National Politics

Colorado doesn’t plan to transfer imprisoned former county clerk to federal custody
Peters’ release has become a cause celebre in the election conspiracy movement.

Higher fees for foreigners visiting US national parks stokes tourism concerns
Interior officials described the new fee structure as “America-first pricing.”

Court transcripts show Border Patrol official Greg Bovino dodging questions about use of force
Greg Bovino sat for the sworn deposition over three days in October and November.

Judges allow North Carolina to use a map drawn in bid to give Republicans another US House seat
A three-judge panel denied a preliminary injunction request, acting after a hearing in mid-November.

FACT FOCUS: It is not illegal for voters to show ID in New York and California
Social media users are using false information to advocate for more voter ID laws.

Trump administration’s effort to end 1960s school desegregation cases faces a hurdle
A judge refused to close the books on a 1960s desegregation case.

Russia’s frozen assets at center of negotiations over Ukraine peace deal
There’s agreement on using Russian assets to cover Ukraine’s future needs.

Government push to unseal court records offers clues about what could be in the Epstein files
Tens of thousands of pages of records have already been released over the years.

Immigrant with family ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is detained by ICE
Bruna Ferreira came to the U.S. as a young child from Brazil.

Supreme Court won’t immediately let Trump administration fire copyright office head
The Supreme Court has largely allowed Trump to fire officials.

Pushing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump looks to his Gaza ceasefire playbook
Trump had issued a 28-point plan favoring Russia, alarming Europe.

Trump administration says lower prices for 15 Medicare drugs will save taxpayers billions
The negotiation program is mandated by law and began under the Biden administration.

New prosecutor won’t pursue charges against Trump and others in Georgia election interference case
Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows were among 14 defendants who still faced charges.

Trump’s Ukraine peace plan ignites diplomatic flurry but major hurdles lie ahead
Ukrainian and European leaders expressed optimism about the talks' momentum.

Report: US envoy coached Putin aide on how Russian leader should pitch Trump on Ukraine peace plan
President Trump described his envoy's approach as “standard” in negotiations.

Federal judge says immigration officers in Colorado can only arrest those at risk of fleeing
The judge said each of those who sued had longstanding ties to their communities.

Lawsuit challenges arrests of people showing up to ICE check-ins in San Diego
By ELLIOT SPAGAT and VALERIE GONZALEZ SAN DIEGO (AP) — A week before Chancely Fanfan...

Judge sets $60K bond for Florida congresswoman accused of stealing $5M in COVID-19 funds
The Florida Democrat is accused of stealing funds mistakenly overpaid to her family's company.

FACT FOCUS: Trump gets it wrong claiming no murders in DC for the last six months
There have been 62 homicides in Washington since May 25, including one last week.

Judge gives Justice Department a day to detail Ghislaine Maxwell trial materials to be released
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her 2021 conviction.

Health care plan circulated by the White House runs into familiar GOP divisions
The proposal has so far been met with a stony silence on Capitol Hill.

DC Mayor Bowser announces she won’t seek fourth term, as Trump’s federal intervention continues
Bowser has served three terms since being first elected in 2015.

Wisconsin Supreme Court says 3-judge panels must decide congressional redistricting cases
It’s unclear whether new districts could be ordered in time for the 2026 midterms.

Democratic congressman’s lawsuit claims Trump housing official abused post to target Trump critics
U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell sued Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte.

X’s new feature raises questions about the foreign origins of some popular US political accounts
Elon Musk’s X unveiled a feature that lets users see where an account is based.

Political consultant defies court order in lawsuit over AI robocalls that mimicked Biden
He said he won't pay $22,500 to three voters despite a recent federal court order.

Trump EPA moves to abandon rule that sets tough standards for deadly soot pollution
The EPA previously said reducing fine particle matter could prevent thousands of premature deaths a...

FBI seeks interviews with Democratic lawmakers who urged US troops to defy illegal orders
The FBI has contacted them to begin scheduling interviews, signaling a possible inquiry into the...

Dismissal of Comey, James cases won’t be the final word. Here’s what the path ahead may look like
The Justice Department says it plans to immediately appeal the dismissals.

Some DACA recipients have been arrested in the Trump’s immigration crackdown
At least 20 cases have been documented.

Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia agrees to pay nearly $5.2M in overdue personal taxes
Justice was elected last November.

Trump allows more foreign ag workers, eases off ICE raids on farms
ICE in recent months appears to be refraining from conducting agricultural workplace raids.

Trump spares turkeys — but not his political opponents — at annual pardoning ceremony
Trump brought insults and grievances to the traditional Thanksgiving turkey pardoning ceremony.

Rights groups slam Trump administration for ending Myanmar deportation protection as civil war rages
The decision could impact up to 4,000 people.

