Top United States government News
Biden approves national security memo aimed at helping Trump on China, Iran, North Korea and Russia
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has approved a new national security memorandum that is meant to serve as a roadmap for the incoming Trump administration as it looks to counter growing cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the White House said Wednesday. ...
Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling
NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. ...
Trump says he'll name Andrew Ferguson head of FTC and Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump made another flurry of job announcements on Tuesday, selecting Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Ron Johnson was nominated to be ambassador to Mexico, and Kimberly Guilfoyle to be ambassador to Greece. ...
Report on attempts to kill Trump urges Secret Service to limit protection of foreign leaders
WASHINGTON (AP) — A congressional task force investigating the attempts to kill Donald Trump during his presidential campaign is recommending changes to the Secret Service, including protecting fewer foreign leaders during the height of election season and considering moving the agency out of the...
DA suggests unusual idea for halting Trump’s hush money case while upholding his conviction
NEW YORK (AP) — Eager to preserve President-elect Donald Trump ’s hush money conviction even as he returns to office, prosecutors are suggesting various ways forward — including one based on how some courts handle criminal cases when defendants die. Trump’s spokesperson...
Biden says he was 'stupid' not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday he was “stupid” not to put his own name on pandemic relief checks in 2021, noting that Donald Trump had done so in 2020 and likely got credit for helping people out through this simple, effective act of branding. Biden did the...
US says it will support new Syrian leaders who protect women and renounce terrorism
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Tuesday it will recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the...
Justice Department ignored some policies when seizing reporters' phone records, watchdog finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors sidestepped some Justice Department rules when they seized the phone records or emails of reporters as part of media leak investigations during the Trump administration, according to a new watchdog report being released as the aggressive practice of hunting...
Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans teed up a vote this week on bipartisan legislation to gradually expand by 66 the number of federal judgeships across the country. Democrats, though, are having second thoughts now that President-elect Donald Trump has won a second term. The...
Michigan Democrats look toward a future that some hope includes Pete Buttigieg
MONROE, Mich. (AP) — In a packed union hall outside Detroit, a worker shifts the conversation from policy to the personal, quizzing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on his knowledge of Michigan, the state he only recently started calling home. “Mayor Pete — Secretary...
Latest United States government News
Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter: AP-NORC poll
WASHINGTON (AP) — Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter: AP-NORC poll.
Biden approves national security memo aimed at helping Trump on China, Iran, North Korea and Russia
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has approved a new national security memorandum that is meant to serve as a roadmap for the incoming Trump administration as it looks to counter growing cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the White House said Wednesday. ...
US defense chief observes drills with Japan, Australia, says he's confident about greater capability
CAMP ASAKA, Japan (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed confidence about enhanced military capabilities among the United States, Australia and Japan as he observed joint exercises Wednesday showcasing their closer cooperation as tensions grow in the region. Austin...
US defense secretary in Japan to support alliance as Osprey aircraft safety causes concern
TOKYO (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with officials in Japan on Tuesday to reaffirm the importance of their alliance and Washington's commitment to regional security as threats rise from China and North Korea. Austin also stressed that U.S. trilateral cooperation...
Trump's picks for key positions in his second administration
President-elect Donald Trump has filled the key posts for his second term in office, prioritizing loyalty to him after he felt bruised and hampered by internal squabbling during his first term. Some of his choices could face difficult confirmation fights in the Senate, even with...
Editorial Roundup: United States
Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: ___ Dec. 6 The Washington Post on the Senate and a shrinking window to protect press freedom In 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland established new, but long-needed, press...
Numerous drone sightings in New Jersey don't pose safety concern, governor says
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Dozens of drones have been spotted at night across New Jersey in recent weeks, including near sensitive sites such as a military research facility, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday. Murphy said the drones don’t appear to pose a public safety concern. ...
What did you Google in 2024? From the elections to Copa América, here's what search trends show
NEW YORK (AP) — Remember what you searched for in 2024? Google does. Google released its annual “Year in Search” on Tuesday, rounding up the top trending queries entered into its namesake search engine in 2024. The results show terms that saw the highest spike in traffic...
Pennsylvania state Sen. Aument is leaving office to work for McCormick
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state senator from Lancaster County will leave his seat in Pennsylvania's Legislature to go work for the state's newly elected U.S. senator, officials said Tuesday. Sen. Ryan Aument, a Republican, intends to resign before the new legislative session begins...
US Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky to lead panel overseeing issues affecting daily lives of public
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky has secured the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which wields broad jurisdiction over issues affecting the daily lives of Americans. With the GOP set to take unified control of Congress and...
