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House Republicans were thrown for a loop on Tuesday when a vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the southern border failed after four Republicans voted against it. House GOP leaders displayed confidence going into the vote despite knowing ahead of time that at least a couple Republican members were going to vote against impeachment. Republicans could try to impeach Mayorkas again once Scalise returns. GOP efforts to impeach Mayorkas were vehemently opposed by the Biden administration and the Homeland Security Department. Republican senators on Tuesday indicated that they would block a procedural vote for the bipartisan border deal this week.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, “, We’ll, Tom Emmer, Tom McClintock of, John Gallagher of, Ken Buck, Blake Moore of, ” McClintock, Steve Scalise, Mayorkas, Scalise, Biden, ’, Joe Biden –, Mike Johnson, Mitch McConnell, ” Organizations: Republicans, Homeland, GOP, Republican, Tom McClintock of California, Court, Democrats, Homeland Security Department Locations: John Gallagher of Wisconsin, Ken Buck of, Blake Moore of Utah

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House is ready to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over border security, a deeply partisan and highly unusual attack on a Cabinet official that has drawn concerns from constitutional scholars and rebuke from Democrats. The House vote on the charges, which Democrats say are untrue and hardly grounds for impeachment, is set for Tuesday. “Very clearly Secretary Mayorkas has picked and chosen which laws he's going to enforce,” said Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, at a hearing ahead of the vote. Green’s committee had been investigating the Homeland Security secretary for much of the past year, but a resolution from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a Trump ally, pushed it to the fore. Even if Republicans are able to impeach Mayorkas, he is not expected to be convicted in a Senate trial where Republican senators have been cool to the effort.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Mayorkas, “, ”, —, William Belknap, Mark Green, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Neguse, Biden, Hunter Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Trump, Mike Johnson, it's “, ” It's, Johnson, Jonathan Turley, Alan Dershowitz, Deborah Pearlstein, Belknap Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Homeland, Republicans, Homeland Security, Democrats, Mayorkas, Princeton Program, Law, Public, Capitol Locations: U.S, Mexico, Mayorkas, impeachments

☆ Trump and his GOP allies kneecap a border compromise they should have loved
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Bill would mean a huge change in the lawThe border compromise would represent a dramatic change of immigration law on lines many Republicans have long supported. 2 won only GOP support when it passed the House and all those who voted for it knew there was never a chance it could get through a Democratic Senate and White House. “Any national security package has to begin with the security of our own border,” Johnson said in December. “Only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill,” the ex-president wrote on Truth Social on Monday. “This is the chaos when Donald Trump is back in charge of the Republican Party,” Murphy told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Oklahoma’s James Lankford, ”, Dan Bongino, Mississippi Sen, Roger Wicker, Mitch McConnell’s, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, thrall, Kevin McCarthy, “, ” McCarthy, Lankford, McCarthy, CNN’s Manu Raju, Biden, didn’t, Biden’s, he’d, Barack Obama, George W, Bush, ” McConnell, Bill, Tim Burchett, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” Johnson, he’s, –, it’s, harangue Biden, ” Trump, imperil Biden’s, Trump . Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, Donald Trump, ” Murphy, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Organizations: CNN, Donald Trump’s Republican Party, White, Trump, Republicans, GOP, Republican, Homeland, Border Patrol, Democratic, California Republican, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Congress, Customs, Department of Homeland Security, ” Tennessee, Radical Left Democrat, Democrats, Republican Party, Trump . Connecticut Locations: Washington, Mississippi, California, Oklahoma, Mexico, H.R, Ukraine, Trump .

Under California rules, Democrats and Republicans appear on the same primary ballot and the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of political party. Come November, the seat is expected to stay in Democratic hands in a state where Republicans haven’t won a U.S. Senate election since 1988. Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler, a longtime Democratic organizer, to fulfill Feinstein's term, and Butler chose not to seek election to the seat. In 2016 and 2018, GOP Senate candidates performed so poorly that two Democrats appeared on the November ballot. Porter opposes earmarks — where lawmakers direct federal spending to a specific project or institution back home — while Schiff and Lee endorsed them.

