The Kennedy Center board decided to put President Donald Trump's name back on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This action goes against a judge's earlier decision that only Congress can change the center's name, and that Trump's name should be removed.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center board made the decision on Thursday.
They voted to add President Trump's name back to the building.
A federal judge ruled in May that only Congress can change the center’s name.
The judge also ordered that Trump's name be removed.
The removal process was finished in June.
The board’s decision challenges the judge’s ruling.
This is breaking news and may be updated later.
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The Kennedy Center board voted to close the center for two years to make renovations. They also decided to add President Donald Trump’s name back to the building’s facade.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center is a famous cultural center in Washington, D.C.
The board plans to close the center for two years to perform renovations.
The board voted to add President Donald Trump’s name again to the front of the building.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democratic member and ex-officio board member, announced the vote.
This decision was made on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
The action is part of ongoing developments at the Kennedy Center.
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A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump’s administration that accused Harvard University of not protecting Jewish students during pro-Gaza protests. The judge said the incidents described were too rare to prove ongoing violations of civil rights law.
Key Facts
The Trump administration sued Harvard for allegedly ignoring anti-Jewish discrimination during 2023 protests on campus.
The lawsuit claimed Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination in federally funded programs.
Judge Richard Stearns ruled there was no evidence Harvard broke civil rights laws because the incidents were isolated.
President Trump previously tried to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard over this issue, but a judge blocked that action.
Other universities like Columbia, Northwestern, and Cornell settled similar lawsuits with the Trump administration.
Critics say the administration mixed up criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism and used this to limit pro-Palestine speech.
Some protesters and advocates have faced immigration enforcement actions related to their protest involvement.
A report by the American Association of University Professors said the administration used civil rights laws to restrict free speech on campuses.
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England’s A-level exam results showed record high top grades overall, but with a large and growing gap between London students and those in other regions. London had much higher rates of top grades compared to places like the East Midlands and the north-east, highlighting regional differences in educational opportunity.
Key Facts
Nearly one-third (32.7%) of A-level students in London earned top grades (A* or A), up 6 percentage points from last year.
Less than a quarter (23.1%) of students in the East Midlands earned A* or A grades, slightly down from 23.8% last year.
The gap in top grades between London and the north-east is now 9.6 percentage points, much larger than the pre-pandemic gap of 3.9 points in 2019.
The gap in A* grades between London and other regions increased from 2 points in 2019 to 5.1 points in 2026.
Experts say the disparities show that talent is spread evenly across the country but opportunities are not.
Programs like London Challenge and regional improvement teams aim to raise standards in lower-performing areas.
Schools in disadvantaged areas face more challenges such as higher public service pressure and special needs demands.
Officials call for a long-term strategy addressing education, health, transport, and economic opportunities to reduce regional gaps.
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A federal judge in Boston dismissed a lawsuit from President Donald Trump's administration that accused Harvard University of not protecting Jewish students from harassment. The judge said the government did not prove ongoing civil rights violations, as the reported incidents were isolated and did not show a persistent problem.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed by President Trump’s administration in March 2024.
It claimed Harvard failed to stop harassment of Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests after Hamas’ October 2023 attacks on Israel.
The judge ruled that the incidents happened but were too isolated to prove a legal violation of civil rights law.
The government aimed to recover billions of dollars in federal research funds given to Harvard since October 2023.
Harvard stated it cares about its Jewish and Israeli students and has policies to prevent harassment and discrimination.
This lawsuit is part of several actions by the Trump administration against Harvard, including funding cuts and restrictions on student enrollments.
In a separate case, a judge ordered the Trump administration to restore $2.6 billion in research funding that was previously cut.
That earlier ruling found the administration’s actions were unconstitutional and politically motivated.
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Luigi Mangione is expected to enter a guilty plea in a federal court case related to the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The official announcement is set for a hearing on Friday, but the situation could change before then.
Key Facts
Luigi Mangione is accused of murdering United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024, in New York City.
Mangione was captured in Pennsylvania after a five-day search.
He faces both state and federal charges including murder and weapons violations.
Some major charges, like first-degree murder and terrorism, have been dismissed in both state and federal cases.
The federal trial was scheduled for January 5, but a guilty plea may be announced on Friday at 11 a.m.
The state trial is planned to start on September 8, 2026.
Neither the prosecution nor defense teams have made public comments about the plea.
Judges overseeing the cases are Margaret Garnett (federal) and Gregory Carro (state).
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President Donald Trump signed an order to separate the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual shots. Medical experts say the combined MMR vaccine, used since 1971, is safe and effective, and splitting it could cause more missed vaccinations during a serious measles outbreak.
Key Facts
The MMR vaccine combines protection against measles, mumps, and rubella in a single shot and has been used since 1971.
President Trump’s executive order suggests giving the three vaccines separately in different doctor visits.
Doctors and public health experts say no evidence shows the separated shots are safer than the combined one.
Splitting the vaccine into three shots would increase the number of injections and doctor visits needed.
