The U.S. national debt has surpassed $40 trillion, according to recent data from the Treasury Department. This shows the total amount of money the U.S. government owes has doubled in less than ten years.
Key Facts
The U.S. national debt exceeded $40 trillion on Tuesday.
The Treasury Department released this new data.
The debt doubled in under a decade.
The debt first reached $20 trillion in late 2017.
Before crossing $40 trillion, the debt was at $39 trillion recently.
National debt represents the total money the government owes to creditors.
The increase reflects ongoing government spending and borrowing needs.
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The U.S. national debt has reached a new high of $40 trillion. This increase reflects rising costs in defense, social programs, and interest payments, and it has an impact on the economy and everyday expenses for Americans.
Key Facts
The U.S. national debt hit $40 trillion, a record high.
The debt climbed from $38 trillion in October to $39 trillion in March, then to $40 trillion in August.
Spending includes defense, Social Security, Medicare, and interest on past loans.
Higher debt increases borrowing costs for Americans, affecting mortgages and car loans.
It also limits businesses' ability to invest and can lead to higher prices for goods and services.
Experts warn continued debt growth could cause long-term financial problems and tougher budget choices.
The legal debt limit is $41.1 trillion, expected to be reached between late winter and mid-2027, requiring Congress to act.
The U.S. has the worst fiscal situation compared to other developed countries, according to an international organization.
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Dr. Erica Schwartz, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), held her first meeting with staff and recognized ongoing issues such as employee burnout and understaffed programs. She committed to supporting the agency and working quietly with other leaders, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., while promising transparent and honest communication.
Key Facts
Dr. Erica Schwartz began leading the CDC last week after a period of temporary directors.
She acknowledged some CDC programs have congressional funding but are not functioning due to staff layoffs from President Trump’s administration.
The CDC has lost over 3,000 employees, about one-quarter of its workforce, causing low morale.
Schwartz promised to advocate for the CDC and meet staff to understand their challenges better.
She said she would disagree with Health Secretary Kennedy when needed but only in private, not publicly.
Schwartz aims to build public trust using transparency, scientific accuracy, and honest communication.
The CDC is setting up a task force on childhood vaccine safety, with Schwartz serving on it; it will report to President Trump in 90 days.
The CDC staff has faced leadership struggles, partly because many political appointees lacked medical or public health experience.
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Max D. Lederer Jr., the longtime publisher of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, announced he will retire at the end of September due to differences with Pentagon leadership. The Pentagon, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is seeking to control the newspaper’s direction by focusing coverage strictly on military topics and removing what it calls “woke distractions.”
Key Facts
Max D. Lederer Jr. is retiring as publisher of Stars and Stripes after many years.
Lederer cited fundamental disagreements with the Department of Defense’s leadership about the newspaper’s mission.
The Pentagon fired Jacqueline Smith, the newspaper’s ombudsman who protected editorial independence, earlier this year.
Stars and Stripes receives some funding from the Defense Department but traditionally operates independently.
The Pentagon wants Stars and Stripes to focus only on military-related content like weapons, fitness, and warfighting.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s team is pushing to eliminate what they call “woke distractions” from the paper.
Journalists have faced increasing restrictions at the Pentagon, including access badge limitations and escort requirements, which are legally challenged.
The changes reflect a broader Pentagon effort to control media coverage and messaging about the military.
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Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted for the killing of George Floyd in 2020, has asked the state to drop the murder charges against him. This is his third time making this request, and his earlier requests were not approved.
Key Facts
Derek Chauvin was a police officer in Minneapolis.
He was convicted in 2020 for the murder of George Floyd.
Chauvin is now asking the state to dismiss the murder charges.
This is the third dismissal request Chauvin has made.
His first two requests to dismiss the charges were denied by the courts.
His lawyers filed the most recent petition on his behalf.
The case is part of ongoing legal proceedings related to George Floyd’s death.
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Doctors in the United States are encouraging parents to make sure their children are vaccinated before the school year begins. This is because diseases that vaccines can prevent, like measles, are increasing again.
Key Facts
Measles and other diseases that vaccines can prevent are becoming more common in the U.S.
Pediatricians want students to be fully vaccinated before starting school.
Vaccinations help protect children and others from catching these diseases.
Doctors stress the importance of staying up to date with all recommended vaccines.
The rise in these diseases has raised concerns among health experts.
Parents are the main focus of this message, as they decide on vaccines for their children.
Vaccines have been effective in reducing serious illnesses in the past.
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National park advocates are organizing a nationwide day of protest on August 25 to call on President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to better protect national parks and support the workers who care for them. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) says staff shortages have hurt park programs, conservation efforts, and safety.
Key Facts
The NPCA plans events and online activities from August 22 to September 1 across 20 states and Washington, D.C.
The National Park Service lost about 25% of its permanent workforce in the past year, including rangers, maintenance staff, and educators.
Staff shortages have led to cuts in educational programs, research, conservation work, and may affect emergency responses in parks.
About 1,000 probationary Park Service employees were fired in February 2025 but were later allowed back by court order.
The NPCA urges President Trump and Interior Secretary Burgum to increase investment in park staff and provide stronger protections.
