All Politics
First LookSupreme Court: gerrymandering arguments must prove harm to votersThe high court overturned a Wisconsin ruling, and issued two largely procedural decisions on Monday, disappointing Democrats. The Supreme Court will decide whether to hear two North Carolina cases in June.聽Both states are important swing states.
Amid growing tensions with Russia, a push for meaningful dialogueAs US-Russian relations reach new lows, 鈥渃itizen diplomats鈥� are stepping into the breach. The Monitor鈥檚 Linda Feldmann joined a group of former ambassadors and others in an effort to advance bilateral dialogue on key issues.
First LookGOP leaders split over 'compromise' immigration billThe draft legislation includes a path to citizenship for an estimated 1.8 million young immigrants in the US illegally, rankling GOP supporters of President Trump. The plan also includes $25 billion for a border wall and a provision to keep families together as long as they are in the custody of the Homeland Security Department.
Amid legal attack on key health-law provision, uncertainty and uproarThe latest legal battle over "Obamacare" pits the Trump administration against Republicans in Congress, highlighting a value that spans partisan divides: concern for helping people with "preexisting conditions."
Paul Manafort goes to jail: Three questionsTrump鈥檚 former campaign manager saw his house arrest revoked Friday after being accused of witness tampering. How much trouble is he in, and what could his jailing mean for the president?
First LookChallenges lay ahead for California's three-state pushThis November Californian's will be able to vote on the "Cal 3" initiative聽to divide California into three separate聽states, backers of the initiative believe that California is becoming "ungovernable," while those who oppose it聽say it would bring "political chaos."聽
First LookRepublicans take a stand against separating children from parents at the borderThe Trump administration鈥檚 鈥渮ero tolerance鈥� policy toward undocumented immigrants has separated many children from their families at the US-Mexico border, causing a number of GOP leaders to speak out against the practice.
First LookWatchdog says Comey was 'insubordinate' but not biased with Clinton probeThe Justice Department's internal watchdog released a report faulting former FBI Director James Comey for breaking protocol聽when handling聽Hillary Clinton's email investigation. However, the report also determined that his errors were not motivated聽by bias.聽
First LookFirst African-American woman mayor ready to lead San FranciscoSan Francisco elected city supervisor London Breed as its first African-American woman mayor and second female mayor in the city's history. Ms. Breed plans to focus on solutions to homelessness, congestion, and unaffordable housing.
A campaign for impeachment that鈥檚 downright TrumpianDemocratic leaders don鈥檛 want to talk about impeachment. But billionaire Tom Steyer is tapping into a growing willingness of many Americans to question the legitimacy of their presidents.
First LookPro-Trump challenger topples Rep. Mark Sanford in South Carolina primaryState lawmaker Katie Arrington defeats Rep. Mark Sanford in the South Carolina Republican primary, an upset, analysts, say shows President Trump's firm grip on the Republican Party.聽
First LookDemocrats look to energize African-American, moderate white votersMike Espy's attempt to become the first African-American senator from Mississippi since the late 1800s highlights the importance of the African-American vote in several of this year's Senate races, as well as the Democratic Party's overall campaign strategy.聽
A taciturn tactician, McConnell鈥檚 leadership draws respect 鈥� and ireRepublicans and Democrats agree聽that Sen. Mitch McConnell鈥檚 political tenure has tracked with聽a hyperpartisan environment in Congress. They diverge over the extent to which his actions may be responsible for it.
First LookSessions rules domestic, gang violence not grounds for seeking asylumIn a 31-page decision Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ruled that judges cannot "generally" accept victims of domestic or gang violence to be given asylum. Immigration advocates say there could be tens of thousands of domestic violence cases in court backlogs.聽 聽
First LookWisconsin special elections could build red or blue momentumRepublicans hold a firm stake in both legislative chambers, and the winners will likely vote on nothing, but outside groups have been pouring money into Wisconsin's special elections, which are largely symbolic races to demonstrate party power ahead of the midterms.聽
Why Trump fans largely shrug off president's 'authoritarian' talkFor President Trump鈥檚聽supporters, what matters most is not the Mueller investigation or the president鈥檚 aggressive rhetoric countering it but how he鈥檚聽handling the issues that directly affect them.聽
Monitor BreakfastKellyanne Conway sat down for a remarkable Monitor BreakfastWhile the commander-in-chief tweeted 'fake news,' a top Trump adviser debated truth, surviving vs. thriving, and pardons with reporters.聽
First LookNew ranked voting system to be used in Maine primariesRather than only voting for one candidate, voters in Maine will now be able to rank candidates on a ballot from first to last this primary election. While some Maine residents are hopeful the change will bring civility to politics, others remain skeptical.聽
Controversial Trump-Russia 'dossier' sparks legal battle over press freedom
First LookSome US states take initiative to eliminate partisan gerrymanderingA Supreme Court verdict on the practice of partisan gerrymandering is due to rule at the end of June, but so far, eight states have created commissions on their own to redraw electoral maps of districts as a way to ensure fairer and more equal districts of voters.
