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☆ Opinion | Biden’s Age Is a Campaign Problem, Not a Governing One
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Michelle Goldberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Last fall I found myself at a dinner party that included a former Biden administration official and a Democratic donor, and the conversation turned, naturally, to President Biden’s age and his prospects for re-election. The gulf in their perceptions, I think, speaks to the fact that Biden’s age has impaired his ability to campaign much more than his ability to govern, which has created an impossible dilemma for the Democratic Party. I’m not aware of any leaks from the White House suggesting that Biden is confused, exhausted or forgetful when setting priorities or making decisions. His words brought to the surface deep, terrifying doubts about Biden’s ability to do the one part of his job that matters above all others, which is beating Donald Trump. Since Hur decided not to charge Biden with any crimes, his comments about Biden’s age, particularly his claim that Biden couldn’t remember the year his son Beau died, seemed designed to shiv him politically.

Persons: Biden’s, Biden, he’s, there’s, I’m, It’s, Kevin McCarthy, “, McCarthy, — Biden, Golda Meir, Robert Hur’s, Donald Trump, Hur, Merrick Garland, Beau, shiv Organizations: Biden, Democratic, Democratic Party, Biden shouldn’t, Politico, Labor Zionist, Trump Locations: Israel, Gaza

☆ US Senate Faces New Test on Ukraine Aid Bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The legislation needs 60 votes to overcome a procedural hurdle and continue toward Senate passage in the coming days. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesVoting is expected to begin around 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT). Senate Republicans believe bipartisan passage would help stir support among Republicans in the House. The bill includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel in its war against Hamas, and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, and deter aggression by China. "Nevertheless, the Senate will keep working on this bill until the job is done."

Persons: David Morgan WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Todd Young, Young, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Schumer, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Senate, Republicans, Republican, Representatives, Democratic, Friday, Indiana Republican, Israel, Hamas, West Bank Locations: U.S, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Gaza, Kyiv, China, Mexico

☆ Trump says conservatives should 'celebrate' the defeat of the bipartisan border security bill: 'We crushed it'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump on Saturday cheered the collapse of the Senate's border security bill. Biden said he'll hold Trump responsible for any border security issues from now through November. Biden strongly backed the border security bill, arguing it would allow him to "shut down" the border whenever it became overwhelmed. AdvertisementMeanwhile, Trump was calling on the GOP to reject the Senate bill, even saying that he'd take the blame if it faltered. Last Wednesday, the border security bill failed in the Senate 49-50, well short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation.

Persons: Trump, Biden, he'll, —, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Mike Johnson Organizations: Trump, Service, Saturday, Senate, Capitol Hill, GOP, Republicans, MAGA Republican, White Locations: South Carolina, Mexico

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — With two weeks to go before the South Carolina Republican primary, Nikki Haley is trying to challenge Donald Trump on her home turf while the former president tries to quash his last major rival’s narrow path to the nomination. Haley, 52, has called throughout her campaign for mental competency tests for politicians, a way to contrast with 77-year-old Trump and 81-year-old Biden. Harlie O’Connell, a longtime South Carolina resident who backs Haley, said she’s excited to vote in the presidential primary for a woman from her home state. While she plans to support in November whoever wins the GOP nomination, she said she would prefer someone younger. Organizers expecting a capacity crowd set up screens outside where an overflow crowd would be able to watch Trump’s appearance.

Persons: CONWAY, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Haley, Ronna McDaniel, ” Haley, Nancy Pelosi, Biden, ”, Harlie, “ It’s, ” O’Connell, Mike O’Connell, Bob Pollard, “, Pollard, ___ Price Organizations: South Carolina Republican, GOP, Democratic, Trump, Republican Party, Republican, Volvo, Samsung Locations: S.C, Nevada, Conway, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Newberry, Washington, Ukraine, Russia, Charleston, South, Horry County, New York

☆ Trump ramps up attacks on special counsel decision not to charge Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Gregory Krieg | Kate Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump on Saturday ramped up his criticism of special counsel Robert Hur’s decision not to charge President Joe Biden over his handling of classified documents, while repeatedly questioning his successor’s mental acuity and peddling conspiratorial claims about former President Barack Obama. In a scattershot speech to supporters in South Carolina, Trump rolled out a wave of attacks on Biden. “If Joe Biden is not fit to charge, they are not going to judge him with a crime, but it’s OK for him to become commander in chief?” Trump said. (Smith brought charges against Trump last year related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago after he left the White House.) “This undeniable record speaks to why it’s no surprise that Republican officials’ continue their desperate – and inadvertently self-undermining – age attacks after many years of failure: they’re afraid of Joe Biden,” Bates wrote.

