National Politics

CNN By Avery Lotz, CNN (CNN) — GOP Sen. Marco Rubio defended former President Donald Trump’s controversial comment that he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to a NATO member country that didn’t meet defense spending guidelines. “That’s not what happened, and that’s not how I view that statement,” the Florida Republican argued Sunday on CNN’s State

By Gregory Krieg and Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN Plainview, New York (CNN) — How bad were the 2022 midterm elections for Democrats in New York? One way to explain it: Republican George Santos’ victory in the state’s 3rd Congressional District might have been the highlight of their year. Santos’ troubles began in earnest six weeks after

By Avery Lotz, CNN (CNN) — GOP Sen. Marco Rubio defended former President Donald Trump’s controversial comment that he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to a NATO member country that didn’t meet defense spending guidelines. “That’s not what happened, and that’s not how I view that statement,” the Florida Republican argued Sunday on CNN’s State of

CNN By Jim Sciutto, CNN (CNN) — As US allies reel from Donald Trump’s weekend comments encouraging Russia to attack European allies if they don’t meet NATO budget contribution goals, multiple former Trump advisers warn in my upcoming book that the former president will seek to formally withdraw the US from the NATO alliance if

By Camila DeChalus, Priscilla Alvarez, MJ Lee and Jack Forrest, CNN (CNN) — President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a deal to secure the release of hostages in Gaza at length on Sunday, according to a senior administration official, who cautioned that while a framework is in place, gaps remain. In

By Manu Raju and Lauren Fox, CNN Mitch McConnell had long prided himself on maintaining GOP unity during his 17-year tenure as Senate GOP leader. That’s hardly the case anymore. As his party has descended into a bitter dispute over immigration, his small contingent of foes within his conference has grown louder and much more outspoken, driven

By Arit John, CNN (CNN) — A few months into her first term as governor, Nikki Haley signed one of the strictest immigration bills in the country. Like Arizona’s infamous “show me your papers” law, the most controversial part of South Carolina’s legislation required law enforcement to check people’s legal status during stops if they

By Melanie Zanona and Manu Raju, CNN (CNN) — Donors no longer want to contribute to their campaigns. Primary opponents are lining up to take them out. And some of them have been ex-communicated from caucuses on Capitol Hill. The eight House Republicans who took the unprecedented step of removing Kevin McCarthy from the speakership

By Clare Foran, Kristin Wilson and Ted Barrett, CNN The Senate on Sunday took a step closer to passing a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with crucial assistance for Ukraine and Israel following a key vote to move the package forward – including with the support of 18 Republicans despite opposition from former President Donald Trump.

CNN By Kate Sullivan, CNN (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member country that doesn’t meet spending guidelines on defense in a stunning admission he would not abide by the collective-defense clause at the heart of the alliance

By Priscilla Alvarez and Khalil Abdallah, CNN (CNN) — Vice President Kamala Harris’ plans to meet with members of the Arab American community were abruptly postponed this week after leaders decided not to move forward, according to two sources familiar with the situation, marking the latest sign of the obstacles the administration faces in trying

By Kate Sullivan, CNN (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump on Saturday said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member country that doesn’t meet spending guidelines on defense in a stunning admission he would not abide by the collective-defense clause at the heart of the alliance if

By Haley Britzky, CNN (CNN) — As the Senate continues its debate over a national security supplemental funding bill, advocates are calling on lawmakers to approve an amendment that would give Afghans who were evacuated during the US’ withdrawal of Afghanistan a path to permanent legal residency in the US. The amendment, introduced by Democratic Sen. Amy

By Gregory Krieg and Kate Sullivan, CNN (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump on Saturday ramped up his criticism of special counsel Robert Hur’s decision not to charge President Joe Biden over his handling of classified documents, while repeatedly questioning his successor’s mental acuity and peddling conspiratorial claims about former President Barack Obama. Less than two days after

CNN Opinion by Dean Obeidallah (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump reminded us again this weekend that there’s no bottom to his vileness. This latest installment in Trump sinking to new lows came on Saturday when he was campaigning in South Carolina in advance of that state’s February 24 Republican presidential primary. Trump first alarmingly stated that he would encourage Russian to

By Kate Sullivan and Shania Shelton, CNN (CNN) — The day before the Senate is set to begin voting on a $95.3 billion foreign aid package that would provide for Israel and Ukraine, former President Donald Trump on Saturday said the US should stop providing foreign aid unless it is structured as a loan. “WE SHOULD NEVER

By Melanie Zanona and Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — Wisconsin GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher said Saturday he will not seek reelection, making him the latest Republican to announce an exit from Congress as the House GOP looks to save its shrinking majority in November. The announcement comes as Gallagher faces fierce criticism for bucking his own party to vote against

By Josh Campbell and Rebekah Riess, CNN (CNN) — A Houston woman who left a series of threatening voicemail messages for a federal judge overseeing one of former President Donald Trump’s legal fights in Florida has been sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison for “using interstate communications to threat, kidnap or injure,” the US

By Alayna Treene and Kate Sullivan, CNN (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump used a rally in South Carolina on Saturday to attack rival Nikki Haley in her home state — and to mock the absence of her husband, who is deployed overseas. “Where’s her husband? Oh, he’s away. … What happened to her husband?

By Betsy Klein and Camila DeChalus, CNN Washington (CNN) — Janet Yellen isn’t a political operator, but she’s one of President Joe Biden’s strongest and most credible economic messengers. And in an election year when Biden needs all the help he can get to make his economic message break through – a majority of voters, 55%, say Biden’s policies