BREAKING NEWS
Senate approves funding bill hours before shutdown deadline, sending to Trump for signature
Read full article: Senate approves funding bill hours before shutdown deadline, sending to Trump for signatureThe Senate has passed a Republican-led six-month spending bill hours before a government shutdown, overcoming sharp Democratic opposition to the measure.
Getting results for your money: When property damage is worth claiming
Read full article: Getting results for your money: When property damage is worth claimingWith an EF-2 tornado comes major wind damage and several Seminole County property owners are cleaning up and figuring out what’s covered by their homeowner’s insurance policies.
Trump is forcing a generational shift in GOP foreign policy. Here's how Republicans are responding
Read full article: Trump is forcing a generational shift in GOP foreign policy. Here's how Republicans are respondingRepublicans in Congress have long been intent on countering America’s rivals and spreading U.S. influence abroad.
Pentagon nominee pushed to acknowledge Russian invasion of Ukraine in Senate hearing
Read full article: Pentagon nominee pushed to acknowledge Russian invasion of Ukraine in Senate hearingPresident Donald Trump’s nominee for the top policy job at the Pentagon is acknowledging that Russia invaded Ukraine and poses a significant military threat to the U.S. and Europe.
Trump unleashes a supercharged MAGA agenda and Republicans come aboard
Read full article: Trump unleashes a supercharged MAGA agenda and Republicans come aboardPresident Donald Trump’s early moves, such as trying to slash the federal government and imposing tariffs on key allies, are testing how far Republicans are willing to go in supporting his supercharged “Make America Great Again” agenda.
Why conservative American evangelicals are among Israel's strongest supporters
Read full article: Why conservative American evangelicals are among Israel's strongest supportersOne of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first meetings in the United States this week was with American evangelicals on Monday.
Conspiracies, espionage, an enemies list: Takeaways from a wild day of confirmation hearings
Read full article: Conspiracies, espionage, an enemies list: Takeaways from a wild day of confirmation hearingsPresident Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominees have flooded the zone in back-to-back-to-back confirmation hearings.
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to oversee US spy agencies, grilled about Snowden, Syria and Russia
Read full article: Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to oversee US spy agencies, grilled about Snowden, Syria and RussiaTulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, has faced tough questions from lawmakers during a fiery confirmation hearing Thursday.
Trump should rethink revoking former officials' security details, Tom Cotton says
Read full article: Trump should rethink revoking former officials' security details, Tom Cotton saysA top Republican Senate ally says that President Donald Trump should rethink his decision to remove security details from three former senior national security officials, saying their protection is not just for them but also the public.
Trump issues an executive order to suspend the US TikTok ban. But can it stick?
Read full article: Trump issues an executive order to suspend the US TikTok ban. But can it stick?President Donald Trump has signed an executive order Monday to keep TikTok operating for 75 days, a relief to the social media platform’s users even as national security questions persist.
From backing a ban to being hailed as a savior: Inside Trump's TikTok shift
Read full article: From backing a ban to being hailed as a savior: Inside Trump's TikTok shiftDuring his first term as president, Donald Trump led the effort to ban TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing site he said posed threats to U.S. national security.
What will happen to TikTok on Apple and Google's app store on Sunday?
Read full article: What will happen to TikTok on Apple and Google's app store on Sunday?With President-elect Trump adding uncertainty around whether a TikTok ban will go into effect, the focus is now turning to companies like Google and Apple.
‘Don’t last for 30 years in Florida:’ Insurance chief sparks debate about future of asphalt shingle roofs
Read full article: ‘Don’t last for 30 years in Florida:’ Insurance chief sparks debate about future of asphalt shingle roofsA recent comment made by Florida's top insurance chief has people questioning whether it's time to phase out asphalt shingle roofs in our state.
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria fallout
Read full article: Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria falloutPresident-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, is making her case on Capitol Hill.
Judge sets date for 9/11 defendants to enter pleas, deepening battle over court's independence
Read full article: Judge sets date for 9/11 defendants to enter pleas, deepening battle over court's independenceThe U.S. military judge at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has scheduled hearings in early January for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants to enter guilty pleas in exchange for life sentences.
Defense secretary overrides plea agreement for accused 9/11 mastermind and two other defendants
Read full article: Defense secretary overrides plea agreement for accused 9/11 mastermind and two other defendantsDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin has overridden a plea agreement reached earlier this week for the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and two other defendants, reinstating them as death penalty cases.
