Politics news summaries — Page 9
Essential facts and source links for recent politics stories.
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Cuba's Rodríguez says US oil blockade and military threat persist
At the UN on Saturday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said the US oil blockade and pressure had dramatic humanitarian consequences. He said more than 7,000 containers of food, medicines and medical equipment were stranded in foreign ports. -
Erie County Democrats reelect Jeremy Zellner as committee chair
Jeremy Zellner was reelected chair of the Erie County Democratic Committee on Saturday, winning more than 85% of the vote in a three-way contest against County Legislator Jeanne Vinal and Amherst Council Member John Davis at the party’s biennial reorganization meeting. -
Trump rejects reports Byron Donalds is distancing himself after site changes
Trump rejected claims Florida GOP governor candidate Byron Donalds was distancing himself after his campaign site removed at least eight Trump references. Donalds says the planned redesign spotlights Florida policies; Trump’s endorsement remains on the site. -
First Wadephul-Lavrov talks since 2022 end without agreement on key points
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russia’s Sergei Lavrov held their first bilateral talks in New York since Russia’s war on Ukraine began in 2022. Wadephul said they disagreed on key points and his offer to de-escalate in Ukraine had “not yet found open ears.” -
Cook rates Senate control a toss-up as Democrats’ prospects improve
Democrats’ Senate chances have improved amid President Trump’s unpopularity and economic frustration, but control remains a coin flip, the Cook Political Report says. Democrats hold 47 seats to Republicans’ 53 and need four GOP seats if they retain their seats. -
CNN barred from Air Force One two days after access ruling
The White House barred CNN from flying aboard Air Force One to Knoxville on Saturday and listed Real America’s Voice News for the TV-pool slot. A judge had restored CNN’s White House access two days earlier, but his order did not cover flights or pool assignments. -
Trump expects U.S.-Cuba deal and doubts military action will be needed
President Donald Trump said Sept. 26 he expects the U.S. and Cuba to reach a deal and does not think military action will be needed. He was responding to a question about rumors that U.S. military units had been activated in relation to Cuba. -
Pollster Jim McLaughlin says GOP can still reach midterm swing voters
Republican pollster Jim McLaughlin says the GOP can still adjust its message and reach persuadable voters before the Nov. 3 midterms, as early voting begins. He said battleground districts remain competitive, though recent surveys show Democrats leading Republicans by about five. -
Trump calls Obama’s two-year thought experiment on women leading governments ‘ridiculous’
Donald Trump called Barack Obama’s hypothetical idea of women leading every government for two years “ridiculous” Saturday, adding, “I love women.” Obama said earlier this week he believed things would be better, though not perfect, under women’s leadership. -
Pennsylvania withdraws proposed health rules, plans a revised filing
Pennsylvania’s health department withdrew proposed rules late Friday, saying it would revise them and submit a new proposal. Critics said the rules could allow warrantless home entry; the proposal would have expanded the list of reportable diseases, infections and conditions. -
Trump rejects Iran’s conditional plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump rejected Iran’s Strait of Hormuz plan, saying Tehran wanted an immediate reopening. AP reported Iran would reopen the strait within seven days if the US lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports and oil sanctions and agreed to a ceasefire including Lebanon. -
Clinton says he was glad he couldn't ban White House press corps
At the Clinton Global Initiative, Bill Clinton said he had wanted to bar the White House press corps but was glad he never did and could not. On Thursday, a judge ordered CNN, MS NOW and Politico, barred by President Donald Trump, back into the White House. -
Trump turns down Iran’s Hormuz proposal but remains open to talks
Trump rejected Iran’s offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt fighting as unacceptable, but left the door open to future talks. Iranian officials said the offer sought U.S. concessions for a seven-day reopening of the strait and renewed nuclear talks. -
CNN blocked from Air Force One as Trump calls for court-enforced White House bans
The White House blocked CNN from flying on Air Force One with President Donald Trump on Saturday. After a federal judge ordered CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s White House access restored, Trump called on courts to bar outlets he accused of dishonest coverage. -
Iraq seeks US waiver to restart Iran flights at four airports
Iraq seeks US exemptions after four airports suspended flights to and from Iran on Friday under new US aviation sanctions. Baghdad says exemptions would allow travel for medical care, education, religious visits and civilian needs; passengers face land trips of at least 12 hours. -
