US politics

US politics

Most critics of President Donald Trump view him as the ultimate threat to American democracy. But to Nobel prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu, Trump's merely a fever, the result of an infection that's been brewing for years before he rode down the golden escalator to announce his presidency. The MIT economist has spent decades studying the origins of economic and political decay, specializing in how institutions foster inclusive growth-or succumb to extractive systems.

Catch up quick: President Trump created the White House Faith Office by executive order on Feb. 7, 2025, placing it within the Domestic Policy Council and moving it into the White House complex. The move was designed to signal a "direct line" between people of faith and the executive branch. Unlike the versions under prior administrations, which were often situated in agencies or outside the immediate West Wing orbit, this office is central to Trump's "religious freedom" agenda.

A Guardian analysis of government records has found that the vast majority 77% of people who entered deportation proceedings for the first time in 2025 had no criminal conviction, exposing a stark gap between the Trump administration's rhetoric and reality. Within days of Donald Trump's inauguration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) trotted out a phrase that his surrogates would come to use over and over again: the worst of the worst. The term has become a shorthand justification for the administration's unprecedented overhaul of immigration enforcement a relentless campaign the administration claims is focused on arresting and deporting violent criminals.

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.

"I understand concerns about major military operations in the Middle East given past entanglements. However, the voices who counsel against getting entangled seem to ignore the consequences of letting evil go unchecked," Graham told Axios.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said she wants all New Yorkers to be able to get together to cheer on Team USA in the men's hockey final at the Olympics, so she's allowed bars and restaurants to open early just for the occasion. Just not for New York City. Or anywhere under the state of emergency she declared on Saturday ahead of the storm. The governor said in a statement that she is suspending alcohol service hours enforcement on Sunday between the hours of 6 a.m.-10 a.m.

When it comes to understanding where your tax dollars actually go, the answer might surprise you. According to data from USASpending.gov, total federal obligations per capita can vary dramatically across states, with some receiving more than $24,000 per resident while others receive less than half that amount. These numbers are important because they help shape local economies, influence the cost of living, and quietly determine how far the dollar can stretch across the country.

A far-left Brooklyn pol is hoping the third time's a charm with socialist Zohran Mamdani now NYC mayor as she pushes legislation that could give "young people" carte blanche to commit crimes without fear of being arrested. The legislation, reintroduced for a third time on Jan. 29 by Democratic Councilwoman Crystal Hudson, would require that "young people" be "diverted" to "community-based organizations to receive services in lieu of criminal enforcement."

In a Texas town at the edge of the Rio Grande and a tall metal border wall, rumors swirled that federal immigrationofficials wanted to purchase three hulking warehouses to transform into a detention center. As local officials scrambled to find out what was happening, a deed was filed showing the Department of Homeland Security had already inked a $122.8 million deal for the 826,000-square-foot (76,738-square-meter) warehouses in Socorro, a bedroom community of 40,000 people outside El Paso.

The councilor's comments came a day after it was reported that she was drafting an ordinance that would allow councilors to openly carry weapons while at City Hall, as an extra layer of self defense. Portland city codes prohibit the possession of a loaded firearm in public spaces or vehicles, with exceptions for those with a concealed carry permit, law enforcement officers, and others designated in Oregon law.

A NIST employee tells WIRED that some plans to bring on foreign workers through the agency's Professional Research and Experience Program have recently been canceled because of uncertainty about whether they would make it through the new security protocols. The staffer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, says the agency has yet to widely communicate what the new hurdles will be or why it believes they are justified.

OPB first reported on the councilor's comments and ordinance, and has confirmed Smith's decision to rescind the proposal. "To be clear, I denounce violence. I want to emphasize that violence is not the first and only solution to solving matters," Smith stated in a news release Friday. "And improving our security protocols is the best first action rather than an open carry ordinance."

On MS NOW's The Weekend, Bartlett, who was a State Department appointee in President Donald Trump's first administration, called talk of Trump suppression of an interview between late-night comedian Stephen Colbert and Texas State Representative James Talarico (D) a false narrative. Colbert claimed during a recent broadcast that he was told by CBS lawyers in no uncertain terms that he could not air the Talarico interview because he may violate an equal time rule with the FCC,

California Democrats are prepared to do what's required,

Local and federal officials now say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has in fact purchased a property in Roxbury, New Jersey to use for detention - after days of confusing and outright contradictory statements by the Department of Homeland Security. Roxbury Township's all-Republican governing body said in a statement Friday it "will not passively accept this outcome" and would pursue legal remedies, citing issues including environmental constraints and infrastructure limitations.

"Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE has new funding to expand detention space to keep murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists off American streets before they are removed for good from our communities," the statement continues. "Secretary [Kristi] Noem aims to work with officials on both sides of the aisle to expand detention space to help ICE law enforcement carry out the largest deportation effort in American history."

This absolutely will limit Trump's ability to wield tariffs for geopolitical pressure,

Portland's transition to a new form of government last January brought new practices and procedures for the City Council. Among the largest changes, impacting both the Council and members of the public, was the introduction of eight policy committees. The committees, which considered topics including transportation, climate, finance, homelessness, and public safety, were intended to provide a focused venue for councilors to introduce legislation and hold conversations on specific topics, as well as to hear public testimony.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order promoting the production of glyphosate, the chemical that powers the weed killer Roundup and a longtime target of the MAGA faithful. Glyphosate has also long been one of the main targets of the MAHA movement, which considers it a dangerous carcinogen poisoning the country. (Experts say that the pesticide's danger to the public is minimal, but the scientific community is not in agreement about its health effects.)

We were in unfamiliar territory. That this wasn't Stancil's turf was clear. At one point, he took a left when he should've taken a right, and [The Verge's photographer] Jack had to tell him Cleveland Avenue was actually the other way. A few minutes later, Stancil went the wrong way down a one-way street, accidentally maneuvering us into oncoming traffic. Stancil's driving was, for the most part, erratic.

Jennifer Fasulo, a Spanish teacher at Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, a Syracuse suburb, was placed on a paid leave of absence on Jan. 30, just weeks after she offered to help students establish a Club America, the high school division of the Charlie Kirk co-founded conservative group, her supporters say.