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US politics: the White House, Congress, the courts and the elections.
1024 articles · page 21 of 22
A US judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell's bid to overturn her 2021 conviction for helping financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls, calling her claims of substantial new evidence 'demonstrably meritless'. Maxwell, 64, will remain in federal prison serving a 20-year sentence for conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.
· 4 sourcesAn opinion contributor has cautioned that the Trump administration's plan for a new nuclear campus should not be hailed as a breakthrough until it clears five specific hurdles, urging policymakers to resist a victory lap. The piece argues that the proposal, while ambitious, faces significant implementation challenges that could stall progress.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), long regarded as a dominant force in Washington lobbying, is increasingly viewed as a political liability across the spectrum, according to recent analysis. Once a unifying bridge between pro-Israel Democrats and Republicans, the group now faces mounting opposition from progressive elements on the left and a growing chorus of skepticism from certain right-wing circles, signaling a potential shift in the landscape of US foreign policy lobbying.
The Trump administration has proposed a new rule that would exempt data centers from publicly disclosing air pollution emissions, according to public health advocates, who warn that the change could allow permits to be issued behind closed doors and reduce transparency for communities near the facilities.
A group of Democratic senators has formally requested the Department of Homeland Security provide detailed information about a fleet of used jets the agency purchased for $464 million, following a New York Times investigation revealing the aircraft rarely fly.
A recent opinion piece suggests a MAGA plot to retain power in Congress through voter intimidation and discouragement of mail-in voting, sparking debate over the integrity of upcoming elections. The article alleges that federal agents could be deployed to polling places to scare voters, and mail-in ballots could be disparaged to suppress turnout, particularly if Republicans face electoral losses.
A new analysis of federal lobbying disclosures reveals that congressional lobbyists employed by fossil fuel companies—which are major contributors to climate change—are simultaneously representing more than 300 local governments that are seeking funding to recover from climate-related disasters. The research, conducted by the watchdog groups F Minus and Make Polluters Pay, reviewed filings from the first quarter of 2026 and also found another 568 local governments hired fossil fuel lobbyists to work on non-climate issues, including healthcare and home insurance.
Pennsylvania Republicans now view Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, more favorably than they view the state’s sitting Republican senator, according to a new New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena College poll. The survey, released Tuesday, marks a dramatic shift in the state’s political landscape and underscores Fetterman’s evolution from a progressive icon to a bipartisan figure who has increasingly embraced centrist and even conservative positions on issues ranging from immigration to Israel.
A new opinion piece warns that US defense contractors could face fallout from President Trump's escalating trade confrontation with Canada, as the administration pushes ahead with a 50% tariff hike on key Canadian goods while pausing tariffs on beef imports to address domestic food price concerns.
· 2 sourcesThe Trump administration is preparing to return evacuated foreign service officers to U.S. embassies in the Middle East as early as this week, according to an internal document reviewed by the New York Times. The move signals that Washington does not anticipate a resumption of full-scale conflict with Iran and marks a potential pivot toward diplomatic normalization in a region long on edge.
In two developments highlighting the reach and strain of US military operations, the USS Abraham Lincoln is set to dock in Thailand next week after a record 200-plus-day deployment marred by reports of low morale, food and water shortages, while a US Air Force C-17 transport plane landed in Moscow on Tuesday morning, prompting Kremlin claims of no information about the flight.
· 2 sourcesArtemis Ghasemzadeh, a Christian convert who escaped Iran to avoid religious persecution, has been granted asylum in Canada after being deported from the United States under former President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Ghasemzadeh was initially sent to Panama, adding a new chapter to a case that has drawn attention to the treatment of asylum seekers under US immigration enforcement.
· 2 sourcesPresident Donald Trump demonstrated his enduring sway over the Republican base Tuesday as Darline Graham, a political novice and the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, won the GOP Senate primary in South Carolina, defeating Representative Ralph Norman in a runoff that saw higher-than-typical turnout.
· 4 sourcesThe Trump administration is reportedly preparing a visa crackdown that could affect thousands of people seeking asylum in the United States, though the State Department has declined to comment on how many visas may be revoked. The plan, which has drawn alarm from immigration advocates and legal experts, could reshape the asylum process for applicants already in the country or waiting abroad.
