Alaska denied benefits to gay couples despite court rulings
April 16 By Mark Thiessen Alaska wrongly denied some same-sex spouses benefits for years by claiming their unions were not recognized even after courts struck down gay marriage bans, court documents obtained by The Associated Press show. The agency that determines eligibility for a yearly…
With Afghanistan, Biden tries to restore ideal of American — not partisan — global deals
April 15 By Chuck Todd The headline from President Biden’s remarks on Wednesday was clear: After 20 years of war, the United States is finally — and fully — withdrawing from Afghanistan. But the president said something else that grabbed our attention: He’s sticking to…
16 states including Alaska back Alabama challenge to Census Bureau’s new privacy tool
April 14 By Mike Schneider Sixteen states are backing Alabama’s challenge to a statistical method the U.S. Census Bureau is using for the first time to protect the privacy of people who participated in the 2020 census, the nation’s once-a-decade head count that determines political…
Patriotism, self-confidence and Joe Biden
April 14 By Miriam Gonzalez Durantez Some countries are self-confident, and some are not. Mine, for example — Spain — is not a confident country: listen to any conversation between Spaniards and, despite their natural pride, they will quickly say with a tone of despair:…
Soaring China-US trade points to ‘political chill, economic heat’
April 13 By Leo Tairon Trade record predicted for 2021, ‘more confidence’ to solve disputes with US There is a high likelihood that China and the US will post a bilateral trade record this year, experts said, as their industries and economies are closely intertwined…
Alaska may sue US over cruise shutdown
April 13 By Anne Kalosh Alaska became the latest state to consider suing the US government over the continued cruise industry shutdown. ‘If we don’t get a positive dialogue this week, that’s a real possibility because the decision will be crushing to Alaska,’ Gov. Mike…
White House budget spikes climate change, other spending; GOP blasts defense proposal
April 12 By Casey Harper President Joe Biden released top-level numbers for his proposed 2022 budget Friday. The $1.5 trillion plan includes major spending increases for domestic projects while keeping defense spending essentially steady with inflation. Biden’s budget proposes a 15.9% increase in non-defense discretionary…
Biden is securing America’s place in the world and challenging China with his bold domestic agenda
April 12 By Frederick Kempe It is hard to overstate the audaciousness of President Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office, which will be marked April 30. Behind it lies a presidential ambition to recharge America while at the same time improving U.S. odds in…
Democrats and Republicans stay quiet as lone legal challenge advances against Alaska’s new ranked-choice voting system
April 11 By James Brooks When Maine’s pioneering attempt to install ranked-choice voting was met with a flurry of lawsuits, Alaskans expected the same thing after voters here approved a sweeping election-reform law in November. So far, that hasn’t happened. Only a single lawsuit has…
Business Faces Tricky Path Navigating Post-Trump Politics
April 11 By Brain Slodysko For more than a half-century, the voice emerging from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s monolithic, Beaux Arts-styled building near the White House was predictable: It was the embodiment of American business and, more specifically, a shared set of interests with…