MadAboutPolitics.com - Featured News

Featured News

Today's Political News Compilation - Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Mar 18
  • 18
  • 0
map.png
Below are some of the top political news stories of the day:
1773892991294.png

Director of the White House National Economic Council Kevin Hassett stands before a television interview of the White House, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

ap.png
US national debt surges past $39 trillion just weeks into war in Iran​

By FATIMA HUSSEIN
Updated 6:47 PM CDT, March 18, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — The national debt surpassed a record $39 trillion on Wednesday, a milestone that comes just weeks into the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

The unprecedented figure highlights competing administration priorities, from passing a massive tax law and boosting defense spending and immigration enforcement to chipping away at the debt itself — the latter of which Donald Trump promised to do as both a candidate and as president.

The Government Accountability Office outlines some of the impact of rising government debt on Americans — including higher borrowing costs for things like mortgages and cars, lower wages from businesses having less money available to invest, and more expensive goods and services. Advocates for a balanced budget also warn that the long-term trend of borrowing more and paying more in interest will force Americans to face tougher fiscal tradeoffs ahead.

Michael Peterson, chair and CEO of the nonprofit Peter G. Peterson Foundation, created to raise awareness of America’s long-term fiscal challenges, said in a statement that “we must recognize this alarming rate of growth and the significant financial burden we are putting on the next generation.” ..

READ THE FULL STORY - AP
www.usatoday.com

White House offers concessions as DHS funding impasse drags on

TSA lines across the country are lengthening and terrorism threats are on the rise as the Department of Homeland Security remains partially shut down.
www.usatoday.com
apnews.com

Democrats storm out of Justice Department leaders' briefing on the Epstein files

Democratic lawmakers have stormed out of a closed-door briefing on the Jeffrey Epstein files by Justice Department leaders, and say they will push to force Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer questions under oath about the case.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.usatoday.com

How the "Death to America" chant shaped Iranian views

For decades, Iranian children were forced to chant "Death to America." It left some deeply conflicted.
www.usatoday.com
apnews.com

State Department cut jobs with deep expertise in Middle East as Iran crisis escalates

The widening war in Iran is exposing big gaps at the State Department, especially in the bureau that handles the Middle East.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.aljazeera.com

US intel chief Gabbard says Iran was not rebuilding enrichment prior to war

Gabbard's testimony contradicts one of several justifications Trump has given for launching war with Iran.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com
www.foxnews.com

Leaked teachers' union K-12 training presentation rails against Trump administration, red states

Nation's largest teachers union faces criticism for political activism after leaked training docs called democracy 'at stake' and targeted GOP states.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
apnews.com

Ex-counterterrorism official says he wasn't allowed to share concerns about Iran war with Trump

A former senior counterterrorism official who resigned over the Iran war says he and other national security officials with concerns about U.S. strikes on Iran were not allowed to express those concerns to President Donald Trump.
apnews.com apnews.com
abcnews.com

'Low impulse control': GOP Sen. Paul confronts Trump’s DHS pick Markwayne Mullin at confirmation hearing over 'violence'

If his nomination passes, he could be confirmed as soon as next week.
abcnews.com abcnews.com
www.bbc.com

Five takeaways from Markwayne Mullin's hearing to be Homeland Security secretary

The agency Mullin is vying to run entered its fifth week without funding, and concerns surrounding the budget loomed over questions.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
apnews.com

Trump pays his respects in Delaware to 6 US service members killed in the Middle East

President Donald Trump was present as the remains of six U.S. service members returned from the Middle East to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.cbsnews.com

Senate votes down effort to restrict Trump's Iran war powers

The Senate defeated a war powers resolution on Wednesday that aimed to block President Trump from ramping up the war with Iran, as the operation approaches a fourth week.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com
www.usatoday.com

Stratton survives battle. New faces emerge. Illinois primary takeaways

Juliana Stratton is likely to become the 6th Black woman senator in U.S. history after winning her primary with an anti-Trump message.
www.usatoday.com
apnews.com

