Politics

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.

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712 total articles

Interim Intelligence Chief Nomination Prompts Staff to Brace for Further Cuts

Interim Intelligence Chief Nomination Prompts Staff to Brace for Further Cuts

Managers at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have informed staff to prepare for substantial reductions in the coming months after President Donald Trump named Bill Pulte as interim director to succeed Tulsi Gabbard. Sources familiar with the situation say the announcement has accelerated departures of employees already designated…

Federal Watchdog Cites Widespread Failures at Texas ICE Detention Site

Federal Watchdog Cites Widespread Failures at Texas ICE Detention Site

A Government Accountability Office report released June 9 found pervasive planning, oversight and medical care failures at Camp East Montana, an immigration detention center on Fort Bliss built under an expedited contracting process. The GAO said the facility lacked use-of-force documentation, failed to provide treatment plans for detainees with ch…

Controversies and Endorsements Take Center Stage in Tuesday’s U.S. Primaries

Controversies and Endorsements Take Center Stage in Tuesday’s U.S. Primaries

Primary voters in Maine, South Carolina, Nevada and North Dakota head to the polls amid a mix of personal controversies, high-profile presidential endorsements and competitive open-seat contests. In Maine, Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner faces scrutiny over sexually explicit messages he sent last year; in South Carolina, Republican Represe…

Party Loyalty Trumps Purity for Many U.S. Voters, Poll Shows

Party Loyalty Trumps Purity for Many U.S. Voters, Poll Shows

A Reuters/Ipsos national poll finds a large share of voters aligned with the two major parties are willing to support controversial nominees to prevent the opposing party from gaining power. The findings highlight the strength of partisan loyalty ahead of key Senate contests in Maine and Texas where candidates from both parties face serious persona…

Platner’s Record Draws Scrutiny as Maine Voters Decide Key Senate Primary

Platner’s Record Draws Scrutiny as Maine Voters Decide Key Senate Primary

Graham Platner, a 41-year-old Maine oyster farmer and Marine veteran, faces Democratic voters amid renewed scrutiny of past conduct ahead of a pivotal Senate primary. Allegations involving explicit messages, a tattoo linked to Nazi imagery and unsettling behavior reported by former partners have drawn attention as Platner campaigns to challenge inc…

Alaska Elections Office Probes Challenger Who Shares Incumbent’s Name

Alaska Elections Office Probes Challenger Who Shares Incumbent’s Name

Alaska’s lieutenant governor has launched an inquiry into a U.S. Senate challenger who uses the same name as the Republican incumbent, following allegations the filing was intended to confuse voters. The investigation seeks to establish whether Daniel James Sullivan Jr. coordinated with others or intentionally mimicked campaign materials, and wheth…

Growing GOP Fractures in Congress Challenge Trump Ahead of Midterms

Growing GOP Fractures in Congress Challenge Trump Ahead of Midterms

In recent days a range of Republican senators and representatives have moved to oppose several of President Trump's initiatives, from foreign policy stances to funding proposals and nominations. The defections - while not unified into a formal rebellion - signal a readiness among some GOP members to prioritize electoral pressures and constituent pr…

Maine Democrats Worry as Platner Nears Nomination Ahead of Primary

Maine Democrats Worry as Platner Nears Nomination Ahead of Primary

Several Democratic lawmakers have voiced unease about presumptive Senate nominee Graham Platner in the days before Maine's primary, criticizing his past conduct and policy stances while stopping short of calling for him to withdraw. Platner leads in polls ahead of Tuesday’s primary and, if successful, would likely face Republican Senator Susan Coll…

GOP Fractures Grow as Republicans Push Back on Trump Ahead of Midterms

GOP Fractures Grow as Republicans Push Back on Trump Ahead of Midterms

A growing number of House and Senate Republicans are breaking with President Donald Trump on a string of high-profile items, from foreign policy to domestic spending and personnel picks. Lawmakers have rebuked his posture toward Iran, blocked funding tied to his White House ballroom, forced a rollback of an "anti-weaponization" program, and moved a…

A Washington Makeover: The Projects Remaking the Capital Under Trump

A Washington Makeover: The Projects Remaking the Capital Under Trump

President Donald Trump has launched a suite of large-scale construction and renovation efforts in Washington that include a 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, a National Garden of American Heroes at West Potomac Park, a renamed and contested performing arts center, a repainted Reflecting Pool, a proposed Independence Arch, a Lincoln Me…

Trump Visits Central Wisconsin District That Could Decide House Control

Trump Visits Central Wisconsin District That Could Decide House Control

President Donald Trump will visit Chippewa Falls, central Wisconsin, as Republicans aim to defend a closely contested congressional seat that is key to maintaining their slim majority in the U.S. House. The trip comes as rising consumer costs tied to tariffs and the conflict with Iran weigh on voter sentiment, and as administration officials repeat…

Appeals Court to Rule on Contested $400 Million White House Ballroom Project

Appeals Court to Rule on Contested $400 Million White House Ballroom Project

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will take up an appeal over the Trump administration's plan to construct a $400 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House. Preservationists sued after the East Wing was torn down in October 2025 and construction began without congressional authoriza…

House Approves Ukraine Aid and New Russia Sanctions Amid GOP Dissent

House Approves Ukraine Aid and New Russia Sanctions Amid GOP Dissent

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Ukraine Support Act, a package combining reconstruction aid, direct loans and tougher sanctions and export controls on Russia. The bill passed 226 to 195 after months stalled on the floor, with 18 Republicans and one typically allied independent joining Democrats to secure passage. While th…

Trump Jr. Champions Crypto and Predicts Tehran Deal at Zurich Forum

Trump Jr. Champions Crypto and Predicts Tehran Deal at Zurich Forum

Donald Trump Jr., a senior executive in the Trump family business, spoke at a private forum in Zurich on June 4, promoting cryptocurrencies and calling the convergence of blockchain and artificial intelligence a "game changer." He also said he believed his father would secure a deal with Iran, while providing limited detail on how such an agreement…

Top White House Europe Official to Exit as NSC Sees Broad Reshuffle

Top White House Europe Official to Exit as NSC Sees Broad Reshuffle

Charles McLaughlin, the White House senior director for European and Russian affairs, is expected to leave in coming days as part of a wider personnel reshuffle at the National Security Council (NSC). The changes, which include recent incoming aides tied to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, may shift day-to-day policy control toward Rubio and prompt …

New York Democrats Advance Plan to Reclaim Redistricting Authority for 2028

New York Democrats Advance Plan to Reclaim Redistricting Authority for 2028

New York's Democratic-controlled legislature approved an initial constitutional amendment on June 4 that would allow lawmakers to override the state's independent redistricting commission and draw new congressional boundaries ahead of the 2028 cycle. The measure, which must be passed again in 2027 and then approved by voters, would remove the state…

Trump to Move to Nominate Todd Blanche as Permanent U.S. Attorney General

Trump to Move to Nominate Todd Blanche as Permanent U.S. Attorney General

President Donald Trump said he will take steps to nominate acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche to the permanent post, naming him as his choice to lead the Justice Department. Blanche, 51, who succeeded Pam Bondi after her April dismissal, has drawn criticism from Republican senators and some White House aides over a proposed $1.8 billion vict…