Articles from The Hill (114)
Shutdown threatens court operations
The government is shut down — and if it drags on, the judiciary won’t be spared. Federal courts may be forced to limit their operations as soon as next week after funding lapsed at midnight. The...
Trump’s central African peace deal is in danger of failing — act now to save it
The president regularly touts the progress made thus far in the DRC, but the administration needs to flex its muscles to salvage the effort.
Top Democrats knock ‘erratic and unhinged’ Trump behavior as government shuts down
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called President Trump’s behavior “erratic and unhinged” as government funding lapsed overnight. In...
Tru Fru products recalled over possible metal contamination
The products may include metal objects that may “cause traumatic injury.”
Donna Brazile: Democrats’ path to victory in 2025 and beyond
Election Day 2025 is just around the corner. While it may not be covered with the same intensity as the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats can no longer afford to focus on what happened in 2024. To...
Five questions hanging over the government shutdown
The federal government has shut down for the first time in more than six years. Here are the big questions hanging over this shutdown.
Expedited removals are sidelining legal rights in immigration cases
In September, a federal judge condemned the deportation of a group of migrants from West Africa to Ghana, saying the government had acted outside established procedures. The group had been placed...
Live updates: Trump’s layoff threat hangs over government shutdown
The federal government shut down overnight Wednesday, as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on a stopgap funding bill amid a Sept. 30 deadline. President Trump’s administration...
When will shutdown end? Lawmakers have no clue
The intense partisan politics that drove Washington into a shutdown are making the path out of it hard to see. It’s a stare-down, and one side has to blink — with Republicans and Democrats each...
5 takeaways as a government shutdown begins
The government shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after lawmakers did little to prevent it over the last two days. Republicans are adamant that their proposed measure to keep the government ticking...
Health insurance costs for 22 million in limbo as shutdown begins
As the first government shutdown since 2019 begins, GOP leaders insist any talk of extending COVID-era enhanced subsidies for ObamaCare plans won’t happen until at least mid-November. “We are not...
Cyberthreat sharing law expires as government shuts down
A law allowing private companies to share information about cybersecurity threats with the government expired Wednesday after Congress failed to reauthorize the legislation amid a wider shutdown...
The longer the shutdown, the worse for schools, education experts say
Education advocates are biting their nails as the government shutdown begins. A contingency plan for the Education Department has been put in place, with 95 percent of its staffers furloughed,...
Trump’s 2020 election interference looms over Georgia governor primary
The 2020 election is looming large over the Georgia GOP gubernatorial primary as three men who played critical roles in defending or challenging the state’s presidential results look to succeed...
Mamdani faces skepticism from New York moderates
When Zohran Mamdani won the New York City Democratic mayoral primary in June, he vowed to win over moderate voters and other potential supporters who were unconvinced of his views. And while he...
US government shuts down after Congress fails to find funding deal
The federal government officially entered a shutdown at midnight on Wednesday after congressional leaders were unable to reach a deal on a stopgap spending bill, leaving lawmakers grasping at...
DOJ sues LA sheriff over concealed carry license processing
The Justice Department (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LACSD) Tuesday, alleging it is intentionally delaying residents’ concealed carry applications. ...
Norovirus outbreak on Royal Caribbean cruise sickens over 70 passengers
71 out of 1,874 passengers and one out of 883 crew members have "reported being ill during the voyage." The predominant symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting.
Pope Leo XIV: Support for death penalty is ‘not really pro-life’
Pope Leo XIV criticized supporters of the death penalty on Tuesday, saying they are “not really pro-life.” “Someone who says, ‘I’m against abortion,’ but says ‘I’m in favor of the death penalty,’...
Democrat confronts Johnson over Trump AI video: ‘It’s racist. You should call it out’
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) over President Trump posting a deepfake video of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader...
National Parks will largely remain open as government shuts down
National Parks will largely remain open even as the federal government shuts down, according to a plan made public on Tuesday evening. “Park roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will...
Trump pulls nomination of EJ Antoni to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics
President Trump on Tuesday withdrew the nomination of E.J. Antoni to serve as the next commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics after ousting the previous head of the agency over criticism...
Three members of Democratic caucus buck Schumer on government funding vote
Three members of the Senate Democratic caucus broke with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) on Tuesday and voted for a House Republican-drafted bill to fund government through Nov. 21,...
OMB issues shutdown order, citing Dems’ ‘insane policy demands’
Russell Vought, the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), issued a memo on Tuesday evening directing government agencies to begin executing their plans “for an orderly shutdown.”...
