Poli Alert Politics & Civics

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 …

President Donald Trump’s priority elections bill has languished in the Senate for the past several weeks as some GOP politicians hesitate to upend precedent for voter registration in federal elections before the midterms. That hasn’t stopped lawmakers in several red states from introducing similar changes for their elections. Certain provisions …

JD Vance was interrupted by hecklers during a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia on Tuesday, highlighting growing divisions among conservative voters over U.S. involvement in conflicts in the Middle East. About 10 minutes into his remarks, an audience member shouted, “Jesus Christ does not support genocide,” …

The Pentagon is deploying thousands of additional U.S. troops to the Middle East in the coming days, expanding its military presence as Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Iran to reach a nuclear agreement while preparing for possible escalation if a fragile ceasefire collapses. The deployment includes roughly 6,000 personnel aboard …

The House on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a sweeping aviation safety bill in response to a deadly 2025 midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, though the measure drew criticism from senators and victims’ families who say it falls short of preventing future disasters. In a 396-10 vote, lawmakers passed …