President is granting a on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers, as worries persist that the newly launched could crush domestic manufacturing.
Mayors from four major cities testified Wednesday as Republicans take aim at arguing that they impede the and protect people who are in the United States illegally.
And a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from that many scientists say will endanger patients and cost jobs.
Here's the latest:
Trump meets 8 former Gaza hostages at the White House
The former captives included Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani.
鈥淭he President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories,鈥 White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. 鈥淭he hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home.鈥
Trump issues 鈥榣ast warning鈥 to Hamas, demanding all remaining hostages be returned to Israel
Trump issued what he called a 鈥渓ast warning鈥 to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, directing a sharply worded message as the White House confirmed that the president had recently dispatched an envoy for unprecedented direct talks with the militant group.
Trump, in a statement on his Truth Social platform soon after meeting with eight former hostages, added that he was 鈥渟ending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.鈥
鈥淩elease all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,鈥 Trump said. 鈥淭o the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision.鈥
Unapologetic Rep. Al Green says, 鈥業 would do it again鈥
Republicans are looking to formally rebuke Green, of Texas, for interrupting Trump鈥檚 joint address to Congress and refusing take his seat.
House Speaker Mike Johnson eventually called on the sergeant at arms to restore order by removing Green.
Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse, the censure resolution鈥檚 sponsor, said 鈥渞espect for the institution is paramount鈥 and that Green 鈥減erformed one of the most shameful acts that I鈥檝e ever seen on this floor.鈥
Green, before speaking in his own defense, went up to Newhouse and shook his hand.
He explained his actions by saying the president indicated he had a mandate to cut Medicaid. Green said Trump doesn鈥檛 have a mandate to cut the program that many of his constituents rely on.
鈥淭his is a matter of principle. This is a matter of conscience,鈥 Green said. 鈥淭here are people suffering in this country because they don鈥檛 have health care.鈥
Chicago mayor doesn鈥檛 take committee comments personally
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says his experience as a middle school teacher prepared him for his appearance in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
He spoke to reporters after the roughly six-hour-long hearing involving four Democratic mayors of what are known as 鈥渟anctuary cities,鈥 including Johnson, ended.
He said he doesn鈥檛 take some of the attacks that were directed at him during the hearing personally.
One committee member said she would be referring the four mayors to the Justice Department over their policies. Johnson said that if that happens, their legal team would review it and proceed accordingly.
House Democrats fail to block an effort
to censure Rep. Al Green for heckling Trump during his address
The parliamentary tactic to table the censure resolution failed with 209 Democrats in support and 211 Republicans against. The result means a final vote on whether to censure Green, of Texas, will likely take place Thursday.
Green was escorted out of the chamber for the disruption early in the Tuesday address when Trump boasted of his election victory and Green countered, 鈥淵ou have no mandate.鈥
House Speaker Mike Johnson told Green to take his seat, but he refused. Johnson ordered the sergeant at arms to restore order by removing Green.
National Parks Service says it鈥檚 implementing orders by removing transgender references on agency websites
Last month, the National Parks Service removed references to transgender people from a website for the Stonewall National monument. The National Parks Conservation Association, a group that advocates for the national park system, said Wednesday that the same thing has since happened on other of the service鈥檚 websites, which The Associated Press verified.
The National Parks Service said in an email Wednesday afternoon that it鈥檚 been removing references to transgender people on agency websites to implement Trump鈥檚 executive order that calls for the federal government to define sex as only male or female and rejects that people can transition from one gender to another.
There was a further order from the acting interior secretary at the time telling the agency鈥檚 departments to do so.
Trump welcomes 13-year-old cancer survivor to the Oval Office after honoring him during address
D.J. Daniel got an honorary U.S. Secret Service badge and a nationally televised standing ovation during Trump鈥檚 address to Congress on Tuesday.
But the fun in Washington wasn鈥檛 over for the Texas teen who dreams of being a police officer. Trump welcomed Daniel and his family to the Oval Office on Wednesday.
