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☆ Kari Lake wants to look forward as abortion keeps dominating the conversation in Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Arit John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

For Arizona Republicans, the resurgence of the state’s Civil War-era abortion ban was a political catastrophe that threatened to tip competitive races toward Democrats. In March 2022, in the midst of the midterm election and months before the US Supreme Court’s June Dobbs decision ended federal protections for abortion, Arizona Republican Gov. A handful of prominent Senate Republicans have visited Arizona to fundraise and campaign with her. To cut all that in half, at least we’re going in the right direction.”A political mistakeAs Democrats focus on abortion, Lake has focused on the border, crime and the economy. During her last campaign Lake famously alienated the wing of the party loyal to the late Sen. John McCain.

Persons: Kari Lake, Ruben Gallego, “, Kari Lake’s, Hannah Goss, she’s, Trump, She’s, ”, Arizonans, Stan Barnes, Dobbs, Doug Ducey, Katie Hobbs, Timmaraju, Hobbs, Gallego, adjourns, Joe Biden’s, Lake hasn’t, litigating, –, Arizona Sen, Jon Kyl, Karrin Taylor Robson –, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, South Dakota Sen, John Thune, Lake, Alex, Andorra Nicoll, Fitzgerald swaddled, Fitz, ” Alex Nicoll, We’ve, Brandi Weed, Weed, They’ve, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Biden, Riley, Francis Chung, “ Ruben Gallego, ” Goss, “ Kari Lake, ” Gallego, Sean Noble, “ He’s, won’t, ” Noble, Sen, John McCain, Seth Leibsohn, Leibsohn Organizations: CNN, Democratic Rep, GOP, Arizona Republicans, Democrats, Senate, Arizona Legislature, Arizona Republican, US, Arizona Republican Gov, Lake, Democratic, Arizona Supreme, Trump, Republicans, National Republican, Pinal County Sheriff, South Dakota, United States Senate, Washington DC, Arizona State University, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Phoenix Mayor, ”, Natural Resources, Capitol, POLITICO, AP, Arizona Democrats, Harvard, Marine Reserves, PAC, Republican Locations: Arizona, Pinal County, fundraise, Washington, Mesa, Iraq, an Arizona

☆ Johnson looks to unify GOP with crack down on college campus protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Annie Grayer | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“Anti-Israel protests on college campuses threaten Jewish students,” says the ad, which was shared first with CNN. While supporters of the legislation say it will help combat antisemitism on college campuses, opponents argue it overreaches and threatens to chill free speech. Some Democrats see the new investigative effort into college campuses and Johnson’s recent visit to Columbia University as a divisive political ploy. “Clearly it’s a very high priority for him,” GOP Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, the chairman of the House Science Committee, told CNN. House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, who sits on the Education panel, is also expected to play a prominent role in the effort.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, speakership, ” Johnson, “, ”, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump, Nick Fuentes, Pramila Jayapal, Joe Biden, James Comer, Lisa McClain, Biden, “ I’ve, Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, Virginia Foxx, Elise Stefanik, Jim Jordan, Comer, ” Comer, ” CNN’s Haley Talbot Organizations: CNN, Republican, House Democratic, GOP, Louisiana Republican, Columbia University, Democrats, White, Department, Education, International Holocaust, Alliance, Columbia, Michigan, House Education, Workforce Committee, House Science, North Carolina, Yale University, University of California, University of Michigan, House GOP, New York Republican, Science, Republicans, George Washington University, Kentucky Republican Locations: Louisiana, Israel, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lago, Washington, Columbia, University of California Los Angeles, “, Ohio

☆ 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

☆ Democrats could go even further than before if they sweep the White House, Senate, and House again
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But there's a not-insignificant chance that not only does Trump lose again, but that Democrats find themselves once again in control of the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives at the beginning of 2025. Democrats are broadly seen as favored to retake the House, with nearly 20 House Republican incumbents fighting to hold on in districts won by Biden in 2020. Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio will have to win in order for Democrats to maintain the Senate majority. Biden supports it, and House Democrats have already voted for it twice, once in 2021 and again in 2022. AdvertisementManchin and Sinema, two key obstacles to Biden's party-line agenda, won't be in the Senate next year.

