Politics | ENMNEWS

Rubio's Cuba Gambit: From Immigrant Son to Regime Change Architect

Marco Rubio is positioning himself to reshape U.S. policy toward Cuba in ways that reflect a lifelong obsession with the island's political future. As secretary of state, the Florida Republican now...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 5 min read

Politics

How will Castro actually face trial? Prosecutor Blanche confronts impossible logistics

Special Counsel Juan Manuel Blanche is grappling with a fundamental problem: the Justice Department has indicted former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, but no one has figured out how to get him into an A...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

How Months of Tense Talks Led to Cuba's Deadly 1996 Downing

The decision by Cuba to shoot down two civilian aircraft in 1996 came after months of heated diplomatic exchanges between Havana and the Clinton administration, as tensions over unauthorized flight...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 7 min read

Politics

Castro's Shadow: How a 94-Year-Old Wields Power Without a Title

Raúl Castro no longer holds any official position in Cuba, but the 94-year-old remains one of the island's most consequential figures, wielding decisive influence over the military and high-level n...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 9 min read

Politics

Barney Frank Charts the Arc of Gay Rights and the Erosion of Public Trust

Barney Frank's career in Congress spanned decades during which American attitudes toward LGBTQ rights underwent a seismic shift. In a Meet the Press archive appearance, the former Massachusetts con...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 5 min read

Politics

Rubio Turns Up Heat on Cuba at State Department

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is intensifying pressure on Cuba through diplomatic channels, leveraging his new position to pursue a longtime political priority. Rubio has been a vocal critic of th...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

Trump Administration Moves Against Cuban Leader in Fresh Legal Action

The Trump administration has pursued an indictment targeting a Cuban official, marking the latest escalation in its hardline approach toward the island nation. The action underscores a long-standin...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 5 min read

Politics

DOJ Charges Raúl Castro in 1996 Civilian Plane Shootdown

The Justice Department indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro on Wednesday for his role in the 1996 downing of two civilian planes that killed four Cuban Americans, marking a long-awaited lega...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

House Crushes Housing Bill in Rare Bipartisan Moment, But Senate Hurdle Looms

The House overwhelmingly passed a sweeping housing bill Wednesday, marking the first major legislative push on housing in more than three decades and delivering a rare flash of bipartisan agreement...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

Trump's Massive War Chest Exposes Flaw in Congressional Design

President Trump has assembled an $1.8 billion fund by leveraging a congressional mechanism that legal scholars have long flagged as vulnerable to abuse, raising fresh questions about the boundaries...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

Barney Frank, trailblazer who came out and took on Wall Street, dead at 86

Barney Frank, the Massachusetts congressman who became the first openly gay member of Congress and later authored landmark financial reforms in the wake of the 2008 economic collapse, has died. He ...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 5 min read

Politics

Trump's Midterm Purge: How He Knocked Out GOP Rivals

Donald Trump has weaponized his political influence to remove Republican adversaries from the ballot this spring, scoring victories that reshape the party's direction heading into the midterms. The...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 7 min read

Politics

Trump's $1.8B Fund Ignites Firestorm Over Justice Dept. Power

Former President Donald Trump's proposal to establish a $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" has triggered fierce backlash from critics who view it as a dangerous attempt to undermine the indepen...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

Trump's Grip Tightens as GOP Purges Dissenters in Primary Night

Republican primary voters delivered a stark message this week: challenge Donald Trump at your peril. Across six states, Trump-endorsed candidates won decisively while those who had resisted the for...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 11 min read

Politics

Barney Frank, Trailblazing Congressman and Sharp-Tongued Liberal Voice, Dead at 86

Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who became the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay and spent decades wielding wit and intellectual firepower to shape financial regulati...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

Capitol Police Officers Fight Trump's $1.8 Billion Fund for Jan. 6 Defendants

Two officers who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot filed suit Wednesday against the Trump administration, seeking to block a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund they argue will reward t...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 5 min read

Politics

Hollowed-Out USAID Left U.S. Scrambling in Congo Ebola Crisis

The U.S. response to a spreading Ebola outbreak in Congo is struggling with a self-inflicted wound: the decimation of USAID, the federal agency that for decades anchored America's disease-detection...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 12 min read

