Politics

By Oren Liebermann and Lauren Fox, CNN (CNN) — A Republican senator has blocked the promotion of a general who oversaw the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to a source familiar with the matter, as President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to go after the officials involved in the withdrawal. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma blocked

CNN Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNN (CNN) — Special counsel Jack Smith set out to prove in the United States of America v. Donald J. Trump that even presidents are not above the law. Instead, his failed prosecutions ended up making Trump even more powerful as the ebullient president-elect prepares to return to office on

By Sara Murray, Kristen Holmes and Kate Sullivan, CNN (CNN) — Attorneys for Donald Trump conducted an internal investigation into allegations that one of his top aides, Boris Epshteyn, has sought to gain financially from his influence with Trump and others in the president-elect’s orbit, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The internal

By Betsy Klein, CNN Washington (CNN) — President Joe Biden tapped into his presidential pardon power in the waning days of his tenure Monday, granting clemency to a pair of lucky turkeys and kicking off the holiday season. “Based on their temperament and commitment to being productive members of society, I hereby pardon Peach and

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a challenge from major tobacco companies to the Food and Drug Administration’s requirement that they place graphic health warnings on cigarette packages and in advertisements. The FDA issued a rule in 2020 that requires health warnings on cigarette packages and in advertisements,

By Tierney Sneed, CNN (CNN) — Despite his campaign promises to leave the issue to the states, President-elect Donald Trump’s administration will shape the national landscape around abortion and reproductive health. Trump leaned into the abortion issue in the 2016 campaign and made good on his promises to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn

CNN By Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are determined to force federal employees to return to the office in hopes that some will opt to quit instead. That effort is going to affect some agencies — and workers — much more than others. How much time federal staffers spend telecommuting

By Katie Lobosco, CNN Washington (CNN) — With much of President Joe Biden’s student loan agenda tied up in court, the incoming Trump administration could have a significant impact on millions of borrowers. President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t made specific promises on student loans or other forms of college financial aid, but delivering student loan forgiveness

CNN By Alexandra Banner, CNN (CNN) — President Joe Biden is set to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys at the White House today, an interesting tradition that dates back to President John F. Kennedy in 1963. This year’s birds — “Peach” and “Blossom” — will be spared a fowl fate and live out their days at

By Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are determined to force federal employees to return to the office in hopes that some will opt to quit instead. That effort is going to affect some agencies — and workers — much more than others. How much time federal staffers spend telecommuting differs

By Lauren Fox and Clare Foran, CNN (CNN) — Republicans avoided a confirmation firestorm when former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration as attorney general, but lawmakers on Capitol Hill are already bracing for how they’ll navigate the next slew of unorthodox Donald Trump picks — and they have warned the president-elect’s choice to lead

By Manu Raju and Clare Foran, CNN (CNN) — For more on CNN’s interview with Sherrod Brown, watch CNN’s “Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju” this Sunday at 8 a.m. ET and 11 a.m ET. Sherrod Brown can boil down the loss of his Senate seat to this: Donald Trump and withering GOP attacks. And

By Alayna Treene, Kaitlan Collins, Kristen Holmes, Shania Shelton and Kate Sullivan, CNN (CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday announced one of his former policy advisers, Brooke Rollins, as his pick for secretary of the Department of Agriculture. “Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of

CNN By Hannah Rabinowitz and Evan Perez, CNN (CNN) — With his new pick for attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump has found not only a powerhouse media strategist and loyal ally, but a tenacious litigator known for her battles in court for conservative causes. And while little about Trump is conventional, Pam Bondi is a

By Hannah Rabinowitz and Evan Perez, CNN (CNN) — With his new pick for attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump has found not only a powerhouse media strategist and loyal ally, but a tenacious litigator known for her battles in court for conservative causes. And while little about Trump is conventional, Pam Bondi is a far

By Sean Lyngaas, CNN (CNN) — Top telecom executives met with US national security officials at the White House on Friday as concerns mount over a long-running Chinese cyber-espionage campaign that has targeted some of the most senior US political figures in the country. The hackers burrowed deep into some major US telecom providers to

By Steve Contorno and Kristen Holmes, CNN (CNN) — A common thread weaves through many of Donald Trump’s picks for his incoming administration, a quality the president-elect values as highly as loyalty and perhaps even more than conventional qualifications: a flair for television. He has plucked two Fox News stars from their airwaves – Sean

By Kaanita Iyer, Katherine Dillinger and Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN (CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump has announced his picks for critical remaining public health roles in his incoming administration. Trump named Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as US surgeon general; Dr. Marty Makary as US Food and Drug Administration commissioner; Dr. Dave Weldon, a former congressman from Florida,

By Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, CNN (CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named former NFL player and White House official Scott Turner to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development. If confirmed by the Senate, Turner would lead an agency that enforces fair housing laws, administers mortgage insurance to prospective homeowners and gives rental