6 h. ago US House speaker Mike Johnson calls for release of Epstein files amid backlash

Trump has faced growing resentment over the decision of his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to withhold informationUS politics – live updatesAnalysis: How Epstein files uproar became a vehicle for QAnonMike Johnson, speaker of the House, called for the justice department to make public documents related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, breaking with Donald Trump over an issue that has roiled the president’s rightwing base.It was a rare moment of friction between Trump and the speaker, a top ally on Capitol Hill, and came as the president faces growing backlash from conservatives who had expected him to make public everything known about Epstein, who killed himself in 2019 while in federal custody as he faced sex-trafficking charges. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Pop music still has a role in political protest, says author of new version of Live Aid poem

In an interview with ‘The Independent’, Rhidian Brook also revealed Bob Geldof’s tongue-in-cheek four-letter reaction to the poem filled with famous song lyrics

Culture

13 h. ago Republicans move to block Democratic effort to force release of Epstein files

White House has come under fire for not releasing documents related to late sex offender Jeffrey EpsteinUS politics live – latest updatesRepublican lawmakers have moved to block a Democratic effort to force the release of the so-called Epstein files, a near-mythological trove of undisclosed information about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein at the center of an internal political war among US conservatives.Democrats had been pressing for an amendment to cryptocurrency legislation that would have forced the release of information and exhibits itemized in a list of evidence held by the justice department from the 2019 child sex-trafficking case against disgraced financier Epstein. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Pop music still has a role in political protest, says author of new version of Live 8 poem

In an interview with ‘The Independent’, Rhidian Brooke also revealed Bob Geldof’s tongue-in-cheek four-letter reaction to the poem filled with famous song lyrics

Culture

16 h. ago Thousands offered UK asylum in secret scheme after personal data of Afghans who helped British forces leaked by mistake – live

Dataset containing details of thousands of Afghans who applied for relocation to UK released ‘in error’ in 2022Helen Miller is taking over as director of the Insitute for Fiscal Studies thinktank this week, taking over from Paul Johnson, who established himself as the nation’s leading budget commentator.Budget commentary tends to focus on the Treasury’s fiscal rules, on how much “headroom” is available to Rachel Reeves (spare cash in the budget – based on spending plans and anticipated tax revenue, based on the OBR’s growth assumptions), and whether tax or spending plans need to change because the OBR’s forecasts have shifted.Labour came to office with the promise of a ‘mission-driven’ government – a commitment to long-term thinking and systemic reform. The ambition that we should be ‘raising our sights as a nation’ and finding ways to tackle the big challenges we face is the right one.Despite this, we continue to limp from fiscal event to fiscal event, obsessed with whether run of ...

Society

19 h. ago Trump dismisses parliamentary recall idea and praises Starmer’s Brexit efforts

US president says he likes PM ‘even though he’s a liberal’, lauding his handling of trade deal and progress since exit from EUUK politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump has said he does not want parliament to be recalled for his state visit to the UK, praising Keir Starmer, and saying that, despite being a liberal, the prime minister was straightening out a “sloppy” Brexit.Speaking in a rare interview with the BBC, the president said he had made trade agreements to lower tariffs on the UK specifically because of his affinity with Britain, saying he believed in its special relationship with the US. Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago Andrew Cuomo announces run for New York City mayor as an independent

Former governor lost the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani by more than 12 points last monthAndrew Cuomo, former New York governor, said Monday that he will run as an independent in New York City’s mayoral race, after losing in the Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani.Many saw Cuomo as the favorite in the primary, but he ultimately lost to Mamdani, a current member of the New York state assembly, by more than 12 points. Continue reading...

Politics

32 h. ago Supreme court clears way for Trump to gut education department – live updates

Conservative justices lift federal judge’s order that had reinstated nearly 1,400 workers affected by mass layoffsWith Trump’s headache not showing any signs of going away, Politico learned that “an ally supportive of the Trump DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, has pitched senior White House officials on the idea of Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche doing an all-questions-addressed news conference in an attempt to exhaust the press and put the story to bed.”Maga influencer and far-right activist Laura Loomer also told Politico on Sunday that “there should be a special counsel appointed to do an independent investigation of the handling of the Epstein files so that people can feel like this issue is being investigated, and perhaps take it out of [Pam Bondi’s] hands, because I don’t think that she has been transparent or done a good job handling this issue”. Continue reading...

