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Israel’s president officially gives opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot the first chance to form the next government

Michigan senator-elect’s former peers recall his time at university in Britain – and his love of coronation chicken sandwiches In the cold, twilight days of 2008, inside the University of Michigan’s fortress-like Fleming Administration Building, one student was given a particularly adulatory send-off. Mary Sue Coleman, president of the university at the time, convened a ceremony for the latest Rhodes scholar heading off to the University of Oxford: Abdul El-Sayed. “There is no doubt among anyone who crosses his path that he will achieve all he sets out to accomplish and more,” she declared to a room full of the university’s leaders, calling the medical PhD student the “epitome of the engaged intellect”. Continue reading...

Pope Leo is in the midst of his South American tour where he held mass at a sports stadium in Uruguay with tens of thousands of people. He also met with local communities to draw attention to the work the Catholic Church is doing to help those in need. His next stop is Argentina, where he will meet with Trump-backed President Javier Milei. NBC's Daniele Hamadjian reports for Sunday TODAY.

With the global tide turning against him, the US president’s lame duck status could still aggravate old tensions and spark new explosions It was a victory for the world, too. People in the many countries that suffered pain, loss and cruel indignities at the hands of Donald Trump over the past two chaotic, fearful years celebrated a moment of glorious, shared redemption. The monster, like others of his kind, still lurks in his gilded White House lair; far-right authoritarianism still casts a dark shadow over many nations. But the power of this most destructive of presidents is shattered , his malignant spell broken. The triumphant roar of US midterm voters was a rallying cry of democratic defiance that, echoing the American revolution of 250 years ago, reverberated around the globe. For Iranians, Trump’s electoral humiliation raised hopes, perhaps misplaced, that his murderous war of choice against Tehran’s oppressive regime may soon cease . In Israel, many among the majority who voted for change last week will welcome the humbling of the foremost supporter of Benjamin Netanyahu’s as-yet-unvanquished extremist coalition. Ukrainians voiced optimism that a Democratic-controlled Congress will curb the sickening appeasement of Vladimir Putin’s Russia. In Europe, the beginning of the end of the Trump era brought a sense of relief – and hope that toxic transatlantic relations can be drained of Maga poison. Continue reading...

There were new reactions Saturday after President Trump elevated his longtime adviser Stephen Miller as his new White House Chief of Staff, marking the president’s first major staffing shake-up since Republicans lost control of the House and Senate. NBC News’ Julia Ainsley reports.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is facing increasing congressional scrutiny after multiple reports Friday night suggested he had a romantic relationship with a purported Chinese spy. Why it matters: Huang is arguably the world's most powerful CEO, the man who runs one of the world's largest companies and whose products are central to the world's most important technology. The mere suggestion that he was in some way compromised by a Chinese intelligence agent could quickly become a major, bipartisan focus of the incoming Congress. What they're saying : Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) promised a probe of the latest Times report and Huang's relationships. "The more I learn about the insane relationship between the Trump Administration, Chinese spies, and AI billionaires, the more I'm convinced there is nothing this administration does that isn't corrupt. Congress will investigate and get answers," Coons posted to X, linking in another post to the Times' story. Catch up quick: A series of reports over the last 10 days has raised concerns about an allegedly illicit relationship with an undercurrent of espionage. Oct. 29 : The New York Times reported that Jensen Huang and a tech executive named Alice Huang had a "close relationship," that U.S. authorities had concerns about her intelligence connections with China, and that President Trump had been briefed on the situation. Oct. 31 : The Wall Street Journal reported that intelligence authorities in the U.S., Singapore and Taiwan all had reason to believe that Alice Huang might be a Chinese spy. Nov. 5: A group of House Republican committee chairs asked Jensen Huang to give them a briefing on his relationship with Alice Huang and Nvidia's controls over sensitive information, saying they need to determine "the extent to which U.S. national security has been placed at risk." Nov. 6: Both the New York Times and Financial Times reported that Alice Huang was in fact a Chinese spy, recruited by top intelligence officials specifically to spy on

On social media, the president offered the now-vacant job of White House press secretary to Dana White, the organization’s C.E.O., and told him to bring along fighters as aides.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced Saturday that he will task Gadi Eisenkot , leader of the opposition Yashar party, with forming a new government, dealing a major setback to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . Why it matters: Eisenkot will have 28 days to establish a new government. This is the closest Netanyahu has been to losing power since 2021, but deep divisions could still prevent them from forming a government. Driving the news: Netanyahu's Likud party won the most seats in the Oct. 27 election, but his coalition lost its majority, winning just 53 of the 120 seats in parliament. Eisenkot's bloc won 48 seats, but the two Arab parties, which won 19 seats, backed his bid to form a government. During consultations held earlier this week, 67 members of the Knesset recommended Eisenkot to form the new government, while only 46 recommended Netanyahu. United Torah Judaism, an ultra-Orthodox ally of Netanyahu, declined to endorse him and signaled it could join an Eisenkot-led coalition. This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates

President said the ‘violent Fighter and Warrior’ plus some UFC brawlers would ‘defend us from the Lunatic Left’ Donald Trump has offered the job of White House press secretary to Dana White, the chief executive of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the president said in a social media post on Saturday. Trump described White, who staged a cage-fighting spectacle at the White House to mark the president’s 80th birthday in June, as “a violent Fighter and Warrior”, credentials unlike any ever used to describe previous press secretaries. Continue reading...

