Politics
Political stories and the conversations they're driving.
Trump Signs Diesel Tax Relief Order on Stage in Nebraska. Here’s What It Actually Does
President Donald Trump signed an executive order at a Nebraska rally temporarily expanding access to tax-exempt red-dyed diesel. The move could lower fuel costs for truckers and some other users, but the savings depend on how the federal and state relief is implemented.
US Adds Just 29,000 Jobs in September, the Last Report Before the Midterms
The Labor Department's final jobs report before November's midterm elections showed the weakest hiring in months, with unemployment ticking up to 4.2% and July and August revised down by a combined 60,000 jobs.
Trump Won't Rule Out Invoking the Insurrection Act Around the Midterm Elections
In a Time magazine interview, Trump declined to commit to limits on his presidential power, saying "we're going to see how it plays out in court" when asked about the Insurrection Act or a national emergency declaration before November.
128 Campaign Vehicles and a Bigger Question: What Are Nigeria’s Political Priorities?
From Katsina to Borno and now Kano, at least 128 campaign vehicles have been publicly reported as political mobilisation for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election gathers pace. The images have triggered a heated debate about political spending, healthcare, insecurity and the cost of living.
House Passes Bill Giving DOJ New Access to State Records in Federal Program Fraud Investigations
The House has passed the PROOF Act, a bill that would expand federal access to state-held information when investigating alleged fraud involving federally funded programs. The measure now moves to the Senate.
Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to Use Expanded Citizenship Database on Voter Rolls
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court let the Trump administration resume using an expanded federal database to help states check voter rolls for noncitizens ahead of the midterms. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, and critics say the system has a history of flagging eligible, naturalized citizens.
Trump Says Iran Talks Resume This Week. Iran Says Nothing's Been Confirmed.
A day after rejecting Iran's ceasefire offer, Trump tells Axios he expects talks to resume as early as Monday. Iran's foreign minister says nothing has actually been conveyed through mediators yet.
Trump Attends Tennessee-Texas Game at Neyland Stadium as Air Force One Flies Over the Crowd
The president arrived about 40 minutes before kickoff of the No. 1 Texas-No. 14 Tennessee matchup, greeted by a roaring crowd as Air Force One passed low over Neyland Stadium. Reaction was more mixed later when he appeared on the videoboard during the game.
Trump Cancels $810 Million in Funding Congress Already Approved, Using a "Pocket Rescission"
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins says withholding the money without a congressional vote is illegal -- and the Government Accountability Office agrees. The White House calls it cutting wasteful spending.
Donald Trump's $5,000 Check Promise Fails To Land With Voters
A new Verasight poll finds more than twice as many Americans say the pledge makes them less likely to vote Republican as say more likely -- though the poll's own pollster cautions that disliking a proposal is not the same as changing a vote.
Trump Rejects Iran's Seven-Day Ceasefire Offer and Expects Bombing to Resume After the Midterms, WSJ Reports
Tehran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and return to nuclear talks in exchange for sanctions relief. US officials say Trump doubts Iran will meet his demands.
Senate Narrowly Rejects Resolution to End Trump's Iran War, 49-50
Four Republicans broke with President Trump to back a resolution directing him to end U.S. military operations against Iran, but it failed by one vote as Democrat John Fetterman voted no.
Argentina's Milei Calls UN 'Useless Organisation' in Fiery General Assembly Speech
In his September 23, 2026 address to the UN General Assembly, President Javier Milei said the UN "has become a useless organization whose only purpose is to sustain a caste of fatally arrogant parasites masquerading as well-intentioned bureaucrats," and devoted much of his speech to Argentina's Falklands/Malvinas claim.
Trump Points Out Biden Autopen Display to Xi Jinping During White House Tour — Xi Laughs
During Xi Jinping's September 24, 2026 state visit, Trump walked him past the White House's "Presidential Walk of Fame" and pointed to a framed autopen photo standing in for Joe Biden's portrait, saying "This is the autopen ... it's Biden." Xi laughed.
