Politics news summaries — Page 17
Essential facts and source links for recent politics stories.
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White House says Trump brought Xi to see $400 million ballroom site
Donald Trump took Chinese President Xi Jinping and other state dinner guests to see the construction site of a $400 million ballroom, the White House confirmed Friday. At Thursday's banquet, Trump said the project was about a year from completion. -
Supreme Court pauses ban on Trump’s modified SAVE voter checks
The Supreme Court paused a lower-court ban, allowing the Trump administration to use its modified SAVE database for voter-citizenship checks while the case proceeds. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, warning the system could burden or disenfranchise lawful voters. -
Brad Buckley seeks federal intervention over Texas Permian power-line plan
Texas Rep. Brad Buckley asked Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to intervene against the Permian Basin power-line plan. The Public Utility Commission of Texas unanimously approved two of five proposed 765-kilovolt line routes, spanning 400 miles. -
University of Minnesota targets $225 million in budget cuts over two years
The University of Minnesota plans to cut $225 million from its budget over two years, with savings sought across its five campuses. Senior leaders cited shifting enrollment, unpredictable state and federal funding, and rising costs. -
Congress extends IIJA surface transportation programs through Dec. 11, but omits advance appropriations
Congress extended IIJA transportation programs through Dec. 11, avoiding a Sept. 30 lapse, but omitted advance appropriations. The roughly 10-week extension offers little planning certainty; a precast-industry leader warns bridge funding will cease without further action. -
KFF finds TrumpRx prices lower for 17 of 32 drugs, higher for 15
KFF found TrumpRx prices below averages in 11 peer countries for 17 of 32 brand-name drugs, but above them for 15. For those 15, TrumpRx prices averaged 262% higher than peer prices, and KFF said patients are not guaranteed a lower price for any given medicine. -
Trump points Xi to Biden autopen image on White House tour
On Thursday, Donald Trump showed Xi Jinping a White House portrait depicting an autopen in place of Joe Biden, saying, “This is the autopen… It’s Biden.” The display echoes unproven claims that staff used an autopen to sign Biden’s documents and pardons because he was unwell. -
Schwarzenegger brings L.A. leaders together with mayoral candidate Nithya Raman
Arnold Schwarzenegger hosted an off-the-record meeting introducing mayoral candidate Nithya Raman to Hollywood, business and nonprofit figures. After placing second in the June 2 primary, Raman will face Karen Bass in the Nov. 3 runoff; Schwarzenegger has not endorsed her. -
George Anibowei seeks Supreme Court review of warrantless border phone searches
Texas immigration lawyer George Anibowei had his phone searched without a warrant by federal agents on five international trips and is seeking Supreme Court review. Federal appeals courts disagree on Fourth Amendment protection for phones at the border. -
Three-day Xi visit to Washington ends without major breakthroughs
Chinese leader Xi Jinping left Washington after a three-day visit without major breakthroughs on disputes including AI, Taiwan and Iran. Scott Bessent said officials had discussed extending the trade truce until January and staying in touch on AI. -
Talarico leaves Paxton voicemail proposing a Fox News debate
Texas Senate candidate James Talarico posted a video calling Ken Paxton to challenge him to a Fox News debate. The call went to voicemail; Talarico said he had accepted four local TV debates and had not heard from Paxton, with voting less than a month away. -
Supreme Court lets states use SAVE for individual voter checks
On Friday, the Supreme Court let states use the Trump-backed SAVE system for individual voter citizenship checks. Whether the 90-day bar on mass removals applies to noncitizens the administration says were improperly registered to vote remains unresolved before the midterms. -
Officials differ on Dale Caldwell’s race claim after New Jersey ethics report
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell remained in office Friday after Gov. Mikie Sherrill urged him to resign over a report finding sexual harassment and repeated ethics violations. Caldwell linked the allegations to race; others called it an ethics matter. -
Senate Leadership Fund says Disney's TV-MA ratings limit ad reach
The Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund says Disney rated some ads TV-MA, limiting their reach on Hulu and other Disney streaming services in Senate races in Ohio, North Carolina and Alaska. It says at least two-thirds of its planned Ohio advertising is affected. -
