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☆ Biden administration points finger at Republicans for internet bill hikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“President [Joe] Biden has been calling on Congress to pass legislation that would extend the benefit through 2024. “But unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have failed to act.”Biden has called on Congress to approve $6 billion to continue the ACP. A bill introduced in January by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate would authorize $7 billion. That legislation has 216 co-sponsors in the House, including 21 Republicans, and three in the Senate, including two Republicans. Administration officials declined to say whether Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris have personally discussed the ACP with congressional Republicans.

Persons: Biden, Joe, ”, ” Biden, Mike Johnson, Blair Levin, ” Levin, Republican Sens, J.D, Vance of Ohio, Kevin Cramer of North, Spokespeople, Johnson, Chuck Schumer didn’t, Kamala Harris, Jessica Rosenworcel, ” Rosenworcel, Rosenworcel, Sen, Maria Cantwell Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Program, Federal Communications Commission, GOP, Democratic, Congress, Republican, New, Research, Administration, ACP, Commerce, Science, Transportation Locations: Kevin Cramer of North Dakota

☆ Ukrainian forces low on just about everything they need shut down a large Russian mechanized assault in a telling front-line fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewUkrainian forces in a priority section of the front line near Avdiivka appear to have defeated a large Russian mechanized assault involving tanks and fighting vehicles over the weekend. Footage shared by Ukraine showed some of the assault, including Russian tanks being destroyed by anti-tank guided missiles, according to open-source intelligence accounts on social media. On Saturday, Russian forces attempted a sizeable armored assault west of Tonenke, Donetsk Oblast. AdvertisementAs Ukraine's forces fell back from Avdiivka, Russia pushed forward, exploiting weak or limited Ukrainian defenses for gains. The recent win may have come at a cost for Ukraine, ISW noted, saying that "Ukrainian forces may have had to expend a significant amount of material to defend against the Russian assault."

Persons: —, Avdiivka, ISW, Russia hasn't, Joe Biden, Vlada, Mike Johnson Organizations: Service, Business, Institute for, 6th Tank Regiment, 25th Airborne Brigade, 90th Tank Division, Armored Infantry, Fox News, Congress, Ukraine Locations: Avdiivka, Russian, Washington, Ukrainian, Tonenke, Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast, Russia, Avdiivka district, underprepared

☆ The politics of religion as Trump sells Bibles and Biden is criticized over Easter eggs
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump is literally selling religion to his followers in the form of commemorative Bibles, while President Joe Biden is being criticized by Republicans for allegedly disrespecting the Easter holiday. The version of the Bible Trump is selling also includes the US Constitution and other founding documents. “The Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter—which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. More than 30% of Americans might qualify as sympathetic to Christian nationalism when it is defined within the idea that America was meant by God to be a Christian nation. People sympathetic to Christian nationalism are also more likely to condone the idea that political violence may be justified.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, ”, CNN CNN’s AJ Willingham, Jemar Tisby, Willingham, “, ” Tisby, Sen, Raphael Warnock, CNN’s Dana Bash, Warnock, Feedback Sen, CNN Biden, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Gregory, ’, ” Gregory, “ The, Jesus Christ, Mike Johnson, Easter, ” Johnson, Johnson, MAGA, Robert Jones Organizations: CNN, Bible Trump, Georgia Democrat, Ebenezer Baptist Church, “ The Biden White, Conservative, Pew Research Center, PRRI, ”, Republican Party Locations: Ebenezer, Atlanta, Washington, America, Massachusetts, Oregon, North Dakota, Mississippi

The Republican outrage machine kicked into gear over Easter weekend after President Biden noted that Sunday was being celebrated for more than one reason. International Transgender Day of Visibility is observed every year on March 31. This year, for the second time since Transgender Day of Visibility was established 15 years ago, and the last time until 2086, the two happened to coincide. President Biden publicly honored both of them, as he has done every year since he took office in 2021. He centered the poor,” Mr. Warnock said on CNN on Sunday.

