Planned Parenthood’s political action committee (PAC) is spending over $600,000 on ads in Maine to criticize Senator Susan Collins. The ads focus on her abortion record as Democrats try to win the Senate seat in the upcoming election.
Key Facts
Planned Parenthood Votes is a super PAC that supports abortion rights.
They are spending more than $600,000 on advertising in Maine.
The ads criticize Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, for her abortion-related voting record.
Democrats aim to flip the Maine Senate seat from Republican to Democrat.
The ad campaign started with digital ads released on a Monday.
The focus of the ads is on Collins’s stance and actions related to abortion issues.
This effort is part of the larger Senate race happening in Maine during the fall election.
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A new bill proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders aims to stop the government from taking Social Security payments to repay defaulted federal student loans. The bill would protect millions of older Americans and people with disabilities from losing part of their benefits due to student loan debt.
Key Facts
The bill is called the Stop Social Security Garnishment Act of 2026.
It is cosponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.
The bill would change federal law to prevent Social Security payments from being used to collect defaulted student loans.
About 9.5 million people in the U.S. are in default on their federal student loans.
Older Americans owe nearly $457 billion in student loans, with many defaulted borrowers receiving Social Security benefits.
Current rules allow up to 15% of certain Social Security benefits to be withheld for debt collection, but only $750 per month is fully protected.
The number of Social Security beneficiaries losing money to student loan collections rose from about 6,200 in 2001 to over 190,000 in 2019.
Many borrowers rely heavily on Social Security income and face financial hardship when benefits are garnished.
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The Justice Department plans to send a record 1,000 federal monitors to U.S. voting locations for the midterm elections. These monitors will help ensure that voting rights laws are followed and prevent discrimination or unfair treatment at polling places.
Key Facts
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced the plan to send 1,000 monitors, the highest number ever deployed.
Monitors help enforce the Voting Rights Act, a law that bans discrimination based on race, gender, or other protected groups.
Usually, the department sends only dozens of civil rights attorneys as monitors, but this time it will also ask federal employees to volunteer.
In 2024, monitors checked voting rights compliance in 86 areas across 27 states.
The Civil Rights Division lost over 70% of its career staff after leadership changes under Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.
The DOJ has filed 31 lawsuits to get full voter data from states to check for voter registration problems, but judges have blocked these requests in most cases.
Some states are suspicious of the DOJ’s increased monitoring due to these lawsuits and concerns about election integrity claims.
President Donald Trump has claimed without proof that the 2020 election was stolen, and federal investigations related to the 2020 election continue in some states.
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Disney has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop an early review of broadcast licenses for eight ABC TV stations. The company claims the early review is a political move by President Donald Trump's administration to punish ABC after it angered the president.
Key Facts
Disney sued the FCC in a federal court in Washington, DC.
The FCC asked ABC stations to renew their licenses early, even though some licenses still had years left.
Disney says this early review is political retaliation by President Trump’s administration.
The lawsuit includes examples of President Trump’s social media posts threatening ABC over its news coverage.
The FCC said the early renewal request was linked to diversity and inclusion practices at Disney and an investigation of ABC’s show The View.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has warned broadcasters that airing “fake news” could lead to losing their licenses.
President Trump has publicly criticized ABC and demanded the firing of Jimmy Kimmel, an ABC talk show host.
Disney asked the court for a fast hearing and a temporary stop to the license review process.
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The UK government's Prevent program, designed to stop terrorism, is not able to help many children who are focused on violence but do not have a clear extremist belief. The children’s commissioner said more help is needed because many children show worrying behavior online and are often sent back to schools without further support.
Key Facts
Referrals of children to the Prevent program rose from 2,918 in 2016-17 to 4,715 in 2024-25.
Most children referred do not show clear extremist beliefs, but are fixated on violence.
The Prevent program mainly deals with terrorism linked to extremist ideologies like far-right or jihadist views.
About 71% of child referrals had no specific extremist ideology identified.
The children’s commissioner said many children are influenced by harmful online groups and illegal content about self-harm and school shootings.
Prevent is effective for children involved in ideological extremism but struggles with cases focused on violence without ideology.
The commissioner suggests that referrals should go through local teams that include police and safeguarding experts, not just Prevent.
She also called on media regulators to better control harmful content online.
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Fourteen people, mostly Penn State students, have been charged for running a cocaine drug trafficking ring mainly at two fraternity houses. The operation involved buying, cutting, packaging, and selling cocaine mostly to other students during 2023 and 2024.
