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Republican Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert endorsed Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie Friday despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to primary challenge him. Trump launched an aggressive effort to unseat Massie by endorsing his opponent, Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, and has harshly criticized Massie over his criticisms of the Iran war, his opposition of the big, beautiful bill and his push to release the files surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. Four days before Massie’s primary, Boebert said on X that Massie “loves America and is fighting to save it,” while also praising Trump in the same statement. “Below is my friend Thomas Massie. He...

In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here. An op-ed in the New York Times on Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) this week, He’s One of a Dying Breed in Congress. America Needs Him Now More Than Ever, could not have been any more sycophantic.The Times hasn't endorsed a Republican presidential candidate since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. That means they loved the likes...

Massie leads among likely voters by only 50.6 to 49.4 percent; well within the margin of error.

Jerome Powell is not quite done running the Federal Reserve yet. The Federal Reserve Board voted on Friday to designate Jerome Powell as chair pro tempore until Kevin Warsh is sworn in as the new chair. The move was announced in a terse press release: “This temporary action to name the incumbent as chair pro tempore is consistent with past practice during similar transitions between chairs.” The press release did not explain what statutory authority the Board was relying on. Nor did it address the fact that the claim of consistency with precedent is, in critical respects, unsupported by the...

A brief moment at Donald Trump’s high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping has sparked fresh attention after the U.S. leader was seen raising a glass and appearing to take a sip during a formal reception. Footage from the event shows Trump holding a stemmed glass alongside Xi and other officials before bringing it to his lips. The moment stands out because the president has presented himself as a lifelong teetotaler—making even routine diplomatic gestures open to closer scrutiny. The reception formed part of a tightly choreographed state visit, where symbolism and protocol carry as much weight as policy discussions....

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A candidate for a Louisville-based Kentucky State House seat recently admitted to taking mail out of the mailbox of a potential voter. Max Morley is running to replace Daniel Grossberg as Kentucky State Representative in the 30th House District, which includes parts of Jefferson County. In a home security camera video reviewed by WHAS11, Morley is seen approaching a porch and ringing the doorbell and knocking on the door. "While campaigning, I exhibited a lack of judgment. This isn’t acceptable, and it’s something I’m deeply sorry for. I apologize to the homeowner. I want one thing to...

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Virginia’s bid to restore a congressional map that would have given Democrats a chance to pick up four seats in the closely divided House of Representatives. The court’s order is the latest twist in the nation’s mid-decade redistricting competition. It was kicked off last year by President Donald Trump urging Republican-controlled states to redraw their lines and was supercharged by a recent Supreme Court ruling severely weakening the Voting Rights Act that opened up even more winnable seats for the GOP.

A convicted child sex offender is now a fugitive after a California judge allowed him to remain free on $1 million bail following his conviction, a decision that prosecutors are now sharply criticizing after the man disappeared before sentencing.Carl Cacconie was convicted on July 17 at the South Lake Tahoe Courthouse of six felony sex crimes involving an 11-year-old girl. Despite the verdict, Judge Michael McLaughlin, a registered Democrat, permitted him to leave court pending sentencing, which was set for Aug. 25. He never returned. SNIP “To expect that a person on $1 million bond, who has now been convicted,...

A Democratic strategist stunned a CNN panel into silence after claiming a new congressional map set to make a black Republican the odds-on favorite to win the election is racist. Democratic strategist Tezlyn Figaro made the argument on Thursday's NewsNight after journalist Lydia Moynihan pointed out how the redistricting bid will help the odds of GOP candidate Charlotte Bergmann, a black woman, in Tennessee. The new map made it through the state's general assembly hours before. Moynihan framed the situation as 'ironic', given that many critics have called the redraw racist. They say it dilutes the state's only black-majority district,...

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Friday cut former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ nine-year prison sentence in half, and ordered the 70-year-old, who has become a national martyr for election conspiracy theorists, to be released on parole June 1. Peters’ sentence for orchestrating a security breach of her county’s election system in 2021 in a failed attempt to uncover voter fraud is now four years and four and a half months under a clemency order issued by the governor. “She, because of her incorrect and unpopular speech, got an unduly harsh sentence,” Polis said Friday in an interview with The...

