Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed concerns about Senator Mitch McConnell's health and ability to serve after McConnell returned to the Senate following a hospitalization. Beshear also called for term limits for members of Congress and the Supreme Court.
Key Facts
Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized in June due to a fall and was away from the Senate for about three months.
McConnell returned to vote on the Senate floor while using a wheelchair.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he is worried McConnell cannot fully perform his duties.
Beshear previously asked McConnell to provide proof he can still serve or to resign; McConnell’s office did not respond.
Beshear criticized the Senate for not being accountable to voters during McConnell’s absence.
Beshear supports term limits for Congress members and Supreme Court justices.
Beshear leads the Democratic Governors Association and is involved in campaigns targeting Latino voters in several states.
He advocates for federal oversight of artificial intelligence and international talks with China about AI rules.
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 32 percent, the lowest in his political career, mainly because of concerns about how he is handling the rising cost of living and the war with Iran. A recent poll shows that fewer Republicans support his performance compared to a week ago, and most Americans want the cost of living to improve before the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump’s approval rating fell to 32 percent, the lowest of his career.
The poll was conducted over four days and ended on Sunday.
Republican support for Trump dropped from 82 percent to 73 percent in one week.
Just 17 percent of people approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, the top issue voters care about.
Rising fuel prices are linked to the war on Iran that Trump started in February.
Republicans who disapprove of Trump’s cost of living efforts now outnumber those who approve, 51 percent to 44 percent.
Trump said the U.S. may be near the end of the Iran war, but Iran has not confirmed any talks with the U.S.
The poll surveyed 1,277 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of three points.
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Florida has reported its first death from dengue fever this year, and the number of cases is increasing. The state has confirmed 152 locally acquired cases so far, mostly in Hillsborough County, where Tampa is located.
Key Facts
Florida confirmed the first dengue fever death of the year, an 80-year-old woman from Tampa.
There are 152 locally acquired dengue cases in Florida this year as of mid-September.
Hillsborough County has the highest number of cases, with 134 reported.
Dengue is spread by infected Aedes mosquitoes, common in tropical and subtropical areas.
Symptoms can include fever, rash, nausea, and muscle and joint pain; severe dengue can cause serious bleeding and shock.
There is no specific treatment or widely available vaccine for dengue in the U.S. currently.
Preventive measures include using mosquito repellent, wearing protective clothing, and removing standing water where mosquitoes breed.
The CDC advises against using aspirin or ibuprofen during dengue illness due to bleeding risks.
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A Venezuelan DoorDash driver was shot and injured by an ICE agent in Austin, Texas. Civil rights lawyers and local leaders asked for an independent investigation into the shooting.
Key Facts
The shooting involved a Venezuelan DoorDash driver and an ICE agent.
The incident took place in Austin, Texas.
The driver was wounded but survived the shooting.
Civil rights attorneys and community leaders held a news conference after the event.
They called for an independent probe, meaning an investigation by an outside group not connected to ICE.
ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a U.S. government agency.
CBS News covered the news conference and provided additional details.
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President Donald Trump’s press conference was inaudible on TV after the White House press pool stopped coverage in protest of his ban on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico. These news outlets sued to restore access, arguing the ban violates the First Amendment right to free speech.
Key Facts
President Trump banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House access, calling their reporting "fake news."
The TV pool coverage, a shared effort by major networks to film the president, was suspended as a protest against the ban.
Without pool TV coverage, independent video with clear audio of Trump’s events is limited.
The press pool consists of about 20 journalists who travel with the president and share news footage with other media.
TV coverage rotates between ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC to provide live footage of the president.
C-SPAN did not show a White House helipad event because they rely on the pool’s footage.
The banned outlets filed a lawsuit claiming the ban violates their First Amendment rights.
The press pool plays a key role in providing news to people across the U.S., not just Washington insiders.
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Republican candidate Marty O'Donnell is running for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District seat, promoting a tax policy by President Donald Trump that eliminates taxes on tips for workers. The district has many tipped workers, and this policy is a key part of the Republican campaign, while Democrat Susie Lee opposes parts of the tax law and highlights its cuts to healthcare and social programs.
