Politics News

Latest articles in Politics

Bronx shooting by an ICE agent sets off a new fight over federal raids in New York

A federal immigration agent shot and wounded a man in the Marble Hill area of the Bronx on Thursday afternoon, New York police said. A five-year-old child was in the car and was not hurt. Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned the shooting, said the agents wore plain clothes and were hard to identify, and asked President Trump to end ICE operations in the city. Federal officials said the man drove toward the agents. Protests formed at the scene, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticised sanctuary city policies. The clash lands in the middle of midterm campaigning, days after the Cook Political Report moved 18 House races toward the Democrats.

News outlets return to court over White House press ban

Three news organisations barred from White House press areas asked a federal judge on Thursday to keep the administration's ban blocked while their lawsuit proceeds. CNN, MS NOW and Politico argued in Washington that the restrictions punish them for coverage the president dislikes and that they break the First Amendment. Government lawyers defend the rules as a matter of managing access, saying the White House can decide who enters its grounds. The case is one of several legal fights between the administration and major newsrooms, and it is moving forward weeks before the November 3 midterm elections. Both sides have signalled they will appeal any final decision, so the dispute could last well beyond this election.

White House rolls out automatic enrollment in 'Trump Accounts' for children

The White House said families will be automatically enrolled in the child savings program known as Trump Accounts, an expansion of a plan created by the 2025 tax law. President Donald Trump announced the change in the Oval Office, saying the accounts help young Americans build wealth. The rollout comes about a month before the November 3 midterm elections. Democrats have criticized the program's design and cost, and Trump used the event to attack the opposition.

Trump's remark that Iran could hit US cities draws fire from California

President Donald Trump drew criticism from California leaders after suggesting at a Nebraska midterm rally that Iran could take out Los Angeles or San Diego, and that the cost would be a small price to pay for the war. Governor Gavin Newsom called him deranged and dangerous, while San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said his city is not collateral damage and is never a small price to pay. The White House said the United States is fighting to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. The comment landed as early voting began in California, where fuel prices tied to the Iran war are already a liability for Republicans in close races.

Supreme Court opens term with Big Oil climate damages case

The US Supreme Court opened its new term on Monday with a case that asks whether oil and gas companies can be sued in state courts over damage caused by climate change. Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil are trying to throw out a lawsuit filed by Boulder County, Colorado. The county wants the companies to pay for costs linked to wildfires and floods. The companies argue that only the federal government can set rules on greenhouse gas emissions. Justice Samuel Alito did not take part in the argument. The term also includes cases on immigration detention and guns.

Trump names intelligence chief Jay Clayton as White House AI czar

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton will serve as the new White House AI czar. Clayton will also lead a new federal task force on artificial intelligence, according to the White House. Other members include Federal Trade Commission chairman Andrew Ferguson, Pentagon chief technology officer Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management director Scott Kupor. The group reports to Trump and chief of staff Susie Wiles. Clayton was confirmed as director of national intelligence in July by a 51-47 Senate vote, and he was previously chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Trump says he would back a ban on diesel exports as pump prices hit records

President Donald Trump said he would support a ban on US diesel exports after Republican lawmakers pressed him to curb shipments abroad. Diesel prices have reached record highs in the United States, and trucking and farm groups say fuel costs are squeezing their margins. A ban would keep more supply at home but could unsettle global fuel markets and anger allies. The White House has not set out a timeline or a final decision, and analysts say the measure would face legal and diplomatic hurdles.

Republicans lean on factory deals as voter anger over prices grows before midterms

With a month to go before the November 3 midterm elections, Republicans are searching for a message that answers voter anger over the cost of living. President Donald Trump announced that Mesabi Metallics will build a $15 billion steel plant in Iowa, appearing with vulnerable lawmakers in a battleground state. An AP-NORC poll found most Americans blame Trump for high prices, and his economic approval has hit a new low. Republican strategists privately concede the Senate map has shifted toward Democrats, and Congress left Washington after a series of votes that some members described as doomed from the start.

Supreme Court lets third-country deportations continue until December hearing

The US Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for the Trump administration to keep deporting immigrants to countries where they have no ties, while a legal challenge moves forward. The justices granted an emergency request from the government and set aside an appeals court ruling that called the process unlawful. The court's three liberal justices dissented. It is the second time the court has removed obstacles to the policy. More than 25,000 migrants have already been sent to 29 countries under it. Full arguments are set for December, and removal flights can continue until then. Immigrant advocates say the practice puts people at risk.

Hegseth sets up autonomous warfare command in six-part Pentagon overhaul

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced six new programmes in a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico, telling mid-ranking officers and NCOs to carry them out at ground level. The centrepiece is the Autonomous Warfare Command, which the department says will become a four-star functional combatant command by 1 October 2027. Project Agincourt will lead work on uncrewed systems. Other initiatives include FORTRESS America, a readiness and supply programme aimed at cutting reliance on foreign rare earths and microchips, America's Corps of Cadets at five partner universities, the Next Great American Base project, an Office of Religious Affairs and Project Meridian.