Poli Alert Politics & Civics

The Department of Justice dropped its investigation Friday of the Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell over building renovation costs, a move that could open the door for new Fed leadership next month — and signaled a victory for North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said her …

A federal grand jury has indicted the Southern Poverty Law Center on multiple fraud charges, accusing the prominent nonprofit of secretly paying members of extremist groups while misleading donors and financial institutions. The indictment, returned in Alabama and announced Tuesday by the Justice Department, charges the organization with six counts …

The Justice Department’s internal watchdog has launched a sweeping audit into how the agency handled the release of millions of documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, amid mounting concerns over transparency and the protection of victims’ information. Deputy Inspector General William M. Blier announced Thursday that the Office …

The Trump administration has approved just one applicant for its new “gold card” visa program, months after opening applications for the high-priced pathway to U.S. residency, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Testifying before a House subcommittee on Thursday, Lutnick said the program — which requires a $1 million payment …

A U.S. special operations soldier is accused of turning one of the military’s most sensitive covert missions into a personal windfall — placing a series of bets that earned more than $400,000 by using classified information about the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Federal prosecutors say Gannon Ken Van …

Prediction market platform Kalshi said Wednesday it has fined and suspended three political candidates for trading on the outcomes of their own races, calling the actions a form of “political insider trading.” The company announced penalties ranging from $539 to more than $6,200, along with five-year suspensions, in what it …

John Phelan is leaving his post as Navy secretary, the Pentagon announced Wednesday, marking the first departure of a military service chief during Donald Trump’s second term and the latest in a series of high-level defense leadership shakeups. No explanation was provided for Phelan’s sudden exit, which takes effect immediately, …

Senate Republicans, joined by one Democrat, on Wednesday blocked a resolution that would have forced Donald Trumpto seek congressional authorization for continued military action against Iran, marking the fifth failed attempt to rein in the president’s war powers. The measure failed in a 46-51 vote, largely along party lines. John …

Rep. David Scott, a longtime Democrat from Georgia who made history as the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has died, his office said Wednesday. He was 80. Scott, who represented a district near Atlanta since 2002, had continued serving in Congress and voted on the House floor …

Texas can enforce a state law requiring public schools to display posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. A majority of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Texas officials’ favor, concluding that the law does not establish an official state religion. …

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the U.S. military will no longer require all service members to receive the annual flu vaccine, marking a significant shift in long-standing military health policy. In a video posted on social media, Hegseth said the blanket requirement was “overly broad and not rational,” …

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on multiple commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, escalating tensions less than a day after President Donald Trump extended a fragile ceasefire and urged Tehran to return to negotiations. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said an IRGC gunboat opened fire …

Virginia voters on Tuesday approved a constitutional amendment allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting, a move expected to dramatically reshape the state’s political map and potentially shift its congressional delegation from a closely divided 6-5 split to a heavily Democratic-leaning 10-1 advantage. By 8:50 p.m., the measure passed by a vote of …

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading a multi-agency effort to examine whether there are any connections among a series of cases involving missing or deceased scientists and staff linked to sensitive U.S. nuclear and space research facilities, officials said Tuesday. In a statement, the FBI said it is “spearheading …

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat, resigned from Congress on Tuesday just minutes before a House Ethics Committee hearing that was expected to consider recommending her expulsion over corruption allegations. Her sudden departure immediately halted the proceedings, as the committee no longer has jurisdiction over former members. In a statement, …