.
The USDA filed a proposal to repeal the rule and an environmental report for public review.
Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said many roadless areas have high wildfire risks and limited treatments so far.
Repealing the rule would allow local forest managers to decide on development projects, but does not automatically approve roads or logging.
Environmental groups warn the repeal could harm wildlife habitats, water quality, and old-growth forests.
Opponents also emphasize roadless areas' value to communities and the environment, including climate regulation.
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The Trump administration announced new sanctions against Cuban people and organizations. These actions are part of a stronger effort to pressure Cuba’s communist government.
Key Facts
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the new sanctions on Thursday.
The sanctions target leaders of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).
ICAP is accused of using educational exchanges to gather information and influence people.
The sanctions are part of a larger campaign by President Donald Trump to increase pressure on Cuba’s government.
The goal is to weaken Cuba’s communist regime through economic and political means.
The U.S. government has been tightening restrictions on Cuba over several years.
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A new bipartisan bill in the U.S. House aims to update how Medicare pays ambulance providers. The bill would require Medicare to use current cost data to set ambulance payment rates, helping emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas avoid financial problems.
Key Facts
The bill is called the Reimbursing Emergency Services for Critical Urgent Encounters (RESCUE) Act of 2026.
It would require Medicare to update ambulance payment rates regularly using current cost information.
Medicare currently uses payment rates based on data from 1998, which has not kept up with rising expenses like labor, fuel, and equipment.
Ambulance providers often lose over $1,500 per transport because Medicare payments are too low.
The RESCUE Act would start updated payments in 2028 and require reviews every three years.
The bill includes higher payments for air ambulance services and better data reporting requirements.
It has bipartisan support and is under review by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.
Supporters say the bill will help EMS agencies, especially in rural areas, stay open and ready to respond to emergencies.
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Hundreds of people, mainly women, gathered at a Massachusetts courthouse to support Lindsay Clancy, who is on trial for killing her three children. Her lawyer says she suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness after childbirth, and should not be held criminally responsible.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for killing her three children aged from 8 months to 5 years.
Her lawyer claims she had postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder.
Postpartum psychosis is a rare and serious illness affecting about 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 women after childbirth.
The trial has attracted large crowds and online discussions about mental health and postpartum illness.
Supporters highlight problems with how mental health care treats women.
Clancy has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
After the killings, Clancy tried to end her own life and is now paralyzed from the waist down.
A hospital chaplain testified about visiting Clancy in the hospital and her emotional state after the incident.
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Jessica Bowie, a New York woman, was charged with trying to support the Islamic State group and planning to bomb the New York State Capitol building. She allegedly told an FBI informant she wanted to kill lawmakers and destroy important documents during their meeting.
Key Facts
Jessica Bowie, 35, is accused of supporting the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.
She planned to bomb the New York State Capitol in Albany, where the state legislature meets.
Bowie allegedly discussed her plans with an FBI informant and asked how to make explosives.
She wanted to kill senators and destroy government documents inside the Capitol.
Bowie considered disguising herself as a food delivery worker to enter the building.
She also mentioned possibly attacking Times Square if she escaped.
FBI agents arrested her on August 19, 2026, after she obtained bomb materials and a delivery bag.
Bowie reportedly told agents she could not be helped and showed support for the September 11 attackers.
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A woman from New York, Jessica Bowie, is charged with planning to attack the New York State Capitol using explosives. She allegedly worked with an FBI source and plotted the attack between July and August 2024, facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Key Facts
Jessica Bowie, 35, from Albany, New York, is charged with trying to support foreign terrorist groups.
She planned to attack the New York State Capitol building and its senators using bombs.
Bowie communicated with an FBI informant posing as an ISIS member.
She was recorded surveilling the Capitol five times on security cameras.
Bowie allegedly took an oath of loyalty (bayah) to ISIS in May 2024.
She bought items from Home Depot to build an explosive device and gave $200 to a fake bomb maker.
At her arrest, she had a firearm, ammunition, knives, and a handwritten oath document.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state had increased Capitol security and that there is no immediate threat now.
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President Donald Trump spoke at the White House with cryptocurrency leaders, supporting the building of AI plants and data centers. He said these facilities create many jobs and bring in a lot of tax money, even though this topic is not popular in current election campaigns.
Key Facts
President Trump hosted cryptocurrency leaders at the White House.
He expressed strong support for building AI plants and data centers.
Trump said these facilities create many jobs.
He also mentioned they generate large tax revenues.
This message is unusual because it is not commonly used by candidates in midterm races.
Both Republican and Democratic candidates tend to avoid this topic during the elections.
Trump emphasized the economic benefits of data centers and AI plants at the local government level.
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A North Carolina mother, Andrea Faust, is accused of killing her 3-year-old son and trying to kill her 2-year-old. Her lawyer plans to use an insanity defense, focusing on her mental health, similar to the ongoing case of Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy.
Key Facts
Andrea Faust was accused of first-degree murder and attempted murder after her two children were found unresponsive at their home.
Her 3-year-old son, Percy, died; her 2-year-old son, Kenny, survived and was expected to recover.
Authorities and family describe the incident as connected to a severe mental health crisis.
Faust attempted suicide multiple times while in custody, once causing serious injuries.
A judge ruled Faust unable to stand trial and ordered her transfer to a psychiatric hospital for treatment and evaluation.
Faust’s attorney announced plans to pursue an insanity defense, which is rare and requires proving severe mental illness at the time of the crime.
Faust’s case is compared to Lindsay Clancy’s case in Massachusetts, where Clancy faces charges for the death of her three children and also uses an insanity defense.
Both cases highlight issues around mental health and motherhood, especially concerning postpartum and severe psychiatric conditions.
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A major polling tracker stopped using data from a polling company after finding signs that the company faked survey results in Florida's Republican governor primary race. This follows a recent case where another polling group admitted to creating false polls.
Key Facts
A polling tracker suspended use of data from a pollster for allegedly falsifying survey results.
The issue involved a survey of candidates in Florida's Republican primary for governor.
The data problems were discovered and led to the suspension of the pollster's data.
Another polling group, Median Strategies, recently admitted to spreading fake polling data.
These events highlight concerns about the accuracy of some polling companies in U.S. elections.
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The captain of a boat that capsized near New York Harbor, killing a mother and her infant, has been arrested by immigration officers for entering the US illegally. He faces charges related to the accident and will remain in detention while awaiting trial.
Key Facts
The boat capsized near the Statue of Liberty on August 8.
A 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old daughter died in the accident.
Fourteen people were on the boat; twelve were rescued.
The captain, Manuel Hernandez, was initially charged with reckless endangerment leading to death.
An investigation found the boat was overloaded and lacked infant life jackets.
Hernandez faces two federal charges for misconduct and neglect causing death, with up to 10 years in prison for each.
Immigration authorities say Hernandez entered the US illegally from El Salvador and lied about his citizenship.
He is now held by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and awaiting trial.
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The captain of a boat that capsized near the Statue of Liberty in New York, killing a woman and her infant daughter, has been arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The captain faces criminal charges, and ICE plans to deport him after the legal process.
Key Facts
The boat capsized on August 8 in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty.
Two victims, Sara Sanchez (27 years old) and her 5-month-old daughter Antonella, died at a hospital.
Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, the 46-year-old boat captain, was taken into custody by ICE.
He faces federal charges including misconduct and neglect resulting in death.
The US Coast Guard investigation found Hernandez is in the country illegally.
Hernandez is from El Salvador and previously lied about his citizenship status when crossing into the US in 2007.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed plans to deport him after the criminal case.
The Trump administration is increasing immigration enforcement, especially in New York and New Jersey, deporting over 590,600 people since January 2025.
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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will speak at the White House Rose Garden about the Fostering the Future Together initiative. This program aims to improve educational opportunities for young people who are leaving the foster care system.
Key Facts
The event will take place at the White House Rose Garden on Thursday afternoon.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will lead the announcement.
The announcement relates to the Fostering the Future Together initiative.
The initiative focuses on helping youth who are aging out of foster care.
It aims to provide better academic opportunities for these young people.
Details about the specific announcement have not been shared publicly.
The program is part of the current administration’s efforts.
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A new poll shows that among Democrats, Pete Buttigieg, Jon Ossoff, and Gavin Newsom have slight leads over Republicans JD Vance and Marco Rubio in a potential 2028 presidential matchup. The Democratic primary race is currently divided, with Kamala Harris and Buttigieg also leading in separate polls.
Key Facts
The poll surveyed 1,000 likely voters in August 2026 with a margin of error of ±3 points.
Buttigieg leads Vance and Rubio by 5 points each in the general election matchups.
Ossoff leads Vance by 5 points and Rubio by 3 points.
Newsom leads Vance by 5 points and Rubio by 2 points.
Harris leads Vance by 4 points but trails Rubio by 5 points.
Republicans Vance and Rubio lead over Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the poll.
Polls show a competitive Democratic primary with Harris and Buttigieg leading in different surveys.
These early polls help show which candidates may have support but can change closer to the election.
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