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.
620 total articles
President Donald Trump on March 29 acknowledged differences within his senior team over how to confront Iran's nuclear program, saying Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is "a little bit softer" than he is on preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Speaking aboard Air Force One after a weekend in Florida, Trump said that dis…
President Donald Trump on Sunday described the White House ballroom project as progressing faster than planned and under budget, and presented new renderings while defending the plan during his return to Washington from Mar-a-Lago. The initiative, which required demolition of the East Wing, faces a legal challenge from the National Trust for Histor…
Representative Jim Himes on Sunday called for Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to step down following a subcommittee determination that 25 alleged ethics violations were proven. Cherfilus-McCormick faces a November federal indictment alleging the theft of COVID-19 relief funds tied to a family-owned healthcare company; the full …
Demonstrations opposing President Donald Trump’s deportation policies, the U.S. military campaign in Iran and other administrations actions took place in more than 3,200 sites across all 50 states, organizers said, marking the third nationwide wave of “No Kings” rallies. Major gatherings were reported in New York, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washingto…
The U.S. campaign against Iran has elevated political calculations inside the White House, placing Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio under close scrutiny as possible successors to President Donald Trump. Vance has taken a measured, skeptical posture toward extended U.S. military involvement, while Rubio has vocally defended…
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Corey Lewandowski, who served as an unpaid adviser to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, no longer holds a position at the agency. The announcement follows Noem’s reassignment to a special envoy role and questions raised about her relationship with Lewandowski during congressional…
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Vice President JD Vance captured roughly 53% of votes in an annual straw poll, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio receiving about 35%. Organizers and observers caution that the poll reflects the views of CPAC’s conservative base and is not a definitive predictor of a party-wide n…
Voices at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas revealed a widening split within the Republican coalition over support for Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Younger attendees voiced skepticism about military engagement and U.S. priorities, while older conservatives and evangelicals continued to express firm back…
Idaho's Republican-led legislature passed a bill that would bar individuals from using bathrooms or changing rooms that do not correspond to the sex they were assigned at birth. The measure, which passed the state Senate 28-7 after clearing the House last week, is expected to be signed by Governor Brad Little and would impose criminal penalties, wi…
Iran-linked hackers identified as the Handala Hack Team published photos and a purported resume tied to the personal email account of the FBI director and said his name would be added to its list of victims. A Justice Department official confirmed the director's emails were compromised but would not elaborate. Independent authentication and the ful…
Equity markets showed limited improvement after U.S. President Donald Trump delayed his deadline on Iran, according to a note from Vital Knowledge. Analyst Adam Crisafulli said the deferment did not spark a broad equity rebound as investors remain anxious about the situation. Reports that the Pentagon may add roughly 10,000 troops to the Middle Eas…
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine, Texas, Republican speakers and many attendees voiced strong support for recent U.S. strikes on Iran, aligning with President Donald Trump even as national approval of the president has slipped and voters express unease about the conflict and rising fuel costs. The pro-war tone at CPAC co…
On March 26, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General initiated a probe into how certain contracts were solicited and managed, including the reported participation of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and her aide Corey Lewandowski, sources told CNN. The probe is distinct from an ongoing inspector general audit of DHS grants and contrac…
President Donald Trump used a cabinet meeting and a media appearance to range across topics including his preference for Sharpie markers, the renaming of the Kennedy Center by a board dominated by his appointees, praise for Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s rimless glasses, a quip about running for president of Venezuela, and a reference to the 25…
California's State Senate and Assembly voted to change the name of the state holiday Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day after multiple women, including labor leader Dolores Huerta, accused the late organizer of sexual abuse. The measure now awaits action by Governor Gavin Newsom. The move follows related steps in other states and cities, including…
Organizers of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) are prioritizing unity among Republicans as the annual meeting begins just outside Dallas, warning that infighting within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement could jeopardize the party’s slim congressional majorities in the November midterm elections. The event opens amid vo…
Two leading U.S. senators will introduce the American Security Robotics Act, a bipartisan bill designed to prevent federal agencies from purchasing or operating humanoid and unmanned ground robots produced by adversary nations such as China. The proposal includes prohibitions on federal funding tied to those robots, narrow research exemptions for d…
The White House has placed a statue of Christopher Columbus on the north side of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, a move the administration frames as part of a campaign against what it calls 'anti-American' ideology. The installation, a reconstruction of a 1984 statue first unveiled by President Ronald Reagan in Baltimore, comes amid debat…
On March 25, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill signed three bills designed to narrow the participation of state officials in federal immigration enforcement. The measures require law enforcement to disclose facial identity in specified public interactions, mandate that officers present identification before arrests or detentions, and restrict the …
Newly disclosed Justice Department records provided to the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee have prompted fresh scrutiny from the committee’s top Democrat over potential national security hazards and the possibility that classified materials retained by former President Donald Trump were tied to his private business interests. The documents…
Kristen Clarke, who led the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division during the Biden administration, will become general counsel for the NAACP as the organization signals a stepped-up legal response to what it calls intensifying assaults on voting rights and civil liberties. The move follows a year of litigation by the group against new ele…
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has initiated a series of directives and public remarks aimed at reshaping how U.S. historical and cultural institutions present the nation’s past. Actions include an executive order targeting perceived "anti-American ideology," reviews and removals of slavery-related exhibits and signage a…
Trae Stephens, co-founder of defense contractor Anduril Industries and a partner at Founders Fund, told attendees at the Hill and Valley Forum in Washington that congressional paralysis and parts of the technology industry have contributed to a strategic advantage for China. Stephens cataloged a range of U.S. legislative failures across immigration…
Delta Air Lines announced a temporary suspension of specialized services provided to members of Congress, attributing the change to resource constraints stemming from the ongoing partial government shutdown. The carrier said airport escorts and VIP treatments such as seat upgrades and rebooking assistance will be halted, though lawmakers will conti…
President Donald Trump cast a mail-in ballot this week in a Palm Beach County special election even as he denounced mail-in voting as "cheating" and urged Republicans to condition Homeland Security funding on passage of the SAVE America Act, which would restrict mail-in ballots and impose additional registration requirements.
