World

Ahead of the July Fourth holiday and the country's 249th birthday, three-quarters of Americans say democracy is under serious threat, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. Nearly three-quarters also see politically motivated violence as a major problem. The findings come at a time of great political volatility. In the midst of Donald Trump's second term as president, the country is polarized and sharply divided. The U.S. is grappling with what it means to be American, who is essential to its story, who belongs, who doesn't and which direction the country should take — all while Americans are expressing very little faith in its political leadership, the survey finds. Marist interviewed 1,381 adults from June 23-25. Respondents were reached via text message or on

The shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses this past weekend are the latest instances of political violence that has risen across the U.S. in recent years. Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed on Saturday by a man who authorities say was impersonating a police officer. The same shooter attacked Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who have been hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities apprehended and are charging Vance Boelter, 57, in connection with both shootings. Boelter is facing federal murder charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty, in addition to state charges. The attacks come as U.S. lawmakers face a rising threat of political violence. Members of Congress and ...

Public backlash over rising electricity bills is growing. New York targets utility oversight and consumer protections, while Georgia’s response has been limited, despite clear voter dissatisfaction and mounting political pressure. U.S. electricity rates are likely to rise above inflation due to grid upgrades and growing data center demand—with consumers, not tech giants, expected to bear the bulk of the costs. Two swallows do not a summer make. Well, okay, Aristotle didn’t put it that way, but we are betting that a lot of utility investors are hoping so. Here’s what happened on the same day. Two news stories. USA Network, the Gannet news service, reported that the N.Y. State legislature is not just looking at rising electricity rates, but they are legislating. Eight bills p