Politics Election category, Page 56
Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners, ushering in economic uncertainty
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out his plan to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports, possibly triggering a broader economic confrontation with allies and rivals alike as he hopes to eliminate any trade imbalances. “I’ve decided for purposes of...
Judge clears way for Trump’s plan to downsize federal workforce with deferred resignation program
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Wednesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump ’s plan to downsize the federal workforce with a deferred resignation program. It was a significant legal victory for the Republican president after a string of courtroom setbacks. “This goes to show that lawfare will not...
House Republicans introduce blueprint to extend $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and lift debt ceilingVideo
WASHINGTON — House Republicans released a budget plan Wednesday that sets the stage for advancing many of President Donald Trump’s top domestic priorities, providing for up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and a $4 trillion increase in the debt limit so that the U.S. can continue financing its bills....
Trump’s halt of U.S. law banning business bribes abroad raises specter of a ‘Wild West’ of dealmaking
NEW YORK — To its fans, it’s an undeniable force for good in a corrupt world, a groundbreaking anti-bribery statute that has brought powerful businessmen to heel for secretly paying off foreign government officials to win contracts abroad. To detractors, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act unfairly hobbles American companies while...
Butler County storage facility in spotlight after Elon Musk mention
A private storage facility in Butler County found itself in the spotlight after being indirectly mentioned by Elon Musk on Tuesday. The billionaire owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk is serving as an adviser to President Donald Trump, spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to...
Musk appears at White House defending DOGE’s work but acknowledging mistakes
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s most powerful adviser, Elon Musk, made a rare public appearance at the White House on Tuesday to defend the swift and extensive cuts he’s pushing across the federal government while acknowledging there have been mistakes and will be more. Musk stood next to the Resolute...
Senator accuses Kash Patel of directing FBI personnel ‘purge’
WASHINGTON — The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday accused FBI director nominee Kash Patel of acting behind the scenes to direct a “purge” of career officials at the agency, adding to what he called “myriad red flags” about Patel ahead of a panel vote set for...
Appeals court won’t halt judge’s order requiring Trump administration to unfreeze all federal cash
WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court on Tuesday refused to immediately halt a judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to release billions of dollars in federal grants and loans that remain frozen even after a court blocked a sweeping pause on federal funding. The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of...
White House bars Associated Press reporter from Oval Office because of AP style policy on ‘Gulf of America’
The White House blocked an Associated Press reporter from an event in the Oval Office on Tuesday after demanding the news agency alter its style on the Gulf of Mexico, which President Donald Trump has ordered renamed the Gulf of America. The reporter tried to enter the White House event...
Western Pa. politicians laud release of Oakmont’s Marc Fogel
Elected Pennsylvania leaders from both parties lauded Tuesday’s release of Oakmont teacher Marc Fogel after nearly four years in Russian captivity — a rare instance of solidarity in an increasingly divided political environment. “Today is a day of celebration, thankfulness and gratitude knowing our fellow Pennsylvanian will soon be back...
After meeting with Trump, Jordan’s king says his country opposes displacing Palestinians in GazaVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday and renewed his insistence that Gaza could somehow be emptied of all residents, controlled by the U.S. and redeveloped as a tourist area. It’s an audacious, but highly unlikely, scheme to dramatically remake the...
Trump steel, aluminum tariffs likely to drive up car costs, industry leaders say
DETROIT — President Donald Trump’s tariffs on steel imports this week could wreak havoc on American auto manufacturing, industry leaders say. The moves align with the Trump administration’s aggressive global trade agenda and ambitions to strengthen U.S. industry, but they could have an inverse effect. On March 12, all steel...
DOGE cuts $900 million from agency that tracks American students’ academic progress
WASHINGTON — A federal research agency that tracks the progress of America’s students is being hit with almost $900 million in cuts after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency found no need for much of its work. It’s unclear to what degree the Education Department’s Institute of Education Sciences will...
Ye’s website sold swastika T-shirts before being taken down
After rapper and designer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, bought a local TV ad during the Super Bowl, people realized it promoted his website that was selling just one product — T-shirts with swastikas. The symbol of Nazi Germany, which is still used by modern-day far-right extremists, appeared in...
Rep. Nancy Mace accuses ex-fiancé and associates of assaulting her and raping others in House speech
CHAPIN, S.C. — Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina on Monday used a nearly hour-long speech on the U.S. House floor to accuse her ex-fiancé of physically abusing her, recording sex acts with her and others without their consent, and conspiring with business associates in acts of rape and sexual...
How Elon Musk’s crusade against government could benefit Tesla
WASHINGTON — Elon Musk has long railed against the U.S. government, saying a crushing number of federal investigations and safety programs have stymied his electric car company Tesla and its efforts to create fleets of robotaxis and other self-driving automobiles. Now, Musk’s close relationship with President Donald Trump means many...
Trump once again slaps taxes on foreign steel, aluminum, a move that proved costly in his 1st term
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is hitting foreign steel and aluminum with a 25% tax. If that sounds familiar, it’s because he did pretty much the same thing during his first term. Trump’s original metals tariffs gave America’s struggling steel and aluminum producers some relief from intense global competition, allowing...
Top Justice Department official orders prosecutors to drop charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams
NEW YORK — The Justice Department ordered federal prosecutors Monday to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, arguing in a remarkable departure from longstanding prosecutorial norms that the case was interfering with the mayor’s ability to crack down on illegal immigration and violent crime. In a...
22 states — not Pa. — sue Trump administration over guidelines that could hamper Pitt, CMU research
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine on Monday touted new Alzheimer’s disease research that could contribute to diagnosing the disease and starting treatment of it before it enters its final stage, which ends in death. More than 12 federal grants helped defray the cost of the research. Similar federal...
Judge blocks Trump administration attempt to cap medical research spending after states sue
BOSTON — Scientists warn the Trump administration’s drastic cuts for medical research endanger patients, will cost thousands of jobs – and threaten America’s standing as a world leader in science and innovation. Nearly two dozen states sued Monday to block the National Institutes of Health’s surprise slashing of billions of...
Judge finds Trump administration hasn’t fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending
WASHINGTON — A federal judge found Monday that the Trump administration hasn’t fully followed his order to unfreeze federal spending and told the White House to release billions of dollars in funding. The Trump administration quickly appealed the ruling. U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell became the first judge to...
Secrecy preceded the shutdown of the consumer protection agency’s Washington headquarters
WASHINGTON — Over the weekend, some staff members at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau saw a sign of trouble to come. Windows in two basement conference rooms were covered with brown paper and blue painter’s tape, concealing their occupants. Voices could be heard inside discussing cuts to government agencies. When...
Judge keeps Trump plan to push out federal workers on hold
BOSTON — President Donald Trump’s plan to downsize the federal workforce remains on hold after a courtroom hearing on Monday afternoon. It’s the latest example of how the Republican president’s ambitious plans have become ensnared in the judicial system. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. had paused the deferred resignation...
Trump is expected to pardon ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich 5 years after commuting his sentenceVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday will pardon Democratic former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a person familiar with his plans. Trump commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence for political corruption charges during his first term. He planned to sign the pardon on Monday afternoon, according to the person, who...
Former Buckeyes football coach Jim Tressel nominated as Ohio’s lieutenant governor
COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday nominated former Ohio State Buckeyes football coach Jim Tressel to be the state’s next lieutenant governor, praising him as a seasoned educator and leader with the skills to take the state’s helm if need be. Tressel, 72, retired in 2023 as president...
