Tag Archives: Politics

Education Department says it will release billions in remaining withheld grant money for schools

Education Department says it will release billions in remaining withheld grant money for schools

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is releasing billions of dollars in grants to schools for adult literacy, English language instruction and other programs, the Education Department said Friday. President Donald Trump’s administration had withheld $6 billion in funding on July 1 as part of a review to ensure spending aligned with the White House’s priorities. Officials later said the department would release $1.3 billion of the money for after-school programs, days after 10 Republican senators sent a letter imploring the administration to allow frozen education money to be sent to states.… Continue Reading

In Epstein furor, Trump struggles to shake off a controversy his allies once stoked

In Epstein furor, Trump struggles to shake off a controversy his allies once stoked

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump faces ongoing questions about the Jeffrey Epstein case, overshadowing his administration’s achievements. On Friday, reporters pressed the Republican president about pardoning Epstein’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, but he deflected, emphasizing his administration’s successes. Despite enacting significant policies, Trump’s past ties to Epstein continue to stir controversy. Supporters demand transparency, believing Epstein’s death in a New York jail cell six years ago hides a larger conspiracy. Administration officials who previously fueled theories now claim there’s nothing more to reveal. Trump denies prior knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and urges supporters to move on. But the Epstein case remains a challenging distraction.… Continue Reading

Trump’s USDA to scatter half its Washington staff to field offices. Critics see a ploy to cut jobs

Trump’s USDA to scatter half its Washington staff to field offices. Critics see a ploy to cut jobs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to move thousands of employees out of Washington, D.C., aiming to save money and bring them closer to farmers and ranchers. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday that around 2,600 workers will relocate to five hubs from North Carolina to Utah. The plan is part of President Donald Trump’s effort to make the federal government more efficient. Critics worry about losing connections to Congress and potential disruptions. The union representing federal workers criticized the move as a ploy to cut jobs. The union also pointed out that some 95% of the department’s employees already work outside Washington.… Continue Reading

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley plans to run for Senate in North Carolina, with Trump’s backing

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley plans to run for Senate in North Carolina, with Trump’s backing

Michael Whatley, chairman of the national Republican Party, plans to run for an open Senate seat in North Carolina in 2026, with the blessing of President Donald Trump, after Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara, passed on the seat. Democrats see the race as their top chance to flip a seat as they try to regain control of the Senate. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced last month that he wouldn’t run for a third term, a decision that came after clashes with Trump. Whatley’s decision was confirmed by two people familiar with his thinking. They weren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly before an official announcement and spoke only on condition of anonymity.… Continue Reading

House ending session early as Republicans clash over Epstein vote

House ending session early as Republicans clash over Epstein vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is leaving Washington early as Republicans clash over the Jeffrey Epstein files. House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Epstein as some Republicans push for a vote on the matter. Johnson said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House “space” to release the Epstein information on its own. The speaker’s stance seemed unlikely to satisfy many Republicans who are threatening to support a bipartisan bill to pry information from the Justice Department. Even before Johnson spoke, a Republican-controlled committee was advancing a resolution to subpoena Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.… Continue Reading

Hunter Biden lashes out at George Clooney, other Democrats, over Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign

Hunter Biden lashes out at George Clooney, other Democrats, over Joe Biden’s 2024 campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden has criticized prominent Democrats and party advisers in a recent interview. In a podcast published Monday, he expressed frustration over George Clooney’s call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. Hunter Biden questioned Clooney’s authority to undermine his father, who later exited the race after a poor debate performance. He also accused longtime Democratic strategists of profiting from the party without helping its current efforts. As for the disastrous June 2024 debate, Hunter Biden said his father had taken the sleep aide Ambien and was still affected by it.… Continue Reading

Prodded by lawsuits, North Carolina seeks to tighten voter ID records for roughly 200,000 people

Prodded by lawsuits, North Carolina seeks to tighten voter ID records for roughly 200,000 people

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina election officials are taking steps to tighten up voter registration records in a pivotal swing state. On Thursday, the State Board of Elections launched an online database of 103,000 voters who need to add their driver’s license numbers or partial Social Security numbers to the state records. Requirements for the numerical identifiers have been in place since 2004, but an outdated voter registration form helped lead to missing information. The state board is seeking to collect the ID information in part to address a lawsuit by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. Critics worry the process could disenfranchise voters.… Continue Reading

Severe weather in tropical storm’s wake triggers North Carolina state of emergency

Severe weather in tropical storm’s wake triggers North Carolina state of emergency

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina election officials are taking steps to tighten up voter registration records in a pivotal swing state. On Thursday, the State Board of Elections launched an online database of 103,000 voters who need to add their driver’s license numbers or partial Social Security numbers to the state records. Requirements for the numerical identifiers have been in place since 2004, but an outdated voter registration form helped lead to missing information. The state board is seeking to collect the ID information in part to address a lawsuit by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. Critics worry the process could disenfranchise voters.… Continue Reading

North Carolina governor doesn’t appeal ruling on who gets say over highway patrol commander

North Carolina governor doesn’t appeal ruling on who gets say over highway patrol commander

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has decided not to appeal a trial court’s decision to dismiss one of his legal challenges against state Republican legislative leaders. The court’s decision focused on a provision in a broader state law that said Stein does not have the authority to appoint his own State Highway Patrol Commander. It instead keeps current commander Col. Freddy Johnson in his post until 2030. Stein says he challenged the provision because it was too ambiguous on if he has the ability to remove Johnson if necessary. The trial court last month ruled the provision wasn’t unconstitutional.… Continue Reading

20 states sue FEMA for canceling grant program that guards against natural disasters

20 states sue FEMA for canceling grant program that guards against natural disasters

Twenty Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency over the cancellation of a disaster mitigation grant program. The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Massachusetts claims President Donald Trump’s administration acted illegally by ending the program in April. The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program funds projects such as flood protection, wildfire prevention and earthquake safety. FEMA called the program wasteful. But supporters say it can help save lives and reduce costly damage from disasters. The lawsuit alleges the Trump administration violated constitutional separation of powers by ending the program without congressional permission to do so.… Continue Reading

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