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☆ Democrats' dilemma: Which hard-right Republican should they side with?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mike Johnson is almost certain to survive MTG's effort oust him due to the support of Democrats. But progressives are unsure how to handle the vote, with some citing Johnson's own hard-right views. AdvertisementNext week, Democrats will be siding with a Republican that they've derided as being slavishly loyal to Donald Trump, wedded to evangelical Christian nationalist beliefs, opposed to LGBTQ+ rights, and a danger to American democracy. Some of them haven't decided whether that person is Speaker Mike Johnson or Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. After all, House Democrats voted unanimously with Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October.

Persons: Mike Johnson, —, they've, Donald Trump, haven't, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, — it's, Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Mark Pocan, I'm, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Minnesota, Greg Casar, Texas —, Mike Johnson shouldn't, doesn't, Greene, it's, Omar, Ro Khanna, Khanna Organizations: Service, Republican, Democratic, House, — Rep, Congressional Progressive Caucus, CPC, New, CNN, Republicans, Democrats Locations: Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, Texas, Cortez, New York, California, Ukraine, Israel

☆ After Israel Aid Vote, Pocan Seeks to Show Biden Liberal Dismay on Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Robert Jimison | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

During a town hall-style meeting a short drive from her home in rural southwestern Wisconsin, Elizabeth Humphries asked her congressman how a 66-year-old woman like her could get the message to President Biden that she and her peers are deeply dissatisfied with his administration’s approach to Israel’s war in Gaza. Representative Mark Pocan, the Democrat who has held the district’s seat in Congress since 2013, assured her that he was working to pass along those very concerns. “We’re videotaping this to share with the White House,” he said, gesturing to the iPhone set up on a nearby tripod to capture the event with two dozen or so voters seated in a room in Dodgeville’s City Hall. “They can hear me say this ad nauseam, but you all saying this is, I think, very helpful.”

Persons: Elizabeth Humphries, Biden, Mark Pocan, “, ”, gesturing Organizations: Democrat, White Locations: Wisconsin, Gaza, Dodgeville’s

☆ These 50 Democrats and 15 Republicans voted against a bill that could lead to a TikTok ban
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The House overwhelmingly passed a bill on Wednesday that could lead to TikTok being banned. 50 Democrats and 15 Republicans voted against it. AdvertisementThe House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill on Wednesday that could lead to TikTok being banned in the United States. The "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" easily cleared the chamber by a lopsided 352-65 vote, with 50 Democrats and 15 Republicans voting against the bill. @RepMTG on TikTok bill: "I rise today as the only member of Congress that has ever been banned by social media...Twitter banned me..

Persons: Jasmine Crockett, —, ByteDance, Abigail Spanberger, Raja Krishnamoorthi, weren't, Alexandria Ocasio, Mark Pocan, Maxwell Frost of Florida, Frost, Krishnamoorthi, Donald Trump, backhandedly, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mark Zuckerberg, Joe Biden's, Andy Biggs, Arizona Dan Bishop of, Carolina Warren Davidson of Ohio John Duarte, California Matt Gaetz, Florida Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Clay Higgins, Nancy Mace, Carolina Thomas Massie, Tom McClintock, California Alex Mooney, West Virginia Barry Moore, Alabama Scott Perry, David Schweikert, Arizona Greg Steube Organizations: Democratic, Service, Foreign, Energy, Commerce, Facebook, Republican, Twitter Locations: United States, Texas, Virginia, Beijing, Illinois, Alexandria, Cortez, Wisconsin, Georgia, Carolina, California, Florida, West, Arizona

☆ 'He's a non-entity': House Democrats no longer see Dean Phillips as a threat — just a joke
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

When Rep. Dean Phillips first began making noise about launching a quixotic presidential campaign, the mood among House Democrats might have best been described as anger and disbelief. Since launching his campaign, Phillips has generally been absent from Capitol Hill, effectively cutting down Democrats' ranks by one seat. AdvertisementOn Wednesday evening, Sen. Tina Smith made light of her Minnesota colleague's recent struggles in a video message to the Congressional Dinner, an annual gathering of reporters and lawmakers. At first, Phillips's campaign seemed to constitute a real threat to Biden, even if he was unlikely to actually defeat him. In a statement for this story, a Phillips spokesperson chastised his Democratic colleagues who now speak ill of him.

