The Hill

Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey on Wednesday described President Trump’s Quantico, Va., remarks to top generals as less than admirable. “I’ve been doing this a long time. That presentation at Quantico from the president and secretary of Defense was one of the most bizarre, unsettling events I’ve ever encountered,” … Retired general: Trump sounded ‘incoherent, exhausted’ in Quantico remarksRead more

Democrats are mainstreaming socialism. As recent polling shows, socialism is already embedded in their party’s mainstream. But by bowing to the will of their majority, the Democratic Party threatens to bring socialism into America’s mainstream via the two-party system.  Those who thought socialists running on Democratic tickets were … Democrats on all levels are mainstreaming socialismRead more

(NEXSTAR) – Groundbreaking chimpanzee researcher Jane Goodall has died, the institute bearing her name said Wednesday. She was 91 years old. “The Jane Goodall Institute has learned this morning, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall … Jane Goodall, legendary chimp expert, dead at 91Read more

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday backed President Trump’s plans to use cities he deems dangerous because of their crime as a “training ground” for the military, though he seemed to draw a distinction in suggesting it would be National Guard members taking part in such actions.  … Johnson backs Trump’s ‘training ground’ remarks: Military in US cities a ‘win-win scenario’Read more

12:30 Report is The Hill’s midday newsletter. Subscribe here. It’s Wednesday. Happy October, folks! 🎃 In today’s issue: — Senate dives into daily funding votes — GOP dubs impasse ‘Schumer Shutdown’ — Supreme Court to hear Lisa Cook case — Pope Leo speaks up on US politics — Elon … Government grinds to halt, finger-pointing eruptsRead more

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will brief reporters Wednesday afternoon, just hours after the government shutdown went into effect. Senators on both sides of the aisle have failed to come to an agreement on a stopgap funding plan. Republicans pushed forward a “clean” plan last month without … Watch live: White House holds press briefing on Day 1 of shutdownRead more

In 2012, when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was campaigning for president, he was asked during a Republican primary debate how millions of immigrants who were living in the United States unlawfully could be removed. He responded that, “the answer is self-deportation.” Romney was mocked widely for that … Mitt Romney was right: Self-deportation works Read more

On the same day that the New York Mets were forced out of playoff contention, the incumbent mayor of New York City was forced out of the mayoral election. In politics and sports, all the money in the world cannot guarantee victory. Suddenly, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) … With Eric Adams gone, New York City politics is up in the airRead more

President Trump signed an executive order bolstering U.S. protections for Qatar in the wake of an Israeli strike there that killed six people. The executive order states that the United States “shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar … Trump signs order to protect Qatar after Israeli strikeRead more

Republican leaders in Congress on Wednesday dug in on pressuring Democrats to vote for a “clean” GOP-crafted stopgap to reopen the government, signaling the Senate will hold repeated votes on the bill if necessary. The top leaders from both chambers appeared on the Capitol’s west terrace Wednesday morning, … Republican leaders dig in on pressuring Democrats to open governmentRead more

Public safety is a fundamental responsibility of government, and there is a new threat on the horizon. Malicious drones pose a growing threat to our safety and well-being, and governors are calling on Congress to grant the resources and authority we need to protect our people and infrastructure. … Governors urge congressional action on drone threatsRead more

Late night comedians Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert on Tuesday shared stories of being pulled off the air, temporarily for Kimmel and permanently for Colbert starting next year. During an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Colbert explained how he learned his show was being canceled by Paramount, CBS’ … Colbert grants Kimmel first interview since cancellationRead more

President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded their long-awaited phone call on Sept. 19. According to Trump, the U.S. and China made unspecified “progress” on issues ranging from tariffs to fentanyl to TikTok. But although meaningful results on these issues would be welcome, the U.S. faces a … Beijing summit raises the risk of armed conflict Read more

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) are holding a news conference Wednesday morning, the day after lawmakers failed to pass legislation to avert a government shutdown. Republicans have largely blamed their Democratic colleagues for the lapse in funding, after Senate Democrats blocked … Watch live: GOP leaders give remarks as shutdown begins, casting blame on DemsRead more

Essential federal employees will continue to perform work for the government during a shutdown with each agency carving out its own intricacies regarding adjusted operations. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and service members will perform daily duties as will air traffic … What government work continues during shutdown?Read more