Persons: Biden's, —, Donald Trump, It's, Sens, Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin, Joe Biden's, Biden, Trump, Kamala Harris, Jon Tester, Sherrod Brown, Chip Somodevilla, Roe, Wade, Sinema, Manchin, Jabin, Progressive Caucus's, that's Organizations: Service, Trump, White, Senate, Democratic, Biden, Republican, Montana, Getty, House Democrats, Washington, Democrats, Progressive Locations: California, New York, Arizona, Ohio, Montana, Arizona , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Washington

☆ Opinion | How Progressives Won Over the Democratic Center
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Mara Gay | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

That certainly seemed to be the view of Democratic leaders, who seemed intent on making “the squad,” as the progressive caucus is known, a group of permanent outsiders. Five years later, Ms. Pelosi has stepped down from the leadership position she long held. The House progressive caucus has grown to nearly 100 members and has become a significant force within the party. Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the new minority leader, isn’t a member of the progressive caucus. (He left the caucus when he became leader of the House Democrats.)

Persons: Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, ” Nancy Pelosi, Maureen Dowd, ” Ms, Pelosi, “, Trump, Steny Hoyer, Hakeem Jeffries, isn’t Organizations: Alexandria, Democrats, America, Democratic Party, Democratic, House Democrats Locations: New York

☆ Israeli Weapon Damaged Iranian Air Defenses Without Being Detected, Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Farnaz Fassihi | Ronen Bergman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Some Democrats are fine sending defensive weapons to Israel, but want to see some limits on offensive weapons, which could be used against civilians in Gaza. But progressive Democrats estimated that 40 to 60 members of their party may oppose it on the House floor on Saturday. The legislation would allocate $5 billion to Israel’s defense capabilities and $9 billion for “worldwide humanitarian aid,” including for civilians in Gaza. “To give Netanyahu more offensive weapons at this stage, I believe, is to condone the destruction of Gaza that we’ve seen in the last six months. But they see a “no” vote as part of a strategy to pressure Mr. Biden to condition aid and halt future offensive weapons transfers.

Persons: Biden, ’, Pramila Jayapal, Joaquin Castro, We’re, Mr, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Ro Khanna, Netanyahu, Nancy Pelosi, Mike Johnson, —, Becca Balint, “, it’s, Lloyd Doggett, Doggett, Ms, Balint, Dan Kildee, Greg Casar Organizations: Democrats, Democratic, “, Congressional Progressive Caucus, ”, Democrat, Israel, Democratic Party, Republican, Republicans, Texas Democrat, White House, Michigan Democrat Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iraq, Washington, Texas, Ukraine, Taiwan, United States, Rafah, Iran, California, Yemen, Louisiana, Vermont, U.S, American

How the House Voted on Foreign Aid to Ukraine, Israel and TaiwanVotes on the Foreign Aid Bills Source: Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of RepresentativesThe House passed a long-stalled foreign aid package on Saturday that gives funding to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, with a majority of lawmakers backing money for American allies across the globe. A majority of Republicans voted against Ukraine aid on Saturday, in a reflection of the stiff resistance within the G.O.P. to continuing to aid Ukraine against President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia’s invasion. While all Democrats voted in favor of aid to Ukraine and all but Ms. Tlaib supported funding to Taiwan, 37 left-leaning Democrats defected to vote against the Israel aid bill. The opposition to the Israel aid represented a minority of Democrats, but reflected the deep resistance to unconditional aid and the divisions in the party on Gaza.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy’s, Mr, McCarthy, Vladimir V, Putin, Elise Stefanik, Rashida Tlaib, Bob Good, Good, “, Tlaib, Jamie Raskin, Donald S, Beyer Jr, Earl Blumenauer of, John Garamendi of Organizations: Foreign Aid, Foreign, House, Senate, House Progressive Caucus, Fund, Caucus, Republican, Republicans, ”, Maryland, Democrats Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, New York, Michigan, Virginia, Gaza, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, John Garamendi of California, United States

☆ Liberal Democrats Urge ‘No’ Vote on Israel Aid to Pressure Biden on Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A group of left-leaning House Democrats is urging its colleagues to oppose the $26 billion aid package for Israel expected to pass on Saturday, hoping to maximize the number of “no” votes from the party in a bid to send a warning to President Biden about the depth of discontent in his political coalition over his support for Israel’s tactics in Gaza. Framing the upcoming vote as a make-or-break moral choice akin to Congress’s votes to authorize and fund the Iraq war, progressive leaders in the House are working to muster a sizable bloc of Democratic opposition to the aid measure, which is all but certain to become law in the coming days. “In the wake of those votes, people came around much, much later and said, ‘We shouldn’t have allowed that to go forward,’” Representative Pramila Jayapal, Democrat of Washington and the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said of the decades-ago debate over Iraq. “And I think that this is that moment.”Representative Joaquin Castro, Democrat of Texas, called it a “defining vote,” adding, “We’re either going to participate in the carnage, or we’re not.”

