Some members of Congress have the ability to help candidates by attracting voters, raising money, and endorsing others during campaigns. Democrats currently have more lawmakers with strong influence on voters than Republicans, though President Trump remains the most powerful figure in Republican campaigning.
Key Facts
Lawmakers travel across the country in August to campaign for themselves and their colleagues.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are influential Democrats who draw large crowds and excite progressive voters.
Sen. Mark Kelly is popular nationwide and seen as a possible 2028 presidential candidate.
Rep. Jim Clyburn's endorsement is important for Black voters, though some of his picks have lost recent races.
On the Republican side, Sen. John Kennedy is known for his memorable style and can attract crowds and fundraisers.
Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Jim Jordan can also mobilize support and fundraising for Republican candidates.
Congressional leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson focus more on raising large donations than on voter popularity.
President Donald Trump and some Cabinet members hold more campaign influence than other Republican members of Congress.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani responded to comments made by Councilor Chi Ossé and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about changing beliefs. Mamdani said that sometimes people’s views can change over time.
Key Facts
Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke at an event for a new busway project in the Bronx.
Chi Ossé called someone "Woke 1 was crazy."
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also made a comment related to the issue.
Mamdani agreed with the idea that what people believe can evolve.
The event marked progress on the Tremont Avenue busway, which had been delayed.
All individuals mentioned are Democrats from New York City.
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The U.S. Department of Justice charged nearly a dozen people for running a scheme that used fake marriages to help hundreds of Chinese nationals get green cards illegally. The group arranged over 1,000 sham weddings, charging up to $100,000 per green card over about ten years.
Key Facts
The scheme involved fake marriages between U.S. citizens and Chinese immigrants.
U.S. citizens were paid up to $30,000 to enter these bogus marriages.
The organizers charged up to $100,000 per green card, making tens of millions of dollars.
Officials say the group arranged more than 1,000 sham weddings.
The case was described as one of the largest marriage fraud prosecutions in U.S. history.
The scheme lasted about a decade and was run from New York.
Defendants included people who performed the fake wedding ceremonies.
The charges were announced during ongoing U.S. immigration restrictions under President Donald Trump.
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Karoline Leavitt is leaving her role as White House press secretary to focus on raising her two young children. Her husband, Nicholas Riccio, is a New Hampshire real estate developer with a modest public profile who has supported her career.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary.
She is stepping down at the end of the month to devote more time to motherhood.
President Donald Trump praised her work and said she will serve as an outside advisor.
Nicholas Riccio, Leavitt’s husband, is a real estate developer from New Hampshire.
Riccio grew up in a financially unstable household and worked through college.
He started buying and renovating rundown properties in the early 2000s.
Riccio’s real estate portfolio is valued at about $6 million, including rentals in New Hampshire, Boston, and the White Mountains.
Leavitt and Riccio have a 32-year age difference but describe their relationship as a strong partnership.
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Tuesday’s primary elections took place in six U.S. states with mixed results for both Democrats and Republicans. Some progressive Democrats won their races, while others lost, and President Trump’s endorsed Republican candidates had varied outcomes.
Key Facts
Primary elections were held in six states on Tuesday.
Democratic candidates had both wins and losses, including progressives.
Some Republicans who were endorsed by President Trump won, while others did not.
The election results showed a varied picture of voter preferences.
CBS News reporters analyzed the outcomes and trends.
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has overtaken California Governor Gavin Newsom in odds on a prediction market to win the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. These markets reflect traders’ bets on who might be the nominee but do not measure actual voter support.
Key Facts
Ocasio-Cortez leads with an 18% chance on Polymarket, slightly ahead of Newsom’s 17%.
Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff is third with 16%, followed by former Vice President Kamala Harris at 8%.
Pete Buttigieg and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro each have 5% odds.
Neither Ocasio-Cortez nor Newsom has officially announced a 2028 presidential run.
Ocasio-Cortez is a progressive leader promoting policies like Medicare for All and stronger climate action.
Newsom is seen as an establishment Democrat with executive experience as California’s governor.
Prediction markets reflect traders’ bets and can change quickly based on news or speculation, not public polls.
Another prediction market, Kalshi, still ranks Newsom as the favorite with Ocasio-Cortez second.
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Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary and adviser to President Donald Trump, will leave her role at the end of the month. She plans to focus more on her family and will work outside the White House as a communications adviser for Trump’s political movement ahead of the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt has been White House press secretary since 2024 and was the youngest person appointed to this role.
President Trump praised her as one of the best in the history of the office.
Leavitt recently returned from maternity leave after having her second child in May.
