National Politics

By Jennifer Hansler, CNN (CNN) — Rep. Haley Stevens on Thursday announced a new bill meant to help Americans detained abroad when they return to the United States. For Paul Whelan, who was detained for more than five years in Russia, it is an announcement that has been years in the making. Whelan has spoken

By Kara Scannell, CNN (CNN) — A federal judge referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and one of his top prosecutors to the Justice Department for potential obstruction of justice, perjury and false statements tied to the recent review of a 2009 murder conviction. Late Tuesday, Judge Paul Diamond, a George W. Bush appointee, said

By Aleena Fayaz, CNN (CNN) — Nebraska independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn on Wednesday appeared to confirm the authenticity of a leaked recording in which he is purported to criticize voters who support President Donald Trump. “Billy Bob in f**king Red Cloud, Nebraska, who lives next door to the f**king Trump store as you pull

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — A federal judge handed down a 20-year sentence for the Afghan man convicted of providing material support to a terrorist organization during the August 2021 airport attack and bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, during the US military’s flawed departure. Mohammad Sharifullah was convicted of providing support to an ISIS affiliate

By Morgan Rimmer, Sarah Ferris, CNN (CNN) — Congress delivered President Donald Trump one final win ahead of the midterms — a major Russia sanctions bill that critics warn will empower him to impose sweeping new tariffs that could reverberate across the economy. The House on Wednesday gave final approval to the Russia sanctions bill

By Sunlen Serfaty, Katelyn Polantz, Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump was pictured reviewing a poster that appears to read, “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED,” hours before his administration told a judge the arts institution had to be closed due to “structural deterioration” it characterized as posing “untenable risks” to safety. The images were captured

By Alayna Treene, Hadas Gold, CNN (CNN) — Executives of major technology and artificial intelligence companies are expected to travel to Washington, DC, next week for Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s state visit to the White House — and some Trump officials are contemplating a meeting with them on the sidelines of the high-stakes summit, sources

By Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — The House of Representatives held billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress on Wednesday for refusing to comply with subpoenas as part of the congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. It is now up to the Justice Department to consider whether to pursue criminal prosecution against Black. The move

By Kevin Liptak, CNN (CNN) — Sunny, the Portuguese water dog who romped into the White House at the start of President Barack Obama’s second term and injected the mansion with playful — at times, too playful — energy, has died. She was 14. The former first dog’s death was announced on social media by

By Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog. The move represented a sixfold increase in paid leave salary costs compared

By Joan Biskupic, CNN Chief Supreme Court Analyst (CNN) — The Supreme Court’s recent patchwork of election-related decisions gives the public scant clues of how the justices would act if faced with a crucial dispute this fall that would definitively settle which party controls Congress or what to expect in 2028. The justices’ unsigned order Monday

CNN By Joan Biskupic, CNN Chief Supreme Court Analyst (CNN) — The Supreme Court’s recent patchwork of election-related decisions gives the public scant clues of how the justices would act if faced with a crucial dispute this fall that would definitively settle which party controls Congress or what to expect in 2028. The justices’ unsigned order

By Sarah Ferris, CNN (CNN) — The House on Tuesday voted to approve a measure that would require President Donald Trump to end his war with Iran, offering a potent political rebuke of the administration’s handling of the war just weeks before the midterms. This is now the third time that the House — led

CNN By Kasie Hunt, Sunlen Serfaty, Tierney Sneed, CNN (CNN) — The Kennedy Center board voted to close the center Tuesday after a tense meeting in which President Donald Trump called in to berate a Democratic congresswoman who serves on the panel, according to three sources familiar with the matter. “It was f**king crazy,” said

By Alejandra Jaramillo, CNN (CNN) — Vice President JD Vance urged House Republicans to make Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed a boogeyman if their own opponents aren’t “that crazy” and stressed the importance of leveling with voters about their economic frustrations, according to a recording of the Tuesday closed-door meeting obtained by CNN. The

By Sarah Ferris, CNN (CNN) — House Democrats are fuming after a pair of centrist members once again defied their party leaders by voting to help advance a key White House priority — the second time in recent weeks. The frustrations at those two Democrats — in particular, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who is seeking

By Jake Tapper, Dugald McConnell, CNN (CNN) — Survivors of sexual abuse would be free to speak about their experiences even if they sign a nondisclosure agreement under a new bill put forward by the House Republican leading the Jeffrey Epstein investigation in Congress. Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said the push to protect survivors’

By Jennifer Hansler, CNN (CNN) — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new policy to restrict visas from South African officials alleged to be involved in “race-based discrimination” and “uncompensated land seizures.” It is the latest action by the Trump administration to target the South African government for allegations that it is mistreating