WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is signaling that Iran shouldn't expect major new concessions from the United States as a new round of indirect nuclear talks is set to resume. A senior administration official told reporters Thursday that the U.S. has laid out the concessions it’s prepared to make in...
With Ambassador Picks, Biden Faces Donor vs. Diversity Test
President Joe Biden is facing a fresh challenge to his oft-repeated commitment to diversity in his administration: Assembling a diplomatic corps that gives a nod to key political allies and donors while staying true to a campaign pledge to appoint ambassadors who look like America. More than three months into his...
US Proposes Ending Rule That Weakened Wild Bird Protections
BILLINGS, Mont. — The Biden administration on Thursday proposed revoking a rule imposed under former President Donald Trump that weakened the government's power to enforce a century-old law that protects most U.S. bird species. The Interior Department announcement comes after officials in March said they were reversing a Trump policy...
More Perilous Phase Ahead for Biden After His 1st 100 Days
WASHINGTON — Joe Biden's presidency is entering a new and more perilous phase where he is almost certain to face stiffer Republican opposition and also have difficulty keeping Democrats united as he pushes for $4 trillion in additional spending on programs that have echoes of the New Deal and the...
Biden’s Agenda: What Can Pass and What Faces Steep Odds
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden laid out a long list of policy priorities in his speech to Congress — and some are more politically plausible than others. The two parties are working together in some areas, including on changes to policing and confronting the rise of hate crimes against Asian...
AP FACT CHECK: Biden Skews Record on Migrants; GOP on Virus
WASHINGTON — Taking a swipe at his predecessor, President Joe Biden gave a distorted account of the historical forces driving migrants to the U.S. border, glossing over the multitudes who were desperate to escape poverty in their homelands when he was vice president. In his speech to Congress on Wednesday...
US Catholic Bishops May Press Biden to Stop Taking Communion
When U.S. Catholic bishops hold their next national meeting in June, they’ll be deciding whether to send a tougher-than-ever message to President Joe Biden and other Catholic politicians: Don’t receive Communion if you persist in public advocacy of abortion rights. Biden First Catholic President to Support Abortion Rights At issue...
What to Watch During Biden’s 1st Big Speech to Congress
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is putting the finishing touches on his first address to a joint session of Congress, a prime-time speech on Wednesday night on the eve of his 100th day in office. Biden will use the speech before lawmakers and a broader viewing audience to talk about...
Biden’s First 100 Days: Where He Stands on Key Promises
WASHINGTON — As he rounds out his first 100 days in office, President Joe Biden’s focus on reining in the coronavirus during the early months of his administration seems to have paid off: He can check off nearly all his campaign promises centered on the pandemic. Biden has delivered on...
Biden OKs More Foreign Seasonal Workers as Economy Improves
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden's administration announced an increase Tuesday in the number of temporary seasonal workers who will be allowed to work in the U.S. this year as the U.S. economy recovers from the pandemic. Worker Visas Approved with Increased Demand from Employers The Department of Homeland Security said...