Persons: Democratic Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Adam Schiff, Donald Trump’s, Schiff, He’s, Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, Steve Garvey, Republicans haven’t, Garvey, ” Schiff, Garvey “, Porter, ”, Feinstein, Gavin Newsom, Laphonza Butler, Butler, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, . Garvey, Eric Early, spotlighting, Alex Padilla, Mark Meuser, wasn’t, “, … I’ve, I’ve, Nancy Pelosi, Lee Organizations: ANGELES, Senate, Democratic, Democratic U.S . Rep, Democratic House, Republican, Los Angeles Dodgers, National League MVP, Republicans, U.S, GOP, Congress, Democrats, White, Trump, Dodger, Capitol Locations: U.S, California, ”, Los Angeles, Israel, Gaza, Russia

☆ Manipulated Biden video can remain online, Meta’s Oversight Board rules
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —A video on Facebook manipulated to suggest that President Joe Biden behaves inappropriately toward women can remain on the platform, but only because of a problematic loophole in Meta’s “incoherent” policies, the company’s Oversight Board said Monday. The Board reviewed the case after a user who reported the video appealed Meta’s decision not to remove the content. Meta’s manipulated media policy applies only to video that has been altered by artificial intelligence and that makes it appear as if a person said something they did not. Because Biden video did the things portrayed in the video – even if it was heavily edited to create a false impression – the video was allowed to stay on the platform. Meta’s policy on manipulated media provides exemptions for parody and satire, as well as selectively edited content that omits or changes the order of words said in a video.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Meta’s, Meta, ”, “, Nancy Pelosi, factchecker, Pelosi Organizations: Washington CNN, Facebook, Meta

CNN —President Joe Biden would veto a proposed standalone aid package for Israel, the White House said Monday, as House Republicans look to tank a long-awaited bipartisan Senate border deal that would include aid to US allies. “Instead of working in good faith to address the most pressing national security challenges, this bill is another cynical political maneuver.”“The security of Israel should be sacred, not a political game,” the statement continued. CNN previously reported that Johnson was planning to move a $17.6 billion Israel bill with no offsets, upping pressure on Democrats to support it, but it has run into some headwinds on the right and the left. And the idea that Joe Biden would suggest that he would not send a clean funding measure to assist them is just outrageous. Johnson last week called on the Senate to swiftly take up the Israel bill, ratcheting up pressure on senators to abandon their efforts to keep Israel aid linked with other issues.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Johnson, CNN’s Manu Raju Monday, Israel, –, Vladimir, ” CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Clare Foran, Lauren Fox, Ted Barrett, Priscilla Alvarez, Kristin Wilson Organizations: CNN, Republicans, White, House Republicans, Senate Locations: Israel, Ukraine

☆ Trump hates the bipartisan immigration-Ukraine deal so much that he's falsely claiming he didn't endorse the GOP senator who helped write it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump is misleading people about his past support for Republican Sen. James Lankford. Trump endorsed Lankford in 2022, but he's trying to distance himself from him now. Lankford was the lead Republican negotiator for a bipartisan immigration-Ukraine deal that Trump loathes. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump took aim at Republican Sen. James Lankford on Monday, falsely claiming he did not previously back the Oklahoman amid a torrent of criticism directed at the bipartisan Ukraine-immigration deal. "I think this is a very bad bill for his career and especially in Oklahoma," Trump told Bongino.