Persons: Dean Phillips, Sydney Kamlager, Dove, Axios, Phillips, Joe Biden, Sen, Tina Smith, Smith, Biden, Donald Trump, Maxwell Frost of Florida, — Phillips, Brendan Boyle, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Dean's, Tom Williams, Angie Craig, Craig, wouldn't, Phillips's, we've, Dean, Jim Clyburn, Zach Gibson, Mark Pocan, Ro Khanna, Khanna, it's Organizations: Trump, Rep, Sydney, California congresswoman, Democratic, Capitol Hill, Biden, New, Democrats, Minnesota Democrat, Democratic Party, Twitter, South Carolina Democratic Party, California Locations: California, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Alexandria, New York, lockstep, South, Wisconsin

☆ Group of Democrats call on Blinken to provide answers on bypassing Congress to approve arms sales to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A group of 19 predominantly Democratic lawmakers is calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide answers about why he bypassed Congress last month to approve arms sales to Israel. The top US diplomat made two emergency determinations in December to immediately approve the transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in military equipment to Israel. In their letter, the lawmakers noted the rarity of administrations using emergency declarations to immediately approve arms sales without congressional approval. “Use of a national emergency waiver does not exempt the U.S. government from assessing whether arms sales are consistent with” those standards, they wrote. I would say that the process that the secretary followed and the process that we follow here at the State Department is the process that the law actually prescribed,” Miller said at a State Department briefing.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe Biden, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Democratic Sens, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, James McGovern, Earl Blumenauer, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Raúl, Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Jill Tokuda, Maxine Waters, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Leahy, credibly, “ Israel, ”, ’, “, Matt Miller, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, UN, Independent, Democratic, State Department, Leahy, ”, Department Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hamas

Biden is making his pitch in a critical swing state that's part of the “blue wall” trio of states — Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — where he defeated Republican President Donald Trump in 2020. More than 33,000 vehicles travel on the Blatnik Bridge every day, but heavy trucks are barred from it because of its decaying condition. The money comes from a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that Biden signed into law more than two years ago. The Democratic moves have been able to help offset Republican gains made in rural areas during the Trump era. ... Biden can come to Wisconsin a thousand times, and I don’t think it’s going to change his position.”___Bauer reported from Madison, Wis.

Persons: Joe Biden, John, Biden, Donald Trump, Natalie Quillian, Democrat Hillary Clinton, “, Tony Evers, Mark Pocan, ” Pocan, ” It's, Kamala Harris, Janet Yellen, He's, Evers, Janet Protasiewicz, Sen, Ron Johnson, governor's, Trump, Brandon Scholz, Scholz, ” ___ Bauer Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Republican, House, Trump, Democrat, Biden, Marquette Law School, ” Democratic Gov, Associated Press, Democratic U.S . Rep, Wisconsin Supreme, Republicans, reelecting U.S, GOP, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Longtime, Longtime Wisconsin Republican, New, “ Republicans Locations: Superior , Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Lake Superior, — Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Duluth , Minnesota, Superior, Duluth, Milwaukee, Dane County, Madison, Chicago, Longtime Wisconsin, Iowa, New Hampshire, Wis

The new lawsuit says that decision warrants replacing the congressional district maps that were drawn under the “least change” requirement. In 2010, the year before Republicans redrew the maps, Democrats held five seats compared with three for Republicans. “Wisconsin is a purple state, but our current congressional district maps don’t reflect that,” he posted. Doing that “will fulfill this Court’s constitutional duty to independently adjudicate the validity of Wisconsin’s congressional maps,” the lawsuit states. Tony Evers and approved by the state Supreme Court.