Persons: Biden, ’, Pramila Jayapal, Joaquin Castro, We’re, ” Organizations: Democrats, Israel, Democratic, “, Congressional Progressive Caucus, ”, Democrat Locations: Gaza, Iraq, Washington, Texas

☆ Live Updates: Muted Reactions to Israeli Strikes on Iran Hint at De-Escalation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Alissa J. Rubin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

☆ It happened again: These 20 House members, mostly Republican, voted against millions in funding for their own districts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"Ultimately, I don't control what the final language of the total funding bill will be," said Higgins. Higgins voted against the bill, despite securing $2.3 million in federal funding for an emergency operations center at the port in Morgan City, Louisiana. He was one of 20 House members — 15 Republicans and 5 Democrats — who voted against Friday's government funding bill despite securing so-called "earmarks," known officially as congressionally directed spending. Related storiesThe other 30% was contained in a separate funding bill passed roughly two weeks ago, but that bill contained far more earmarks, especially for House members. Nonetheless, 42 House members who secured earmarks voted against it anyway, 40 of whom were Republicans.

Persons: —, Clay Higgins, couldn't, Higgins, congressionally, Pramila Jayapal, Mandel Ngan, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mike Johnson, Pramila, Jayapal, Greene, Lauren Boebert, Brian Babin, Texas Gus Bilirakis, Florida John Curtis of, Florida John Curtis of Utah Mike Ezell, Mississippi Garrett Graves, Louisiana Michael Guest, Mississippi Diana Harshbarger, Tennessee Clay Higgins, Louisiana Trent Kelly, Mississippi Burgess Owens, Utah Mike Rogers, Alabama Chris Smith of, Alabama Chris Smith of New Jersey Greg Steube, Florida Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey Randy Weber of Organizations: Service, Louisiana Republican, Business, Pentagon, State Department, Department of Homeland Security, Democratic, Seattle Public Library, Getty, Republican, Republicans, GOP, Congressional Progressive Caucus, UN Relief and Works Agency, Louisiana, Alabama Chris Smith of New, New Locations: Louisiana, Morgan City , Louisiana, AFP, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Gaza, Washington, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Florida John Curtis of Utah, Mississippi, Utah, Alabama, Alabama Chris Smith of New Jersey, New Jersey, New Jersey Randy Weber of Texas

☆ The Fed still probably isn't ready to give Americans the interest rate cuts they're hoping for
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Still, the door is open for rate cuts later in the year. AdvertisementThe nation's central bank is gearing up to make its second interest rate decision of the year, and it probably won't be the relief many Americans want to see. AdvertisementStill, while Americans may not see an interest rate cut this month, they could see one later on this year. But I still think interest rate cuts of one form or the other are likely this year." A group of Democratic lawmakers are also urging Powell to develop a timeline in which Americans can expect to see rate cuts.

Persons: Jerome Powell, —, Mark Hamrick, Hamrick, Powell, there's, we've, Nick Bunker, Julia Pollak, Pollak, Congressional Progressive Caucus — Organizations: Federal, Service, Fed, Financial Services Committee, North America, Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a barrage of super PAC money, more than 20 progressive groups are coming together to forcefully counter pro-Israel groups’ efforts to primary challenge liberal members who've been critics of Israel's blistering military offensive in Gaza. The coalition, called Reject AIPAC, includes Jewish peace organizations and Arab American and Muslim groups that have been organizing in record numbers since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. That campaign has turned the otherwise safely Democratic districts into election battlegrounds. Israel’s air and ground offensive has also driven most Palestinians from their homes and pushed one-quarter of the population toward starvation. This comes as AIPAC shifted in its own strategy in the last several years, transitioning from strictly a lobbying organization to helping elect centrist, pro-Israel Democrats.