White House aide Margo Martin posted a brief clip of their interaction on the social platform X. Daniel approached Trump, who was seated at his desk, and hugged him.
鈥淭here鈥檚 one more thing I got for you: a big hug,鈥 the boy told the president.
鈥淭hat was a big evening last night, wasn鈥檛 it?鈥 Trump said to Daniel鈥檚 father.
During border visit, Vance says US forces won鈥檛 invade Mexico
Vice President JD Vance says U.S. forces won鈥檛 invade Mexico despite the president designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, opening the door for potential military action.
Asked about the potential for ground forces during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Vance responded emphatically: 鈥淣o. Next question.鈥
He declined to offer details on any potential air strikes or other military activity.
鈥淭he president has a megaphone, and he鈥檒l speak to those issues as he feels necessary,鈥 Vance said.
Vance went to Eagle Pass, Texas, along with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to tout a drop in illegal border crossings.
Vance said the administration is still working to ramp up its capacity to carry out the mass deportations that Trump promised during his campaign. He blamed a need for more funding and alleged that former President Joe Biden 鈥済utted鈥 the immigration enforcement apparatus.
Justice Department opens investigation into antisemitism at the University of California
The U.S. Department of Justice says it has opened a civil rights investigation into claims that the University of California allowed an 鈥渁ntisemitic hostile work environment鈥 for Jewish faculty and staff.
The investigation will determine if the 10-campus University of California system allowed discrimination against Jewish employees after Hamas鈥 Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian campus protests that followed, the department said in a statement.
The University of California said it had been notified of the decision to open an investigation.
鈥淲e want to be clear: the University of California is unwavering in in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting everyone鈥檚 civil rights,鈥 a UC statement said.
The Trump administration has promised to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism. The administration has opened federal investigations into including Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley.
鈥楾hat鈥檚 it!鈥 Sanctuary cities hearing ends
After roughly six hours, a contentious hearing about 鈥渟anctuary cities鈥 policies in four Democratic major cities is over.
Republican Chairman James Comer said, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 it!鈥 in calling an end to the session.
He added: 鈥淏elieve it or not, this is the best behaved this committee has been all Congress.鈥
AOC grills Adams about the Department of Justice handling his case
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has told NYC Mayor Eric Adams that he should be invoking the right against self-incrimination if he wants to dodge questions about an alleged quid pro quo arrangement with the Trump administration to drop his corruption charges in exchange for immigration enforcement cooperation.
Under questioning, Adams acknowledged that seven career Department of Justice officials resigned after they were ordered to drop his case.
Ocasio-Cortez described the alleged DOJ arrangement they resigned in protest against as a 鈥渇our-alarm fire鈥 that Americans should pay attention to.
鈥淭his is important not just for the city of New York, but for the people of the United States of America,鈥 she said. 鈥淲hat other city, what other individual, what other municipality leader can be next?鈥
It鈥檚 not just the Stonewall website where references to transgender people have disappeared
Last month, the National Parks Service removed references to transgender people from a website for the Stonewall National monument. The National Parks Conservation Association, a group that advocates for the national park system, says the same thing has since happened on other of the service鈥檚 websites.
In some cases, whole items have been removed, including an article about Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender woman who was part of the Stonewall history, as well as The Pride Guide, an interactive workbook on LGBTQ+ history.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really concerned about the erasure of history relevant to all communities,鈥 said Kristen Sykes, the Northeast regional director for NPCA. 鈥淲e would like the American people to be able to get the full breadth of the story.鈥
The Associated Press verified that the pages are no longer available on Park Service sites.
The National Parks Service did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Social Security Administration says it is correcting records of deceased people
The agency said it has made 鈥渟ignificant progress鈥 in identifying and correcting beneficiary records of people 100 years old or older.
During his address to Congress on Tuesday, Trump repeated the claim that millions of people over 100, some up to 360 years old, are collecting Social Security benefits.