Rubio Says Trump Has Invited Putin to the G20 Summit in Miami This December
It would be Putin’s first visit to the US mainland since the Obama era. Zelenskyy says he’s skeptical Russia genuinely wants to end the war; Lavrov says there’s no pause coming.
At the UN, Trump Says He May “Annihilate” Iran or Make a Deal After the Midterms; Iran’s President Says It Is Ready to Negotiate, Not Submit to “the Language of Force”
Trump addressed the General Assembly on Sept. 22 and Iran’s president replied the next day. Indirect U.S.-Iran talks took place on the sidelines. No breakthrough was announced and no Trump-Pezeshkian meeting was confirmed.
Federal Judge Orders White House to Restore Press Access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico After Trump’s Ban
Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order Thursday, saying the outlets are likely to show the ban lacked due process. The Justice Department argued access is “a privilege, not a right” and is expected to appeal.
Trump Cuts Ribbon at New White House Helipad as TV Networks Skip Ceremony The ceremony happened September 21, 2026, and the White House published the ribbon-cutting footage. AP also reports that major television networks did not cover the ceremony as part of the ongoing White House press-pool dispute.
President Donald Trump officially opened the new White House helipad with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, while major television networks declined to provide their usual pooled coverage of the event.
Italy’s Meloni Says Her Government Will Ban Burqas and Niqabs in Schools and Cap Foreign Students Per Class
The measures were announced Sunday and are not yet law. Meloni says Italian children should not become a minority in their own classrooms; critics, including a constitutional law professor, question whether the plan is lawful.
Trump Says He’s in “Deciding Mode” on Iran and “Probably” Open to Meeting Its President at the UN, as Tehran Warns of “Sustained Retaliation”
Fox’s Trey Yingst relayed Trump’s Sunday remarks on his options for Iran and a possible meeting with President Pezeshkian this week. Iran’s military warned of “sustained retaliation” if it is attacked.
Trump Says He’s Banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico From the White House, and Their Reporters Were Turned Away
Trump announced the ban Friday, accusing the outlets of “FAKE NEWS.” A White House official defends it; the outlets and press-freedom groups call it unconstitutional. No lawsuit had been reported as of Sunday.
Driver Taken for Mental Health Evaluation After Going Onto a Sidewalk Near the White House and Asking for Trump
The Secret Service said a car drove onto the sidewalk at 16th and H Streets NW on Saturday. Reports say the man repeatedly asked to speak to Trump, who was at Camp David. His identity, motive and any charges have not been made public.
Mother Tells a Democrat-Hosted “Shadow Hearing” That ChatGPT Gave Her Son Drug Advice Before His Death
Leila Turner-Scott said she reviewed more than 700 chat logs from her 19-year-old son, Sam Nelson. OpenAI called the situation “heartbreaking,” and the family’s lawsuit claims remain unproven in court.
Saudi Arabia Says It Intercepted a Houthi Missile Aimed at Riyadh as Smoke Is Seen Near the Airport
The Houthis say they hit “sensitive” sites, a claim that is unverified. The State Department urged Americans in the Middle East to exercise heightened vigilance, and Trump returned to the White House from Camp David a day early.
What Did Trump Tell Vance During Bishop Budde’s Plea? What’s Known and What Isn’t
The moment happened at a Jan. 21, 2025, prayer service. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde asked Trump to “have mercy,” and clips of Trump appearing to speak to JD Vance keep circulating. What he said has not been confirmed.
Trump Announces U.S.-Denmark-Greenland Security Deal, Says It Gives U.S. “Permanent Control” Over Security
Trump says the agreement gives the U.S. “permanent control over security, and all other needs” in Greenland. Denmark says it recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination. The three governments expect to sign the agreement next week, subject to national parliamentary procedures.
Trump Says He's Banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico From the White House
The president announced the ban in a Truth Social post accusing the outlets of "FAKE NEWS" coverage. As of Friday afternoon, CNN said its team remained at the White House, and press freedom groups call the move unconstitutional.
