Leah Askarinam

Stay informed with Leah Askarinam’s coverage and analysis.

Republican congressional candidate Matt Van Epps casts his ballot at an early voting site in the special election for the seventh district, Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

This special election in a deep-red district sets up another big test for Trump — ‘I’m very concerned that we could be caught with our pants down’

By Jonathan Mattise, Leah Askarinam, and others

Brian Fitzpatrick

‘You’re all smirking out there’: Bipartisan congressional group joins forces to ban trading stocks by their colleagues

By Leah Askarinam, Kevin Freking, and others

FILE – President Donald Trump holds his signed signature bill of tax breaks and spending cuts at the White House, July 4, 2025, in Washington, surrounded by members of Congress. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

6 in 10 Americans say Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ will help the rich and hurt the poor in new poll

By Leah Askarinam, Linley Sanders, and others

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and President Donald Trump arrive for a House Republican conference meeting, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

CBO says tax breaks in ‘big, beautiful bill’ would increase deficit by $3.8 trillion while Medicaid and other cuts will only shave $1 trillion in spending

By Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and others

President Donald Trump, center, surrounded by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., speaks to reporters before a House Republican conference meeting, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump implores GOP to support his ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ but holdouts say ‘no’: ‘We’re still a long ways away’

By Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and others

FILE – Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump dances at a campaign event at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Oct. 15, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)

Trump is heading to Congress to push his ‘big, beautiful bill’ as it risks collapse ahead of votes this week

By Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and others

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., joined by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip, left, talks to reporters at the Capitol, in Washington, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Senate GOP approves framework for Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts, but 2 Republicans dissent — ‘Something’s fishy’

By Lisa Mascaro, Leah Askarinam, and others

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

What’s next for Trump budget after House GOP approves tax breaks and spending cuts blueprint: ‘Nothing about this is going to be easy’

By Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking, and others

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 22, 2024. Harris on Monday compared her election rival Donald Trump to “predators” and “cheaters,” as she attacked the first former US leader to be convicted of a crime. (Photo by Erin SCHAFF / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ERIN SCHAFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Kamala Harris secures enough delegates to become the Democratic nominee as the party quickly unifies

By Zeke Miller, Leah Askarinam, and others