US politics

US politics

Trump officials have been especially aggressive in targeting offshore wind projects, including ones already approved or even under construction. Driving the news: Judge Patti Saris, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, ruled Monday that Trump's Jan. 20 order is "arbitrary and capricious" under administrative law. The ruling came in a case brought by New York and other states, and the nonprofit Alliance For Clean Energy New York.

We will protect National Security, create American Jobs, and keep America's lead in AI," Trump said on social media on Monday.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

In explaining his decision, Trump - who usually grants clemency to people based on their loyalty to him - claimed, without evidence, that Cuellar was targeted by the Biden administration over the right-wing Democrat's views on immigration, which are similar to Trump's views on the issue. At the time, some political observers speculated that the pardon was issued with hopes that Cuellar, who is running for reelection, would switch parties and become a Republican.

The U.S. House of Representatives may soon see a mass "exodus" of Republican lawmakers who are frustrated with their party's inability to pass legislation and are anticipating Democrats retaking the chamber next year. Multiple Republican lawmakers and aides have said they expect the retirement announcements to start pouring in over the coming weeks, with one insider estimating as many as 20 House Republicans throwing in the towel, according to a recent report in .

Trump Cabinet members have also started to draw a skeptical eye from some Republicans. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called for Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth to testify under oath over the operation that killed alleged drug smugglers, while Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said that members on the of the House Armed Services Committee were "very concerned" by the strikes. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who has at times been more skeptical of Hegseth than other Republicans, called his tenure "bumpy" this week.

"This Department of Justice has no tolerance for undemocratic judicial activism," Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Blanche wrote on X. "We will continue fighting for public safety in courtrooms across the country, and we will not be deterred by rogue judges who fail to live up to their obligations of impartiality because of their own political views."

We have, after all, been warned over and over that organizations like ICE have been wanting to vastly expand their online operations, using the same vastly expanded budget that recently saw them purchase a new $7.3 million fleet of (Canadian made) armored vehicles. The online expansion of ICE, meanwhile, is not just in the name of locating more groups of undocumented immigrants to target, but also to compile sprawling digital enemies lists, creating databases of those who have expressed anti-ICE sentiment.

Well, I say that if you don't have a better plan, then get on board with ours, he said. But doing nothing is not an option, right? He continued: I mean, I've heard so many people in the Republican conference rail on the Affordable Care Act, rail on Obamacare, rail on the premium tax credits. And if you want to criticize something, that's okay as long as you have a better alternative. They have never offered a better alternative.

would provide U.S. Cyber Command - the digital combatant command that shares space with the NSA - some $73 million for cyberspace operations, around $30 million for unnamed activities and $314 million for operations and maintenance at its headquarters. It also appears to preserve the dual-hat leadership structure of Cybercom and NSA - traditionally co-led by the same four-star general - with language that prevents Defense Department funding from being used to "reduce or diminish" responsibilities, oversight and authorities given to the Cybercom director.

As states across the country consider blocking trans athletes from participating in school sports - and those bans are challenged in court - the Education Department said it aimed to provide clarity for schools and families and underscored that blanket bans on transgender student-athletes would jeopardize institutions and educational programs that receive federal funding under Title IX, which protections against sex discrimination.

🏒 The gay hockey romance Heated Rivalry has been a massive hit, and the show has fans taking a closer look at the NHL -- the only major North American men's sports league with no current or former out gay players. Mey Rude explores whether that might change soon. Speaking of professional sports, the World Cup is coming to the U.S. this summer, and this week we learned that the Seattle-based game designated locally as the "Pride Match" will feature two countries where being gay is illegal.

She cited a decision from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which found that her enduring work as interim US attorney despite a lower court order ending her appointment violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. As a result of the Third Circuit's ruling, and to protect the stability and integrity of the office which I love, I have decided to step down in my role as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Habba wrote.

It is critical that we deliver real solutions that empower Americans and strengthen communities, committee Chair French Hill (R-Ark.) said in a statement. This month, the Financial Services Committee will advance solutions to tackle housing cost and access challenges for American families, homeowners and renters. Next year, we look forward to working with our Senate colleagues to send a bill to the president's desk that reflects the views of both chambers and leads to more affordable choices for America's homeowners and renters.

The developer of ICEBlock, an iPhone app that anonymously tracks the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, has sued the Trump administration for free speech violations after Apple removed the service from its app store under demands from the White House. The suit, filed on Monday in federal court in Washington, asks a judge to declare that the administration violated the First Amendment when it threatened to criminally prosecute the app's developer and pressured Apple to make the app unavailable for download, which the tech company did in October.

Nashville, one of the fastest-growing Sun Belt cities over the past decade, has been working to address the housing affordability issues that accompanied its massive economic development. Confronted with a shortage of nearly 90,000 homes, the Nashville Metro Council made its most significant move since 2018 to shape the city's future. It passed two groundbreaking and controversial zoning measures, overcoming strong opposition to clear their final hurdle and become law. With the adoption of these laws, Nashville joins a growing list of cities and states working to eliminate decades of restrictive zoning covenants and regulations.

As part of an ongoing audit, the Small Business Administration has mandated that all companies participating in the 8(a) socioeconomic contracting program turn over their financial records by Jan. 5. SBA said Friday that all 4,800 8(a) participants must provide three fiscal years' worth of information including bank statements, financial statements, general ledgers, payroll registers, contracting and subcontracting agreements and employment records.

We can all stand up to ICE if you know your rights.

While it is a local race, this election has become the latest test of the nation's political mood nearly a year into President Donald Trump's second term. Trump and other big-name Florida Republicans, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott, have weighed in for the conservative candidate, former city manager Emilio Gonzalez, in the otherwise nonpartisan race. Nationally known Democrats, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, have offered support on behalf of Eileen Higgins, a Democrat who served on the county commission before winning a runoff spot last month.