Strikes hit world's largest natural gas field in Iran, and Tehran retaliates with more attacks

Iran has broadened its strikes on major energy facilities in the Middle East, eliciting strong warnings from Gulf Arab states that called it a dangerous escalation that threatened to draw them into direct combat with Tehran.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.cbsnews.com

Justice Department blocked release of secret Epstein drug probe file, Sen. Ron Wyden says

Sen. Ron Wyden says he believes the government had "ample evidence" that Epstein was involved in drug trafficking.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com
abcnews.com

Former counterterrorism official Joe Kent under investigation over alleged leaks: Sources

Joe Kent, the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, is under criminal investigation for potentially leaking classified information, sources said.
abcnews.com abcnews.com
apnews.com

About 90 ships cross the Strait of Hormuz as Iran exports millions of barrels of oil despite the war

About 90 ships including oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of the war with Iran.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.bbc.com

Trump says US will 'massively blow up' major Iranian gas field if it attacks Qatar again

The US "knew nothing" about an Israeli attack on the South Pars gas field, the US president says, but warns Tehran against further retaliation.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
...
See complete list…
General Politics World News
See complete list…

Latest Posts from our Message Boards

Huntn
Miscellaneous Trump (17 Viewers)
    • LOL
462 463 464 465 466 467
Replies
8,392
Views
521,337
Heathen
Heathen
US/Israel and Iran- (26 Viewers)
    • Like
    • Mad
104 105 106 107 108 109
Replies
1,947
Views
60,684
Dragon
Dragon
superchuck500
Trump and MAGA seize America's 250th birthday celebration (4 Viewers)
    • Mad
2
Replies
32
Views
1,655
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
superchuck500
Report: Trump to fire Noem (Update: Markwayne Mullin up for DHS) (2 Viewers)
    • Like
    • LOL
2 3 4 5 6
Replies
90
Views
3,396
GrandAdmiral
GrandAdmiral
superchuck500
Will “mass deportation” actually happen (28 Viewers)
    • Facepalm
    • LOL
    • Mad
454 455 456 457 458 459
Replies
8,259
Views
438,356
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
superchuck500
Cuba (1 Viewer)
2 3 4
Replies
65
Views
1,952
efil4
MT15
Epstein and Trump (6 Viewers)
    • Mad
    • LOL
    • Like
91 92 93 94 95 96
Replies
1,720
Views
100,772
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Huntn
The Capitalist End Game Engineered by the GOP (1 Viewer)
    • Like
5 6 7 8 9 10
Replies
162
Views
5,659
LA 2 L.A.
superchuck500
The trade and economy mega-thread (6 Viewers)
184 185 186 187 188 189
Replies
3,391
Views
234,888
UriUT
superchuck500
Is Russia about to invade Ukraine? (6 Viewers)
    • Like
238 239 240 241 242 243
Replies
4,358
Views
398,938
zztop
zztop
MT15
What happens to the Republican Party now? (9 Viewers)
    • Like
    • LOL
    • Love
453 454 455 456 457 458
Replies
8,240
Views
907,036
MT15
MT15
superchuck500
The Trump Cabinet and key post thread (8 Viewers)
    • Like
    • Facepalm
93 94 95 96 97 98
Replies
1,753
Views
190,523
MT15
MT15
MT15
Voting Law Proposals and Voting Rights Efforts
    • Like
    • Mad
86 87 88 89 90 91
Replies
1,622
Views
208,884
DaveXA
Bayouboy
Explain how Trump has so much support (3 Viewers)
    • Like
27 28 29 30 31 32
Replies
573
Views
50,751
LA 2 L.A.
SaintForLife
Media Tracker
    • Chuckle
    • Like
154 155 156 157 158 159
Replies
2,850
Views
316,547
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
View more…

Latest Political News Feed

Ex-FBI agents who worked on Trump 2020 election probe sue over firings

  • News source: Politics - CBSNews.com
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 3
Washington — Two former FBI agents who helped investigate President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results sued the federal government on Thursday, alleging they were wrongfully terminated simply because they worked on the probe.