Persons: Abha Khanna, Derrick Van Orden, Ron Kind, Bryan Steil, Mark Pocan, ”, “, Brian Schimming, Mike Marinella, Tony Evers, Marc Elias, Elias, John Kerry's, Hillary Clinton's, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump Organizations: Elias Law Group, Democratic, . House, Wisconsin Supreme, Wisconsin, Republicans, Western, Republican U.S . Rep, Republican Rep, Democrats, Democratic U.S . Rep, ” Wisconsin Republican, GOP, Supreme, Wisconsin Supreme Court, National Republican Congressional, Wisconsin Democrats can’t, Democratic Gov, U.S, Elias Law, Democratic National Committee Locations: MADISON, Wis, Washington, Wisconsin, Western Wisconsin's, Wisconsin's, Madison, ”, U.S

☆ 105 Democrats declined to vote for a resolution declaring 'anti-Zionism is antisemitism'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

105 Democrats voted no or "present" on a resolution that declared "anti-Zionism is antisemitism." Advertisement105 House Democrats on Tuesday declined to vote for a resolution condemning antisemitism, pointing to language that equates it with anti-Zionism. Nadler on Monday introduced his own resolution on anti-Semitism, arguing it goes further in mitigating the problem than the Republican-proposed resolution. Rep. Nadler: "The resolution states that all anti-Zionism is antisemitism. That's intellectually disingenuous or factually wrong…The authors if they were at all familiar with Jewish history & culture should know about Jewish anti-Zionism that was + is expressly not antisemitic."

Persons: Jerry Nadler, —, Nadler, cjTReBocKW, Prem Thakker, David Kustoff, Mark Pocan, Thomas Massie, Rashida, Massie, Greg Landsman, Landsman Organizations: Jewish House, Service, Democrats, Democratic, New, Defamation League, Israel, Jewish Voice, Peace, Monday, Republican, Rep, Republicans, House, Republican Rep, Jewish Locations: New York, Israel, Brooklyn, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio

☆ These 105 Democrats declined to vote for a resolution declaring 'anti-Zionism is antisemitism'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

105 Democrats voted no or "present" on a resolution that declared "anti-Zionism is antisemitism." Advertisement105 House Democrats on Tuesday declined to vote for a resolution condemning antisemitism, pointing to language that equates it with anti-Zionism. Nadler on Monday introduced his own resolution on anti-Semitism, arguing it goes further in mitigating the problem than the Republican-proposed resolution. Rep. Nadler: "The resolution states that all anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Nonetheless, 95 Democrats voted for the resolution anyway, including Rep. Greg Landsman of Ohio, one of more than two dozen Jewish House members.

Persons: Jerry Nadler, —, Nadler, cjTReBocKW, Prem Thakker, David Kustoff, Mark Pocan, Thomas Massie, Rashida, Massie, Greg Landsman, Landsman, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Gerry Connolly, Raul Grijalva, Pramila, Summer Lee, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Bonnie Watson Coleman Organizations: Jewish House, Service, Democrats, Democratic, New, Defamation League, Israel, Jewish Voice, Peace, Monday, Republican, Rep, Republicans, House, Republican Rep, Jewish, New York Rep, Missouri Rep, Virginia Rep, Illinois Rep, Arizona Rep, Washington Rep, Pennsylvania Rep, Cortez of New York Rep, Minnesota Rep, Massachusetts, Michigan Rep Locations: New York, Israel, Brooklyn, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, Chuy García, Alexandria, Cortez of, Minnesota, New Jersey

☆ Opinion | The War in Gaza Is Splintering the Democratic Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

Should a few members of the Squad lose their primaries, the blow to Democratic unity could be severe. “And they’ll either stay at home or they’ll go to a third party.”Already, there are signs that the party is fracturing over Israel. Advocates for the freedom and safety of Palestinians, horror-struck by more than 10,000 civilian deaths in Gaza, believe that the Democratic Party is giving its approval to atrocities. These big-footed donors, who are overwhelmingly targeting representatives of color, are going to exacerbate the fissures in the Democratic Party. Diana Lovett, a Democratic Party district leader who held a fund-raiser for Bowman last year, said polarization over the congressman was tearing apart local Democrats.

