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CNN By Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — As the walls come down on the part of the White House that’s been synonymous with American first ladies for decades, Melania Trump has remained silent. The first lady has not publicly spoken about the demolition of the East Wing, which has served as the headquarters for presidential

By David Wright, Gloria Pazmino, CNN (CNN) — This time, the gloves came off. Democrat Zohran Mamdani clashed with independent Andrew Cuomo from the first moments of Wednesday’s second and final general election debate for New York City mayor. Cuomo called Mamdani divisive and said he lacked experience or new ideas, while Mamdani said the

By Kevin Liptak, Kristen Holmes, Kaitlan Collins, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump has proceeded with enormous latitude as he constructs his massive new ballroom, bypassing concerns raised by preservationists and so far stopping short of seeking approval from the commission overseeing construction on federal buildings to tear down the entirety of the White House

By Annie Grayer, Manu Raju, CNN (CNN) — Todd Armstrong, the owner of a 200-year-old family cattle and crops farm in Indiana, voted for President Donald Trump in 2024 but feels abandoned by the president now for suggesting a deal for the US to buy beef from Argentina. “What frustrates me about this whole move

By Evan Perez, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration’s move to issue paychecks this week to some but not all federal law enforcement employees during the government shutdown is sowing division in the ranks and does little to resolve the harm being done to ongoing investigations, current and former law enforcement officials tell CNN. Under

ZOOM| CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM By Arit John, CNN (CNN) — Former President Barack Obama urged voters to back California Democrats’ redistricting effort during a virtual event with Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday, framing the proposed constitutional amendment as a way to counter President Donald Trump’s efforts to skew the 2026 midterm elections in Republicans’ favor.

By Natasha Bertrand, Rashard Rose, CNN (CNN) — The US military conducted lethal strikes against two boats in the eastern Pacific this week, killing all people on board each vessel, according to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The two strikes on vessels in the Pacific — the eighth and ninth known strikes by the US

By Daniel Dale, CNN (CNN) — The president keeps claiming a major American city is burning down. Even though that is not even close to true. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday: “I looked at Portland over the weekend. The place is burning down, just burning down.” Trump noted that an

By Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — The Trump administration has reached an agreement with the University of Virginia, according to an announcement from the Department of Justice, marking the first public university to reach a deal with the White House after months of turmoil. The university has signed on to Justice Department guidelines on federal

By Betsy Klein, Kylie Atwood, CNN (CNN) — While praising first lady Melania Trump’s work to return Ukrainian children from Russian captivity, President Donald Trump last week seemed to downplay the estimates of the number of children allegedly abducted since the war began. Seated across the table in the White House Cabinet Room, Ukrainian President

CNN By Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett and Rashard Rose, CNN (CNN) — Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley now holds the record for third longest Senate floor speech in modern history, after delivering remarks for more than 22 hours. Merkley began speaking on the Senate floor after announcing he would protest what he called President Donald Trump’s

By Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett and Rashard Rose, CNN (CNN) — Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley now holds the record for third longest Senate floor speech in modern history, after delivering remarks for more than 22 hours. Merkley began speaking on the Senate floor after announcing he would protest what he called President Donald Trump’s “grave

CNN By Kit Maher, Kristen Holmes, Aileen Graef, CNN (CNN) — Paul Ingrassia is no longer the nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel, two White House officials told CNN on Tuesday, after his chances of getting through the Senate confirmation imploded following reports of racist text messages that he allegedly sent to a

By Kit Maher, Kristen Holmes, Aileen Graef, CNN (CNN) — Paul Ingrassia is no longer the nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel, two White House officials told CNN on Tuesday, after his chances of getting through the Senate confirmation imploded following reports of racist text messages that he allegedly sent to a group

By Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he “could be” seeking $230 million from his own Justice Department as compensation for past investigations into him, though he professed to have little knowledge of the specifics and said he would give the money to charity. “It could be,” Trump responded when

