3 d. ago Senate Republicans pass Trump’s sweeping policy bill, clearing major hurdle

Legislation goes to House but unclear if lower chamber will accept changes to tax and spending bill amid factional splitsSenate Republicans on Tuesday passed a major tax and spending bill demanded by Donald Trump, ending weeks of negotiations over the comprehensive legislation and putting it another step closer to enactment.But it remains unclear if changes made by the chamber will be accepted by the House of Representatives, which approved an initial draft of the legislation last month by a single vote. While Republicans control both house of Congress, factionalism in the lower chamber is particularly intense, with rightwing fiscal hardliners demanding deep spending cuts, moderates wary of dismantling safety net programs and Republicans from Democratic-led states expected to make a stand on a contentious tax provision. Any one of these groups could potentially derail the bill’s passage through a chamber where the GOP can lose no more than three votes. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump sets new deadline for Gaza ceasefire as Israel's Netanyahu plans White House visit

Donald Trump is demanding that there be a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza 'sometime next week' as he prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Events

1 week ago Federal Reserve chair defends holding interest rates after fresh Trump attacks

Jerome Powell says central bank is waiting to see tariffs’ impact on US prices as president claims ‘incompetence’The Federal Reserve is well placed to wait and see how tariffs affect US prices before cutting interest rates, its chair, Jerome Powell, insisted, defying renewed demands from Donald Trump.The US president has disregarded the central bank’s longstanding independence to repeatedly call for rate cuts to spur economic growth and launch a series of personal attacks on Powell. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Starmer pledges to spend 5% of GDP on national security and defence by 2035

But Downing Street will not say how the new NATO commitment demanded by Donald Trump will be paid for by the UK taxpayer

Events

1 week ago Starmer to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defence by 2035 at Nato summit

The figure is in line with the demands of President Donald Trump, who has called for Nato allies to shoulder more of the burden of European defence.

Politics

1 week ago Iran 'may activate sleeper cells in UK' as Israel conflict brings 'new level of terror'

The Israel conflict is said to be bringing a 'new level of terror' to the west, experts have warned. The country's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has snubbed surrender demands from Donald Trump and there are now fears the country could turn to terror

Events

2 w. ago Federal Reserve holds interest rates, defying Trump’s demand to lower them

Hours before the decision, the president called the Fed’s chair, Jerome Powell, ‘stupid’ for anticipated rate holdThe US Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold, but signaled it might make two cuts this year, as Donald Trump continues to break with precedent and demand lower rates.Policymakers at the American central bank lifted their projections for inflation this year, as the US president stands by his controversial tariff plans, and downgraded their estimates for economic growth. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump overseeing a ‘fascist regime’ says Brad Lander after arrest – US politics live

New York City mayoral candidate warns administration could ‘undermine the rule of law’ after incident at immigration courtNew York City mayoral candidate released from custodyIsrael’s war on Iran appeared to be approaching a pivotal moment on Tuesday night after five days of bombing and retaliatory Iranian missile strikes, as Donald Trump demanded “unconditional surrender” from Tehran and weighed his military options.Trump convened a meeting of his national security team in the White House situation room after a day of febrile rhetoric in which the president gave sharply conflicting signals over whether US forces would participate directly in Israel’s bombing campaign over Iran. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Donald Trump's chilling 'unconditional surrender' demand leaves world on edge

In a series of bizarre rants the erratic US President threatened he could assassinate Iran's supreme leader - but won't 'at least for now' - he also claimed his country had "complete control of the skies of Iran"'

Politics

2 w. ago Trump is steamrolling congressional Republicans. What’s in it for them? | David Kirp

The budget bill was a reminder: the president and House speaker don’t care about lawmakers’ views. Why not just quit?Like soldiers in a well-disciplined army, Republican members of US Congress do whatever Commander Donald Trump demands. While the foot soldiers may occasionally grumble, they quickly fall in line when Trump intervenes.Republican representatives go through contortions to satisfy the bully in the White House: we hated deficits, goes the party orthodoxy, but now we vote for adding trillions to the deficit; we supported Ukraine, but now we cozy up to the Russians; we scrutinized cabinet nominees, but now we give our “advice and consent” to a cabinet of knaves and charlatans.David Kirp is professor emeritus at the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump demands 'no fat soldiers' be shown at rambling Fort Bragg speech

The US leader turned what was intended to be a 250th birthday celebration for the US Army into a full-blown political rally, and demanded "no fat soldiers" be shown behind him at Fort Bragg

Politics

3 w. ago ‘We’re gonna have troops everywhere’: Trump’s use of the military to quell protests is a shocking abuse of power

Trumps’s decision to send troops to face of against protesters came ahead of a deeply politicized speech to soldiers at Fort Bragg and just days before a military parade in Washington D.C., Richard Hall writes

Events

3 w. ago ‘We’re gonna have troops everywhere’: Trump’s use of the military to quell protests is a shocking abuse of power, experts warn

