This section covers the people, institutions and decisions that shape government and public life. Expect coverage of national leadership, legislation, elections, courts and policy debates, along with the officials and agencies carrying them out.
Stories here track how power is used and challenged, from budgets and regulations to campaigns and appointments, offering context on what these developments mean for citizens and communities.
Politics· Developing
With just 11 days until the US midterm elections, Democrats need a net gain of four seats to reclaim Congress With just 11 days until the US midterm elections, early voting data is rolling in nationwide. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to reclaim the majority in each chamber of Congress. Here is where the numbers stand as of Friday: Continue reading...
Politics· Verified
President Trump on Friday slashed tariffs on a handful of Canadian products that are used widely by Maine's agricultural industry, a move cheered by GOP Sen. Susan Collins, who is facing a tough reelection battle.
Politics· Verified
The Justice Department is suing Alaska election officials to prevent them from certifying Senate race results if GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan loses next month.
Politics· Verified
Two former FBI officials who have come under withering criticism from allies of President Donald Trump over their intelligence work during the 2020 presidential election have been charged with allegedly lying to Congress.
Politics· Verified
The British government advised the public on Friday to keep three days of emergency supplies at home, a message it said had been hammered home by this week’s PHP software glitch, as well as a record-setting summer of heat, drought and wildfires. Governments and businesses worldwide have rushed to secure systems running the PHP programming language after flaws were disclosed on Wednesday, forcing some services offline and triggering millions of hacking attempts in one of the most significant cybersecurity incidents in recent years. The British government said the internet outage showed the importance of its newly launched “Be Ready” campaign, which advises the public to keep three days of bottled water and non-perishable food in the house. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, hosting a meeting on the response to wildfires, said that in the past Britain had been “on the back foot” responding to emergencies and that it needed to be more proactive. The government announced a new wildfire response plan that includes deploying military aircraft. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said cyber incidents such as the PHP outage would become more common as AI made it easier to find ways to thwart traditional defences. He also cited risks from hostile states, organised criminals and climate change. The UK was facing a greater level of threat “than we have certainly for most, if not all, of my lifetime”, he said during an appearance on the BBC’s ‘Question Time’ programme broadcast overnight. Britain’s advice is similar to that issued by the European Commission, which told EU citizens last year to keep a 72-hour emergency kit containing supplies such as food, water, cash and power banks.
Politics· Developing
Federal judge says government’s investigation into alleged noncitizen voting in nine states is relying on flawed data A federal judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to halt investigations in nine states into whether noncitizens are registered to vote. US district court judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín in Oakland found the government’s effort was relying on data that is full of errors and that it was leading to intimidation of groups performing voter assistance efforts. She said it should be halted until polls close on election day on 3 November. Continue reading...
Politics· Verified
The Supreme Court cleared the way Thursday for New Hampshire to fully ban the use of student IDs for voting during the midterm elections.
Politics· Verified
‘Political candidates’ once reflexive support for Israel has increasingly become a liability When the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the most prominent pro-Israel lobby group in the US, announced on Wednesday that it would stop endorsing candidates or make direct contributions to them, its many critics were quick to hail the development as Aipac’s admission of how toxic its brand had become. The announcement marked a significant reversal that underscored just how profoundly US public opinion of Israel has shifted over the latest war in Gaza, and how political candidates’ once reflexive support for Israel has increasingly become a liability. Continue reading...
Politics· Developing
Polls show US voters are deeply upset by high gas prices and are likely to punish Republicans in the midterms as a result With fewer than two weeks until the midterms, US voters are unlikely to see relief on one of this election cycle’s main issues: gas prices. Airing up her car’s tires at a Speedway in Perrysburg, Ohio, Toledo resident Sharie Smith, 41, says soaring costs are having a direct impact on her life. Continue reading...
Politics· Developing
President Trump is set to rally with Rep. Ashley Hinson in Iowa as he seeks to boost GOP candidates in a political environment that has dimmed for the party — prompting pushback from some candidates, including Hinson.
Politics· Verified
The Minnesota Democrat said her husband and son were home when federal agents began banging on her house doors at 6 a.m. before they conducted an hourslong search.
Politics· Verified
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the Trump administration cannot enforce a new policy that restricts treatment for transgender inmates in federal prison.
Politics· Developing
Voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of economy and cost of living, says poll in new low recorded by NY Times/Siena Donald Trump’s approval rating sank to 36% just two weeks before the midterm elections, the lowest recorded in a poll by the New York Times/Siena College, with most respondents expressing frustration over his handling of the US economy, cost of living and Iran war. In an October survey of approximately 3,494 likely voters, 59% said they disapproved of Trump’s handling of his job, and 52% said they planned to vote for the Democratic candidate in the upcoming election. Continue reading...
Politics· Developing
Coordination by Democratic officials overseeing elections includes Zoom calls and in-person tabletop exercises Democratic state attorneys general, other top state officials and civic groups have accelerated planning to thwart any federal meddling in the November midterm elections by Donald Trump as he continues his false charges of widespread voting fraud and veiled threats of interfering in the process. Since early this year, 24 Democratic attorneys general have expanded coordination with about a dozen Democratic secretaries of state and several civic groups using weekly Zoom calls and in-person tabletop exercises to strategize about countering any federal intervention in the elections. Continue reading...
Politics· Developing
The SC rules that in so far as the 2024 and 2025 budgets are concerned, the doctrine of operative fact applies. This recognizes the validity of an assailed act prior to the determination of its unconstitutionality.
Politics· Developing
With two weeks until election day and control of Congress on the line, President Trump says he plans to spend more than $400 million on the races. Nancy Cordes reports.
Politics· Verified
Vance, who campaigned for ousted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán this spring, said he endorses American candidates.
Politics· Developing
Billionaire ex-mayor of New York City is focusing funds on House races to help Democrats retake majority in midterms US politics live – latest updates The billionaire Michael Bloomberg will spend $80m to help Democratic candidates in the midterm elections, US media reported on Tuesday, a significant infusion of cash for a party that has recently struggled with fundraising as it seeks to win control of Congress. The reported donations came as Donald Trump announced on Tuesday he intended to spend a total of $400m to aid Republican candidates, with $300m already disbursed. Continue reading...
Politics· Developing
GOP lawmakers threaten to pull support for president’s agenda after Russia diesel deal and sanctions pause US politics live – latest updates A handful of Republicans have spoken out against Donald Trump’s softening stance on Russia, threatening to pull financial support for his agenda over his “embarrassing” handling of the Ukraine war. Don Bacon, an outgoing congressman in Nebraska, condemned Trump’s actions – which include a stunning agreement to buy Russian diesel and the pausing of sanctions on Moscow – as “absolutely disgraceful” and accused the US president of cozying up to a “war criminal” in Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart. Continue reading...
Politics· Verified
President Trump prevented some new sanctions on Russia and hefty tariffs on large-scale buyers of Russian oil from taking effect late Friday, as he seeks to ease prices by tapping Russian energy.
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