The U.S.-led peace process in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is in danger.  Although violence involving the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels had continued in recent months, it is now set to escalate. Both sides have indicated that the U.S.-backed ceasefires are effectively dead, following weeks of mutual … Trump’s central African peace deal is in danger of failing — act now to save it Read more

As world leaders convene in New York for the United Nations General Assembly this year, the global conversation is dominated by trade. With sweeping tariffs back in the headlines, trade policy has returned to center stage.  For American companies, higher tariffs on products from Southeast Asia matter greatly. … If the US doesn’t think beyond tariffs in Southeast Asia, others will Read more

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Chunk, a towering brown bear with a broken jaw, swept the competition Tuesday in the popular Fat Bear Week contest — his first win after narrowly finishing in second place three previous years. The annual online competition allows viewers to follow 12 bears in Alaska’s … Chunk, a 1,200-pound bear with a broken jaw, wins Fat Bear Week contestRead more

In September, a federal judge condemned the deportation of a group of migrants from West Africa to Ghana, saying the government had acted outside established procedures. The group had been placed on a list for “fast-track deportation” without full hearings in immigration courts. The judge noted that such practice may … Expedited removals are sidelining legal rights in immigration casesRead more

Morning Report is The Hill’s a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here. In today’s issue: ▪ Navigating the shutdown ▪ Hegseth enacts DOD vision ▪ Epstein files vote delayed ▪ 2020 lingers over Georgia race Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. … Five questions hanging over the government shutdownRead more

Election Day 2025 is just around the corner. While it may not be covered with the same intensity as the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats can no longer afford to focus on what happened in 2024. To win upcoming elections, my fellow Democrats must go beyond criticizing President Trump’s … Donna Brazile: Democrats’ path to victory in 2025 and beyondRead more

A law allowing private companies to share information about cybersecurity threats with the government expired Wednesday after Congress failed to reauthorize the legislation amid a wider shutdown fight.  The Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Act (CISA) of 2015, which initially appeared poised to be extended as part of a … Cyberthreat sharing law expires as government shuts downRead more

As the first government shutdown since 2019 begins, GOP leaders insist any talk of extending COVID-era enhanced subsidies for ObamaCare plans won’t happen until at least mid-November. “We are not going to be held hostage for over $1 trillion in new spending on a continuing resolution,” Senate Majority … Health insurance costs for 22 million in limbo as shutdown beginsRead more

The federal government shut down overnight Wednesday, as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on a stopgap funding bill amid a Sept. 30 deadline. President Trump’s administration threatened mass firings and potential program cuts if funding expired. Labor unions on Tuesday filed suit to try to … Live updates: Trump’s layoff threat hangs over government shutdownRead more

The federal government officially entered a shutdown at midnight on Wednesday after congressional leaders were unable to reach a deal on a stopgap spending bill, leaving lawmakers grasping at straws over how to break the impasse.  The shutdown became a certainty after lawmakers voted down a pair of … US government shuts down after Congress fails to find funding dealRead more

Pope Leo XIV criticized supporters of the death penalty on Tuesday, saying they are “not really pro-life.” “Someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion,’ but says ‘I’m in favor of the death penalty,’ is not really pro-life,” the pope told reporters, via EWTN News. “Someone who says that, ‘I’m … Pope Leo XIV: Support for death penalty is ‘not really pro-life’Read more

(NewsNation) — A norovirus outbreak has sickened over 70 people aboard a 13-day Royal Caribbean Cruise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Royal Caribbean’s Serenade of the Seas departed from San Diego on Sept. 19 and is scheduled to arrive in Miami on Thursday, Oct. 2. … Norovirus outbreak on Royal Caribbean cruise sickens over 70 passengersRead more

The Justice Department (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LACSD) Tuesday, alleging it is intentionally delaying residents’ concealed carry applications.  The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California, lists the LACSD and Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, … DOJ sues LA sheriff over concealed carry license processingRead more

President Trump on Tuesday withdrew the nomination of E.J. Antoni to serve as the next commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after ousting the previous head of the agency over criticism of jobs data. Trump had announced in August that he would nominate Antoni, a top economist … Trump pulls nomination of EJ Antoni to lead Bureau of Labor StatisticsRead more

National Parks will largely remain open even as the federal government shuts down, according to a plan made public on Tuesday evening. “Park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors,” says a shutdown contingency plan for the National Park Service (NPS). At the same … National Parks will largely remain open as government shuts downRead more