National Politics

CNN By Sarah Ferris, Manu Raju, CNN (CNN) — A bloc of House GOP centrists just made the ultimate hardball play against Speaker Mike Johnson — agreeing to help Democrats effectively seize control of the Republican agenda by forcing a vote on their own bill on the looming Obamacare subsidies cliff. The stunning blow to

By Michael Williams, CNN (CNN) — Rep. Sarah McBride on Wednesday criticized congressional Republicans as being “obsessed with trans people” ahead of a vote on bills that would restrict youth access to gender identity care and penalize health workers who provide it. “I actually think they think more about trans people than trans people think

By Morgan Rimmer, CNN (CNN) — The Senate passed the annual defense policy bill, sending it to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature. Democrats and Republicans in the Senate voted overwhelmingly, 77-20, to approve the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorizes nearly $900 billion in funding for military programs, including a 3.8% pay raise

By Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — A new trailer previewing Melania Trump’s eponymous documentary offers more questions than answers about the relationship between President Donald Trump and the first lady. “Hi Mr. President. Congratulations,” Melania Trump says brightly, standing with her back to the camera, as she looks out at the Manhattan skyline in a

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — A federal appeals court is letting President Donald Trump continue his deployment of National Guard troops in the nation’s capital. In a unanimous decision issued Wednesday by the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, the court indefinitely paused a lower court order that had required Trump to remove thousands of

By Steve Contorno, Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene, CNN (CNN) — Of all the blunt assessments White House chief of staff Susie Wiles shared with Vanity Fair over the past year, perhaps her sharpest words were aimed at Attorney General Pam Bondi. In remarks the magazine published Tuesday, Wiles said that Bondi “completely whiffed” in her

By Casey Gannon, Katelyn Polantz, Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — Former special counsel Jack Smith on Wednesday defended his criminal investigation into President Donald Trump in a closed-door deposition before the House Judiciary Committee as he faces scrutiny from Republican lawmakers. “The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine, but the basis for

By Annie Grayer, Ella Nilsen, CNN (CNN) — A group of moderate Republicans have warned for months that their party’s plan to eliminate clean energy tax credits would contribute to utility bills skyrocketing. Now, their predictions are coming true. And more Republicans are starting to openly worry that the issue could hurt them in next

By Marshall Cohen, Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — A new federal law requires the Justice Department to release by Friday a massive trove of investigative documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. The release of the Epstein files, detailing the probes into the disgraced multimillionaire and sex offender who died in 2019, has attracted significant attention. The

By Alexandra Skores, CNN (CNN) — The US Air Force announced plans Tuesday to purchase two Boeing 747-8 aircraft to support its future presidential airlift program, with an Air Force official confirming it would acquire the planes from German carrier Lufthansa. At a price tag of $400 million, the Air Force said in a statement

By Zachary Cohen, CNN (CNN) — When an attacker killed two US service members and a civilian interpreter in Syria over the weekend, President Donald Trump vowed “very serious” retribution against those responsible, and officials were quick to describe the assailant as a “lone gunman” who was a member of ISIS. However, a spokesman for

By Elle Reeve, CNN (CNN) — In her first podcast episode after what she described as a 4.5-hour conversation with Erika Kirk, conservative podcaster Candace Owens said Tuesday that she still does not believe that the person charged with murder for Charlie Kirk’s death is solely responsible. Erika Kirk’s efforts to tamp down on speculation

By Sarah Ferris, CNN (CNN) — Speaker Mike Johnson is charging ahead with a GOP health plan that allows Biden-era Obamacare subsidies to expire this month — all but guaranteeing that the money will indeed lapse and spike premiums for tens of millions of Americans next year. In a high-stakes Tuesday night meeting, top House

By Aleena Fayaz, CNN (CNN) — GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday slammed President Donald Trump for his comments on the murders of Rob and Michele Reiner, as she predicted more Republicans will follow her lead in breaking with Trump. “I thought that statement was absolutely completely below the office of the president of

By Kit Maher, Kevin Liptak, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was ordering a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving from Venezuela, ratcheting up pressure against leader Nicolás Maduro’s regime and suggesting an economic motive to the US’ military campaign in the region. Punctuating the words

By Kit Maher, Kristen Holmes, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order Thursday that would reschedule marijuana to a lower drug classification — a move that would ease federal restrictions, though it would not mean full legalization, according to a source familiar with the planning and a senior White

By Aleena Fayaz, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a proclamation expanding the list of countries with full or partial travel restrictions to 39, increasing from the previous list of 19 countries, according to the White House. The proclamation adds seven new countries to the full travel ban list: Laos, Sierra Leone,

By Priscilla Alvarez, Jennifer Hansler, Nimi Princewill, CNN (CNN) — The South African government briefly held, then released, two US government employees on assignment in South Africa as part of the Trump administration’s bid to admit Afrikaners to the United States, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. The incident appeared to mark an

By Haley Britzky, CNN (CNN) — The Pentagon has launched a new “official Command” phase of its investigation into whether Sen. Mark Kelly will be punished for his involvement in a video that reminded members of the military they have a duty to refuse illegal orders, with a decision likely to be made in about