Politics: All the latest Headlines from Reuters News

Here is the latest Political News from Reuters News.

Trump looks to expand his lead as Arizona, Utah cast votes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Front-runner Donald Trump looks to take another step toward winning the Republican presidential nomination in contests in Arizona and Utah on Tuesday, aiming to deal another setback to the party establishment’s flagging stop-Trump movement.

Democratic Party workers pore over videos in bid to hobble Trump
(Reuters) – From the basement to the third floor of Democratic Party headquarters in Washington, dozens of election campaign workers are glued to screens playing back videos of Donald Trump and other Republicans, digitally documenting their policy positions on everything from torture to climate change.

New York lawmakers expected to clear way for mixed martial arts fights
ALBANY, N.Y. (Reuters) – New York is poised to join the rest of the country in legalizing mixed martial arts (MMA) fights, as the state Assembly prepares to pass a bill to end a ban on the full-contact sport, a measure the Senate has approved on multiple occasions over the years.

Trump says U.S. should toughen up fight against Islamist militants
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, reacting to attacks at Brussels airport and a metro station on Tuesday, said the United States and Western countries should toughen up in their fight against Islamist militants.

Republican presidential Kasich: U.S. must back allies after Belgium blasts
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.s. Republican presidential candidate John Kasich on Tuesday said United States and its allies must strengthen their efforts to build their alliance and work together to stop acts of terror, calling the attacks sickening.

Puerto Rico takes restructuring law to U.S. high court
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Puerto Rico will ask the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to validate a law that could let it cut billions of dollars from what it owes in debt at some public agencies, a key test in the island’s efforts to weather a massive fiscal crisis.

Obama to end Cuba trip with dissident meeting, baseball and hope
HAVANA (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will meet with Cuban dissidents on Tuesday and watch a baseball game with the communist country’s president after delivering a speech that will conclude his historic trip with a hopeful vision for future relations.

Trump says U.S. should spend less on NATO
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said the United States should decrease the amount it spends on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

White House opposes bill it says harms FTC consumer protection ability
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House said on Monday that the Obama administration “strongly opposes” passage by the House of Representatives a bill on mergers and acquisitions, saying it harms a federal agency’s ability to promote competition and protect consumers.

Liberal groups stage rallies to back Obama’s Supreme Court pick
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) – Liberal groups allied with the White House staged rallies around the country on Monday to pressure Republican senators including the Judiciary Committee’s chairman not to block President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.

Trump vows strong ties with Israel if elected president
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump vowed on Monday to pursue a strong U.S. alliance with Israel if elected president in November and said he would resist any attempt by the United Nations to impose its will on the Jewish state.

Kasich calls for ‘active steps’ to strengthen U.S.-Israel ties
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Presidential candidate John Kasich called on Monday for “active steps” to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Israel, including suspending U.S. participation in the Iran deal and helping the Jewish state strengthen relationships with Arab countries in the Persian Gulf.

Senate proposal on encryption gives judges broad powers
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has begun circulating long-awaited draft legislation that would give federal judges clear authority to order technology companies like Apple to help law enforcement officials access encrypted data, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Justices hostile to Virginia Republicans in black voters case
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Supreme Court justices on Monday signaled they are likely to leave in place a lower-court’s ruling that Virginia’s Republican-led legislature unlawfully considered race when drawing U.S. congressional districts by packing black voters into one of them.

Trump warns Republicans against pushing a third-party candidate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Monday warned Republicans against backing a third-party candidate should he win the party’s nomination, saying doing so would hand the election to the Democrats.

U.S. climate envoy Stern to step down: State Department
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern, who helped hammer out an international agreement in Paris last year to curb carbon emissions and spur development of clean technologies will step down on April 1, the State Department said on Monday.

Trump names foreign policy team led by Senator Sessions: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Monday unveiled a partial list of his foreign policy advisers in an interview with The Washington Post, after saying last week that he mostly consults himself on international affairs.

FBI, Secret Service probe letter sent to Trump’s sister: NBC
(Reuters) – U.S. authorities are investigating a threatening letter sent to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s sister, a federal appeals court judge in Philadelphia, according to NBC News.

U.S. leaders must still ‘distrust’ Iran: Clinton
NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said in a speech to a pro-Israel lobby group in Washington on Monday Iran still posed a threat to Israel and needed to be closely watched.

