POLITICS
Obama meets Mamdani in New York City before reading to preschoolers
Read full article: Obama meets Mamdani in New York City before reading to preschoolersFormer President Barack Obama has met privately with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani before joining together to read to preschoolers at a child care center in the Bronx.
Trump taps Texas’ top public health official as CDC chief medical officer
Read full article: Trump taps Texas’ top public health official as CDC chief medical officerJennifer Shuford, an infectious disease physician who oversaw the country’s largest measles outbreak in 30 years, is among a slate of CDC nominations with no apparent ties to the anti-vaccine movement.
Trump signs order to speed review of psychedelics, including the controversial drug ibogaine
Read full article: Trump signs order to speed review of psychedelics, including the controversial drug ibogainePresident Donald Trump has directed his administration to speed up reviews of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine.
Pope Leo XIV says ‘not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump but will keep preaching peace
Read full article: Pope Leo XIV says ‘not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump but will keep preaching peacePope Leo XIV says it is “not in my interest at all” to debate U.S. President Donald Trump about the war in Iran but that he will continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.
A big midterms year in Arizona kicks off with the state's largest county embroiled in election drama
Read full article: A big midterms year in Arizona kicks off with the state's largest county embroiled in election dramaMuch of the political spotlight this election year in Arizona has been focused on the office that runs elections in Maricopa County, the state’s largest.
Trump's dyslexia barbs stir anguish and anger, perpetuating a myth about the learning disability
Read full article: Trump's dyslexia barbs stir anguish and anger, perpetuating a myth about the learning disabilitySome of the harshest words that President Donald Trump has used against a leading Democratic rival aren't about political differences but rather a learning disability.
Indiana primary will test Trump's control over Republican Party after redistricting defiance
Read full article: Indiana primary will test Trump's control over Republican Party after redistricting defiancePresident Donald Trump's influence on the Republican Party is facing a test in Indiana's upcoming primary.
US extends waiver on Russian oil sanctions to ease Iran war shortages despite Bessent denial
Read full article: US extends waiver on Russian oil sanctions to ease Iran war shortages despite Bessent denialThe U.S. Treasury Department has extended its pause on sanctions on Russian oil shipments to ease shortages from the Iran war, days after Secretary Scott Bessent ruled out such a move.
Key prosecutor in John Brennan investigation has been removed from case, AP source says
Read full article: Key prosecutor in John Brennan investigation has been removed from case, AP source saysA lead prosecutor in the John Brennan investigation has been removed from the case after expressing concerns to Justice Department officials about the viability of a potential criminal prosecution of the former CIA director.
Texas grid operator forecasts massive growth in demand, but says data is likely flawed
Read full article: Texas grid operator forecasts massive growth in demand, but says data is likely flawedThe Electric Reliability Council of Texas reported that peak energy demand could quadruple by 2032, but cautioned that its estimate is likely too high and must be revised.
Three dozen Texas Democrats urge Kendall Scudder not to seek reelection as state party chair
Read full article: Three dozen Texas Democrats urge Kendall Scudder not to seek reelection as state party chairIn an open letter, former staffers and other insiders said the state party has fallen short on strategy and failed to act with urgency under Scudder’s leadership.
Former Wisconsin man sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for illegal campaign contributions
Read full article: Former Wisconsin man sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for illegal campaign contributionsA federal judge has sentenced a former Wisconsin man to 20 months in prison for making campaign contributions after renouncing his U.S. citizenship.
Judge sides with Arizona election official in ruling that has implications for midterms voting
Read full article: Judge sides with Arizona election official in ruling that has implications for midterms votingThe top election official in Arizona’s most populous county will get more authority in running elections after a judge sided with his office in a prolonged legal fight with the county board that shares responsibility for overseeing voting.
White House chief of staff meets with Anthropic CEO over its new AI technology
Read full article: White House chief of staff meets with Anthropic CEO over its new AI technologyWhite House chief of staff Susie Wiles has met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to discuss the company's new AI model, Mythos.
Transgender athlete focuses on what may be her last track season as Supreme Court ruling looms
Read full article: Transgender athlete focuses on what may be her last track season as Supreme Court ruling loomsA West Virginia transgender girl who competes on her high school girls' track team says she's focused on having fun with her friends.
$13 train fare spikes to $150 for World Cup fans attending matches in New Jersey
Read full article: $13 train fare spikes to $150 for World Cup fans attending matches in New JerseySky-high ticket prices won’t be the only thing emptying the wallets of soccer fans attending World Cup matches at some U.S. venues this spring.
The Supreme Court hands a win to oil and gas companies fighting environmental lawsuits in Louisiana
Read full article: The Supreme Court hands a win to oil and gas companies fighting environmental lawsuits in LouisianaThe Supreme Court is handing a win to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana.
Conversion therapy is legal. Therapists are torn on whether this will help LGBTQ+ Texans.
Read full article: Conversion therapy is legal. Therapists are torn on whether this will help LGBTQ+ Texans.The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled conversion therapy is free speech. Some LGBTQ+ advocates say the ruling applies to gender-affirming therapy, too, while others say the courts won’t protect them.
As Corpus Christi scrambles to find more water, nearby cities are facing their own water woes
Read full article: As Corpus Christi scrambles to find more water, nearby cities are facing their own water woesLike their larger neighbor, small South Texas cities are drilling new water wells amid a stubborn drought. But experts say that could deplete local aquifers.
Senate extends surveillance powers until April 30 after chaotic votes in House
Read full article: Senate extends surveillance powers until April 30 after chaotic votes in HouseCongress has approved a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies just days before it was set to expire.