The lawsuit, filed against FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and their respective agencies, is the latest in a growing number of cases being filed by former agents who allege they were fired for political reasons without due process.

The lawsuit does not name the two former...
Continue reading...
Reply

Book excerpt: "Stand" by Cory Booker

  • News source: Politics - CBSNews.com
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 2
We may receive an affiliate commission from anything you buy from this article.

"We are more than a government," writes New Jersey Senator Cory Booker. "We are a nation, a people bound by shared bedrock virtues."

In his new book, "Stand" (to be published March 24 by St. Martin's Press), Booker tells us that, at a time when America is splintered in many areas of public life, virtue is a strategy that can awaken our sense of common cause.

Read the introduction below, and don't miss Faith Salie's interview with Cory Booker on "CBS Sunday Morning"...
Continue reading...
Reply

Slotkin presses DHS pick on ICE at polls, says she can’t trust Trump to allow ‘free and fair’ election

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 4
Homeland Security Secretary-designate Markwayne Mullin was challenged Wednesday over concerns that the Trump administration could position ICE agents near polling places this November.

The back-and-forth with Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., comes amid warnings from some on the right that many blue states’ election security policies are potentially allowing illegal immigrants to cast ballots for races they are prohibited from participating in.

Illegal immigrants are allowed to vote in certain local elections, starting with Takoma Park, Maryland, in...
Continue reading...
Reply

Sarah Sanders flipped off, kicked out of restaurant that claims employees were 'uncomfortable'

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 3
Republican Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is speaking out over an incident in a restaurant in her home state where she says she was treated rudely and asked to leave by staff while having lunch.

"Last week I was having lunch with two other moms at a restaurant when the owner approached a member of the State Police Executive Protection Detail and said my presence made their employees feel threatened and told us to leave," Sanders said in a statement Thursday about her recent dining experience at The Croissanterie restaurant in Little Rock...
Continue reading...
Reply

DOJ fires warning shot at Letitia James over transgender treatments for minors

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 3
FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Justice is warning New York Attorney General Letitia James to back away from her fight with NYU Langone Health over its decision to stop providing certain transgender treatments to minors, arguing federal law does not require the hospital to offer the treatments.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a letter Wednesday obtained by Fox News Digital that the DOJ disagreed with James' determination that the hospital’s policy was discriminatory. Blanche warned the department would defend the hospital in litigation...
Continue reading...
Reply

Hawley launches investigation into abortion drug manufacturers over 'grave risks' to women

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 2
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is launching investigations into two mifepristone manufacturers that he says profited off the abortion drug despite evidence that it "poses grave risks to women."

Hawley notified the two companies, Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, in letters addressed to the heads of the companies that were obtained by Fox News Digital. The letters notify company administrators that he is opening an investigation via the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, which he chairs.

"Mounting evidence suggests that...
Continue reading...
Reply

Hochul pleads for wealthy New Yorkers to return from red states like Florida, Texas as tax base 'eroded'

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 2
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul indicated that the Empire State needs wealthy individuals paying taxes in the state to help fund social programs, but noted that the state's tax base has "eroded."

During remarks at Politico's "New York Agenda: Albany Summit" event last week, the Democratic governor explained that she needs individuals with a "high net worth to support the generous social programs that we wanna have in our state."

She highlighted the issue by suggesting that wealthy individuals should visit Palm Beach, Florida, to "see who you can bring...
Continue reading...
Reply

Texas Senate hopeful Talarico in hot seat for calling men in women’s sports a ‘far-right conspiracy’

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 3
FIRST ON FOX: Top Democratic candidate James Talarico, who is running for U.S. Senate in Texas, is facing criticism for suggesting concerns about biological males in girls’ sports are a "far-right conspiracy."

Since rising to the national stage, Talarico, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, has faced intense criticism for his history of highly controversial, progressive statements and policy positions.

