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10, 2020](https://static.politico.com/dims4/default/8fdbf91/2147483647/legacy_thumbnail/168x257%3E/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.politico.com%2F57%2F6f%2Fa4a1c28147f38797b6ff7571cf08%2Ftfc-01-10-20-cover.jpg)](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/01/10/donald-trump-art-of-the-steal-096841) [Read more](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/01/10/donald-trump-art-of-the-steal-096841) In a recent round of interviews, Charles Koch, the billionaire industrialist and political patron, has been stressing that he only recently became involved in politics.
Why it matters: 10, 2020](https://static.politico.com/dims4/default/8fdbf91/2147483647/legacy_thumbnail/168x257%3E/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.politico.com%2F57%2F6f%2Fa4a1c28147f38797b6ff7571cf08%2Ftfc-01-10-20-cover.jpg)](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/01/10/donald-trump-art-of-the-steal-096841) [Read more](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/01/10/donald-trump-art-of-the-steal-096841) In a recent round of interviews, Charles Koch, the billionaire industrialist and political patron, has been stressing that he only recently became involved in politics.
International flights have resumed at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport after weeks of war disruption. The move matters because a ceasefire is not just a headline — i...
Why it matters: International flights have resumed at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport after weeks of war disruption. The move matters because a ceasefire is not just a headline — i...
ICE is planning a detention facility for children and families on one of the nation’s most PFAS-contaminated sites in Louisiana. The decision matters because it ties immigration...
Why it matters: ICE is planning a detention facility for children and families on one of the nation’s most PFAS-contaminated sites in Louisiana. The decision matters because it ties immigration...
Arizona has sued to block a proposed ICE detention facility near a site with chemical hazards. The case puts federal detention power on a collision course with state concerns ab...
Why it matters: Arizona has sued to block a proposed ICE detention facility near a site with chemical hazards. The case puts federal detention power on a collision course with state concerns ab...
A family that spent 10 months in U.S. immigration detention was re-arrested hours after returning home. The case shows how federal power can keep punishing people even after a c...
Why it matters: A family that spent 10 months in U.S. immigration detention was re-arrested hours after returning home. The case shows how federal power can keep punishing people even after a c...
Georgia has declared a state of emergency as two wildfires in the southeast of the state destroyed dozens of homes. The fires have burned tens of thousands of acres, and the dam...
Why it matters: Georgia has declared a state of emergency as two wildfires in the southeast of the state destroyed dozens of homes. The fires have burned tens of thousands of acres, and the dam...
Russian oil exports are falling under pressure from Ukraine’s strikes on ports and refineries, even with a U.S. sanctions waiver in place. The fight is not just about barrels. I...
Why it matters: Russian oil exports are falling under pressure from Ukraine’s strikes on ports and refineries, even with a U.S. sanctions waiver in place. The fight is not just about barrels. I...
Iran’s UN ambassador has responded to President Trump’s announcement that the ceasefire would be extended. That matters because ceasefire language is not just rhetoric; it can s...
Why it matters: Iran’s UN ambassador has responded to President Trump’s announcement that the ceasefire would be extended. That matters because ceasefire language is not just rhetoric; it can s...
The U.S. Treasury blocked a shipment of nearly $500 million in U.S. banknotes tied to Iraq’s oil system, according to reporting on the move. The halt is part of a pressure campa...
Why it matters: The U.S. Treasury blocked a shipment of nearly $500 million in U.S. banknotes tied to Iraq’s oil system, according to reporting on the move. The halt is part of a pressure campa...
Mexico’s president says the federal government was not told that CIA officers were involved in a drug raid in Chihuahua. The story matters because it is not just about one opera...
Why it matters: Mexico’s president says the federal government was not told that CIA officers were involved in a drug raid in Chihuahua. The story matters because it is not just about one opera...
South American migrants deported to the Democratic Republic of the Congo say they are being pushed to give up and go home. The case matters because it shows federal power being...
Why it matters: South American migrants deported to the Democratic Republic of the Congo say they are being pushed to give up and go home. The case matters because it shows federal power being...
