Poli Alert Politics & Civics

President Donald Trump said Sunday that U.S. forces seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship accused of attempting to breach an American naval blockade, marking a sharp escalation in tensions just days before a fragile ceasefire with Iran is set to expire. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the nearly …

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that gasoline prices in the United States have likely peaked but could remain elevated for months, signaling a shift from earlier Trump administration predictions that prices would fall quickly. Appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Wright said it remains unclear when Americans might …

President Donald Trump said Sunday that U.S. officials will return to Pakistan for another round of high-stakes negotiations with Iran, even as he threatened sweeping military strikes if Tehran does not agree to a deal to end the war. Trump announced that American representatives would arrive in Islamabad on Monday …

Congress on Friday approved a temporary extension of a key U.S. surveillance authority set to expire, buying lawmakers 10 more days to resolve deep divisions — particularly among Republicans — over the future of the controversial program. The Senate passed the 10-day extension hours after a turbulent overnight session in …

The Trump administration is taking aim at what it calls rampant fraud in state Medicaid programs. But by focusing almost exclusively on Democratic-led states, it has handed ammunition to critics who say it mainly wants to embarrass its political enemies, not save taxpayer dollars. In announcing earlier this month that …

Todd Lyons, the acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said Thursday he will resign at the end of May, marking a significant leadership change at the agency tasked with carrying out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Lyons said …

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments, reopened Friday after a 10-day ceasefire linked to fighting between Israel and Lebanon, offering relief to global markets following weeks of disruption. President Donald Trump announced the reopening, calling the waterway “COMPLETELY OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS,” while emphasizing …

The U.S. House on Thursday passed a measure that would extend Temporary Protected Status for Haiti for three years, in a rare rebuke by the GOP-led Congress to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. Ten Republicans defected, including Reps. Maria Salazar, Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez of Florida, Rich McCormick of …

Democrat Analilia Mejia has won the special election in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, NBC News projected Thursday, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway and trimming the GOP’s narrow House majority. Mejia, a progressive activist backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, will fill the remainder of the term vacated …

President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seeking to install new leadership at an agency that has faced months of instability and controversy. Trump announced the nomination on social media, praising Schwartz’s military and medical background …

The federal government will launch a new online portal next week allowing businesses to seek refunds for tariffs ruled illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court, potentially opening the door to as much as $175 billion in repayments — though companies may face a complicated and lengthy process to recover their …

The House voted Wednesday to advance legislation that would restore temporary protections for Haitian immigrants in the United States, with a small group of Republicans breaking with Donald Trump to oppose a key component of his immigration agenda. In a 219-209 vote, lawmakers approved a discharge petition forcing consideration of …

An effort to force President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for further war actions in Iran failed in the U.S. Senate for the fourth time Wednesday, with all but one Republican continuing to support the president’s Middle East conflict. Senators voted down the measure, 47-52, with a similar partisan …

Let’s stop lying to ourselves about why candidates lose. Yes, money matters. I have worked on campaigns at every level for over 15 years. I have seen local and state candidates win with very little money, and I have seen candidates running for federal seats hide behind “we didn’t raise …

The U.S. military carried out another strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, killing four people in the latest escalation of a controversial campaign targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats in Latin American waters. The strike marks the fourth such attack announced in recent days and brings the …