Incumbent Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advanced to a runoff in the June 2 mayoral primary, marking the first runoff for an LA mayor in over 20 years. In other key primary elections, some incumbents and Democratic candidates showed strength, while a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump lost in Iowa’s gubernatorial primary.
Key Facts
Karen Bass is the first Los Angeles mayor in more than 20 years to face a runoff election.
Bass emphasized her experience and achievements but faced criticism over her handling of last year’s wildfires.
Reality TV star Spencer Pratt ran against Bass and currently holds second place, but final results are still pending.
It’s unclear if Pratt or progressive city council member Nithya Raman will join Bass in the runoff.
In California’s governor race, Republican Steve Hilton (endorsed by Trump) and Democrat Xavier Becerra lead, with mail ballots still to be counted.
In Iowa, a Trump-backed candidate lost the gubernatorial primary.
The primaries show some support for incumbents and limits to the influence of a Trump endorsement.
The results highlight important trends ahead of the November midterm elections.
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Lawmakers questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin during hearings on Capitol Hill. The sessions involved detailed discussions on issues relevant to their departments.
Key Facts
The hearings took place on Capitol Hill.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared before lawmakers.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also responded to questions.
The sessions were described as tense.
The hearings were covered by CBS News reporter Taurean Small.
Lawmakers focused on topics related to state and homeland security matters.
The purpose was to seek information and accountability from the secretaries.
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The police handling of Henry Nowak’s stabbing has sparked debate about whether anti-racism policies influenced officers’ actions. While some critics say a focus on race led to poor treatment of Nowak, officials and experts say the documents cited are not formal police policy or training and that other issues caused the failures.
Key Facts
Critics argue police anti-racism policies caused poor handling of Henry Nowak’s stabbing case.
The controversial document, the police anti-racism commitment, was published by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) last year.
The document states police should not treat everyone the same without considering context and historical experiences related to race.
Ministers say the document gave the wrong impression and was not part of official training or formal policy.
Few police officers actually knew about or used the document in their work.
Police policy requires taking claims of racial motivation seriously but does not mean automatically accepting them.
Evidence shows racial bias in UK policing still affects ethnic minorities, with higher use of force against Black people.
The police race action plan launched after George Floyd’s murder has seen little improvement, according to independent reviews.
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A retired detective said that looking at car tracking data and address searches might help find a suspect in the Nancy Guthrie case. Law enforcement could use this information to narrow down possible leads.
Key Facts
The case involves Nancy Guthrie.
A retired detective spoke to NewsNation about the investigation.
Tracking data from cars may help identify suspects.
Checking address queries (searches for locations) could provide clues.
Law enforcement is exploring these methods to find new leads.
The information was shared publicly through a news report.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order to expand the U.S. government's voluntary safety testing of advanced AI models. The order focuses on collaboration between AI companies and federal agencies but does not impose strict regulations or requirements. Critics say the government may not be ready to effectively monitor AI risks in the short timeframes set by the order.
Key Facts
President Trump signed an executive order to promote voluntary AI safety testing by companies.
The order avoids strict regulations to avoid slowing AI innovation.
Earlier plans to give the government a 90-day testing window were shortened to 30 days to speed up AI deployment.
The National Security Agency (NSA) will lead a classified process to define key AI models that need testing.
The order also tasks the Treasury Department and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency with managing cybersecurity efforts.
The government must recruit cybersecurity experts within 60 days to support testing efforts.
Funding for AI vulnerability detection may come from existing federal grants, but resources are uncertain.
The attorney general is directed to prioritize enforcement against illegal uses of AI to harm computer systems.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Greenland is still part of Denmark "for now," responding to President Trump's repeated suggestions that the U.S. should take control of Greenland for security reasons. The Trump administration is holding talks with Greenland and Denmark about using the island for defense, while leaders there and in Canada have firmly said their countries are not for sale.
Key Facts
Greenland is a self-governing territory that belongs to Denmark.
President Trump has said it would be easier to defend Greenland if the U.S. controlled it fully.
The U.S. already has military access to Greenland under a 1951 defense agreement with Denmark.
Denmark and Greenland have told President Trump they are not selling Greenland.
The Trump administration is engaged in diplomatic talks with Greenland and Denmark about defense cooperation.
President Trump has also called Canada the "51st State," which Canadian leaders have dismissed.
Despite tensions, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wants stronger ties with the U.S.
President Trump’s comments have strained U.S. relationships with allies like Denmark and Canada.
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An immigration judge in Charlotte, North Carolina, ordered the deportation of Levi Mendez-Maldonado, a young man from Honduras who was killed in 2024, because he did not appear in court. Despite notice of his death and submission of police records, the judge conducted the hearing without acknowledging his death and issued the removal order in his absence.
Key Facts
Levi Mendez-Maldonado, from Honduras, came to the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor at age 17.
He was murdered in a shooting in November 2024.
An immigration judge signed a deportation order on May 21, 2026, stating Mendez-Maldonado failed to appear in court.