Persons: Biden, Mr, ”, ” Karoline Leavitt, Donald J, Trump, Jesus Christ, Mike Johnson, “, Marsha Blackburn of, Raphael Warnock of, “ Jesus, Warnock, ” Ms, Leavitt, Johnson, ” Andrew Bates, Bates, Bud Light, Biden’s Organizations: Republican, CNN Locations: Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Raphael Warnock of Georgia

☆ GOP Rep. Mike Lawler says he’s ‘confident’ Ukraine funding will get a vote after Easter recess
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Jack Forrest | Andrew Millman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Rep. Mike Lawler, a moderate Republican from New York, expressed optimism on Sunday that a vote on funding for Ukraine’s war effort could land on the House floor when members return from recess early next month. Divisions in the House GOP have so far stymied progress on sending aid to the key US ally. I am not going to delve into the details of that conversation, but I am confident that he’s going to bring that bill to the floor and that we will have a vote,” Lawler said. Lawler called Greene’s effort to oust Johnson “idiotic.”“It’s not actually going to help advance the cause she believes in, and in fact it undermines our House Republican majority,” Lawler said. Democrats have signaled they may be willing to save Johnson if he moves a Ukraine aid bill they can support, but one including new border restrictions, as Lawler has suggested, falls outside their demands.

Persons: Mike Lawler, “, ” Lawler, CNN’s Dana, shirk, Jared Golden of, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Johnson, Mike Turner, Johnson, Congress ’, CBS’s, ” “, Vladimir, Putin, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lawler, “ It’s, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, CNN’s Melanie Zanona, Annie Grayer, Manu Raju, Clare Foran, Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN —, GOP, House Foreign Affairs, Union, Democratic, Republican, House, Congress, Ohio Republican, Russia, Republicans, House Republicans, CNN Locations: New York, “ State, Jared Golden of Maine, Pennsylvania, Ukraine, Louisiana, Israel, Mexico

☆ Opinion: Trump videos send wildly different messages
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. In a video promoting the Bible, Trump said, “Religion and Christianity are the biggest things missing from this country. … we need to bring them back.”On Good Friday, Trump posted a very different kind of video. It showed an image of President Joe Biden lying sideways and tied up in the bed of a pickup truck. “Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign can’t win, but it could swing the presidency to former President Donald Trump,” Begala wrote.

Persons: Matthew Arnold, Homer, King James, Donald Trump, ”, Lee Greenwood’s, AJ Willingham, Trump, Joe Biden, Drew Sheneman, MAGA, Biden, Fareed Zakaria, ” Zakaria, Candida Moss, he’ll, he’s, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Julian Zelizer, ” “, …, ” Clay, “, Obama, “ Obama, CNN Trump, —, Attorney Alvin Bragg, “ Trump, Stormy Daniels, ” Norman Eisen, Andrew Warren, James Antle III, stoked, Letitia James, Dali, Francis Scott Key, Tasos Katopodis, Richard Timme, ” Timme, Salvatore R, Mercogliano, ’, Jalal Baig, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Baig, Paul Hockenos, “ It’s, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Nicole Shanahan, Eric Risberg, Paul Begala, Ross Perot, George H, Bush, “ Robert F, can’t, ” Begala, ” Shanahan “, Sergey Brin, Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, Ro Khanna, Lee Drutman, Mark Osler, Jill Filipovic, Lisa Murkowski, Obeidallah, Johnson Ronna, Ronna McDaniel, Justin Sullivan, McDaniel, ” McDaniel, David Zurawik, Jack Ohman, Walt Handelsman, Tim Hubbard, Dennis Muilenburg —, Max, David Calhoun, ‘, ” Hubbard, Annelle, ” Sheline, ” Don’t, Frida Ghitis, Putin, Howard Fischer, Keith O’Brien, Pete Rose, Nick Anderson, Agency Sara Stewart, Mary Ziegler, Patrick T, Brown, shouldn’t, Emma Firth, Carter ’ Parkwood, Roxanne Jones, Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé, ” Jones Organizations: CNN, Oxford University, New, Trump, Nasdaq, NYPD, Hollywood, Biden, Cupp, Obama, Manhattan, Attorney, Democratic, US Coast Guard, Baltimore, Federal Highway Administration, RFK Jr, RFK, Google, The New York Times, Republican National Committee, NBC News, “, Press, NBC, MSNBC, Content Agency Boeing, Notre Dame, Boeing, US State Department, Israel, Tribune, Agency, Sony, AP Locations: Independence, New York City, America, New, Manhattan, Queens, New York, Baltimore, Coast, Suez, Port, China, Argentina, Red, Gaza, Wales, Northern California, California, Israel, Columbia