She will become an outside adviser helping with communications and party strategy for Trump’s "Make America Great Again" movement.
During her time, the Trump administration changed how the White House handled media access, favoring selected journalists and new media formats like podcasts and newsletters.
These changes received mixed reactions, with some applauding the adaptation to new media and others concerned about media fairness.
Leavitt and communications director Steven Cheung worked together to shift the administration’s media approach.
Her departure comes amid reports about Trump’s travel tactics at a NATO summit in Turkey.
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Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of President George W. Bush, spoke on “TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle” about how her father’s time as president helped her get career opportunities. She said she was on the show partly because of her family background.
Key Facts
Jenna Bush Hager is the daughter of President George W. Bush.
She appeared on the show “TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle.”
She said her father’s presidency helped her career.
Bush Hager admitted she got an interview on the show because of her father.
She chose not to ask her boss directly about her family’s influence.
The discussion took place during a segment on the “TODAY” show.
Jenna Bush Hager works in media and television.
Her comments highlight how family connections can affect career opportunities.
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Several major labor unions have sued President Donald Trump’s administration over changes to the federal student loan rules. They argue the new definition of “professional degree” limits access to borrowing for important public-service fields like education, social work, and public health, making graduate education less affordable.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed by a group of unions including AFSCME, AFT, National Nurses United, and AFL-CIO.
The dispute focuses on the administration’s narrower definition of “professional degree” for a higher $200,000 federal borrowing cap.
The new rules took effect on July 1 and set a $100,000 lifetime federal loan limit for most graduate students.
Only 11 programs qualify for the $200,000 cap, excluding many public-service fields’ master’s programs.
Critics say the rule could worsen staff shortages in education, social work, and public health by making loans less accessible.
A federal court has blocked the narrowed definition while the lawsuit moves forward.
The changes force some students to rely more on private loans, which cannot be forgiven under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
The unions argue the Education Department did not follow proper procedures and unfairly excluded key public-service degree programs.
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Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter, won the Minnesota Republican Senate primary without the state party's endorsement. She will face Democrat Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in the general election.
Key Facts
Michele Tafoya won the Minnesota GOP Senate primary on Tuesday.
The state Republican Party had endorsed Adam Schwarze, but Tafoya defeated him and Royce White.
Tafoya will face Democrat Peggy Flanagan in the general election.
Minnesota has not elected a Republican to statewide office since 2006.
Tafoya worked as an NFL sideline reporter for many years and retired in 2022.
She has won multiple Sports Emmy Awards and covered four Super Bowls.
Tafoya began her Senate campaign in January, criticizing Minnesota leadership and focusing on social services fraud.
Michele Tafoya is married to Mark Vandersall, a finance professional and former college baseball player.
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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will soon use special gloves that can deliver electric shocks to assist in their law enforcement work. These gloves can deliver up to 380 volts, which is stronger than a normal US wall outlet.
Key Facts
ICE is planning to buy gloves called the Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter (GLOVE).
The gloves can deliver electric shocks of up to 380 volts.
This voltage is about three times higher than a standard US electrical outlet.
The purchase could cost up to $20 million.
Critics are concerned the gloves may increase harm to people and reduce accountability for ICE agents.
The gloves are part of ICE’s efforts during heightened tensions around immigration enforcement.
The issue has drawn public attention and debate about law enforcement tools and their impact.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order to change the way childhood vaccines are given, aiming to space out shots into separate visits instead of the current schedule. This move goes against medical experts’ advice and has drawn political attention.
Key Facts
President Trump issued an order to reduce the number of vaccines given at one time to children.
The order calls for spacing out vaccinations rather than giving multiple shots together.
Medical groups do not support this change and say the current schedule is safe.
Trump has supported this idea for many years, despite expert disagreement.
The new policy has raised political questions about why the president is focusing on vaccines now.
The order affects vaccines like the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) shot, suggesting it be split into three separate doses.
The administration had recently avoided changes to vaccine policy before this order.
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A federal lawsuit was filed against President Donald Trump for selling early access to his posts on the Truth Social platform, claiming this violates the First Amendment. The lawsuit says selling advance access to official presidential information for profit is unfair and unconstitutional.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York by Free Press groups including the Freedom of the Press Foundation and The Intercept.
It argues that President Trump is profiting by giving early access to his Truth Social posts, which contain government information.
The First Amendment guarantees equal access to the president’s public announcements, and charging for early access violates this right.
Truth Social's parent company offers a service called Truth API, selling early access to posts for up to $100,000 per month to customers.
President Trump owns a 41% stake in Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, held in a trust managed by one of his sons.
