Politics

By Camila DeChalus, CNN (CNN) — Residents of Washington, DC, on Sunday briefly experienced the worst air quality of any major city in the world, according to a company that ranks pollution globally, as the capital reckoned with the aftermath of a massive, 40-minute Fourth of July fireworks show. City officials issued a Code Red

By Edward-Isaac Dovere, Alison Main, CNN (CNN) — Mallory McMorrow dropped out of the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan on Sunday, narrowing the field to two as the party faces a crucial choice next month in picking a nominee to defend a must-win seat. That leaves Rep. Haley Stevens facing Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate running

By Alison Main, CNN (CNN) — House Speaker Mike Johnson said he plans to move quickly to advance President Donald Trump’s signature voter ID legislation through the arduous budget reconciliation process once the House returns to Washington, downplaying the heightened tensions within the GOP after he sent lawmakers home early for the holidays after a

By Joan Biskupic, CNN Chief Supreme Court Analyst (CNN) — In 2020, when the Supreme Court declared that transgender workers were covered by federal anti-discrimination law, the opinion authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch marked a legal breakthrough. The case extended Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to gay and lesbian workers as well transgender

By Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump posted a new image Friday of a $100 bill bearing his signature, months after the Treasury Department announced that, for the first time, a sitting president’s signature would be featured on US paper currency. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Saturday touted the president’s economic achievements and

By Alayna Treene, Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump pardoned 11 people on Friday, a White House official told CNN, including several individuals who violated the Clean Air Act aimed at cutting down on emissions and improving air quality. Trump announced earlier Friday that he signed pardons for six people who he argued

CNN By John Fritze, Devan Cole, Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld state bans on transgender students playing on girls sports teams, delivering another blockbuster setback to trans youth and their families in a decision that is likely to sustain similar laws in about half of the nation. In a

CNN By John Fritze, Devan Cole, Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld state bans on transgender students playing on girls sports teams, delivering another blockbuster setback to trans youth and their families in a decision that is likely to sustain similar laws in about half of the nation. In a

By Gloria Pazmino, CNN (CNN) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani argued a true celebration of patriotism should confront both the nation’s ideals and its flaws, in a speech Friday on the eve of America’s 250th birthday. The speech, meant to contrast to President Donald Trump’s planned remarks at Mount Rushmore, was steeped in

By Aleena Fayaz, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump’s celebration for America’s 250th anniversary will culminate Saturday with a record-breaking fireworks show on the National Mall amid scorching temperatures and controversy over his efforts to put himself at the center of the commemoration. Trump has teased lengthy remarks as part of the “Salute to America”

By Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — The former top US general whom Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired last year criticized the use of the military for political missions in an op-ed published Friday, pointing to the Trump administration’s deployment of troops to clamp down on crime in major cities. “(W)hen presidents use the armed forces

By Kevin Liptak, Katie Bo Lillis, Alayna Treene, CNN (CNN) — US officials attempted to warn Iran of fears they had that Israel would assassinate meditators during talks this spring, two US officials said. The officials said the US worried that Israel might assassinate Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian parliamentary speaker who is leading negotiations

By Sunlen Serfaty, CNN (CNN) — A new, intensive plan to keep the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall clean is emerging after the Trump administration spent months trying to turn the iconic memorial sparkling blue at the behest of President Donald Trump. The Department of Interior is soliciting bids to hire a contractor for

By Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump returns to Mount Rushmore on Friday, and though the president has openly mused about adding his likeness to the storied national monument, it’s unclear if he can move the mountains necessary to make it happen. He’s brought it up jokingly at campaign rallies, posted hints on

By Edward Wu, CNN (CNN) — This year’s primary turnout continues a trend that’s been building since Donald Trump’s return to the White House – Democrats are more motivated than Republicans to vote. Voter numbers have surged in Democratic primaries through the first half of 2026, creating a primary electorate that tilts more toward Democrats

By Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — Sen. Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized as “he continues his recovery,” a spokesperson for the Kentucky Republican said in a statement on Thursday. The former GOP leader’s office still hasn’t disclosed the cause of McConnell’s hospitalization since he entered on June 14. “Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s

By Priscilla Alvarez, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration is planning for an increase in worksite immigration enforcement operations, with multiple federal agencies involved in determining how to boost the number of arrests and placate the president’s base, according to five sources familiar with the discussions. Administration officials say that criminal investigations have been ongoing

By Kristen Holmes, Jason Morris, Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — The FBI has ramped up its investigation into the 2020 election in Georgia by dedicating more personnel to what an internal memo refers to as a “priority,” a person familiar with the matter told CNN, ramping up an inquiry into the election that President Donald

By Katelyn Polantz, Michael Williams, CNN (CNN) — A former Olympic canoeist has been indicted by a grand jury in Washington, DC, Superior Court, for allegedly damaging the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. David Hearn was charged Thursday with one count of destruction of property with a value of more than $1,000,

By Martin Goillandeau, CNN (CNN) — A US Air Force major was arrested on the steps of the US Capitol on Wednesday after delivering a speech calling for the impeachment and removal of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The arrest of Jason Watson occurred after he spoke at a news conference organized

By Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, CNN (CNN) — Donors who intended to support a bipartisan nonprofit that’s organizing celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary were allegedly redirected — without their knowledge — to a separate nonprofit behind events being promoted by President Donald Trump, according to a report from a group of House Democrats, citing confidential, unnamed

By Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gave her coveted endorsement Thursday to Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Senate candidate in Michigan who party leaders have worried might be too left-leaning to win in the swing state. “After watching this campaign unfold for well over a year, it has become clear

By Evan Perez, CNN (CNN) — Douglas S. DePodesta, the special agent in charge of the FBI Chicago field office, was pushed to retire after disagreements with the local US Attorney Andrew Boutros, according to two people familiar with the situation. Several people familiar with the retirement told CNN they didn’t believe one single dispute

By Holmes Lybrand, Kristen Holmes, CNN (CNN) — The day after the White House kicked off celebrations for America’s 250th birthday with a UFC fight on the South Lawn, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that law enforcement had thwarted a plot to attack the event using drones and snipers to target Trump and others. Now,

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — After berating the Supreme Court for much of the year — while simultaneously inviting some of the justices over to the White House for dinner — President Donald Trump’s final assessment of the court’s momentous term this week felt something like a ceasefire. “The Republican Party,” the president posted

By Aleena Fayaz, CNN (CNN) — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday fired two members of the state’s clemency board after they spoke out against his controversial decision to grant clemency to Tina Peters – an election denier whose sentence was cut in half by the outgoing Democratic governor in May. Azra Taslimi and Hannah

By Mary Kay Mallonee, CNN (CNN) — An EMS audio recording published by an independent journalist indicates that emergency responders were called to the Washington, DC, home of Sen. Mitch McConnell for an “unconscious” person the same day he was hospitalized last month. In the audio, the dispatcher says the call is for a “cardiac