national.

Airport chapels stay on the radar of workers and travelers even as role of faith in public shifts

As travel picks up for the season, flyers can find a moment of quiet and relaxation at interfaith chapels or meditation spaces in many U.S. airports. Employees at Boston’s Logan International Airport also get to practice their faith right in their sprawling workplace. Logan’s Our Lady of the Airways is widely considered the country’s first airport chapel and is still a Catholic church — not an interfaith venue. Two cousins who work for JetBlue said they come to the brick-faced modernist chapel every day to pray for a couple of minutes before their shifts.

Read More »
FILE - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine testifies before Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Top US military adviser visits Caribbean as Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuela

The United States’ top military officer is visiting American troops in Puerto Rico and on a Navy warship in the region. Gen. Dan Caine, who is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will “engage with service members and thank them for their outstanding support to regional missions” on Monday. That’s according to Caine’s office. The U.S. has amassed an unusually large fleet of warships in South American waters and has been attacking alleged drug smuggling boats. Trump is evaluating whether to take military action against Venezuela as part of an escalating campaign to combat drug trafficking into the U.S.

Read More »

Court order prevents LA coroner from releasing details of teen’s body found in singer d4vd’s Tesla

The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office says a court order forbids the coroner from releasing details of the investigation into the death of a teen girl whose body was found in the trunk of a car registered to the singer d4vd. Multiple news outlets have said police consider the Houston-born alt-pop singer a suspect in the death of Celeste Reivas Hernandez. The LA Police Department has not confirmed that and d4vd’s lawyer did not respond to request for comment. The LAPD says the court order was sought to protect the ongoing investigation.

Read More »
FILE - Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation shocked some in Georgia who say she could’ve won without Trump

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s decision to resign from the House after publicly disagreeing with former President Donald Trump has surprised some in Georgia. They note Greene’s reputation as a fighter, and say she could have won reelection even without Trump’s backing. Greene’s resignation raises questions about Trump’s influence in Congress, especially as he promotes party unity ahead of the midterm elections. Greene had clashed with Trump on issues like the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump labeled her a “traitor” and vowed to support a primary challenger against her next year.

Read More »
FILE - The Department of Defense seal is seen on the podium in the Press Briefing room at the Pentagon on Oct. 29, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

Who is Mark Kelly, the senator the Pentagon is targeting for urging troops to defy illegal orders?

The Pentagon suggests it could recall U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly to active military duty for appearing in a video urging troops to defy “illegal orders.” Kelly, a Democratic senator from Arizona, was a senior Navy officer and NASA astronaut. On Monday, he responded on social media, saying intimidation won’t silence him. Kelly flew combat missions in the Gulf War and commanded space shuttle missions. His political career began after his wife, Gabrielle Giffords, survived a shooting. In the Senate, he focuses on national security and the military. He was instrumental in crafting the CHIPS and Science Act.

Read More »
FILE - Workers install a sign reading "Alligator Alcatraz" at the entrance to the migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, July 3, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, file)

Judge seeks settlement in ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ civil rights lawsuit

A federal judge in Florida wants civil rights attorneys and lawyers for the U.S. and Florida to hammer out a settlement in a lawsuit over whether detainees at an immigration center in the Everglades are getting adequate access to attorneys. At a Monday status hearing, U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell set a conference for Dec. 16-17 in her Fort Myers courtroom. The lawsuit filed by detainees over legal access is one of three federal cases challenging practices at the immigration detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” It was built this summer by the administration of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Read More »

Udo Kier, striking German actor from ‘My Own Private Idaho’ and ‘Ace Ventura,’ dies at 81

A German actor known for his icy gaze and unique screen presence, Udo Kier has died at 81. His partner, Delbert McBride, told Variety that Kier died Sunday in Palm Springs, California. Kier was a favorite of filmmakers like Andy Warhol and Lars von Trier. He appeared in over 200 films, including “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and the recent Brazilian thriller “The Secret Agent.” Kier’s breakout roles were in Warhol’s “Flesh for Frankenstein” and “Blood for Dracula.” He was introduced widely to American audiences in Gus Van Sant’s “My Own Private Idaho.” Kier had lived in Palm Springs since the early 1990s.

Read More »
President Donald Trump talks after meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

White House circulates a plan to extend Obamacare subsidies as Trump pledges health care fix

The White House is circulating a proposal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies for two more years. These subsidies were at the heart of the recent government shutdown fight, and they are set to expire at the end of the year. The proposal includes capping eligibility at 700% of the federal poverty level and requiring all enrollees to pay a premium. The plan is still in draft form, and the White House says no plan is final until President Donald Trump announces it. Some Democrats see it as a starting point for negotiations, although conservatives are likely to oppose any effort to extend parts of Obamacare.

Read More »
FILE - In this photo provided by NASA, the Boeing Starliner spacecraft with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard approaches the International Space Station on June 6, 2024. (NASA via AP, File)

Boeing’s troubled capsule won’t carry astronauts on next space station flight

Boeing and NASA have agreed to keep astronauts off the company’s next Starliner flight. Instead, Boeing will perform a trial run with cargo to the International Space Station to prove the capsule’s safety. Monday’s announcement comes eight months after the first and only Starliner crew returned to Earth aboard SpaceX after a prolonged mission. Although the two NASA test pilots managed to dock Starliner to the space station last year, the capsule had so many problems that NASA ordered it to come back empty. Engineers have since been poring over Starliner’s thruster and other issues. The cargo run will occur no earlier than April.

Read More »
FILE - People protest outside the White House in Washington, May 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Trump administration plan to reduce access to some student loans angers nurses, health care groups

A coalition of nursing and other health care organizations are pushing back against a Trump administration plan that could limit access to student loans in some cases. Students pursuing graduate degrees in nursing, physical therapy and some other fields would face tighter federal student loan limits under the plan because it doesn’t consider them professional programs. The revamp is part of an overhaul passed by Congress in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” Under current rules, graduate students can borrow loans up to the cost of their degree. But the new rules would set caps depending on whether the degree is considered a graduate or professional program. The Trump administration believes the changes could reduce tuition costs.

Read More »
FILE - Floodlights light up the E.W. Scripps logo on the company's headquarters in Cincinnati, Jan. 31, 2006. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

Broadcast giant Sinclair makes bid to buy out EW Scripps for $7 per share

Sinclair has submitted a bid to buy out E.W. Scripps for $7 per share, in a deal that could bring further consolidation across America’s local TV news landscape. The proposal, disclosed Monday, involves acquiring all of Scripps’ outstanding shares. Sinclair already owns nearly 10% of Scripps’ class A common stock. If approved, Scripps’ shareholders would receive a 12.7% stake in the combined company. Sinclair seeks a response by Dec. 5. Scripps acknowledged the unsolicited proposal and said it would review it. Sinclair argues the merger would strengthen its local journalism offerings. Still, critics warn of growing news homogenization.

Read More »
Alek Schott photographs a Flock Safety license plate reader in his neighborhood, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Lawmakers question legality of Border Patrol license plate reader program

Democratic lawmakers are questioning the legality of a U.S. Border Patrol program that uses predictive intelligence to detain drivers for suspicious travel. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts sent a letter Monday to Border Patrol’s parent agency, calling the license plate reader program an “invasive surveillance network.” An Associated Press investigation revealed that the program monitors millions of American drivers to identify and detain people based on travel patterns. Courts have generally upheld license plate reader collection on public roads, but scholars argue it might be unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment. Other lawmakers echoed Markey’s concerns about the program’s legality.

Read More »
First lady Melania Trump receives the official 2025 White House Christmas Tree, a white fir from Korson's Tree Farms in Michigan, on the North Portico of the White House, Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Melania Trump welcomes Christmas tree to the White House

First lady Melania Trump has welcomed this year’s Christmas tree to the White House. On Monday, the tree arrived from Korson’s Tree Farms in Michigan. It was delivered in a green horse-drawn carriage driven by three men in top hats. Melania Trump described it as a beautiful tree as she circled the carriage and posed for pictures. She shook hands with one of the drivers and a woman standing with the two Clydesdale horses.