Stephen Miller is no Susie Wiles: He believes in almost limitless presidential power, considers the Democratic Party an extremist organization, and dreams of ruthless crackdowns on immigration and foreign adversaries. Why it matters: Miller, the new White House chief of staff, isn't just unlike anyone who's had the job under Trump — he's unlike any to occupy the powerful position in the modern era. He puts the hard in hard-liner and understands how to pull the levers of power to get his way and make the U.S. government a MAGA machine. Miller's appointment sets the stage for two years of partisan warfare with the new Democratic-led Congress, which is likely to launch investigations of Trump's administration, political committees and allies. "Stephen is Trump's wartime consigliere," Roger Stone, one of the president's oldest friends and advisers, told Axios. The big picture: Despite his post-midterm comments about finding ways to work with Democrats, Trump's choice of Miller signals that he's not looking for truces. He's prepping for war, and sees Miller as a brass-knuckle general and tactical expert impervious to criticism or traditional restraints. Trump's MAGA brain for a decade, the 41-year-old has detailed his Miller Doctrine in speeches, policies and press conferences: Presidential power is "very substantial and will not be questioned." Miller said those words about Trump's Muslim travel ban in 2017 on CBS's "Face the Nation," but to him they broadly apply to other areas of the executive's authority. Court authority is limited. In May 2025, when courts blocked aspects of Trump's deportation policies, Miller said the rulings were the work of "radical rogue judges" who were "at war" with the executive and legislative branches. The political opposition is a threat to America. "The Democrat Party is not a political party. It is a domestic extremist organization," Miller told Sean Hannity in August 2025. He also warned that if Democrats won Congress, "it's game over.

President spent weeks praising his favored candidates’ physiques, from their jawlines to their shoulders – but most of his hot guys lost ​It was either a last-ditch considered strategy to win votes, or the ramblings of an increasingly unhinged and increasingly amorous party leader. Either way, it didn’t work. Continue reading...

Architect of Trump’s far-right immigration agenda is now most powerful unelected figure in government – it suggests White House is moving to a war footing Donald Trump just gave the middle finger to millions of American voters. Any other president who suffered the kind of drubbing at the polls that Trump did this week might have felt at least a sliver of humility – and perhaps even an obligation to work with the new opposition in Congress. Continue reading...

Maga’s regret voters were all-in for Trump’s racism. Then they found out they couldn’t afford it For the first time in a decade, election predictions far exceeded public expectations. What pollsters anticipated as a blue wave billowed into a blue tsunami . Wins that held ground for already blue seats eased nerves, and the flips of swing states like Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio energized the blue base. But red-belt-busting wins in Republican strongholds like Texas, South Carolina and Kansas alongside pending races in Alaska and Mississippi left mouths agape. The explanation was that Democrats turned out far more supporters than their regulars, and that the “ regret voter ” (both swing voters and partisan Republicans) expanded the wave across districts Trump previously won . Elation and sighs of relief rolled over consistently Democratic voters who suffered multiple sucker punches from recent years of Republican upsets. Regret voters, who run the gamut from gen Z men to Latinos , farmers and the white working class , hope a different party can deliver on the economy Trump promised them. Blue voters look at the dismantling of democracy, multiple wars, mass deportations and Trump’s unchecked power in these last two years and see how it all could have been avoided. Regret voters, however, either co-signed or conceded to Trump’s naked racism and brutish bullying of marginalized people, but switched their votes as soon as the consequences hit their pockets. While some of the president’s backers may have been turned away by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gunning down American citizens, the final straw for most wasn’t ICE’s brutality , but rather the price of eggs. Some may have been upset by the Tomahawk missile assault that killed 120 schoolgirls in Iran, but most fumed at the rocketing costs at the gas pump that followed. Few demanded answers for the nearly 60 deaths of innocent people detained in DHS detention centers since the start of 2024, but

Democrats and Republicans blast promotion of ‘xenophobe’ who led administration’s immigration crackdown in wake of US midterm elections Democratic lawmakers decried Stephen Miller as a “ hatemonger ”, a “ xenophobe ” and “ vile ” after Donald Trump appointed his most trusted adviser as White House chief of staff. On Friday afternoon, the US president abruptly announced via his Truth Social platform that Miller – the architect of his sweeping immigration crackdown – would replace Susie Wiles, whom he confirmed had been ousted. Continue reading...

Senior British politicians and officials highlight potential to end Iran war but warn US president is not yet ‘a spent force’ Andy Burnham was having dinner at the Commonwealth summit in Antigua when the results of the US midterm elections started rolling in. UK government officials in the Caribbean with the prime minister scrolled through their phones with growing incredulity as the scale of the Republicans’ defeat became clear. Continue reading...

The Department of Housing and Urban Development credited President Trump, while homeless advocacy groups said that so-called Housing First policies of his predecessors played a part.

