Supreme Court questions limits on political party spending in federal elections

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative Supreme Court justices appeared to back a Republican-led drive, supported by President Donald Trump’s administration, to overturn a quarter-century-old decision and erase limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates for Congress and president. A day after the justices indicated they would overturn a 90-year-old decision limiting the president’s power to fire independent agency heads, the court on Tuesday took up a 2001 decision that upheld a provision of federal election law that is more than 50 years old. The Republican committees for House and Senate candidates filed the lawsuit in Ohio in 2022. Democrats are calling on the court to uphold the law.

About 400 immigrant children were detained longer than the recommended limit, ICE admits

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Legal advocates concerned over the prolonged detention of immigrant children in federal custody are sounding the alarm before the federal court. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement submitted a status report in an ongoing federal civil lawsuit aimed at protecting children. The federal agency reported that about 400 children were held for longer than the recommended 20-day limit in August and September. Advocates for the children expressed concern over whether ICE has the lawful justification to keep children there for long-term periods, including five children held 168 days. .

Congressional lawmakers hear from Navy admiral overseeing boat strikes

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Navy admiral who is retiring early from command of the campaign to destroy vessels allegedly carrying drugs near Venezuela spoke to key lawmakers Tuesday as Congress seeks more answers on President Donald Trump’s mission, which, in one instance, killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of an initial strike. The classified video call between Adm. Alvin Holsey, who will be retiring from U.S. South Command in the coming days, and the GOP chairs and ranking Democrats of the Senate Armed Services Committee represented another determined step by lawmakers to demand an accounting from the Department of Defense on the threats against Venezuela and the strikes, especially after a report that two survivors were killed during one operation in September.

Opponents of Trump-backed redistricting in Missouri submit a petition to force a public vote

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Opponents of Missouri’s new congressional map have submitted thousands of petition signatures calling for a statewide referendum on the plan backed by President Donald Trump. Organizers of the petition drive said they turned in about 300,000 signatures Tuesday to the secretary of state’s office. That’s well more than the roughly 110,000 signatures needed to suspend the U.S. House districts from taking effect until a public vote can be held next year. But the signatures still must be formally verified by election authorities. Republicans hope the new voting districts could help their party win additional seats in Congress in next year’s midterm elections.