Nine members of President Trump's Cabinet are traveling around the U.S. to promote a new tax and spending bill. The administration hopes to convince voters to support the bill despite polls showing that more than half of voters currently oppose it.
Key Facts
Nine Cabinet members will travel to promote President Trump's new tax and spending bill.
A Wall Street Journal poll shows 52% of voters oppose the bill, while 42% support it.
The bill is described as benefiting the working class, but many believe it favors the wealthy and big companies.
The bill includes a "no tax on tips" provision, which has some public support.
The Cabinet members will visit key states with upcoming competitive elections, such as Michigan, Nevada, and Virginia.
Secretary Duffy will highlight investments in air traffic control to address staff shortages.
The bill proposes $25 billion in new funding for the Coast Guard.
Some bill provisions, like allowing service workers to deduct taxes on tips, aim to show benefits to various groups.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is promoting her new book, "107 Days," using a fundraising committee linked to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The promotional activities have raised questions about neutrality as she might run for president in 2028. The DNC states it did not send out Harris' promotional email.
Key Facts
Kamala Harris is using a fundraising committee linked to the DNC to promote her book, "107 Days."
The promotional email was paid for by the Harris Victory Fund, linked to her previous presidential campaign.
Harris’ email did not ask for donations and included a book preorder link.
The DNC clarifies that it did not participate in sending the email.
A campaign finance rule allows candidates to use campaign lists for promoting their books if they pay for the list’s market value.
The Harris Victory Fund raised $7.2 million in six months, transferring $5.5 million to the DNC.
Harris' campaign fund remained active to help pay off past debts and keep staff employed.
Former President Donald Trump has called for a change to the U.S. census to exclude people living in the country without legal status. This proposal repeats Trump's earlier attempts to adjust census counts, which had faced legal challenges. The U.S. Constitution requires that all people living in a state be counted for things like deciding how many seats each state gets in Congress.
Key Facts
Trump suggested excluding undocumented immigrants from the U.S. census counts for the first time.
He instructed the Commerce Department to work on a new census related to the 2024 presidential election results.
The Constitution mandates a census every ten years to redistribute congressional seats.
Legal foundations require counting all individuals living in each state for electoral purposes.
The U.S. Supreme Court previously blocked adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census.
Trump's proposal renews similar efforts that had faced legal resistance during his first term.
The Census Bureau has not asked about citizenship status in its regular counting.
The Census Bureau warns that including citizenship questions could lead to inaccurate data.
A woman in Florida, named Autumn Bardisa, was arrested for allegedly posing as a nurse and treating over 4,000 patients. Authorities say she provided false papers to get a job at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway. She now faces charges for working as a healthcare professional without a real license.
Key Facts
Autumn Bardisa was arrested in Florida for pretending to be a registered nurse.
She allegedly treated 4,486 patients from June 2024 to January 2025.
Bardisa worked at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway from July 2023 to January 2025.
Police say she used false documents and another nurse's license number to get hired.
Bardisa claimed a name change due to marriage but didn't provide a marriage license.
Her contract ended after her expired license was discovered, leading to an investigation.
She faces charges including practicing without a license and fraudulent use of ID.
Bardisa was arrested at home in scrubs and is held on a $70,000 bond.
A U.S. Army sergeant, Quornelius Radford, carried out a shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia, injuring five soldiers. The suspect was subdued and arrested shortly after the incident. The injured soldiers are stable and expected to recover.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at Fort Stewart, Georgia, at the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area.
Five soldiers were injured in the incident and taken to hospitals; all are expected to recover.
The suspect, Quornelius Radford, is a 28-year-old U.S. Army sergeant who has been with the army since 2018.
Radford was subdued by other soldiers and is currently in pretrial confinement.
The shooting involved a personal handgun, not a military weapon.
The suspect is reported to have had a disagreement with one of the victims the day before the shooting.
Fort Stewart is the largest U.S. Army base east of the Mississippi River, located in Hinesville, Georgia.
Congress is working on plans to make it easier for veterans to use their healthcare benefits at non-VA facilities. Some lawmakers argue current procedures are too slow and make it hard for veterans to access nearby care, especially in rural areas. Proposed bills would allow easier access without the need for VA referrals.
Key Facts
Veterans sometimes struggle to get care from nearby non-VA healthcare providers because of approval challenges.
Some veterans live far from VA centers, leading to difficulties in accessing necessary care.
Current legislation proposes allowing veterans to use benefits at local hospitals without needing VA staff approval.
About 9 million veterans are enrolled in the VA health system; 3 million used benefits at non-VA facilities last year.
One proposed bill focuses on rural veterans who live near "critical access" hospitals.
