BREAKING NEWS
Senate delays August recess for now as Trump presses for more confirmations
Read full article: Senate delays August recess for now as Trump presses for more confirmationsA stalemate over the pace of confirmations has delayed the Senate’s yearly August recess for now as President Donald Trump declares that his nominees “should NOT BE FORCED TO WAIT.”.
Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending plan
Read full article: Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending planDemocrats are launching a nationwide summer blitz designed to force vulnerable Republicans to defend President Donald Trump’s big tax and spending bill, especially Medicaid cuts.
Senate confirms Trump's pick for counterterrorism agency, a former Green Beret with extremist ties
Read full article: Senate confirms Trump's pick for counterterrorism agency, a former Green Beret with extremist tiesThe Senate has confirmed Joe Kent, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the National Counterterrorism Center.
Virginia judge bars Youngkin's university board appointments rejected by Senate Democrats
Read full article: Virginia judge bars Youngkin's university board appointments rejected by Senate DemocratsA judge has ordered that eight university board members tapped by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin should be removed from their posts.
What Americans think about Israel's military action in Gaza, according to a new Gallup poll
Read full article: What Americans think about Israel's military action in Gaza, according to a new Gallup pollA new poll shows support for Israel’s military action in Gaza has dropped among U.S. adults, with only about one-third approving.
Democrats implore Trump to step up role in addressing suffering and starvation in Gaza
Read full article: Democrats implore Trump to step up role in addressing suffering and starvation in GazaSenate Democrats are imploring President Donald Trump's administration to step up its role in addressing suffering and starvation in Gaza.
How views of the Supreme Court have changed since 2022 abortion ruling, according to AP-NORC polling
Read full article: How views of the Supreme Court have changed since 2022 abortion ruling, according to AP-NORC pollingA new poll shows Americans’ views of the Supreme Court have moderated somewhat since the court’s standing dropped sharply after its ruling overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Trump signs bill to cancel $9 billion in foreign aid, public broadcasting funding
Read full article: Trump signs bill to cancel $9 billion in foreign aid, public broadcasting fundingPresident Donald Trump has signed a bill to cancel about $9 billion that had been approved for public broadcasting and foreign aid.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley plans to run for Senate in North Carolina, with Trump's backing
Read full article: RNC Chairman Michael Whatley plans to run for Senate in North Carolina, with Trump's backingMichael Whatley, chairman of the national Republican Party, plans to run for an open Senate seat in North Carolina in 2026, with the blessing of President Donald Trump, after Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara, passed on the seat.
Trump administration seeks release of Epstein grand jury records but not Justice Department files
Read full article: Trump administration seeks release of Epstein grand jury records but not Justice Department filesUnder intense pressure from President Donald Trump’s own supporters, his administration now is asking a federal court to unseal secret documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s case.
Republicans press leaders of Georgetown, Berkeley and CUNY on antisemitism complaints
Read full article: Republicans press leaders of Georgetown, Berkeley and CUNY on antisemitism complaintsHouse Republicans on Tuesday grilled the leaders of Georgetown University, the City University of New York and the University of California, Berkeley, in the latest hearing on antisemitism in higher education, accusing the schools of failing to respond adequately to allegations of bias or discrimination.
US manufacturers are stuck in a rut despite subsidies from Biden and protection from Trump
Read full article: US manufacturers are stuck in a rut despite subsidies from Biden and protection from TrumpDemocratic President Joe Biden handed out subsidies to chipmakers and electric vehicle manufacturers.
Republican budget bill dismantles climate law passed by Democrats
Read full article: Republican budget bill dismantles climate law passed by DemocratsThe sprawling Republican budget bill approved by the Senate Tuesday removes a proposed tax on solar and wind energy projects but quickly phases out tax credits for wind, solar and other renewable energy.
Politics & Power: Democrats face harsh reality as voters change party affiliation, Dems need to change their strategy
Read full article: Politics & Power: Democrats face harsh reality as voters change party affiliation, Dems need to change their strategyNews4JAX political analyst and head of the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute Rick Mullaney joins News4JAX anchor Bruce Hamilton for this week’s Politics & Power episode.
National pride is declining in America. And it's splitting by party lines, new Gallup polling shows
Read full article: National pride is declining in America. And it's splitting by party lines, new Gallup polling showsA poll shows only 36% of Democrats say they’re “extremely” or “very” proud to be American, reflecting a dramatic decline in national pride that's also clear among young people.