Politics

33 h. ago Trump continues attacks on Federal Reserve chair as he demands lower interest rates – live updates

Trump attacks Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, calling him a ‘stupid guy’ and a ‘knucklehead’ as he demands lower interest ratesWith Trump’s headache not showing any signs of going away, Politico learned that “an ally supportive of the Trump DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, has pitched senior White House officials on the idea of Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche doing an all-questions-addressed news conference in an attempt to exhaust the press and put the story to bed.”Maga influencer and far-right activist Laura Loomer also told Politico on Sunday that “there should be a special counsel appointed to do an independent investigation of the handling of the Epstein files so that people can feel like this issue is being investigated, and perhaps take it out of [Pam Bondi’s] hands, because I don’t think that she has been transparent or done a good job handling this issue”. Continue reading...

Politics

36 h. ago Heatwaves have caused 10,000 excess deaths in England in past four years, says Miliband – UK politics live

Energy secretary addresses MPs, telling them the UK is getting hotter and wetter with three times the number of days above 30 degreesAs Rowena Mason revealed recently, No 10 has issued guidance that in effect bans civil servants from any level of speaking at events where journalists are present.Today the Times has published a letter signed by almost 30 experts – including former senior officials, thinktank leaders, academics and union leader – saying this policy is a mistake because it is having “a chilling effect on public discussion” and that it should be withdrawn. They say:The government’s new guidance that prevents public officials from participating properly in public or stakeholder events is a mistake. Effective government relies on public servants, whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer, hearing directly from businesses, charities, academics and citizens to help them make better policy. They should be able to explain government activity to those same groups. Continue readin...

Politics

37 h. ago Streeting says BMA ‘shockingly irresponsible’ over tactics for doctors’ strikes – UK politics live

Health secretary welcomes talks with union but says members have been told not to inform trusts if they are going to take actionAs Rowena Mason revealed recently, No 10 has issued guidance that in effect bans civil servants from any level of speaking at events where journalists are present.Today the Times has published a letter signed by almost 30 experts – including former senior officials, thinktank leaders, academics and union leader – saying this policy is a mistake because it is having “a chilling effect on public discussion” and that it should be withdrawn. They say:The government’s new guidance that prevents public officials from participating properly in public or stakeholder events is a mistake. Effective government relies on public servants, whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer, hearing directly from businesses, charities, academics and citizens to help them make better policy. They should be able to explain government activity to those same groups. Continue reading...

Events

38 h. ago Trump defends attorney general as Maga base furious over justice department’s handling of Epstein files – live

Trump signals backing for Pam Bondi amid calls from Maga world for her dismissalWith Trump’s headache not showing any signs of going away, Politico learned that “an ally supportive of the Trump DOJ’s handling of the Epstein case, has pitched senior White House officials on the idea of Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche doing an all-questions-addressed news conference in an attempt to exhaust the press and put the story to bed.”Maga influencer and far-right activist Laura Loomer also told Politico on Sunday that “there should be a special counsel appointed to do an independent investigation of the handling of the Epstein files so that people can feel like this issue is being investigated, and perhaps take it out of [Pam Bondi’s] hands, because I don’t think that she has been transparent or done a good job handling this issue”. Continue reading...

Society

38 h. ago Trump encounters rare uproar from ardent rightwing allies over Jeffrey Epstein

White House claim it didn’t have list of Epstein’s alleged clients and that he wasn’t murdered has caused tumult even within administrationUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump managed something unusual last week. In his administration’s claim that it did not have a list of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged clients, and that the convicted sex offender was not murdered, it succeeded in upsetting the rightwing influencers and commentators – and reportedly even Trump’s deputy FBI director – people who typically champion his every move.“This stinks. This just reeks,” was the verdict of Jesse Watters, the primetime Fox News host. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Starmer to meet Trump in Scotland this month as demonstrations planned against state visit – UK politics live

