Poli Alert Politics & Civics

In a historic move, President Joe Biden signed a bill on Tuesday officially designating the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) as the national bird of the United States. Though prominently featured on the Great Seal of the United States since 1782, the bald eagle had never been formally recognized in U.S. …

President-elect Donald Trump has once again suggested that the United States pursue ownership of Greenland, reigniting a diplomatic controversy over the self-governing territory. In a statement on Sunday announcing his pick for U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Trump described U.S. control of Greenland as an “absolute necessity” for national security and …

President Joe Biden on Monday vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have added 66 federal district court judgeships, citing unresolved concerns about judicial allocation, caseload demands, and timing. The decision drew sharp criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups, with some calling it a missed opportunity to address delays in the …

The House Ethics Committee released a damning report on Monday detailing allegations against former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, citing substantial evidence of sexual misconduct, drug use, misuse of office, and obstruction. Gaetz, who denies all allegations, attempted to block the report’s release through a federal lawsuit earlier the …

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has filed a lawsuit against America’s three largest banks—JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America—alleging widespread failures to protect customers from fraud on Zelle, the popular peer-to-peer payment platform they co-own. The suit, which also names Zelle’s operator Early Warning Services LLC, claims …

A newly released report by the House Ethics Committee accuses former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) of serious misconduct, including paying for sex, using illegal drugs, and violating multiple House rules. The 37-page report, obtained by CBS News, outlines allegations of statutory rape, illicit drug use, and abuse of power during …

President Joe Biden announced Monday the commutation of sentences for 37 federal death row inmates, converting their punishments to life imprisonment without parole. The move comes weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, a staunch advocate for expanding the use of capital punishment, takes office. Biden’s decision spares individuals convicted of heinous …

The U.S. Senate approved a broadly bipartisan bill early Saturday that would increase Social Security benefits for millions of Americans with pensions by ending two of the program’s policies in place for decades — the windfall elimination provision and government pension offset. The legislation, which would cost more than $195 …

President Joe Biden achieved a historic milestone on Friday as the Senate confirmed his 235th federal judge, surpassing former President Donald Trump’s total of 234 judicial confirmations. The Biden administration’s emphasis on professional and demographic diversity sets his selections apart, solidifying a key aspect of his legacy. “Judges shape our …

In a late-night vote, the Senate passed a funding bill early Saturday morning to keep the government open for three more months, narrowly avoiding a shutdown during the holiday season. The bill now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk, where he is expected to sign it promptly. The Senate approved …

The Biden-Harris Administration announced today the approval of $4.28 billion in additional student loan forgiveness for 54,900 public service workers. This latest action increases the Administration’s total student debt relief to nearly $180 billion for approximately five million Americans. The relief stems from extensive reforms made to the Public Service …

A Kansas City, Missouri, man who pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and expects a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump will be allowed to attend Trump’s inauguration, a federal judge ordered Thursday. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who presided over Trump’s election subversion case in …

House Republicans failed Thursday evening to fast-track a funding bill, increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown as the Friday night deadline looms. The measure, which required a two-thirds majority for passage, was defeated 174-235, with dozens of GOP lawmakers voting against it. Only two Democrats supported the bill. The …

Georgia’s Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis cannot continue prosecuting the 2020 presidential election interference case against Republican President-elect Trump and 14 of his allies. The 2-1 majority panel ruling prevents Willis and her office from moving forward in a historic case that’s slogged …

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday called for Congress to abolish the debt ceiling, labeling it a “psychological” barrier and an unnecessary risk to the economy. Trump’s remarks came during a phone interview with NBC News, a day after he criticized a bipartisan short-term government funding deal. “Getting rid of the …