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Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas arrives for the swearing-in ceremony of Neil Gorsuch as an Associate Supreme Court Justice in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 10, 2017. Two leading Democratic senators are pressing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to say whether he repaid a wealthy friend any of the principal for a $267,230 loan he used to buy a luxury motorhome. The letter to Thomas's lawyer, dated Tuesday, raises questions about potential tax violations by the conservative justice, who is the longest-serving member of the Supreme Court. Democrats point to reports that his wife, Ginni Thomas, took part in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Supreme Court heard arguments in Trump's immunity appeal on April 25, with Thomas on the bench.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Ron Wyden, Sheldon Whitehouse, Thomas, Anthony Welters, Prevost Le, Wyden, Elliot Berke, Whitehouse, Justice Thomas, Welters, Berke, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Harlan, Donald Trump, Ginni Thomas Organizations: Justice, White House, D.C, New York Times, Finance Committee Locations: Rose, Washington, Welters

CNN —The House has passed a major federal aviation bill that aims to improve aviation safety, enhance protections for passengers and airline workers and invest in airport and air travel infrastructure nationwide. The bill renewing the Federal Aviation Administration’s authority for five years will next head to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. Setting a standard for travel creditsUnder the bill, travel credits issued by airlines in lieu of refunds would have to be useable for at least five years. Increasing cockpit voice recordingCommercial aircraft would have to carry 25-hour cockpit voice recorders under the legislation. The cockpit voice recorder is one of the two black boxes and is currently only required to capture two hours of sound from the cockpit.

Persons: Joe Biden, John F, Republican Sen, Josh Hawley of, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren of Organizations: CNN, Federal Aviation, FAA, National Transportation Safety, Reagan National Airport, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Department of Transportation, Republican, Democratic, Transportation, Administration, NTSB Locations: Washington, Kennedy, New York City, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

☆ Biden faces widening partisan split over Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Ronald Brownstein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

CNN —President Joe Biden is facing more critical moments this week that will test his fraught relationship with his base over Israel’s war in Gaza and potentially widen the partisan split about the Jewish state that has been building for years. Against this backdrop, partisan polarization about Israel among American voters was already widening years before the brutal Hamas attack last October and the devastating Israeli response it triggered. An array of polls this spring show how the war in Gaza has hardened this partisan split. Nearly half of Democrats, but only a little over one-fifth of Republicans in the CBS poll, said the US should pressure Israel to stop the fighting. “Biden has a Democratic caucus that is putting a lot of faith in this process,” she said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Long, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “, ”, Aaron David Miller, Biden, Harry Truman, Lyndon B, Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, Reagan, George W, Donald Trump, Clinton, Barack Obama, Republicans —, Obama, Israel, Biden —, Gallup, Trump, That’s, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Biden’s, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Waleed Shahid, Shahid, David, it’s Goliath, David ”, Miller, “ Biden, ’ ”, Ben Rhodes, ” Biden, “ We’re, Saudi Arabia — “, Mark Mellman, Schumer, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Israel’s, Chris Murphy of, Chris Van Hollen, Chris Coons, Tim Kaine, Virginia, Van Hollen, Amanda Klasing, — Organizations: CNN, Israel, Republican, Democratic, Gallup Organization, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Holocaust Memorial, GOP, Whites, Republican Party, Republicans, Gallup, Trump, Chicago Council, Global Affairs, Quinnipiac University, CBS, Liberal, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, National Security Council, Amnesty International, Amnesty Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, Iran, Quinnipiac, Washington, New York, Missouri, Yom Kippur, Saudi Arabia, Sens, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, Rafah

☆ Arizona Voted to Repeal Its Abortion Ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Arizona lawmakers today repealed an abortion ban that first became law in 1864, when Abraham Lincoln was president and a half-century before women won the right to vote. The repeal narrowly passed the Republican-controlled State Senate with the support of all 14 Democratic senators and two Republicans. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, is widely expected to sign it, after which abortion policy in the state would revert to a 2022 law that restricted the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Democrats sought to use the ban to energize voters in Arizona, a battleground state. On the right, the issue created a rift between anti-abortion activists who wanted to keep the law in place and Republicans who worried about the potential backlash of a near-total ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.

