NEW YORK — The judge: “rogue.” The prosecutor: “racist.” The proceeding: “greatest witch hunt of all time.” And that was before the courtroom was gaveled to order.

The first trial of Donald Trump began Monday in New York with scenes unlike anything in U.S. history. Trump — former star of The Apprentice, and now effectively ...Read more

NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s multibillion-dollar financial fraud trial kicked off in Manhattan on Monday with the former president spending the day scowling at the defense table and watching his lawyers fight for his business legacy.

Kevin Wallace, a lawyer for New York Attorney General Letitia James, told presiding Judge Arthur Engoron that ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump, whose civil fraud trial started this week in New York after his failed bid to push it back, now has his eye on delaying fast-approaching deadlines in the federal criminal cases against him in Washington and Florida.

The former president is asking judges to reshape the calendars in both cases. Prosecutors are calling...Read more

NEW YORK — Donald Trump wanted to get higher on the Forbes billionaires list and save a fortune on loan terms by overvaluing his properties, according to evidence that a lawyer for New York Attorney General Letitia James previewed for a packed courtroom at the former president’s civil fraud trial.

Clips of sworn testimony by Trump ...Read more

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed a short-term spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown starting Sunday after a dramatic turn of events Saturday that saw the House quickly pivot to bipartisanship.

Hours before the midnight deadline, the Senate voted 88-9 to clear the House-passed, 48-day funding patch, which generally ...Read more

NEW YORK — Women living in New York City — and also those visiting from out of town — will now be able to access abortion telehealth services and have abortion pills delivered to their doors through the city’s public hospitals network.

Mayor Eric Adams announced the new policy in the City Hall rotunda Monday morning and made clear that ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas bowed out of a case at the center of a congressional committee’s power to investigate, an announcement made on the first day of a new term where the justices face increased scrutiny from Congress and the public over ethics rules.

The court, without Thomas, declined Monday to hear an appeal ...Read more

WASHINGTON — How will Laphonza Butler’s appointment affect the 2024 U.S. Senate election?

Make that elections.

Even though California Gov. Gavin Newsom made an appointment to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein, there must be a special election to finish the late Democratic icon’s term. Primaries for the remainder of her term and the next one ...Read more

Efforts to ban books in public schools and public libraries reached an all-time high in 2022 and show few signs of abating for 2023, according to the American Library Association.

The recent movement to remove books appears to be a coordinated campaign taking place at both the state and local levels; it often targets books that ...Read more

ATLANTA — A coalition of civil rights groups and other advocacy organizations demanded more safeguards Monday for prospective jurors in the Fulton County election interference case against Donald Trump amid security concerns about the trial.

“Jurors — past, present and future — are under attack from Donald Trump and those who do his ...Read more

NEW YORK — Donald Trump wanted to get higher on the Forbes billionaires list and save a fortune on loan terms by overvaluing his properties, according to evidence that a lawyer for New York Attorney General Letitia James previewed for a packed courtroom at the former president’s civil fraud trial.

Clips of sworn testimony by Trump ...Read more

Here’s an interesting question for the White House press corps to ask President Joe Biden, if he gives them the chance: How does he feel about his son Hunter using a Second Amendment defense to fight the gun charges against him?

After the younger Biden’s plea deal fell apart, the president’s son was charged Sept. 14 by federal prosecutors...Read more

WASHINGTON — Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, said Sunday that she would be open to helping save Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy's position in leadership if Republicans put "some concessions in place."

Congress passed a short-term budget bill Saturday night that will extend existing funding levels through Nov. 17, ...Read more

Former President Donald Trump promised to champion Iowa’s farmers at a rally in the early-voting primary state, where his closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has been campaigning hard for Republican votes.

“I said you only have to do one thing: buy more land and buy bigger tractors,” Trump, whom polls give a wide lead in the GOP...Read more