Clinton criticizes Trump’s neutral stance on Israel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton attacked Republican Donald Trump on Monday for taking a neutral stance toward Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, in a preview of a possible general election battle between them.

Obama to meet Raul Castro on historic Cuba trip
HAVANA (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama turns from sightseeing to state business on his historic Cuba trip on Monday, pressing President Raul Castro for economic and democratic reforms while hearing complaints about continued U.S. economic sanctions.

With costly fight ahead against Trump, Cruz courts new donors
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz is leaning on new sources of cash as he prepares for a long primary fight against front-runner Donald Trump, with new campaign finance filings showing the expense of competing against a billionaire adept at grabbing headlines.

Trump ‘needs all the help he can get,’ donors say
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump often tells crowds at his campaign rallies that he doesn’t need outside financial support to get to the White House, but some of his fans are starting to feel differently.

Democrat Sanders outraised Clinton in February: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders outraised rival Hillary Clinton in February but spent at a faster pace, leaving him with less money, the Washington Post reported on Sunday.

Hillary Clinton raised $30.1 million in February
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton raised $30.1 million in February, and began Super Tuesday with $31 million in cash remaining, her campaign said on Sunday.

Trump refuses to condemn violence at his U.S. presidential rallies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said that “professional agitators” bore much of the blame Ffor violence at his rallies as video showed a protester being beaten and another apparently being grabbed by Trump’s campaign manager.

McConnell rules out ‘lame duck’ action on court
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday ruled out the possibility that the Senate could confirm President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee in a “lame duck” congressional session after the November presidential election.

Scalia death a blow to Obamacare contraception challengers
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Christian groups asking the U.S. Supreme Court to exempt them from the requirement to provide insurance covering contraception under President Barack Obama’s healthcare law face an uphill battle following Justice Antonin Scalia’s death last month.

Cuba casts aside rancor to welcome Obama on historic visit
HAVANA (Reuters) – President Barack Obama arrives in Cuba on Sunday for a 48-hour visit, making history by venturing into what was once enemy territory and sparking enthusiasm among Cubans who have seen their Communist government vilify 10 previous U.S. leaders.

Trump candidacy stirs alliance angst in Japan
TOKYO (Reuters) – U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump’s portrayal of Japan as a free-rider on security is stirring worries in Tokyo about damage to its U.S. alliance, and could embolden hardliners keen to bolster Japan’s military in the face of a rising China.

Clinton’s Asian-American outreach director leaving campaign: email
(Reuters) – The director of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s Asian American and Pacific Islander outreach efforts is leaving the campaign for a position with the Colorado Democrats, according to an email seen by Reuters.

Anti-Trump protesters shut down road to Arizona campaign rally: Fox News
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Demonstrators protesting U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump have shut down a highway leading to a campaign rally for the candidate near Phoenix, Arizona, Fox News reported Saturday.

Trump’s ‘obsession’ with anchorwoman Kelly is ‘deplorable’: Fox
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Fox News on Friday issued a harsh condemnation to Donald Trump in defense of one of the network’s most popular reporters, calling the Republican front-runner’s “obsession” unfit for a presidential candidate.

Obama’s Argentina trip raises questions about Macri rights record
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Celeste Perosino was investigating possible crimes committed by Argentina’s central bank during the “Dirty War” military dictatorship decades ago before her team was disbanded by the new conservative President Mauricio Macri.

Obama allies to press Republicans on high court nomination
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – As the Senate began a two-week recess on Friday, the White House and its allies sought to turn up the heat on Republicans to reverse course and act on President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.

Romney offers vote, little else, to Cruz in Republican election battle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican Mitt Romney said on Friday he would vote for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in Utah’s presidential nominating contest, but the party’s 2012 election standard-bearer stopped short of an official endorsement as he urged voters to deny the nomination to front-runner Donald Trump.

Illinois lawmaker’s daughter charged in political staple attack
(Reuters) – A daughter of an Illinois state representative has been charged with participating in an attack on one of her mother’s political rivals that included using a staple gun on the victim’s forehead, police and the victim said on Friday.

Romney says he will vote for Cruz in Utah presidential caucus
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Friday announced he will vote for Senator Ted Cruz of Texas in Utah’s Tuesday nominating contest, citing a desire to halt the momentum of party front-runner Donald Trump.