Persons: Abraham Lincoln, Katie Hobbs, Roe, Wade Organizations: Republican, Senate, Democratic, Gov, Democrat Locations: Arizona

☆ Trump is reportedly annoyed by Kari Lake's frequent Mar-a-Lago jaunts
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Kari Lake is the all-but-certain GOP nominee in Arizona, a key battleground state this cycle. AdvertisementDemocrats have long pointed out Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake's frequent out-of-state travel. According to the Washington Post, the former president is annoyed by Lake's frequent jaunts to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's resort and political home base in Palm Beach, Florida. While not the most important Senate race this cycle — Republicans have generally focused more on unseating incumbent Democratic senators in Ohio and Montana — Lake's race still matters. On a semi-regular basis, the Arizona Democratic Party has sent out newsletters entitled "Where In The World Is Kari Lake?"

Persons: Kari Lake, she's, Trump, —, Kari Lake's, Donald Trump, Lake's, Ruben Gallego, Lake, backtrack Organizations: GOP, Service, Arizona GOP, Washington Post, Democratic, Republicans, Trump, Lake, Fearless, WIN, Post, Senate, Arizona Democratic Party, Republican Locations: Arizona, Mar, Palm Beach , Florida, Ohio, Montana, Idaho, Lake

Arm Ukraine With Fanfare and Israel in Secret? That package will pay for billions of dollars of arms flowing to Ukraine, Israel and other nations. As soon as the bill became law, the administration issued new announcements about weapons shipments to Ukraine, but not about transfers to Israel. Press releases about military aid for Ukraine and Israel Since both wars began, the U.S. government has issued at least 126 press statements or updates describing military aid sent to Ukraine and just three describing military aid sent to Israel. Information on maritime support sent to … Ukraine IsraelInformation on air-based weaponry and drones sent to … Ukraine IsraelThere is another distinction worth noting.

Persons: Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Antony Blinken, ”, Josh Paul, Israel —, Ukraine Israel “, Daniel C, it’s, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Reuters, Israel Defense Forces, Israel . Press, U.S . Department of State, U.S . Department of State ; U.S . Department of Defense, Internet, State Department, Defense Department, State and Defense, Washington Post, Ukraine authorizations, Democratic Party, West Bank, White, New York, Facebook Locations: Israel, Ukraine, U.S, U.S . Department of State ;, Ukraine Israel, Gaza, American, Egypt, Russian, Rafah, Lebanon, Iran, Iranian, Syria, United States

☆ Inside the White House’s monthslong push for Ukraine aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Arlette Saenz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Sullivan followed up four days later with a call to Johnson to highlight the measures in place to track aid in Ukraine. They spoke often with Johnson’s staff, including meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, Ricchetti and Goff spoke with Schumer and Jeffries and their staff almost daily to strategize on how to push Ukraine aid forward. Biden and Johnson spoke by phone the next day as the speaker briefed him on his plan to move the aid package forward. “We discussed the contents of the next US military aid package,” Zelensky said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Johnson –, speakership, Biden, Johnson, Vladimir Putin, Jake Sullivan, Shalanda Young, Sullivan, Taiwan –, Hamas, Putin, ” Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, “, ”, Steve Ricchetti, Richetti, Shuwanza Goff, Ricchetti, Goff, Jeff Zients, Schumer, Jeffries, Young, McConnell, Michael McCaul, Intelligence Michael Turner, Bill Burns, Ukraine Bridget Brink, Chip Roy, Texas, Ralph Norman of, Biden’s, Anita Dunn, Jon, Lloyd Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Donald Trump’s, Burns, ” Zelensky Organizations: Washington CNN, Ukraine, White House, GOP, Management, Senate, Biden, Russia, House Democratic, White, Capitol, House Foreign, Intelligence, CIA, Republican, The Defense Department, House Republicans, National Intelligence, Democratic, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, Ricchetti, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Washington ,, Johnson’s

