Politico

“Even though his style is somewhat understated or subdued,” explains Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), a close friend of Banks and an RSC member. “Jim knows what needs to be done, which problems need fixing and how to fix them.” Take China. Banks, an Afghanistan veteran, saw how Trump’s anti-China rhetoric appealed to working-class voters and decided to make confronting Beijing a serious part of the group’s […]

DeLauro said the revamp includes capping the overall amount of money spent on earmarks to 1 percent of discretionary spending and allowing lawmakers to submit no more than 10 project requests. All requests would be posted online, lawmakers and their immediate families can’t have a financial stake in the requests and funds can’t flow to for-profit recipients, DeLauro said. A federal watchdog will periodically audit a […]

Yet at the same time, Crenshaw, a second-term Republican, beat a well-funded challenger by 13 points. In an interview, he said Trump’s narrow victory margins in suburban districts did not portend much for Republican candidates for Congress. Democrats didn’t pick up any seats in Texas in 2020. “If you’re willing to take an unemotional and unbiased look at what happened, it’s pretty obvious where the general […]

Democrats pushed hard to raise the minimum wage as part of the pandemic relief measure, which the Senate can pass with just 51 votes thanks to the protections of the arcane budget reconciliation process. But now that the chamber’s parliamentarian has ruled out adding the wage hike to the coronavirus bill, progressives see nuking the filibuster outright as their best — and perhaps only — chance […]

The attacks and retaliatory strike marked the first major military action of the Biden administration. The strike was calculated to signal to Iran that such attacks through proxies in the region would not be tolerated, the officials said, while avoiding escalation into a wider conflict as Biden seeks a diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran on the Iran nuclear deal. The “proportionate” military response was conducted along with […]

“Offensive military action without congressional approval is not constitutional absent extraordinary circumstances,” he added. “Congress must be fully briefed on this matter expeditiously.” Thursday’s airstrike in Syria came in response to three rocket attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq in the span of a week. The new U.S. strike targeted facilities in eastern Syria used by Iranian-backed militia groups that were linked to the recent attacks […]

Five weeks into Biden’s presidency, Democratic leaders remain dogged in their effort to fulfill his pricey ambitions to beat back the coronavirus and buttress the U.S. economy while more than 10 million Americans remain unemployed. Still, it could be at least another week or two before the new president’s legislative proposal clears Congress and lands on his desk. Democrats say Biden must sign the bill before […]

“I would expect we’ll have a new service prototype here in the next couple of months that we’ll begin wear-testing,” said Raymond, who has led both U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command. “We also have developed a design for the [physical training] uniform. That will roll out here over the next couple of months as well. So we’re making some progress. That’s another one […]

POLITICO Illustration/Getty Images On today’s episode, everything you want to know about the mysterious but powerful Senate Parliamentarian. Elizabeth MacDonough ruled Thursday that Senate Democrats would be deemed out of order if they include a $15 minimum wage in their coronavirus relief package. Congress editor Elana Schor and congressional budget reporter Caitlin Emma talk to host Scott Bland about the Senate’s referee and this blow to […]

The airstrikes were designed to damage the militia group’s ability to conduct future attacks, a defense official told POLITICO. The U.S. military alone carried out the operation, without the aid of allies. However, Kirby said the U.S. conducted the strike “together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with Coalition partners.” “The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and Coalition personnel,” Kirby […]

The ruling is a major blow to Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and progressives. | Stefani Reynolds/The New York Times via AP The Senate parliamentarian ruled Thursday that Democrats would be deemed out of order if they include a $15 minimum wage hike in their coronavirus relief package, a major blow to Senate Budget Committee Chair Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and progressives. Democrats for weeks […]

“Do we have a plan if she rules that it’s not allowable?” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) “The answer is no.” Democrats are trying to squeeze the minimum wage hike into the so-called budget reconciliation process, which allows them to avoid a GOP filibuster and pass their Covid aid bill with 50 Democratic votes. Otherwise, they will need 10 Republicans to support it, an unlikely proposition […]

“There is no question she is uniquely qualified to serve as secretary of Energy,” Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said ahead of the vote in the Senate. “As the governor of Michigan, she led our state through an economic crisis. She knows how to deal with multi-faceted challenges and has a documented record of strong leadership.” Granholm’s nomination passed the Senate on a 64-35 vote. The vote […]