CNN By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — Arizona’s attorney general has sued the US House of Representatives over Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to seat an Arizona member of Congress – who was elected in late September – due to the government shutdown. “This case is about whether someone duly elected to the House,” Kris

By Kaanita Iyer, Jeremy Moorhead, CNN (CNN) — Summer Kerksick waited in line for two hours Tuesday to receive a box of canned and dry goods at a food bank event for federal workers amid the ongoing government shutdown. “With my rent due next week, I can take anything I can get,” Kerksick, a federal

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — Arizona’s attorney general has sued the US House of Representatives over Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to seat an Arizona member of Congress – who was elected in late September – due to the government shutdown. “This case is about whether someone duly elected to the House,” Kris Mayes

By Lauren del Valle, CNN Newark, New Jersey (CNN) — Rep. LaMonica McIver appeared in federal court Tuesday as she continues to fight a three-count indictment alleging she impeded and interfered with federal officers in a highly publicized incident at a Newark, New Jersey, ICE detention facility in May. Her attorneys have argued she’s being

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump is leaning on a new appeals court ruling that endorsed his deployment of the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, as he urges the Supreme Court to let his administration carry out a similar effort in Chicago. Describing those protesting the administration in Chicago as “rioters” who

By Evan Perez, CNN (CNN) — Attorneys for former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith rebutted claims by Republican lawmakers that investigators in the January 6 election subversion case had “wiretapped” GOP members of Congress. Senate Republicans in recent weeks accused Smith and the FBI of “political weaponization” after the FBI disclosed 2023 court orders

By Daniel Dale, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump has made a series of inaccurate claims in recent days about the Insurrection Act, the old law he has mused about invoking to deploy troops to some US cities. The law – more precisely described as a collection of related laws from the 18th and 19th

CNN By Alayna Treene, Eugenia Yosef, CNN (CNN) — Vice President JD Vance downplayed concerns about the fragility of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire while speaking in Israel on Tuesday, even as some Trump administration officials are privately concerned the deal could fall apart, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. “What we’ve seen the past week

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — A New York man who was convicted of charges related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack was arrested Sunday on a charge that he threatened to kill Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. According to New York State Police, an anonymous source told the FBI that the man,

By Alayna Treene, Eugenia Yosef, CNN (CNN) — Vice President JD Vance downplayed concerns about the fragility of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire while speaking in Israel on Tuesday, even as some Trump administration officials are privately concerned the deal could fall apart, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. “What we’ve seen the past week gives

By Fredreka Schouten, CNN (CNN) — The North Carolina Senate approved a new congressional map aimed at helping Republicans eke out an additional GOP seat to help shore up the party’s majority in the US House after next year’s midterm elections. The vote came one day after Republican lawmakers who control North Carolina’s legislature formally

By Brian Todd, CNN (CNN) — An edge comes to Michael’s voice when he speaks about his time serving in Afghanistan and his struggles living with post-traumatic stress disorder. A hardened Marine veteran, Michael — who asked to use the pseudonym to speak candidly about sensitive health issues — describes in tones that are measured

By Morgan Rimmer, Annie Grayer, Ted Barrett, CNN (CNN) — Paul Ingrassia’s nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel is dead on arrival in the Senate, per Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who declared Monday night that “he’s not going to pass” after Politico reported on racist text messages allegedly sent by Ingrassia to

By Arlette Saenz, CNN (CNN) — Former President Joe Biden has completed a course of radiation therapy as he battles prostate cancer, a spokesperson for Biden told CNN. It is unclear what Biden’s next treatment steps might be. The spokesperson did not provide details about future treatment options for the former president, who will turn

By Kit Maher, Donald Judd, CNN (CNN) — Demolition of the White House East Wing began Monday as President Donald Trump adds a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom. CNN observed an excavator tearing down portions of the East Wing, and close-up video and images captured areas of the roof torn down and an excavator tearing through