JD Vance was one of the last leaders to meet with Pope Francis
WASHINGTON (AP) -- One of Pope Francis' final encounters before his death was with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who visited the Vatican over the weekend.
Chris Megerian, The Associated Press
While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Chris Megerian, The Associated Press.
Trump to invoke Schedule F to make it easier to fire some federal workers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump is preparing to make one of the controversial personnel changes laid out in the conservative Project 2025 blueprint for his second term.
Nearly 90% of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cut as Trump's government downsizing continues
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump is drastically shrinking the workforce and mission of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, eviscerating an agency created after the Great Recession with the goal of protecting Americans from fraud, abuse and deceptive practices.
Nearly 90% of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cut as as Trump's government downsizing continues
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump is drastically shrinking the size and the mission of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the latest step in an extraordinary reshaping of the federal government.
Layoffs hit Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as Trump's government downsizing continues
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump is shrinking the size and the mission of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the latest step in an extraordinary reshaping of the federal government.
Trump says Musk will probably leave in 'a few months'
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump said Thursday that Elon Musk would likely leave his administration in "a few months," the clearest sign that his most powerful and disruptive adviser will be wrapping up his work inside the government.
Musk could be headed for a Washington exit after turbulent times at Trump's DOGE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- DOGE's days appear to be numbered.
A weekend ritual for Trump's Florida die-hards to get a brief glimpse of their political hero
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The sun was shining outside President Donald Trump's West Palm Beach golf course on Saturday morning when Alan Mentser got a call letting him know that police were shutting down a road nearby. It was almost time to "show the boss a little love."
Trump commutes the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson in financial conspiracy case
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson, a White House official said Friday, just hours before Watson was due to report to prison for a nearly 10-year sentence in a financial conspiracy case.
Trump commutes the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of Ozy Media co-founder Carlos Watson on Friday, just before he was due to report to prison for a nearly 10-year sentence in a financial conspiracy case.
Trump selects a new Tesla on White House driveway to show support for Elon Musk
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump shopped for a new Tesla on the White House driveway on Tuesday, selecting a shiny red sedan to show his support for Elon Musk 's electric vehicle company as it faces blowback because of his work to advance the president's political agenda and downsize the federal government.
Musk eyes Social Security and benefit programs for cuts while claiming widespread fraud
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Elon Musk pushed debunked theories about Social Security on Monday while describing federal benefit programs as rife with fraud, suggesting they will be a primary target in his crusade to reduce government spending.
A single day of Trump and Musk's cost-cutting campaign remakes huge sections of government
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A series of decisions revealed Friday provided a glimpse of the turmoil engulfing federal agencies since President Donald Trump and Elon Musk launched their campaign of disruption, upending how government functions in ways big and small.
Federal workers face second Musk deadline to explain their work last week
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal employees face a midnight deadline to comply with Elon Musk 's second demand for reports on their recent accomplishments, a request that has become a flashpoint within the government workforce.
What to watch when Trump gives his big speech to Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Donald Trump loves a good spectacle, and it's hard to top a speech to a joint session of Congress. The House chamber is packed with lawmakers, and the president's arrival is announced in a booming voice by the sergeant-at-arms, triggering cacophonous applause.
Federal employees may get more demands to justify their work at Elon Musk's direction
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The turmoil that enveloped the federal workforce over the last few days is unlikely to cease anytime soon as the U.S. government's human resources agency considers how to fulfill Elon Musk 's demands.
Trump wants to know if there's gold in Fort Knox. (There is)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- While flying back to Washington aboard Air Force One on Wednesday night, a reporter asked President Donald Trump whether Elon Musk would pursue budget cuts at the Pentagon.
Trump backs idea to send some DOGE savings to American citizens
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he likes the idea of giving some of the savings from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency back to U.S. citizens as a kind of dividend.
Trump moves swiftly on his agenda in a departure from his first-term stumbles
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Months into his first term as president, Donald Trump was furious with the snowballing Russia investigation and ordered White House counsel Don McGahn to make sure that special counsel Robert Mueller got fired.
Trump imposes his vision on America in departure from first-term stumbles
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Months into his first term as president, Donald Trump was furious with the snowballing Russia investigation and ordered White House Counsel Don McGahn to make sure that special counsel Robert Mueller got fired.
Elon Musk dodges DOGE scrutiny while expanding his power in Washington
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Elon Musk made a clear promise after Donald Trump decided to put him in charge of making the government more efficient.