White House withdraws nominee for CFTC chair
The Trump administration has withdrawn its nominee to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a White House official confirmed Tuesday evening. Brian Quintenz, global head of policy...
Senate blocks rival bills to prevent midnight shutdown
The Senate on Tuesday, as expected, failed to approve a GOP stopgap to keep the government funded or a Democratic alternative, edging the government closer to a midnight shutdown. The votes came...
Smithsonian says it can stay open through at least Monday in event of shutdown
The Smithsonian Institution announced Tuesday that its museums, research centers and the National Zoo will remain open through “at least” Monday if the federal government shuts down. In a post on...
Democrats defeat Republican funding plan, taking government to brink of shutdown
The Senate Democrats on Tuesday voted almost in unison to defeat a House-passed bill to fund the government through Nov. 21, putting Washington on the brink of a government shutdown that could...
What are ‘highest male standards’ on military fitness tests?
The U.S. military will impose the “highest male standard” for all combat roles in each service branch, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced during his Tuesday morning speech to hundreds of...
Federal employees told Democrats to blame for shutdown in ‘highly inappropriate’ email
Federal employees at multiple agencies received emails Tuesday blaming congressional Democrats for a potential government shutdown “forced” by the party, an unusual use of government...
Hegseth’s military meeting triggers fears, head scratching and praise
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech before a high-profile gathering of hundreds of the U.S. military’s top brass on Tuesday morning has spurred fear, head-scratching and praise. Hegseth, over...
Collins, Grassley call on White House budget office to unfreeze oversight funding
In a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought, Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Chuck Grassley (Iowa) expressed concern over the administration’s move to end...
Senate rejects Democrats’ spending bill hours ahead of expected shutdown
The Senate on Tuesday spurned a Democratic stopgap spending bill, putting lawmakers a step closer to a government shutdown ahead of the midnight deadline. Lawmakers voted along party lines,...
Shutdown could leave federal flood insurance out to dry
{beacon} View Online Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story NFIP can’t issue policies if government shuts down If the government shuts down as expected on Wednesday, the...
Senate Democrats slam Social Security chief over retirement age confusion
A group of Senate Democrats slammed President Trump’s Social Security chief after he walked back comments made about possibly raising the country’s retirement age, seeking insight on the...
Watch live: Democrats, Republican hold press conference after shutdown votes
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will speak with reporters after the upper chamber voted on two competing bills in the hopes of avoiding a...
‘Veep’ creator says retaliation fears are hampering Trump-related project
A new project focused on President Trump could be in financial trouble due to fears of retaliation, “Veep” creator Armando Iannucci said. “I got a lot of, ‘Yeah, you wouldn’t get the money for...
Jay Cutler begins 4-day sentence in Tennessee jail
Former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler has begun serving a four-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to driving under the influence.
Watch live: Senate votes on averting government shutdown
The Senate is slated to vote on measures to keep the government open ahead of the midnight shutdown deadline. There will be two votes considering proposals brought forth by Democrats and...
More blame would go to GOP than Democrats over shutdown: Poll
Republican lawmakers would get a larger share of blame for a government shutdown than their Democratic counterparts if lawmakers don’t come to an agreement, a poll released Tuesday found. The...
Trump signs order aimed at using artificial intelligence to boost childhood cancer treatment
President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday aimed at using artificial intelligence to improve research and treatments for childhood cancer. The order builds on a 2019 database established...
White House launching TrumpRx.com for lower-priced drugs: What to know
The Trump administration on Tuesday announced plans to launch TrumpRx.com, an online platform that it says will direct Americans to lower-priced drugs. The announcement came one day after...
Prosecutors face high hurdles in winning Comey conviction
Voices on the left and the right are questioning the strength of former FBI Director James Comey’s federal indictment, arguing prosecutors will be challenged in winning a conviction. Comey...
Trump’s agriculture secretary: ‘The farm economy is not in a good place’
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Tuesday said the farming economy is “not in a good place” as those in the agriculture industry lose sales from trade severances with China and other partner...
Trump doubles down on film tariffs that experts call ‘impossible’
President Trump is propelling his film tariff plan into the limelight — renewing his call to tax “any and all movies that are made outside of the United States” — even as both allies and critics...
Geomagnetic storm hits Earth, officials warned to ‘mitigate’ possible impacts
A strong geomagnetic storm that has been impacting Earth since Monday has prompted national forecasters to warn officials "to mitigate any possible impacts."
