The Department of Justice (DOJ) will send 1,000 poll monitors to watch over the midterm elections. These monitors will check that election laws are followed and help keep the voting process fair and legal.
Key Facts
The DOJ plans to deploy 1,000 poll monitors for the upcoming midterm elections.
Over 75 monitors have already been sent to five states during the recent primary elections.
These monitors observe more than 200 polling locations to ensure election rules are followed.
The goal is to protect the integrity of the voting process.
Poll monitors watch for any issues or illegal activities at the polls.
This effort is part of the DOJ’s role in supporting fair elections in the U.S.
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Commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) after receiving their “Thumbs Down” award. He called the award “highly offensive” and said the reasons for giving it to him are not true.
Key Facts
Stephen A. Smith is a commentator who was given the “Thumbs Down” award by NABJ.
The award was given over the weekend before Monday’s interview.
Smith spoke about the award on NewsNation with Chris Cuomo.
He described the award as “highly offensive.”
Smith said the reasons for the award do not make sense to him.
He publicly challenged NABJ about the award.
The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization for Black journalists.
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Alaska held primary elections to choose candidates for the November general election. The contests included races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and governor, with many candidates running. Alaska uses an open primary system where all candidates appear on one ballot, and the top four move on to the general election.
Key Facts
Alaska held primary elections on a Tuesday to select candidates for November’s general election.
The races included contests for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and governor.
More than a dozen candidates competed in each major race.
Alaska uses an open primary system, meaning all candidates from all parties appear on the same ballot.
The four candidates with the most votes in the primary move on to the general election.
The general election uses a ranked-choice voting system, where voters rank candidates by preference.
The U.S. Senate race in Alaska is expected to be closely watched nationally this fall.
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Rep. Warren Davidson wants Congress to remove the Corporate Transparency Act permanently. He believes this law creates difficult reporting rules that hurt small business owners under the Biden administration.
Key Facts
Rep. Warren Davidson is pushing to repeal the Corporate Transparency Act.
He wants this change to be included in the National Defense Authorization Act.
The law creates new reporting rules for businesses.
Davidson argues that small businesses face heavy burdens because of these rules.
The reporting requirements were put in place during President Biden’s time in office.
Davidson’s goal is to protect small businesses from these regulations.
The Corporate Transparency Act aims to increase transparency about company ownership.
Davidson sees the current approach as treating small business owners like criminals.
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The U.S. Justice Department has started an investigation into the College of William & Mary. They want to see if the school is treating students unfairly by giving scholarships and benefits based on race or ethnicity.
Key Facts
The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division announced the investigation on Monday.
The focus is on scholarships and student programs at William & Mary.
The school is located in Virginia.
The investigation looks at possible discrimination based on race and ethnicity.
The DOJ is checking if the university is breaking civil rights laws.
This is a civil rights investigation, not a criminal case.
The outcome could affect how the school awards scholarships and benefits in the future.
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The United States and Canada are having urgent talks to avoid new tariffs. President Donald Trump has set a deadline after which he plans to charge 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods if no agreement is made.
Key Facts
The U.S. and Canada are negotiating to stop new tariffs.
President Donald Trump set a 12:01 a.m. Wednesday deadline for a deal.
If no deal happens, the U.S. will impose 50% tariffs.
The tariffs will affect $20 billion worth of Canadian products.
Affected products include hockey sticks and tongue depressors.
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The USS Benfold, a U.S. Navy destroyer, lost power for four days in the South China Sea due to an engineering problem. The ship has been repaired and returned to normal operations, and no crew members were hurt during the incident.
Key Facts
The USS Benfold lost power for four days last month.
The power loss affected plumbing, meals, toilets, and air conditioning onboard.
The ship was located in the South China Sea during the power failure.
Other military assets protected the Benfold while it had no power.
The ship received food support from another Navy cruiser and was towed to Subic Bay in the Philippines for repairs.
Repairs were completed by August 7, and the ship resumed normal activities after that.
The incident was not made public until nearly a month later.
There are concerns about conditions on other U.S. Navy ships deployed overseas, such as the USS Abraham Lincoln.
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The Department of Defense has ordered 30 U.S. universities to audit their partnerships with mostly Chinese universities and military groups. Schools must review and end any risky connections within two weeks or face losing government funding to protect research from theft.
Key Facts
The Pentagon requires 30 U.S. universities to check their collaborations with foreign institutions, mainly in China.
Universities have a two-week deadline to complete audits and stop any partnerships considered problematic.
If schools do not comply, they risk losing taxpayer-funded research money.
Harvard, MIT, and Johns Hopkins are reportedly among the schools involved.
The effort aims to prevent misuse or theft of U.S. government-supported research.