Speaker Johnson Sends House Home Early, Delaying Vote on Massie's Push to Impeach Defense Secretary Hegseth
A privileged impeachment resolution targeting Pete Hegseth over the Iran war forced Republican leadership's hand — so Speaker Mike Johnson recessed the House early, pushing any floor vote past the November midterms.
Investigation Into NJ Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell Is Keeping Gov. Sherrill From Leaving the State
An ethics investigation into New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell is keeping Gov. Mikie Sherrill from traveling out of state, since Caldwell would become acting governor in her absence.
House Passes Iran War Powers Resolution 220-204 for the Third Time — Again With No Legal Force
The House voted 220-204 on a war powers resolution to end U.S. hostilities with Iran, the third such vote, though the concurrent resolution can't compel a withdrawal.
Senate Advances Protect College Sports Act 77-22, Setting Up Possible Final Vote Next Week
The Senate voted 77-22 to advance the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan bill setting federal rules for NIL deals, athlete pay and transfers in college athletics.
White House Withdraws Lance Schroyer's Nomination to Lead ICE After Senator Blocks Hearing
President Trump pulled his pick for ICE director just three months after naming him, after Sen. Rand Paul refused to schedule a confirmation hearing over unanswered questions on fatal ICE shootings in Minnesota.
Appeals Court Hears Arguments on Trump-Backed Missouri Map, Even as the Ballot Deadline Nearly Closes the Door
The 8th Circuit heard arguments on reviving Missouri's Trump-backed congressional map, but a Friday ballot-mailing deadline may make the outcome moot for November.
House Passes Sweeping Russia Sanctions Bill Named for Lindsey Graham, Sends It to Trump
The House voted 262-159 to send a major Russia sanctions package — including up to 100% tariffs on top buyers of Russian oil — to President Trump's desk.
Charlie Kirk's Family Says a Police Chief Told Organizers 'I Got You Covered.' Then the Shooter Fired From a Rooftop.
Charlie Kirk's family has filed a notice of claim against Utah Valley University, alleging campus police were warned about rooftop access near his event and failed to secure the area before he was shot and killed.
The Supreme Court Just Killed Trump's Mail Ballot Rule. His Own Appointee Wouldn't Back Him.
After three trips to the Supreme Court, Trump's new USPS mail-ballot restrictions are dead for the midterms — with Justice Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, siding against the rule's timing.
The Kennedy Center Says It's Broke and the Ceiling Is Falling In. Not Everyone Agrees.
The Kennedy Center's administration told its board the institution could close as soon as Tuesday, citing bankruptcy risk and a collapsed ceiling — claims a congresswoman's court filing directly disputes.
Modi, Putin, and Xi Held Hands at BRICS Again. That's Not a Coincidence.
At the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Modi, Putin, and Xi repeated a hand-holding gesture from a year earlier in Tianjin — a recurring signal of alignment at moments of friction with the West.
A Judge Called It Unconstitutional. Trump's Team Just Asked the Supreme Court to Ignore Her — Again.
The Trump administration has now asked the Supreme Court three times to let a new USPS rule restricting mail-in ballots take effect, even as ballots are already going out ahead of the midterms.
Trump Went to Ireland for Golf. He Left Having Weighed In on Reunification.
President Trump said Irish reunification "would be a fantastic thing" during a visit built around the Irish Open at his own golf resort — a comment Irish President Catherine Connolly pointedly declined to engage with.
Trump Had a Dallas Crowd Repeat a Pledge to Him — Including a Promise to "Cheat Like Hell"
Closing the GOP's first-ever midterm convention, President Trump led thousands of supporters in raising their right hands and repeating his words back to him — a pledge that included voting "on November 3rd, or before," and a promise to "cheat like hell like they do."
For 30 Years, They Lit Candles for Tiananmen. A Hong Kong Court Just Sent Them to Prison for It.
Three organizers of Hong Kong's annual Tiananmen Square vigils were sentenced Friday to 5 to 7 years in prison for "inciting subversion." The court agreed they used no violence and proposed no specific plan for change — and sentenced them anyway.