The agency said in a Wednesday statement that 鈥渨hile these people may not be receiving benefits, it is important for the agency to maintain accurate and complete records.鈥
A series of reports from the Social Security Administration鈥檚 inspector general in March 2023 and July 2024 state that the agency has not established a new system to properly annotate death information in its database, which included roughly 18.9 million Social Security numbers of people born in 1920 or earlier but were not marked as deceased.
The agency鈥檚 acting commissioner clarified last month that deceased centenarians were 鈥渘ot necessarily receiving benefits.鈥
Federal judge blocks drastic funding cuts to medical research
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from drastically cutting medical research funding that many scientists say will endanger patients and cost jobs.
The new National Institutes of Health policy would strip research groups of hundreds of millions of dollars to cover so-called indirect expenses of studying Alzheimer鈥檚, cancer, heart disease and a host of other illnesses 鈥 anything from clinical trials of new treatments to basic lab research that is the foundation for discoveries.
Separate lawsuits filed by a group of 22 states plus organizations representing universities, hospitals and research institutions nationwide sued to stop the cuts, saying they would cause 鈥渋rreparable harm.鈥
U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston had temporarily blocked the cuts last month. Wednesday, she filed a preliminary injunction that puts the cuts on hold for longer, while the suits proceed.
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Vance tours US-Mexico border by air and holds roundtable with officials
participated in an aerial tour of the by helicopter and is holding a roundtable discussion with law officials.
His trip to Eagle Pass, Texas, is meant to highlight tougher that the White House says has led to since Trump鈥檚 second term began.
Vance is being joined by Defense Secretary and Director of National Intelligence . Trump has yet to visit the border himself since returning the White House on Jan. 20.
About 180 fired CDC employees are invited back, some to fight outbreaks
Emails went out Tuesday to some Centers for Disease Control and Prevention probationary employees who got termination notices last month, according to current and former CDC employees.
A message seen by the AP was sent with the subject line, 鈥淩ead this e-mail immediately.鈥 It said their Feb. 15 termination notices have been rescinded. 鈥淲e apologize for any disruption that this may have caused,鈥 it said.
About 180 people received the reinstatement emails, according to two federal health officials who were briefed on the tally but were not authorized to discuss it and spoke on condition of anonymity.
It鈥檚 not clear how many of them returned to work Wednesday.
French president promises nuclear deterrent against Russia
Emmanuel Macron said he will confer with European allies on using France鈥檚 nuclear deterrent to protect the continent from Russian threats, now that support from the U.S. is less certain.
Macron also said he hopes to persuade President Donald Trump to abandon his threat to impose 25% tariffs on European goods.
In a televised address to his nation, Macron described Russia as a 鈥渢hreat to France and Europe,鈥 and said he had decided 鈥渢o open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent by our (nuclear) deterrent.鈥
Whether or not to use France鈥檚 nuclear weapons, he said, is a decision that remains only in the French president鈥檚 hands.
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GOP representative: 鈥榊our policies are hurting the American people鈥
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida says she鈥檚 asking the Justice Department to investigate Democratic mayors of so-called 鈥渟anctuary cities.鈥
Luna said she didn鈥檛 think the mayors of Boston, Chicago, New York and Denver are 鈥渂ad people鈥 鈥 she said they鈥檙e just 鈥渋deologically misled.鈥
Luna said she鈥檇 be making a case to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
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Texas governor鈥檚 migrant busing campaign called haphazard and inhumane
A by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that transported to so-called sanctuary cities has been a sore point for Democrats at a congressional hearing with big city mayors.
Abbot has said paying to move than 100,000 migrants out of state was a way to relieve pressure on border cities.
But the big-city mayors testifying Wednesday complained that Texas refused to communicate with them.
Several cities filed lawsuits and levied fines against bus companies, which would often drop people far from public transit.
White House confirms 鈥榦ngoing talks and discussions鈥 with Hamas amid ceasefire uncertainty
White House press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday confirmed that U.S. officials have had 鈥渙ngoing talks and discussions鈥 with .
The talks come as the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains in the balance.