Read More »
FILE - The Associated Press logo is displayed at the news organization's world headquarters in New York on April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Jackson, File)

AP and Trump administration argue access case before federal appeals court; no ruling yet

The Associated Press and the Trump administration renewed their argument over a president’s ability to limit media access to journalists he disagrees with. They resumed a courtroom dispute with potential First Amendment implications that began last winter when the president announced that he had renamed the Gulf of Mexico. Trump restricted the AP’s access to events in smaller spaces like the Oval Office and Air Force One, leading the news outlet to sue. A lower federal court ruled that President Donald Trump improperly retaliated against the outlet because it did not follow and refer to the body of water as the Gulf of America. Now it’s on appeal. No immediate ruling was issued.

Read More »
FILE - Jamaican musician, singer and actor Jimmy Cliff performs during the Timbre Rock and Roots concert on Friday March 22, 2013 in Singapore. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

6 notable songs from Jimmy Cliff, the reggae star who has died at 81

The story of Jimmy Cliff, who has died at age 81, is in part the story of reggae itself. He moved to Kingston in the early 1960s and joined a rising musical movement that would help give voice to the country’s independence from Great Britain. A decade later, he helped reggae ascend to the international stage with his starring role in the cult favorite “The Harder They Come” and his featured place on the film’s classic soundtrack. In the years following, his songs were covered by everyone from Bruce Springsteen to UB40 and confirmed the music’s power to inspire or just get you dancing.

Read More »
President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands before their meeting at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump says he will visit Beijing in April and host China’s Xi for a state visit later next year

President Donald Trump says he will visit Beijing in April and host China’s President Xi Jinping for a state visit later next year. Trump and Xi also spoke by phone on Monday to discuss trade, Taiwan and Ukraine, according to the White House and Chinese officials. Xi told Trump in the phone call that Taiwan’s return to mainland China is “an integral part of the post-war international order,” according to China’s foreign ministry. A White House official confirmed that the call happened on Monday morning but offered no details of the call.

Read More »

Celebrate the holidays with new albums from Brad Paisley, the ‘Peanuts’ gang and more

’Tis the season to put on some holiday music. The best way to get festive is to sing along to Christmas classics new and old. But don’t know what to press play on? We’ve got you covered. In honor of the most wonderful time of the year, The Associated Press has selected some of the best new holiday releases for the 2025 season. So, grab a loved one, a cup of eggnog and get to listening. The list includes new releases from Brad Paisley, Trisha Yearwood, Pentatonix, LeAnn Rimes and Mickey Guyton.

Read More »

‘Bel-Air’ cast reflects on series, building its own legacy and identity entering final season

With “Bel-Air” entering its fourth and final season on Monday, the cast reflects on how the ambitious Peacock drama expanded the possibilities for Black-led prestige television. The series, inspired by a viral reimagining of the ’90s sitcom, built its own identity through deeper emotional storytelling and high-end production values rarely afforded to a young Black ensemble. While reports cited its high production costs as a factor in its ending, the actors say the show is concluding exactly how the creative team intended. The new season pushes the Banks family into pivotal crossroads as the series reaches its planned finale.

Read More »
FILE - President of The Rockefeller Foundation Dr. Rajiv Shah speaks during a panel discussion at the Global Citizen NOW Summit, Thursday, April 27, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

MrBeast and the Rockefeller Foundation team up to spark youth philanthropy and fight child labor

Beast Philanthropy, the charitable organization started by MrBeast founder Jimmy Donaldson, and the Rockefeller Foundation are announcing a strategic partnership. The idea is to pair Donaldson’s unique ability to capture youth attention spans with the foundation’s 112-year history of using its resources and technology to tackle global problems. The exact issues they plan to tackle together are still being hammered out and there is no shared grantmaking to announce yet. Dr. Rajiv Shah, the president of the Rockefeller Foundation, says MrBeast can help them engage young people, inspire hope and communicate their work more accessibly. Donaldson hopes the Rockefeller Foundation can help him be more efficient and make “real, lasting change.”

Read More »
FILE - Jimmy Cliff performs at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Jimmy Cliff, reggae giant and star of landmark film ‘The Harder They Come,’ dead at 81

Jimmy Cliff, the charismatic reggae pioneer and actor who preached defiance, joy and endurance in such classics as “Many Rivers to Cross,” “You Can Get it If You Really Want” and “Vietnam” and starred in the landmark movie “The Harder They Come,” has died at 81. Cliff was a native Jamaican with a spirited tenor and a gift for topical lyrics who joined Kingston’s emerging music scene in his teens and helped lead a movement in the 1960s that included such future stars as Bob Marley, Toots Hibbert and Peter Tosh.

Read More »
Turkeys are seen on a farm Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Sylvan Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)

Stores keep prices down in a tough year for turkeys. Other Thanksgiving foods may cost more

Bird flu and another disease have shrunk the U.S. turkey population to a 40-year low this year. Wholesale turkey prices are expected to be up more than 40% as a result. But shoppers preparing for Thanksgiving may not see higher prices themselves because many grocers are offering discounted or even free turkeys to get customers in the door. Market research company Datasembly expects the 10 holiday meal staples it tacks to cost 4% more overall. Canned cranberry sauce had the biggest price increase after drought impacted production and new tariffs on steel made cans more expensive. Pricing out a Thanksgiving dinner isn’t an exact science, though, and the firm’s tally differed from other estimates.

Read More »
Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski dances during halftime of an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ co-hosts are Chance the Rapper, Rob Gronkowski, Julianne Hough and Rita Ora

Ryan Seacrest will have some star-studded company for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” to usher in 2026. ABC announced Monday that Chance the Rapper, Rob Gronkowski, Julianne Hough, and Rita Ora have signed on. Seacrest and Ora will host from New York City’s Times Square. Chance the Rapper will be in Chicago, while Gronkowski and Hough will broadcast from Las Vegas. Details for a Puerto Rico celebration are coming soon. Seacrest has been part of the show since 2006. The event airs live on ABC on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. EST, and the next day on Hulu. More performers will be announced later.

Read More »
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks during a campaign stop in her 2026 Democratic bid for governor on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 in Columbus, Ga. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

Keisha Lance Bottoms aims to be first Atlanta mayor to become Georgia governor

Keisha Lance Bottoms is bidding to become the first former Atlanta mayor to be elected governor of Georgia. The Democrat touts her biography and record during her one term as mayor as she seeks to defeat six other Democrats for the nomination. She’s well-known, has executive experience, and served in President Joe Biden’s administration after he considered Bottoms as a possible vice president. Opponents say Bottoms has fatal weaknesses, particularly in how she handled crime and the pandemic as mayor. Her decision to become the first Atlanta mayor since World War II to not seek reelection also sparks questions. But Bottoms says she’s a battle-tested leader ready to fight for Georgians.

Read More »

Gunman who killed a Florida deputy dies from injuries

Authorities say a gunman who killed a Florida sheriff’s deputy has died of his wounds from the confrontation. Officials say Michael Halberstam shot two Indian River County deputies and a locksmith on Friday while they were serving an eviction notice near Vero Beach as his mother was trying to evict him. Deputy Terri Sweeting-Mashkow was killed, and another deputy was injured. The locksmith was in critical condition after surgery. The sheriff’s office said in a social media post that Halberstam succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. Sweeting-Mashkow was a 25-year veteran and was posthumously promoted to sergeant.

Read More »
FILE - Morgan Geyser appears in a Waukesha County courtroom Jan. 9, 2025, in Waukesha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

Wisconsin woman in 2014 Slender Man stabbing is missing

Authorities say a Wisconsin woman who admitted to nearly stabbing a classmate to death in 2014 to please the horror character Slender Man is missing after she cut off an electronic monitoring device and left a group home. Madison police issued an alert Sunday for Morgan Geyser saying she was last seen around 8 p.m. the night before with an adult acquaintance. Police urged the public to call 911 if they see the 23-year-old woman. Geyser was placed in a group home after being granted conditional release from psychiatric hospital. She was sent there in 2018 after pleading guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide.

