Politics Election category, Page 24
Millions face skyrocketing health insurance costs unless Congress extends subsidies
WASHINGTON — There’s bipartisan support in Congress for extending tax credits that have made health insurance more affordable for millions of people since the covid-19 pandemic. But the credits are in danger of expiring as Republicans and Democrats clash over how to do it. Democrats are threatening to vote to...
Rep. McCaul will retire, but GOP hawk also worries about World War 3 after Russian escalation
Rep. Michael McCaulof Texas, one of the GOP’s most prominent foreign affairs hawks, announced he’d retire on Sunday while warning that, with Russia’s escalation of its invasion of Ukraine, “we got to be very careful not to be on the precipice of a World War III.” McCaul made his statements...
Patel faces congressional hearings after missteps in Kirk assassination probe and turmoil at FBI
WASHINGTON — Hours after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel declared online that “the subject” in the killing was in custody. The shooter was not. The two men who had been detained were quickly released. Utah officials acknowledged that the gunman remained at large. The...
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker calls for transparency after ICE agents fatally shoot man
CHICAGO — Gov. JB Pritzker called for transparency after a federal immigration agent fatally shot a man in northwest suburban Franklin Park after the agency reported the man tried to flee a traffic stop and struck the officer with his vehicle. The man who was killed was identified by the...
Missouri senators pass gerrymandered map that slashes through Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Facing pressure from President Donald Trump, the Missouri Senate on Friday passed a gerrymandered congressional map that dilutes the voting power of Kansas City. The map, sponsored by Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Seneca Republican, carves Kansas City into three Republican-leaning congressional districts. The goal is to...
‘The violence isn’t acceptable’: Pitt students hold vigil for Charlie Kirk
About a year ago, conservative students at the University of Pittsburgh packed into a courtyard to hear the words of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. On Friday, the atmosphere was quieter, more solemn. Instead of debating politics, they joined in prayer, shared memories and reflected on the mark of their slain...
Schumer warns of a shutdown if Republicans don’t accept Democrats’ health care demands
WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer weathered backlash from Democrats earlier this year when he voted with Republicans to keep the government open. But he’s now willing to risk a shutdown at the end of the month if Republicans don’t accede to Democratic demands. Schumer says he and House...
Grief over Kirk’s assassination echoes worldwide and testifies to his influence on the right
Dozens of angry European lawmakers banged their hands on their desks after being denied a moment of silence to honor Charlie Kirk. Backers of the American conservative activist rallied at U.S. embassies in Europe and Africa. And supportive world leaders chimed in, lauding him as a friend and inspiration. The...
Kavanaugh says no one has too much power in U.S. system. Critics see Supreme Court bowing to Trump
WACO, Texas — Justice Brett Kavanaugh says the genius of the American system of government is that no one should have too much power, even as he and other conservatives on the Supreme Court are facing criticism for deferring repeatedly to President Donald Trump. Invoking the list of grievances against...
Vessel struck by U.S. military off Venezuela was heading back to shore, AP sources say
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military strike on what the Trump administration says was a drug-carrying speedboat from Venezuela came after the vessel had turned around and was heading back to shore, raising fresh questions as members of Congress are demanding more information about the provocative attack. National security officials acknowledged...
Pitt Republicans to host Charlie Kirk vigil
The College Republicans at the University of Pittsburgh will hold a vigil today in remembrance of Charlie Kirk. The vigil is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the William Pitt Union patio along Forbes Avenue. Kirk, a conservative activist, was CEO and co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point...
Experts warn of ‘spiral’ if U.S. doesn’t address worst political violence in over a half-century
Several leading authorities on political violence say they are concerned about what happens next in America following the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. The experts say this latest era of political violence is the nation’s worst since the turbulent 1960s. Without a unified, full-throated repudiation of the violence from...