Leavitt declined to detail the talks, which were first reported by the news site Axios.
GOP representative contradicts Trump鈥檚 call for mass deportations
President Donald Trump and members of his team have made no secret of wanting to deport immense numbers of immigrants living illegally in the U.S.
In his Tuesday night address, Trump said: 鈥淚 have sent Congress a detailed funding request, laying out exactly how we will eliminate these threats to protect our homeland and complete the largest deportation operation in American history.鈥
But on Wednesday, Republican Rep. indicated otherwise during a congressional hearing on so-called sanctuary policies. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone鈥檚 calling for mass deportation,鈥 he said during one exchange.
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Trump exempts auto imports from Mexico and Canada from tariffs for one month
President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers, amid fears that the trade war could harm U.S. manufacturers.
Wednesday鈥檚 announcement comes after Trump spoke with leaders of the 鈥淏ig 3鈥 automakers 鈥 Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.
鈥淲e are going to give a one month exemption on any autos coming through USMCA,鈥 Trump said in a statement read by his spokesperson, referencing the North American Free Trade Agreement he renegotiated in his first term.
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Pressley, Comer clash in 鈥榮anctuary cities鈥 hearing
Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Republican Chairman James Comer clashed as Pressley was trying to introduce several articles into the record of the proceedings.
Comer repeatedly banged his gavel to get her to stop talking while Pressley continued.
At one point Comer accused Democrats of 鈥渢rying to get thrown out of committee so you can end up on MSNBC.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to put up with it,鈥 Comer said.
Teachers union sues to block anti-DEI 鈥楧ear Colleague鈥 memo
The nation鈥檚 largest teachers鈥 union is challenging a Trump administration ordering schools to end 鈥渞ace-based鈥 practices of any kind or lose their federal money.
The National Education Association鈥檚 federal lawsuit, filed Wednesday in New Hampshire, argues that the Feb. 14 memo violates teachers鈥 free speech rights and is unclear on what practices could run afoul of the memo.
It asks a judge to strike down the Education Department鈥檚 鈥淒ear Colleague鈥 Letter, which gave schools to end any practice that treats people differently based on their race, including in , hiring and any aspect of student life.
The administration argues that diversity policies have discriminated against white and Asian American students.
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Trump and Trudeau speak by phone
Prime Minister is unwilling to lift if President Donald Trump leaves any , a senior government official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The official confirmed Trudeau鈥檚 stance on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The official said Trump and Trudeau spoke by phone around midday. A White House official later confirmed the call.
told the AP that if the tariffs remain, the American and Canadian auto industries will last about 10 days before they start shutting down assembly lines in the U.S. and Ontario.
鈥淧eople are going to lose their jobs,鈥 Ford said.
U.S. said he expected Trump to announce a decision Wednesday afternoon.
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鈥 Josh Boak and Rob Gillies
Immigration czar defends NYC mayor
Trump administration immigration czar Tom Homan went on X to defend Eric Adams, who is among a group of Democratic mayors testifying before Congress on so-called sanctuary city policies.
Adams faced sharp questioning from Democratic lawmakers over his willingness to work with the as the Justice Department works to drop corruption charges against him.
鈥淲atching some of the sanctuary city hearing while on a flight,鈥 Homan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 鈥淥ne Democrat congressman accuses Mayor Adams of 鈥渟elling out New Yorkers鈥 while making a deal with Tom Homan. Simply disgusting. Mayor Adams is trying to protect New Yorkers from violent illegal aliens. He is trying.鈥
Clergy: Morality is at stake as Trump administration dismantles government
A small group of clergy members across denominations and faiths protested on Capitol Hill, calling out the Trump Administration and Congress on issues including cutting funding to aid programs and the targeting of the federal workforce by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Rev. William Barber said the group came to Congress to keep the attention on how lawmakers are spending the people鈥檚 money while attention is turned to the president鈥檚 executive orders.
鈥淚f people鈥檚 lives and livelihoods can be dismissed as waste without due process, we forsake our moral commitments to equality,鈥 Barber said.
