ABC and its parent company, Disney, sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), challenging the agency's early review of ABC’s broadcast licenses. They say the FCC’s actions, led by Chairman Brendan Carr who supports President Donald Trump, threaten their freedom of speech by punishing the network for viewpoints critical of the administration.
Key Facts
ABC and Disney sued the FCC over a demand for early renewal reviews of eight ABC broadcast licenses.
The FCC, under Chairman Brendan Carr (an ally of President Donald Trump), ordered the early review due to concerns about ABC’s diversity practices.
The lawsuit claims the FCC is retaliating against ABC for critical speech, including jokes by ABC host Jimmy Kimmel.
ABC argues the government’s actions threaten press freedom by trying to control what stories media companies can share.
This legal fight is part of ongoing conflicts between ABC and the FCC, including disputes over the show "The View" and equal-time rules.
The only Democrat on the FCC, Anna Gomez, supported ABC’s lawsuit against what she called government intimidation.
Brendan Carr defended the FCC’s actions, saying broadcasters must operate in the public interest because they use publicly owned airwaves.
ABC asked the court to stop the FCC from taking any action against its license renewal process until the case is resolved.
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Senator Darline Graham of South Carolina declined to say if Senate Majority Leader John Thune should keep his position if Republicans win the 2026 midterm elections. She made these remarks during an interview on Fox Carolina.
Key Facts
Senator Darline Graham represents South Carolina.
She was appointed to the Senate after the death of her brother.
John Thune is the current Senate Majority Leader from South Dakota.
Graham did not express an opinion on Thune’s future leadership role.
The discussion focused on Republican control after the 2026 midterm elections.
The interview was conducted by Fox Carolina’s Justin Dougherty.
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Senator Jon Ossoff criticized President Trump for traveling with a woman named Natalie, suggesting improper behavior. Ossoff's comment sparked a response questioning why working relationships between men and women are assumed to be suspicious.
Key Facts
Senator Jon Ossoff made a public comment about President Trump traveling with a woman named Natalie.
Ossoff implied there might be something wrong with the situation.
The comment was described as a smear, which means an unfair or false accusation.
The reaction questions why a woman working for a man should cause suspicion.
The discussion focuses on professional relationships and public perceptions.
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A 17-year-old high school student named Jacque St Ann died after falling inside the abandoned Plaza Tower in downtown New Orleans while exploring the building with friends. The building has been unused and in poor condition since before Hurricane Katrina, raising concerns about safety and city blight.
Key Facts
Jacque St Ann and friends broke into the fenced-off, 45-story Plaza Tower around midnight on August 15.
Jacque fell inside the tower and died from blunt force injuries caused by the fall.
The Plaza Tower has been abandoned and unused since before Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The building’s owner, Alexandria Land & Development LLC, has faced fines and a court order for demolition.
Redevelopment plans have stalled due to financial difficulties and a potential sale of the building.
New Orleans officials warned against “urban exploring” in unsafe, abandoned buildings.
The city is working to secure the building and hopes to support its redevelopment to improve safety and community value.
Jacque’s friends and families are traumatized, and police mentioned the possibility of trespassing charges after grieving.
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Median Strategies, a polling company, has shut down after releasing polls that showed Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and former Wisconsin candidate Francesca Hong with large leads in their races. The company stated it has ended its polling project and will not issue more polls.
Key Facts
Median Strategies was a company that conducted political polls.
The company released polls showing Karen Bass and Francesca Hong ahead by large margins.
Karen Bass is the Mayor of Los Angeles and a Democrat.
Francesca Hong ran for governor in Wisconsin.
Median Strategies announced on Monday that it is closing.
Their website says they will not publish more polls.
The polls from this company were later found to be fake.
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The NAACP is helping the family of Nolan Wells, a Mississippi teenager who died after going missing on a Fourth of July boat trip. They are working together to find out what happened in his death.
Key Facts
Nolan Wells was a teenager from Mississippi.
He went missing during a boat trip on the Fourth of July.
His body was found several days later.
The NAACP, a civil rights group, has joined the family’s effort to investigate his death.
Kristen Clarke, the NAACP’s general counsel, is involved in the search for answers.
The case is receiving attention from CBS News.
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A federal judge in Boston allowed the U.S. government to end temporary protected status (TPS) for Ethiopian nationals. This decision follows similar rulings permitting the Trump administration to stop TPS protections for people from several other countries.
Key Facts
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy lifted the hold that blocked ending TPS for Ethiopians.
TPS gives people from unsafe countries the right to work and protection from deportation.
Ethiopia was designated unsafe due to violent conflict and other urgent problems.
The Trump administration has also ended TPS for Haitians, Somalis, Syrians, and Myanmar nationals.
