Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that he has formally censured Sen. Mark Kelly and initiated administrative proceedings to review whether the Arizona Democrat’s Navy rank should be reduced in retirement, escalating a weeks-long dispute over the senator’s public criticism of U.S. military operations. Hegseth announced the move on social media, arguing that Kelly — … The post Hegseth Censures Sen. Mark Kelly, Moves to Review Retired Navy Rank Over Speech Dispute first appeared on Poli Alert.

Major European allies warned the United States on Tuesday that they would “not stop defending” the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity following President Donald Trump’s renewed threats to take control of Greenland, a Danish territory and NATO ally. The unusually blunt warning came as Trump and senior aides intensified rhetoric suggesting the U.S. could … The post European Allies Warn U.S. They Will Defend Sovereignty After Trump Threats Over Greenland first appeared on Poli Alert.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking and weapons charges, days after they were captured by U.S. military forces and brought to New York in a dramatic overnight operation. Maduro and Flores appeared before U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein at the federal courthouse in … The post Maduro, Wife Plead Not Guilty in New York After U.S. Military Capture first appeared on Poli Alert.

One day after a U.S. military operation led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a blunt warning to Cuba, signaling that the Trump administration may widen its pressure campaign in Latin America. “I don’t think it’s any mystery that we are not big fans … The post Rubio Warns Cuba After U.S. Capture of Venezuela’s Maduro, Signals Broader Pressure Campaign first appeared on Poli Alert.

Gov. Tim Walz ended his campaign for a historic third-term on Monday amid mounting pressure from members of his own party and intense attacks from Republicans over widespread fraud in state-run social services programs. Walz defended his record in a statement and said he was certain he could win a third term, but couldn’t give … The post Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz Ends Campaign for Third Term first appeared on Poli Alert.

A federal judge in Kentucky has dismissed Louisville’s proposed settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over police reforms, after the department withdrew its support for the plan earlier this year. U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton ruled Dec. 31 that the responsibility for ensuring the Louisville Metro Police Department complies with federal law must rest … The post Federal Judge Dismisses Louisville Police Reform Settlement After DOJ Pulls Support first appeared on Poli Alert.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was indicted by a federal grand jury on sweeping narcotics and weapons charges, accused by U.S. prosecutors of leading a decades-long scheme to flood the United States with cocaine while enriching himself, his family and senior members of Venezuela’s government. The indictment was unsealed Saturday after Maduro and his wife, Cilia … The post Venezuelan President Maduro Indicted on Drug, Weapons Charges first appeared on Poli Alert.

The U.S. Postal Service has adopted a new rule that could create doubt about whether some ballots mailed by voters by Election Day will receive postmarks in time to be counted. A USPS rule that took effect on Dec. 24 says mail might not receive a postmark on the same day the agency takes possession … The post USPS says Mail-In Ballots Might Not Get Postmark on Same Day They’re Dropped Off first appeared on Poli Alert.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States will effectively govern Venezuela following a U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, marking a dramatic escalation in Washington’s confrontation with the South American nation. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a … The post Trump Says U.S. Will “Run” Venezuela After Military Operation Captures Maduro first appeared on Poli Alert.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is abandoning — at least for now — his effort to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, after courts repeatedly blocked the moves. “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again — only … The post Trump Backs Off National Guard Deployments in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland first appeared on Poli Alert.

The FBI said Friday that it thwarted a planned terrorist attack targeting a grocery store and a Burger King restaurant in suburban Charlotte on New Year’s Eve, arresting an 18-year-old man accused of attempting to support the Islamic State terrorist group. Federal authorities announced that Christian Sturdivant, 18, of Mint Hill, North Carolina, has been … The post FBI Says It Foiled New Year’s Eve Terrorist Plot in North Carolina first appeared on Poli Alert.

President Donald Trump pushed back this week against questions about his health and stamina, telling The Wall Street Journal that he does not fall asleep during meetings and that visible bruising on his hands is caused by his long-term use of high-dose aspirin. “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I … The post Trump Defends Health, Says He Takes High-Dose Aspirin and Denies Falling Asleep in Meetings first appeared on Poli Alert.

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday released the full transcript and video of former special counsel Jack Smith’s closed-door deposition before the Republican-led panel earlier this month, making public more than eight hours of testimony detailing his criminal cases against President Donald Trump. The release includes a 255-page transcript and video footage of Smith’s testimony. … The post House Republicans Release Jack Smith Deposition Detailing Case Against Trump first appeared on Poli Alert.

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in Thursday as the 112th mayor of New York City, pledging to pursue an unapologetically progressive agenda and declaring that he intends to govern exactly as he campaigned — as a democratic socialist. “I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist,” Mamdani, 34, told … The post Mamdani Sworn In as New York City’s Mayor, Vowing to Govern as a Democratic Socialist first appeared on Poli Alert.

Starting Thursday, low-income Americans in five states will face new limits on what they can buy with government assistance for groceries, as the Trump administration begins rolling out restrictions on soda, candy and other foods under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia are the first states to implement federal … The post SNAP Food Restrictions to Take Effect in Five States Starting Thursday first appeared on Poli Alert.

The Trump administration on Tuesday froze all federal child care payments to Minnesota, an extraordinary escalation triggered by a viral right-wing video alleging widespread fraud — and one that state officials and Democrats are denouncing as politically motivated collective punishment. In a statement and video posted to X, senior officials at the Department of Health … The post Trump Administration Freezes Minnesota Child Care Funds After Viral Fraud Claims first appeared on Poli Alert.

Renee Hardman, a West Des Moines council member and president and CEO of Lutheran Services in Iowa, won a special election Tuesday for Iowa Senate District 16, according to unofficial results. Hardman’s win means Democrats retain the seat, formerly held by the late Sen. Claire Celsi, and they have stopped Republicans from potentially regaining a … The post Democrats Retain Iowa Senate Seat in West Des Moines after Special Election  first appeared on Poli Alert.

The U.S. military said Monday it carried out another lethal strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean that it claims was involved in drug trafficking, killing two people — the latest escalation in a monthslong campaign ordered by President Donald Trump that has drawn growing legal and political scrutiny. U.S. Southern Command said … The post U.S. Military Kills Two in Latest Drug Boat Strike as Legal Questions Mount first appeared on Poli Alert.

More musicians have canceled scheduled performances at the Kennedy Center after its board voted to rename the Washington performing arts institution to include President Donald Trump’s name, a move that has intensified political backlash and sparked legal action. Canceled performances now include shows that had been scheduled for Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Jan. … The post Musicians Cancel Kennedy Center Shows After Trump Name Change first appeared on Poli Alert.

The Trump administration is offering states $10 billion next year for rural health care — while reserving the right to take the money back if governors refuse to adopt policy priorities favored by the White House. Federal officials announced Monday that all 50 states applied for funding from the new Rural Health Transformation Program, a … The post Rural Health Funding Tied to Trump Policy Agenda as States Face Clawback Threats first appeared on Poli Alert.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is reinstating a near-total ban on abortion services for veterans and their families, citing a new Justice Department legal opinion that says federal law largely prohibits the agency from providing abortions. The change follows a memo issued last week by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, which concluded that … The post VA Moves to Reinstate Near-Total Abortion Ban after Justice Department Opinion first appeared on Poli Alert.

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine are nearing completion, but offered no concrete breakthroughs after a high-stakes face-to-face meeting that underscored how unresolved the most contentious issues remain. Speaking after their talks at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property, both leaders struck an optimistic tone while … The post Trump, Zelenskyy say Peace Deal is Close After Talks, but Key Disputes Remain first appeared on Poli Alert.