Democratic-backed Susan Crawford wins Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, cementing liberal majority
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Democratic-backed candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court has won, defeating President Donald Trump’s endorsed challenger. Susan Crawford’s victory Tuesday cements a liberal majority for at least more three years. In doing so she overcame massive spending from groups funded by billionaire Elon Musk on behalf of her opponent. Crawford defeated Republican-backed Brad Schimel in a race that broke records for spending and became a proxy fight for the nation’s political battles. Trump, Musk and other Republicans lined up behind Schimel, a former state attorney general and supporter of President Donald Trump. Billionaire megadonor George Soros and other Democrats backed Crawford. Her win keeps the court under a 4-3 liberal majority.
Republicans win Florida special elections in Trump strongholds by narrower margins than in 2024
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Republicans Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine have won special elections in two Florida congressional districts. They were bolstered by President Donald Trump’s endorsement to fill vacant seats in reliably Republican strongholds. Patronis fended off a challenge from Democrat Gay Valimont even though she far outraised and outspent him. Fine won his race Tuesday against Democratic challenger Josh Weil for a seat vacated by Michael Waltz when he was tapped to become Trump’s national security adviser. The narrowing margins may signal a shift in public sentiment. It was driven by unusually strong Democratic enthusiasm in two of the most heavily Republican districts in the country.
Trump's 'Liberation Day' is unlikely to free businesses from uncertainty surrounding trade policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says his tariff announcements slated for Wednesday will amount to a “Liberation Day” for the United States. But American businesses and financial markets are unlikely to be freed from the uncertainty generated by his often stop-and-go trade policy. Some big questions will be resolved when Trump announces what are expected to be reciprocal tariffs that involve raising U.S. import duties to be equal to the levies that other countries impose on U.S. goods. Economists say questions will swirl around trade and tariffs for months to come.
Cory Booker sets a record with marathon Senate speech. Will it rally anti-Trump resistance?
WASHINGTON (AP) — New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker has held the Senate floor with a marathon speech that lasted more than 25 hours. He set the historic mark to show Democrats’ resistance to President Donald Trump’s sweeping actions. Booker took to the Senate floor Monday evening and finished Tuesday evening. He broke a record set 68 years ago by then-Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, a segregationist, to filibuster the advance of the Civil Rights Act in 1957. Booker invoked the civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, arguing that changing history requires the public to get involved.
Mass layoffs are underway at the nation's public health agencies
Employees across the massive U.S. Health and Human Services Department received notices Tuesday that their jobs were being eliminated, part of a sweeping overhaul designed to vastly shrink the agencies responsible for protecting and promoting Americans’ health. The cuts include researchers, scientists, doctors, support staff and senior leaders, leaving the government without many of the key experts who have long guided U.S. decisions on medical research, drug approvals and other issues. HHS said layoffs are expected to save $1.8 billion annually — about 0.1% — from the department’s $1.7 trillion budget, most of which is spent on Medicare and Medicaid health insurance coverage for millions of Americans.
Survivors still being found from Myanmar earthquake, but hopes begin to fade as deaths exceed 2,700
BANGKOK (AP) — Rescue workers have saved a 63-year-old woman from earthquake rubble in Myanmar’s capital. But hope is fading of finding many more survivors. The earthquake that rocked the country Friday is compounding the humanitarian crisis caused by a bloody civil war. The Myanmar fire department in Naypyitaw said the woman was successfully pulled from the rubble early Tuesday about 91 hours after she was buried when the building collapsed. The military-run government has reported more than 2.700 deaths. But the death toll is expected to rise. The earthquake also killed more than 20 people in neighboring Thailand.
Naval Academy removes nearly 400 books from library in new DEI purge ordered by Hegseth's office
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say the U.S. Naval Academy has removed nearly 400 books from its library after being told by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office to review and get rid of books that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. They say academy officials were told to do a review late last week, and an initial search identified about 900 books for a closer look. They decided on nearly 400 to remove and began doing so Monday, finishing before Hegseth arrived for a visit Tuesday that had already been planned and wasn't connected to the library purge. Pulling the books off the shelves is another step in the Trump administration’s far-reaching effort to eliminate so-called DEI content from federal agencies.
UN agency closes its remaining Gaza bakeries as food supplies dwindle under Israeli blockade
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. food agency is closing all of its bakeries in the Gaza Strip. That's according to an internal memo that circulated among aid groups on Tuesday. Food supplies are dwindling after Israel sealed off the territory from all imports nearly a month ago. Israel later resumed its offensive to pressure the Hamas militant group into accepting changes to their ceasefire agreement. Israel says enough food entered during the six-week truce to sustain the territory’s roughly 2 million Palestinians. Markets largely emptied out weeks ago. Gaza is heavily reliant on international aid because almost all of its food production capability is destroyed.
Federal prosecutors to seek death penalty for Luigi Mangione in UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says she has directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4. Bondi made the announcement on Tuesday. Mangione, 26, faces separate federal and state murder charges for the killing. The federal charges include a charge of murder through use of a firearm, which carries the possibility of the death penalty. A message seeking comment on Bondi’s announcement was left for a spokesperson for Mangione’s lawyers.
NFL postpones a decision on the tush push but passes other rule changes
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The future of the tush push has been pushed until next month. NFL team owners had been set to vote Tuesday on Green Bay’s proposal to ban the play that’s helped the Philadelphia Eagles win one Super Bowl and reach another, but the proposal was tabled until May. Team owners approved modifying the kickoff rule, expanding replay assist and revising overtime rules, along with other changes. The decision to postpone the tush push vote means the debate will continue as the league seeks more information about the safety of the play. Proponents of the play and those who oppose it presented strong arguments while the league’s medical experts expressed safety concerns.
