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☆ Opinion: Mike Johnson is testing to see if the MAGA Republican fever can be broken
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —House Speaker Mike Johnson is moving forward with a legislative package to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been beating the drums to vote Johnson, who is himself also an extreme right-wing Republican, out of office. When GOP House members adopted this lower threshold in exchange for accepting McCarthy, experts understood that the rule would create extreme instability within the Republican caucus. On July 28, 2015, Tea Party Republican Rep. Mark Meadows from North Carolina filed a motion to vacate but the House never voted on the resolution. The time of Republican speakership keeps shrinking as right-wing ousters have become increasingly common.

Persons: Julian Zelizer, Mike Johnson, MAGA, Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin McCarthy of, “, McCarthy, can’t, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Donald Trump, Newt Gingrich, Jim Wright, Wright, Gingrich, Bill Clinton, Gingrich’s, Robert Livingston, Dennis Hastert, John Boehner of Ohio, Jim Jordan, Mark, Boehner, ”, Paul Ryan, Ryan, Michael Kerr, Theodore Pomeroy, Republican speakership Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, New York Times, America, Twitter, CNN —, MAGA Republicans, Congress, Georgia Republican, Republican, House Republicans, Rep, GOP House, Republicans, Republican Party, GOP, Democrats, Democratic, Louisiana’s, Tea Party Republicans, Tea Party Republican Rep, Wisconsin Rep Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Russia, Iran, China, Kevin McCarthy of California, New, Illinois, Ohio, Mark Meadows, North Carolina

☆ Some House Republicans need this reminder that Russia is not their friend
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There is a major disconnect between two CNN stories on Wednesday about Russia and the US. While it is mostly Republicans who oppose additional funding for Ukraine, they are still a minority, even within their own party. In February, 22 Republicans in the Senate joined all but three Democrats to form a 70-vote majority in favor of the funding. Asked about that propaganda comment by Tapper earlier this month, Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, agreed. The two appeared together at Mar-a-Lago last week, and Johnson has bought into Trump’s proposal to structure some Ukraine aid as a loan rather than direct aid.

Persons: Sean Lyngaas, ”, Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “ We’re, Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy didn’t, he’s, it’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Defense Lloyd Austin, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, Ralph Norman, Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Tom Williams, It’s, Liz Cheney, Donald Trump, Michael McCaul, Puck, Tapper, Mike Turner of Ohio, ” Turner, Greene, Ken Buck, Moscow Marjorie ”, Putin, Trump Organizations: CNN, Capitol Hill, GOP, White, Conservative, Ukraine, Republicans, Senate, Florida, ” Texas, Defense, Republican, Fox News, Putin, Texas Republican, Foreign Affairs, House Intelligence, Trump, Mar, Lago Locations: Russia, Texas, Russian, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Wyoming, Colorado

☆ Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric has been effective for him so far but poses real danger
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

In some ways, this is classic behavior from Trump and follows multiple previous social media threats to judges, political opponents and anyone who angers him. Trump’s attacks on the judiciary play into the foundation of his political career — that he’s a rebel outsider tearing down a political system his supporters believe disdains them. In itself, the tape is an affront to the legal system and the judiciary. If the principle were applied to its full extent, it could destroy the nonpartisan legal system. In his “State of the Union” interview Sunday, Lawler, an up-and-coming New York Republican, demonstrated how Trump’s rhetoric overshadows his party.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, president’s, Joe Biden, Trump’s, Judge Juan Merchan, Trump, “ I’ve, Donald Trump, ”, LaDoris Cordell, CNN’s Omar Jimenez, Biden, CNN’s Dana, Mike Lawler, Walton’s, Reggie Walton, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Walton, they’re, we’re, George Bush, George W, Bush, “, ” Walton, Cordell, ’ ”, Merchan, Tanya Chutkan, he’s, Fani Willis, Letitia James, John Roberts, Clinton, autocrats, Michael Tyler, —, ” Trump, Steven Cheung, Lawler, ” Lawler, CNN’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Trump, Superior Court, Republican Party, GOP, Union, Sunday, Republican, Capitol, Prosecutors, New York, Trump Organization, Capitol Police, New York Republican Locations: York, California, “ State, New York, America, Washington ,, Fulton County, Georgia

☆ House GOP Biden inquiry stalls as impeachment becomes less likely
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Hunter Biden arrives at the Thomas P. O'Neil Jr. House Office Building for a closed door deposition on February 28, in Washington, DC. Abbe Lowell makes a statement to the press following a closed-door deposition before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and House Judiciary Committee in the O'Neill House Office Building on February 28, in Washington, DC. “He was well-prepared for the kind of questions,” Issa recounted of Hunter Biden. GOP focus shifts away from impeachment probeInvestigating the Biden family and going after President Biden was a top priority for House Republicans when they reclaimed the majority and got control of committees. GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana said the three Republican chairmen leading the impeachment inquiry have the same message: “They say we’re not in a position to go forward on impeachment.”