Project 2028: GOP officials jockey during Republican National Convention for future White House runs
Read full article: Project 2028: GOP officials jockey during Republican National Convention for future White House runsThere is plenty of jockeying happening at the Republican National Convention among the party's potential 2028 presidential contenders.
Sen. Cory Booker questions US prison labor policies, calls for change
Read full article: Sen. Cory Booker questions US prison labor policies, calls for changeSen. Cory Booker says prisoners should be learning professional skills that help prepare them for their release instead of being forced to work.
Kids are using phones in class, even when it’s against the rules. Should schools ban them all day?
Read full article: Kids are using phones in class, even when it’s against the rules. Should schools ban them all day?The scene in classrooms around the country is similar: Kids are on their phones, even when school rules forbid it.
Singaporeans bemoan U.S. Senator's 'ignorant' grilling of TikTok CEO
Read full article: Singaporeans bemoan U.S. Senator's 'ignorant' grilling of TikTok CEOAfter a U.S. senator grilled the Singaporean CEO of Tiktok about his nationality and affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party, Singaporeans are complaining about ignorant — or even racist — views of their country.
Senators clash with US prisons chief over transparency, seek fixes for problem-plagued agency
Read full article: Senators clash with US prisons chief over transparency, seek fixes for problem-plagued agencyThe director of the federal Bureau of Prisons was scolded Wednesday by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who say her lack of transparency is hampering their ability to help fix the agency, which has long been plagued by staffing shortages, chronic violence and other problems.
Private insurers set to take thousands of Citizens policies. Here’s why it matters
Read full article: Private insurers set to take thousands of Citizens policies. Here’s why it mattersThousands of Citizens Insurance policyholders may have to pay pricier premiums as the state approves a plan to move policies to private insurers.
GOP attorneys general shift the battle over affirmative action to the workplace
Read full article: GOP attorneys general shift the battle over affirmative action to the workplaceThirteen Republican state attorneys general are cautioning CEOs of the 100 biggest U.S. companies on the legal consequences for using race as a factor in hiring and employment practices.
The Republican presidential field is largely set. Here are takeaways on where the contest stands
Read full article: The Republican presidential field is largely set. Here are takeaways on where the contest standsThe Republican Party’s 2024 presidential field is all but set after a trio of new announcements this week.
Central Florida homeowners could see flood insurance premiums double, triple
Read full article: Central Florida homeowners could see flood insurance premiums double, tripleIt's been six months since the last hurricane hit Central Florida, and many communities are still cleaning up. On top of that, they're seeing major insurance cost hikes — and the latest hit will be flood insurance.
Ban social media for kids? Fed-up parents in Senate say yes
Read full article: Ban social media for kids? Fed-up parents in Senate say yesLegislation introduced by four senators aims to prohibit all children under the age of 13 from using social media and would give parents more control over what teenagers under the age of 18 can access.
AP sources: Justice Dept. watchdog probing Mass. US attorney
Read full article: AP sources: Justice Dept. watchdog probing Mass. US attorneyThe Justice Department’s internal watchdog is investigating the top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts, prompted by U.S. Attorney Rachel Rollins’ appearance at a political fundraiser featuring first lady Jill Biden.
Florida lawmakers ready for special session on property insurance after Hurricane Ian
Read full article: Florida lawmakers ready for special session on property insurance after Hurricane IanWith Florida's property insurance crisis worsening after Hurricane Ian, Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling legislators back to Tallahassee to address the issue, as well as looking at offering property tax relief to those who lost their homes and businesses to the storm.
House approves antitrust bill targeting Big Tech dominance
Read full article: House approves antitrust bill targeting Big Tech dominanceThe House has approved antitrust legislation targeting the dominance of Big Tech companies by giving states greater power in competition cases and increasing money for federal regulators.
Iran deal tantalizingly close, but US faces new hurdles
Read full article: Iran deal tantalizingly close, but US faces new hurdlesLast week’s attack on author Salman Rushdie and the indictment of an Iranian national for plotting to murder former national security adviser John Bolton have given the Biden administration new headaches as it attempts to negotiate a return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
One thing voters agree on: Fresh voices needed in politics
Read full article: One thing voters agree on: Fresh voices needed in politicsPolitical divides in the U.S. seem deeper than ever, but one of the few shared sentiments right now from voters of all stripes is the desire for something different.
Texas massacre casts shadow over hearing for ATF pick
Read full article: Texas massacre casts shadow over hearing for ATF pickLess than a day after a gunman massacred 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Texas, a Wednesday Senate hearing for President Joe Biden’s pick to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reflected the deep political divisions over guns.