The Trump administration approved a $5 million payment to Liberia after the West African nation indicated it would consider accepting migrants from other countries, according to documents obtained by The New York Times. The agreement highlights the administration's push to secure cooperation from foreign governments in deporting individuals who cannot be returned to their home countries.
President Donald Trump intensified his personal stake in the 2026 midterm elections on Wednesday, telling voters to “pretend I’m on the ballot” and receiving a powerful boost from Fox News host Sean Hannity, who declared that Trump “is on the ballot” in November. The coordinated messaging underscores the White House strategy to frame the midterms as a referendum on Trump’s presidency rather than a typical judgment on the party in power.
· 3 sourcesThe U.S. Postal Service published a finalized plan on Saturday to restrict mail ballot processing, a move that complies with President Trump's executive order curtailing mail voting but will only go into effect if the Supreme Court rules in the order's favor, according to the agency.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is defending his recent meeting with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser, after the encounter drew sharp criticism from progressive members of his own party. Jeffries, who is in line to become Speaker of the House should Democrats retake the chamber in November, framed the huddle as part of his broader commitment to rigorous oversight — insisting it does not signal any softening toward the Trump administration.
In a rare bipartisan moment, California Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly endorsed President Trump's new children's savings accounts, describing them as 'one of the best things' the president has done. The comments, reported by the New York Times, mark a significant departure from Newsom's typically sharp criticism of the administration.
The United States Postal Service announced Friday that it will enforce stricter eligibility requirements for mail-in ballots in compliance with President Trump's March executive order, despite a federal court having struck down the order as unconstitutional. The 95-page report, set for official release on August 26, outlines how USPS will implement the changes for the upcoming November midterm elections, raising concerns about voter disenfranchisement and reigniting legal battles.
A federal judge in the Southern District of New York has struck down the Trump administration's 75-country visa ban, ruling that the sweeping restriction exceeded the legal authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The decision, handed down on August 22, 2026, deals a significant blow to one of the administration's signature immigration policies.
The GEO Group, a private prison company profiting from the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, donated more than $1.4 million to a super PAC supporting President Trump last month — shortly after a subsidiary received $165 million a year in contracts from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to records reviewed by The New York Times.
At least five people deported by the United States to Liberia under the Trump administration’s third-country deportation program resisted leaving the plane upon arrival, prompting officials to instead fly them to Equatorial Guinea, according to sources familiar with the matter reported by The New York Times.
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing construction of the 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom to proceed, overturning lower court decisions that had blocked the project pending congressional approval.
· 3 sourcesPresident Trump on Monday threatened to impose 50% tariffs on imports of Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel, effective Jan. 1, 2027, escalating trade tensions with the northern neighbor. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of 'ripping off the United States for years' and cited Canada's 'ridiculously high tariffs' as justification for the new measures.
The man suspected of killing five people in a rural community near Forest Grove, Oregon, was found dead in an apparent suicide on Sunday, ending a day-long manhunt that stretched into neighboring Washington state.
Trump administration officials have proposed charging more than $100,000 for skilled worker visas, reviving a contentious plan that faced legal obstacles last year when officials attempted to attach a similar fee to the H-1B visa program.
· 2 sourcesThe U.S. Supreme Court on Monday voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift a Massachusetts judge's injunction on President Donald Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting, but a separate injunction remains in place, leaving the fate of the restrictions uncertain ahead of November's midterm elections.
· 3 sourcesThe Supreme Court on Monday declined to block preparations for new restrictions on mail voting, allowing the measures to move forward while noting it had not issued a final determination on their legality. The decision comes amid reports that former President Trump has quietly sought greater control over the U.S. Postal Service, raising alarms among voting rights advocates about potential impacts on ballot access.
President Donald Trump purchased shares in SpaceX two weeks after its blockbuster initial public offering, according to reports, with the stock now trading back at its IPO price of $135 per share amid a broader market pullback. The transaction, which occurred when shares were in the mid-$150 range, has intensified scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and insider trading rules, though the president's office has not commented on the timing or nature of the purchase.
· 2 sourcesThe Trump administration announced Monday it plans to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, in what officials say would be the largest single mass visa revocation in American history.
· 7 sourcesThe Trump administration on Monday formally removed Syria from the U.S. State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) list and simultaneously rescinded the terrorist designation of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group formerly led by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, opening the door to broad sanctions relief and closer ties with the post-Assad government.
