APS Politics
@apspolitics.bsky.social
APS Politics Department, sharing articles on US and UK politics that could be useful to A level Politics students.
For content up to July 2024 see @apspolitics on Twitter (X)
For content up to July 2024 see @apspolitics on Twitter (X)
2 of 2: Executive Power / Foreign policy & Congress (NB - important context - the Trump administration did inform some Congressional GOP members in advance of strikes on Iran in June - but was criticised for only briefing selected members of Congress)
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump’s attack on Venezuela without alerting Congress tests limits of executive power
Trump’s audacious arrest of Maduro marks a conspicuous break with convention, even as previously observed by the president himself
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2026 at 12:39 PM
2 of 2: Executive Power / Foreign policy & Congress (NB - important context - the Trump administration did inform some Congressional GOP members in advance of strikes on Iran in June - but was criticised for only briefing selected members of Congress)
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Court / Race + Rights - ongoing example
wapo.st/4rZY77B
wapo.st/4rZY77B
Supreme Court to review Mississippi case on alleged omission of Black jurors
The Supreme Court agreed to review the conviction of a death-row inmate who says prosecutors discriminated by excluding Black jurors during his 2006 trial.
wapo.st
December 16, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Court / Race + Rights - ongoing example
wapo.st/4rZY77B
wapo.st/4rZY77B
Presidential Power: Executive Orders
wapo.st/4j1Kdhd
wapo.st/4j1Kdhd
Trump has signed more executive orders in 2025 than in his entire first term
One third of Trump’s executive orders have been explicitly challenged in court, a Post analysis of data from nonprofits CourtListener and JustSecurity found.
wapo.st
December 16, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Presidential Power: Executive Orders
wapo.st/4j1Kdhd
wapo.st/4j1Kdhd
Presidential power v Congress (also relevant to the court who seem likely to decide)
December 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Presidential power v Congress (also relevant to the court who seem likely to decide)
Interesting on MAGA support and the midterms - possibly more useful for Y12 than Y13.
wapo.st/44tphK5
wapo.st/44tphK5
MAGA leaders warn Trump the base is checking out. Will he listen?
President Donald Trump is taking criticism from supporters for not addressing cost-of-living issues while focusing too much on foreign policy and billionaires.
wapo.st
December 16, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Interesting on MAGA support and the midterms - possibly more useful for Y12 than Y13.
wapo.st/44tphK5
wapo.st/44tphK5
Discharge process - great example:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US House to vote next week on bill compelling release of Epstein files
Mike Johnson announces move hours after swearing in Adelita Grijalva, Democrat whose signature triggered vote
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Discharge process - great example:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US shutdown, as predicted on Friday, is nearing its end:
Read these articles:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
2. Democrat Divisions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
3. Who are the 8 Democrats - look them up and think about the different reasons they may have for their vote
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Read these articles:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
2. Democrat Divisions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
3. Who are the 8 Democrats - look them up and think about the different reasons they may have for their vote
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Several Democrats side with Republicans to pass deal aimed at ending US government shutdown
The deal paves the way for the government to reopen but the agreement still needs to be voted on in the House.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 PM
US shutdown, as predicted on Friday, is nearing its end:
Read these articles:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
2. Democrat Divisions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
3. Who are the 8 Democrats - look them up and think about the different reasons they may have for their vote
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Read these articles:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0...
2. Democrat Divisions
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
3. Who are the 8 Democrats - look them up and think about the different reasons they may have for their vote
thehill.com/homenews/sen...
Parliamentary Scrutiny - an example of scrutiny of ministers / departments (Home Office and Justice Department):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Chris Mason: The justice system is failing and the buck stops with Lammy
Problems in the prisons and the courts are not new but they are growing and the government doesn't have a grip on them.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Parliamentary Scrutiny - an example of scrutiny of ministers / departments (Home Office and Justice Department):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK update - parties (Liberal Democrats) and Electoral Reform:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ed Davey wants to 'work with government' on electoral reform
The Liberal Democrat leader backs replacing first-past-the-post with proportional representation.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 1:26 PM
UK update - parties (Liberal Democrats) and Electoral Reform:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK update:
Caerphilly by-election (good for Plaid Cymru, very bad for Labour, also disappointing for Reform):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Caerphilly by-election (good for Plaid Cymru, very bad for Labour, also disappointing for Reform):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Plaid Cymru wins Caerphilly by-election for Welsh Parliament
The prime minister is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
UK update:
Caerphilly by-election (good for Plaid Cymru, very bad for Labour, also disappointing for Reform):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Caerphilly by-election (good for Plaid Cymru, very bad for Labour, also disappointing for Reform):
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Final update: Election week. State / local elections are not in our syllabus, but midterms are and so worth looking at the state of play:
Key points: the House could change hands, it'll be close. The Senate is unlikely to- most likely change is bigger GOP majority.
www.270towin.com/2026-senate-...
Key points: the House could change hands, it'll be close. The Senate is unlikely to- most likely change is bigger GOP majority.
www.270towin.com/2026-senate-...