The president has bulldozed through obstacles as he has sought to remake the face of Washington. But newly empowered Democrats and angry judges are setting up a high-stakes showdown.

President Trump has named his controversial deputy Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, following the departure of Susie Wiles after Republican midterm losses. NBC News’ Gabe Gutierrez reports.

A Venezuelan man who had guns in his vehicle and told officers that voices in his head urged him to kill President Donald Trump was arrested Thursday near the White House, the federal government said.

Watch live coverage as President Trump speaks during NASA's aerospace expo at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Vice President Vance has spent the past two weeks personally involved in indirect talks with Iran aimed at reaching a new ceasefire and resuming nuclear negotiations, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter. Why it matters: Vance's heavy involvement shows he's taking it upon himself to extract the U.S. from a conflict he blamed for the GOP's staggering losses in this week's election. It also elevates the latest round of indirect talks to the highest levels of the administration. The big picture: U.S. officials and regional sources say that for now Trump is willing to let diplomatic efforts play out and wants to see if any kind of deal is possible. "We're talking to them," Trump told reporters on Friday, when asked what his message to Iran was. But if he changes his mind and orders renewed strikes, the U.S. military is ready to launch strikes on a relatively short timetable. Behind the scenes: Vance has been speaking almost daily to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other mediators about the negotiations with Iran, sources with direct knowledge said. White House envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner are also involved. Vance and Qatari and Pakistani mediators have been discussing the possibility of a working-level technical meeting between the U.S. and Iran in the coming days, but it hasn't materialized yet, the sources said. The vice president's office declined to comment. Catch up quick: Vance was the most skeptical voice in Trump's inner circle about the war before it began at the end of February, advocating instead for a diplomatic solution. He led the U.S. negotiating team to an April summit on Iran in Islamabad, and he was personally involved in talks that led to the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) in June. Vance then led the U.S. delegation to a round of direct talks with Iran in Switzerland, which ended wit

Congressional Democrats see a target-rich environment next year. But they're also worried that if they investigate everything , they may appear to investigate nothing. Why it matters: Democrats want to move beyond the one-off hearings, fist-pounding document demands and subpoena threats that defined much of their oversight during President Trump's first term. The goal, according to senior Democrats, is to build a sustained narrative around the administration's "cost, chaos and corruption" — while showing voters they have legislative solutions to the problems they uncover. "We're trying to get to the answers that point to solutions," a senior Democratic aide said. Zoom in: Senate Democrats are actively coordinating investigations across committees and with their House counterparts, looking to turn Day One oversight of the Trump administration into a sustained case for their own legislative agenda. Think more Jan. 6 committee investigation, with slick videos and compelling witness testimony, than impeachment 1.0. The coordination, underway for months, is increasingly happening at the senator level, with lawmakers working to divide investigative responsibilities and avoid overlapping efforts. "We want to deconflict these with some of the other committees, right? We don't want to be duplicative with other committees," Sen. Chris Van Hollen told Axios. The other side: Rep. Robert Garcia, the likely chair of the House Oversight Committee, has a four-pronged plan to investigate the Trump administration. But he has a two-word taunt: "LAWYER UP." Between the lines: Nearly every House committee has the power to subpoena without getting sign-off from the minority party. In the Senate, only the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and its Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) can issue subpoenas unilaterally. Trump's war in Iran will likely be the Senate's first focus, with the Senate Armed Services Committee preparing for hearings — and planning to cal

Between the GOP's thrashing at the polls, another one of President Trump 's planned D.C. construction makeovers being halted and an uphill battle to overturn his conviction on 34 felony counts, this week has netted a string of setbacks for the president. Why it matters: Trump's administration is entering its lame-duck era, facing criticism and potential investigations as its power to reshape the federal government dwindles . But Trump is showing little inclination to change course. Driving the news: Trump has remained defiant about the midterms, blaming the Iran war and the GOP's candidates for the losses while spending a lot of time discussing planned D.C. construction projects . On Friday, Trump announced he would replace White House chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller , a champion of his most hard-line policies. The move could signal that the president plans to push even harder on some of his unpopular policies, Axios' Marc Caputo and Andrew Pantazi write. Zoom in: Voters told Trump loud and clear they're dissatisfied with his policies, particularly on the Iran war, cost of living and economy. Roughly two-thirds of voters said Trump's agenda had fueled inflation, per the AP's Voter Poll. Trump admitted the unpopular war helped Republicans lose their majorities. With Democrats poised to control Congress and potentially restrict war funding, he has few good options for a decisive win. As one of his former advisers told Axios' Barak Ravid: "It's one thing to lose the midterms. But Trump doesn't want to look like a loser twice." What they're saying: "I don't think conciliatory is in [Trump's] vocabulary or ethos," Republican strategist Barrett Marson told Axios, calling Miller's appointment evidence that Trump won't "go away quietly." "He's taken the architect of many of the worst policies and elevating him. I'm not really sure how that is sort of acknowledging voters' discontent," Marson said. Marson said Trump's inability to run for president again could

Cornell University's Faculty Senate approved a resolution expressing no confidence in the university's administration, including Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and other administrators.

