Poli Alert Politics & Civics

The White House was briefly locked down Monday afternoon after a United States Secret Service officer exchanged gunfire with an armed individual near the complex, authorities said. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was shot around 3:30 p.m. near the Washington Monument at 15th Street SW and Independence …

Three years ago, Angelia Pressley started tuning in to Georgia Public Service Commission meetings and learned how much power the little-known regulatory body had over the lives of the state’s residents. The commission, which is made up of five elected officials, could approve or deny electricity rate hikes, create energy …

Samuel Alito on Monday temporarily blocked a lower court order that would have sharply curtailed access to the abortion pill mifepristone, preserving for now a federal rule allowing the drug to be prescribed online and delivered by mail. The administrative stay pauses a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals …

Republican governors in Alabama and Tennessee have called special legislative sessions to redraw congressional maps, escalating a nationwide redistricting fight after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey summoned lawmakers back to Montgomery beginning Monday to consider new maps …

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States will begin guiding commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, announcing a new operation aimed at easing a maritime bottleneck caused by the ongoing conflict with Iran. Trump said the effort, which he named “Project Freedom,” will begin Monday and is …

President Donald Trump has overseen a sweeping effort to place his name and likeness across the federal government, with branding initiatives now reaching everything from buildings and military hardware to currency, passports and public-facing websites. Administration officials have framed the campaign as part of a broader celebration of the nation’s …

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey is based on a broader body of evidence collected over nearly a year, pushing back on criticism that the case hinges solely on a social media post. “This is not just about a single …

Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down operations early Saturday, canceling all flights and leaving thousands of travelers stranded after failing to secure emergency funding to stay afloat. The troubled budget carrier said it had begun an “orderly wind-down” after negotiations with creditors and the federal government collapsed. “To our Guests: all …

The national average gas price climbed to a new wartime high Friday, underscoring the growing economic toll of the U.S. conflict with Iran as energy markets react to prolonged instability in the Middle East. Prices jumped to $4.39 per gallon, marking the largest single-day increase since a ceasefire was announced …

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday he will not redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, breaking with a growing Republican push across the South following a sweeping Supreme Court decision on voting rights. The outgoing Republican made clear he would not delay Georgia’s May 19 …

The Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution banning lawmakers and their staff from participating in prediction markets, a move aimed at preventing officials with access to sensitive information from profiting on real-world events. The rule change, adopted by voice vote, takes effect immediately and reflects growing alarm on …

Congress on Thursday approved a short-term extension of a key U.S. surveillance authority, narrowly avoiding its expiration while punting a broader fight over reforms to warrantless intelligence collection. The measure, which extends the program through June 12, now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk after clearing both chambers with bipartisan …

The U.S. military campaign against Iran may have already cost roughly $50 billion, according to U.S. officials familiar with internal assessments, a figure that significantly exceeds the Pentagon’s public estimate and underscores the growing financial burden of the conflict. The higher estimate — about double the $25 billion cited by …

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a new nominee for U.S. surgeon general, selecting Dr. Nicole Saphier after months of uncertainty surrounding the fate of his previous pick, Dr. Casey Means. The move resets the confirmation process for one of the nation’s top public health roles, which had been left …

Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign for U.S. Senate on Thursday, essentially handing political newcomer Graham Platner the Democratic nomination. The two-term governor and former state attorney general had been lagging in a series of recent polls, but Mills said in her statement ending her candidacy that her decision was …