Republican lawmakers to join Obama’s Cuba visit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A small group of Republican lawmakers will join President Barack Obama’s historic trip to Cuba on Sunday, underlining growing divisions in the party over the future of the United States’ trade embargo against the island nation.

Factbox: Build a giant wall, cut Education Department. What a President Trump would do
(Reuters) – Presidential candidate Donald Trump has been accused by some in his Republican Party of being vague on policy specifics and heavy on rhetoric.

U.S. mansion where Obama to stay in Havana ‘built to impress’
HAVANA (Reuters) – The mansion in Havana where U.S. President Barack Obama and his family will spend two nights has survived war, revolution and an Albanian occupation.

Obama’s Cuba meetings will not be negotiated with Cuban government: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The list of people, including dissidents, President Barack Obama plans to invite to meet with him during his trip to Cuba will not be negotiated with the Cuban government, the White House said on Friday.

Letter with granular matter sent to Trump’s son in New York
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Authorities were investigating a threatening letter containing a granular substance that was sent to Donald Trump’s son urging an end to the elder’s presidential campaign, a New York City police official said on Friday.

Obama to host summit with Nordic leaders in May: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will host the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in May for a U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit, the White House said on Friday.

U.S. general Lori Robinson to become first woman to lead combatant command
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama will name the first woman to head a U.S. combatant command, selecting Air Force General Lori Robinson as the next head of the military’s Northern Command, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Friday.

Ex-Connecticut Governor Rowland to appeal campaign finance conviction
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Former Connecticut Governor John Rowland will urge a U.S. appeals court on Friday to set aside his conviction and 2-1/2-year prison sentence for trying to conceal his involvement in two congressional campaigns.

Meet a man who will help determine Trump’s fate in 2016 race
(Reuters) – Mark Strang spends his days delivering farm equipment, listening to politics on the radio during cross-country drives. But in July, the 63-year-old could have an outsized voice in choosing the Republican nominee for president of the United States.

Sanders calls notion he should quit Democratic race ‘absurd’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, responding to reports President Barack Obama called on Democrats to rally around Hillary Clinton as the likely nominee, said on Thursday it was “absurd” to suggest he drop out of the race.

Sarah Palin says husband still in intensive care after accident
(Reuters) – Former U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said on Thursday that her husband, who was seriously injured in a snowmobile accident, was still in a hospital intensive care unit after surgery.

Protests planned for Trump speech at pro-Israel conference
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Some rabbis and Jewish students are planning protests against Donald Trump’s speech on Monday at a conference of the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC over what they say are his belittling comments about Muslims and other groups.

Hillary Clinton wins Missouri Democratic primary: Associated Press
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has won the Missouri primary, the Associated Press reported on Thursday, with rival Bernie Sanders conceding the contest.

Republican Marco Rubio not making a play for 2016 vice presidency
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former U.S. Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio said on Thursday he would not be anybody’s running-mate in the Nov. 8 presidential election, slamming down rumors that he was seeking the vice presidential nod from former rivals.

Republican candidate Cruz wins support from ex-rival Graham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Former Republican presidential candidate Senator Lindsey Graham threw his support behind Senator Ted Cruz in the race for his party’s presidential nomination on Thursday, saying he thought Cruz has the best chance of stopping front-runner Donald Trump.

House Speaker Ryan says contested Republican convention more likely
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Thursday it is increasingly likely that the Republican Party’s presidential nominating convention will be a contested one this summer.

Obama did not indicate preference for Democratic candidate: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama did not specify a candidate preference in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination at a Democratic National Committee fundraising event, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Thursday.

Puerto Rico bill expected soon, House Democratic leader says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said she expects legislation to help tackle Puerto Rico’s ongoing financial crisis to come soon and that lawmakers will hopefully act on it quickly.

Senator McCain wants Pentagon to probe United Launch executive’s remarks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain on Thursday urged Defense Secretary Ash Carter to investigate what he called troubling remarks by a former senior United Launch Alliance executive about his company’s dealings with the Pentagon.

Sergeant Bergdahl says ‘fantastic’ plan crumbled hours after leaving post
(Reuters) – U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl had devised what he told a military investigator was a “fantastic plan” to leave his post so he could inform higher-ups about problems in the ranks, but that fell apart when he realized he took on more than he could manage.