Key Facts
Susan Gonzalez, a tipped worker in Las Vegas, benefits from President Trump’s policy that removes taxes on tips.
Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District has the highest number of tipped workers due to its hospitality and tourism industries.
Susie Lee, a Democrat, has held the district seat since 2019 and is running for re-election.
Marty O'Donnell, a Republican and video game composer, is challenging Lee with strong support from Trump and a $3 million personal loan.
Pro-Trump super PACs have spent over $3 million on advertisements supporting O'Donnell.
President Trump first announced the "no tax on tips" policy in Nevada after hearing concerns from a server.
The policy is part of a larger law signed by Trump that also cuts Medicaid, SNAP, and healthcare funding, which Lee opposes.
Lee argues the tax break isn't enough to help the district because tourism is declining, reducing income for tipped workers.
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A California family, the Yins, gave over $4.4 million to politicians including Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris. FBI files reveal ties between the family and Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese spy, raising questions about foreign influence in U.S. politics.
Key Facts
The Yin family made millions owning McDonald's franchises in California.
They donated nearly $3 million to California state political causes and about $1.45 million to federal campaigns.
The donations went to politicians such as Governor Gavin Newsom, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former state Treasurer John Chiang.
FBI files link family patriarch C.C. Yin to Christine Fang, who is suspected of spying for China.
C.C. Yin and his brother Henry founded the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA) organization to support political candidates and involve community members in government.
National security experts say China uses a wide strategy to influence U.S. politics, often using donations to gain access to officials.
C.C. Yin denies any involvement in foreign interference and says he loves America.
Henry Yin did not respond to requests for comment.
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A senior House Republican, Representative Mike Simpson, said he does not support using Pentagon money to fund President Trump's proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery. Simpson stated there are more important military funding needs and believes Congress should approve any spending on the project.
Key Facts
President Trump plans to build a 250-foot triumphal arch at Memorial Circle in Washington, D.C., near Arlington National Cemetery.
Trump claims the arch will be a major American landmark, bigger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Representative Mike Simpson, a key member of the House Appropriations Committee, opposes using defense funds for the arch.
Simpson said the military currently needs more funding for other priorities and that Congress should decide on money for the arch.
The project has faced legal challenges and questions about how it will be paid for.
The White House says it will use a mix of public and private funds to build the arch and expects completion before President Trump's second term ends.
White House officials say the arch will honor American veterans and serve as a historic landmark.
Some veterans groups and Democrats have also criticized the project and questioned the use of taxpayer money.
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Hundreds of flights at major U.S. airports were delayed, canceled, or diverted due to equipment failure at a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control facility. The problem led to a 30-minute airspace closure in the Northeast and affected several airports including Philadelphia, Newark, and New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports.
Key Facts
An equipment failure occurred at the FAA’s Philadelphia TRACON air traffic control center.
The FAA closed airspace in the Northeast for 30 minutes while repairing the equipment.
Flights at Philadelphia International, Newark Liberty International, Teterboro, JFK, and LaGuardia airports were affected.
Philadelphia International had 124 flights canceled and 395 delayed.
Newark Liberty International had 282 flights canceled and 208 delayed.
The delays and cancellations caused disruptions spreading across multiple major airports.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed the closure and repair efforts.
The FAA is still providing updates on the situation.
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President Donald Trump announced the creation of a new group called the "AI Force" to support the fast development of artificial intelligence (AI). He said he will also introduce a leader, called an "AI Czar," to oversee these efforts. Meanwhile, Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang said he does not share the widespread worries about AI’s risks.
Key Facts
President Trump is starting an "AI Force" focused on artificial intelligence.
He plans to name an "AI Czar" to lead and manage AI development.
The goal is to keep AI progress moving quickly, despite concerns from experts.
Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang dismissed fears that AI could cause big problems.
The news was reported by CBS News and Axios.