Navajo Nation voters made history this week by choosing their first woman president, handing Crystalyne Curley a groundbreaking victory — and a political fight before she even takes office. Why it matters: Curley's victory breaks a barrier in the Navajo Nation, where women hold deep cultural influence, but men have long dominated the presidency. Driving the news: Curley, 40, and running mate Chris Deschene defeated Justin Jones and Emily Ellison in the Nov. 3 election, according to unofficial Navajo Election Administration results . Curley won 50.88% to Jones' 49.12% — a margin of just 1,115 votes across the Nation's 110 chapters. She will succeed President Buu Nygren, whose turbulent bid for a second term ended with a third-place finish in July's primary. Her running mate, former Arizona legislator and energy attorney Chris Deschene, returns to tribal leadership politics 12 years after a Navajo-language qualification dispute derailed his presidential campaign. The Navajo Nation, the country's largest Native American reservation, spans more than 27,000 square miles across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah and has nearly 430,000 enrolled members , according to June 2026 tribal figures. Yes, but: Jones refuses to concede and has threatened a legal challenge, alleging irregularities in the vote count. The Navajo Times reported he initially offered no specific discrepancies. Tribal election law prevents certification until at least 10 days after the election, leaving time for challenges, according to the site . Zoom in: Curley now faces a tougher challenge: tackling poverty, delivering basic services and healing a government fractured by years of infighting. About 35.2% of residents of the Navajo Nation Reservation live below the poverty line, compared with 12.5% nationally, according to 2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates . Between 30% and 40% of Navajo families lack running water at home, according to an April 2026 statement from the outgoing administration.

Stephen Miller is replacing Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff on Monday, President Trump wrote in a Friday Truth Social post. Why it matters: The appointment of Miller, who favors a more hardline approach to the Iran war and immigration, could signal a shifting strategy. Wiles' departure removes a crucial stabilizing force from the West Wing just as Trump confronts the fallout from Republicans' sweeping midterm losses and a Democratic Congress intent on investigating his administration. What they're saying: "I am pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and one of my most trusted advisors, will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Susie Wiles, who has done an outstanding job, will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation. I want to thank her for her service as Chief of Staff." Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

George and Laura Bush made their first public comment on the controversy roiling their usually decorous congregation, which is reverberating far outside Texas.

The successful Democratic contender for a Michigan Senate seat parried the many insinuations lobbed by Republicans Abdul El-Sayed said he did not expect to be “a main character of this midterms”, but the first Muslim elected to the US Senate in history will take his seat in January after a vitriolic campaign that cast him as the central villain of the president and his party. By October he told the Associated Press he was “not shying away” from those rightwing fixations. “What are you implying?” El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, replied when a town hall attender asked if he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood, in a now-viral exchange. Continue reading...

Yes, the Republicans suffered humiliating defeat. But the fact that a Trump presidency was even possible means something like it could happen again He’s down, but not quite out. Barring divine or other intervention, Donald Trump will remain in the Oval Office for a further two years and 10 weeks. Or, as the White House put it in a plaintive social media post brimming with neediness: “PSA [Public Service Announcement]: Trump is still your president.” But that’s not the only reason why the global celebrations that greeted the Democratic tidal wave that swept Republicans out of even their deepest heartlands should be tempered, if only a tad. Don’t get me wrong, the results of Tuesday’s midterm elections are cause for genuine international jubilation. The defeats of Trump allies in Serbia and Brazil were delicious appetisers, but this was the feast. No mere electoral setback in line with midterm tradition, this was a thorough repudiation of the second Trump presidency and of Trumpism. The 16% swing to Democrats in the popular vote for the House of Representatives was greater even than the 11.2% swing recorded in the Watergate midterms of November 1974, following the resignation in disgrace of Richard Nixon. Trump had worked hard for many months to undermine these elections , either by gerrymandering districts in his favour or preparing the ground for a later claim the vote was rigged, but to no avail: the democratic system proved too resilient, and the American public too determined to have their say. And have it they did, in a voice loud and clear. Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday that he says will prevent future administrations from changing his design of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, spaces he declared to be national monuments that should be preserved. Since returning to office, the US president has transformed the Oval Office with gold accents and statuettes, portraits of famous Americans pulled from storage and a copy of the Declaration of Independence that hangs on the wall. The redesign has drawn criticism, including from the former president Barack Obama, who recently joked that 'he’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory. Just gold everywhere.' Trump signs proclamation to try to prevent changes to gold-covered Oval Office Continue reading...