Trump fuels Greenland鈥檚 independence fight with his talk of seizing the island
Many from Denmark 鈥 the key issue in a parliamentary election on March 11.
They鈥檙e worried and offended by of their homeland, but they鈥檙e also hopeful.
鈥淓ven though there are strong feelings of sadness, despair, confusion, I think we鈥檙e also stronger than ever,鈥 Aka Hansen, an Inuk filmmaker and writer, told The Associated Press in Nuuk, the capital of the semi-autonomous territory.
She is suspicious of Trump鈥檚 intentions but still thanks him for turning the world鈥檚 attention to her homeland. Like many other Greenlanders, she doesn鈥檛 want to be ruled by another colonial power. But she feels Trump鈥檚 rhetoric has increased the momentum for independence.
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Thousands of USDA workers may get their jobs back
More than 5,000 employees fired by the Trump administration should be put back on the job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to a government panel that enforces workers鈥 rights.
The order by the Merit Systems Protection Board followed a request by the Office of Special Counsel. And while this order applies only to the USDA workers, Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger issued a statement 鈥渃alling on all federal agencies to voluntarily and immediately rescind any unlawful terminations of probationary employees.鈥
The employees were in their probationary periods when they lost their jobs last month. They鈥檒l be on the job for 45 days as an investigation continues.
Mayor strongly defends Chicago鈥檚 immigrant protections
Mayor Brandon Johnson says immigrants help prevent and solve crimes, and that threatening to deport them makes American cities more dangerous.
鈥淪capegoating entire communities is not only misleading, it is unjust and beneath us,鈥 the Democrat said.
The city鈥檚 immigrant protections are decades old, said Johnson, adding that he鈥檚 the mayor of all people in Chicago, whether they have legal status or not. on migrant services and shelter.
More than 50,000 asylum seekers to the nation鈥檚 fourth-largest city, many by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
Trump鈥檚 USAID leader has 鈥榗oncerns鈥 about Supreme Court ruling against funding freeze
Pete Marocco, the Trump political appointee overseeing dismantling of USAID, told a closed-door meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Wednesday that he would review the court鈥檚 ruling reinstating an order to release frozen foreign aid.
That鈥檚 according to Committee Chairman Brian Mast. Committee members noted that Marocco did not directly answer when asked by Democrats if he would obey the high court and unfreeze the funding.
Trump called the spending wasteful and out of line with his foreign policy goals.
In dissent, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that he鈥檚 stunned that the ruling 鈥渋mposes a $2 billion penalty on American taxpayers.鈥
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Musk coming to Capitol Hill amid DOGE fallout
Musk is headed to Capitol Hill to meet privately with Republicans among growing questions about his government-slashing DOGE effort.
The billionaire Trump aide planned a private huddle with Senate Republicans at lunch and a separate meeting with House GOP lawmakers.
The blowback from constituents to government cuts has prompted Speaker Mike Johnson to advise Republicans to skip holding town hall meetings where they are being confronted by protesters.
Under oath, Adams denies agreement with Trump to drop corruption charges against him
New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. A top official at the U.S. Department of Justice has ordered federal prosecutors to drop charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams and halt the ongoing investigation. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Two hours into the hearing, Democratic lawmakers grilled Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat, over his cooperation with Trump鈥檚 immigration officials and the subsequent dropping of corruption charges against him.
鈥淎re you selling out New Yorkers to save yourself from prosecution?鈥 asked Rep. Robert Garcia, of California.
Using a giant printout of a document, Garcia pointed out that a prosecutor resigned rather than dropping the charges.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no deal, no . And I did nothing wrong,鈥 Adams said.
Democrat Eric Adams gets rare praise from Republican lawmakers
Republican Rep. James Comer went out of his way to thank Mayor Eric Adams for embracing the idea of working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, one of the few compliments doled out by Republican lawmakers at the hearing.
Unlike the other panelists, Adams has flown to Florida to meet with Trump, praised him publicly and appeared jointly with his federal immigration officials.