A conservative law firm is suing state officials in federal court challenging Wisconsin’s ban on conversion therapy, arguing it amounts to unconstitutional “viewpoint discrimination.” The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, or WILL, announced the litigation Wednesday, saying it filed suit on behalf of licensed counselors Terri Koschnick and Joy Buchman, who both provide Christian faith-based counseling services. Gov. Tony Evers, Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dan Hereth and members of the Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board are named as defendants in the suit.

In [2021-2023], thousands of children crossed the border alone and ended up working in some of the most dangerous jobs in the country. Migrant children as young as 13 suffered chemical burns on overnight factory shifts, had their limbs mangled by conveyor belts or fell to their deaths from roofs......[HHS Secretary] Xavier Becerra [who was in charge of finding homes for the kids] began urging staff members to move them more quickly through shelters... Employees told me they loosened protections that had been in place for years, including in screening sponsors... Most of [the kids Becerra placed with sponsors] were...

Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Nithya Raman wanted to ban backyard barbecues for residents during certain high fire danger days across the city. Raman introduced a motion Wednesday directing city officials to examine emergency restrictions on grilling during Red Flag Warning days, when high winds and dry conditions significantly increase wildfire danger across Los Angeles. The proposal specifically asks officials to consider possible limits on backyard barbecues, fire pits and other open flames in residential neighborhoods during those high-risk weather events.

The National Rifle Association is suing Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger for her signing of a measure to make illegal the buying, selling, importing, manufacturing and/or the transfer of assault weapons in the state. The NRA filed lawsuits in both federal and state courts, arguing the law is unconstitutional. Supporters argue the legislation removes "weapons of war" from the streets, making Virginia safer from violence, but opponents argue the law punishes law-abiding citizens, WRIC reported. “As promised, we are taking Abigail Spanberger to court," the NRA, the Second Amendment rights group said in a statement. "Throughout the legislative session, the...

SNIP The governor revealed the secret contingency plan to prevent two Republicans from advancing in the governor election — as polls show Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton near the top of the field in the packed race. Newsom alluded to “action efforts” behind the scenes to make sure Democrats aren’t locked out of the governor’s race, saying he “making my case” to “encourage that doesn’t happen.” Recent surveys show Democratic frontrunner Xavier Becerra and Hilton as favorites among registered voters, with billionaire Tom Steyer, Republican Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco and Democrat Katie Porter trailing a few points behind.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker had a "minor complication" from a recent procedure and was taken to a Springfield hospital earlier this week, a spokesperson for the governor confirmed to NBC Chicago Friday. The complication stemmed from an earlier urology procedure, with Pritzker going to a Springfield hospital overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning.

Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee announced on Friday that he signed a document requesting not to be included on the ballot in Tennessee's 9th Congressional District. The congressman described the district determined by "new lines" as "nothing like the 9th district that I've represented." The Democratic primary in the district is scheduled to take place in August. Speaking after his announcement, Cohen described President Donald Trump as "the greatest threat to democracy, and to … decorum … and grace, that we've ever seen."

If you want to know how far some liberals are willing to go to register their fear and loathing of President Trump, just read the recent opinion piece by Frank Bruni in the New York Times. (...) Platner has said he is a communist. He said cops are bastards. He called people who post online “retarded.” He said war was “the most enjoyable experience of my life.” Working as a bartender, he wondered “Why don’t black people tip?” And speaking about women who are concerned about sexual assault, he wrote that “Rape is a real thing. If you’re so worried...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Steve Cohen, who has represented Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District for more than 19 years, announced he is withdrawing from the race Friday morning. Cohen says his majority-Black district was gerrymandered into three Republican-leaning districts by the state General Assembly last week. The deadline to file to run in the redrawn District 9, as well as Districts 5 and 8 in the Memphis area, is noon Friday.

Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday called a special session to redraw the state’s congressional and legislative districts before the 2028 elections. Kemp signed a proclamation convening the General Assembly on June 17 to address redistricting after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling ended race-based gerrymandering. The news, first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, comes as Republican-led states across the South move to redraw the maps ahead of the November midterms. The special session next month in Atlanta is expected to center on new maps that could take effect for the 2028 election cycle, particularly if Republicans lose power...