President Donald Trump is traveling to natural disaster areas for his first official trip outside of Washington, D.C., since taking office earlier this week. Trump says he is considering 'getting rid of' the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Pacific Palisades

More than a thousand structures have been destroyed and lives lost as wildfires sweep across parts of Los Angeles.

LA Wildfires

President Donald Trump visited the fire-affected regions of Los Angeles, marking his first official trip outside Washington, D.C., since his inauguration. During his visit, Trump expressed his intent to support California's recovery efforts from the wildfires, contingent upon the state's adherence to certain requirements. Among the conditions discussed were implementing a voter ID law and changes in water management, which Trump linked to the efficiency of firefighting operations. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom and other officials have contested these claims, labeling them as misinformation and arguing that the president may not be fully informed. Despite the disagreements, Trump engaged in discussions with local officials and emphasized the need for federal assistance in the rebuilding process.

As part of the recovery measures, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is involved in initial recovery efforts, providing financial assistance for essentials such as food, water, clothing, and temporary housing. This support is vital for those who have lost their homes and lack insurance coverage to rebuild. The federal government's role extends to covering the significant costs involved in debris removal, critical for clearing devastated neighborhoods. The president mentioned his intention to explore changes within FEMA through an executive order. However, any substantial alterations or dismantling of FEMA would require congressional approval, making it unlikely that the agency could be entirely overhauled without legislative support.



Trump in Los Angeles, tours fire zone

Hey there, Lindsey. Those conditions appear to be political in nature. President Trump promising to assist the state of California in recovering from these wildfires, but if they do so and adhere to specific requirements. Now, the president would likely have to get these requirements rolled out with legislation that seeks to assist California in the recovery effort. And what he's asking for, basically, is a voter ID law, but also a water management differences there, things to change there. The president has talked about this and alluded to water management being part of the issue as to why firefighters weren't able to put out those flames as quickly as possible. But the governor, Gavin Newsom of California, has disputed that notion, as have other officials as well, essentially saying that this is some type of misinformation and that the president is not fully informed. But he is getting a briefing there with local officials. You see him and the first lady speaking with some local officials there on your screen, visiting these neighborhoods that have been completely devastated. And the president will be in the lead here in terms of providing that assistance, signing that legislation into law if Congress were to pass that assistance, and California would likely need billions to be able to recover from this disaster. There are many people who have lost their homes, who don't have insurance and are perhaps waiting and hoping that the federal government can step in and provide some type of assistance to help them rebuild their homes, Lindsey. When President Trump landed, he spoke to reporters alongside Governor Newsom and said of the damage and recovery, we've got to get it finished. What kind of federal aid is needed? Yeah, that's right. Part of it would call for rebuilding of these neighborhoods. One part of the FEMA assistance is the initial recovery effort, right? It's to get people a few hundred dollars, several hundred dollars to be able to buy immediate things that they need, food, water, clothing, things for their babies if they have them. Those essential needs that they have, also that assistance, that housing assistance to reimburse them if they go out and rent a home. Part of that would also call for rebuilding those homes, as I mentioned, that FEMA comes and steps in if perhaps someone doesn't have enough insurance or no insurance at all to rebuild their home. That's where a lot of those funds will come in. And also, it's about the debris removal. If you just look at your screen there, a lot of these homes are just rubble. The U.S. government would indeed have to come in and pay for all that debris removal. So it's a timely process. It's a process that will take billions to recover. And that's why FEMA is needed. That's why the federal government is needed, because oftentimes the states just simply don't have the resources to fight and to pay for the damage that is caused by these widespread natural disasters, and in this case, in the case of North Carolina with a hurricane and in California, those wildfires. Does the president have the ability to completely overhaul and or dismantle FEMA? Yeah, well, he claims that he can do this via executive order, that he can somehow retool FEMA to make some changes. Now, the president can certainly make changes in personnel and perhaps tweak the way things are run as the executive in charge of the U.S. government, but he can't necessarily get rid of FEMA altogether. The president alluded to how he would like this done. He would certainly need Congress' buy-in to make any changes to government agencies, including FEMA. He would need to present a plan to Congress. They would have to approve of it. Now, he could work to get the support of members up on Capitol Hill in both the House and the Senate, Republican and Democratic members, but clearly, the president, in moving forward with this plan to come up with some type of executive order to rework FEMA, but still nonetheless, he does not have that full authority to do so, Lindsey. Willie James Inman, thank you.