The advocacy group African Communities Together argued Ethiopia is still in crisis and sued to keep TPS.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled the government can end TPS for Haitians.
The Department of Homeland Security told those losing TPS that they should leave the U.S. or face deportation.
Ending TPS forces affected individuals to decide whether to leave the U.S., stay without legal status, or return to a dangerous country.
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A recent poll shows that fewer Americans now prefer the Republican approach to immigration compared to earlier in President Donald Trump’s second term. Public support for Trump’s immigration policies has dropped amid protests and controversies related to immigration enforcement actions.
Key Facts
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found 40% of registered voters favor Republican immigration policies, while 38% favor Democrats, the smallest gap since Trump’s second term began.
In January 2025, Republicans led on immigration by 26 points after President Trump’s inauguration.
Trump’s administration enforced strict immigration policies, including a sharp fall in border crossings and broad crackdowns.
Protests erupted in June 2025 after ICE raids in Los Angeles, leading to Trump deploying the California National Guard under Joint Task Force 51.
California Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the National Guard deployment and sued the Trump administration over it.
Similar protests against ICE took place in New York City, Chicago, and Dallas.
Support for Trump’s immigration policy dropped to 38% in early 2026 after the Metro Surge operation in Minnesota, which led to two fatal shootings involving immigration agents.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll included 1,166 adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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Senator Elissa Slotkin asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine to confirm that the U.S. military will not be sent to polling places during the November midterm elections. She raised concerns about possible military involvement in the vote, citing actions by President Donald Trump and past ideas about using troops in elections.
Key Facts
Senator Elissa Slotkin wrote letters to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine asking them to confirm the military will not interfere in the midterm elections.
The Pentagon said it will respond directly to Senator Slotkin’s request.
Slotkin mentioned that President Trump considered using the military to seize voting machines after the 2020 election.
Trump has deployed the National Guard and active-duty troops in some cities for other reasons, like immigration enforcement.
The law prohibits armed federal troops at election sites except to respond to attacks on the U.S.
The National Guard operates under state control and would be the likely military force involved if any were deployed.
In 2020, General Mark Milley affirmed that the U.S. military is apolitical and election disputes should be settled by courts and Congress, not the military.
Defense Secretary Hegseth previously said he has never been ordered to do anything illegal and would not follow unlawful orders.
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Connecticut has started using state-funded mobile methadone units to help people with opioid addiction get treatment. These vans travel to areas with high overdose rates, making it easier for people to receive methadone without long trips to clinics.
Key Facts
Methadone is a medicine that helps treat opioid addiction by reducing cravings and withdrawal pain.
People must visit special clinics in person to get methadone, unlike other addiction medicines that can come from a pharmacy.
Connecticut has launched its first state-funded mobile methadone vans to reach people in areas with few clinics.
The vans are funded with over $4 million from opioid settlement money.
Two vans started serving the southern part of the state in July, and a northeastern van began in August.
The vans serve rural and high-overdose areas where there are very few methadone clinics.
This program aims to reduce barriers to treatment and help more people start and stay in recovery.
The northeastern region of Connecticut has one of the highest overdose death rates in the state.
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The Justice Department wants to restart criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador and then indicted upon return. A judge previously dismissed the charges, saying the government targeted Garcia after he won a lawsuit over the wrongful deportation, but the government disagrees and has appealed.
Key Facts
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to a prison in El Salvador in 2025.
He sued the government over the wrongful deportation and won.
After winning, the government brought human smuggling charges against him.
U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw threw out the charges, calling the case an abuse of prosecuting power.
The judge said the timing suggested the government acted with "presumptive vindictiveness," meaning they might have prosecuted Garcia in retaliation.
The Justice Department argues the prosecution aimed to serve public safety, not to punish Garcia unfairly.
The appeal focuses on whether prosecutors’ motivations justify reviving the charges.
Garcia is a Salvadoran citizen with an American wife and child and has lived in Maryland for years.
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A historic preservation group asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop construction of President Donald Trump’s new White House ballroom while the court decides if the work can continue. The project, costing $400 million and involving the demolition of the East Wing, is part of President Trump’s plan to quickly change the White House.
Key Facts
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to block the ballroom project.
They want the Supreme Court to pause construction during legal review.
President Trump’s administration wants to continue the $400 million ballroom project.
The ballroom will cover 90,000 square feet and required demolishing the White House East Wing.
A lower court judge ruled that no law gives the president full authority to approve the project alone.
The administration argues the president has the right to renovate the White House without Congress or courts.
The appeals court paused aboveground construction but allowed the administration to appeal for continuation.
The Justice Department says the preservation group does not have legal standing to sue over the project.