Read More »
President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani after their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Mamdani stands by Trump criticism despite friendly White House meeting

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is standing by his past criticisms that President Donald Trump acted like a despot and a fascist. This comes after a surprisingly friendly White House meeting between the two on Friday. The democratic socialist and the Republican president have fiercely criticized each other in the past. Despite their differences, they emerged smiling after the meeting and spoke of shared goals. Mamdani said his views remained unchanged during a “Meet the Press” interview that aired Sunday. Trump had earlier brushed aside Mamdani’s criticisms and even jumped in on his defense several times Friday.

Read More »
Satani Silva works at Pilsen Vintage, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Aftermath of Chicago’s intense immigration crackdown leaves lawsuits, investigations and anxiety

Chicago has entered what many consider a new uneasy phase of a Trump administration immigration crackdown that has already led to thousands of arrests. While a U.S. Border Patrol commander known for leading intense and controversial surges moved on to North Carolina, federal agents are still arresting immigrants across the nation’s third-largest city and suburbs. A growing number of lawsuits stemming from the crackdown are winding through the courts. Authorities are investigating agents’ actions, including a fatal shooting. Activists say they are not letting their guard down in case things ramp up, while many residents in the Democratic stronghold where few welcomed the crackdown remain anxious.

Read More »
Buyers bid for holiday decorations at Buffalo Valley Produce Auction, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Mifflinburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Christmas tree retailers find lots to like at a Pennsylvania wholesale auction

Christmas went on the auction block this week in Pennsylvania farm country in the form of a giant Christmas tree sale. About 50,000 trees and a huge array of other seasonal items were bought and sold at the Buffalo Valley Produce Auction in Mifflinburg this week. Buyers from across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic were there to supply garden stores and other retail outlets. The Real Christmas Tree Board says the scent of real trees is a major draw for farm-grown trees. A trade group says more than 21 million farm-grown Christmas trees were sold in 2023, with median price of $75.

Read More »
People who were kidnapped during a church service in November 2024 leave after a church meeting in Kaduna, northwestern Nigeria, Nov. 6, 2025.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

US signals broader efforts to protect Nigeria’s Christians following Trump’s military threat

President Donald Trump’s administration is promoting efforts to work with Nigeria’s government to counter violence against Christians. The plans signal a broader strategy since Trump ordered the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action. He had warned the U.S. would go after Islamic militants with “guns-a-blazing.” A State Department official said this past week that plans include potential sanctions as well as assistance programs and intelligence sharing. The efforts may support Trump’s pledge to avoid more involvement in foreign conflicts. And they come as the U.S. security footprint has diminished in Africa. Military partnerships there have either been scaled down or canceled.

Read More »
FILE - Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Trump’s breakup with Greene is not the same as others. But like always, there may be second chances

President Donald Trump’s chaotic political universe has at least one consistent law that rises above any other: The president has no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is the latest figure to test that Trumpian rule after announcing her plans to leave Congress in January. Greene originated as a leading face of the “Make America Great Again” movement. That makes her different from many mainstream conservative Republicans who have gone back-and-forth in their relationships with Trump. The president also has implicitly left the door open to making up.

Read More »
Lecho Lopez shoes comic books at his store JLA Comics on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025 in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sophie Austin)

Comic books once stoked fears of crime, but a California city wants to confront that history

In the mid-20th century, comic books groups grew in popularity. But some people worried that they were contributing to illiteracy and inciting crime among young people. One California city passed a ban in 1949 banning anyone from distributing comic books prominently featuring crime to children. The Sacramento law is rarely if ever enforced, but the city is taking steps to remove it from the books. Proponents of repealing the law say it’s necessary to protect against alarming efforts in recent years to ban books in various states. One comic shop owner in the city says the ban is “silly.”

Read More »

Dozens of firefighters battle blaze on container ship docked at LA port

Officials say dozens of firefighters are battling a blaze on a container ship docked at a Los Angeles port. The Los Angeles Fire Department says all of the 23 crew members are accounted for and are no injuries from Friday night’s fire at the Port of Los Angeles. Officials say the ship’s cargo includes hazardous materials. The fire appears to have started below deck and officials say by about 7 p.m. it had spread to several levels of the ship. Later there was an explosion mid-deck. The port is known as the busiest in North America.

Read More »
President Donald Trump walks up the stairs of Air Force One as he boards upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, en route to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

Republicans hyped the Epstein files for years. Now Trump is under pressure to deliver

The Justice Department is on the clock to release files relating to Jeffrey Epstein after President Donald Trump signed a measure passed by Congress. Expectations surrounding the release are high after years of buildup by Republicans and campaign promises by Trump. The release risks deepening the party’s internal rift, particularly as administration officials insist that some coveted records, like a rumored “client list,” don’t exist. The cross-party coalition of lawmakers who defied Trump to force the release say they’re watching closely and plan to join forces again on other high-profile political fights.

Read More »
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks during a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, former Trump loyalist, says she is resigning from Congress

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a once-loyal supporter of President Donald Trump who has become a critic, says she is resigning from Congress in January. Greene, in a more than 10-minute video posted online late Friday, explained her decision and said she didn’t want her congressional district “to have to endure a hurtful and hateful primary against me by the president we all fought for.” Greene’s resignation followed a public fallout with Trump in recent months, as the congresswoman criticized him for his stance on files related to Jeffrey Epstein, along with foreign policy and health care. Trump branded her a “traitor” and “wacky” and said he would endorse a challenger against her when she ran for reelection next year.

Read More »
FILE - Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning. Here’s what to know about her five years in Congress

Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has announced she will resign from Congress on January 5, 2026. Her departure will mark the end of a tumultuous five-year career. Greene first gained attention as a conspiracy theorist and supporter of Donald Trump. She became a controversial figure in Congress, with Democrats removing from her committee assignments. Despite this, she remained influential. She moved close to power when she allied with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Greene was pushed out of running for U.S. Senate and Georgia governor. Her resignation follows a period of growing discontent, including criticism of Trump and an isolationist stance.

Read More »
Adm. Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, speaks during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on his nomination for Commandant of the Coast Guard, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Senators want answers from Coast Guard on how it probes displays of swastikas or other hate symbols

Two senators who lead a bipartisan antisemitism task force say they want more information from the U.S. Coast Guard about its policy regarding displays of swastikas, nooses or other hate symbols. In particular, Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma wrote in a letter Friday to the acting commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Kevin Lunday, saying they want to know how such incidents will be investigated. Lunday sent out a  memo late Thursday insisting that “hate symbols and flags are prohibited.” This was just hours after if was publicly revealed that an emerging Coast Guard policy would have loosened the language around the ban. This drew swift outcry from Rosen and other lawmakers.

Read More »

A man has been shot and killed after wielding a knife at St. Louis airport, police say

Officials say a man has been shot and killed after wielding a knife at St. Louis airport. St. Louis County Police spokesperson Vera Clay said Friday that about 1 a.m. officers at St. Louis Lambert International Airport noticed a person in an area he should not have been in and who refused to leave. She said when officers tried to get him to move, he showed them a knife. Officers used Tasers, but the man continued to advance toward them. Clay said an officer then fired his gun, fatally wounding the man. There were no other injuries.

Read More »
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaks to reporters as Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield listens outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Prosecutor asks Arizona Supreme Court to review decision that stalled fake elector case

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is appealing a ruling that has stalled the criminal case against President Donald Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and others for trying to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in the state. The Democratic attorney general’s office announced Friday that it’s asking the Arizona Supreme Court to review a lower-court ruling that sent the sprawling case back to a grand jury to determine whether there was probable cause that the defendants committed the alleged crimes. Friday was Mayes’ deadline for telling the court whether she would appeal.

Read More »

Florida eviction turns deadly as a deputy is killed, shooter and 2 others wounded

A Florida sheriff’s deputy has been killed while serving an eviction notice at a home on the state’s Atlantic coast. Another deputy and a locksmith working for law enforcement were shot, as was the alleged shooter. That’s according to Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers, who spoke at a news conference Friday. HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital says the locksmith and the accused shooter are in critical condition following surgery. The deputy who died, Terri Mashkow, was a 25-year veteran of the department. The sheriff said the officers were helping a mother serve the eviction notice to her son when he grabbed a firearm and began “indiscriminately firing.”

