Political developments with market and economic implications.
Coverage of political events, elections, legislation, and regulatory changes that influence markets and economic policy. Focuses on political risk, fiscal decisions, and policy uncertainty relevant to investors.
909 total articles
House Republican leader Mike Johnson and senior U.S. intelligence officials are advocating for a rapid, uncomplicated reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the National Security Agency to collect foreign intelligence from data traversing U.S. digital infrastructure. The effort faces unresolved po…
A U.S. Senate committee voted to forward Senator Markwayne Mullin's nomination for Homeland Security secretary to the full Senate, even as the committee's Republican chairman criticized Mullin's past statements and announced his opposition. The nomination follows the abrupt firing of Kristi Noem and comes amid controversy over federal immigration e…
Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton emerged victorious in the Democratic primary to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, defeating 10 rivals and positioning herself for a likely November win in the heavily Democratic state. Stratton ran on an explicitly progressive platform, including a push for a $25 federal minimum wage and calls …
Wolfe Research presented three scenarios for how the conflict in Iran could unfold, ranging from a swift dominance by U.S. forces to a prolonged ground campaign. Analyst Tobin Marcus characterizes the situation as highly uncertain but places the highest probability on a base case that resembles the more optimistic path - a conflict stretching into …
The Senate Intelligence Committee will hold its annual worldwide threats hearing Wednesday, offering senators a public forum to question senior aides to President Donald Trump about the conflict with Iran that began on February 28. Lawmakers from both parties have demanded greater transparency after weeks of classified briefings and growing concern…
Senate Republicans are using debate over the SAVE America Act to frame Democrats as opponents of voter-ID measures and to reinforce claims of widespread illegal voting, despite legal prohibitions and evidence that non-citizen voting in federal elections is extremely rare. Democrats say the bill targets a non-existent problem and risks disenfranchis…
The U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran has become a flashpoint in several Democratic primaries, with progressive challengers accusing more moderate or establishment-backed rivals of accepting money from defense contractors and pro-Israel groups. These disputes are playing out in contests across Michigan, Colorado, Illinois, Maine and North Carol…
The Republican-led U.S. Senate confirmed Anna St. John to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana by a 51-45 vote. St. John, president and general counsel of the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute and a longtime class-action critic, faced opposition from Democrats and former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson for her prior testimony…
The U.S. House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena for former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to provide a sworn, closed-door deposition on April 14 as part of its investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein. The panel alleges the Justice Department may have withheld material in its release of millions of Epstein-related documents. Bondi a…
President Donald Trump is urging Congress to enact the SAVE America Act, a slate of election-related changes that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration, mandate physical photo identification at the polls, give the Department of Homeland Security access to state voter rolls, and add other provisions inclu…
Illinois voters will select nominees on Tuesday in a series of Democratic and Republican primaries for U.S. House seats that are expected to determine representation in Congress for the next two years. Multiple open seats in reliably Democratic districts have produced crowded fields, substantial fundraising by individual candidates and millions of …
Illinois voters face a consequential Democratic primary that will measure the influence of progressive activists as a new generation of lawmakers seeks to replace several long-serving incumbents. The open U.S. Senate contest, prompted by the retirement of Sen. Dick Durbin, and multiple House primaries created by other retirements have produced comp…
The SAVE America Act, championed by former President Donald Trump and advanced to the Senate floor by Republican leaders, would require most Americans to present proof of citizenship such as a U.S. passport or birth certificate to register to vote. While pitched as a fix to alleged non-citizen voting, the measure could impose obstacles on tens of m…
President Donald Trump told reporters that he believes individuals with learning disabilities should not serve as president, directing his comments at California Governor Gavin Newsom and citing Newsom’s public discussion of dyslexia. The exchange continues a recent cycle of personal attacks between the two politicians, with Newsom previously descr…
FCC Chair Brendan Carr on Saturday amplified his warnings to television and radio broadcasters about airing what he deems 'fake news,' sharing a screenshot of President Trump’s Truth Social post criticizing coverage of the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran. Carr reiterated that broadcasters must operate in the public interest and said they risk losin…
After months of aggressive immigration enforcement known as Operation Metro Surge, Minneapolis shows a return to outward calm even as residents, public services and the local economy continue to absorb significant harm. City officials estimate hundreds of millions in economic losses, hospitals report sustained care disruptions for immigrant familie…
A federal jury in Texas convicted nine people for their roles in a July 4 shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Alvarado, Texas. Eight of the nine were found guilty on terrorism-related charges including providing material support to terrorists and using explosives during a riot. Officials said the case marks the first …
Several Republican members of Congress have been criticized for posting anti-Muslim content on social media that singled out New York's first Muslim mayor, using imagery and language many view as Islamophobic. The actions prompted condemnation from advocacy groups and Democratic leaders, the filing of censure resolutions, and a civil liberties grou…
Three leading Democrats vying to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin have centered their campaigns on major reforms or abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, reflecting heightened party focus on immigration after deadly federal operations and a surge of migrant relocations to Chicago. The debate underlines intra-party positioning ahea…
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management said it is assessing whether the roughly $2.5 million spent in 2025 on a federal election observer program aimed at addressing race discrimination in voting is justified, and whether changes are needed. The review, conducted with input from the Justice Department, comes as the program operates under narrow cr…
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination warned that derogatory language used by U.S. leaders to describe migrants - including portrayals of them as criminals or a burden - risks inciting racial discrimination and hate crimes. The committee also flagged concerns about heightened enforcement, reports of excessive forc…
California authorities are monitoring an intelligence advisory that reportedly warned of potential drone attacks allegedly planned from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. coast with a stated focus on the state. Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed state-level monitoring and coordination, while federal law enforcement characterized the memo as cautionar…
House Republican leaders are attempting to consolidate a legislative package on affordability - focusing on healthcare, housing and other cost drivers - ahead of the November midterms. Their 218-214 majority in the House and resistance from hardline conservatives and cautious moderates have made near-unanimous support difficult. Party strategists h…
The United Arab Emirates experienced a fresh series of missile and drone launches on Wednesday, with U.A.E. defense authorities saying multiple projectiles originating from Iran were intercepted. Explosions heard across the country were attributed to interception operations. In neighboring Oman, one drone was shot down and another crashed into the …
Jeremy Carl, President Trump’s nominee for assistant secretary of state for international organizations, withdrew his nomination after facing bipartisan resistance stemming from past remarks about Jewish people and comments linked to the 'great replacement' theory. Republican opposition on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led in part by Sena…