Now, the latest Talarico controversy stems from an unearthed 2021 interview with Fox 7 Austin in which he referenced "trans children" in...
Continue reading...
Reply

California’s trans agenda suffers another legal blow after attempt to undercut SCOTUS order fails

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 3
Conservatives celebrated Tuesday after a federal appeals court denied California’s request to narrow a Supreme Court ruling on transgender policies, two weeks after the high court dealt the state a major blow in the same case.

"California has now lost at the district court, lost at the Supreme Court, and been turned away by the Ninth Circuit," Executive Vice President of the Thomas More Society Peter Breen said in a statement. "The state has repeatedly tried to paint parents who don’t immediately accept their children’s assertion of a new name and...
Continue reading...
Reply

Sen Kennedy urges 'smart lawyers' to rework SAVE America Act for simple-majority path

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 2
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., in his patented off-the-cuff, southern style, urged the "smart lawyers" in Congress and beyond to rework the SAVE America Act to pass Senate parliamentarian "muster," so it can move to law with a simple budget reconciliation majority.

"You don't know till you try, and we haven't tried," Kennedy said Wednesday night during the brief Senate debate window on the federal election integrity bill seeking voter I.D., proof of citizenship, vetted voter rolls and mail-in ballot reforms.

"And if this bill is as important as...
Continue reading...
Reply

Inside Joe Kent’s abrupt fall as GOP backlash grows over antisemitism accusations, FBI probe

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 8
Joe Kent rose on the right as a combat veteran turned political insurgent — a former Green Beret and CIA officer who channeled his battlefield experience into a critique of America’s "endless wars" and the D.C. establishment that sustained them.

A vocal ally of President Donald Trump and a participant in post-2020 election challenges, Kent became a prominent voice in the populist wing of the GOP.

Now, his recent resignation as director of the National Counterterrorism Center — and his accusation that the war in Iran was driven by "pressure from...
Continue reading...
Reply

Pentagon seeks at least $200B from Congress for Iran war

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday the Pentagon will ask Congress for additional funding related to the Iran war as Operation Epic Fury continues into its third week.

Speaking at a Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth said the supplemental request would help cover the costs of operations and replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles.

"As far as $200 billion, I think that number could move, obviously. It takes money to kill bad guys," he told reporters, confirming reporting from The Washington Post that the Department of War is seeking that level of...
Continue reading...
Reply

Transcript: IAEA's Rafael Grossi on "Face the Nation," March 22, 2026

  • News source: Politics - CBSNews.com
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 7
The following is the full transcript of the interview with International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi, a portion of which will air on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 22, 2026.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're joined now by the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi. It's good to have you here.

DIRECTOR GENERAL RAFAEL MARIANO GROSSI: Thank you. It's good to be here.

MARGARET BRENNAN: These are some very serious times, particularly for you and your portfolio. Can you explain to our audience, can Iran's nuclear...
Continue reading...
Reply

A lot of Iran's nuclear capabilities "still has survived," UN watchdog chief says

  • News source: Politics - CBSNews.com
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, tells "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan that Iran still has a lot of its nuclear capabilities even though Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told Congress the country's enrichment program was obliterated. "A lot still has survived. They have the capabilities, they have the knowledge, they have the industrial ability to do that," Grossi said.
Continue reading...
Reply

Pentagon targets Iran-linked militias in Iraq as Hegseth vows to 'finish the job' for fallen US troops

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said the U.S. military is striking "Iranian-aligned militia groups" in Iraq as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth vowed Thursday to "honor" the sacrifice of six U.S. service members killed in a plane crash there last week.

President Donald Trump, Hegseth and Caine on Wednesday attended the dignified transfer of the six fallen soldiers at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The Pentagon said last week that the U.S. forces were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a...
Continue reading...
Reply

Pence urges Senate to ‘restore public confidence’ with nationwide voter ID law

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
EXCLUSIVE: Former Vice President Mike Pence says that a national voter ID law "is truly an idea whose time has come."

