Latest U.S. Republican Party News

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to oversee US spy agencies, grilled about Snowden, Syria and Russia
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, faced sharp criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike Thursday during a fiery confirmation hearing focused on her past comments sympathetic to Russia, a meeting with Syria's now-deposed...

RFK Jr. is on the defensive over his vaccine views as a key confirmation vote hangs in the balance
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s long record of doubting the safety of childhood vaccinations persisted as a flash point for him Thursday in a confirmation hearing where senators, including a key Republican, shared intensely personal details about the impact vaccine skepticism had on...

US cybersecurity agency's future role in elections remains murky under the Trump administration
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s cybersecurity agency has played a critical role in helping states shore up the defenses of their voting systems, but its election mission appears uncertain amid sustained criticism from Republicans and key figures in the Trump administration. ...

South Carolina's McMaster is now the longest serving governor at the job he loves
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Wednesday was a big day for South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. Yes, he gave his eighth State of the State address. And he became the Palmetto State's longest serving governor at 2,927 days, thanks in large part to his evolving political instincts over 40 years in politics...

US children fall further behind in reading, make little improvement in math on national exam
WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s children have continued to lose ground on reading skills in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and have made little improvement in math, according to the latest results of an exam known as the nation’s report card. The findings are yet another setback...

After rebuke from legislative leaders, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledges to veto immigration bill
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis promised to veto a sweeping immigration bill on Wednesday in the latest escalation of a statehouse showdown with Republican legislative leaders over whose proposals would best carry out President Donald Trump ’s immigration crackdown. ...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggles to answer questions on Medicare and Medicaid at confirmation hearing
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a contentious confirmation hearing to become the nation's top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. struggled to answer questions about Medicare and Medicaid, programs that affect tens of millions of Americans, or to provide details about how he would work to drive down...

GOP-led immigration bill signals Trump that Tennessee wants to aid his deportation crackdown
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's Republican-dominant Statehouse is on track to become the latest state to adopt immigration enforcement policies designed to assist President Donald Trump's plan to suppress illegal immigration and carry out one of the largest mass deportation efforts in U.S....

Takeaways from RFK Jr.'s first confirmation hearing as Trump's nominee for health secretary
WASHINGTON (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was pressed to clarify his views on vaccines, abortion and public health priorities in the first of two Senate hearings as he tries to make the case to become President Donald Trump’s health secretary. Kennedy is seeking to lead the...

Republicans crafting Trump's big bill hit a familiar roadblock: How to pay for it
DORAL, Fla. (AP) — After fours years of criticizing growing government deficits under Joe Biden, Republicans now have a math problem of their own — how to offset the multitrillion-dollar cost of extending and expanding the tax cuts they passed in President Donald Trump’s first term. ...