He offered the apology after an interview on an another subject but said he had “felt bad about that all day” on Wednesday after tagging Tanden with the barb. Kennedy is known for colorful language — and insults. He once said former Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was tough as a “boiled owl” and remarked of Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “It must suck to be that dumb.” He […]

Former House sergeant-at-arms Paul Irving told senators he did not hear from Sund until 1:28 p.m. and that no formal request for National Guard assistance was lodged until after 2 p.m. Pittman’s testimony appears to back up the narrative shared by Sund, who resigned shortly after violent insurrectionists threatened the presidential transfer of power. That discrepancy between former officials’ recollections of their response is an early, […]

In an interview, Jeffries said the retreat would be focused on the “multitude of crises” facing the American people, including the pandemic, the economic collapse, systemic racism, a broken immigration system and climate change. U.S. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) listens during a news conference. | Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images “It is my expectation there will be robust intellectual discussions about the […]

“It is incredibly frustrating to watch because we are talking about individuals who are preeminently qualified, but also coming from communities that have been screaming at the top of their lungs to be visible and valued by this country,” said Gregg Orton, national director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Tanden has seen her nomination stall in recent days […]

A few members chose not to attend the RSC event specifically because Miller was the guest, one source told POLITICO. The gathering — which also included Tom Homan and Mark Morgan, two top Trump immigration officials — comes as Democrats are expected to soon take up legislation to overhaul the U.S. immigration system. Miller, one of the most polarizing figures during the Trump presidency, has called […]

But despite Biden’s close relationships with senators in both parties, it rarely goes that smoothly. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) goes his own way and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) rarely tells party leaders her stance ahead of time. That dynamic ramps up pressure on the White House to help Schumer keep his caucus together. If Republicans can generate lockstep opposition to Deb Haaland’s nomination to lead the […]

The move was seen as a way to elevate the needs of America’s elite special operations forces — Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets, Marine Raiders — which have borne the brunt of the fighting in the Middle East and Afghanistan over the past two decades. It was also designed to increase civilian oversight following the fatal ambush of U.S. special forces in Niger in 2017 and […]

Key context: Haaland avoided major mistakes during her hearing, even as GOP senators criticized her prior comments opposing fracking, fossil fuels and pipeline projects. Under questioning from Manchin, Haaland, one of the most progressive members of Congress, said she supported U.S. energy independence and acknowledged the country would “absolutely rely on the fossil energy” for the foreseeable future. Waiting for the votes: Manchin, the most pro-fossil […]

The postmaster general at times appeared perturbed by the line of questioning from members of Congress, as well as critical media coverage of him and the USPS during his watch. DeJoy pointedly noted that he is not a presidential appointee, interjecting at one point to correct a Democratic committee member who characterized him as a “Trump holdover.” “I’m not a political appointee,” he said. “I’d really […]

“I am totally against it,” added Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a co-founder of the group. “I don’t think Republicans should be supportive of earmarks.” But Republicans — who first banned earmarks when they took over the House majority following the 2010 Tea Party wave — have been divided over the issue, with some warming to the idea in recent years. While the practice is still formally […]

The minimum wage will likely stir up the most drama behind closed doors on Wednesday, with Republicans arguing that such a sweeping policy change doesn’t pass muster with the budget restrictions guiding passage of Biden’s pandemic plan. But Democrats are confident that they have a strong case, fueled by recent analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. “We’ve got tens of millions of workers working for starvation […]

Signs of trouble for Tanden began late last week, when Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said that he would oppose her nomination, citing her previous tweets criticizing senators in both parties. Manchin’s opposition means that Tanden would need at least one Republican to support her in order for her to be confirmed. But as public opposition grew this week from moderates like Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and […]

The Pentagon has not yet disclosed all the training materials it is providing commanders, but that hasn’t stopped lawmakers and right-wing commentators from accusing the Defense Department of initiating a witch hunt on behalf of the Biden administration to purge political opponents. While there is no evidence to support a politicization of this effort, there are concerns among the top brass and senior retired officers that […]

Pentagon and Homeland Security officials need their turn … Senate leaders from both parties always intended for the inquiry to press on with additional hearings, and they came away with obvious investigative leads on Tuesday. Almost immediately after the joint oversight hearing began, senators were calling for testimony from senior officials at the Pentagon, FBI and Department of Homeland Security, some of whom were directly implicated […]

