WASHINGTON -- In 1925, at the behest of New York merchants, Congress passed the Federal Arbitration Act to uphold as "valid, irrevocable and enforceable" the contracts they had negotiated for shipping and delivering goods. They agreed to settle disputes through private arbitration, which was seen as quicker and cheaper than going to court.

When...Read more

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday afternoon that his "big news" for U.S. autoworkers could have to do with plans to rewrite -- or withdraw from -- the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Wednesday morning, Trump posted a cryptic message on Twitter, saying there would be "big news coming soon for our great American ...Read more

BETHPAGE, N.Y. -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday reaffirmed his condemnation of immigrant gang members as "animals" as he pressed his call for tougher border security at a Long Island forum with public officials and victims' parents.

He also threatened to cut foreign aid to the immigrants' countries of origin unless those nations do more ...Read more

President Donald Trump has made directing scorn on Twitter a defining feature of his presidency. But when the animus is leveled back at him, the nation's leader has a habit of silencing those critics by blocking them.

Now a federal judge says Trump has to face the heat, ruling that the president and his staff blocking anyone on Twitter is ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- In an effort to prevent or expose conflicts of interest in the executive branch, House and Senate Democrats are pushing legislation that would force senior members of the Trump administration to reveal more about their business interests.

The legislation, introduced this week, would empower the Office of Government Ethics to ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- After months of delay, senators said Wednesday they have reached a deal on legislation to reform how sexual harassment claims against lawmakers and staff are handled on Capitol Hill.

The legislation requires members of Congress to personally repay taxpayers for settling harassment claims filed against them, even if they resign.

...Read more

WASHINGTON -- A new poll found most Americans don't like what Congress has been doing the past few years, even if they don't know the major players in office.

Over 59 percent of respondents to this week's Economist/YouGov poll said they disapproved of Congress' performance, placing the blame on both parties.

But no one is quite sure of how ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- The 2018 electoral map is dotted with Democratic campaigns that closely resemble Bernie Sanders' own unabashedly liberal, anti-establishment presidential candidacy.

But it has markedly fewer candidates who actually supported the progressive champion in 2016.

All across the country this year, many of the progressive heroes of 2018...Read more

WASHINGTON -- Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that banking records of President Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen appear to have been leaked from a database maintained by his department.

"Our inspector general is reviewing the issue of leaks. There is the appearance that some of the information may have gone out," Mnuchin told the ...Read more

NEW YORK -- A longtime business partner of Michael D. Cohen, the personal lawyer of President Donald Trump, has pleaded guilty to tax evasion in a deal that allows him to dodge prison time, indicating that he is cooperating with prosecutors.

Evgeny Freidman, a taxi operator who allegedly owed some $5 million in back taxes, entered into the ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- "Dreamers" should be able to enlist in the military and become legal residents, says a strong coalition of congressional Republicans and Democrats as they make a renewed push for their initiative.

They have enough votes in the House to pass their plan, but Republican leaders are balking.

Reps. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., Carlos ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- The law firm of Stormy Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti was hit with a $10 million judgment Tuesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court after he broke his promise to pay $2 million to a former colleague.

Judge Catherine Bauer of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Santa Ana ordered the Eagan Avenatti law firm to pay $10 million to Jason Frank, a ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- Speaker Paul D. Ryan defended himself Tuesday amid reports of threats to his leadership position and reiterated his view that it's not in Republicans' best interest to have a divisive leadership race before the November midterm elections.

"Obviously I serve at the pleasure of the members; those are the people who drafted me in ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- With political primaries already underway and the November midterm elections fast approaching, top national security officials briefed members of Congress on Tuesday about gaps in election security.

The Trump administration has been under pressure to take stronger steps to deter Russian attempts to meddle in U.S. campaigns. ...Read more

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