The Senate is set for a showdown over the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as Democrats are expected to move quickly to dismiss the articles, while Republicans insist there must be a full trial. The House transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Senate on Tuesday and senators are expected to be sworn in as jurors Wednesday. Every time there’s a policy agreement in the House, they send it over here and tie the Senate in knots to do an impeachment trial? Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday that senators have a “rare” and “solemn” responsibility to consider the impeachment articles and said he would oppose any effort to table the articles. The deal faced a torrent of attacks from former President Donald Trump and top House Republicans.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Chuck Schumer, —, Mayorkas, ” Schumer, “, Mitch McConnell, ”, Democratic Sen, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, CNN’s Manu Raju, Casey, you’ve, It’s, Jon Tester, Montana, Pro Tempore Patty Murray, Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: Homeland, Republicans, Kentucky Republican, Biden, Republican, Democratic, Senate, ICE, CNN, Pro Tempore, Homeland Security, DHS, House Republicans Locations: Kentucky, Washington

☆ House sends Mayorkas impeachment articles to the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Annie Grayer | Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —House Republicans have sent to the Senate two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a step that launches a trial in the Senate as GOP lawmakers seek to highlight President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration policy. House Republicans do not have the votes or concrete evidence to impeach Biden given their razor-thin majority, leaving that separate impeachment inquiry stalled. GOP arguments for impeachment and pushback from constitutional expertsWhen Johnson originally informed Schumer he would be sending the impeachment articles over to the Senate, he laid out why he believed a Mayorkas impeachment was justified. “These articles lay out a clear, compelling, and irrefutable case for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ impeachment,” Green said in a statement provided to CNN. “I think that what the House Republicans are asserting is that Secretary Mayorkas is guilty of maladministration,” Garber said.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden’s, Mayorkas, Biden, —, impeaching Biden, ”, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Trump, Ian Sams, Johnson, Schumer, Mark Green of, Alejandro Mayorkas ’, ” Green, systemically, Samuel Alito, Ross Garber, ” Garber, “, Michael Chertoff, George W, Bush, Jonathan Turley, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, “ I’m, CNN’s Manu Raju, I’ve, –, John Thune, ” Johnson, Pro Tempore Patty Murray, Michael McCaul of, Andy Biggs of, Clay Higgins, Ben Cline of Virginia, Michael Guest of, Andrew Garbarino, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Pfluger, Harriet Hageman of, Laurel Lee, CNN’s Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, Homeland, Senate, Democratic, Republicans, Homeland Security, Biden, House Republicans, DHS, ’, Louisiana Republican, Truth, White, CNN, Congress, Tulane University, Republican, Senate Democratic, Mayorkas, Pro Tempore Locations: Louisiana, Mark Green of Tennessee, Washington, Michael McCaul of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Michael Guest of Mississippi, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Texas, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida

☆ Not even AOC is calling for Sonia Sotomayor to retire
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewIn recent weeks, progressive figures have grown louder in calling for Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor to consider resigning from the Supreme Court. Advertisement"I'm not in favor of telling people when they should retire," said Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. AdvertisementHanging over the discussion is the late Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in 2020 just months before the end of the Trump administration. Advertisement"Taking into account what happened to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I get it," said Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California. "Ruth Bader Ginsburg was ill. We knew she had cancer.