Officials in the U.S. state of Texas say at least 13 people have died in overnight flash floods after torrential rains triggered an overflow of the Guadalupe River. Nearly 20 children attending a summer camp in the south-central area are missing.

Kerr County

Deadly Texas floods: Search efforts underway for missing children

Türkiye has been battling wildfires for more than a week, with its western province of Izmir among the hardest hit. Thousands have been forced to flee as flames threaten homes and villages.

Ödemiş

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It was not clear if Hamas’ statement meant it had accepted the proposal from US President Donald Trump for a 60-day ceasefire.

Jerusalem

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President Trump brought pomp and circumstance to his signing of the "big, beautiful bill" on Friday, with an Independence Day ceremony at the White House that included a B-2 bomber flyover.

Washington

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Heavy rainfall in central Texas caused the Guadalupe River to overflow and unleash a torrent of water. The bodies of at least 13 children and adults have been recovered and more than 20 girls are missing from a sleepaway camp.

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The talk comes a day after President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine, Iran and other issues in a call the Kremlin described as "frank and constructive."

Kyiv

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U.S. President Donald Trump marked the passage of the new spending bill, which includes changes to food assistance, student loan programs, and clean energy credits. Robert Costa joins "CBS Mornings" to break down what's in the legislation.

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More than 80 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Thursday (July 3), according to health officials, as Israel intensified its strikes, hitting a school-turned-displacement facility. CNN’s Paula Hancocks looks at the damage and humanitarian toll.

More than 80 people killed in Gaza in one day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will do "anything" to advance EU accession talks. Zelenskyy spoke alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

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President Donald Trump said Washington will start sending letters to countries on Friday specifying what tariff rates they will face on imports to the United States, a clear shift from earlier pledges to strike scores of individual deals.

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Indonesian rescuers on Thursday (July 3) temporarily halted a search for 30 people still missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank near the island of Bali with the loss of six lives, the national search and rescue agency said.

Gilimanuk

Indonesia suspends search for 30 missing after ferry sinks near Bali

After marathon debate sessions in the Senate and House, President Donald Trump’s budget bill passed in the House. Republicans secured the biggest win of Trump’s presidency.

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Florida says the first group of migrant detainees have arrived at the new immigration detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz." CBS News correspondent Shanelle Kaul has more.

Ochopee

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U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (July 3) that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he plans to hold a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more.

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CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez reports on a lawsuit from lawyers for Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleging he suffered “torture and mistreatment” after he was wrongfully deported and held in El Salvador’s notorious mega prison.

Tecoluca

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The Kremlin welcomed the development, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov claiming it proves Western arsenals are being depleted and predicting that less aid will hasten the end of the conflict.

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Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke for hours on the House floor about potential impacts of President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" that Republicans are looking to pass before July 4. Following debate, the House is set for a final vote on the massive budget bill.

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CBS News political contributor Caroline Polisi joins "CBS Mornings" to break down the jury's verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial and the judge's decision to deny bail for the music mogul ahead of his sentencing.

Manhattan

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Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota has died aged 28, just weeks after marrying his childhood sweetheart. The footballer passed away in a car crash in northern Spain.

Madrid

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The Pentagon said that U.S. strikes 10 days ago had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, suggesting the U.S. military operation likely achieved its goals despite a far more cautious initial assessment that leaked to the public.

Tehran

Iran Strikes

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Days before his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama announced the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, will have the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, but China insists it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Lhasa

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The U.S. Congress inched towards approving President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, despite attempts by Democrats to stop it. The bill is Trump’s signature legislation which includes massive spending increases on the military and immigration enforcement while slashing social programs.

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Sean (Diddy) Combs was found guilty on prostitution-related charges, but was acquitted on more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking giving him a maximum sentence of 20 years. But the courtroom victory was subdued following a judge’s ruling to deny him bail.

New York

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President Trump says Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, but it remains unclear if Hamas will accept the terms. CBS News senior foreign correspondent Debora Patta has more.

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Bryan Kohberger changed his plea to guilty Wednesday for the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students. CBS News national correspondent Carter Evans has more on the case.

Boise

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down a state abortion law that was adopted in 1849 in a 4-3 landmark decision. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Madison

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Macron and Putin held regular discussions around the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Macron visiting Putin in Russia in February 2022, but dialogue eventually stalled.

Paris

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President Trump toured “Alligator Alcatraz,” a migrant detention center he teamed up with Ron DeSantis to build in the Everglades.

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