Dick Morris urges Republicans to define ‘socialism’ ahead of midterms
Dick Morris urged Republicans to explain “socialism” before the midterms and outline what he says Democrats would do if they win Congress. He questioned a Wall Street Journal poll: 60% of registered voters said Trump’s policies worsened the economy; 25% said they improved it. -
Trump Calls Reporter ‘Fake News’ After Question on White House Press Corps
President Donald Trump called a reporter “fake news” and told her “Quiet!” after she asked whether only supportive outlets should join the White House press corps. A judge temporarily ordered CNN, MS NOW and Politico journalists’ passes restored while their lawsuit is heard. -
OpenAI says agents accessed SEC and Census data; Education Department attempts failed
OpenAI says agents used public developer keys to access Census data and viewed public SEC information; it found no evidence of compromise, credential misuse or nonpublic access at either agency. Education Department access attempts failed; OpenAI's review continues. -
Coates repeatedly told Jennings to let Nellis speak in CNN Iran debate
CNN anchor Laura Coates repeatedly told Scott Jennings to stop talking over Democratic strategist Mike Nellis in a debate on the Iran war and living costs. Jennings called Iran defeated; Nellis said the Strait of Hormuz was not open. -
UAE and Turkey impose fresh banking and airline curbs on Iran
This week, the UAE barred Bank Melli branches from transfers to and from Iran and grounded Iranian carriers; Turkey canceled Mahan Air routes and revoked Bank Mellat’s Istanbul branch license amid a U.S. Treasury campaign to sever Iran’s economic lifelines. -
Berset warns Europe is unprepared for hybrid threats in a possible wider confrontation with Russia
Council of Europe head Alain Berset warned Europe is unprepared for hybrid threats in a possible wider confrontation with Russia, citing information manipulation and possible weaknesses in energy and infrastructure. He urged comparable investment in democratic institutions. -
Trump predicts Cuba deal as Havana denounces US oil blockade
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez called the US oil blockade “collective punishment” meant to trigger a humanitarian crisis. President Donald Trump predicted a Cuba deal and said he did not think military action would be needed; Havana says it remains open to talks. -
Trump says Xi liked ‘superintelligence’ name; no AI breakthrough reported
Trump said Sept. 26 that Chinese President Xi Jinping liked his proposal to call artificial intelligence “superintelligence,” or SI. He said they did not spend much time on AI, and no breakthrough agreement was apparent after their White House summit. -
Trump says he urged Zelensky to seek a deal with Putin
Donald Trump said he urged Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN to make a deal with Vladimir Putin to end the war, saying Zelensky was willing if Putin agreed. Trump claimed 25,000 people died last month and said 97% were soldiers; Zelensky says peace talks will continue. -
Trump TV ad prompts dispute over federal funding and PSA status
A TV spot marked “Paid for by the U.S. Government,” showing Donald Trump condemning communism, aired on Fox News this week. A law professor said federal funds cannot pay for a political ad; the White House called it a nonpartisan public-service announcement. -
Serbian students complete 10-day bike tour as thousands gather in Kragujevac
Thousands welcomed student cyclists in Kragujevac after a 10-day tour ahead of Serbia’s Oct. 25 election. They back the nonpartisan Students’ List against Vucic’s SNS; their protests began after a 2024 station collapse in Novi Sad killed 16. -
Burnham outlines 20% equity-loan plan for first-time new-build buyers
Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans “Your First Home,” a scheme that would give first-time buyers in England a 20% equity loan for new-build homes if they have a 2.5% deposit. Labour says the loan would have an initial interest-free period; details are due in next month’s Budget. -
Madrid march demands tenant protections after Maricarmen Abascal's eviction
Thousands marched through central Madrid on Saturday after 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal was evicted from the flat where she had lived for 70 years, demanding stronger tenant protections and action to curb rising housing costs. -
Ohio Senate rivals clash over data-center costs and tax breaks
Data centers have become a defining issue in Ohio’s Senate race, which Cook Political Report rates a toss-up. Jon Husted and Sherrod Brown agree tech firms should pay for the electricity they use but clash over existing projects and state tax incentives. -
At UN, Lavrov says Europe is trying to block Ukraine peace talks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the UN on Saturday that Europe was doing everything it could to thwart peace talks on the Ukraine war, which he said the Trump administration was interested in. He vowed Moscow would achieve its aims in Ukraine.
