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Trump’s new role for USPS in mail balloting is unconstitutional, three lawsuits say

By Tierney Sneed, CNN (CNN) — Democrats compared President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to overhaul elections to George Orwell’s “1984,” in one of three lawsuits now challenging Tuesday’s executive order, which instructs the US Postal Service to determine who does and doesn’t receive a mail ballot. Democratic congressional leaders and organizations, as well as two

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Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on March 26.

Markwayne Mullin has started making policy changes at DHS. Some GOP lawmakers want him to do more

By Annie Grayer, Michael Williams, CNN (CNN) — During his confirmation hearing last month, Markwayne Mullin promised to make changes at the Department of Homeland Security if he were to be confirmed as its next secretary. He called the controversial policy under outgoing Secretary Kristi Noem that required her approval of contracts exceeding $100,000 “micromanaging.”

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US Attorney General Pam Bondi attends a press briefing held at the White House on February 20.

Trump fires Pam Bondi as attorney general

CNN By Kristen Holmes, Kaitlan Collins, Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump has fired Pam Bondi as attorney general. She will be replaced for now by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who will serve as acting attorney general, Trump said. The president wrote on Truth Social that Bondi would be “transitioning to a

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Ocasio-Cortez says she’ll vote against any military aid to Israel, including for Iron Dome system

By Arit John, CNN (CNN) — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Tuesday she would vote against sending any military aid to Israel, including defensive supplies, a marked shift from a Democrat deemed a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Ocasio-Cortez told members of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America Tuesday that she would

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President Donald Trump rides in his motorcade as he arrives at the Supreme Court.

Takeaways from the Supreme Court arguments on Trump’s effort to end automatic birthright citizenship

CNN By John Fritze, Tierney Sneed, Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump’s push to end automatic birthright citizenship was met by a suspicious Supreme Court on Wednesday, with liberal and conservative justices raising tough questions about reimagining the way citizenship has been understood in the United States for more than a century. Over

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President Donald Trump rides in his motorcade as he arrives at the Supreme Court.

Takeaways from the Supreme Court arguments on Trump’s effort to end automatic birthright citizenship

By John Fritze, Tierney Sneed, Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump’s push to end automatic birthright citizenship was met by a suspicious Supreme Court on Wednesday, with liberal and conservative justices raising tough questions about reimagining the way citizenship has been understood in the United States for more than a century. Over the

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Not just the base: Democrats in recent elections are flipping independent and Republican votes

By Edward Wu, Molly English, CNN (CNN) — Two special election victories in Florida provided more evidence that the Democratic success in elections since Donald Trump’s return to the White House rests not just on a motivated base but also on winning over Republicans and independents. More registered Republicans than registered Democrats voted in two

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Trump’s threats of targeting water plants in Iran, a potential war crime, alarm Gulf allies

By Kylie Atwood, Jennifer Hansler, CNN (CNN) — After President Donald Trump floated on Monday the possibility of expanding the Iran war by potentially striking water treatment plants in Iran, some Gulf countries reiterated grave concerns to the Trump administration about any strikes on civilian infrastructure and the risk of an intensifying tit-for-tat escalation, according

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Trump officials acknowledge they can’t promise to reopen Strait of Hormuz before ending Iran war

By Alayna Treene, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump and his administration increasingly believe that they can’t promise to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a prerequisite to declaring “mission accomplished” in the war with Iran, sources familiar with the discussions tell CNN. Inside the White House, many top officials recognize

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Members of the group "Concerned Women for America" pray outside the US Supreme Court as the Court hears oral arguements in Chiles v. Salazar

Takeaways from the Supreme Court decision on Colorado law banning ‘conversion therapy’ for trans and gay minors

By John Fritze, Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday endorsed a religious counselor’s challenge to Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” for gay and transgender minors, saying it likely violates the First Amendment, handing the LGBTQ community another setback in a decision that will reverberate in nearly half the country. The 8-1

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As Trump touts ‘reasonable’ Iranian negotiators, there’s uncertainty about their decision-making power

By Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, CNN (CNN) — As President Donald Trump’s envoys gear up for another go at diplomacy with Iran, a major question hovers over their efforts: do the officials they’re communicating with have the juice to make a deal? It’s not entirely clear to American officials whether the regime figures

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GOP leaders plan to keep Congress out of session even as pressure to end DHS shutdown grows

By Annie Grayer, Morgan Rimmer, CNN (CNN) — Lawmakers have departed Washington for spring recess locked in a stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. But even as their movements outside the halls of Congress face increased public scrutiny, Republican leaders are showing no signs they’ll force their members to come back early

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Hegseth says suspension lifted for Army crew seen in video flying Apache helicopters at Kid Rock’s home

By Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Isabelle D’Antonio, CNN (CNN) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the Army pilots who flew Apache helicopters over Kid Rock’s Nashville-area home were no longer suspended and the incident would not be investigated. Hegseth reposted a video from Kid Rock, thanking the longtime supporter of President Donald Trump and saying