Politics

Capitol Officers Sue to Block $1.8B Trump 'Slush Fund' for Jan. 6 Rioters

Two police officers who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack filed suit Tuesday to halt a Trump administration fund worth $1.8 billion, contending it amounts to taxpayer money channeled di...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 7 min read

Politics

Rubio Makes Unusual Direct Appeal to Cuban Citizens

Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a direct message to the Cuban people in a video address, seizing on the nation's chronic power and resource crises to advance the Trump administration's age...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 7 min read

Politics

Barney Frank, Wall Street Reform Architect and Gay Pioneer, Dead at 86

Barney Frank, the Massachusetts congressman whose sharp wit and fearless advocacy reshaped financial regulation and opened doors for LGBTQ politicians, died Wednesday at 86. His sister, Doris Breay...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 8 min read

Politics

Union Leader Crushes Pennsylvania House Primary with Democratic Heavy Hitters Behind Him

Bob Brooks, a prominent labor organizer, won his Pennsylvania House primary race on Tuesday with backing from some of the party's biggest names. The result sets up a fall matchup against Republican...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 5 min read

Politics

China Signals Willingness to Fight Back on Trump Tariffs

China stepped forward Wednesday with a clear message: it is ready to confront the Trump administration over trade duties if negotiations break down. Beijing's public acknowledgment that tariffs cam...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 4 min read

Politics

Raffensperger's Bid for Governor Derailed by Trump Backlash

Brad Raffensperger's attempt to become Georgia's next governor has ended in a primary defeat, the culmination of a political reckoning over his role in the 2020 presidential election. The Georgia S...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 3 min read

Politics

Bradford's Obama Center Masterpiece Captures Chicago's Brutal Complexity

A monumental new painting now hangs in the Obama Presidential Center, created by artist Mark Bradford over five grueling years to capture the city's most difficult truths alongside its hard-won str...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 7 min read

Politics

The pardon broker gold rush reshaping Trump's Washington

A new industry is taking root in the nation's capital, one built on access, connections, and a simple transactional promise: pay up, and get your criminal conviction erased.Lawyers and lobbyists ar...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

Trump's Primary Dominance Masks General Election Problem

Donald Trump's iron grip on Republican primary voters has delivered a spring of victories against party members who defied him. His endorsements have become a wrecking ball in intra-party contests,...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 5 min read

Politics

Capitol Rioters Hope Trump Will Cut Checks for Their Legal Bills

Nearly four years after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a new development has caught the attention of those convicted and imprisoned for their roles in the attack: the prospect of federal money to cover t...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 4 min read

Politics

Trump's Pick Topples Kentucky Incumbent, DSA-Backed Candidate Wins in Pennsylvania

A presidential-backed candidate decisively defeated an incumbent congressman in Kentucky, marking a significant show of force in Republican primary politics. The victory underscores the continued s...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 3 min read

Politics

South Carolina Redraws Clyburn's District in Aggressive Political Gambit

South Carolina's House has passed a new congressional map that reshapes the district represented by James E. Clyburn, one of the Democratic Party's most influential figures. The redrawn boundaries ...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 5 min read

Politics

G7 Split Widens Over Russia Oil Sanctions as Inflation Looms

A deepening rift within the Group of Seven has emerged over the Trump administration's move to relax oil sanctions targeting Russia, threatening to fracture the alliance on economic policy as globa...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 4 min read

Politics

Cassidy breaks ranks on Iran war resolution after primary loss

A Senate resolution demanding President Trump withdraw from military operations against Iran cleared a procedural hurdle Tuesday with a 50-47 vote, marking a rare crack in Republican opposition to ...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 4 min read

Politics

Tuberville exits Senate with Alabama governor win, eyes state house

Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville won Alabama's GOP primary for governor on Tuesday, positioning himself as the overwhelming favorite in a state that hasn't backed a Democrat for statewide office in...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

Drazan Wins GOP Primary, Setting Stage for Rematch with Oregon's Democratic Governor

Christine Drazan has secured the Republican nomination for Oregon governor, clearing a crowded primary field to face incumbent Democrat Tina Kotek in November. Drazan, a state senator, prevailed ov...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 5 min read

