Politics news summaries — Page 15
Essential facts and source links for recent politics stories.
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Tapper airs Trump’s 2015 McDonald’s alternative to Obama’s Xi dinner
CNN’s Jake Tapper aired a 2015 clip of then-candidate Donald Trump criticizing Barack Obama’s state dinner for Xi Jinping, saying he’d serve Xi a McDonald’s hamburger and “get down to work.” Trump has since hosted Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, for a White House state dinner. -
Benefit cap affects 165,000 families, up 53,000 since February, DWP figures show
Latest DWP figures show the benefit cap affects 165,000 families, up 53,000 (48%) since February; the average deduction is £80 per family. DWP linked the rise to the two-child limit’s removal and above-inflation increases to basic Universal Credit. -
Regional losses deepen Merz’s crisis as Germany’s political center erodes
Merz’s CDU fell short of first place in Berlin, suffered a heavy setback in Saxony-Anhalt and was shut out of parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The defeats have deepened pressure on his coalition, but no CDU rival has openly challenged him. -
Whatley calls Carolina Journal survey “trash” as Cooper leads by 15
North Carolina GOP Senate nominee Michael Whatley cut off Carolina Journal reporter Andrew Pomeranz Friday, calling its poll “trash.” It showed Democrat Roy Cooper leading Whatley 49% to 34%; Whatley said other polls showed the race tightening and near the margin of error. -
Trump's outlet ban disrupts TV coverage of Xi's White House visit
Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House led broadcast networks to suspend pooled TV coverage during Xi Jinping’s Thursday visit, frustrating Chinese officials seeking wider exposure. Coverage resumed Friday after CNN’s access was restored. -
Supreme Court allows states to access expanded voter database pending appeal
The Supreme Court has temporarily let states and local authorities use the Homeland Security Department’s expanded SAVE database to verify voters’ citizenship, pausing a lower-court block until an appeals court rules; the effect on the Nov. 3 midterms is unclear. -
Netanyahu quoted Hassan Piker’s 9/11 remark while criticizing Mamdani
Benjamin Netanyahu did not present “America deserved 9/11” as his own view in a viral clip from his U.N. address; he was quoting commentator Hassan Piker while criticizing New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The six-second clip is real but omits that context. -
White House calls taxpayer-funded pro-Trump Fox spot a public service
The White House defended a taxpayer-funded pro-Trump ad aired on Fox News this week as a public service announcement, not a campaign ad. Democrats say the ad may be illegal government propaganda aimed at influencing voters before the midterms. -
Supreme Court keeps Missouri’s 2022 map for the 2026 election
The Supreme Court kept Missouri’s 2022 congressional map in place for the 2026 election, rejecting a lower-court order to use the 2025 Republican-drawn map. That map would have produced a 7–1 Republican split; voting has already begun under the 2022 lines. -
Chang believes Trump stood firm on Taiwan during Xi summit
Gordon Chang told Newsmax he believes President Donald Trump held firm on Taiwan at Thursday’s summit with Xi Jinping. China’s account says Xi urged Washington to oppose Taiwan independence; neither leader answered questions about whether they discussed it. -
Talarico challenges Paxton to Fox News debate, proposes Bret Baier as moderator
Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico challenged Republican Ken Paxton to a Fox News debate, proposing Bret Baier as moderator. Talarico said Paxton's campaign declined three local TV invitations; it had not responded to USA TODAY's question about the challenge. -
Pete Buttigieg’s midterm campaigning fuels talk of a 2028 run
Pete Buttigieg is campaigning for Democrats in competitive districts ahead of the midterms, though he is not running this year. The Washington Post reports he has visited nearly three dozen states since leaving the Biden Cabinet, fueling 2028 presidential speculation. -
Supreme Court leaves Missouri’s 2022 House map in place for midterms
The Supreme Court rejected Republicans’ third bid to use Missouri’s 7-1 Republican map for the November 2026 midterms, leaving the 2022 map in place. The justices said ballots had been mailed and voting had begun, so switching to the 2025 map could cause electoral chaos. -
Gates urges AI laws, warning misuse could lead to a billion deaths
Bill Gates warned that AI could help people with ill intent cause events leading to a billion deaths, and said AI firms cannot rely on self-regulation. In an NBC interview set to air Sunday, he urged Washington to legislate safeguards and monitoring. -
Van Duyne urges SAVE voter checks before midterms after Supreme Court ruling
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas) praised a Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to use the SAVE database for voter-citizenship checks before the midterms, but said she wished states had been able to require checks before Nov. 3. -
