Politics

The governments of Washington D.C. and Virginia asked a federal court to block construction of President Trump's planned " triumphal arch ," claiming it's unlawfully tall and would snarl traffic for years. Why it matters: It's a last-minute gambit to stop construction before the multi-year project begins, potentially as soon as this coming week. What they're saying: " This project is flagrantly unlawful," the two governments said in a Saturday filing in D.C. federal court, first reported by the Washington Post. "During the three-year period of construction, the Arch project will inevitably snarl traffic between the jurisdictions, produce pollution and stormwater runoff in the Potomac, interfere with emergency services, and pose numerous other challenges," they argue. They further claim that the defendants — the National Park Service and the Interior Department — have rushed the project without the proper consultations. The city and state are asking a judge to issue injunctions to stop any site preparation or construction on the project. Zoom out: The proposed 250-foot arch would be one of the largest such monuments in the world, sparking concerns that it could interfere with other national symbols, block views and even complicate landings for pilots at nearby airports. (The FAA found otherwise.) The Park Service's own August report indicated the construction of the arch would have adverse effects on nearby monuments and landmarks. The other side: The administration has argued it will be a major tourist attraction — but also vital to national security, serving as a base for snipers and drones. The White House was not immediately available to comment Saturday on the D.C. / Virginia petition. What's next: A federal judge held a hearing Friday on a separate challenge to the arch, and indicated she may block construction at least temporarily.

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin says a federal fraud probe into Rep. Ilhan Omar is a "large case" targeting multiple people and led by the DOJ.

On Friday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Situation Room,” Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft commented on the ballot stacking controversy in the state’s U.S. Senate race and said that he thinks Alaskans “know to bring a gun to a gunfight. And, The post Alaska Dem Party Chair on Ballot Stacking: People Want Officials to ‘Use Every Tool’ appeared first on Breitbart .

On Friday’s broadcast of CNN’s “The Source,” Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) said that the Alaska ballot stacking story “is really a distraction. It is clearly an abuse of power, if you ask me, to have this federal surge into Alaska The post Dem Sen. Smith: Alaska Ballot Stacking Story ‘a Distraction’, Feds Doing ‘Abuse of Power’ appeared first on Breitbart .

On Friday’s “PBS NewsHour,” MS NOW host Jonathan Capehart said that he couldn’t be enthusiastic about the Alaska ballot stacking story and “the administration is hell-bent on gumming up the works with the Alaska Senate race.” Capehart said, “This is The post MS NOW’s Capehart: I Don’t Care About Ballot Stacking, Trump Admin. Trying to Gum Up Alaska Race appeared first on Breitbart .

A research administrator at the University of Kentucky has secured a legal exemption from his employer's AI mandate on the grounds that using tools like ChatGPT would violate his humanist beliefs. The post U. of Kentucky Employee Wins Religious Exemption from Mandatory AI Use appeared first on Breitbart .

Bloomberg Israel Bureau Chief Ethan Bronner tells Bloomberg This Weekend that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the opposition has a clear path to forming a government after Israel’s election, potentially setting up difficult coalition negotiations or another vote. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Lisa Mateo, Bronner discusses Netanyahu’s political durability, increased Arab voter participation and how another conflict with Iran could alter the coalition calculus. (Source: Bloomberg)

Ligonier Ministries built its "Grow" app with an AI assistant that deflects vulnerable users to real humans and the suicide hotline when needed.

But select Democrats, too, are being accused of having ties to the late sex offender as country prepares to vote In races across the country, Democratic candidates or groups that support them have released ads accusing Republicans of protecting pedophiles by voting against legislation to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein . The ads appear intended to evoke an emotional response by accusing candidates of “protecting” Epstein, a notorious pedophile accused of running a sex-trafficking ring involving minors. Continue reading...

Legal experts welcome judge’s rejection of firing of James Comey’s daughter prosecutor but warn an appeal is likely A recent legal ruling against an effort to fire the star-prosecutor daughter of a former FBI chief targeted by Donald Trump could send a strong message about politicized firings – and influence other judges weighing similar cases, legal veterans said. Judge Jesse Furman ruled this week that the Department of Justice’s firing of assistant US attorney Maurene Comey without cause was unlawful. Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey, successfully litigated numerous high-profile cases during her tenure at the southern district of New York, including guilty verdicts against Ghislaine Maxwell and Sean “Diddy” Combs. Continue reading...

A few days of truce allowed the removal of remaining civilians from Oleshky, which continual Russian attacks have made all but uninhabitable.

The group will not release a joint communique but will rather rely on a chairman's statement summarizing the talks, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio will release at the conclusion.

What may seem like contradictory numbers are, in fact, just two ways to capture a similar picture.

From the passenger seat, it is easy to understand the appeal. A horse-drawn carriage moving through Central Park offers a little piece of an older New York: the clip-clop of hooves, trees overhead, skyscrapers beyond them and, for a few minutes, the illusion that the city has slowed down. It is romantic. Now imagine the […]

With control of Congress hanging on a number of razor-thin races, both Democrats and Republicans are seizing on voters’ frustrations with rising credit card debt to win over inflation-weary Americans.

It looks increasingly likely Donald Trump may try a reckless escalatory bombing campaign against Iran after the midterms. And it looks increasingly likely it will backfire terribly.

Bloomberg Brazil Country Chief Filipe Pacheco tells Bloomberg This Weekend how Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil for the US after refusing to recognize Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s election victory, as Bolsonaro faces multiple investigations in Brazil. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Lisa Mateo, Pacheco explains Bolsonaro’s circuitous journey to Miami, his pledge to lead the opposition from the US and how investors are assessing Lula’s surprise comeback. (Source: Bloomberg)

Judge James Boasberg oversees the Ilhan Omar search warrant fight, deportation flights, and California voter rolls, raising assignment questions.