Politics

By John Fritze, CNN Aventura, Florida (CNN) — Justice Clarence Thomas lamented the heightened security that has become necessary for members of the Supreme Court in recent years, telling an audience in Florida on Thursday that it is now far more difficult for him to take part in activities outside the courthouse. The observation, which

By Haley Britzky, CNN (CNN) — This week Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth abruptly cancelled two US military deployments to Europe and ordered the removal of other personnel from the continent, according to two defense officials, in a series of moves meant to reduce the number of US troops following criticism by President Donald Trump about

By Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — The FBI is offering $200,000 for information that could lead to the arrest of a former Air Force intelligence specialist who was charged in 2019 with spying for Iran. In an announcement Thursday, the FBI said it is still trying to locate Monica Witt, who it believes defected to

By Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett, CNN (CNN) — The Senate on Thursday moved to bar senators from being paid during government shutdowns. Pushed by Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy, the measure took on renewed significance in the wake of two history-making shutdowns in recent months: A 43-day federal government shutdown in 2025 and a record-breaking

By Priscilla Alvarez, Michael Williams, CNN (CNN) — US Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks told CNN Thursday he was stepping down from his post, effective immediately, marking the latest senior immigration official to leave the Department of Homeland Security since Secretary Markwayne Mullin stepped into the top job. In a statement, Banks said he was

By Katelyn Polantz, Evan Perez, Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — It was less than two weeks after Todd Blanche took on his role of deputy attorney general in March 2025 when the Justice Department’s top ethics lawyer delivered some straightforward yet inconvenient news: His recusal from legal cases that involved President Donald Trump in his

By Kaanita Iyer, Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Washington, DC’s attorney disciplinary authorities following their recommendation to disbar Jeffrey Clark, a longtime ally of Donald Trump, over his efforts to “cast doubt” on the 2020 election results in support of the president. The lawsuit against DC’s Office

By Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration is doubling down on its fraud-fighting crusade as it seeks to show Americans that it is an attentive steward of taxpayer funds ahead of November’s midterm election. Vice President JD Vance highlighted his anti-fraud task force’s efforts in Maine on Thursday, just a day after he

By Jeff Zeleny, CNN Vanceburg, Kentucky (CNN) — Joni Pugh feels like she’s stuck in the middle of a bitter family feud between her president and her congressman. As a loyal Republican, she likes them both – and that is where her predicament begins. No Republican has infuriated President Donald Trump more than Rep. Thomas

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — Judges in Chicago, Minneapolis and Washington, DC, have tried to hold the Trump administration accountable for questionable actions inside and outside of court over the past year, but their efforts have been repeatedly stymied through the appeals process, stonewalling and other tactics. But the federal bench in Rhode Island

By Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump hosting a televised competition to choose his successor? Doesn’t sound like him, joked Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday, days after his boss polled a Rose Garden audience on whether Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio should head the 2028 presidential ticket. Unlike Trump, neither