Poli Alert Politics & Civics

President Donald Trump defended his handling of the Iran conflict, the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and his administration’s controversial “anti-weaponization” fund during a wide-ranging interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press.” But several of the president’s statements conflicted with intelligence assessments, government reports and publicly available evidence. …

Democrat Xavier Becerra advanced to California’s general election for governor Friday, securing one of two spots in the November contest to succeed term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. Becerra, a former state attorney general and U.S. health secretary, campaigned on his decades of public service experience, arguing he was the most qualified …

The U.S. Senate rejected the SAVE America Act this week, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump’s efforts to impose voting restrictions ahead of the November midterm elections. Senators voted 48-50 against advancing an amendment that would have incorporated Trump’s top legislative priority into an immigration-focused spending bill. The vote offered the …

President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week removing longstanding civil service protections from roughly 8,000 federal workers, a move that gives agencies greater authority to dismiss workers without the traditional appeals process. The order affects senior career officials across the federal government, most of whom serve in high-level …

The Kennedy Center has begun removing references to President Donald Trump from official materials after a federal judge ruled that the institution’s board lacked the authority to add his name to the landmark performing arts venue. In guidance issued Thursday, the center’s legal office instructed staff to eliminate references to …

Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s prolonged absence from Washington is drawing increasing attention as the New Jersey Republican remains out of public view more than three months after last casting a vote in Congress. Kean, who represents one of the nation’s most competitive House districts, has continued to maintain an active …

The U.S. economy added 172,000 jobs in May, far exceeding economists’ expectations and signaling continued strength in the labor market despite rising inflation and broader economic uncertainty. Economists surveyed by FactSet had forecast payroll growth of about 105,000 jobs for the month. The Labor Department also revised hiring figures upward …

The Senate approved a $70 billion immigration funding package early Friday morning after Republicans overcame weeks of delays and internal divisions over a controversial Trump administration settlement fund that nearly derailed the legislation. The bill passed 52-47 shortly before 5 a.m. and would provide funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement …

U.S. Senate Republicans fended off an attempt Thursday to block the Department of Justice from using an “anti-weaponization” fund to pay people who feel they were wrongly prosecuted, as well as another proposal that sought to require congressional authorization for a new White House ballroom. Debate on amendments and motions, …

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he intends to nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Justice Department, elevating one of his closest allies to the nation’s top law enforcement position. Speaking at a White House event, Trump said he would formally move forward with Blanche’s nomination …

New York Democrats are taking steps to regain greater control over congressional redistricting, advancing a constitutional amendment that could reshape the state’s political map ahead of the 2028 elections. The Democratic-controlled state legislature on Wednesday approved the first passage of a proposed amendment that would significantly expand lawmakers’ authority over …

The U.S. House passed a resolution Wednesday to force President Donald Trump to withdraw from the war with Iran and require congressional approval for further military action in the country. The 215-208 vote, in which four Republicans voted with all Democrats to adopt the resolution, is the strongest rebuke to …

The White House Correspondents’ Association announced Tuesday that it has rescheduled its annual dinner for July 24 after the original event was interrupted by a shooting that prompted the evacuation of President Donald Trump, senior administration officials and journalists. WHCA President Weijia Jiang said the new event will be a …

A former Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendant who was later pardoned by President Donald Trump has been appointed to a Pentagon office responsible for overseeing some of the military’s most sensitive operations, according to multiple reports. Elias Irizarry, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from his participation in …

California and Iowa voters delivered a series of closely watched primary results Tuesday that could shape the fight for control of Congress and key statewide offices in the 2026 midterm elections. While California’s slow vote-counting process left several contests unresolved, early returns provided a clearer picture of the state’s gubernatorial …