Thousands of arrests by Trump’s crime-fighting task force in Memphis strain crowded jail and courts
More than 2,800 people have been arrested and more than 28,000 traffic citations were issued.

Trump administration plans to review refugees admitted under Biden, memo obtained by The AP says
The Biden administration admitted 185,640 refugees from October 2021 through September 2024.

New survey finds rising pessimism among U.S. Hispanics
Hispanic adults are increasingly unhappy with how the administration is handling the economy and immigration.

Drugs sneaked into Ohio prison soaked into the pages of ‘Hillbilly Elegy’
The memoir's latest role is secretly transporting drugs into an Ohio prison.

White House circulates a plan to extend Obamacare subsidies as Trump pledges health care fix
The proposal includes capping eligibility at 700% of the federal poverty level.

Sudan’s top general rejects US-led ceasefire proposal, calling it ‘the worst yet’
The devastating war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to U.N. figures.

August trial set in case challenging Miami land transfer for Trump’s presidential library
The decision will further delay plans to give the plot of land to the state.

Trump administration plan to reduce access to some student loans angers nurses, health care groups
The Trump administration believes the changes could reduce tuition costs.

Lawmakers question legality of Border Patrol license plate reader program
Sen. Ed Markey raised the possibility that the program may run afoul of the Constitution.

BBC leaders grilled by lawmakers over its standards after Trump threatened to sue
The BBC’s chairman acknowledged that it was too slow in responding over a misleading edit.

Justice Department renews bid to unseal Jeffrey Epstein grand jury materials
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton asked the judge to issue an expedited ruling.

Judge dismisses Comey, James indictments after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed
The orders make Lindsey Halligan the latest Trump administration prosecutor to be disqualified.

Melania Trump welcomes Christmas tree to the White House
The tree came from Korson’s Tree Farms in Michigan.

Pentagon says it’s investigating Sen. Mark Kelly over video urging troops to defy ‘illegal orders’
Kelly joined lawmakers in a video that called for U.S. troops to refuse unlawful orders.

Top US military adviser visits Caribbean as Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuela
This will be Gen. Dan Caine's second visit to the region since the U.S. military...

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a law legalizing sports betting. He now says he’s opposed to it
DeWine said his concerns with sports gambling began almost as soon as Ohio's law took...

Trump says he will visit Beijing in April and host China’s Xi for a state visit later next year
'Our relationship with China is extremely strong!' Trump said.

Officials say progress made on amending US peace plan for Ukraine
The plan pressed Ukraine to hand over some territory to Russia and reduce its army.

US labels Maduro-tied Cartel de los Soles as a terror organization. It’s not a cartel per se
The move is part of the Trump administration's escalating campaign to combat drug trafficking into...

Accreditation of colleges, once low key, has gotten political
The accreditation process is critical to the survival of institutions of higher education.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, former Trump loyalist, says she is resigning from Congress
The Republican congresswoman from Georgia had criticized Trump’s reluctance to release more documents related to...

Takeaways from Trump and Mamdani visit: Both men get something they want, GOP loses a punching bag
Republicans hoped to make Mamdani a poster boy for Democratic party excess and radicalism.

Supreme Court blocks order that found Texas congressional map is likely racially biased
The state called on the high court to intervene to avoid confusion.

Abortion is illegal again in North Dakota after court reverses a judge’s earlier decision
The split decision means abortion is once again illegal in North Dakota.

A federal judge blocked Trump’s National Guard deployment to DC but troops aren’t leaving just yet
The case may also have implications for other cities.

RFK Jr. says he personally directed CDC’s new guidance on vaccines and autism
Many current and former staffers at the agency were surprised to see new published guidance.

Trump administration sues California over giving in-state tuition to immigrants in US illegally
The lawsuit alleges the practice harms U.S. citizens and encourages illegal immigration.

Kashoggi’s widow and Democrats demand release of a call transcript with Trump and Saudi crown prince
It is unlikely that the Trump administration would voluntarily release the 2019 call transcript.

Progress on overdose deaths could be jeopardized by federal cuts, critics say
The cuts come at a time of steady progress in the fight against opioid addiction.

FDA’s plan to boost biosimilar drugs could stall at the patent office
Biosimilars are essentially generic versions of biologics which are made from living organisms.

Once a patient’s in custody, ICE can be at hospital bedsides — but detainees have rights
Detained patients can try to advocate for themselves or seek legal recourse.

ICE courthouse arrests meet resistance from Democratic states
States clamping down on ICE continue to allow the agency to make criminal arrests.

Latino US citizens racially profiled by federal immigration agents in Chicago: ‘I felt like a piece of trash’
The Tribune spoke to U.S. citizens and green card holders who have either been questioned...

