Politics

A judge has blocked, for now, a Texas law drag show performers fear will shut them down

By Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press

The text expands the definition of criminal sexual conduct to include sexual gestures that use "accessories or prosthetics that exaggerate male or female sexual characteristics" and are done in front of children.

Texas Attorney General Paxton pursued perks beyond impeachment allegations, former staffers say

By Jake Bleiberg, Paul J. Weber, Associated Press

Twenty articles of impeachment accuse Paxton of bribery and abuse of office that span years of highly publicized criminal and whistleblower accounts.

Texas high court allows law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors to take effect

By Jim Vertuno, Associated Press

A state district judge last week ruled the pending law violated the rights of transgender children and their families to seek appropriate medical care.

Liberal groups seek to use the 14th Amendment to block Trump from 2024 ballots

By Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press

The groups cite a rarely used provision of the 14th Amendment barring from public office those who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and then engaged in "insurrection" against it.

WATCH: Pentagon holds news briefing amid coup in Gabon

By Sam Mednick, Associated Press

The ouster of Gabon's president by mutinous soldiers appears to have been well organized and capitalized on the population's grievances against the government as an excuse to seize power, analysts said.

WATCH: White House calls on Congress to pass short-term funding bill to keep government operating

By Josh Boak, Associated Press

Without such congressional approval, parts of the federal government could shut down when the new budget year begins Oct. 1.

Two ex-Proud Boys leaders get long sentences in Jan. 6 Capitol attack

By Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press

The 17-year prison term for organizer Joseph Biggs and 15-year sentence for leader Zachary Rehl are some of the longest sentences handed down yet in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack.

Justice Clarence Thomas acknowledges 3 trips on Republican megadonor's plane last year

By Mark Sherman, Associated Press

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is acknowledging that he took three trips last year aboard a private plane owned by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow.

Trump pleads not guilty in Georgia 2020 election case, will skip next week's hearing

By Kate Brumback, Associated Press

Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty and waived arraignment in the case accusing him and others of illegally trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.

Important inflation tracker shows small increase in sign of slowing prices

By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press

An inflation gauge closely tracked by the Federal Reserve remained low last month, adding to signs of cooling price increases and raising the likelihood that the Fed will leave interest rates unchanged when it next meets in late September.