For more on the effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson from his job and the fight over Ukraine aid, watch “Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju” at 8 a.m. “”The speaker wants to put wins on the board for House Republicans, and we better start doing that. But whether or not Johnson keeps his speaker’s gavel may hinge on how he handles the next divisive policy issue coming down the pike: funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia. Over the two-week Easter recess, Johnson has been quietly working with key lieutenants to chart a course on his Ukraine strategy. “It was a terrible deal.”Democrats are signaling that they will save Johnson if he moves a Ukraine bill they can support.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Manu Raju ”, Mike Johnson strategized, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, “, we’ve, ” Gaetz, … I’m, Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson don’t, Greene, Kevin McCarthy, —, Mike, ”, Chip Roy, Texas, Roy, Anna Moneymaker, Thomas Massie of, ” Massie, Bob Good, McCarthy, She’s grandstanding, ” Good, Good, Ralph Norman of, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Drew Angerer, Hakeem Jeffries, there’s, Haley Talbot, Sheden Tesfaldet Organizations: CNN, House Republicans, Ukraine, Russia, GOP, won’t, Republican, Republicans, U.S, Capitol, Caucus, ” Locations: Ukraine, Florida, Johnson’s, Georgia, Washington , DC, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Virginia, America, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Washington ,

Other Republicans in the House and Senate often simply shrug when asked about Trump’s agenda, pointing to policies they like and others they might support. Trump himself has suggested having a “very tiny little desk” on the Capitol steps so he can sign documents on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025. “On Day 1 of President Trump’s new administration, Americans will have a strong leader," said Karoline Leavitt, the campaign’s national press secretary. Republicans and Democrats resisted a White House effort to commandeer funds for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, leading to the longest government shutdown in history. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who died in 2018, famously gave a thumbs-down to Trump's effort to repeal the health law known as the Affordable Care Act.

Persons: Donald Trump, “ We’re, ”, Republican Sen, JD Vance, Ohio, Trump, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell of, Mike Johnson, Vance, wasn't, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Trump . Greene, Johnson, it’s, Paul Dans, “, Trump’s, Karoline Leavitt, John McCain of, Biden, Sen, Mitt Romney, Jason Chaffetz, GOP Sen, Josh Hawley, ” Hawley, Ted Cruz, Cruz, Eisenhower, Marco Rubio, Rubio, they’re, Vanessa Cardenas, Jill Colvin Organizations: WASHINGTON, Capitol, Republicans, Trump, Republican, Democratic, Republican Party, GOP, Trump’s, Biden, Trump ., Senate, Trump White House, Heritage Foundation's, Democrats, Affordable, Republican National Committee, Justice Department, America’s, Press Locations: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Washington, U.S, Mexico, John McCain of Arizona, Utah, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Texas, New York

☆ Republicans slam Biden for proclaiming Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter, though it’s yearly observed on March 31
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Republicans are taking aim at President Joe Biden for proclaiming Easter Sunday as the Transgender Day of Visibility, though the two days only coincided this year by chance. The Transgender Day of Visibility, which was started in 2009 as a day of awareness to celebrate the successes of transgender and gender-nonconforming people, is held annually on March 31. “It is appalling and insulting that Joe Biden’s White House … formally proclaimed Easter Sunday as ‘Trans Day of Visibility,” former President Donald Trump’s campaign said in a statement. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the Biden administration had “betrayed the central tenet of Easter” in a post on X. President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit,” Bates said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Joe Biden’s, …, Donald Trump’s, Mike Johnson, Biden, “, ”, Andrew Bates, ” “, ” Bates, ” Biden, Trump Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Republican, GOP