His lawyer informed the court about his death and presented police records, but the judge found the proof insufficient.
The judge's deportation order made no mention of Mendez-Maldonado’s death.
The Charlotte immigration court handles cases from North and South Carolina and has a backlog of about 129,000 cases.
The court granted relief in only about 1% of cases in 2025.
Advocates say this case shows how the immigration system can treat immigrants without recognizing their human dignity, even after death.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has agreed to delay a law that requires public school classes to have fewer students until 2029-30. This change allows more time for hiring teachers and building schools to meet the new class size limits, and teachers with larger classes may receive extra pay.
Key Facts
The city must reduce class sizes to 25 students or fewer by 2029-30, instead of the original 2028 deadline.
Kindergarten through third-grade classes have a target maximum of 20 students; grades 4–8, 23 students; high school classes, 25 students.
The city needs to be 70% compliant with the new class sizes by next school year and 90% by 2028–29.
Mayor Mamdani promised to hire 1,000 teachers annually to meet class size goals but faces challenges including a large budget gap.
Meeting the requirements may cost up to $1.7 billion for teacher salaries and $18 billion for new school buildings.
Teachers with classes exceeding the size limits due to staffing or space shortages will get up to $9,500 extra pay by 2027–28.
The United Federation of Teachers supports the delay, hoping it will lead to better compliance and more classroom seats.
The extension results from discussions among Mayor Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul, state lawmakers, and the teachers’ union.
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Seventeen cannons that sank in the Savannah River during the American Revolution have been recovered and will soon be displayed at the Savannah History Museum in Georgia. These cannons were discovered in 2021 during a river dredging project and have been preserved for public viewing as part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations.
Key Facts
The cannons sank in the Savannah River nearly 240 years ago during the American Revolution.
They were found in 2021 by workers dredging the river to deepen the shipping channel.
A total of 19 cannons were recovered, with 17 now displayed at the Savannah History Museum.
The cannons were initially thought to be from the Civil War but were later dated to the Revolutionary War period.
The British scuttled ships in the river in 1779 to block French reinforcements during the Siege of Savannah.
The cannons were sent to Texas for cleaning and preservation before returning to Georgia.
The display of the cannons coincides with the Fourth of July celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Savannah was the site of one of the war’s bloodiest battles, with heavy casualties among American colonists.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he has never seen President Donald Trump fall asleep during meetings. He spoke about this during a House Foreign Relations Committee hearing when asked by a representative.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio is the U.S. Secretary of State.
He appeared before the House Foreign Relations Committee.
Rep. Ted Lieu asked Rubio if he had ever seen President Trump fall asleep in a Cabinet meeting.
Rubio said that was false and that he never saw President Trump fall asleep.
He mentioned this during a discussion about President Trump’s behavior in meetings.
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Authorities in Los Angeles are reviewing new sexual assault claims against Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is currently serving a federal prison sentence related to prostitution charges. The claims involve a record producer named Jonathan Hay, who alleges Combs sexually assaulted him and caused emotional harm.
Key Facts
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is examining sexual assault allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
LAPD and Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department presented two separate investigations about one victim to the district attorney in fall 2025.
Combs is serving 50 months in prison after a federal court convicted him of transporting women for prostitution.
Jonathan Hay, a record producer, publicly accused Combs of assault, harassment, false imprisonment, and emotional distress.
Hay says Combs behaved inappropriately while working on a project linked to the late rapper Christopher Wallace (Notorious BIG).
Hay alleges that Wallace’s son and co-producer later brought him to Combs, who then sexually assaulted him.
CJ Wallace and co-producer Willie Mack apologized to Hay but have denied the allegations, calling them baseless.
CJ Wallace has filed a defamation lawsuit against Hay in response to the claims.
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Voters in several states held primary elections that could affect which party controls Congress later this year. Key contests in California for governor and Los Angeles mayor were still undecided, while a significant Senate race took place in Iowa.
Key Facts
Primary elections were held in about six states on Tuesday.
These elections help select candidates for the November congressional elections.
The California governor’s race had no clear winner yet.
The Los Angeles mayoral primary was also too close to call.
Iowa held an important Senate primary election.
The Senate race in Iowa is seen as critical for control of the U.S. Senate.
President Donald Trump lost in the Iowa race mentioned.
Voters’ choices in these primaries can influence U.S. government leadership in the fall.
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A top official at the Department of Justice (DOJ) deleted a social media post suggesting the Trump administration might still compensate victims of claimed Biden-era "weaponization" through a different plan. This came after the acting Attorney General said the DOJ was ending the earlier plan called the "Anti-Weaponization Fund," which was part of a legal settlement involving President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
The DOJ’s number three official, Stanley Woodward, posted and then deleted a message about an alternative compensation plan.
The "Anti-Weaponization Fund" was created in exchange for President Trump dropping a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and other civil claims.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress the fund would be scrapped.
Woodward responded positively to Senator Lindsey Graham’s suggestion to use the Federal Torts Claims Act for compensation instead.
