Tag Archives: Politics

Severe weather in tropical storm’s wake triggers North Carolina state of emergency

Severe weather in tropical storm’s wake triggers North Carolina state of emergency

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina election officials are taking steps to tighten up voter registration records in a pivotal swing state. On Thursday, the State Board of Elections launched an online database of 103,000 voters who need to add their driver’s license numbers or partial Social Security numbers to the state records. Requirements for the numerical identifiers have been in place since 2004, but an outdated voter registration form helped lead to missing information. The state board is seeking to collect the ID information in part to address a lawsuit by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department. Critics worry the process could disenfranchise voters.… Continue Reading

North Carolina governor doesn’t appeal ruling on who gets say over highway patrol commander

North Carolina governor doesn’t appeal ruling on who gets say over highway patrol commander

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has decided not to appeal a trial court’s decision to dismiss one of his legal challenges against state Republican legislative leaders. The court’s decision focused on a provision in a broader state law that said Stein does not have the authority to appoint his own State Highway Patrol Commander. It instead keeps current commander Col. Freddy Johnson in his post until 2030. Stein says he challenged the provision because it was too ambiguous on if he has the ability to remove Johnson if necessary. The trial court last month ruled the provision wasn’t unconstitutional.… Continue Reading

20 states sue FEMA for canceling grant program that guards against natural disasters

20 states sue FEMA for canceling grant program that guards against natural disasters

Twenty Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency over the cancellation of a disaster mitigation grant program. The federal lawsuit filed Wednesday in Massachusetts claims President Donald Trump’s administration acted illegally by ending the program in April. The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program funds projects such as flood protection, wildfire prevention and earthquake safety. FEMA called the program wasteful. But supporters say it can help save lives and reduce costly damage from disasters. The lawsuit alleges the Trump administration violated constitutional separation of powers by ending the program without congressional permission to do so.… Continue Reading

Trump says he’s ‘highly unlikely’ to fire Fed’s Powell after floating that idea in private

Trump says he’s ‘highly unlikely’ to fire Fed’s Powell after floating that idea in private

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s “highly unlikely” to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. His public statement Wednesday came less than 24 hours after suggesting in a private meeting that he was leaning in favor of dismissing Powell. Trump confirmed to reporters that in a White House meeting Tuesday night with about a dozen House Republicans, he’d discussed the “concept” of dismissing Powell. The Fed chair has long been a target because of his refusal to lower interest rates as Trump wants. Trump’s team recently has accused Powell of mismanaging a $2.5 billion renovation project at the Fed. Trump said Wednesday he’s “highly unlikely” to dismiss Powell — ”unless he has to leave for fraud.”… Continue Reading

Trump slams his own supporters as ‘weaklings’ for falling for what he now calls the Epstein ‘hoax’

Trump slams his own supporters as ‘weaklings’ for falling for what he now calls the Epstein ‘hoax’

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump is lashing out at his own supporters as he tries to clamp down on criticism over his administration’s handling of much-hyped records in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation. And Trump told reporters Wednesday that “it’s all been a big hoax” that, in his words, has been ”perpetrated by the Democrats.” He says “some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans” have fallen “into the net.” The Justice Department and the FBI say Epstein didn’t maintain a “client list” and that no more files related to the investigation would be made public despite promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi that had raised the expectations of conservative influencers and conspiracy theorists.… Continue Reading

Senate votes to move ahead with Trump’s request for $9 billion in spending cuts

Senate votes to move ahead with Trump’s request for $9 billion in spending cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans have advanced President Donald Trump’s request to cancel some $9 billion in previously approved spending. They overcame concerns from some lawmakers about what the rescissions could mean for impoverished people around the globe and for local public radio and television stations in their home states. The Senate vote was 50-50, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie. Proponents described the bill as a first step in putting the nation’s fiscal house in order. Democrats questioned their intent given that Republicans just passed a major tax and spending cut bill that is expected to increase federal deficits by an estimated $3.4 trillion over the coming decade.… Continue Reading

Pam Bondi dodges questions on Epstein and Bongino amid Justice Department turmoil

Pam Bondi dodges questions on Epstein and Bongino amid Justice Department turmoil

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Attorney General Pam Bondi refused to answer questions Tuesday about investigate files related to Jeffrey Epstein and her clash with a top FBI official. She’s seeking to press ahead with a business-as-usual approach in the face of right-wing outrage that has plunged the Justice Department into turmoil. Bondi was pressed by reporters at an announcement touting drug seizures. The Trump administration is struggling to contain the fallout of a decision not to release any more records related to the wealthy financier’s sex trafficking investigation.… Continue Reading

NC joins more than 20 states suing Trump administration over frozen after-school and summer funding

NC joins more than 20 states suing Trump administration over frozen after-school and summer funding

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — More than 20 states have sued President Donald Trump’s administration over billions of dollars in frozen funding for after-school care, summer programs and more. Programs for more than 1 million students are at risk because of a Trump administration freeze on education grants. Congress set aside money for the programs at Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA and public schools to provide academic support, enrichment and child care. But Trump’s administration says it wants to make sure recipients’ programs align with the Republican president’s priorities. The lawsuit was filed Monday. The lawsuit is led by California. It says freezing the money violates the Constitution and several federal laws.… Continue Reading

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette launches 2026 gubernatorial bid, touts Trump ties

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette launches 2026 gubernatorial bid, touts Trump ties

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette has announced her 2026 bid for governor. Speaking to supporters on Monday, she highlighted her work with outgoing Gov. Henry McMaster and her ties to former President Donald Trump. Evette emphasized her efforts to promote McMaster’s agenda, including support for law enforcement, stricter immigration policies, and abortion restrictions. If governor she pledged to expand school choice, eliminate income taxes and fight “woke corporations.” Evette is the first female Republican lieutenant governor in the state. Other Republicans, including Attorney General Alan Wilson, have also entered the race. The GOP primary isn’t until next June.… Continue Reading

Lawmakers visit ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ after being blocked

Lawmakers visit ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ after being blocked

OCHOPEE, Fla. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers are condemning Florida’s new Everglades immigration detention center after making a state-arranged visit. They are describing crowded, unsanitary and bug-infested conditions that officials have dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” But Republican legislators said they saw a clean and well-run facility while on the same tour Saturday. The visit came after some Democrats were blocked earlier from viewing the 3,000-bed detention center. The state rapidly built it on an isolated airstrip surrounded by swampland.… Continue Reading

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