Christian Science Monitor
CivicGate aggregates Christian Science Monitor's recent political and civic coverage — we link every story to its original source; we do not rate outlets. The only lean shown is Christian Science Monitor's own published lean.
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US government searches for migrant children as deportations mount
The U.S. government is looking for migrant children who arrived without guardians and were released to sponsors.
Mentions Immigration -
Democrats’ socialist surge hits a roadblock in Wisconsin
Despite a messy gubernatorial primary in which multiple candidates dropped out, polling front-runner and democratic socialist Francesca Hong was edged out by center-left candidate David Crowley.
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Scrutiny of Rep. Max Miller adds to a trend in Congress
Lawmakers or candidates in both parties have faced allegations of sexual misconduct or domestic abuse. Some peers of Ohio’s Max Miller have called for him to resign his House seat.
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In Utah canyons, a clash over federal lands – and the future of the West
The U.S. government is slashing two revered national monuments in Utah. What happens next could determine how vast public lands in the western U.S. are managed – or exploited.
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Project 2025: As midterms near, Trump’s window for action might be closing
The Trump administration has enacted many of Project 2025’s goals, but many await action ahead of midterms that could alter the balance of power in Washington.
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Why Lindsey Graham’s sister isn’t a lock to hold on to his Senate seat
President Donald Trump has endorsed South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham in next Tuesday’s special primary for the late senator’s seat. But she’s up against a crowded field that features more experienced candidates.
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Progressive Democrats propel El-Sayed to Michigan Senate primary win
Abdul El-Sayed edged Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic primary for a Senate seat.
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New Massachusetts law aims to thwart Trump’s deportation plans
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law Wednesday a bill that immigration advocates say is one of the nation’s most expansive efforts to narrow state cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Mentions Immigration -
Together, these Republicans and Democrats are vouching for election security
Republicans and Democrats in battleground states are collaborating to publicly counter unproven accusations about U.S. elections and improve voter trust.
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On Blanche vote, Cornyn and Tillis say their holdout was about principle
Two Republican senators voted yes on Todd Blanche's nomination to be attorney general after expressing concerns with the Trump administration's "anti-weaponization" fund.
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Wisconsin governor’s race tests limits of Democrats’ leftward shift
After years of Republican rule, Wisconsin Democrats are testing whether a democratic socialist is a viable candidate for governor in a swing state.
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War and peace: Ukraine’s ambassador in Washington joins our table
Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna met reporters at a Monitor Breakfast, in the wake of a Trump-Zelenskyy White House meeting and headlines about Ukraine bombing an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea.
Mentions Foreign Policy -
Kyiv’s ambassador on how Ukraine revived vital ties with US
Outgoing Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna met with reporters for a Monitor Breakfast to discuss the war, Trump-Zelenskyy relations, and corruption charges facing herself and the government.
Mentions Foreign Policy -
Democrats’ surging left wing faces a test in Michigan: Older Black voters
Tuesday’s primary for Michigan’s open Senate seat is serving as a proxy battle over the Democratic Party’s future. How it all plays out could shape the 2028 presidential race.
Mentions Voting Elections -
America’s debt is skyrocketing. Why isn’t Congress doing anything about it?
The U.S. government is spending well beyond its means at a breathtaking pace. Members of Congress say they care, but neither party is making deficit reduction a priority.
Mentions Economy Taxes -
Supreme Court gave presidents more power over agencies. Are any still independent?
The Supreme Court’s June ruling in Trump v. Slaughter could shift the balance between presidential control and agency autonomy, legal scholars say.
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Burned by past shutdowns, Republicans start budget process ahead of schedule
Congress must fund the federal government by Sept. 30. But the possibility of a fourth shutdown since Trump took office is prompting the Senate to consider temporary funding months ahead of that deadline.
Mentions Economy Taxes -
Maine Democrats are moving on from Platner. But cracks might linger.
Former state Senate President Troy Jackson is on track to become Maine’s new Democratic Senate nominee this weekend. But eleventh-hour candidacies frequently face big challenges.
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Blanche’s nomination for attorney general uncertain after hearing
Todd Blanche, President Trump’s nominee for U.S. attorney general, faced pointed questions from Republican and Democratic senators at his confirmation hearing.
