President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to redesign a new US aircraft carrier to use steam-powered catapults instead of the modern electromagnetic system. This change affects the USS Doris Miller, a Ford-class carrier, and Pentagon leaders have 60 days to create a plan for the redesign.
Key Facts
President Trump prefers steam-powered catapults over the current electromagnetic launch system used on modern carriers.
He signed a national security memo directing the Defense Secretary and acting Navy Secretary to plan this change within 60 days.
The change concerns the USS Doris Miller, a Ford-class carrier currently two years behind schedule.
Trump has publicly criticized the electromagnetic system since 2017, calling it complicated and expensive.
Officials and military leaders have resisted the change due to high costs and complexity.
The electromagnetic launch system is integral to Ford-class carrier design and made by General Atomics.
The company producing the modern system urged careful review of Trump’s order.
Trump believes the older steam system is more reliable and easier to fix than the electromagnetic one.
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Curtis Sliwa, who ran against Mayor Zohran Mamdani in last year’s New York City mayoral race, defended Mamdani amid calls from some Republicans to keep him from attending the 9/11 memorial. Some critics oppose Mamdani’s attendance because of his political views, but Mamdani plans to attend and honor the victims of the attacks.
Key Facts
Curtis Sliwa, a Republican and former political rival of Mamdani, said Mamdani should be allowed to attend the 9/11 memorial and criticized those opposing him.
Over 85,000 people signed a petition asking the 9/11 Memorial & Museum to exclude Mayor Mamdani due to his stance on Israel.
Several Republican senators openly criticized Mamdani and suggested he should not attend the 9/11 ceremony.
Mamdani confirmed he will attend the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks to honor victims, survivors, and first responders.
Some 9/11 family members support Mamdani’s attendance, emphasizing the ceremony’s focus should be on remembering loved ones.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum tries to keep the event free from political disputes.
Mamdani faced prior criticism for missing a memorial for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and instead meeting President Donald Trump on a housing issue.
Despite being political opponents during the mayoral race, Sliwa defended Mamdani’s right to attend the memorial ceremony.
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The Congressional Black Caucus has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to review the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells, who disappeared on July 4 and was later found dead. Local officials are still investigating, and the case will be reviewed by a grand jury to determine if a crime occurred.
Key Facts
Nolan Wells, a teenager from Mississippi, went missing during a July 4 boat trip and was found dead days later.
The Congressional Black Caucus wants the Justice Department to conduct an independent federal review of Wells' case.
Wells’ family, lawyer Ben Crump, and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton support the call for a federal investigation.
The Jackson County Sheriff said there was no clear sign of a crime but investigators continue working to find out what happened.
The local grand jury will decide if Wells’ death involved any criminal activity after reviewing evidence and the autopsy report.
The state medical examiner’s autopsy findings have not been made public yet.
Wells’ family commissioned a private autopsy, which said the cause of death is "undetermined pending investigation."
The Department of Justice confirmed it received the request and is reviewing the case carefully.
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Senate Democrats are asking questions about the living conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier in the Middle East. The carrier has been deployed for 250 days and has not docked at a port for over 200 days, which is a new record. The Defense Secretary denied claims that conditions on the ship are bad.
Key Facts
The USS Abraham Lincoln is an aircraft carrier located in the Middle East.
It has been deployed for 250 days straight.
The ship has not come ashore (docked) for more than 200 days.
This is the longest such period for this ship.
Senate Democrats, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, want explanations about conditions on the ship.
Defense Secretary disagrees with reports about poor living conditions.
The topic is under public and media attention through CBS News.
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The White House says China has been sending goods through over 40 other countries to avoid paying U.S. tariffs imposed by President Trump in 2018. This practice has led to billions of dollars in lost money for the U.S. government.
Key Facts
The U.S. government released a report called “The Great Transshipment Scam.”
The report says China routes goods through other countries to avoid tariffs.
More than 40 countries are involved, including Mexico and Israel.
This scheme has caused the U.S. to lose billions of dollars in tariff revenue.
The tariffs were put in place by President Trump starting in 2018.
The White House is highlighting this issue as a serious problem for U.S. trade.
Transshipment means sending goods through a third country before reaching the final destination.
The report aims to pressure countries and China to stop these avoidance tactics.
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A legal dispute has arisen between a California couple and their surrogate from Alaska over care for a newborn with a serious heart defect. The surrogate gave birth in Texas, where officials and courts have ordered hospitals to provide life-saving treatment for the baby, despite the couple’s wish to terminate the pregnancy earlier.
Key Facts
The surrogate, McKenna West, gave birth to a baby boy with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (a severe heart condition) in Texas.
The California couple, Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar, say West breached their surrogacy contract and have a restraining order keeping her from contacting the baby.
The couple wanted to end the pregnancy at 20 weeks after the heart defect diagnosis, but West changed her mind.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened to ensure the baby receives life-sustaining care at Texas hospitals.
