The Guardian

Judge previously blocked president from laying off 1,500 employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau A federal appeals court set the stage for the Trump administration to resume firings at the top US consumer watchdog, ruling in a split decision that a lower court lacked jurisdiction in temporarily … Court lifts block on Trump’s mass firings at top US consumer watchdogRead more

LaToya Cantrell’s indictment comes after businessman was charged for exchanging gifts with her for favors The New Orleans mayor, LaToya Cantrell, was indicted on Friday on federal corruption charges after spending roughly three years under investigation. The indictment against Cantrell came after the September 2024 indictment of local … New Orleans mayor indicted on federal corruption chargesRead more

Legislation says special emergency conditions that would warrant federalization of DC police have not been met Democratic lawmakers have introduced a joint resolution aimed at ending what they call Trump’s unlawful and unprecedented move to federalize the Metropolitan police department (MPD) in Washington DC. Representative Jamie Raskin, the … Democrats introduce joint resolution to end Trump’s ‘lawless’ DC takeoverRead more

Senator Adam Schiff suggests in letter that use of funds to alter outflow of lake for personal use may have been inappropriate US politics live – latest updates The US Secret Service and US military engineers are facing scrutiny after Adam Schiff, the California senator, demanded they answer … Secret Service and US military engineers face scrutiny over raising river water level for Vance’s birthdayRead more

The Putin-Trump meeting is scheduled to get under way at 3.30pm ET; US president says he wants to see a ceasefire and ‘won’t be happy if it’s not today’ What’s at stake at the Trump-Putin Ukraine peace summit? Welcome to our coverage of the president’s summit with Vladimir … Trump-Putin summit live updates: US and Russian leaders to meet in Alaska to discuss ending Ukraine warRead more

Trump wants to go after cities across the US to settle political scores, assert himself as a strongman and, potentially, arrest his opponents US politics live – latest updates It’s not about immigration – or rather, it’s not just about immigration. Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, sent … Trump’s attacks on Democratic-run US cities will not stop with WashingtonRead more

Governor Greg Abbott said he will immediately call another session as Democratic lawmakers signaled return to state US politics live – latest updates Texas lawmakers will adjourn their first special session without passing new congressional maps on Friday – though Greg Abbott, the state’s governor, has said he … Barack Obama praises Texas Democrats as state legislature moves to end special session without passing new electoral mapsRead more

Federal officers swept encampments across DC overnight, leaving many uncertain about where they will find shelter US politics live – latest updates For the past eight months, David Harold Pugh has found his “spot” outside the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in Washington DC. He keeps all … ‘It’s not illegal to be homeless’: unhoused Washingtonians evicted from encampments as part of Trump’s crime crackdownRead more

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes billions of dollars in giveaways to fossil fuel companies and their executives The Republican lawmakers who voted for Donald Trump’s anti-environment tax and spending bill have accepted more than $105m in political donations from the fossil fuel industry, a new analysis … Republicans who backed Trump’s anti-environment bill have accepted over $105m from big oilRead more

Pam Bondi says DEA chief Terry Cole in charge of Metropolitan police amid White House crackdown on crime Washington DC was seeking an emergency restraining order on Friday against Donald Trump’s takeover of its police department, dubbing it a “hostile takeover” of law enforcement in the nation’s capital. … Washington DC sues after Trump officials’ ‘hostile takeover’ of city policeRead more

Republican redestricting move aims to win House majority in midterms. Plus, plastic pollution talks fail in Geneva Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has said lawmakers will proceed with a redistricting plan to counter the Republican-led map … Newsom says California hopes to redraw maps in response to Texas plan | First ThingRead more

Trump’s plan to boost Republican House seats in the midterms through gerrymandering has provoked a reaction The mid-decade redistricting war looming between Republicans and Democrats is exposing an idea that’s corroding American democracy – voters may not matter that much in determining who controls the US House. After … Democrats are fighting fire with fire over redistricting – but will democracy burn?Read more

Critics say Jay Bhattacharya’s comments on so-called failure of mRNA vaccines to ‘earn public trust’ are ‘astounding’ When the director of the National Institutes of Health this week said funding for the development of mRNA vaccines – the backbone of Covid vaccines – was being wound down because … Experts condemn NIH director’s defense of cut to vaccine researchRead more

Local officials slam president’s remarks and point to federal funding cuts as the real harm to public safety in their cities When Donald Trump announced a federal takeover of the Metropolitan police department in Washington DC on Monday, he left room for the possibility of making a similar … How Trump is using ‘pure lies’ about high crime in US cities to justify federal takeoversRead more

At least one person reportedly arrested as protesters heckle law enforcement and warn drivers to avoid area as Trump makes false claims about crime levels Pam Bondi, the attorney general, said she has sent “sanctuary city” letters to the mayors of 32 cities and a handful of county … Protesters gather in Washington DC as federal law enforcement officers stop drivers – US politics liveRead more

