Politics and Government News

Stay updated with the latest political and government news. MPR News covers local, state and national politics, providing in-depth analysis and updates on policies, elections and governmental actions.

December 24, 2020 6:23 AM

COVID-19 relief bill could stave off historic wave of evictions

A rental assistance program in the bill is key for helping millions of struggling renters at risk of losing their homes in the middle of winter as the pandemic rages on.

by Chris Arnold

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December 23, 2020 6:32 PM

Trump pardons former campaign chairman Paul Manafort

President Trump has issued pardons and sentence commutations for 29 people, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law. Also receiving a pardon is Roger Stone, another longtime Trump associate caught up in the probe of Russia and the Trump campaign.

by The Associated Press

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December 23, 2020 4:50 PM

Shock and dismay after Trump pardons Blackwater guards who killed 14 Iraqi civilians

"We were surprised that the American President issued a decision to pardon these criminals, murderers and thugs," says an Iraqi man who was shot in the 2007 massacre at Baghdad's Nisour Square.

by Laurel Wamsley

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December 23, 2020 4:03 PM

What's at stake with Trump's threat: COVID-19 relief and a government shutdown

President Donald Trump has introduced a round of Christmas chaos that imperils direct payments to millions of Americans suffering due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

by Domenico Montanaro

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December 23, 2020 2:53 PM

Minnesotans plan for expected federal relief payment

Most Minnesotans are expecting more COVID-19 relief money from the federal government, even as President Donald Trump floats the possibility of vetoing the stimulus package congressional Republicans and Democrats finally settled on. The president says direct payments should be more than three times larger than the $600 the House and Senate came up with.

by Mark Zdechlik

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December 23, 2020 2:28 PM

Trump vetoes defense bill, setting up possible override vote

President Donald Trump has vetoed the annual defense policy bill, following through on threats to veto a measure that has broad bipartisan support in Congress and potentially setting up the first override vote of his presidency.

by The Associated Press

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December 23, 2020 6:30 AM

Trump threatens to torpedo COVID relief with new demands

The president assailed the bipartisan $900 billion package in a video he tweeted out Tuesday night and suggested he may not sign the legislation. He called on lawmakers to increase direct payments for most Americans from $600 to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for couples.

by The Associated Press

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December 23, 2020 4:31 AM

Congress gets COVID-19 vaccine, but members fight over who should have priority

Top leaders and rank-and-file members are getting the first wave of COVID-19 vaccines. It could speed up the return to business as usual. But some lawmakers say members should wait behind others.

by Claudia Grisales

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December 23, 2020 3:08 AM

Dominion employee sues Trump campaign and allies, alleging defamation

Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell are among those named in the suit by Eric Coomer, Dominion's product security director, who is in hiding over threats stemming from conspiracy theories about his work.

by Bente Birkeland

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December 22, 2020 7:34 PM

Trump assails COVID relief bill, suggests he may not sign

President Donald Trump is blasting the bipartisan $900 billion pandemic relief package that Congress just passed and is suggesting that he may not sign it. Trump complained in a video that he tweeted out Tuesday night that the bill delivered too much money to foreign countries, but not enough to Americans.

by The Associated Press

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