West and her supporters, including anti-abortion groups, moved the birth to Texas, a state with strict abortion laws.
The baby’s medical care will begin in Texas despite the couple’s preference for treatment in California.
The surrogate’s legal team includes the conservative Christian group Alliance Defending Freedom.
The case highlights conflicts over surrogacy agreements, medical decisions, and the influence of state abortion laws.
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Luigi Mangione is accused of killing Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, in New York. Mangione's lawyers are talking with federal prosecutors about a possible plea deal, while he faces both federal and state charges and has pleaded not guilty.
Key Facts
Luigi Mangione is accused of killing Brian Thompson, CEO of United Healthcare.
The incident happened in New York.
Mangione faces two federal charges of stalking that resulted in death.
Each federal charge could carry a life sentence.
It is not clear which charges are being discussed in the plea talks.
Mangione also faces a separate state trial related to Thompson’s death.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges so far.
His lawyers are preparing to meet federal prosecutors for a possible plea agreement.
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The University of Michigan will use a pass/fail grading system for students in their first semester of college. This change is meant to help new students adjust to college without the pressure of regular letter grades.
Key Facts
The pass/fail system applies only to first-semester freshmen.
Students will not receive letter grades, only a pass or fail mark.
This policy aims to ease the transition from high school to college.
It may reduce stress and encourage learning without grade pressure.
The change is part of the university’s effort to support student success early on.
Detailed plans and guidelines about the system were recently shared by the university.
This grading system is new and different from the traditional point-based grading approach.
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A Texas judge ruled that some Americans do not need to register short-barreled rifles, shotguns, and silencers with the federal government. The Trump administration chose not to stop this ruling, so it is now in effect.
Key Facts
The ruling allows ownership of certain firearms and silencers without federal registration.
The types of weapons affected are short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and silencers.
Registration is usually required by federal law for these items.
This change comes after a Texas judge’s decision.
The Trump administration did not ask to pause or block the judge’s ruling.
The ruling affects how federal gun laws are enforced for these weapons.
CBS News legal expert Jessica Levinson has provided analysis on the ruling.
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Democratic Party leaders are meeting in Austin, Texas, to decide the schedule for their 2028 presidential primary elections. They are likely to approve South Carolina as the state to hold the first primary, although some other states want to change this plan.
Key Facts
Democratic leaders are meeting in Austin, Texas, this week.
The meeting's purpose is to finalize the 2028 Democratic presidential primary calendar.
South Carolina is expected to be chosen as the first state to hold a primary election.
Other states are pushing back against the plan to give South Carolina the first primary.
The primary calendar decides the order and timing of state primaries for selecting the party's presidential candidate.
This decision affects how candidates campaign and compete for voter support.
The Democratic Party holds primary elections to choose their nominee for president.
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President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to stop using the new electromagnetic catapult system on aircraft carriers and to return to the older steam-powered catapult system. Officials say this change could increase costs and affect aircraft carrier programs.
Key Facts
President Trump issued the order on Thursday.
The directive is to remove the electromagnetic catapult system from Navy aircraft carriers.
The Navy currently uses the electromagnetic system to launch fighter planes.
The older catapult system uses steam power to launch aircraft.
Experts warn that switching back could increase the cost of aircraft carriers.
This change affects Ford-class aircraft carriers, including the USS Doris Miller.
The electromagnetic catapult is a newer technology designed to improve aircraft launches.
The switch represents a significant shift in Navy technology and operations.
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A video shows an ICE agent in Virginia pointing a gun at a woman, saying she nearly hit him and other agents with her car. The woman says she did not try to hit anyone, and the Department of Homeland Security supports the agent’s actions.
Key Facts
An ICE agent pointed a gun at a woman during a confrontation in Virginia.
The agent claimed the woman almost ran over him and his team with her car.
The woman denies trying to hit the agents with her vehicle.
The Department of Homeland Security defended the ICE agent’s behavior.
The incident was recorded on video and shared publicly.
CBS News covered the story and provided analysis by reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez.
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A federal prosecutor confirmed that a white crystal-like substance found in the van of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Texas man shot by immigration officers, was not methamphetamine. Salgado Araujo was killed during a chase by ICE officers, and his family says the substance was a homemade hydration mix.
Key Facts
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot and killed on July 7 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Houston.
ICE officers pursued Salgado Araujo in unmarked vehicles before shooting him through the van window.
A white crystal-like substance found in Salgado Araujo’s van tested negative for methamphetamine.
The family’s attorney said the substance was a homemade electrolyte mix used to stay hydrated.
Salgado Araujo was a Mexican national living without legal status for 35 years and ran a homebuilding business.
The Department of Homeland Security claimed Salgado Araujo tried to use his vehicle to run over an ICE officer, but witnesses said officers were never in front of or behind the van.
ICE officers were actually pursuing two Guatemalan men in a similar van, not Salgado Araujo.
