Politics & Government

California Attorney General Vows To 'Defend' State's Residents Against Trump Policies

5:05am January 26, 2017

Steve Inskeep talks with California's new Democratic Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who says he plans to defend the state's liberal immigration and environmental policies against the Trump administration.

Crime scene tape hangs in front of a vacant lot where a shooting occurred in December. President Trump tweeted last night about Chicago gun violence, saying he'll "send in the Feds" if the city doesn't fix the carnage.

Chicagoans See Fed Role In Fighting Crime Wave — But Not On Streets

10:47pm January 25, 2017

by David Schaper

President Trump tweeted Tuesday that if the city "doesn't fix the horrible carnage" of its gun violence, he would "send in the Feds." Local officials and residents were skeptical that would help.

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For decades the same test has been used to convict drunk drivers, but defense lawyers argue, science has yet to prove that flunking the standard field sobriety test actually means that a person is high, the way its been proven to measure drunkenness.

Can Sobriety Tests Weed Out Drivers Who've Smoked Too Much Weed?

10:39pm January 25, 2017

by Tovia Smith

Massachusetts' highest court is considering whether roadside sobriety tests for marijuana can be used as evidence of driving stoned in the same way they are used to determine if a driver is drunk.

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Rick Moore, a dairy farmer in Canton, N.Y., has a solar thermal array to heat water he uses to spray down milking equipment.

As Obama Clean Power Plan Fades, States Craft Strategies To Move Beyond It

10:39pm January 25, 2017

The plan is on hold while a legal battle plays out. Even if it's upheld, the Trump administration is likely to appeal to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, states are looking at energy alternatives.

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President Trump called for a major investigation into voter fraud on Wednesday. This comes after widespread criticism of his unverified claim that up to 5 million people voted illegally.

Despite Criticism Of Claims, Trump Seeks Investigation Into Voter Fraud

10:39pm January 25, 2017

by Pam Fessler

In a tweet, President Trump called for a major investigation into voter fraud. But some election experts say there's no evidence to back his claim.

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GOP Lawmakers Look To Shape Health Care Strategy At Philadelphia Retreat

10:39pm January 25, 2017

by Susan Davis

Republicans have many ideas on how to replace the Affordable Care Act, but little consensus on how exactly to do it. Lawmakers are hoping to shape that strategy at a 3-day policy retreat in Philadelphia.

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EPA Scientists' Work May Be Subject To Review By Trump Team

10:39pm January 25, 2017

by Geoff Brumfiel

The Trump transition at the Environmental Protection Agency is off to a bumpy start. External communications have been frozen, and this morning NPR reported that even academic papers by agency scientists will be subject to review during the transition.

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'1984' Tops Amazon Bestseller List After Trump Aide's 'Alternative Facts'

10:39pm January 25, 2017

by Lynn Neary

George Orwell's 1949 novel, 1984, was a hit when it came out, slipped into obscurity, and then was reborn after the BBC adapted it. It's remained popular ever since, but the Trump administration's "alternative facts" have pushed it to the top of the Amazon bestseller list.

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The official Twitter account of Badlands National Park in South Dakota was the first to tweet climate change facts in defiance of the gag order placed on the Environmental Protection Agency.

Rogue National Park Accounts Emerge On Twitter Amid Social Media Gag Orders

8:48pm January 25, 2017

by Wynne Davis

Countering the Trump administration's restrictions on public communications, unofficial Twitter accounts for the National Park Service have been tweeting facts about climate change.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Wednesday the president is adding lawyers to his staff to handle ethics complaints.

Trump And His Organization Lawyer Up For The Ethics War Ahead

7:08pm January 25, 2017

by Peter Overby

Eric Trump called it an "exciting new chapter at the Trump Organization." But to progressive group Public Citizen, "It wouldn't matter if the Trump Organization hired Archbishop Desmond Tutu."