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States have beefed up election security, but Trump is still pushing for federal role
President Donald Trump has refused to accept that he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden, and is again airing disproven claims ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Mentions Voting Elections -
Trump’s plan for federal worker NDAs puts spotlight on speech, transparency
The Trump administration wants 2 million federal workers to be covered by nondisclosure agreements. The proposal is likely to face legal challenges.
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Missing McConnell: What to do when a lawmaker’s out, but doesn’t leave?
For almost a month, no one knew why Sen. Mitch McConnell was missing from the U.S. Senate. There’s no set way for the Senate – or the states – to respond to such an event.
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When facing allegations of bad behavior, are there red lines for politicians?
In the post-#MeToo era accusations of sexual misconduct have increased. But while some politicians have ended their campaigns or resigned, others have survived such allegations, raising questions about how voters evaluate charges and the impact of partisanship.
Mentions Voting Elections -
With Graham’s death, Trump loses a key ally in Congress
No one else in Congress had the kind of relationship with President Donald Trump that Senator Graham, who died Saturday, had. Mr. Graham influenced the president’s thinking on consequential matters, particularly in the realm of foreign policy.
Mentions Foreign Policy -
Should billionaires pay a wealth tax? California will be a big test.
With the top 1% holding nearly one-third of household wealth in the U.S., efforts to impose new levies on the wealthy have been gaining traction. In California, voters will decide this fall whether to impose a one-time 5% tax on the state’s billionaires.
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Mediators try to save crumbling Iran deal as Trump, Khamenei trade threats
Iran's leader vowed to avenge his father's death at the hands of the U.S., while President Trump says he threatened missile attacks in response to threats to kill him.
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Trump focuses on proof of citizenship, but other election changes could affect midterms
As President Trump calls attention to the SAVE America Act, other potentially significant changes to how Americans vote are taking place ahead of midterm elections.
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Platner’s exit opens a new race: Will Maine Democrats pick another progressive?
The collapse of Graham Platner’s Senate campaign in Maine has state Democrats wrestling with questions over candidate vetting and whether the next nominee should come from the party’s moderate or progressive wing.
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As more young voters warm to socialism, Trump warns of ‘communist’ threat
Polls show younger voters are less fearful of socialism and more likely to question the benefits of capitalism as it relates to their lives. But while anti-communist rhetoric is red meat for the Republican base, it might not persuade many other voters.
Mentions Voting Elections -
America’s next 250? A revival of civic virtues might hold the key.
Democracy requires civic engagement – and it can sometimes seem to be falling short. But the seeds of renewal are visible, from potluck dinners to youth programs.
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A glance inside Trump’s ‘best plane’ on its first flight: Speed and luxury
The first flight of the new Air Force One, controversially donated by Qatar, took President Donald Trump to North Dakota where he spoke about one of his predecessors, Teddy Roosevelt.
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On July Fourth eve, Reflecting Pool holds a cloudy mirror to a polarized America
As the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th, a major topic in Washington isn’t the meaning of democracy but a shallow pool of water. Views on the Reflecting Pool, like many things, are shaped by politics.
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Congress weighs kids’ digital safety – and Big Tech accountability
Lawmakers want child AI protections but clashes on industry liability. The House’s KIDS Act omits that standard, potentially teeing up a Senate battle.
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In Texas, a planned Muslim community stirs opposition
A battle is brewing in Texas over a Muslim housing development. Republican critics in the state say it creates a “no-go zone,” while supporters of the project say the concerns are unfounded.
Mentions Housing -
Their loved ones paid the ultimate price in the name of voting rights. But they’re not giving up.
It's been six decades since the Voting Rights Act was enacted. Today, as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the sacrifices of those who died for that landmark law are in question.
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Rise of the democratic socialists – and what it means for just-plain Democrats
Far-left wins in congressional primaries followed mayoral victories in major U.S. cities. Mainstream Democrats, struggling with voter dissatisfaction, are unhappy about the rising leftism.
Mentions Voting Elections -
Hot chicken is OK, but soda isn’t? Battle over SNAP scrambles red-blue politics.
Both parties have been enacting state-level bans on using SNAP benefits for soda and candy. On Monday, a federal judge said the new rules violate federal laws governing the food program.