AP Politics
Political news and analysis from the Associated Press.
Latest stories
-
Federal Reserve hikes key rate for 1st time in 3 years, defying Trump demands for a cut
The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the first time since 2023 in an effort to quell stubbornly-high inflation, a move that could spur a sharp response from the White House.
-
Top Democrat places hold on Trump administration’s plan to sell heavy bombs to Israel
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Wednesday that he’s going to block a proposed sale of $2.8 billion in heavy weaponry to Israel over concerns that the powerful bombs may not be used in line with U.S. and international law.
-
Argentine judge orders halt to Falklands oil project as tensions with Britain rise
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An Argentine federal judge on Wednesday ordered British and Israeli companies to stop developing an oilfield off the Falkland Islands, opening a new legal front in the decades-old sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain that Argentine President Javier Mile...
-
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles says she no longer shows evidence of cancer after treatment
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said Wednesday that she no longer shows evidence of cancer after she underwent months of treatment for early stage breast cancer.
-
Kamala Harris is to campaign in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Former Vice President Kamala Harris plans to campaign with Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan next week in the party’s latest push to unify voters in a key battleground state that will help determine control of the Senate.
-
House holds billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress over Epstein investigation
The House has approved a resolution holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress after he defied the Oversight Committee’s subpoenas in its investigation into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The swift action, without a formal roll call vote, refers the matter to the Justice Departm...
-
Fed rate hike likely means more expensive credit cards and mortgages, but savers may rejoice
The Federal Reserve just raised the cost of borrowing money — bad news for borrowers, good news for savers. The Fed increased its benchmark interest rate Wednesday by a quarter-point, the first rate hike since the summer of 2023. The move will likely make it even costlier to borrow for homes, aut...
-
Canada’s Carney and Britain’s Burnham take first meeting to Everton football match
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met his new British counterpart, Andy Burnham, for the first time Wednesday at the home of the soccer club they both support — before watching Everton play together.
-
US businessman Adam Castillo deported from Myanmar after months in jail, state media says
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military-backed government has deported Adam Castillo, a U.S. businessman and former president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, after three months in jail on what supporters say were trumped-up charges, state media reported Wednesday.
-
House nears vote on Russia sanctions bill named after late Sen. Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House will vote Wednesday on a broad package of sanctions targeting Russian officials and key pillars of its economy as lawmakers look to deprive Russian President Vladimir Putin of the financial resources needed to wage the war against Ukraine.
-
Families of Jimmy Lai, Min Zin plead in Washington for their release ahead of Xi’s visit
WASHINGTON (AP) — The son of imprisoned former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai appealed for his father’s release at a congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday, one week before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the U.S.
-
Fencing goes up around the main Kennedy Center building after Trump-aligned board votes to close it
Fencing has gone up around the main Kennedy Center building, a day after the Trump-aligned board voted to close most of the performing arts center for repairs. That vote came after a federal judge blocked the institution from returning President Donald Trump’s name to the building. The Republican...
-
Federal prosecutors charge 3 with stealing $12M in homelessness aid in Southern California
Three people were charged by federal authorities in Los Angeles on Wednesday with stealing $12 million in federal and state homelessness aid to pay for real estate, luxury trips and vintage vehicles.
-
Tiny patients, big fight: NICU parents win leave in 2 states and push for more
Parents with newborns in intensive care units have long faced a difficult but overlooked plight: Any parental leave they might have does not take into account the days or even months their newborns spend in intensive care. Many choose to return to work immediately rather than use up leave they wi...
-
Tensions flare in Syria’s Kurdish northeast as government integration deal moves forward
KOBANI, Syria (AP) — Hundreds of oil tanker trucks were stranded in northeastern Syria's Kurdish region Wednesday after demonstrators blocked a major highway near the town of Tal Tamr in protest over rising fuel prices.
-
Iowa Republicans in battleground House races vote to halt Trump's ability to continue the Iran war
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two congressional Republicans in battleground Iowa districts, including one who recently campaigned alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, changed their position on an Iran war powers resolution, joining with Democrats and a few other dissident members of their party in...
-
George W. Bush's new book of paintings of political prisoners will be out in March
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President George W. Bush has a new book of oil paintings coming out in March that features portraits of political prisoners and dissidents.
-
The Obamas' family dog Sunny dies, the former president says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obamas' pet dog Sunny has died, former President Barack Obama said Wednesday.
-
The Latest: Federal Reserve defies Trump, hikes key interest rate for first time in 3 years
The Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023 to address high inflation. This quarter-point increase brings the rate to about 3.9% and could lead to higher borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards. The move comes just seven weeks befor...
-
South Sudan president fires head of electoral body months before country's first election
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Tuesday night announced the removal of the head of the East African country's electoral body only three months before the country’s first election.
-
English village votes to leave the UK over migrant housing plan
LONDON (AP) — A tiny English village has voted to leave the United Kingdom as a symbolic protest against government plans to house up to 1,200 asylum seekers on a nearby military base.
-
Belarus frees 25 prisoners in exchange for the US lifting some sanctions, envoy says
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The U.S. special envoy for Belarus said Wednesday that the country's authorities have agreed to release 25 prisoners in exchange for the lifting of U.S. sanctions against two Belarusian companies.
-
Dr. Nicole Saphier, Trump's 3rd surgeon general pick, faces Senate questions over her vaccine stance
Dr. Nicole Saphier, President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, has faced scrutiny over her stance on childhood vaccines. At a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, she was questioned about vaccines causing autism, a theory promoted by Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. W...
-
Trump administration has cut or frozen $177 billion in grants across every state, analysis shows
An analysis finds that the Trump administration has cut or frozen up to $177 billion in federal grants since the president took office for his second term. On Wednesday, a nonprofit and a group of researchers and scientists released a tracking tool that shows the cuts have affected all states and...
-
Charlie Kirk's family says security failures by Utah officials led to his assassination
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Charlie Kirk’s family blamed Utah officials for failing to prevent the conservative activist’s assassination at a state university, in a wrongful death notice announced Wednesday that presages a possible lawsuit.