Read More »
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a state-led civic-military event in the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

FAA warns all pilots of risks of flying over Venezuela over ‘worsening security situation’

The Federal Aviation Administration has warned all pilots to “exercise caution” when flying in the airspace over Venezuela “due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity.” The message Friday said the unspecified threats “could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes” as well planes taking off and landing in the country and even aircraft on the ground. The warning comes as the Trump administration keeps ramping up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. military has conducted bomber flights up to the coast of Venezuela and sent the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford into the region. It’s the latest addition to the largest U.S. force assembled in the Caribbean Sea in generations.

Read More »
FILE - People talk with National Guard soldiers on the Ellipse, with the White House in the background, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File)

A federal judge blocked Trump’s National Guard deployment to DC but troops aren’t leaving just yet

A federal judge on Thursday ordered a temporary end to President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital. But the judge’s decision to allow for 21 days before the order takes effect underscores how intensive and legally contentious it will be to roll back the deployment. The order is unlikely to be the end of the battle between the administration and local D.C. leaders over whether the president can deploy troops to assist in law enforcement and immigration activities. An appeal in the case is likely. The case may also have implications for how other cities may experience federal troop deployments in the future.

Read More »
FILE - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference on the Autism report by the CDC at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file)

RFK Jr. says he personally directed CDC’s new guidance on vaccines and autism

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told The New York Times in an interview that he personally directed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update its website to contradict its longtime guidance that vaccines don’t cause autism. His comments to the outlet in an interview published Friday answer provide clarity into who directed the CDC’s website change. The CDC’s “vaccine safety” page, which used to clearly state that vaccines do not cause autism, was updated Wednesday to claim that statement is not based on evidence. Public health researchers and advocates strongly refute the CDC’s new position and note that decades of research has thoroughly explored vaccines and autism and found no link.

Read More »
Toto Wolff, principal of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, watches during a practice session at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race , Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Nick Didlick)

Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff sells 15% stake to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has sold 15% of his Formula 1 team share to George Kurtz, CEO of CrowdStrike. This deal makes Kurtz a co-owner of the team, valued at $6 billion. Kurtz will also serve as a technology advisor and join the team’s strategic steering committee. Wolff will continue as team principal and CEO. Kurtz’s background in racing and technology is seen as a valuable asset. CrowdStrike became a global partner of Mercedes’ F1 team in 2019. Kurtz has a history in sports car racing, with multiple wins in prestigious events.

Read More »
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green takes questions from media during the Western Governors' Association meeting Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)

Hawaii Gov. Green predicts Newsom won’t satisfy Americans’ desire for a peacemaking leader in 2028

Democratic Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii predicts Americans will want a peacemaking leader by 2028. He says the “hand to hand combat” of partisan politics will struggle after President Donald Trump’s second term. Green, a moderate, worries Gov. Gavin Newsom, an early frontrunner, may be seen as “a radical from California.” He believes Newsom needs to adopt more conciliatory rhetoric. Green hopes both parties nominate candidates committed to healing the partisan divide. He mentions Democratic Govs. Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro, and Republican Gov. Spencer Cox as potential leaders. Green is open to running himself but prefers supporting someone else.

Read More »
From left, Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., Hanan El-Atr Khashoggi, the widow of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., hold a news conference as they call on President Donald Trump to release the transcript of a call he had with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after Khashoggi's killing, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Kashoggi’s widow and Democrats demand release of a call transcript with Trump and Saudi crown prince

The widow of Washington Post journalist Jamal Kashoggi is calling for the release of the transcript of a 2019 phone call President Donald Trump had with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. She is joining Democratic lawmakers who are raising questions about what, if anything, Trump may have received in exchange for his embrace of the crown prince. Hanan Elatr Khashoggi appeared on Capitol Hill on the heels of Trump’s dismissal of U.S. intelligence findings that Prince Mohammed most likely had some culpability in the October 2018 slaying.

Read More »
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2018, file photo, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh leads his players and fans in singing "Hail to the Victors" after a practice session by the NCAA college football team at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich..(AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)

Fight songs still ring true as college football tradition in face of ever-changing changes in sport

College football fight songs have stood the test of time, remaining a nostalgic part of the game. From “Rocky Top” at Tennessee to “Fight On” at USC, these tunes unite fans and spark debates about which ones are best. Georgia Southern’s Chris Hanna highlights Michigan’s “The Victors” and Notre Dame’s “Victory March” as top contenders. Michigan’s song dates back to 1898, while Notre Dame’s became even more famous after the 1993 film “Rudy.” Despite the rise of pop songs in stadiums, fight songs continue to evoke strong emotions and traditions, connecting generations of fans.

Read More »

Ex-Georgia deputies cleared of murder in death of Black man shocked at least 15 times

Three former sheriff’s deputies have been found not guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of a Black man they stopped while he was walking through a small Georgia town. Eurie Martin was shocked at least 15 times with Taser stun guns. Henry Lee Copeland, Michael Howell, and Rhett Scott said he was walking illegally in the road, littered by dropping a soda can and aggressively refused to follow their commands on a hot summer day in 2017. The jury late Thursday cleared Scott of all charges but deadlocked on involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct charges against Copeland and Howell.

Read More »
Playwright Larry Kramer appears at the premiere of HBO Films' "The Normal Heart" in New York on May 12, 2014, left, and Dr. Anthony Fauci appears during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on April 13, 2021. (AP Photo)

New play looking at friendship between AIDS activist Larry Kramer and Anthony Fauci in the works

A new play titled “Kramer/Fauci” explores the complex relationship between playwright and AIDS activist Larry Kramer and Dr. Anthony Fauci. The play will premiere in New York early next year, directed by Tony Award-winner Daniel Fish. It will run at The Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts from Feb. 11 to 21. Fish uses the transcript of a 1993 C-Span face-off between Kramer and Fauci as the text. The two went from adversaries to friends during the AIDS crisis. Fish aims for a theatrical experience rather than a literal recreation of their exchange.

Read More »

Jordan Peele’s ‘High Horse: The Black Cowboy’ doc sheds light on an erased part of history

“High Horse: The Black Cowboy,” a new docuseries executive produced by Jordan Peele and his Monkeypaw Productions that is now streaming on Peacock, highlights who it says are the first American cowboys – Black men. Directed by Jason Perez, the three-part docuseries is an extension of Peele’s 2022 blockbuster film “Nope,” which follows siblings who operate the only Black-owned horse ranch in California. The docuseries focuses on the history and erasure of the Black cowboy, systemic racism and the current battles Black citizens face with land ownership dating back to the post-slavery Reconstruction era, as well as the entertainment impact African Americans have made throughout country western history.

Read More »
Democratic congressional candidate State Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, attends a campaign event during the special election for the seventh district, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Trump, Harris and big money transform Tennessee special election into marquee contest

A special election in Tennessee has gained national attention in a heavily Republican district. Allies of Donald Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris have turned the December 2 contest into a major political battle. The race is the first since Democrats won big in November, which was seen as a referendum on Trump. Republicans want to change the narrative with a big win in Tennessee. Trump-supporting super PAC MAGA Inc. is spending over $1 million on Republican candidate Matt Van Epps. Meanwhile, Democrat Aftyn Behn is receiving national support. Both parties see this election as crucial for next year’s midterms.

