Politics

Political news that affects economic policies and markets.

Politics
Trump reignites America's partisan march on voter ID
An executive order to overhaul the United States' federal election process - including required documentation of citizenship proof - has been met with hostility by Democrats who say that concerns over illegal immigrants casting ballots are unfounded and a "non-issue". The order says the U.S. has failed “to enforce basic and necessary election protections” - calling on states to work with federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute election crimes - with federal funding to be taken away for non-compliance. “Under the Constitution, State governments must safeguard American elections in compliance with Federal laws that protect Americans’ voting rights and guard against dilution by illegal voting, discrimination, fraud, and other forms of malfeasance and error,” the executive order states. “Yet the United States has not adequately enforced Federal election requirements that, for example, prohibit States from counting ballots received after Election Day or prohibit non-citizens from registering to vote.” Why all the fuss?The contention around voter ID laws stems from states' self-governance and federal standardisation efforts and alignment with political parties’ rational election strategies. Conservatives are lo
Politics
Trump downplays Goldberg being added to Signal chat
Top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries has demanded that United States President Donald Trump fire Pete Hegseth after he added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat disclosing war plans in Yemen. In the letter, Jeffries called Hegseth “the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in American history”. “Hegseth’s continued presence in the top position of leadership at the Pentagon threatens the nation’s security and puts our brave men and women in uniform throughout the world in danger,” the letter read. However, before Jeffries' letter was made public, Trump downplayed the severity of the editor-in-chief being added to the Signal chat. In a meeting with U.S. ambassadors, Trump claimed that there was “no classified information” in the chat. “I hear it’s used by a lot of groups,” he said. “It’s used by the media a lot. It’s used by a lot of the military, and I think, successfully, but sometimes somebody can get on to those things. “That’s one of the prices you pay when you’re not sitting in the Situation Room.” Goldberg revealed Hegseth added him to the chat by publishing an articlequoting and showing screenshots from the Signal conversation. Related contentDays after the
Politics
US Speaker discusses dismantling federal courts
United States Speaker Mike Johnson has discussed the possibility of Congress eliminating federal courts, amidst pressure from Republicans to take action against judges who have ruled against President Donald Trump. This follows recent comments from Vice President J.D. Vance where he claimed that judges “aren’t allowed” to block Trump, after court rulings prevented Elon Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (DOGE) from accessing treasury systems. In response to these rulings, the Trump administration has notably called for the impeachment U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who sought to block Trump from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants. Johnson has now floated the idea of eliminating federal courts via Congress, when speaking to reporters on Tuesday. “We do have the authority over the federal courts, as you know. We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts and all these other things,” he said. “But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act.”
Politics
White House: Russia, Ukraine agree to Black Sea truce
Russia and Ukraine have reached an agreement to suspend military strikes on vessels in the Black Sea and pause attacks on energy infrastructure, according to statements from the White House following talks with both sides in Saudi Arabia. The White House noted in two separate statements on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) that Moscow and Kyiv had “agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea”. The agreement could mark a significant step toward de-escalation in the more than three-year conflict, but details on its enforcement and timing remain unclear. Kyiv and Moscow stated they would depend on Washington to enforce the agreements but expressed doubts about each other's commitment to them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that the agreement was effective immediately. "If the Russians violate this, then I have a direct question for [United States] President Trump. If they violate, here is the evidence - we ask for sanctions, we ask for weapons, etc," Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv. "We have no faith in the Russians, but we will be constructive," he added. However, Moscow maintained that the Black Sea tru
Politics
US officials accidentally leak war plans to journalist
United States defence officials appear to have leaked plans for airstrikes in Yemen to a journalist, after he was mistakenly added to a group chat. The group on messaging app Signal allegedly included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently invited to view the messages by a user identified as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, he wrote. “Question is timing,” the user identified as Hegseth wrote on 14 March about airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi faction. “I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space.” A post purportedly from Hegseth on 15 March “contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,” according to Goldberg. Two hours later, as the user specified, explosions were reported across Yemen’s capital city of Sanaa. The users identified as Hegseth, Vance, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller also said the

Politics
'It cannot go on': Greenland slams high-profile US visit
United States President Donald Trump has reiterated his want to annex Greenland and defended U.S. officials' visit to the country. “I think Greenland’s going to be something that maybe is in our future. I think it’s important. It’s important from the standpoint of international security,” Trump said at a cabinet meeting on Monday (Tuesday AEDT). “ It cannot go on the way it is. It’s not going to go on the way it is.” This comes after Greenland leaders criticised high-profile U.S. leaders for their visit to the country. The visit is being led by Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, White House national security advisor, Mike Waltz and energy secretary Chris Wright. Greenland Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede told Greenland newspaper, the Sermitsiaq that the visit was a provocation, slamming Trump for sending Waltz. “The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood,” Egede said. “(Waltz) is Trump's confidential and closest advisor, and his presence in Greenland alone will certainly make the Americans believe in Trump's mission, and the pressure will increase after the visit.” Egede also called for more support from the country’s
Politics
FBI forms task force to investigate attacks on Tesla
The FBI has launched a task force to investigate attacks on Tesla facilities, as protests and vandalism escalate over CEO Elon Musk’s political involvement. The task force was announced shortly after police in Austin, Texas found “incendiary devices” at a Tesla showroom. Vandalism of Tesla cars and properties has risen since Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) organisation began demanding major cuts to the federal government. “The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response,” said FBI director Kash Patel. “This is domestic terrorism. Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.” Protests against Tesla facilities have been ongoing since February due to Musk’s DOGE role, and are often referred to with the hashtag #teslatakedown. Tesla Takedown’s organisers have said they “oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property”. The FBI would be given additional authorities while investigating domestic terrorism, including search warrants that can be applied anywhere in the United States rather than in a specific jurisdiction. Its Joint Terrorism Task F
Politics
Mark Carney calls for snap Canadian election
Newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called a snap election for 28 April. Carney took over from Justin Trudeau as the Prime Minister and leader of the centre-left Liberal Party. In officially released polls, the Conservative Party had been in the lead, but the tides have turned, with the Liberal Party regaining ground due to the United States trade conflicts. “We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty,” Carney said. “President Trump claims that Canada isn’t a real country. He wants to break us so America can own us. We will not let that happen.” This comes as Donald Trump has slapped many tariffs on Canadian goods and repeatedly declared that Canada should become the 51st state of the U.S. As part of his campaign, Carney has also announced tax cuts for the middle class and deepening trade and defence partnerships with countries like the U.K. and France. "This week we reached a new agreement on national defence with Australia to protect Canada," he said, referring to the $6.5 billion purchase of new radar equipment. Ahead of the snap election, the Canadian Conservative Par
Politics
South Korean court strikes down PM's impeachment
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has struck down the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, with President Yoon Suk Yeol’s case also due in the coming days, after the two were suspended from office following Yoon’s declaration of martial law. Yoon briefly instated martial law in December after an investigation was opened into his wife Kim Keon-hee and four allied officials, and was impeached 11 days later. Han, who took over as acting president, was impeached later that month after vetoing bills to investigate Yoon and Kim, and blocking Constitutional Court appointments. “It cannot be determined that Prime Minister Han’s violation of the law constitutes a betrayal of the people’s trust indirectly granted through the President, who has the power to appoint him,” the court said in a statement. Seven of the court's eight justices voted to overturn Han's impeachment, with five saying that he had not violated South Korea's constitution. Han is now set to be reinstated as acting president. The court has yet to announce a projected date for a ruling on Yoon’s impeachment. The court heard final arguments in Yoon’s case on 25 February. Yoon has also been indicted on insurrection charges. He was detained for almost two