Republican Ryan rejects Trump warning of riots in presidential race
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday rejected a warning by Donald Trump of riots if the businessman does not win the Republican presidential nomination for the Nov. 8 election.

Top U.S. general, without citing Trump, warns on troops’ morale
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top U.S. military officer told the Senate on Thursday that it would harm the morale of U.S. forces to order them to carry out activities such as waterboarding or targeting civilians, options previously cited by leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Cruz names national security team for presidential campaign
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Ted Cruz, Donald Trump’s closest Republican rival in the U.S. presidential race, named his national security advisers on Thursday, including former staffers of President George W. Bush and members of a think tank that has been called an anti-Muslim “hate group.”

Obama administration offers $66 million to aid coal communities
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration released $65.8 million on Thursday to help communities that are struggling from the decline of the coal industry and bankruptcies of major producers of the fuel.

Embraer consultant says believes CEO knew of bribery: WSJ
(Reuters) – A sales consultant told Brazilian prosecutors he believes planemaker Embraer SA’s top officials, including Chief Executive Frederico Curado, knew of illicit payments related to the sale of military aircraft to the Dominican Republic, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Key Republicans open to handling Garland nomination after U.S. election
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two key U.S. Senate Republicans signaled they would be open to considering after the Nov. 8 presidential election President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland, the centrist judge who was set on Thursday to begin meeting with senators.

Half of U.S. women have ‘very unfavorable’ view of Trump: poll
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Real estate billionaire Donald Trump’s coarse rhetoric has won him some fans, but there’s at least one large group in America that is increasingly unimpressed: women.

Kremlin condemns Donald Trump pre-election clip for demonizing Russia
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin on Thursday hit out at a pre-election video promoting U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump at Hillary Clinton’s expense, complaining that it demonized Russia.

Cuba changing, but only slowly, since Obama’s policy shift
HAVANA (Reuters) – Saul Berenthal has waited for decades for a chance to do business in Cuba. Despite the astonishing breakthroughs in U.S.-Cuban relations under President Barack Obama, he must wait some more.

Obama commends Northern Ireland leaders on peace progress: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama met with two Northern Ireland leaders and commended them on the progress being made towards peace, the White House said on Wednesday.

Australian minister says Trump phenomenon ‘terrifying’
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A senior Australian government minister on Thursday called Donald Trump’s campaign for the U.S. presidency “terrifying” and warned it risked casting the Republican Party into the wilderness if he wins nomination.

Religious liberty bill passes Georgia state legislature
ATLANTA (Reuters) – A religious freedom bill described by opponents as being discriminatory against same-sex couples passed the Georgia state legislature on Wednesday night in an 11th hour vote ahead of the session’s close.

Illinois no closer to budget deal after key legislative elections
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The two main antagonists in Illinois’ budgetary stalemate signaled no imminent spending deal on Wednesday, a day after a series of politically symbolic elections tilted in favor of Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan over Republican Governor Bruce Rauner.

Sanders not ruling out requesting a recount in Missouri Democratic primary
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will not rule out the possibility of requesting a recount in Tuesday’s narrow Missouri nominating contest, the campaign said on Wednesday.

Pennsylvania governor to veto latest budget as stalemate drags on
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said on Wednesday that he would veto the latest Republican budget as lawmakers continue their months-long struggle to set a spending plan.

Obama to address Cuban people in speech on Tuesday: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will make an address to the Cuban people during his last day on the island on Tuesday, and the Cuban government has not shown resistance to it being broadcast, White House officials said on Wednesday.

Five North Carolina Sheriff’s deputies disciplined over Trump rally
(Reuters) – Five North Carolina Sheriff’s deputies have been disciplined over their behavior at a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump where a white supporter sucker punched a black protester, officials said on Wednesday.

Obama slaps new sanctions on North Korea after tests
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama imposed sweeping new sanctions on North Korea on Wednesday intended to further isolate the country’s leadership after recent actions by Pyongyang that have been seen by Washington and its allies as provocative.

Spy plane contract to be awarded in fiscal 2018: U.S. Air Force
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Air Force contract to start replacing the aging fleet of JSTARS spy and battle management planes is expected to be awarded in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, Air Force Secretary Deborah James said on Wednesday.

Senate blocks bill that would override state GMO labeling laws
(Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked a bill that would nullify state and local efforts to require food makers to label products made with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, as the industry races to stop Vermont’s law from taking effect on July 1.

