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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Democrats and Republicans Clash Over SNAP Contingency Funds

Democrats and Republicans Clash Over SNAP Contingency Funds

Republicans say funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits — formerly known as food stamps — will run out on Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown, and there’s nothing they can do about it. Democrats say there’s a contingency fund that could and should continue to fund regular SNAP benefits.

Assessing the Facts and Legal Questions About the U.S. Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats

Assessing the Facts and Legal Questions About the U.S. Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats

At least 61 people have been killed in 14 U.S. military strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean since early September. Here, we will address what is known about the targets of the strikes, the trafficking of illicit substances from South and Central America to the U.S., and what experts are saying about the legality of the Trump administration’s escalation of the war on drugs.

Reagan’s Words on Tariffs

Reagan’s Words on Tariffs

An ad campaign from the government of Ontario featured audio of former President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs on foreign goods. The video rearranges what Reagan said in a 1987 radio address, and it ignores some of the context. But it does not alter the former president’s sentiments, contrary to President Donald Trump’s claim that Canada “lied.”

Trump’s White House Ballroom Sparks Questions About Funding and Ethics

Trump’s White House Ballroom Sparks Questions About Funding and Ethics

Q: Is President Donald Trump paying in full for the new ballroom at the White House, and what is the cost?

A: The White House said Trump and “other patriot donors” would pay for the ballroom, which the president estimated would cost $300 million. So far, $200 million has been pledged, according to the White House, which did not say how much the president would donate. Democratic leaders and ethics experts have questioned the project and what influence donors would have on federal policies.

What’s in the Bolton Indictment?

What’s in the Bolton Indictment?

A federal grand jury in Maryland on Oct. 16 returned an indictment against former National Security Adviser John Bolton for mishandling classified national defense information obtained during his tenure in the first Trump administration. Here, we’ll provide information about what’s in the indictment and Bolton’s response.

Q&A on Trump’s Attempt to Deploy National Guard to Portland and Chicago

Q&A on Trump’s Attempt to Deploy National Guard to Portland and Chicago

While President Donald Trump’s rhetoric regarding Portland and Chicago has largely focused on overall crime, National Guard deployments are specifically targeted at protecting federal immigration operations and facilities. Here, we’ll unravel some of the rhetoric about what’s happening in those cities, what the Trump administration is doing and under what authority, and what the courts have had to say about it so far.

Appraising the Federal Indictment of Letitia James

Appraising the Federal Indictment of Letitia James

The legal clashes between New York Attorney General Letitia James and President Donald Trump took a U-turn with a federal indictment on Oct. 9 charging James with mortgage fraud. We’ll look at the allegations and facts surrounding the case, the history of animosity between Trump and James, and what experts say about the weight of the charges.

Trump, Project 2025 and ‘Culture Wars’

Trump, Project 2025 and ‘Culture Wars’

In this story, which is the last in our five-part series on Project 2025, we look at how Trump implemented the document’s recommendations on divisive cultural issues, including reproductive rights, transgender protections, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

What We Know About Political Violence in America

What We Know About Political Violence in America

President Donald Trump and others in his circle have portrayed political violence as a problem exclusively or mostly on the left, which has then been used as justification for proposals that seek to crack down on left-leaning groups. While there is evidence of a rise in left-wing violence in recent years, data show that political violence in America spans the ideological spectrum.