President Donald Trump is scheduled to swear in , his old personal lawyer, as attorney general Monday after the Senate early Saturday. Blanche鈥檚 path toward confirmation exposed deep concerns 鈥� from some Republicans as well as Democrats 鈥� over installing Trump鈥檚 close ally atop a Justice Department that historically prided itself on its independence from the White House.
Progressive candidates for and are making their final pushes , increasing the pressure on the Democratic establishment. In Wisconsin, democratic socialist seeks to win a four-way Democratic primary for governor. Minnesota voters will choose between moderate U.S. Rep. and progressive Lt. Gov. in a Democratic U.S. Senate primary in the aftermath of Trump鈥檚 aggressive surge.
Iran says it will not until the United States lifts its blockade on the strait, pays compensation for months of war damage, lifts economic sanctions and releases Iran鈥檚 frozen assets. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly rejected for Gaza.
Here鈥檚 the latest:
Washington grapples with a National Guard deployment extended until 2029
It鈥檚 been 12 months since Trump announced in Washington, pledging to make the city 鈥渟afe and beautiful鈥� and deploying the National Guard.
But a mission that seemed temporary has been . Residents and consider it an unacceptable federal attempt to restrict the heavily Democratic city鈥檚 autonomy. A year in, they still question the necessity of troops on the streets of the nation鈥檚 capital.
鈥淗ere we are in the capital of the free world, and our president is treating it like a police state,鈥� said Scott Michelman, legal director of the ACLU of the District of Columbia.
The continued deployment will be a major test for the politicians taking office after this year鈥檚 elections 鈥� residents will want them to use their limited powers to push back on Republican encroachment into the city鈥檚 affairs.
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Democrats investigating immigration efforts against military families
Congressional Democrats are probing the Trump administration鈥檚 efforts to deport military service members and their families after that the spouses or parents of more than 50 active-duty troops have been detained by authorities, breaking promises to from enforcement.
More than 60 lawmakers signed a letter Sunday evening to the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs. It says 鈥渢hese efforts imperil military readiness, weaken service members鈥� morale, and betray America鈥檚 promises to the people who put their lives on the line for our nation.鈥�
The Pentagon declined to comment, stating it would 鈥渞eply directly to the authors of the letter.鈥�
DHS told the AP that it values service members鈥� contributions but 鈥淯.S. military service alone does not automatically grant lawful immigration status, or exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws.鈥�
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White House mum on Israel鈥檚 rejection of Trump鈥檚 Gaza deal
The White House has not commented on the Israeli Prime Minister鈥檚 dismissal of Trump鈥檚 . said Sunday that Israel鈥檚 military 鈥渨ill not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed.鈥�
Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting that 鈥淚srael rejects the 15-point document鈥� but is still discussing with Washington. Trump had said Israeli forces would withdraw as the Hamas militant group鈥檚 disarmament is completed. Israeli forces control over half the Palestinian enclave of about 2 million people that鈥檚 been largely destroyed.
鈥淲e remain committed to the road map,鈥� said a member of the Hamas political bureau, Bassem Naim, adding that the group expects mediators and the U.S. to pressure Netanyahu 鈥� who also faces domestic tensions as he struggles to hold onto power ahead of the next elections scheduled for Oct. 27.
Ocasio-Cortez says she鈥檚 freezing her eggs as she decides her next political moves
The 36-year-old Democratic New York congresswoman explained her decision in an ABC 鈥淭his Week鈥� interview on Sunday and said she has not ruled out running for president or for the U.S. Senate seat held by the Democrats鈥� floor leader, .
Ocasio-Cortez says in her social media posts that she鈥檚 taking a political risk in sharing such a personal decision about her potential plans to have children. The congresswoman says she wants to feel more control over her life and normalize conversations about what women face in their professional and personal lives.
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Iran presses demands on US as shipping standoff grinds on
An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the United States meets its conditions.
鈥淚t is up to the U.S. side to stop and make amends for its illegal and destructive actions,鈥� Esmail Baghaei said Monday, noting the American blockade of Iranian ports.
the U.S. to lift its blockade on the Strait, pay compensation for months of war damage, lift economic sanctions and release Iran鈥檚 frozen assets. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz 鈥� a waterway that normally carries roughly one-fifth of the world鈥檚 traded oil supplies 鈥� has become the war鈥檚 most lasting consequence. The impasse has kept energy prices as a major focus of U.S. politics ahead of November鈥檚 midterm elections.
Iran is holding separate talks with Oman over transit through the strait, including potentially a temporary shipping corridor, but has said any actual reopening is contingent on talks with the U.S.
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Wisconsin鈥檚 chaotic primary pits progressive against governor鈥檚 pick
Democratic socialist is trying to win a four-way Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin, where her top opponent has been endorsed by popular Gov. Tony Evers, who isn鈥檛 seeking a third term.
Evers got behind Milwaukee County Executive on July 18, the same day Crowley reentered the race after dropping out 10 days earlier. Crowley rejoined after the candidate he backed, , ended her candidacy amid a campaign finance scandal.
Evers and more establishment Democrats were hoping to finally coalesce around Crowley in the final days of the that saw two other candidates drop out, most notably former on July 29.
Republicans are spending to support a Hong victory, betting she’s the better matchup for Republican U.S. Rep. in November. The Republican Governors Association has spent nearly $3.6 million through its Right Direction Wisconsin PAC on ads contrasting Hong with Trump and playing up her liberal proposals.
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Trump鈥檚 immigration crackdown looms over Minnesota鈥檚 bruising Senate primary
Efforts to resist Trump found their footing in the streets surrounding a drab federal office complex next to the Minneapolis airport. As U.S. immigration agents staged at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building for a monthslong , protesters with whistles and cellphone cameras assembled to oppose them. in the city鈥檚 streets before Trump pulled back under pressure.
Months later, those confrontations remain the backdrop to Minnesota鈥檚 on Tuesday, which features establishment-backed U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and the more progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. The immigration debate is an added schism in a race that otherwise echoes many of the other left versus center divides that have played out across the United States this year.
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