August recess can’t hide tensions ahead for Congress on spending and Trump nominations
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers have left Washington for the annual August recess, but a few weeks of relative quiet on the U.S. Capitol grounds can’t mask the partisan…
Texas governor threatens to remove Democrats who left state over Trump-backed redistricting
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will begin trying to remove Democratic lawmakers from office Monday if they don’t return after dozens of them…
Texas Democrats leave state to block vote on gerrymandered map
Democrats in the Texas House left the state Sunday in a last-resort bid to block new congressional maps sought by President Trump that would give…
A dozen Democrats sue ICE for preventing detention center oversight visits
WASHINGTON — A dozen Democratic House members — including four from California — sued the Trump administration Wednesday after lawmakers were repeatedly denied access to immigrant detention…
The House is looking into the Epstein investigation. Here’s what could happen next
WASHINGTON — A key House committee is looking into the investigation of the late Jeffrey Epstein for sex trafficking crimes, working to subpoena President Trump’s Department of…
Newsom redistricting threat fits a pattern of ignoring voters
In 2010, California voters drove the foxes from the henhouse, seeing to it that lawmakers in Washington and Sacramento would no longer have the power…
With gavel in hand, Trump chisels away at the power of a compliant Congress
WASHINGTON — “Mr. President, this is the gavel used to enact the ‘big, beautiful bill,’” House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a White House signing ceremony on…
Hegseth tells lawmakers about plan to detain immigrants at military bases
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says bases in Indiana and New Jersey can house detained immigrants without affecting military readiness — a step toward potentially detaining…
Urban League declares a ‘state of emergency’ for civil rights in the U.S. in response to Trump
WASHINGTON — One of the nation’s oldest civil rights organizations on Thursday declared a “state of emergency” for antidiscrimination policies, personal freedoms and Black economic advancement in…
Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman, shot 9 times by a man posing as an officer, leaves the hospital
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman, who was shot nine times by a gunman posing as a police officer who authorities say went on to kill…
GOP holdouts bristle at Trump pressure over megabill
WASHINGTON — Confident that passage of President Trump’s signature legislation was all but assured, West Wing aides summoned holdouts in the House Republican caucus Wednesday to deliver…
Sacramento Democrats show their arrogance hazing GOP lawmaker
There are plenty of reasons to dislike Carl DeMaio, if you so choose.The first-term San Diego assembly member is MAGA to his marrow, bringing Donald…
Democrats weigh how to conduct oversight amid Trump officials’ threats, arrests
WASHINGTON — Just hours after she pleaded not guilty to federal charges brought by the Trump administration, Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey was surrounded by dozens…
Biden, Harris, Walz attend funeral of slain Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman
MINNEAPOLIS — Democratic former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman was honored for her legislative accomplishments and her humanity during a funeral Saturday where former President Biden and…
California closes $12-billion deficit by cutting back immigrants’ access to healthcare
SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on Friday a budget that pares back a number of progressive priorities, including a landmark healthcare expansion for low-income adult…
Lawmakers are right to try to bar ICE agents from hiding their identities
The images are jarring. Across the country, federal law enforcement officers in plain clothes and wearing ski masks and balaclavas are seizing and detaining protesters,…
Who is Zohran Mamdani? State lawmaker seeks to become NYC’s first Muslim and Indian American mayor
NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani was a state lawmaker unknown even to most New York City residents when he announced his run for mayor back in October.On…
GOP plan to sell more than 3,200 square miles of federal lands is found to violate Senate rules
WASHINGTON — A plan to sell more than 3,200 square miles of federal lands has been ruled out of Republicans’ big tax and spending cut bill after…
Rep. Judy Chu wants to go inside immigration detention facilities. ICE wants to stop her
Rep. Judy Chu first went inside the immigrant detention center in Adelanto in 2014, and conditions were bad. When she made it back inside the…
ICE issued new rules for Congress members visiting detention centers. Experts say they’re illegal
WASHINGTON — The day after immigration raids began in Los Angeles, Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona) and three other members of Congress were denied entry to the immigrant…