The Trump administration argues its policies expand park access, generate funds for improvements, and balance conservation with economic goals.
A Department of Interior spokesperson criticized the NPCA for political donations to Democratic campaigns and questioned its claim to be nonpartisan.
The protest is part of wider concerns over staffing cuts, higher fees for visitors, and changes to environmental rules under the current administration.
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The total U.S. government debt reached $40 trillion on Wednesday, faster than many expected. This number shows how much the government owes in total, which is called the national debt or gross debt.
Key Facts
The U.S. national debt recently hit $40 trillion.
This is the total amount of money the U.S. government owes.
The $40 trillion number is known as the gross debt.
The debt reached this level faster than anticipated.
National debt is often misunderstood but is an important measure of government finances.
The federal government borrows money to pay for things beyond what it collects in taxes.
Rising debt can impact the economy and government decisions.
Tracking the national debt helps understand the country's financial health.
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Two members of the Milligan University cycling team died, and several others were injured in a crash with a vehicle on a rural highway in eastern Tennessee. The accident happened during a training ride, and some injured cyclists were airlifted to hospitals.
Key Facts
The crash happened on Wednesday morning at about 8 a.m. local time.
Eleven cyclists were riding together when the collision occurred.
Two cyclists, both sophomores named Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, were killed.
Nine others were hospitalized; seven remain in treatment, and two have been released.
The crash took place in Hampton, Tennessee, about 10 miles east of Milligan University.
The Tennessee State Patrol reported the crash was on a rural highway in a mountainous area.
Several injured cyclists were airlifted by helicopter to nearby hospitals.
The number and condition of people in the vehicle involved in the crash have not been shared.
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The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has faced problems during its long deployment amid the US-Israeli war with Iran. Experts and lawmakers say these issues highlight the limits of the US Navy’s ability to support long battles far from home, with shortages of supplies and low crew morale.
Key Facts
The USS Abraham Lincoln broke the record for the longest deployment without a port stop, operating since November 2025.
Problems on the carrier include shortages of basic supplies, maintenance issues, and low crew morale.
Family members reported some crew members attempted to jump overboard due to stress.
Democratic lawmakers argue the Navy is not adapting fast enough to the challenges in the Middle East.
Supply shortages are linked to Iranian attacks on US military bases, especially damage to the Bahrain naval base.
The Navy now uses Diego Garcia, an island 2,200 miles away, as its main supply hub.
The situation shows the difficulty of sustaining US naval power far from home for long periods.
Aircraft carriers need many support ships and thousands of personnel, making logistics complex and critical.
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Angie Nixon won a surprise victory in a Florida primary election. President Donald Trump said that peace talks with Iran might start again at some point.
Key Facts
Angie Nixon won a primary election in Florida, which was unexpected.
President Donald Trump mentioned the possibility of resuming peace talks with Iran.
The timing of the potential peace talks is uncertain.
The news was covered by CBS News on August 19.
Major Garrett hosted the news segment called "The Takeout."
The article highlights both U.S. election news and international diplomacy comments from President Trump.
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A company called Median Strategies posted fake election poll numbers from California, Wisconsin, and Nevada online. The polls were shared by political campaigns and social media but were later admitted to be fake by the company, which said it was a social experiment to see how false information spreads.
Key Facts
Median Strategies is a little-known company that posted false poll results for multiple state elections.
The fake polls showed misleading leads for candidates in California, Wisconsin, and Nevada races.
The Los Angeles mayor’s campaign shared the fake poll before deleting it once it was revealed as false.
Median Strategies shut down its website and said the polls were part of a short-term social experiment.
Major poll aggregators did not include these polls because the company did not provide basic details about how the polls were conducted.
Experts warn that false or unverified polls can easily spread and mislead campaigns and the public.
The Bass campaign, which promoted the fake Los Angeles poll, defended its actions by citing news coverage of the poll.
Transparency and clear methodology are important for trusting polling results.
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A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has temporarily stopped President Donald Trump’s changes to the Teen Pregnancy Prevention program. The judge’s order pauses the administration’s actions that had cut tens of millions of dollars in federal grant funding.
Key Facts
The Teen Pregnancy Prevention program provides federal grants aimed at reducing teen pregnancies.
President Trump’s administration made changes that led to losing tens of millions of dollars in funding for the program.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued a temporary block on these changes.
Judge Cooper was appointed by President Obama.
The order prevents the administration from continuing the funding cuts while the case is reviewed.
This legal action affects the Department of Health and Human Services, which manages the program.
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Angie Nixon, a Democratic socialist, won Florida’s Democratic Senate primary, defeating Alex Vindman. If she wins the November election, she will be the first member of the Democratic Socialists of America elected to the U.S. Senate, running against Republican Senator Ashley Moody.
Key Facts
Angie Nixon identifies as a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Nixon won Florida’s Democratic Senate primary against retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alex Vindman.
If elected, Nixon would be the first DSA member in the U.S. Senate.
Florida has a large Cuban American population, many of whom oppose socialism because of their families’ history.
Nixon supports ending the U.S. embargo on Cuba and restoring engagement policies from the Obama era.