Trump draws Marie Antoinette comparisons as he leans into the gilded trappings of the presidency
Read full article: Trump draws Marie Antoinette comparisons as he leans into the gilded trappings of the presidencyPresident Donald Trump is more overtly leaning into some of the spoils of his office in his second term, drawing comparisons to French Queen Marie Antoinette from political opponents.
ICE acting director Todd Lyons will resign at end of May, DHS says
Read full article: ICE acting director Todd Lyons will resign at end of May, DHS saysU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons, a key executor of President Donald Trump’s mass deportations agenda, will resign at the end of May, federal officials announced Thursday.
Trump expected to nominate Cameron Hamilton to lead FEMA after his firing last year
Read full article: Trump expected to nominate Cameron Hamilton to lead FEMA after his firing last yearPresident Donald Trump has offered Cameron Hamilton the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's permanent administrator.
Gov. Greg Abbott threatens $200 million in funding from major Texas cities over ICE policies
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott threatens $200 million in funding from major Texas cities over ICE policiesThe governor’s letters to Austin, Dallas and Houston say the state will pull back state grants because of local policies that deter police from fully cooperating with immigration officials.
West Texas residents sue Trump administration over Big Bend border wall plans
Read full article: West Texas residents sue Trump administration over Big Bend border wall plansThe lawsuit says the Trump administration illegally waived environmental laws to speed up the process to build border barriers in the Big Bend area.
In address on media ethics, former Washington Post editor worries about fading moral compass
Read full article: In address on media ethics, former Washington Post editor worries about fading moral compassDuring a contentious era, one of journalism's leading figures says he's concerned about news outlets that may be losing their moral compass.
Sen. Warren calls for greater transparency into Federal Reserve nominee's financial holdings
Read full article: Sen. Warren calls for greater transparency into Federal Reserve nominee's financial holdingsPresident Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Federal Reserve, Kevin Warsh, is likely to face tough questions about his vast financial holdings at a hearing next week by the Senate Banking Committee.
A vaccine standoff and other key moments from RFK Jr.'s first congressional hearing in months
Read full article: A vaccine standoff and other key moments from RFK Jr.'s first congressional hearing in monthsHealth Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended a more than 12% proposed cut to his department's budget and dodged arrows from angry Democrats as he kicked off an expected sprint of seven hearings in Congress over the next seven days.
New York loses nearly $74 million for not revoking 33,000 illegal licenses for immigrant truckers
Read full article: New York loses nearly $74 million for not revoking 33,000 illegal licenses for immigrant truckersNew York will lose more than $73.5 million in federal money because the Transportation Department says that state has refused to revoke nearly 33,000 questionable commercial driver’s licenses for immigrants since an audit uncovered problems last year.
House rejects effort to withdraw US forces from the Iran war as Republicans stick with Trump
Read full article: House rejects effort to withdraw US forces from the Iran war as Republicans stick with TrumpThe House has rejected a resolution requiring President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the war with Iran unless Congress authorizes military action.
Trump rails against court decision that once again stalls his White House ballroom project
Read full article: Trump rails against court decision that once again stalls his White House ballroom projectPresident Donald Trump has railed against a federal judge’s decision that continues to block above-ground construction of a $400 million White House ballroom.
She won a $7M grant to teach Texans how to farm. Then the Trump administration yanked it over DEI.
Read full article: She won a $7M grant to teach Texans how to farm. Then the Trump administration yanked it over DEI.Diana Padilla has spent a decade teaching Rio Grande Valley residents how to farm and was set to expand across the rest of the state, first in Kaufman County.
US strikes another vessel and kills 3 men it says were trafficking drugs in the Eastern Pacific
Read full article: US strikes another vessel and kills 3 men it says were trafficking drugs in the Eastern PacificU.S. military forces have struck a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, killing three men the Pentagon says were trafficking drugs.
Federal agency approves concept for Trump's plan for a Triumphal Arch in Washington
Read full article: Federal agency approves concept for Trump's plan for a Triumphal Arch in WashingtonThe White House says it's “thrilled” after a federal commission gave early approval to the design for a 250-foot arch President Donald Trump wants to build at an entrance to the nation's capital.
House passes a bill to protect Haitian immigrants, in slap back to the Trump administration
Read full article: House passes a bill to protect Haitian immigrants, in slap back to the Trump administrationThe House has passed legislation that would extend temporary protections for Haitian immigrants living in the United States.
Texas oil and gas regulator Wayne Christian peddles oil-backed crypto coin
Read full article: Texas oil and gas regulator Wayne Christian peddles oil-backed crypto coinGovernment watchdogs raised conflict-of-interests concerns, but Christian said his involvement in the venture is “separate” from his elected position on the Railroad Commission.
A Venezuelan family followed the rules to enter the U.S. After being arrested and detained for a month, they’re leaving.
Read full article: A Venezuelan family followed the rules to enter the U.S. After being arrested and detained for a month, they’re leaving.Like thousands of other migrants, the family entered under the Biden administration’s rules in 2024. With Trump in office, they were locked up in Texas before deciding to abandon asylum.
Progressive Analilia Mejía takes New Jersey US House special election, giving Democrats another win
Read full article: Progressive Analilia Mejía takes New Jersey US House special election, giving Democrats another winNew Jersey Democrat Analilia Mejía has won a special election to fill the U.S. House seat that was vacated by Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill after she was voted into that office.
Dallas County GOP chair Allen West resigns after backing countywide voting for runoff
Read full article: Dallas County GOP chair Allen West resigns after backing countywide voting for runoffWest faced opposition after backing countywide polling sites for the runoff, following a chaotic precinct-based primary.