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AP US Politics News

Senate confirms anti-DEI stalwart Andrea Lucas to second term at top workplace civil rights agency

By ALEXANDRA OLSON AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The Senate confirmed Andrea Lucas to another term as commissioner of the country’s workplace civil rights agency, demonstrating firm Republican support for her efforts to root out diversity programs, roll back protections for transgender workers and prioritize religious rights in the workplace. Democratic lawmakers and

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Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending plan

By STEVE PEOPLES AP National Politics Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Democrats are launching a nationwide summer blitz designed to force vulnerable Republicans to defend President Donald Trump’s big tax breaks and spending cuts bill — especially Medicaid cuts that will leave millions of Americans without health care coverage. Republican leaders in Washington, meanwhile, have

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2026 race for California governor goes into new gear and directions with Kamala Harris out

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD AP Political Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — After months of uncertainty, the race to become California’s next governor started Thursday. Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ decision Wednesday to bypass the 2026 contest pushed the campaign into a new phase, lacking its biggest potential star and the presumptive early favorite. Harris’ formal

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Michael Whatley, RNC chairman endorsed by Trump, launches Senate bid in North Carolina

By GARY D. ROBERTSON, ERIK VERDUZCO and THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley launched his campaign for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat Thursday, equipped with President Donald Trump’s endorsement and a large fundraising network for a potential general election bid against formidable Democrat Roy Cooper. A

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Trump ally Jeffrey Clark should be disbarred over 2020 election effort, DC panel says

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Jeffrey Clark, the former Justice Department official who aided President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, should be stripped of his law license, a Washington disciplinary panel ruled on Thursday. Clark, who is now overseeing a federal regulatory office, played a

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Illinois Democratic Rep. Danny Davis says he won’t seek reelection after 15 terms in Congress

By SOPHIA TAREEN and CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Rep. Danny Davis announced Thursday that he won’t seek reelection next year after 15 terms in office, making him the latest longtime Illinois Democrat to announce their retirement from Congress. Davis, 83, sits on the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. First

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Trump revives the Presidential Fitness Test, a rite of passage for schoolchildren for decades

By MICHELLE L. PRICE and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test for American children, a fixture of public schools for decades that gauged young people’s health and athleticism with 1-mile runs, sit-ups and stretching exercises. “This is a wonderful tradition, and we’re bringing

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Josh Hawley says he had ‘good chat’ with Trump after dustup over stock trading bill

By LISA MASCARO and LEAH ASKARINAM Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Josh Hawley is brushing off President Donald Trump’s quip that he’s a “second-tier” senator after the Republican’s proposal to ban stock trading by members of Congress — and the president and vice president — won bipartisan approval to advance in a committee vote.

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Appellate judges question Trump’s authority to impose tariffs without Congress

By PAUL WISEMAN and MATT SEDENSKY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Appellate court judges expressed broad skepticism Thursday over President Donald Trump’s legal rationale for his most expansive round of tariffs. Members of the 11-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington appeared unconvinced by the Trump administration’s insistence

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