Iowa GOP open to non-Trump prospects as 2024 gets underway
Read full article: Iowa GOP open to non-Trump prospects as 2024 gets underwayFormer President Donald Trump’s persistent flirtation with another White House run is doing little to discourage other potential Republican candidates from stepping up their activity in Iowa, the state that will formally launch the nomination process.
🔓TELL US: Have you been affected by Florida’s homeowners insurance crisis
Read full article: 🔓TELL US: Have you been affected by Florida’s homeowners insurance crisisFlorida homeowners are seeing their premiums jump — sometimes by more than triple — or their policies are getting dropped all together.
Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson back for more hearings
Read full article: Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson back for more hearingsJudge Ketanji Brown Jackson faced down a barrage of Republican questioning about her sentencing of criminal defendants on Wednesday, as her history-making bid to join the Supreme Court veered from lofty constitutional questions to attacks on her motivations as a judge.

Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson faces initial round of questioning
Read full article: Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson faces initial round of questioningSupreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson forcefully defended her record as a federal judge Tuesday, pushing back on Republican assertions that she would be soft on crime and declaring she would rule as an “independent jurist” if confirmed as the first Black woman on the high court.
History-making Jackson set for Senate hearing for high court
Read full article: History-making Jackson set for Senate hearing for high courtJudge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the Supreme Court, is going before the Senate Judiciary Committee with the path to her historic confirmation seemingly clear.
Ketanji Brown Jackson's Guantanamo clients an issue for GOP
Read full article: Ketanji Brown Jackson's Guantanamo clients an issue for GOPPresident Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee will face sharp questions from Republican lawmakers this coming week about the work she did as a public defender representing four Guantanamo Bay detainees.
Lawsuit: NRA illegally funded Trump, other GOP candidates
Read full article: Lawsuit: NRA illegally funded Trump, other GOP candidatesA federal lawsuit accuses the National Rifle Association of violating campaign finance laws by using shell companies to illegally funnel up to $35 million to Republican candidates, including former President Donald Trump, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and others.
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In Virginia, McAuliffe brings big names, Youngkin goes solo
Read full article: In Virginia, McAuliffe brings big names, Youngkin goes soloDemocrat Terry McAuliffe has brought out the biggest names in Democratic politics as he’s tried to maintain his edge in Virginia’s hotly contested gubernatorial race.
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Garland defends school violence memo against GOP criticism
Read full article: Garland defends school violence memo against GOP criticismAttorney General Merrick Garland has defended a Justice Department memo aimed at combating threats and violence against teachers, administrators and other school officials.
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Laxalt paves path in 2022 Senate race with Biden backlash
Read full article: Laxalt paves path in 2022 Senate race with Biden backlashRepublican Adam Laxalt hopes to win the race for Nevada's U.S. Senate seat by drawing stark contrast between his positions and the direction he says Democrats and their allies in Big Tech, Hollywood and the media are taking the country.
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US general: Afghan collapse rooted in 2020 deal with Taliban
Read full article: US general: Afghan collapse rooted in 2020 deal with TalibanSenior Pentagon officials say the collapse of the Afghan government and its security forces in August could be traced to a 2020 U.S. agreement with the Taliban that promised a complete U.S. troop withdrawal.
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Sen. Tom Cotton: Laxalt key to GOP flipping the U.S. Senate
Read full article: Sen. Tom Cotton: Laxalt key to GOP flipping the U.S. SenateU.S. Sen. Tom Cotton told a crowd of about 4,000 Nevada Republicans that Adam Laxalt plans to run for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.
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Trump opines on coup while rejecting fears about his actions
Read full article: Trump opines on coup while rejecting fears about his actionsFormer President Donald Trump is insisting he's “not into coups” after a new book revealed the country’s top military leader feared Trump might try to stage one after losing the 2020 election.
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GOP chair expects former Nevada AG Laxalt to run for Senate
Read full article: GOP chair expects former Nevada AG Laxalt to run for SenateThe head of the Senate Republican political arm says he expects former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt to challenge Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada next year.
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Talk of Trump 2024 run builds as legal pressure intensifies
Read full article: Talk of Trump 2024 run builds as legal pressure intensifiesMultiple people who have spoken with Donald Trump and his team in recent weeks say they sense a shift, with the former president increasingly acting and talking as though he plans to mount another White House bid.