Adams鈥 critics say the collaboration is part of an effort to wriggle out of . But even before Trump was elected, Adams called on city lawmakers to allow the NYPD to collaborate even more with ICE.
10 hackers, 2 Chinese officials charged in cyberespionage targeting US agencies
Ten Chinese hackers have been charged alongside two Chinese law enforcement officers in a global hacking campaign that targeted dissidents, news organizations and U.S. agencies, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
The hacking by workers of I-Soon was done in some cases at the direction of China鈥檚 Ministry of Public Security, which received the stolen information and selected targets for the intrusions as part of what U.S. officials say was a massive intelligence-gathering operation.
Among the targets of the hacking was the U.S. Treasury Department, which disclosed a breach by Chinese actors late last year.
I-Soon is part of a sprawling industry in China, , of private hacking contractors are companies that steal data from other countries to sell to the Chinese authorities.
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Trump administration internal memo: 80,000 employees to be cut from Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs is planning an 鈥渁ggressive鈥 reorganization to cut staff across the sprawling agency that provides health care for retired military, according to internal memo obtained by The Associated Press.
The VA鈥檚 chief of staff, Christopher Syrek, told top agency officials that it鈥檚 objective is to return to 2019 staffing levels of just under 400,000, before the VA expanded to cover veterans impacted by burn pits under the 2022 PACT Act.
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal said 鈥淚t鈥檚 a shameful betrayal, and veterans will pay the price for their unforgivable corruption, incompetence, and immorality.鈥
Government Executive first reported on the internal memo.
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US sanctions Houthi members for weapons procurement
The U.S. sanctioned seven Houthi militants on Wednesday for allegedly procuring weapons from Russia and smuggling military-grade weapons into areas they control in Yemen.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control also sanctioned on a Houthi-affiliated operative and his firm accused of recruiting Yemeni civilians to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine.
鈥淗outhi leaders have shown their intent to continue their reckless and destabilizing actions in the Red Sea region,鈥 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a news release. 鈥淭he United States will use all available tools to disrupt the Houthis鈥 terrorist activities and degrade their ability to threaten U.S. personnel, our regional partners, and global maritime trade.鈥
Wisconsin governor urges congressional Republicans to stand up to Trump
Gov. Tony Evers鈥 open letter Wednesday urges the state鈥檚 Republican congressional delegation 鈥渢o do more than offer vague concern鈥 and to stand up to 鈥渞eckless, chaotic decisions and disastrous cuts to our federal programs and workforce.鈥
The Democratic governor also called on the state鈥檚 six GOP House members and one Republican senator to reject cuts to Medicaid and other federal assistance programs, which he said 鈥渨ould almost certainly blow a devastating hole in our state budget.鈥
Evers鈥 state budget plan would hold $500 million in reserve to deal with potential federal cuts, but he said that may not be enough.
Chicago owes its founding to a Haitian immigrant, mayor says
Chicago Mayor said that crime is down in his city as well, and noted that a Haitian immigrant, , is recognized as a founding settler.
鈥淐hicago is and always has been a proud city of immigrants. Generations of new arrivals, including the descendants of the enslaved during the Great Migration, created a vibrant city where 1 in 5 residents is foreign born,鈥 Johnson said.
Boston鈥檚 mayor opens by noting how much safer her city has become
鈥淟ast year, Boston saw the fewest homicides on record in the last 70 years,鈥 Michelle Wu told the committee, citing a figure backed up by local reporting that mirrors .
鈥淭his federal administration is making hard-working taxpaying, God-fearing residents afraid to live their lives,鈥 said Wu, a self-described 鈥渄aughter of immigrants鈥 and Roman Catholic who testified with an ash cross on her forehead in acknowledgement of .
Denver mayor scolds Texas governor for dumping immigrants on his city
Mayor Mike Johnston said Texas forced the city to provide for
鈥淭he question Denver faced was, what will you do with a mom and two kids dropped on the streets of our city with no warm clothes, no food, and no place to stay?鈥 Johnston said.