2026 Senate Election Forecast Maps - 270toWin
Compare the current 2026 Senate map projections of various political pundits. Use any of the maps to create and share your own 2026 forecast
www.270towin.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Final update: Election week. State / local elections are not in our syllabus, but midterms are and so worth looking at the state of play:
Key points: the House could change hands, it'll be close. The Senate is unlikely to- most likely change is bigger GOP majority.
www.270towin.com/2026-senate-...
Key points: the House could change hands, it'll be close. The Senate is unlikely to- most likely change is bigger GOP majority.
www.270towin.com/2026-senate-...
US Shutdown latest:
(NB despite the Democrats' victories on Tuesday there are signs of movement towards an agreement - as the consequences of carrying on for much longer could be too great to bear)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
(NB despite the Democrats' victories on Tuesday there are signs of movement towards an agreement - as the consequences of carrying on for much longer could be too great to bear)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
US government shutdown becomes longest in American history
The shutdown has gone on for more than a month but there are signs that a compromise could be on the horizon.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:53 AM
US Shutdown latest:
(NB despite the Democrats' victories on Tuesday there are signs of movement towards an agreement - as the consequences of carrying on for much longer could be too great to bear)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
(NB despite the Democrats' victories on Tuesday there are signs of movement towards an agreement - as the consequences of carrying on for much longer could be too great to bear)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Gerrymandering - the redrawing of congressional districts has received a lot of attention - especially with the California vote on Prop 50 this week. Here is some context (see image and two linked articles in subsequent posts)
November 7, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Gerrymandering - the redrawing of congressional districts has received a lot of attention - especially with the California vote on Prop 50 this week. Here is some context (see image and two linked articles in subsequent posts)
Shutdown - ongoing - an explainer of the key issue between the parties (healthcare) - read to the end.
(For Y13s studying Congress - not the recent comments of Marjorie Taylor Greene on this).
wapo.st/4q2mcd0
(For Y13s studying Congress - not the recent comments of Marjorie Taylor Greene on this).
wapo.st/4q2mcd0
Analysis | The truths beneath Republicans’ shutdown strategy
The Washington Post’s essential guide to power and influence in D.C. Republicans say they won’t negotiate with Democrats on health care right now. Here’s why.
wapo.st
October 16, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Shutdown - ongoing - an explainer of the key issue between the parties (healthcare) - read to the end.
(For Y13s studying Congress - not the recent comments of Marjorie Taylor Greene on this).
wapo.st/4q2mcd0
(For Y13s studying Congress - not the recent comments of Marjorie Taylor Greene on this).
wapo.st/4q2mcd0
Shutdown - latest / update:
(NB some useful tabs above this piece on the AP site which outline - updates / what happens next / potential effects and shutdown history)
apnews.com/article/trum...
(NB some useful tabs above this piece on the AP site which outline - updates / what happens next / potential effects and shutdown history)
apnews.com/article/trum...
Federal government shutdown grinds into a week two as tempers flare at the Capitol
As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight. No negotiations, at least publicly, are underway, but quiet talks are emerging.
apnews.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Shutdown - latest / update:
(NB some useful tabs above this piece on the AP site which outline - updates / what happens next / potential effects and shutdown history)
apnews.com/article/trum...
(NB some useful tabs above this piece on the AP site which outline - updates / what happens next / potential effects and shutdown history)
apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump / Immigration / Federal Power over states / cities (2 of 2)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How Portland is wrestling with Trump protests, National Guard threat
As Trump threatens military action, residents in Portland tell the BBC about life amid the protests.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Trump / Immigration / Federal Power over states / cities (2 of 2)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump / Immigration / Federal Power v States / Cities (1 of 2)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trump calls for jailing of Illinois governor and Chicago mayor in immigration standoff
The president, who sent national guard troops to the city, said local officials failed to protect immigration agents.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Trump / Immigration / Federal Power v States / Cities (1 of 2)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Presidential Power / Supreme Court
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
New Supreme Court term will reshape Trump's powers
Legal challenges have slowed Trump's attempts to expand presidential power. Now the highest US court is going to weigh in.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Presidential Power / Supreme Court
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
US Shutdown (3 of 3):
How do US politics students use it:
Keep following developments closely & consider how this relates to:
- the effectiveness of checks and balances
- the relative power and effectiveness of the branches
- federalism (remember state legislatures are not shutdown)
- parties
How do US politics students use it:
Keep following developments closely & consider how this relates to:
- the effectiveness of checks and balances
- the relative power and effectiveness of the branches
- federalism (remember state legislatures are not shutdown)
- parties
October 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
US Shutdown (3 of 3):
How do US politics students use it:
Keep following developments closely & consider how this relates to:
- the effectiveness of checks and balances
- the relative power and effectiveness of the branches
- federalism (remember state legislatures are not shutdown)
- parties
How do US politics students use it:
Keep following developments closely & consider how this relates to:
- the effectiveness of checks and balances
- the relative power and effectiveness of the branches
- federalism (remember state legislatures are not shutdown)
- parties
US Shutdown (2 of 3): What happens next?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Four ways the US government shutdown could end
At some point, public pressure and political pain will see one side yield to bring this latest US government shutdown to an end.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 1:16 PM
US Shutdown (2 of 3): What happens next?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
