Trump administration expands Medicaid fraud crackdown to Florida

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 3:24 am

The Trump administration is opening a fraud probe in Florida as it expands its nationwide crackdown on state Medicaid programs, according to the Associated Press. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz appeared to confirm the move in a Tuesday post on the social platform X, claiming that the state had...

Former House Democrat wins party nod in Illinois primary

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 2:59 am

Former Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) is projected to win the Democratic primary for Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s (D-Ill.) seat, as she eyes a congressional comeback, according to Decision Desk HQ. Bean represented a previous iteration of the Chicago-area 8th Congressional District until she lost a bid for a fourth House term in 2010. In Tuesday's primary, the former...

Biss wins Democratic primary in Illinois House race defined by Israel support 

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 2:41 am

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss is projected to win the Democratic primary for Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s (D-Ill.) seat in a contest that was largely defined by candidates’ support for Israel, according to Decision Desk HQ. Biss, who enjoyed Schakowsky’s endorsement in the race, defeated Illinois state Sen. Laura Fine (D) and progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh, among others, in the Democratic...

Illinois congressional candidate admits 'ill-advised' dates with student in 2004

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 2:35 am

Daniel Biss (D), the mayor of Evanston, Ill., who is running for Congress, went on a “handful of dates” with a former student while teaching at the University of Chicago in 2004, his campaign disclosed on Monday just as voters prepared to head to the polls. The revelation came after Megan Wachspress, a Stanford University lecturer...

Live updates: Stratton clinches Democratic Senate primary in Illinois

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 2:28 am

The polls are now closed in Illinois, where voters advanced Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Dubrin (D-Ill.). Here's what to look out for as the primary results for several key House races come in. On Capitol Hill, the Senate began its consideration of the SAVE America Act,...

Stratton, backed by Pritzker, wins Democratic nod for Durbin seat

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 2:21 am

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) is projected to win the Illinois Senate Democratic primary — a major win for both her and Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender who put his name and money behind her, according to Decision Desk HQ. Stratton defeated Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) in the Democratic contest to...

GOP hangs on to Pennsylvania state House seat in special election

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 1:54 am

Republican Andrea Verobish is projected to defeat Democrat Caleb McCoy in a special election for Pennsylvania’s 79th House District, according to Decision Desk HQ. Verobish is slated to fill the seat vacated by former state Rep. Lou Schmitt, a Republican, who resigned in December after he was elected judge on the Blair County Court of...

Republican secures win in Pennsyvlania state House special election

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 1:54 am

Republican Catherine Wallen is projected to defeat Democrat Todd Crawley in a special election for Pennsylvania’s 193rd House District, according to Decision Desk HQ. Wallen is expected to fill the seat vacated by former state Rep. Torren Ecker (R), who resigned in December after he was elected judge on the Adams County Court of Common...

Pritzker, Bailey to face off in Illinois governor race rematch

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 1:21 am

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and former state Sen. Darren Bailey (R) are projected to face each other for a November rematch in the Illinois governor’s race, according to Decision Desk HQ. Pritzker, who’s running for a third term, ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Bailey, who ran against Pritzker for the same job in 2022 — and lost — defeated...

Miller wins Illinois House Democratic primary, beating Jackson Jr.

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 1:10 am

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller was projected to win the Democratic primary for Rep. Robin Kelly’s (D-Ill.) seat, ending former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s (D-Ill.) comeback bid, according to Decision Desk HQ.  Miller won out in a crowded field for the state’s 2nd Congressional District, a safely blue seat in the Chicago area, with notable support from...

José Andrés's World Central Kitchen says it's providing TSA workers with meals amid DHS shutdown

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 1:02 am

World Central Kitchen (WCK) has provided over 8,000 free meals to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers amid a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  The shutdown is stretching into a fifth week as lawmakers in Congress continue to negotiate a funding package for the department, which includes funds for TSA. The...

Pearl Jam asks fans to call senators to vote no on SAVE America Act

By: The Hill

Published on: March 18, 2026, 12:09 am

Rock band Pearl Jam is calling on its fans to urge senators to vote against the SAVE America Act, as debate on the nationwide voting ID bill got underway on Tuesday night. “Make your voice heard. Call your senators today and let them know that you oppose all forms of voter suppression. Tell them to...

Thune says he’s 'pessimistic' about winning Democratic support for SAVE America Act

By: The Hill

Published on: March 17, 2026, 11:52 pm

Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said on Tuesday afternoon he’s “pessimistic” that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act will receive enough Democratic votes for the voter registration reform legislation to pass.  “I’m always pessimistic that Democrats are actually going to come to their senses and do what common sense would dictate they...

Fewer Americans trust government's childhood vaccine recommendations: Survey

By: The Hill

Published on: March 17, 2026, 11:21 pm

Americans’ trust in the federal government’s recommendations for childhood vaccines has fallen in recent months, according to a new Axios/Ipsos survey released a day after a federal judge blocked changes made to vaccine policies by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The Axios/Ipsos American Health Index found that 6 in 10 surveyed...

Anthropic ban roils federal agencies

By: The Hill

Published on: March 17, 2026, 11:07 pm

{beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story Pentagon clash with Anthropic throws agencies into limbo Federal agencies and their contractors have been left in limbo as the Trump administration moves to cut off Anthropic from government systems without formal orders amid a brewing legal battle with the AI company. © Greg Nash As agency leaders...