Persons: Donald Trump, Robert Hur’s, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Trump, Biden, forgetful, Hur, Obama –, ” Trump, “ Biden, he’s, ” Biden, Merrick Garland, Garland, Joe, scot, Jack Smith, Smith, ” Hur, “, Andrew Bates, Mark Milley, Kevin McCarthy –, ’, ” Bates, Bates, TJ Ducklo, ‘, ” “, CNN’s Arlette Saenz, Priscilla Alvarez Organizations: CNN, Department, DOJ, FBI, White, Republicans, Trump, Mar, National Archives, Department of Justice, Border Patrol, Biden, National Rifle Association, “, PAC, Justice Locations: South Carolina, Pennsylvania, America

The human brain has trouble pulling names out of stuffed memory banks on cue. But when are those and other verbal stumbles normal, and when might they be a sign of cognitive trouble? Former President Donald Trump, Biden's likely opponent in the November presidential election, has also. And while Trump often brags about passing a screening-style memory test several years ago, Lenze said the best assessment includes rigorous neuropsychological testing. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: Joe Biden, Macron, Mitterrand, I’m, ”, Jay Olshansky, Biden, ” Biden, Donald Trump, Biden's, Trump, Nikki Haley, Nancy Pelosi, “, Eric Lenze, Louis, Emmanuel Macron, Francois Mitterrand, ” Mitterrand, ” Lenze, It’s “, Olshansky, everybody's, Lenze Organizations: WASHINGTON, University of Illinois, White, GOP, Washington University, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Chicago, St

(AP) — Montana Republicans gathered in a hotel ballroom this weekend aiming to unite ahead of the 2024 election and defeat three-term incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester. Rosendale's move laid bare deep fissures within the Montana GOP at a time when Republicans can ill afford it. Outside observers and even some Republicans say an intraparty skirmish leading up to Montana's June primary could undermine those hopes. Rosendale’s entry into the Senate contest capped months of speculation that the hard-right lawmaker wanted a rematch six years after losing to Tester in 2018. Those Democrats are egging on the division in the GOP Senate race, hopeful it will drain Republican funds and alienate independent voters before the general election.

Persons: HELENA, —, Sen, Jon Tester, Matt Rosendale, Rosendale's, Steve Daines, “ I’ve, boisterously, Greg Gianforte, Tim Sheehy, “, Donald Trump, Sheehy, ” Gianforte, Trump, Rosendale, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, ”, I’ve, irk, Theresa Manzella, George Nikolakakos, Nikolakakos, Steve Bullock Organizations: — Montana Republicans, Democrat U.S, U.S . Rep, Montana GOP, Republican, National Republican, Committee, U.S . Navy, Senate, Montana Gov, GOP, Montana Freedom Caucus, Rosendale, GOP Senate, Democratic Party, Trump, Biden, Republicans Locations: Mont, Montana, Montana , Ohio, West Virginia, U.S, Rosendale, Helena, Belgrade , Montana, Afghanistan, Washington, Great Falls, “, Rosendale . Montana, Daines

Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesThe Biden campaign circulated talking points to allies that were obtained by The Associated Press. Biden aides say they do not expect the president or his campaign to take on the age question more directly. Messina compared the special counsel's report to former FBI Director James Comey's October 2016 announcement that he was further investigating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's handling of classified emails. Beyond celebrating the release of the special counsel's embarrassing descriptions of Biden, Trump won a new trove of delegates in Nevada's Thursday caucuses, where he ran unopposed. Barry Goodman, a Biden fundraiser from Michigan, said he’s had some donors “take a wait and see approach” about supporting Biden, even before the special counsel’s announcement.

