Syrian official rules out Assad departure ahead of talks
By ZEINA KARAM and ALBERT AJI A top Syrian official urged the opposition to let go of its dream of easing President Bashar Assad out of power in a transitional…
Elections
Texas Republicans stay silent as GOP officials face troubles
The Texas attorney general has been indicted for allegedly duping investors in a tech startup, and the agriculture commissioner reportedly used tax dollars to travel to obtain a so-called Jesus…
Ryan to make statement ruling out presidential bid
By ERICA WERNER House Speaker Paul Ryan is definitively ruling out a bid for president this year, amid persistent speculation that he could emerge as the GOP nominee from a…
Senate Judiciary chair Grassley has breakfast with Garland
By ALAN FRAM Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley had breakfast Tuesday with the man whose elevation to the Supreme Court he has vowed to block and told him the…
Syrian government launches offensive south of city of Aleppo
By PHILIP ISSA and ZEINA KARAM Syrian troops and their allies launched an offensive Tuesday to retake an important hilltop village south of the city of Aleppo from militants, including…
Candidates with the muscle could alter GOP convention rules
By ALAN FRAM Forty-two rules govern the Republican Party and how it picks a presidential candidate. Yet with the nomination potentially up for grabs at July’s GOP convention, one reality…
GOPers say they’ll back nominee but avoid Trump
By DAVID A. LIEB When Donald Trump came to St. Louis last month for a raucous rally with thousands, Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt was more than 130 miles away, announcing…
Cruz win in Wisconsin leaves Trump damaged front-runner
Republican Donald Trump emerged from Wisconsin as a damaged front-runner following a crushing loss to rival Ted Cruz, deepening questions about the billionaire businessman’s presidential qualifications and pushing the GOP…