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Trump blames Maduro for migrants, but a war in Venezuela could create millions of refugees

By Angélica Franganillo Díaz, CNN (CNN) — When President Donald Trump has been asked about the reason he’s pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down and threatening military action against the country, he consistently blames the South American leader for two things: drugs and migrants. “We just have to take care of Venezuela. They

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A view of the US Supreme Court in Washington

Supreme Court agrees to decide if Trump may end birthright citizenship

The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide if President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship with an executive order is constitutional, offering the justices an opportunity to revisit what has widely been considered settled law since the 19th Century.

By granting the appeal, the court is directly taking on the merits of a controversy that it largely avoided earlier this year, when it sided with Trump on technical grounds dealing with how the challenges to the policy were handled by lower courts.

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Federal judge in Florida orders unsealing of grand jury transcripts and records in Epstein probe

By Kara Scannell, CNN (CNN) — A federal judge in Florida ordered the unsealing of grand jury transcripts and other records in the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, paving the way for the public release of those documents. In a two-page order, Judge Rodney Smith granted the Justice Department’s request to unseal grand jury transcripts and

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Trump national security strategy calls for ‘cultivating resistance’ in Europe and changing US’ role in Western Hemisphere

By Alejandra Jaramillo, CNN (CNN) — The White House quietly released President Donald Trump’s new national security strategy late Thursday, a 33-page document that elevates his “America First” doctrine and sets out the administration’s realignment of US foreign policy, from shifting military resources in the Western Hemisphere to taking an unprecedentedly confrontational posture toward Europe.

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Exclusive: Survivors clinging to capsized boat didn’t radio for backup, admiral overseeing double-tap strike tells lawmakers

By Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand, Haley Britzky, CNN (CNN) — The two men killed as they floated holding onto their capsized boat in a secondary strike against a suspected drug vessel in early September did not appear to have radio or other communications devices, the top military official overseeing the strike told lawmakers on

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US strikes another boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing four, amid escalating questions about its counter-drug offensive

By Samantha Waldenberg, CNN (CNN) — The US military carried out a strike Thursday on a suspected drug boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing four people on board, according to a social media post from US Southern Command. “Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated

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Unclassified report on Hegseth’s use of Signal details risk to troops, lack of cooperation with investigation

By Zachary Cohen, CNN (CNN) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth risked compromising sensitive military information that could have endangered US troops through his use of Signal to discuss attack plans, a Pentagon watchdog said in an unclassified report released Thursday. It also details how Hegseth declined to fully cooperate with the probe. The investigation was

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Lawmakers split after viewing boat strike video: Democrat calls it ‘one of the most troubling things I’ve seen’

By Katie Bo Lillis, Ellis Kim, Morgan Rimmer, Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — Top House and Senate lawmakers emerged divided along party lines after a private briefing with the military official who oversaw September’s attack on an alleged drug vessel that included a so-called double-tap strike that killed surviving crew members, with a top Democrat

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Americans under 30 are ‘under profound strain’ and deeply mistrust institutions, poll finds

By Ariel Edwards-Levy, CNN (CNN) — Young Americans are “a generation under profound strain” with little confidence in institutions and widespread economic concerns, according to a Harvard Institute of Politics survey of adults younger than 30 released Thursday. Young adults say, 57% to 13%, that things in the country are generally on the wrong track,

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Lawyers for New York attorney general’s office expected in court to seek disqualification of another US attorney

By Kara Scannell, CNN (CNN) — Lawyers for the New York attorney general’s office are expected to appear in federal court in Albany on Thursday to try to disqualify a US attorney from investigating the state’s civil case against President Donald Trump. New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, is challenging the appointment of

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US Institute of Peace renamed for Trump after his administration gutted it earlier this year

By Jennifer Hansler, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump’s name has been installed on the building and signage around the US Institute of Peace (USIP) – an independent agency that the administration gutted earlier this year. The president’s moniker appeared on the Washington, DC, headquarters ahead of a peace agreement signing ceremony between Rwanda and

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Trump pardons former top entertainment executive who was charged by his own Justice Department

By Samantha Waldenberg, Kaitlan Collins, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump issued a “full and unconditional pardon” for Oak View Group co-founder Tim Leiweke, who was indicted by the president’s own Justice Department earlier this year, according to a document released online. A federal grand jury indicted Leiweke, then the CEO of the live entertainment

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Pro-Trump conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell files to run for Minnesota governor in 2026

By Marshall Cohen, CNN (CNN) — Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO and right-wing conspiracy theorist, has filed paperwork to run for governor of Minnesota next year. The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board website indicates that he created a “Mike Lindell for Governor” committee on Wednesday. However, in an interview with the Minnesota Star Tribune, Lindell said

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Rep. Henry Cuellar

Trump pardons Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar

CNN By Alejandra Jaramillo, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is issuing a “full and unconditional” pardon to Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, using a lengthy social media post to accuse the Biden administration of targeting political opponents, even within its own party. “One of the clearest examples

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Special Counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on a recently unsealed indictment including four felony counts against former U.S. President Donald Trump on August 1

Jack Smith is expected to privately testify before House Judiciary Committee in mid-December

By Holmes Lybrand, CNN (CNN) — Jim Jordan, the Republican Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he has issued a subpoena to former Special Counsel Jack Smith to privately testify before the committee in mid-December. The subpoena follows Smith’s continued calls to allow him to testify publicly about his investigations and cases against President

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in front of President Donald Trump during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington

Exclusive: Watchdog finds Hegseth risked endangering troops by sharing sensitive war plans on Signal, sources say