Read More »
FILE - Democratic Senate candidate Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, gives his concession speech to Republican candidate JD Vance at an election night event for Ryan in Boardman, Ohio Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long, File)

Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan, the ex-congressman who lost a Senate bid to JD Vance, won’t run for governor

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan has decided not to run for Ohio governor next year. Ryan announced the decision Friday. It’s good news for Dr. Amy Acton, a former state health director who’s seeking the Democratic nomination. Ryan was considering challenging her after fellow Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, his former college football coach and mentor, opted out of the race. The 10-term ex-congressman garnered strong statewide visibility during his 2022 bid for U.S. Senate, ultimately losing to now-Vice President JD Vance. Acton’s chief Republican opponent is Trump-endorsed biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Read More »
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., arrives on stage at the inaugural Make America Healthy Again summit at the Waldorf Astoria, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

MAHA idealism meets political reality as RFK Jr. attempts to wrangle a growing movement

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is fending off criticism from his own base as some of the environmental and anti-vaccine activists who propelled him into politics have said they want stronger action against vaccines and pharmaceutical companies. Other Kennedy supporters have questioned why he and other government leaders have appeared willing to work closely with large corporations. The tensions reflect emerging cracks within Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” coalition as it amasses power and broadens in scope. The MAHA initiative has enjoyed widespread popularity, but public health researchers say the broad appeal of making Americans healthier can also cause conflicts within the movement by inviting competing interests.

Read More »
FILE -An American flag flies at half-staff outside the Supreme Court Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Supreme Court meets to weigh Trump’s birthright citizenship restrictions, blocked by lower courts

The Supreme Court is meeting in private with a key issue on its agenda — President Donald Trump’s birthright citizenship order declaring that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. The justices could say as soon as Monday whether they will hear Trump’s appeal of lower court rulings that have uniformly struck down the citizenship restrictions. They have not taken effect anywhere in the United States. If the court steps in now, the case would be argued in the spring, with a definitive ruling expected by early summer.

Read More »
FILE - New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani talks to reporters at a news conference in New York, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Trump and Mamdani meet Friday in the Oval Office. They’ve cast each other as adversaries for months

President Donald Trump has called New York City’s Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani a “100% Communist Lunatic” and a “total nut job.” Mamdani has called Trump’s administration “authoritarian” and described himself as “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare.” So their first-ever meeting, scheduled for Friday at the White House, could be a curious and combustible affair. They’ve cast each other as prime adversaries for months. But the Republican president and the new Democratic star also have indicated an openness to finding areas of agreement that help the city they’ve both called home.

Read More »
Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump’s wind-down of the Education Department leaves schools fearing disruption

The Trump administration is steaming forward on its plan to dismantle the Education Department. Many state and local education leaders say they are bracing for disruption and new bureaucratic hurdles. Education Secretary Linda McMahon insists there will be no disruption as she begins offloading some of her agency’s biggest functions to four other federal departments. She has promised to keep federal money flowing. She says students will benefit as the government reduces its bureaucratic footprint and gives more power to state and local communities. But the plan has drawn pushback from some state and district leaders, who see no benefit and no hope for a seamless transition.

Read More »
John Wahl, chairman of the Alabama Public Library Service Board of Directors, center right, listens during a meeting in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)

Alabama board votes to remove books about being transgender from public library youth sections

The board overseeing Alabama public libraries on Thursday voted to remove books that discuss being transgender from  the teen and children’s sections of public libraries. The Alabama Public Library Service Board of Directors approved a rule that materials that discuss “transgender procedures, gender ideology or the concept of more than two biological genders” are inappropriate for sections of the library aimed at children and youth. The books would be moved to adult sections of the library. Board Chairman John Wahl, who is also chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, said the change puts parents in charge. Opponents on Thursday called it an attempt at censorship and the erasure of trans people.

Read More »
FILE - This photo provided by the National Transportation Safety Board shows UPS plane crash scene on Nov. 6, 2025 in Louisville, Ky. (NTSB via AP)

Dramatic photos of doomed UPS plane show the aircraft on fire and its engine flying off

Frame by frame, six photos released by federal investigators capture horrifying images of ill-fated Flight 2976 as it turned into a fireball along a Kentucky airport runway. The photos were released Thursday as part of a preliminary report by investigators about the Nov. 4 disaster in Louisville. The chilling sequence of photos shows an engine coming lose from the UPS cargo plane during takeoff. The engine pops off as fire erupts in the next image, followed by the blazing engine catapulting off the plane. The final images show the plane ablaze as it gets airborne, leaving behind trails of smoke. Moments later, the plane crashed, killing 14 people.

Read More »
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

Treasury plans to change tax credit eligibility in a move critics say will hurt immigrant taxpayers

The U.S. Treasury Department plans to reclassify certain refundable tax credits as “federal public benefits,” barring undocumented immigrants and some noncitizens from receiving them. This change affects DACA recipients and those with Temporary Protected Status. On Thursday, the Treasury announced plans to redefine credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit. The final regulation is expected to apply starting in 2026. Critics argue this move targets immigrants who are authorized to work and pay taxes. Despite paying significant taxes, undocumented immigrants often don’t receive the same benefits as U.S. citizens.

Read More »
FILE - La Catedral Arena horse race track in Wilder, Idaho is seen in Oct. 22, 2025, three days after the FBI and other law enforcement agencies raided the property as part of a gambling investigation. (AP Photo/Rebecca Boone, File)

Federal judge orders release of 16 migrants detained in Idaho raid, citing due process violations

A federal judge has ordered the release of 16 people detained by immigration officials during an FBI-led raid at a rural Idaho racetrack last month. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled Wednesday that keeping the migrants jailed without bond violated their due process rights, and he ordered that they be released while they wait for their immigration cases to be resolved. Winmill noted that many of them have lived in the U.S. for decades and lack any criminal history. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement said the detainees were lawfully arrested during the raid, and criticized the ruling as allowing lawbreakers to roam free.

Read More »
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard speaks during a roundtable on criminal cartels with President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Democrats allege spy agency work is being undermined and politicized under Trump

Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees say the Trump administration is undermining the nation’s spy services. In a floor speech Thursday, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia says cuts to government intelligence agencies have left the U.S. more vulnerable to espionage and cyberattacks. Reps. Jim Himes and Joaquin Castro, meanwhile, wrote to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about reports that some nations have stopping sharing intelligence with the U.S. because of military strikes on alleged cartel boats. Gabbard has yet to respond to the lawmakers, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said claims the U.K. had limited intelligence sharing were false.

Read More »
FILE - Former FBI Director James Comey speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, in Washington, June 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Justice Department insists Comey indictment was properly approved as it tries to keep case afloat

The Trump-appointed prosecutor overseeing the James Comey case is insisting in a new court filing that the full grand jury approved the final indictment against the former FBI director. She is reversing course from statements a day earlier that defense lawyers had seized on to ask for a dismissal. The latest statements from Lindsey Halligan, the hastily named interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, represent an attempt to backtrack on earlier comments the prosecution team made under persistent questioning from a judge about the seemingly jumbled process leading to the return of the two-count indictment.

Read More »
The name tag and ribbons of Adm. Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, are visible as he speaks during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on his nomination for Commandant of the Coast Guard, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Coast Guard set to change policy to call swastikas and nooses ‘potentially divisive’

The U.S. Coast Guard is poised to change some of its language and policies surrounding the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses as well as how personnel report hate incidents. A Coast Guard message in 2020 from then-Commandant Karl Schultz said symbols like swastikas and nooses were “widely identified with oppression or hatred” and display “a potential hate incident.” The Coast Guard policy dated this month calls those same symbols “potentially divisive.” The new policy is set to take effect on Dec. 15 and maintains a yearslong prohibition on publicly displaying the Confederate flag outside of a handful of situations, such as educational or historical settings. However, it doesn’t outright prohibit the public display of any other “potentially divisive” symbols.

Read More »
Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a news conference at the COP30 U.N. Climate Summit, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in Belem, Brazil. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Trump expands tariff relief on coffee, fruit and beef from Brazil

President Donald Trump has continued loosening tariffs on Brazil to lower consumer costs for Americans. The decision, released Thursday, affects coffee, fruit and beef. The White House said last week that Trump was rolling back some worldwide tariffs originally announced in April. However, Brazil said that didn’t affect levies Trump enacted in July to punish the country for prosecuting his political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro. Thursday’s decision harmonizes Trump’s plans, ensuring that neither the April nor July tariffs apply to certain products. Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have been negotiating over trade, which could further reduce tariffs.