PM to meet US president during private visit in July as Stop Trump Coalition announces protest planned for SeptemberAs Rowena Mason revealed recently, No 10 has issued guidance that in effect bans civil servants from any level of speaking at events where journalists are present.Today the Times has published a letter signed by almost 30 experts – including former senior officials, thinktank leaders, academics and union leader – saying this policy is a mistake because it is having “a chilling effect on public discussion” and that it should be withdrawn. They say:The government’s new guidance that prevents public officials from participating properly in public or stakeholder events is a mistake. Effective government relies on public servants, whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer, hearing directly from businesses, charities, academics and citizens to help them make better policy. They should be able to explain government activity to those same groups. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago I was on New York’s rent board. Zohran Mamdani’s ideas aren’t pie in the sky | Leah Goodridge

The Democratic mayoral candidate has faced controversy over his calls for a rent freeze. But the plan has plenty of precedent During the New York City mayoral primary campaign, Zohran Mamdani’s proposal for a citywide rent freeze became a contentious topic. The Democratic nominee says to achieve a cap on annual rent increases for the city’s 1m rent-stabilized apartments, he would appoint members to the city’s rent guidelines board who support it. Critics decry a rent freeze as a pie-in-the-sky, unrealistic proposal.I served as a rent guidelines board member for nearly four years, appointed by then mayor Bill de Blasio in 2018. And it’s clear this controversy isn’t just about rent freezes – there’s a larger agenda to deregulate rent-stabilized housing, under which rent ceilings prevent landlords from raising the rent too high and tenants must be offered renewal leases (unless the landlord shows legal reason not to). Continue reading...

Politics

41 h. ago Trump says he spoke to Dan Bongino after reports deputy FBI director could leave post over Epstein files fallout – US politics live

US president says Bongino ‘sounded terrific’ when he spoke to him about uproar over how Justice Department handled inquiry into Epstein deathPresident Donald Trump said on Sunday that it would be a great thing if Fed chairman Jerome Powell stepped down.“I hope he quits,” Trump told reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Continue reading...

Politics

42 h. ago Treasury minister says ‘headline’ rate of income tax won’t go up, in hint thresholds might be frozen in budget – UK politics live

Darren Jones also declines to rule out wealth tax when questioned about government plansRecord-breaking extreme weather is the new norm in the UK, a report by the Met Office says. Damian Carrington has the story.Here is the Met Office summary. And here is the full report.The number of days with temperatures 5°C above the 1961-1990 average has doubled for the most recent decade 2015-2024 compared to 1961-1990. For 8°C above average the number has trebled and for 10°C it has quadrupled. This shows how the hottest days we experience in the UK have increased in frequency dramatically in just a few decades. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump defends Texas flood handling as disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since disaster that has killed at least 120 people, US president has remained quiet about promises to axe relief agencyUS politics live – latest updatesDuring a trip on Friday to look at the devastation caused by the catastrophic flooding in Texas, Donald Trump claimed that state and federal officials had done an “incredible job”, saying of the disaster that he had “never seen anything like this”.The trip comes as he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Trump defends response to deadly Texas flooding after touring disaster area – live updates

President and Texas governor praise handling of flooding that has killed at least 120 people; Trump calls reporter ‘evil’ for asking about lack of warningsThe US state department is firing more than 1,300 employees in line with the Trump administration’s reorganization plan initiated earlier this year. The department is sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the US, a senior state department official told the Associated Press. Foreign service officers affected will be placed immediately on administrative leave for 120 days, after which they will formally lose their jobs, according to an internal notice obtained by the AP. For most affected civil servants, the separation period is 60 days, it said. “In connection with the departmental reorganization the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice says. “Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non...

Events

4 d. ago Trump tours Texas flood damage as disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since disaster that has killed at least 120 people, Trump has remained quiet about promises to axe relief agencyUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump arrived in Texas on Friday for a first-hand look at the devastation caused by catastrophic flooding, a trip that comes as he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief.The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Trump administration has backed away from plans to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but administration officials continue to dodge questions about the agency’s future and many are still calling for serious reforms, potentially sending much of its work to the states. Continue reading...

Events