☆ Russia war on Ukraine: Ukraine faces retreat without US aid, Zelensky says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Mariya Knight | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Ukrainian forces would have to cede further territory to Russia if US military aid does not arrive soon, President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned, in his latest appeal to Congress to pass a multibillion-dollar package. President Joe Biden’s administration is struggling to push a $95 billion international aid package – which includes $60 billion for Ukraine – through the House of Representatives more than month since it was passed in the Senate. Zelensky warned that the lack of aid was urgent, and could endanger Ukraine’s major cities. Meanwhile, Zelensky said, Ukraine is scrambling “to find some way not to retreat.”The goal for Ukraine so far is to keep the frontline situation stable, according to Zelensky. “If the front remains stable, Ukraine can arm and train new brigades in the rear to conduct a new counteroffensive later this year,” he said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden’s, Zelensky, ”, Vladimir Putin, Putin, keener, Mike Johnson, Ukraine can’t Organizations: CNN, Ukraine –, Patriot, Washington Post, Kyiv, GOP, Ukraine Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, ”, Ukraine’s, Russian, Moscow, Avdiivka, Bakhmut

☆ Opinion: The heroism of Ukraine and the nihilism of Mike Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Opinion Amelia Glaser | Marci Shore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Global Images Ukraine/Getty ImagesIn Ukraine the air raid alerts are incessant. Kyiv has the best air defense in Ukraine; the country lacks the resources to defend other cities this way. He noted that Ukrainian air defense had done a spectacular job that morning intercepting every single missile launched at Kyiv. The United States has essentially cut off Ukraine, and Ukrainian air defense is quickly running out of ammunition. After we landed back in JFK, we turned off the air raid sound on our phones.

Persons: Amelia Glaser, Marci Shore, Read, Mike Johnson, Vladimir Putin’s, Covid, ” –, Andrii, you’re, Oleksandr Roytburd, Roytburd, Alla Horska, Tymofiy Mylovanov, Amelia, Iya Kiva, Marci, Tetyana Ogarkova, Volodymyr Yermolenko, Putin, Tucker Carlson, Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Carlson, Khmelnytsky, Oleksandr Halenko, Gleb Garanich, texted, ”, Sergii, “, Alina Smutko, Sergii’s, Mark Hamill –, Luke Skywalker, Agiya Zagrebelska, Arad, “ Pessimists, Rob Bauer, ” Bauer, “ I’m, Iaroslava Strikha, beholden, Donald Trump, Johnson, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, ” Putin Organizations: UC San Diego, Yale University, CNN, of Decorative, Applied Arts, Design, Warsaw —, Kyiv School of Economics, KGB, Ukrainian, Fulbright, NATO, National Agency on Corruption, Kyiv Security, United, Kyiv, National, Security Forum Locations: Russia’s, Crimea, Kyiv, New York, JFK, Warsaw, Polish, Chelm, Bucha, Russian, Yevhenii, Ukraine, Sens, Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, KSE, Muscovy, Russia, Poland, Syria, Murmansk, Kyiv oblast, Austrian, texted, United States

☆ Comer invites Biden to testify before the Oversight Committee
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Comer knows 20+ witnesses have testified that POTUS did nothing wrong. Yet, in his letter to Biden, Comer outlined the four phases of his investigation that included obtaining bank records and witness testimony that led him to seeking the president’s testimony. Various Biden family business associates have testified they have had surface level interactions with Biden, but none have said they discussed business with the president, either while he was in office or as a private citizen. “What do you think they would do if we Impeached Biden?” Comer wrote earlier this week. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Thursday that the House will send over the Mayorkas impeachment articles to the Senate on April 10.

