https://www.csmonitor.comUS national news from The Christian Science Monitor.https://images.csmonitor.com/csm/2024/04/1172291_2_csmlogo_feed_250x30_standard.pnghttps://www.csmonitor.comChristian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.300en-usSun, 19 Apr 2026 02:05:38 EDThttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2026/0418/hampshire-college-closure-endowment?icid=rsse707591bba28af99bd26bc7507d5fcbdHampshire College stood out for its nontraditional style, with no grades or majors. The recent announcement of its upcoming closure underscores the financial and demographic pressures facing many small liberal arts colleges.Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:00:16 EDTCameron Pughhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0418/virginia-redistricting-spanberger-legislature-polls?icid=rss9ec3177aa4d1cd51ab7d728a18e19f5cAhead of Tuesday’s vote on redrawing Virginia’s congressional districts, the first few months of Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s term have made clear how difficult it is to govern from the center when your party controls the state legislature and politics remain so polarized.Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:00:10 EDTStory Hinckleyhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2026/0417/iran-war-trump-american-power-perceptions?icid=rss6484c217872dc3a7a5a545fb2e07a91aFor decades, perceptions of U.S. power did not rely on the use of America’s unrivaled military might. In the Iran war, a militarily inferior adversary used asymmetric warfare to resist that might, and America’s allies are voicing concern over the state of U.S. strategic thinking and planning.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:42:37 EDTHoward LaFranchihttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0417/The-wages-are-subminimum.-But-is-the-offer-of-something-more-video?icid=rss87a885b217dcdf8251a36e0511e44ef0“Sheltered workshops” are often charged with exploiting workers diagnosed with intellectual disabilities. But many workers and their caregivers support such workshops and the sense of purpose and community they can bring. Our multimedia reporter spoke to people in both camps and visited workers at three sites for this short documentary.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:14:48 EDTJingnan Penghttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0417/fisa-congress-surveillance-privacy-security?icid=rss8db26c62f24738e1252603e60e5051adA section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, designed to help head off terrorist attacks, is also seen as a threat to civil liberties if misused. Members of Congress have been split across party lines as they wrestle with what to do ahead of a Monday deadline.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:32:03 EDTRoss Herberthttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0416/boston-marathon-bobbi-gibb-statue?icid=rssd5bb8b82ad826a319d462d90597ebc14When Bobbi Gibb sprang out of the bushes and into the Boston Marathon, she proved women could run 26.2 miles. A new sculpture she crafted at the race start marks her legacy.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:00:10 EDTKendra Nordin Beatohttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2026/0416/iran-navy-blockade-strait-hormuz-war?icid=rss3c45e707155ae6dc08f9c96c686612c0America’s military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has choked off shipping – a move to force Iran to negotiate. The strategy could escalate tensions.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:56:34 EDTAnna Mulrine Grobehttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0416/liberals-buy-gun-owners-democrats?icid=rssb36c3b3d0f0f188d8880c34928d68855Rising gun ownership among Democrats is reshaping U.S. gun culture and recalibrating the debate between gun rights, civic safety, and government control.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:17 EDTPatrik Jonssonhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0415/trump-jesus-leo-catholic-bishops?icid=rss57bf2bbed8bebe04979079470a5ef290President Donald Trump’s broadsides against the pope, alongside controversial memes, reveal cracks in his support from religious conservatives. That discontent is amplified by some policy disappointments, particularly around abortion.Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:57:04 EDTLinda FeldmannSophie Hillshttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0415/wildfires-florida-california-controlled-burns?icid=rssb18f000adeeb002fbedc1bb7d303d10dMore than 1.7 million acres have burned across the United States so far this year – more than double the 10-year average for the same period.Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:16 EDTHarry Bruiniushttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0414/tax-day-irs-cuts-rich?icid=rss0a8bb6735950e20a29e253642e74760fWhile many Americans are enjoying new tax breaks, the Internal Revenue Service has fewer people to collect taxes. And most people say wealthy citizens aren’t paying their fair share.Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:57:51 EDTMark TrumbullJacob Turcottehttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0414/swalwell-gonzales-house-sexual-misconduct?icid=rss284463f22c90d0be5577ea54cb57b7d0Fallout from the Epstein scandal and a changing media environment might be contributing to a new push for sunlight and accountability on Capitol Hill. This week’s unusual resignations could be followed by even more.Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:12:00 EDTCaitlin Babcockhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0414/redistricting-house-florida-virginia?icid=rssbf6ed9f522013e586191aa48fd6663c2With Virginia and Florida poised to follow other states in midcycle redistricting next week, the partisan impact nationwide appears to be a wash. But the new maps may make the next U.S. House even more polarized.Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:09 EDTStory Hinckleyhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0413/immigration-president-lincoln-holzer?icid=rss197e6bcb9b6b23e4d12137a30d294c5aPresident Abraham Lincoln had a mixed record on immigration, but championed newcomers’ “right to rise.”Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:09 EDTSarah Matusekhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2026/0413/iran-blockade-strait-hormuz-peace-talks?icid=rssea2ad1fa1d1367cf61cf415e386961a0US-Iran talks failed over the weekend, with Tehran’s nuclear program a key obstacle. President Trump has ordered a Navy blockade to press Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:32:12 EDTAnna Mulrine Grobehttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0412/artemis-II-astronauts-mission-nasa?icid=rssb35ee073b7ef867cdb108b66507e2ceeThe Artemis II mission has concluded with a safe return to Earth. The mission rekindled “moon joy” for the public and made scientific advancements, which NASA aims to expand during the next phases of the ambitious Artemis program.Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:28:45 EDTHenry Gasshttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2026/0410/colleges-hip-hop-art-jobs?icid=rss97e995ef63589ba9d847bcc828fa5d4fAs some colleges offer full degrees in hip-hop and others expand course offerings, educators and students believe career paths will keep opening.Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:05:06 EDTIra Porterhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0410/vance-iran-war-negotiations?icid=rss99fe48f6f59cf1b1764ec6b603981fe2As he leads the U.S. delegation in Pakistan to try to reach a peace agreement with Iran, Vice President JD Vance’s longtime anti-interventionist stance could help build trust. But Mr. Vance also could end up taking the blame if talks fall apart.Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:00:10 EDTSimon Montlakehttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0409/maine-senate-primary-platner-mills?icid=rss405a704cbfef9e6f13cab82b84af3bb3With relatively little daylight between Gov. Janet Mills and oysterman Graham Platner on issues, the Democratic nomination fight appears to be coming down to experience and style – and who can win.Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:57:01 EDTSophie Hillshttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0409/artemis-II-china-space-race?icid=rss1b3a6a2a7d43e9fbcfca4a7ecbc86469The United States and China are leading a global competition to build a permanent presence on the moon. Scientific research, national pride, and potentially lucrative lunar mining operations are at stake.Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:09 EDTHenry Gass