National Politics

Management and operational challenges plagued the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General for years, hurting its ability to effectively carry out its oversight mission, according to preliminary findings from the Government Accountability Office. Reports had to be recalled, allegations of improper conduct were leveled against senior leadership, and there has been frequent leadership

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski broke ranks with Republicans on Wednesday, voting to confirm Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general. Explaining her vote, Murkowski said this on the Senate floor: “I asked her point blank, ‘Why do you want this? Is this worth it?’ Because this has clearly been very hard on her as a nominee.

The lead Senate GOP negotiator over new policing legislation is floating a compromise on a major sticking point that has derailed past efforts to curb excessive force by law enforcement: civil lawsuit protections currently afforded to police officers. The issue of so-called qualified immunity has been a flashpoint in talks over legislation aimed at imposing

Senate Republicans on Wednesday declined to change their conference rules that ban their use of earmarks, an issue that divides the GOP conference and will be a test for how the party will operate over the next several months with Democrats in control of the US Senate. Not a single senator offered an amendment to

Senior Biden administration officials this week will answer questions on how President Joe Biden plans to remake US climate policy in a globally broadcast CNN town hall, the network announced Monday. “CNN Town Hall: The Climate Crisis” will air Friday at 10 p.m. ET. It coincides with this week’s celebration of Earth Day and will

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Vanita Gupta to be associate attorney general in a narrow 51-49 vote after Sen. Lisa Murkowski joined with Democrats in support of President Joe Biden’s Justice Department nominee. Vice President Kamala Harris was on hand for a procedural vote Wednesday morning in case she was needed for a possible 50-50

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had months (and months) to ponder what she would say if and when former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of the murder of George Floyd. Which makes what she did say on Wednesday — in the immediate aftermath of the Chauvin verdict — all the more baffling. “Thank you,

In the months after George Floyd’s death, Minneapolis Police Department officers reported using force on far fewer people — but then use of force spiked late last year, a CNN analysis of department data found. And after Floyd’s death, Black people are still subject to use of force by Minneapolis officers at a highly disproportionate

The Senate narrowly voted to advance the nomination of President Joe Biden’s nominee to be associate attorney general, Vanita Gupta, setting up a final vote expected later Wednesday despite fierce opposition from most Republican senators. Vice President Kamala Harris was on hand in case she was needed for a possible 50-50 tie on the procedural

The Justice Department has launched a federal civil probe into policing practices in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd and the murder convictions for ex-cop Derek Chauvin, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday. “The challenges we face are deeply woven into our history. They did not arise today, or last year; building trust between