Democrats raised concerns that the administration might still try to pay Jan. 6 rioters through other means.
President Trump said on a podcast that he was not abandoning the fund despite the court ruling against it.
Trump suggested those pardoned by him, likely referring to Jan. 6 rioters, should be reimbursed for damages caused by what he called a "crooked government."
DOJ has not commented on why Woodward deleted his post.
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Senator Mitch McConnell said that the director of national intelligence (DNI) should have strong experience in national security. He made this comment after President Donald Trump chose Bill Pulte, who leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, for the DNI position.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell is from Kentucky and a member of the Republican Party.
McConnell stressed the importance of having extensive national security experience for the DNI role.
President Donald Trump nominated Bill Pulte for the director of national intelligence position.
Bill Pulte currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
McConnell’s comments suggested concerns about Pulte’s qualifications.
The director of national intelligence oversees U.S. intelligence agencies and reports to the president.
No official statement was made by McConnell naming Pulte directly.
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Authorities in Bakersfield, California, ended a hostage situation at a bank after the suspect held several people inside for hours. The FBI shot the suspect early Wednesday, bringing the standoff to a close.
Key Facts
The incident took place in Bakersfield, California.
A suspect barricaded himself inside a bank.
Several community members were inside the bank during the standoff.
The situation lasted for several hours.
FBI agents were involved in resolving the situation.
The FBI shot the suspect, ending the standoff early Wednesday.
Authorities provided an update on the incident on Wednesday.
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Votes from the California primary race for governor are still being counted. CBS News is reporting on important election races as they prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
The California primary for governor took place recently.
Vote counting for this race is ongoing and not yet complete.
CBS News reporter Fin Gomez has provided updates about the election.
The results will influence the 2026 midterm elections.
The article focuses on key political races in California.
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California Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove asked Senator Marco Rubio about Mauricio Claver-Carone’s involvement in Venezuela. She said Claver-Carone, a lobbyist, has been communicating with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez and arranging private business deals.
Key Facts
Sydney Kamlager-Dove is a Democratic representative from California.
She questioned Senator Marco Rubio about Mauricio Claver-Carone’s activities in Venezuela.
Claver-Carone is a lobbyist linked to communications with Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting President.
The concern involves Claver-Carone making deals with private companies in Venezuela.
The questioning took place during a CBS News segment.
Marco Rubio is a U.S. Senator and former Florida governor involved in foreign policy discussions.
Delcy Rodríguez serves as acting President of Venezuela.
The issue touches on U.S. involvement and influence in Venezuelan politics and business.
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James Gallagher, a Republican California State Assemblymember, won a special election to fill the U.S. House seat left vacant by the death of Representative Doug LaMalfa. Gallagher’s victory slightly increases the Republican majority in the House. He will represent California’s 1st Congressional District.
Key Facts
James Gallagher is a member of the California State Assembly.
The special election was to replace Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who passed away in January.
Gallagher won the election on Tuesday.
He is a Republican (GOP).
President Donald Trump endorsed Gallagher.
Gallagher’s win boosts the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.
Gallagher will represent California’s 1st Congressional District.
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George Santos, a former Republican representative, denied insider trading allegations after a prediction market reported suspicious bets linked to his attendance at President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address. Santos said he learned about the investigation from news reports and is cooperating with officials while asking the media to stop contacting him.
Key Facts
George Santos was accused of insider trading involving bets about whether he would attend President Trump’s State of the Union address in February 2026.
The prediction market platform Kalshi alerted federal authorities after noticing unusual betting patterns about Santos’ attendance.
Federal prosecutors and regulators are investigating if Santos used private information to make profitable bets.
Santos publicly said he would attend the speech but allegedly placed bets that he would not.
Santos denies the allegations and calls them baseless, committing to cooperating with any investigation.
He was informed about the possible investigation through an NPR report and is now in contact with the Department of Justice.
Santos was arrested in 2023 for crimes including wire fraud and financial misconduct related to his congressional campaigns.
He pleaded guilty in 2024 and was sentenced to over seven years in prison, but he has not been pardoned by President Donald Trump.
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Republicans have redrawn voting districts in several states before the 2026 midterm elections, aiming to gain more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. While these new maps could give Republicans up to 16 extra seats, political factors and past election trends still make it uncertain if the GOP will keep control of Congress.
Key Facts
Republicans redrew congressional districts in eight states, including Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina, potentially adding up to 16 seats for their party.
Democrats created new districts in California and Utah that might give them up to six extra seats.
About 145 million Americans live in states with new congressional districts for the 2026 elections.
President Donald Trump encouraged Republican efforts to redraw districts in 2025 to gain an advantage in the midterms.
Several states did not complete redistricting due to political disagreements or court decisions, such as Kansas, Illinois, Virginia, and New York.
Historical trends show the party holding the White House often loses House seats in midterm elections.
Republicans already control the majority in the House, but Democrats only need to gain a few seats to take over the chamber.
New district maps may influence election results but do not guarantee control due to wider political factors.
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