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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

☆ New Senate Leadership Tussle Is a Throwback to the Old Days
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and longest-serving Senate leader, decided to step aside from his leadership role at the end of the year, it signaled the turning of a new page in the chamber. For all the power they wield in Congress, Senate leaders have not had to fight too hard for their positions in recent years. Mr. McConnell, the current record-holder with almost 18 years at the top, did not face an opponent when he first won the job in 2006. Before Senator Harry Reid’s retirement in 2017, the Nevada Democrat and party leader passed the reins seamlessly to Senator Chuck Schumer of New York. Mr. Reid himself had quickly sewn up the Democratic job when it suddenly came open in 2004.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn of, John Thune of, McConnell, Rick Scott of, Harry Reid’s, Chuck Schumer, Reid Organizations: Kentucky Republican, Nevada Democrat, Democratic Locations: John Cornyn of Texas, John Thune of South Dakota, Rick Scott of Florida, New York

☆ Some in Congress don’t like extreme partisanship either
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There was an interesting and telling exchange recently between Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican, and CNN’s Manu Raju. In the hallway exchange, Murkowski expressed frustration that former President Donald Trump is her party’s presidential nominee. CNNWhen Raju pushed Murkowski about whether she might leave the Republican Party, she said this: “I am navigating my way through some very interesting political times. Moreno won the Republican nomination in last week’s primary and he did so by aligning himself with Trump. Gallagher follows Rep. Ken Buck, the hardline Colorado Republican who resigned early in frustration over Republican election denialism and because House lawmakers are unable to set aside differences to get much done.

Persons: Sen, Lisa Murkowski, CNN’s Manu Raju, Murkowski, Donald Trump, “, ”, Raju, ’ Murkowski, Trump, ” Sen, Raju, Let’s, Bernie Moreno, Moreno, “ We’ve, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, it’s, Kyrsten, Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Sinema, Manchin, Jon Tester, Sherrod Brown, CNN RAJU, Mitt Romney, Joe Biden –, Rob Portman, Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, Mitch McConnell’s, Mike Gallagher, Alejandro Mayorkas, Gallagher, Ken Buck, CNN’s Dana Bash, he’d Organizations: CNN, Alaska Republican, Capitol, Republican Party, Trump, Republican, Capitol Hill, GOP, Republicans, Kentucky Republican, Democratic, Senate, Getty, Democratic Party, Montana Democrat, Sen, Homeland, Colorado Republican Locations: Alaska, Cleveland, Ohio, Sens, Arizona, West Virginia, Montana, Wisconsin

☆ Lisa Murkowski, done with Trump, won’t rule out leaving GOP
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

ET and 11 a.m. ET.Sen. Lisa Murkowski, aghast at Donald Trump’s candidacy and the direction of her party, won’t rule out bolting from the GOP. “I wish that as Republicans, we had … a nominee that I could get behind,” Murkowski told CNN. “I certainly can’t get behind Donald Trump.”The party’s shift toward Trump has caused Murkowski to consider her future within the GOP. As the tea party rose in 2010, Murkowski was at sharp odds with the insurgent right-wing of her party. In the 2024 cycle, Murkowski – along with Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine – offered a late endorsement of former South Carolina Gov.

Persons: Sen, Lisa Murkowski’s, Manu Raju ”, Lisa Murkowski, aghast, Donald Trump’s, Trump, “, ” Murkowski, Donald Trump, Murkowski, Let’s, Murkowski hasn’t, Frank Murkowski, George W, Bush –, Ted Stevens, John McCain’s, Sarah Palin, Republican Joe Miller, Brett Kavanaugh, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Mitch McConnell, Republican Sen, Susan Collins, Maine –, Nikki Haley, ” Organizations: GOP, Alaska Republican, CNN, Trump, Republican, ”, Alaska Gov, Senate, Senate GOP, South Carolina Gov Locations: Alaska

