Politics
- PoliticsThe New York Times
Johnson pushes ahead on foreign aid bill, teeing up weekend vote
WASHINGTON — Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday told Republicans that the House would vote Saturday evening on his foreign aid package for Israel and Ukraine, pushing through resistance in his own party to advance a long-stalled national security spending package for U.S. allies. His announcement came amid a crush of opposition from Republicans who are vehemently against sending more aid to Ukraine, and have vented for days as congressional aides race to write the legislation Johnson proposed Mon
4 min read - USYahoo News
How the jury is being selected in Trump’s hush money trial
Jury selection resumed Thursday in Manhattan Criminal Court, where a panel of 12 jurors and six alternates will ultimately be chosen to decide the former president’s fate.
3 min read - PoliticsUSA TODAY
Ohio GOP leaders reject Democrats' plan to get President Joe Biden on November ballot
A Biden ballot brouhaha as Democrats try to certify the president ahead of convention, but GOP Ohio officials say that's not allowed.
2 min read - PoliticsCNN
Johnson moving forward with Ukraine aid bill despite pressure from hardliners
Speaker Mike Johnson announced Wednesday he is sticking with his plan to put a series of foreign aid bills on the floor including funding for Ukraine after facing significant pressure from hardliners.
9 min read - PoliticsYahoo News
Senate dismisses articles of impeachment against Mayorkas: What happened
The U.S. Senate quickly ended the impeachment trial brought by House Republicans against the country’s top border official.
2 min read - PoliticsNBC News
Biden chokes up while talking about deceased son and Trump's disparaging remarks about service members
“That man doesn’t deserve to have been the commander in chief for my son, my uncle,” he said, referring to Beau Biden and Ambrose Finnegan who both served in the military.
2 min read - PoliticsAssociated Press
Democrats clear path to bring proposed repeal of Arizona’s near-total abortion ban to a vote
Democrats in the Arizona Senate cleared a path to bring a proposed repeal of the state’s near-total ban on abortions to a vote after the state’s highest court concluded the law can be enforced and the state House blocked efforts to undo the long-dormant statute. Although no vote was taken on the repeal itself, Republican Sens. T.J. Shope and Shawnna Bolick sided with 14 Democrats in the Senate on Wednesday in changing rules to let a repeal proposal advance after the deadline for hearing bills
4 min read - WorldPolitico
Biden slaps new sanctions on Iran after attack on Israel
Biden said the sanctions, carried out in coordination with the U.K., were a response to “one of the largest missile and drone attacks the world has ever seen against Israel.”
2 min read - USBusiness Insider
A Trump trial juror was dismissed after she said she was worried her identity was being revealed
Juror No. 2 told the judge overseeing Donald Trump's criminal trial on Thursday that she did not believe she could be "fair and unbiased."
2 min read - PoliticsAssociated Press
Former Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Peter Barca announces new bid for Congress
A Democrat who represented southeast Wisconsin in Congress in the 1990s before going on to become a leader in the Assembly and state revenue secretary announced Thursday that he's running for Congress again. Peter Barca announced his bid against Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, who is seeking a fourth term. Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District, previously represented by former House Speaker Paul Ryan, leans Republican but was made more competitive under new boundary lines adopted in 2022.
3 min read - PoliticsThe Guardian
Trump’s hush-money trial: what’s happened so far?
Donald Trump is the first former president to face criminal charges. Here’s what you need to know about the New York case
2 min read - PoliticsThe New York Times
As Civil Rights Era Fades From Memory, Generation Gap Divides Black Voters
ATLANTA — For years, Loretta Green has voted at her Southwest Atlanta precinct wearing the same custom T-shirt emblazoned with a photo of her first voter registration card, dated to 1960. The front of it reads: “This is why I vote.” Since gaining the legal right, Green, 88, has participated in every possible election. This November will be no different, she said, when she casts a ballot for President Joe Biden and Democrats down the ticket. But conversations with her younger relatives, who have
7 min read - WorldThe New York Times
Miscalculation Led to Escalation as Israel and Iran Clash
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel was mere moments away from an airstrike on April 1 that killed several senior Iranian commanders at Iran’s embassy complex in Syria when it told the United States what was about to happen. Israel’s closest ally had just been caught off guard. Aides quickly alerted Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser; Jon Finer, the deputy national security adviser; Brett McGurk, Biden’s Middle East coordinator; and others, who saw that the strike could have se
12 min read - PoliticsNBC News
Kennedy family members to endorse Biden over RFK Jr.