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A sign marks the location of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters building on April 30

Exclusive: Federal prosecutors are exploring whether prediction market bets trip insider trading laws

By Kara Scannell, CNN (CNN) — Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are exploring whether certain lucrative bets placed on prediction markets have violated insider trading and other laws, multiple sources told CNN. The chiefs of the securities and commodities fraud unit of the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York recently met with

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Birthright citizenship advocates are appealing to a Catholic Supreme Court majority that has favored religious interests in disputes over education funding

Immigration advocates appeal to a higher power to sway the high court on birthright citizenship

By Joan Biskupic, CNN Chief Supreme Court Analyst (CNN) — As the Supreme Court considers the future of birthright citizenship, some advocates fighting President Donald Trump are speaking directly to conservative justices on how fundamental one’s faith can be to identity and citizenship. Several groups that have filed briefs in the case to be argued Wednesday

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‘Shadow administrator’ at FEMA part of investigation by DHS internal watchdog, sources say

By Gabe Cohen, CNN (CNN) — An outside contractor installed in the Department of Homeland Security by then-Secretary Kristi Noem and her adviser Corey Lewandowski, gained outsized influence over the Federal Emergency Management Agency over the past year, with a major hand in steering the disaster agency’s spending and day-to-day operations, according to sources who

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Brad Raffensperger runs for Georgia governor and tries to defy Republicans who called him ‘repugnant’

By Fredreka Schouten, CNN Alpharetta, Georgia (CNN) — Brad Raffensperger generally avoids the explosive topic that made him famous. As the state’s top election official, Raffensperger refused Donald Trump’s demand to “find” the votes needed to overturn the president’s 2020 loss in the Peach State. Now, as a candidate for the Republican nomination for Georgia

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Analysis: Trump keeps saying ‘nobody’ knew or expected things lots of people knew or expected

By Daniel Dale, CNN (CNN) — When President Donald Trump says “nobody” knew or expected something, that often means lots of people knew or expected it. Trump made wildly inaccurate “nobody” claims about multiple subjects during his first presidency. Perhaps most famously, he declared in 2017, while trying and failing to pass a replacement for

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4 weeks in, Trump’s conflicting signals on Iran war frustrate GOP lawmakers and political allies

By Adam Cancryn, Sarah Ferris, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump’s conflicting signals over the future of the war in Iran have spurred deepening frustration among GOP lawmakers and allies who fear the administration still lacks a clear endgame after four weeks of fighting. Trump over the last several days has simultaneously expressed a desire

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Iran’s efforts to mount attacks against US extend far beyond its military. Here’s what to know

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — As the US sends large numbers of troops to the Middle East, preparing for a possible ground incursion, Iran’s willingness to inspire lone-wolf attacks, lead cyber hacks, and conduct assassination operations abroad is likely to increase, terrorism experts and US law enforcement officials told CNN. In the early days

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Takeaways from Day 2 of CPAC 2026

By Eric Bradner, Steve Contorno, CNN Grapevine, Texas (CNN) — The Conservative Political Action Conference’s annual gathering in Texas — like most of its meetings over the last decade — was largely a pro-President Donald Trump pep rally. But several moments over CPAC’s first two days made clear that there are also rifts on the

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Trump has ordered TSA workers be paid, regardless of what Congress does. Here’s what we know

By Tami Luhby, Kaitlan Collins, CNN (CNN) — With Congress’ debate over Department of Homeland Security funding now likely to extend for at least several more days, President Donald Trump on Friday issued a promised executive action that Transportation Security Administration employees be paid immediately. “I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to the media at the U.S. Capitol in Washington

Senate unanimously moves to fund most of DHS, except ICE and border patrol, in rare overnight session

CNN By Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer, CNN (CNN) — The Senate unanimously moved to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and part of Customs and Border Protection, in a rare overnight session. The agreement would fund other parts of the department, such as the Transportation Security Administration

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Senate unanimously moves to fund most of DHS, except ICE and border patrol, in rare overnight session

By Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer, CNN (CNN) — The Senate unanimously moved to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and part of Customs and Border Protection, in a rare overnight session. The agreement would fund other DHS components, such as the Transportation Security Administration and US Coast

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Takeaways from Day 1 of CPAC 2026

By Eric Bradner, Steve Contorno, CNN Grapevine, Texas (CNN) — The movement that helped return President Donald Trump to the White House in 2024 is split over the war with Iran and Trump’s relationship with Israel, the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, fractures among some of its most prominent personalities and more. But

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Trump’s signature will soon appear on US dollar bills, a first for a sitting president

By Piper HudspethBlackburn, CNN (CNN) — US paper currency will soon feature President Donald Trump’s signature going forward, the US Treasury Department announced Thursday, the latest of the president’s efforts to leave his mark across the federal government. It will be the first time a sitting US president’s signature has appeared on paper notes. Treasury

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DHS internal watchdog launches investigation into handling of contracts under Noem, Lewandowski

By Priscilla Alvarez, Gabe Cohen, Michael Williams, CNN (CNN) — The Department of Homeland Security inspector general has launched a sprawling investigation into how contracts have been solicited and handled, including the involvement of former Secretary Kristi Noem and her de facto chief of staff Corey Lewandowski, according to two sources familiar with the probe.