A Federal Judge Told Missouri to Use One Congressional Map. Two Days Later, the Supreme Court Said Use the Other.
Two courts gave Missouri opposite instructions this week on which congressional map to use in November — days before ballots go to print. At stake: a Kansas City seat held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, and a U.S. House Republicans control by a narrow margin.
He'd Floated $2,000 Before. In Dallas, Trump Doubled It — Then Attached a Catch.
At the Republican midterm convention, President Trump promised every adult US citizen a $5,000 "dividend" — but only if the GOP keeps both the House and Senate in November. Economists say the math doesn't add up.
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch to Retire After Year of Clashes With Trump Administration
Lonnie Bunch, the Smithsonian's first Black and first historian secretary, announced his retirement after months of White House pressure questioning the institution's independence.
Trump to Headline First-Ever GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas This Week
Roughly 20,000 people are expected as Republicans stage a two-night, presidential-style rally built entirely around the November midterms.
Armed Man Charges at Ohio Governor Candidate Amy Acton, Injures Several at Fair
The former Ohio health director stayed to help an injured fairgoer after troopers arrested a man who barreled through the crowd toward her at the Canfield Fair.
The Pentagon Hooked Up 50 of Its Own People to a Polygraph. It Had Never Done This Before.
Someone leaked how depleted America's missile stockpiles had gotten during the Iran war. The hunt for who did it just became the largest polygraph campaign in the modern history of the U.S. military.
A Man Pushed Through the Crowd Toward Her With Two Guns and a Taser. She Stayed to Help the People He Knocked Down.
Ohio's Democratic candidate for governor wasn't hurt when a man rushed toward her at a county fair. Two bystanders on mobility scooters were.
His Ex-Wife Says He Held a Gun to Her Head. He Says It Was "Horseplay." Now His Own Party Is Squirming.
Ohio Rep. Max Miller asked for an ethics investigation into himself. Republicans still aren't sure whether that's enough to keep backing him in November.
Four Men Died in Kermanshah Overnight. The U.S. Says It Was Retaliation. Iran Says This Isn't Over.
A wave of American airstrikes hit Iranian military sites along the Strait of Hormuz overnight, and now Washington and Tehran are each blaming the other for restarting the war.
She Resigned in April Before Investigators Could Question Her. The Report Just Came Out Anyway.
A 44-page Labor Department watchdog report says former Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer ran a workplace more than 30 witnesses called toxic, intimidating, and humiliating — and details an inappropriate relationship with a member of her own security detail.
A Federal Judge Has Now Blocked Trump's Mail-Ballot Rule Twice. The Supreme Court Already Overruled Her Once.
North Carolina and Alabama start mailing ballots this week without the new envelope and data rules in place. The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to step in again before more states follow — and the justices have given challengers until September 8 to respond.
A 250-Foot Arch Is About to Rise Between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery. Vietnam Vets Are Suing to Stop It.
Excavation on Trump's granite-clad Triumphal Arch starts within two weeks, running 20 hours a day for up to three years — on a traffic circle that veterans and historians say will block one of Washington's most sacred sightlines.
Trump Says 'Lake America' Is Now 'Complete, Ratified, and Binding.' He Might Be Right.
Google changed it first, quietly, on a Saturday night. Apple followed after Trump personally lobbied the company. Now if you open Maps on your phone in the US, Lake Ontario has a new name — even though most Americans say they hate it.
The Poll Numbers Are In on 'Lake America.' Even Republicans Don't Like It.
Americans oppose renaming Lake Ontario 'Lake America' by 63 points to 14. They oppose the new Canada tariffs nearly 3-to-1. New Reuters-Ipsos polling suggests Trump's trade war with Canada is landing worse than almost anything else he's tried this term.
The White House Wants a Fence Around the Park in Front of It — the First One Since the 1800s
Bike racks currently do the job outside Lafayette Square. The Trump administration wants a permanent fence around the entire 8-acre park instead — and Thursday, a federal panel gets its first real look at the plan.