More than a dozen members of the Kennedy family will endorse President Joe Biden for a second term Thursday, passing over family member Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Biden campaign announced.
6 min read - PoliticsAssociated Press
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kerry Kennedy, a daughter of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, niece of former President John F. Kennedy and sister of the current presidential candidate, will deliver the endorsements in Philadelphia, according to the Biden campaign.
5 min read - PoliticsHuffPost
A Second Trump Presidency Would Be A Nightmare Scenario For Transgender People
The reality unfolding in Florida today is just a microcosm of what the United States could look like if Donald Trump were to be elected president this November.
14 min read - PoliticsBusiness Insider
Biden wants to sell blue-collar workers the American Dream of a failing China
In some of his harshest comments ever made about China, Biden called the country "xenophobic" and said it had more retirees than workers.
4 min read - USNBC News
Biden mischaracterizes his uncle's disappearance during World War II
President Joe Biden on Wednesday mischaracterized the circumstances of his uncle's death during World War II as he lambasted former President Donald Trump's comments about the military.
2 min read - WorldAssociated Press
How South Africa's former leader Zuma turned on his allies and became a surprise election foe
South Africa faces an unusual national election this year, its seventh vote since transitioning from white minority rule to a democracy 30 years ago. Polls and analysts warn that for the first time, the ruling African National Congress party that has comfortably held power since Nelson Mandela became the country's first Black president in 1994 might receive less than 50% of votes. One big reason is Jacob Zuma, the former president and ANC leader who stepped down in disgrace in 2018 amid a swir
4 min read - USAssociated Press
New Black congressional district in Louisiana bows to politics, not race, backers say
Politics and race are both factors in a pending court challenge of Louisiana's new congressional maps. How much weight each carries is a major question before three federal judges whose ruling could affect the balance of power in the next Congress. At issue is a congressional map that was approved this year with the backing of the state's new governor, Jeff Landry — to the consternation of at least some of his fellow Republicans.
4 min read - WorldAssociated Press
Congress moving swiftly on bipartisan action to punish Iran after revenge attack on Israel
Iran's attack against Israel over the weekend has spurred a flurry of bipartisan legislative action in Congress, uniting lawmakers against the country even as the risk of a larger regional war looms. Several measures introduced and passed in the House and the Senate seek to publicly condemn Iran and punish the Islamic Republic financially. Lawmakers have denounced Iran's actions, which came in response to a suspected Israeli strike weeks earlier on an Iranian consular building in Syria that ki
4 min read - USAssociated Press
Trump trial jury selection process follows a familiar pattern with an unpredictable outcome
When the first batch of potential jurors was brought in for Donald Trump's criminal trial this week, all the lawyers had to go on to size them up at first were their names and the answers they gave in court to a set of screening questions. Then the lawyers went to work, scouring social media for posts that might reveal whether people in the jury pool had hidden biases or extreme views. One potential juror was dismissed by the judge after the Republican former president's lawyers found a 2017 o
5 min read - USAssociated Press
2 jurors dismissed from Trump hush money trial as prosecutors seek to hold ex-president in contempt
Two jurors in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial were dismissed Thursday, one after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair and impartial and the other over concerns that some of his answers in court may not have been accurate. The dismissals reduced to five the number of jurors who have been seated for the first-ever criminal trial of a former president. The setbacks in the selection process emerged during a frenetic morning in which prosecutors also asked for Trump to hel
5 min read - PoliticsAssociated Press
Climate change concerns grow, but few think Biden's climate law will help, an AP-NORC poll finds
Like many Americans, Ron Theusch is getting more worried about climate change. “We have four children that are in their 20s,” the 56-year-old truck driver and moderate Democrat said. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that 45% of adults in the United States say they have become more concerned about climate change over the past year, including roughly 6 in 10 Democrats and one-quarter of Republicans.
6 min read - PoliticsNBC News
Rep. Donald Payne remains hospitalized after 'cardiac episode' more than a week ago
A new statement from the New Jersey Democrat's office paints a different picture than the one put out last week, and his absence could affect tight votes on the House floor.
