Latest News from The Hill

Candidates face off on affordability in final California gubernatorial debate

By: The Hill

Published on: May 15, 2026, 3:31 am

Seven candidates running for California’s top office engaged in a fifth and final debate on Thursday evening that largely centered around the issue of affordability.  The candidates were asked to provide their closing pitch to voters to address a growing number of cost of living concerns, including rising gas, grocery and housing prices in the...

Trump blames Biden for US 'declining' after Xi comments on 'Thucydides trap'

By: The Hill

Published on: May 15, 2026, 2:12 am

President Trump late Thursday invoked his predecessor in attempting to explain comments by Chinese President Xi Jinping as the two leaders meet during a high-stakes visit, blaming former President Biden and his administration for the U.S.'s "decline." "When President Xi very elegantly referred to the United States as perhaps being a declining nation, he was...

Do gas tax holidays actually bring relief at the pump?

By: The Hill

Published on: May 15, 2026, 12:45 am

Trump wants to suspend the federal gas tax, but state-level gas tax breaks could have a bigger impact at the pump, says one expert.

Ratcliffe meets with Cuban officials as CIA warns negotiation window 'will not stay open indefinitely'

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 11:49 pm

CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a trip to Cuba Thursday to meet with officials amid negotiations that have followed President Trump’s public musings that he may invade the island nation. A CIA official also stressed Thursday that the window for negotiations may have a timeline, adding that “the Cubans should have no illusions that the...

McMaster calls on South Carolina lawmakers to return for redistricting special session

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 11:27 pm

The governor of South Carolina announced a special legislative session on Thursday to push through a new congressional map that would effectively eliminate the state’s singular Democratic House seat. The move is the latest in a widespread redistricting effort from both parties ahead of the November midterm elections. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive...

Comey says he 'never' considered asking Biden for preemptive pardon

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 10:59 pm

Former FBI Director James Comey said Thursday that he “never” considered asking former President Biden for a preemptive pardon before President Trump returned to office last year and wouldn’t have accepted one if given. “I don’t know,” Comey responded after CNN’s Kasie Hunt asked him whether he thought Biden might have granted him one if...

Senate panel clears crypto bill

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 10:56 pm

{beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story Senate panel advances crypto bill with bipartisan support A cryptocurrency regulation bill advanced out of the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, clearing a key hurdle with the support of a pair of Democrats following a last-minute bipartisan push. © Greg Nash The Senate panel voted 15-9 to send...

House Ethics panel investigates sexual harassment claims against Chuck Edwards 

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 10:39 pm

The House Ethics Committee announced Thursday it is investigating claims of sexual harassment made against Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.).  The committee said in a statement it is “reviewing allegations” that Edwards “may have created or fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment” in violation of the House’s code of conduct. The announcement...

Trump and Xi's initial meeting reveals dueling priorities

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 10:27 pm

President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping brought dueling priorities to their high-stakes summit in Beijing, with Xi pressing Trump on Taiwan while Trump focused on trade, business and farmers. Trump showed up with nearly 20 top executives from companies like Tesla and SpaceX, Nvidia, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Boeing and GE Aerospace, among others. He told Xi...

SCOTUS preserves abortion pill access — for now 

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 10:21 pm

Presented by Lilly {beacon} Health Care Health Care PRESENTED BY The Big Story SCOTUS preserves abortion pill access — for now The Supreme Court on Thursday ensured the abortion pill mifepristone will continue to be available through the mail without an in-person appointment with a clinician while a lawsuit is argued. © Natalie Behring/Getty Images The justices halted a...

Additional money for Iran conflict faces challenges, GOP senators warn

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 10:18 pm

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Additional money for Iran conflict faces challenges, GOP senators warn Republican senators are saying that any request from President Trump for tens of billions of dollars to pay for the Iran war will have a tough...

Fetterman: Democratic base becoming 'increasingly anti-American'

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 10:07 pm

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) on Wednesday accused the Democratic base of becoming "increasingly anti-American" amid calls against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, Iran and Cuba. Reason magazine's Nick Gillespie, asked Fetterman on the "Reason Interview" podcast about what the senator thinks of his politics now, having backed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a democratic socialist, in...

Comey says Trump seems 'off' compared with 2017

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 9:53 pm

Former FBI Director James Comey said Thursday that “something’s off” with President Trump, arguing the president’s behavior has become more erratic and self-obsessed since his first term. “I mean, I've always thought Donald Trump was a little bit off, but whoa, compared to even to six years ago, something's off,” Comey told CNN’s Kasie Hunt...

Supreme Court preserves abortion pill access over Alito, Thomas dissents 

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 9:37 pm

Abortion pills can remain available through the mail for the immediate future after the Supreme Court on Thursday paused a lower court ruling that would have blocked access while a lawsuit proceeds.  The justices halted a May 1 order from the conservative U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit that reinstated a requirement that women must visit a...

Ohio GOP congressman sues ex-wife over abuse allegations

By: The Hill

Published on: May 14, 2026, 9:27 pm

Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) on Wednesday filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, the daughter of Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), for accusing him of physically abusing her. Miller and Emily Moreno filed for divorce in August 2024 and have been engaged in a custody battle over their young daughter. Since then, Miller claims...