WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House on Wednesday approved a measure requiring federal background checks for all firearms sales and transfers, the first major gun control legislation considered by Congress in nearly 25 years. Democrats called the 240-190 vote a major step to end the gun lobby’s grip on Washington and begin to address an Read more about House approves bill to expand gun-sale background checks[…]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three strategists who played key roles in Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign said Tuesday that they will not join his 2020 White House bid. Tad Devine, Julian Mulvey and Mark Longabaugh said they would not work for Sanders’ 2020 campaign. Their firm, DML, was behind Sanders’ 2016 media strategy, including a Read more about Key Sanders 2016 strategists won’t return for 2020 campaign[…]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and border security (all times local): 10:35 a.m. President Donald Trump plans to spend about $8 billion on border barriers, far more than Congress has given him for that purpose. Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says Trump will tap various other sources of Read more about The Latest: Trump plans to spend $8B on border barriers[…]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defiant in the wake of a stinging budget defeat, President Donald Trump on Friday declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, moving to secure more money for his long-promised wall by exercising a broad interpretation of his presidential powers that is certain to draw stiff legal challenges. In his emergency proclamation, Read more about Trump tests presidential power, declares emergency at border[…]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen (all times local): 12 p.m. President Donald Trump’s eldest sons are tweeting their thoughts about Michael Cohen’s public testimony — and they’re ridiculing him as a disgruntled ex-employee out to try and save himself. Cohen is the president’s former lawyer who’s Read more about The Latest: Trump’s eldest sons cast Cohen as disgruntled[…]

Several Democratic presidential candidates are embracing reparations for the descendants of slaves — but not in the traditional sense. Over the past week, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro spoke of the need for the U.S. government to reckon with and make Read more about 2020 Democratic hopefuls embrace new meaning of reparations[…]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress lopsidedly approved a border security compromise that would avert a second painful government shutdown. But a new confrontation has been ignited — this time over President Donald Trump’s plan to bypass lawmakers and declare a national emergency to siphon billions from other federal coffers for his wall on the Mexican boundary. Read more about Trump will sign border deal; but will declare emergency[…]

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats will file a resolution Friday aimed at blocking the national emergency declaration that President Donald Trump has issued to help finance his wall along the Southwest border, teeing up a clash over billions of dollars, immigration policy and the Constitution’s separation of powers. Though the effort seems almost certain to Read more about Democrats prepare resolution against Trump’s declaration[…]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen (all times local): 2:10 p.m. Fordham University is confirming it received a letter from Donald Trump’s then-lawyer threatening legal action if Trump’s academic records became public. Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen has testified to Congress that Trump directed him to write letters Read more about The Latest: Fordham confirms Cohen letter on Trump’s records[…]

WASHINGTON (AP) — A World War I memorial that’s in the shape of a cross is at the center of a case at the Supreme Court. The high court on Wednesday is hearing arguments about whether the 40-foot-tall cross on public land in Maryland is constitutional. Its defenders say the case could impact hundreds of Read more about Supreme Court considers fate of cross-shaped war memorial[…]