2 min read - PoliticsHuffPost
Endgame Begins On Ukraine Funding Fight After White House Endorses Standalone Bills
Hardliners in House GOP will likely oppose the measure, which would be one of three country-specific aid packages.
5 min read - PoliticsAssociated Press
Schumer says US will provide $6.1 billion to Micron Technology for chip plants in NY, Idaho
The Biden administration has reached an agreement to provide $6.1 billion in government support for Micron Technology to produce advanced memory computer chips in New York and Idaho. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., personally courted Micron to build what would ultimately be a set of four chip factories near Syracuse in the town of Clay. ”It will be the biggest memory chip plant in America,” said Schumer.
2 min read - PoliticsNBC News
How one Democrat is trying to maintain Trump country appeal: From the Politics Desk
Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is trying ti maintain her appeal in rural Wisconsin ahead of a tough re-election battle with Donald Trump on the ballot.
4 min read - PoliticsNBC News
Biden calls for tripling tariffs on Chinese metals
PITTSBURGH — President Joe Biden called for tripling tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum Wednesday when he spoke to union members in battleground Pennsylvania.
4 min read - PoliticsNBC News
Prosecutors seek to ask Trump about civil fraud, E. Jean Carroll cases and more if he testifies in hush money case
Prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney's office said in a court filing Wednesday that they plan to ask Donald Trump about the costly verdicts and findings of wrongdoing in his numerous civil cases if the former president decides to testify in the criminal case — though the permissibility of that line of questioning remains to be seen.
3 min read - PoliticsNBC News
Tammy Baldwin fights to maintain appeal in rural Wisconsin amid Democratic slide
In rural Wisconsin, dairy farmer Randy Roecker is struggling — but while he blames Joe Biden, he's also planning to support Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
7 min read - USAssociated Press
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump’s legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away. A process server working for Trump's lawyers said he approached Daniels with papers demanding information related to a documentary recently released about her life and involvement with Trump, but was forced to “leave them at her feet,
4 min read - PoliticsNBC News
Trump operation asks Republicans who use him for fundraising to share the haul
Donald Trump's campaign operation is requesting that Republican candidates and groups who use him in fundraising asks share a portion of the funds raised.
2 min read - PoliticsPolitico
Biden chides Trump for being ‘a little busy right now’
The quip was a reference to Donald Trump’s criminal trial that kicked off Monday.
2 min read - PoliticsBusiness Insider
China just proved why Congress wants to ban TikTok
The Chinese Embassy reportedly lobbied against the bill, likely cementing Congress' opposition to it.
2 min read - PoliticsReuters
Trump hush money prosecutors seek to ask about fraud, E. Jean Carroll
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Prosecutors on Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial want to ask the former U.S. president about civil cases in which he was found liable for sexual abuse and fraud if he chooses to testify, according to a document made public on Wednesday. It will be up to Justice Juan Merchan to decide whether the prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office can ask Trump about those cases during his possible cross-examination, or whether they would be too prejudici
2 min read - PoliticsBusiness Insider
Senate Democrats unceremoniously kill Mayorkas impeachment trial
The Mayorkas impeachment trial died without any formal debate after party-line votes. GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted "present" on one article.
4 min read - USReuters
Biden says uncle shot down over area populated by cannibals in World War Two
President Joe Biden on Wednesday raised the possibility that an uncle who served in the Pacific campaign during World War Two might have fallen victim to cannibals after his plane was shot down over New Guinea. Biden made the comment after visiting a missing-in-action war memorial in his childhood home city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and putting his hand on the engraved name of Ambrose Finnegan, whose plane was shot down and whose body was never recovered.
1 min read - WorldReuters
Yellen calls Republican delays in approving Ukraine aid inexcusable
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday underscored the Biden administration's commitment to provide Ukraine with the budgetary and military assistance it needs, while calling Republican delays in approving the aid inexcusable. Yellen made the comments after meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko. She said the officials discussed their shared priorities, including global financial support for Ukraine, Ukraine's
3 min read - WorldAssociated Press
US reimposes oil sanctions on Venezuela as hopes for a fair presidential election fades
The Biden administration on Wednesday reimposed crushing oil sanctions on Venezuela, admonishing President Nicolás Maduro's attempts to consolidate his rule just six months after the U.S. eased restrictions in a bid to support now fading hopes for a democratic opening in the OPEC nation. A senior U.S. official, discussing the decision with reporters, said any U.S. company investing in Venezuela would have 45 days to wind down operations to avoid adding uncertainty to global energy markets. The
4 min read - USNBC News
On trial off-day, Trump complains about jury selection process for his criminal case
Former President Donald Trump ripped the jury selection process for his historic New York criminal trial Wednesday, the day after the first seven jurors were selected out of a pool of nearly 100 people.
