Politics

By Kylie Atwood, Patrick Oppmann and Jennifer Hansler, CNN The Biden administration sanctioned a key Cuban official and a government special forces unit known as the Boinas Negras for human rights abuses in the wake of historic protests on the island. President Joe Biden said in a statement that Thursday’s actions were “just the beginning–the

By Jeremy Herb, CNN The House on Thursday approved legislation to expand and streamline a visa program for Afghan translators and other personnel who worked with the US military and are now trying to leave the country as the Taliban threatens to retake control of Afghanistan. The House passed the legislation sponsored by Rep. Jason

By Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN A Capitol rioter who captured Ashli Babbitt’s death on video became the 20th person to plead guilty for his involvement in the deadly January 6 insurrection. Andrew Bennett of Maryland pleaded guilty Thursday in DC District Court to illegally demonstrating inside the US Capitol. He got the same deal as other

By Sunlen Serfaty and Betsy Klein, CNN Hunter Biden is expected to meet with potential buyers at two of his art shows after the White House formed an agreement with the gallery to address ethics concerns. Biden is set to attend art shows in Los Angeles and New York City, with Georges Bergès Gallery spokeswoman

By Rachel Janfaza, CNN Bob Dole, the longtime US senator from Kansas and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, said that while he is still “a Trumper,” he is “sort of Trumped out,” in an interview published Thursday by USA Today. Dole also said he believes former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election and noted

By Fredreka Schouten, CNN Eighteen states have enacted 30 new laws that make it harder to vote, according to a new tally by the liberal-leaning Brennan Center for Justice that tracks state activity through July 14. Among the most common provisions, according to Brennan’s researchers: Measures in seven states that either expand officials’ ability to

By Dan Merica, CNN Coronavirus rates are climbing in Florida, with the latest data showing Florida’s current seven-day average of new daily Covid-19 cases is by far the highest in the nation. But Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is up for reelection in 2022 and has long been rumored as a possible presidential candidate in

By Melanie Zanona and Manu Raju, CNN House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is weighing new ways to help beef up the bipartisan credibility of an investigation into the deadly Capitol riots — an issue that has taken on renewed importance after the GOP walked out on the January 6 select committee. With extra seats on the

By Dan Merica, CNN Former Iowa Rep. Abby Finkenauer on Thursday announced she is running for Senate, becoming the highest-profile Democrat vying to possibly take on seven-term incumbent Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. “I’m running for Senate because Democracy is worth fighting for and Iowa is worth fighting for,” Finkenanuer said in a statement. “I believe

By Priscilla Alvarez, CNN Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon will not advance President Joe Biden’s pick to lead US Customs and Border Protection until he receives more answers about the agency’s role in the Portland unrest last year, delaying a key nominee as the administration reevaluates border restrictions. “Six months into the new administration,

By Rachel Janfaza, CNN When Joe Biden campaigned for the presidency, he called himself a bridge to a new generation of leaders in the Democratic Party. While some frustrations remain, young leaders are saying the President Biden’s administration is making good progress on Candidate Biden’s pledge. Advocates say that the youth-focused proposals in Biden’s “Build

CNN Editorial Research Here’s a look at the life of Jim McGreevey, former governor of New Jersey. Personal Birth date: August 6, 1957 Birth place: Jersey City, New Jersey Birth name: James Edward McGreevey Father: Jack McGreevey, trucking company director Mother: Veronica (Smith) McGreevey, teacher Marriages: Dina (Matos) McGreevey (2000-2008, divorced); Kari (Schutz) McGreevey (1991-1997,

By Christina Carrega, Priya Krishnakumar, Omar Jimenez and Evan Perez, CNN Attorney General Merrick Garland plans to travel to Chicago on Thursday to highlight the Justice Department’s new anti-gun trafficking initiative focused on five cities, as the Biden administration faces political pressure to deal with spikes in crime. The department launched anti-gun trafficking strike forces

By Priscilla Alvarez and Kevin Liptak, CNN President Joe Biden is facing increasing pressure from US allies and the travel industry to lift pandemic-era restrictions barring entry to the country, leading to tense conversations among administration officials over the health and political risks of opening up too soon. A tangled web of Covid-19 border restrictions

By Melanie Zanona, CNN Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’s “perplexed” why so many people in the country still aren’t vaccinated. The answer may lie, in part, within his own party. Even as Republicans move toward being more publicly trusting of the vaccine and personally reject anti-vaccine rhetoric, which McConnell did vocally early on,

By Paul LeBlanc, CNN Former President Donald Trump in March called the crowd that had gathered for his speech before the deadly US Capitol insurrection “loving” in an exclusive audio recording obtained by CNN. “I think it was the largest crowd I’ve ever spoken before. It went from that point — which is almost at