Unions sue to block mass firings during shutdown
Federal government labor unions sued Tuesday to block the Trump administration from conducting mass layoffs during the potential upcoming government shutdown. Employees are usually temporarily...
Missouri governor authorizes National Guard to support ICE operations
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) on Tuesday authorized the state’s National Guard to perform tasks on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Soldiers will assist with “administrative,...
Senate Democrat urges Trump to ‘stay away’ from Portland after troop deployment
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) on Tuesday urged President Trump to “stay away” from Portland, Ore., after the Trump administration moved to deploy the National Guard into the city. “Portland has —...
Fetterman: Shutdown ‘would be the ideal outcome for Project 2025’
Hours before the government funding clock runs out, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said Tuesday that a shutdown would benefit President Trump. “The president has a lot of levers he...
Shutdown could leave federal flood insurance program out to dry
If the government shuts down as expected on Wednesday, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will no longer be able to issue new policies or renewals, which could cause headaches for...
Jeffries challenges Trump over ‘racist’ AI video: ‘Say it to my face’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) on Tuesday challenged President Trump over a deepfake video that depicted the House Democratic leader in a sombrero and was slammed Jeffries and his...
Newsom mocks Trump’s weight after Hegseth targets ‘fat generals’
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) knocked President Trump’s weight on Tuesday after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared he no longer wanted to see “fat generals” in the military. “I guess the...
Iowa superintendent resigns after ICE arrest
Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, who was recently arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), resigned from his post on Tuesday. Roberts’s attorneys announced the...
Judge quotes wife in ruling against Trump: ‘He ignores everything and keeps bullying ahead’
A federal judge invoked his wife in issuing another scathing ruling against President Trump’s second-term agenda Tuesday, this time concerning efforts to deport students who participated in...
PBS bringing back ‘Reading Rainbow’ after nearly 20 years; new host announced
The renowned children's educational show "Reading Rainbow" is returning to PBS after nearly 20 years, now with a viral former librarian as the new host.
Watch live: Airline officials testify before Senate on competition
A Senate Judiciary Committee panel is convening a hearing Tuesday afternoon on air carrier competition. Allegiant Airlines CEO Greg Anderson and Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle are among the...
Abbott bolstering security around Texas religious spaces
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) directed law enforcement in his state to boost security at religious spaces following an uptick in nationally publicized violent attacks on churches. Abbott said the...
Live updates: Government barrels toward shutdown as Trump vows ‘faster, fiercer’ military
President Trump vowed to make the military “faster, fiercer” while saying leaders should use cities as “training grounds” in a speech to top brass Tuesday morning in Quantico, Va. He said...
Arizona Republican to run for governor, vacating House seat
Rep. Dave Schweikert (R-Ariz.) is launching a bid to be his state’s governor, which will open up his House seat. “Arizona is at a crossroads that will be decided by the outcome of next year’s race...
Clooney on film industry: ‘We need’ tax incentives, not Trump tariffs
George Clooney says President Trump is “not wrong” that movie productions are exiting Hollywood, but that the solution to luring them back lies in a federal tax rebate, not a tariff on...
Man detained by feds at Broadview ICE facility deported, family says
Federal agencies have continued to crack down on protesters and migrants as part of the ongoing Operation Midway Blitz
Judge finds Trump policy targeting pro-Palestinian campus activists unlawful
A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that President Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus activists was unlawful, issuing a blistering rebuke of the administration in finding it singled out...
Murkowski to vote for House-passed government funding measure
Moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), one of two Republicans to vote against the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) earlier this month, said she will vote for it when it comes...
Trump: It would be ‘an insult to our country’ if he doesn’t get Nobel Peace Prize
President Trump on Tuesday said it would be an insult to the United States if he doesn’t receive the Nobel Peace Prize after helping bring an end to seven global conflicts. The president said he...
Trump approval ticks up to 43 percent: NYT poll
President Trump’s approval rating ticked up 1 point to 43 percent, according to the latest New York Times/Siena University poll. The survey, conducted last week, shows a net 43 percent of...
Abortions declining for first time since Dobbs: research
Abortions provided by clinicians in states without near-total abortion bans have declined for the first time since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, according to data released Tuesday, as the...
9 arrests made in Memphis as federal crackdown gets underway
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday announced that nine arrests were made in Memphis as the Trump administration’s federal crackdown on crime began in the city. “Our operation in Memphis is now...