Persons: —, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who's, Ro Khanna, Ilhan Omar, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Sotomayor, Donald Trump, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Trump, Ginsburg, Obama, Amy Coney Barrett, Roe, Wade, Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Jimmy Gomez, Dolores Huerta, Gomez, Ginsburg —, I'm, Justice Ginsburg, Chuy Garcia, Dean Phillips, Minnesota —, Joe Biden, Phillips Organizations: Service, Justice, Latina, Democratic, California, Business, Huffington, Senate, NBC News, Democrat Locations: Ilhan Omar of, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, —, Jimmy Gomez of California, Illinois

☆ Don't expect the Mayorkas impeachment trial to last long
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewHomeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' historic impeachment trial will likely be over before you even notice. Conservative legal scholars and even three House Republicans have questioned Mayorkas' impeachment. Here's how Democrats will likely handle Mayorkas' impeachment. After failing to impeach Mayorkas on the first vote, House Republicans narrowly impeached the Homeland Security secretary on February 13. GOP Reps. Mike Gallagher, Tom McClintock, and Ken Buck GettyWhy are even some Republicans against Mayorkas impeachment?

Persons: —, Alejandro Mayorkas, Chuck Schumer, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mayorkas, Joe Biden's, Mike Johnson, Mitch McConnell, it's, McConnell, Greene, Andy Wong, Sen, Robert Byrd, Bill Clinton, Clinton, Jon Tester, Tester, Joe Manchin, Mitt Romney, Mike Gallagher, Tom McClintock, Ken Buck Getty, Mike Gallagher of, Ken Buck, Tom McClintock of, impeaching Mayorkas, Jonathan Turley, Turley, framers Organizations: Service, Republican, Business, Republicans, GOP, Democrats, Homeland, AP, Security, West, West Virginia Democrat, Washington Post, Democratic, Montana Democrat, Politico, Democrat, George Washington University Law School Locations: Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Washington, New York, West Virginia, Montana, Utah, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tom McClintock of California

☆ Why Is Adeel Mangi’s Confirmation Still in Jeopardy? - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Lydia Polgreen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In 1999, a Florida lawyer, Anuraag Singhal, represented a man convicted of gunning down a police officer. Singhal had to somehow persuade a jury that his client, Jeffrey Lee Weaver, should face life in prison rather than the electric chair, the punishment the hard-charging prosecutor sought. The article described tears rolling down his cheeks, and his voice breaking with emotion as he pleaded for Weaver’s life. A divided jury recommended life in prison. He would become active in conservative legal circles, joining the local chapter of the Federalist Society.

Persons: Anuraag, gunning, Singhal, Jeffrey Lee Weaver, Jeff Weaver, you’ll, ” Singhal, Donald Trump, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jacky Rosen, Joe Manchin Organizations: The Sun Sentinel, Federalist Society, Democratic Locations: Florida, Nevada, West Virginia

☆ Navy Federal says external review finds ‘non-race factors’ explained mortgage approval disparities
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Casey Tolan | Rene Marsh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The nearly 29-percentage-point gap in Navy Federal’s approval rates was the widest of any of the 50 lenders that originated the most mortgage loans in 2022. In addition, an analysis by staff of the Senate Banking Committee, which 10 Democratic senators cited in a letter asking federal regulators to review Navy Federal’s mortgage lending earlier this year, also found racial disparities in Navy Federal’s mortgage approval rates based on the publicly available data. A spokesperson for Navy Federal did not respond to a request for additional details about the analysis. Navy Federal described Adegbile’s analysis as an “external review,” but his law firm, WilmerHale, is also defending Navy Federal in a class-action lawsuit from Black and Latino borrowers who allege the credit union discriminated against them in mortgage applications. “Navy Federal should immediately put out the full investigative report and data analysis so that Navy Federal’s members have an opportunity for themselves to review the findings,” the statement said.

