President Trump has posted on social media following a decision by a New York appeals court to dismiss the $527 million penalty in his civil fraud case. CBS News senior White House and political correspondent Ed O'Keefe has more.

New York

A New York appeals court has overturned the $527 million civil fraud penalty imposed on former President Donald Trump, but the underlying charges and conviction remain in place. Trump responded to the decision on social media, calling it a 'total victory,' though legal experts clarified that only the financial penalty was dismissed, not the case itself.

The New York Attorney General, Letitia James, is expected to appeal the decision on the penalty, while the possibility remains for Trump to seek a full overturn of the case in higher courts. The judges were divided, with some citing the excessive nature of the fine as a violation of the Eighth Amendment. The case continues as legal proceedings move forward.

Trump responds after court tosses $527 million civil fraud penalty

Happening now in New York, an appeals court gives President Trump a win, tossing out his massive civil fraud penalty that could have cost Mr. Trump a half-billion dollars or even more. President Trump sounding off on that decision in a two-part social-media post, saying, in part, "...total victory in the fake New York State Attorney General Letitia James case. I greatly respect," the president says, "...the fact that the court had the courage to throw out this unlawful and disgraceful decision that was hurting business all throughout New York State." So let's bring in CBS News Senior White House and political correspondent Ed O'Keefe with more details. Ed, what were the arguments that got Mr. Trump the win? To be very clear, the president is suggesting here that the entire thing's been tossed out. That is not the case. What has been tossed out by this appeals court decision is the current amount of money he would owe in the case, not the underlying charges and the fact that he was convicted, but the now more than $500 million he would have to pay to the state of New York for his crimes. That now, by the attorney general, Letitia James, is expected to be appealed. But the other thing that could still be appealed is the overall case, which is what we're now waiting to see whether President Trump decides to do. Does he take it all the way to Albany and what they call the Court of Appeals in New York, not the Supreme Court, but the Court of Appeals in the Empire State, to try to get the entire case overturned? The judges were bitterly divided on this one, a handful of them suggesting the whole thing should get tossed, others saying it should hold, but in agreement that ultimately the $500 million-plus was too much money for someone to be paying. One of them alleging it was a violation of the Eighth Amendment and the prohibition on excessive fines. So the president here trying to cast this as total vindication, but that is not the case. And this overall, the underlying charges against him continue in court as the attorney general now says she plans to appeal the decision regarding the fine. Such important differentiation there, Ed. Thank you for that. Another headline we know you're watching today is this so-called framework agreement on trade between the United States and the European Union. What do we know about the terms of that proposal, Ed? It's still a framework, important to point that out, but they sort of shared more information overnight regarding what the U.S. and the European Union are working towards. And at this point now, the U.S. preparing to put 15% tariffs on European cars, pharmaceuticals, and other products. You should also expect to see the elimination of EU tariffs on American industrial goods exported onto that continent. You're also likely going to see in the coming months conversation about allowing more agricultural products in the United States to be sold in Europe. That has been a huge barrier for American farmers, fishermen who haven't been able to sell their catchings, their harvest into Europe, whereas Europe can sell theirs into the United States. And now they can continue to do so, but with tariffs applied. So it'll be a big win for agriculture in this country should it come to pass. They decided to share more information about this now because the markets had been a little concerned, there'd been a lot of interest in this, and they wanted to sort of demonstrate really to the global economy, here's where we're headed. And in essence, it's a 15% tariff on everything coming in from the EU with some exceptions and barrier to entry or tariffs being dropped on many American goods. But still, several weeks, if not months, of negotiating still to go before there's a formal agreement. And remember, the only one that's been formally signed is the one with the United Kingdom. All the others still in that framework stage because these complex trade negotiations can take several months, if not years, to finalize. Well, Ed, you mentioned months to go on that point, but also the world is wondering if we are still not months to go on the end of Russia's war in Ukraine. They continue bombarding Ukraine. Remindful that President Zelensky told President Trump that Vladimir Putin was essentially bluffing. So aside from lives on the line, the president's ability to get a deal done on that point is also on the line. Is there any confidence from the White House that Zelensky and Putin will actually have that meeting that the president wants? Well, we haven't heard any public conversation about it since last week, right? So that's a signal that they are struggling to make that happen. And certainly the overnight developments, the really incredible lethal bombardment that Russia unleashed yet again is another sign that this is far from over. You see here the president earlier this morning on his social media account suggesting in part that what Ukraine needs to be able to do is attack Russia. As he writes here, it's like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defense, but isn't allowed to play offense. There's no chance of winning. It's like that with Ukraine and Russia, he says. Crooked and grossly incompetent, Joe Biden wouldn't let Ukraine fight back. And then he adds later, interesting times ahead. What's interesting and yet to come is, will those two ever meet? What does the eventual security agreement from Europe and the United States look like? Does it perhaps give Ukraine more firepower to fight back? That is obviously what they've been seeking. But as of now, no, at least public forward momentum on what exactly or whether exactly there will be a meeting between Zelensky and Putin. We are expecting the president's special envoy to Ukraine to be back in the region in the coming days. We wait and we watch and we know you have it. Ed O'Keefe, thank you so much for talking to us today. We appreciate it. Good to see you.

Israel has intensified its assault on Gaza City, launching a new operation to seize it while planning the forced displacement of nearly one million Palestinians to southern zones.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel begins Gaza City operation

A New York appellate court threw out a $527 million penalty in the civil fraud case against President Trump and several others. CBS News' Aaron Navarro reports.