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Trump administration admits error in lawsuit over immigration court arrests it justified with ICE memo

By Priscilla Alvarez, CNN (CNN) — The Justice Department admitted to a federal judge Tuesday it’s been incorrectly relying on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo to justify arrests at immigration courts, according to a new court filing in an ongoing lawsuit. The lawsuit – brought by civil rights groups last year – challenges the

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Top Trump housing official issues new criminal referral for New York AG Letitia James

By Kaitlan Collins, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump’s top housing official Bill Pulte issued two new criminal referrals for New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday, attempting to revive the administration’s ongoing legal pursuit of one of his political opponents. According to a person familiar with the matter, Pulte, the director of the

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Democrats revive allegations around Trump classified document case in latest political battle with Justice Department

By Annie Grayer, Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin asserted in a new letter that newly released Justice Department files show that prosecutors once considered whether President Donald Trump had improperly retained classified material relevant to his business interests after his first term. Raskin said the Justice Department had revealed the consideration

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Justice Department agrees to pay ex-Trump adviser Michael Flynn in settlement over wrongful prosecution lawsuit

By Hannah Rabinowitz, Casey Gannon, CNN (CNN) — The Justice Department has reached a settlement with Michael Flynn, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser who sued the government for millions of dollars over what he alleged to be a wrongful prosecution. In a brief court filing Wednesday, lawyers for both Flynn and the Justice Department

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Biden admin’s top civil rights lawyer joins NAACP as Trump attacks on voting rights escalate

By Paula Reid, Casey Gannon, CNN (CNN) — The former assistant attorney general for civil rights under President Joe Biden, Kristen Clarke, is joining the National Association for the Advancement of Color People (NAACP) as general counsel, according to the organization. Clarke was previously the top civil rights lawyer at the Justice Department where she

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Takeaways from videos of ex-Epstein attorney, accountant closed-door testimony on Capitol Hill

By Annie Grayer, Em Steck, CNN (CNN) — The House Oversight Committee released videos Tuesday of closed-door depositions with two men in Jeffrey Epstein’s inner circle as part of its probe into the late convicted sex offender. Darren Indyke, a longtime Epstein employee and attorney, and Richard Kahn, Epstein’s longtime accountant, appeared before the committee

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Federal prosecutors to get classified House documents in Brennan probe as decision on charges against former CIA chief nears

By Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN (CNN) — The House Intelligence Committee voted Tuesday to give federal prosecutors classified records related to John Brennan, according to a committee spokesperson, signaling the Justice Department’s investigation into the former CIA director may be heading towards possible charges. The committee held the vote behind closed doors, a source said, and

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Republican Phil Berger, one of North Carolina’s most powerful politicians, concedes state Senate primary

By Dianne Gallagher, CNN (CNN) — North Carolina State Senate leader Phil Berger on Tuesday conceded his primary race to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, a political earthquake that took down arguably the most powerful politician in a pivotal swing state. A full machine recount last week held Page’s narrow 23-vote lead in the March

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom

Newsom says he regrets earlier comments likening Israel to an ‘apartheid state’

By David Wright, CNN (CNN) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that he regretted using the word “apartheid” to describe the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians, though he warned “that’s a word you may hear others use” if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes for territorial gains. Newsom made the initial remark during a live appearance

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White House border czar Tom Homan enters the US Senate on March 20.

Change is ‘long overdue’ at Homeland Security. Can Markwayne Mullin bring it?

By Priscilla Alvarez, CNN (CNN) — Newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told senators during his confirmation hearing that he wanted to keep the department out of the headlines. That won’t be easy. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with one of President Donald Trump’s key domestic priorities: cracking down on immigration. Mullin,

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Trump casts a mail-in ballot in Florida special election as he tries to sharply limit absentee voting

By Molly English, Randi Kaye, CNN Palm Beach, Florida (CNN) — President Donald Trump voted in Tuesday’s Florida state House special election by mail even as he suggested on Monday that “mail-in voting means mail-in cheating.” “You know, brought to my attention today that we’re the only country that does mail-in voting,” Trump said at

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Supreme Court debates what ‘arrives in’ the US means as it scrutinizes former asylum seeker policy

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court spent more than an hour Tuesday debating what “arrives in” the US means, with justices on both sides of the ideological spectrum appearing torn over whether a cryptic provision of federal immigration law could thwart President Donald Trump’s desire to revive a controversial asylum policy. Does

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