Federal

• 88 岁的华盛顿特区国会代表 Eleanor Holmes Norton 对特朗普发出的 30 年来最严重的联邦政府威胁做出了坚决回应。 • 在 Muriel Bowser 盟友的支持下，Norton 将特朗普的行为视为地方掌控权的政治胜利。 • 此次僵局凸显了联邦政府与华盛顿特区治理之间持续的权力斗争。

• 一名联邦法官驳回了司法部寻求访问亚利桑那州选民注册数据的诉讼，裁定该州获胜。 • 该案涉及选民名录不准确的指控，但法院认为没有足够的证据来支持特朗普政府的要求。 • 这一裁决保护了州选民数据的隐私，并可能影响 2026 年中期选举前关于选举诚信的持续争论。

• 美联储周三投票决定将基准联邦基金利率维持在 3.5% 至 3.75% 不变，理由是对伊朗战争期间通货膨胀上升的担忧。 • 这标志着在 2025 年 9 月、10 月和 12 月连续三次下调 25 个基点后，美联储继续暂停利率调整。 • 美联储主席 Jerome Powell 计划于东部时间下午 2:30 举行新闻发布会讨论该决定，这可能是他作为美联储主席最后一次利率公告。

• A majority of Americans express concern over rising healthcare costs and support increased federal tax spending to address these challenges, according to the Axios/Ipsos American Health Index released March 17, 2026. • The poll demonstrates bipartisan support for government action on healthcare affordability, reflecting widespread concern among the U.S. public about escalating medical expenses. • Americans also show increased trust in government handling of childhood vaccination decisions, signaling broader public confidence in health policy interventions.

Federal raids unfold in Twin Cities amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Minnesota officialsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxFederal agents under the command of the Trump administration have descended on Minnesota’s Twin Cities again to primarily target alleged fraud at daycares after the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s so-called “Operation Metro Surge” all but wound down earlier in the year.“Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” the US justice department told the Guardian in a statement on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: State government commits to strengthening laws as Higgins labels Albanese government’s response to women’s safety issues ‘disheartening’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian government will strengthen laws regarding the use of victim-survivors’ confidential communications after a push by advocates including Brittany Higgins, who described her experience of having counselling records subpoenaed as a “violation”.In an interview with Guardian Australia, Higgins was also critical of the federal government’s lack of action following a sweeping review into the justice system’s responses to sexual violence, saying it had “completely fallen off the agenda”.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...