Donald Trump-backed Senate Republican candidate Bernie Moreno, who won a tough primary race last week in Ohio, refused to say if he believes the 2020 presidential election was stolen from the former president. We’ve had like three elections since then,” he told CNN last week as he departed a meeting of the Republican conference in the Capitol. “This is not the topic I think people think about,” he said. In January, Moreno’s campaign released a digital ad in which Moreno looked directly into the camera and said, “President Trump says the election was stolen, and he’s right.”The primary pitted Moreno against more establishment Republican candidates such as Matt Dolan. it’s good to be a Republican, you get to have a spirited debate as to who your candidate should be,” he said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Bernie Moreno, “, We’ve, ”, Mitch McConnell, Moreno’s, Moreno, Trump, Matt Dolan, ” CNN’s Manu Raju Organizations: Republican, CNN, “, Democrats, Republicans Locations: Ohio, McDonald’s

☆ 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

☆ Lawmakers release text of $1.2 trillion spending bill as shutdown deadline nears
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Sahil Kapur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers early Thursday morning released the text of a $1.2 trillion government funding bill negotiated by the White House and leaders of both parties to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend. Those federal agencies are scheduled to shut down on Saturday if the funding package is not passed by Friday night. President Joe Biden has said he'll sign the bill, but it's unclear whether Congress has enough time to pass it before the deadline. It is the last remaining funding package that Congress has to pass this fiscal year, which ends after September. After the House passes the bill, the Senate will require unanimous consent to vote quickly.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Mitch McConnell, — Frank Thorp Organizations: WASHINGTON — Lawmakers, White, Homeland Security, Defense, State, Labor, Health, Human Services, DHS, Internal Revenue Service, Republicans, House Republicans, House, Department of Homeland Security Locations: Washington, Washington , DC, D, Ky

☆ Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao was intoxicated during fatal car accident in Texas pond: police
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A toxicology report later showed that Chao had a blood-alcohol concentration of .233, the Blanco County Sheriff's Office said in its report. Chao drowned after friends and rescue workers tried without success to get the 50-year-old shipping executive out of the submerged vehicle. "Chao, who is still on the phone with Keinan, tells Keinan in a [calm] voice her feet are under water," the report said. "Chao told Keinan the water was rising and she was going to die, and said, 'I love you' to Keinan prior to the vehicle going under water." Both deputies entered the pond and tried repeatedly to locate Chao through the back door, "but were unable to," the report said.

Persons: Angela Chao, Pitbull, Chao, Mitch McConnell, Elaine Chao, Tesla, Jim Breyer, Breyer, Amber Landeau, Kienan, Keinan, Victoria Garcia, Victoria, Heela Yang Tsuzuki, One, James Chao, Bruce Wasserstein Organizations: U.S . Labor, Transportation, Blanco County Sheriff's, Ninth, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Harvard Business School, Rescue, Texas Rangers, FBI, Blanco County Sheriff's Office, American Bureau of Shipping Council, Harvard Business School's, Dean's Advisors, Metropolitan Opera, National Basketball, Boston Celtics, Facebook, Walmart, Marvel Entertainment, News Corp, Dell Locations: Los, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles , California, Johnson City, Austin, Ky, Texas, Blanco County, New York, Dubai

☆ Congressional leaders announce deal to fund rest of government
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Haley Talbot | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Speaker Mike Johnson announced the deal in a statement, saying he hopes the text of the legislation will be released “as soon as possible,” a key step expected before either chamber votes. A GOP leadership aide told CNN on Monday night that congressional negotiators had reached an agreement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security. ET Friday to pass the deal, and getting through both chambers is expected to take days. “House and Senate committees have begun drafting bill text to be prepared for release and consideration by the full House and Senate as soon as possible,” Johnson announced in his statement. “We have come to an agreement with Congressional leaders on a path forward for the remaining full-year funding bills,” Biden wrote.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, ” Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Joe Biden, ” Biden, “, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Donald Judd Organizations: Washington CNN, Congressional, Tuesday, GOP, CNN, Department of Homeland Security, Louisiana Republican, Democratic, Senate Locations: Louisiana

☆ Border funding battle snags budget talks in Congress with shutdown days away
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Congress is back at the budget negotiation table this week and border security disputes again are threatening to torpedo talks as a weekend government shutdown inches closer. Congress successfully struck a deal on the first six appropriations bills in February, but the remaining half relate to thornier agencies like labor, homeland security, education and more. "This second batch, they're tougher because they're more partisan," said Bobby Kogan, a former budget advisor under President Joe Biden. The border is a top voting issue in the 2024 election and amid the heat of the border controversy, House Republicans impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in February after several failed attempts. In early February, Republicans killed a foreign aid package that would have provided $20 billion in funding for the U.S. southern border.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Biden administration's pushback, Bobby Kogan, Alejandro Mayorkas Organizations: White, White House, Department of Homeland Security, GOP, Politico, DHS, CNBC, Democratic, NBC News, Congress, Republicans, Homeland, Senate Locations: WASHINGTON, DC, Washington , DC, U.S

