2020Talks

Trump weighs in on the Texas redistricting effort, as Democratic and Republican states across the country consider redrawing congressional maps and North Carolina's governor vetoes an anti-DEI bill.

States reject Department of Justice requests for voter records, the Texas Governor threatens to remove Democratic lawmakers who fled the state from office and new federal legislation would set minimum salaries for all public school teachers.

Texas Democratic legislators leave the state to block a GOP redistricting plan. Trump fires the head of labor statistics after a negative jobs report and mass immigration arrests aren't targeting the people they were said to be aimed at.

NC Sen. Tillis wants Republicans to bolster Medicaid, after cuts earlier this month. The economy blooms under President Donald Trump, though red flags loom and a new report examines state budget transparency.

Texas Republicans unveil a map that further gerrymanders districts before midterms, as a Senate committee advances a bill to ban stock trading by members of Congress. Seattle voters will soon decide whether to continue its so-called "democracy vouchers" program.

Calls for a national ban on assault weapons are renewed after a shooting in New York. The Department of Defense has banned almost 600 books in its bases' schools and the British Prime Minister says the UK will recognize a Palestinian state.

The Trump administration wants stepped up voter deregistration efforts, the U.S. will help get more food to starving Palestinians and a federal judge rules Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood must continue.

Speaker Johnson blasts effort to release more Epstein files, as a bill advances in the House to strip chemical regulations from the EPA. MT students join a lawsuit for Election Day voting rights, while a MS court decision should lead to more transparency on public defender resources.

Emil Bove's nomination advances in the Senate. The DOJ requests state voter data and ICE plans to expand Colorado detention facilities.

The Trump Administration hammers away at Obama as the frenzy over Epstein files continues. FEMA director defends actions in Texas floods and Miami voters head to polls in November after a lawsuit.

President Trump says Obama committed treason to skew the 2016 election results. Speaker Mike Johnson grows frustrated with attempts to release Epstein files and a new agreement lets the Department of Homeland Security access personal information from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare.

The ICE director defends officers wearing masks during immigration raids, while the Trump administration is found to have ignored dozens of court rulings. Advocates make another push to abolish the death penalty in Pennsylvania.

Congress cuts funding for public broadcasting, as federal school choice tax credits face pushback. Trump's Epstein troubles spread and protests from last week through the weekend honor John Lewis and challenge budget impacts on vulnerable communities.

An asylum case sparks alarm, protests invoke the late John Lewis, Trump continues to face backlash over the Epstein files and the Senate moves forward with cuts to foreign aid.

Trump is pressed to name a special counsel for the Epstein case. Speaker Mike Johnson urges the Senate not to change the rescissions bill and illegal immigrants are no longer eligible for bond before deportation hearings.

Use of the SCOTUS emergency docket draws questions, and whistleblower emails expose a DOJ willing to defy federal courts. Meanwhile, Minnesota's red flag law shows early trends and farmers and lawmakers sound alarms over privacy and trade.

Trump threatens Russia with secondary sanctions, some of the president's allies want him to fire the Fed chair and farmers and doctors worry about the impact of budget cuts on rural communities.

FEMA's Texas flood response is further criticized for unanswered calls. Attorneys for Kilmar Abrego-Garcia want guidance about a potential second deportation and new polls show not as many Americans are worried about the state of democracy.

The NOAA nominee says he supports cutting the agency's budget. Many question why Ukraine's weapons aid was paused and farmers worry how the budget megabill will impact this year's Farm Bill.  

Americans voice objections to the administration's aggressive immigration crackdown. Grassroots candidates hope to gain traction in Western states. The new budget law slashes rural energy funds, Brazil faces steep tariffs and only select African leaders are invited to White House summit.

USDA and DHS Secretaries collaborate on a National Farm Security Action Plan. Health advocates worry about the budget megabill's impacts and Prime Minister Netanyahu nominates President Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The fate of FEMA remains in the air as flooding ravages Texas, Trump again threatens aggressive tariffs and the Supreme Court considers a consequential campaign finance case.

Deadly Texas floods draw a federal response as the administration reduces emergency and weather services. States prepare to deal with cuts to schools, health care and environmental protections, while Elon Musk launches a new political party.

House Republicans send the budget megabill to the president – as critics warn of deep cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and public health. Concerns rise over declining international student enrollment, and North Carolina may face economic implications from gerrymandering.

House Democrats vow to vote against Trump's megabill. Advocates differ on its effects on clean energy credits, and manufacturers brace for changes to EV tax credits.

Senate Republicans pass the megabill after overnight wrangling. Trump calls for deportations of US citizens who've committed crimes, despite the unpopularity of ICE's current actions and the Supreme Court may lift some campaign cash limits.

