Politics

A collection of 1635 posts

Politics

Senate Advances Major Bipartisan Housing Bill Despite Roadblocks

The Senate is moving toward passing what supporters call the most significant housing legislation in a generation, seizing a rare bipartisan deal in an otherwise divided Congress. The package, which aims to make it easier to build and finance new housing while shoring up federal assistance programs, has quietly advanced

Politics

Woman Found Innocent After 22 Years in Prison Will Not Be Deported

Carmen Mejia, 54, who spent more than 22 years behind bars after a conviction in the 2003 scalding death of a 10-month-old in Austin, will be allowed to remain in the United States, federal officials said. Judge P. David Wahlberg of Travis County dismissed the charges on Monday and formally

Politics

How Trump and advisers miscalculated Iran’s response

In the days before the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, President Trump and some advisers downplayed risks to energy markets. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told an interviewer he was not worried that a new round of fighting would disrupt oil supplies, saying prices had only “blipped up” after last

Politics

Widow Testifies in Miami Trial Over Haiti President’s Killing

Martine Moïse was the first witness called in the Miami trial of the people accused of plotting the murder of her husband, Jovenel Moïse, in 2021. She choked back tears as she began testifying in Federal District Court, breaking down after saying, "Please forgive me," and adding, "

Politics

Prosecutors say greed and power drove plot to kill Haiti’s president

Federal prosecutors told jurors the 2021 assassination of Haiti’s last elected president, Jovenel Moïse, was driven by greed, arrogance and a quest for power. Opening statements in Miami began for Arcangel Pretel Ortíz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages, who are accused of conspiring in south Florida to

Politics

Wong: Iranian players spoke to officials alone amid asylum reports

The government has not confirmed reports that two more members of the Iranian women’s football team have sought asylum. Foreign minister Penny Wong said she would leave updates to home affairs minister Tony Burke, who will hold a press conference later, and added the women were offered the chance

Politics

Herzog defends war with Iran, says targeted oil sites were military assets

Israeli president Isaac Herzog defended the war with Iran in a sit-down interview with BILD, saying the conflict that began with Hamas' October 7 assault is inseparable from Iran's broader strategy. "It's a connected war. It started October 7th, and we're reaching

Politics

Trump Offers Conflicting Timelines for the Iran War

Since the United States and Israel began strikes on Iran, President Trump has offered shifting answers about how long the campaign will last. In an interview soon after the initial strikes he said it could last “four to five weeks” and that it “won’t be difficult,” yet he also

Politics

Trump says U.S. ‘energy dominance’ eases risks, but Iran war could test it

The Trump administration has argued that record U.S. oil and gas production gives it more leeway to act in the Middle East, with less to fear from energy price shocks. The ongoing war in Iran, however, could put that premise to the test. This weekend’s strikes and Iran’

Politics

Labor MPs alarmed by government’s quick endorsement of US–Israel strikes on Iran

Several Labor MPs privately expressed alarm at the Albanese government’s immediate endorsement of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Those concerns were aired at a meeting of Labor’s left faction after the first February strikes, which triggered a conflict that has since spread across the region. The caucus

Politics

What's next for 7 million borrowers losing the SAVE repayment plan

A series of court rulings has put the SAVE repayment plan on track to end. The 8th Circuit ordered a district court to approve President Donald Trump's proposed settlement with Missouri to eliminate SAVE ahead of its 2028 phaseout. Once the settlement is approved, the Department of Education

Politics

Fears for women’s rights in Chile as anti-abortion president set to take office

Women’s rights activists in Chile are bracing as José Antonio Kast, described as the most conservative president since the Pinochet dictatorship, prepares to take office. A 60-year-old ultra Catholic whose father was a member of the Nazi party, Kast has long opposed progressive moves on family and reproductive rights:

Politics

Anthropic Sues Trump Admin to Undo ‘Supply Chain Risk’ Label

Anthropic sued multiple government agencies and officials in a California federal court on Monday, asking the court to reverse the Department of Defenses decision to label the company a "supply chain risk" and to overturn President Donald Trumps directive that federal employees stop using Claude. The

Politics

TSA lines stretch for hours at US airports amid partial government shutdown

Several US airports experienced hourslong TSA lines and delays on Sunday and Monday as spring break travel peaked and the Transportation Security Administration faced staffing shortages amid a partial government shutdown. Nearly 2.8 million passengers passed through TSA checkpoints on Sunday, making it the agency's busiest day

Politics

Master Chief voice actor calls on White House to remove his voice

Steve Downes, the voice actor for Halo's Master Chief, has publicly called on the White House to remove his voice from a video on X titled "JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY." The 42-second clip was uploaded to the White House X account on March 6 and is

Politics

8th Circuit orders approval of settlement to end SAVE plan

The 8th Circuit directed a district court to approve President Donald Trump's proposed settlement to eliminate the SAVE student-loan repayment plan. The move comes just days after a lower court declined to approve the settlement. The Education Department said enrolled borrowers will receive clear guidance on next steps.

Politics

TSA delays hit a few airports while most others operate normally

Spring break travel and a partial government shutdown have produced multi-hour security lines at a handful of airports, while most remain relatively unaffected. Houston Hobby and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International saw the longest waits, with general queues reported as long as three hours and footage showing lines backed up

Politics

Von der Leyen calls for more realistic, interest-driven EU foreign policy

Europe can "no longer be a custodian for the old-world order" and needs "a more realistic and interest-driven foreign policy," European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told EU ambassadors. She said the union "will always defend and uphold the rules-based system" but could

Politics

Richest super balances to be taxed at higher rates after Greens agree

The Greens have agreed to allow Labor’s plan to raise taxes on the largest superannuation balances to pass the Senate, ending a three-year political fight over concessions for wealthier retirees. The decision guarantees Labor the numbers to legislate the changes this week. Under the changes, the concessional tax rate

Politics

Pauline Hanson used taxpayer-funded solar rebate despite opposing renewables subsidies

Pauline Hanson accessed a taxpayer-funded rebate to install solar power on her Queensland home, despite calling for an end to public subsidies for renewable energy projects. Information released by the Clean Energy Regulator shows Hanson was among three conservative federal MPs to use the small-scale renewable energy scheme, alongside Nationals

Politics

EU environment chief urges rewilding borders to deter invasions

Jessika Roswall, the EU commissioner for the environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy, urged countries to rewild land borders and build other geographical defences to deter invasion. "Investing in nature and using nature as a natural border control is necessary, and actually increases biodiversity. It’s a

Politics

Romania lets councils ban betting shops and slot machines

Romania’s government has overhauled gambling rules with an emergency decree that allows municipalities to restrict or ban betting shops and slot machine halls. Licensed operators must now obtain both a national permit and local authorisation to open a venue, giving mayors and councils a decisive veto. More than 200

Politics

Rory Amon cleared on eight charges; jury deadlocks on others

A jury in the New South Wales Supreme Court found former state Liberal MP Rory Amon not guilty of four counts of child rape, two counts of attempted child rape and two counts of indecent assault of a child after three days of deliberations. Jurors could not reach verdicts on

Politics

Twelve Apostles visitors to be charged entry fee

Tourists will soon have to pay an entry fee to see the Twelve Apostles on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, the environment minister Steve Dimopoulos announced. The charge will apply to the $126m Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, due to open at the end of 2026, and Dimopoulos said “every

Politics

British Columbia to keep daylight saving time permanently

Since 1918, the clocks in Creston, a town in eastern British Columbia, ran an hour ahead of nearby communities for half the year. For the other six months, they slipped back into sync because its neighbours changed back and forth from daylight saving time. When residents in most parts of