Trump Renamed Lake Ontario "Lake America." Canada's Answer Was a Two-Story Sign.
A trade war over tariffs somehow ended with the map itself getting rewritten. Trump signed an order renaming Lake Ontario for U.S. federal use; Doug Ford answered with an 18-foot sign on the shoreline, and Google Maps couldn't decide who was right.
Thousands Returned to the Lincoln Memorial 63 Years Later — With a New Warning About the Vote
On the same steps where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered "I Have a Dream," civil rights leaders, sitting members of Congress, and thousands of marchers gathered Friday to warn that voting rights are being rolled back under Trump.
Trump Signs Order Renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America" as Canada Trade War Escalates
The order directs the US government to use the new name effective immediately — but it only applies to how Washington refers to the lake, not what Canada, Ontario, or the rest of the world call it.
Doug Ford Already Banned Starlink Once — Now the US-Canada Trade War Is Back and Uglier
A viral clip of Ontario's premier tearing up his province's $100-million Starlink contract is circulating again this week — not because it just happened, but because Trump and Ford are back at war over tariffs.
Trump Says He's "Not in a Hurry" for Iran Talks, Pointing to a Collapsing Economy
In a new interview and a same-day White House briefing, the administration argued sanctions and a naval blockade are working — while Qatar's prime minister heads to Tehran on a separate push for de-escalation.
Trump and the Fixer Who Helped Convict Him Just 'Buried the Hatchet' on the Radio, and Cohen Wants a Pardon
Michael Cohen went to prison after testifying against Trump in the hush money trial. Years later, the two reunited for a strikingly friendly radio interview, and Cohen has quietly resubmitted a request for a presidential pardon.
State Department Pauses Immigrant Visa Appointments Worldwide for Staff Training
U.S. embassies and consulates have paused immigrant visa interviews globally while consular officers are trained on expanded screening for applicants who could become dependent on public benefits.
Lindsey Graham's Sister Wins GOP Runoff for His Former South Carolina Senate Seat
Darline Graham Nordone, appointed to fill her late brother's seat in July, defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in Tuesday's Republican primary runoff, backed by a Trump endorsement and nearly $1 million from his super PAC.
Supreme Court Hands Trump a Preliminary Win on Mail-In Ballot Restrictions Ahead of Midterms
A 6-3 ruling lifts one of two injunctions blocking parts of an executive order that would create a federal eligible-voter list, but leaves the most contested piece, USPS verification of every mail ballot, still blocked.
A Hilton-Commissioned Poll Shows California's Governor Race Tightening — Independent Polls Tell a Different Story
A survey conducted for Republican Steve Hilton's campaign puts Xavier Becerra's lead at just 8 points, sharply narrower than recent independent polling showing Becerra ahead by 18 to 28 points.
US Preparing Largest Mass Visa Revocation in History, Targeting Up to 200,000 Foreigners
The State Department plans to revoke B1/B2 tourist and business visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who later sought asylum, a move officials say is meant to close what they call a loophole.
Flock License-Plate Cameras Become an Unlikely Bipartisan Flashpoint Ahead of the Midterms
More than 120,000 of the AI-powered cameras are tracking vehicles across the US, and lawmakers from Bernie Sanders to House Republicans are suddenly racing to be seen doing something about it.
Senate Votes 51-48 to Block Trump's Canada Tariffs, With Four Republicans Crossing Over
Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul joined all Democrats behind a resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine — the sharpest bipartisan rebuke of the administration's trade policy yet, though it faces near-certain death in the House.
US Treasury Unveils "Operation Economic Outcast," a Sweeping New Sanctions Push Against Iran
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it an "economic D-Day," targeting Iran's gold, shipping, aviation, tech and digital-asset networks. An Iranian official vowed a "seismic" response.
US-Canada Trade Talks Collapse, Triggering 50% Tariffs on Both Sides
"They wanted more," says the U.S. trade chief. Canada says Washington's own last-minute demands blew up the deal. Either way, matching 50% tariffs on billions of dollars in goods are now set to take effect.