On the 250th anniversary of American independence, it is important to remember that while the country has its faults, it is also a story of freedom, opportunity, innovation, generosity, and self-correction, and to take a break from the outrage and celebrate the virtues and greatness of the nation.

On the 250th anniversary of American independence, it is important to remember that while the country has its faults, it is also a story of freedom, opportunity, innovation, generosity, and self-correction, and to take a break from the outrage and celebrate the virtues and greatness of the nation.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Thursday evening that President Trump’s account of the state of negotiations to end the Iran war “lacks a lot of credibility.”  Trump earlier in the day threatened ramped-up strikes on Tehran but later canceled them with a promise that Iran’s supreme leader had approved a deal to reopen the Strait…

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Thursday evening that President Trump’s account of the state of negotiations to end the Iran war “lacks a lot of credibility.”  Trump earlier in the day threatened ramped-up strikes on Tehran but later canceled them with a promise that Iran’s supreme leader had approved a deal to reopen the Strait…

President Trump called for Rep. Jamie Raskin’s (D-Md.) expulsion from Congress on Thursday afternoon and claimed the lawmaker would “be in jail” if not for a pardon from former President Biden.  Trump responded on Truth Social to a post from conservative commentator Mark Levin, who warned that the Maryland Democrat was “already leading a plot…

President Trump called for Rep. Jamie Raskin’s (D-Md.) expulsion from Congress on Thursday afternoon and claimed the lawmaker would “be in jail” if not for a pardon from former President Biden.  Trump responded on Truth Social to a post from conservative commentator Mark Levin, who warned that the Maryland Democrat was “already leading a plot…

Plan comes after major New York Times report alleges files became source of crisis within Trump administration

Democrats on the House oversight committee, led by Representative Robert Garcia, plan to call on JD Vance to testify on the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files following a major report on Wednesday from the New York Times, which described how the Epstein files became the source of an internal crisis within Trump’s administration.

Garcia will call on the committee chair, James Comer, to summon the vice-president to speak, according to a post from Max Cohen, a reporter with Punchbowl News. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether Vance would agree to appear.

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© Photograph: Matt Rourke/Reuters

© Photograph: Matt Rourke/Reuters

© Photograph: Matt Rourke/Reuters

US president urges congressional Republicans to use budget reconciliation procedure to enact his priorities

Donald Trump has demanded that congressional Republicans get to work on a party-line measure that would ensure defense spending reaches its highest level in decades and also make a likely fruitless attempt to impose a host of new restrictions on voters nationwide.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, the president said he was “calling on Republicans in Congress to IMMEDIATELY advance and pass the forthcoming $350 Billion Reconciliation Bill”, which would also include the Save America Act, a rightwing makeover of elections that his allies in Congress have sought to pass for months, without success.

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© Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Pool/Aaron Schwartz - Pool/CNP/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Pool/Aaron Schwartz - Pool/CNP/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Pool/Aaron Schwartz - Pool/CNP/Shutterstock

Vance Boelter changes plea in murders of Melissa and Mark Hortman as prosecutors agree not to pursue death penalty

The man charged in the political assassinations of the top Democrat in the Minnesota house and her husband, as well as the non-fatal shootings of a state senator and his wife, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday after prosecutors said they would not seek the death penalty.

Vance Boelter was charged with murdering Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota house speaker, and her husband, Mark Hortman, and with shooting state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman. Boelter came to their doors in the early hours of 14 June 2025, disguised as a police officer and driving a fake squad car.

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© Photograph: Steven Garcia/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Steven Garcia/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Steven Garcia/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The solution is to stop drawing districts altogether — or at least, draw as few districts as possible.

The solution is to stop drawing districts altogether — or at least, draw as few districts as possible.

A new poll shows Democrats have maintained a 10-point advantage over GOP congressional candidates.  Emerson College released survey results on Thursday that found Democrats have 50.3 percent support from likely voters while Republicans have 39.5 percent support.  A total of 10.2 percent of survey participants were undecided about which party they’d support. An April poll found…

A new poll shows Democrats have maintained a 10-point advantage over GOP congressional candidates.  Emerson College released survey results on Thursday that found Democrats have 50.3 percent support from likely voters while Republicans have 39.5 percent support.  A total of 10.2 percent of survey participants were undecided about which party they’d support. An April poll found…

Government confirms Jarvis’s move from role as security minister to replace John Healey

Ryan Henderson, assistant chief constable for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, is about to hold a press conference about last night’s rioting.

Andy Burnham is facing criticism after saying that he thinks the Waspi women should be entitled to “some” compensation.

I’ll stick by the Waspi women because they deserve some recompense for the unfairness.

One government figure decried Burnham’s intervention as “pathetic”, adding: “He can’t say no to anyone.”

An ally of Sir Keir Starmer likened Burnham’s economic agenda to that of hard-left former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and argued that the mayor’s intervention would harm his chances of manoeuvring the prime minister out of Downing Street.

Andy Burnham’s continued support for Waspi women is both welcome and hugely refreshing. While some politicians have broken their promises, it takes real courage to speak out and say what millions of people across the country and hundreds of MPs from all parties already know - that 1950s-born women deserve justice.

Andy has always recognised the unfair way in which state pension equalisation was introduced.

As mayor of Greater Manchester, he supported Waspi women in the city-region with early access to concessionary travel, providing some recompense to them within affordability limits.

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© Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty Images

Trial of former New York City comptroller is ‘another example of the Trump administration’s suppression of political dissent’, lawyer argues

The trial against senior New York City Democrat Brad Lander, stemming from his arrest during an attempt to inspect rooms holding detained immigrants, involved six hours of litigating elevator logistics in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday.

Lander, the former city comptroller now vying for Democratic incumbent Dan Goldman’s congressional district, which encompasses lower Manhattan and north-west Brooklyn, was taken into custody on 18 September last year at 26 Federal Plaza.

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© Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

© Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

© Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, a Republican, will face Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in a battle to hold onto his seat in November, setting up what is considered one of the most competitive governor's races in the country.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Wednesday said he will launch an inquiry into entrance fees for the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) going toward President Trump’s “vanity projects.” Schiff, along with several other senators, wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum that visitors to the parks contribute to the NPS budget “by purchasing…

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Wednesday said he will launch an inquiry into entrance fees for the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) going toward President Trump’s “vanity projects.” Schiff, along with several other senators, wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum that visitors to the parks contribute to the NPS budget “by purchasing…

Democrats have rolled the dice in Maine as they pursue a post-Trump future. Will it work?

It was over the moment he received the endorsement of Maine’s most famous resident: Stephen King, the master of horror, who announced on Tuesday that he voted for Graham Platner.

More than 100,000 Democrats in Maine agreed, making Platner, a marine veteran and oyster farmer, their nominee for the US Senate against Republican incumbent Susan Collins in November.

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© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

© Photograph: Robert F Bukaty/AP

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Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown is largely targeting people from the countries most vulnerable to displacement from climate-driven disasters, a Guardian analysis shows.

As the Trump administration pushes policies to boost planet-heating fossil fuels, millions of people are being forced to flee their homelands due to storms, floods and droughts worsened by the climate crisis.

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© Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

© Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

© Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/Reuters