Politics

Why U.S. forces remain in Iraq 20 years after 'shock and awe'

By Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Associated Press

Twenty years after the U.S. invaded Iraq — in blinding explosions of shock and awe — American forces remain in the country in what has become a small but consistent presence to ensure an ongoing relationship with a key military…

Experts say attacks on free speech are rising across the U.S.

By Rebecca Boone, Associated Press

First Amendment experts say attacks on free speech rights are escalating across the United States. Joe Cohn with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression says censorship is proliferating and putting America's culture of individual freedoms at risk.

Garbage piles up as French strike nationwide over pension change

By Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press

French people hoping to preserve their retirement benefits took to the streets in a nationwide protest on Wednesday as a committee of lawmakers meeting behind closed doors validated the wording of President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension plan.

How the 2008 financial crisis fuels today's populist politics

By Will Weissert, Associated Press

Mike Pence and Bernie Sanders are hardly political allies. But after two large bank failures, the conservative former vice president and the democratic socialist senator are striking remarkably similar tones.

As fears renews of bank weakness, stocks tumble on Wall Street

By Stan Choe, Associated Press

Stocks are falling sharply on Wall Street as worries worsen about the strength of banks on both sides of the Atlantic.

Chinese businessman and Bannon business partner arrested in $1 billion fraud conspiracy

By Larry Neumeister, Associated Press

A self-exiled Chinese businessman has been arrested in New York on charges alleging that he oversaw a $1 billion fraud conspiracy.

Secretary of State Blinken says Ethiopia must do more on Tigray peace deal

By Associated Press

Ethiopia needs to make more progress implementing a peace agreement with its northern Tigray region before relations with the U.S. are normalized, visiting Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

WATCH: Biden says he's focused 'intensely' on lowering health care and drug costs

By Amanda Seitz, Zeke Miller, Associated Press

President Joe Biden on Wednesday said his administration was focused “intensely” on lowering health care costs and took aim at “MAGA” Republicans who he said are intent on dialing back Medicare coverage for millions of Americans.

WATCH: White House Budget Director Young testifies before Senate on Biden's 2024 budget

By Associated Press

In addition to deficit reduction, Biden’s budget proposal largely revolves around the idea of taxing the wealthy to help fund programs for the middle class, older adults and families. The GOP already is rejecting the plan.

What we know about the U.S.-Russia military air crash

By Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Associated Press

U.S. and Russian officials had conflicting views of the collision between the MQ-9 Reaper drone and the Russian Su-27 fighter jet — each blaming the other.