He also noted how Colorado police officer , a Mexican immigrant, died pursuing a carjacking suspect. 鈥淚f we want to tell the story of what impact immigrants have in America, we must tell the full story,鈥 Johnston said.
Big-city mayors are now testifying to the House oversight committee on 鈥榮anctuary鈥 policies
They鈥檙e challenging the idea that such policies mean they鈥檙e protecting criminals.
New York Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, said 鈥淚f an undocumented individual witnesses a crime but is afraid to call 911 for fear of being turned over to federal authorities, criminals will roam free.鈥
Adams described first-hand experience with this dilemma 鈥 he and other officers caught the suspect of a crime, but the witness was was 鈥渁n undocumented man from China鈥 who wouldn鈥檛 file a police report because he feared putting 鈥渁 target on his back with federal immigration authorities.鈥
Beijing and US Defense Secretary trade talk of war
Trump suggested that eliminating persistent U.S. trade deficits is the goal of the 20% tariffs he鈥檚 imposed on imports from China.
with 15% tariffs on U.S. farm exports and more export controls on U.S. companies.
鈥淚f war is what the U.S. wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we鈥檙e ready to fight till the end,鈥 China鈥檚 embassy posted on X on Tuesday night.
In response Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News Channel鈥檚 鈥淔ox & Friends鈥 that 鈥渢hose who long for peace must prepare for war.鈥
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Canadian finance minister: 鈥榃e鈥檙e not interested in meeting in the middle鈥
鈥淐anada wants the tariffs removed,鈥 Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not willing to lift Canada鈥檚 retaliatory tariffs if Trump leaves any tariffs on Canada, a senior government official told The Associated Press. The official confirmed the stance on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Trudeau said Tuesday that Canada will reluctantly respond by on over $100 billion (U.S. dollars) of American goods over the course of 21 days.
Trudeau spoke during a fiery news conference, saying Trump is launching a trade war against the closest friend of the U.S. while 鈥渁ppeasing Vladimir Putin, a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense.鈥
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Loud protest condemns USAID freeze outside House briefing
Protesters shouted condemnations of Trump鈥檚 leadership of USAID Wednesday outside a Capitol briefing on the agency鈥檚 shutdown.
Deputy USAID head Pete Marocco was giving a closed-door briefing to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on cuts eliminating thousands of U.S. foreign assistance programs and dismantling the agency.
鈥淢arocco has blood on his hands! Unfreeze aid now!鈥 the roughly 20 protesters yelled, sitting cross-legged in front of the room doors. Capitol police carried them away one by one.
Marocco and ally Elon Musk have presided over Trump鈥檚 foreign assistance funding freeze, terminating 90% of USAID programs and taking all but a fraction of agency workers off the job through firings and forced leaves.
Trump administration lists hundreds of federal buildings for potential sale
The to close or sell initially included the FBI headquarters and the main Department of Justice building. The deemed them 鈥渘ot core to government operations.鈥
Hours later on Tuesday, the administration issued a revised list with only 320 entries 鈥 none in Washington, D.C. The GSA didn鈥檛 immediately respond to questions about the change.
In a follow-up meeting, GSA regional managers were told their goal is to terminate as many as 300 leases per day, according to an employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
The canceled office leases raise questions about services provided from these offices. The properties include federal courthouses and Internal Revenue Service centers in West Virginia, Utah, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Massachusetts and New York.
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Latino leaders disappointed by lack of solutions in Trump鈥檚 message
Latino leaders said Trump鈥檚 address to Congress prioritized division instead.
Trump had the opportunity to address the nation鈥檚 economic challenges but decided instead to emphasize policies that make life more difficult for working families, said a statement by Voto Latino.
And UnidosUS president Janet Murgu铆a said Trump repeated campaign rhetoric and blamed the previous administration instead of focusing on what is being done to help working class Americans.
鈥淭he focus of the Latino community continues to be the economy and inflation, and we heard very little,鈥 Murgu铆a said.