Key Medicaid provision in Trump's bill is found to violate Senate rules. The GOP is scrambling
Read full article: Key Medicaid provision in Trump's bill is found to violate Senate rules. The GOP is scramblingThe Senate parliamentarian has advised that a Medicaid provider tax overhaul central to President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill doesn't adhere to procedural rules.
How US adults' views on same-sex marriage have changed since the Supreme Court's 2015 ruling
Read full article: How US adults' views on same-sex marriage have changed since the Supreme Court's 2015 rulingTen years after the Supreme Court ruled there's a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, the split between Republicans and Democrats on the issue is wider than it’s been in decades.
Senate parliamentarian deals blow to GOP plan to gut consumer bureau in tax bill
Read full article: Senate parliamentarian deals blow to GOP plan to gut consumer bureau in tax billRepublicans have suffered a setback over their plans to gut the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau in President Donald Trump's big bill.
The Latest: US says foreign students seeking visas must unlock social media accounts
Read full article: The Latest: US says foreign students seeking visas must unlock social media accountsThe U.S. State Department says it is restarting the process for foreigners to apply for student visas but says all applicants must have their social media accounts set to ‘public’ to allow review by officials.
'Shocked' and 'sickened' Democrats react with fury to video of Padilla's removal
Read full article: 'Shocked' and 'sickened' Democrats react with fury to video of Padilla's removalSenate Democrats were shaken to the core after seeing videos of officers aggressively pushing California Sen. Alex Padilla out of a news conference with the Homeland Security secretary and eventually restraining him on the floor outside the room.
Former Jacksonville radio host Mark Kaye announces he’s running for Congress, bashes current Rep. John Rutherford
Read full article: Former Jacksonville radio host Mark Kaye announces he’s running for Congress, bashes current Rep. John RutherfordFormer Jacksonville radio host and current conservative podcaster Mark Kaye is running for Congress in 2026.
Democrats look for reinvention and a new playbook against Trump in key committee race
Read full article: Democrats look for reinvention and a new playbook against Trump in key committee raceHouse Democrats are searching for a new leader on the powerful House Oversight Committee after the untimely passing of their previous ranking member.
Study finds little agreement between Republicans and Democrats on media sources they trust
Read full article: Study finds little agreement between Republicans and Democrats on media sources they trustA new survey by the Pew Research Center finds little agreement between Republicans and Democrats in the media sources they trust.
‘I’ve grown’: Former Republican lawmaker David Jolly announces run for Florida governor as Democrat
Read full article: ‘I’ve grown’: Former Republican lawmaker David Jolly announces run for Florida governor as DemocratAfter months of speculation, former U.S. Rep. David Jolly of Florida has confirmed the rumors and announced he will run for governor in 2026. The Republican turned Democrat said he believes he is the change Florida’s government needs.
Senate votes to block California’s rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035
Read full article: Senate votes to block California’s rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035The Senate has voted to block California’s first-in-the nation rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.
New standards for Oklahoma high school students promote misinformation about the 2020 election
Read full article: New standards for Oklahoma high school students promote misinformation about the 2020 electionBeginning next school year, the curriculum standards for Oklahoma high school students will including conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election.
Supporters of a bill to study reparations for slavery urge Maryland Gov. Moore to sign the measure
Read full article: Supporters of a bill to study reparations for slavery urge Maryland Gov. Moore to sign the measureSupporters of a measure to create a commission to study potential reparations for slavery in Maryland have rallied next to the Capitol and the governor’s residence to urge Gov. Wes Moore to sign the legislation.
Democrats block stablecoin bill as they raise concerns about Trump's crypto ventures
Read full article: Democrats block stablecoin bill as they raise concerns about Trump's crypto venturesSenate Democrats have blocked legislation to regulate a form of cryptocurrency after arguing that the bill needed stronger protections.
House follows Trump's lead with a vote to change the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America'
Read full article: House follows Trump's lead with a vote to change the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America'The Republican-led House has passed a bill that would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and direct federal agencies to update their documents and maps to incorporate the new name.
House GOP backing off some Medicaid cuts as report shows millions of people would lose health care
Read full article: House GOP backing off some Medicaid cuts as report shows millions of people would lose health careHouse Republicans appear to be backing off some, but not all, of the steep reductions to the Medicaid program as part of their big tax breaks bill.
