
Politics
All the latest news stories about politics, from elections and law-making to the subtle shifts that change our lives—and our finances


Trump Pardons Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao Amid Crypto Controversy
President Trump has pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the Binance founder who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges.

U.S. Hits Russia’s Top Oil Firms with Sanctions as Trump Cancels Meeting with Putin
The United States imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies while urging Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

What Americans think about rising health care costs
A new poll finds most U.S. adults are worried about health care becoming more expensive.

Supreme Court to Decide If Marijuana Users Can Legally Own Guns
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on whether regular marijuana users can legally possess firearms, marking a significant follow-up to its 2022 ruling.

White House Advisor Hints Shutdown May End Soon
White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett said the government shutdown is likely to end this week.

Hostages Freed as Many Hope for Middle East Peace
Israel and Hamas took a crucial step toward peace on Monday as hostages and prisoners were exchanged under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal.

IRS Releases Updated Tax Brackets for 2026
The IRS has released updated federal income tax brackets and standard deductions for the 2026 tax year, which will apply to returns filed in 2027.

Fiscal Freeze: U.S. Federal Shutdown Drags On
With the government still unfunded, more than 4,000 federal workers received lay-off notices, and many services began to shutter.

Tariff Turmoil Continues Between U.S. and China
The trade dispute between China the United States took a sharp turn as President Donald Trump announced plans for a 100 % tariff on Chinese goods.

Firings of federal workers begin as White House seeks to pressure Democrats in government shutdown
The White House budget office says mass firings of federal workers have started in an attempt to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues.

Trump suggests canceling Xi meeting and threatens more tariffs after China restricts key exports
President Donald Trump says “there seems to be no reason” to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea after China restricted exports of rare earths needed for American industry. The Republican president suggested Friday he was looking at a “massive increase” of import taxes on Chinese products in response to Xi’s moves. Trump says one of the policies the U.S. is calculating is "a massive increase of Tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States." A monthslong calm on Wall Street was shattered, with U.S. stocks falling on the news. The Chinese Embassy in Washington hasn't responded to an Associated Press request for comment.

Fed minutes: Most officials supported further rate cuts as worries about jobs rose
Most members of the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate setting committee supported further reductions to its key interest rate this year, minutes from last month’s meeting showed.

IRS Furloughs Nearly Half Its Workforce
The IRS announced that nearly half of its workforce, approximately 34,000 employees, are being furloughed due to the ongoing government shutdown.

U.S. Government Shutdown Squeezes Main Street
Just a week into the U.S. federal government shutdown, small & mid-sized businesses that rely on federal contracts or regulatory approvals are already hurting.

Trump Pushes a “Deals Agenda” Ahead of Midterms
With midterm elections looming, the Trump administration is aggressively targeting deals across pharma, AI, energy, mining, and semiconductors.

Illinois Sues to Block Trump's National Guard Deployment to Chicago
Illinois leaders filed a lawsuit to stop President Trump from deploying National Guard troops to Chicago, calling it unlawful and dangerous.

Air Traffic Turmoil: Govt Shutdown Causes Staffing Struggle
The Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing issues causing flight delays at several airports, including Newark and Denver.