Persons: James Comer, Joe Biden, –, ” Comer, “ Comer, POTUS, he’s, ”, Ian Sams, Biden, Comer, James Biden, Alejandro Mayorkas, Mike Johnson Organizations: Republicans, White, Kentucky Republican, GOP, Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, House Republicans, Democratic, CNN, Department of Homeland, Senate

ATLANTA (AP) — The charges against former President Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case seek to criminalize political speech and advocacy conduct that the First Amendment protects, his lawyers argued in a court filing challenging the indictment. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee plans to hear arguments on that filing and on two pretrial motions filed by former Georgia Republican Party chair David Shafer during a hearing set for Thursday. Lawyers for Shafer argue that he acted legally when he and other state Republicans signed a certificate asserting that Trump won the 2020 presidential election in Georgia and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors. McAfee is forging ahead with the case even as Trump and other defendants have said they plan to seek a ruling from the Georgia Court of Appeals to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis. The charges against him include impersonating a public officer, forgery, false statements and writings, and attempting to file false documents.

Persons: Donald Trump, Scott McAfee, David Shafer, Shafer, Trump, “, McAfee, Fani Willis, Willis, Nathan Wade, Democrat Joe Biden, Brad Raffensperger, ”, Prosecutors, Biden, Shafer “, ” Willis, Wade Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Republican, Republicans, Trump, Republican, Democrat, Georgia Republicans, Georgia House, Georgia, Electoral, Democratic, Prosecutors Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Raffensperger

☆ Obama jumps in to help Biden defeat Trump again
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Mj Lee | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —Barack Obama spent several hours last Friday in the family dining room of the White House, visiting his former vice president, Joe Biden. Obama’s biggest embrace of Biden’s reelection effort comes Thursday at a star-studded Manhattan fundraiser featuring Biden, Obama and former President Bill Clinton. As president, Biden has also been in frequent touch with Clinton, sources familiar say. “President Obama once said to me that every president is a reflection of the previous president, and he’s right,” Messina said. “Trump was the complete opposite of Obama, and Biden is the complete opposite of Trump.

Persons: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Obama, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Joe, Kamala, ” Obama, we’ve, Jeff Zients, Bill Clinton, Stephen Colbert, Clinton, “, ”, Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Cynthia Erivo, Mindy Kaling, Ben Platt, Lea Michele, Jordan Roth, Alex Timbers, Annie Leibovitz, Steve Ricchetti, –, Jim Messina, Messina, ” Messina, “ Trump Organizations: Washington CNN, White House, House, CNN, Affordable, Biden, Biden’s, Presidents Club, Radio City Music Hall, Democrats, White, Republican, Trump Locations: White, president’s State, Manhattan, , Gaza, Obama’s, United States

Listen and follow The DailyApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicAgainst all odds and expectations, Speaker Mike Johnson keeps managing to fund the government, inflame the far right of his party — and hold on to his job. Catie Edmondson, a congressional correspondent for The Times, explains why it might be Democrats who come to his rescue.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Catie Edmondson Organizations: Spotify, The Times

WASHINGTON (AP) — For over a month, House Speaker Mike Johnson has sat on a funding package that would send desperately needed ammunition and weaponry to Ukraine, mulling how best to gain a grasp of what is expected to be a difficult lift in the House. The Republican speaker has indicated he will attempt to push for approval of tens of billions in wartime funding for Ukraine, as well as Israel, once the House returns in April. “We'll turn our attention to it and we won't delay on that,” the Louisiana representative said of the Ukraine package at a news conference last week. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Republican from Georgia, has filed a motion to vacate Johnson as speaker and warned him not to put Ukraine funding on the House floor. Before becoming speaker, Johnson was deeply skeptical of approving funding for Ukraine and voted repeatedly against it.

Persons: Mike Johnson, “, Johnson, Gregory Meeks, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Greene, ” Johnson, Ronald Reagan, ”, Michael McCaul, Greene, Don Bacon, Shelby Magid Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Ukraine, NATO, Rep, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Capitol, Senate, Kyiv, Republicans, Democrats, Senior Republicans, House Foreign Relations, CBS, House, Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Louisiana, Russia, Kyiv, Georgia, Gaza, Washington, “, Europe

BOSTON (AP) — Financially embattled hospital operator Steward Health Care has struck a deal to sell its nationwide physician network to Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, as it works to stabilize its finances. Maura Healey has said state monitors are keeping eye on the nine health care facilities operated by Steward Health Care in Massachusetts, including hospitals in some of the state’s poorer communities. Emails to Steward Health Care and Optum seeking comment were not immediately returned. Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey said for-profit companies that participate in the health care system must understand that their decisions have direct impacts on patients and communities. “After years of gross profiteering and mismanagement, Steward’s latest plan raises more serious questions about the future of the Massachusetts health care system," Warren said in a written statement.