Donald Trump gives talks 75% chance of success while European leaders worry about concessions to Moscow – key US politics stories from Thursday 14 August Donald Trump has insisted he won’t let Vladimir Putin “mess around” with him at their high-stakes summit over Ukraine and is giving the … Trump news at a glance: president insists he won’t let Putin ‘mess around with me’ at summit on UkraineRead more

The state departments ‘human rights’ report under Trump differs hugely from those of previous administrations In May, Donald Trump took to the stage at a business conference in Saudi Arabia’s capital, promising that the US would no longer chastise other governments over human rights issues or lecture them … Five key points on how a long-respected US human rights report became a ‘cudgel’ under TrumpRead more

Governor reveals election rigging response act to counter Trump’s push to gain five extra seats in Texas midterms Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, on Thursday said state Democratic lawmakers would move forward with a redistricting plan intended as a direct response to a Republican-led effort in Texas to redraw … Gavin Newsom says California will move forward with map redrawing plan in response to Texas effortRead more

Education department found to have violated law when it threatened to cut funds from institutions that backed DEI A federal judge on Thursday struck down two Trump administration actions aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the nation’s schools and universities. In her ruling, US district … Judge blocks two Trump efforts to eliminate DEI in schools and collegesRead more

Chair of state’s house Democratic caucus said they will return once California submits new congressional map to offset losses in Texas US politics live – latest updates Texas Democrats said on Thursday they are prepared to return to the state under certain conditions, ending a nearly two-week-long effort … Texas Democrats say they are prepared to return to state after two-week absenceRead more

US president’s comment that Russian and Ukrainian leaders may have to ‘divvy’ things up likely to raise alarm Donald Trump has said he believes Vladimir Putin is ready to make a deal on the war in Ukraine as the two leaders prepare for their summit in Alaska on … Putin ready to make Ukraine deal, Trump says before Alaska summitRead more

Even Republican economists have criticized president’s pick of EJ Antoni to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics US politics live – latest updates Donald Trump fired Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioner Erika McEntarfer, a veteran economist with decades of experience inside the federal government, after claiming without … Conservatives join backlash over Trump pick for head of labor statistics: ‘Not a credible source of information’Read more

Ron DeSantis announced move as judge to decide whether to close ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ facility in Everglades Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, said on Thursday that the state will open a second immigration jail, as a federal judge weighs whether to close the controversial existing facility in the Everglades … Florida governor says state will open ‘deportation depot’ immigration jailRead more

Senator echoes Trump’s claims about crime in Washington DC, disputing statistics showing a drop in car thefts and other violations US politics live – latest updates A Republican senator said that he doesn’t wear a seatbelt when he’s driving in Washington DC so he can act more swiftly … Republican doesn’t wear seatbelt in DC ‘because of carjacking’ despite data showing declineRead more

With a summit in Alaska and national guard troops in DC, Jonathan Freedland speaks to Susan Glasser of the New Yorker about the week that may dent the US president’s ‘strongman’ image Archive: C-SPAN, CBS News, CNN, ITV News, NBC News, PBS Newshour, The Independent, WPLG Local 10 … Is Donald Trump too weak to be a strongman? – podcastRead more

‘Phones can’t go down into a canyon or around a mesa, but radio does,’ Richard Grey of Arizona’s KGHR says Since Republicans last month slashed over $1bn in funds designated for public broadcasting, non-commercial TV and radio stations around the country have been reeling. The cuts led the … These rural radio stations are a lifeline for their communities. Trump’s cuts threaten their futureRead more

President hints at targeting other cities’ police. Trump also relaxes rocket launch rules, which may aid Musk and Bezos Don’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. Donald Trump has said he plans to ask Congress for “long-term” control of Washington DC’s police … First Thing: Trump says he’ll seek ‘long-term’ control of DC policeRead more

House Democrat Robert Garcia presses USDA head Brooke Rollins on how administration is protecting Americans As federal firefighters grapple with strained resources in an intense year of fire activity, Democratic lawmakers are demanding answers from the Trump administration about how severe cuts to staffing and budgets at the … Democrats demand answers on cuts to firefighters during critical fire seasonRead more

Democratic leader says ‘no fucking way’ as president signals he could declare emergency to keep control past 30 days US politics live – latest updates Protesters heckled federal law enforcement officials as they reportedly stopped dozens of cars at a checkpoint along a busy street in Washington DC … Protesters confront federal officers as Trump tightens grip on DC policingRead more

The ex-Doge staffer and wife of Stephen Miller says she wants to reach conservative women – and her first guest is JD Vance Want to hear a cute little story about JD Vance and a Dutch baby? Don’t worry, he didn’t deport it, he cooked one for breakfast. … Maga star Katie Miller’s new podcast reeks of toxic femininity. I listened so you don’t have to | Arwa MahdawiRead more