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Hunter Biden, James Comer, Jim Jordan, Comer, Donald Trump, Thomas P, O'Neil Jr, Countess, Merrick, Justice won’t, ” Comer, Mike Johnson, “, Jordan, Johnson, “ I’m, ” Johnson, Ralph Norman of, Troy Nehls, impeaching Biden, We’ve, Let’s, ”, ” Nehls, Alejandro Mayorkas, I’m, Trump, weaponized, ” Jordan, Vernon, Ed Siskel, ” Siskel, Hunter, Mary, ” Hunter, Abbe Lowell, Samuel Corum, Hunter Biden’s, Darrell Issa, ” Issa, Robert Hur, Garret Graves, Chip Roy, Texas, Lisa McClain, Richard Hudson of, it’s, Nick LaLota, ” Norman, Ryan Zinke Organizations: House Republicans, Department of Justice, CNN, Fox News, Merrick Garland’s Department, Justice, Louisiana Republican, ” Staff, GOP, Caucus, Democratic, Homeland, Senate, Trump, White, Getty, Committee, Republican, of, Hunter Biden, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, Judiciary, House, House Republican, “ Locations: Washington ,, Merrick Garland’s, Louisiana, House, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Miami, Vernon Hill, Florida, O'Neill, Washington , DC, California, Lisa McClain of Michigan, Richard Hudson of North Carolina, New York, Montana

☆ Ohio GOP House candidate backtracks on prior support for federal abortion ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewLate last month, Rep. Greg Landsman — an Ohio Democrat who defeated an incumbent Republican in 2022 — declared in a tweet that his GOP opponent supported a federal abortion ban. He did not reply with "YX" — a response that would have indicated his support for some exceptions to an abortion ban. That decision, which removed the constitutional right to an abortion, spurred state-level abortion bans — and a massive backlash to anti-abortion policies — nationwide. That bill, designed to ensure abortion rights nationwide, precludes states from enacting temporal limits on abortion. Most House and Senate Republicans opposed a 2022 law that strengthens protections for same-sex and interracial marriage at the federal level.

Persons: —, Greg Landsman —, Orlando Sonza, who's, @GregLandsman, 0wsOeEjem4, Sonza, shouldn't, Roe, Wade, Ohioans, lKvI58Ly3s, hiUL0rrxPr, Landsman Organizations: Service, Ohio Democrat, Republican, GOP, US Army, Business, Cincinnati, Republicans, Supreme, Women's, Alabama Supreme, affirmatively Locations: Ohio, Ohio's, Cincinnati

☆ A defining week set to lay bare the choice in the 2024 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

But Trump and Biden’s turns in the spotlight this week will highlight their all-but-certain rematch, barring health crises or other surprise events. November’s election is already heaping pressure on political and electoral institutions, the Constitution and America’s fragile national unity. The move further delayed the ex-president’s federal criminal trial over election interference, which Trump – who is seeking to push off his trials past the 2024 election – touted as a win. Ahead of a likely general election clash, Trump’s appetite for testing the rule of law and the Constitution is undimmed. While leaders of both congressional chambers have reached a bipartisan spending deal, the tiny GOP House majority means any piece of legislation is a heavy lift.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden’s, Biden, Trump’s, he’s, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Nikki Haley, ”, . South Dakota Sen, John Thune, Mitch McConnell, he’ll, Haley, “, GOP Sen, Markwayne Mullin, CNN’s Dana, there’s, wilder, “ Biden, White, –, Mike Johnson Organizations: CNN, GOP, Colorado Supreme, Supreme, Super, Democratic, Trump, South Carolina Gov, Capitol, Republican, “, Oklahoma, Biden, American, The New York Times, Siena College, Times, Street Journal, Hamas, MAGA ” Republicans Locations: Idaho, Missouri, Washington ,, . South Dakota, South Carolina, “ State, Greensboro , North Carolina, United States of America, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Michigan