CNN By Zachary Cohen, Jake Tapper, CNN (CNN) — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth risked compromising sensitive military information, which could have endangered American troops and mission objectives, when he used Signal in March of this year to share highly-sensitive attack plans targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to four sources familiar with the contents

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Exclusive: Watchdog finds Hegseth risked endangering troops by sharing sensitive war plans on Signal, sources say

By Zachary Cohen, Jake Tapper, CNN (CNN) — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth risked compromising sensitive military information, which could have endangered American troops and mission objectives, when he used Signal in March of this year to share highly-sensitive attack plans targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to four sources familiar with the contents of

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Trump announces plan to rescind Biden-era fuel-economy standards for vehicles

By Alayna Treene, Alejandra Jaramillo, Betul Tuncer, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled plans to rescind fuel-economy standards for vehicles put in place under the Biden administration. “These policies forced automakers to build cars using expensive technologies that drove up costs, drove up prices, and made the car much worse,” Trump said

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How Trump is intensifying his crackdown on every form of immigration to the US

By Michael Williams, Priscilla Alvarez, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump’s latest immigration crackdown, prompted by the shooting of two National Guard members, means he has now halted or significantly tightened every legal and illegal form of foreign entry into the US, prompting widespread fear and confusion among immigrants who are unsure what will happen

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James Solomon wins Jersey City mayor’s race, denying Jim McGreevey a political comeback, CNN projects

By Molly English, CNN (CNN) — City councilman James Solomon will become the next mayor of Jersey City after winning Tuesday’s runoff, according to a projection from CNN’s Decision Desk. Solomon’s victory denies a comeback attempt by former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, who was attempting to reenter elected office for the first time in

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Classified Pentagon watchdog report on Hegseth’s use of Signal sent to lawmakers

By Natasha Bertrand, Zachary Cohen, CNN (CNN) — A classified final version of the Pentagon inspector general’s report into Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal to discuss sensitive military operations has been delivered to the House and Senate Armed Services committees for review, three people familiar with the matter told CNN. A declassified,

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Trump and Hegseth insist they didn’t know of follow-up strike that killed survivors on suspected drug boat

By Adam Cancryn, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday sought to distance themselves from the decision to launch a follow-up strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, insisting they weren’t aware of what the military had done after the first strike didn’t kill everyone on board.

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Sabrina Carpenter calls White House video using her song ‘evil and disgusting’

By Kit Maher, CNN (CNN) — The White House social media team is in hot water with one of the world’s biggest pop stars after using Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Juno” in a video depicting law enforcement apprehending individuals in apparent immigration actions. The Grammy-winning singer and songwriter called the video “evil and disgusting.” “Do not

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Accused National Guard shooter held without bond after pleading not guilty to murder and assault charges from hospital bed

By Casey Gannon, Holmes Lybrand, Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — An Afghan man appeared in court virtually from his hospital bed in Washington, DC to plead not guilty to charges related to the shooting of two National Guardsmen in the capital. Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House

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Lawsuit from James Comey’s friend could disrupt plans to re-indict the former FBI director

By Katelyn Polantz, CNN (CNN) — James Comey’s friend and former lawyer Daniel Richman is suing the Justice Department over evidence gathered from him years ago that was used in the recently dismissed criminal case against Comey, which could disrupt the Trump administration’s imminent plans to re-indict the former FBI director. The evidence the Justice

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Rep. Elise Stefanik

Stefanik and Johnson in public spat over 2016 Russia probe provision, complicating defense bill vote

By Annie Grayer, CNN (CNN) — A new headache is emerging for House Speaker Mike Johnson. For years, GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik, one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal allies in Congress, had been trying to pass legislation in response to the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. With Republican control of

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attends a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House

First on CNN: DHS recommends travel ban list include at least 10 more countries following DC shooting

By Priscilla Alvarez, CNN (CNN) — Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is recommending that the Trump administration’s travel ban list include between 30 to 32 countries, marking an increase from the current list of 19 countries, according to a source familiar with the matter. Nationals of countries on the travel ban list face restrictions on

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Juan Orlando Hernández presents his national statement during day two of COP26 at SECC on November 1

Trump formally pardons former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández

By Kaitlan Collins, Maria Santana, CNN (CNN) — President Donald Trump has formally pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, telling reporters at the White House on Tuesday, “I feel pretty good about it.” Hernández’s attorney Renato Stabile and a White House official told CNN earlier Tuesday that Trump had pardoned the former Honduran president.

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Republican congressional candidate Matt Van Epps

Tennessee special election stirs Democratic hopes and GOP fears of an upset

CNN By Kathryn Squyres, CNN (CNN) — Tuesday’s special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, normally a conservative stronghold, is giving Democrats hope that their recently successful message of affordability can help them spring a major upset. The contest pits Trump-backed Republican Matt Van Epps against Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn. The winner will replace

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Tennessee special election stirs Democratic hopes and GOP fears of an upset

By Kathryn Squyres, CNN (CNN) — Tuesday’s special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District, normally a conservative stronghold, is giving Democrats hope that their recently successful message of affordability can help them spring a major upset. The contest pits Trump-backed Republican Matt Van Epps against Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn. The winner will replace former

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Supreme Court skeptical of New Jersey’s subpoena of faith-based pregnancy centers

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — A majority of the Supreme Court appeared skeptical Tuesday of New Jersey’s effort to subpoena donor information from “crisis pregnancy centers” without federal court review, fearing that the probe may have chilled the First Amendment rights of anti-abortion supporters. The justices appeared likely to side with a religious nonprofit,

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