Tax cuts are the hot new idea for Democrats
By Sahil Kapur WASHINGTON — Tax cuts are becoming the hottest new idea in Democratic politics from coast to coast, as candidates across the party spectrum seek to capitalize on cost-of-living struggles and win back working-class voters. Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., recently rolled out sweeping tax cut plans. Booker seeks to create a federal tax exemption for up to $75,000 in income for married couples. Van Hollen wants to set that figure at $92,000. Both have been floated as potential 2028 presidential candidates. In California, progressive candidate for governor Katie Porter, a former Democratic congresswoman, is proposing to wipe out
Sen. Raphael Warnock Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Expand Federal Funding To HBCUs
by Sharelle B. McNair As the sole HBCU graduate serving in the U.S. Senate, Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock worked with a member on the opposite side of the political aisle to present a bipartisan bill that will extend federal funding opportunities to HBCUs, AfroTech reports. Warnock, a Morehouse College alum, and Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, home to the most HBCUs in the country — 14 to be exact — introduced the bipartisan HBCU Research Capacity Act to 30 of the country’s HBCU leaders and supporters. As the Trump administration has worked tirelessly to eliminate funding for the schools, the purpose of the legislation would
Republican leaders announce two-track plan to end the DHS shutdown
By Sahil Kapur and Kyle Stewart WASHINGTON — House and Senate Republican leaders jointly announced a plan Wednesday that they said would end the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that caused major airport delays. “In the coming days, Republicans in the Senate and House will be following through on the President’s directive by fully funding the entire Department of Homeland Security on two parallel tracks: through the appropriations process and through the reconciliation process,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said in a statement. The two leaders were vague about the exact plan, but it appears to closely resemble the
Trump signs an executive order to create federal voter lists
By Jane C. Timm and Ryan J. Reilly President Donald Trump is again trying to exert control over American elections, signing an executive order Tuesday that aims to create federal lists of citizens and ask the U.S. Postal Service to transmit mail ballots to only those people. The executive order, his second related to elections since he retook office last year, is sure to be quickly challenged in court. The U.S. Constitution gives states the power to set voting rules and administer their own elections, though Congress has the ability to set some regulations, too. “That’s a big deal,” Trump said as he signed the
Sen. Cory Booker says he’s ‘definitely not ruling out’ a possible presidential run
By Alexandra Marquez Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said Sunday that he is not ruling out the prospect of running for president in 2028, but that he is focused on running for re-election to the Senate this year. “I hope New Jersey will support me for another six years,” Booker told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” Booker has served in the Senate since 2013 and has already run for president once, in the 2020 election cycle. That year, he dropped out of the Democratic primary in early January, citing a lack of funds to continue his campaign. Then-former Vice President Joe Biden went on
U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Raphael Warnock Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Federal Grants for HBCUs
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) joined Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) in introducing the bipartisan HBCU Research Capacity Act, legislation that would streamline federal funding opportunities for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). To announce the bill, the Senators hosted over 30 HBCU presidents from across the country for a roundtable discussion. Alabama A&M University President Dr. Daniel K. Wims, Alabama State University President Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr., Drake State Community & Technical College President Dr. Patricia G. Sims, Shelton State Community College President Dr. Jonathan Koh, Lawson State Community College President Dr. Cynthia T. Anthony, Trenholm State Community College President Dr. Kemba K. Chambers, and Bishop State Community College President Olivier
Democrat flips Republican-held Florida state House district that includes Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
By Alexandra Marquez Democrat Emily Gregory won a special election Tuesday for the Florida state House district that includes President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, flipping the seat from Republican control, The Associated Press projects. Gregory beat Republican Jon Maples, whom Trump endorsed, in the race for a seat that has been vacant since August, when Mike Caruso resigned from the Legislature and was appointed Palm Beach County clerk. Gregory had 51% of the vote to 49% for Maples with all precincts reporting. Democrats have performed well in special elections during Trump’s second term, with the party pointing to those results as a sign
Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin to be DHS secretary, replacing Kristi Noem
By Sahil Kapur and Scott Wong WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Monday to confirm Markwayne Mullin to lead the Department of Homeland Security as the shutdown of the sprawling agency dragged into its sixth week with no end in sight. The vote to confirm Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, as the head of DHS was 54-45, with Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., supporting his confirmation. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the chairman of the panel overseeing DHS, voted against Mullin on Monday after he clashed with him at his hearing last week and questioned whether a man with “anger issues” could be trusted to
Supreme Court conservatives appear skeptical of mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day
By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON — Conservative Supreme Court justices questioned Monday whether states should be allowed to count ballots that are mailed on time but arrive after Election Day. The nine justices heard more than two hours of arguments as President Donald Trump has ramped up his opposition to mail-in voting and urged Congress to ban it in most cases. The court is considering a Mississippi law similar to measures in 13 other states that allow mail-in ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. The case could have implications for the midterm elections in November, when voters will decide which
Supreme Court tackles dispute over mail-in ballots ahead of November elections
By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday delves into the issue of mail-in voting, weighing whether states can count ballots that are mailed on time but arrive after Election Day. The justices will hear arguments as President Donald Trump has ramped up his opposition to mail-in voting and urged Congress to ban it in most cases. The court is considering a Mississippi law, similar to measures in 13 other states, that allow for mail-in ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. The case could have implications for the midterm elections this November, when voters will decide which