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Pence urged the Senate to "make voter ID the law of the land in all 50 states." The Senate is currently debating the SAVE America Act, which is strongly championed by Pence's former boss, President Donald Trump.

The SAVE Act, which stands for Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, narrowly passed the GOP-controlled House in February mostly along party lines. But it's stalled in the...
Continue reading...
Reply

House Democrats vote against deporting immigrants who harm police dogs, horses

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
Nearly all Democrats opposed legislation Thursday targeting noncitizens who harm law enforcement animals.

Lawmakers voted 228-190 largely along party lines to approve the measure, with just 15 Democratic lawmakers voting "yes." All Republicans who voted supported the legislation.

The Bill to Outlaw Wounding of Official Working Animals (BOWOW) Act, introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., would make any noncitizen who is convicted of or admits to harming animals used in law enforcement operations deportable and not allowed to return.

"The dogs and horses on the front lines of our federal law enforcement efforts alongside our officers deserve our protection," Calvert said upon introducing the legislation. "[It] sends a clear message that we will stand up for our four-legged friends and have zero tolerance for any immigrants who assault them."
Continue reading...
Reply

Paxton racks up Texas endorsements as bitter Cornyn runoff hits fever pitch

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 4
EXCLUSIVE: The Texas Senate primary runoff is reaching a fever pitch as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton receives a slate of new endorsements from major state lawmakers and candidates over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

The bitter rivals have been lobbing increasingly personal attacks at each other after a bruising primary election in which neither candidate achieved the 50% threshold to receive the GOP nomination.

Now, Paxton has received 13 new state-level political endorsements, including prominent Texas Republican Sens. Bob Hall and...
Continue reading...
Reply

Are US and Israel in lockstep in Iran war? Deciphering Trump's post after gas field attacks

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 6
What does Trump's Truth Social post after gas field attacks tell us about US-Israeli alignment?
Continue reading...
Reply

Chad warns Sudan it will retaliate after drone strike on mourners kills 17

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
President Idris Mahamat Déby orders the military to be on high alert and a "total closure" of the border.
Continue reading...
Reply

Mullin survives bruising hearing with Dem help, inches one step closer to becoming next DHS chief

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 6
A Senate Democrat proved the decisive vote to advance Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to the next round of his confirmation journey after an explosive hearing.

That’s because Sen.
Continue reading...
Reply

Georgia gubernatorial hopeful vows to ‘ban DEI’ but his own company touted diversity and inclusion

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
FIRST ON FOX: Rick Jackson, who is seeking the Republican nomination in the Georgia gubernatorial race, appeared to support Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies at Jackson Healthcare, according to unearthed audio of a former DEI executive at his company, but Jackson is now promising to put an end to the DEI push if he becomes the governor.

"We’ll ban DEI insanity and criminalize reverse discrimination," Jackson said in a campaign ad last month.

Jackson’s calls to end DEI appear to run counter to praise he received from Matthew Harrison...
Continue reading...
Reply

Spain's king welcomes Mexico's World Cup invite after 'abuse' comments

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 8
News of the invitation emerges after the monarch acknowledged "a lot of abuse" during the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
Continue reading...
Reply

US intelligence chief says Iran's regime 'intact' but 'degraded'

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
Lawmakers pressed intelligence officials about the Iran war, and if the Islamic Republic had posed an imminent threat.
Continue reading...
Reply

Senate committee advances Markwayne Mullin's nomination for DHS secretary

  • News source: Politics - CBSNews.com
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
Washington — The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday advanced Sen. Markwayne Mullin's nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security, setting up a vote before the full chamber as early as next week.

In an 8 to 7 vote, the committee advanced Mullin's nomination. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, the committee's chairman, was the sole Republican to vote against advancing the nomination. But support from Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania allowed the nomination to move forward.

The vote came after...
Continue reading...
Load more… Reply

Share this page

General News Feed

Fact Checkers News Feed

Back
Top Bottom