☆ Opinion: What to make of Schumer’s scathing speech on Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Opinion Aaron David Miller | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

So, is Schumer’s speech likely to have a major impact in Israel or on Biden administration policy? One way to read the impact of Schumer’s speech is that it will give the administration the political space to toughen up its policies toward the Netanyahu government. How Schumer’s speech will impact Israel and the US-Israeli relationship is hard to predict. Just look at the Republican reaction to Schumer’s speech. In an interview with CNN, Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell said Schumer’s speech was a contradiction of US policy.

Persons: Aaron David Miller, ” Miller, Chuck Schumer, ” that’s, Howard Beale, Benjamin Netanyahu, ‘, Schumer, Biden, Netanyahu, “ atta, Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett, ” Benny Gantz, Schumer “, “, ” Gantz, We’re, Donald Trump, Trump, Will Biden, Joe Biden, It’s, that’s, he’s, Israel –, Schumer won’t, George H.W, Bush, State James Baker, Yitzhak Rabin’s, Yitzhak Shamir, Rabin, Bill Clinton, Shimon Peres, Peres, John Boehner, Sen, Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Mitch McConnell, can’t, ” Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Democratic, Republican, CNN, “, Likud, State, Republican Party, Democrat, Hamas, Biden, Israel, White, GOP, Republicans, West Bank Locations: East, Israel, Washington, “, Gaza, Arab, Michigan, Qatar, Iran, Jerusalem, America

That same day, Mr. Trump’s campaign announced that the former president would appear alongside Mr. Moreno on Saturday in Dayton, widely interpreted as a sign that Mr. Moreno could benefit from an 11th-hour boost. Simultaneously, Mr. Moreno and his backers have portrayed Mr. Dolan as not sufficiently supportive of Mr. Trump. After Mr. Trump overwhelmingly won the former battleground state in 2016 and 2020, Ohioans sent J.D. Image Mr. Moreno has been endorsed by, and campaigned with, several Republicans with ties to Mr. Trump, including Gov. Mr. LaRose and Mr. Moreno have banded together to attack Mr. Dolan as disloyal to Mr. Trump, while both Mr. Dolan and Mr. LaRose have accused Mr. Moreno of shifting his views on everything from gun control to Mr. Trump himself.

Persons: Donald J, Trump’s, Bernie Moreno, Sherrod Brown, Moreno, Matt Dolan, Frank LaRose, Dolan, Mike DeWine, Rob Portman, LaRose, Mr, Trump, Donald Trump, ”, Ryan Stubenrauch, DeWine, Portman, Brown, Ohioans, J.D, Vance, Biden, Moreno’s, “, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Donald Trump Jr, ” Mr, ” Reagan McCarthy, won’t, Jim Renacci, “ Trump, Katie Smith, they’ll, Kristi Noem, Vivek Ramaswamy, Vance of Ohio, —, Noem, Donald Trump isn’t, Mitzi Baird, ” Ms, Baird, Michael C, Bender Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Democrat, Senate, Mr, Democratic, Cleveland Guardians, Trump, Republican Party —, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Ohio Democratic Party, U.S . Army, Washington , D.C, ”, Lincoln Locations: Ohio, Dayton, Arizona, Cleveland, Washington, G.O.P, battlegrounds, Pennsylvania, Georgia, South Dakota, Cincinnati, Washington ,, Columbus, Elyria, Vermilion