Republican Ashley Moody, appointed in 2025, opposes Nixon’s stance and supports legislation targeting Cuban officials.
Polls before the primary showed Moody leading Nixon by 8 points.
Nixon won key counties with large Latino populations, like Miami-Dade, Orange, and Osceola.
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A psychologist testified that Lindsay Clancy was not responsible for the deaths of her three children due to her severe mental illness, including bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis. The defense argues she could not understand that her actions were wrong when she killed her children and then tried to kill herself.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy is on trial for the murder of her three children, aged 8 months to 5 years.
A defense psychologist, Dr. Paul Zeizel, said Clancy suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare mental illness after childbirth.
Postpartum psychosis affects about 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 women after delivery.
Clancy reportedly did not understand the wrongfulness of her actions due to her mental state.
Clancy had sought medical help before the incident, expressing feelings of damage, suicidal thoughts, and psychosis symptoms.
Prosecutors claim Clancy planned the killings and sent her husband out to create an opportunity.
Clancy has pleaded not guilty to the charges, stating mental illness affected her behavior.
The psychologist spent many hours with Clancy and reviewed her medical records to support the defense.
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Massachusetts faces a serious housing shortage and needs to build 222,000 new homes by 2035 to meet demand. The state legislature is working on bills that include new measures, such as allowing religious groups to build multifamily housing on their land without local approval, to increase affordable housing options.
Key Facts
Massachusetts must build 222,000 new homes by 2035 to address its housing crisis.
The new homes must be affordable for people with low and moderate incomes.
There is a link between the housing shortage and economic challenges, such as people moving out and employers struggling to hire.
The state House and Senate passed housing-related measures in their economic development bills in July.
A proposal called "Yes in God’s Backyard" (YIGBY) would let faith-based groups build multifamily housing on up to four acres they own without needing local approval.
Developments under YIGBY can have up to 30 units per acre, with 20% required to be affordable homes.
Religious land could support over 60,000 new homes and generate $60 million in new tax revenue if developed.
Some local officials, like those in New Bedford, are skeptical about the impact of the YIGBY provision.
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The US national debt has reached over $40 trillion for the first time, according to the Treasury Department. This rising debt reflects years of government borrowing to cover spending on programs like social safety nets, the military, and tax cuts under President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
The US gross national debt surpassed $40 trillion on Tuesday.
The Treasury Department reported this milestone in its daily cash and debt balances statement.
Rising costs in social safety-net programs contribute to increasing debt.
Military spending also adds to the government's budget strain.
Tax cuts introduced by President Donald Trump further impact federal budgets.
The growing debt total raises concerns about a possible future fiscal crisis.
This is the first time the US national debt has exceeded the $40 trillion mark.
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President Donald Trump announced steps to expand psychedelic drug treatments for veterans with mental health issues like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and depression. The Department of Health and Human Services recently received an important 1994 government document about ibogaine, a psychedelic drug, to help speed up research and approval for these treatments.
Key Facts
President Trump supports increasing access to psychedelic therapies for veterans with serious mental health conditions.
The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received the original 1994 investigational new drug application for ibogaine from the University of Miami.
Ibogaine is a natural psychedelic compound from an African plant that may help treat PTSD, depression, and addiction.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding clinical trials on psychedelic treatments like psilocybin for veterans who have not responded to other therapies.
In April, President Trump signed an executive order to speed up research and federal support, around $50 million, for psychedelic drug studies.
These efforts aim to offer veterans more treatment options for mental illnesses that do not improve with traditional medicine.
Ibogaine is still classified as a Schedule I substance in the U.S., meaning it is illegal and not approved for medical use yet.
Experts say the expanded research could change how mental health is treated in veterans and others with difficult-to-treat conditions.
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President Donald Trump said Americans should not worry about problems in the bond market during a meeting at the White House. He also asked for lower interest rates to support the economy.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke to cryptocurrency leaders at the White House.
He dismissed fears about instability in the bond market.
Trump said the U.S. economy is strong despite market concerns.
He urged for lower interest rates to help economic growth.
His comments were made during a public meeting with reporters present.
The bond market involves government debt and affects interest rates for loans.
Interest rates influence how much it costs to borrow money for homes, businesses, and other activities.
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At least 20 people pardoned by President Donald Trump have been charged with new crimes after receiving clemency, including some involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. A recent example is Jon Donyae Ponder, a Las Vegas prisoner reentry program leader arrested for sexual assault and other charges.
Key Facts
President Trump granted clemency to 237 people in his first term, plus about 1,500 defendants related to the Capitol riot after his 2024 reelection.
At least 97 individuals pardoned for January 6 roles have been charged with new crimes since January 6, 2021.
Jon Donyae Ponder, pardoned in 2020, was arrested for multiple sexual assault-related charges and remains in custody.
Several pardoned January 6 rioters have committed serious offenses, including child molestation, home invasion, and threats with a weapon.
Some pardoned individuals received life sentences for crimes such as plotting to kill FBI agents or causing fatal crashes.
At least five cases suggest clemency may have enabled further criminal behavior.
Lawfare, a legal nonprofit, conducted the research tracking these reoffenses.
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