Politics

Bottoms wins Georgia Democratic nomination with over 50%

Keisha Lance Bottoms claimed the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in Georgia, avoiding a runoff by surpassing the 50% threshold required to advance directly to November's general election. Her c...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 8 min read

Politics

Shapiro and Garrity set for bruising Pennsylvania governor battle

Pennsylvania's race for governor this fall will pit Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro against Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity in a contest that could shape national politics heading into 2028. ...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 8 min read

Politics

Georgia's Top Court Holds Ground Against Big-Money Challengers

Georgia's Supreme Court justices appointed by Republican governors have survived their toughest electoral challenge yet, turning back a wave of well-funded opposition that sought to reshape the cou...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 4 min read

Politics

Trump endorsement carries Gallrein past Massie in Kentucky primary shocker

Ed Gallrein's upset victory over Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's primary race put Trump's endorsement power on full display, with Gallrein using his acceptance speech to shower praise on the forme...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 7 min read

Politics

Trump's Alabama Pick Heads to Runoff in Senate Race

Rep. Barry Moore will face a second round of voting in Alabama's Republican Senate primary after failing to secure the nomination outright on Tuesday. The race to replace departing GOP Sen. Tommy T...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 8 min read

Politics

Conservative Legislator Drazan Wins GOP Nod for Oregon Governor

Christine Drazan secured the Republican nomination for Oregon governor, positioning herself for a general election showdown against Democratic incumbent Tina Kotek this fall. Drazan's primary victo...

Sarah Mitchell May 20, 2026 0 comments 3 min read

Politics

Jones Sets Sights on Tuberville in Alabama's November Showdown

The race for Alabama governor is shaping up as a November battle between Democrat Doug Jones and Republican Tommy Tuberville, two figures with starkly different political trajectories heading into ...

Sarah Mitchell May 19, 2026 0 comments 7 min read

Politics

Trump's Primary Dominance Masks Midterm Peril for Republicans

Donald Trump consolidated power within the GOP this month by eliminating rivals who dared challenge his political control, but the victories may come at a steep price when Republicans face voters i...

Sarah Mitchell May 19, 2026 0 comments 8 min read

Politics

Alabama GOP Primary Heads to Runoff as Moore Leads Crowded Field

The Republican primary to fill Tommy Tuberville's Alabama Senate seat is advancing to a runoff election after no candidate secured enough votes to win outright in the initial contest. Representativ...

Sarah Mitchell May 19, 2026 0 comments 3 min read

Politics

Trump's Primary Purge Silences Top GOP Rebel

President Trump's political machine delivered a crushing blow to one of his most vocal critics in Congress this week, eliminating Representative Thomas Massie in Kentucky's primary and reasserting ...

Sarah Mitchell May 19, 2026 0 comments 7 min read

Politics

John Adams Projected on DOJ Building Over Trump Settlement Fund

Activists shined a Founding Father's call for the rule of law directly onto the Justice Department headquarters Tuesday night, turning the building itself into a billboard against what they view as...

Sarah Mitchell May 19, 2026 0 comments 8 min read

Politics

Trump Ally Caputo Becomes First to Tap New DOJ 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund

Michael Caputo, a political operative and longtime Trump confidant, filed the inaugural claim Tuesday against the Justice Department's newly established restitution fund, requesting $2.7 million fo...

Sarah Mitchell May 19, 2026 0 comments 6 min read

Politics

Tuberville and Jones Set for Alabama Rematch After Dominant Primary Wins

Alabama's gubernatorial race is shaping up for a redux of a contest that already played out once before. Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville will square off against Democrat Doug Jones, the two-ter...

Sarah Mitchell May 19, 2026 0 comments 3 min read

Politics

Atlanta's Ex-Mayor Bottoms Secures Democratic Nod for Georgia Governor

Keisha Lance Bottoms has won the Democratic primary for Georgia governor, clearing the field to become her party's nominee in what promises to be a competitive general election battle. The former A...

Sarah Mitchell May 19, 2026 0 comments 7 min read

Politics

Democrats fear GOP trap in Texas House race as party splits over fringe candidate

Democratic leaders are sounding alarms over a Texas House runoff scheduled for next week, arguing that Republicans have orchestrated a political gambit to elevate an unconventional candidate named ...

Sarah Mitchell May 19, 2026 0 comments 6 min read