Former Republican Rep. Dennis Hastert, who was the longest-serving GOP House Speaker, died on Monday at the age of 84. Hastert died peacefully of natural causes at his home, according to Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell. The longtime politician represented Illinois’ 14th Congressional district for 20 years and served as Speaker of the House for eight years before retiring in 2007. His career was later tarnished by a...

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., “passed away at his home due to natural causes,” according to Kendall County, Illinois, Coroner Jacquie Purcell. The brief statement was posted on the coroner’s website early Monday morning. Hastert was 84 and one of the most ignominious figures to serve in American politics. He was the longest-serving Republican speaker in history, wielding the gavel from 1999 to 2007. But Hastert’s career...

The Supreme Court opens its new term Monday with cases that could reshape religious liberty, gun rights, immigration and the balance between state and federal authority. While the last term was dominated by major cases testing presidential power — including Trump’s authority to restrict birthright citizenship, impose tariffs and fire independent agency officials — many of the court’s marquee cases this term span a wide range of issues,...