President Trump has told advisers that he plans to keep raising money for his political operation — a move aimed at salvaging his clout after the GOP's midterm debacle. Why it matters: Maintaining a political organization — either his existing MAGA Inc. super PAC or one to be created — would give Trump a vehicle to try to influence elections in 2028 and beyond, including the next presidential contest. It also would give Trump a way to pressure GOP lawmakers who consider breaking with him as the unpopular president enters his lame-duck era and Democrats prepare congressional investigations into his administration. Trump's MAGA Inc. enforced party discipline during the 2026 primary campaigns when it helped defeat Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie (R), an outspoken Trump critic. Zoom in: MAGA Inc. has been the centerpiece of Trump's political operation during his second term, raising nearly $450 million since the beginning of 2025. The group received massive checks from cryptocurrency and AI industry donors, along with Republican megadonors such as Elon Musk and Miriam Adelson. Trump has hosted high-dollar fundraising dinners at Mar-a-Lago and his golf club in Sterling, Va., drawing business leaders eager to curry favor with the president. Some donors subsequently benefited from administration decisions. The New York Times reported that a medical products company whose executives and affiliates gave $5 million to MAGA Inc. benefited from an administration decision to delay Medicare reimbursement restrictions, for example. By the numbers: MAGA Inc. spent more than $400 million on the midterms, making it one of the election's biggest spending forces, according to a source familiar with the totals. The massive investment failed to prevent Republicans from losing control of Congress amid voter anger over Trump's war on Iran, high prices and corruption concerns. As of Oct. 14, MAGA Inc. had more than $164 million in the bank, though it spent tens of millions more on TV and digita

Democrats have made climate change a centerpiece of their campaigns for years — but this year they barely mentioned it. Why it matters: The midterms showed just how far the topic has fallen down the political priority list, even within the party most committed to addressing it — and suggest affordability will shape how Democrats govern next year. Driving the news: Democrats up and down the ballot campaigned overwhelmingly on affordability, including fuel prices surging amid President Trump's Iran war and rising electricity bills, accentuated by the AI boom. The big picture: The relative absence of climate change is striking considering that Democrats of all political stripes won big. Zoom in: Even some of the party's most prominent climate advocates emphasized affordability over climate change — or reconsidered ambitious climate policies in response to rising costs. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who previously championed the state's ambitious climate agenda, pushed to weaken parts of its landmark climate law this year, citing affordability concerns. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), who co-authored the Green New Deal, played down the proposal during his reelection campaign, emphasizing affordability and other priorities instead. Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico, who has previously warned about fossil fuels' impact on the planet, campaigned on protecting oil and gas jobs alongside expanding renewable energy and lowering electricity bills. Flashback: The political shift has been underway since the 2024 presidential election, when even climate-focused groups began de-emphasizing climate change in their political advertising, a trend that persisted through the midterms. State of play: On a call with reporters the day after the election, leading environmental groups celebrated Democrats' victories as a rejection of Trump's energy policies, arguing that his attacks on clean energy contributed to higher electricity bills. "Trump's energy agenda was an economic disaster for families a

Religious "nones" outnumbered white evangelicals by a stunning ten percentage points in the 2026 midterms electorate, up from just one point in 2024. Why it matters: The era of conservative white evangelicals dominating America's religious-political narrative faces a mathematical collapse. By the numbers: White evangelical or born-again Christians accounted for 17% of voters Tuesday, down from 23% in 2024 and 24% in 2022 , according to preliminary 2026 voter polling and earlier exit polls. Their Republican loyalty barely budged: 82% backed GOP House candidates, compared with 84% in 2024 and 83% in 2022. Religiously unaffiliated voters, known as "nones," accounted for 27% of the electorate Tuesday, compared with 24% in 2024. Their Democratic support climbed from 70% to 78%. What they're saying: "In most of those midwestern states, the white evangelicals are outnumbered in the population by the white mainline Protestants," Robert P. Jones, president and founder of the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), told Axios. Jones said their decline over roughly two decades extends beyond election results, with evangelical denominations losing millions of members. The big picture: White evangelical Protestants account for just 13% of American adults, down from 23% in 2006, according to PRRI's 2025 Census of American Religion . Yet they accounted for 17% of voters Tuesday, a larger share than their population footprint, though the surveys define the group differently. Religious "nones" now account for 28% of adults, up from 16% in 2006. Zoom in: Even Trump's most loyal religious supporters have cooled on his second term. His approval among white evangelical Protestants fell from 78% in early 2025 to 58% before the midterms, according to Pew Research Center . They remain the only major religious group Pew analyzed in which a majority approves of his performance. Between the lines: So far, the religious right's shrinking demographic footprint hasn't weakened its

Federal judge issues 14-day restraining order on any construction work on Washington monument, hours after it was approved by planning commission A federal judge has halted construction work on Donald Trump’s towering triumphal arch for 14 days, a major setback for one of the president’s most prominent projects in his vision to remake Washington. The temporary restraining order was issued by US district judge Tanya Chutkan in the early hours of Friday. It followed a series of steps taken on Thursday by the government, including the final approval of the 250-foot-high (76-meter) arch by the National Capital Planning Commission in an 8-4 vote after a nine-hour hearing where dozens of witnesses opposed the construction. Continue reading...