☆ A veteran Republican operative relocated to Kyiv — he says Ukraine can win the war
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Veteran Republican operative, Steven Moore, relocated to Kyiv after Putin's full-scale invasion. Within a week of Putin declaring war on Ukraine in 2022, Moore founded the Ukraine Freedom Project (UFP). If we don't continue to support Ukraine, then the Russians will roll through Ukraine," Moore told BI. 'I'm doing the right thing'Steven Moore, founder of the Ukraine Freedom Project, pictured in front of a bombed out building in Irpin. In the early months of the war, Moore witnessed civilian casualties he saw pouring in from battles in Irpin and Bucha.

Persons: Steven Moore, Moore, —, Peter Roskam, Putin, Mike Johnson, They're, I'm, Karl Ahlgren, Steven Moore Moore, Anatoly, didn't, Rebekah Maciorowski, " Moore Organizations: Republican, Service, Capitol, Washington DC, Republicans, GOP, Ukraine Armed Forces, NATO, Medical, Network Inc, Ukraine Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Ukrainian, Chernivtsi, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kherson, Russia, Avdiivka, Irpin, American, Tulsa , Oklahoma, Russian, Kramatorsk, Oklahoma, Bucharest

☆ GOP House candidate JR Majewski drops out after facing backlash for disparaging Special Olympics athletes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

GOP candidate JR Majewski announced on Saturday that he is dropping out of his House race. It came after Business Insider reported that he called Special Olympics athletes "retarded." AdvertisementJR Majewski, a controversial GOP House candidate in Ohio, announced on Saturday that he is suspending his campaign just weeks before the March 19 primary. It comes just weeks after Majewski faced backlash for calling Special Olympics athletes "fucking retarded," which Business Insider first reported last month. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: JR Majewski, —, Majewski Organizations: JR, Business, Service, GOP House Locations: Ohio

☆ Congress passes stopgap bill to avert government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Clare Foran | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The House and Senate both passed a stopgap bill on Thursday to avert a partial government shutdown at the end of the week. The House vote was 320 to 99 with 113 Republicans voting in favor and 97 Republicans voting against. “The appropriations process is ugly,” Johnson told reporters on Thursday. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who will vote against the stopgap bill, swiped at the speaker over cutting a deal with Democrats on government funding. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, who was one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy, said he opposed the stopgap bill and broader funding deal but was sympathetic to Johnson’s circumstances.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, –, we’ve, We’re, Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, swiped, CNN’s Manu Raju, Rep, Byron Donalds of, it’s, ”, Kevin McCarthy, Tim Burchett, McCarthy, CNN’s Lauren Fox, Manu Raju Organizations: GOP, CNN, Louisiana Republican, Agriculture, FDA, Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy, Water, Veterans Affairs and Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, Defense, Financial Services, General Government, Homeland Security, Labor, Health, Human Services, Legislative Branch, State, Foreign Locations: Washington, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Byron Donalds of Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee

☆ MAGA House candidate JR Majewski's disparagement of Special Olympics athletes is reverberating in the high-stakes Ohio Senate race
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ohio GOP Senate candidates Bernie Moreno and Frank LaRose have endorsed JR Majewski. The GOP House candidate faces backlash after calling Special Olympics athletes "fucking retarded." AdvertisementTwo high-profile GOP Senate candidates in Ohio won't say whether they still back House candidate JR Majewski after he made a joke referring to Special Olympics athletes as "fucking retarded." But State Sen. Matt Dolan, another Senate GOP candidate, told Business Insider in a statement that he agrees with the Lucas County GOP's condemnation of Majewski's "reprehensible remarks." And he called on his two opponents to rescind their support for the embattled House candidate.

