President Donald Trump announced that Karoline Leavitt will leave her role as White House press secretary at the end of the month. She plans to spend more time with her family but will continue working as an outside advisor.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is stepping down as White House press secretary.
The departure will take effect at the end of the month.
President Trump shared the news on Truth Social.
Leavitt is leaving to spend more time with her children and family.
She will take on a new position as an outside advisor.
Trump described Leavitt as an important voice in the Republican Party.
She will help the party prepare for the upcoming midterm elections.
The announcement is part of ongoing changes in the White House staff.
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President Donald Trump announced that Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, will leave her position at the end of the month. She decided to step down to focus on her family.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt serves as the White House press secretary.
President Trump made the announcement on TruthSocial.
Leavitt will step down at the end of this month.
Her reason for leaving is to focus on her family.
The change affects the White House communications team.
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President Donald Trump announced that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her job at the end of the month. She is stepping down to spend more time with her young children and family.
Key Facts
Karoline Leavitt is the White House press secretary.
She will leave her role at the end of August 2026.
President Trump shared the news on social media.
Leavitt is leaving to focus on her family and children.
The announcement was made publicly on August 12, 2026.
Leavitt gave a briefing at the White House on July 23, 2026.
The story is still developing with possible updates later.
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The U.S. Justice Department charged 11 people in connection with a marriage fraud scheme. The scheme allegedly helped Chinese nationals gain permanent U.S. residency through fake marriages over about ten years.
Key Facts
The Justice Department announced the charges on a Wednesday.
The case involves 11 individuals accused of participating in marriage fraud.
The scheme lasted for roughly ten years and involved millions of dollars.
The fraud helped Chinese nationals obtain permanent residence in the United States.
The indictments were filed in the Southern District of New York.
Federal prosecutors described the plot as extensive and organized.
The scheme centered on sham, or fake, marriages to bypass immigration rules.
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Palestinian students, faculty, and alumni have filed a lawsuit against Columbia University. They claim the university created a hostile environment and unfairly disciplined them after the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed on Monday in New York County court.
Four students and one faculty member are the plaintiffs.
They accuse Columbia University of discrimination against Palestinian members.
The alleged discrimination followed the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The lawsuit claims the university targeted Palestinians with disciplinary actions.
The plaintiffs say the school created a hostile atmosphere on campus.
This legal action involves students, faculty, and alumni connected to Columbia University.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the "anti-weaponization" fund he had proposed before and then canceled will not be restarted. He made this clear during a press conference about new indictments involving fake marriage schemes.
Key Facts
Attorney General Todd Blanche proposed an "anti-weaponization" fund but later canceled it.
Blanche said the fund is now "dead" and will not be brought back.
The comment came during a Department of Justice press conference.
The DOJ announced indictments of 11 people accused of using fake marriages to break the law.
Blanche responded directly to questions about the fund’s future during this event.
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The U.S. government is using hundreds of drones to help find and stop the spread of flesh-eating screwworm infestations in animals in South Texas and New Mexico. These drones use thermal cameras to spot sick animals early, supporting efforts to control this parasite that can seriously harm livestock and wildlife.
Key Facts
The New World Screwworm is a parasite larva that eats living flesh and can cause severe injury or death in animals and humans.
Since June, about 200 drones from the Department of Homeland Security and the USDA have flown over areas in Texas and New Mexico to look for screwworm signs.
The USDA has conducted over 1,000 drone flights and checked more than 22,000 animals.
As of August 12, there were 45 confirmed cases of screwworm infestation, mostly in cattle and sheep, but also in dogs and a goat.
The main drone used is the Skydio X10, equipped with thermal cameras that detect warm spots from animal fevers caused by infections.
Early morning flights make it easier for drones to spot animals against cooler ground.
The USDA is researching AI to help analyze drone images for wounds and abnormal animal behavior.
Besides drones, the USDA uses stationary cameras and fly traps, though fly traps have not detected screwworm flies yet.
The main method to stop screwworm spread is releasing sterile male flies, which reduces the wild fly population; this method had previously eliminated screwworms from the U.S. but the flies returned in 2022.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s diet, which focuses on meat and fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, as "crazy." Rubio and his wife spoke about this during an interview on a podcast hosted by the wife of a White House official.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio is Secretary of State.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy Jr.’s diet centers on eating mostly meat and fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut.
Rubio called this diet "crazy."