Republicans refuse to swear in newly elected Democrat, delaying success of Epstein petition
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Republican leaders refused requests from Democrats to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) on Tuesday, saying she will be sworn in when the House...
Trump floats cutting benefits during shutdown, warns Democrats are taking a risk
President Trump suggested Tuesday that his administration can make cuts to programs during a potential government shutdown, warning that Democrats are taking a risk by not voting for the GOP...
Voters, donors disillusioned with Dem message, unite against Trump
Democrats are frustrated. The party’s donor class is openly questioning whether leadership even has a pulse. After losing the White House and the Senate, and failing to win back the House, they...
Family member of yogurt shop murder victim implores agencies to ‘open the cold case boxes’
After 34 years, Austin Police have identified Robert Eugene Brashers as the likely sole perpetrator of the Yogurt Shop Murders, after DNA evidence linked him to multiple unsolved murders and...
Schumer: Trump ‘trolling’ on internet like a 10-year-old with government about to shut down
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) vented his frustration with President Trump Tuesday after Trump posted a video on social media using AI to parody Schumer’s press conference with...
GOP lt. governors call on Senate Democrats to avoid shutdown
A group of Republican lieutenant governors drafted a letter to Senate leadership on Tuesday calling on Democrats in the Upper Chamber to pass a continuing resolution to avoid a government...
Eric Swalwell vows retribution against people who work with Trump
Democrats have no principled opposition to what Trump is doing at all: They just don’t like Trump.
Trump announces deal with Pfizer to lower drug prices
President Trump on Tuesday announced that Pfizer had agreed to sell its products in the U.S. at “Most Favored Nation” pricing, one day after the administration required companies to respond to his...
Cat Stevens postpones US book tour dates over visa issues
Singer Cat Stevens says he’s postponing his U.S. book tour after “waiting months for visa approvals.” The “Wild World” and “Peace Train” songwriter — who was born Steven Georgiou and is also known...
‘Help with mortgage’ Google searches reach levels unseen since 2009
There are several reasons the recent uptick may not signal a looming housing crisis.
‘Very angry at the church’: Details emerge on suspect in Michigan LDS shooting
Four worshippers were killed and several others were injured on Sunday after a man identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, drove through the front doors of the church, fired an assault rifle at...
Florida Cabinet approves land in Miami for Trump library
President Trump’s son Eric Trump announced on Tuesday that the Florida Cabinet unanimously voted to designate a $67 million plot of land to the foundation for Trump’s presidential library. “It...
Trump sets 10 percent tariffs on lumber imports, 25 percent on cabinets, furniture
President Trump on Monday set a 10 percent tariff on lumber imports and a 25 percent tariff on furniture, including vanities and kitchen cabinets. Trump ordered an evaluation of lumber imports in...
Newsom signs first-in-the-nation AI safety disclosures law
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill Monday requiring artificial intelligence (AI) companies to disclose safety information about large-scale frontier models in a key win for the push to...
Romney says he urged Biden administration to preemptively pardon Trump
Former Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said on Monday he tried to get the Biden administration to issue a preemptive pardon to President Trump during the investigation into Trump’s efforts to stay in...
Newsom labels Vance ‘dips—‘ over migrant health care spending claim
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Monday labeled Vice President Vance a “dips—” due to a claim the vice president made about health care spending for migrants. In a clip posted by the White...
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst lockdown lifted
Officials lifted a lockdown at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, according to a Tuesday social media post announcing an “all clear.” Lock-downs at the McGuire and Ft. Dix campuses...
5 takeaways from Hegseth’s ‘liberation day’ military meeting
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a series of changes to the armed forces Tuesday that he claimed will raise the standards of America’s combat troops and unburden commanders from fear of...
Senate to vote Tuesday afternoon on averting shutdown, but proposals expected to fail
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) says he expects the Senate to begin voting at 5 p.m. Tuesday on competing Democratic and Republican proposals to fund the government, but both proposals...
HUD plasters shutdown warning about ‘radical left’ on website
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plastered a statement across its homepage Tuesday blaming the “radical left” for threats of a government shutdown. “The Radical Left are going...
Democrats should argue that Trump has turned the GOP into the CCP
Kamala Harris's recent statement that Trump is a "communist dictator" has sparked outrage from both the left and right, but a closer look at Trump's actions during his second term suggests that he...
Watch: Trump gives announcement amid battle over drug prices
President Trump gave an announcement on Tuesday from the White House as his deadline for drugmakers to lower prices arrives. “President Trump is doing more to lower healthcare costs than anyone...