MAHA idealism meets political reality as RFK Jr. attempts to wrangle a growing movement
Some Kennedy supporters have questioned why he and other government leaders have appeared willing to...

Trump and Mamdani go from adversaries to allies after White House meeting
The Republican president and New York City’s Mayor-elect were warm and friendly.

Schools fear disruptions as the White House begins dismantling the Education Department
The plan to dismantle the Education Department has drawn pushback from state and district leaders,...

Supreme Court meets to weigh Trump’s birthright citizenship restrictions, blocked by lower courts
If the Supreme Court steps in now, the case would be argued in the spring.

Leaders arrive for a first African G20 summit overshadowed by a rift between the host and the US
While the U.S. will be absent, other G20 nations are signaling a willingness to work...

Federal judge orders release of 16 migrants detained in Idaho raid, citing due process violations
The raid at the outdoor track was part of an investigation into suspected illegal gambling.

Federal judges uphold several North Carolina US House districts drawn by Republicans
By GARY D. ROBERTSON RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Federal judges on Thursday upheld several U.S....

Government ordered to resume deportation protection program for vulnerable immigrant youth
The decision will allow the program to continue while the lawsuit brought by plaintiffs continues.

Democrats allege spy agency work is being undermined and politicized under Trump
Colombia, Britain and the Netherlands have reportedly limited some intelligence sharing with the U.S.

FAA gives $10K bonuses only to air traffic controllers with perfect attendance during shutdown
Many controllers called out of work as they dealt with not getting a paycheck.

Justice Department insists Comey indictment was properly approved as it tries to keep case afloat
Halligan described the situation as a “clerical inconsistency.”

Trump expands tariff relief on coffee, fruit and beef from Brazil
Thursday's decision harmonizes Trump's plans, ensuring that neither the April nor July tariffs apply.

Judge to rule on whether to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration custody
His attorneys noted that there is no final order of removal in his immigration records.

Lawsuit filed on behalf of immigrants fined up to $1.8 million for remaining in the country
The fines were called unconstitutional — and grossly disproportionate to the gravity of any immigration...

Justice Department is examining handling of mortgage fraud investigation into Sen. Adam Schiff
The revelation is likely to bring fresh scrutiny to already criticized efforts to investigate Trump...

Judge orders Trump administration to end National Guard deployment in DC
She put her order on hold for 21 days to allow for an appeal, however.

Trump administration announces plan for new oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida
Critics say the project could harm coastal communities and ecosystems.

Vance says Americans need patience on prices but says ‘We hear you’ on affordability concerns
The White House is grappling with how to speak to voters about the cost of...

As US debates gender roles, some women in male-led faiths dig in on social and political issues
The U.S. feminist movement’s perpetual quest for gender equality has suffered notable setbacks.

Trump says Democrats’ video message to military is ‘seditious behavior’ punishable by death
Lawmakers called on military members to uphold the Constitution and defy “illegal orders.”

Beliefs clash among students, parents and teachers as the Ten Commandments go up in Texas classrooms
Posters have gone up in some classrooms but not all.

These are the sights and sounds of Trump’s immigration crackdown in Chicago
The crackdown has galvanized Chicagoans, who have banded together to protect their neighbors.

Trump and Republicans once more face a tough political fight over Obama-era health law
Trump is once more targeting Obama’s signature health care law.

CDC website changed to contradict scientific conclusion that vaccines don’t cause autism
The update has outraged public health and autism experts.

Respect and remembrance for Cheney from Bush, Biden and past vice presidents as Trump is excluded
Two ex-presidents came: Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Joe Biden.

House gets back to work and quickly falls into a cycle of punishing its own
With few bills to consider, the House has instead devoted time to lawmakers’ demands to...

Americans like democracy, but don’t believe it or US institutions are working well, poll finds
Alongside the widespread disappointment in how democracy is working, a poll also finds that few...

Funerals at Washington’s National Cathedral tell the story of a nation
When former Vice President Dick Cheney 's funeral is held Thursday at the Washington National...

Trump signs bill to release Jeffrey Epstein case files after fighting it for months
The bill requires the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein.

Trump administration makes major changes to a report it commissioned on FEMA reforms, AP sources say
The report, expected around Dec. 12, included recommendations on disaster preparedness.

US Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida indicted on charges of stealing $5M in disaster funds
The Democrat is accused of stealing FEMA funds that her family’s health care company received.

Democratic senator accuses Trump of playing politics with aviation safety during shutdown
More than 6 million travelers were affected by delays and cancellations.

5 accused of supporting antifa plead guilty to terrorism-related offense after Texas shooting
They face up to 15 years in prison at sentencing.