Rubio made this comment during a podcast interview.
The podcast is hosted by Katie Miller, married to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
The discussion took place in the United States government context.
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced she plans to freeze her eggs to preserve her ability to have children in the future. A 2025 report by Lesley Stahl on CBS News explained that egg freezing can help some women have children later, but it is expensive and does not always work.
Key Facts
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared on social media her decision to freeze her eggs.
Egg freezing is a medical procedure that preserves eggs for future use.
The process can help women have children later in life.
It can be costly and is not always successful.
Lesley Stahl reported on egg freezing for CBS News in 2025.
The report highlighted both positive outcomes and limits of egg freezing.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing growing opposition from Democratic Senate candidates and some current senators who say he should not lead the party after November. Many progressive Democrats are supporting other leaders and campaigning against Schumer’s leadership.
Key Facts
Several Democratic Senate nominees, including Peggy Flanagan (Minnesota), Abdul El-Sayed (Michigan), Juliana Stratton (Illinois), and Troy Jackson (Maine), oppose Schumer’s leadership.
Some current Democratic senators, like Elissa Slotkin (Michigan), also express doubts about Schumer.
Criticism increased after Schumer supported a Republican-backed funding bill in early 2025, which upset progressive Democrats.
More than 50 progressive groups called for Schumer to step down following a 43-day government shutdown deal in 2025.
Democratic candidates who oppose Schumer have been winning primaries across several states.
These candidates support other potential leaders, notably Senator Chris Van Hollen and Senator Bernie Sanders.
Schumer has acknowledged the criticism but says the party is united and has not confirmed if he will run for another term in 2028.
Despite disputes, Schumer has campaigned alongside some challengers to help Democrats try to win back the Senate.
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has a slightly higher chance than Gavin Newsom of winning the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 according to Polymarket. Ocasio-Cortez's chance is 18%, while Newsom's chance is 17%.
Key Facts
Polymarket is a platform that estimates political chances based on predictions.
Ocasio-Cortez currently has an 18% chance to win the Democratic nomination in 2028.
Gavin Newsom has a 17% chance of winning the same nomination.
This means Ocasio-Cortez is seen as the frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic nomination on this platform.
The numbers reflect public or market predictions, not official polls or votes.
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Students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-level, T-level, and BTec exam results. Many are expected to secure places at their preferred universities despite ongoing debates about the cost of higher education and the value of technical qualifications.
Key Facts
Hundreds of thousands of students will get A-level, T-level, and BTec results on Thursday morning.
Around 40% of 18-year-olds in England take A-levels each summer.
About 250,000 grades for vocational and technical qualifications will also be released.
Last year, 28.3% of A-level grades across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland were top marks (A* or A).
Approximately 41% of UK 18-year-olds applied to university by the end of June this year.
There is growing public debate about student loan repayments and the cost of university.
Vocational education is being promoted alongside academic study, with new qualifications coming in the next few years.
Some universities still face financial difficulties despite rising tuition fees, partly due to fewer international students.
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A Los Angeles grand jury has indicted Nick Reiner on murder charges for killing his parents, actor Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. The indictment says Nick Reiner was lying in wait before stabbing them to death in their home.
Key Facts
Nick Reiner, 32 years old, was indicted on July 20 and pleaded not guilty.
Rob Reiner was an actor and director; Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer and producer.
The couple was killed on December 14 in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home.
The indictment accuses Nick Reiner of lying in wait before the attack.
The crime involved the use of a knife, resulting in stabbings.
The indictment allows prosecutors to skip a preliminary hearing.
Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.
Details like motive and how Nick Reiner planned the attack remain secret.
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President Donald Trump is facing a lawsuit over a new service from his company, Trump Media & Technology, that charges Wall Street firms to get early access to his posts about U.S. policy. The lawsuit claims this service violates the Constitution by giving some people special priority access to official announcements.
Key Facts
Trump Media & Technology launched a paid subscription service offering early access to the president’s posts on U.S. policy.
Wall Street firms are charged up to $100,000 per month for faster access to these posts.
The lawsuit argues this practice violates the First Amendment, which protects equal public access to government information.
It also claims a violation of the Fifth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable charges for government benefits.
The service allows six hours of exclusive access to the posts before they appear elsewhere.
Trump Media says selling early access is common and accuses the lawsuit of trying to censor the president.