Senate Democrats plan to force a vote on resolution for transparency on deportations to El Salvador
Read full article: Senate Democrats plan to force a vote on resolution for transparency on deportations to El SalvadorSenate Democrats plan to force a vote in the coming weeks on a resolution to require more transparency from President Donald Trump’s administration about deportations to El Salvador.
Democratic Leader Jeffries says Trump's 100 days filled with 'chaos, cruelty and corruption'
Read full article: Democratic Leader Jeffries says Trump's 100 days filled with 'chaos, cruelty and corruption'House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said President Donald Trump’s 100 days in office have been an assault of Americans’ very way of life.
Trump's team has disrupted some $430 billion in federal funds, top Democrats say
Read full article: Trump's team has disrupted some $430 billion in federal funds, top Democrats sayThe Trump administration has frozen, stalled or otherwise disrupted some $430 billion in federal funds since the president took office — from federal disease research to Head Start for children to disaster aid.
Politics & Power: Can Dems rebrand with new leaders, fresh ideas to regain lost Trump districts?
Read full article: Politics & Power: Can Dems rebrand with new leaders, fresh ideas to regain lost Trump districts?Political analyst Daniel Cronrath joins News4JAX anchor Bruce Hamilton on this week’s episode of Politics & Power to look at the challenges for the Democratic Party if it hopes to make a generational shift.
More Democratic lawmakers are visiting El Salvador on Abrego Garcia's behalf
Read full article: More Democratic lawmakers are visiting El Salvador on Abrego Garcia's behalfFour House Democrats are visiting El Salvador in a bid to support Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man whom the Trump administration deported to a notorious Salvadoran prison.
Virginia Democrats reap fundraising gains as they center campaigns around Elon Musk
Read full article: Virginia Democrats reap fundraising gains as they center campaigns around Elon MuskVirginia Democrats are vying to shield their statehouse majority while flipping the governor’s mansion in November, and new reports show they have a cash advantage in those races against Republicans.
Marjorie Taylor Greene laughs off protests to deliver pro-Trump message at Georgia town hall
Read full article: Marjorie Taylor Greene laughs off protests to deliver pro-Trump message at Georgia town hallU.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has appeared at a town hall in suburban Atlanta to deliver full-throated support of President Donald Trump.
Georgia Democrats' frustration with anti-transgender bills boils over into a walkout
Read full article: Georgia Democrats' frustration with anti-transgender bills boils over into a walkoutBoxed into a vote on outlawing spending on gender affirming care for transgender prisoners, Georgia Democrats chose a third option Wednesday.
More Republicans want the US to focus on ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, a new AP-NORC poll finds
Read full article: More Republicans want the US to focus on ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, a new AP-NORC poll findsA new AP-NORC poll finds that while most Americans disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the conflict is not weighing as heavily on his public perception as it did on President Joe Biden.
A Democratic senator is putting holds on VA nominees to protest Trump's plans to cut its workforce
Read full article: A Democratic senator is putting holds on VA nominees to protest Trump's plans to cut its workforceArizona Sen. Ruben Gallego says he will block the confirmation of top leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Politics & Power: With Dems in disarray & Trump underwater, Americans are left feeling very uncertain
Read full article: Politics & Power: With Dems in disarray & Trump underwater, Americans are left feeling very uncertainThe Democrats are in a state of disarray and can’t get their messaging straight. The latest polls have President Donald Trump underwater. And people in the U.S. are drowning in a sea of economic uncertainty. Political analyst Daniel Cronrath joins Bruce Hamilton to discuss the cyclical nature of politics, voter attitudes and the economy -- and the lessons history teaches us.
Military veterans are becoming the face of Trump's government cuts and Democrats' resistance
Read full article: Military veterans are becoming the face of Trump's government cuts and Democrats' resistanceCongressional lawmakers are scrambling to formulate a response to President Donald Trump’s slashing of the federal government as one group takes a front and center role: military veterans.
New Hampshire town elections offer a preview of citizenship voting rules being considered nationwide
Read full article: New Hampshire town elections offer a preview of citizenship voting rules being considered nationwideNew Hampshire has tested out its new law requiring people to show proof of citizenship before registering to vote.
Homeland Security makes cuts to offices overseeing civil rights protections
Read full article: Homeland Security makes cuts to offices overseeing civil rights protectionsThe Department of Homeland Security is making cuts to three key offices that oversee civil rights protections across its broad mission, suggesting that they were impeding immigration enforcement efforts.