Persons: —, Maura Healey, Optum, David Seltz, ”, ” Seltz, Ronald Mariano, Democratic U.S . Sen, Edward Markey, ” Markey, “, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Steward’s, Warren, Steward Organizations: BOSTON, Health Care, UnitedHealth, Steward Health Care, Department of Public Health, Steward, Democratic Massachusetts, Democratic U.S ., Health, Education, Labor, Primary Health Locations: Massachusetts, The Dallas, Boston, U.S

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene's threat to oust Mike Johnson could backfire and allow Congress to pass more Ukraine aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Marjorie Taylor Greene is threatening to oust Mike Johnson from the speakership. It could actually backfire on her — and make it more likely that Ukraine aid gets passed. Democrats could easily save Johnson, and many have named a vote on Ukraine aid as their price. So by filing her resolution on Friday in protest of Johnson's handling of government funding, Greene just handed a whole lot of leverage to House Democrats. Or it could mean individual votes on Ukraine and Israel aid, as Johnson has indicated he would like to see.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Mike Johnson, Johnson, —, Greene, Johnson —, Abigail Spanberger, Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, McCarthy, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, doesn't, Hakeem Jeffries, Mike McCaul Organizations: Service, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, House Democrats, GOP, Senate, Democratic, Republican, House Republicans, Rep, CNN, House Foreign Affairs Committee, CBS Locations: Ukraine, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Georgia, Johnson, Israel, Virginia, Florida, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, Cortez

☆ Former Ohio House Speaker Hit With 10 Additional Felony Charges
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Michael Wines | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A former speaker of the Ohio State House of Representatives, now serving a 20-year federal prison sentence, was indicted on 10 more state felony charges on Monday in connection with a sprawling bribery scheme that handed a $1.3 billion bailout to a major regional energy utility. The charges against the former speaker, Larry Householder, followed an inquiry by the Ohio Organized Crime Commission that also produced indictments last month of two former executives of the Akron-based utility, FirstEnergy Corporation. The two men — Chuck Jones, a former FirstEnergy chief executive officer, and Michael Dowling, a senior vice president — were charged with funneling $4.3 million in bribes to the former chairman of the Ohio Public Utility Commission, Sam Randazzo. They and Mr. Randazzo, who was also indicted, have pleaded not guilty to a total of 27 charges. The FirstEnergy case has been called the largest political scandal in Ohio history.

Persons: Larry, Chuck Jones, Michael Dowling, —, Sam Randazzo, Randazzo Organizations: Ohio State House of Representatives, Ohio, Commission, FirstEnergy Corporation Locations: Akron, Ohio

☆ White House criticizes GOP over funding provision that effectively bans Pride flags over US embassies
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The White House on Sunday attacked congressional Republicans for pushing a provision in the government funding bill that limits which flags can be flown above US embassies, effectively banning LGBTQ flags. “President Biden believes it was inappropriate to abuse the process that was essential to keep the government open by including this policy targeting LGBTQI+ Americans,” a White House spokesperson said in a statement. “The flag provision would continue to allow pride flags to be present in almost all cases at embassies, except flown *over* the exterior of the building. While the State Department under Donald Trump rejected requests from embassies to raise the Pride flag, Secretary of State Antony Blinken authorized US diplomatic missions to raise the flag above embassies and consulates across the world in 2021. Many US embassies fly the Pride flag during the month of June, which is recognized as Pride Month in the United States and other countries.