Trump’s company has recently lost hundreds of millions of dollars each quarter, and its stock price has dropped significantly since going public.
Ethics groups have criticized Trump’s use of Truth Social to profit from the presidency, including from cryptocurrency-related ventures.
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A small town in Kansas agreed to pay $850,000 to settle a lawsuit from a reporter over a 2023 police raid on her newspaper’s office. The reporter said the raid violated press freedoms and caused her serious health problems. The settlement ends one of several lawsuits related to the raid.
Key Facts
The town of Marion, Kansas, will pay $850,000 to former reporter Phyllis Zorn to end her federal lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims a 2023 police raid on the Marion County Record newspaper office violated constitutional press freedoms and protections against unreasonable searches.
Zorn said the raid caused her to suffer seizures that had been controlled for years.
The raid brought national attention to Marion, a small town of about 1,900 people.
The Marion Police Chief, Gideon Cody, initiated the raid investigating alleged identity theft, but legal experts said the raid was not justified.
Cody resigned after the raid and later faced felony obstruction of justice charges for allegedly trying to influence a witness.
In November, Marion agreed to pay over $3 million total to settle five lawsuits connected to this incident.
Some legal claims remain pending, with a pretrial hearing scheduled for October 15.
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US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to buy gloves that can deliver electric shocks to help officers make arrests. These gloves, called GLOVE, can deliver up to 380 volts and record when they are used. The Department of Homeland Security says the gloves will be used carefully and within law enforcement rules.
Key Facts
ICE is planning to spend up to $20 million to buy electric shock gloves called GLOVE.
The gloves can deliver up to 380 volts, about three times a normal US power outlet.
The gloves are activated by pressing a button and can deliver up to 30 shocks per second.
They have built-in microprocessors to record every use of the shocks.
Users should avoid using the gloves on elderly people, small children, pregnant women, and severely disabled individuals.
The gloves will be used by officers in Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO).
Some civil rights groups have raised concerns about the use of these gloves by law enforcement.
ICE has faced criticism for its use of force and deaths during immigration enforcement operations.
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The U.S. Justice Department arrested Heidi Beirich, a former finance officer for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), charging her with financial crimes related to the SPLC’s informant program. The SPLC is accused of money laundering and misleading donors in a case connected to its efforts against far-right extremism.
Key Facts
Heidi Beirich was arrested on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, false statements, and money laundering.
She previously served as the chief financial officer of the SPLC.
The Justice Department charged the SPLC in April for running a program that paid informants to infiltrate white supremacist groups.
Authorities say the SPLC laundered money through fake accounts to protect informants’ identities.
The SPLC denies the charges and claims they are politically motivated.
Beirich is now a leader at the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism and testified before Congress about far-right groups.
Prosecutors allege Beirich had a relationship with an informant and shared $140,000 of donor money in a joint account.
A federal judge allowed the case to continue after rejecting the SPLC’s request to dismiss it as vindictive prosecution.
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Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed asked his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, to settle their differences by playing a football game instead of having a political debate. Rogers had criticized El-Sayed’s opinions about football during a recent Fox News interview.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
Mike Rogers is a former Republican Congressman running against El-Sayed.
Rogers criticized El-Sayed’s views on football on Fox News.
El-Sayed responded by challenging Rogers to play a football game instead of debating.
The challenge reflects a public disagreement between the two candidates on the subject of football.
This event is part of the ongoing campaign for the Michigan Senate seat.
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Senator Mitch McConnell has been absent from the Senate and public view for over two months due to health issues following a fall and hospitalization. His opponents and some Kentuckians are urging for more transparency about his condition as he continues recovery at home.
Key Facts
Mitch McConnell, 84, suffered a fall and was hospitalized for an extended period.
McConnell has not appeared publicly for about 50 days and has not participated in recent Senate votes since June 11.
He was discharged from a rehabilitation center last week and is doing physical therapy at home.
Charles Booker, a Democrat running for McConnell’s Senate seat, says people want clear information about McConnell’s health.
Booker argues McConnell should step down if he cannot perform his duties and suggests releasing videos or updates to prove his capability.
McConnell’s office confirmed he is staying in touch with staff and working remotely during recovery.
Republican Andy Barr, running against Booker, reportedly spoke with McConnell recently but has remained mostly silent about McConnell’s health.
McConnell has had multiple health problems over recent years, including falls and speech difficulties.
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