Persons: who've, ”, Usamah, Jamaal Bowman, Ilhan Omar, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Cori Bush of, ” Andrabi Organizations: WASHINGTON, Israel, Hamas, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Democratic, Justice Democrats, AIPAC, Democratic Party, Press, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Israel Democrats Locations: Gaza, Israel, Washington, New York, Minnesota, Cori Bush of Missouri

☆ Progressives are fuming at Biden for describing a migrant as an 'illegal' during his State of the Union address
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

During the SOTU, Biden called Laken Riley's alleged killer, an undocumented immigrant, an "illegal." download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementDuring his State of the Union address on Thursday night, President Joe Biden referred to a Venezuelan migrant as "an illegal." I don't think he should've either." "I don't think it's a big deal."

Persons: Biden, Laken Riley's, —, Joe Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Laken Riley, Jose Ibarra, Riley, Greene, legals, MSnlUzHYWp, Pramila, Greg Casar, Jayapal, Casar, I've, Biden shouldn't, Delia Ramirez, — Delia Ramirez, Chuy Garcia, I'm, Chuy García, Ilhan Omar, — Ilhan Omar, @IlhanMN, Nancy Pelosi, should've, Pelosi Organizations: Service, Authorities, CBS, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Republicans, Democratic, Illinois, CNN Locations: Georgia, Venezuelan, Washington, Texas, Greene, Illinois, Mexico

☆ Rep. Pramila Jayapal says Biden's age is not 'ideal' but that the coverage has been 'very unfair' to him
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the top progressive in the House, acknowledged that Biden's age is an issue. But she says that the coverage has been "unfair" and Trump also has frequent slip-ups. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRep. Pramila Jayapal acknowledged that President Joe Biden's age is an issue — but she argues that media coverage of it has been "very unfair."

Persons: Pramila Jayapal, Trump, Biden, —, Joe Biden's, Robert Hur's, Jayapal, Donald Trump, Obama, Biden's Organizations: Service, Washington Democrat, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Business, White House Locations: Gaza, State, Biden's Israel

☆ Rep. Ritchie Torres quietly leaves Progressive Caucus amid tensions over Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York is no longer a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) after months of tensions with colleagues over the Israel-Hamas war. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. It's also unclear whether Torres left the caucus voluntarily, with one senior progressive caucus member telling Business Insider that the New York Democrat "never showed up" for meetings. One fellow progressive member told Business Insider that he only found out about it via social media. AdvertisementIt's also not the first time Torres has left a progressive caucus.

Persons: Ritchie Torres, Torres, Rashida, Tlaib, Lois Frankel, Florida —, xuMZTw7wSw — Ritchie Torres, Pramila Jayapal, It's, Alexandria Ocasio, Joe Crowley Organizations: Congressional Progressive Caucus, CPC, New York Democrat, Business, Jewish, Democratic Locations: New York, Israel, Michigan, Jewish State, New York City, Alexandria

☆ Biden has a bridge to reelection – but has to rebuild it first
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

A decision by such voters that they cannot morally support Biden over this single issue could have a significant impact. “We should … not forget how President Biden beat Trump in 2020. Accepting what liberals see as draconian Trump-style restrictions on asylum would be viewed as a betrayal by many in Biden’s coalition. A CNN survey in November, for example, showed Biden led Trump among Black voters 73% to 23%. Latino voters favored Biden over Trump by only four points in the poll compared to 33 points in the 2020 election.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, —, Trump, Biden, Biden’s, Covid, Quentin Fulks, “, ” Fulks, Donald Trump, MAGA, Israel epitomizes, didn’t, Pramila Jayapal, ” Jayapal, CNN’s Manu Raju, Trump’s, Nikki Haley’s, Lyndon Johnson, ”, Hank Naughton, Naughton, –, ” Naughton, Trump won’t, Kamala Harris, Harris, “ Joe Biden, Shawn Fain, Chuck Morse, officeholder, ” Morse, ” Dominick Lombardi, Lombardi Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Democratic, Local, Republicans, White House, Trump, GOP, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Biden, Black, Electoral College, South Carolina Gov, America, United Auto Workers, Pew Research Center, Pacific Islander, “, Orange Republican Party Locations: Gaza, New Hampshire, Israel, Trump, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Washington, New Haven County , Connecticut

