Breaking News

Echoes of 1776 in today’s divisive politics

It’s easy to forget that Americans are voting in a year that marks the 250th anniversary of the nation’s Declaration of Independence. You don’t hear much about the declaration in the campaign rhetoric, and most people would bristle at the notion that the sublime message of the founding ...

Leo XIV becomes first pope to vote in a US general election

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has become the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. general election, casting a mail-in ballot in a contest that will decide America’s political future as the Trump era slowly comes to an end. The Vatican confirmed Friday that the Chicago-born pontiff had ...

Almanac for Oct. 31, 2026

Today is Saturday, Oct. 31, the 304th day of 2026. There are 61 days left in the year. This is Halloween. Today in history: In 1984, Indira Gandhi, India’s Prime Minister for more than 15 years, was assassinated by two of her own security guards. Also on this date: In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation making Nevada the 36th state, eight days before the presidential election. In 1913, the Lincoln Highway, the first automobile highway across the United States, was dedicated. In 1941, work was completed on the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, ...

A future of Social (In)Security

“We will always protect Social Security, Medicare!” says President Donald Trump. That would be nice. But when I look at these programs’ balance sheets, I don’t see how he’s protected anything. Both Social Security and Medicare are on track to run out of money. Politicians mostly ...

CNN, MS NOW, Politico ask court to make Trump access permanent

Three news outlets have beefed up their legal complaint against the White House over access, saying it is continuing to defy a judge's orders by refusing to let them return to covering President Donald Trump in the Oval Office and on Air Force One — thus violating their free speech rights by ...

Almanac for Oct. 30, 2026

Today is Friday, Oct. 30, the 303rd day of 2026. There are 62 days left in the year. Today in history: In 1974, Muhammad Ali, 32, knocked out George Foreman, 25, in the eighth round of a scheduled 15-round bout known as the “Rumble in the Jungle,” in Kinshasa, Congo (then Zaire), to regain his world heavyweight title. Also on this date: In 1912, Vice President James S. Sherman, running for a second term with Republican President William Howard Taft, died six days before Election Day. (Taft was defeated by Democrat Woodrow Wilson in the election). In 1938, the radio play “The ...