DOJ prosecutor says she was forced to retire under protest over Chicago ICE case
DOJ prosecutor Sheri Mecklenberg retired under protest, effective immediately, saying U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros directed her to pursue felony charges in a Chicago-area ICE case over her objection and that DOJ officials blocked her defense against misconduct claims. -
Supreme Court keeps Missouri’s 2022 map in place for November
The Supreme Court on Friday paused lower-court orders requiring Missouri to use its 2025 congressional map in the November 2026 election, leaving the 2022 map in place as voting is already underway. The new map was intended to give Republicans an extra House seat. -
Supreme Court keeps Missouri's post-2020 census map for midterms
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a third bid this month to restore Missouri’s Trump-backed congressional map, saying a late switch would create “electoral chaos.” Missouri will use the districts adopted after the 2020 census for November’s midterms. -
VA reports record processing of over 3 million disability claims in fiscal 2026
The VA says it processed over 3 million disability claims in fiscal 2026, cutting average decision times from 141.5 days in January 2025 to 75.6 days in September 2026 and reducing its backlog by more than 70%. Advocates say rating accuracy remains a concern. -
Trump seeks to cancel $810 million tied to immigration and race programs
Trump on Friday sought to cancel $810 million in unspent federal funds, including money tied to programs involving illegal immigrants and race-focused initiatives, through a disputed “pocket rescission” ahead of the Sept. 30 fiscal-year end. -
Trump’s “super intelligence” push may not win over the tech industry
President Donald Trump wants the U.S. government to call artificial intelligence “super intelligence”; a State Department email urged federal staff to use “SI.” Experts say tech firms may resist because the term denotes intelligence far beyond human performance. -
Supreme Court keeps Missouri’s 2022 House map for 2026 vote
The Supreme Court unanimously rejected Missouri’s bid for a third time this month to use its 2025 map, leaving the 2022 map in place for the 2026 election. The map favors Republicans in six of eight districts; the new one would have given them a 7-1 edge. -
Haberman links MAGA’s first doubts about Trump to Epstein files
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman said at the Texas Tribune Festival in Austin that Donald Trump’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files last year marked the first time his MAGA base began to believe him less, citing accounts from his top allies and advisers. -
Haberman cites GOP alarm over midterms, disputes claims of worse private polls
At Friday’s Texas Tribune Festival, Maggie Haberman said Republicans she speaks with are “completely freaked out” about November’s midterms, but rejected claims GOP private polls are worse than public surveys. She said the picture varies by state or district. -
Michigan credit union says CEO Jane Smith is no longer employed after ‘Lake America’ post
Former CEO Jane Smith is no longer employed by Michigan’s Family First Credit Union after posting a family photo reportedly edited with ChatGPT to add “Lake America” sweaters. The post drew backlash in Canada. Trump ordered US agencies to use that name for Lake Ontario. -
Supreme Court keeps Missouri’s 2022 map for 2026 midterms
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that Missouri must use its 2022 congressional map in the 2026 midterms, rejecting a switch to a 2025 map after voting had begun. The existing map is projected to favor Republicans 6-2, versus 7-1 under the newer map. -
AI cooperation eludes Trump and Xi at three-day Washington summit
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping ended their three-day Washington summit without a major agreement to slow the US-China AI race. Their biggest policy announcement was a two-month extension of the trade truce; the visit emphasized ceremony and personal rapport. -
Missouri’s 2022 House map stays for November after Supreme Court ruling
The Supreme Court on Friday blocked Missouri from using a new Republican-drawn congressional map in November’s midterms, keeping the 2022 map in place. Republicans had sought an extra House seat by redrawing the map to oust a Democratic lawmaker. -
Supreme Court suspends order requiring Trump-backed Missouri map for midterms
The Supreme Court on Sept. 25 suspended a lower-court order requiring Missouri to use a Trump-backed Republican congressional map in November, keeping it out of the midterms for now. The court has now sided with opponents three times. -
Former Kennedy Center staff allege roof funding was halted before temporary closure
Former Kennedy Center employees allege director Matt Floca directed officials to cancel funding for planned roof work in April, months before he cited leaks as one reason for last week’s temporary closure of the main building. The center disputes the claim.
