Poli Alert Politics & Civics

A New York appeals court on Thursday threw out a $500 million civil fraud penalty against President Donald Trump and his companies, ruling that while the former president engaged in fraud by inflating his property values, the fine imposed was an “excessive” punishment. The state Appellate Division’s First Department issued …

FBI agents raided the home of former national security adviser John Bolton early Friday as part of a national security investigation into classified records, a source familiar with the matter confirmed. The raid began around 7 a.m. at Bolton’s residence in Bethesda, Maryland. An FBI official said the bureau was …

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, announced Thursday he is running for Texas attorney general, entering a high-stakes Republican primary to replace Ken Paxton. Paxton himself is running for United States Senate. Roy, a conservative firebrand and policy chair of the House Freedom Caucus, previously served as Paxton’s top deputy before …

President Donald Trump’s administration has opened a new front against Democratic officials, launching investigations into alleged mortgage fraud that critics say are politically motivated. On Wednesday, Trump demanded the resignation of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, who was appointed by President Joe Biden. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote …

The United States and the European Union struck a long-awaited tariff framework Thursday, capping duties on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and lumber imports at 15% after weeks of tense negotiations. The agreement averts the steep tariff hikes threatened by President Donald Trump, who had warned of rates as high as 250% on …

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced sweeping cuts to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, slashing its budget by more than $700 million annually and reducing the workforce by over 40%. The decision marks one of the largest downsizings in the agency’s history and comes as President Donald …

The Republican-led Texas House on Wednesday approved a new congressional map crafted to hand five additional U.S. House seats to the GOP over fierce opposition from Democrats, who cast the plan as a racially discriminatory attempt by President Donald Trump to stack the deck in next year’s midterm election. The …

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that the U.S. will paint the entire border wall along the southern border black, saying the move will make the steel structure hotter under the desert sun and harder to climb. Speaking during a visit to a stretch of the wall in New …

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a staunch Republican ally of President Donald Trump, announced Monday that he will resign next month to take a senior leadership position at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Bailey will step down Sept. 8 to serve as the FBI’s co-deputy director, sharing the role with …

Immigrants seeking legal residency or work authorization in the United States will now face scrutiny for “anti-Americanism,” U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Tuesday, a move that supporters say protects national values but critics fear could allow bias to shape life-changing decisions. The new policy directs immigration officers to weigh …

West Virginia National Guard troops began arriving in the nation’s capital Tuesday to support President Donald Trump’s escalating crackdown on crime, a defense official confirmed. The deployments come as Republican governors from six states have pledged forces to Washington, marking a significant expansion of Trump’s effort to project security in …

A group of Texas House Democrats plan to stage an overnight sit-in at the State Capitol on Tuesday, joining Rep. Nicole Collier in refusing law enforcement escorts required by Republican leaders after they broke quorum to block GOP-drawn congressional maps. Collier, a seven-term Democrat from Fort Worth, spent Monday night …

The U.S. State Department has revoked more than 6,000 student visas in recent months, citing violations of U.S. law ranging from alcohol-related offenses to alleged terrorism support, officials confirmed Monday. A State Department official, speaking on background, said two-thirds of the visa cancellations stemmed from criminal violations including assault, driving …

Advocates are warning that Medicaid cuts included in President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending law will disproportionately harm Black women and children, worsening already stark health disparities across the United States. Although Black Americans make up about 14% of the U.S. population, they represent more than 20% of Medicaid …

Republican leaders hoped that a five-week congressional recess would ease growing frustration over the Trump administration’s stalled release of files tied to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, the controversy has only deepened, leaving lawmakers of both parties bracing for a September showdown when Congress returns to Washington. Background When …