Persons: Trump, Republican Sen, James Lankford, Lankford, —, Donald Trump, Dan Bongino, Sen, Dan Bongino’s, ”, Mike Johnson, Bongino, Tom Coburn, MAGA, Dan, Mitch McConnell, CNN's Jake Tapper Organizations: Republican, Trump, Service, Senate, China, Baptist, Democratic, Republicans Locations: Ukraine, Asia Pacific, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Arizona

Fewer than 24 hours after a long-awaited, bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package was unveiled in the Senate, opposition is rapidly mounting in the chamber – making it increasingly possible the bill will not survive a key vote expected this week. The grim odds facing the bill in the Senate come as former President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have continued to attack the deal, ratcheting up pressure on Senate Republicans to oppose it or risk facing a conservative backlash. So far, 18 Republican senators have publicly criticized the bill, including Montana Sen. Steve Daines, a member of Senate GOP leadership. For all of these reasons I will vote no when the bill is brought to the Senate floor this week,” he said. It’s unclear, however, whether a foreign aid package would be able to pass on its own as many Senate Republicans have demanded tighter border security in exchange for aid to those allies.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, hasn’t, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, Sen, Kyrsten, James Lankford of, Montana Sen, Steve Daines, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, ”, New Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez, California Sen, Alex Padilla, Menendez, ” Padilla, Bernie Sanders, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Lankford, CNN’s Kristin Wilson Organizations: Republicans, Israel, West Bank, Democratic, GOP, Republican, National Republican Senatorial, House Republicans, California, Trump, ICE, Border Patrol Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Arizona, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Montana, Texas, New Jersey, America, Vermont, United States, Israel

A bipartisan coalition of senators over the weekend released a long-awaited and highly anticipated bill that spans border security and international aid for Ukraine and Israel in their wartime efforts. The proposed deal would substantially change immigration laws and also provide $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. Some Republicans have grown skeptical of additional funding for Ukraine, which President Joe Biden proposed in a supplemental spending package. But GOP hard-liners insisted on border reforms before any consideration of Ukraine aid – which is how the border bill originated. Additionally, it includes $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel and some pockets of money for humanitarian aid in war-torn regions.

Persons: Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Johnson, Don’t, Chuck Schumer, MSNBC’s, Joe ”, ”, Here’s, Joe Biden Organizations: Israel, of Homeland Security, International, Ukraine, Russia, United Nations Relief, Agency, Asylum Locations: Ukraine, Israel, U.S

☆ Lindsey Graham blasts the timing of the Biden administration's retaliatory strikes on Iran-linked targets: 'They're not afraid of us'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lindsey Graham called out Biden's strategy to deter Iran-linked groups in the Middle East. "If the goal is to deter Iran, you're failing miserably," Graham told Fox News on Sunday. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementSen. Lindsey Graham on Sunday criticized the timing of the Biden administration's retaliatory strikes in response to a January drone attack that killed three US service members in Jordan. "If the goal is to deter Iran, you're failing miserably.

Persons: Lindsey Graham, Graham, —, Sen, Donald, Trump, Biden, Mississippi Sen, Roger Wicker, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden Organizations: Fox News, Reuters, Service, Sunday, Biden, Fox, South Carolina Republican Locations: Iran, Jordan, United States, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Israel, Mississippi, Louisiana, Gaza

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators on Sunday raced to release a highly-anticipated bill that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies as part of a long-shot effort to push the package through heavy skepticism from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. With Congress stalled on approving tens of billions of dollars in Ukraine aid, the U.S. has halted shipments of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia's invasion. In a bid to overcome opposition from House Republicans, McConnell had insisted last year that border policy changes be included in the national security funding package. However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while Donald Trump and his allies have both criticized the proposed measures as insufficient. Biden, referencing the authority, has said he would use it to “shut down the border” as soon as the bill is signed into law.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Sen, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Biden, Donald Trump, Johnson, ”, ” Johnson, —, Trump, Israel —, Kyrsten, Hakeem Jeffries, Senate appropriators Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Sunday, Republican, House Republicans, Senate, Israel, Republicans, CBS, Border Patrol, Migrants, Capitol . House Democratic, Washington , D.C, Senators Locations: Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Kyiv, Louisiana, Arizona, Mexico, Washington ,, Gaza

☆ Senators race to release their package of border policies and aid for Ukraine and Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Senators on Sunday raced to release a highly-anticipated bill that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies as part of a long-shot effort to push the package through heavy skepticism from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. With Congress stalled on approving tens of billions of dollars in Ukraine aid, the U.S. has halted shipments of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russia's invasion. However, in an election-year shift on immigration, Biden and many Democrats have embraced the idea of strict border enforcement, while Donald Trump and his allies have both criticized the proposed measures as insufficient. Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, in an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" said he was unaware of the bill's details, but pointed to a House proposal of hardline immigration measures. The border proposal, which took months to negotiate, is aimed at gaining control of an asylum system that has been overwhelmed by historic numbers of migrants coming to the border.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Sen, McConnell, Biden, Donald Trump, Johnson, —, Trump, Israel —, Kyrsten, Hakeem Jeffries, Senate appropriators Organizations: U.S, Senators, Capitol, Sunday, Republican, House Republicans, Senate, Israel, Republicans, CBS, Border Patrol, Migrants, Capitol . House Democratic, Washington , D.C Locations: Ky, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Kyiv, Louisiana, Arizona, Mexico, Washington ,, Gaza

The segment is a faux CNN town hall with Trump in Columbia, South Carolina, which holds the next nominating contest on Feb. 24. Trump had mistakenly asserted that Haley was in charge of security at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the building. After the town hall moderators correct the stand-in Trump, Haley asks, “Are you doing OK Donald? Trump has boasted that he has “aced” cognitive tests in the past, and Johnson's Trump told Haley: “You know what I did. “I was just curious, what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War?” Edebiri asked Haley during the show.

Persons: “, ” Haley, “ SNL's ” Kenan Thompson, Punkie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Gayle King, James Austin Johnson, Haley, Nikki Haley, ”, it's, It's Nancy Pelosi, Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, Donald, Johnson's Trump, Edebiri, ” Edebiri, ‘ lavery ’, ’ Organizations: CNN, Trump, Democratic Rep, Capitol, U.S . Capitol Police, House, SNL Locations: Columbia , South Carolina, South Carolina, Carolina, New Hampshire, California, U.S, Trump, New York

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth condemned the depiction by Trump and Republican allies of Jan. 6 defendants as “political prisoners” and “hostages." Lamberth also denounced attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the justice system for punishing rioters who broke the law when they invaded the Capitol. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesAt least two other rioters shouted “Trump won!” in court after receiving their punishment. Lamberth had originally sentenced Little in 2022 to 60 days behind bars, followed by three years of probation. “Little cannot bring himself to admit that he did the wrong thing, although he came close today,” Judge Lamberth wrote.

Persons: Royce Lamberth, Trump, ”, Lamberth, Ronald Reagan, Marc Bru, ” Bru, “ Trump, Rachel Marie Powell, Judge Amit Mehta, " Mehta, Barack Obama, Peter Schwartz, You’re, Alexei Navalny, “, James Little, Little, Little’s, Judge Lamberth, Christopher Cooper, Richard “ Bigo ” Barnett, Nancy Pelosi’s, ” Cooper, Barnett, ____ Richer Organizations: District, Republican, Capitol, Trump, White, CNN, Washington , D.C, House, The Associated Press, J6 Locations: Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Washington ,, North Carolina, Arkansas, Boston

☆ Mike Johnson said Trump isn't 'calling the shots' for House Republicans after the president implored them to reject a bipartisan border security deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewHouse Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday rejected the idea that former President Donald Trump was "calling the shots" on border security. I am calling the shots for the House," Johnson said. "And I have been saying this far longer than President Trump has," he continued. "He could close the border literally overnight," the speaker continued, referring to Biden. The president last month said that if the Senate passed a bipartisan border security bill, he'd "shut down the border" whenever it was overwhelmed with attempted crossings.

Persons: —, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Johnson, Kristen Welker, Trump's, He's, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Service, Sunday, Capitol, Business, NBC, GOP, White, Louisiana Republican, Senate, Trump, Republicans Locations: Mexico, Louisiana, Ukraine

☆ Opinion: Nikki Haley’s ‘SNL’ cameo raises questions about Trump we should all be asking
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Stephanie Griffith | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Johnson’s Trump began delivering laughs by answering questions from random South Carolina voters, including one that asked “Trump” what made him think he could defeat President Joe Biden. Haley then raised the issue of Trump’s mental fitness, asking, “Are you doing OK, Donald? Then there is Haley’s demand that Trump debate her, a matter which in my view is not unrelated to the issue of Trump’s mental acuity. Trump’s refusal to debate during the GOP primaries so far has deprived the nation that opportunity. It’s a far lesser transgression, but Trump’s refusal to debate Haley should be viewed by all Americans through that prism.