Persons: hadn’t, “, ”, Debo Adegbile, ” Adegbile, WilmerHale, – Ben Crump, Adam Levitt, Hassan Zavareei –, Adegbile Organizations: CNN, Navy Federal Credit Union, Department of Defense, Federal, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Banking Committee, Navy Federal, U.S . Commission, Civil Rights Locations: Black, Navy

☆ Democratic senators have privately warned White House that votes aren’t there to confirm Biden’s Muslim judicial nominee
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But some allies of the White House on Capitol Hill have made clear that there is not enough support – including among Democrats – to confirm Mangi in the full Senate, those sources said. The controversy surrounding Mangi’s nomination comes at a moment of heightened political tensions across the country since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The White House and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back, accusing Republicans of Islamophobic attacks that are based on Mangi’s ethnic background and touting support from Jewish groups. The White House has also called on senators such as Cruz to apologize to Mangi. “Treatment of this highly qualified nominee has sometimes reached an all-time low.”CNN has reached out to Durbin’s office for additional comment.

Persons: Adeel Mangi, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Mangi, –, Texas Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Rutgers University –, Cruz, ” Cruz, ” Mangi, “, ”, Jeff Zientz, Shuwanza Goff, White, Ed Siskel, Andrew Bates, ’ ” Bates, “ Mr, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin Organizations: Washington CNN —, Democratic, CNN, US, Appeals, White, Capitol, Texas Republican, Center for Security, Rights, Rutgers University, White House, Defamation League, Senate, Committee, House Locations: New York, Israel

☆ The TikTok ban is headed to a vote in the House. Here's what to know.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A bipartisan group of representatives introduced a bill on March 5 to effectively ban TikTok. The House is set to vote on the legislation on Wednesday, where it's expected to pass. The bill has faced criticism from advocacy groups, TikTok fans, and former President Donald Trump. AdvertisementThe House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday on a bipartisan-supported bill that could decide the future of TikTok. If this bill or a similar one passes through Congress, President Joe Biden has already said he'll sign it into law.

Persons: Donald Trump, —, Mike Gallagher, Raja, " Gallagher, we've, Zuckerschmuck, ByteDance, Jeff Yass, GOP Sen, Todd Young, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Facebook, Susquehanna International Group, Trump, New York Times, Republican, Democratic, GOP, Center for Democracy & Technology, American Civil Liberties Union, Electronic Frontier Foundation Locations: United States, TikTok, Yass, Congress

☆ Senators Urge Biden to Stop Arming Israel, Citing Violation of U.S. Aid Law
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Robert Jimison | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A group of Democratic senators urged President Biden on Monday to stop providing offensive weapons to Israel for the war against Hamas until it lifts restrictions on U.S.-backed humanitarian aid going into Gaza. In a letter to Mr. Biden, Senator Bernie Sanders, independent of Vermont, and seven Democrats argued that by continuing to arm Israel, Mr. Biden was violating the Foreign Assistance Act, which bars military support from going to any nation that restricts the delivery of humanitarian aid. It was the latest bid by members of his own party to intensify pressure on Mr. Biden to use his leverage to demand that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu change his tactics and mitigate the suffering of Palestinians as the offensive in Gaza drags into its fifth month. “We urge you to make it clear to the Netanyahu government that failure to immediately and dramatically expand humanitarian access and facilitate safe aid deliveries throughout Gaza will lead to serious consequences, as specified under existing U.S. law,” the group wrote.

Persons: Biden, Mr, Bernie Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu Organizations: Foreign Assistance Locations: Israel, Gaza, Vermont

☆ Trump pledges to get tough with tariffs again if elected
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Proclaiming that "I'm a big believer in tariffs," former President Donald Trump on Monday indicated he's likely to reinstitute duties on foreign goods should he win election to a second term. The comments come as Trump is running a close race in the polls with President Joe Biden. During his administration, from 2017-21, Trump instituted a variety of tariffs against China, Mexico, the European Union and others. They were destroying our entire steel industry, which was never doing very well over the last 25 years anyway ... because it's been eaten alive by foreign competition," Trump said. And every person in the steel industry, when they see me they started crying.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, it's Organizations: CNBC, Republican, Trump, European Union, U.S Locations: China, Mexico, United States, U.S