The discussion included experts analyzing public opinions about AI.
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A federal judge has ordered the U.S. government to return Brayan Omar Sanchez Servellon, a Honduran migrant who was deported to the Central African Republic—a country he is not from and where he faces danger. The judge also ordered that he be released without strict restrictions once back in Colorado.
Key Facts
Brayan Omar Sanchez Servellon was deported last month to the Central African Republic, an African country where he has no ties.
A U.S. District Judge in Colorado ordered the government to bring him back to the U.S. and release him without heavy restrictions.
The U.S. State Department warns citizens not to travel to the Central African Republic due to violence, crime, kidnapping, landmines, health risks, and terrorism.
Sanchez Servellon lived in the U.S. since 2016 and was protected from being sent back to Honduras because of risks of torture.
The U.S. government has deported about 25,000 migrants to third countries during President Trump’s administration, meaning countries that are neither the migrants’ origin nor the U.S.
Third-country removals have been expanded under President Trump, with agreements made to deport migrants to countries like Liberia, Ghana, the Central African Republic, and Sierra Leone.
Sanchez Servellon shared that he cannot speak the language in the Central African Republic and described the situation there as dangerous.
The Department of Homeland Security did not respond publicly to requests for comment on this case.
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The Trump administration is planning to create an executive order that would change how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) approves research grants. This change would shift control from the NIH agency to political appointees in the White House. The move aims to add more political oversight to the NIH's grant decisions.
Key Facts
The White House is drafting an executive order for NIH grant approval changes.
The current NIH process for approving research grants may be taken out of the agency’s hands.
Political appointees would have more control over which research grants get approved.
The goal is to increase political oversight of NIH’s grantmaking process.
Reports about this plan came out over the weekend.
The Washington Post first reported on these plans.
NIH is the main government agency that funds medical and health research in the U.S.
This change could affect how health research projects receive funding in the future.
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A Venezuelan man named Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez was shot by an ICE agent during a traffic stop in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. He was wounded, taken to a hospital, and then moved to a federal detention center; ICE and the FBI are investigating the shooting.
Key Facts
The incident happened around 1 p.m. as Garcés Pérez was delivering a DoorDash order.
ICE agents shot at Garcés Pérez’s car three times, hitting him once in the back.
Garcés Pérez has lived in the U.S. for two years but was under a removal order.
Austin police provided first aid at the scene, while ICE officers did not help directly.
After hospital treatment, Garcés Pérez was transferred to the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas.
The Department of Homeland Security has not provided detailed information on why the shooting happened.
Austin's local leaders have expressed anger about the shooting amid a rise in ICE enforcement activities in the city.
ICE and the FBI are jointly investigating the case, and Garcés Pérez remains in federal custody.
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Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican congressman from Pennsylvania, has distanced himself from President Trump on several issues but faces growing challenges in his reelection bid. Some voters in his district, including Republicans unhappy with Trump, plan to vote for his Democratic opponent, Bob Harvie, reflecting concerns about trust in government and political divisions.
Key Facts
Brian Fitzpatrick is a Republican congressman representing Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District.
Fitzpatrick has opposed some of President Trump’s policies, including tariffs and tax legislation, and skipped Trump’s midterm convention.
Voters like Mary Ryan, a registered Republican, plan to vote for Democrat Bob Harvie because they are unhappy with Trump’s influence in Congress.
Fitzpatrick has won his district multiple times, even as it voted for Democratic presidential candidates like Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.
Democrat Bob Harvie is a former social studies teacher and county commissioner with long ties to the district.
Some voters feel Fitzpatrick is not independent enough from Republican leadership despite his criticisms of Trump.
The race is seen as important because it could affect which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
Fitzpatrick has a background as an FBI special agent and assistant U.S. attorney.
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Werner Kunkel, a North Dakota man, had his 1986 murder conviction overturned after spending over 30 years in prison. Although a new trial was ordered, he was taken into federal custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is facing possible deportation to Germany, a country he has no connection to.