Trumps’s decision to send troops to face off against protesters came ahead of a deeply politicized speech to soldiers at Fort Bragg and just days before a military parade in Washington D.C., Richard Hall writes

Events

3 w. ago Fort Bragg soldiers behind Trump during speech were screened for loyalty and appearance, report says: ‘No fat soldiers’

Crowd of soldiers booed and cheered at Trump’s partisan speech, breaking the military’s tradition and regulations around remaining non-political

Politics

3 w. ago Los Angeles protests: arrests as curfew begins in downtown LA; Newsom decries Trump’s ‘assault’ on democracy

LA police issue warning to groups that continue to congregate in curfew area after California governor launches blistering attack on US presidentTroop mobilization in LA to cost Americans at least $134m, Hegseth saysFact-check: Trump’s speech at Fort Bragg contained lies and conspiracy theories about LAPeople in LA: share your reaction to protests and military mobilizationUS officials said the marines were being deployed to protect federal property and personnel, including immigration agents. A convoy of 10 to 15 buses with blacked-out windows and escorted by sheriff’s vehicles, left the base at Twentynine Palms in the desert east of Los Angeles late Monday and headed toward the city, stopping around 1am (9am BST) at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, about 20 miles (35 km) south of downtown Los Angeles.Despite their presence, there has been limited engagement so far between the Guard and protesters while local law enforcement implements crowd control. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Los Angeles protests: Newsom says ‘democracy is under assault’ in attack on Trump; curfew in downtown LA begins

LA mayor says curfew will be in place in one square mile and will last from 8pm to 6amTroop mobilization in LA to cost Americans at least $134m, Hegseth saysFact-check: Trump’s speech at Fort Bragg contained lies and conspiracy theories about LAPeople in LA: share your reaction to protests and military mobilizationUS officials said the marines were being deployed to protect federal property and personnel, including immigration agents. A convoy of 10 to 15 buses with blacked-out windows and escorted by sheriff’s vehicles, left the base at Twentynine Palms in the desert east of Los Angeles late Monday and headed toward the city, stopping around 1am (9am BST) at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, about 20 miles (35 km) south of downtown Los Angeles.Despite their presence, there has been limited engagement so far between the Guard and protesters while local law enforcement implements crowd control. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Los Angeles protests: Newsom says ‘democracy is under assault’ in attack on Trump; downtown LA curfew declared by mayor

LA mayor says curfew will be in place in one square mile and will last from 8pm to 6amTroop mobilization in LA to cost Americans at least $134m, Hegseth saysFact-check: Trump’s speech at Fort Bragg contained lies and conspiracy theories about LAPeople in LA: share your reaction to protests and military mobilizationUS officials said the marines were being deployed to protect federal property and personnel, including immigration agents. A convoy of 10 to 15 buses with blacked-out windows and escorted by sheriff’s vehicles, left the base at Twentynine Palms in the desert east of Los Angeles late Monday and headed toward the city, stopping around 1am (9am BST) at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, about 20 miles (35 km) south of downtown Los Angeles.Despite their presence, there has been limited engagement so far between the Guard and protesters while local law enforcement implements crowd control. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Los Angeles protests: Mayor Karen Bass issues curfew for downtown LA as she declares local emergency – live

Mayor says curfew will be in place in one square mile and will last from 8pm to 6am Troop mobilization in LA to cost Americans at least $134m, Hegseth saysFact-check: Trump’s speech at Fort Bragg contained lies and conspiracy theories about LAPeople in LA: share your reaction to protests and military mobilizationUS officials said the marines were being deployed to protect federal property and personnel, including immigration agents. A convoy of 10 to 15 buses with blacked-out windows and escorted by sheriff’s vehicles, left the base at Twentynine Palms in the desert east of Los Angeles late Monday and headed toward the city, stopping around 1am (9am BST) at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, about 20 miles (35 km) south of downtown Los Angeles.Despite their presence, there has been limited engagement so far between the Guard and protesters while local law enforcement implements crowd control. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago LA protests: judge declines to issue emergency order limiting powers of marines and national guard – live

President peppered speech at Fort Bragg with conspiracy theories and verbal assaults linked to Los Angeles protestsTroop mobilization in LA to cost Americans at least $134m, Hegseth saysFact-check: Trump’s speech at Fort Bragg contained lies and conspiracy theories about LAPeople in LA: share your reaction to protests and military mobilizationUS officials said the marines were being deployed to protect federal property and personnel, including immigration agents. A convoy of 10 to 15 buses with blacked-out windows and escorted by sheriff’s vehicles, left the base at Twentynine Palms in the desert east of Los Angeles late Monday and headed toward the city, stopping around 1am (9am BST) at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, about 20 miles (35 km) south of downtown Los Angeles.Despite their presence, there has been limited engagement so far between the Guard and protesters while local law enforcement implements crowd control. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump calls LA a ‘trash heap’ of ‘chaos and disorder’ in Fort Bragg troop rally after sending Marines to quell protests

The partisan speech came hours after he threatened force against any protesters who attempt to disrupt the military parade he has ordered for his birthday Saturday

Events