Persons: Ryan Grim, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Bernie Sanders, she’d, ”, Ilhan Omar, who’ve, Tlaib, “, Omar, Mark Mellman, Israel, ” Mellman, Bowman, Eliot Engel, Grim, he’d, George Floyd, Giddins, —, Don Samuels, Cori Bush, Wesley Bell, Summer Lee, Bhavini Patel, Bowman doesn’t, George Latimer, imploring, Latimer, hadn’t, Waleed Shahid, Ocasio, imploring Biden, they’ve, He’s, ” Bowman, I’m, haven’t, hasn’t, Shahid, Ta, Nehisi Coates, Coates, Isaac Herzog, Weinberger, Sam Bankman, Nina Turner, Andy Levin, Republican megadonors, Bernie Marcus, “ I’ve, Mark Pocan, Mellman, Diana Lovett, Lovett, who’d, dreading, “ He’s, we’re Organizations: Israel, ”, Democratic, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Times, New, New York Democratic, The New York Times, Minneapolis City, Missouri Democrat, Pittsburgh Democrat, Squad, Justice Democrats, Democratic Party, Democratic Socialists of America, West Bank, Democratic Socialists, U.S, Westchester Jewish Council, New York Democratic Socialists of America, Jewish, Politico, United Democracy, AIPAC, Jewish Democrat, Republican, Home Depot, Wisconsin Democrat, Congressional Progressive Caucus Locations: Israel, Palestine, Gaza, New York, Minneapolis, Missouri, Louis County, Hebron, “, Manhattan, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks to supporters in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. March 17, 2019. L3 Harris said on July 26 it was informed that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission would not block its $4.7 billion deal for Aerojet Rocketdyne. The letter was signed by Warren, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel, as well as U.S. The lawmakers also requested correspondence between the Pentagon and the companies regarding potential conditions, including how they would be enforced. Reporting by Diane Bartz; additional reporting by Mike Stone; editing by Timothy GardnerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Karen Pulfer Focht, Lloyd Austin, Harris, Warren, L3Harris, William LaPlante, Representatives John Garamendi, Mark Pocan, Diane Bartz, Mike Stone, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Democratic, U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, L3 Harris Technologies, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Aerojet, Pentagon, Federal Trade Commission, Senate Armed Services, Representatives, Defense Department, Thomson Locations: Memphis , Tennessee, U.S, Austin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans have enjoyed outsize control of the Legislature in one of the most closely divided states for a dozen years. Maintaining that power is now at the heart of a drama involving the state Supreme Court that has national political implications. “Impeachment is an act of pure power politics,” said Ben Wikler, chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. In 2020, the state Supreme Court, then controlled 4-3 by conservatives, came within one vote of overturning Democrat Joe Biden's nearly 21,000 vote victory over then-President Donald Trump. The Supreme Court has yet to decide whether it will take either case.

Persons: ”, Ben Wikler, “ It’s, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Greta Neubauer, Mark Pocan, Robin Vos, “, ” Vos, Wisconsin Legislature “, Nick Seabrook, Janet Protasiewicz, Protasiewicz, Vos, Tyler August, ” ___ Lieb Organizations: — Wisconsin Republicans, Republicans, Democratic, Wisconsin Democratic Party, Wisconsin Supreme, Donald Trump . Wisconsin Republicans, Republican, Michigan House, Democrat, U.S . Senate, Associated, Democratic U.S . Rep, U.S, Supreme, Wisconsin Legislature, University of North, Wisconsin Democrats, GOP, Legislative Republicans, Democratic Party, GOP . Wisconsin Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Neighboring Michigan, Unlike Wisconsin , Michigan, Wisconsin’s, West Virginia, ” Wisconsin, University of North Florida, Jefferson City , Missouri

☆ Progressives dish on 'chilling effect' on Israel criticism after uproar over Pramila Jayapal's comments: 'We never do anything constructive on this issue'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Rep. Pramila Jayapal's comments on Israel caused an uproar this week in Congress. Even after Jayapal clarified her remarks about Israel, House Democratic leadership issued a statement rebuking her. Separately, 43 House Democrats said in a statement that they were "deeply concerned" about Jayapal's "unacceptable comments." "There's a few issues where any nuance is really discouraged," said another progressive House Democrat who insisted on anonymity to discuss the issue frankly. But Phillips held firm in his belief that it was important to firmly denounce criticism of Israel when it crosses a certain threshold.

