CNN Politics

The Biden administration's most senior intelligence officials defended their push to boost diversity in the ranks of the intelligence community in a congressional hearing on Wednesday, amid attacks from Republicans that such efforts are a distraction from core national security priorities.

An internal investigation into US Border Patrol agents on horseback who confronted migrants in Texas, remains ongoing, a month after Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas committed to concluding the probe within "days."

The House select committee investigating January 6 has granted short postponements of the scheduled depositions of individuals who helped plan the rallies and events leading up to the attack on the Capitol, a committee aide told CNN.

A January 6 riot defendant with ties to the Proud Boys, who was recently profiled by CNN for promoting false-flag conspiracies about the insurrection, will plead guilty to a misdemeanor for illegally protesting in the Capitol building, his lawyer confirmed on Tuesday.

Sen. Joe Manchin on Wednesday resisted a last-ditch move by Democrats to impose a new tax on billionaires to help pay for President Joe Biden's sweeping social safety net plan, the latest sign of the major headwinds facing the White House as it tries to lock down a deal to advance the ambitious agenda.

Attorney General Merrick Garland is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, where he is likely to face fierce Republican blowback to a memo he issued addressing threats to school boards, as well as bipartisan heat for the FBI's handling of the Larry Nassar probe.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday excoriated Virginia Republican Glenn Youngkin during his final event with Democrat Terry McAuliffe ahead of next week's election, repeatedly comparing the gubernatorial candidate to former President Donald Trump.

Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed Wednesday that the Justice Department has "new evidence" in its ongoing review of the decision not to prosecute two former FBI officials who were accused of mishandling the investigation into former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday that he wants "as much as possible" of special counsel Robert Durham's eventual report to be released publicly.

The State Department has issued the first US passport with an "X" gender marker as it seeks to implement gender-inclusive polices, the department announced Wednesday.

The White House said Wednesday it would not be hosting a traditional Halloween celebration this year due to President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden's overseas travel.

Democrats seemed to move further apart over the course of the last 24 hours, laying bare the very real risk that President Joe Biden will fall short in his effort to secure an agreement before he arrives on the global stage later this week.

There are multiple major developments on stories we've spent a lot of time covering in What Matters.

The latest back-and-forth in the race to be Virginia's next governor is centered on the value of teaching a Toni Morrison novel in commonwealth schools, highlighting Republican Glenn Youngkin's attempt to make the culture wars around education the major issue of the race as Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe accuses him of using a "racist dog whistle."

America's freshest and most emotive political battle is now raging over its schools as kids and teachers get drawn into the cultural and ideological fights dominating national and local politics.

The House select committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol plans to subpoena John Eastman, a conservative lawyer who had worked with then-President Donald Trump's legal team and drafted various ways to overturn Joe Biden's election, a committee aide told CNN on Tuesday.

"I am a hunter -- and I think you should be hunted," a woman can be heard saying in a voicemail left for Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in September. "You will never be safe in Arizona again."

Democrats are within striking distance of securing agreement on two critical components of President Joe Biden's domestic agenda, according to a source familiar with the negotiations, as they work through final language on the universal preschool and child care components of the package.

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Cindy McCain as the US ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, securing a longtime Republican ally of President Joe Biden for a spot in his administration.

At least five former Trump administration staffers have voluntarily spoken with the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, CNN has learned.