The family and legal representatives say the government tried to create a false story about the incident.
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President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy to stop using the new electromagnetic system (EMALS) for launching jets from aircraft carriers and to return to the older steam catapult system. This change will affect the fourth Ford-class carrier, the USS Doris Miller, and could cost billions and require more sailors to operate the ships.
Key Facts
President Trump wants the Navy to remove the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) from its newest carriers.
The directive calls for plans to be presented within two months.
The move will shift back to steam-powered catapults, a system Trump favors.
Replacing EMALS is expected to be expensive and harder to maintain.
The USS Doris Miller carrier will be the first to undergo this change.
Other Ford-class carriers like USS Gerald R. Ford will keep the electromagnetic system.
The company General Atomics warned this change could cause delays and higher costs.
The decision comes as the Pentagon seeks funding for various military needs and ongoing conflicts.
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Three U.S. states—Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Alabama—executed inmates on the same day for the first time since 2010. This reflects a recent increase in executions nationwide, with 47 people put to death in 11 states during 2025.
Key Facts
Tennessee executed Anthony Darrell Hines for a 1985 murder of a motel maid.
Oklahoma executed Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez for killing his girlfriend in 2003.
Alabama executed a man for killing a 5-year-old girl he paid her mother to abuse.
Three executions in one day is unusual and last happened on January 7, 2010.
Eleven states carried out 47 executions in 2025, the highest yearly total since 2009.
So far in 2026, 21 executions have occurred with more planned.
Florida led with 12 executions in 2026 and had two executions on one day in July.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis oversaw a record 19 executions in 2025, the most by any Florida governor since 1976.
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Erica Schwartz has been sworn in as the new director of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). She now faces a challenge because President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to change the rules about vaccines for children.
Key Facts
Erica Schwartz became the CDC director on Thursday.
President Trump has issued an executive order related to childhood vaccine policy.
Schwartz’s first major task as CDC director involves this new vaccine policy.
The executive order aims to change existing vaccine requirements for children.
The CDC plays a key role in public health and vaccine recommendations.
Changes to vaccine policy may affect schools, healthcare, and families.
The situation is an early test of Schwartz’s leadership at the CDC.
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A judge dismissed the case against six Nevada Republicans accused of submitting a false certificate claiming President Trump won Nevada’s 2020 presidential election. The court found no proof they intended to deceive officials, and similar cases in other states have also been dropped.
Key Facts
Six Nevada Republicans were charged with forgery for submitting a false 2020 election certificate claiming a Trump win.
The certificate was created after President Biden won Nevada by over 30,000 votes.
Defendants said their actions were political statements, not attempts to deceive government officials.
Nevada Judge Mary Kay Holthus ruled there was no evidence the defendants intended fraud.
The case was dismissed due to lack of proof and failure to provide certain evidence to the grand jury.
Similar fake elector cases in Michigan, Georgia, and Arizona have also been dismissed or paused.
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford plans to appeal the dismissal.
These legal efforts relate to attempts to challenge the 2020 election results after President Biden’s victory.
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President Donald Trump has announced tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones and drone parts, citing concerns over national security and the need to reduce the United States' dependence on foreign suppliers. The tariffs will affect imports from both allies and other countries and will take effect within 21 days for most products.
Key Facts
President Trump will impose a 100% tariff on larger drones with sensitive national security features.
Smaller drones will face a 25% tariff.
Drones and parts from the European Union, Japan, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Switzerland, and Taiwan will have a 15% tariff.
The UK will face a 10% tariff on drone imports.
The tariffs aim to address security risks and reduce reliance on foreign drone suppliers.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick found that drone imports are substantial and pose security and safety concerns.
Tariffs on less sensitive drone components will start 180 days after the proclamation.
Certain approved products may have delayed tariff enforcement based on Pentagon and Federal Communications Commission exemptions.
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The Kennedy Center's board of trustees voted to restore President Donald Trump's name on the building in Washington, D.C. This decision came months after a judge had ordered the name's removal. The board includes several supporters of President Trump.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center is a performing arts venue located in Washington, D.C.
The board of trustees oversees the Kennedy Center's decisions and policies.
The board voted to put President Trump's name back on the building.
A judge had previously ordered the removal of President Trump's name from the building.
The board includes multiple allies who support President Donald Trump.
The vote took place on a Thursday.
CBS News reported the event and provided coverage through reporter Olivia Rinaldi.
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Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare, is reportedly discussing a plea deal with federal prosecutors. A plea deal is an agreement where the accused may plead guilty to a lesser charge to avoid a trial.
Key Facts
Luigi Mangione is accused of killing Brian Thompson.
Brian Thompson was the CEO of United Healthcare.
The case is a federal murder case, meaning it is handled by the federal government.
Mangione is currently in talks about a plea deal.
A plea deal involves admitting guilt to receive a lesser sentence or charge.
The information comes from CBS News sources.
The report was shared by CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman.
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