The Department of Defense released a list of 130 foreign institutions suspected of risky activities last month.
Most institutions on the list are Chinese, but some are from Iran and Russia.
The Trump administration is concerned about China’s influence and investments in the Americas, including ports and infrastructure.
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The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) will perform its 2026-27 season at six different venues around Washington, D.C., because the Kennedy Center will close for two years of renovation. The Kennedy Center was taken over by a board aligned with President Donald Trump, who wants to add his name to the building after a federal judge ordered its removal.
Key Facts
The NSO will not perform at the Kennedy Center in the 2026-27 season due to a planned two-year renovation.
The Kennedy Center board, loyal to President Trump, aims to rename the center to include Trump’s name alongside John F. Kennedy’s.
The NSO’s ticket sales have dropped from 72% capacity in 2024 to 41% last season.
The orchestra announced 64 concerts for the upcoming season: 56 local and 8 on a U.S. tour.
Venues for the season will include six locations in D.C. and nearby suburbs, each with fewer seats than the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall.
The NSO will still use the Kennedy Center for rehearsals and office space during renovations.
Music Director Gianandrea Noseda hopes performing in multiple venues will attract more audience members.
Tickets for the new season go on sale August 28, shortly before the season opens in late September.
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Texas state Senator James Talarico’s campaign has hired Jacob Smith, a former top staff member for Senator John Cornyn. Smith will work as deputy policy director for Talarico’s campaign ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
James Talarico is a Democratic Texas state senator.
Jacob Smith previously worked as deputy legislative director for Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas.
Smith joined Talarico’s campaign team as deputy policy director.
The hiring was confirmed on a Monday.
This move happens months before the midterm elections.
Talarico’s campaign recruited staff from the opposing party.
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A woman from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Armelle Bondonga, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a green card interview in front of her 18-month-old child and U.S. citizen husband. ICE says she overstayed her visa and has a final removal order, while her attorney and a state representative expressed concern about her treatment and the impact on her family.
Key Facts
Armelle Bondonga came to the U.S. in 2013 on a visa that expired in 2014.
She was detained on August 12 during a marriage-based immigration interview.
Bondonga’s husband and child are U.S. citizens.
ICE states she has a final order of removal issued in November 2025.
ICE says she has been in the U.S. unlawfully for over a decade and encourages voluntary departure.
Bondonga’s attorney says she voluntarily followed legal process and did not avoid authorities.
A Kentucky state representative visited Bondonga in detention and described the conditions as harsh.
Bondonga’s detention has caused emotional and practical difficulties for her family.
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President Donald Trump praised India’s election system for requiring photo ID to vote and used it to support his push for stricter voter ID laws in the United States through the SAVE America Act. While India’s elections are large and managed by the Election Commission of India, questions remain about the fairness of the process, and many experts say claims of widespread voter fraud in the US lack evidence.
Key Facts
President Trump highlighted India’s election system to argue for tougher voter ID rules in the US.
India’s last general election had nearly 970 million registered voters, with over 640 million voting.
India requires a valid photo ID to vote, a rule introduced in 1993 to stop impersonation.
The SAVE America Act would require proof of US citizenship for voter registration and stricter ID rules at voting.
Voting fraud in the US is extremely rare, with studies showing fraud rates close to zero.
Critics say strict voter ID laws risk preventing eligible people from voting.
The Indian election process, while large and complex, has faced criticism about fairness and political influence.
Democrats argue the SAVE America Act aims to influence the upcoming US midterm elections.
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A charity in Wirral, England, called Wirral Free Uniforms for Schools, reports a record high demand for free secondhand school uniforms due to rising costs. Despite government rules to limit expensive branded uniform items, some schools still require costly clothing, making it hard for many families to afford school uniforms.
Key Facts
Wirral Free Uniforms for Schools has 12 hubs and has operated for 14 years.
School uniform prices continue to rise, even with government guidelines aiming to lower costs.
Some schools require expensive uniform items, like a rugby top costing £52.
Demand for free uniforms comes from both less wealthy and affluent areas with costly schools.
A study found 68% of parents in northwest England say school holidays cost more this year.
Government rules try to reduce branded uniform items so parents can buy cheaper generic clothing.
Some schools use specific designs or stripes on uniforms that make generic versions hard to find.
Families like Viktoria’s, who recently moved from Ukraine, rely on the uniform bank for help.
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The U.S. Department of Defense has asked 30 American universities to review their partnerships with mainly Chinese universities and military training groups. Schools must finish these audits and end any risky partnerships within two weeks or they could lose government funding. This move aims to protect U.S.-funded research from being stolen or misused.
Key Facts
The Pentagon ordered 30 U.S. universities to audit their foreign partnerships, especially with Chinese institutions.