Proposals aim to expand community care programs started during previous presidential terms.
Some lawmakers worry that directing funds to private care could impact VA's funding and services.
A video shows Jared Wise, a former January 6 defendant, urging rioters to harm police during the Capitol attack. Despite his actions, Wise now works as a senior adviser at the Department of Justice. He was not convicted because of a decision to stop Capitol riot prosecutions.
Key Facts
A video captures Jared Wise urging January 6 rioters to harm police officers.
Wise called the officers names like "Nazi" and "Gestapo" during the incident.
The footage was shown at Wise's trial but was not widely available until now.
Wise was not convicted due to an order to end prosecutions related to the Capitol riot.
Wise, who used to work for the FBI, is now a senior adviser at the Department of Justice.
On January 6, 2021, rioters broke into the Capitol, interrupting the certification of the 2020 election.
The riot involved assaults on police officers with various weapons.
Wise entered the Capitol briefly and remained on the grounds for hours during the chaos.
The Trump administration has cut funding for a program that provides access to birth control for low-income individuals in the U.S. The program, called Title X, supports over 800,000 people, and the budget cuts have led to legal action from public health groups.
Key Facts
Title X is a program set up in 1970 to provide free contraception to people who need it.
The Trump administration has withheld funds from Title X, affecting over 800,000 people.
Fifteen public health organizations are suing the Trump administration, claiming the withholding of funds is illegal.
Bridgercare, an organization in Montana, is one of the plaintiffs and helps fund reproductive health clinics.
Bridgercare received notice that their funding was suspended due to alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act and specific executive orders.
As a result of funding cuts, some organizations have closed clinics and begun charging for contraceptive services that were once free.
Planned Parenthood in Utah has closed two clinics and started charging for some services due to the funding cuts.
After severe floods in Texas in July 2025, many people couldn't reach a federal aid hotline because funding for the call centers was delayed by five days. The delay happened because the Department of Homeland Security had not approved the necessary funding on time. During these five days, most calls from people looking for help went unanswered.
Key Facts
Severe flooding hit Texas Hill Country in early July 2025.
Calls from flood survivors went mostly unanswered between July 6th and July 10th.
The delay was due to a five-day lapse in funding for FEMA call centers.
The Department of Homeland Security oversees FEMA and approves its large funding requests.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was responsible for signing off on funding requests over $100,000.
During the funding lapse, FEMA answered only about 15,000 out of 55,000 calls.
On July 10th, funding was approved, and the call centers were properly staffed again.
Nebraska Representative Mike Flood faced criticism from voters at a town hall in Lincoln over his support for President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," which affects Medicaid and includes tax and spending measures. Voters were concerned about potential impacts on social programs and immigration enforcement, and many chanted against his support for the legislation. Despite the backlash, Flood defended the bill's changes, particularly the work requirements for Medicaid recipients.
Key Facts
Mike Flood is a Republican representative from Nebraska.
He held a town hall meeting in Lincoln in early August 2025.
The meeting focused on his support for a bill by President Trump.
Over 700 people attended and voiced concerns about Medicaid cuts.
Flood stated that Medicaid changes include work requirements for able-bodied individuals.
During the meeting, attendees expressed dissatisfaction, with some chanting "Tax the rich!" and "Vote him out!"
Flood defended the legislation's changes to Medicaid and hoped for state benefits by next year.
The Homelessness Minister, Rushanara Ali, is facing criticism after the rent on a house she owns was raised significantly after the previous tenants left. The house, located in East London, was re-listed for rent at a much higher price shortly after tenants moved out.
Key Facts
Rushanara Ali is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Homelessness and Rough Sleeping.
Ali increased the rent on a property she owns by £700 per month after tenants left.
Former tenants received a notice in November giving them four months to vacate.
The property was re-listed at a higher rent because it didn't sell.
A spokesman for Ali stated she complied with legal requirements.
The UK's upcoming Renters Rights Bill will impose new rules for renting, including a ban on re-listing properties within six months if sold after tenancy ends.
A shooting occurred at Fort Stewart in Georgia, where a sergeant injured five coworkers. President Trump's new tariffs on multiple countries take effect today. Trump is planning possible meetings with leaders from Russia and Ukraine to discuss peace efforts.
Key Facts
A sergeant at Fort Stewart, Georgia, opened fire on coworkers, injuring five people.
President Trump has implemented new tariffs for dozens of countries starting today.
Trump may soon meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The meetings aim to seek a peace agreement involving Ukraine.
The report includes content from A Martínez and Steve Inskeep from NPR.
A disagreement over redistricting efforts by the Republican Party is ongoing in Texas. This involves changes to how political district lines are drawn in the state.
