Politics

Politics shapes the decisions that affect our daily lives, from the policies governing public services and the economy to local initiatives and international relations. Whether it's developments in Westminster, devolved governments, or local councils, political news influences everything from employment and healthcare to housing and education. Understanding the political landscape helps readers make informed choices about the issues and figures that matter to them.

This section covers the full spectrum of political activity: major policy announcements, electoral developments, parliamentary business, and the people driving change across the country. It includes analysis of how political decisions impact communities and the broader implications of governance at every level, from central government to local authorities.

For many readers, staying informed about politics is essential to understanding current events and their potential consequences. Whether you're interested in mainstream political developments, emerging controversies, or the human stories behind policy decisions, this topic provides the context and reporting needed to follow the political story as it unfolds.

Trump’s desperate move to stop looming midterm bloodbath as economic downturn tears through American households

August 21, 2026

Donald Trump has moved to allow 300,000 tons of ground beef to be imported into the United States tariff-free over the next three months, in an effort to bring down food prices ahead of the November midterm elections. The intervention comes as Republicans face the prospect of heavy losses at the polls, with soaring living…
Senator asks US government watchdog to review how feds use hacking tools

August 21, 2026

US Senator Ron Wyden has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate how federal law enforcement agencies use hacking tools and spyware against Americans, arguing there is a serious lack of transparency around the practice. In a letter sent on Friday, he called for a comprehensive review of the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration,…
As a US attorney, I see fentanyl’s horrifying toll up close. Congress must act now

August 21, 2026

A US federal prosecutor argues in an opinion piece that fentanyl has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, describing the daily human toll he witnesses through his office’s cases and grieving families. He contends that current sentencing laws are inadequate to address the scale of the crisis and calls…
Hayden Panettiere’s final PETA campaign captured weeks before her death marked lifetime of advocacy work

August 21, 2026

Hayden Panettiere, who died suddenly at the age of 36, is being remembered for her final campaign with the animal rights group PETA, shot in Los Angeles just weeks before her death. The images, released this week, show the actress protesting against marine parks such as SeaWorld, which PETA says condemn dolphins to a lifetime…
What’s with Trump’s war against the US Navy?

August 21, 2026

So far, the president has insisted that the Navy go back to using steam, decreed that the Strait of Hormuz will be a U.S. territory, and demanded that new aircraft carriers be redesigned to make them look “better.”
New PE Firm BlackSun Raises $1 Billion For Sports, Media Fund

August 21, 2026

BlackSun Private Equity, a newly launched firm led by figures from politics, sport and entertainment, has raised $1 billion for its first fund, with another $1 billion committed, targeting investments in professional sports and franchise ownership. Unlike many private equity firms now circling sports franchises, BlackSun says it will emphasise community and stakeholder participation, extending…
Live updates: Trump campaigns in South Carolina, Vance heads to Ohio

August 21, 2026

President Trump is set to hit the campaign trail on Friday in an attempt to give Republican Sen. Darline Graham (S.C.) one last boost before the special GOP primary runoff on Tuesday. Graham, a political newcomer who replaced her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), is going up against Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) for the…
Wet Leg Cover The Cardigans For Deutsche Telekom’s New Gen Z Campaign

August 21, 2026

Wet Leg frontwoman Rhian Teasdale stars in a new Deutsche Telekom campaign called “Not A Passenger,” aimed at Gen Z audiences and framed around reclaiming personal agency amid the noise of social media, influencers and AI content. The accompanying video is styled as an homage to the Cardigans’ 1998 video for “My Favorite Game,” with…
Bridget Phillipson accuses senior Reform and Conservative politicians of making racist statements

August 21, 2026

Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson has accused senior figures in Reform UK and the Conservative Party of making racist statements, as part of a wider warning that racism and sexism are becoming “normalised” in Britain. Speaking on the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast, she named Conservative shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy and Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick, rejecting…
Iran labels new US sanctions ‘unjust’

August 21, 2026

Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s Parliament, pushed back Friday against “unjust” U.S. economic sanctions placed on the country by the Trump administration earlier this week. “We must plan for the unjust sanctions so that we can overcome them,” Qalibaf told a group of economic representatives in Baghdad, according to a message shared on…