WASHINGTON -- November might seem far away, but the midterm elections' impact on spending bills is already on display, amplified by internal Republican jockeying for leadership positions in the House.

Election years tend to chill swift movement on appropriations bills -- especially when there's potential turnover in leadership of one or both ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- The brain drain from departing House Republicans with policy expertise had sparked worry among party insiders even before Speaker Paul D. Ryan announced his plans to retire.

Now, the extraordinary attrition, along with a potentially brutal upcoming midterm campaign, is enough to send the GOP into panic mode.

Ryan's exit won't ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in an arcane dispute over administrative judges that poses a potentially far-reaching question about the president's power: Can such executive branch officials have independent authority to act or must they be subject to control and removal by the president?

The justices sounded split on ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn has not qualified for the GOP primary ballot.

The court ruled Lamborn violated state rules when collecting the 1,000 GOP signatures needed to qualify for the primary ballot. State law says the signature collectors must be Colorado residents, and the state Supreme ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- Republicans are showing little appetite for big action in what may be their last months in full control of Congress.

The House took much of last week off and doesn't get back to Washington until Tuesday. The Senate is bogged down in confirmation hearings. And many lawmakers are already focused on their first election campaigns ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration is embracing a curious -- and some would say dated -- argument as it builds its case to weaken federal rules championed by California that require cars and SUVs to average 55 miles per gallon by 2025.

It is warning that the fuel-efficiency targets, seen by most as key to meeting climate and air quality ...Read more

NEW YORK –– The former attorney for two women who claim they were paid to keep quiet about having sex with Donald Trump before he was elected president is cooperating with a criminal investigation of Trump's lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen.

Keith Davidson, who represented porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, ...Read more

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Long-running litigation between President Donald Trump and members of his golf club in Jupiter came to an anti-climatic end on Friday with both sides declaring victory when a federal judge tentatively signed off on a $5.4 million settlement agreement.

"The trial was a complete victory. The settlement was a complete ...Read more

LOS ANGELES -- A federal judge postponed a ruling on a request by President Donald Trump and his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who is now the subject of a federal investigation, for a 90-day delay of a lawsuit filed against them by porn star Stormy Daniels.

U.S. District Court Judge S. James Otero took the request under submission Friday, ...Read more

WASHINGTON -- Yes, you can eat dog or cat for lunch in most states. Or dinner. Or anytime.

Unless Congress acts on a new plan that would subject anyone who kills those animals for human consumption to a jail term and up to a $2,500 fine.

The House farm bill, approved this week by the House Agriculture Committee, would apply those penalties to ...Read more