Read More »
FILE - The Associated Press logo is displayed at the news organization's world headquarters in New York on April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Jackson, File)

Donations to APFJ allow expansion of program providing resources to local and state newsrooms

The AP Fund for Journalism says donations of more than $30 million will permit an expansion of a program that provides news stories and photos to dozens of local and state newsrooms. The fund, started last year, supports nearly 50 news organizations across the country and is looking to expand to 300 by 2028. Through the fund, sites like the Mountain State Spotlight in West Virginia and Outlier Media in Michigan get material from The Associated Press that they might not otherwise be able to afford. That deepens what they can offer readers while freeing staff members to work on original stories.

Read More »
FILE - Oscar Villanueva holds a sign outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where the late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is staged, Sept. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Trump steps up attacks on ABC and Jimmy Kimmel, says network should ‘get the bum off the air’

ABC is in President Donald Trump’s crosshairs this week. He attacked the network’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel in a post-midnight social media post, saying ABC should “get the bum off the air.” It came about an hour after a blistering monologue on Kimmel’s show, beginning with nearly 10 minutes of jokes about Trump and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Kimmel was suspended by ABC, then reinstated, two months ago following remarks about assassinated GOP leader Charlie Kirk. Trump and his team has also directed their anger toward ABC News for reporter Mary Bruce’s questions at an Oval Office news conference. The White House said ABC News was a “Democrat spin operation.”

Read More »
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during a campaign event on Proposition 50, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Justice Department is examining handling of mortgage fraud investigation into Sen. Adam Schiff

The Justice Department is examining the handling of the mortgage fraud investigation into Sen. Adam Schiff. That’s according to a document reviewed by The Associated Press. Authorities are scrutinizing the potential involvement of people who claimed to be acting at the behest or direction of two Trump administration officials who’ve pushed the probe of the California Democrat. Officials involved in the Schiff investigation in Maryland have interviewed a Republican congressional candidate who has promoted the mortgage fraud allegations against Schiff. The development is likely to bring fresh scrutiny to the already criticized efforts by the two administration officials, Bill Pulte and Ed Martin, to investigate Trump political foes for mortgage fraud.

Read More »
National Guard soldiers patrol at Union Station, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Judge orders Trump administration to end National Guard deployment in DC

A federal judge is ordering the Trump administration to end its monthslong deployment of National Guard troops to help police the nation’s capital. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb concluded Thursday that President Donald Trump’s military takeover in Washington, D.C., illegally intrudes on local officials’ authority to direct law enforcement in the district. She put her order on hold for 21 days to allow for an appeal, however. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued to challenge the Guard deployments. He asked the judge to bar the White House from deploying Guard troops without the mayor’s consent.

Read More »

Buddhist monks resume 2,300-mile walk for peace after accident near Houston

A group of Buddhist monks is continuing a 2,300-mile walk across the U.S. to promote peace after two were injured in a traffic accident near Houston. The monks began their journey on Oct. 26 from Fort Worth, Texas, aiming to raise awareness of peace and compassion. They plan to travel through 10 states before reaching Washington, D.C. On Wednesday, their escort vehicle was hit by a truck on U.S. Highway 90, injuring two monks. One monk required surgery but is expected to recover. The group plans to continue its walk with local law enforcement support.

Read More »
A World Without Exploitation projection is seen on the wall of the National Gallery of Art calling on Congress to vote yes on the Epstein files transparency act in Washington, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

What to know about the Justice Department’s Jeffrey Epstein files

The clock is ticking for the U.S. government to open up its files on Jeffrey Epstein. After months of rancor and recriminations, Congress has passed and President Donald Trump has signed legislation compelling the Justice Department to give the public everything it has on Epstein — and it has to be done before Christmas. But even that might not be enough for the curious and the conspiracy minded. While there’s sure to be never-before-seen material in the thousands of pages likely to be released, a lot of Epstein-related records have already been made public, including by Congress and through litigation.

Read More »
FILE - Danielle Sassoon, the former interim U.S. attorney who quit rather than dropping a criminal case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, attends a Women in White Collar event in New York on May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)

Ex-top prosecutor who resigned rather than drop Adams case defends her integrity in court testimony

The former interim U.S. attorney who quit rather than drop the criminal case against New York Mayor Eric Adams defended her integrity during testimony in Manhattan federal court. Danielle Sassoon testified for more than an hour Thursday as a defense lawyer tried to convince a judge that she had suggested she would not criminally charge a woman in the FTX cryptocurrency scandal if the woman’s boyfriend pleaded guilty. Sassoon was adamant that she never suggested such a deal and went to great lengths to insist to the woman’s lawyers that no deal like that was possible.

Read More »
FILE - Cracked, dry mud makes up the riverbed of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, N.M., on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File)

A drying-up Rio Grande basin threatens water security on both sides of the border

Researchers have completed a full accounting of water uses and losses in the Rio Grande-Bravo basin as it faces severe shortages throughout its range in the United States and Mexico. The findings released Thursday by the World Wildlife Fund, Sustainable Waters and a team of university researchers show unsustainable use threatens water security for millions of people who rely on the binational basin. They estimate that just 48% of water consumed throughout the basin is replenished by renewable sources like snowmelt and rain. The rest is unsustainable, meaning reservoirs, aquifers and river flows are further depleted. The report says urgent action is needed to avoid damaging consequences for farms, cities and ecosystems.

Read More »

Trump administration announces plan for new oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida

The Trump administration is proposing new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades, as President Donald Trump seeks to expand U.S. oil production that is already leading the world. A plan proposed Thursday by the Interior Department would open up new drilling on federal waters off California and off the coast of Florida for the first time in decades. The plan was met with strong opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state officials, as well as bipartisan opposition in Florida. Tourism and access to clean beaches are key parts of the economy in both states.

Read More »
FILE - Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Horizon cruise ship is shown docked at PortMiami, Friday, April 9, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee,File)

Teenage stepbrother of 18-year-old who died on Carnival cruise now a suspect, say court papers

The teenage stepbrother of an 18-year-old woman who died on a Carnival cruise ship is a suspect in the FBI investigation, according to court papers filed this week. In sworn statements, his parents say the 16-year-old, referred to as “T.H.,” is a suspect in the death of Anna Kepner, a high school cheerleader from Florida’s Space Coast. Kepner was traveling with her stepmother, Shauntel Hudson, and her children. Shauntel Hudson’s attorney confirmed the investigation and requested a court hearing delay. A memorial service for Kepner was scheduled for Thursday. Carnival Cruise Line is working with the FBI to investigate the incident.

Read More »
Vice President JD Vance speaks with Breitbart News Washington bureau chief Matthew Boyle at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Vance says Americans need patience on prices but says ‘We hear you’ on affordability concerns

While President Donald Trump has struggled to settle on a way to address Americans’ concerns about high costs, Vice President JD Vance on Thursday offered a more direct and empathetic message, saying, “We hear you” and “there’s a lot more work to do.” But the American people need to have “a little bit of patience,” Vance said in remarks at an event hosted by Breitbart News. This comes as the White House grapples with how to address voter concerns about the cost of living. The issue emerged as a vulnerability for Republicans in this month’s off-year elections in New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races.

Read More »
FILE - Youth Development Center. plaintiff David Meehan testifies as his intake photo, when he was 14 is displayed during his civil trial at Rockingham County Superior Court in Brentwood, N.H. on April 17, 2024. (David Lane/Union Leader via AP, Pool, file)

New Hampshire Supreme Court takes up disputed verdict in landmark youth center abuse case

New Hampshire Supreme Court justices are considering a disputed verdict in a landmark lawsuit over abuse at the state’s youth detention center. Last year, jurors awarded $38 million to David Meehan, who alleges he was repeatedly raped and beaten at the Youth Development Center in Manchester. The state wants to reduce the award under a law capping payouts at $475,000 per “incident.” Meehan’s attorneys argue this violates his constitutional rights. The state claims mismanagement of the facility is a “single incident,” which could limit payouts to others.