Virginia voters are being asked to weigh a redistricting plan that could shift congressional power. The vote matters because map lines can decide who gets a fair shot at represe...
Why it matters: Virginia voters are being asked to weigh a redistricting plan that could shift congressional power. The vote matters because map lines can decide who gets a fair shot at represe...
Trump’s “Board of Peace” is holding Gaza reconstruction talks with UAE logistics giant DP World. This matters because the shape of postwar Gaza is being negotiated now, while th...
Why it matters: Trump’s “Board of Peace” is holding Gaza reconstruction talks with UAE logistics giant DP World. This matters because the shape of postwar Gaza is being negotiated now, while th...
The U.S. pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and called it the “worst deal ever.” That decision blew up a major nuclear agreement and helped reset U.S.-Iran relations ar...
Why it matters: The U.S. pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and called it the “worst deal ever.” That decision blew up a major nuclear agreement and helped reset U.S.-Iran relations ar...
The Iranian foreign ministry says the U.S. broke the ceasefire by seizing a shipment. The dispute raises the stakes in a fragile international standoff and shows how one enforce...
Why it matters: The Iranian foreign ministry says the U.S. broke the ceasefire by seizing a shipment. The dispute raises the stakes in a fragile international standoff and shows how one enforce...
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is under pressure to let the United Cajun Navy join the search for Nancy Guthrie. The dispute matters because the case shows how one office can c...
Why it matters: Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is under pressure to let the United Cajun Navy join the search for Nancy Guthrie. The dispute matters because the case shows how one office can c...
Trump says Israel did not talk him into war with Iran. That matters because it puts the decision squarely on the U.S. executive branch as the conflict strains support at home. T...
Why it matters: Trump says Israel did not talk him into war with Iran. That matters because it puts the decision squarely on the U.S. executive branch as the conflict strains support at home. T...
Amnesty International says the world’s human rights crisis is being driven from the top by strongman politics in the United States, Israel, and Russia. That matters because when...
Why it matters: Amnesty International says the world’s human rights crisis is being driven from the top by strongman politics in the United States, Israel, and Russia. That matters because when...
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will stay shut unless the U.S. lifts its pressure on Iranian ports. That is a direct power move in one of the world’s most important shipping lane...
Why it matters: Iran says the Strait of Hormuz will stay shut unless the U.S. lifts its pressure on Iranian ports. That is a direct power move in one of the world’s most important shipping lane...
A U.S. envoy is arguing that Israel’s policy toward Syria and Turkey is strategically counter-productive. The dispute matters because it shows how U.S. regional strategy can get...
Why it matters: A U.S. envoy is arguing that Israel’s policy toward Syria and Turkey is strategically counter-productive. The dispute matters because it shows how U.S. regional strategy can get...
The Pima County Sheriff's Department is getting hit with backlash over a social media post tied to a missing-person case. The outrage matters because this is not just about bad...
Why it matters: The Pima County Sheriff's Department is getting hit with backlash over a social media post tied to a missing-person case. The outrage matters because this is not just about bad...
Rümeysa Öztürk finished her doctorate after the Trump administration targeted her over a pro-Palestinian op-ed. Her case matters because it shows how the government can use immi...
Why it matters: Rümeysa Öztürk finished her doctorate after the Trump administration targeted her over a pro-Palestinian op-ed. Her case matters because it shows how the government can use immi...
Congress temporarily extended a controversial surveillance power under FISA. The move keeps a major spying tool alive, even as critics warn it can sweep up Americans’ data witho...
Why it matters: Congress temporarily extended a controversial surveillance power under FISA. The move keeps a major spying tool alive, even as critics warn it can sweep up Americans’ data witho...
Pakistan says there has been a major breakthrough in talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program. If it holds, this could reshape sanctions, regional security,...
Why it matters: Pakistan says there has been a major breakthrough in talks between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program. If it holds, this could reshape sanctions, regional security,...
Democrats clashed with the U.S. Energy Secretary over how the Iran war could affect gas prices. The fight matters because it tests whether the administration is telling the publ...
