Politics: 5 stories from this week
Personalized for you.
On Politics
October 25, 2025

Here are some stories you might have missed this week, curated by Times editors and personalized for you.

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Doug Mills/The New York Times

Trump Said to Demand Justice Dept. Pay Him $230 Million for Past Cases

Senior department officials who were defense lawyers for the president and those in his orbit are now in jobs that typically must approve any such payout, underscoring potential ethical conflicts.

By Devlin Barrett and Tyler Pager

Paul Ingrassia, in sunglasses and a dark suit, in a crowd.

Doug Mills/The New York Times

Trump Nominee for Watchdog Role Is Out After Report of Racist Texts

At least four Republican senators, including the majority leader, signaled their opposition to Paul Ingrassia, the president’s pick to lead the corruption-fighting Office of Special Counsel.

By Robert Jimison and Katie Rogers

Cactuses are in the foreground. A student sits in the background in front of a historic campus building.

Caitlin O'Hara for The New York Times

All but 2 Universities Decline a Trump Offer of Preferential Funding

One of the two, Vanderbilt University, signaled it had reservations.

By Alan Blinder

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Doug Mills/The New York Times

As Vance Takes on a Forceful New Role, His Positions Are Shifting

Vice President JD Vance has found himself defending or promoting positions that he once opposed, even as recently as the campaign.

By Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Dylan Freedman

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Kent Nishimura for The New York Times

news analysis

Keeping the House Absent, Johnson Marginalizes Congress and Himself

The speaker’s decision to hold the House in an indefinite hiatus during the shutdown is his latest move to diminish the role of the legislative branch — and his own post.

By Annie Karni

MORE ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

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The New York Times

Latest Polls: Do Americans Approve of President Trump?

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The New York Times

Tracking the Lawsuits Against Trump’s Agenda

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