https://www.csmonitor.com Coverage of US politics from The Christian Science Monitor. en-us Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved. Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:55:00 EDT 300 https://www.csmonitor.com/extension/csm_base/design/csm_design/images/csmlogo_250x30.png https://www.csmonitor.com https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0410/vance-iran-war-negotiations?icid=rss 99fe48f6f59cf1b1764ec6b603981fe2 As 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 -0400 Simon Montlake https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0409/maine-senate-primary-platner-mills?icid=rss 405a704cbfef9e6f13cab82b84af3bb3 With 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 11:57:00 -0400 Sophie Hills https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0408/Still-eyeing-mass-deportations-hard-liners-push-White-House-to-expand-targets?icid=rss c6d7af4cce1ee1486848ebd77b08ec3a Immigration hard-liners are calling for workplace raids to take the White House’s mass deportation campaign to a new phase. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 Sarah Matusek https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0407/refugees-trump-south-africa-afrikaners?icid=rss 02f72c8644b1901c7b01ee09d36872ab Virtually 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 19:39:00 -0400 Sarah Matusek https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0407/trump-iran-threat-brinksmanship-deadline?icid=rss bbbf94e361ed1a9637109311fefb9419 President 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 12:26:00 -0400 Linda Feldmann https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0406/aoc-president-campaign-senate?icid=rss d4a48fc1eaa89bba6bbb51c73ce84f31 New 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 -0400 Aaron Short https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0404/virginia-redistricting-democrats-republicans?icid=rss bbba7791a89cc07925223813402b3ff2 If Virginia voters approve a redistricting plan and it survives in court, Democrats could counter Republican gains made through redistricting elsewhere. Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:44:00 -0400 OLIVIA DIAZ https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0404/trump-brand-ballroom-library-coin?icid=rss 4f5f85d41b42eadf7f0c774490a9cc4b President 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 -0400 Linda Feldmann https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0404/trump-republicans-solar-power-climate?icid=rss c5e7208e4015d9b67040e02b111d7b3e Several prominent conservatives say Republicans should embrace solar energy, despite President Donald Trump working to elevate fossil fuels over renewables. Sat, 04 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 Scott Baldauf https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0402/pam-bondi-fired-epstein?icid=rss 72c4d45cfc73cdcc32ca19553c74b17d The 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 15:13:00 -0400 Story Hinckley https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0401/trump-insider-trading-polymarket-iran?icid=rss bbfb9ac32e1200d126b7310f627d2658 Critics say traders appear to be getting confidential information about major news that will move markets, and then placing trades just before it happens, winning a big payoff. It’s sparking a wave of legislation in both houses of Congress. Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:00:15 -0400 Linda Feldmann https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0331/trump-airports-tsa-congress?icid=rss e558847e08217a068dac2f8546f7acf9 President Donald Trump’s executive action got TSA agents paid, but it challenges Congress’ power of the purse. Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:37:31 -0400 Ross Herbert https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0324/ice-airports-dhs-security-lines-immigration?icid=rss 2b402ea1549d12ed02c76223fa5d9e76 ICE personnel arrived at more than a dozen U.S. airports Monday as TSA staffers worked without pay, and travelers still faced long security lines. Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400 Caitlin Babcock Sarah Matusek https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0320/trump-iran-maga-base-support?icid=rss 1ebcea1912b95746ebe9ceb8ee982534 Polls show that President Donald Trump’s war against Iran has strong support among MAGA voters, despite criticism from conservative commentators. How long the president can maintain that support, as war costs rise and gas prices mount at home, is unclear. Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:09 -0400 Linda Feldmann https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0319/dhs-shutdown-tsa-airport-lines?icid=rss ca5664f474e55bfffd07aa5230b0ca77 For the third time since last fall, Transportation Security Administration employees are working without pay during a government shutdown. Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400 Story Hinckley Victoria Hoffmann Sarah Matusek https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0318/mullin-rand-paul-senate-hearing?icid=rss e91da330082e73c11c816b8333596787 Sen. Markwayne Mullin fielded fierce questions about his conduct from a fellow Republican during his confirmation hearing for Homeland Security secretary. Mr. Mullin offered a slightly more conciliatory tone on immigration enforcement than his predecessor. Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:18:10 -0400 Sarah Matusek https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0318/tulsi-gabbard-hearing-iran-threat?icid=rss b5983cb487d51c9bb6bab93458ea5ebe Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard deflected congressional questions about whether the intelligence community had warned the Trump administration that Iran would attack its Gulf neighbors and close the Strait of Hormuz, bringing oil shipments to a halt. Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:36:00 -0400 Victoria Hoffmann https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0317/talking-filibuster-save-america-act-republicans-senate?icid=rss 57cfe84563f94c265fd3601746ebe7a6 Senate Republicans could use a talking filibuster to try to pass the SAVE America Act, but Majority Leader John Thune has said he won't use the strategy. Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:15 -0400 Caitlin Babcock https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0317/mullin-homeland-security-confirmation?icid=rss fdef0ebedc8f14f146ac8a9fd557388f A leadership change is underway at the Department of Homeland Security. Republicans are counting on Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a former wrestler and plumbing business owner, to lead the department at a critical time for the agency. Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:09 -0400 Sarah Matusek Caitlin Babcock https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0314/iran-war-americans-opinion?icid=rss ff0f1ea7dd4d883bfcaa47e9e1ca396b The Iran war hasn’t yet come to the forefront of American culture or drawn people together around a shared goal in the same way that other U.S. wars have. Sat, 14 Mar 2026 05:00:10 -0400 Harry Bruinius Henry Gass Sophie Hills Patrik Jonsson