Why it matters: Democrats clashed with the U.S. Energy Secretary over how the Iran war could affect gas prices. The fight matters because it tests whether the administration is telling the publ...
Cuba's president is openly defying fresh U.S. pressure as Washington threatens tighter energy restrictions. The fight matters because this is not just rhetoric. It shows how U.S...
Why it matters: Cuba's president is openly defying fresh U.S. pressure as Washington threatens tighter energy restrictions. The fight matters because this is not just rhetoric. It shows how U.S...
California says newly unsealed records show Amazon pressured independent sellers to raise prices on rival sites. The case matters because it points to how a giant platform can s...
Why it matters: California says newly unsealed records show Amazon pressured independent sellers to raise prices on rival sites. The case matters because it points to how a giant platform can s...
Cuba’s president says the country will be ready if the United States launches a military attack. That matters because war talk between governments can raise the stakes fast, eve...
Why it matters: Cuba’s president says the country will be ready if the United States launches a military attack. That matters because war talk between governments can raise the stakes fast, eve...
Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine’s Patriot missile shortage has become severe, and he blames part of the squeeze on the war in the Middle East. That matters because air defense m...
Why it matters: Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine’s Patriot missile shortage has become severe, and he blames part of the squeeze on the war in the Middle East. That matters because air defense m...
Trump is openly threatening to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell if Powell does not step away from his board seat when his term ends. That matters because the White House...
Why it matters: Trump is openly threatening to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell if Powell does not step away from his board seat when his term ends. That matters because the White House...
The Islamabad summit is aimed at one modest goal: keep US-Iran talks from falling apart. That matters because even a fragile channel between Washington and Tehran can shape sanc...
Why it matters: The Islamabad summit is aimed at one modest goal: keep US-Iran talks from falling apart. That matters because even a fragile channel between Washington and Tehran can shape sanc...
J.P. Morgan is building a climate-risk framework around tipping points that could change markets fast and hard. That matters now because big finance is starting to treat climate...
Why it matters: J.P. Morgan is building a climate-risk framework around tipping points that could change markets fast and hard. That matters now because big finance is starting to treat climate...
Tehran is trying to turn the US-Israeli war into a claim for compensation and political leverage. The message is meant to keep pressure on Washington and Jerusalem long after th...
Why it matters: Tehran is trying to turn the US-Israeli war into a claim for compensation and political leverage. The message is meant to keep pressure on Washington and Jerusalem long after th...
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is open, but ships must coordinate with Iranian forces first. That keeps a vital shipping lane moving while leaving Tehran with a hand on the swit...
Why it matters: Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is open, but ships must coordinate with Iranian forces first. That keeps a vital shipping lane moving while leaving Tehran with a hand on the swit...
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from ending protected status for Ethiopians. The ruling matters because it stops the government from using executive power to pu...
Why it matters: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from ending protected status for Ethiopians. The ruling matters because it stops the government from using executive power to pu...
A new PAC is trying to turn conspiracy thinking into political capital. That matters because endorsing candidates who repeat antisemitic lies does more than scandalize the race....
Why it matters: A new PAC is trying to turn conspiracy thinking into political capital. That matters because endorsing candidates who repeat antisemitic lies does more than scandalize the race....
Trump says the U.S., Israel, and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire after a burst of deadly threats. That matters because a fast-moving truce can calm a bigger conflict, b...
Why it matters: Trump says the U.S., Israel, and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire after a burst of deadly threats. That matters because a fast-moving truce can calm a bigger conflict, b...
A U.S. service member was rescued after two raids tied to a fighter jet shootdown over Iran, according to President Trump. The operation matters because it puts the White House,...
Why it matters: A U.S. service member was rescued after two raids tied to a fighter jet shootdown over Iran, according to President Trump. The operation matters because it puts the White House,...
Israeli strikes across Lebanon killed at least 14 people as the fighting with Hezbollah kept spreading. The violence matters now because it is not staying on one border. It is d...
Why it matters: Israeli strikes across Lebanon killed at least 14 people as the fighting with Hezbollah kept spreading. The violence matters now because it is not staying on one border. It is d...