Persons: Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, Matt Dolan, Moreno, LaRose, —, MAGA, Marcy Kaptur, Spokespeople, Majewski, Sen, JD Vance, JR Majewski, Dolan, Craig Riedel, Donald Trump, Donald Trump . State Sen, Nic Antaya, Democratic Sen, Sherrod Brown, disgracefully, @JRMajewski, lVNQ2qWpSj — Frank LaRose, ciLu3ckhXa, bGZfC6ZUem — bryan metzger, @metzgov, didn't, Derrick Merrin, Riedel Organizations: Ohio GOP, JR Majewski, GOP, Service, Lucas County GOP, Republicans, Democratic, JR, Ohio Republicans, Donald Trump . State, Senate, Majewski, FEC Locations: Ohio, Lucas County, Toledo, Lucas, America, Afghanistan, Montana, Washington, DC

☆ GOP House candidate JR Majewski refuses to drop out after disparaging Special Olympics athletes: 'I will not be threatened'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

JR Majewski, a controversial GOP House candidate in Ohio, is refusing to drop out of the race after referring to Special Olympics participants as "fucking retarded." As Business Insider first reported earlier this month, Majewski made the disparaging comments during an appearance on a conservative podcast. You know, no matter how hard you try, arguing on the Internet, it's like being in the Special Olympics," he said. On Sunday, the Lucas County GOP — the largest party organization in Ohio's 9th congressional district — voted to censure Majewski for his comments. AdvertisementThe Ohio Republican told POLITICO on Tuesday that he was considering dropping out of the race.

Persons: Majewski, @JRMajewski, ciLu3ckhXa, bGZfC6ZUem — bryan metzger, @metzgov, —, Lucas, J, … —, Marcy Kaptur, He's, Derrick Merrin, Craig Riedel, Donald Trump, Sen, JD Vance, Ohio Organizations: JR Majewski, GOP House, Washington Establishment Machine, Business, BI, Republicans, Lucas County GOP, Ohio Republican, POLITICO, Republican Party, Congressional, GOP, Trump, Democratic, National Republicans, Republican Locations: Ohio, Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio's, … — Lucas, Northwest Ohio, Afghanistan, Japan, Qatar, Washington, DC

CNN —President Joe Biden, in a call Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, directly tied Ukraine’s withdrawal from the key town of Avdiivka to Congress’ inability to pass further aid for the country’s effort to fend off Russia’s invasion. “This morning, Ukraine’s military was forced to withdraw from Avdiivka after Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russia’s first notable gains in months. President Biden emphasized the need for Congress to urgently pass the national security supplemental funding bill to resupply Ukrainian forces,” according to a White House readout of the call. Earlier this week, the Senate passed with bipartisan support a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill, which includes $60 billion to support Ukraine. The withdrawal from Avdiivka marks the biggest gain for Moscow since it captured the city of Bakhmut last year.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia’s, Biden, Alexey Navalny’s, Mike Johnson, Adrienne Watson, Kamala Harris, Zelensky, Harris, ” Harris, ”, ” Zelensky, “ Hatred, ” Biden, it’s, they’re Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, National Security, Munich, Representatives, White, Moscow Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Germany, United States, Russia, Bakhmut

☆ Trump’s crushing fraud trial defeat is a microcosm of a life defined by breaking all the rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Practically, Engoron’s decision will impose severe financial and personal strain on Trump as he’s emerging as the almost certain Republican presidential nominee. “He’s already said he’s going to spend most of this year in a courtroom, not on a campaign trail. Flouted rules, new realities and a busted legal strategyTrump’s belief that the rules are for others defines his business and political life. Yet this refusal to ever admit defeat also appears to be leading Trump into dangerous legal territory. His flawed philosophy that in business and life, it’s all about closing one more deal, means that even crushing defeats like the 2020 election and his fraud trial cannot change him.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Arthur Engoron’s, —, Joe Biden, “, Biden, ” Trump, Jean Carroll, Engoron, It’s, Elise Stefanik, Nikki Haley, ” Haley, “ He’s, ” Friday’s, Tom Suozzi’s, marveled, ”, Donald Trump, Letitia James, wouldn’t, Michael D’Antonio, “ Trump, Neama Rahmani, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Trump, DOJ, Trump Organization, Republican, East Coast, South, GOP House, New York, West Locations: New York, Manhattan, Florida, York, United States, he’s, South Carolina, Washington, Georgia, American

☆ The White House says it's tracking a new Russian space weapon that violates a nuclear arms treaty
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The White House has confirmed that Russia is building a new weapon to be put in space. The weapon is thought to be nuclear-related, with the White House saying it would violate the Outer Space Treaty. AdvertisementThe White House confirmed on Thursday that it is monitoring Russia's development of a new weapon to be stationed in space. But the spokesperson also said the weapon would violate the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, of which Russia is still a participant. The treaty specifically bans the stationing of weapons of mass destruction in space, including nuclear arms.

