National Politics

By Katie Lobosco, CNN Social Security will have to cut benefits by 2034 if Congress does nothing to address the program’s long-term funding shortfall, according to an annual report released Tuesday by the Social Security and Medicare trustees. That’s one year earlier than reported last year. By that time, the combined trust funds for Social

By Clare Foran and Ali Zaslav, CNN The Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would provide temporary assistance to American citizens who have returned from Afghanistan. The bill would set aside up to $10 million for each fiscal year during fiscal years 2021 and 2022 to provide emergency repatriation assistance to affected individuals. Vice

By Barbara Starr and Brianna Keilar, CNN The US military negotiated a secret arrangement with the Taliban that resulted in members of the militant group escorting clusters of Americans to the gates of the Kabul airport as they sought to escape Afghanistan, two defense officials told CNN. One of the officials also revealed that US

By Ali Zaslav, CNN Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is expanding his efforts to convince more Americans to get vaccinated against Covid-19 with a new public service announcement available for TV stations to air nationwide. The ad aims to target vaccine hesitant Republicans and pushes back against skepticism about the shot promoted by many members

By Tierney Sneed, CNN A Texas state law that bans abortion after as early as six weeks into the pregnancy could provide the playbook for red states to pass extreme abortion restrictions — without having to wait for the Supreme Court to revisit Roe v. Wade. The measure — signed into law by Republican Gov.

By Devan Cole, CNN Republican Congressman and US military veteran Adam Kinzinger on Monday reflected on the closing of America’s longest war, saying that while he’s relieved, Afghanistan now being under Taliban control has left him with mixed emotions. “At the one hand, it’s great relief that we got those thousands of military members out

By Paul LeBlanc and Daniel Dale, CNN Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn on Sunday suggested there could be “bloodshed” over future elections as he pushed false claims about election security and voter fraud. Speaking at a North Carolina county GOP event, Cawthorn repeated the lie about US election systems being “rigged” and “stolen,” something he said

By Katelyn Polantz, CNN Reporter, Crime and Justice A prominent lawyer has not been appearing at recent court hearings on behalf of some of his nearly 20 US Capitol riot clients after reportedly becoming ill with Covid-19, the Department of Justice said in court filings in multiple cases on Monday. Prosecutors said they believe the

By Paula Reid and Paul LeBlanc, CNN Rudy Giuliani’s communications director has resigned from her position, ending a nearly two-year stint as the former New York City mayor faces mounting legal problems. Christianné Allen, who has worked at Giuliani Communication LLC since December 2019, said in a statement Monday that she is “proud of the

By Devan Cole, CNN California Gov. Gavin Newsom has enlisted Sen. Bernie Sanders in his fight to remain in office, with the progressive icon urging voters to reject a “bold-faced Republican power grab” in a new recall ad. The spot released on Monday by Stop the Republican Recall, a countereffort launched by Newsom’s team, features

By Hannah Rabinowitz A former University of Kentucky senior caught on security footage lugging a congressional “members only” sign around the US Capitol pleaded guilty on Monday to a federal misdemeanor for her part in the January 6 riot. Twenty-three-year-old Gracyn Courtright pleaded guilty to illegally entering and remaining in a restricted building or ground

By Nicole Gaouette, Jennifer Hansler, Barbara Starr and Oren Liebermann, CNN The last US military planes have left Afghanistan, Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of US Central Command, announced Monday at the Pentagon. The US departure marks the end of a fraught, chaotic and bloody exit from the United States’ longest war. “I’m here to

By Liz Stark, CNN The Education Department’s civil rights enforcement arm announced Monday it has launched investigations in five states to determine whether statewide policies prohibiting school mask mandates is discriminatory against students with disabilities. The Department’s Office for Civil Rights sent letters to the chief state school officials in five states — Iowa, Oklahoma,

By Ariane de Vogue, CNN Supreme Court Reporter Lawyers for abortion clinics in Texas raced to the Supreme Court Monday, asking the justices to block a controversial law that bans abortions at six weeks and allows private citizens to bring civil suits against anyone who assists a pregnant person seeking an abortion in violation of

By Jeff Zeleny and Kate Sullivan, CNN President Joe Biden spoke Monday afternoon on Hurricane Ida relief efforts as he met virtually with a host of leaders involved in the response to the massive storm that has rocked the Gulf Coast. “We know Hurricane Ida had the potential to cause massive, massive damage, and that’s