Longtime Maryland U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin won't seek reelection, creating rare Senate vacancy  —  U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin says he won't seek reelection next year, ending a nearly 60-year run in Maryland politics and creating a scramble to fill a rare vacancy in the closely-divided Senate.

Supreme Court to hear major case on limiting the power of federal government, a long-term goal of legal conservatives  —  The Supreme Court agreed Monday to reconsider long held precedent and decide whether to significantly scale back on the power of federal agencies in a case that can impact everything …

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Columbus, Ohio Assumes All the Deposits of First Republic Bank, San Francisco, California  —  WASHINGTON — First Republic Bank, San Francisco, California, was closed today by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation …

Inside the multi-car pileup to replace Cicilline  —  It's rare to have an open congressional seat in Rhode Island.  So when there is one, ambitious pols pounce on what could literally be a once-in-a-generation shot to go to Washington.  —  More than a dozen Democrats have declared …

DeSantis-aligned board votes to sue Disney  —  The board overseeing Disney's special taxing district - which was appointed by and is aligned with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis - voted on Monday to sue the company days after the entertainment giant filed its own lawsuit against the board.

Inslee statement: “We've made Washington a beacon for progress for the nation.  I'm ready to pass the torch.”  —  Gov. Jay Inslee announced today he does not plan to seek a fourth term.  Inslee was most recently re-elected in 2020, making him only the second Washington state governor to serve three consecutive terms.

Emergency Lawsuit Seeks Full Reinstatement of MT State Rep. Zooey Zephyr's Legislative Rights  —  HELENA, Mont. — The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana. the law partners of Beck, Amsden, and Stalpes, and Mike Black, Esq. filed a lawsuit in state court today challenging the censure of State Representative Zooey Zephyr (HD 100).

‘Zero Leads’: Dragnet Continues for Man Sought in Fatal Shooting of 5 in Texas  —  As survivors and the community came together at a vigil, hundreds of law enforcement officers were searching for Francisco Oropesa.  —  CLEVELAND, Texas — As a man who lost his wife and son in a shooting rampage …

The first arrests from DeSantis's election police take extensive toll  —  ORLANDO — The fallout came fast when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's new election police unit charged Peter Washington with voter fraud last summer as part of a crackdown against felons who'd allegedly broken the law by casting a ballot.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans blame media for dividing nation, poll says  —  When it comes to the news media and the impact it's having on democracy and political polarization in the United States, Americans are likelier to say it's doing more harm than good.

It's time for a competency test for politicians.  Here's why  —  Voters deserve to know whether their leaders can pass a very basic mental exam  —  America needs a new generation of leaders to renew our national strength and pride.  It's why I support term limits for members of Congress …

Kyrsten Sinema's Party of One  —  What the Arizona senator's breakup with the Democrats means for American politics.  —  Kyrsten Sinema was standing a few yards from the border wall with four Republican members of Congress.  The men were staring balefully at a row of nearby portable toilets …

McConnell insists he's sitting out debt talks — to disbelief  —  Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) insists he will not come up with a rescue plan this time as Republicans and a Democratic president battle over the debt limit.  —  McConnell has a long history of negotiating …

Feds: Hospitals that denied emergency abortion broke the law  —  Two hospitals that refused to provide an emergency abortion to a pregnant woman who was experiencing premature labor put her life in jeopardy and violated federal law, a first-of-its-kind investigation by the federal government has found.

McCarthy to Russian reporter: ‘I do not support what your country has done to Ukraine’  —  Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) shot down a Russian reporter's suggestion that he does not support aid to Ukraine, pledging continued U.S. support for the country and calling on Russia to pull its troops from Ukraine.

Exclusive: Never-before-seen Chinese military blimp caught on satellite images of remote desert base  —  A large blimp developed by the Chinese military has been spotted for the first time at a remote base in the desert of northwestern China, exclusive new satellite imagery obtained by CNN shows.

Student sentenced to 10 days in jail for peaceful protest of anti-trans policies  —  Alex Barnett, a junior at the University of Central Arkansas, was sentenced to 10 days behind bars for participating in a peaceful protest of anti-trans policies imposed by a local school board.