5 h. ago ‘Substantial’ federal layoffs begin as Congress remains deadlocked over funding to end shutdown – live

No official numbers have been announced but treasury, HHS, DHS and education departments among agencies confirming cuts White House announces federal worker layoffs as government shutdown nears third weekAs the shutdown enters its 10th day, and both chambers are out of session today, House speaker Mike Johnson has defended not passing a separate bill that would keep members of the military paid throughout the shutdown.“Republicans have voted to OPEN the government and get our troops, Border Patrol, TSA, and veterans PAID,” Johnson said, before blaming Democratic leadership for refusing to pass the House-passed continuing resolution. “Chuck Schumer is terrified of a challenge from the Marxist left – so he and the Democrats voted to CLOSE the government-and to STOP PAYCHECKS from being issued.” Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Budget office says 'substantial' firings of federal workers have started in government shutdown

The White House budget office says that mass firings of federal workers have started in an attempt to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues

Politics

9 h. ago US government shutdown: Speaker rejects blame over military pay and says Senate Democrats must ‘turn lights back on’– live

Mike Johnson claims separate bill to pay military during shutdown is ‘redundant’ as Republicans double down on blaming Democrats As the shutdown enters its 10th day, and both chambers are out of session today, House speaker Mike Johnson has defended not passing a separate bill that would keep members of the military paid throughout the shutdown.“Republicans have voted to OPEN the government and get our troops, Border Patrol, TSA, and veterans PAID,” Johnson said, before blaming Democratic leadership for refusing to pass the House-passed continuing resolution. “Chuck Schumer is terrified of a challenge from the Marxist left – so he and the Democrats voted to CLOSE the government-and to STOP PAYCHECKS from being issued.” Continue reading...

Events

16 h. ago Video blaming Democrats for US government shutdown rolled out across airports

There have been more than 20,000 flight delays in the US since Monday

Politics

31 h. ago Trump says ‘we’re only going to cut Democrat programs’ as Senate again fails to advance stopgap funding bill – live

Trump says federal cuts made while government is shut down will ‘only’ target his opponents’s priorities; Democratic measure fails again on ninth day of shutdownThe president has spent much of Thursday morning thanking his allies on Truth social for praising his diplomatic efforts in Gaza. “I would like to thank Republican Congressman Brian Mast, of Florida, for his brilliant words and analysis on the return of the Hostages, and Peace in the Middle East, this morning on Fox & Friends. Thank you Brian!!!,” Trump wrote in a post. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Donald Trump accused of having 'dementia' by top US lawmaker

Illinois' Democratic Governor has slammed Donald Trump and claimed his move to deploy National Guard soldiers in Chicago was a sign the President had 'dementia'

Politics

50 h. ago Schumer and the Democrats hope to make Obamacare and the shutdown a 2026 issue. Good luck with that, Chuck!

The minority party might have found their mojo again after months of looking like losers, Eric Garcia writes. But the American public has a short memory

Politics

54 h. ago Senate again fails to pass stopgap funding bill as government shutdown drags into eighth day – live

Senate fails for sixth time to pass a funding bill in 54-45 vote – three Democrats sided with Republicans in attempt to reach 60-vote thresholdUS airport staffing shortages set to cause more delays amid shutdownDemocrat bill aims to help federal workers cover childcare costsA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Economics

57 h. ago ‘This madness needs to end’ say House Republicans as shutdown enters eighth day – US politics live

Majority leader Steve Scalise continues to blame Democrats for not passing House-passed funding bill as shutdown continuesEx-FBI director pleads not guilty on lying to Congress chargeA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Former FBI director James Comey pleads not guilty in case accusing him of lying to Congress – US politics live

Trump critic arraigned at federal courthouse in VirginiaA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Politics

59 h. ago Trump says Chicago mayor ‘should be in jail’ for not protecting Ice officers after Texas national troops arrive in Illinois – live

Trump posts on social media that Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois governor JB Pritzker ‘should be in jail’ A series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Q&A: A look at the National Guard's role as Trump seeks to deploy troops in Oregon and Chicago

President Donald Trump’s efforts to send National Guard troops into U.S. cities — including Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, and Chicago — over the objections of Democratic mayors and governors have prompted a host of questions about the president’s authority and who controls the Guard

Politics

4 d. ago US shutdown enters second week as Senate votes again on funding bill

Democrats and Republicans apparently no closer to deal to restart funding as Trump warns of imminent job cutsThe US government shutdown entered its second week on Monday, with Democratic and Republican lawmakers making no apparent progress towards reaching a deal to restart funding, while the Trump administration warned it was moving forward with plans to slash the federal workforce.Many agencies and departments closed their doors and told employees to stay home last Wednesday, after Congress failed to approve legislation to continue the government’s authority to spend money. Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago US supreme court begins new term with nation’s democratic governance at stake

Scrutiny on the nine justices is about to reach a new level of intensity as Trump aggressively asserts executive powerContext may be everything in the precedent-shattering era of the current US supreme court.For several years – since conservatives, gained a six-three majority on the bench thanks to Donald Trump’s nominations during his first presidency – the court has been delivering transformative rulings that have reverberated across the social and political landscape. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump and Republicans are being blamed more than Dems for government shutdown, early polling finds

The majority of independent voters - and nearly one in 10 Republican voters - blame the Trump administration for the shutdown

Politics

5 d. ago House speaker says Democrats are not serious about negotiating as shutdown continues

Mike Johnson adds Trump does not want permanent job cuts as talks between parties stalled over weekendThe Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, accused Democrats of being “not serious” in negotiations to end the federal government shutdown, now on its fifth day and expected to last through next week or beyond.Talks between the opposing political parties stalled over the weekend, with no votes anticipated to end the standoff. A CBS poll found just 28% of Democratic voters and 23% of Republicans consider their party’s positions worth shutting down the government. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago House speaker says Democrats aren’t serious about shutdown negotiation as Democratic leader blames Republicans

Mike Johnson adds Trump does not want permanent job cuts as talks between parties stalled over weekendThe Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, accused Democrats of being “not serious” in negotiations to end the federal government shutdown, while the Democratic leader accused Republicans of driving the shutdown, now on its fifth day and expected to last at least through next week.Talks between the opposing political parties stalled over the weekend, with no votes anticipated to end the standoff. A CBS poll found just 28% of Democratic voters and 23% of Republicans consider their party’s positions worth shutting down the government. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Illinois governor says Trump gave him ‘ultimatum’ and is mobilizing 300 National Guard troops as protests erupt

‘For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control,’ the Democratic governor said

Politics

6 d. ago Trump officials cut nearly $8bn in clean energy projects in Democratic states

Democrats and environmental groups slam move as ‘sick political game’ and say it will drive up energy billsThe Trump administration is cancelling $7.6bn in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects in 16 states, all of which voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election.The move comes as Donald Trump threatens deep cuts in his fight with congressional Democrats over the government shutdown. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Japan poised to get first female PM after Sanae Takaichi wins ruling party leadership

Margaret Thatcher admirer beat her more moderate rival to become leader of Liberal Democratic partyJapan is poised to get its first female prime minister after Sanae Takaichi was elected as leader of the governing Liberal Democratic party (LDP) – a victory that should lead to her being installed as the country’s new leader in the middle of the month.Takaichi, a rightwing politician who has voiced admiration for Margaret Thatcher in her quest to build a “strong and prosperous” Japan on the international stage, beat her moderate rival, Shinjiro Koizumi, in a runoff election at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on Saturday. Continue reading...

Politics