https://sevenlights.org/categories/politics/ Recent content in Politics on Seven Lights Hugo en-us Sat, 07 Nov 2026 16:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/07/trump-dana-white-press-secretary-offer/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 16:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/07/trump-dana-white-press-secretary-offer/ President Trump said Saturday he had offered the job of White House press secretary to UFC CEO Dana White, a longtime ally, and said he had asked him to bring six UFC fighters as assistants. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/07/trump-miller-chief-of-staff/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 03:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/07/trump-miller-chief-of-staff/ President Trump replaced chief of staff Susie Wiles with deputy Stephen Miller on Friday, a week after Republicans’ midterm losses, and moved Wiles to his political operation. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/07/trump-iran-options-cabinet/ Sat, 07 Nov 2026 03:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/07/trump-iran-options-cabinet/ Conceding the Iran war cost Republicans the midterms, President Trump is weighing a fresh strike, a negotiated settlement or a prolonged blockade, aides said, while signaling a cabinet shake-up. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/06/dhillon-doj-civil-rights-resigns/ Fri, 06 Nov 2026 03:00:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/06/dhillon-doj-civil-rights-resigns/ Harmeet Dhillon, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights, resigned Thursday, the first senior official to step down after Democrats’ midterm sweep. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/06/mississippi-senate-race-extended-count/ Fri, 06 Nov 2026 03:00:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/06/mississippi-senate-race-extended-count/ Democrat Scott Colom leads Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by roughly 1,800 votes in Mississippi with thousands of mail and provisional ballots outstanding, setting up a tense multi-day count. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/05/mike-johnson-not-seek-minority-leader/ Thu, 05 Nov 2026 03:50:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/05/mike-johnson-not-seek-minority-leader/ House Speaker Mike Johnson told staff on Wednesday he would not run for minority leader after Republicans lost their majority in the midterm elections. The party elects new leadership on November 10. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/05/vance-blames-iran-war-midterm-loss/ Thu, 05 Nov 2026 03:50:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/05/vance-blames-iran-war-midterm-loss/ Vice President JD Vance said the war with Iran was ’the real reason’ Republicans lost the midterms, breaking with President Trump’s stance that the conflict was worth its cost as the 2028 cycle opens. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/04/el-sayed-wins-michigan-senate-seat/ Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/04/el-sayed-wins-michigan-senate-seat/ Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated former representative Mike Rogers in Michigan, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the Senate, CBS News projected. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/04/democrats-win-control-congress-midterms/ Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/04/democrats-win-control-congress-midterms/ Democrats took the House and seven Senate seats from the Republican Party in the 2026 midterm elections, returning the party to full control of Congress for the first time since 2023. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/04/talarico-wins-texas-senate-seat/ Wed, 04 Nov 2026 05:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/04/talarico-wins-texas-senate-seat/ CBS News projected that Democratic state Representative James Talarico defeated Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, giving Democrats their first Texas Senate seat since 1988. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/03/americans-vote-midterms-2026/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 03:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/03/americans-vote-midterms-2026/ US voters choose the full House, a third of the Senate and governors in 36 states on Tuesday, with Democrats needing net gains of four seats in both chambers to take control of Congress. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/03/judge-dismisses-floris-benavides-charges/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 03:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/03/judge-dismisses-floris-benavides-charges/ A federal magistrate judge dismissed the criminal case against two former FBI counterintelligence officials charged with lying to Congress about the bureau’s Hunter Biden laptop investigation, citing no probable cause and questioning the timing of the charges days before the midterms. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/03/supreme-court-rejects-california-ballot-bid/ Tue, 03 Nov 2026 03:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/03/supreme-court-rejects-california-ballot-bid/ The Supreme Court refused without explanation to intervene in the Trump administration’s emergency request to force California to set aside mail ballots from 20,000 voters it alleges are likely noncitizens. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/02/judge-dismisses-alaska-senate-lawsuit/ Mon, 02 Nov 2026 03:40:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/02/judge-dismisses-alaska-senate-lawsuit/ A federal judge in Alaska dismissed the Justice Department’s attempt to block certification of the state’s Senate race over a lookalike candidate on the ballot, the latest setback to the administration’s election litigation. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/02/stevens-endorsement-rogers-michigan-senate/ Mon, 02 Nov 2026 03:40:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/02/stevens-endorsement-rogers-michigan-senate/ Representative Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for the Michigan Senate seat two days before the midterms, after the El-Sayed campaign said she was no longer welcome; the state party and fellow Democrats rejected the move. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/01/chris-murphy-stroke-hospitalized/ Sun, 01 Nov 2026 16:30:00 -0500 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/01/chris-murphy-stroke-hospitalized/ Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut suffered a stroke Saturday and is being monitored at Johns Hopkins Hospital, responding well to treatment, his office said, four days before the midterm elections. https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/01/el-sayed-stevens-michigan-senate-feud/ Sun, 01 Nov 2026 03:44:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/11/01/el-sayed-stevens-michigan-senate-feud/ Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for the Senate in Michigan, told Representative Haley Stevens he did not want her at his campaign events, two days before the two were scheduled to appear together. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/31/dc-virginia-sue-block-triumphal-arch/ Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:30:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/31/dc-virginia-sue-block-triumphal-arch/ The governments of Washington and Virginia asked a federal court Saturday to halt President Trump’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington Cemetery, as the administration says construction could begin Nov. 5. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/31/pope-leo-xiv-casts-mail-in-ballot/ Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:40:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/31/pope-leo-xiv-casts-mail-in-ballot/ The Vatican confirmed Friday that Pope Leo XIV has submitted a mail-in ballot in Illinois, becoming the first pope known to have voted in a United States election. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/31/doj-subpoenas-alaska-senate-ballots/ Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:36:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/31/doj-subpoenas-alaska-senate-ballots/ Federal prosecutors issued dozens of subpoenas and asked a court to segregate ballots in Alaska’s Senate race after reports that Democratic operatives recruited a candidate sharing the incumbent Republican senator’s name. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/31/judge-bars-justice-department-election-worker-threats/ Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:35:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/31/judge-bars-justice-department-election-worker-threats/ A California federal judge issued a restraining order late Friday stopping the Justice Department from threatening election officials with criminal prosecution or demanding that they segregate ballots ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/30/trump-rally-graham-south-carolina/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 03:53:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/30/trump-rally-graham-south-carolina/ President Trump appeared in Rock Hill, S.C., on Thursday, his second visit in a month, to shore up Republican Senator Darline Graham against Democrat Annie Andrews — and cancelled his remaining weekend rallies for a ‘72-hour sprint’ of telephone events. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/30/medicaid-medically-frail-ruling/ Fri, 30 Oct 2026 03:52:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/30/medicaid-medically-frail-ruling/ A federal judge in Boston has blocked a Trump administration rule defining who counts as ‘medically frail’ under Medicaid work requirements, siding with 25 Democrat-led states that said the definition would strip coverage from the chronically ill. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/29/dolores-huerta-dies-96/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 03:48:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/29/dolores-huerta-dies-96/ Dolores Huerta, who co-founded what became the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez, helped organize the 1965 Delano grape strike and inspired the rallying cry ‘Si, se puede,’ has died at 96. Tributes came from the UFW, Nancy Pelosi and Gavin Newsom. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/29/california-ballots-judge-rebuff/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 03:46:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/29/california-ballots-judge-rebuff/ A federal judge denied the Justice Department a restraining order to stop Los Angeles County from counting about 20,000 ballots federal officials link to suspected non-citizens, calling the request unprecedented. The department will appeal. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/29/peltola-campaign-second-sullivan-report/ Thu, 29 Oct 2026 03:44:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/29/peltola-campaign-second-sullivan-report/ The New York Times reported that Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign worked to recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to divide the Republican vote in Alaska’s Senate race. The Peltola campaign denied involvement; President Trump demanded her disqualification. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/28/grand-jury-declines-hutchinson-indictment/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 04:45:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/28/grand-jury-declines-hutchinson-indictment/ A Washington federal grand jury refused to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, former White House aide whose 2022 testimony about Jan. 6 drew Trump allies’ ire, a rebuff to the Justice Department’s effort to prosecute her. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/28/east-potomac-golf-injunction-appeal/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 04:45:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/28/east-potomac-golf-injunction-appeal/ The administration said it will appeal a federal judge’s 70-page injunction blocking tree removal at East Potomac Golf Links, while President Trump declared the course will close Nov. 15 for renovations regardless. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/28/cdc-deputy-director-shuford-resigns/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 04:45:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/28/cdc-deputy-director-shuford-resigns/ Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the CDC deputy director and chief medical officer appointed by President Trump in April, will leave the agency Nov. 12, the latest departure in a cycle of leadership turnover at the agency. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/27/court-blocks-california-ballots-appeal/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:35:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/27/court-blocks-california-ballots-appeal/ The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the Trump administration’s emergency appeal on Monday, declining to force California to set aside mail ballots associated with more than 20,000 people the government suspects are noncitizens. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/27/catholic-bishops-white-house-prayer-regret/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:34:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/27/catholic-bishops-white-house-prayer-regret/ Archbishop Jeffrey Grob of Milwaukee and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines said they regretted praying with President Trump in the Oval Office, saying the White House staged the moment for social media ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/27/comey-charged-third-time-national-defense/ Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:33:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/27/comey-charged-third-time-national-defense/ The Justice Department charged former FBI Director James Comey on Monday with transmitting national defense information and conspiracy, the third prosecution brought against him by the Trump administration. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/26/trump-rallies-rogers-port-huron/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 04:44:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/26/trump-rallies-rogers-port-huron/ President Trump held a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday for Senate candidate Mike Rogers, joined onstage by Nicki Minaj, who pledged support days before the November 3 midterms that decide control of Congress. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/26/peltola-car-crash-campaign-pause/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 04:43:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/26/peltola-car-crash-campaign-pause/ Mary Peltola and her family sustained minor injuries in a three-vehicle crash en route to the Alaska Federation of Natives banquet, delaying her eight-stop final-week tour; she is to resume campaigning Tuesday in Homer. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/25/doj-california-counties-noncitizen-voter-letters/ Sun, 25 Oct 2026 07:32:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/25/doj-california-counties-noncitizen-voter-letters/ Federal prosecutors sent letters to county registrars across California demanding they identify and set aside ballots that may belong to noncitizen voters within 48 hours, the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s election litigation before the midterms. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/24/ex-fbi-officials-hunter-biden-laptop-charges/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 04:33:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/24/ex-fbi-officials-hunter-biden-laptop-charges/ Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides, former leaders of the FBI’s disbanded Foreign Influence Task Force, were taken into custody and charged with making false statements to Congress about their roles in the agency’s investigation of Hunter Biden’s laptop. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/24/doj-alaska-senate-certification-lawsuit/ Sat, 24 Oct 2026 04:32:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/24/doj-alaska-senate-certification-lawsuit/ The Justice Department sued Alaska’s election officials to block certification of the state’s Senate race unless Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan prevails, a suit President Trump said Friday he directed, drawing scepticism from election-law experts. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/23/scotus-new-hampshire-student-ids/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:48:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/23/scotus-new-hampshire-student-ids/ The Supreme Court granted New Hampshire’s emergency request, backed by the Republican National Committee, to bar voters from using student IDs at the November midterms, ruling a federal judge should not have changed the state’s election rules so close to the vote, with Justice Jackson dissenting. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/22/el-sayed-rogers-michigan-senate-debate/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:20:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/22/el-sayed-rogers-michigan-senate-debate/ Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers clashed onstage Wednesday in their second and final debate in the Michigan Senate race. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/22/marshall-hamilton-kansas-senate-debate-takeaways/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:20:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/22/marshall-hamilton-kansas-senate-debate-takeaways/ Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton met in their final debate in the Kansas Senate race, which The Hill said showed signs of being tighter than Republicans anticipated. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/22/talarico-paxton-texas-senate-dead-heat/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:20:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/22/talarico-paxton-texas-senate-dead-heat/ Democrat James Talarico leads Republican Ken Paxton 48 percent to 46 percent in new Emerson College Polling numbers for the Texas Senate race, The Hill reported. https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/22/vance-defends-ramaswamy-ad-acton-mother/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:17:00 -0400 https://sevenlights.org/2026/10/22/vance-defends-ramaswamy-ad-acton-mother/ Vice President JD Vance said he is “disgusted” by Republicans who criticized an ad for Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy featuring Democratic opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother.