POLITICS
Military lawyer swiftly fired from immigration bench after defying Trump deportation push
Read full article: Military lawyer swiftly fired from immigration bench after defying Trump deportation pushA U.S. Army Reserve lawyer detailed as a federal immigration judge has been fired barely a month into the job after granting asylum at a high rate out of step with the Trump administration’s mass deportation goals.
Turning Point USA's Erika Kirk backs Vice President JD Vance's potential 2028 presidential bid
Read full article: Turning Point USA's Erika Kirk backs Vice President JD Vance's potential 2028 presidential bidErika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and current CEO of the conservative youth group, endorsed the potential presidential bid of Vice President JD Vance in the 2028 election.
Rubio fields questions on Russia-Ukraine, Gaza and Venezuela at wide-ranging news conference
Read full article: Rubio fields questions on Russia-Ukraine, Gaza and Venezuela at wide-ranging news conferenceSecretary of State Marco Rubio is weighing in on Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas peace efforts and defending the Trump administration’s increasing military pressure on Venezuela during a rare, end-of-year news conference.
States faces a choice on whether to embrace Trump's tax cuts on tips, overtime and more
Read full article: States faces a choice on whether to embrace Trump's tax cuts on tips, overtime and moreLawmakers across the U.S. will be debating whether to adopt new federal tax breaks for tips, overtime and business expenses.
Trump administration will appeal judge's order reversing federal funding cuts at Harvard
Read full article: Trump administration will appeal judge's order reversing federal funding cuts at HarvardThe Trump administration is appealing a federal judge’s order reversing billions of dollars in funding cuts to Harvard University.
Mystery as YouTube creator's finance livestream appears on White House website
Read full article: Mystery as YouTube creator's finance livestream appears on White House websiteA YouTube content creator whose livestream talking about investments mysteriously appeared to take over a White House website says he has no idea how it happened.
The Latest: Justice Department faces deadline to release Epstein files
Read full article: The Latest: Justice Department faces deadline to release Epstein filesThe Justice Department faces a Friday deadline to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and wealthy financier known for his connections to some of the world’s most influential people, including President Donald Trump, who had tried to keep the files sealed.
4 months in, activists say Trump's operation in Washington targets immigrants
Read full article: 4 months in, activists say Trump's operation in Washington targets immigrantsWashington, D.C., activists and local leaders say the law enforcement operation President Donald Trump launched four months ago with the goal of fighting crime has led to a crackdown on immigrants.
These are Americans' biggest priorities for the government in 2026, according to a new AP-NORC poll
Read full article: These are Americans' biggest priorities for the government in 2026, according to a new AP-NORC pollA new AP-NORC poll finds that Americans are more likely to prioritize health care than they were last year.
Ukrainian and Polish presidents show unity against Russia, address historical tensions
Read full article: Ukrainian and Polish presidents show unity against Russia, address historical tensionsThe Ukrainian and Polish presidents have met in Warsaw to emphasize unity against Russia and progress on historical reconciliation.
With ACA subsidies set to expire, Texas Republicans in Congress remain hazy about path forward
Read full article: With ACA subsidies set to expire, Texas Republicans in Congress remain hazy about path forwardTexas’ entire House GOP delegation voted this week for a health care package that lets the tax credits lapse. They will be forced to vote on a three-year extension of the subsidies in January.
Texas lawmakers from both parties oppose Trump’s order targeting state AI laws
Read full article: Texas lawmakers from both parties oppose Trump’s order targeting state AI lawsTexas’ new law regulating AI is set to take effect Jan. 1, two months after Trump’s executive order threatening to cut off some federal money if states pass “onerous” AI laws.
Trump gave an unusually partisan White House address. Should networks have given him the TV time?
Read full article: Trump gave an unusually partisan White House address. Should networks have given him the TV time?Donald Trump's White House asked TV networks to grant him airtime for the first national address of his second presidency.