Key Facts
The conflict centers around redistricting, which is the process of drawing new political district boundaries.
The Republican Party in Texas is leading the redistricting efforts.
Some groups oppose these efforts, arguing they may impact political representation.
Redistricting can affect the balance of political power in the state.
This is part of a broader national conversation about fair representation in government.
Nebraska Representative Mike Flood had a town hall meeting where voters expressed their opinions strongly. Despite the feedback, he continues to support former President Trump's policies.
Key Facts
Mike Flood is a Republican Representative from Nebraska.
He held a town hall meeting where voters shared their strong opinions.
The meeting took place in August 2025.
Despite some negative feedback, Flood remains supportive of Trump's agenda.
The event underscored tensions between constituents and their representatives.
More than half of the calories consumed by American adults and children come from ultra-processed foods, such as burgers and sweetened drinks, according to the CDC. Though consumption of these foods has decreased since 2017, they still make up a large portion of the diet across all age groups.
Key Facts
The CDC says more than 50% of daily calories for Americans come from ultra-processed foods.
Ultra-processed foods are items like hamburgers, pizza, and sweetened drinks.
From 2021 to 2023, 62% of children's calories and 53% of adults' calories were from ultra-processed foods.
Children aged 6 to 11 had the highest intake of ultra-processed foods.
The consumption of ultra-processed foods decreased from 2017 to 2023.
The intake of these foods did not differ significantly by income level.
Foods like sandwiches, sweet bakery products, and sweetened drinks are major contributors to ultra-processed calorie intake.
The Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture are working on a standard definition for ultra-processed foods.
A U.S. soldier, Taylor Adam Lee, is charged with trying to give Russia sensitive information about the U.S. Army's main battle tank, the M1A2 Abrams. The charges include attempting to send national defense details to a foreign government and trying to export controlled data illegally.
Key Facts
Taylor Adam Lee is an active duty U.S. soldier stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas.
He is charged with trying to share information about the M1A2 Abrams tank with Russia.
The U.S. Justice Department announced the charges, which include trying to transmit national defense information and export technical data without a license.
Lee offered this information to Russia online in exchange for Russian citizenship.
He allegedly met someone he thought was a Russian agent, sharing a memory card with technical data in July.
The data he tried to share was labeled as "Controlled Unclassified Information."
Lee also allegedly tried to give a piece of the tank hardware to Russia during a meeting in El Paso, Texas.
The case is being handled in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
The NPR Throughline episode explores the concept of "cruel and unusual punishment" as outlined in the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It discusses how this idea is interpreted, focusing on topics like the death penalty and its perceived human rights implications. Notable legal experts in the field contribute to the discussion on how the amendment's meaning has evolved.
Key Facts
The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution addresses "cruel and unusual punishment."
The podcast episode discusses historical and current interpretations of this amendment.
Topics like the death penalty and human rights are included in the discussion.
Legal experts John Bessler and Carol Steiker are featured guests.
John Bessler is a law professor and author focusing on human rights and the death penalty.
Carol Steiker is a Harvard Law professor with expertise in capital punishment.
President Donald Trump's latest tariffs have started. There is a debate about whether these tariffs follow legal rules. The tariffs will bring in money to the government, partly covered by U.S. importers who might pass costs to consumers.
Key Facts
President Trump has introduced a new set of tariffs.
These tariffs began today.
The purpose is to generate billions in revenue for the government.
U.S. importers are responsible for paying these tariffs.
Importers might pass the cost of tariffs to American consumers.
There is ongoing discussion about the legality of these tariffs.
The impact on tariff revenue is uncertain if Trump's tariffs are found illegal.
A man named Elias Rodriguez has been charged with federal hate crime and murder charges for allegedly killing two Israeli embassy staff members in Washington, DC. Prosecutors say Rodriguez confessed and was motivated by anti-Semitic beliefs. President Donald Trump mentioned possibly deploying the National Guard to address crime rates in Washington, DC.
Key Facts
Elias Rodriguez is charged with federal hate crime and murder for the deaths of two Israeli embassy staffers.
The victims were Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were about to get engaged.
Rodriguez reportedly traveled from Chicago to Washington, DC, with a gun in his luggage.
Authorities say Rodriguez confessed to the killings, citing motives linked to Palestine and Gaza.
The indictment includes potential for the death penalty under special findings.
Prosecutors need to prove that Rodriguez was motivated by anti-Semitism.
President Trump indicated a possibility of using the National Guard to reduce crime in Washington, DC.
Washington crime statistics show a decrease in violent crime by 26% in early 2025 compared to the previous year.