Trump civil fraud case $527 million penalty thrown out

The U.S. and the European Union have locked in a framework trade deal that includes a 15% U.S. tariff on most EU imports, including autos, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber.

Washington

Global Tariffs

U.S. and EU lock in trade deal

Israel says it began its military operation to take control of Gaza City. This comes after an apparent Hamas attack in Khan Younis targeting Israeli soldiers.

Israel says it began Gaza City expansion

After weeks of pushback from Democrats, House Republicans in Texas have passed controversial legislation to redraw the state's congressional map, giving the GOP an advantage in multiple seats.

Austin

Texas House passes controversial GOP redistricting map

U.S. President Donald Trump’s top-down diplomacy has experts in Ukraine skeptical about whether there has been enough preparation for proposed talks to actually end the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

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The Texas House on Wednesday night passed a controversial, Republican-backed proposal to redraw the state's congressional maps. The bill now moves onto the Texas Senate. CBS News reporter Erica Brown has more.

Texas

Texas House approves GOP congressional redistricting map

Israel's military has called up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for an expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war.

Israel calls up 60,000 reservists ahead of Gaza City operation

The Trump administration says it is adding 407 items to the list of "derivative" steel and aluminum products subject to higher tariffs. The list includes products like car parts, household appliances, baby strollers, fire extinguishers and spray deodorants.

Trump expanding steel and aluminum tariffs

NATO military chiefs met virtually Wednesday for what was described as a candid discussion about security guarantees the alliance would be willing to provide to Ukraine in an effort to end Russia's war in the region.

Brussels

NATO chiefs meet virtually about potential Ukraine security guarantees

Israel's military leaders approved the next phase of their ongoing offensive in the territory. The operation will shift focus to Gaza City, targeting areas where Hamas is believed to still be active and where Israeli forces have not yet operated.

Israel approves next phase of Gaza offensive, focus on Gaza City

Despite not making landfall, Hurricane Erin is forcing mandatory evacuation orders in parts of North Carolina and is expected to cause rip currents for days along the U.S. East Coast.

North Carolina

Hurricane Erin forces evacuations on U.S. East Coast

The White House says it is working to secure a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, which both have agreed to, while plans continue to create security guarantees for Ukraine.

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Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but mediators are still waiting for an official response from Israel. CBS News contributor Robert Berger has the latest from Jerusalem.

Mediators await Israeli response to Gaza ceasefire proposal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s top diplomat on Tuesday and hailed the “steady progress” made in improving the bilateral relationship after a yearslong standoff between the nuclear-armed Asian powers.

New Delhi

India's Modi meets China's foreign minister to rebuild ties

Texas Democrats who ended a walkout found themselves shadowed by law enforcement officers to keep them from repeating the protest that stalled Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts and fulfill President Donald Trump's desire to reshape U.S. House maps.

Police escort Texas Democrats to prevent new redistricting walkout

Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), ending the strike that began over the weekend involving 10,000 members and disrupted travel for more than 100,000 travelers per day.

Toronto

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Exiled former Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui hailed Australia's grant of asylum status as a key acknowledgement of the territory's human rights infringements since its authorities quelled massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Hong Kong Island

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Forecasters are giving urgent warnings to millions of people who live along the East Coast as Hurricane Erin churns in the Atlantic. The storm will not make direct landfall but is expected to bring dangerous rip currents.

East Coast of the United States

Hurricane Erin to bring dangerous rip currents to U.S. East Coast

Jasveen Sangha, a Los Angeles woman known as the "Ketamine Queen," has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry. Sangha could face up to 45 years in prison.

Los Angeles

"Ketamine Queen" to plead guilty in Matthew Perry's death

European leaders who converged on the White House for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war demonstrated a united front regarding Ukraine's security on Monday, underscoring the issue as pivotal for the entire continent, not just Ukraine.

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As Hamas reportedly agreed to some ceasefire terms that would include the return of more hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered troops to take more of Gaza.

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President Donald Trump said that the United States would help Europe in providing security for Ukraine as part of any deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

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Bolivia's presidential vote headed to an unprecedented runoff after elections Sunday that ended more than two decades of left-wing dominance in the Andean nation but signaled voters' trepidation about a major lurch to the right.

La Paz

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All Air Canada planes were grounded on Monday (August 18) after its 10,000 flight attendants refused a return-to-work mandate from the Canadian government.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the White House Monday (August 18) for his meeting with President Donald Trump and other European leaders about Russia's war in Ukraine. CBS News White House reporter Taurean Small has more.

Trump meeting with Zelenskiy, European leaders at White House

Hamas on Monday informed mediators that it had accepted a ceasefire deal proposal submitted to it the day before, according to international and Israeli outlets.

Reports: Hamas accepts latest Gaza ceasefire proposal

Hurricane Erin will bring dangerously rough surf to parts of the U.S. East Coast. Over the weekend, Erin's outer bands lashed Puerto Rico with up to 7 inches of rain and flooding parts of the island.

Erin expected to bring dangerous conditions to U.S. East Coast

Ahead of his Monday meeting with President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenksyy says his country will not give up any territory to Russia, even as the White House insists potential land swaps will be necessary. Willie James Inman reports.

Kyiv

Ahead of Trump meeting, Zelenskyy says won't give territory to Russia

Thousands of Israeli protesters demanded a deal to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas in one of the biggest demonstrations since the war in Gaza began. Debora Patta reports.

Breakdown