Look no further than the close and historically complicated relationship that American presidents and congressional leaders have negotiated with Israel leaders over the last 75 years. Obama declined to invite Netanyahu to the White House during the visit, with White House officials saying that holding such a visit so close to Israel's election would be inappropriate. The standard Obama set for a White House visit wasn't one Bill Clinton subscribed to years earlier. The bigger the ally's economy, the less likely American leaders are to meddle openly in its elections. “There are moments when American leaders want to and need to speak out and have their say.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Mitch McConnell, Schumer, ”, Mike Johnson, Benny Gantz, Netanyahu, Schumer's, Netanyahu —, “, —, Aaron David Miller, Donald Trump, John Boehner, Boehner, Barack Obama's, Obama, wasn't, Bill Clinton, Clinton, Shimon Peres, Peres, Edward Frantz, meddle, ” Frantz, November's, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Andrzej Duda, Johnson, Biden, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, Trump, David Pressman, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, ” Miller Organizations: WASHINGTON, — Republicans, Democratic, Republican, Israel, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, U.S, White, Israeli, University of Indianapolis, November's Biden, Trump, NATO, Polish, Biden, Republican House, Hungarian, White House Locations: Gaza, Israel, East, United States, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, U.S, Hungarian, ” Hungary, Budapest, Sinai, Suez

☆ A speech that sent shockwaves from Washington to Jerusalem
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Schumer’s rebuke of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday contained extraordinarily strong language for a senior US politician criticizing the Israeli government. He also voiced support for a two-state solution to the long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, a position that Netanyahu has rejected. He was almost immediately accused of deserting a US ally in a time of war and of trying to interfere in Israeli politics. McConnell added: “Israel is not a colony of America whose leaders serve at the pleasure of the party in power in Washington. Biden himself last week warned Netanyahu was “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” with his assault on the Palestinian enclave.

Persons: Chuck Schumer’s, Israel, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, Schumer –, –, Netanyahu, “, ” Schumer, Schumer, Israel’s, United States Michael Herzog, Mitch McConnell, doesn’t, McConnell, Obama, Donald Trump, Biden’s, Biden, Kamala Harris, Israel ”, Biden – Organizations: CNN, New York Democrat, Hamas, Likud, Democratic, Kentucky Republican, Senate, Progressives, Democrats, Biden, White, Israel, Israel Democrats Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Ukraine, America, Washington, Iran, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Michigan

☆ Mitch McConnell ramps up his criticism of Chuck Schumer in CNN interview
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Manu Raju | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In an interview with CNN, McConnell said Schumer’s speech was a direct contradiction of US policy and called on the White House not to go down that road. McConnell rejected calls for conditions on military aid to Israel – something some Democrats have called for in an effort to tamp down civilian deaths. In his speech, Schumer explained his deep misgivings about the toll on innocent people in Gaza. “I am anguished that the Israeli war campaign has killed so many innocent Palestinians,” he said. McConnell blamed the Biden administration for micromanaging the war in Gaza and said Schumer’s calling for “regime change” in the wrong country.

Persons: Mitch McConnell ramped, Chuck Schumer, Israel –, McConnell, can’t, ” McConnell, “ It’s, Schumer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Schumer, –, that’s, ”, “, “ I’m, Biden, “ They’ve, Yair Lapid, ” CNN’s Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Democratic, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, “, Iran

☆ A Watershed Moment for the Politics of Israel, Courtesy of Chuck Schumer
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Jonathan Weisman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Over 44 painstakingly scripted minutes on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, the majority leader, Chuck Schumer, spoke of his Jewish identity, his love for the State of Israel, his horror at the wanton slaughter of Israelis on Oct. 7 and his views on the apportionment of blame for the carnage in Gaza, saying that it first and foremost lay with the terrorists of Hamas. Then Mr. Schumer, a New York Democrat and the highest-ranking elected Jew in American history, said Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was an impediment to peace, and called for new elections in the world’s only Jewish state. The opposition was not nearly so painstaking. Within minutes, the House Republican leadership demanded an apology. The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, using Mr. Netanyahu’s nickname, declared: “Make no mistake — the Democratic Party doesn’t have an anti-Bibi problem.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mitch McConnell of, Netanyahu’s, ” Organizations: State, New, New York Democrat, Republican, Democratic Party, Republican Jewish Coalition Locations: Israel, Gaza, New York, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Congress

