Trump hosts Senate Republicans at renovated White House as the shutdown drags into fourth week
Head Start programs for preschoolers nationwide are scrambling for federal funds.
Politics
Senate Republicans head to the White House in a show of unity as the shutdown enters its fourth week
As the government shutdown enters its fourth week, Senate Republicans are headed to the White House on Tuesday — not for urgent talks on how to end it but for a display of unity with President Donald Trump as they refuse to negotiate on any Democratic demands.
Wall Street holds steady at the cusp of its records
The U.S. stock market is holding near its record heights on Tuesday as the floodgates open for companies reporting how much profit they made during the summer.
Early voting begins for Municipal Election Day
The early voting period for Municipal Election Day has began, according to the South Carolina State Election Commission.
Trump suggests US will buy Argentinian beef to bring down prices for American consumers
President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States could purchase Argentinian beef in an attempt to bring down prices for American consumers.
Trump commutes sentence of former Rep. George Santos
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCED HE IS COMMUTING THE SENTENCE OF FORMER CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS, RELEASING HIM FROM PRISON IMMEDIATELY. SANTOS HAD BEEN SERVING A SEVEN-YEAR SENTENCE FOR THE FRAUD CHARGES THAT GOT HIM OUSTED FROM CONGRESS. TRUMP MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT…
Government shutdown starting to hurt economy
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the federal government shutdown is slowing the U.S. economy.
Democrats say Trump needs to be involved in shutdown talks. He's shown little interest in doing so
President Donald Trump is showing little urgency to broker a compromise that would end the government shutdown, even as Democrats insist no breakthrough is possible without his direct involvement.
US blocks a global fee on shipping emissions as international meeting ends without new regulations
The U.S. has succeeded in blocking a global fee on shipping emissions as an international maritime meeting adjourned Friday without adopting regulations.
Senate Democrats, holding out for health care, reject government funding bill for 10th time
Senate Democrats rejected for the 10th time Thursday a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government, insisting they won’t back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits.
Head of South Carolina elections fired after voting machine contract had unexplained $4M overrun
The South Carolina Election Commission is trying to figure out how a contract for new machines for voting for $28 million ended up costing the agency $4 million more.
Trump threatens to yank World Cup games from Boston though it's up to FIFA to choose sites
President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to relocate World Cup matches set to be played next year in suburban Boston, after suggesting that parts of the city had been “taken over” by unrest.
Democrats say they won't be intimidated by Trump's threats as the shutdown enters a third week
Entering the third week of a government shutdown, Democrats say they are not intimidated or cowed by President Donald Trump’s efforts to fire thousands of federal workers or by his threats of more firings to come.
The government shutdown is putting a renewed spotlight on the cracks in the US aviation system
A startling message came over the radio from an air traffic control tower near Los Angeles less than a week into the federal government shutdown: “The tower is closed due to staffing."
Supreme Court takes up GOP-led challenge to Voting Rights Act that could affect control of Congress
The Supreme Court is taking up a major Republican-led challenge to the Voting Rights Act, the centerpiece legislation of the Civil Rights Movement, that could gut a key provision of the law that prohibits racial discrimination in redistricting.
National Politics
- Texas' Senate primary race between Crockett and Talarico ramps up after pulled Colbert interview Feb 20, 2026 4:19 AM ESTDemocratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas is urging supporters to look at experience in a heated U.S. Senate primary with state Rep. James Talarico as he rides on wider attention thanks to late-night host Stephen Colbert
- Texas congressman claims he's being 'blackmailed' over alleged affair with staffer who later died Feb 20, 2026 1:49 AM ESTCongressman Tony Gonzales of Texas is claiming he's being “blackmailed” following a report he allegedly had an affair with a former staffer who later died after she set herself on fire
- Judge dismisses ex-NYPD commissioner's lawsuit alleging 'systemic corruption' in police department Feb 20, 2026 12:21 AM ESTA federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by New York City’s former interim police commissioner against the previous mayor, Eric Adams, and his top deputies
- Democrats say citizenship question could derail census test and deter immigrants from participating Feb 20, 2026 12:05 AM ESTCongressional Democrats are warning that the U.S. Census Bureau risks undermining an upcoming test of the 2030 census by using a form that includes a citizenship question
- Virginia judge temporarily blocks Democrats' redistricting work on bid to flip 4 congressional seats Feb 19, 2026 10:24 PM ESTA Virginia court is temporarily blocking Democrats from preparing for an April voter referendum to redraw the state’s congressional maps
- Large banner featuring Trump's face is displayed on Justice Department headquarters Feb 19, 2026 8:21 PM ESTA large banner featuring Donald Trump’s face has been hung on the exterior of Justice Department headquarters in a physical display of the Republican president’s efforts to exert power over the law enforcement agency
- Wisconsin poised to leave Arkansas as only state without expanded Medicaid for new moms Feb 19, 2026 4:21 PM ESTWisconsin Republicans who long blocked a bipartisan measure to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage plan to pass the measure following pressure from Democrats
- Bernie Sanders and Gavin Newsom become adversaries over billionaire tax Feb 19, 2026 8:21 AM ESTBernie Sanders has traveled to Los Angeles to kick off a campaign for a proposed “billionaires tax” that has set off an uproar in the Silicon Valley and led to divisions among Democrats
- Governors arrive in Washington eager to push past Trump's partisan grip Feb 19, 2026 8:13 AM ESTGovernors are arriving in Washington for an annual gathering that has traditionally been a show of bipartisanship
- Gov. Wes Moore on Trump: 'I pray for him and I just feel bad for him' Feb 19, 2026 8:05 AM ESTMaryland Gov. Wes Moore is pushing back on President Donald Trump while trying to rally Democrats in his state around a mid-decade redistricting fight
