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US politics: the White House, Congress, the courts and the elections.
1025 articles · page 19 of 22
President Donald Trump has demonstrated commanding strength in Republican primaries, but his persistently low approval ratings threaten to become a liability in the 2026 midterm elections, where swing voters may outweigh the party base that has rallied behind him.
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is leading a group of Senate Democrats in forcing a floor vote on a resolution that would require the Biden administration to report on human rights abuses by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank. The move, announced Wednesday, comes as violence against Palestinians has surged and progressive lawmakers demand that U.S. military aid be conditioned on adherence to international law.
House Democratic leadership has appointed lawmakers with strong pro-Israel voting records to top positions on a major committee, a move that underscores the party's ongoing support for U.S. military aid to Israel even as internal divisions over the issue deepen among its voter base. The appointments, announced this week, come at a time when a growing number of rank-and-file Democrats and progressive voters are calling for conditions or outright reductions in aid to Israel following the Gaza conflict.
A US judge has declined Minnesota's request to compel Texas to extradite Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Christian Castro, who is charged with shooting a Minnesota man in the leg during an immigration raid, according to court documents. The ruling leaves the agent in Texas for now, deepening a legal standoff between the two states.
President Trump has named Mark Paoletta, a longtime conservative lawyer and close associate of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, to lead the National Capital Planning Commission, a federal agency responsible for reviewing major construction projects in the Washington, D.C., region. The appointment, reported by The New York Times, places a figure with deep ties to the Trump administration and the judiciary at the helm of a panel that could soon weigh projects linked to the president's own business interests.
A military judge at Guantánamo Bay has set a June 2028 trial date for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks, along with three other alleged conspirators, according to an order issued Wednesday. The ruling marks the first firm trial date after more than 20 years of legal delays, pre-trial hearings, and contentious debates over the military commission system's legitimacy.
· 2 sourcesFederal Reserve Governor Lisa D. Cook publicly pushed back on Tuesday against President Trump’s accusation that she committed mortgage fraud, marking the most direct confrontation yet in the president’s ongoing campaign to oust her from the central bank. Cook, who has been a target of Trump’s criticism since her appointment, denied any wrongdoing and called the allegations baseless, while supporters of the Fed’s independence warned that the attack threatens to politicize monetary policy.
· 2 sourcesIn a striking display of shifting Republican sentiment, a room full of party die-hards audibly booed the mention of Donald Trump's name during Congressman Ralph Norman's concession speech on Wednesday evening, according to multiple reports.
· 3 sourcesRepresentative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has renewed her membership in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) after letting it lapse for seven years, a move that comes amid growing speculation about a potential presidential campaign in 2028. The New York Democrat, who initially joined the organization in 2018 during her first run for Congress, had not renewed her membership after her first year, according to reports first published by The Guardian.
Newly obtained government documents show that an early federal projection following the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment estimated that thousands of Americans could have been exposed to harmful levels of toxic chemicals—a figure far larger than previously disclosed. The records, released by a watchdog group, reignite questions about the adequacy of the public health response and the transparency of both Norfolk Southern and federal agencies.
The Tohono O'odham Nation has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government seeking an immediate halt to the construction of a border wall through their reservation in southern Arizona, accusing federal agents of trespassing and violating tribal sovereignty and federal law.
The State Department is moving forward with the Trump administration’s push to combat what it labels ‘far-left terrorism,’ a step critics argue is disproportionate to the threat and that analysts say overlooks the growing strength of far-right movements.
A former West Point professor and the U.S. Military Academy’s only climate scientist has filed a lawsuit alleging he was fired for refusing to suppress scientific findings, a case that raises questions about academic freedom and political influence within military education.
Democrat Eric Hafner, an inmate serving a federal prison sentence in New York, has advanced from Alaska’s primary election for the state’s sole US House seat, mirroring his unexpected ballot access in 2024. Hafner, who is not scheduled for release until 2036, will appear on the November general election ballot unless a legal challenge removes him.
Florida's Catholic bishops have delivered a sharp rebuke to Attorney General James Uthmeier after he threatened to block funding to Catholic schools unless they begin granting religious exemptions from vaccination requirements. The bishops, in a theological counterargument, stated that the Catholic Church recognizes no legitimate religious objection to vaccines and will not bend to what they called the state's misguided anti-vaccine policies.
