Politics
Job of homeland security secretary is to adapt almost continuously to pressures from the department, the public and the world at large
The Department of Homeland Security’s massive bureaucracy has many critical national security functions and spends billions of taxpayer dollars seeking to keep the nation safe.
‘Big’ legislative package shifts more of SNAP’s costs to states, saving federal dollars but causing fewer Americans to get help paying for food
Work requirements will expand and exemptions from them will recede. How much states have to pay will be tied to the prevalence of mistakes, not fraud.
Congress still has ways to throttle back Trump’s war with Iran – and to ask questions
As critics question President Trump’s motivations for war on Iran, it’s not just about politics. It’s about the Constitution and whether Congress has any hope of checking the president’s warmaking.
Presidential words can turn the unthinkable into the thinkable − for better or for worse
For years, Donald Trump’s rhetoric has relied on insult, ridicule, threat and contempt. But the scale of violence in his words during the first week of April 2026 was new – and had a purpose.
Pam Bondi’s extreme political loyalty to Trump wasn’t enough to save her job
It’s not unusual for presidents to select attorneys general who share their views and policy preferences. But Trump has gone far beyond what is usually done.
When a president is unfit for office, here’s what the Constitution says can happen
Amid lawmakers’ calls for the president’s removal from office, Americans may be wondering what would come next.
Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’ brings hasty decisions with long‑lasting implications, outside of its usual careful deliberation
What is the Supreme Court’s ‘shadow docket’ and why is it important?
What a US attorney general actually does – a law professor spells it out
The combined political and legal roles and responsibilities of the US attorney general can create conflicts. Some attorneys general yielded to political pressure from the president – many did not.
Federal election observers once played a key role in securing voting rights for all − but times have changed
After the Voting Rights Act, federal election observers helped ensure fair voting, but that oversight has increasingly shifted focus − to monitor what Washington says is voter fraud and accusations of cheating.
Why the future of marijuana legalization remains hazy despite high public support
A cannabis legalization movement that for a decade rode a wave of success has stalled amid failed ballot initiatives, rising health concerns and a frayed coalition of supporters.