“This issue is far too important to just have a messaging bill. We need this to get to the president’s desk,” said Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), who leads the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and was part of cross-aisle negotiations on the Democrats’ policing bill last summer. The internal dispute over so-called “qualified immunity” is threatening to trip up the policing bill’s path to passage before Democratic […]

“Sen. Inhofe is still reviewing Mr. Kahl’s nomination closely and looks forward to hearing from him on these issues in the coming weeks,” a spokesperson for Inhofe said. “He has serious concerns with some of the policy positions that Mr. Kahl has taken in the past.” The confirmation hearing is only the third for President Joe Biden’s Pentagon nominees, after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Deputy […]

Republicans, after winning the White House, filled Scalia’s former seat with Justice Neil Gorsuch in 2017. McConnell has described his decision to block Garland as the “most consequential thing I’ve ever done.” Senate Republicans have maintained that their decision to prevent Garland from receiving a hearing in 2016 was not personal. And during the Trump administration, McConnell recommended Garland to lead the FBI. The Senate Judiciary […]

Cruz also referenced photos that circulated in recent days of his family’s pet dog, named Snowflake, seemingly abandoned at home while his owners absconded to Mexico. “I spend too much time on Twitter, so I see apparently I’ve literally fed Snowflake to the wolves,” Cruz said, going on to explain that the dog was accompanied by a sitter, “and actually the heat and power was back […]

“When you ask questions and you get an answer, it usually leads to even more questions,” Senate Homeland Security Chair Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said, adding that he personally has “a long list of questions” for the former officials and intends to hold a series of hearings on the subject. Forty-eight days after attackers stormed the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying now-President Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, […]

The 117th Congress is the most diverse ever, with the largest representation of racial and ethnic groups in history, a 97 percent increase over the last ten Congresses, according to the Pew Research Center. But among Hill staffers like Brewer — the people who really run Congress on a working level — there’s a dearth of diversity. Despite efforts to diversify the Hill over the last […]

On Friday, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) came out in opposition to Tanden’s nomination, citing her past tweets attacking lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Two key Senate Republicans followed suit. Inside the White House, it did not go unnoticed that many of the lawmakers objecting to Tanden’s social media missives—including Manchin—voted to confirm Richard Grenell, the acid-tongued Trump booster, to the post of U.S. ambassador […]

The crumbled alliance between Trump and McConnell, who worked hand-in-glove on political and legislative strategy for four years, has finally brought the GOP to the reckoning that never happened after the 2016 election. Trump may take another swipe at McConnell in the coming days at the Conservative Political Action Conference. But McConnell probably won’t hear it: He is not expected to speak at CPAC, according to […]

Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, has been a sharp critic of fossil fuel development, a stance that has made her nomination among the more contentious of Biden’s picks. And she may also face tough questioning from the Democratic chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Joe Manchin, who is the most pro-fossil fuel Democrat and whose opposition may have scuttled another Biden […]

The U.S. Embassy is seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq Jan. 3, 2020. | AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed Three rockets fell near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Monday, the third such attack in Iraq in the span of one week. The Katyusha rockets landed inside the Green Zone on Monday evening Iraqi time, according to a defense official. The official said there are […]

“There are two issues going on right now — one is Byrd Rule problems, one is whip problems,” said House Budget Chair John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), referring in the first case to the procedural hurdle that could quash the wage hike in the Senate. “If Joe Manchin isn’t going to vote for it because of the minimum wage, I assume we have to take it out or […]

In fact, members of the former 9/11 Commission cited that even partisan split as the reason for their success as they advised Pelosi on this year’s insurrection commission. Their willingness to take bipartisan ownership of the direction of the investigation, without an edge for either party, helped ensure the commission’s credibility in the eyes of the public, they said. For a review of the Jan. 6 […]

However, Garland also appeared to suggest some of the issues Durham was assigned to explore already have been adequately investigated by the Justice Department’s inspector general as part of a report that found widespread errors and omissions in the FBI’s handling of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act applications. “I don’t know anything really about the investigation,” Garland told Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “I do think somebody should […]