Veterans speak out on the Trump administration鈥檚 plans to cut the VA鈥檚 budget
Some veterans told The Associated Press they're in favor of Trump鈥檚 proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, while others are strongly opposed.
Stephen Watson is a former Marine who lives in Jesup, Georgia 鈥 he says everyone, including veterans, needs to share in the sacrifice to bring the nation鈥檚 spending under control.
But former Marine Gregg Bafundo, of Tonasket, Washington, disagrees 鈥 he says Trump鈥檚 cuts are only about 鈥渉urting people and breaking things.鈥
The Republican administration鈥檚 plans to cut $2 billion in VA contracts are currently on pause over concerns that critical health services for veterans would be harmed.
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A mayor, baby in arms, prepares to be grilled by Republicans
Mayor just gave birth in January and now her baby daughter has come to Congress.
Ahead of what's expected to be tough questioning by Republicans over the city鈥檚 policies limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement, Wu appeared in the committee hearing room with her baby daughter 鈥 Mira, wearing a pink onesie 鈥 in her arms.
The baby is Wu鈥檚 third. The mayor returned to work just a few weeks after giving birth.
Democrats meanwhile are showing support. Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois spoke ahead of the hearing about the economic contributions of immigrants in Illinois and Chicago. She said it would be illegal to withhold federal funds from cities that limit their cooperation with immigration enforcement.
鈥淥ur communities will not be bullied into compliance with their illegal unconstitutional authoritarian agenda,鈥 she said.
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Trump and first lady offer prayers for holy season Lent
The president and his wife, Melania, offered best wishes to Roman Catholics and Christians observing Lent, which began with Ash Wednesday.
Christians worldwide spend the next 40 days praying and fasting. On Wednesday, they wear crosses of ash on their foreheads as a reminder of their mortality.
鈥淲e offer you our best wishes for a prayerful and enriching Lenten season,鈥 the Trumps wrote.
Trump told Religion News Service in 2020 that he considers himself to be a nondenominational Christian and no longer identifies as Presbyterian.
Leaders of France and Britain could accompany Zelenskyy for another Trump meeting
The French government spokesperson said Wednesday that Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer could travel together with Ukraine鈥檚 leader.
鈥淚t is envisaged that President Macron could eventually travel again to Washington with President Zelenskyy and his British counterpart,鈥 spokesperson Sophie Primas told reporters. She did not elaborate. No trip is being planned yet, Macron鈥檚 office later said.
Macron plans a televised address to his nation Wednesday about what he called the 鈥済reat uncertainty鈥 in global affairs.
Supreme Court rejects Trump push to rebuke a judge in foreign aid freeze
By a 5-4 vote Wednesday, the court told U.S. District Judge Amir Ali to clarify his earlier order that required the Republican administration to release nearly $2 billion in aid for work that had already been done.
Justice Samuel Alito led four conservative justices in dissent, saying Ali lacks the authority to order the payments. Alito wrote that he is stunned the court is rewarding 鈥渁n act of judicial hubris.鈥
US pauses intelligence sharing with Ukraine
The U.S. has paused its sharing of intelligence with Ukraine following Trump鈥檚 decision to withhold military aid for the Ukrainian defense against Russian invaders.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said Wednesday that the U.S. has 鈥渢aken a step back鈥 in its relationship with Ukraine. CIA Director John Ratcliffe called the suspension a 鈥減ause鈥 and that American intelligence and military aid could begin flowing again soon once Trump knows that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is serious about peace.
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Businesses scramble to contain fallout from Trump鈥檚 tariffs
A Minnesota farmer worries about the price of fertilizer. A San Diego entrepreneur deals with an unexpected cost increase of remodeling a restaurant. A Midwestern sheet metal fabricator bemoans the prospect of higher aluminum prices.
Many business owners hoped that Trump would avoid actually . No such luck. And the longer the tariffs stick, the more damage they can do, forcing companies to decide between eating higher costs and passing them along to inflation-weary consumers.
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The Associated Press