More visits and shots could lead to children missing vaccinations, especially during the worst measles outbreak in over 30 years.
The combined MMR vaccine triggers the same immune response as the three separate vaccines.
The vaccine’s combination overcomes challenges of mixing different virus strains safely in one shot.
Health groups have long recommended two doses of the MMR vaccine to ensure full protection in children.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the reports about poor conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln are not accurate. There have been news stories about sailors facing low morale, supply problems, and mental health issues during a difficult deployment.
Key Facts
The USS Abraham Lincoln is an aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy.
Reports said sailors have tried to jump overboard due to tough conditions.
Problems mentioned included supply shortages and contaminated water.
Concerns about the sailors’ mental health were also reported.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called these reports “completely misrepresented.”
Hegseth did not directly answer questions about the reported supply and water issues.
The situation has raised attention about life aboard U.S. Navy ships during deployments.
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A new poll shows Democrat Xavier Becerra leading Republican Steve Hilton by 18 points in the race for California governor. Becerra and Hilton will compete in the November election to replace Governor Gavin Newsom, who cannot run for a third term.
Key Facts
Xavier Becerra leads Steve Hilton 55% to 37% in a recent University of California Berkeley poll.
The poll surveyed 2,310 likely voters in early August with a 2.5% margin of error.
Becerra was previously California’s attorney general and served in President Biden’s administration as Health and Human Services secretary.
Hilton is a conservative commentator and former adviser to UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
Becerra has strong support from Democrats (88%) and independents (58%), while Hilton has strong support from Republicans (91%).
Other recent polls show Becerra leading by around 25 points over Hilton.
Prediction markets estimate Becerra’s chance of winning at over 90%.
California has more registered Democrats than Republicans, making it challenging for Republicans to win statewide elections.
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A new poll shows Texas could have very close races this November for key statewide offices. The Republican hold on Texas faces challenges in the Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico, and in the governor’s race between Greg Abbott and Gina Hinojosa.
Key Facts
Texas has not elected a Democrat to statewide office since 1994.
The Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico is currently very close.
The governor’s race between Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Gina Hinojosa is also tight.
Greg Abbott, allied with President Donald Trump, seeks a fourth term as governor.
Democrats see Texas as a possible swing state due to population changes and national political trends.
Ken Paxton is Texas attorney general and has faced legal issues.
James Talarico is a state representative and former middle school teacher.
Experts caution that despite the close polls, Democrats have not won statewide Texas races in decades.
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The Kennedy Center board has decided to close the performing arts venue for two years to carry out major renovation work. Some outdoor events might still happen during the closure.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center will close for two years to allow substantial renovations.
Some outdoor programs at the Kennedy Center may continue during this time.
The board voted on this decision recently.
Paolo Zampolli, a board member, confirmed the vote to PBS News.
The board mostly includes allies of President Donald Trump.
The renovation period is twice as long as originally planned.
Leaders say the closure is needed to improve safety.
Some people are worried that the renovations could reflect changes linked to President Trump’s vision for Washington.
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A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump’s administration against Harvard University. The lawsuit claimed Harvard did not stop harassment of Jewish students during protests, but the judge said there was not enough proof of ongoing civil rights violations.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed in March 2024 by President Trump’s administration.
It accused Harvard of ignoring harassment against Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023.
The judge said the reported incidents were isolated and not enough to show a persistent problem.
The administration wanted to recover billions of dollars in federal research grants given to Harvard since October 2023.
Harvard said it works to protect Jewish and Israeli students and enforces anti-harassment rules.
The lawsuit is part of several government actions against Harvard since President Trump returned to office in 2024.
Another judge reversed funding cuts to Harvard, ruling the government used antisemitism claims unfairly against the university.
The legal fight involves issues like federal funding and Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students and military members.
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The UK government is thinking about paying higher rents to landlords to spread out housing for asylum seekers across different areas. This aims to avoid having most asylum accommodation only in poorer regions where rent is cheapest.
Key Facts
The UK government plans to raise limits on rent payments to landlords for housing asylum seekers.
More asylum seekers would be housed in private rentals instead of expensive hotels or military barracks.
The change would support spreading asylum accommodation fairly across the country, not just in low-rent, deprived areas.
Refugee charities and local councils want more involvement and resources to support asylum seekers properly.
Officials say the move is still cheaper than using hotels, with hotel use already reduced by over 60% since 2023.
A government spokesperson says asylum support costs have dropped by £1 billion since the last election.
Some politicians argue that choosing locations for asylum accommodation should balance cost and taxpayer interests.
The policy is part of broader efforts to reduce the impact of asylum housing on specific communities.
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The Trump White House reported that U.S. tariff revenue is being reduced by $19 billion to $26 billion each year because some countries send their goods through other nations to avoid tariffs. China used this tactic by shipping products to countries like Mexico and Malaysia for minor work before exporting to the U.S., making it seem like fewer products came from China.