“We want them to know that there is a political cost to voting for Becerra and if they vote yes, they’ll see it in 100 ads between now and 2022,” the adviser said. “Everything that goes wrong with health care over the next couple years, and there will inevitably be things that go wrong, can be tied back to this vote.” Republicans opposing Becerra cite his […]

“Neera Tanden has neither the experience nor the temperament to lead this critical agency,” Collins said in a statement Monday morning. “Her past actions have demonstrated exactly the kind of animosity that President Biden has pledged to transcend.” Collins added that Tanden’s decision to delete tweets before her nomination “raises concerns about her commitment to transparency.” The White House expressed confidence Friday that Tanden would still […]

Former President Donald Trump and his orbit of political advisers and supporters are eager to oust the impeachment backers in 2022. Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, an outspoken impeachment supporter, has already drawn several primary opponents, as has Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger. Gonzalez, 36, was elected to Congress in 2018 with support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other pro-business groups after the district’s former representative, […]

In short, there’s plenty of uncertainty to come before the House and Senate must ultimately resolve any differences and agree on any amendments before the measure is sent to Biden’s desk. “We’re working as quickly and expeditiously as we possibly can,” said House Budget Chair John Yarmuth (D-Ky.). “We’ll send it over to the Senate and see what happens.” The Budget Committee will kick off Monday’s […]

Grossi, the IAEA’s director general, offered few specifics of the agreement he had reached with Iranian leaders. He said the number of inspectors on the ground would remain the same but that “what changes is the type of activity” the agency was able to carry out, without elaborating further. He stressed monitoring would continue “in a satisfactory manner.” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who under […]

Power-sharing, McCaul acknowledged, “would [also] have been helpful. We could have shared with other power grids.” He described a 2011 report from the state’s Legislature that contained recommendations “as to how to winterize our operations,” which was never properly implemented. “That’s what we’re going to taking a look at moving forward,” he said, “so this never happens again.” “The difference between Texas and, say, the Northeast, […]

“President Trump has denounced what happened, and I think everyone should have been unequivocal in their denouncing of what happened, not only on Jan. 6 but during the summer when they were burning down cities,” Scalise said. “You saw the left denouncing Jan. 6, as we did. They didn’t denounce what happened during the summer,” he alleged. “So let’s be across the board and say anybody […]

“This is not a deadline for the world. This is not an ultimatum,” Zarif told the government-run, English-language broadcaster Press TV in an interview aired during Grossi’s visit. “This is an internal domestic issue between the parliament and the government.” “We have a democracy. We are supposed to implement the laws of the country. And the parliament adopted legislation — whether we like it or not.” […]

The clash is playing out in Congress, where Democrats are cranking out bills filled with carrots for developers of zero-emission infrastructure, but with pro-labor strings attached, including wage requirements, job certification and Buy American provisions. Labor groups skeptical of whether green jobs can adequately replace high-paying union jobs in the fossil industry see these provisions as the bare minimum, while solar and wind producers want to […]

“Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour is not incidental to the federal budget and is permissible under the rules of reconciliation,” Sanders said in a statement. “The CBO has found that the $15 minimum wage has a much greater impact on the federal budget than opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and repealing the individual mandate penalties — two provisions […]

A divide had formed between the parents and students who followed the safety guidelines and those who flouted them — a microcosm of the broader societal conflict that plays out daily across the nation. Cruz’s trip this week wrenched that divide wide open. As newly released text messages and Cruz-mocking memes exploded on social media, St. John’s parents demanded the school enforce the safety rules that […]

Friday’s ceremony reverses Trump’s most symbolic climate action, which made the U.S. the only country in the world to pull itself out of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Biden’s supporters hope the return to the Paris pact is still enough to help restore the United States’ leadership role, even as he takes on the domestic economic transformation and diplomatic fights that climate progress will require. “The […]

Thune’s remarks were his first explaining his vote in Trump’s trial and assessing the turbulent GOP politics the former president has left behind. Thune, who is facing reelection next year in deeply conservative South Dakota, is among several establishment Republicans grappling with how to reclaim control of a party dominated by Trump and his most ardent supporters for years. The senator only rarely criticized Trump while […]

“We’re just taking a look at our Earth science decadal survey … and the missions that would get to make those measurements to particularly support climate research and looking at how we might accelerate those,” Jurczyk said in an interview. “We’re doing some preparatory work expecting that that’s going to be a request when we hear back from the OMB on the pass back.” One program […]

