Stephen Dinan

Democratic congresswoman accused of bilking COVID money calls charges a ‘sham’

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the Florida Democrat charged with bilking the government of $5 million in disaster assistance then using it to get elected to Congress, said Thursday that the charges are "baseless" and a "sham."

November 20, 2025

$500 million in food stamps spent at fast-food restaurants

Food stamps are supposed to be spent on nutritious meals -- but nine states currently allow them to be spent at fast-food restaurants, such as McDonald's.

November 20, 2025

Judge blocks Trump from ending deportation amnesty for Syrians

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Wednesday to postpone its plan to end a deportation amnesty for Syrian migrants, ruling the government likely cut too many corners.

November 19, 2025

Senior judge blasts court for ‘pernicious … misbehavior’ in striking down Texas congressional map

Senior Circuit Judge Jerry Smith delivered a scorching takedown of a fellow federal judge on Wednesday, accusing his colleague of "unrestrained ideological judicial zeal" in a ruling this week that struck down Texas's new congressional map.

November 19, 2025

DOJ charges Democratic congresswoman with stealing $5 million in COVID relief money

The Justice Department announced an indictment Wednesday against Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Florida Democrat, accusing her of bilking the government of $5 million in pandemic funds and using the money to boost a previous congressional campaign.

November 19, 2025

Appeals court rules in favor of DHS on crowd control tactics in Chicago

A federal appeals court on Wednesday shut down a lower judge's orders that had tried to limit federal officials from using tear gas and other aggressive crowd control measures in the Chicago area.

November 19, 2025

Boasberg revives criminal contempt probe over Trump’s deportation flights to El Salvador

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Wednesday said he's once again moving ahead with a contempt investigation into Trump administration officials, seeking to find the people he believes intentionally defied his orders to ground airplanes deporting migrants in March.

November 19, 2025

‘Sanctuary census’: Republicans say Democrats stole power through bogus 2020 count

Congressional Republicans called for an overhaul of Census Bureau procedures before the next count is due, saying the agency ran the 2020 version with "fake" people and shifted power away from GOP-leaning states by undercounting their population.

November 19, 2025

Trump says using foreign guest workers is MAGA

President Trump made a new pitch Wednesday to bring in more foreign workers, saying the U.S. will need them to get its own semiconductor chip industry in shape for the AI challenges ahead.

November 19, 2025

Chicago suburb declares emergency as anti-ICE protests turn on local pols

Broadview, the Chicago suburb that's been the scene of violent anti-ICE protests, declared a "civil emergency" and suspended in-person village council meetings, saying things have gotten out of hand.

November 19, 2025

House chairman seeks DOJ prosecution of Jack Smith aide for obstructing Congress

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan asked the Justice Department on Wednesday to investigate and potentially prosecute Thomas Windom, who served as an aide to former special counsel Jack Smith, accusing him of obstructing a congressional investigation.

November 19, 2025

Two men charged with ramming ICE, Border Patrol in Charlotte

Two men face charges in North Carolina after authorities say they used their vehicles to ram into ICE and Border Patrol agents who were taking part in President Trump's latest immigration surge in Charlotte.

November 18, 2025

Court blocks Texas’ congressional map, dealing blow to GOP’s House hopes

A federal court on Tuesday blocked Texas Republicans' new congressional map, saying it illegally denied minorities their voting rights.

November 18, 2025

House Democrats seek to force vote on Trump’s narco-boat strikes

House Democrats announced legislation Tuesday to block President Trump from carrying out more drug boat strikes in the Western Hemisphere, saying the White House has violated the War Powers Resolution by committing troops without authorization.

November 18, 2025

Most illegal immigrants say they would still move to U.S., poll shows

A majority of illegal immigrants, despite souring attitudes amid President Trump's enforcement surge, would still move to the U.S., according to a major new survey.

November 18, 2025

Judge says New York can ban ICE from making courthouse arrests

A federal judge delivered a scorching defeat to the Trump administration on Monday, saying New York can enforce its law prohibiting ICE from making arrests at state courthouses.

November 17, 2025

DOJ sues to stop California’s anti-ICE no-masking law

The Trump Justice Department filed a lawsuit Monday to stop California's new law that seeks to ban federal immigration officers from wearing masks to conceal their identities, saying the government "does not intend to comply."

November 17, 2025

Illegal immigrant used gun-show loophole to traffic firearms: Feds

Federal authorities have brought a gun trafficking case against an illegal immigrant after he allegedly used private sales at gun shows and cash payments to evade checks that would have flagged him as an illegal buyer.

November 17, 2025

Justices to hear case challenging Trump’s border turn-back policies

The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear a case that asks where the U.S. border begins, and whether someone still in Mexico can claim asylum protections that usually kick in only when someone actually reaches American soil.

November 17, 2025

ICE arrests illegal immigrant ‘wanted terrorist’ who was working as truck driver in U.S.

Homeland Security said Monday it has arrested an illegal immigrant from Uzbekistan who was allowed into the U.S. during the Biden administration and earned a driver's license in Pennsylvania, even though he is wanted as a terrorist in his home country.

November 17, 2025