Politics

By Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell, CNN (CNN) — Donald Trump was sentenced without penalty in the New York hush money case Friday after a symbolic – and historic and unprecedented – hearing following the first felony conviction of a former and soon-to-be sitting president. Judge Juan Merchan spoke to Trump for

By Jennifer Hansler and Matt Egan, CNN (CNN) — The Biden administration on Friday targeted Russia’s energy sector, including its oil industry, with some of its harshest sanctions to date meant to cut off funding for Moscow’s war against Ukraine. The sweeping moves, taken just over a week before President Joe Biden leaves office, come

By Sean Lyngaas, CNN (CNN) — Chinese hackers breached the US government office that reviews foreign investments for national security risks, three US officials familiar with the matter told CNN. The theft, which has not previously been reported, underscores Beijing’s keen interest in spying on a US government office that has broad powers to block

CNN By Alexandra Banner, CNN (CNN) — Several iconic and beloved landmarks in Los Angeles have fallen victim to wildfires this week. Luckily, the Getty Villa museum in the Pacific Palisades narrowly escaped destruction, with fire prevention systems saving its priceless collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities. Here’s what else you need to know

By Tierney Sneed and Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — Special counsel Jack Smith’s report on his election subversion and January 6, 2021, investigation of Donald Trump can be made public, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday, while leaving in place a lower judge’s three-day hold that could give Trump time to ask the Supreme Court

By CNN staff (CNN) — The US Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that President-elect Donald Trump can be sentenced Friday in his New York hush money case. The order states: The application for stay presented to Justice Sotomayor and by her referred to the Court is denied for, inter alia, the following reasons. First, the

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump can be sentenced Friday in his New York hush money case, the Supreme Court said in a 5-4 ruling. The high court on Thursday rejected Trump’s emergency request to delay the proceeding, setting the stage for him to be sentenced just days before he is inaugurated

By Oren Liebermann and Natasha Bertrand, CNN (CNN) — NATO has taken over air defenses in Poland from the US just days before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, according to a NATO spokesman, with questions looming about the incoming administration’s approach to the alliance and to Ukraine. NATO assumed command and control from the

By Kit Maher, Steve Contorno and Aaron Pellish, CNN (CNN) — JD Vance will resign his Senate seat effective Thursday at midnight, a Vance spokesperson told CNN, days ahead of assuming the vice presidency. The first-term senator has to resign from his seat before he and President-elect Donald Trump are sworn into office on January

By Clare Foran, Lauren Fox and Ted Barrett, CNN Washington (CNN) — A significant number of Senate Democrats voted with Republicans on Thursday to advance a GOP-led bill to require the detention of undocumented migrants charged with certain crimes – a key step that puts the legislation on the verge of passage. The bill steadily

By John Fritze and Devan Cole, CNN Washington (CNN) — The only branch of the federal government without a social media presence will weigh the fate of one of the nation’s most popular video-sharing apps on Friday, delving into a viral fight over whether TikTok’s ties to China threaten national security. The Supreme Court will

By Clare Foran and Haley Talbot, CNN (CNN) — The House passed a bill on Thursday to sanction International Criminal Court officials – in response to the court issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The ICC’s targeting of Netanyahu has sparked backlash from Republicans and Democrats in Congress. The GOP-led Senate

By Associated Press (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has raised more than $170 million for his upcoming inauguration, a record amount as tech executives and big donors have eagerly written large checks to help bankroll the ceremony. The private donations collected thus far were confirmed by a person with firsthand knowledge of the fundraising who

By Daniel Dale, CNN Washington (CNN) — Another natural disaster, another series of false claims from President-elect Donald Trump. For years, Trump has littered his statements on California wildfires and other disasters with inaccurate assertions. He did it again on Wednesday as wildfires raged in Los Angeles County. Here is a fact check. FEMA funding

By Nicki Brown, Jeremy Herb, Kara Scannell, Lauren del Valle and John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — New York’s highest court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s bid to postpone his sentencing in the hush money case, leaving the US Supreme Court as his last chance to delay Friday’s scheduled hearing. Trump appealed to both the

By Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — Elon Musk has walked back his previous claim that he could cut at least $2 trillion from the federal budget, saying Wednesday that half that amount would be “an epic outcome.” Musk, who has been tasked by President-elect Donald Trump to co-lead the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or

By Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — Attorney General Merrick Garland told Congress he plans to make special counsel Jack Smith’s report on the cases against Donald Trump available to committee leaders and, ultimately, the public, once courts allow, marking the formal end of Smith’s office. Garland noted he believes even the part of the report

By Alex Marquardt, CNN (CNN) — The Biden administration has announced the final tranche of military aid it will send to Ukraine, amounting to about $500 million. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was expected to detail the figure at the last meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The