The White House asserts control over press pool, deepening its tensions with US media

Donald Trump’s press secretary said Tuesday that the White House will control which outlets are allowed into the pool instead of the Correspondents Association.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, U.S., February 25, 2025.Brian Snyder/Reuters

Trump push to control independent regulators might hit the Fed

His administration has pitched a narrow carve-out for the central bank, but some legal experts doubt it holds.
President Donald TrumpBrian Snyder/Reuters

Ukraine ‘ready to sign’ US minerals deal as Putin floats alternative bargain

Kyiv reportedly agreed to the terms of minerals-for-aid deal with Washington after the US some of its more onerous demands, the Financial Times reported.
 Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump via a phone line.Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters

Syria’s new leaders host national dialogue in show of political inclusivity

The talks are an optimistic indicator that the new government in Damascus is moving the country toward democracy.
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a national dialogue.Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Khalil Ashawi/Reuters.
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Jeffries takes heat as Democrats’ base seeks anti-Trump fight

The House minority leader is getting his first — occasionally, harsh — taste of what it’s like to lead the Democratic caucus under the pugnacious president.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Trump push to control independent regulators could hit the Fed

His administration has pitched a narrow carve-out for the central bank, but some legal experts doubt it holds.
President Donald TrumpBrian Snyder/Reuters

US federal agencies rebuff Musk’s directive to justify jobs

Monday marks the deadline for federal employees to respond to a request from the OPM to list their recent accomplishments, but it’s unclear if they’ll face repercussions for not replying.
Elon Musk.Nathan Howard/Reuters

BlackRock and JPMorgan CEOs, along with US lawmakers, tackle looming retirement ‘crisis’

They will be part of a March summit in Washington to address the issue, after BlackRock found one-third of Americans have no retirement savings.

Debatable: Is Trump’s ‘Fork in the Road’ program legal?

A judge’s ruling that allowed deferred resignations to move forward didn’t settle some questions surrounding them.

Divisions emerge among American right over Trump, Musk approach

A recent Reuters poll found a “notable portion” of 2024 Trump supporters opposed some of his early actions.

Republicans eye rollback of Biden rules on banks, WiFi and more

The House and Senate are coordinating closely on a growing list of regulatory moves that the party still has time to unwind.

‘The party looks like a failure’: AOC’s former chief of staff on his challenge to Nancy Pelosi

Saikat Chakrabarti talked with Semafor recently about his decision to run for Congress, and why he thinks it’s better to save the Democratic Party than to replace it.

‘A Trump revolution’: At CPAC, conservatives hope for a global populist movement

Attendees looked to export Trump’s goal of deconstructing the administrative state around the world.

The FBI braces for a shakeup under Trump loyalist Kash Patel

A long-time critic of the FBI, Patel has vowed to radically overhaul the agency.

Trump’s legislative agenda is in turmoil

After bickering for months over strategy, House and Senate Republicans are starting to diverge over policy as well.
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