Politics

The year was 1964, and Jake Pickle was attending his first formal Washington party as a newly elected U.S. congressman from Texas. His pal the President, Lyndon B. Johnson, had insisted that he go. It was a reception at the Finnish Embassy, and Pickle was being grandly ignored. Finally, he approached the most distinguished-looking man … Read more

It’s become predictable in this tempestuous campaign season: First Lady Michelle Obama, who has chosen fighting childhood obesity as her favorite cause, utters something that seems judgmental about healthy eating, and conservatives pounce. (Nor is her husband immune to criticism for the ruckus he causes when he steps out for a bite.) The pattern repeated … Read more

L.A. mayor’s text messages provide vivid window into early fire response Inside the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, Mayor Karen Bass was attending a reception with local and foreign dignitaries as her phone began to ping. The first urgent message came from her deputy chief of staff, Celine Cordero. It was 6:48 p.m. on Jan. 7 … Read more

White House officials are seeking a way to use executive authority to close the so-called gun show loophole that allows thousands of people to buy firearms each year without a background check, but complicated legal issues have slowed the process. Almost three years ago, after the killing of 20 children and six adults at Sandy … Read more

John Lewis, left, and Stuart Gaffney embrace outside San Francisco City Hall shortly before the Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in California in 2013. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) Staring down the prospect of divided government in the next Congress, Senate Democrats are moving forward with legislation this week to protect same-sex … Read more

The movement of American factory jobs and white-collar work to other countries is part of a positive transformation that will enrich the U.S. economy over time, even if it causes short-term pain and dislocation, the Bush administration said Monday. The embrace of foreign outsourcing, an accelerating trend that has contributed to U.S. job losses in … Read more

Dr. Dani Dumitriu, a pediatric researcher studying babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic, took issue with her work being drawn into the debate over Columbia University’s handling of student protests against Israel’s war in Gaza. (Seth Wenig / Associated Press) When President Trump canceled $400 million in funding to Columbia University over its handling of … Read more

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem boards her plane Wednesday as she prepares to travel to El Salvador, Colombia and Mexico. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday will visit the high-security El Salvador prison where Venezuelans who the Trump administration alleges are members of the Tren de Aragua gang have … Read more

Florida GOP state Sen. Jay Collins, shown in 2023, is sponsoring the bill that would expand the hours teens can work. (Phil Sears / Associated Press) A bill that would relax restrictions on working hours for Florida teenagers is moving through the state Legislature amid an ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration. The bill would permit … Read more

A person walks past a pride flag this month at Casa Frida, a shelter that supports LGBTQ+ migrants, in Tapachula, in Mexico’s Chiapas state. (Moises Castillo / Associated Press) Ana Esquivel no longer feels like her heart stops every time she sees a police officer. “We’ve been told that they won’t harass or mistreat us … Read more