A military judge has set a June 2028 trial date for the five defendants accused of orchestrating the September 11, 2001 attacks, pushing the start of proceedings more than 26 years after the hijackings. The date, approved on Wednesday at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, falls short of the earlier timeline requested by prosecutors and comes as the judge has yet to resolve multiple legal issues stemming from the defendants' torture in CIA custody.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained almost 50,000 people in July, the highest monthly arrest total of President Trump’s second term, according to data published by the Deportation Data Project, a joint initiative of the University of California, Berkeley and UCLA. The figures, released on Thursday, underscore a continued ramp-up in immigration enforcement under the current administration.
Flock Safety, a leading vendor of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), is facing a mounting backlash across the United States as citizen protests, contract cancellations, and a new federal investigation challenge its widespread surveillance network. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) this week announced an investigation into Flock's data practices, while the Institute for Justice (IJ) published a database documenting 93 local governments that have terminated ALPR contracts, amid growing public concern over warrantless mass surveillance.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has met privately with Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and former senior adviser to President Donald Trump, a move that has sparked speculation and criticism from within his own party and beyond.
Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday sharply criticized a Philadelphia district attorney for stating that the White House ballroom would be 'blown to bits' and that he would keep a piece of shrapnel as a souvenir, calling the comments 'disgusting' as the ballroom is currently under construction.
The U.S. State Department has paused processing of all immigrant visa applications, effective immediately, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The move halts the issuance of family-based and employment-based green cards, affecting hundreds of thousands of applicants worldwide, with no timeline given for when processing will resume.
A federal judge in Boston on Wednesday canceled a nationwide injunction that had barred the U.S. Postal Service from implementing President Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in voting for the upcoming midterm election, though the judge indicated a replacement block could be issued soon.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, has opened an investigation into Flock Safety's extensive network of automated license plate recognition cameras, demanding the company disclose who has access to the personal data of Americans captured by its systems. In a letter to CEO Garrett Langley, Hawley raised concerns about the scope of the surveillance program and the potential for misuse of sensitive location and travel data.
A federal judge has for the second time struck down a Texas state law banning drag performances in settings where children may be present, ruling that the measure improperly restricts speech and violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
· 2 sourcesIn Virginia Beach's critical House race, the ongoing conflict with Iran has emerged as the defining issue, especially for the district's large veteran and active-duty military population, who are closely watching candidates' positions on military engagement and diplomacy. The New York Times reports that the Iran war is 'uniquely salient' to voters in this swing district, which could help determine control of the House.
The Justice Department on Wednesday asked a federal court to restore President Donald Trump's name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, escalating a legal and political battle over the iconic Washington venue just days after administration officials threatened to demolish it if a court blocks planned renovations.
· 2 sourcesA coalition of Democratic-controlled states filed a new lawsuit on Wednesday challenging the Trump administration's restrictions on mail-in voting, seeking to overcome a recent Supreme Court ruling that had dismissed their earlier challenge on procedural grounds. The suit targets an executive order signed by President Trump in the spring that imposes new requirements on mail-in ballot processing, which critics argue will suppress voter turnout.
· 2 sourcesPresident Donald Trump has come to regard Senator Lindsey Graham and his wife Darline as integral parts of his own political legacy, according to a New York Times report published Wednesday. The report details how the once-uneasy alliance between Trump and the South Carolina Republican has evolved into a deeply personal and political bond, with Graham now seen as a loyal surrogate rather than an independent figure.
A man shot and killed eight relatives at a family home in the US state of Montana, according to Al Jazeera reporting. Authorities have not released further details about the suspect, the victims, or a possible motive, and the investigation is ongoing.
Donald Trump closed the Republicans' first-ever midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday by pleading with supporters to 'pretend' they are voting for him in November, while Vice President JD Vance pitched himself as the president’s political heir during a two-day event that showcased the party's reliance on a deeply unpopular leader.
· 22 sourcesLuis Manuel Aviles, a Nicaraguan immigrant and father of a crew member aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, was released from immigration custody Tuesday, his family announced. Aviles had been detained by Border Patrol agents while his son spent more than nine months deployed in the Middle East.
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Ohio from enforcing a new requirement that people provide documentary proof of citizenship—such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate—when registering to vote at motor vehicle bureaus, halting a law signed by Governor Mike DeWine in March 2025 that amended the state's 'motor voter' process.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, Christian Castro, is at the center of an interstate extradition dispute between Texas and Minnesota after being charged with assault and falsely reporting a crime for allegedly shooting and wounding a Venezuelan man in the leg. Castro could be released from a Texas jail as soon as Wednesday if a federal judge does not intervene.
