Politics

By Kevin Liptak, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he authorized the CIA to operate inside Venezuela to clamp down on illegal flows of migrants and drugs from the South American nation, but stopped short of saying they would have authority to remove President Nicolas Maduro. The remarks are Trump’s most expansive comments

CNN By Alexandra Banner, CNN During a CNN town hall on Wednesday, progressive lawmakers Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced tough questions about the government shutdown and other pressing national issues. If you missed it, these are the key takeaways. Here’s what else you need to know to get up to speed and

By Gloria Pazmino, CNN (CNN) — Zohran Mamdani used a Fox News interview on Wednesday to speak directly to President Donald Trump, who has often referred to the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor as a “communist” and questioned his experience. Ahead of Thursday’s first general election debate, Mamdani, a democratic socialist who is

By Donald Judd, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him earlier Wednesday that he would halt Russian oil imports. “He’s a friend of mine, we have a great relationship … we have a great relationship – no, we were not happy

By Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — US Capitol Police are investigating “a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol” found in GOP Rep. Dave Taylor’s office, the congressman said in a statement. The congressman’s office has not confirmed to CNN what the symbol was, but Politico reported that USCP was called after an American flag altered to

By John Fritze, Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority signaled deep skepticism Wednesday over the creation of a second majority Black district in Louisiana and appeared open to at least weakening the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 in a way that could limit minority representation in Congress. On one level,

By Devan Cole, Tami Luhby, CNN (CNN) — A federal judge in San Francisco has ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt its efforts to lay off roughly 4,100 federal workers during the government shutdown, saying the move is unlawful. US District Judge Susan Illston said during a hearing Wednesday that she was granting a

By Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump is involved in planning for a major new monument in Washington, DC: a triumphal arch to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary, marking his latest effort to impose his style and tastes on the nation’s capital. The Trump administration, said sources familiar with the matter who were

By Zachary Cohen, CNN (CNN) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed US military leaders to verify that every member of the department watched the speech he delivered at an unusual gathering of senior officers in Quantico, Virginia, last month and reviews the policy changes he announced in the wake of that event, according to

By Natasha Bertrand, Zachary Cohen, CNN (CNN) — At least one US military strike in the Caribbean over the last two months targeted Colombian nationals on a boat that had left from Colombia, according to two people briefed by the Pentagon about the strikes. The deliberate targeting of Colombians, which has not been previously reported,

By Arit John, David Wright, CNN (CNN) — Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s name isn’t on the ballot this year, but California’s upcoming special election will likely hinge on how voters view him. Newsom has made himself the face of California Democrats’ efforts to redraw their congressional maps in response to Texas Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting, investing

Emily R. Condon (CNN) — California governor candidate Katie Porter responded to two viral videos of her abruptly ending an interview with a journalist and another of her cursing at a staffer, saying that she takes responsibility and has apologized to the staffer. “When I look at those videos, I want people to know that

By Arlette Saenz, CNN (CNN) — Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat and South Texas native, is launching a run for Texas governor, entering a crowded Democratic primary to challenge Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in 2026. “Our fight right now is against the billionaires and the corporations who are driving up prices, closing our

By Edward-Isaac Dovere, CNN (CNN) — Invoking the specter of Joe Biden and decrying Democrats whom he says have “clung to the status quo, insisted on using the same old playbook – and isn’t fighting hard enough,” Rep. Seth Moulton launched a primary challenge on Wednesday against Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey. Moulton, a 46-year-old six-term

By Natasha Bertrand, CNN (CNN) — For weeks earlier this year, the Army’s top uniformed lawyer had been raising legal concerns inside the Pentagon about some of the new policies being rolled out dictating how the military can be used and staffed. In late January, Lt. Gen. Joe Berger, who had taken the top posting

By Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — In March, six days after Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and nine of his colleagues voted with Republicans to keep the government open, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez vented their frustrations in Las Vegas before thousands of people. “This isn’t just about Republicans. We need

CNN By Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, CNN Washington (CNN) — As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused Republicans of refusing to work to end the government shutdown and referred to House Speaker Mike Johnson as focusing on “inane and silly” things, the White House’s rapid response account was calling her and fellow progressive Bernie Sanders “not serious people.”