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Top Justice Department official on police reform and abortion to leave

By Hannah Rabinowitz and Evan Perez, CNN (CNN) — Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta is leaving the Justice Department after three years overseeing some of the administration’s most contentious legal issues ranging from protecting abortion rights to criminal and police reform efforts, according to the department. Gupta is the first woman of color and first civil rights

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Exclusive: Nearly half of the Israeli munitions dropped on Gaza are imprecise ‘dumb bombs,’ US intelligence assessment finds

CNN By Natasha Bertrand and Katie Bo Lillis, CNN (CNN) — Nearly half of the air-to-ground munitions that Israel has used in Gaza in its war with Hamas since October 7 have been unguided, otherwise known as “dumb bombs,” according to a new US intelligence assessment. The assessment, compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence

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Rudy Giuliani made it ‘dangerous’ for Georgia election workers, attorney says in closing arguments in defamation case

By Devan Cole, Holmes Lybrand and Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — Rudy Giuliani didn’t see two former Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss as “human beings” when he spread conspiracy theories about them after the 2020 election, their attorney told a Washington, DC, jury Thursday during closing arguments in the defamation damages trial.

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Biden urges Israelis to protect civilian lives as national security adviser meets with Netanyahu amid developing rift

By Michael Williams and Kevin Liptak, CNN Washington (CNN) — President Joe Biden on Thursday said he wants the Israeli military to focus on saving civilian lives as it conducts its campaign to eliminate Hamas and faces mounting pressure over its military operations in Gaza. Following a speech on prescription drug prices at the National

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Biden administration staffers call for ceasefire at vigil outside White House

CNN, POOL, KCAL, KCBS, LINKEDIN, ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES, KCAL/KCBS By Camila DeChalus, CNN Washington (CNN) — Political appointees and Biden administration staffers held a vigil in front of the White House on Wednesday to call on President Joe Biden to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. More than three dozen people, including political appointees, administration staffers and civil

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Biden administration staffers call for ceasefire at vigil outside White House

By Camila DeChalus, CNN Washington (CNN) — Political appointees and Biden administration staffers held a vigil in front of the White House on Wednesday to call on President Joe Biden to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. More than three dozen people, including political appointees, administration staffers and civil service career staff, attended the early evening vigil in

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Georgia election worker describes flood of threats she received after Giuliani’s lies in 2020

By Katelyn Polantz, Devan Cole and Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — In intense testimony on Wednesday, Georgia volunteer election worker Ruby Freeman revisited how she sought help from the police twice, thinking people inspired by Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign may try to kill her. “Just ringing, ringing, ringing. Just ringing non-stop,” she said of her

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White House agitates allies with major border concessions as it races to get Ukraine aid deal

By Priscilla Alvarez, Lauren Fox and Manu Raju, CNN Washington, DC (CNN) — The White House’s growing urgency to get Ukraine aid passed is forcing Democrats to reckon with immigration policies they’ve previously tied to former President Donald Trump, agitating President Joe Biden’s allies and underscoring the unrelenting complexities of the immigration debate. It’s a stark moment that ties together some

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Exclusive: Recordings describe 2020 Oval Office photo-op where Trump was briefed on fake electors and January 6

CNN By Marshall Cohen, CNN (CNN) — Before a group of supportive lawyers entered the Oval Office for a photo-op with then-President Donald Trump in December 2020, they were given a clear instruction, according to one attendee: Don’t get Trump’s hopes up about overturning the election. One attorney, Jim Troupis, toed the line. He’d just

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Trump lawyers say special counsel is a Grinch who would ruin holidays for attorneys

By Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers compared special counsel Jack Smith to the Grinch in a court filing Wednesday for trying to expedite the appeals process in one of his criminal cases, saying that prosecutors are trying to disrupt their holiday travel plans and to “disenfranchise” voters in 2024. Earlier this week,

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House passes resolution condemning testimony by university presidents over antisemitism

By Clare Foran, Melanie Zanona and Haley Talbot, CNN The House on Wednesday passed a bipartisan resolution condemning antisemitism on college campuses and testimony from three high-profile university presidents over antisemitism at a congressional hearing last week. The measure condemns the testimony given by the presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania during

