Poli Alert Politics & Civics

Gov. Henry McMaster on Thursday called a special legislative session to redraw South Carolina’s congressional districts, intensifying a politically explosive fight over election maps just 12 days before early voting is set to begin for the state’s primary elections. The special session, scheduled to begin Friday morning, comes after weeks …

The U.S. Senate approved a resolution Thursday that will prevent lawmakers in that chamber from receiving their paychecks during any government shutdowns that begin after this year’s midterm elections. The voice vote on the measure from Louisiana Republican Sen. John Kennedy will not impact members in the House of Representatives …

A report from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research says Black women experienced disproportionately severe job losses during the first year of President Donald Trump’s second administration, with researchers blaming federal layoffs, the dismantling of diversity initiatives and broader economic instability for the decline. The analysis found that Black women …

Vice President JD Vance announced Wednesday that the Trump administration is withholding $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California and warned states nationwide they could face similar funding freezes if they do not intensify efforts to combat Medicaid fraud. Speaking at the White House in his role overseeing the administration’s …

The Senate on Wednesday narrowly rejected a renewed effort to curb President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran, marking the first major congressional test of Republican support for the war after the expiration of the War Powers Act’s 60-day limit on unauthorized military operations. The War Powers Resolution failed in …

Gov. Brian Kemp announced Wednesday that Georgia lawmakers will return to the Capitol next month for a special legislative session focused on redrawing the state’s political maps following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened key protections under the Voting Rights Act. The session, scheduled to begin June 17, …

The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Kevin Warsh as chairman of the Federal Reserve, handing President Donald Trump a significant victory after months of clashes with outgoing Fed Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates and the central bank’s independence. The Senate approved Warsh in a 54-45 vote, with Sen. John …

Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a closely watched summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as the two leaders prepare to discuss the Iran war, trade disputes, Taiwan and nuclear arms control during a pivotal moment in U.S.-China relations. Chinese officials staged a lavish welcome ceremony for Trump …

A former executive at private prison contractor GEO Group has been selected to lead the federal agency at the center of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, according to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS announced Tuesday that David Venturella will serve as acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, …

Kash Patel forcefully rejected allegations about his conduct during a contentious Senate hearing Tuesday, lashing out at Democratic lawmakers who questioned him about reports claiming excessive drinking and unexplained absences had impaired his leadership of the FBI. Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee to defend the FBI’s proposed $12.53 billion …

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Americans’ financial struggles are not influencing his negotiations with Iran, drawing immediate backlash as inflation and fuel prices continue climbing during the ongoing war. Speaking to reporters on the White House South Lawn before departing for a diplomatic trip to China, Trump was asked …

The South Carolina Senate on Tuesday rejected a push to redraw the state’s congressional districts just weeks before primary elections, rebuffing pressure from President Donald Trump and exposing divisions among Republicans over a fast-moving effort to create an all-GOP congressional delegation. Senators voted 29-17 against adding redistricting to a resolution …

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for Alabama officials to seek reinstatement of a congressional map previously ruled racially discriminatory, injecting new uncertainty into the state’s elections just days before primary voting is set to begin. The high court overturned a 2023 ruling blocking Alabama’s Republican-backed congressional …

Inflation accelerated to 3.8% in April, its highest annual rate in nearly three years, as the war involving Iran continued to disrupt global energy markets and drive up costs across the U.S. economy. New data released Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed consumer prices rose 0.6% in April …

Virginia Democrats on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block a state court ruling that invalidated a voter-approved constitutional amendment aimed at creating four additional competitive U.S. House districts favorable to Democrats. The emergency appeal follows a 4-3 decision Friday by the Supreme Court of Virginia striking down the …