Senate advances bill to aid drug-dependent newborns
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A bipartisan bill designed to improve the health and safety of babies born to mothers who used heroin or other opioids during pregnancy was approved by a U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday.

Republican Ted Cruz says Senate should not vote on President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz on Wednesday said the Senate should not vote on President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.

South Carolina Governor Haley supports Cruz in White House race
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has thrown her backing behind Senator Ted Cruz for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, South Carolina newspaper Post and Courier reported on Wednesday.

After Trump pulls out, Fox News cancels Republican debate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Republican presidential debate scheduled for next week in Utah has been canceled, host Fox News said on Wednesday, after party front-runner Donald Trump told the network he would not participate.

Kerry speaks with Russian counterpart ahead of Moscow visit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to his Russian counterpart on Wednesday ahead of his upcoming trip to Moscow, a call expected to touch on the 5-year-old conflict in Syria and the cessation of hostilities there, the State Department said.

Chances of Republican brokered convention up since Super Tuesday: PredictIt
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The chances that the Republican Party will decide its nominee for the November presidential election through a brokered convention have increased since Super Tuesday even as front-runner Donald Trump has racked up primary wins, according to two online betting sites.

House Speaker Ryan will not accept a presidential nomination
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, will not accept a nomination to be a U.S. presidential candidate, his spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, said on Wednesday.

Obama adds Saudi, Britain stops to Germany trip: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will meet with leaders of several Gulf nations and Britain as part of his previously scheduled trip to Germany next month, the White House said on Wednesday.

Trump says will not attend next Republican presidential debate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican front-runner Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would not attend the next televised Republican presidential debate scheduled for next Monday.

Considered twice before, Garland gets call to top court
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Merrick Garland, the federal appeals court judge picked by President Barack Obama for the Supreme Court, was twice before considered as a nominee for the lifetime job as a justice but passed over when Obama chose Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Trump predicts riots if denied Republican presidential nomination: CNN interview
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, fresh off a string of election victories, said on Wednesday he was confident he would get enough delegates to win his party’s nomination and warned of unrest if it were denied to him.

Republican money class fears stigma of becoming Trump donors
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – As Donald Trump inches closer to becoming the U.S. Republican nominee, many of the party’s big donors fear they will tarnish their reputations should they contribute to a candidate who has insulted women, Hispanics and Muslims.

Embattled Chicago prosecutor defeated in election primary
(Reuters) – Voters in Chicago have ousted embattled Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, who has been harshly criticized for her handling of a police shooting investigation.

After crucial win, Kasich sees path to Republican nomination
BEREA, Ohio (Reuters) – After a critical win on his home turf, Ohio Governor John Kasich begins a new phase of his long-shot presidential campaign that his aides hope will ultimately propel him past Republican front-runner Donald Trump by triggering a rare contested convention.

USDA chief says farmers looking ahead to possible Cuba markets
LIMA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said Tuesday that farm officials want to lay the groundwork so American agricultural exporters can seize new opportunities in Cuba if the trade embargo on the country is lifted.

How Rubio’s campaign failed: problems from the start
MIAMI (Reuters) – Marco Rubio had all that you need in a Republican presidential candidate: fluency on the issues, a conservative outlook, crossover appeal as a Cuban-American, and youthful good looks.

Srinivasan or Garland likely Obama choice for U.S. Supreme Court -source
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama is likely to announce either Judge Sri Srinivasan or Judge Merrick Garland as his pick for U.S. Supreme Court nominee and the announcement could come as early as Wednesday, a source familiar with the selection process said on Tuesday.

Rubio ends White House bid after humbling home-state loss
MIAMI (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday, having lost his home state of Florida despite support from a party establishment worried about the rise of billionaire Donald Trump.

Democrats push SEC nominees on corporate political spending
(Reuters) – Democrats in the Senate made a concerted push on Tuesday during a confirmation hearing for nominees to the Securities and Exchange Commission to require corporations to disclose political contributions.

Secret Service manpower shortage as campaigns ramp up
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Secret Service, tasked with simultaneously protecting President Barack Obama and some of the Republican and Democratic candidates now running to replace him next year, is facing a manpower shortfall at a time of peak demand, the agency told Congress on Tuesday.

All clear at Rubio campaign office after white powder scare
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio said his staff was safe after his Washington campaign headquarters was evacuated over a suspicious white powder.