Politics

Brandon Dukes appears to win tight Pennsylvania House special election in Butler County

Brandon Dukes was the apparent winner in a tight Pennsylvania House special election in Butler County, leading Republican Scott Timko by 88 votes in unofficial returns.

#pennsylvania, #special-election, #state-legislature, #democrats

Supreme Court declines Trump’s request to reconsider $5 million E. Jean Carroll verdict

Supreme Court declined President Trump’s petition to rehear the $5 million E. Jean Carroll civil verdict, leaving the lower-court ruling and payout intact.

#supreme_court, #donald_trump, #e_jean_carroll, #defamation

Trump signs memorandum allowing vetted U.S. firms to conduct cyber operations against foreign cybercriminals

A White House memorandum authorizes vetted U.S. companies, under DOJ and DHS oversight, to conduct surveillance and disruptive cyber operations against foreign cybercriminal groups.

#cybersecurity, #cybercrime, #whitehouse, #nationalsecurity

Special counsel indicts former South Korean president Yoon over messages to U.S., allies after Dec. 3, 2024 martial-law declaration

Special counsel indicts former president Yoon Suk Yeol, alleging he ordered officials to send messages to the US and allies defending his Dec. 3, 2024 martial‑law move.

#southkorea, #yoon, #indictment, #martiallaw

California, Nine States Sue to Block OCC Rule Letting National Banks Avoid Interest on Mortgage Escrows

Ten states sued the OCC seeking to overturn rules that would let national banks avoid paying interest on mortgage escrow accounts.

#banks, #escrow, #occ, #consumerprotection, #regulation

Appeals Court Says Trump Cannot Build White House Ballroom Without Congress’ Approval

D.C. appeals court bars above‑ground construction of President Trump’s proposed White House ballroom without congressional authorization; 14‑day stay allows appeal.

#trump, #whitehouse, #court, #construction

FTC Will No Longer Bring Disparate-Impact or ‘Unfair Discrimination’ Enforcement Actions

The FTC voted 2-0 to stop pursuing disparate-impact and “unfair discrimination” claims, narrowing its enforcement toolkit and revising related settlement obligations.

#ftc, #disparateimpact, #civilrights, #regulation

Trump order directs agencies not to recognize citizenship for some U.S.-born children of noncitizen parents

Trump's Aug. 6 executive order tells federal agencies not to issue or accept documents recognizing U.S. citizenship for certain U.S.-born people of noncitizen parents.

#birthrightcitizenship, #executiveorder, #immigration, #trump

Trump signs order directing State, DHS to crack down on 'birth tourism' using visa and entry powers

Trump signed an order directing State and Homeland Security to use visa and admission powers to curb 'birth tourism,' targeting travelers and facilitators.

#immigration, #birthright, #executiveorder, #trump

GAO Finds Errors and Unsupported Estimates in White House’s DOGE ‘Wall of Receipts’ $110.3B Claim

GAO audit says the White House DOGE 'Wall of Receipts' reported $110.3B in savings but used incorrect, unsupported or nontransparent methods.

#gao, #doge, #transparency, #whitehouse, #spending

White House publishes records saying FBI opened 2017 probe into whether Trump acted 'for or on behalf of' Russia

White House posted records it says were declassified showing a May 16, 2017 FBI communication opening a full investigation into whether Trump acted for Russia.

#politics, #fbi, #trump, #russia

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Todd Blanche After He Rescinds 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'

Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 to advance Acting AG Todd Blanche’s nomination after he rescinded a controversial $1.776B 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'.

#justice, #confirmation, #senate, #toddblanche

DNC Rules Panel Proposes Six-State Early Window for 2028, Keeps South Carolina Ahead of Iowa

The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee proposed a six-state early nominating window for 2028 beginning with South Carolina on Jan. 22, 2028, keeping Iowa out.

#democrats, #primary, #2028, #party_rules

Warren Accuses IRS CEO of Downplaying Staffing Shortages After 31,000 Departures

Sen. Elizabeth Warren pressed IRS CEO Frank Bisignano to explain his comments that staffing was sufficient, after watchdog reported roughly 31,000 departures.

#irs, #elizabethwarren, #oversight, #staffing

White House Fact Sheet Says Intelligence Agencies Approved Declassified Election Documents, Reiterates China Voter‑data Claim

White House fact sheet says top intelligence agencies approved its summary of declassified election documents and reiterates that China collected U.S. voter data.

#whitehouse, #electionsecurity, #china, #intelligence