You can bet on just about anything online — including the Democratic presidential nominee. Depending on the bookmaker, Pete Buttigieg, the openly gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has either the third- or fourth-best odds of facing President Donald Trump. That's a testament to the rising arc of Buttigieg's campaign....
2020 Preview? Feud Erupts Between Biden, Trump
NEW YORK — Democrats won't pick their nominee for another year, but President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are acting like the 2020 presidential contest is already a two-man race. Almost completely ignoring his 23 Democratic competitors, Biden has been laser-focused on Trump — particularly his embrace of racist...
Dual Briefings on Capitol Hill Focus on Trump’s Iran Policy
WASHINGTON — As questions mount over President Donald Trump's tough talk on Iran, top national security officials headed to Capitol Hill Tuesday to brief Congress. But skeptical Democrats sought out a second opinion, holding their own briefing with former Obama administration officials. The competing closed-door sessions Tuesday, unusual and potentially...
House Set to Approve Sweeping Bill to Expand Gay Rights
WASHINGTON — Democrats in the House approved sweeping anti-discrimination legislation Friday that would extend civil rights protections to LGBT people by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The protections would extend to employment, housing, loan applications, education, public accommodations and other areas. Called the Equality Act, the...
Trump Plan Would Shift Immigration Focus to ‘Merit’
WASHINGTON — Unveiling a new immigration plan, President Donald Trump said he wanted to provide a sharp contrast with Democrats, and he did — aiming to upend decades of family-based immigration policy with a new approach that favors younger, "totally brilliant," high-skilled workers he says won't compete for American jobs....
Trump Acknowledges Over $1 Billion in Tax Write Offs, Calls It ‘Sport’
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Wednesday acknowledged taking massive tax write offs for real estate losses topping $1 billion from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, calling it "sport" among developers like himself during that period. Trump was reacting to a New York Times report Tuesday that his businesses lost more...
How Powerful Lawmakers are Killing California Bills—Without a Peep
Gun control, school spending, curbs on greenhouse gases: With Democrats holding more power at the Capitol than they’ve had since the 19th century, California’s legislative pipeline is full this year with big, blue-state ideas. In theory, no Democrat’s bill should be left behind. But that’s not what’s happening, and the...
Democrats Using Veterans Bill to Try to Block Border Wall
WASHINGTON — Democrats controlling the House are trying to use a popular veterans measure to block President Donald Trump from transferring $3.6 billion from military base construction to build his long-sought wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Tuesday's move faces certain opposition from Trump and a potential veto threat. Lawmakers often...
GOP Warnings About Democratic Socialism Tap Voter Unease
ALAMOSA, Colo. — In this scruffy, high-desert town encircled by prairies and potato farms, Sen. Cory Gardner drew shouts of approval last week for his message that Democrats are shoving the country toward socialism. "That's not what government is or what it should be," he told about 200 Alamosa County...
Poll: Medicare Buy-In More Appealing to GOP Voters
WASHINGTON — Americans are giving Democrats a clear edge on health care as the 2020 presidential race gears up, according to a new poll that also finds many Republicans backing one of their competitors' top ideas: a government insurance plan people can buy into. But support for the plan that...