Persons: Joe Biden's, couldn't, Biden, Robert Hur's, Beau, Hur, “, ” Sen, Brian Schatz, they’ve, Trump, MAGA, doesn’t, ”, —, Kamala Harris, LaJoia Broughton, can’t, Sleepy Joe, Kate Berner, “ Donald Trump, Jim Messina, Barack Obama’s, Messina, James Comey's, Hillary Clinton's, “ There’s, ” Messina, “ Trump, I’d, Trump's, Joe Biden, What’s, ” Donald Trump Jr, Barry Goodman, he’s, ” Goodman, Goodman, Trav Robertson, General Merrick Garland, “ Merrick Garland, ” Robertson, Biden's, gaffes, Nancy Pelosi, Nikki Haley, Biden didn't, Dan Goldman, Robert Garcia, Mike Johnson, ” Garcia, ” ___, Bill Barrow, Ayanna Alexander Organizations: WASHINGTON, Joe Biden's Democratic, Democrats, Capitol, “ Republicans, Trump, The Associated Press, Democratic, Biden, Clinton, South Carolina Democratic Party, Republican, ” ___ Peoples Locations: Hawaii, U.S, Florida, Washington, South Carolina, Columbia, Nevada's, Michigan, Mexico, Iran, Israel, New York, Atlanta

☆ Democrats know they have a Biden problem but they're standing by him
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Voters have repeatedly said they are worried about Biden's age. In the wake of special counsel Robert Hur's report, Democrats are rallying around the president. AdvertisementDemocrats are betting voters don’t care if President Joe Biden flubs a foreign leader’s name or key detail. “He knew exactly where the negotiation was going to go and he took Kevin McCarthy’s shirt.”Advertisement"I think President Biden is incredibly experienced, knowledgeable, wise. “He is not fit to be President.”Democrats were quick to point out that Trump, Biden’s almost certain challenger, has suffered his own recent flubs.

Persons: Robert Hur's, —, Joe Biden flubs, Robert Hur’s, Biden, he’s, ‘, Mitterrand, Kate Bedingfield, Bedingfield, François Mitterrand, Emmanuel Macron, Abdel Fattah El, Jamie Raskin, Hur, Joe Biden, ” Raskin, there’s, Dan Goldman, ”, “, Kevin McCarthy’s, YJkYIvBpED, @Morning_Joe, Beau, ” Biden, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Nancy Pelosi, “ Donald Trump couldn’t Organizations: Service, LBJ, Trump, White, CNN, Voters, NBC, NBC News, Maryland Democrat, Republicans, ”, New, New York Democrat, MSNBC, Florida Gov, UN, Democratic, Committee Locations: United States, Mexico, New York, Florida

☆ What is a typical degree of cognitive ability for a person in their 80s?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Mira Cheng | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

How we change as we ageA decline in cognitive abilities is a normal part of healthy aging, said Dr. Emily Rogalski, Rosalind Franklin Professor of Neurology at the University of Chicago. A diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment is made clinically when cognitive difficulties become frequent and fall outside what is considered normal aging. “There’s not a whole lot of good evidence that there’s anything special about age 80 that leads to a drop-off” in cognitive abilities, Mather said. And they use cognitive tests, such as the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE) or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), to assess performance in different cognitive areas. Although population-level data associates aging with cognitive decline, the actual manifestation of aging is very diverse on an individual level, Rogalski said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump, Nikki Haley, Nancy Pelosi, Emily Rogalski, Rosalind Franklin, ”, Molly Mather, “, Angela Roberts, Roberts, “ There’s, Mather, MMSE, We’re, ” Mather, Nir Barzilai, Rogalski, “ We’ve, superagers, Barzilai, “ It’s, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ” Roberts Organizations: CNN, House, Republican, NBC, Neurology, University of Chicago, UCSF, Aging, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, National Institute, Western University, Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, American Federation for Aging Research, Trump, Biden, Get CNN, CNN Health, ” Locations: Mexico, Egypt, Montreal

