The Hill

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied President Donald Trump's request to reconsider its earlier refusal to hear his appeal of the $5 million E. Jean Carroll verdict. A 2023 civil jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll and awarded her $5 million; Trump paid the judgment including interest after the June denial. A separate $83 million defamation verdict from 2019 statements remains pending on immunity grounds.

Federal data show the national kindergarten vaccine exemption rate rose to 4.2 percent in the 2025-26 school year from 3.6 percent the prior year, with an estimated 155,000 children exempted and MMR coverage at 92.4 percent. The increase occurred in 41 states and the District of Columbia and marks the fourth consecutive annual record. The vast majority of exemptions were for nonmedical reasons.

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician from Louisiana, stated on CNN that Donald Trump's claims about MMR vaccine safety were 'crazy, stupid.' Cassidy had previously voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger after voting to convict Trump over January 6.

The Democratic National Committee approved a revised 2028 primary calendar during its summer meeting in Austin, Texas, with South Carolina scheduled first on January 22 and Nevada second on February 1. The approval occurred via voice vote on Saturday. Later primary dates for New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia were reported by a single source.

Todd Blanche, confirmed as Attorney General, stated on Meet the Press that he would investigate cases on the merits but declined to pledge the Justice Department would always operate independently of the White House. President Trump has neither requested nor will request prosecutions of specific individuals. The statements have drawn differing interpretations regarding executive influence over federal law enforcement.

Florida holds primary elections on Tuesday featuring several Democratic contests. Jared Moskowitz runs in the new 25th Congressional District against Oliver Larkin, who is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America. Debbie Wasserman Schultz faces a primary challenge in a majority-Black district under new maps, while Alex Vindman runs in a Senate primary against Angie Nixon.

Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat, criticized President Trump's handling of Iran at a campaign rally, describing it as 'uniquely despicable.' White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and other officials replied with personal attacks labeling Ossoff a 'theater kid' and 'the biggest loser in politics.' The exchange was reported by The Hill and CNN.

President Trump posted on Truth Social accusing vandals of damaging grass near the World War II Memorial after a July 4 event attended by thousands. The post included photos of brown patches on a grassy field. Supported claims confirm the accusation and event details while location and hosting claims remain unverified.

U.S. service members on the USS Abraham Lincoln have reported mental health difficulties during a deployment exceeding 200 days at sea without port calls. Fifteen senators sent a letter dated August 15 to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding conditions, while the carrier is scheduled for relief by the USS George Washington. President Trump has rejected claims of widespread family concerns over the situation.

The CDC has recorded nearly 14,000 confirmed U.S. cyclospora cases this year compared with fewer than 2,000 last year, according to The Hill. No sources have been identified. Analyses differ on whether the increase reflects regulatory gaps, import volumes, centralized supply chains, or expanded surveillance and diagnostics.

Moroccan security forces arrested 294 individuals attempting to cross from Fnideq to Ceuta on August 15, 2026, according to Africa News, with 46 identified as Moroccan nationals and 248 from sub-Saharan Africa. Italy and Spain later imposed reciprocal temporary border restrictions. A claim of 72,000 entries into Ceuta remains disputed between sources.