Schools that do not complete the audit and end problematic ties may lose federal funding.
The goal is to prevent theft and exploitation of research funded by U.S. taxpayers.
The universities likely include Harvard, MIT, and Johns Hopkins, though the Pentagon did not officially name them.
The Department of Defense previously released a list of 130 foreign institutions suspected of increasing risks to U.S. research security.
Most institutions on the list are Chinese, but some are from Iran and Russia.
The American Council on Education, representing university presidents, says the new order unfairly implies wrongdoing without evidence.
The Trump administration is broadly concerned about Chinese influence in the Americas, including infrastructure and telecommunications investments.
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President Donald Trump said there are no current or planned talks between the U.S. and Iran. He also stated that the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway, is open. Separately, Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation in Gaza.
Key Facts
President Trump confirmed the U.S. is not negotiating with Iran at this time.
There are no planned talks between the U.S. and Iran in the near future.
President Trump said the Strait of Hormuz remains open for navigation.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic passage for ships, especially oil tankers.
Jared Kushner, a senior White House adviser, met with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The meeting focused on discussions regarding the conflict in Gaza.
This news was reported by CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) asked an appeals court to reopen a human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia after a judge dismissed it in May. The judge had ruled the government acted with potential bias, but the DOJ says there are valid reasons and evidence to support the charges.
Key Facts
A federal judge dismissed the human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia in May, citing concerns of government vindictiveness.
The DOJ has appealed this dismissal, asking a higher court to reinstate the case.
DOJ prosecutors say the indictment is based on evidence and legal grounds, not on retaliation.
Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in 2025 despite a court order against his deportation due to fear of persecution.
The Trump administration claimed Abrego Garcia was connected to the gang MS-13, which he denies.
He was returned to the U.S. in June 2025 to face human smuggling charges.
The charges come from a 2022 traffic stop, which was part of a larger investigation by Homeland Security.
A judge criticized the government for shifting from deporting Abrego Garcia to prosecuting him without clear justification.
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The Trump administration is considering a rule that would require nonprofit organizations to report if any of their top leaders have been convicted of financial crimes or terrorism-related offenses on their yearly tax form. This proposal aims to increase transparency for donors and discourage nonprofits from working with individuals who have serious criminal records.
Key Facts
The IRS may add a question to Form 990 asking nonprofits to disclose if any top official was convicted of crimes like terrorism support, fraud, money laundering, or tax evasion.
Groups would not have to name the individual convicted, just confirm that a conviction exists within the past 10 years.
It is legal for convicted felons to serve on nonprofit boards under federal law.
The proposal is meant to help donors make informed decisions and to pressure nonprofits to avoid convicted individuals in leadership.
Treasury officials are reviewing several changes to nonprofit reporting, including disclosure rules for groups getting government money.
Some IRS officials worry the proposal might lead to political targeting or legal challenges about free speech and privacy.
Supporters say the requirement would be similar to rules for public companies that disclose important information to investors.
The move could make it easier for the IRS to revoke tax-exempt status if nonprofits fail to report convictions truthfully.
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Disney and ABC sued the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), saying the Trump administration is trying to limit journalists by pushing for an early review of ABC’s broadcast licenses. The lawsuit claims the administration is using regulatory power to retaliate against ABC.
Key Facts
Disney and ABC filed a lawsuit against the FCC.
The lawsuit says the Trump administration is trying to censor journalists.
The administration asked the FCC to review ABC’s broadcasting licenses earlier than usual.
The lawsuit calls this a "retaliatory campaign" against ABC.
The FCC has power to approve or renew broadcast licenses.
Disney and ABC argue this review aims to punish them for their coverage.
The issue involves TV broadcasting rules and government oversight.
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A woman from New York went missing while visiting a friend in Las Vegas. Her family is trying to find her after they started getting strange messages from her phone asking for bitcoin payments.
Key Facts
The missing woman is originally from New York.
She disappeared while in Las Vegas visiting a friend.
Her family received unusual text messages from her phone after she went missing.
The texts demand payments in bitcoin, a type of digital money.
The family is actively searching for her and seeking help.
Authorities or officials involved were not detailed in the article.
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Florida held primary elections for governor and Congress, with Republicans and Democrats competing for their party nominations. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is running for the Republican nomination for governor, supported by President Donald Trump's endorsement.
Key Facts
Florida is holding primary elections for governor and congressional seats.
A Republican candidate aims to become Florida's first Black governor.
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is seeking the Republican nomination for governor.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Byron Donalds.
Donalds faces competition from Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and James Fishback.
Democratic candidates are competing for fewer seats due to new congressional district maps.
The primaries will determine party nominees who will compete in the general election this fall.
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