☆ Biden decries Hamas sexual assaults and says they must be forcefully condemned
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President Joe Biden on Tuesday decried sexual assaults committed by Hamas during its October 7 terror attack on Israel and called on “all of us” to condemn the acts. “Over the past few weeks, survivors and witnesses of the attacks have shared the horrific accounts of unimaginable cruelty. Biden on Tuesday also accused Hamas of refusing to release additional female hostages and ending the pause in fighting that the US helped broker last week. “Let me be crystal clear: Hamas’ refusal to release the remaining young women is what broke this deal and end the pause in the fighting. Everyone still being held hostage by Hamas need to be returned to their families immediately.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, —, ” Biden, “, …, Pramila Jayapal, –, CNN’s Dana Bash, Jayapal, Biden, We’re Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Union, Democrats Locations: Israel, Boston, “, Gaza

☆ Jayapal issues new statement that she ‘unequivocally condemns Hamas’ use of rape and sexual violence as an act of war’
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Haley Talbot | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state said Tuesday that she “unequivocally condemns Hamas’ use of rape and sexual violence as an act of war,” following comments she made to CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday that set off a firestorm among her Democratic colleagues in the House. “Let me be completely clear again that I unequivocally condemn Hamas’ use of rape and sexual violence as an act of war,” Jayapal said in her latest statement. Hear Jayapal's response 03:00 - Source: CNNIn her statement Tuesday, Jayapal said her comment “about balance was not about rape, and not intended to minimize rape and sexual assault in any way.”“It was about recognizing the tremendous pain and trauma of so many—Israelis, Palestinians and their diaspora communities—in this terrible war,” Jayapal stated. The House passed a Republican-led resolution on Tuesday condemning antisemitism in the United States and globally. Separately, Democratic Reps. Lois Frankel of Florida and Debbie Dingell of Michigan are planning on introducing a resolution this week condemning Hamas’ use of sexual violence and rape against Israeli women.

Persons: Pramila, “, CNN’s Dana Bash, ” Jayapal, Jayapal, ”, Lois Frankel of Florida, Debbie Dingell, CNN’s Annie Grayer Organizations: Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, CNN, Democratic Party, Hamas, Republican Locations: Washington, “ State, Gaza, Israel, United States, Michigan

What Biden is asking forBiden's emergency request to Congress included aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, along with $14 billion to bolster the immigration system and border security. “It is unanimous that our broken immigration system is in dire need of reform,” Mayorkas said. Republicans have made clear that will not be addressed in this package, which they want to be more narrowly focused on border security measures. Republicans argue that Ukraine aid could be a tough sell to some of their voters, and the border policy is the compromise. It’s border security for Ukraine aid.”So far, leaders in both parties have encouraged the talks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Arizona Sen, Kyrsten, ”, Pramila, Biden, Donald Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, ” Mayorkas, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, What's, Barack Obama, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, ” Murphy, Arkansas Sen, Tom Cotton Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, House Democrats, Republican, Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Infrastructure, Homeland, U.S, Democrats, Trump, House Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, United States, Arizona, Washington, Venezuela, Israel, Russia, Illinois, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Arkansas

☆ 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

☆ Rep. Becca Balint becomes the first Jewish member of Congress to call for a ceasefire in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Democratic Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont is now calling for a ceasefire in Israel's war on Hamas. AdvertisementDemocratic Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont on Thursday became the first Jewish member of Congress to call for a ceasefire in Israel's war against Hamas. "What is needed right now is an immediate break in violence to allow for a true negotiated cease-fire," Balint wrote in an op-ed for VTDigger, a local news site in her home state. Advertisement"I do not claim to know how to solve every aspect of this decades-long conflict," wrote Balint. "Even with Hamas operations intentionally embedded among civilians, Israel cannot bomb targets in densely populated areas," wrote Balint.

Persons: Becca Balint of, She's, —, Balint, Israel's, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Joe Biden, Israel, Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Democratic, Service, Becca Balint of Vermont, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democratic Party, Rep, Jewish Democrats Locations: Becca Balint of Vermont, Gaza, Alexandria, Cortez of New, Vermont, Israel, United States

The comments ricocheted across the House Democratic Caucus – especially for the 15 House Democrats who didn’t vote for it, all of them members of color, some of them Muslim-Americans. An array of House Democrats are pushing unequivocal support for Israel, while a number of progressives have grown increasingly critical of the offensive impacting Palestinian civilians and are upping pressure on the Biden administration to call for a ceasefire. And he is also dealing with a push by Jewish House members to have a more prominent seat at the leadership table. Democrats say the divide is being reflected in their states – and is hurting the president. At a news conference last week, Jeffries was asked about a six-figure ad buy from the Democratic Majority for Israel, a pro-Israel group, criticizing Tlaib.

