Politics and Government News

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U.S. sends aircraft carrier to South America in major escalation of military firepower
The deployment and the quickening pace of U.S. strikes, including one Friday, raised new speculation about how far the Trump administration may go in operations it says are targeted at drug trafficking.
Two candidates vie for DFL endorsement in race to become next Minnesota U.S. senator
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and U.S. Rep. Angie Craig joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to talk about their ambitions to win the DFL Party endorsement in Minnesota’s 2026 U.S. Senate race.
Politics Friday Special: Rochester's growth spurt is driving economic, political change
MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst hosts a special broadcast of Politics Friday from Rochester, Minn., exploring how the city’s makeover plays into the regional hub’s economic and political standing.
Protesters gather as Homeland Security Secretary Noem visits Minnesota for ICE briefing
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Minnesota Friday to discuss federal immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota. Protests took place outside the event.
How presidents have changed the White House
President Donald Trump is demolishing the East Wing to make room for a ballroom. His administration says he’s continuing a presidential legacy of White House renovations, but this is the biggest in decades.
As strikes on alleged drug boats grow, so do questions about their legality and goal
President Donald Trump says he has authority to carry out the strikes, but international experts are asking if the attacks are truly about countering narcotics or instead toppling Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro.
It’s supposed to be payday for many federal workers. Instead, they’re getting nothing
Roughly 1.4 million federal workers are going without pay due to the government shutdown. About half of them are furloughed, while the other half has been deemed essential and is working without pay.
County workers say SNAP halt will harm Minnesota families
Minnesota officials say residents who get food assistance won’t receive their benefits for November, as long as the federal shutdown continues. County workers say they’re now hearing from concerned enrollees in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
'Uncharted territory': Ongoing shutdown threatens food aid for 42 million people
SNAP, the country's largest anti-hunger program, dates back to the Great Depression and has never been disrupted this way. Most recipients are seniors, families with kids, and those with disabilities.