Persons: it's, —, It's, John Kirby, Kirby, we've, hasn't, Mike Turner, Hakeem Jeffries, Jake Sullivan, MANDEL NGAN, Jim Himes Organizations: Service, White House, The New York Times, CNN, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, Intelligence, GOP House, intel, National Security, Getty, Democratic, House Intelligence Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Hill, Washington ,, AFP, Jim Himes of Connecticut

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that the apparent death of Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny brings new urgency to the need for Congress to approve tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine to stave off Moscow's invasion. Speaking at the White House, Biden said that no matter the cause, he holds Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for Navalny's death. He added, “I hope to God it helps” push U.S. lawmakers to send more aid to Ukraine. Photos You Should See View All 33 ImagesThe president sharply criticized House Republicans for letting the chamber enter a two-week recess without moving on the Ukraine funding. “President Biden pledged ‘devastating’ consequences should Navalny die in prison; now he must follow through.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alexei Navalny, Biden, Vladimir Putin, hasn't, ” Biden, ”, Mike Johnson, “, Putin, ” Johnson, Donald Trump, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Jeffries, Vladimir Putin’s, Republican Sen, Tom Cotton of, Trump’s Putin, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, Carolina Sen, Thom Tillis, Navalny, ” Tillis, eyeing, Harry Truman Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Republicans, Ukraine, GOP House, Democratic, Senate, Republican, America, ” Lawmakers, Trump, NATO Locations: Russian, Ukraine, U.S, United States, Baltic, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Illinois, ., Carolina, America

☆ Opinion: Utah incident reveals this inherent threat in anti-trans efforts to ‘protect’ girls in sports
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Opinion Frankie De La Cretaz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

In 2022, the Utah legislature banned transgender girls from high school girls’ sports. In August 2022, a Utah judge granted a preliminary injunction allowing trans girls to compete on girls’ teams after the parents of two trans girls filed a lawsuit. But as long as transgender girls’ gender identities are policed, cisgender girls will continue to have theirs policed as well. “I avoided athletic activities out of terror, not disinterest,” one participant said (a new study published last month also found that trans girls are primarily avoiding sports out of fear of harassment). If cisgender girls avoid sports out of these fears as well, they stand to be similarly negatively impacted.

Persons: Frankie de la, “, Mary, CNN —, Natalie Cline, Delia M, Harrington, ” Gov, Spencer Cox, Deidre Henderson, “ unconscionable ”, Cline, What’s, Cox, Virginia Foxx, ludicrously, Megan Rapinoe, It’s, —, White, Jim Crow, Sarah Longwell, Melissa Gira Grant, Trevor, Trevor Project’s Organizations: National Women’s Football League, ”, The New York Times, Sports, CNN, Utah State Board of Education, Harrington The Utah State Board of Education, Facebook, Gov, GOP, US Women’s National, Berlin Olympics, Mental Health, Lifeline Locations: Utah, North Carolina, Idaho, California, Nazi Germany

☆ Interest on national debt could threaten U.S. economic stability, CBO director tells House panel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CBO Director Phillip Swagel testifies during the House Budget Committee hearing titled "The Congressional Budget Office's Budget and Economic Outlook," in Longworth Building on Wednesday, February 14, 2024. The director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office warned House lawmakers Wednesday that the ballooning national debt and the cost of paying interest on it could become an existential threat to the U.S. economy. "Rising interest costs will crowd out other possible uses of government resources, and then also pose a risk to our economic stability" in the coming decade, CBO director Phillip Swagel told the budget committee at a hearing on Capitol Hill. Swagel's testimony centered around CBO's semi-annual report on the federal budget and the economy, released Feb. 7. The CBO report projected that the yearly U.S. budget deficit would grow by an estimated $1 trillion over the next 10 years.

Persons: Phillip Swagel, Swagel, Kevin McCarthy, Dan Kildee, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden's Organizations: Economic, Capitol, CBO, Republicans, GOP, Democrat, Congress Locations: Longworth, U.S, CBO's, Michigan

(AP) — A divided Missouri Supreme Court upheld voting districts drawn for the state Senate on Wednesday, rejecting a legal challenge that claimed mapmakers should have placed a greater emphasis on keeping communities intact. The high court's 5-2 decision means the districts, first used in the 2022 elections, will remain in place both for this year's elections and ensuing ones. While a Republican Senate committee supported the Senate map enacted in 2022 by a panel of appeals court judges, a GOP House committee sided with Democratic-aligned voters suing for the districts to be overturned. The third prioritizes “contiguous” and “compact” districts, and the fourth requires communities to be kept whole in districts if possible under the equal population guidelines. The Supreme Court said a trial judge correctly decided that the constitution makes “compact” districts a higher priority than keeping communities intact.