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President Donald Trump referenced India's election rules to support voter registration changes proposed in the SAVE America Act. This bill, supported by the White House, aims to reform how voter eligibility is confirmed in the United States.
Key Facts
President Trump mentioned India’s election laws during discussions about U.S. voting rules.
The SAVE America Act focuses on updating voter registration processes in the U.S.
India's Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, highlighted differences between U.S. and Indian election systems.
The act is supported by the White House administration.
The goal of the legislation is to ensure accurate voter eligibility in U.S. elections.
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A Florida-based conservative activist group called Citizen Justice League was filmed pretending to be voters in Minnesota while wearing what they described as Muslim costumes. Their actions at polling places may lead to legal consequences.
Key Facts
The group involved is called Citizen Justice League and is from Florida.
Members of this group were recorded in an undercover video.
They pretended to be Minnesota voters at polling places.
The group wore outfits they described as Muslim costumes.
Their goal was to act as if they were looking for voter vouchers.
These actions could result in serious legal trouble for the activists.
The report was covered by CBS News reporter Esme Murphy.
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On Tuesday, several states including Florida, Alaska, Wyoming, and California hold primary elections. These votes will influence the upcoming midterm elections and may affect the control of the U.S. Congress.
Key Facts
Primaries are being held in Florida, Alaska, Wyoming, and California on Tuesday.
These primaries come near the end of a long and heated primary season.
Republican-led changes to voting districts have altered congressional maps in these states.
There are notable contests between the Democratic establishment and the progressive wing.
Some candidates involved in scandals are running for office.
Several candidates share the same last names, creating unusual race situations.
Incumbent members of Congress face possible defeat.
The outcomes could impact control of Congress and test public support for President Donald Trump’s second term.
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Florida is scheduled to carry out its 13th execution in 2026, continuing an active use of the death penalty under Governor Ron DeSantis. William Frances Silvia will be executed for a 2006 murder, with two more executions planned in the state this September.
Key Facts
William Frances Silvia, 61, is set to be executed by a three-drug injection for killing his estranged wife and wounding his mother-in-law in 2006.
Silvia was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder and sentenced to death after a retrial in 2018.
Florida has executed 13 people so far in 2026, more than half of the 22 executions in the US this year.
The US Supreme Court denied a request to stop Silvia’s execution.
Florida plans two more executions in September, on the 1st and 10th.
The Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, responsible for legal help to death row inmates, was argued to be unable to provide adequate defense for Silvia due to workload, but the Florida Supreme Court rejected the appeal.
Florida led the country with 19 executions in 2025, setting a state record since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
In July 2026, Florida executed two prisoners in one day, the first state to do so in nearly 10 years.
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Representative Nancy Mace from South Carolina discussed reactions to her new tattoo sleeves on her podcast. She mentioned that many people on the internet are reacting strongly to her tattoos and asked them to stay calm.
Key Facts
Nancy Mace is a Republican representative from South Carolina.
She has two new tattoo sleeves.
Mace talked about her tattoos during her podcast called “Get MACED.”
She addressed the strong online reactions to her tattoos.
Mace asked people to relax about her appearance.
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President Donald Trump said on social media that the Strait of Hormuz is "open and operating" and that no talks are happening with Iran. However, data about ship movements shows that the Strait may not be fully open, which could mean there are problems with shipping in that area.
Key Facts
President Trump claimed the Strait of Hormuz is open for shipping.
He also said there are no ongoing talks with Iran.
Shipping data suggests ships are not moving normally in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for global oil transport.
Disruptions in the Strait can affect international energy supplies.
CBS News reported on the difference between the President’s statement and the shipping data.
The situation highlights tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
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President Donald Trump criticized Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond by calling him a “fake Republican” ahead of the Republican runoff election for governor. Trump expressed support for Mike Mazzei, who is running against Drummond in the runoff after both moved forward from the June primary.
Key Facts
President Trump called Gentner Drummond a “fake Republican.”
The comment came before the Oklahoma GOP runoff for governor.
Mike Mazzei, a former state senator and budget secretary, is Drummond’s opponent.
Both Mazzei and Drummond advanced from the June primary to the runoff.
The runoff election is scheduled for late August.
Trump publicly supports Mike Mazzei in this race.
The election will decide the Republican candidate for Oklahoma governor.
The article focuses on intra-party contest within the Republican Party.
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A recent survey shows that nearly 4 in 10 Americans say their communities were damaged by extreme weather in the past year. The survey was released by the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup on Tuesday.
Key Facts
38% of Americans surveyed reported damage to their towns or cities from extreme weather.
The survey was conducted by the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup.
The survey results were made public on a Tuesday.
The extreme weather included events that caused destruction in local communities.
The article mentions the Trump administration’s involvement but does not detail specific actions.
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