Speaker Mike Johnson told Republican senators during their closed-door retreat Wednesday that he was committed to finding a path ahead for Ukraine aid in the House of Representatives, a sign GOP senators took to mean that aid to the embattled country isn’t yet dead in Congress. McCaul said Johnson will put such a House foreign aid bill on the floor after the appropriations process is done. McCaul dismissed the concept of sending Ukraine aid through a discharge petition, saying he is “worried” about that approach, highlighting instead the REPO Act and formatting aid as a loan. “You know, it feels like Speaker Johnson makes up his strategy one or two days at a time. “Speaker Johnson doesn’t need to make up a new plan.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Johnson, wouldn’t, Michael McCaul, Ukraine –, Donald Trump, McCaul, ” McCaul, “ I’ve, Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham, ”, Roger Wicker of, “, ” “, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Thom Tillis, we’ve, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, “ We’ve, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Johnson doesn’t, that’s, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer Organizations: Republican, CNN, Republicans, House Foreign, Texas Republican, GOP, Senate Armed Services Committee, Kentucky Republican, Democratic, “, Senate, ” Republican Locations: Ukraine, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia, Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Israel, Taiwan, North Carolina, Russia, Connecticut, Arkansas

☆ Schumer calls for new election in Israel and sharply criticizes Netanyahu
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday criticized Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, calling for new elections in a speech on the Senate floor on the Israel-Hamas war. “As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7. The world has changed, radically, since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past,” said Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in America. “Five months into this conflict, it is clear that Israelis need to take stock of the situation and ask: must we change course?” he continued. Schumer also said his “heart also breaks at the loss of so many civilian lives in Gaza.”“I am anguished that the Israeli war campaign has killed so many innocent Palestinians,” he continued.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, ”, Schumer, ” Schumer, Biden, “, Mitch McConnell, Israel, ” McConnell, Ted Barrett Organizations: Israel, New, New York Democrat, GOP Locations: Israel, America, New York, Gaza, ”, Washington

☆ Schumer Urged New Leadership in Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Jonathan Wolfe | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said that Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East and called for elections to replace him. “Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel,” Schumer said today in a speech on the Senate floor. “He has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows. Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah.”Schumer’s speech was the sharpest critique yet of Netanyahu from a senior American elected official. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, called Schumer’s actions “unprecedented,” and accused Democrats of having “an anti-Israel problem.”

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ” Schumer, Biden, Mitch McConnell Organizations: “, Israel, Republicans, Republican Locations: New York, Israel, Gaza, American, Kentucky

☆ Is the End of the Filibuster Near?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Time may be finally running out on the filibuster, the signature dilatory tactic in the Senate embraced by some as a protector of minority rights and reviled by others as an outdated weapon of partisan obstruction. With the announcement by Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona that she will not seek re-election, the filibuster is now on track to lose the two senators who preserved it in 2022 over the objections of the rest of their party. She and her fellow filibuster defender, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, who is also retiring, left Democrats just two votes short of ending the filibuster when it came to voting law changes that were backed by a majority. Perhaps just as significantly, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican who has enthusiastically deployed the filibuster to his advantage for decades, is stepping down from his top party leadership post, reducing the influence of one of the chief practitioners and defenders of filibuster maneuvering. Depending on how the November elections shake out, the pressure to reduce the power of the procedural tool — which effectively requires 60 votes to move any legislation forward in the Senate — could be substantial.

Persons: Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin III, Mitch McConnell Organizations: Kentucky Republican Locations: Arizona, West Virginia

☆ Katie Britt says being played by Scarlett Johansson on 'SNL' wasn't on her 'bingo card' but she's 'here for it'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Katie Britt addressed Scarlett Johansson's portrayal of her on "Saturday Night Live." In an appearance on fellow Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas's "Verdict" podcast, the Alabama senator said being portrayed by Scarlett Johansson on "Saturday Night Live" wasn't on her "bingo card" for 2024. "Look — Scarlett Johansson is hot," said Cruz, noting that he's "genuinely jealous" of Britt for being portrayed by Johannson. Advertisement"At least you are played by a woman," Cruz later said. "I mean, Scarlett Johansson.