The Department of Justice on Wednesday petitioned the Supreme Court to take up President Trump’s Day 1 proclamation shutting down asylum claims at the U.S.-Mexico border, arguing that lower courts overstepped by declaring the order illegal and that the president has broad authority to control immigration for national security reasons.
The U.S. Secret Service's top spokesman is among three agency officials placed on administrative leave amid an internal misconduct investigation, according to two Trump administration officials — a new detail in a probe the agency has declined to characterize.
· 2 sourcesTwo environmental groups have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its approval of two chemicals used in datacenter manufacturing, claiming the fast-track process ignored evidence of severe health risks including 'sudden death,' cancer, and neurological damage. The lawsuit also raises concerns that the compounds may be PFAS 'forever chemicals,' though much of the EPA's documentation remains redacted.
The Trump administration has paused all US immigrant visa applications worldwide, canceling scheduled interviews at embassies and consulates as part of a broader effort to tighten restrictions and limit access to applicants the government says could rely on public benefits. Advocacy groups and legal experts are questioning the move's legality, while a separate initiative to revoke visas from up to 200,000 asylum seekers adds to the uncertainty.
President Donald Trump's strategy of leveraging US economic and military dominance to pressure allies and enemies alike is facing new resistance, as Canada launches retaliatory trade measures and Iran continues to defy American demands, according to a BBC News analysis. The report underscores growing challenges to the administration's transactional approach to foreign policy, even among traditional partners.
Reform UK has announced plans to scrap the UK's General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and replace it with a 'light-touch' alternative modeled on New Zealand's Privacy Act, as part of a broader set of pro-business pledges aimed at supporting the country's 6 million small businesses. The proposal, unveiled Tuesday by leader Nigel Farage and economy chief Robert Jenrick, has drawn sharp criticism from Labour and political opponents, who label it 'unworkable and unserious.'
President Trump is quietly pushing to raise the federal debt limit through the end of his presidency, hoping to avoid a politically charged fight before Republicans potentially lose control of Congress in the 2026 midterms. But the plan is encountering stiff resistance from within his own party as the national debt surpasses $40 trillion and bond markets signal growing unease over U.S. fiscal sustainability.
Returning from August recess, Republicans in both chambers of Congress face a crowded September agenda, with the House prioritizing a short-term stopgap spending measure — a continuing resolution (CR) — to keep the government funded, while also pushing forward on budget reconciliation efforts before the midterm elections tighten the legislative window.
Newly released government data reveals that the Trump administration arrested and deported a record number of immigrants in July, with an average of 1,500 people apprehended and 1,100 removed daily, marking a significant escalation in enforcement despite a move away from the militarized raids that dominated previous years.
Former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party in 2024 to become an independent, is spearheading a campaign to elect more independents to Congress, supporting candidates for both the House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections. Joined by his daughter, Manchin argues that breaking the two-party monopoly is essential to reduce gridlock and foster bipartisan cooperation.
Alaska's U.S. Senate race has taken an unusual twist as a long-shot candidate sharing the same name as incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan has secured a spot on the November ballot, potentially siphoning votes and creating confusion among voters in a state known for ranked-choice voting.
Bernadette Wilson, a conservative media personality, has secured a place on Alaska’s ranked-choice general election ballot for governor and is urging fellow Republicans to consolidate behind the party’s top finisher in hopes of defeating Democratic and independent challengers in the November contest.
U.S. Capitol Police arrested a man on Tuesday after officers discovered a guillotine in the bed of an illegally parked pickup truck along East Capitol Street, near the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress. The arrest occurred on the eastern edge of the National Mall, prompting a swift law enforcement response and renewed scrutiny of security around federal landmarks.
President Trump’s endorsement proved decisive in Tuesday’s primary runoffs, as Sen. Darline Graham clinched the GOP nomination in South Carolina’s Senate race and former state Sen. Mike Mazzei secured the party’s nod for governor in Oklahoma, reinforcing the president’s continued sway within the Republican Party.
The Trump administration has paused all immigrant visa applications worldwide, a State Department official confirmed Tuesday, as part of a broader crackdown on both lawful and undocumented immigration. The initiative, launched at all embassies and consulates in early August, requires consular officers to undergo new training to ensure applicants are not likely to become dependent on U.S. assistance.