Illinois shut out of Medicaid after Trump administration halts federal grants and loans  —  The Trump administration's federal freeze has shut Illinois out of Medicaid, according to Gov. JB Pritzker's office.  The government-funded health insurance program covered about 3.9 million people …

Caroline Kennedy warns senators of ‘predator’ RFK Jr. in searing letter  —  In a letter to lawmakers, the former U.S. ambassador to Australia and cousin of Trump's HHS nominee, questions Robert F. Kennedy's ethics and views on vaccines.  —  Caroline Kennedy on Tuesday warned senators …

Michigan's Gary Peters won't seek reelection to U.S. Senate.  Here's why  —  Washington ― Gary Peters, Michigan's senior senator and a former congressman, said he won't seek reelection next year and will retire from the U.S. Senate when his second term ends in January 2027.

Trump Ousts Top Labor Board Leaders Who Backed Broader Worker Rights  —  Jennifer Abruzzo says she was fired by email late on Monday  —  Donald Trump is forcing out top leaders of the US labor board, ushering in a swift reboot of workplace law enforcement while testing the limits of presidential authority.

Live Updates: White House Defends Trump's Funding Freeze as Opponents Rush to Block It  —  Where Things Stand  — Federal aid pause: The White House budget office ordered a pause in grants, loans and other federal financial assistance, a sweeping move it said was necessary to bring …

Democrats' playbook for Trump 2.0: Tune out the noise and focus on economic issues  —  As Trump floods the zone in his first week in office, Democrats are departing from their “resistance” strategy in his first term and zeroing in on issues that cost them the last election.

The Strategy Behind Trump's Policy Blitz  —  The staff was still setting up dinner on Mar-a-Lago's outdoor patio on a balmy early-January evening when Donald Trump sat down.  He was surrounded by several top advisers who would soon join him in the West Wing and who wanted to get his input …

Kristi Noem calls human beings ‘dirtbags’ as she cosplays as ICE agent in New York City  —  Kristi Noem began her tenure as Department of Homeland Security secretary by dressing up as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent and calling human beings “dirt bags.”

Trump Hit With New Lawsuit for Funneling Sensitive Info to Elon Musk  —  Donald Trump's administration has been hit with a lawsuit over allegedly collecting federal employee information and directing it to an employee of Elon Musk.  —  The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court …

Acosta La Vista  —  The anchor signaled to associates in private conversations over the weekend that he intends to depart the network, Status has learned. … The anchor, I'm told, signaled to associates in private conversations over the weekend that he intends to depart the network …

Republican state attorneys pressure Costco to drop diversity policies  —  Nineteen Republican attorneys general have called on Costco Wholesale (COST.O) to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, citing concerns about discrimination and legal risks.

Trump Is Going Woke  —  I understand that Donald Trump was elected to better manage our borders and curb left-wing wokeism.  But have no illusions: Trump's right-wing wokeism — impugning electric vehicles and renewable energy because they don't conform to MAGA ideology and aren't manly enough …

Tillis Assured Hegseth's Former Sister-in-Law Her Testimony Could Convince GOP Senators to Vote No  —  North Carolina senator provided pivotal 50th ‘yes’ vote to confirm Hegseth as defense secretary  —  WASHINGTON—A key witness in the contentious Senate confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth …

Trump Administration Payment Freeze May Delay Money For Critical Preschool Program  —  Head Start providers logging onto the online funding system this morning found a message warning of delays because of “potentially unallowable grant payments.”  —  LOADING

Once again, Trump starts a term with a weak approval rating  —  Most modern presidents were more popular at the start of their terms.  —  33:45  —  Donald Trump starts his term with a positive net approval rating.  —  Today, 538 is unveiling a new polling average for President Donald Trump's job approval rating.

The MAGA terror has begun  —  Their leader is glorifying political violence and weaponizing the threat of it.  —  ⛓️‍💥 ✍️ ⚖️ With corporate outlets obeying in advance, supporting independent media is more important right now than ever.

Trump's beef with the World Health Organization is personal  —  He's said the UN body's head, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, treated China better than him during the pandemic.  —  President Donald Trump's decision to end U.S. membership in the World Health Organization revives a five-year-old grudge with the WHO's leader.

Social media dumbfounded as Jim Acosta quits on air — yet ‘CNN rewards Scott Jennings’  —  Social media erupted Tuesday with users shocked and upset with CNN's decision to let anchor Jim Acosta go — while keeping conservative commentator Scott Jennings.  —  The ruckus started …