Poli Alert Politics & Civics

A bipartisan coalition of U.S. senators is intensifying efforts to pass a sweeping Russia sanctions bill, with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham stating that the Senate will begin advancing the legislation this week following talks in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The proposed legislation — the “Sanctioning Russia Act of …

The White House on Monday unveiled a new official portrait of former President Donald Trump, replacing the image that had been in circulation since just before his 2017 inauguration. The updated portrait, taken by White House chief photographer Daniel Torok, presents Trump in a more dramatic light — literally and …

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear two key challenges to state-level gun control laws, allowing Maryland’s ban on assault weapons and Rhode Island’s restriction on high-capacity magazines to remain in place — at least for now. By turning away the appeals, the high court avoided — temporarily …

A 45-year-old man is facing potential first-degree murder and terrorism charges after he allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower to attack demonstrators advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, Boulder County authorities said early Monday. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman of El Paso County, was booked late Sunday …

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended Republican-backed Medicaid cuts and new work requirements in an appearance on Meet the Press Sunday, arguing that no one would lose their coverage “unless they choose to do so.” His comments come amid mounting backlash over the House-passed budget bill known as the “One Big …

Two top Democratic lawmakers are calling on the Trump administration to detail exactly how it’s spending money that Congress approved earlier this year for government operations. House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Patty Murray of Washington released a two-page letter Wednesday demanding …

Tech billionaire Elon Musk sharply denied allegations of frequent ketamine use on Friday, pushing back against a New York Times report as he stood beside President Donald Trump during an Oval Office event marking the conclusion of his formal role in the administration. Musk, who recently wrapped up his tenure …

A federal judge on Friday halted the Trump administration’s effort to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 5,000 Venezuelans, delivering a significant win for immigrant advocates and TPS holders in the United States. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward E. Chen ensures that Venezuelans who received extensions during …

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday abruptly dismissed all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the influential federal panel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine recommendations for the U.S. public. Kennedy announced the move in …

At a sometimes raucous town hall meeting Friday morning, U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst faced vocal opposition to her support for spending cuts to programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. Like many other Republican lawmakers holding events with constituents throughout the country, Ernst faced a crowd at the Aplington-Parkersburg High School …

In a fiery speech to steelworkers at U.S. Steel’s Irvin Works plant on Friday, President Donald Trump announced a doubling of tariffs on steel imports to 50%, up from the current 25%, as part of his broader push to fortify American manufacturing and revive the domestic steel industry. “We’re going …

Former President Donald Trump on Friday accused China of violating a recently agreed-upon trade agreement, just weeks after the two countries announced a temporary easing of tariffs on each other’s imports. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that Beijing had “totally violated” the agreement, though he …

A signature federal report spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is under fire after an investigation revealed it contains multiple references to nonexistent or misrepresented scientific studies. The 72-page “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) report, intended to guide a sweeping new child health initiative, has …

President Donald Trump’s global tariffs can remain in place while the courts examine whether the sweeping import taxes that have roiled worldwide trade reach beyond his presidential authority. The U.S. Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit delivered the order swiftly Thursday, handing Trump a win after a lower trade court blocked …

The U.S. government will begin revoking visas for some Chinese international students, including those studying in sensitive academic disciplines, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s effort to restrict Chinese influence in American higher education. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. State …