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Supreme Court action on mifepristone demonstrates abortion care is all about the courtroom

By Joan Biskupic, CNN Senior Supreme Court Analyst (CNN) — The Supreme Court’s acceptance of an appeal from the Biden administration on Wednesday opens a new front in the national controversy over access to abortion as states, including Texas, have been moving aggressively against women since the high court overturned Roe v. Wade last year. Fourteen states have outright

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Exclusive: Recordings describe 2020 Oval Office photo-op where Trump was briefed on fake electors and January 6

By Marshall Cohen, CNN (CNN) — Before a group of supportive lawyers entered the Oval Office for a photo-op with then-President Donald Trump in December 2020, they were given a clear instruction, according to one attendee: Don’t get Trump’s hopes up about overturning the election. One attorney, Jim Troupis, toed the line. He’d just finished

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GOP investigators say they will ‘initiate contempt’ proceedings after Hunter Biden flouts subpoena for closed-door testimony

CNN By Annie Grayer, Paula Reid and Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN The Republican chairman behind the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden said Wednesday they will start contempt of Congress proceedings against Hunter Biden for not participating in his closed-door deposition on Wednesday, after he demanded to testify publicly. “Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and

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GOP investigators say they will ‘initiate contempt’ proceedings after Hunter Biden flouts subpoena for closed-door testimony

By Annie Grayer, Paula Reid and Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN The Republican chairman behind the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden said Wednesday they will start contempt of Congress proceedings against Hunter Biden for not participating in his closed-door deposition on Wednesday, after he demanded to testify publicly. “Hunter Biden today defied lawful subpoenas and we

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Biden administration makes clear it has no plans to place conditions on military aid to Israel despite pressure from lawmakers

By Natasha Bertrand, Katie Bo Lillis and MJ Lee, CNN (CNN) — The Biden administration currently has no plans to place conditions on the military aid it is providing to Israel, officials told CNN, despite growing calls by Democratic lawmakers and human rights organizations for the US to stop providing weapons unless Israel does more to protect

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Ukraine faces a daunting winter after Zelensky can’t convince Republicans to move quickly on new aid

By Kevin Liptak, Natasha Bertrand and Priscilla Alvarez, CNN Washington (CNN) — Standing alongside his Ukrainian counterpart at the White House a little more than a year ago, President Joe Biden vowed American support for Ukraine “as long as it takes.” It’s a commitment he’s long repeated in the 22 months since Russia’s unprovoked invasion.

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Opinion: DeSantis finally gets the message

CNN Opinion by Patrick T. Brown (CNN) – During the 2016 presidential primaries, Sen. Ted Cruz tried a Texas two-step to win the Republican nomination. “The Establishment’s only hope: Trump & me in a cage match. Sorry to disappoint – @realDonaldTrump is terrific,” he tweeted prior to the Iowa caucuses, hoping to bear-hug his way

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‘It feels like I’m trapped under someone else’s boot of power’: Georgia election worker testifies about Giuliani’s lies

CNN By Devan Cole and Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — Wandrea “Shaye” Moss’ life changed forever on December 4, 2020, when Rudy Giuliani disseminated conspiracy theories about her online, the former Georgia election worker suing Giuliani for defamation said in federal court Tuesday. “On that day, lies were spread about me and my mom, saying that we

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Supreme Court declines to intervene in Voting Rights Act challenge to Texas county map over objections from liberals

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to intervene in a dispute over a Republican-drawn commissioners map in Galveston County, Texas, as courts continue to consider the reach of the landmark Voting Rights Act. Tuesday’s order means that the County Commissioners Court map that a federal judge ruled violated Section 2 of the

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‘It feels like I’m trapped under someone else’s boot of power’: Georgia election worker testifies about Giuliani’s lies

By Devan Cole and Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — Wandrea “Shaye” Moss’ life changed forever on December 4, 2020, when Rudy Giuliani disseminated conspiracy theories about her online, the former Georgia election worker suing Giuliani for defamation said in federal court Tuesday. “On that day, lies were spread about me and my mom, saying that we weren’t