Democrats' new digital strategy tops trending charts but also draws mockery from allies and foes
Read full article: Democrats' new digital strategy tops trending charts but also draws mockery from allies and foesDemocratic lawmakers are courting online content creators, podcasters and celebrities in a bid to find new ways to boost their message to voters.
Social Security in-person identity checks opposed by advocates and retirees alike
Read full article: Social Security in-person identity checks opposed by advocates and retirees alikeThe Social Security Administration’s plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients has drawn ire from lawmakers, advocacy groups and program recipients who are concerned that the government is placing barriers in front of people seeking to access their benefits.
Chuck Schumer postpones book tour amid liberal criticism over spending vote
Read full article: Chuck Schumer postpones book tour amid liberal criticism over spending voteSenate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is postponing several scheduled events this week to promote his new book after some liberal groups had planned to stage protests.
Democrats confront limits of their minority power after bruising shutdown vote
Read full article: Democrats confront limits of their minority power after bruising shutdown voteSenate Democrats were grim Friday as they left Washington after a brutal 10-week stretch that consistently showed the limits of their new minority and culminated with a deeply personal rupture over how to best counter President Donald Trump.
Democratic Party fractures in government shutdown fight, with anger running high
Read full article: Democratic Party fractures in government shutdown fight, with anger running highThe Democratic Party appears fractured as a torrent of frustration and anger has been unleashed on Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
House GOP campaign chairman says voters will 'reward us' for the Trump-Musk DOGE cuts
Read full article: House GOP campaign chairman says voters will 'reward us' for the Trump-Musk DOGE cutsThe chairman of the House Republican campaign committee is already predicting his party will pick up seats in the midterm election that are some 20 months away.
As many top Democrats stay silent on Cuomo mayoral run, an accuser feels betrayed
Read full article: As many top Democrats stay silent on Cuomo mayoral run, an accuser feels betrayedLindsey Boylan helped drive Andrew Cuomo from office in 2021 when the former aide came forward as the first woman to accuse the governor of sexual harassment.
Trump's address to Congress showed the country's stark partisan divide
Read full article: Trump's address to Congress showed the country's stark partisan divideA president’s address to Congress — even without the formal gloss of a State of the Union address — is typically a time for a call to national unity and predictable claims about the country being strong.
Democrats seek to probe Musk conflicts and DOGE firings with resolutions of inquiry in the House
Read full article: Democrats seek to probe Musk conflicts and DOGE firings with resolutions of inquiry in the HouseDemocrats on the House Oversight Committee are introducing two resolutions demanding the Trump administration turn over information about billionaire adviser Elon Musk’s potential conflicts of interest and firing of federal workers.
Bill to ban trans athletes from girls' and women's sports teams fails to advance in Senate
Read full article: Bill to ban trans athletes from girls' and women's sports teams fails to advance in SenateThe Senate has rejected legislation aiming to bar transgender women and girls from participating in school athletic competitions designated for female athletes.
House GOP pushes 'big' budget resolution to passage, a crucial step toward delivering Trump's agenda
Read full article: House GOP pushes 'big' budget resolution to passage, a crucial step toward delivering Trump's agendaHouse Republicans have muscled their budget blueprint to passage, with a push from President Donald Trump.
Democrats channel their outrage over DOGE, Ukraine and more in marathon Senate session
Read full article: Democrats channel their outrage over DOGE, Ukraine and more in marathon Senate sessionThe budget resolution from Republicans was on the agenda in the Senate, but the nearly all-night debate encompassed so much more.
Trump's former personal lawyer defends him at a Senate hearing and decries 'partisan lawfare'
Read full article: Trump's former personal lawyer defends him at a Senate hearing and decries 'partisan lawfare'President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, Todd Blanche, criticized the criminal cases against the Republican as “partisan lawfare” during his confirmation hearing to become the No. 2 Justice Department official.
Secrecy preceded the shutdown of the consumer protection agency's Washington headquarters
Read full article: Secrecy preceded the shutdown of the consumer protection agency's Washington headquartersPresident Donald Trump’s budget chief has sent an email to consumer protection agency employees telling them to stop working.
Musk team’s access to student loan systems raises alarm over borrowers' personal information
Read full article: Musk team’s access to student loan systems raises alarm over borrowers' personal informationDemocrats are opposing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency as it turns its attention to the Education Department, with lawmakers raising questions about DOGE’s access to internal systems containing personal information on tens of millions of Americans.