Democrats are aware that their current plans to push the bill through at what qualifies as top speed for Congress may not be enough to assuage anxious voters. Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said constituents have been approaching him at the grocery store, complaining about the disconnect between congressional action and unemployment aid making it to their accounts because state unemployment offices are swamped. “After […]

“Any candidate who wants to win in Pennsylvania in 2022 must be full Trump MAGA,” said Steve Bannon, a former White House chief strategist to Trump. The back-and-forth over Toomey’s vote is also exacerbating party fissures in a state where Republicans lost Senate and gubernatorial contests in 2018 and the presidential contest in 2020. The intraparty tensions could damage Republican prospects in 2022, when control of […]

The DNC closed out the 2020 election cycle with about $75 million in the bank — an enormous sum for a once-beleaguered committee that was nearly broke at the end of the previous presidential election. That total nearly kept pace with the Republican National Committee, which had more than $80 million banked at the end of 2020. Throughout the Trump presidency, the DNC grew its small-dollar, […]

“So who loses?” Himes said. “The retail investor.” The hearing before the House Financial Services Committee underscored how the GameStop episode has raised alarms among lawmakers and regulators over whether the complex structure of the market serves average investors or is fraught with conflicts of interest and susceptible to manipulation. The video game retailer’s stock price skyrocketed by more than 400 percent in late January, one […]

Her launch video featured attacks against Democrats, including images of President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — and also a swing at former GOP Gov. John Kasich. Timken says she “cleaned house of the Kasich establishment” when she took over the state party and helped Trump’s victory in the state. If elected, she would be the first woman to […]

President Joe Biden has not yet laid out a robust space policy but the ultimate goal of landing humans on Mars has bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, especially as other nations such as China are developing aggressive plans of their own to explore the planet. “There is a shared interest in astrobiology that is not partisan,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), the new chair of the […]

Former Sen. Bob Dole, right, and his wife Elizabeth Dole wave to others at an event at Arlington National Cemetery. | Patrick Semansky/AP Photo Former Kansas senator and Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole announced on Thursday that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. “My first treatment will begin on Monday. While I certainly have some hurdles ahead, I also know that I join […]

Top leaders were testifying on the Pentagon’s role in the federal pandemic response. Maj. Gen. Steven Nordhaus, the director of operations for the National Guard Bureau, added later that the Guard has a similar acceptance rate of “two-thirds to 70 percent.” The Pentagon has not previously specified how many troops are declining the vaccine. Spokesperson John Kirby told reporters later on Wednesday that the department doesn’t […]

Then-Judiciary chair Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) cited delays from Democrats when he did away with blue slips for circuit court nominees in 2017 while preserving the prerogative for home-state senators to object to district court nominees. But the issue has been a point of contention ever since, particularly as Senate Republicans confirmed 54 circuit court judges as part of a broader march to reshape the federal […]

Since last week’s report, there have been calls for Cuomo’s impeachment, resignation and the removal of his pandemic-driven emergency powers. The senators stressed that committee hearings would make sure the Department of Justice “has all the tools and funding that it needs to investigate and prosecute to the extent necessary this tragedy and subsequent cover-up.” “But an investigation by the Department of Justice is rightly conducted […]

Following Trump’s call for Republicans to move on from McConnell, POLITICO on Wednesday reached out to all 16 Republican senators running for reelection in 2022 to ask if they supported the Kentuckian as majority leader. Only two responded. “Leader McConnell has my full support and confidence,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican who drew Trump’s ire and a primary threat after condemning the […]

It doesn’t hurt that fellow Democrats all see Neguse as a nice guy — quick with a smile, self-aware and self-deprecating. He’s got a compelling personal story as the son of Eritrean refugees and hasn’t become a GOP target like some of his higher-profile colleagues. In a Washington typically dominated by the loudest and brashest voices, Neguse stands out as a member whose sheer friendliness has […]

“I know from firsthand experience how Christie and Jessica helped lead the charge to flip the Senate last cycle, and I’m confident the incredible and diverse team they assemble will lead our Democratic incumbents and challengers to more success in 2022,” Peters said in a statement. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Roberts and Knight Henry “extraordinarily accomplished strategists who know how to build diverse coalitions […]

