National Politics

By Melanie Zanona, CNN Indiana Republican Rep. Jim Banks was just about to send a letter to Democrats requesting a GOP witness for the January 6 select committee’s first hearing when he had the rug pulled out from under him. Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Wednesday afternoon that she was rejecting both Banks and Rep. Jim

By Hannah Rabinowitz and Marshall Cohen A federal judge forced a US Capitol rioter to unlock his laptop Wednesday after prosecutors argued that it likely contained footage of the January 6 insurrection from his helmet-worn camera. The judge granted the Justice Department’s request to place Capitol riot defendant Guy Reffitt in front of his laptop

By Evan Perez, Erica Orden, Paula Reid and Katelyn Polantz, CNN Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn investigating Tom Barrack, a prominent ally to former President Donald Trump, for allegedly violating foreign lobbying laws had enough evidence to bring charges last year, but held off doing so until the arrival of the new presidential administration, according to

By Devan Cole, CNN A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked Arkansas’ ban on gender-affirming treatment for transgender youth from going into effect later this month. Judge James M. Moody Jr. granted a preliminary injunction against the ban that was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of four transgender adolescents in Arkansas

By Maegan Vazquez and Kevin Liptak, CNN President Joe Biden conceded during a CNN town hall on Wednesday that certain businesses will remain “in a bind for a little while” with labor shortages, part of a major set of problems that’s unfurling as his six-month-old presidency reaches a critical juncture. Covid cases are rising, a

By Nicole Gaouette and Jennifer Hansler, CNN The US announced Wednesday that it has reached a deal with Germany that would allow completion of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline opposed by the Biden administration as a “malign influence project” that Russia could use to gain leverage over European allies. “While we remain opposed to

By Kaitlan Collins and Fredreka Schouten, CNN President Joe Biden has selected another round of ambassadors, including choices for posts in Canada, Slovenia and Austria. Pending Senate confirmation, Biden has picked David Cohen as his ambassador to Canada. After the US-Canada border remained closed for over a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Canada recently

By Jennifer Hansler, CNN Secretary of State Antony Blinken made his way back to where the air is sweet, reprising an appearance on Sesame Street this week. Blinken talked about his work as the top US diplomat and refugees in a short video clip posted to his Twitter account Wednesday. “Delighted to catch up with

By Zachary Cohen and Michael Conte, CNN Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said Wednesday he wouldn’t comment on a recent book excerpt alleging he and other top officials were so deeply concerned that former President Donald Trump and his allies might attempt a coup after the November 2020 election they informally

By Annie Grayer and Jeremy Herb, CNN House Republicans balked at participating in the House committee that’s investigating the January 6 insurrection on Wednesday after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected two of the five Republicans House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had tapped for the panel. Pelosi’s decision to reject the two Republicans — and McCarthy’s

By Maegan Vazquez, CNN President Joe Biden is set to face key questions on how his administration will handle some of the most pressing issues facing the country when he takes part in a CNN town hall Wednesday night. At 8 p.m. ET, Biden will take the stage at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati

By Priscilla Alvarez, CNN The Biden administration is extending non-essential travel restrictions for the US northern and southern borders until August 21. The US has been limiting non-essential travel along both borders since the start of the pandemic and extending those restrictions on a monthly basis. The restrictions don’t apply to cross-border trade, US citizens

By Daniella Diaz, Manu Raju, Lauren Fox and Ted Barrett, CNN Republicans will not vote to increase the federal borrowing limit, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a new interview, setting the stage for a huge battle in Congress as it stares at a deadline to avoid a debt default. McConnell’s threat prompted outrage

By Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Capitol rioter and ex-Army Ranger Robert Morss to remain in jail before trial, ruling that he was too dangerous to release and slamming him for using his military training to help organize the mob and eventually breach the Capitol. This came hours after the Justice

By Katelyn Polantz, CNN When officers arrested Robert Morss of Pennsylvania on charges related to the January 6 Capitol riot, they found in his car a notebook with a page titled, “Step by Step to Create Hometown Militia.” Beneath it Morss allegedly scribbled bullet point reminders, fleshing out the idea of forming a violent cell