The Democratic National Committee kicked off its summer meetings in Minneapolis on Monday. CBS News political editorial producer Hunter Woodall breaks down how Democrats are looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.

Minneapolis

Democratic Party officials from all 50 states have convened in Minneapolis to discuss the party's future direction. The gathering is marked by calls for greater unity and a more aggressive approach in countering the Trump administration's policies. Party leaders, including DNC Chair Ken Martin and Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta, have highlighted the importance of focusing on winning elections rather than just arguments, reflecting a shift toward prioritizing electoral success.

Economic issues, particularly inflation and high prices, are a central concern as the party prepares for the 2026 midterm elections. While Democrats agree on the need to address these challenges, there are differing views within the party on how best to proceed. The meeting underscores ongoing efforts to bridge internal divisions and present a unified front to voters.

Democrats take more aggressive approach

Democratic Party officials from all 50 states are gathering right now in Minneapolis, and they'll be there all week to discuss where the party is now heading. They addressed the division within their members, but they said they were united on the need to fight back against the Trump administration, something DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta echoed last night on The Takeout. Listen. What we wanna do is reverse the things that this president is doing to make life worse for the American people. And so the things that are happening to families aren't happening in a vacuum. And I think Democrats are more than self-reflective on the fact that we have to win elections. All right, let's bring in CBS News political reporter Hunter Woodall, who is not in the DC Bureau, but he's out in the mix in Minneapolis where all this is happening. Hunter, great to see you outside. So we heard some heated comments, apparently, from the speakers, including DNC Chair Ken Martin. Let's just quickly play for our viewers what he had to say. In just seven months, Donald Trump has dragged our country into chaos. Seven months in, and we have the military on American street corners. Seven months in, and families are being torn apart by masked men in the night. Seven months in, and Trump is openly scheming to rig the midterm map and cling to power, plotting his way towards an unconstitutional third term. So a lot of volume there, Hunter. How, though, is he encouraging Democrats to fight back politically? Well, good morning, Errol, and greetings from Minnesota. It was notable, I've covered Ken Martin for about four years now, and the DNC Chair, back when he used to be the Minnesota Democrat Chair, he is not so much of an intense speaker, and seeing how intense he has been in recent weeks was striking. It was obviously, this is a moment where Democrats clearly feel that they need to show that they are fighting back and showing a level of intensity that they perhaps have not shown before. I also thought it was notable, too, yesterday, as Ken Martin, the DNC Chair, was talking to Democratic officials at the start of the meeting, he made this point that they need to not just win arguments, they need to win elections. And for a party that really is wanting to focus on winning again, that was notable because you do see some Democratic infighting about wanting to take the moral high ground or the policy high ground, and Ken Martin seemed to be saying, hey, let's focus on winning elections above all else. And how do Democrats plan to do that, especially when you look at the economy? President Trump ran on a platform of improving the finances of the country, but many of our viewers, according to polls, will tell you right now, everything is too high. Everything costs too much. Inflation is too high, and the DNC Chair apparently agrees with that sentiment. So what is the Democrats' plan for lowering prices for people as we approach the 2026 midterms? That's the open question as we get closer and closer to the 2026 midterms. There's obviously this idea that Democrats are saying, look, we want to lower prices, but this is a Democratic Party that has a broad swath of ideological politicians. You have progressives, you have centrists, you have folks who are more center-left, and everybody seems to have a different idea within these factions about how they want to address this. So you're gonna hear a lot. Democrats obviously want to focus on the economy. They want to try and push all the economic issues as being ones that were brought about by President Trump, but also for voters, there were many concerns about the economy during Democratic President Joe Biden's administration. For voters, there may still be that association with how the economy was under a Democratic president versus how it is under a Republican right now. Yeah, perception can be a political reality for a lot of people. Hunter Woodall with the latest. Hunter, thank you.

Protesters demanding an end to the Gaza war and the return of hostages to their homes took to the streets in Israel on Tuesday ahead of a security cabinet meeting scheduled for the evening.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Israeli protesters demand hostage deal as cabinet set to meet

Australia accused Iran on Tuesday (August 26) of executing two antisemitic arson attacks in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne and gave Tehran's ambassador seven days to leave the country, its first such expulsion since World War Two.

Council of the City of Sydney

Australia expels Iranian envoy over antisemitic attacks

President Donald Trump announced the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, the only Black woman to serve on the board. Critics call it an attack on the Fed's independence, while Cook says no legal cause exists for her firing.

Washington

Trump says he fired Lisa Cook from Federal Reserve board

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating new National Guard units, including a rapid-response force to handle what the administration calls civil disturbances.

White House authorizes creation of rapid-response National Guard units

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI sued Apple and ChatGPT maker OpenAI in U.S. federal court in Texas, accusing them of illegally conspiring to thwart competition for artificial intelligence.

Texas

Rise of AI

Elon Musk's xAI sues Apple, OpenAI over competition claims

Strikes on the Nasser hospital in Gaza that left at least 20 people dead, including rescuers, journalists and health-care workers are being met with global outrage. The Israeli military is investigating what Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netnayahu called a ‘tragic mishap.’

