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, 24 May 2026 22:41:54 EDThttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0524/iran-deal-trump-gop-nuclear-peace-strait-of-hormuz?icid=rss62ba3d10318a41de516e4948c87883b1President Donald Trump’s emerging deal to end the Iran war is drawing heavy criticism from some fellow Republicans. They favor a harder line against the Iranian government and fear a lost opportunity to finally rein in a longtime Mideast nemesis.Sun, 24 May 2026 16:24:56 EDTDarlene Superville and Matthew Dalyhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2026/0523/southern-california-chemical-tank-garden-grove-evacuation?icid=rss77aee8972c94f66057fb7d1d17906016About 40,000 people are under evacuation orders and schools have shut down in Southern California due to a hazardous chemical leak. Officials say a storage tank began leaking a chemical used in making plastic parts.Sat, 23 May 2026 15:48:08 EDTOlga R. Rodriguez, Claire Rush, and Hannah Schoenbaumhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0523/shooting-san-diego-mosque?icid=rss9568521b30c20985a8117636e8b92592The fatal shooting at a San Diego mosque this week comes amid a rise of incidents of hate or prejudice against Muslims in the U.S. The attack also renewed attention on how young people are radicalized online and prevention efforts.Sat, 23 May 2026 05:00:10 EDTCameron PughVictoria Hoffmannhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0522/trump-republicans-congress-irs-fund?icid=rss59c9eb8a5528f7d2a1c9defa5017b72bSome congressional Republicans have pushed back at President Trump on a fund to pay people the justice department finds were wrongly prosecuted, among other issues. That resistance could make it harder for the president’s party to accomplish its priorities.Fri, 22 May 2026 13:25:23 EDTCaitlin Babcockhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0522/republican-party-israel-aipac-favorability?icid=rss33bf4d463fa9ae5b59ee3a8da0b5c5dcOn the surface, Republican leaders remain staunchly pro-Israel. But a clear, generational shift is emerging, as younger conservatives have grown skeptical of U.S. aid to Israel and of Jewish political influence in the U.S. Fri, 22 May 2026 05:00:10 EDTSimon Montlakehttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2026/0521/trump-settlement-fund-weaponization-justice?icid=rssdf04013c8ada72e917e226e7cbb01aa7The Trump administration has reached an unusual settlement in a case of the president suing his own government. Critics worry that a resulting “anti-weaponization fund” will be ripe for abuse benefiting President Donald Trump, his family, and his allies.Thu, 21 May 2026 05:00:19 EDTHenry Gasshttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0521/politics-israel-democrats-michigan-senate?icid=rssfb97b7e4bbe22bcb5b1ffcadf0dddefbAn overwhelming majority of Democrats now view Israel negatively – a dramatic shift that is playing out in primary campaigns across the country. It could portend big changes in policy, should the party capture control of Congress.Thu, 21 May 2026 05:00:09 EDTSimon Montlakehttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0520/iran-ai-slopaganda-propaganda-social-media-trump?icid=rsse28f98ed3f1e2e9a2abaf57c0a01f603Iran’s viral social media campaign has been slick, savvy, and accessible to a Western audience. It seems to have caught the U.S. completely off guard.Wed, 20 May 2026 17:15:31 EDTScott PetersonCaitlin Babcockhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0520/massie-gallrein-trump-kentucky-primary?icid=rss0cf9977a82683da80fe19bdf3c139323As an outspoken critic of President Trump, Thomas Massie faced a closely watched primary contest – and has lost his seat to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein. It’s the latest in a string of election results showing the president’s hold on the Republican Party.Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:15 EDTLinda FeldmannScott Baldaufhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2026/0519/trump-visas-foreign-students?icid=rss0b61020e8da4e572704c5ed043320dc5Enrollment of graduate students from abroad is plunging at U.S. schools, leaving them with gaping holes in their budgets.Tue, 19 May 2026 17:08:02 EDTIra PorterAlfredo Sosahttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0519/ufo-secret-file-release-alien-trump?icid=rssb91ca5be0514338d78017ff9a9442415President Trump has released 161 UFO files to the public, citing the need for transparency. But critics view the release as a play to a conspiracy-curious base.Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:16 EDTPatrik Jonssonhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0518/rubio-trump-foreign-policy?icid=rss4ae0dc33cec7f51521b08e5614ae6ca4Marco Rubio has found ways to execute a Trump foreign policy that shows an evolution in his own positions. It has made him stand out among the president’s close advisers.Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:10 EDTLinda Feldmannhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2026/0517/Bill-Cassidy-loses-Louisiana-Republican-primary-to-Fleming-and-Trump-backed-Letlow?icid=rss3b50f365bf2d3976bf7c65ef96f9f700U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming have advanced to a runoff in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary, defeating Sen. Bill Cassidy amid President Donald Trump’s campaign to oust him.Sun, 17 May 2026 08:57:12 EDTThomas Beaumont, Jack Brook, and Stephen Smith https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2026/0517/epstein-files-suicide-prison-guard-testimony?icid=rss783c81b5431200f24d5837e76f57ed43Tova Noel, one of the prison guards who found Jeffrey Epstein deceased, is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee.Sun, 17 May 2026 06:05:09 EDTVictoria Hoffmannhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2026/0516/Trump-says-Islamic-State-group-leader-was-killed-in-a-joint-US-Nigerian-mission?icid=rss3b03cdc2ca35cce7119b409a60a00ed9President Donald Trump says U.S. and Nigerian forces carried out a mission to kill a leader of the Islamic State group. The president announced the joint operation to take out Abu-Bilal al-Mainuki in a late-night social media post Friday that offered few details. Sat, 16 May 2026 13:37:19 EDTMichelle L. Price and Ope Adetayohttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0515/massie-trump-republican-primary-kentucky?icid=rss7b0499f2e9236fdde4ac81a3f83fa58aTuesday’s GOP primary in Kentucky pits President Donald Trump’s power and the pull of party unity against an independent-minded lawmaker with deep ties to his constituents.Fri, 15 May 2026 12:35:43 EDTSophie Hillshttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0514/america-250-library-funding?icid=rss6c834de1a2d47d2042de7a6e922bd99fBudget cuts and declining donations post threats to America’s public libraries. Many are reinventing themselves to expand their traditional roles.Thu, 14 May 2026 05:00:09 EDTScott BaldaufMelanie Stetson Freemanhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0513/david-venturella-ice-immigration-enforcement?icid=rss768188e53349bcfae088dbd0b64641cdICE veteran David Venturella will lead the nation’s main immigration enforcement agency. The move could continue a pivot toward quieter, targeted enforcement to reduce public backlash against immigration policy.Wed, 13 May 2026 15:25:32 EDTSarah Matusekhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0513/louisiana-senate-primary-cassidy-trump?icid=rss668ca1d42f2db18c341397dfde9c0048GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy voted to convict Donald Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial and has pushed back on public health matters. His fate on Saturday will signal the clout of the Make America Healthy Again movement, as well as the president’s hold on his party.Wed, 13 May 2026 10:36:26 EDTStory Hinckleyhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0513/gerrymandering-congressional-maps-midterms-louisiana?icid=rssa35bd02ebc084f80d17738ef239d8d5cDespite predictions that a court ruling would come too late to be actionable this election cycle, states are gerrymandering after the Louisiana v. Callais decision.Wed, 13 May 2026 05:00:22 EDTStory Hinckley