Key Facts
Werner Kunkel was convicted in 1995 for the 1986 murder of Gilbert Fassett and sentenced to life in prison.
His murder conviction was overturned earlier in 2026 because prosecutors did not share evidence that might prove his innocence.
Kunkel was born in Germany but moved to the U.S. at age 7 and never became a U.S. citizen.
ICE has sought to deport him since 1999, citing his criminal record including forgery and assault charges.
After his conviction was overturned, a district court ordered his release, but ICE immediately took him into federal custody.
Kunkel’s lawyers argue the government is using old charges to justify deportation only after losing the murder case.
A federal immigration judge is expected to decide soon if Kunkel can be deported.
Meanwhile, North Dakota prosecutors are asking the state Supreme Court to reinstate Kunkel’s murder conviction.
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Nineteen U.S. states have approved laws to observe daylight saving time permanently, but these laws cannot start until Congress changes federal rules. The House passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, but the Senate has not yet voted on it, so clocks will still change on November 1.
Key Facts
Nineteen states have passed laws to keep daylight saving time year-round if federal law changes.
The House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide.
The Senate has not scheduled a vote on the bill, and time is running out before the November clock change.
States like Delaware require neighboring states to also adopt permanent daylight saving time before their law can take effect.
President Donald Trump supports making daylight saving time permanent, citing benefits like reduced crime and better health.
Experts warn permanent daylight saving time may cause very late sunrises in winter, potentially disrupting sleep.
Without Senate action, Americans will still set clocks back one hour on November 1.
More daylight in the evenings is seen as beneficial for activities like sports, tourism, and retail.
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Senators Susan Collins and Patty Murray oppose a plan by the Trump administration to allow the White House to control funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. They say this move goes against what Congress intended.
Key Facts
Senators Susan Collins (Republican) and Patty Murray (Democrat) lead the Senate Appropriations Committee on NIH matters.
They reject the Trump administration’s effort to control NIH grant funding directly from the White House.
Collins warns that politicizing the grant process would go against congressional rules.
The Trump administration has cut or frozen $177 billion in grants across all states.
NIH grants fund important medical and health research projects nationwide.
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President Donald Trump has repeatedly used national security as a key reason to support various policy actions. These include banning some news outlets from the White House, redesigning parts of Washington, and easing rules on artificial intelligence. The administration also made a deal with Denmark and Greenland for U.S. security control of Greenland.
Key Facts
President Trump banned CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from White House events, citing national security.
The administration defended press restrictions, Pentagon reporter rules, and journalist subpoenas as national security measures.
Trump proposed a 250-foot arch near Washington, D.C., to house snipers, drones, and ammunition for national security.
The White House ballroom project was pursued after demolishing the East Wing, justified by national security needs.
The Justice Department said laws limiting AI development could threaten national security in a copyright lawsuit context.
Courts give strong respect to national security claims but have ruled that such claims don’t automatically override laws.
The U.S. reached a deal with Denmark and Greenland giving America permanent security control over Greenland.
The administration’s immigration and narcoterrorism policies have also been framed as national security efforts.
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Americans continue to buy beef even though prices have gone up, with the cost of ground beef reaching a record high in August 2026. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said demand stays strong because people want beef for their families, despite rising prices. The Trump administration is taking steps to help ranchers and address high beef costs.
Key Facts
The price of uncooked ground beef hit $7.16 per pound in August 2026, a record high.
The number of U.S. cattle dropped to 86.2 million, the lowest in 75 years.
There are 450,000 fewer cattle ranchers now than in 1997.
Drought is affecting 75% of the beef cow herd, contributing to higher prices.
Rising diesel fuel costs are another challenge for farmers and ranchers.
The Trump administration signed two executive orders to assist ranchers, including reviewing wolf protections and updating compensation for predator losses.
The administration is also reviewing rules on country-of-origin labeling and looking into violations of fair meatpacking laws.
Agriculture Secretary Rollins blamed policies under President Biden’s administration for discouraging cattle herd growth.
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