Bloomberg says he never had a chance in White House bid

The former New York City mayor of 12 years said he decided against joining the contested presidential race against candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton because of his inability to align with the Democratic or Republican parties. Bloomberg told "60 Minutes" that if even if he mounted an Independent campaign with retired Navy Admiral Michael Mullen as his running mate, and $1 billion of his own money, he would never have stood a chance.

Bloomberg to world leaders: Ignore Trump on climate

New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg urged world leaders not to follow President Donald Trump's lead on climate change and declared his intention to help save an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions. Bloomberg, who considered a presidential bid after serving three terms as New York City's mayor, addressed his intensifying focus on climate change in an interview with The Associated Press.

Michael Bloomberg

In this Wednesday, July 27, 2016, file photo, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg waves after speaking to delegates during the third day session of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The former New York City mayor addressed his intensifying focus on climate change on Saturday, April 22, 2017, in an email interview with The Associated Press.

White House talks tough on wall funding ahead of spending fight

The White House appeared ready to go to the mat for its planned Mexican border wall in this week's must-pass spending bill, setting up a clash with Democrats that may make a government shutdown at week's end more likely. "The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members," President Donald Trump said in previewing the budget fight on Twitter on Sunday.

White House Appears Ready to Go to the Mat for Its Border Wall

The White House appeared ready to go to the mat for its planned Mexican border wall in this week's must-pass spending bill, setting up a clash with Democrats that may make a government shutdown at week's end more likely. "The Democrats don't want money from budget going to border wall despite the fact that it will stop drugs and very bad MS 13 gang members," President Donald Trump said in previewing the budget fight on Twitter on Sunday.

Pelosi: ‘Of Course’ Democrats Can Be Anti-Abortion

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said on Sunday that "of course" a person could be a member of the Democratic party and be against abortion, responding to an issue that flared up last week over whether or not Democrats must adhere to party orthodoxy in order to be a member, The Hill reported. "Of course, I have served many years in Congress with members who have not shared my very positive - my family would say aggressive - position on promoting a woman's right to choose," Pelosi told host Chuck Todd on NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sunday.

Sweet home Chicago: Obama re-emerges in city where it all began

Former U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday makes his first major appearance since leaving office, having chosen Chicago, the city where his political career started, to emerge from a three-month hiatus from the public eye. Obama will meet youth leaders and promote community organizing near the same South Side neighborhoods where his own activism blossomed and propelled him to two terms in the White House that ended with Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who served as Obama's first White House chief of staff, said that he was proud that Obama picked Chicago to make his last speech as president and the first in his post-presidency.

France begins presidential vote in test for populism

Erin Moran, the former child star who starred as Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi," has died. Erin Moran, the former child star who starred as Joanie Cunningham in the sitcoms "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi," has died.

The Latest: Voter turnout in France so far similar to 2012

French voters are casting ballots for their next president in an unusually close first-round election Sunday, aft... . A man casts his vote for the first-round presidential election at a polling in Tulle central France, Sunday, April 23, 2017.

Schumer: Boost communication after Penn Station stampede

Sen. Charles Schumer says the stampede that injured 16 people at New York's P... . FILE - In this Friday, April 14, 2017 file photo, New York City police officers detain a passenger from a disabled New Jersey Transit train who became belligerent and sparked a stampede among passengers leaving the overc... .

Politics | Sunday Political Brunch: Political Odds and Ends

Congress is coming back to Washington, D.C. this week after a two-week recess, or as the members call it, "a district work period." Many in the public and the press call it a "vacation," but for many Senators and Representatives it's a busy time to meet with constituents across districts and states.

Hillary Clinton makes surprise appearance at Tribeca Fest

Director at African Parks Andrea Heydlauff, from left, Executive Vice President of Digital Product at National Geographic Partners Rachel Webber, writer/director Imraan Ismail, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and writer/director and producer Kathryn Bigelow speak on stage at "Tribeca Talks Virtual Reality: The Protectors," during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at Spring Studios Saturday, April 22, 2017, in New York. Clinton was an unannounced panelist, there to discuss the scourge of elephant poaching - the subject of Bigelow's eight-minute film, "The Protectors: Walk in the Rangers' Shoes."

Problems remain at troubled Washington psychiatric hospital

Inspectors who visited Washington state's largest psychiatric hospital found that safety problems that thrust the facility into the national spotlight after the escape of two dangerous patients a year ago persist, including neglected patients. And a survey of Western State Hospital staff, conducted as part of federal oversight in December and January, found that administrators make decisions that "adversely affect patient safety" and there was a lack of trained or qualified staff, fear of retaliation from managers and too much focus on bureaucracy over staff safety.

I Will Release Plan With ‘Massive’ Tax Cuts Next Week

"The process has begun long ago but it really formally begins on Wednesday", Trump said in a statement issued to CNBC . The Trump administration plans to rely on controversial assumptions about economic growth to offset steep cuts to business and individual tax rates, a chief architect of the plan said Thursday.

Possible shutdown, health care quagmire awaiting Congress

Lawmakers returning to Washington this coming week will find a familiar quagmire on health care legislation and a budget deadline dramatized by the prospect of a protracted battle between President Donald Trump and Democrats over his border wall. Trump's GOP allies control Congress, but they've been unable to send him a single major bill as his presidency faces the symbolic 100-day mark on April 29 - the very day when the government, in a worst-case scenario, could shut down.

President approves Washington storms disaster declaration

President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for Washington state to address damage from late January and February storms that brought flooding, landslides and mudslides. The action, in response to a request from Gov. Jay Inslee, makes federal funding available to state, local and tribal governments as well as certain nonprofit groups.