☆ Biden erupts over special counsel’s report as aides look to short-circuit campaign risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Biden’s aides know there is no topic more likely to draw their boss’ fury than a slight against his family. Only about 45 minutes before Hur’s report was released publicly, the White House was working to downplay the verbal slip-ups, saying it’s common for people to misspeak. “Many people, elected officials … they can misspeak sometimes,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, citing recent examples from House Speaker Mike Johnson and TV host Sean Hannity. The report was released anyway, with the objections of Biden’s lawyers included – but only toward the end of the nearly 400-page report. “I was in the middle of handling an international crisis,” Biden said Thursday about an hour after the report was released.

Persons: Robert Hur’s, Joe Biden, Biden’s, Biden, ” Biden seethed, Hur, fumed, hasn’t, Daniel Goldman, ” Goldman, “, ” Biden, ”, Hur –, Donald Trump’s, forgetful, I’ve, –, CNN’s MJ Lee, Bidenworld, Helmut Kohl, Francois Mitterrand, …, Karine Jean, Pierre, Mike Johnson, Sean Hannity, she’s, Beau Biden’s, Hurt, Biden “, Beau, Israel – Organizations: Washington CNN, House, Democratic, Trump Justice Department, White, CNN, Biden, Republicans, Trump Locations: New York, Gaza, Mexico, Egypt, Israel

☆ Opinion: The border compromise would’ve helped—a lot
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Fareed Zakaria | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Today, people come to the border and rather than running away from the law they run toward it. “He is enforcing the laws; the problem is that the laws need to change.”It’s not just the laws. But again, that requires changes to asylum laws. Were it to pass, it might well solve large parts of the border problem — which would not serve him politically. He wrote on social media, “This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats.”The rest of the West is facing a similar challenge and is grappling with how to adjust immigration and asylum laws.

Persons: Fareed Zakaria, Fareed, Read, CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Greg Abbott, Ron DeSantis, Elon Musk, Steve Scalise, ”, Trump, “, Oklahoma Sen, James Lankford, ’, ’ ” Trump, David Frum, ” Frum, ” It’s Organizations: CNN, Fareed’s, Democratic Party, Republicans, Texas Gov, Florida Gov, Elon, Oklahoma, Customs Enforcement, Senate, White House, Democratic Locations: Texas, Florida, America

☆ Biden’s allies can’t agree on how to combat questions about his age and memory
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

How damaging are all the renewed questions about age and mental acuity going to be? One Democratic member of the House responded to being told of the questions about age and memory raised in the report with a morbid laugh and sullen shake of the head. Inside the White House and among Biden’s reelection campaign staff, the tension is constant. Biden aides also feel themselves that this hasn’t been enough. Most importantly, they reflect what Biden aides have learned from experience: Nothing combats questions about the president’s competence as much as people seeing him in action.

Persons: Joe Biden, notecards, Biden, –, Donald Trump, couldn’t, he’s, Trump, ”, West, they’ve, Annie Kuster, “, ” Kuster, don’t, Kevin McCarthy –, Emanuel, Gabe Amo, Emmanuel Macron, François Mitterrand, Abdel Fattah el, ‘ Mitterrand, Dina Titus, “ Joe Biden, Jamie Raskin, Trump’s, Jean Caroll, Raskin, ” Biden, Biden’s, Kate Berner, Andrew Bates, “ Biden, ” Bates, Bates jabbed, Beau Biden, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Kevin Liptak Organizations: Virginia CNN, Democrats, CNN, Democratic, Trump, Washington, West Wing, New, Nevada Democrat, Senate, ” Maryland, “, White, Security, Republicans, Border Patrol Union, Biden, House Democrats Locations: Leesburg, Virginia, New Hampshire, Valley Forge, Charleston, Las Vegas, Rhode Island, Israel, Mexico, Egypt, Nevada, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ Dysfunctional Week Exposes the Fissures, Fractures and Fault Lines Across the GOP
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Lauren Camera | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +8 min