Elon Musk tightens grip on federal government as Democrats raise alarms
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Elon Musk is rapidly consolidating control over large swaths of the federal government with President Donald Trump 's blessing, sidelining career officials, gaining access to sensitive databases and dismantling a leading source of humanitarian assistance.
FEMA faces shakeup under Trump while it wrestles with disasters on both coasts
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump is preparing to reshape the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has been on the frontlines of responding to recent wildfires in California and last year's hurricane in North Carolina.
Trump pardons founder of Silk Road website
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he had pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, an underground website for selling drugs.
Kamala Harris made history as vice president. The rest didn't go as planned
WASHINGTON (AP) -- With Donald Trump's return to the White House only days away, Kamala Harris ' staff packed into her ceremonial office to watch her sign the desk, a tradition performed by her predecessors for decades. Her husband, Doug Emhoff, stood behind her to take a photo as she wielded her Sharpie marker.
Biden to give farewell address from Oval Office as he prepares to cede power to Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden will deliver a farewell address to the nation Wednesday night, seizing what may be his final opportunity to reshape Americans' grim views on his term before he departs the White House.
Biden prepares farewell address from Oval Office as he prepares to cede power to Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden will deliver a farewell address to the nation Wednesday night, seizing what may be his final opportunity to reshape Americans' grim views on his term before he departs the White House.
Harris will travel to Asia, Mideast and Europe during her final week in office
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Kamala Harris plans to close out her term with an around-the-world trip making stops in Singapore, Bahrain and Germany, her office said.
Harris calls it a 'good day' for democracy as she oversees peaceful certification of Trump's victory
WASHINGTON (AP) -- There was no drama on Monday as Kamala Harris oversaw the ceremonial certification of her defeat to Donald Trump. The vice president kept her remarks perfunctory, and she stood with her hands clasped in front of her while the results from each state were read out loud.
Harris oversaw certification of her defeat to Trump four years after he sparked Capitol attack
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday presided over the certification of her defeat to Donald Trump four years after he tried to stop the very process that will now return him to the White House.
Harris will oversee certification of her defeat to Trump four years after he sparked Capitol attack
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday is set to preside over the certification of her defeat to Donald Trump four years after he tried to stop the very process that will now return him to the White House.
How American presidents have planned their own funerals
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Jimmy Carter's memorial journey will end at his house in the tiny town of Plains, Georgia, where he grew up on a peanut farm. That is where his wife, Rosalynn, was laid to rest last year in a burial plot that they chose years ago.
Trump's words of opposition stop a bipartisan budget deal in its tracks with Musk's help
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan congressional budget negotiations, rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats after billionaire ally Elon Musk whipped up outrage toward the bill and cheered on Republican lawmakers who announced their opposition.
Trump brings chaos back to Washington by attempting to kill bipartisan budget deal with Musk's help
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan congressional budget negotiations on Wednesday, rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats as billionaire ally Elon Musk whipped up outrage toward the bill and cheered on Republican lawmakers who announced their opposition.
Trump brings chaos back to Washington by attempting to kill bipartisan budget deal
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump delivered a probable death blow to bipartisan congressional budget negotiations on Wednesday, rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats and increasing the risk of a government shutdown right before Christmas.
Trump chooses Herschel Walker as US ambassador to Bahamas
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Herschel Walker, the football legend who unsuccessfully ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, has been chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to be ambassador to the Bahamas.
Kamala Harris tells students to 'stay in the fight' after the election
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kamala Harris on Tuesday urged anyone who is disappointed by her defeat in last month's election to "stay in the fight" as Donald Trump prepares to take office, hinting that she won't be stepping off the political stage anytime soon.
Biden calls for ban on congressional stock trading
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden endorsed a ban on congressional stock trading in an interview that's being released this week, belatedly weighing in on an issue that has been debated on Capitol Hill for years.
Kamala Harris will deliver a post-election message to Maryland students
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kamala Harris will deliver a speech to students in Maryland on Tuesday in what will likely be her most extensive remarks since losing the election to Donald Trump.
Kamala Harris is set to deliver a post-election message to Maryland students
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kamala Harris will deliver a speech to students in Maryland on Tuesday in what will likely be her most extensive remarks since losing the election to Donald Trump.
In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In the history of American politics, there's no shortage of presidents who promised to shake up Washington once they got to the White House. But Donald Trump may prove to be in a class of his own, and he appears more interested in beating the federal government into submission than recalibrating it.
Elon Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second term
WASHINGTON (AP) -- When Elon Musk first suggested a new effort to cut the size of government, Donald Trump didn't seem to take it seriously. His eventual name for the idea sounded like a joke too. It would be called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a reference to an online meme featuring a surprised-looking dog from Japan.
