Hello readers, and welcome back to On Politics. Kathryn Palmer here. Let's dive in to today's news. |
How a sewage spill became a political mess |
One of the largest sewage spills in U.S. history has turned into a political fight between the federal government and local officials, as President Donald Trump steps in and Democrats rebuff criticism. It all started with a recent sewage line collapse in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, that spilled at least 200 million gallons of raw sewage into the Potomac River. The spill has prompted widespread public health concerns as E. coli bacteria have been detected at dangerous levels in parts of the river, and the leakage underscores the risks posed by aging sewer infrastructure. Nearly a month after the spill, Trump criticized the cleanup efforts – pointing a finger at Democrats and Maryland's Gov. Wes Moore, who is considered a rising star in his party. Here's what to know about the stinky standoff and the growing ecological disaster. | Maryland Gov. Wes Moore participates in a discussion on bipartisanship at the National Press Club on September 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images |
Congressman's 'Muslims' post prompts calls to resign |
Rep. Randy Fine, a first-term Republican congressman from Florida, is facing calls to resign over accusations of Islamophobia after suggesting he prefers dogs to Muslim people. He was responding to a post by a prominent pro-Palestinian activist who said that dogs shouldn't be indoor pets. She later clarified she was making a joke about dog owners not cleaning up after their pets on New York City's snow-lined streets. "If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one," Fine said in a Sunday social media post. Backlash has been swift among many leading Democrats, and even conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, calling Fine's comments bigoted and Islamophobic, and demanding he be censured and step down. It's far from the first time Fine has faced backlash over his comments about Muslim people, Muslim political leaders and Islam. |
Homeland Security spokeswoman is on her way out |
At a time when the Trump administration has been trying to portray a "softer" image on immigration, Tricia McLaughlin is stepping down from her role as the chief immigration spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security. McLaughlin, who describes her approach as "aggressive," told The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network, that her last day with the agency would be Feb. 27. Neither McLaughlin nor the Trump administration gave a reason for her departure. McLaughlin said her departure had been in the works since December but was delayed because of the shootings in Minneapolis last month. | | Stephen Colbert is calling out CBS for denying that he was prohibited from airing an interview with Texas representative James Talarico. | | The president is set to deliver the State of the Union address later this month. Find out when and where to watch his speech to Congress. | | | | President Donald Trump has seen historically low approval ratings. Immigration has been among his best issues, but support for that has slipped too. | | | | Chicago plays host to public observances for the civil rights icon, who died at 84. | | | | U.S. Judge Paula Xinis said the government "made one empty threat after another" to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Africa. | | | | | Sign up for the news you want | Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don't miss out! We're always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. | | | | | |
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