Persons: Judge Kelly Broniec, Mike Parson's, Judge W, Brent Powell, Judge Paul Wilson, ” Powell, Chuck Hatfield, ” Hatfield, I’m, Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, ” Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Republicans, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Republican Gov, Pro Locations: Mo, Missouri, Buchanan, Louis, Hazelwood, ”

☆ Takeaways from New York’s high-stakes special election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Democrat Tom Suozzi is heading back to Congress after defeating Republican Mazi Pilip in the special election to replace serial fabulist and expelled former GOP Rep. George Santos. The result will further narrow the GOP’s already thin House majority and hand President Joe Biden’s party a boost as the general election campaign comes into focus. If not redemption, the New York Democratic Party in this special election earned a reprieve. As the storm swept through Queens and Long Island on Tuesday, Republican groups and the Pilip campaign scrambled to drive – literally in some cases – their voters to the polls. (Democratic Rep. Grace Meng from the neighboring 6th congressional district, and the area’s Asian American voters, delivered above and beyond for Suozzi.)

Persons: Tom Suozzi, Republican Mazi Pilip, George Santos, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Biden, he’s, –, Santos, Trump, Pilip, Suozzi, ”, George Santos’s, Rick Lazio, didn’t, Hakeem Jeffries, Kathy Hochul, Jay Jacobs, thrall, Israel –, Grace Meng Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP Rep, Biden, Democrats, New York’s, ’, GOP, Trump, Santos, George Santos’s volleyball, New, Democratic, New York Democrats Suozzi’s, New York Democratic Party, – Gov, GOP House, Israel Defense Forces, Republicans, Democrat, Queens Locations: Long, dissing, Israel, New York City, New York, Queens, Gaza, Nassau County, Queens –, Suozzi

☆ House impeaches Alejandro Mayorkas, first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in almost 150 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Annie Grayer | Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The House of Representatives, by an extremely narrow margin, voted Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in almost 150 years. The Department of Homeland Security said that House Republicans “will be remembered by history for trampling on the Constitution” following the vote to impeach. “Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security will continue working every day to keep Americans safe,” the statement said. Ken Buck, Tom McClintock, and Mike Gallagher are three House Republicans who voted against impeaching Mayorkas. Mayorkas has sent a letter to House Republicans to defend his record in public service in advance of the vote.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Mayorkas, Joe Biden, William Belknap, Republicans – Ken Buck, Republicans – Ken Buck of Colorado, Mike Gallagher of, Tom McClintock, California –, Republicans “, Mia Ehrenberg, Steve Scalise, Texas Democrat Al Green, Ken Buck, Mike Gallagher, impeaching Mayorkas, “, Troy Nehls, we’re, ”, Lance Gooden, Patrick McHenry of, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Johnson, “ He’s, Ian Sams, Chuck Schumer’s, Pro Tempore Patty Murray, ” Schumer, Johnson, Donald Trump, ” Mayorkas, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Manu Raju Organizations: Homeland, Republicans, Biden, Department of Homeland Security, “, Texas Democrat, AP, Getty, GOP, CNN, Texas, Democratic, Pro Tempore, House Republicans, ”, Communist, Democrats, Homeland Security, Republican, Border Patrol Locations: Republicans – Ken Buck of, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, California, Israel, Texas, “, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, Cuba

☆ House Republicans prepare to vote again on Mayorkas impeachment, bolstered by return of Scalise
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas holds a press conference at a U.S. Border Patrol station on January 08, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. House Republicans are preparing to take another stab at impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a week after the same effort failed in an embarrassment for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. This time around, Republicans are confident they will have the majority vote to impeach now that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has returned to Washington after cancer treatment, which prevented him from breaking last week's 215-215 tie. If Republicans eke out a majority vote against Mayorkas, he would become only the second cabinet member in U.S. history to be impeached. The White House has supported Mayorkas, condemning the impeachment effort as a political distraction by Republicans, who refused $20 billion of border security funding in a bipartisan Senate deal last week.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, Ken Buck, Ken Buck of Colorado, Mike Gallagher, Tom McClintock of, Gallagher, Buck, spokespeople, McClintock, George Santos, Tom Suozzi, eke, Mayorkas, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Karine Jean, Pierre Organizations: Department of Homeland, U.S . Border Patrol, House Republicans, Homeland, Republican, Capitol, GOP House, CNBC, Democratic, Mayorkas, Rep, Press, House Press Locations: U.S, Eagle Pass , Texas, Washington, Ken Buck of, Wisconsin, Tom McClintock of California, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia

House lawmakers on Tuesday voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Republicans’ second attempt to hold the official accountable for what they allege is a willful failure to handle the migrant crisis on the southern border. The House vote Tuesday coincided with a special election in New York to replace disgraced former Republican congressman George Santos. President Joe Biden also blasted House Republicans in a statement after the impeachment vote. “History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games,” the president said. If the chamber does reach that threshold, Mayorkas would no longer be Homeland Security secretary.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Republicans ’, George Santos, Mayorkas, Mike Johnson, “, ”, Joe Biden, haven’t, Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: Homeland, Republicans, Republican, GOP, Louisiana Republican, Department of Homeland Security, House Republicans, Democrat, Senate, Associated Press Locations: New York, Mexico, Louisiana

Now, faced with unprecedented attacks in state legislatures, transgender rights leaders acknowledge they are playing defense — and two of the biggest groups are joining forces to counter the onslaught. “This is going to be a defense game — and a movement-strengthening game,” said Andy Marra, executive director of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. Many of laws ban gender-affirming medical care for trans minors or bar trans athletes from competing on girls’ and women’s scholastic sports teams. The national political environment — in regard to LGBTQ+ rights — has changed dramatically since then. Marra, who has been active in the LGBTQ+ rights movement for 20 years, says she remains optimistic in the face of current setbacks.

Persons: —, ”, Andy Marra, Rodrigo Heng, Lehtinen, Marra, Ken Paxton, Greg Abbott, Abbott, ” Marra, Heng, “, Lehtinen —, “ We’ve, He’s, Ileana Ros, Ros, Rodrigo, ” Ros, Bud Light, influencer Dylan Mulvaney Organizations: Transgender Legal Defense, Education Fund, Republican, National Center for Transgender Equality, Trans, Texas, Gov, GOP Locations: U.S, New York, Washington, North Carolina

☆ 2 House Republicans push back against claims that a president can easily fix the border: 'Why didn't Trump just shut down the border? He couldn't.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

As House Republicans failed Tuesday evening in a vote to impeach Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, two staunch conservative representatives from Texas pushed back against former President Donald Trump's claims that reforming the US-Mexico border is easy. "We're not going to just pass the buck and say that, 'Oh, any president could walk in and secure the border,'" Roy said. "I saw former President Trump make that allegation earlier today on one of his social media posts. But his attempts to halt illegal immigration via a border wall and other means didn't work. "Why didn't Trump just shut down the border if you just think we don't need any changes to law?"

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Donald Trump's, Chip Roy, Trump, We're, Roy, Dan Crenshaw, Crenshaw, didn't Trump Organizations: Service, Republicans, Homeland, GOP, Trump, Business, Cato Institute Locations: Texas, Mexico, United States, Houston

☆ How a botched impeachment laid bare a GOP House that cannot function
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

And it raised serious doubts over the GOP’s capacity to pull off another politized maneuver designed to please the former president – an impeachment of President Joe Biden. The malpractice of Johnson’s impeachment team was encapsulated by Democrats outmaneuvering them to bring a shoeless Rep. Al Green, who was recovering from surgery, to the chamber in a wheelchair to cast a dramatic vote. Losing the ability to governThe House GOP meltdown came as this divided, angry Congress’ capacity to govern at the most basic level appears to be imploding. But the most Trumpy wing of the House GOP has other concerns. But Tuesday’s confusion shows that a House majority dominated by extremism and exhibitionism is not an operable majority.

Persons: Mike Johnson’s speakership, –, Alejandro Mayorkas, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, outmaneuvering, Al Green, Johnson, Biden, ”, Trump, Oklahoma Sen, James Lankford, – Johnson, Mayorkas, ” It’s, it’s, “, Elise Stefanik, —, Steve Scalise, Kevin McCarthy, California — Organizations: CNN, Homeland, Israel, GOP, House Republicans, Republicans, Democratic, Trump, Congress, Capitol Locations: Ukraine, Taiwan, Oklahoma, Israel, Russia, China, California, New York, Washington, America

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