☆ Spending Impasse Persists Amid G.O.P. Resistance as Partial Shutdown Looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Congressional leaders have failed to reach a deal on legislation to keep federal funding going past Friday, with Republicans insisting on adding right-wing policy dictates to the spending bills, pushing the government to the brink of a partial shutdown within days. Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said on Sunday that despite “intense discussions” that were continuing among top lawmakers to break the impasse, Republican recalcitrance was raising the prospect of a “disruptive shutdown” at midnight on Friday. “While we had hoped to have legislation ready this weekend that would give ample time for members to review the text, it is clear now that House Republicans need more time to sort themselves out,” Mr. Schumer said in a letter to Democratic senators. “With the uncertainty of how the House will pass the appropriations bills and avoid a shutdown this week, I ask all senators to keep their schedules flexible, so we can work to ensure a pointless and harmful lapse in funding doesn’t occur.”With no sign of a breakthrough, President Biden summoned congressional leaders to the White House on Tuesday to discuss the spending legislation, as well as the $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine and Israel that the Senate passed earlier this month, which Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to take up.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Republican recalcitrance, ” Mr, Schumer, Biden, Mike Johnson Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Democratic, “, White Locations: New York, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Schumer leads congressional delegation to Ukraine to mark 2-year anniversary of Russian invasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Colin Mccullough | Shania Shelton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is in Ukraine to reiterate US support for the country and ratchet up pressure on House Republicans back home to pass a foreign aid bill that includes further assistance for Ukraine and Israel. The visit comes as House Republicans are holding still a foreign aid package that would send further aid to Ukraine and Israel. Schumer told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Friday that during his visit, Zelensky told him that Ukraine will win its war against Russia if Congress passes further aid to the country. If Ukraine loses, Schumer warned, “Our allies will think we will not stick with them anymore. “We must show Putin that he can pay a price, an economic price as well as a political price and a military price.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Jack Reed, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Richard Blumenthal of, Maggie Hassan, Schumer, Volodymyr Zelensky, Mike Johnson, CNN’s Wolf, Zelensky, “ Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Johnson, ”, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Putin, ” Biden, Biden, Alexey Navalny Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Democratic, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Republican Conference, Congress, New York Democrat, NATO, “ Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Russia, Europe

☆ These 3 Democratic senators voted against a $95.3 billion Ukraine and Israel aid bill — citing the war in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Three Democratic senators voted against a $95.3 billion bill to give aid to Israel and Ukraine. Other Democratic senators who have been critical of the war voted for the aid anyway. AdvertisementEarly on Tuesday morning, the Senate passed a $95.3 billion bill to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan by a 70-29 margin. Most of the votes against the bill came from Republicans, some of whom were opposed to providing $60 billion in Ukraine aid while others protested the lack of border security provisions. It requires any country receiving foreign aid, including Israel, to submit written assurances that they are complying with human rights laws.

Persons: —, Peter Welch of, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders of, Sanders, Welch, Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Mike Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Democratic, Service, Senate Democratic Conference, Senate Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, Taiwan, Peter Welch of Vermont, Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont

Democratic senators on Friday called Biden's directive — meant to bring breadth, oversight, deadlines and teeth to efforts to ensure foreign governments don't use U.S. military aid against civilians — historic. “This is a sea-change in terms of how you approach U.S. military aid and its impact on civilians,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. Human rights advocates said the challenge for the new directive would be the same faced by all previous efforts to withhold U.S. weapons and funding from human rights abusers — whether administrations will actually enforce the human rights conditions against strategically important allies and partners. Foreign governments that fail to provide those assurances on time would have their military aid paused. Those “are honored in the breach,” Roth, the human rights expert, said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Massachusetts Sen, Elizabeth Warren, who'd, Maryland Sen, Chris Van Hollen, ”, Kenneth Roth, Antony Blinken, isn't, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, ” Jean, Pierre said, Leahy, —, ” Roth, it's, ” Van Hollen, — Seung Min Kim Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democrats, Ukraine, Democratic, Capitol, White House, Maryland, Human Rights Watch, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, U.S, Foreign Assistance Locations: Gaza, Israel, Russia, Massachusetts, what's, Ukraine, Israeli, United States, U.S