“The Republican Party is not really a conservative party anymore – it’s a populist party,” he says. “What are the incentives for conservatives to take these positions?” asks Joshua Huder, senior fellow at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. “This Republican Party is spiraling out of control. Last week, the RNC reported its lowest fundraising totals in 10 years, entering 2024 with just $8 million in cash on hand. Prosecutors are seeking $370 million – a loss that has the potential to ruin him financially ahead of the November election.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump, ”, David Barker, –, Mike Johnson, Alejandro Mayorkas, Johnson couldn’t, Joshua Huder, Georgetown University’s, Johnson, Sen, Chris Murphy, it's Donald Trump –, who’s, Mitch McConnell’s, – Sen, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee of Utah, Ron Johnson of, Mitch ” trended, intraparty, Mitch McConnell, ” Huder, I’m, Ronna McDaniel, isn’t, Joe Biden Organizations: Republican National Committee, Republican, Republican Party, American University, Center, Congressional, Presidential, Republicans, Homeland, Israel, Georgetown, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public, Senate, Connecticut Democrat, RNC, South Carolina, U.S ., Trump, Capitol, Prosecutors Locations: Connecticut, Ted Cruz of Texas, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, underperformed, Washington, Manhattan

The unredacted report found that Biden carelessly handled classified materials after he left the vice presidency, even sharing classified materials with the ghostwriter for his autobiography. But the report by special counsel Robert K. Hur recommended that Biden not be prosecuted, since the evidence was not powerful enough to charge him. It was that headline Biden himself seized on Wednesday afternoon as he rallied fellow Democrats at their retreat in Leesburg, Virginia. "I was especially pleased to see the special counsel make clear the stark differences in this case and Donald Trump," Biden added, referring to the 40 -count indictment against the former president. Trump is facing serious legal consequences because of his classified documents case, but Biden may face serious political damage from the special counsel's report on his handling of classified materials.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Beau, Robert K, Hur, Donald Trump, Trump, –, Jack Smith, ’, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Nikki Haley, Richard Sauber Organizations: Justice Department, Republicans, GOP, United Nations Locations: Leesburg , Virginia, Afghanistan, Leesburg, Israel

The Senate on Wednesday rejected a bipartisan border deal that took months of negotiations, leaving billions of dollars in proposed foreign aid in limbo. It’s unclear what shape the final foreign aid bill could take and whether House Republicans will support it. “There are other parts of this supplemental that are extremely important as well: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan,” McConnell said. “First Republicans said they would only do Ukraine and Israel, humanitarian aid with border. The Biden administration this week indicated its support for a standalone foreign aid bill – a position they’ve held for months.

Persons: Biden, Chuck Schumer, Sen, Rand Paul of Kentucky, ” Paul, “, ” Sen, Brian Schatz, ”, Alejandro Mayorkas, Mike Johnson, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, ” Schumer, Andrew Bates, John Kirby Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Hawaii, The Washington Post, GOP, Homeland, Republicans, “, White House Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Taiwan, Gaza

☆ Senate advances $95 billion Ukraine, Israel funding bill, faces uphill battle as budget talks loom
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

By a final tally of 67-32, senators voted to begin debate on a $95 billion aid package to fund Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and humanitarian aid in war-torn regions. The $95 billion bill was a stripped-down version of the Senate's $118 billion bipartisan funding package, which was released on Sunday. Ukraine aid was the centerpiece of a particularly dramatic saga in September. But Johnson's hatred for CRs might not be enough to outweigh his desire to torpedo the Senate's foreign aid bill. Even if senators can pass the $95 billion, border-less bill, House Republicans have not confirmed which way they will swing on it.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Schumer, tanked, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Mike Johnson Organizations: Democratic Caucus, U.S . Capitol, Republicans, Republican, CRs Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

☆ These 17 GOP senators voted to advance a $95.3 billion Ukraine and Israel aid package — without the controversial border provisions that Republicans have rejected
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, 17 Republican senators joined with Democrats to begin debate on a version of the foreign aid bill that no longer includes any of the border security provisions. AdvertisementThe $95.34 billion package contains $60 billion in new aid to Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $9.15 billion for humanitarian assistance, including for Gaza. In May 2022 — the last time the Senate voted on a bill primarily dealing with Ukraine aid — 39 GOP senators supported it. Several Democratic senators are hoping to impose new conditions on Israel aid amid the devastating war in Gaza, and Republicans may offer amendments of their own. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has threatened to call a vote on ousting Johnson from the speakership if he allows another vote on Ukraine aid.