Key Facts
The Pennsylvania attorney general charged 14 people linked to a cocaine trafficking ring at Penn State.
Most of those charged were students at Penn State during 2023-2024; four are still enrolled.
Two main suppliers regularly traveled to New York and Philadelphia to collect large amounts of cocaine.
Charges include felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, drug dealing, and evidence tampering.
Eight defendants face misdemeanor counts for drug paraphernalia and possession.
A student’s father was charged with tampering with evidence and hindering the investigation.
The drug operation was linked to two off-campus fraternities: Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi.
Penn State and the fraternities are cooperating with law enforcement and taking steps to address the situation.
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Sarah Matthews, a former White House deputy press secretary, said that Natalie Harp’s close relationship with President Donald Trump caused concern among the Secret Service and the 2024 campaign staff. Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff criticized Trump for spending time with Harp instead of focusing on presidential duties, leading to a tense exchange between Trump and reporters.
Key Facts
Natalie Harp is a White House aide very close to President Trump.
Secret Service and campaign staff were uneasy about Harp’s relationship with Trump.
Campaign staff tried to keep Harp from staying with Trump at his golf club, but she stayed nearby in the women’s locker room.
Senator Jon Ossoff accused Trump of prioritizing time with Harp over presidential responsibilities.
Trump dismissed Ossoff’s comments and defended his White House ballroom construction project.
Trump told CNN reporter Kristen Holmes to be quiet and called her names after she asked about Ossoff’s remarks.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle criticized Ossoff’s political record in response.
Harp first met Trump after he signed a law that helped her get experimental cancer treatment; she joined his 2024 campaign after working for a news network.
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The Hill is providing live coverage of the 2026 primary elections in Florida, Wyoming, and Alaska on August 18. The coverage includes real-time analysis by reporters and experts from NewsNation and Decision Desk HQ.
Key Facts
The event is the 2026 primary elections in three states: Florida, Wyoming, and Alaska.
Coverage lasts for one and a half hours on August 18.
Cory Smith from NewsNation will anchor the program.
The team includes reporters from The Hill and political experts from Decision Desk HQ.
The broadcast offers live, real-time updates and election results.
The focus is on in-depth analysis of the primary races.
This event is important for U.S. domestic politics and election tracking.
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A federal trial in California is starting against Meta Platforms, where several states are suing the company for harming children through its social media apps. The states want billions of dollars in damages and changes to how Meta runs Facebook and Instagram.
Key Facts
Four states (California, Colorado, Kentucky, New Jersey) are leading the trial against Meta.
The lawsuit claims Meta designed features to make children addicted to its apps.
The states say Meta collects data from children under 13 without their parents’ permission, breaking federal law.
The lawsuit could seek up to $1.4 trillion in penalties, but experts think the actual amount will be much less.
The trial will last six to eight weeks and include testimony from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and others.
The judge overseeing the trial is Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, known for handling major tech lawsuits.
Meta denies wrongdoing and says it has worked to protect teens on its platforms for years.
This case is part of many lawsuits against social media companies over child safety and addiction concerns.
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Reports say the USS Abraham Lincoln is facing poor conditions due to supply chain problems while it stays at sea longer than normal. President Donald Trump disagrees with these reports. Families of the soldiers on the ship have shared their concerns with a Pentagon reporter.
Key Facts
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy ship, has been at sea longer than usual.
Supply chain issues may be causing poor conditions on the ship.
Families of sailors have expressed worries about these conditions.
Pentagon correspondent Natalie Oliverio reported on the situation.
President Donald Trump denies the reports about the poor conditions.
The news was covered by CBS News and Military Times.
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Newly released FBI records show that Christine Fang, suspected of spying for China, had a close relationship with former California Congressman Eric Swalwell. Fang worked as an unpaid volunteer on Swalwell’s campaigns, and U.S. officials say China tries to influence American politics at local levels to gain long-term advantages.
Key Facts
Christine Fang, also called Fang Fang, was suspected of being a Chinese spy.
She had “physical relations” with Eric Swalwell while volunteering for his campaigns.
Fang enrolled at a Bay Area university in 2011 and got involved in local politics through Asian American groups.
The FBI investigated Fang under the code name “Rusty Thumbs” and thought she might be a double agent.
Fang allegedly violated U.S. election laws by arranging illegal donations for China.