Biden supported the idea of a reparations study during his own 2020 presidential bid but stopped short of fully endorsing the legislation itself. His administration is not testifying at a Wednesday hearing in a House Judiciary Committee subpanel on the reparations measure, but House Democratic efforts to put the issue back on the party’s agenda could nudge the White House to take a more direct position. […]

The resulting crisis could be a boon to Biden’s proposal to spend huge sums of money to harden the nation’s electric grid as it connects giant wind and solar power plants to cities and states thousands of miles away. That’s an essential step if the U.S. is to make a major turn toward relying on solar, wind and other renewable energy to keep the lights on. […]

“The fact that we’re now even more polarized and toxic and partisan than we were when we created the 9/11 commission is true,” said Tim Roemer, who served as one of the panel’s five Democratic members. The idea that “we can have people work together, accomplish the goals and make forward recommendations to heal the country and strengthen the country is even more important in many […]

“We are all trying to assess the current state of climate politics and what is possible this year,” said Alex Flint, executive director of the Alliance for Market Solutions, a group of conservative leaders who support a revenue-neutral carbon tax. President Joe Biden has thrown down his marker. His campaign platform included an “enforcement mechanism” for reducing emissions, which many interpreted as a carbon tax. Treasury […]

A spokesman for Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Republican backing for the idea, which has long been supported by lawmakers in both parties. In the Senate, a spokesperson for Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said the senator “been clear about his intent to restore congressionally directed spending in a transparent and accountable way as part Congress’ constitutional […]

“From my standpoint, Leader McConnell speaks for himself,” Johnson said in a Tuesday interview with The Ross Kaminsky Show. “In this case, I don’t believe he speaks for the conference, and I think he needs to be a little careful. You know when I speak, I do actually try and take in mind how it might reflect on the party.” Johnson also said that he doesn’t […]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for a commission similar to the one that probed the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, which left five people dead. The 9/11 Commission took two years to complete and yielded a 561-page report on the 2001 attacks, their origin and recommendations for the future. The assistant speaker said a commission could take the […]

She has previously announced her support for both proposals, but Monday’s letter comes just two days after the Senate voted to acquit Trump for inciting the insurrection during an impeachment trial that forced lawmakers to relive the trauma they experienced only a month earlier. Pelosi has also tasked retired Lt. Gen Russel Honore with a review of Capitol security, and he has already recommended an increase […]

His charitable organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is one of the world’s richest, and he’s long linked its goal of improving global health and fighting poverty with climate change. And to help drive the needed technological discoveries, he’s assembled a roster of thinkers to guide his Breakthrough Energy Ventures fund, from Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and clean tech investor Vinod Khosla to hedge fund guru […]

“The evidence is compelling that President Trump is guilty of inciting an insurrection against a coequal branch of government and that the charge rises to the level of Crimes and Misdemeanors,” Burr said on Saturday. “Therefore, I have voted to convict.” The Senate on Saturday acquitted Trump of incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol on a 57-43 vote, falling 10 votes […]

For the lawmakers who have been able to use this moment to boost their name recognition and grow their fan bases, they’re following in the footsteps of Democratic and Republican impeachment managers who have shone in the past. “I remember Lindsey Graham as an impeachment manager,” said Tom Lopach, former executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “It is rare to have a congressional hearing […]

The comments came after a tumultuous final day in the Senate trial, where Democrats voted to have witnesses speak at the trial — then backtracked. Seven Republicans ended up voting with the Democrats to convict Trump — two more than during the Tuesday vote on the constitutionality of trying a former president. Democratic senators and House impeachment managers defended the flipflop Sunday, arguing that drawing out […]

Which makes Schiff’s current moment of calm amid chaos all the more unexpected. Schiff has clearly started to weigh what he should do next, turning his gaze away from the House to privately lobby for the attorney general spot about to open up in California. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, an ally, has lent some muscle to Schiff’s campaign — personally calling Gov. Gavin Newsom to recommend Schiff. […]

“My goal is, in every way possible, to have nominees representing the Republican Party who can win in November,” McConnell said by telephone. “Some of them may be people the former president likes. Some of them may not be. The only thing I care about is electability.” The Kentuckian made clear that “I’m not predicting the president would support people who couldn’t win. But I do […]