Two candidates from south Oklahoma City are vying for a school board seat. Their backgrounds and visions could significantly impact the community's educational landscape. The mo...
Why it matters: Two candidates from south Oklahoma City are vying for a school board seat. Their backgrounds and visions could significantly impact the community's educational landscape. The mo...
New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte and her security detail helped rescue a driver from a fiery crash at a toll plaza. This incident underscores the critical role of state offic...
Why it matters: New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte and her security detail helped rescue a driver from a fiery crash at a toll plaza. This incident underscores the critical role of state offic...
The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport has replaced sworn law enforcement with private security as a cost-saving measure. This change matters now because it affects ho...
Why it matters: The Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport has replaced sworn law enforcement with private security as a cost-saving measure. This change matters now because it affects ho...
The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's law banning conversion therapy for minors was unconstitutional. This ruling has significant implications for civil rights and the Fir...
Why it matters: The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's law banning conversion therapy for minors was unconstitutional. This ruling has significant implications for civil rights and the Fir...
President Donald Trump's preferred candidate in Alabama is bucking "conventional wisdom" by trailing badly in the Republican primary. The president endorsed former state GOP cha...
Why it matters: President Donald Trump's preferred candidate in Alabama is bucking "conventional wisdom" by trailing badly in the Republican primary. The president endorsed former state GOP cha...
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a bill that would have renamed the Loop 202 freeway in the East Valley after slain MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk. This veto matters becaus...
Why it matters: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a bill that would have renamed the Loop 202 freeway in the East Valley after slain MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk. This veto matters becaus...
With the federal government largely stepping back from antitrust enforcement, who’s picking up the slack? California Attorney General Rob Bonta makes the case that state attorne...
Why it matters: With the federal government largely stepping back from antitrust enforcement, who’s picking up the slack? California Attorney General Rob Bonta makes the case that state attorne...
Kentucky lawmakers are on track to pass a bill that would label transgender people mentally ill and block trans teachers from working. That matters because the state would be us...
Why it matters: Kentucky lawmakers are on track to pass a bill that would label transgender people mentally ill and block trans teachers from working. That matters because the state would be us...
Donald Trump’s endorsement is the prize in Texas’s Republican Senate fight, and both camps know it. That matters because in a close primary, Trump’s blessing can decide who gets...
Why it matters: Donald Trump’s endorsement is the prize in Texas’s Republican Senate fight, and both camps know it. That matters because in a close primary, Trump’s blessing can decide who gets...
A ransomware attack has knocked the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana completely offline. The office’s computers, Wi-Fi, and reporting systems were disabled, which mean...
Why it matters: A ransomware attack has knocked the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana completely offline. The office’s computers, Wi-Fi, and reporting systems were disabled, which mean...
Marco Rubio said the U.S. expects its military operation in Iran to end in weeks, not months. That matters because it puts a public timeline on a war while the fighting is still...
Why it matters: Marco Rubio said the U.S. expects its military operation in Iran to end in weeks, not months. That matters because it puts a public timeline on a war while the fighting is still...
A former Los Angeles Unified School District employee and a vendor are accused of steering $22 million in public contracts into a kickback scheme. The case matters because it po...
Why it matters: A former Los Angeles Unified School District employee and a vendor are accused of steering $22 million in public contracts into a kickback scheme. The case matters because it po...
Georgia’s local leaders are moving ahead with a billion-dollar data center project while UPS job cuts hang over the state economy. That is not just a business story. It is a pow...
Why it matters: Georgia’s local leaders are moving ahead with a billion-dollar data center project while UPS job cuts hang over the state economy. That is not just a business story. It is a pow...
Utah Republicans tried to rewrite the rules after a House seat slipped away, and their late gerrymander push failed. It matters because this was not just about one district. It...
Why it matters: Utah Republicans tried to rewrite the rules after a House seat slipped away, and their late gerrymander push failed. It matters because this was not just about one district. It...
The United States joined Israel and Argentina in voting against UN language that recognized the trans-Atlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity. That vote matters because...
Why it matters: The United States joined Israel and Argentina in voting against UN language that recognized the trans-Atlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity. That vote matters because...