Swalwell was cleared of wrongdoing but ended his campaign for California governor and resigned from Congress amid separate allegations.
China’s intelligence aims to influence U.S. politics from local levels up, focusing on rising political figures.
This influence effort is secretive and unregistered, different from normal lobbying or public political donations.
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A judge allowed small paint tests on the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, supporting President Trump’s plan to paint the building white for now. Preservation groups want to stop the painting, fearing damage to the stone, but the judge said the tests would not cause serious harm.
Key Facts
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building dates back to the 1800s and is next to the White House.
President Trump wants to paint the building white as part of a project to beautify Washington, D.C.
The painting project is estimated to cost at least $7.5 million.
Preservationists and historians say the granite building should not be painted because paint traps moisture and damages the stone.
A federal judge allowed limited paint tests on small, hidden areas of the building.
The judge said the tests would not cause irreparable harm and denied a request to stop them.
The larger legal question is whether President Trump’s office has proper authority over the project instead of the General Services Administration.
The judge warned she would stop the project if it goes beyond the allowed testing and ordered reports to monitor progress.
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Florida is holding primary elections to choose the candidates for governor. Several candidates are competing in the race, and the primary results will decide who runs in the general election.
Key Facts
Florida is having a primary election for governor.
Multiple candidates are competing to be the party nominees.
The primary election determines who will run in the general election.
This event is part of several important primary races happening this week.
CBS News political director Fin Gómez is covering these primaries.
The focus is on who will lead Florida in the next term as governor.
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Rep. Eric Swalwell from California told FBI agents in 2015 that he had a physical relationship with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy. These details were made public on Monday through documents released by the White House Transparency Task Force. Swalwell left Congress in April.
Key Facts
Eric Swalwell is a former U.S. Representative from California.
In 2015, he told the FBI about having physical relations with Christine Fang.
Christine Fang is suspected of being a Chinese spy.
The White House Transparency Task Force released the related documents on Monday.
Swalwell left Congress in April 2024.
The information was previously classified and now made public.
The case involves concerns about foreign spying within the U.S. government.
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A goat in Southwest Texas tested positive for anthrax, making it the second confirmed case in Texas this year and the third in the U.S. The Texas Animal Health Commission placed the affected property under quarantine and urged livestock owners in the area to monitor and vaccinate their animals against the disease.
Key Facts
Anthrax is caused by bacteria that live in soil and mainly affects grazing animals like cattle, goats, and sheep.
The goat case happened in Edwards County, part of a Texas region called the "Anthrax Triangle" where the bacteria can stay dormant in soil for years.
The first Texas anthrax case this year was found in a cow in Briscoe County.
Anthrax spores can reactivate after certain weather patterns, often following wet and cool conditions.
Only one animal is known to be affected in the recent Edwards County case.
Texas officials are tracking another threat to livestock called New World screwworm, a parasite found in parts of Mexico.
Farmers in areas with a history of anthrax are advised to work with veterinarians to prevent outbreaks by vaccinating animals.
Similar anthrax activity has been reported in other states like Idaho and warnings have been issued for North Dakota.
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Susan Clancy, the former mother-in-law of Lindsay Clancy, testified in court that Lindsay was asking for help after giving birth and was experiencing postpartum difficulties. This testimony was part of an ongoing legal case.
Key Facts
Susan Clancy is the former mother-in-law of Lindsay Clancy.
She spoke in court on Tuesday.
Susan said Lindsay was “begging for help” after having her baby.
The term “postpartum” means the time after a woman gives birth.
The testimony relates to Lindsay’s struggles during this postpartum period.
This court hearing is part of a current legal case.
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The Justice Department will stop using outside experts to review and rank competitive grant applications. Instead, department staff will handle the reviews internally, a change aimed at better aligning with current administration priorities.
Key Facts
The Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) have used outside experts for peer review of grant applications for decades.
Peer reviewers are independent experts who evaluate grant proposals for feasibility, criteria, and budget accuracy.
This peer review process is modeled after a system used by the National Institutes of Health.
The process helps ensure fair and impartial awarding of competitive federal grants, supporting law enforcement, victim services, and research projects.
The Justice Department says the peer review program is now “inefficient and outdated” and does not align with administration goals.
The peer review program will officially end in the fall.
Staff within OJP and OVW will now conduct internal reviews, replacing outside experts.
The previous 2025 attempt to switch to internal reviews caused problems due to lack of expertise among staff, but outside reviewers were later brought back temporarily.
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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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