Democratic senators protest after they say Trump gives Musk's staff access to classified info
Read full article: Democratic senators protest after they say Trump gives Musk's staff access to classified infoDemocrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee are demanding answers after they say President Donald Trump gave Elon Musk's staff access to sensitive and classified government information.
Pennsylvania governor seeks more money for schools and transit, but relies heavily on surplus cash
Read full article: Pennsylvania governor seeks more money for schools and transit, but relies heavily on surplus cashPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro will seek more money for public schools and public transit in his new budget proposal to lawmakers.
Justice Department drops criminal proceedings against Trump co-defendants in classified records case
Read full article: Justice Department drops criminal proceedings against Trump co-defendants in classified records caseThe Justice Department has abandoned all criminal proceedings against President Donald Trump’s two co-defendants in the classified documents case against him in Florida, foreclosing the chance the case against them could ever be revived.
Senate passes immigrant detention bill that could be the first measure Trump signs into law
Read full article: Senate passes immigrant detention bill that could be the first measure Trump signs into lawThe Senate has passed a bill that would require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes.
Florida Democrats are jumping ship and joining the GOP. What does it mean for state politics?
Read full article: Florida Democrats are jumping ship and joining the GOP. What does it mean for state politics?Two Florida House Representatives, Hillary Cassel and Susan Valdés, recently announced they were leaving the Democratic Party to join the GOP.
Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen
Read full article: Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happenRepublicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress.
Senate passes RFK Stadium land bill, giving the Washington Commanders a major off-the-field win
Read full article: Senate passes RFK Stadium land bill, giving the Washington Commanders a major off-the-field winThe Washington Commanders' path to returning to nation's capital is clear after an on-again, off-again saga in Congress ended with a late reprieve.
A power grab by Republicans in North Carolina becomes a referendum on democracy in the states
Read full article: A power grab by Republicans in North Carolina becomes a referendum on democracy in the statesDemocrats in North Carolina were celebrating big wins in the swing state after the November election, including victories for governor and other top statewide offices.
Trump's words of opposition stop a bipartisan budget deal in its tracks with Musk's help
Read full article: Trump's words of opposition stop a bipartisan budget deal in its tracks with Musk's helpPresident-elect Donald Trump has delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan congressional budget negotiations.
Trump sues Des Moines Register, pollster for 'election interference' after pre-election poll
Read full article: Trump sues Des Moines Register, pollster for 'election interference' after pre-election pollPresident-elect Donald Trump is accusing the Des Moines Register newspaper and its pollster of “brazen election interference” for publishing a poll the weekend before the election that showed Democrat Kamala Harris was leading by three percentage points in the midwestern state.
Americans end 2024 with grim economic outlook, but Republicans are optimistic for 2025: AP-NORC poll
Read full article: Americans end 2024 with grim economic outlook, but Republicans are optimistic for 2025: AP-NORC pollA new poll finds that Democrats are feeling more pessimistic about the U.S. economy after Donald Trump's victory.
Manchin, Sinema prevent Democrats from locking in majority on labor board through 2026
Read full article: Manchin, Sinema prevent Democrats from locking in majority on labor board through 2026Senate Democrats failed in their bid to confirm a Democratic member of the National Labor Relations Board after the Senate rejected a razor-thin vote that hinged on the pivotal rejections of independent Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.
Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results
Read full article: Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the resultsVoters in some parts of the country are discovering that having their say at the ballot box is not necessarily the final word, even though this year's election was over a month ago.
Democrats stick with Schumer as leader. Their strategy for countering Trump is far less certain
Read full article: Democrats stick with Schumer as leader. Their strategy for countering Trump is far less certainSenate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office.
Wisconsin Democratic leader Ben Wikler enters the race to lead the national party
Read full article: Wisconsin Democratic leader Ben Wikler enters the race to lead the national partyBen Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin, says he's joined the race to lead the national party after an election that swept Donald Trump and Republicans to power in Washington.
Democrat Derek Tran defeats GOP Rep. Michelle Steel in Southern California swing House district
Read full article: Democrat Derek Tran defeats GOP Rep. Michelle Steel in Southern California swing House districtDemocrat Derek Tran has defeated two-term Republican U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel in a Southern California House district that was specifically drawn to give Asian Americans a stronger voice on Capitol Hill.