All Politics
First LookHow will US cities spend $350B in relief aid? Answers vary.In California, federal relief aid is being used to finance a new recreation center, but the same money cannot be used to fix a bridge a few towns over. Local governments facing similar discrepancies across the U.S. are calling for the Treasury to loosen spending rules.
Biden won’t shield Trump records. Will he regret it?With criminal charges looming against Steve Bannon, executive privilege – and its confidentiality protections – may be getting a rare day in court.
First LookBannon defies Jan. 6 subpoena, cites Trump executive privilegeAs the Jan. 6 congressional committee continues its investigation, Steve Bannon is refusing to hand over documents and appear for a deposition. Mr. Bannon’s lawyer claims the information solicited is protected by former President Donald Trump’s executive privilege.
Why Democrats may be facing a generation in the wildernessDemocrats face serious electoral challenges in 2022 and beyond, which raises the stakes for their agenda. But does that mean they should aim high or tread lightly?
Debt crisis averted, but at what cost?After punting on the debt, Democrats in Congress now face a critical stretch, with President Biden’s domestic agenda on the line.
Nonpartisan redistricting? Reform efforts meet reality.New commissions, some made up of average citizens, are struggling to overcome partisanship as they redraw congressional and state legislative lines.
Data privacy is a big public concern. Will Congress answer with a law?The United States is an outlier as a major economy without a data privacy law. Is the path clearing for that to change?
First LookDodging debt disaster, US Senate votes to extend borrowingAvoiding an unprecedented default, the U.S. Senate voted along party lines on Thursday to move the debt cap deadline into December. President Biden harshly criticized Republicans in the Senate for threatening a filibuster, saying their actions are dangerous.
First Look'Political football': Biden restores scope of Utah monumentsPresident Biden will restore two national monuments in Utah and a marine conservation area in New England, reversing an executive order by former President Trump. Republicans say Democratic presidents have overstepped when establishing national monuments.
Faith or politics? Trump supporters swell evangelical pews.After years of stagnancy, the number of Evangelicals surged from 25% of the adult U.S. population in 2016 to 29% in 2020 – fueled by white Trump supporters.
Why can’t Biden be the next LBJ or FDR? It comes down to math.The president has a sweeping domestic agenda, and the slimmest possible Democratic majority with which to try to pass it.
First LookDespite promises, Biden admits fewer refugees than TrumpPresident Biden not only co-sponsored legislation that created the refugee program in 1980, but he also pledged to reverse the sharp cuts made by the Trump administration. However, in the 2021 budget year, only 11,445 refugees were admitted – a record low.
First LookWhy some Democrats oppose replacing Minneapolis police forceOver a year after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, some Democrats are pushing to replace the city’s police department with a new Department of Public Safety – an idea opposed by more moderate politicians.
First LookUS government averts partial shutdown, spending cap still loomsRepublicans and Democrats in Congress remain at odds over how to raise the government’s borrowing cap. If that cap is not raised by Oct. 18, the U.S. could face a financial crisis and recession, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.
Are progressives the bloc of ‘no’? They say no.Exercising new leverage, progressives in Congress vowed not to vote for a bipartisan infrastructure bill until their $3.5 trillion budget passed.
The ‘big lie,’ loyalty to Trump – and the defense of democracyWhat does it mean to be a Republican, post-Trump? A majority of GOP voters polled say that claiming the 2020 election was stolen is a defining characteristic.
Virginia governor’s race: What does ‘pro-business’ mean in a pandemic?Will voters see mask and vaccine mandates as helping businesses or hindering them? The Virginia governor’s race may provide a test case.
First LookWill taxes on the ultra-rich be enough to fund Dems' $3.5T bill?Democrats say President Biden’s $3.5 trillion social program package will pay for itself through tax hikes on corporations and the wealthy and other revenue sources. Although Republicans are wary, Mr. Biden promises a price tag of “zero.”
Monitor BreakfastA breakfast table full of questions for Adam SchiffWhen Rep. Adam Schiff stepped into Washington’s St. Regis Hotel Thursday for a Monitor Breakfast, there was no shortage of topics on the table.
Why Congress is bringing US to the brink of defaultThe debt limit, once used to balance fiscal discipline with spending priorities, has become a political game of chicken.