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Actor John Cena faces backlash in China over Taiwan comment
Read full article: Actor John Cena faces backlash in China over Taiwan commentActor John Cena has apologized to fans in China after he called Taiwan a country in a promotional interview for his upcoming film and became the latest celebrity to face the fury of Chinese nationalists.
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Violence tests Biden's pullback from Middle East hotspots
Read full article: Violence tests Biden's pullback from Middle East hotspotsSurges in violence and scenes of civilian suffering are testing President Joe Biden’s resolve to wrench America’s foreign policy focus and troops away from the hotspots of the Middle East and Afghanistan.
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Trump: The key to Republican success is more Trumpism
Read full article: Trump: The key to Republican success is more TrumpismFormer President Donald Trump is staking his claim to the Republican Party in a closed-door speech to donors Saturday night, casting his populist policies and attack-dog politics as the key to future Republican success.
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Bowing to Trump? GOP brings leaders, donors to his Florida backyard
Read full article: Bowing to Trump? GOP brings leaders, donors to his Florida backyardThe Republican Party is bringing hundreds of donors and several presidential prospects to the former president’s doorstep in south Florida this weekend.
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GOP 2024 contenders enter Iowa, wary of Trump's long shadow
Read full article: GOP 2024 contenders enter Iowa, wary of Trump's long shadowFormer Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the West Side Conservative Club, Friday, March 26, 2021, in Urbandale, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)DES MOINES, Iowa – Ambitious Republicans are starting to make moves in Iowa, long a proving ground for future presidents. Pompeo's two-day Iowa trip leads an exceptionally early round of Iowa travel planned by U.S. senators, emerging as national GOP figures. Ecklund, Crawford County Republicans' communication director, has encountered Republicans “ready to move on” and “tired of the extreme controversy” in a county Trump carried by more than 30 percentage points twice. ___This story has been corrected to show Ecklund is the Crawford County Republicans' communication director, not Crawford County Republicans' co-chair.
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Biden's Russia credentials questioned over European pipeline
Read full article: Biden's Russia credentials questioned over European pipeline(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON – After years of Democratic accusations that former President Donald Trump was too soft on Russia, the Biden administration is facing Republican criticism of its approach to Moscow. The Biden administration rejects the criticism, saying it has been clear about penalties for companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and that its goal is to bolster European energy security. Like the Trump administration before it, the Biden administration believes the pipeline will harm European energy security, particularly for countries in Eastern and Central Europe like Ukraine and Poland, which the pipeline bypasses. U.S. officials have long said they fear Russia will use the pipeline as a political tool against its neighbors. The Biden administration suggests more sanctions may be coming.
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GOP senators criticize Pentagon nominee's 'partisan' tweets
Read full article: GOP senators criticize Pentagon nominee's 'partisan' tweetsFILE - This April 19, 2019 file photo shows a sign for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON – The Biden administration's nominee for top Pentagon policy adviser was met with sharp criticism from Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, including accusations that he has been too partisan. And a number of GOP senators said they were troubled by partisan tweets Kohl put out during Donald Trump's presidency and they would oppose his nomination. And he told the panel, “This is not a political job, it’s a policy job ... Others, including the panel chairman, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., sought commitments on improving Pentagon policies and relations with other countries that soured during Trump's tenure.
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Republicans test history in vote against pandemic relief
Read full article: Republicans test history in vote against pandemic reliefAnd for beleaguered Republicans coming off a disastrous election, it was their first step back to political power. Senate Republicans are expected to oppose a similar measure in the coming weeks, arguing that the bill is not focused enough on the pandemic. Polling suggests that an overwhelming majority of voters — including a significant number of Republicans — supports the Democrats' pandemic relief plan. AdWhether the minimum wage provision is included or not, Senate Republicans are expected to oppose the final package. 3 House Republican, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming.
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Conservative gathering in Orlando to feature Trump’s false fraud claims
Read full article: Conservative gathering in Orlando to feature Trump’s false fraud claimsTrump himself is headlining the three-day session in a Sunday speech that will be his first public appearance since leaving the White House on Jan. 20. Trump has been keeping a relatively low profile since he moved from the White House to Palm Beach a month ago. “I think the broader point will be: Here's where the Republican Party and conservative movement and the America First movement goes from here," said senior Trump adviser Jason Miller. Here we’ll see the president address the fact that the only divide in the Republican Party is between the elites and the conservative grassroots in the party." “In opposition, when you don’t have the White House, there are many more voices that lead the party,” Cotton said in an interview.