Sanders slams Trump threat to cut NYC funding if Mamdani wins
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) condemned President Trump for threatening to withhold funding for New York City if Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani wins the general election this November....
Trump suggests using ‘dangerous’ US cities as ‘training grounds’ for military
President Trump told a gathering of military leaders Tuesday they should use American cities as “training grounds” and described a federal crackdown on crime in major cities as necessary due to “a...
Note to Lutnick: Bayh-Dole is a winner for taxpayers
The Trump administration's proposal to take half of the patent royalties universities receive from federal research grants would be counterproductive, as it would discourage innovation and reduce...
Support for Israel drops in new survey
American voters’ support for Israel has dropped, according to a new survey from The New York Times/Siena University. In the poll, 34 percent of respondents said their sympathies lie “more” with...
Second detainee shot at Dallas ICE facility dies
A second detainee shot during an attack on a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office was confirmed dead on Tuesday by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)....
Judge suspends Trump plan for VOA cuts
A federal judge has halted plans by the Trump administration to eliminate hundreds of jobs at the U.S. Agency for Global Media and Voice of America (VOA). The ruling, which came on Monday, flies...
Watch: House Democrats give remarks as shutdown looms
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Democratic leaders gave remarks Tuesday morning as Congress stares down a government shutdown. Federal funding is set to lapse at midnight,...
Hegseth imposes male standards on all combat roles in military
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced he would impose the “highest” male standards for all combat roles in the U.S. military during his Tuesday morning speech to hundreds of generals and...
Trump’s U-turn on Ukraine could lead to the end of Putin’s reign in Russia
Trump will hopefully follow his own advice to take advantage of the unique opportunity presented by Putin’s precarious strategic situation.
Sherrill, Warren reintroduce child care affordability legislation
New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) is teaming up with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Tuesday to reintroduce universal child care legislation with a focus on...
Iowa superintendent arrested by ICE placed on unpaid leave
An Iowa superintendent who was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week was placed on unpaid leave after his education license was revoked by the state’s Board of...
Hegseth declares war on ‘fat’ generals, troops
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the U.S. military’s senior-most officers Tuesday that he no longer wants to see “fat generals and admirals” or overweight troops. Addressing a crowded...
Jeffries: Trump AI video ‘designed to be a malignant distraction’
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) slammed President Trump for a sharing a video Monday that used artificial intelligence (AI) to alter Democratic leaders’ comments ahead of a looming...
‘Get your cell phones out’: Pritzker urges public to post footage of federal agents
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) on Tuesday urged residents to document local interactions with federal agents after the governor said President Trump plans to deploy 100 National Guard soldiers to...
Trump might as well rename the Department of Justice
President Trump has been using the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice to pursue his political enemies, and the departments should be renamed the Department of War and the...
Trump says there may be ‘a lot’ of federal workers laid off in government shutdown
President Trump said Tuesday there may be a lot of layoffs in the federal government if Congress doesn’t act to prevent a shutdown by the end of day, blaming the Democrats for a potential lapse in...
Trump: Mamdani will be ‘one of the best things’ to happen to GOP
President Trump alluded Monday to assured conflict with Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani if the assembly member is elected New York’s 111th mayor....
Netanyahu says UN speech broadcast on cell phones, loudspeakers in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday his address to a nearly empty auditorium at the United Nations General Assembly was meant for an...
Delegates at UN walk out ahead of Netanyahu’s speech
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a nearly empty auditorium Friday in the United Nations General Assembly, as delegates walked out to...
Opinion - Bill Gates may have just set off the death of far-left-tainted philanthropy
News broke recently that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation would sever ties with the shadowy consulting firm Arabella Advisors and its “nonprofit network...
Sherrill, Ciattarelli tied in New Jersey governor’s race: Poll
The New Jersey governor’s race between Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R) is tied, according to a new poll. A new...
Opinion - ExxonMobil is right on Russia — a return would be a disaster
ExxonMobil made the right call in continuing to stay out of Russia’s latest disaster.
Opinion - CEO poll shows Trump economic policies are bad, but they’re too scared to speak up
Donald Trump likes to paint himself as some sort of financial savior — the guy who knows how to make America rich again. But if you take a closer look, a...
Opinion - Let’s talk — no muzzle on me or you
Juan Williams reflects on the legacy of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and the importance of free speech, while criticizing Attorney General Pam...