Politics and Government

Christopher Miller

Watch: Trump administration officials testifying on Jan. 6 riot

May 12, 2021 6:38 a.m.

By The Associated Press

Two senior Trump administration officials plan to defend their actions during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol when they appear before Congress, with former acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller standing behind every decision he made that day.

When President Biden hosts lawmakers to the Oval Office, like he did here on April 20, the meetings and the seating arrangements are carefully choreographed, with the pandemic in mind.

How the White House is reaching out to Congress as it seeks a deal on infrastructure

May 12, 2021 5:47 a.m.

By Scott Detrow

President Joe Biden is hosting key lawmakers in the Oval Office all week, hoping to forge an agreement on infrastructure.

Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, seen here outside the U.S. Capitol on March 11, once again faces a vote from the Republican conference to remove her from her leadership role. She beat back an effort in February.

GOP ousts Cheney from leadership over her criticism of Trump

May 12, 2021 4:43 a.m.

By Barbara Sprunt

This is the second time the Wyoming Republican has faced calls for her removal as the No. 3 Republican in the House. But this time, she doesn't have support from top Republicans.

Senate Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., presides Tuesday over a markup of the For the People Act, which would expand access to voting and make other election reforms. House Democrats passed the bill in March.

'The stakes could not be higher': Senate panel debates voting overhaul

May 11, 2021 6:25 p.m.

The Senate Rules Committee held a contentious markup of legislation to revamp the nation's voting and campaign finance rules, laying bare the deep partisan divide over how elections should be run.

Members of the National Guard and the Washington, D.C., police stand guard outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, after a pro-Trump mob stormed the complex.

Former Trump officials to defend federal response to Capitol riot

May 11, 2021 5:39 p.m.

Former acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller is set to testify that he was cautious about allowing military intervention during the siege on Jan. 6.

Relatives of Ahmaud Arbery including his sister Jasmine Arbery, left, and his mother Wanda Cooper-Jones, second from left, sit at the Georgia state capitol in Atlanta on Monday to witness Gov. Brian Kemp sign a law repealing citizen's arrest in Georgia.

In Ahmaud Arbery's name, Georgia repeals citizen's arrest law

May 11, 2021 11:00 a.m.

Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law repealing citizen's arrest in the state. The white men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery are using citizen's arrest as part of their defense.

A priest holds a Holy Communion wafer in Washington, DC.

Vatican warns U.S. bishops about denying communion to supporters of abortion rights

May 11, 2021 9:49 a.m.

By Sylvia Poggioli

The possible plan could impact President Joe Biden, among other Catholic political figures. The Vatican is calling for U.S. bishops to reach a consensus and says any such move could sow division.

The Shams sisters at their Sunshine Spice Cafe in Boise, Idaho. From left, Narges, Khatera, Bahar S. Amir (owner) and Homeyra Shams.

Why support for refugees is higher than you might think in parts of 'Trump country'

May 11, 2021 7:27 a.m.

By Kirk Siegler

Some conservative, rural states have resettled refugees at the highest per capita rates. In Idaho, employers applaud President Joe Biden lifting a Trump-era cap on refugee numbers.

Some families wait years to get a housing voucher only to find out many landlords won't accept them.

Government housing vouchers are hard to get, and hard to use

May 11, 2021 4:11 a.m.

The federal government plans to release another $5 billion to help those at risk of homelessness. But even without that assistance, low-income tenants struggle to use housing vouchers.

Members of the Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) work on the trails near Tally Lake in northwestern Montana. President Biden wants to retool and relaunch one of the country's most celebrated government programs: the Civilian Conservation Corps. MCC crews are already doing some of the work envisioned in Biden's climate proposal.

Reaching back to the New Deal, Biden proposes a Civilian Climate Corps

May 11, 2021 4:00 a.m.

By Nathan Rott and Scott Detrow

To bolster the country's preparedness for a warming world and create jobs, President Joe Biden wants to retool and relaunch one of the most celebrated U.S. government programs, first established by former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.