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, 29 May 2026 17:13:50 EDThttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0529/south-carolina-redistricting-clyburn?icid=rss62d23b95f9889c8b5bd77d4e58a5e54fSouth Carolina deferred on redistricting this week – underscoring the complexities and political risks of redrawing maps in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling last month on the Voting Rights Act and majority-minority districts.Fri, 29 May 2026 12:13:49 EDTSimon Montlakehttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0529/federal-buildings-reform-board-redevelopment?icid=rssbb3905b5642cc6cffdac6ac06a4d6e82Underuse is a chronic challenge in federal buildings – making many ripe for resale and redevelopment into housing, office, or retail space. But efforts are running up against bureaucratic hurdles.Fri, 29 May 2026 05:00:10 EDTRoss Herberthttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2026/0528/ai-commencement-college-majors?icid=rss46eb8ebc89daa11442a20e79e5da7fffSome commencement speakers were booed when they mentioned AI this spring, but colleges are adding majors focused on the technology.Thu, 28 May 2026 15:59:37 EDTIra Porterhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0528/los-angeles-mayor-pratt-ai-videos?icid=rssefda9921ba966c0b976ef3b4c17756fbReality TV star Spencer Pratt has seen a flurry of donations and support in the run-up to LA’s June 2 mayoral election, in a campaign shaped by last year’s Palisades Fire and a series of provocative AI videos.Thu, 28 May 2026 05:00:22 EDTSophie Hillshttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0528/trump-congress-spending-authority?icid=rss33ed609ca5b6cf87dc4ac205a218db0bPresident Donald Trump has worked to control more government spending, as Congress has ceded some of its power of the purse. The change could create a new normal.Thu, 28 May 2026 05:00:10 EDTCaitlin Babcockhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0527/abraham-lincoln-route-66-america-250?icid=rss9e0744bc8cfdba0be5a98aab616f8a39As Route 66 turns 100, Springfield, Illinois, closely tied to Abraham Lincoln, expects more travelers seeking to learn more about the iconic president.  Wed, 27 May 2026 05:00:16 EDTHarry Bruiniushttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0527/paxton-cornyn-texas-senate?icid=rss07e779c00ddb1fdedb0743db6236f323Texas’ polarizing attorney general easily bested the veteran senator, underscoring President Donald Trump’s sway with GOP voters. November’s general election, against Democrat James Talarico, may be a tighter race.Wed, 27 May 2026 05:00:10 EDTHenry Gasshttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2026/0526/sanctions-iran-war-russia-venezuela-us-jcpoa-eu?icid=rss9f6af343a39c24a492819c0815535ab2As countries like Russia and Iran keep pursuing their agendas despite being hit by heavy Western sanctions, many wonder: Are sanctions effective?Tue, 26 May 2026 16:07:34 EDTMark SappenfieldWhitney EulichFred Weirhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0525/housing-affordability-florida-prices-incomes?icid=rsscdca0b0547c816580439e94ee3becc5aFinding a reasonably priced home used to be easy in the South. But soaring home prices have far outpaced wage growth, creating a housing squeeze.Mon, 25 May 2026 05:00:10 EDTPatrik Jonssonhttps://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 Jonsson