Persons: —, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Service, House Republicans, Republican, Democrats, Business, GOP, —, Democratic, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, United States, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Vermont

☆ Biden’s verbal slip-ups over dead European leaders put the focus on his most potent political weakness: His age
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Two verbal slip-ups in the last few days are again bringing the concerns about the president’s cognition to the forefront. A January NBC poll of 1,000 registered voters found that three quarters of all voters, including half of Democrats, had concerns about Biden’s physical or mental health. The White House did not immediately provide a response to this story. In last year’s physical, Biden’s physician said an “extremely detailed” neurologic exam found no findings that would be consistent with stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. As with his previous physical in 2021, the White House did not say whether Biden underwent any cognitive tests, which some doctors recommend for older adults.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, juggles, Biden, – François Mitterrand, Helmut Kohl –, Robert Hur’s, Beau, Trump, Karine Jean, Pierre, Mike Johnson, Sean Hannity, ” Jean, Pierre said, –, I’ve, ”, Biden misspeaks –, Emmanuel Macron, Mitterrand –, Kohl, Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz, “ Helmut Kohl, ‘ Joe, ” Biden, Biden’s, Dean Phillips, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Haley, Nancy Pelosi, ” Haley, Jean, Kevin O’Connor, “, Covid, ” O’Connor, O’Connor, Kevin Liptak, MJ Lee Organizations: Washington CNN, House, White, NBC, Senate, London Times, Democratic, Republican South, United Nations, Trump, CNN, Biden Locations: Israel, Germany, New York, Republican South Carolina, United States

WASHINGTON (AP) — How it began: President Joe Biden was urgently seeking more money from Congress to aid Ukraine and Israel. On Dec. 12, the White House dispatched senior officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, to join the negotiations. It was never entirely clear what the White House strategy was to advance the border compromise in the House should it make it out of the Senate. With that, the deal that the White House and many in the Senate thought would pass was headed for failure. And Biden allies are intent on making Republicans take the hit for any further scenes of chaos at the border.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, aren't, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Biden's, Mike Johnson, Alejandro Mayorkas, “, ”, Sen, Chris Murphy, Conn, Johnson, Karine Jean, Pierre, Mike Rogers, could’ve, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, —, ” Trump, Trump, I’ll, MAGA, ‘, ” Biden, Murphy, ” Murphy, “ I’ve Organizations: WASHINGTON, GOP, Republican, Trump, White, Biden, Associated Press, Senate Democrats, Republicans, U.S, Democratic, New, White House, Homeland, Democrat, Senate, Armed Services, House Republicans, ”, MAGA Republicans, MAGA Republican Locations: Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Mexico, Ukrainian, New York City, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Washington

☆ Biden tries to lay to rest age concerns, but may have exacerbated them
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —A probe that spared President Joe Biden from criminal charges paradoxically dealt him a threatening political blow. The president’s defenders often get frustrated when the political conversation is dominated by Biden’s age – rather than Trump’s repeated challenges to the rule of law. In another CNN poll last week, 46% of Democrats were concerned about Biden’s age. Hur’s report rebuked Biden for willfully retaining classified information, including top secret documents after he left the vice presidency. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis was kinder but his comments over Biden’s age were also cutting.

