Former U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who unsuccessfully prosecuted President Donald Trump, appeared before a House of Representatives panel for his public testimony on Thursday, where he condemned "false and misleading narratives" about his investigation. Smith was fielding questions before the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee about his two criminal cases,...
Zelenskyy Meets With Trump at Davos Forum to Discuss Ukraine Peace Deal
DAVOS, Switzerland — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was meeting with President Donald Trump in Switzerland on Thursday to try to advance U.S.-mediated talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, an effort Washington has pursued for nearly a year with little tangible progress. The two leaders met on the...
US Consumer Spending Increases Solidly in October and November
U.S. consumer spending increased solidly in November and October, likely keeping the economy on track for a third straight quarter of strong growth. Consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of economic activity, rose 0.5% after rising by the same margin in October, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said...
Wall Street Extends Gains on Tariff Relief, Upbeat Data
Wall Street's main indexes continued to push higher on Thursday, inching toward all-time highs, after President Donald Trump softened his tariff threat toward Europe, while a fresh set of economic data reinforced a resilient U.S. economy. The main U.S. indexes rebounded on Wednesday, with the benchmark S&P 500 posting its...
Democrats’ Opposition to Immigration Crackdown Puts Spending Bill in Question
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday were girding to oppose a Department of Homeland Security funding bill in protest at President Donald Trump's dispatch of masked federal agents to cities and states, including Minneapolis, as part of his crackdown on illegal immigration that has also snared American...
Curbs on Wall Street Landlords Could Stoke House Prices, Say Investors
NEW YORK, Jan 21 - U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order restricting Wall Street investors from buying up single-family homes could boost demand for homes while doing little to address tight housing supply, a key reason for house price inflation, investors said. Trump's Tuesday order, which he touted during his...
New York City’s Only Republican-Held Congressional District Must Be Redrawn, Judge Orders
A New York judge ruled on Wednesday that Republican U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis' district - New York City's only Republican-held congressional district - violates the state's constitution and should be redrawn by February 6. Republicans are expected to appeal the decision by New York state Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Pearlman,...
Military Police Troops Put on Alert for Possible Deployment to Minnesota
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has ordered several hundred active-duty military police troops from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota in the event that President Donald Trump invokes the Insurrection Act, according to a senior U.S. official. The alert, which was described as precautionary, comes...
Taylor Swift Named to Songwriters Hall of Fame, Second-Youngest Ever
Taylor Swift, 36, will become the second-youngest songwriter ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of Stevie Wonder, who was 33 when he was inducted in 1983, the organization announced on Wednesday. The honor places the pop superstar, winner of 14 Grammys, among the most celebrated songwriters...
Immigration Agent Fires at Suspect in Los Angeles County
Federal agents fired “defensive shots” Wednesday morning after a man rammed his vehicle into law enforcement during an immigration operation in South Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reported. The suspect, identified as William Eduardo Moran Carballo, a Salvadoran national accused of being in the U.S. illegally and participating in...