Persons: Biden, ”, Brandon Wolf, Wolf, Mike Johnson, “, Donald Trump, Antony Blinken Organizations: CNN, Sunday, “, Bloomberg, Foreign Service, Rights, Republican, Republicans, State Department, Pride Locations: workspaces, United States

☆ 'There's going to be a problem': House Republicans ramp up pressure campaign on Speaker Johnson after budget saga
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Before House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can exhale, he will have to face the House Republican hardliners of the Freedom Caucus. Johnson is already in hot water with the Freedom Caucus for his concessions to pass the budget bill and avert a government shutdown. "I think Speaker Johnson — I've been public about this — made a mistake," said Roy. Compromising with Democrats was one of the central grievances that led to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's ouster from his post. With the budget finally agreed upon, the Ukraine funding decision will be more challenging for Johnson to dodge.

Persons: Chip Roy, shutdowns, Mike Johnson, haven't, Johnson, Johnson — I've, Roy, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin McCarthy's, Johnson's speakership, Republicans tanked, Donald Trump Organizations: Caucus, U.S, Capitol, Republican, Freedom Caucus, hardliner, Democratic, Republicans Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Israel, Russia, United States

☆ Biden signs $1.2 trillion spending package for government funding until October
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden on Saturday signed Congress' $1.2 trillion spending package, finalizing the remaining batch of bills in a long-awaited budget to keep the government funded until Oct. 1. The Senate passed the budget in a 74-24 vote at roughly 2 a.m. However, the White House said that it would not begin official shutdown operations since a deal had ultimately been secured and only procedural actions remained. Hours before the House passed the spending package Friday morning, hardline House Republicans held a press conference to lambast the bill. If ousting a House speaker for budget disagreements feels like a familiar story, that's because it is.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: White, Saturday, Department of Homeland Security, Republicans, Georgia Republican, Republican, Freedom Caucus Locations: Washington , DC

☆ Two Republicans Advance to a Runoff to Finish Kevin McCarthy’s Term
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Chris Cameron | More About Chris Cameron | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

California’s most conservative congressional district just experienced its own version of the “Groundhog Day” time loop. After two elections, held two weeks apart, the same two candidates have advanced to two subsequent elections. Both Mr. Fong and Mr. Boudreaux had already won a chance to vie in the November general election for a full, two-year term, starting in January 2025. Mr. Boudreaux, the longtime sheriff of Tulare County, finished with about 26 percent of the vote. As the top two finishers — and with neither candidate taking 50 percent of the vote — they will compete again on May 21 to determine who completes Mr. McCarthy’s term.

Persons: Vince Fong, Mike Boudreaux, Kevin McCarthy, Fong, Boudreaux, Mr, McCarthy, Donald J, Trump Organizations: Congressional Locations: Tulare County

US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, waits to speak during a news conference after a closed-door House Republican caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on February 29, 2024. It was not immediately clear how the House would act on her motion, which requires just a majority vote to remove the speaker. Greene told reporters that the motion to vacate was more of a warning shot and that she had not discussed it with President Donald Trump. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks to the media on the House steps of the U.S. Capitol after filing her motion to vacate Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., on Friday, March 22, 2024. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) leaves a closed-door House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol on October 20, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Drew Angerer, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Greene, Donald Trump ., Bill Clark, Raj Shah, Trump's, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Matt Gaetz, McCarthy, Gaetz, We'd, we've, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: Republican, Capitol, AFP, Getty, NBC News, Donald Trump . Rep, U.S, CQ, Inc, NBC News House, Democrat, U.S . Rep Locations: Louisiana, Washington , DC, Washington ,

LOS ANGELES (AP) — County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux is advancing to a May election in California to decide who will complete the remainder of the term of deposed former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which runs through January. Boudreaux will face state legislator Vince Fong in the May 21 special election in the 20th District. Boudreaux is the Sheriff of Tulare County in the state’s Central Valley. Republicans are expected to easily hold the seat, and the party’s fragile majority in the chamber was not at stake in Tuesday’s election. The district, which cuts through the Central Valley farm belt including parts of Bakersfield and Fresno, is the most strongly Republican House seat in heavily Democratic California.

Persons: Mike Boudreaux, Kevin McCarthy, Boudreaux, Vince Fong Organizations: ANGELES, U.S ., Republicans, Republican, Associated Press Locations: — County, California, 20th, Boudreaux, Tulare County, Bakersfield, Fresno, Democratic California

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