Persons: Joe Biden, Robert Hur’s, Biden, ” Biden fumed, Donald Trump’s, CNN’s MJ Lee, “, ”, Hur, Beau’s, ” Biden, he’s, Trump, Kamala Harris, —, Nikki Haley, Nancy Pelosi —, he’d, Trump’s, Hur’s, ” Hur, Beau, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, North Carolina Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, I’m, ” Tillis, “ I’m, …, I’ve, Arizona Sen, Mark Kelly Organizations: CNN, White, Trump, Republican, Biden, Republicans, GOP, Twitter, North Carolina Republican Locations: Egypt, Mexico, America, Washington, Ukraine, Gaza, Lago, Afghanistan, Maryland, Florida, Arizona

The pay increase appeared to have bipartisan support, though lawmakers never voted directly on it. Supporters of the pay increase say it is likely to make the Legislature more diverse when it's in danger of becoming mostly retirees and wealthy people. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican, saw opposition to the pay raise as political grandstanding. Olson said he doubts lawmakers' constituents support such a big pay raise and said they should have the courage to debate it and vote on it. And his boss — the taxpayers — haven't told him a pay raise is OK with them, he said.

Persons: Sen, Cindy Holscher, ”, Dan Hawkins, “, Rob Olson, Ty Masterson, Nicholas Reinecker, it's, Olson, Ken Corbet, —, — haven't, Becky Bohrer Organizations: Legislative, Wednesday, Alaska, New, National Conference of, Legislatures, Wichita Republican, Kansas City, Republican, ” Legislature, Topeka Republican, Associated Press Locations: TOPEKA, Kan, Kansas, Georgia, Texas, Kansas City, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Wichita, Topeka, Juneau , Alaska

“We have a razor thin margin here and every vote counts and people show up when they're not expected to be in the building that changed the equation,” he said about the Mayorkas vote, but insisted that the chamber will try, try again. and Massey is one of my dear friends and colleagues and I don't take this as a reflection on the leader. It's a reflection on the body itself and the place where we come in this country,” he said. He said the House would “take a look” at whatever funding bill the Senate sends over. We’re allowing the process to play out and we’ll handle it as it is sent over,” he said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, night’s, Alejandro Mayorkas, they're, ”, “, Biden, CNN’s Manu Raju, Thomas Massie –, Kevin McCarthy, Johnson, Massey Organizations: Department of Homeland Security, GOP Locations: Israel

☆ Update: House Republicans are still a mess
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In a matter of minutes, Republicans failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. For days after gaining the majority, the GOP was unable to secure enough votes to make Kevin McCarthy House speaker. Between those two events, House GOP leaders lost control of the floor multiple times. Fourteen Republicans joined House Democrats in opposing the aid to Israel, a result that once would have been stunning considering the decades of bipartisan support for the nation. Now, it's just another reminder of how much of a mess Congress, and in particular, House Republicans, have become.

Persons: —, Mike Johnson, Alejandro Mayorkas, Johnson, Steve Scalise, Ken Buck, impeaching Mayorkas, Scalise's, Scalise, Bloomberg's Billy House, George Santos, Al Green of, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin McCarthy, Israel package's, Joe Biden's, Biden, Chuck Schumer Organizations: Service, Republicans, Homeland, Business, GOP, Colorado Republican, Democratic, The Washington Post, Republican, House Democrats, House Republicans Locations: Israel, Washington, New York, George Santos ., Al Green of Texas, Ukraine, Taiwan

The state Supreme Court's brief order Tuesday shutting down the suit said legislators have fulfilled promises of annual increases in aid to the state's 286 local school districts as outlined in a 2019 law. But closing the case gives the Legislature more leeway on school funding issues in the short term. Educators who feel legislators aren't providing enough money or distributing it fairly enough were able to take their complaints directly to the state Supreme Court while the case was open. Four school districts sued the state in 2010, and the Supreme Court issued seven rulings from 2010 to 2019. The first six told lawmakers that they needed to increase spending or distribute the money more fairly or both.

Persons: backtracked, Vic Miller, Eric Rosen, ” Leah Fliter, Laura Kelly, Kelly, “, Dan Hawkins, Sen, Molly Baumgardner, Kris Kobach, Kobach, ” Kobach, Alan Rupe, ” Organizations: Republican, GOP, Republicans, Kansas House, Kansas Association of School, Democratic Gov, Wichita Republican Locations: TOPEKA, Kan, Kansas, —, Wichita, Kansas City

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