Trial over Kari Lake’s last challenge to loss in Arizona governor’s race enters 2nd day

By  John Lee Pettimore May 18, 2023  ·  

By TERRY TANG and JACQUES BILLEAUD Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Attorneys for Kari Lake entered a second day Thursday of trying to build a case for the only...

DeSantis criticizes Trump for implying Florida abortion ban is ‘too harsh’

By  John Lee Pettimore May 18, 2023  ·  

Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized Donald Trump for implying that Florida’s new six-week abortion ban is “too harsh,” going after the former president as DeSantis prepares to challenge him for...

Trump-backed Daniel Cameron to face Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in November

By  John Lee Pettimore May 17, 2023  ·  

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Daniel Cameron won the Republican primary for Kentucky governor, becoming the first major-party Black nominee for governor in the state’s history and setting up a...

Key Trump attorney says he’s departing legal team as Mar-a-Lago probe intensifies

By  John Lee Pettimore May 17, 2023  ·  

By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A key lawyer for former President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he was leaving the legal team, a move that comes...

Special prosecutor ends Trump-Russia investigation, saying FBI acted hastily

By  John Lee Pettimore May 16, 2023  ·  

WASHINGTON (AP) — A special prosecutor found that the FBI rushed into its investigation of ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign and relied too much on raw...

Pence allies launching super PAC to back former vice president’s expected 2024 candidacy

By  John Lee Pettimore May 16, 2023  ·  

NEW YORK (AP) — Allies of former Vice President Mike Pence are launching a new super PAC to support his expected candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. “Committed...

Prosecutor ends probe of FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation with harsh criticism, but no new charges

By  John Lee Pettimore May 15, 2023  ·  

WASHINGTON (AP) — A special prosecutor has ended his four-year investigation into possible FBI misconduct in its probe of ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign with withering...

New Chicago mayor’s progressive strategy to be tested amid public safety, growth concerns

By  John Lee Pettimore May 15, 2023  ·  

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson will take office Monday, facing an influx of migrants in desperate need of shelter, pressure to build support among skeptical business leaders,...

Biden’s reelection pitch that he can govern well faces daunting challenges with debt, border, more

By  John Lee Pettimore May 14, 2023  ·  

WASHINGTON (AP) — A showdown with Congress that has the nation’s creditworthiness at stake; a frenzied scene at the border as pandemic restrictions ease; a pivotal foreign trip meant...

AI presents political peril for 2024 with threat to mislead voters: ‘We’re not prepared for this’

By  John Lee Pettimore May 14, 2023  ·  

WASHINGTON (AP) — Computer engineers and tech-inclined political scientists have warned for years that cheap, powerful artificial intelligence tools would soon allow anyone to create fake images, video and...

AP Election Brief | What to expect in Kentucky as Republicans choose a nominee for governor

By  John Lee Pettimore May 13, 2023  ·  

Kentucky Republicans will choose a nominee Tuesday to challenge incumbent Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in one of the most watched elections of the year. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron,...

DeSantis, Trump look to sway Iowa GOP activists at dueling events

By  John Lee Pettimore May 13, 2023  ·  

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump will share the spotlight in Iowa on Saturday, providing a chance to sway influential conservative...

Oregon GOP walkout threatens abortion, trans bills — and senators’ own careers

By  John Lee Pettimore May 12, 2023  ·  

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A boycott by Republican state senators in Oregon threatens to derail hundreds of bills, including on gun control and abortion rights, as a deadline looms...

George Santos pleads not guilty to federal indictment and says he won’t resign

By  John Lee Pettimore May 12, 2023  ·  

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — U.S. Rep. George Santos, infamous for fabricating his life story, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges he duped donors, stole from his campaign and...

Trump’s defiance at the CNN town hall may scare off many voters — but not the GOP base

By  John Lee Pettimore May 12, 2023  ·  

NEW YORK (AP) — The Republicans in the audience laughed when former President Donald Trump mocked a woman who accused him of rape. They cheered when he defended his...