Oklahoma lawmakers are advancing major changes to the state schools chief and Board of Education. The move could shift who holds real power over public schools, not just who get...
Why it matters: Oklahoma lawmakers are advancing major changes to the state schools chief and Board of Education. The move could shift who holds real power over public schools, not just who get...
A federal judge in Texas dismissed X’s lawsuit against advertisers it accused of organizing a boycott. The ruling cuts off one of X’s key legal attacks on the companies that pul...
Why it matters: A federal judge in Texas dismissed X’s lawsuit against advertisers it accused of organizing a boycott. The ruling cuts off one of X’s key legal attacks on the companies that pul...
This is a commentary-style interview about fixing U.S. education, not a verifiable news event. It does not clear the bar for publication here because the core claims are broad,...
Why it matters: This is a commentary-style interview about fixing U.S. education, not a verifiable news event. It does not clear the bar for publication here because the core claims are broad,...
ICE’s plan to turn a vacant Durant warehouse into a detention center ran into a wall when the Choctaw Nation bought the property first. The fight matters because it shows how fe...
Why it matters: ICE’s plan to turn a vacant Durant warehouse into a detention center ran into a wall when the Choctaw Nation bought the property first. The fight matters because it shows how fe...
A Chicago Democratic leader is attacking his own party and Gov. J.B. Pritzker over Illinois immigration enforcement. The dispute matters because it points to a system that can s...
Why it matters: A Chicago Democratic leader is attacking his own party and Gov. J.B. Pritzker over Illinois immigration enforcement. The dispute matters because it points to a system that can s...
Emergency crews keep getting called to Fort Mill’s Silfab factory after workers reported breathing problems and other incidents. The pattern matters because repeated medical eme...
Why it matters: Emergency crews keep getting called to Fort Mill’s Silfab factory after workers reported breathing problems and other incidents. The pattern matters because repeated medical eme...
Sen. Cynthia Lummis has been confirmed as a speaker at Bitcoin 2026. It matters because she is also one of the main federal lawmakers shaping U.S. crypto rules. The move: Lummis...
Why it matters: Sen. Cynthia Lummis has been confirmed as a speaker at Bitcoin 2026. It matters because she is also one of the main federal lawmakers shaping U.S. crypto rules. The move: Lummis...
North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger has conceded after a recount confirmed he lost a Republican primary by 23 votes. That is not just a close race. It is a power shift that...
Why it matters: North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger has conceded after a recount confirmed he lost a Republican primary by 23 votes. That is not just a close race. It is a power shift that...
Mark Robinson has now admitted to a porn obsession he denied while campaigning for governor in North Carolina. The confession matters because his brand was built on moral outrag...
Why it matters: Mark Robinson has now admitted to a porn obsession he denied while campaigning for governor in North Carolina. The confession matters because his brand was built on moral outrag...
President Trump says he can use ICE agents to deal with TSA staffing problems during the shutdown. The threat raises the stakes fast because it blends a funding fight with immig...
Why it matters: President Trump says he can use ICE agents to deal with TSA staffing problems during the shutdown. The threat raises the stakes fast because it blends a funding fight with immig...
James Comey has been subpoenaed in a federal investigation tied to claims of a “grand conspiracy” against President Trump. The move matters because it puts the Justice Departmen...
Why it matters: James Comey has been subpoenaed in a federal investigation tied to claims of a “grand conspiracy” against President Trump. The move matters because it puts the Justice Departmen...
The Justice Department has sued Harvard, saying the university failed to protect students from discrimination tied to the post-October 7 fallout. The case matters because it cou...
Why it matters: The Justice Department has sued Harvard, saying the university failed to protect students from discrimination tied to the post-October 7 fallout. The case matters because it cou...
South Carolina officials squandered more than $20 million in taxpayer money, and the state still has not shown real accountability. The damage goes beyond one bad budget line. I...
Why it matters: South Carolina officials squandered more than $20 million in taxpayer money, and the state still has not shown real accountability. The damage goes beyond one bad budget line. I...