Persons: Pramila, Israel, Jayapal, —, Mark Pocan, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, he’s, Leigh Vogel, Bowman, Isaac Herzog, I'm, Ilhan Omar, Minnesota, Rashida, Tlaib, Rashida Tlaib, Dean Phillips, Phillips, Dean Phillips of, Bill Clark, Israel — Organizations: Service, Democratic, Israel, House Democratic, Democrats, Republicans, West Bank, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democrat, New, New York District, Rep, The Recording Academy, Reps, Dean Phillips of, Jewish Democrat, Michigan Democrats, Palestinian, Jewish, House Democrat, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Getty, Progressives, Israel Democrats Locations: Israel, Wall, Silicon, Washington, Chicago, Gaza, Wisconsin, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, New York, Westchester County, Congress, Palestine, Michigan, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Palestinian, Jewish Diaspora, Cortez, Africa

☆ US Senator Warren, others warn against L3Harris plan to buy Aerojet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat and frequent merger critic, joined three other lawmakers on Tuesday to urge the Defense Department to thoroughly review defense contractor L3Harris Technologies' (LHX.N) $4.7 billion deal for Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings (AJRD.N). The letter was sent to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. In addition to Warren, the letter was signed by Representatives Chris Deluzio, John Garamendi and Mark Pocan. With the Ukraine war driving up demand for missiles and defense systems, Aerojet became an attractive takeover target. Aerojet develops and manufactures liquid and solid rocket propulsion and hypersonic engines for space, defense, civil and commercial applications.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Lockheed Martin, Lloyd Austin, William LaPlante, Chris Deluzio, John Garamendi, Mark Pocan, Aerojet, Diane Bartz, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Defense Department, L3Harris Technologies, Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, The Defense Department, Raytheon, Boeing, Defense, L3 Technologies, Harris Corp, United, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, United States

☆ TikTok creators, some U.S. Democratic lawmakers oppose ban on app
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] TikTok creators hold a news conference to speak out against a possible ban of TikTok at the House Triangle at the United States Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinWASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - TikTok creators and three U.S. Democratic Party lawmakers on Wednesday said they opposed any potential ban on the Chinese-owned short video sharing app that is used by more than 150 million Americans. Critics fear that TikTok user data in the United States could be passed on to China's government. Pocan said a "xenophobic witch hunt" is motivating some in Congress to seek a TikTok ban. Democratic Senator Mark Warner said two additional senators backed his bipartisan legislation with Republican John Thune to give the Biden administration new powers to ban TikTok.

☆ TikTok CEO set for grilling in House hearing. But U.S. lawmakers also face questions
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +15 min

U.S. tech platforms including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Google's YouTube , Twitter and Snap's Snapchat have raised similar fears for lawmakers and users. Evaluating a potential banThere's little appetite in Washington to accept the potential risks that TikTok's ownership by Chinese company ByteDance poses to U.S. national security. The interagency panel tasked with reviewing national security risks stemming from ByteDance's ownership has threatened a ban if the company won't sell its stake in the app. Trahan said members should ask about national security risks of the app, but those questions should be substantive. Bowman noted lawmakers haven't received a bipartisan congressional briefing from the administration on national security risks stemming from TikTok.

☆ House Democrats are skeptical about Biden's call for working with GOP: 'Marjorie Taylor Greene seems to be the lead spokesperson these days'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Biden says Republicans can help build a "significant majority" for Dem priorities in a GOP House. "It looks like it's Marjorie Taylor Greene and extreme MAGA Republicans," Rep. Pramila Jayapal said. They question whether they can work with House Republicans on anything beyond "must-pass" legislation when they say "extreme" GOP members seem to be leading the caucus. And you know, Marjorie Taylor Greene seems to be the lead spokesperson these days." "You're gonna have a lot of Republicans running our way," he told House Democrats on Wednesday night.

☆ Weak Oversight of Foreign Farmland Deals Sparks Concern Amid China Purchases
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Kristina Peterson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Agriculture Department compiles data on foreigners’ holding of U.S. farmland into an annual report to Congress. WASHINGTON—A bipartisan group of lawmakers criticized the Agriculture Department Monday for lax oversight of U.S. farmland purchases by foreign buyers, an issue that has been spotlighted by rising concern over Chinese acquisitions. The 28 lawmakers, including House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik of New York and Rep. Mark Pocan (D., Wis.) expressed “deep concern” in a letter sent to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack Monday over the department’s decision not to assess any penalties between 2015 and 2018 over any lapses in reporting foreigners’ purchases of U.S. farmland. The penalties later resumed.