Read More »
Father-son duo Saad and Ibrahim Almadi speak to reporters after entering the Philadelphia International Airport International Arrivals Hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Mingson Lau)

Florida retiree detained in Saudi Arabia returns home following Prince’s visit to White House

A Florida retiree jailed in Saudi Arabia for social media posts critical of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has returned to the United States after four years of detention and travel restrictions. Saad Almadi landed in Philadelphia after Saudi authorities lifted the ban that had kept him from going home. His son Ibrahim greeted him and said Trump’s intervention helped end the ordeal. Almadi was arrested in 2021 during a family visit and sentenced to a long prison term on terrorism-related charges tied to tweets posted in the United States. He was later freed but barred from travel. His release comes as Trump promised to deepen ties with the Saudi leader during a visit to the White House this week.

Read More »
FILE - In this July 8, 2021, file photo, a lobster boat carries a heavy load of traps as it motors out to sea near Peaks Island in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Lobster boats must keep using tracking devices for government observation, court rules

A federal appeals court says the government can continue requiring America’s lobster fishing boats to use electronic tracking devices that report data back to authorities. Fishing officials began requiring federally permitted lobstermen to install electronic tracking devices and transmit location data in late 2023. Regulators say the practice improves understanding of the lobster population and can inform future policy. A group of lobster fishermen sued, saying the rules amount to unreasonable search and seizure. A federal district court rejected that claim, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston upheld that ruling Tuesday.

Read More »
FILE - Clouds pass over the Walmart store, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Walmart raises profit expectations as more Americans hunt deals in sluggish economy

Walmart delivered another standout quarter, posting strong sales and profits that blew past Wall Street expectations as it wins over more cash-strapped Americans who have grown increasing anxious about the economy. With other retailers dialing back projections, the nation’s largest retailer raised its financial outlook Thursday, setting itself up for a strong holiday shopping season. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company also said that it will be transferring the listing of its common stock to the tech-heavy Nasdaq from the New York Stock Exchange. CEO Doug McMillon, who surprised investors with plans to retire early next year, has reshaped Walmart itself as tech-powered retail giant that has leaned heavily into automation and artificial intelligence.

Read More »
President Donald Trump speaks at the McDonald's Impact Summit, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump and Republicans once more face a tough political fight over Obama-era health law

President Donald Trump is once more targeting former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, and Trump is picking a political fight before next year’s elections. It’s reminiscent of a fight that Trump lost in his first term, when he and fellow Republicans tried but failed to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. This time, they’re focusing on subsidies that people use to help pay for their coverage. Those tax credits are set to expire Jan. 1. That could raise premiums at a time when voters say they’re worried about the cost of living. Trump says he wants to see money sent directly to consumers.

Read More »
FILE - A Verizon sign is displayed on a store, Sept. 30, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, file)

Verizon is cutting more than 13,000 jobs as it works to ‘reorient’ entire company

Verizon is laying off over 13,000 employees as part of a major company reorientation. The cuts began on Thursday, according to a memo from CEO Dan Schulman. He says Verizon’s current cost structure limits investment, especially in customer experiences. Verizon had nearly 100,000 full-time employees at the end of last year. A spokesperson confirmed the layoffs account for about 20% of the company’s management workforce, which isn’t unionized. Schulman, who became CEO last month, has previously emphasized the need for aggressive transformation. Beyond the layoffs in its own workforce, the company also plans to reduce outsourced labor expenses.

Read More »
FILE - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a news conference on the Autism report by the CDC at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file)

CDC website is changed to raise suspicions of a vaccines-autism link

The Trump administration has revised a website to contradict the scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism. The update to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage has sparked outrage among public health and autism experts. The Autism Science Foundation criticized the changes, calling them anti-vaccine rhetoric. Decades of studies have shown no link between vaccines and autism. Former CDC officials have expressed concern, saying the CDC’s information on vaccine safety can no longer be trusted. The change is the latest move by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to foster uncertainty about long-held scientific consensus.

Read More »
The Washington National Cathedral is photographed in Washington, Monday, Nov. 17, 2005. (AP Photo/Mike Pesoli)

A bipartisan show of respect and remembrance is set for Dick Cheney’s funeral, absent Trump

Washington National Cathedral is hosting a bipartisan show of respect and remembrance for Dick Cheney, the consequential and polarizing vice president who became an acidic scold of fellow Republican President Donald Trump. Trump has been publicly silent about Cheney’s Nov. 3 death and was not invited to the funeral Thursday. Two ex-presidents are coming. Republican George W. Bush is set to eulogize the man who served him as vice president, and Democrat Joe Biden plans to attend. Among others delivering tributes are Liz Cheney, the former vice president’s eldest daughter, and his longtime cardiologist, Jonathan Reiner.

Read More »
FILE - A trailer with the GE logo is seen at a stage area at GE Appliances global headquarters, Aug 13, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry, file)

GE Appliances bolsters ties with US suppliers as it moves production from China to Kentucky

GE Appliances says it has awarded more than $150 million in new contracts to U.S. suppliers as a result of its decision to shift production from China to Kentucky. It says the contracts range from $330,000 to $41 million, span 10 states and cover crucial segments of the supplier chain for washer and dryer production. The suppliers include U.S. Steel and family-owned companies. With the new contracts, GE Appliances says it’s increasing domestic spending on suppliers by 3.3%. The suppliers will support production of a combo washer/dryer and a lineup of front load washers. The production is moving from China to the company’s Appliance Park complex in Louisville.

Read More »

The Ten Commandments are up in Texas schools. They’re also being taken down

A new Texas law says every public school classroom must display a poster listing the Ten Commandments. The mandate faces legal challenges that are expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Some teachers and parents worry that the law forces Christianity on students and believe it breaches the U.S. Constitution. But across the state, supporters are donating posters to schools, applauding the conservative push that they say underscores basic moral standards. A couple of months into the new school year, posters have gone up in some classrooms but not all.

Read More »
The Washington National Cathedral is photographed in Washington, Monday, Nov. 17, 2005. (AP Photo/Mike Pesoli)

Funerals at Washington’s National Cathedral tell the story of a nation

When former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral is held at the Washington National Cathedral, he will join a bipartisan but exclusive list of figures memorialized there, in a church that tells the story of America on hallowed ground. Multiple presidents have received state funerals there. Memorials have also been held there for towering figures in American history, like the first Black Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, and the moonwalking astronaut Neil Armstrong. The funerals shed light both on the deceased and their place in the country’s history.

Read More »
The Origami Holiday Tree stands at the American Museum of Natural History, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Joe Frederick)

Holiday tree featuring thousands of origami works opens at NYC’s American Museum of Natural History

A beloved Christmas tree tradition is returning to Manhattan this holiday season. The Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History opens to the public on Monday. The colorful, richly decorated tree is made up of thousands of hand-folded paper ornaments created by origami artists from around the world. This year’s tree is inspired by the museum’s new exhibit chronicling how an asteroid crash killed the dinosaurs and reshaped life on Earth. Talo Kawasaki is the tree’s co-designer. Kawasaki said the tree’s theme is “New Beginnings.” It features origami works representing animals and insects.

Read More »
FILE - Revelers throw beads from the balcony of the Royal Sonesta Hotel onto crowds on Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras festivities in the French Quarter in New Orleans, March 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Multicultural New Orleans awaits arrival of ‘Swamp Sweep’ immigration crackdown

New Orleans is warily awaiting a monthslong federal crackdown to arrest thousands of immigrants. Around 250 federal agents are expected to arrive Friday in the city that is a beacon for tourists from around the globe seeking the delight and hedonism of the city’s famed Mardi Gras celebrations. Republican Governor Jeff Landry and other state officials have ratcheted up pressure on New Orleans to compel its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, but Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick says her officers will not participate in the immigration crackdown. Her officers have long been shielded from immigration enforcement by longstanding federal oversight, but that consent decree ended Wednesday.