Persons: Debbie Wasserman Schultz, “, ” Wasserman Schultz, Hakeem Jeffries, Pramila, they’re, Wasserman Schultz’s, Israel –, Andre Carson, American –, Josh Gottheimer, ”, Rashida, Cori Bush, Brown, ” Jayapal, Wasserman Schultz, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Debbie Dingell, censuring, ” Tlaib, Jeffries, Tlaib, we’ve, Elissa Slotkin, Slotkin, “ They’re, who’s, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, it’s, There’s, Jamie Raskin, I’m, CNN’s Edward, Isaac Dovere Organizations: House Democratic Caucus, Israel, Hamas, CNN, Democrats, ” Democratic, Jayapal, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democratic, Republicans, Michigan Democratic, Congressional Black Caucus, CBC, Florida Democrat, Democrat, Michigan Democrat, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Jewish, GOP, Capitol Police, Jewish Caucus, Biden, Senate, White, Capitol, Maryland Democratic Locations: Florida, Washington, Israel, Indiana, American, New Jersey, Palestinian American, Missouri, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, America

☆ US Congress is on track to be the most polarized ever, data shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Jason Lange | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The current U.S. Congress is on track to be the most polarized ever, according to a running analysis at voteview.com, a tool widely used by political scientists that sorts lawmakers based on how their voting records overlap with their peers. The complicated math behind the analysis transforms a lawmaker's entire voting record into one number, with negative numbers for liberals and positive readings for conservatives. The most liberal have the least in common with the most conservative, while moderates from each party have more overlap and are given scores in between. * Currently, the gap in the House sits at 0.90, beating the 0.89 gaps for lawmakers elected in 2016 and 2018. The current 0.88 gap in the U.S. Senate is also at a record high for that chamber.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Ralph Norman, Pramila Jayapal, Joe Manchin, Jason Lange, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Caucus, Democrat, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Republican Party, Republicans, U.S . Senate, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ Trump heads to the witness stand as new polls show him leaping past Biden in key swing states
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Biden, meanwhile, is absorbing brutal new polls showing him losing to GOP front-runner Trump in multiple key swing states. If the New York Times/Siena College survey is borne out in 2024, there would be no electoral path to victory for Biden. Biden supporters argue that his critics and media narratives set by the president’s low polls badly miss the most salient point that will define the 2024 election. Because this is a civil trial, Trump has no criminal liability. But the judge has already ruled that Trump, his adult sons and the Trump Organization committed “persistent and repeated” fraud.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Biden, ”, “, ” Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, CNN’s Dana, “ It’s, ” David Axelrod, Barack Obama, Axelrod, Vladimir Putin, Trump’s, Letitia James, James, Temidayo Aganga, Williams, “ We’ve, we’ve, ” Aganga, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jack Smith, ” Biden, Spencer Weiss, scoffed, “ MAGA Republicans ’, Blumenthal, Pramila Jayapal, Jen Psaki Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, New York Times, ” Democratic, Connecticut, Trump, Twitter, Biden, Trump Organization, New York, Democrats, The New York Times, Siena College, Democratic, The Times, “ MAGA Republicans, Sunday, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Israel, MSNBC Locations: New York, Siena, “ State, Ukraine, Russian, Washington, Fulton County , Georgia, Florida, America, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, In Michigan, Pennsylvania, Gaza, Arab

Given the U.S. gives Israel $3.8 billion a year in military aid, Sanders said, "We have a right to say, 'Sorry, you need a new military strategy.'" Israeli officials say Hamas uses civilians and hospitals as cover and prevents civilians from leaving combat zones. Multiple U.S. officials say they have been able to influence its conduct in the war somewhat. At the time it was the most military aid the U.S. had given any country. U.S. lawmakers who back a ceasefire support Israel eradicating the Iranian-backed Hamas, but some say Israel's strategy will backfire.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Bernie Sanders, Israel, Sanders, CNN's, Joe Biden's, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Aaron David Miller, Raphael Cohen, ” Cohen, Pramila Jayapal, Obama, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Doina, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: Franciscan Action, Palestinian, REUTERS, United Nations, Independent U.S, Hamas, Union, Democratic, State Department, U.S, Republicans, Rand Corporation, Thomson Locations: Israel, Washington , U.S, Gaza, U.S, Washington, Baghdad, London, United States, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, East, Iran

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