Young conservative women find a home in Turning Point with Charlie Kirk's widow at the helm
Read full article: Young conservative women find a home in Turning Point with Charlie Kirk's widow at the helmYoung women who have grown emboldened in their conservative beliefs are attending the annual conference held by Turning Point USA.
Justice Department faces deadline to release files on Epstein sex trafficking investigation
Read full article: Justice Department faces deadline to release files on Epstein sex trafficking investigationThe Justice Department is facing its deadline to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender known for his connections to powerful figures, including Donald Trump.
Texas Democratic candidates unite in the Rio Grande Valley to court Latino voters
Read full article: Texas Democratic candidates unite in the Rio Grande Valley to court Latino votersState Rep. James Talarico faces an uphill battle in his U.S. Senate bid while 15th Congressional hopeful Bobby Pulido aims to flip the district, but he must first win his primary.
Texas AG Ken Paxton and Sen. Angela Paxton agree to unseal divorce records
Read full article: Texas AG Ken Paxton and Sen. Angela Paxton agree to unseal divorce recordsThe agreement comes after a judge put the Paxtons’ records under seal, prompting The Texas Tribune and other outlets to challenge the order.
Trump's blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil raises new questions about legality
Read full article: Trump's blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil raises new questions about legalityPresident Donald Trump’s “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast is raising new concerns about the legality of his military campaign in Latin America.
TikTok signs deal to form new US unit with investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake
Read full article: TikTok signs deal to form new US unit with investors, including Oracle, Silver LakeTikTok has signed a deal to form a new U.S. unit with three American investors — Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX — holding a majority stake.
US Justice Department sues 3 states, District of Columbia for voter data
Read full article: US Justice Department sues 3 states, District of Columbia for voter dataThe U.S. Justice Department has sued three states and the District of Columbia for not turning over requested voter information to the Trump administration.
Democrat Eileen Higgins sworn in as Miami's first female mayor after 30 years of GOP control
Read full article: Democrat Eileen Higgins sworn in as Miami's first female mayor after 30 years of GOP controlEileen Higgins has been sworn in as Miami's first female mayor, taking office two weeks after defeating a Trump-endorsed Republican.
Speaker Johnson was ready to move on from ACA subsidies. But his members had other plans
Read full article: Speaker Johnson was ready to move on from ACA subsidies. But his members had other plansSpeaker Mike Johnson has stayed on message that a Republican health care package will help all Americans and not just those on Affordable Care Act plans.
Texas A&M Tech tightens restrictions on discussing race and gender in class
Read full article: Texas A&M Tech tightens restrictions on discussing race and gender in classUnder the new rules, discussions on “race or gender ideology," sexual orientation or gender identity appear to be barred from introductory-level courses.
Trump's new $1,776 ‘Warrior Dividend’ to troops is coming from Pentagon funding, not tariffs
Read full article: Trump's new $1,776 ‘Warrior Dividend’ to troops is coming from Pentagon funding, not tariffsThe “Warrior Dividend” that President Donald Trump announced Wednesday is not a Christmas bonus made possible by tariff revenues, as the president appeared to suggest during his televised address to the nation.
House backs bill to speed permitting reviews for new energy and infrastructure projects
Read full article: House backs bill to speed permitting reviews for new energy and infrastructure projectsThe House has approved bipartisan legislation aimed at speeding up permitting reviews for new energy and infrastructure projects and limiting judicial review.
Bulgarians protest widespread graft and call for a fair election
Read full article: Bulgarians protest widespread graft and call for a fair electionTens of thousands of people have filled the streets of the capital and other major cities in Bulgaria calling for fair elections and an independent judiciary able to effectively fight widespread corruption.
Trump's handpicked board votes to rename Washington performing arts center the Trump Kennedy Center
Read full article: Trump's handpicked board votes to rename Washington performing arts center the Trump Kennedy CenterPresident Donald Trump’s handpicked board has voted to rename Washington’s leading performing arts center as the Trump Kennedy Center.
