27 h. ago JB Pritzker calls for ‘all to stand up’ to Trump’s immigration crackdown in Chicago

President is preparing for controversial federal takeover of US city in crusade against immigration ‘sanctuary cities’Illinois’s governor JB Pritzker has called on “all to stand up” to Donald Trump as the US president prepares to launch a federally led immigration crackdown across Chicago, a plan which has been met with widespread backlash from local leaders and the public.Pritzker’s comments come as White House officials vow to target Chicago next in its sweeping immigration crackdowns across the country. Recently, the White House requested that a US military base on the outskirts of Chicago assist with immigration operations as the Trump administration plans a broader takeover of Democratic-run “sanctuary cities”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago As Trump threatens more Guard troops in US cities, here's what the law allows

Since sending the National Guard to Los Angeles and Washington, President Donald Trump has openly mused about sending troops to some of the nation’s most Democratic cities — including Chicago and Baltimore — where he claims they are needed to crack down on crime

Politics

3 d. ago Step back and take it in: the US is entering full authoritarian mode | Jonathan Freedland

Trump’s dictator-like behaviour is so brazen, so blatant, that paradoxically, we discount it. But now it’s time to call it what it isIf this were happening somewhere else – in Latin America, say – how might it be reported? Having secured his grip on the capital, the president is now set to send troops to several rebel-held cities, claiming he is wanted there to restore order. The move follows raids on the homes of leading dissidents and comes as armed men seen as loyal to the president, many of them masked, continue to pluck people off the streets Except this is happening in the United States of America and so we don’t quite talk about it that way. That’s not the only reason. It’s also because Donald Trump’s march towards authoritarianism is so steady, taking another step or two every day, that it’s easy to become inured to it: you can’t be in a state of shock permanently. And, besides, sober-minded people are wary of sounding hyperbolic or hysterical: their instinct is to play down...

Culture

3 d. ago Trump urges judge to deny Lisa Cook’s appeal to remain at Fed

Federal court hears argument against US president’s firing of central bank governor

Politics

4 d. ago Tony Blair urged to explain secretive Donald Trump meeting at White House

The former PM met with Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss post-war plans for Gaza - which the US President has frequently mused about turning into a Las Vegas-style waterfront resort

Society

6 d. ago Photos of week three of Washington's federal takeover, as troops on patrol start carrying guns

Washingtonians are in their third week of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement patrolling their streets, now carrying firearms and drawing sporadic protests against President Donald Trump's directive.

Culture

6 d. ago Trump urges Democrats to ‘call him’ to send troops to their cities in apparent attempt to legitimize threats of federal takeovers – live

Despite criticism of repeated threats to take over police and send in National Guard, president claims Democratic leaders should demand takeoversLev Menand, a law professor at Columbia law school, said Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve chief Lisa Cook is a “procedurally invalid removal under the statute”.Menand, who authored a book about the Fed’s actions during the coronavirus pandemic, also said for-cause firings are typically related to misconduct while in office, rather than based on private misconduct from before an official’s appointment. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Trump says he wants ‘Department of War’ instead of defense department – US politics live

US president floats idea several times on Monday; Trump threatens again to send troops to Democratic-run cities amid misleading claim on crime in ‘red cities’National guard start carrying firearms in DC as Trump says Chicago may be nextThe justice department is alleging in a new court filing that three Smartmatic executives who were indicted last year on bribery and money-laundering charges transferred money from a 2018 voting machine contract with Los Angeles county into slush funds that were originally set up to pay bribes to election officials in Venezuela and the Philippines between 2012 and 2016 to obtain and retain lucrative election contracts.Prosecutors say one of the executives transferred an undisclosed amount from the $282m LA county contract into the slush funds in 2019 but did not say if anyone actually received bribes from the county’s money at that point. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump ‘manufactured crisis’ to justify plan to send national guard to Chicago, leading Democrat says

As White House moves to militarize more cities, Hakeem Jeffries says president is ‘playing’ with Americans’ livesDonald Trump has “manufactured a crisis” to justify the notion of sending federalized national guard troops into Chicago next, over the heads of local leaders, a leading Democrat said on Sunday, as the White House advanced plans to militarize more US cities.Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader and a New York Democratic congressman, accused the US president of “playing games with the lives of Americans” with his unprecedented domestic deployment of the military, which has escalated to include the arming of troops currently patrolling Washington, DC – after sending troops into Los Angeles in June. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Hegseth orders National Guard troops in DC to carry weapons on patrol

The number of National Guard troops has grown to nearly 2,000 as President Donald Trump continues his federal takeover of the capital

Events

1 week ago Fed chair Jerome Powell signals interest rate cuts amid Trump attacks

Jerome Powell – who Trump has urged to resign – addressed ‘challenging’ dichotomy of economic risks, including tariffsThe Federal Reserve is gearing up to resume cuts to interest rates, its chair, Jerome Powell has signaled, as he warned Donald Trump’s tariffs and immigration crackdown had roiled the global economy and hit the US workforce.For months, Powell has ignored demands from the president to cut interest rates and defied the US president’s calls to resign. But as Trump ramps up his extraordinary attack on the Fed’s independence, Powell suggested on Friday that Fed officials are considering a rate cut. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Fox & Friends host keeps urging Trump to use federal force to take over NYC: ‘I hope our city is next’

‘If they had National Guard troops in Times Square, it would make me feel safer,’ Ainsley Earhardt said last week.

Politics

1 week ago Trump set to join DC police for patrols tonight as he pushes crackdown on crime

Most D.C. residents oppose federal takeover of city law enforcement, polling shows

Events

1 week ago Fed governor urged by Trump to resign will not be ‘bullied’ into stepping down

Lisa Cook, first Black woman to sit on Fed board, responds after allegation by ally of president of mortgage fraudUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump has called on a Federal Reserve governor to immediately resign, renewing his extraordinary attack on the central bank’s independence as officials mull next steps on interest rates.A close Trump ally accused Lisa Cook, an appointee of Joe Biden, of “potentially committing mortgage fraud” and urged the US Department of Justice to investigate. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago 'South Park' targets federal takeover of Washington, DC, police in latest episode

The team at “South Park” is continuing its comic assault on the Trump administration

Events

1 week ago Trump weaponization czar urged New York Attorney General James to resign over mortgage probe

The Justice Department official tapped by President Donald Trump’s administration to investigate New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter urging the Democrat to resign from office “as an act of good faith” four days into his probe

Politics

2 w. ago Putin's last trick? As Trump urges Zelensky to fold and European leaders dash to Washington, Ukraine claims suicidal Russian 'fakery' missions could seal its fate

Russian commanders are reportedly forcing troops to risk their lives in suicidal flag-painting missions, sending small groups to the frontline villages to raise the Russian flag.

Politics

2 w. ago Photos of ‘Free D.C.’ protest against Trump’s federal takeover of Washington police

A protest against Trump administration’s effort to overhaul policing in the District of Columbia drew scores to Dupont Circle before a march to the White House.

Events

2 w. ago Trump urges Zelensky to 'make a deal' to end Ukraine war after ceasefire pivot following talks with Putin in Alaska

US President says ‘we didn’t get there’ after nearly three hour meeting with his Russian counterpart in Anchorage

Politics

2 w. ago After an inconclusive summit, Ukraine’s fate hangs in the balance

Donald Trump appears to be urging Volodymyr Zelensky to give up land for peace

Politics