NORFOLK, Va. — The audience, such that it was, chattered excitedly ahead of Tuesday night’s debate. It sounded almost human.

“Good evening, and thanks for joining us on this unique occasion for an exchange of ideas between the two candidates running to be the next lieutenant governor of Virginia,” intoned a disembodied voice. Viewers at...Read more

President Donald Trump attacked U.S. cattle ranchers over their criticism of his plan to slash record beef prices by importing significantly more tariff-free meat from Argentina, deepening a quarrel with a group of reliable supporters and raising concerns among ranch-state Republican lawmakers.

Trump on Wednesday said that cattlemen should be ...Read more

Early voter turnout exceeds expectations in California’s Nov. 4 special election over redrawing the state’s congressional districts, a Democratic-led effort to counter Republican attempts to keep Congress under GOP control.

“We’re seeing some pretty extraordinary numbers of early votes that have already been cast, people sending back in...Read more

WASHINGTON — The University of Virginia became the latest college to strike a deal with the Trump administration, settling civil rights investigations that threatened the school’s federal funding and cost its former president his job.

As part of the accord, the university agreed to provide the government with data on its admissions and ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Three of the country's most powerful judges met in Pasadena on Wednesday for a rare conclave that could rewrite the legal framework for President Trump's expansive deployment of troops to cities across the United States.

The move to flood Los Angeles with thousands of federalized soldiers over the objection of state and local ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Haridopolos has been averaging 15,000 steps a day during the shutdown, and his years of being a history teacher have come in handy.

With staff-led tours of the Capitol on pause until the government reopens, the Florida Republican has led more than 20 tours of his own this month.

“As a former history teacher, I love ...Read more

Scotland’s finance secretary is asking the United Kingdom for a $35 million reimbursement following visits from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Secretary Shona Robison said in a letter that Scotland incurred “substantial operational and financial burdens” that impacted public services as a result of those visits. That ...Read more

President Donald Trump this week appeared to double down on sending the National Guard to San Francisco. But could that mean troop deployments to other parts of the Bay Area?

Officials across the region, including in San Jose, Oakland, Concord and Berkeley, said they’ve received no indication of the military’s imminent arrival in their ...Read more

After years of speculation, California state Sen. Scott Wiener announced Wednesday that he was running to replace Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who has yet to say whether she will run again in 2026 for the congressional district representing San Francisco.

For years, Wiener had deflected rumors about his aspirations for higher office, saying he...Read more

As President Donald Trump prepares to send National Guard troops — from either Oregon, California or possibly Texas — into Portland, Oregon, entrepreneur Sarah Shaoul watches with deep concern.

A three-decade resident of the Portland area, Shaoul leads a coalition of roughly 100 local small businesses, including many dependent on foot ...Read more

On Friday, the United States destroyed what the Defense Department alleged was a boat affiliated with the National Liberation Army, a Colombian rebel group, using the Southern Caribbean to smuggle drugs into the country. The latest operation, which reportedly killed three people, is the seventh since the aerial campaign began in September. It ...Read more

The most powerful Republican in North Carolina, Senate leader Phil Berger, cut off Senate Democrats’ debate Monday night during a controversial map vote, in a rare move the minority party leader likened to that of “a dictator.”

It’s an allowable procedural move that’s been used in the House to end debate and get right to a vote, but ...Read more

President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel announced he would withdraw from a confirmation hearing set for Thursday “because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time.”

Paul Ingrassia was scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in his bid...Read more

WASHINGTON — Adelita Grijalva and Arizona asked a federal court on Tuesday to allow someone else to administer her oath to be the state’s 7th District representative since Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to do so, nearly a month after she won a special election.

While federal law states that the speaker administers the oath of office to ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — President Donald Trump’s threats to run a GOP primary challenger against Rep. Thomas Massie have come to fruition.

Ed Gallrein, a Trump-endorsed candidate from Shelby County, officially launched his campaign against Massie Tuesday morning.

“I’ve dedicated my life to serving my country, and I’m ready to answer the ...Read more

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump potentially closed the door to another reconciliation bill Tuesday, telling Republican senators at the White House that this summer’s “big beautiful bill” contained “everything” he desired and that no additional legislation is necessary.

Soon after the reconciliation package became law in July, ...Read more

Former President Joe Biden completed a round of radiation therapy at a Penn Medicine cancer center in Philadelphia Monday as part of his treatment for prostate cancer, according to a family representative.

Biden, 82, announced in May that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease that had spread to his bones.

A spokesperson ...Read more

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., has joined fellow Senate Republicans in signing on to a letter urging top health officials in the Trump administration to rescind approval for a drug used in one of the most common methods of abortion.

In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary ...Read more

Sen. John Fetterman, D.-Pa., said he’d back a Republican plan to override the Senate filibuster if it meant passing a bill to reopen the government.

In an interview with The Inquirer Tuesday, Fetterman admonished fellow Democrats who balk at the notion of using the so-called “nuclear option” to end the filibuster: “When I ran for Senate...Read more

WASHINGTON — While much of the government enters its fourth shutdown week Wednesday, what does keep going strong are the charges and countercharges from Republicans and Democrats.

California Republicans blame Democrats for being stubborn and hurting constituents. Democrats say it’s Republicans who are being obstinate and spreading pain.

As...Read more