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Russia has lost 87% of troops it had prior to start of Ukraine war, according to US intelligence assessment

By Katie Bo Lillis, CNN (CNN) — Russia has lost a staggering 87 percent of the total number of active-duty ground troops it had prior to launching its invasion of Ukraine and two-thirds of its pre-invasion tanks, a source familiar with a declassified US intelligence assessment provided to Congress told CNN. Still, despite heavy losses of men and equipment, Russian President

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5 takeaways from Ukrainian President Zelensky’s critical trip to Washington

By Michael Williams, CNN Washington (CNN) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Washington on Tuesday to make an in-person plea for the military and economic aid he said is necessary to continue Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. Zelensky, visiting Washington for the third time since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, met with members

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Judge rebukes Giuliani over ‘defamatory’ comments he made about Georgia election workers during defamation damages trial

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The federal judge overseeing Rudy Giuliani’s defamation damages trial in Washington, DC, rebuked the former Donald Trump lawyer Tuesday over “quite defamatory” comments he made a day earlier to reporters about the two Georgia election workers at the center of the case. US District Judge Beryl Howell said Giuliani’s

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Whitmer’s push for abortion rights continues as she repeals insurance requirement in Michigan

By Jessica Estepa, CNN (CNN) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday signed the final piece of the state’s Reproductive Health Act into law, which repealed a requirement for a separate insurance rider for abortion coverage. The move comes after voters enshrined abortion rights to the battleground state’s constitution in last year’s midterm elections, and ahead

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Four women to testify at Senate hearing about sexual harassment and assault at Coast Guard Academy

By Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken, CNN (CNN) — Four women who attended the US Coast Guard Academy, including a current cadet, are expected to appear at a congressional hearing Tuesday and testify that the agency’s leaders failed to protect them from sexual harassment and assault. The hearing before the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security’s

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US v. Trump will bring new political misery to the embattled Supreme Court, no matter what the justices do

Analysis by Joan Biskupic, CNN Senior Supreme Court Analyst (CNN) — Special counsel Jack Smith’s request to the Supreme Court on Monday thrusts the justices into a highly charged situation with a former president who has repeatedly tried to politicize the federal judiciary and use it for his ends. As this case tests Smith’s federal prosecution

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Zelensky’s latest Washington visit comes at critical moment for Ukraine on the battlefield and Capitol Hill

By Kevin Liptak, Arlette Saenz and MJ Lee, CNN Washington (CNN) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for talks in Washington on Tuesday at a critical moment, as the White House warns American aid to Ukraine could imminently dry up and talks over new assistance are stalled in Congress. The eleventh-hour invite from President Joe

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Special counsel might use data from a phone Trump used on January 6 in election interference trial

By Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — Special counsel Jack Smith may use data during Donald Trump’s election interference trial next year to show jurors when the former president was using Twitter on January 6, 2021, according to a court filing. Prosecutors with the special counsel’s office said in a court filing Monday that they anticipate

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Stefanik back in the spotlight after fierce questioning of university presidents over antisemitism

By Jedd Rosche, CNN House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik had a sharp response to the news that University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill was stepping down from her position over the weekend: “One down. Two to go.” It was Stefanik’s line of questioning at a hearing last week before the House Committee on Education

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US v. Trump will bring new political misery to the embattled Supreme Court, no matter what the justices do

CNN Analysis by Joan Biskupic, CNN Senior Supreme Court Analyst (CNN) — Special counsel Jack Smith’s request to the Supreme Court on Monday thrusts the justices into a highly charged situation with a former president who has repeatedly tried to politicize the federal judiciary and use it for his ends. As this case tests Smith’s federal

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New Hampshire man charged with threatening Vivek Ramaswamy during campaign stop

By Hannah Rabinowitz and Alison Main, CNN (CNN) — Federal prosecutors announced charges Monday accusing a New Hampshire man of threatening to “blow” a presidential candidate’s “brains out” during a campaign stop in the state. Though the presidential candidate is not named in charging documents, a spokesperson for Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed that his campaign was

