There has been a significant political shift in Americans’ political party identification in the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term in office, according to a new poll. The findings of a Gallup survey released Monday found that 45% of U.S. adults identified as political independents in 2025 — a record number that surpassed the previous high of 43% measured in 2014, 2023 and 2024. U.S. adults...

Lawmakers are keenly aware of the costs of running a country due to the nation’s skyrocketing debt, but now another expense may be added to Congress’ tab — Venezuela.  President Donald Trump hasn’t backed down from his position that the U.S. will run Venezuela after the surprise strikes and capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. That’s left some on Capitol Hill wondering what the price tag will...

House and Senate lawmakers unveiled a new funding package on Sunday night totaling roughly $80 billion in federal spending, but questions still loom about averting another government shutdown at the end of this month. The package combines two of Congress’ 12 annual appropriations bills in what’s called a “minibus.” It covers funding for the State Department and related national security, as well as federal financial services and general...