· 4 sourcesFlorida health officials confirmed a third death this year from Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacterium found in warm coastal waters, marking the continuation of a trend that has seen at least two deaths from vibriosis annually since 2017. The latest fatality has renewed concerns about the impact of rising sea temperatures and coastal flooding on the spread of the bacteria.
A Census Bureau report on noncitizen voting that President Trump is citing to revive false claims of widespread voting by non-U.S. citizens in the 2020 election has ties to a Trump-aligned think tank, NPR has learned. The report's origins and the president's use of it are drawing scrutiny from election integrity experts who say the data does not support allegations of significant fraud.
A federal judge has ordered the United States government to arrange the return of a Mexican man who was deported after he testified against Mexican drug cartels in federal court, ruling that the removal likely violated U.S. and international laws prohibiting the deportation of individuals to countries where they face a credible risk of torture.
A network of 400 volunteers is systematically collecting and posting habeas corpus petitions from immigration cases across the country, making critical court records publicly accessible for the first time since a 2007 federal rule rendered them nearly impossible to find online. The effort, led by Chicago software developer John Kyle Cronan, is providing journalists, attorneys, and researchers with an unprecedented window into the Trump administration's mass detention and deportation campaign.
California is on track to become the first state in the nation to legally recognize being Jewish as an ethnic and racial identity, according to an opinion piece in The Hill. The move, which would extend hate crime protections and data collection frameworks, has sparked discussion about the nature of Jewish identity and the legal implications of such a classification.
The Trump administration has reassigned all immigration officers from a key anti-fraud unit within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to focus exclusively on screening South African refugees and investigating alleged 'unlawful' voters, according to internal correspondence obtained by the Guardian. The move sidelines fraud detection work at a time when the agency is already struggling to process asylum claims.
· 3 sourcesAfter thousands of federal workers left the Agriculture Department, farmers across the United States are facing significant delays and denials in obtaining loans, grants, technical assistance, and support for infrastructure and other services, according to reports from rural communities and industry groups.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday unveiled a sweeping new package of sanctions against Iran, escalating the Trump administration's pressure campaign with what it terms an 'economic D-Day.' The move drew an immediate threat from Tehran to retaliate in a 'seismic manner,' raising the stakes in a confrontation that has already disrupted global shipping lanes.
· 4 sourcesUS President Donald Trump’s weight has been trending upward, prompting concern from some physicians who say he needs to focus on reducing his waistline, according to reports from multiple Australian outlets.
· 3 sourcesThe American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is preparing to spend heavily to support Mike Rogers, the Republican nominee for Senate in Michigan, according to a report from The New York Times. However, Rogers has expressed reservations about accepting the group’s backing, highlighting the complex dynamics of campaign finance and candidate autonomy in a closely watched race.
President Donald Trump has nominated Cameron Hamilton to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for a second time, raising questions about whether the administration is reconsidering its earlier calls to downsize or dismantle the agency. The announcement, reported by NPR, revives a nomination that stalled in 2025 and places Hamilton at the center of a heated policy debate over disaster relief.
The Pentagon has fired the editor, publisher, and a Middle East correspondent of Stars and Stripes, the independent military publication, in a significant escalation of its campaign to curb the newspaper's editorial freedom, according to a report by the New York Times.
Alaska’s U.S. Senate race has taken an unusual turn as three candidates named Dan Sullivan compete for the seat, with incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (R) receiving an endorsement from another Dan Sullivan — former Anchorage Mayor Dan A. Sullivan (R) — ahead of a November general election that also includes a third candidate, Dan J. Sullivan.
Luigi Mangione's surprise federal guilty plea to killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has cast serious doubt on the viability of his pending New York state murder case, as legal experts point to the state's double jeopardy protections that may bar a second prosecution for the same underlying conduct.
· 2 sourcesAn opinion piece from The Hill News suggests that Virginia may be developing a national model for corrections, arguing that public safety should not be measured solely by the number of people sent to prison. The article, authored by Jeff Bennett, comes amid ongoing debates over incarceration policies and rehabilitation efforts in the state.
A Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial on Friday in the case of Lindsay Clancy, the 36-year-old former nurse charged with murdering her three young children, after the jury remained deadlocked following 40 hours of deliberation. The mistrial reflects a deep national divide over whether Clancy is a victim of rare postpartum psychosis or a calculated killer.
· 24 sources