Read More »
FILE - A painting by Frida Kahlo titled "El sueño (La cama)" or (The Dream (The Bed), is displayed at Sotheby's auction rooms in London, Sept. 19, 2025. The painting, estimated at 40-60 million US dollars, is part of a collection of surrealist masterpieces unveiled ahead of its upcoming sale in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

Frida Kahlo self-portrait poised to shatter auction records

A 1940 self-portrait by Frida Kahlo, titled “El sueño (La cama),” could make auction history Thursday at Sotheby’s in New York. With an estimated price of $40 million to $60 million, it may surpass the record for a female artist’s work, currently held by Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1” at $44.4 million. The painting shows Kahlo asleep in a bed with a skeleton above her. Sotheby’s describes it as a meditation on the boundary between sleep and death. The painting is part of a sale featuring over 100 surrealist works.

Read More »
This undated photo provided by Florida Department of Corrections shows Richard Barry Randolph. (Florida Department of Correction via AP)

Florida man convicted raping and killing his former manager is set to be executed

A man convicted of raping and fatally beating his former manager at a Florida convenience store is set to be the 17th person executed in Florida this year. Richard Barry Randolph is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday evening at Florida State Prison near Starke. Randolph was convicted of murder, armed robbery, sexual battery and grand theft and sentenced to death in 1989. Court records show that Randolph attempted to break into the safe at a Palatka convenience store where he had previously worked in August 1988. After being spotted by manager Minnie Ruth McCollum, Randolph beat, strangled, stabbed and raped the woman before leaving the store.

Read More »
FILE -Former Harvard University president Larry Summers waves during Harvard commencement exercises, May 24, 2018, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

What to know about Larry Summers, who has taken leave from Harvard due to Epstein emails

Larry Summers, once a prominent figure in Washington and academia, has stepped back from his teaching post at Harvard University. This decision follows the release of emails revealing his continued relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Summers, a former U.S. treasury secretary, expressed regret over his association with Epstein, calling it a “major error in judgment.” Summers has also resigned from the board of OpenAI and other organizations. His career has included significant roles in the Clinton administration and a controversial tenure as Harvard’s president.

Read More »
FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during an event, July 8, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Trump signs bill to release Jeffrey Epstein case files after fighting it for months

President Donald Trump has signed a bill to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The president and senior Republicans initially resisted the disclosure, but eventually bowed to political pressure. The legislation, signed Wednesday, requires the Justice Department to disclose all files related to Epstein, including details about his death in federal prison in 2019. The files must be released within 30 days, with some redactions allowed for ongoing investigations. Trump, who had been friends with Epstein, insists he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes and cut ties with him long ago.

Read More »
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., holds a folder during a news conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

House gets back to work and quickly falls into a cycle of punishing its own

The U.S. House is back in session after a multi-week hiatus. But its agenda has been quickly overtaken by a sudden flurry of censures, reprimands and the investigation of its own members. That’s all leaving little bandwidth for legislating in the final weeks of the year. Democrat Stacey Plaskett beat back an effort by Republicans to censure her Tuesday, and Wednesday GOP Rep. Cory Mills faced his own censure and Ethics Committee investigation. With few bills to consider – and no quick fix for the problem of skyrocketing health insurance premiums – the House has instead been forced to devote time over lawmakers’ demands to punish each other.

Read More »
FILE - Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., condemns hate speech and misinformation about Haitian immigrants during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

US Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida indicted on charges of stealing $5M in disaster funds

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida has been indicted on charges accusing her of stealing federal disaster funds and using the money to aid her 2021 campaign, the Justice Department said Wednesday. The Democrat is accused of stealing Federal Emergency Management Agency funds that her family’s health care company had received through a federally funded COVID-19 vaccination staffing contract, federal prosecutors said. Some of the money was then used to fund her campaign through candidate contributions, prosecutors say. A phone message left at Cherfilus-McCormick’s Washington office was not immediately returned.

Read More »

5 accused of supporting antifa plead guilty to terrorism-related offense after Texas shooting

Five people have pleaded guilty to a terrorism-related charge after they were accused of supporting antifa in a July shooting that wounded a police officer outside a Texas immigration detention center. Each entered guilty pleas Wednesday to one count of providing material support to terrorists in federal court in Fort Worth. They face up to 15 years in prison at sentencing. The charges brought by the Justice Department followed President Donald Trump signing an order that designated the decentralized movement known as antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.

Read More »
FILE - Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., participates in a discussion about Israel at the Republican Party of Florida Freedom Summit, Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Ethics panel opens investigation of Rep. Cory Mills as he faces censure vote

The House Ethics Committee has announced that a panel will conduct a wide-ranging investigation into Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla. The investigation announced Wednesday will include whether he violated campaign finance laws, misused congressional resources and engaged in sexual misconduct or dating violence. Mills, now serving his second term, was ordered last month by a Florida judge to have no contact with his ex-girlfriend and to not go within 500 feet of her residence or where she works. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace has introduced a resolution that would remove Mills from the House Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. It will force a vote in the coming days.

Read More »

Trump administration extends order keeping Michigan coal online past closure date

The Trump administration has once again extended the life of a Michigan coal-fired power plant. The J.H. Campbell power plant was supposed to close last May as the utility Consumers Energy makes a transition to cleaner sources of electricity. But the U.S. Energy Department has ordered it to stay open for at least another 90 days. The administration says there are “emergency conditions” that require it to keep producing electricity in the central U.S. Critics scoff at that claim. Environmental groups and Michigan’s attorney general have gone to court to try to overturn orders keeping the plant online.

Read More »
FILE - Former Vice President Dick Cheney attends a primary election night gathering for his daughter, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., Aug. 16, 2022, in Jackson, Wyo. Cheney lost to challenger Harriet Hageman in the primary. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Joe Biden to attend Dick Cheney’s funeral, as Donald Trump continues to remain silent on his death

Former president Joe Biden plans to attend Thursday’s memorial service for former vice president Dick Cheney at the Washington National Cathedral. Biden, a Democrat, had praised Cheney for his “strong set of conservative values” after his death. The service will feature remarks from former President George W. Bush. Cheney died on Nov. 3 due to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. President Donald Trump has not commented on Cheney’s death and has had frosty relations with the Cheney family. The White House did lower flags to half-staff in accordance with federal law. The funeral is by invitation only, and it’s unknown whether Trump will attend.

Read More »
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., flanked by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip, left, and Sen. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va., as he speaks with reporters after a closed-door GOP meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House looks to repeal provision that allows senators to sue over phone record seizures

The House is trying to repeal part of a new law that lets senators sue the federal government for millions of dollars if their personal or office data is accessed without their knowledge. But senators appear unlikely to go along. The language allowing such civil lawsuits was included in the funding bill that ended the government shutdown. Its inclusion immediately prompted accusations of self-dealing at the expense of taxpayers. The language was in response to the disclosure that the FBI in 2023 analyzed phone records of as many as 10 senators as part of an investigation in President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Read More »
FILE - The seal of the United States is displayed on the facade of Federal court in Brooklyn, Jan. 17, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Chinese drug trafficking suspect handed to the US by Mexico pleads not guilty in NYC

A Chinese drug trafficking suspect who escaped custody in Mexico only to be recaptured in Cuba has been turned over to the U.S. to face charges he trafficked large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl into the country. Zhi Dong Zhang pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday at his arraignment in Brooklyn federal court. His lawyer declined to comment following the court appearance. Federal officials say Zhang ran a vast drug trafficking and money laundering network that imported thousands of kilograms of cocaine and other drugs into the United States and other countries. Zhang remains in custody pending his next court date in January.

Read More »
U.S. Border Patrol Commander at large Gregory Bovino looks on, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

Appeals court pauses order restricting use of force by immigration agents in Chicago-area crackdown

A federal appeals court is temporarily halting an order that restricts the use of force by federal immigration agents in the Chicago area, calling it “overbroad” and “too prescriptive.” But the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals also cautioned against “overreading” its stay and said a quick appeal process could lead to a “more tailored and appropriate” order. Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued a preliminary injunction in response to a lawsuit filed by news outlets and protesters. They allege federal agents used excessive force during the immigration crackdown that led to thousands of arrests across the nation’s third-largest city and its many suburbs.

Read More »