President Trump's much-contested " triumphal arch " has received its final planning approval, but a federal judge could still block construction. Why it matters: The Trump administration has said that work on the 250-foot arch could start immediately, even as lawsuits challenge whether the project can move forward. Driving the news: The National Capital Planning Commission — stacked with Trump loyalists — gave the project final approval Thursday during a packed virtual hearing that saw over 100 people testify and stretched over nine hours. Opposing speakers included the D.C. Preservation League's executive director, military veterans and some of the family members of those buried at Arlington Cemetery. Yes, but: A District judge is considering combined lawsuits to block the arch: One from D.C. and Virginia , and another from veterans — meaning the project could still be paused. The same judge earlier this week ordered that the government must notify the court within 30 minutes of beginning any activity related to arch construction. The government has said that Maryland-based Grunley Construction Company might already be preparing to start construction in anticipation of sign-off. The big picture: The proposed 250-foot arch has also been the source of fierce public objection and protests . Critics have accused the administration of sidestepping necessary federal historic-preservation reviews and congressional sign-off, among other concerns. Meanwhile, some Democratic lawmakers have suggested they'll make it harder for Trump to push his D.C. projects through once they assume Congressional control come January. Between the lines: Critics of the project say it would overshadow and dishonor nearby Arlington Cemetery, snarl traffic during construction, hurt the local environment and create airspace safety issues at DCA, among other issues. Building the project would take two to three years, with crews working 20 hours a day, per the administration. What they're saying: Th

Lawmakers in states with new total Democratic control said they would try to join an effort to try to elect the next president effectively by popular vote. But momentum has stalled before.

Tuesday's blue tsunami is poised to sweep an unusually large cohort of House Democrats into office who are virtually unknown outside of their districts. Why it matters: Obscure though these incoming lawmakers may be on Capitol Hill, they are poised to play a major role in determining the direction of the Democratic Party. House Democrats' progressive and centrist wings are both looking to recruit as many of these so-called "wave babies" as possible to grow their strength for the ideological fights ahead, Axios reported on Wednesday . Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus' PAC, told Axios some of these candidates applied for her group's endorsement but didn't get it because "honestly.... the districts looked so tough." "We will definitely be reaching out to them," she said. What we're hearing: Several Democratic operatives told Axios they had to Google many of the candidates who won upset victories in North Carolina, Tennessee and elsewhere on Election Day. "Never heard of them," a senior House Democrat, who was involved in battleground House races, told Axios. Said another House Democrat: "I don't think they were on my radar, and they were not on any of the DCCC's targeted lists from what I am aware." Tennessee 4th: Victoria Broderick Photo courtesy of the Victoria Broderick campaign Perhaps the most stunning result of the night was Broderick's upset over longtime Rep. Scott DesJarlais in a seat President Trump carried by 24 percentage points in 2024. Broderick leads DesJarlais by just 280 votes but told Axios in an interview she is "100% confident" of victory and is "ready to be a representative." "There's a little shock, and there's almost a beauty in that. It's beautiful, it's poetic, for the district," said Broderick, a local activist and tech support worker. DesJarlais had regularly won in landslides since he was first elected in 2010, despite a history of scandals . GOP state legislators drew Republican voters out o

President Trump said Thursday night that voters had themselves to blame for the stock market's historic sell-off . Why it matters: Two days after Republicans lost the midterm elections in historic fashion, the president is lashing out at the voters who rejected his candidates and message. Driving the news: Stocks plunged Thursday, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq sinking more than 5% as AI-linked stocks sold off. Investors are skittish about the future for AI development — and the data centers that power the technology — after Tuesday's blue wave ushered in candidates who campaigned on restricting AI. What he's saying: " The Stock Market crashed today because the Dumocrats had a big Tuesday — So sad to see, you only have yourselves to blame!" Trump posted to Truth Social. The intrigue: Thursday's plunge was an unusually delayed reaction — the market actually had a massive rally Wednesday as the initial election results became apparent. Trump was quick to claim credit at the time for the conditions that led to those market highs. What to watch: Stock futures were down again in pre-market trading late Thursday, and Asian markets were broadly lower as well, pointing to the potential for another rough day Friday.

President Trump said the deal “might involve all of Europe.” He indicated he had met with a Kremlin envoy whom Melania Trump hosted at the White House on Thursday.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been asked by three House Republican committee chairs to brief Congress behind closed doors about his reported ties to a woman accused of spying for China. Why it matters: The request escalates the scrutiny of the Nvidia CEO over his alleged relationship with Alice Huang, a businesswoman accused of spying for China. Catch up quick: Jensen Huang and Alice Huang purportedly had a "close" relationship, per reporting from The New York Times . The Times also reported that President Trump was briefed by intelligence officials about their relationship and the allegations that Alice Huang was a spy, but chose not to act. The Wall Street Journal subsequently reported that officials in at least three countries had concerns that Alice Huang was passing information to the Chinese government, potentially including sensitive details on Nvidia chips. Nvidia has denied the allegations, saying Jensen Huang and Alice Huang's contacts were just routine business interactions. The Chinese government previously called the allegations it was spying on Nvidia "groundless speculation." Zoom out: Reps. Brian J. Mast (R-Fla.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) sent a letter to Jensen Huang Thursday, requesting he sit for a joint briefing with the respective House committees that they chair: Foreign Affairs, the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the Select Committee on Intelligence. They are seeking answers on Nvidia's protocols to protect itself from foreign adversaries and his interactions with Alice Huang, according to the letter. "Recent reports raise significant national security concerns regarding the [People's Republic of China] access to sensitive U.S. technology and information," the letter reads. "The issue of PRC infiltration and access to cutting-edge U.S. technology is core to the investigative work of our three committees this Congress. It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which U.S. national security h