The moves are the latest in a series of censures and disciplinary actions doled out to lawmakers deemed to be critical of the former president in the wake of the Capitol riot. Trump, acquitted Saturday of inciting the insurrection, still has broad support among Republican voters and state and local parties have lashed out at elected officials who have been critical of his actions. In Wyoming, […]

“It is important that we find out some of the things that the former president may have been involved in that really hurt our country,” said Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), who served as an impeachment manager during Trump’s first trial and wants to continue active oversight of his departed administration. “We’re trying to set America up for success.” The debate comes as Trump continues to hold […]

But the reaction from pro-Trump activists could be volcanic this time around, given that she’s the only Republican with immediate political risks ahead of her that voted to convict Trump of inciting an insurrection at the Capitol. She said she’s “sure that there are many Alaskans that are very dissatisfied with my vote, and I’m sure that there are many Alaskans that are proud of my […]

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks after the Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump. | Senate Television via AP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Saturday delivered a searing address from the Senate floor condemning Donald Trump as “practically and morally responsible” for the Capitol insurrection — moments after voting to acquit the former president of inciting it. The Kentucky Republican maintained he would have “carefully […]

“It is a sad commentary on our times that one political party in America is given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree,” Trump said. The ex-president, who has been out of […]

John Podesta, who led the Obama administration climate strategy and is close to Biden’s team, said the White House would need some “diplomatic choreography” if its plan is to work. The U.S. move “leaves China isolated. The pressure will build on China to stop its coal finance and to green the Belt and Road Initiative,” he said. But the plan will require the Biden team to […]

“We don’t coordinate with the managers,” said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), adding that Democratic senators “have social conversations” with their House counterparts but “don’t talk strategy. So we did not know that they were going to request witnesses or not. And that’s how it should have been.” Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) arrives for a meeting to discuss the coronavirus relief bill | AP Photo Summing up […]

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In response to Raskin’s call to testify, van der Veen called for the trial to end Saturday without witnesses. But if there will be witnesses, he said he will need “over 100 depositions,” including of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris. “None of these depositions should be done by Zoom. We didn’t do this hearing by Zoom. These depositions should be done in […]

McCarthy told Trump to call off the rioters, to which Trump falsely said he couldn’t because they were really left-wing extremists, Herrera Beutler says. McCarthy pushed back, and Trump responded “Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are,” Herrera Beutler says. Herrera Beutler, of Washington, was one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump. Tuberville, of […]

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., waits for a Senate subway on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, on the fourth day of the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. | AP Photo/Susan Walsh Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has told GOP colleagues in a letter that he will vote to acquit Donald Trump in the former president’s impeachment trial, according […]

In particular, the group of Senate Republicans considering conviction want to know what Trump did while the violence overtook the Capitol. Trump’s defense team has argued that he was immediately “horrified” by what unfolded and took swift action to send aid to Congress. But that account conflicts with those of Trump’s closest allies and news reports citing his top aides. And the House prosecutors have underscored […]

“Yes, I’m a conservative Republican, but I think in the Black community, we have a wide range of political thought,” he added. “It doesn’t always get talked about, but it exists.” Donalds, 44, is among several freshman GOP lawmakers considering joining a racial minority caucus such as the CBC this year, looking to add Republican voices to tight-knit congressional groups that have been historically dominated by […]

At best, Republicans could use their votes to avert the impending cliff as leverage to notch GOP policy wins in negotiations later this year. At worst, they could let the cuts set in as punishment to Democrats for using the reconciliation tool to negate GOP input as the majority party pushes to advance Biden’s package with just 51 votes in the Senate. “I don’t know whether […]

In Herrera Beutler’s telling, McCarthy urged Trump to call off the mob, to which Trump initially responded that he couldn’t because it was made up of left-wing extremists — a falsehood that has been debunked by federal investigators. When McCarthy refuted Trump, the former president responded, “Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are,” according to Herrera-Beutler. The comment […]

After former President Donald Trump repeatedly disparaged NATO and threatened to pull the United States out of the alliance, President Joe Biden has signaled he intends to reset the relationship. Austin “wants to revitalize to the alliance and again I think you will see that overall that will be the message that he sends, that we’re better when we act together,” Kirby said. Context: The news […]