Broadview Six prosecutor resigns, alleging pressure to pursue felony charges
Sheri H. Mecklenburg, lead prosecutor in the Broadview Six case, resigned from the Justice Department “under protest,” alleging U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros pushed felony charges over her objection. The DOJ denies her claims. -
White House TV pool resumes coverage after court access order
The White House TV pool resumed coverage Friday after a federal judge ordered the administration to let CNN, MS Now and Politico back into the building. CBS returned to the five-outlet rotation; a pool report said coverage would resume with a full crew. -
Trump administration commits $307 million in Ukraine aid, plans to contract $93 million more
As of early this week, the Trump administration had obligated $307 million of the $400 million Congress approved for military aid to Ukraine and plans to contract the remaining $93 million by Sept. 30, according to three sources, to keep the balance from expiring. -
Hegseth urges troops to vote absentee as court blocks Trump mail-ballot changes
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged troops and families to register and vote in the midterms, citing federal forms to request absentee ballots and a write-in option if deployed ballots are delayed. The Supreme Court blocked the administration’s mail-ballot changes for now. -
Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling allows expanded SAVE citizenship checks
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Friday that the Trump administration can use the expanded SAVE database for citizenship checks before November’s midterms. Litigation continues; federal rules bar systematic purges within 90 days of an election but allow individual checks. -
Xi leaves Washington as Trump confirms China trip and Miami meeting
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife left Washington on Friday after a state visit. Xi and Donald Trump confirmed two more meetings: Trump said he will visit China in November for his second visit there this year, then meet Xi at the G20 Summit in Miami in December. -
14 senators urge Trump to exclude Putin from Miami G20
Fourteen senators—seven Republicans and seven Democrats—signed a Thursday-night letter urging President Trump to keep Vladimir Putin out of December’s G20 summit in Miami, saying his attendance could legitimize Moscow and undercut efforts to press for a Ukraine ceasefire. -
Hegseth urges troops and families to register, explains ballot options
On Sept. 25, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth urged troops and their families to register for November’s midterms. He said a federal postcard lets them register and request a ballot; forward-deployed troops can use a write-in absentee ballot if regular ballots are delayed. -
Taxpayer-funded Trump ad draws bipartisan criticism over reported $430,000 cost
A 30-second White House ad praising Donald Trump is airing on national TV with a disclaimer saying the U.S. government paid for it; its reported $430,000 cost has drawn bipartisan criticism and a Public Citizen complaint alleging misuse of taxpayer funds. -
Burnham says UK’s next general election will be in 2029, rules out early vote
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there will be no early general election and that the next vote will be in 2029. Ahead of Labour’s conference in Liverpool next week, he said he wants to focus on living costs and business costs, not another election campaign. -
17 Republicans in midterm races call for the Iran war to end
With under 40 days until midterms, 17 Republicans in federal and statewide races have called to end the Iran war, through votes to curb Trump's war powers or public statements. Diesel prices are up nearly 60% since fighting began in late February. -
Cook says GOP is on track to lose House as 15 races shift toward Democrats
Cook Political Report shifted 15 House races toward Democrats and says Republicans are on track to lose their majority. It projects Democrats could gain five to 15 seats, but says the shift does not mean a blue wave is coming in November. -
NAACP coalition sets goal of mobilizing 100,000 Black men for midterms
The NAACP and five partner groups launched National Black Man Voter Day, aiming to mobilize 100,000 Black men before early voting on Oct. 24. Organizers cite jobs, affordability, education, homeownership and voting rights as key issues ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. -
Mike Collins seeks donations as Georgia diesel nears its record price
Georgia Senate candidate Mike Collins is asking supporters to “put some diesel in the tank” for his campaign as AAA reports a national diesel average of $6.31 per gallon; he has voted six times against resolutions to end U.S. hostilities in Iran.