More Texas students complete journey through college, but low-income students still left behind
Read full article: More Texas students complete journey through college, but low-income students still left behindEconomically disadvantaged students are much less likely to go on and attain degrees, according to new state data that tracks long-term outcomes.
Texas tracks the long-term outcomes of public school students. See how your school district compares here.
Read full article: Texas tracks the long-term outcomes of public school students. See how your school district compares here.Newly-released state data tracked the long-term outcomes of public school students who enrolled a decade ago.
Texas is approving money for flood warning systems, but will it be enough to build Kerr County’s?
Read full article: Texas is approving money for flood warning systems, but will it be enough to build Kerr County’s?The county where more than 100 died in July floods wants to quickly build a $5 million flood warning system.
One year after a deadly train wreck, a West Texas town awaits help to avoid more tragedy
Read full article: One year after a deadly train wreck, a West Texas town awaits help to avoid more tragedyAs oil and gas industry traffic continues to speed through Pecos, TxDOT said it is working to find $194 million to build an alternative route away from the heart of the city.
Mexican drug cartel member accused of faking his death is sentenced to 11-plus years in US prison
Read full article: Mexican drug cartel member accused of faking his death is sentenced to 11-plus years in US prisonA Mexican drug cartel member accused of faking his death to avoid capture has been sentenced to more than 11 years in U.S. prison.
The Latest: Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children
Read full article: The Latest: Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for childrenThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to effectively ban gender-affirming care for minors.
Trump Media to merge with nuclear fusion company that wants to power AI
Read full article: Trump Media to merge with nuclear fusion company that wants to power AIThe parent company of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social media platform announced Thursday it is merging with a fusion power company, an unusual pairing of the Trump name with a futuristic clean energy venture that aims to power the next wave of artificial intelligence.
How cutting transgender instruction at Texas medical schools undermines health groups’ recommendations
Read full article: How cutting transgender instruction at Texas medical schools undermines health groups’ recommendationsHealth providers and faculty members fear students will no longer understand the nuances of caring for transgender people, who tend to have higher rates of certain mental and physical health conditions.
Conservatives clash at Turning Point USA conference over MAGA movement's direction
Read full article: Conservatives clash at Turning Point USA conference over MAGA movement's directionConservative influencers clashed at Turning Point USA's annual youth conference over the future of President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement.
US announces massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion, angering China
Read full article: US announces massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion, angering ChinaPresident Donald Trump's administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion, including medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones.
Trump demands Venezuela pay for seized US oil assets after calling for 'blockade'
Read full article: Trump demands Venezuela pay for seized US oil assets after calling for 'blockade'President Donald Trump is demanding Venezuela pay for assets that Trump says were stolen from U.S. companies when the South American country nationalized its oil industry years ago.
Ken Paxton’s office launches tip line to encourage enforcement of Texas’ “bathroom bill”
Read full article: Ken Paxton’s office launches tip line to encourage enforcement of Texas’ “bathroom bill”The attorney general's complaint form is the latest effort to enforce new state restrictions on which restrooms transgender people can use in public buildings.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he plans to resign next month as bureau’s No. 2 official
Read full article: FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he plans to resign next month as bureau’s No. 2 officialFBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he’ll resign from the bureau next month, ending a brief tenure in which he clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and was forced to reconcile the realities of his law enforcement job with provocative claims he made in his prior role as a popular podcast host.
Imprisoned Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell seeks release, citing 'new evidence'
Read full article: Imprisoned Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell seeks release, citing 'new evidence'Imprisoned former Jeffrey Epstein girlfriend and longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell is asking a federal judge to set aside her sex trafficking conviction and 20-year prison sentence, saying “substantial new evidence” has emerged to prove constitutional violations spoiled her trial.
Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration policies limiting lawmakers' access to ICE facilities
Read full article: Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration policies limiting lawmakers' access to ICE facilitiesA federal judge in the nation’s capital has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing policies limiting Congress members’ access to immigration detention facilities.