Western Pa. college campuses grapple with fear and security after Charlie Kirk’s killing
Seton Hill student Romilleigh Donovan disagreed with viewpoints of late conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed while speaking at a college in Utah. Still, Donovan, a sophomore studying criminal justice, was deeply troubled by Kirk’s death on Wednesday. “I was appalled, but I was not surprised...
Western Pa. college students grapple with fear and security after Charlie Kirk’s killing
Seton Hill University student Romilleigh Donovan disagreed with viewpoints of late conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed while speaking at a college in Utah. Still the sophomore studying criminal justice was deeply troubled by Kirk’s death on Wednesday. “I was appalled, but I was not surprised...
Senate Republicans barely defeat effort by Democrats to force release of Epstein files
WASHINGTON — In a close vote, Senate Republicans defeated an effort Wednesday by Democrats to insert language into Congress’ annual defense authorization bill that would have forced the public release of case files on the sex trafficking investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein. The Senate voted 51-49 to dismiss the...
Harris says leaving reelection decision to Biden was ‘recklessness,’ but defends his abilities
WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Kamala Harris says it was “recklessness” for Democrats to leave it to President Joe Biden to decide whether to continue seeking another term last year, but she defends his ability to do the job, according an excerpt of her new book. Harris, in an excerpt...
CBS News’ new ombudsman has background and duties that differ from the job’s traditional definition
NEW YORK — CBS News has a new ombudsman assigned to look into public complaints, but the job being assumed by Kenneth Weinstein bears little resemblance to how this watchdog role has traditionally operated in journalism. Weinstein, appointed Monday by CBS’ parent company Paramount, has little background in journalism and...
Paper ballots now an Election Day option for Westmoreland voters
Westmoreland County voters in November will be given the option to use paper ballots on Election Day. Republican Commissioners Sean Kertes and Doug Chew on Tuesday, acting as the county’s Election Board, authorized an optional shift to paper ballots while also saying voters can still use the touch-screen voting machine...
National money starts flowing into critical Pa. Supreme Court retention races
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — A national political group is spending tens of thousands of dollars to urge voters to reject new...
Who else appears to be in the Jeffrey Epstein 50th birthday book?
Donald Trump isn’t the only U.S. president to appear in a collection of birthday messages that were sent to Jeffrey Epstein. An entry attributed to former President Bill Clinton is among some 50 greetings that appear in a 50th birthday book compiled for Epstein in 2003, years before the disgraced...
At Philly event, Pa. Supreme Court justices ask for 10 more years amid GOP campaign to oust them
Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices dismissed suggestions that their decisions were political as they made their case for retention Monday in Philadelphia. In a rare public speaking event Justices Kevin Dougherty, David Wecht, and Christine Donohue spoke about their work over the last 10 years on the state Supreme Court...
Sen. John Thune says Senate will change the rules to push through Trump’s blocked nominees
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Republicans are ready to change the chamber’s rules to allow quick confirmations of dozens of President Donald Trump’s executive branch nominees and will move to speed up votes after months of Democratic delays. Opening the Senate on Monday, Thune said Democrats’ obstruction...
Democrats seek to capitalize on climbing energy bills
WASHINGTON — As electricity prices outpace inflation, members of Congress and the administration have constituents’ bills on their mind, with Democrats hoping they will help them make the case against Trump administration policies. Last week, the House passed the fiscal 2026 Energy-Water appropriations bill in a 214-213 vote. The bill...
PRT weighs whether to use money for transit projects to plug budget hole
Pittsburgh Regional Transit said Monday it hasn’t decided whether it will request permission from the state to temporarily shift money intended for capital improvements to help cover operating expenses. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration approved a request from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to use up to $394 million earmarked for...
Shapiro approves $394M funding shift to prevent SEPTA cuts
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has approved a request from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to use up to $394 million earmarked for capital improvements to help the deficit-plagued transit agency cover operating costs. Shapiro’s office said in a news release Monday that the move would prevent service cuts at the...