Persons: Sen, Katie Britt, Scarlett Johansson's, Britt, —, Joe Biden's, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, — Scarlett Johansson, Cruz, Johannson, Aidy Bryant —, I've, Mitch McConnell, who's, Mitch McConnell's, Mitch, McConnell, Mike Johnson Organizations: Alabama senator's, Service, Union, Republican Locations: Alabama senator's State, Joe Biden's State, Alabama, Cancun

☆ Trump undoubtedly controls the GOP, but the TikTok vote shows Republicans won't always follow him in lockstep
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Even Republican House lawmakers, the group that is arguably the most pro-Trump in Congress, defied their de facto leader, who now opposes the bill. There's a lot of good and there's a lot of bad with TikTok. Congressional Republicans have defied Trump before. Even Republican voters have at times defied Trump. The former president has been especially effective in his targeted campaign against the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach him for inciting the insurrection.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Lara Trump, Wednesday's, TikTok, Jeff Yass, Tom Emmer's speakership, Jim Jordan, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, Mike DeWine, Rob Portman, Sen, Sherrod Brown Organizations: Service, Republican Party, Republican National Committee, Republican, Trump, Biden, Chinese Communist Party, CNBC, Facebook, Congressional, GOP, week's Ohio GOP, Ohio Gov, Democrat, Republicans Locations: Congress, ByteDance, Beijing, Yass, week's Ohio

☆ Opinion | Mitch McConnell Doesn’t Wear a MAGA Hat. I’m Not Fooled.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Jamelle Bouie | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Late last month, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky announced that he would leave his position as Republican leader after the November elections. McConnell is not consequential for what he accomplished as a legislator or legislative leader — he’s no Robert F. Wagner or Everett Dirksen. He’s consequential for what he’s done to degrade and diminish American democracy. McConnell, as the journalist Alec MacGillis noted in “The Cynic: The Political Education of Mitch McConnell,” was never driven by ideology. “At some point along the way,” MacGillis wrote, “Mitch McConnell decided that his own longevity in Washington trumped all — that he would even be willing to feed the public’s disillusionment with its elected leaders if it would increase his and his party’s odds of success at the polls.”

Persons: Mitch McConnell, He’ll, McConnell, — he’s, Robert F, Wagner, Everett Dirksen, Alec MacGillis, ”, ” MacGillis, “ Mitch McConnell Organizations: Kentucky, “ Locations: Kentucky, Washington

☆ Shipping CEO Angela Chao, sister of former Cabinet member Elaine Chao, died after car became submerged in pond, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Chris Boyette | Rebekah Riess | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Angela Chao, CEO of shipping company Foremost Group and sister of former US cabinet secretary Elaine Chao, died after her car became submerged in a pond on a Central Texas ranch last month, according to the Wall Street Journal and a report from Blanco County Emergency Services obtained by the Austin American-Statesman. Chao’s Tesla Model X SUV went over an embankment and into a pond when she put the car in reverse instead of drive during a three-point turn shortly before midnight on February 10, the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the Wall Street Journal, a longer cable was eventually garnered, and the car was pulled from the pond. First responders soon retrieved Chao from her vehicle and began resuscitation efforts but were unsuccessful, according to the Wall Street Journal. Neither the Blanco County Emergency Services, Blanco County Sheriff’s Office, nor Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office have responded to CNN’s request for comment and additional information.

Persons: Angela Chao, Elaine Chao, Tesla, Chao, Ken Paxton’s, George W, Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell Organizations: CNN, Foremost Group, Wall Street, Blanco County Emergency, Austin American, Statesman, EMS, Emergency Services, Blanco County Sheriff’s, Texas, Blanco County Public, Office Locations: Central Texas, Blanco County, Blanco

☆ ‘The Late Show’ Goes Live to Recap the State of the Union
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Trish Bendix | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Well, guys, if you’re watching at home, I assume you’re still cleaning up from your big State of the Union party. What kind of wings do you want — right wing, left wing?” — JIMMY FALLON“Yeah, earlier tonight, President Biden delivered the annual State of the Union address, and Biden’s speech was historic. You can’t just go back to your old job like you never left — unless you’re Jon Stewart. You’re crushing it.” — STEPHEN COLBERT“Tonight, the room was filled with over 500 members of Congress, but Senator Mitch McConnell wasn’t there. Well, he attended, but he wasn’t there.” — JIMMY FALLON“Ahead of the president’s arrival there, members of the Supreme Court filed in.

Persons: JIMMY FALLON, Biden, ”, JIMMY FALLON “ Biden, ‘, ’ ”, JIMMY FALLON “, George Santos, you’re Jon Stewart, Jon ! You’re, ” — STEPHEN COLBERT “, Mitch McConnell wasn’t, Clarence Thomas, ” — STEPHEN COLBERT Organizations: Union, State of, State Locations: State

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