☆ C-SPAN gave us ‘America’s Hottest TV Drama’ as McCarthy struggled to become House speaker. Lawmakers aren’t so sure that’s a good thing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But she's also wary of the cost that could come with giving C-SPAN cameras free reign to film lawmakers on the House floor, particularly given the lightning-rod role she's come to occupy within American politics. GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz talks to Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar in the House Chamber on January 5, 2023. Rep. Nancy Pelosi reading a New Yorker article about Kevin McCarthy on the House floor on January 4, 2023. "The original argument was, if you insert cameras, the behavior of the members changed," said Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California. But Lofgren said she was supportive of permanently allowing C-SPAN cameras into the chamber, arguing in essence that the cat's already out of the bag.

☆ C-SPAN is calling on McCarthy to allow its cameras in the House after its unprecedented coverage of the leadership fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The public affairs network on Tuesday sent a letter to new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy asking for permission to operate its own independent cameras in the House chamber. But during special events, such as last week during the election of the House speaker, independent cameras from outlets like C-SPAN are permitted. Instead, we request to install a few additional cameras in the House chamber,” Swain added. But other members of Congress have expressed openness or outright support for letting C-SPAN cameras into the chamber. “Last week’s [C-SPAN] coverage was worthy of an Oscar,” Pocan tweeted.

☆ A record number of LGBTQ candidates claim victory in another 'rainbow wave'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

A record number of LGBTQ candidates won their midterm races this year, creating what some advocates are calling yet another “rainbow wave.”Many races are still too close or too early to call, but as of Thursday afternoon, at least 400 out LGBTQ candidates had won their elections, according to the LGBTQ Victory Fund, which supports queer people running for office. “With so much at stake this election, from the future of marriage equality to abortion, LGBTQ candidates’ grit and exceptional grassroots support is paying off.”National firstsQueer candidates celebrated a number of notable victories and firsts across the country. Alaska is one of four states with zero out LGBTQ state lawmakers, according to the LGBTQ Victory Institute. Magni said the results prove that LGBTQ candidates can successfully compete in both blue and red states. “This is a powerful message, saying, ‘Hey, LGBTQ candidates can win elections and can win elections in many states and many districts across the country.’” he said.

☆ How Diverse Are the Candidates in the Midterm Elections?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Maggie Astor | Eleanor Lutz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +11 min

The House of RepresentativesThere are at least 403 people of color, women or nonbinary candidates running for seats in the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Incumbent Democrat Republican White men women Black men women Hispanic men women Other and multiple race men womenThere are 11 Senate candidates who are Black this year. Democrat Black candidates Republican Ga. Raphael Warnock Ala. Will Boyd Ark. Incumbent Democrat Republican White men women Black men women Other and multiple race men womenThere are 25 women nominated for governor — 16 Democrats and nine Republicans. Democrat Black candidates Republican Ala. Yolanda Flowers Ark.

☆ House progressives press Biden to engage in direct talks with Russia on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Summer Concepcion | Summer Concepcion Is A Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

A group of progressive House Democrats asked President Joe Biden in a letter Monday to directly engage with Russia in an effort to end the conflict in Ukraine. The push by progressives, which asks the president to take a more aggressive strategy on the Ukraine war, swiftly prompted pushback from fellow Democrats and some Ukrainians. The lawmakers urge the president to pair the military and financial support the United States has provided to Ukraine with a “proactive diplomatic push” that involves direct talks with Russia. It comes as Republicans threaten to cut aid to Ukraine if they retake control of the House in the midterm elections next month. “We’d all like to see this war end today, and quite frankly it could end today if Putin did the right thing and pulled his troops out.”

☆ Watchdog group accuses the Trump campaign and family members of engaging in 'schemes' that hid massive election spending and likely broke federal law
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-28 | by ( Dave Levinthal | Tom Lobianco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An election watchdog group has filed an updated complaint with the FEC against the Trump campaign. The Trump campaign "hid an incredible amount of money," Campaign Legal Center Director of Federal Reform Brendan Fischer said in an interview. A spokesman for the Trump campaign did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday morning. As a civil law enforcement body, it may issue fines to political committees and actors it determines have violated federal campaign laws. The Campaign Legal Center has not filed a complaint with the Department of Justice, which is tasked with investigating potential criminal violations of campaign finance laws.

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