Author: rpnadmin

Republican lawmakers in Florida are investigating how $10 million in state money was diverted for use in a political campaign with ties to the wife of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images MIAMI — Fla. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is on the defensive over questions about how $10 million in state money came to be used to fund a political campaign. In two terms as governor, DeSantis has enjoyed strong support from the Republican-controlled legislature. But now, Republicans in the state House of Representatives say the alleged misuse of funds may warrant a…

An assortment of advocacy groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday aimed at stopping the Department of Homeland Security from permanently shuttering its internal oversight divisions after the Trump administration fired critical staff members, grinding operations to a halt.The lawsuit was filed in New York and brought by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, along with two immigration rights groups. It seeks to preserve some of the main guardrails within the agency, all created by Congress, that help uncover and prevent human rights abuses by its officers.The suit asked the court to restore the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to…

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA is pushing for CDC’s FOIA team to be restored, after the jobs were eliminated in the recent HHS layoffs. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images The top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability wants answers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about why its public records staff was gutted on April 1, when thousands of federal health agency workers were fired. Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia, sent a letter to CDC’s acting director Dr. Susan Monarez on Thursday, expressing “concern” about the 22 staffers…

Bewildered by the sudden embrace of “pronatalism” by the right? Or by the multiple New York Times stories about it (four this week alone!) focused on the Trump administration’s promotion of women—married women, that is—having more babies?You wouldn’t be if you read Project 2025, which opens with a pledge to “Restore the family as the centerpiece of American life.” Or particularly the chapter on its plans for the Department of Health and Human Services, which I covered here.Many of us knew, or have learned over time, that the wing-nut agenda aimed to cut back and even eradicate abortion, medication abortion…

The person who stole Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s handbag containing $3,000 in cash over the weekend was wearing a medical mask and snatched the bag from underneath her chair, officials said.“She could feel this person as they snatched her bag, but thought they were her grandchildren playing until realizing a minute later that her bag was gone,” said Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security. “Her bag was under her feet and the perpetrator hooked the bag with his foot and dragged it across the floor and put a coat over it and took it.”The robbery…

Sen. Bernie Sanders Speaks To A Crowd Of 36,000 At The Fighting Oligarchy Rally At Gloria Molina Grand Park In Downtown Los Angeles On April 12, 2025. Sam Ghazi//AFP via Getty hide caption toggle caption Sam Ghazi//AFP via Getty Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who caucuses with Democrats, has been touring the country with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to push back against the Trump administration. In an interview with Here & Now’s Robin Young, he said Democrats need to put up candidates who can channel the anger of voters who are worried about recent moves by President Trump. “I think support…

Environment / April 22, 2025 The mayoral hopeful’s Green Schools plan would renovate 500 public schools, build 500 green schoolyards, and turn 50 schools into resilience hubs. Ad Policy New York City mayoral candidate and Democratic State Representative Zohran Mamdani campaigns in New York City on April 16, 2025.(Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images) Zohran Mamdani has not made climate change central to his upstart campaign to become New York City’s first democratic socialist mayor. Mamdani’s surprising success—with polls consistently showing him ahead of all candidates except Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary—is built on his pledge to make…

We look back at the relationship between Elon Musk and President Trump as Musk signals he’s easing off his White House role. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: Elon Musk says he’ll pull back from his work in the Trump administration to focus on running his electric car business, Tesla. For the last few months, Musk has had massive access and power within the White House. NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben reports on the relationship that was mutually beneficial until things got complicated.DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN, BYLINE: On election night, Donald Trump gave special attention to one of his biggest supporters.(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Oh,…

Politics / April 22, 2025 Films to remember for pre-Trumpian times and inspiration. Ad Policy Bradley Whittford joins the cast of The West Wing in Burbank, California, on March 8, 2016.(Amanda Edwards / WireImage via Getty Images) A few months ago, my family was making fun of me because I couldn’t stop watching The West Wing. I will say that by season eight, even my husband was by my side, trying to remember who won that final presidential election. Was it Alan Alda or Jimmy Smits? (No spoilers here!) Mostly, we could not believe how great that Aaron Sorkin series…

Lawmakers face the daunting task of crafting a sweeping plan to turn the heart of President Trump’s domestic agenda into law. It will be a crucial test for House Speaker Mike Johnson. JUANA SUMMERS, HOST: When lawmakers return from recess next week, they will face the daunting task of crafting a sweeping plan to turn the heart of President Trump’s domestic agenda into law. It will be a crucial test for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who in his first 100 days this Congress faced an unrelenting wave of challenges. NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales has more.CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE: House Speaker…