Politics

Paxton breaks with Texas GOP with ‘strong’ IVF support

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is splitting with the state GOP over in vitro fertilization after it became a line of attack in his battleground Senate race.

Kennedy Center says it's still weighing whether to carry out a "partial closure"

Washington — The Trump administration told a federal judge late Friday that the Kennedy Center is still weighing whether to offer a full slate of performances or more limited programming over the coming months, as the government grapples with a court order requiring the institution to stay open.

Israel and Hezbollah renew ceasefire after deadly flareup disrupts opening of Iran talks

JD Vance pulls out of US-Iran meeting in Switzerland on implementation of peace deal after clashes in southern Lebanon

Trump news at a glance: Israel-Hezbollah clashes ground Vance trip; Qatar jet is new Air Force One

US-Iran meeting in Switzerland cancelled because of Lebanon fighting; Trump unveils new Air Force One – key US politics stories from Friday 19 June at a glance

Mamdani-backed candidate declines to say if murderers should get jail time

New York democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier this week declined to say if her House campaign supports sending murderers to jail.

Company owned by Trump donor won $1.7 million no-bid Reflecting Pool cleaning contract

Updated on: June 19, 2026 / 8:02 PM EDT / CBS News

Israel 'committed' to Hezbollah ceasefire but will stay in Lebanon

Israel and Hezbollah renewed their ceasefire on Friday, but Jerusalem will continue to hold a security presence in Lebanon aimed at targeting the country’s terrorist group, according to officials.

Trump unveils new Air Force One, a converted Qatari 747

New craft, called VC-25B Bridge, had provoked protest since $400m jet wildly exceeds limit on unsolicited gifts

Iran Latest: Israel and Hezbollah agree to Lebanon truce, officials say, as fighting delays U.S.-Iran talks

Updated on: June 19, 2026 / 6:34 PM EDT / CBS News

Judge blocks DOJ from releasing Biden's conversations with biographer for 3 weeks

Updated on: June 19, 2026 / 6:15 PM EDT / CBS News

Democratic socialist candidate's giveaway raises election law concerns

Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old democratic socialist running for Congress, is pushing an ice cream giveaway for early voters in New York’s 13th Congressional District, raising eyebrows as a legally dubious campaign effort.

Trump reiterates criticism of Meloni over lack of help with Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump restated his claim that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged” to take a picture with him at the G7 Summit in France this week.