The White House has confirmed Truth Social posts are official statements from President Trump.
The Department of Justice rules say government employees cannot use their official information for personal gain.
Democrats and public watchdog groups have criticized the practice and called for investigations, including by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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An Army Apache helicopter crashed in a field near Fort Hood, Texas, killing both people on board. The crash caused a wildfire that led to the evacuation of several homes, and officials are investigating the cause.
Key Facts
The crash happened near Fort Hood, a large military base in Texas.
The helicopter involved was an AH-64 Apache, a type used by the Army.
Both people inside the helicopter died in the crash.
The crash started a wildfire that forced some local residents to leave their homes.
No homes or buildings were directly hit by the helicopter.
The cause of the crash is not yet known.
Fort Hood’s criminal investigation division is leading the crash investigation.
Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven said efforts are focused on securing the crash site and response support.
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Two people died in a military helicopter crash in central Texas near Salado. The helicopter was an AH-64 Apache from Fort Hood, and authorities are investigating the cause while managing the emergency response.
Key Facts
The crash happened around 1:33 PM local time in fields south of Salado, Texas.
Two people died at the scene of the crash.
The helicopter was a US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
The helicopter was based at Fort Hood, a large US Army base nearby.
Police found a large fire at the crash site that was spreading quickly.
The US Army is conducting an investigation and focusing on securing the crash area.
Brigadier General Ethan Diven, acting commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, expressed support for the crew’s families.
Emergency teams continue to respond to the incident.
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Carlos Palazuelos was held by police for about eight hours in February during the investigation of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance but was not charged. His lawyer wants to see the secret evidence used for the search warrant that led to Palazuelos’ detention, while the sheriff says they had enough proof to get the warrant but won't reveal details.
Key Facts
Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing.
Carlos Palazuelos, 36, was detained by Pima County Sheriff’s deputies in connection to the case.
Palazuelos was released after about eight hours and no charges were filed.
The search warrant and evidence used to detain Palazuelos remain sealed and have not been made public.
Palazuelos’ lawyer, Jesse Showalter, wants to see the warrant affidavit to understand why police targeted Palazuelos.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says investigators showed evidence to a judge to get the warrant but did not disclose what it was.
Palazuelos and family members filed a $3.25 million claim against Pima County for wrongful arrest and search.
The lawyer suspects the arrest may have been based on faulty technology like AI software or license plate cameras, but this is not confirmed.
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A student was injured in a shooting at Warner Robins High School in Georgia. The suspect was captured, and the school was secured while police investigated the incident.
Key Facts
The shooting happened on Wednesday afternoon at Warner Robins High School in Warner Robins, Georgia.
One student was hurt and taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Initial reports said two people were injured, but officials later confirmed only one.
The suspect was arrested and taken into custody by the Houston County Sheriff's Office.
The school was declared safe after deputies secured the campus.
Surrounding roads were closed, and residents were asked to avoid the area.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp thanked emergency responders for quickly handling the situation.
Warner Robins is located about 100 miles south of Atlanta in Central Georgia.
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Two people died when an Army Apache helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in a field in Salado, Texas. The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. and caused a wildfire nearby.
Key Facts
The helicopter was an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter based at Fort Hood.
Both people on board died at the crash site.
The helicopter crashed into a field, not hitting any homes or buildings.
The crash caused a wildfire that was still burning an hour later.
Fort Hood is near Killeen, Texas, about 70 miles north of Austin.
The Army is securing the crash site and supporting the response efforts.
No information has been released yet about the cause of the crash or the identities of the victims.
Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven confirmed the helicopter was based at Fort Hood and expressed concern for the crew and their families.
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A farm in Mexico connected to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an illness caused by a parasite, has not been inspected by U.S. regulators since 2019. Experts warn that the lack of recent inspections raises concerns about food safety.
Key Facts
The farm grows lettuce linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States.
Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by a parasite that can contaminate food.
U.S. regulators have not inspected this farm for about seven years.
The most recent inspection was in 2019.
Lack of inspections may increase the risk of unsafe food reaching consumers.
Dr. Kali Kniel from the University of Delaware discussed the issue on CBS News.
Regular farm inspections help prevent foodborne illnesses by ensuring hygiene and safety practices.
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The article covers key results from primary elections held on Tuesday in six states. It also reports that Karoline Leavitt is leaving her job as White House press secretary.
Key Facts
Primary elections took place in six states on Tuesday.
The article highlights important outcomes from these elections.
Karoline Leavitt is stepping down from her position as White House press secretary.
The news is part of the coverage by CBS News.
The information is presented in a segment called "The Takeout with Major Garrett."
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