3 min read - USAssociated Press
Kentucky lawmaker says he wants to renew efforts targeting diversity initiatives at colleges
A Republican lawmaker has signaled plans to mount another effort to limit diversity, equity and inclusion practices at Kentucky's public universities after GOP supermajorities failed to resolve differences on the issue during the recently ended legislative session. Kentucky lawmakers will convene again in January, and state Sen. Mike Wilson said he hopes lawmakers use the coming months to craft another version of DEI legislation for the 30-day session in 2025. “It’ll be something that we’ll wo
4 min read - PoliticsHuffPost
Democrats Could Save Speaker Johnson — But Republicans Say That Would Doom Him
The speaker’s tenuous status within his own party leaves Democrats wondering how to navigate House GOP “cannibalism.”
5 min read - PoliticsPolitico
Trump campaign asks for cut of candidates’ fundraising when they use his name and likeness
The campaign sent the letter as the former president is struggling to close a fundraising gap with Biden.
3 min read - BusinessReuters
Biden - and steelmakers - promise U.S. Steel will stay American
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) -U.S. Steel and Japanese buyer Nippon Steel said the Pittsburgh-based firm will remain an "iconic American company" even after a planned $14.9 billion takeover, echoing President Joe Biden's promise to local steelworkers. The two steel giants responded hours after Biden on Wednesday pledged that U.S. Steel would remain a "totally American company," repeating his opposition to the deal. "And that's going to happen, I promise you," Biden told the supportive crowd during an e
2 min read - USAssociated Press
Dubious claims about voting flyers at a migrant camp show how the border is inflaming US politics
A humanitarian organization in northeastern Mexico said it did not create flyers urging migrants to vote for President Joe Biden that were filmed at its shelter in a viral video that sparked a firestorm of conservative outrage this week. Accusations that Resource Center Matamoros was encouraging noncitizens to vote gained momentum after online posts displayed Spanish-language flyers instructing migrants to vote illegally for Biden once they arrived in the U.S. The flyers contained the logo of t
5 min read - USNBC News
Speaker Johnson's team briefed conservative influencers on his election bill before Trump meeting
Rightwing influencers were briefed on House Speaker Mike Johnson’s election bill before his meeting and press conference with Donald Trump.
5 min read - PoliticsAssociated Press
Pentagon leaders press Congress for Ukraine funding, saying battlefield situation is dire
Ukraine and Israel both desperately need the military weapons that are being held up by Congress' failure to pass a funding package for the two countries at war, Pentagon leaders told House appropriators Wednesday, calling the situation in Ukraine dire. “Whether it’s munitions, whether it’s vehicles, whether it's platforms," Ukraine is being outmatched by the Russians, Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
3 min read - BusinessReuters
Exclusive-US plans to restore tariffs on dominant solar technology, sources say
(Reuters) -The Biden administration is expected to grant a request by South Korea’s Hanwha Qcells to reverse a two-year-old trade exemption that has allowed imports of a dominant solar panel technology from China and other countries to avoid tariffs, two sources familiar with the White House plans said on Wednesday. The news sent shares of solar manufacturers including U.S.-based First Solar higher in afternoon trade. The Qcells request, which has not previously been reported, comes as the com
4 min read - USAssociated Press
Kansas' higher ed board adopts an anti-DEI policy after pressure from GOP legislators
State universities in Kansas are banned from requiring prospective students, potential hires and staffers seeking promotion to disclose their views on diversity initiatives under a policy change approved Wednesday by the state's higher education board in response to pressure from the Republican-controlled Legislature. The Kansas Board of Regents revised policy language that currently emphasizes “multiculturism and diversity” on campus by adding language barring universities from requiring state
4 min read