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A group of California children sue EPA in federal court, alleging it allows climate pollution to continue despite harms

By Ella Nilsen, CNN (CNN) — A group of 18 California children – ranging in ages from 8 to 17 – has filed a new constitutional climate case in federal court against the US Environmental Protection Agency, alleging it has harmed children’s health and welfare over decades. The case, Genesis B. v. United States Environmental

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House Speaker Mike Johnson pursues impeachment strategy he once said could cause ‘irreparable damage’ to the country

By Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck, CNN (CNN) — House Speaker Mike Johnson is pursuing an impeachment strategy against President Joe Biden that he once said could cause “irreparable damage” to the country when Democrats sought to oust then-President Donald Trump, according to a CNN KFile review of his past public comments. Just four years

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US Air Force disciplines 15 people following investigation into accused National Guard leaker Jack Teixeira

By Haley Britzky, CNN (CNN) — The US Air Force has disciplined 15 people connected to the intelligence leaks from Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, the service said Monday, after an investigation found that individuals “intentionally failed” to report documented concerns about Teixeira’s behavior preceding the leaks. According to an Air Force release on Monday,

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Supreme Court won’t let RFK Jr. intervene in case challenging efforts to combat social media disinformation

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court on Monday declined to let Robert F. Kennedy Jr. join a challenge to a case concerning the Biden administration’s communications with social media companies about online posts the government views as disinformation. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito said in a brief dissent that he would have allowed

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Supreme Court lets stand Washington state law barring conversion therapy for minors

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court on Monday let stand a Washington state law prohibiting licensed health care professionals from practicing “conversion therapy” – a scientifically discredited practice intended to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity – as it applies to minors. Critics say the practice – which attempts to

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CNN Polls: Trump leads Biden in Michigan and Georgia as broad majorities hold negative views of the current president

CNN By Jennifer Agiesta and Ariel Edwards-Levy, CNN (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump has the upper hand over President Joe Biden in two critical battleground states – Michigan and Georgia – with broad majorities in both states holding negative views of the sitting president’s job performance, policy positions and sharpness, according to new CNN

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Georgia election workers ask court to warn Rudy Giuliani after he repeats claims judge ruled were defamatory

By Kaanita Iyer, Katelyn Polantz, Holmes Lybrand and Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — After his first day in a Washington, DC, courtroom where a jury will determine how much he owes two former Georgia election workers for defamation, former Donald Trump election attorney Rudy Giuliani still insists everything he said about the two women was true. The

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Trump’s scrapped testimony and busy week of campaigning preview balancing act he faces in 2024

By Alayna Treene, Kristen Holmes and Kate Sullivan, CNN (CNN) — A last-minute announcement scrapping plans to testify at his New York civil fraud trial. A “Commit to Caucus” event in Iowa on Wednesday. A rally in New Hampshire next weekend. Donald Trump’s schedule just weeks before the Iowa caucuses offers a preview of the balancing act the former

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CNN Polls: Trump leads Biden in Michigan and Georgia as broad majorities hold negative views of the current president

By Jennifer Agiesta and Ariel Edwards-Levy, CNN (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump has the upper hand over President Joe Biden in two critical battleground states – Michigan and Georgia – with broad majorities in both states holding negative views of the sitting president’s job performance, policy positions and sharpness, according to new CNN polls

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House impeachment inquiry enters crucial week as Republicans prepare for key vote

By Annie Grayer and Marshall Cohen, CNN House Republicans are preparing to formalize their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden with a House vote this week, as their investigation reaches a critical juncture while right-wing pressure grows. Up until this point, House Republicans have not had enough votes to legitimize their ongoing inquiry with a full chamber vote. The probe has

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Trump dismisses warnings that his victory would threaten democracy and says Biden is the real threat

By Eric Bradner and Alison Main, CNN (CNN) — Former President Donald Trump on Saturday characterized warnings that his victory in 2024 would represent a threat to democracy as a “hoax” and “Democrat misinformation.” The former president, who faces federal and state charges stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, said in a

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