All Politics
Trump weakening? Not judging by his Iowa swing.Since launching his bid for the White House last year, Donald Trump’s grip on the GOP was widely proclaimed to be weakening. But that belies a set of strengths that are in many ways now becoming evident, as seen on his trip to Iowa this week.
First LookWhat’s next in gun control? Biden to sign executive order.President Biden is expected to sign an executive order Tuesday aiming to increase the number of background checks to buy guns. The order also includes promoting safer storage and ensuring U.S. law enforcement gains from last summer’s bipartisan law.
First LookAlaska’s Willow oil: ‘Carbon bomb’ or economic opportunity?The Biden administration is preparing to approve the $8 billion Willow oil-drilling project in Alaska. The controversial move comes as Joe Biden has limited or banned drilling in 13 million acres of land in the state and 3 million acres of the Beaufort Sea.
Are we heading for the mother of all budget showdowns?President Biden’s budget is a statement of values. It’s an opening bid in negotiations with Republicans over programs like Social Security, and most urgently, the federal debt limit. Think, also, of his expected 2024 reelection campaign.
Talk radio rises as a new battleground for Latino votersIn the competition for Latino votes, liberals are trying to catch up with conservatives in using talk radio to reach a key demographic.
First LookOklahoma voters halt $4.9m push to legalize recreational marijuanaOklahoma voters have rejected a move to allow the recreational use of marijuana for those over 21. Oklahoma already has a robust medical marijuana program. The proposal was opposed by various religious leaders, law enforcement, and prosecutors.
Battle over DC statehood collides with politics of crimeA surprising number of Democrats in Congress, as well as President Joe Biden, back a measure that nullifies Washington, D.C.’s new criminal code. In this case, crime trumps D.C. home rule.
First LookMore GOP states cite 'lost confidence' in voter registration programThree Republican-led states – Missouri, Florida, and West Virginia – have withdrawn from bipartisan efforts to ensure accurate voter lists. The system to thwart voter fraud, known as ERIC, has been made a target of suspicion in the Republican party.
First LookTrump, DeSantis push court to revisit libel laws in Dominion caseFox News is facing a defamation lawsuit launched by Dominion Voting Systems over its coverage of voter fraud conspiracies in 2020. The network hopes to defend itself with a 1964 Supreme Court decision that makes it difficult to sue media for libel.
First LookBarred from ballots behind bars, freed felons seek voting rightsAt least 14 U.S. states have introduced bipartisan voting rights bills this year to restore voting rights to felons. Former prisoners say the right to vote after finishing their sentence aids an easy transition back into society.
The ExplainerDefamation is hard to prove. Does Dominion have a case against Fox?Court documents reveal a disconnect between the false claims Fox News aired about the 2020 election and what its executives were saying internally – and suggest the network was concerned about offending Trump supporters.
First LookWomen's work: California bill to expand safety for domestic helpersA proposed bill in California would require employers of domestic workers to comply with the same safety standards as other workplaces. Sen. María Elena Durazo, who wrote the bill, hopes to protect a part of the workforce made up of mostly women of color.
In new Congress, a bipartisan push to take on ChinaIs America asleep to a growing threat, or overhyping it? Lawmakers debate how to preserve democratic values at home and abroad as China’s global influence expands.
First LookChicago mayoral race: Lightfoot ousted, but no clear winner yetChicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign came up short at the polls. Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson advance to the April 4 runoff after none of the nine candidates were able to secure over 50% of the vote to win outright.
First Look‘There’s a new sheriff in town’: DeSantis takes control of DisneyFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill that gives him control of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district. Republican critics of Disney call the company a purveyor of “woke” ideology that injects inappropriate subjects into children’s entertainment.
First LookIs the clock ticking for TikTok? White House bans app on fed devices.All federal agencies have 30 days to delete TikTok from government-owned devices. House Republicans are expected to move forward Tuesday with a bill that would give President Biden the power to ban TikTok nationwide.
Chicago mayoral race spotlights cities’ post-pandemic strugglesThe campaign is a window into how Chicago has – and has not – rebounded from the COVID-19 crisis, with problems like crime now top of mind.
First Look'Providers are protected': New Mexico bill defends abortion rightsNew Mexico has taken steps to strengthen abortion access after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturned a woman’s decision to end a pregnancy as a constitutional right. Legislators advanced a bill defending providers from out-of-state interference.
First LookBiden to border asylum seekers: Ask other countries firstThe Biden administration will now generally deny migrants who have not already sought asylum in a country they passed through prior to reaching the U.S. border. A similar move by the Trump administration was blocked in court.
Profile in courage: When Jimmy Carter helped save a nuclear reactorWith the former president having entered hospice, a little-known chapter from Jimmy Carter’s naval career illustrates his courage and problem-solving skills under hazardous conditions.