What to know about Linda McMahon, Trump's pick for Education secretary
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Linda McMahon has been a constant presence in Donald Trump's tumultuous orbit, serving in his first administration and supporting his presidential campaigns. Now he's chosen her to serve as Education secretary.
Trump promises to turn Washington upside down. He's being welcomed back anyway
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The fireplace was crackling in the Oval Office on Wednesday morning as President Joe Biden shook hands with Donald Trump and congratulated him on his election victory.
The hardest job in Washington? A look at those who have served as chief of staff for Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Susie Wiles will be the latest occupant of the hottest hot seat in Washington -- Donald Trump's chief of staff.
Democrats hoped Harris would rescue them. On Wednesday, she called Trump to concede
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kamala Harris called President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday to concede the election and congratulate him on his victory, according to a senior adviser to the vice president.
Democrats hoped Harris would rescue them. On Wednesday, she will publicly reckon with her loss
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Once viewed as a potential savior for the Democratic Party after Joe Biden 's reelection campaign stalled, Kamala Harris and her supporters are reckoning with a profound rejection by American voters in this year's presidential election.
Democrats hoped Harris would rescue them. On Wednesday, she will reckon with her loss
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Once viewed as a potential savior for the Democratic Party after Joe Biden 's reelection campaign stalled, Kamala Harris and her supporters are reckoning with a profound rejection by American voters in this year's presidential election.
A presidential campaign unlike any other ends on Tuesday. Here's how we got here
WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's the election that no one could have foreseen.
Four things to know from Kamala Harris' latest podcast interviews
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In today's fragmented media environment, podcasts have become prized venues for politicians to reach voters. Kamala Harris recently conducted two interviews that were released this week. One was with Shannon Sharpe, a former NFL player who hosts "Club Shay Shay" and the other was with Brene Brown, an academic whose podcast is called "Unlocking Us."
In a tight election where every vote counts, Harris is trying to squeeze a few out of Trump's base
WASHINGTON (AP) -- This year's presidential election could come down to microscopic margins, so Kamala Harris is hunting for votes in even the most unlikely of places. One of her latest targets is Donald Trump 's demographic base -- white people who didn't attend college.
Four memorable moments from Kamala Harris' CNN town hall
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kamala Harris went to a Philadelphia suburb on Wednesday night for a CNN town hall, where she faced questions from undecided voters. The event was arranged after Donald Trump declined to participate in a second debate with her.
Higher education, fresh optimism, more Democratic: Takeaways from a key county in Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON (AP) -- One of the most important signs of how people will vote is how much education they have. Voters who attended college are much more likely to back Democrats, while those without degrees usually go Republican.
Those early Zoom meetings got people fired up for Harris. Now they're trying to get them to vote
WASHINGTON (AP) -- When Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and Kamala Harris jumped in, a cascade of Zoom meetings with hundreds of thousands of participants popped up seemingly out of nowhere and helped propel her to the Democratic nomination.
Harris and Lizzo praise Detroit - in contrast to Trump - ahead of an Atlanta rally with Usher
DETROIT (AP) -- Vice President Kamala Harris appeared with Lizzo on Saturday in the singer's hometown of Detroit, marking the beginning of in-person voting and lavishing the city with praise after Republican nominee Donald Trump recently disparaged it.
Harris is making a campaign push in Michigan and Georgia, with assists from singers Lizzo and Usher
DETROIT (AP) -- Kamala Harris will appear with Detroit-born singer Lizzo as the Democratic presidential nominee marks the beginning of in-person early voting in the city on Saturday.
Harris and Trump target Michigan as both parties try to shore up 'blue wall' votes
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will both be scouring for votes in Michigan on Friday as they try to lock down support in this key political battleground.
Kamala Harris will sit down with Bret Baier for her first Fox News interview
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Kamala Harris will be interviewed by Fox News anchor Bret Baier on Wednesday in Pennsylvania as she steps up her travel and conversations with media outlets in the closing stretch of the presidential campaign.
In Michigan, Harris works to solidify union support amid signs some of it could be slipping to Trump
REDFORD CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- Vice President Kamala Harris is visiting the union stronghold of Flint in the critical swing state of Michigan on Friday as she battles with Donald Trump for working-class voters who could tip the scales in this year's election.
Harris and Trump battle for labor support as dockworkers suspend strike
DETROIT (AP) -- Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the union stronghold of Flint on Friday as she battles with Donald Trump for working-class voters who could tip the scales in this year's election.