The Christian Science Monitor | Politics https://www.csmonitor.com Coverage of US politics from The Christian Science Monitor. en-us Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved. Fri, 08 May 2026 06:55:10 EDT 300 The Christian Science Monitor | Politics https://www.csmonitor.com/extension/csm_base/design/csm_design/images/csmlogo_250x30.png https://www.csmonitor.com How the White House ballroom became emblematic of the Trump presidency https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0506/trump-ballroom-funding-security?icid=rss 438c28d826d6c407dcb31ce2c66433e2 Congress may now put $1 billion toward the ballroom project, which has so far been funded through private donations. It reflects President Donald Trump’s effort to leave a physical legacy as well as meet a genuine need. Wed, 06 May 2026 05:00:09 -0400 Linda Feldmann The Strait of Hormuz is still blocked. What’s the US military doing about it? https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0505/The-Strait-of-Hormuz-is-still-blocked.-What-s-the-US-military-doing-about-it?icid=rss f7c998fecea12ea15f63bb417b6fa291 Hundreds of cargo ships are still stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, despite a declaration from President Donald Trump that the U.S. military would help get traffic flowing again through the vital shipping lane. Both the U.S. and Iran claim to control the waterway. But the future of the strait remains uncertain. Tue, 05 May 2026 18:54:00 -0400 Victoria Hoffmann Caitlin Babcock US not giving ‘an inch’ on immigration arrests, says border czar https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0505/border-czar-immigration-deportations?icid=rss e28aebe83a043d6de76f48af452c0fde The U.S. border czar says that immigration enforcement and deportations will continue unabated. Tue, 05 May 2026 17:49:00 -0400 Sarah Matusek Abortion clash heats up at a politically fraught moment https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0504/abortion-mifepristone-supreme-court-midterms?icid=rss c578892f339ce2a2517b36c160e1c7cf Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade four years ago, abortions in the United States have actually increased, with the rise of abortion medication sent through the mail. Now, a nationwide ruling put the issue back before the Supreme Court – and on the campaign trail. Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 Linda Feldmann Congress ends DHS shutdown amid flurry of action before taking a break https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0430/congress-shutdown-dhs-fisa-prediction-markets?icid=rss 04a83db3a72021f5fb0a10e41096cfae Lawmakers passed items including a bill to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown ahead of a one-week recess and multiple impending deadlines. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:51:00 -0400 Caitlin Babcock As high gas prices squeeze voters, Republican midterm challenges deepen https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0430/gas-prices-trump-iran-midterms?icid=rss 3d4c96e92515ded72f44f070a616aa6d High prices at the pump pose a direct hit to many Americans’ wallets, and are a driver of other costs. Some GOP strategists worry that even if the Iran war ends soon, voters may not feel an improvement in their finances before the midterm elections. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 16:19:00 -0400 Sophie Hills Patrik Jonsson Voting rights ruling amps up redistricting contests. Will states move before November? https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0430/voting-rights-supreme-court-redistricting?icid=rss 17cda733280912afc977e47456643ea1 At least a dozen majority-minority districts, many in the South, could be redrawn. But states that might look to redistrict are facing imminent deadlines on the election calendar. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 Simon Montlake Congress presses Hegseth on Iran war justification, spending, and conduct https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0430/hegseth-iran-war-congress-deadline?icid=rss a0fc9e264df8737c30dea3138468f073 With a deadline at hand for Iran war authorization at hand, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeks a funding boost for his department amid rising tensions in Congress. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:00:16 -0400 Caitlin Babcock Why violence against the political right appears to be growing https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0428/cole-allen-trump-assassination-left-wing-extremism?icid=rss 0430f25788632db9a5b2656335919c70 An uptick in left-wing extremist attacks, including against President Trump, comes after years when right-wing attacks were far more prevalent. But categorizing acts of political violence is complex. Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 Simon Montlake Sophie Hills Patrik Jonsson Cameron Pugh Conspiracy theories arise around the near misses for Trump in Butler and Washington https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0428/trump-assassination-conspiracy-theories-butler?icid=rss c764db32cf46aab2e9df8b28c71cdb0b Some corners of the MAGA movement are questioning official accounts of two suspected assassination attempts on President Donald Trump – despite a range of video and forensic evidence. Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:30:00 -0400 Story Hinckley After the gunfire: Moments of grace at White House correspondents’ dinner https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0426/white-house-correspondents-dinner-trump-gunman?icid=rss e7e75f73ae0e6401d3bb3442ef32610b As a veteran of more than 20 White House correspondents’ dinners, I was struck by how lax security seemed on Saturday – particularly given the attendance of President Donald Trump. The suspected assassination attempt is prompting calls for better security protocols. Sun, 26 Apr 2026 21:54:00 -0400 Linda Feldmann Trump administration reclassifies marijuana, as public polls give mixed signals https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0424/marijuana-trump-reclassification-cannabis?icid=rss db0b571d3e31b41224d1b07f160caf37 Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, following President Donald Trump’s call for a more “common sense” policy. But many Americans have been growing more skeptical of the drug’s effects on users and on U.S. society. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:00:10 -0400 Stephen Humphries Trump’s move to bail out Spirit Airlines sparks Republican criticism https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0423/spirit-airlines-bailout-500-million?icid=rss 2e1f32603f886bca9e60776568ffecab The $500 million bailout for Spirit Airlines could save thousands of jobs. But the deal, which could give the government a 90% stake, is sparking criticism over “quasi-nationalization” and federal interference in private industry. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:12:00 -0400 Laurent Belsie In charts: Trump puts voter ID, election laws at center stage as midterms near https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0423/voter-id-election-law-trump-ballots?icid=rss 253db05ab4ed54c921b21eb3fcc6143d Most U.S. states have some form of voter ID, but their laws vary. President Trump is pushing for national voter ID requirements. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:00:16 -0400 Jacob Turcotte In Trump’s war with Iran, ‘The Art of the Deal’ cuts two ways https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0422/iran-war-talks-trump-blockade?icid=rss c1bb5963002aa6a26eb16b68c0d2aa16 President Donald Trump’s desire to end the war quickly and reach a deal he can sell as a win has given Tehran leverage. Amid an impasse over dueling blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, efforts to return to the negotiating table remained on hold. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:52:00 -0400 Linda Feldmann Will ‘reconciliation’ end the DHS shutdown? How an old tool is seeing creative uses. https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0422/republicans-democrats-congress-reconciliation-dhs-shutdown?icid=rss aab345492d2c19759eeb4dc6663e6599 Senate Republicans are trying to end the DHS shutdown by using reconciliation to get past Democratic opposition to funding immigration law enforcement. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400 Caitlin Babcock Congress is not the same, retiring lawmakers say. Can the institution still do its job? https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0420/congress-retirements-gridlock-partisanship?icid=rss 59305e20f7af5d64f351862c92e3ec60 Legislators say fundraising and attention-getting are eroding norms of policymaking and consensus as the institution cedes its constitutional role. Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:35:15 -0400 Caitlin Babcock As Virginia redistricting looms, Spanberger struggles to keep ‘moderate’ image https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0418/virginia-redistricting-spanberger-legislature-polls?icid=rss 9ec3177aa4d1cd51ab7d728a18e19f5c Ahead 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 -0400 Story Hinckley Why the surveillance powers in FISA roil Congress – across party lines https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0417/fisa-congress-surveillance-privacy-security?icid=rss 8db26c62f24738e1252603e60e5051ad A 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 05:32:00 -0400 Ross Herbert Beyond Jesus memes: Trump’s Christian supporters also fret about abortion, inflation https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0415/trump-jesus-leo-catholic-bishops?icid=rss 57bf2bbed8bebe04979079470a5ef290 President 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 16:57:00 -0400 Linda Feldmann Sophie Hills