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.

President Trump on Friday discredited details of a new U.S.-Iran peace deal that Tehran shared with various news organizations. “The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.  “What they said, including their weak…

President Trump on Friday discredited details of a new U.S.-Iran peace deal that Tehran shared with various news organizations. “The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.  “What they said, including their weak…

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

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…

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a former ally of President Trump who resigned from Congress in January, is teasing a “new series.” In a Tuesday post on the social platform X on Tuesday, Green said “My New Series” was “COMING SOON.” The title of the series is “Life with MTG,” a reference to her…

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a former ally of President Trump who resigned from Congress in January, is teasing a “new series.” In a Tuesday post on the social platform X on Tuesday, Green said “My New Series” was “COMING SOON.” The title of the series is “Life with MTG,” a reference to her…

President Trump congratulated key ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on locking down a primary race Tuesday, while calling for a focus on passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. “Congratulations to Senator Lindsey Graham of the Great State of South Carolina on his BIG WIN tonight. With almost 60% of the vote against…

President Trump congratulated key ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on locking down a primary race Tuesday, while calling for a focus on passing the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. “Congratulations to Senator Lindsey Graham of the Great State of South Carolina on his BIG WIN tonight. With almost 60% of the vote against…

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

Outcome of polls in four states offers mixed signals about direction of two major parties before November’s midterms

Progressives rallied round the controversial Graham Platner after his primary victory in Maine on Tuesday, while Donald Trump again exerted his grip on the Republican party, helping to defeat a politician who had pushed for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Primary elections were held in four states – Maine, Nevada, North Dakota and South Carolina – ahead of November’s midterms to decide control of both houses of Congress. The results offered mixed signals about the direction of the two major parties.

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© Photograph: CJ Gunther/Getty Images

© Photograph: CJ Gunther/Getty Images

© Photograph: CJ Gunther/Getty Images

Lieutenant governor and attorney general advance but result signals decisive defeat for controversial Nancy Mace

Donald Trump-backed Pamela Evette, South Carolina’s lieutenant governor, and Alan Wilson, the state’s attorney general, have advanced to a runoff in a competitive race to represent the Republican party in South Carolina’s gubernatorial election.

The winner of the Republican primary is favored to win the closely watched general election, given South Carolina’s conservative tilt, although Democrats are hoping to ride a wave of progressive enthusiasm to make political gains across the ticket.

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© Photograph: Meg Kinnard/AP

© Photograph: Meg Kinnard/AP

© Photograph: Meg Kinnard/AP

Hilton has worn many hats since he arrived in the US 14 years ago, and now faces steep odds of defeating Democratic Xavier Becerra in November

After years of working in the background of Conservative party politics in Britain, Steve Hilton has passed the first major test as his own front man: clinching a spot in the November run-off to become California’s next governor.

The outcome was far from a given under California’s open primary system, which rewards the top two vote winners regardless of party, and the particular challenge of running as a Republican in one of the most solidly blue states in the country.

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© Photograph: Rich Pedroncelli/AP

© Photograph: Rich Pedroncelli/AP

© Photograph: Rich Pedroncelli/AP

Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.), a former Republican, is set for a showdown in November against a Democratic challenger, Decision Desk HQ has projected. Shortly before 8 p.m. EDT, Kiley had garnered 24.53 percent of the vote, while Democrat Richard Pan, a doctor and small business owner, had garnered 23.21 percent, per DDHQ. Pan and Kiley…

Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.), a former Republican, is set for a showdown in November against a Democratic challenger, Decision Desk HQ has projected. Shortly before 8 p.m. EDT, Kiley had garnered 24.53 percent of the vote, while Democrat Richard Pan, a doctor and small business owner, had garnered 23.21 percent, per DDHQ. Pan and Kiley…