National Politics

By Hannah Rabinowitz, Annie Grayer and Kaitlan Collins, CNN (CNN) — When Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche arrived on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon, they hoped to boost members’ confidence on their handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Within half an hour, Democratic lawmakers had walked out. The closed-door briefing for

By Haley Britzky, CNN (CNN) — The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is moving away from operations tied to the Iran war and sailing to the US Navy’s base in Crete for repairs after a fire broke out in the ship’s laundry area last week, a US official said. The movement of the Navy’s

By Morgan Rimmer, CNN (CNN) — A typically friendly setting for one of their own turned tense on Capitol Hill Wednesday with senators grilling Markwayne Mullin for roughly three hours as he vies to become President Donald Trump’s next Department of Homeland Security chief. Republican Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul cast doubt on whether

By Aaron Blake, CNN (CNN) — Top Trump administration officials testified publicly Wednesday for the first time since the launch of the Iran war three weeks ago. Officials including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, where they were

By Adam Cancryn (CNN) — The White House is temporarily lifting key limits on the shipping of oil, gas and other commodities throughout the United States, in its latest effort to counter rising energy prices sparked by its war with Iran. The move to waive the Jones Act will allow foreign-flagged ships to transport the

By Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and asserted it does not have new evidence to prosecute anyone for crimes related to the convicted sex offender, in an interview released Tuesday. “I’m not trying to defend Epstein. I’m not,” Blanche said

By Eric Bradner, CNN (CNN) — In nominating Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton for the Senate on Tuesday, Illinois Democrats chose a candidate whose message included a television ad featuring people saying “f*** Trump” over a more moderate, better-funded rival, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, as well as Rep. Robin Kelly. Stratton’s win, fueled by a big margin

By Steve Contorno, CNN (CNN) — Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has won the Democratic primary for an open Senate seat, a stunning rise for a little-known state officer now on a glide path to Washington. If victorious in November, Stratton would become the second Black woman to represent Illinois in the Senate – and

By Alayna Treene, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump promised his endorsement was forthcoming in the GOP Texas Senate runoff and said he wanted whoever he didn’t pick to drop out. But now — preoccupied with the Iran war and a doomed voting bill — he’s missed a critical deadline. The decision hasn’t been on

By Devan Cole, Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration’s arguments in defense of the massive White House ballroom project on Tuesday found virtually no purchase before a federal judge, who appears ready to rule that the president skirted the law by undertaking construction without congressional approval. During a testy hearing before senior US

By Marshall Cohen, CNN (CNN) — Arizona’s attorney general has filed the first-ever criminal charges in the US against a major prediction market company, accusing Kalshi of running an illegal gambling operation in violation of state law. The criminal case, filed Tuesday in Maricopa County Superior Court, is a serious escalation in the ongoing battle

By Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett, CNN (CNN) — The Senate has kicked off extended debate on the “SAVE America Act” — one of President Donald Trump’s top legislative priorities. Lawmakers voted to begin consideration of the bill that would require voters to show ID and proof of US citizenship in federal elections. While the legislation

By Kevin Liptak, CNN (CNN) — Donald Trump’s brief and aggressive attempt to corral an international coalition to police the Strait of Hormuz concluded in disappointment on Tuesday, leading the president to lash out at European nations that rejected his demands to help with his war against Iran. “We don’t need too much help,” a

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — Chief Justice John Roberts warned against personal attacks on the judiciary, telling an audience Tuesday that while criticism of opinions is fair game, “personally directed hostility” is dangerous and must stop. Roberts did not mention President Donald Trump by name and, as he so often does, he went out

CNN By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — Chief Justice John Roberts warned against personal attacks on the judiciary, telling an audience Tuesday that while criticism of opinions is fair game, “personally directed hostility” is dangerous and must stop. Roberts did not mention President Donald Trump by name and, as he so often does, he went

By Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — House Oversight Chair James Comer on Tuesday issued a subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi to appear for a deposition on April 14 as part of the panel’s Jeffrey Epstein probe. Comer wrote in the subpoena cover letter that his panel is investigating the “possible mismanagement of the federal

CNN By Zachary Cohen, CNN (CNN) — A senior US intelligence official appointed by President Donald Trump abruptly announced he is stepping down from his post on Tuesday, citing misgivings about the administration’s war with Iran. Joe Kent, who had been serving as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, posted his resignation letter on