NC Republican Thom Tillis denounces Medicaid cuts in the Senate bill, over White House objections. NGOs say new work requirements for people in SNAP and Medicaid don't reflect reality and President Trump says trade talks with Canada will restart.

The Senate narrowly advances Trump's massive megabill, in spite of procedural issues. Democrats demand answers about the decision to bomb Iran's nuclear sites and Health Secretary RFK Jr. is changing how vaccines are evaluated.

The Defense Secretary criticizes press coverage of Iran air strikes. The Megabill faces setbacks in the Senate, but the White House budget director calls it necessary and its proposed Medicaid cuts could harm people with disabilities.

Trump insists Iran' nuclear program was obliterated. Budget cuts threaten farm and food programs in Wisconsin and West Virginia. Labor and environmental groups push for reforms to North American trade and New York assembly member Zohran Mamdani leads former Governor Cuomo.

Some members of Congress are upset about a lack of transparency on Iran policy, but the Speaker questions the constitutionality of a War Powers Resolution and the Fed Chair explains why interest rates aren't being cut.

Some in Congress question the legality of Trump's Iran strikes, as he announces a ceasefire. Gen Zers filter their college choices by politics, and Islamophobic rhetoric surfaces in NYC's tight mayoral race.

The US awaits Iran's response, following strikes on three nuclear strikes. The Department of Homeland Security is warning about possible attacks here and advocates call for resilience, as LGBTQ rights face threats around the nation.

The White House says a decision on Iran strikes will come in two weeks. Conservatives in Congress demand answers on former President Biden's mental acuity and a new lawsuit could change Maryland's primary election process.

Lawmakers on both sides urge President Trump not to enter the Israel-Iran war. The Supreme deals the transgender community a major blow by upholding a Tennessee law.

Trump's big budget and policy act faces pushback from clean energy advocates and small businesses. A federal court weighs the legality of deploying the California National Guard over the Governor's objections and ICE detains a New York mayoral candidate.

Political tensions rise after the Minnesota assassinations. Trump's DOJ demands sweeping election data from Colorado. Advocates mark LGBTQIA pay inequity and the US and UK reach a new trade deal.

Two Minnesota lawmakers were shot in a politically motivated attack. Experts say political violence is becoming more common and millions of people protest President Trump's authoritarian policies on the same day as the military parade in Washington.

Democrats demand answers on California Senator Padilla's handcuffing and removal from a DHS press conference. Defense Secretary Hegseth defends the administration's protest response as preventative and Trump vows protests of Saturday's military parade will be met with "heavy" force.

The White House says there will be more ICE raids, as protests spread across the county. California Governor Newsom says democracy is at a crossroads and Elon Musk says he regrets social media posts about President Trump.

The military deployments in L.A. spark debates over federal overreach, with echoes of Kent State. The protests seem to be spreading and critics warn that Medicaid cuts could shutter rural hospitals.

California sues the administration over federalizing the National Guard. Trump invokes an 1807 law to justify sending the guard and Marines to California and a Texas representative plans to force a vote on articles of impeachment against the president.

Protestors and authorities clash over immigration enforcement in California. Democratic infighting complicates the leader's role in unifying the party and a new survey shows businesses fear a recession.

Musk's criticism of the big budget bill gets support from a new report. States face massive cuts to jobs and social programs and Puerto Rico takes less damage from federal budget cuts due to its territorial status.

Budget reconciliation negotiations get tense, and may not finish by a July deadline. Russian President Putin says Ukraine will pay for its latest attack and former White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre leaves the Democratic Party.

Immigration policies draw criticism from sheriffs and Medicaid cuts from disability advocates. NPR warns of the rural impacts of dismantling public broadcasting and Elon Musk slams Trump's policy and spending bill.

The White House blames the Biden Administration for the antisemitic attack in Colorado. The Department of Transportation freezes EV charging station funds pending a review and the GOP budget plan could roll back clean energy investments

Clean air advocates question the U.S. Steel deal. Israeli fire kills more than two dozen at a Gaza aid site and state lawmakers debate health coverage for unauthorized migrants and taxes on the wealthy.

Advocates call for free speech protections on campus. States consider funding for rape survivors and investigations and administration tariff, immigration, and education policies face legal pushback.

US envoy Steve Witkoff says he feels optimistic about a Gaza ceasefire. Clean energy tax credits are in jeopardy in the big budget and policy bill Congress is debating and the Trump administration pauses new student visa interviews.

King Charles warns Canada of attacks on democracy. The British Ambassador to the U.S. says allies must work together and the GOP's budget plan severely impacts the arts.