Mike Pence speaks at March for Life

Vice President Mike Pence addressed thousands of anti-abortion demonstrators at the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C. During his speech, Pence said ending taxpayer funding for abortions and abortion providers is a top priority for President Donald Trump. The U.S. government does not fund Planned Parenthood 's abortions except in rare cases.

NORC Poll: Broad worries about potential health care loss

Though "Obamacare" still divides Americans, a majority worries many will lose coverage if the 2010 law is repealed in the nation's long-running political standoff over health care. A new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 56 percent of U.S. adults are "extremely" or "very" concerned that many will lose health insurance if the health overhaul is repealed.

‘Fatal Vision’ doctor claims innocence in family’s slaying

A former Army surgeon who has always insisted he was wrongly convicted of slaughtering his pregnant wife and their two young daughters nearly 50 years ago won't give up, even if his latest appeal fails to clear his name, his lawyer says. Jeffrey MacDonald is "going to keep fighting and will continue to maintain his innocence until the end of his days," Attorney Hart Miles said after a hearing at the 4th U.S. District Court of Appeals on Thursday.

Miami-Dade mayor orders cooperation in Trump immigration plan

The mayor of Miami-Dade County has told his jails to obey requests from the President Trump administration to avoid punishments for so-called " sanctuary cities ." Mayor Carlos Gimenez signed a memo Thursday telling employees to cooperate more closely with immigration authorities in light of a vague executive order signed by Trump aimed at deporting more undocumented workers.

A new Obamacare abortion battle is brewing

A fight over taxpayer funding for abortion that nearly blew up the Affordable Care Act seven years ago is brewing once again. Conservative groups are warning members of Congress they will oppose an Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill if it doesn't include language to effectively prohibit any federally subsidized health plans from covering abortion.

Chicago mayor welcomes help, warns against deploying troops

A day after President Donald Trump declared he was ready to "send in the Feds" if Chicago can't reduce its homicides, Mayor Rahm Emanuel warned against deploying the National Guard, saying it would hurt efforts to restore trust in the police. Trump offered no details on what kind of federal intervention he was suggesting or if it could involve troops, but the mayor cautioned using the military could make matters worse.

Trump Is Forcing the EPA to Clear Studies With His Appointees Before…

The Trump administration has just given itself veto power over all scientific studies produced by the Environmental Protection Agency. In an unprecedented move, the White House has mandated that any studies or data produced by EPA scientists undergo review by political appointees before being released to the public, the Associated Press reports .

GOP Attack on Women Continues With House Vote to Deny Abortion Coverage

Anti-choice House Republicans on Tuesday voted to further curtail U.S. women's healthcare access, passing a draconian bill that permanently bans the use of federal funds for abortion and prohibits anyone who receives subsidies to buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act from purchasing a plan that covers abortion. "The goal of this bill is clear: to end any and all insurance coverage of abortion and make abortion financially out of reach, even in cases where a woman's health is in danger," Planned Parenthood said in a statement .

Scientists get political after government gag order and climate change reversal

The U.S. Department of Agriculture placed a gag order on its main research division , BuzzFeed reported Tuesday morning, which includes bans on sharing scientific summaries of papers, social media posts and talking to the press. The USDA confirmed the gag order was sent out, but then lifted the ban Tuesday evening following public outcry, BuzzFeed reported.

Congress Is Opening the Door to ‘Alternative Facts’ in Budget Policy

Shortly after President Donald Trump's inauguration, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway claimed that false statements coming from the White House were actually "alternative facts." The new administration's disregard for the truth is concerning on many levels, but it is particularly problematic for sound budget policy, which requires an honest evaluation of the cost of new legislation and the nation's overall fiscal health.

Trump trademarks 2020 campaign slogan: ‘Keep America Great’

Never straying far from his business roots, Trump has already submitted an application to trademark the slogan he plans to use for his 2020 re-election run: "Keep America Great." Records from the United States Patent and Trademark Office show that the president applied on Wednesday - before he was even sworn into office - to trademark the phrase, both with and without an exclamation point.

Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme…

Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. / AFP / Mandel Ngan Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC.

Report: Trump administration clamping down on some government social media accounts

According to a report at Politico, social media accounts belonging to federal agencies like the EPA and USDA are being restricted by the incoming Trump administration. Case in point, earlier today an account for Badlands National Park tweeted out some climate change information but all of those tweets were later deleted: Politico reports the disappearance of those tweets is in line with guidance being sent out to some agencies about how they are to use their social media accounts : At EPA, the lockdown extends well beyond formal coordinated messaging.

California governor defiant in face of Trump agenda

Gov. Jerry Brown delivered an aggressive defense on Tuesday of California's liberal policies on immigration, health care and climate change during his State of the State address, vowing to fight the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress if they threaten to roll back state policies. The Democratic governor, who has made fighting climate change a legacy issue, also noted the state's successes in cutting unemployment, closing a multibillion-dollar deficit, boosting school funding and expanding rights for immigrants who are in the country illegally.

Trump administration in gag order to Department of Agriculture researchers

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily halt all contracts, grants and interagency agreements pending a review, according to sources. The White House sent a letter to the EPA's Office of Administration and Resources Management ordering the freeze on Monday, an EPA staffer told Reuters.