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans urged the state Supreme Court on Thursday to ignore a report from redistricting consultants that determined GOP-proposed legislative maps were unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders. The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in December that the current Republican-drawn legislative maps were unconstitutional because not all the districts were contiguous. The court ordered the parties involved in the lawsuit to submit new maps that a pair of consultants then reviewed. While those talks continue, the Supreme Court accepted responses Thursday from Republicans and Democrats to the consultants report. Attorneys for the Legislature argued in their court filing Thursday that the consultants' report was about finding a political remedy to redistricting, not addressing the continuity issue.

Persons: Tony Evers, Evers, Tyler August, Janet Protasiewicz, “, ” Organizations: — Wisconsin Republicans, GOP, Republicans, Assembly, Republican, Democratic Gov, Democrats, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin

☆ These 17 GOP senators voted to advance a $95.3 billion Ukraine and Israel aid package — without the controversial border provisions that Republicans have rejected
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, 17 Republican senators joined with Democrats to begin debate on a version of the foreign aid bill that no longer includes any of the border security provisions. AdvertisementThe $95.34 billion package contains $60 billion in new aid to Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $9.15 billion for humanitarian assistance, including for Gaza. In May 2022 — the last time the Senate voted on a bill primarily dealing with Ukraine aid — 39 GOP senators supported it. Several Democratic senators are hoping to impose new conditions on Israel aid amid the devastating war in Gaza, and Republicans may offer amendments of their own. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has threatened to call a vote on ousting Johnson from the speakership if he allows another vote on Ukraine aid.

Persons: —, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Service, House Republicans, Republican, Democrats, Business, GOP, —, Democratic, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, United States, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Vermont

☆ Democrats have become way more comfortable putting Israel aid on hold amid the ongoing war in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Democrats believe it will be essentially impossible to get that aid through both chambers of Congress without attaching it to Israel aid. AdvertisementYet despite AIPAC's endorsement of a $11.7 billion Israel aid package on Tuesday, all but 46 House Democrats voted against it. Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, a former diplomat, said he sees little urgency in approving more Israel aid. Another factor in Democrats' rejection of the Israel aid bill was its exclusion of humanitarian aid for Palestinians, which is included in the Senate's foreign aid bill. And there are some progressive Democrats who are likely to spurn further Israel aid altogether.

Persons: —, That's, it's, Israel, Don Beyer of Virginia, Beyer, I'm, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Don Beyer, Bill Clark, Greg Landsman, Jeremy Ben, Ami, Landsman, Sen, Bernie Sanders of, Rep, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez Organizations: Service, Business, Democratic Rep, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, GOP, Democratic, Jewish, Democrats Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, Ohio, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Alexandria, Cortez of New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — The massive $118 billion Senate border bill not only contains once-in-a-decade border security legislation and wartime aid to Israel and Ukraine, but also offers a chance for the U.S. to keep its promise to Afghans who worked alongside U.S. soldiers in America’s longest war. Tucked inside the sprawling package is a measure that would provide a long-awaited pathway to residency for tens of thousands of Afghan refugees who arrived in the U.S. on military planes after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Conservatives have said the package does not go far enough in limiting the number of daily migrant crossings at the southern border. Both Republican and Democratic senators and their staff worked to bridge the divide and produce legislative text that both sides could support. Republican leaders in the House have declared the bill a non-starter, and even passage through the Senate, where the deal was negotiated, is an uphill climb.

Persons: there’s, Democratic Sen, Chris Coons, ”, they’ve, Shawn VanDiver Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Republican, Democratic, Associated Press, Allies, Navy, Senate, State Department Locations: Israel, Ukraine, America’s, U.S, Afghanistan, Kabul, Cuba, Vietnam, Iraq, Chris Coons of Delaware, United States

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