President Trump said after meeting with his national security advisers Thursday that he'll soon decide whether to resume all-out war in Iran now that the midterms are over. Why it matters: The election was seen as an inflection point for Trump on whether to unleash a new wave of bombing to try to bring the war to an end. The president, at least for now, is considering three options: launch new strikes, continue to strangle Iran's regime economically or cut a deal that includes significant concessions to the Iranians. On Thursday, Trump and his top national security advisers met on Iran for the first time since the election, as part of his weekly intelligence briefing, two U.S. officials said. What he's saying: "Now we will make a decision," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "Do we want to go further" with strikes to ensure Iran's nuclear program is dead and that "it will never happen again?" he added. "I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I will have to. You'll know soon enough." State of play: As Trump weighs his next move, there was a flurry of diplomatic activity on Thursday, including multiple phone calls between Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and regional mediators from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, Oman and Egypt. The Qatari mediators continued discussions with the Iranians and the White House about a draft proposal calling for the two sides to take a series of steps over two days to build mutual confidence toward a broader deal. On the first day, the U.S. would lift its naval blockade and release some Iran's frozen funds. In return, Iran would issue an official invitation to the International Atomic Energy Agency to send inspectors to bombed nuclear sites, based on an agreement reached in Cairo a year ago, regional sources say. On the second day, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen, after which nuclear talks would resume, focusing on Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The big picture: The sec

Millions of Americans cast their ballots on Tuesday in an election that showed the resiliency of democracy. The president said he would accept the results.

Democratic socialist Nithya Raman toppled embattled Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a stunning upset, putting South Asian immigrants on course to lead America's two largest cities. Why it matters: With New York's Zohran Mamdani already in office, Raman's win puts democratic socialists on track to run two of America's most powerful city halls — testing whether their promises on affordable housing and better government can survive the pressures of governing. The big picture: Raman's victory marks a historic shift in urban American politics as voters embrace a new generation of immigrant leaders challenging the Democratic establishment. Raman, 45, immigrated from India as a child. Mamdani, New York's mayor, also has South Asian roots and immigrated to the U.S. Both built their political careers around affordability and inequality, giving democratic socialism a powerful foothold in America's largest cities. State of play: The Associated Press called the race for Raman Thursday, making Bass the first Los Angeles mayor in two decades to lose reelection. Raman led Bass 52.1% to 47.9% in unofficial results released Thursday. Ballot counting continues. Bass, who won in 2022, conceded and pledged a smooth transition. Raman takes office Dec. 14. Raman defeated a political heavyweight backed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and much of the City Council. Zoom in: Raman capitalized on growing frustration over homelessness, housing costs and Bass' handling of the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire. A September Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll showed Raman leading Bass 66%-4% among likely voters under 30 and 45%-21% among Latino likely voters. Bass narrowed the gap. The final Berkeley poll showed the candidates tied at 40%, with 19% undecided. Among Latino likely voters, Raman's lead shrank to 43%-40%. Raman launched her challenge in February after previously endorsing Bass, turning former allies into political rivals. Zoom

Congress returns next week facing a renewed push for transparency over the Jeffrey Epstein files, as a top House Democrat promises new investigations following the party's midterm victories. Why it matters: The Epstein files controversy has been a recurring political issue throughout President Trump's second term and featured prominently in the midterm campaigns . Democrats' incoming House majority could bring fresh scrutiny of his administration's handling of the files. Driving the news: Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is harnessing that momentum as lawmakers return, ahead of his January departure from Congress . Massie said in a Thursday post that when the House returns, the effort to force a vote on a second Epstein Files Transparency Act would secure the necessary 218 signatures. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) , who has led the bipartisan effort with Massie, announced in September that they had received sufficient signature commitments for the measure — but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sent the House home early. What's inside: Massie and Khanna introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act II in July, building on their initial legislation that Trump signed in November of last year after previously working to undercut the effort. The bill would allow state attorneys general, local prosecutors and victims to sue the U.S. attorney general over alleged unlawful withholdings, redactions or failure to produce records. It would also require the attorney general to provide certain unredacted documents to victims upon request. Zoom out: The momentum is unlikely to slow when Democrats take control of Congress in January. With corruption emerging as a top election concern, Democrats ran attack ads accusing the GOP of protecting powerful elites. Candidates from both parties and outside groups aired at least $70 million in TV ads mentioning Epstein, pedophilia and allegations of child sexual abuse between Sept. 1 and Oct. 21, according to AdImpact data reviewed by Axios' Alex Is

