The 10 Senate races that will decide the balance of power in 2026
By Bridget Bowman The fight for the Senate is expanding to a few more states next year, as both parties tout talented candidates and point to political dynamics tilting in their favor. Democrats still face an uphill battle to net the four seats they need to take control of the Senate, which would involve winning at least two states that President Donald Trump carried by double digits in 2024. But they see a glimmer of hope following victories in the 2025 elections and as Trump’s approval rating, particularly on his handling of the economy, has dropped. And Democrats believe they can
Florida A&M lands $321K to boost research
Florida A&M University has been awarded a two-year, $321,000 subaward as part of a national initiative led by the Office of Naval Research aimed at cultivating a diverse and highly skilled STEM workforce. The funding will support efforts to prepare students to address emerging environmental issues and national security challenges, further positioning Florida A&M at the forefront of research, innovation, and workforce development in critical scientific fields. The subaward is supported through Purdue University’s Office of Naval Research Blue Integrated Partnership (BIP 2.0), funded by a $9.89 million grant from the Office of Naval Research. Leading the project is Kenninger Professor of Renewable Energy and Power
Trump announces new class of U.S. battleships named after himself
By Zoë Richards President Donald Trump’s name is being attached to a new class of U.S. battleships that will have nuclear capabilities. Making the announcement at an event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Navy Secretary John Phelan referred to the warships as “Trump-class battleships” and said a forthcoming vessel dubbed the USS Defiant will be “the largest, deadliest and most versatile and best-looking warship anywhere on the world’s oceans.” Trump’s eponymous battleships will be armed with guns and missiles, as well as hypersonic weapons, electronic rail guns and high-powered lasers. “We envision that these ships will be the first of a whole
Congress leaves town until 2026 with no health care deal, forcing premium hikes
By Sahil Kapur WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House and Senate adjourned Thursday until the new year with no solution on expiring health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, meaning insurance premiums for about 22 million Americans will rise next month. But despite opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., some lawmakers in both parties hope there’s still a path to act in 2026. And if that fails, Democrats say they’re determined to wield the issue to impose maximum political pain on Republicans in next year’s midterm elections. “They are absolutely screwing over millions of people, including my
Mayor-elect Gumbs Outlines Her Vision for South Fulton After Historic Win
By: Nakell Williams On her first walk through City Hall as mayor-elect, Carmalitha Gumbs says she immediately sensed a shift. Employees greeted her with congratulations and optimism — a sign, she says, that people are ready for change. Gumbs made history Tuesday night, becoming the first woman ever elected mayor of the City of South Fulton. Although she has served on the city council for eight years, she says the mayor’s office wasn’t something she imagined for herself. “This was not on my bingo card,” Gumbs said. “But the fact that we made history is overwhelming and exciting.” South Fulton,
What the November election results in one key state mean for the battle for the House
By Ben Kamisar and Stephen Pettigrew As both parties race to redraw congressional lines before next year’s midterm elections, Virginia represents one of Democrats’ best chances to blunt Republican attempts to pad their congressional majorities. It’s unclear whether Virginia Democrats will be able to execute a high-wire act to successfully change their map for next year’s elections. Regardless, this November’s election results highlight how an energized Democratic Party could win back control of the House next year. High turnout helped propel Democratic Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger in more Republican-leaning areas, and Spanberger improved on Democrats’ 2024 margins in the most diverse congressional districts, a
HHS cuts millions in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics
By Berkeley Lovelace Jr. The Department of Health and Human Services has terminated seven grants totaling millions of dollars to the American Academy of Pediatrics, escalating its confrontation with the group, which is suing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over vaccine policy. The grants supported initiatives aimed at reducing sudden infant deaths, improving teen and young adult health, preventing birth defects, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, and identifying autism early, according to an academy spokesperson. The cuts were first reported by The Washington Post. In an emailed statement, Andrew Nixon, an HHS spokesperson, said the grants “were canceled along with a number of other
Maryland to consider slavery reparations after Gov. Wes Moore’s veto is overridden
By The Associated Press ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland will create a commission to study potential reparations for slavery after lawmakers voted Tuesday to override a veto by Gov. Wes Moore — currently the nation’s only Black governor — that disappointed many fellow Democrats. Moore said in his veto letter in May that it was a difficult decision to veto the bill, which was a priority of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. But he wrote there has been enough study of the legacy of slavery, and it was now time to “focus on the work itself” to address it. But Democrats
ACA shoppers face sticker shock as Congress dithers on health care
By Julie Appleby We’ve been here before: congressional Democrats and Republicans sparring over the future of the Affordable Care Act. But this time there’s an extra complication. Though it’s the middle of open enrollment, lawmakers are still debating whether to extend the subsidies that have given consumers extra help paying their health insurance premiums in recent years. The circumstances have led to deep consumer concerns about higher costs and fears of political fallout among some Republican lawmakers. According to a KFF poll released in December, about half of current enrollees who are registered to vote said that if their overall health care
Indiana Senate rejects GOP-drawn congressional map in a major rebuke of Trump
By Jane C. Timm INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Senate voted against a new Republican-drawn congressional map Thursday, rejecting a bid led by President Donald Trump aimed at boosting the party in next year’s midterm elections. The vote was a rare and stunning instance of elected Republicans rebuking Trump, who had pressured Indiana lawmakers for months to pass new district lines. The GOP leaders of Indiana’s Senate had long resisted joining the unusual mid-decade redistricting battle playing out across the country, saying there wasn’t enough support in the chamber for a new map that was designed to dismantle the state’s two Democratic-controlled
