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-usFri, 10 Apr 2026 06:45:16 EDThttps://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 Gasshttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2026/0408/iran-war-ceasefire-peace-us-military?icid=rssfd426d6b45a6762e39788c82112816a6There was little doubt going into the war that America’s armed forces could beat Iran’s. The question was at what cost – and to what end?Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:40:37 EDTAnna Mulrine Grobehttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0408/Still-eyeing-mass-deportations-hard-liners-push-White-House-to-expand-targets?icid=rssc6d7af4cce1ee1486848ebd77b08ec3aImmigration hard-liners are calling for workplace raids to take the White House’s mass deportation campaign to a new phase.Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:15 EDTSarah Matusekhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0407/refugees-trump-south-africa-afrikaners?icid=rss02f72c8644b1901c7b01ee09d36872abVirtually all of the refugees let into the U.S. over the past six months are from South Africa. President Trump prioritized white South Africans after dramatically cutting the program’s annual cap.Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:39:39 EDTSarah Matusekhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0407/trump-iran-threat-brinksmanship-deadline?icid=rssbbbf94e361ed1a9637109311fefb9419President Donald Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s civilization marked a new level of intimidation, and ultimately a two-week pause in hostilities and the temporary opening of the Strait of Hormuz.Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:26:30 EDTLinda Feldmannhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0407/artemis-ii-nasa-moon-economy?icid=rss4d6ed8dbca6f66c11d1730e71f1da4e0The Artemis II crew made history Monday, reaching the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth. NASA and its commercial partners aim to also pioneer a new space economy through the Artemis missions.Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:15 EDTHenry Gasshttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2026/0407/ice-detention-trump-immigration?icid=rss8216dbe5989451d5eb2055913b168dd3ICE is trying to open new detention centers to hold immigrants that it hopes to deport. Not all communities are happy about it.Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:09 EDTSarah MatusekJingnan Penghttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2026/0406/trump-rescue-iran-bomb-deadline?icid=rss0d6479ad1507e170aa49b7545ef16748Iran ceasefire talks continue as President Trump’s deadline looms, and questions mount over whether strikes on infrastructure could be war crimes.Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:32:48 EDTAnna Mulrine Grobehttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0406/aoc-president-campaign-senate?icid=rssd4a48fc1eaa89bba6bbb51c73ce84f31New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is keeping quiet about her political future. But in a tumultuous political environment, the young, charismatic lawmaker could be well-positioned to mount a White House bid.Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:09 EDTAaron Shorthttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2026/0405/trump-iran-threats-pilot-rescue-details?icid=rss2ef0ee19e096631a96bf92bade1eff55President Donald Trump threatened strikes on Iranian infrastructure, while Iran struck infrastructure targets in Gulf Arab countries.Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:13:17 EDTBy MATTHEW LEE, BASSEM MROUE, KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and SAMY MAGDYhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2026/0405/trump-europe-nato-alliances-iran-war?icid=rssb9b2fb38ab91bfff4c4847c8a33fc636Whether President Trump opts for ground forces, walks away from the war, or cuts a deal with Iran, one cost of his war of choice will be the further decline of U.S. alliances. The strain has been unrelenting, as has the acrimony.Trump’s war in Iran puts new strain on alliances. Why this time it’s different.Sun, 05 Apr 2026 08:32:07 EDTHoward LaFranchihttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0404/virginia-redistricting-democrats-republicans?icid=rssbbba7791a89cc07925223813402b3ff2If Virginia voters approve a redistricting plan and it survives in court, Democrats could counter Republican gains made through redistricting elsewhere.Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:44:26 EDTOLIVIA DIAZ https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2026/0404/iran-war-hegseth-army-general-fired?icid=rss0ccc31d92ec2d2b42efe207e13552ca6Amid the ongoing Iran war, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Gen. Randy George and other leaders, fueling concerns around military politicization.Sat, 04 Apr 2026 05:00:17 EDTAnna Mulrine Grobehttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0404/trump-brand-ballroom-library-coin?icid=rss4f5f85d41b42eadf7f0c774490a9cc4bPresident Donald Trump is erecting new structures at a furious pace, while putting his name on everything he can. Critics say it echoes a strongman’s style. Others simply see a penchant for legacy-building – and a long history of promoting the Trump brand.Sat, 04 Apr 2026 05:00:16 EDTLinda Feldmannhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0404/trump-republicans-solar-power-climate?icid=rssc5e7208e4015d9b67040e02b111d7b3eSeveral prominent conservatives say Republicans should embrace solar energy, despite President Donald Trump working to elevate fossil fuels over renewables. Sat, 04 Apr 2026 05:00:10 EDTScott Baldaufhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2026/0403/jeffrey-epstein-files-zorro-ranch-new-mexico?icid=rss44d75654aea9e638db9389657add3504Recent Jeffrey Epstein files releases have brought his New Mexico property, Zorro Ranch, into focus as investigators try to determine whether crimes occurred there.Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:00:10 EDTVictoria Hoffmannhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0402/pam-bondi-fired-epstein?icid=rss72c4d45cfc73cdcc32ca19553c74b17dThe attorney general’s dismissal comes on the heels of Kristi Noem’s firing from the Department of Homeland Security. President Donald Trump has now pushed out two Cabinet members – both women – as he faces growing challenges over the Iran war and the economy.Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:13:31 EDTStory Hinckleyhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0402/artemis-2-launch-rocket?icid=rss17d688e712c601873daa08f4f32b1a8bIn the first endeavor to orbit the moon in more than half a century, four astronauts launched on the Artemis II mission from Cape Canaveral. A Monitor journalist watched the historic step toward a lunar mission from the Johnson Space Center in Houston.Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:16 EDTHenry Gass