HOUSTON -- Democrats say they're ready to take charge in Washington. They just can't agree how.

After nearly a decade of GOP rule, the party stands its best chance in years to seize control of the House, an opening that's intensified the long-standing fight between progressives, pragmatists and party professionals.

Some at the grassroots favor...Read more

WASHINGTON -- John Conyers III, the son of former U.S. Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., will not appear on the Aug. 7 Democratic primary ballot to replace his father in Congress, Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett decided Monday.

The decision, which could be final, was largely based on an earlier review of nominating petition signatures submitted ...Read more

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz made three video recordings of himself on his cellphone around the time of his attack, according to a summary of evidence turned over to his lawyers by prosecutors in the case.

The defense this month demanded a portion of the evidence prosecutors intend to use when putting Cruz, 19, on ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court has sharply restricted the rights of American workers to join with others to challenge their company for allegedly violating federal laws on wages, hours or civil rights.

The justices by a 5-4 vote Monday agreed with Trump administration lawyers on two key issues.

First, workers do not have a right to go to ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- Asked recently whether she would push Rep. Tony Cardenas of California to resign over allegations in a lawsuit that he molested a teenager in 2007, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi threw up her hands and walked away.

That seems to sum up Washington's collective response so far to the latest #MeToo sexual misconduct crisis ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump said on Twitter Sunday that he will order an investigation into whether law enforcement "infiltrated or surveilled" his presidential campaign "for political purposes," escalating an already extraordinary clash between the president and the Justice Department.

The decision could lead to a new level of ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- The planned revival of a policy dating to Ronald Reagan's presidency may finally present a way for President Donald Trump to fulfill his campaign promise to "defund" Planned Parenthood. Or at least to evict it from the federal family planning program, where it provides care to more than 40 percent of that program's 4 million ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials are pushing back against allegations embraced by President Donald Trump that the Justice Department planted a spy in his 2016 campaign.

Instead, the two officials said, the FBI and CIA gathered intelligence from a number of people as they began their investigation of Russia's interference in the U.S. election.

...Read more

WASHINGTON -- In a major political setback, House Republicans failed Friday to pass an $867 billion farm bill that aimed to impose strict new work requirements for food stamp recipients.

Conservatives refused to support the measure unless House leaders agreed to hold a vote immediately on a separate immigration bill.

The unraveling of the farm...Read more

WASHINGTON -- Former FBI Director James Comey is a "proven liar" and Attorney General Jeff Sessions "didn't step up" to shut down an "unjustifiable investigation." Those were just two of the claims made Friday by Rudy Giuliani, one of President Donald Trump's lawyers, as he continued an escalating effort to erode the legitimacy of the Justice ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration moved Friday to place new restrictions on access to abortion, as the Health and Human Services Department prepared new regulations that would effectively bar organizations that receive federal family planning money from providing abortions or counseling mothers about the procedure.

The much-anticipated ...Read more

MIAMI -- A gunman ranting about President Donald Trump walked into the lobby of Trump National Doral Miami resort early Friday morning, draped an American flag on the counter and began firing.

The man -- who was not a guest at the resort -- waited in the lobby for police officers to arrive before luring them into a gunfight, authorities said. ...Read more

Every election cycle, at least a few "semi-celebrities" (or those with connections to semi-celebrities) run for office. This cycle is no exception.

Actress Cynthia Nixon of "Sex in the City" fame is running for the Democratic nomination for governor of New York, while Greg Pence, the vice president's brother, won the Republican nomination in ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- A judge has ruled that attorneys can name a Los Angeles politician accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a recent lawsuit.

The decision by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Sotelo also allows attorneys to serve the suit against the politician, who has been identified in court papers only as John Doe.

U...Read more