Key Facts
The Trump White House released a report on tariff revenue losses.
Estimated annual losses range from $19 billion to $26 billion.
Countries avoid U.S. tariffs by routing exports through third countries.
This practice is called transshipping.
China used transshipping to redirect goods through Mexico, Malaysia, and others.
The tactic made U.S. imports from China appear to decline.
Despite the appearance, China’s manufacturing sector continued growing.
This could pose challenges to U.S. factories and jobs.
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Human Rights Watch reported that the Trump administration significantly reduced federal efforts to enforce civil rights laws. Key government agencies lost staff, stopped or reversed discrimination cases, and cut back enforcement programs affecting minorities, transgender people, and others.
Key Facts
The Trump administration cut staff and changed policies in federal civil rights enforcement starting in January 2025.
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division lost 75% of its lawyers by early 2026 and dropped agreements with police departments.
Nearly 70 federal cases alleging discrimination were stopped, dismissed, or lost government support.
The Department of Education laid off about half its staff in one day and closed most of its field offices. It resolved no discrimination cases involving Black and Latino students since Trump took office.
Housing and Urban Development reduced staff in its division on racial discrimination and dropped at least 115 fair housing complaints without findings.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had its lowest staffing in 40 years for handling workplace discrimination claims.
Human Rights Watch and other groups sued the Trump administration over its sanctions against the International Criminal Court, citing concerns about US constitutional rights.
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A federal judge in Massachusetts dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against Harvard University. The lawsuit claimed Harvard did not protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment, but the judge said the incidents were limited and not enough to prove ongoing discrimination.
Key Facts
The Trump administration filed the lawsuit in March 2024.
The Justice Department accused Harvard of not protecting Jewish and Israeli students after a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Harvard was accused of allowing a hostile environment with severe harassment during protests against Israel.
The government claimed Harvard knowingly failed to stop this harassment.
The judge ruled the incidents were isolated and did not show ongoing discrimination against students.
No new incidents were reported after the government notified Harvard about the problem.
The lawsuit asked for billions of dollars in federal funding to be taken away from Harvard.
The judge granted Harvard’s motion to dismiss the case and ended the lawsuit.
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Two sources told CBS News that a sailor went overboard from the USS Lincoln last month but was rescued safely. Some family members are worried about the conditions on the ship.
Key Facts
A sailor from the USS Lincoln went overboard last month.
The sailor was pulled from the water safely.
Family members have expressed concerns about the ship’s conditions.
The information comes from two separate sources speaking to CBS News.
The USS Lincoln is an active U.S. Navy ship.
CBS News reporter Reed Cowan covered the story.
The family concerns prompted CBS News to investigate the situation on the ship.
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The U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) changed its rules about travel for immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The new ruling says that traveling abroad with advance parole, a temporary travel permit, can count as leaving the country and might cause legal problems for some applying for green cards.
Key Facts
The BIA overturned a 2012 decision that protected DACA recipients from certain penalties when traveling with advance parole.
Advance parole allows some immigrants, including DACA recipients, to travel outside the U.S. temporarily while their immigration status is being reviewed.
The new ruling means that travel on advance parole may be treated as a full departure under immigration law.
This can trigger three- or ten-year bars that prevent some immigrants from reentering or adjusting their status.
The ruling will only apply to cases filed after the decision date to avoid penalizing those who relied on the old rule.
DACA recipients with prior unlawful presence will now need to apply for a waiver when seeking permanent residency after traveling on advance parole.
The change is part of broader Trump administration efforts to tighten immigration rules for legal immigrants and applicants.
Immigrants still need to prove their travel is for approved reasons like education, work, or humanitarian needs to get advance parole.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces criticism over conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at sea for over 200 days, and concerns about low munitions supplies. Despite these issues and low approval ratings, betting markets predict he is likely to remain in President Donald Trump’s administration for now.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth is the Defense Secretary under President Donald Trump.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed continuously for more than 200 days, the longest for its type.
Sailors on the ship have reported poor conditions, including lack of hygiene supplies and mental health struggles.
Some sailors may have tried to go overboard due to stress on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Several Democratic members of Congress have called for investigations and oversight of the ship's conditions.
Public polls show Hegseth has a very low approval rating, tied with the president in some surveys.
Prediction markets estimate a low chance (around 5% to 24%) that Hegseth will leave the administration soon.
The Navy states that mental health professionals are available to sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
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Senate Democratic lawmakers are asking Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin about buying 12 new planes, including five expensive luxury jets. These planes have been used by top officials like FBI Director Kash Patel and border official Tom Homan, but Congress never approved the purchase.
Key Facts
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bought 12 new aircraft.
Five of these planes are described as very expensive luxury jets.
The jets have been flown by FBI Director Kash Patel and border official Tom Homan.
Senate Democratic appropriators are raising concerns about the purchase.
Congress was not asked to approve or authorize the plane purchases beforehand.
The questioning is directed at Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The issue is about using government funds without proper legislative oversight.
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