Kirill Dimitrov, envoy to Russian president Vladimir Putin, delivered a gift to Melania Trump at the White House on Thursday to thank her for brokering a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russian forces in Oleshky, Ukraine. During the same event, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets gifted the first lady with the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Degree award. Continue reading...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday he plans to commute all 548 of the state's death sentences to life without parole, a sweeping decision that could empty the nation's largest death row. Why it matters: If Newsom follows through, it will be the largest mass commutation of death sentences in U.S. history , reducing the national death-row population by more than a quarter. The move comes during Newsom's final months as governor and ahead of a potential 2028 bid for president. What he's saying: "I know we cannot execute people in our imperfect legal system and remain true to our core values, first among them justice and human decency," Newsom wrote in a letter to Californians. "Many Californians feel that those who commit brutal crimes deserve to die. But as Governor, I have concluded the state cannot morally kill them." "We can now let these offenders die in obscurity while we forever remember and honor their victims." "This decision is among the most difficult of my career," he wrote. Context: Newsom can commute some sentences on his own, but prisoners with multiple felony convictions need approval from the California Supreme Court before their sentences can be reduced, per the California Constitution . Yes, but: This won't end the death penalty in California. It remains legal even though the state hasn't performed one since 2006 . In fact, California voters rejected ballot measures in 2012 and 2016 to end capital punishment. Flashback: Shortly after taking office, Newsom instituted a moratorium on executions , reprieving 737 prisoners from death row. The ACLU has been pushing Newsom to commute death row sentences since former President Biden did so in 2024 for 37 federal prisoners. Other Democratic governors have similarly commuted death sentences, including North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper , who commuted 15 in 2024. Zoom out: The death penalty faces heavy scrutiny nationwide after Tennessee's failed execution attempt of Christa Pike and Defense Secretary

The president seems to accept this is his last White House stint and is focused on renovating whatever he can get his little hands on As you’d expect, the right is in a shambles right now. Elon Musk is making jokes about his “election-interfering space lasers” and pretending that he really, really doesn’t care that he threw away nearly half a billion dollars trying to influence the midterms. JD Vance is writing long essays on social media about how he agrees the Iran war was a bit of an oopsie. Donald Trump, meanwhile, seems to be going through his own idiosyncratic grieving process about the Republicans’ historic midterm beating. The president has skipped all the way past shock, denial and anger and landed at the “admiring my beautiful renovations” stage of grief. Continue reading...

A note from our US editor: A reckoning is coming, but make no mistake: Trump is still president – we’ll need a free press in 2027 as much as we did in darker days. Please help today if you are able Betsy Reed is US editor of the Guardian Over the past two years, millions of people all over the world have watched Donald Trump’s destructive reign unfold with one question in their minds: Is there no check on his power? This week, voters deciding who controls Congress responded in a thunderous voice: there must be a check on the president’s power. From Texas to Ohio to South Carolina, Americans surged to the polls to register their opposition to Donald Trump – and to show their support for the kind of leaders who will look out for the interests of everyday people rather than those of a corrupt ruling elite. And now many people are looking at politics with a new and unfamiliar feeling of hope. Continue reading...

Power is draining away at home, but the US president will see a chance to make his mark through foreign policy Kim Darroch was Britain’s ambassador to the US between January 2016 and December 2019 Election nights are party time in Washington . The bars and restaurants fill up and the city rocks. For diplomats, it’s an opportunity – but it’s also a long night, as you trek across the party scene in search of insight and illumination. Invariably, it has its moments. I recall being at the Washington Post party on the night of the presidential election on 8 November 2016. Washington is an overwhelmingly Democrat city and the atmosphere was raucously optimistic, reflecting Hillary Clinton’s small but consistent lead in the polls. As the first results came in a shocked hush fell across the room. People gathered in small, murmuring groups. Within 30 minutes, half the guests had left. In contrast, I recall speaking to Nancy Pelosi, the queen of the Democrats, at a watch party on 6 November 2018, for the midterms during Trump’s first presidency. I asked her what I should put in my overnight report to London, given that most results wouldn’t be in. She said, with striking confidence, that I should predict that the Democrats would retake the House of Representatives. She was right: the Democrats flipped 41 Republican seats. It gave Pelosi a second term as speaker of the House and gave the world the enjoyable theatre of her sitting directly behind Trump at his State of the Union speeches, rolling her eyes at the bombast. Kim Darroch was British ambassador to the US from 2016 to 2019, and is author of Collateral Damage: Britain, America and Europe in the Age of Trump Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...

The Democrats have gained new powers to constrain Donald Trump. But the drubbing that Republicans received could yet prompt him to new excesses Donald Trump is a president without parallel, but history can still be instructive. Lame duck presidents often focus on foreign policy to escape domestic discontent and establish a legacy in an area where a hostile Congress offers less of an obstacle. Mr Trump, who was stunningly rebuffed by voters in Tuesday’s midterms , might seek satisfaction in construction projects, the 2028 presidential race and his family’s future. Or, amid the humiliation and with Republican critics growing louder, he could distract attention with fresh adventurism – perhaps escalating against Cuba – or more likely a vengeful new offensive against Iran. Mr Trump won’t put in the legwork or attention to detail demanded by, say, Bill Clinton’s push for lasting peace in the Middle East. But he loves the glitz of state visits, spectacular military action, hobnobbing with strongmen and (unearned) credit for dubious “peace deals”. With a potential three-way meeting with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping mooted for the Apec summit in China this month, Ukraine, Taiwan and others have reason to be nervous. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...