Israeli PM calls deadly strikes on Gaza hospital a ‘tragic mishap’

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is back in ICE custody and is facing deportation to Uganda, the Department of Homeland Security says, after he was released from criminal custody last week.

Baltimore

Abrego Garcia in ICE custody, court blocks immediate deportation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will meet with the U.S. and other countries this week to discuss a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at reaching a ceasefire.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskiy say he will meet with U.S., others on potential Putin talks

U.S. President Donald Trump says Chicago could be the next city to see National Guard deployment, sparking strong opposition from Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker, who argue crime is already falling and federal intervention is unnecessary.

Chicago

Trump threatens to send National Guard troops to Chicago

Four journalists working with Reuters, Al Jazeera and others were killed in explosions at a Gaza hospital. Gaza officials blame Israeli drone strikes, though CBS News has not independently verified the claims.

Jerusalem

Four journalists reported dead after Gaza hospital blasts

U.S. National Guard troops patrolling the streets of Washington D.C. as part of what President Donald Trump said was his crackdown on crime began carrying weapons on Sunday night, two officials said.

National Guard patrolling Washington DC begin carrying weapons

In a visit to Kyiv, Prime Minister Mark Carney affirmed Canada’s support for Ukraine and committed to sending soldiers if a ceasefire with Russia is reached.

Carney in Kyiv pledges support, possibly troops for Ukraine

The Pickett Fire is growing in California's Napa County, prompting new evacuations as it threatens homes and wineries. The flames, fueled by scorching temperatures and dry conditions, are being battled by hundreds of first responders.

Napa Valley

Evacuations ordered in California as heatwave fuels wildfire

Democrats are pushing back against President Trump's plan to send the National Guard to more cities, including Chicago, New York and Baltimore, as troops continue to patrol Washington, D.C. State and local leaders say they have crime under control.

Democrats slam Trump's plans to send National Guard to more cities

Beef prices are at record highs with the average price of a pound of ground beef topping $6. Lisa Rozner reports on what's causing prices to soar.

Why U.S beef prices are soaring

A defiant Ukraine marked its independence from the former Soviet Union Sunday amid more fighting with Russia. Chris Livesay reports on how world leaders joined in, voicing their support.

Ukraine marks its Independence Day as war with Russia continues

The boats are produced by unknown Turkish companies and are then sent disassembled in multiple shipments to avoid suspicion in what authorities say is for the sole purpose of trafficking migrants across the English Channel.

Sofia

Inflatable boats used for migrant trafficking seized

Less than 24 hours after he was released from jail, Kilmar Ábrego García was told that U.S. immigration officials plan to deport him to Uganda. The Salvadoran national, who has been living illegally in the U.S. since about 2011, was wrongly deported to his home country earlier this year.

Maryland

Kilmar Abrego Garcia told he may be sent to Uganda

Erik and Lyle Menendez remain behind bars, their hopes for release dashed by two separate parole boards more than three decades after murdering their parents. Elise Preston reports.

Los Angeles

Erik and Lyle Menendez denied parole

Tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, costing the city billions. That could signal trouble ahead for the U.S. economy. Andres Gutierrez has new details.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas tourism slumps this summer, signaling trouble for U.S. economy

Texas Republicans took a victory lap after an early morning vote Saturday that sought to give their party an edge during the 2026 midterms. Democrats in Texas plan to challenge the legality of the new congressional map, saying it dilutes the power of minorities.

Austin

Texas Republicans take victory lap after redistricting vote

Israel has called the United Nations' declaration of famine in parts of Gaza an "outright lie," but multiple U.N. bodies, more than 100 humanitarian groups, and several of Israel's own allies have warned for months that the war is causing starvation among civilians.

Israel denies U.N.'s declaration of famine in parts of Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump says he will impose sanctions on Russia if it fails to reach a peace deal in Ukraine within two weeks. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia’s ongoing attacks on his country show that President Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace.

Putin’s not interested in peace talks, Zelenskyy says

Lyle Menendez was denied parole late Friday night following a day-long hearing in California, just one day after his brother Erik's parole appeal was also rejected. The brothers have been in prison since 1996 for killing their parents in what they say was an act of self-defense.

Both Menendez brothers denied parole

At least five people are dead and dozens are injured after a tour bus traveling from Niagara Falls flipped over on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, New York.

Pembroke

Western New York bus crash kills at least five people

Federal agents searched former Trump adviser-turned-critic John Bolton's home on Friday morning. President Donald Trump denied knowing about the investigation, which is related to his handling of classified documents.

Bethesda

FBI raids former Trump adviser John Bolton's home, office

The FBI searched former national security adviser John Bolton's house in Bethesda, Maryland, early Friday morning, the bureau confirmed to CBS News.

FBI raids former Trump adviser John Bolton's home, D.C. office

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland construction worker deported to El Salvador and then returned to the U.S. on smuggling charges, has been released from prison in Tennessee, his attorneys say.

Breakdown