Persons: Dean Obeidallah, Nikki Haley, “ Donald Trump ”, —, Gayle King, Punkie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenan Thompson, Trump, James Austin Johnson, Johnson’s Trump, “ Trump, Joe Biden, Johnson, “, Haley, ”, Johnson’s, it’s, “ Nikki Haley ”, Trump’s, Nancy Pelosi, Donald, ” Trump’s, SNL, Megyn Kelly —, Glenn, Biden, Barack Obama, Ron DeSantis, won’t, Stephen Colbert Organizations: CNN, GOP, Dean Obeidallah CNN, Trump, South, Palmetto, Johnson’s Trump, Capitol, Florida Gov, SNL Locations: South Carolina, Carolina, what’s

☆ Historic day in Northern Ireland as Michelle O’Neill becomes first nationalist leader
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Amy Cassidy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —In a historic moment, a nationalist politician has become First Minister of Northern Ireland as power-sharing resumed after a two-year break. But the symbolism of a Sinn Féin representative becoming first minister is still obvious and in Northern Ireland symbols matter a lot – perhaps too much. “The whole point of creating Northern Ireland a century ago was that it would always have a Protestant majority committed to staying within the United Kingdom. “It doesn’t mean that a United Ireland is an immediate prospect but it does mean that the whole future of Northern Ireland is very much an open question. The task now is to make that openness promising and full of opportunity rather than threatening and full of fear.”The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland.

Persons: Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Féin, ”, “, ” O’Neill, Emma Little, –, “ Michelle, Protestants –, ’, Fintan O’Toole, Michelle O’Neill’s Organizations: CNN, Irish Republican Army, IRA, Unionist, Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, Northern Ireland Assembly, Irish Republican, Protestants, Northern, Westminster Locations: Northern Ireland, Ireland, Irish, United Kingdom, United Ireland, London

☆ House Speaker Johnson announces 'standalone' Israel funding package
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) holds a news conference following a caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on January 30, 2024 in Washington, DC. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Saturday announced an Israel-only funding package to be voted on next week, a huge step in the deadlocked negotiations over emergency aid that President Joe Biden initially proposed in October. "Next week, we will take up and pass a clean, standalone Israel supplemental package," the speaker wrote in a "Dear Friends" letter. This bill separates aid to Israel from Ukraine, Taiwan and the U.S. southern border, all of which were linked in Biden's original $105 billion aid proposal. But disagreements over how to address the U.S. border and whether to fund Ukraine's defense against Russia stalled the passage of Biden's October aid package.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden Organizations: U.S, Capitol Visitors Center, Saturday, Russia Locations: Washington ,, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Taiwan, U.S

☆ Kinzinger blasts Republican efforts to link border security with Ukraine funding: 'The whole party has become a joke'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger blasted the GOP for its attempt to tie Ukraine aid to border security. "It's not a serious party," the former congressman told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. AdvertisementFormer Rep. Adam Kinzinger on Thursday blasted congressional Republicans over their attempt to link wartime Ukraine aid with border security, arguing that the GOP isn't a "serious" political party. "It's not a serious party," he continued. Donald Trump has been vocal in his distaste for the bipartisan border security plan, remarking that he would gladly take credit should it fall apart.

Persons: Adam Kinzinger, CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Mike Johnson, —, Kinzinger, Biden, you've, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson of Organizations: GOP, Saturday, Service, Republican, Democratic Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Mike Johnson of Louisiana

Senators are preparing for a key test vote on the package next week, but it already faces a steep climb through Congress. Republicans in both chambers have balked at compromises on border security policy. Senate Republicans had initially demanded that the package include border policy changes, but Donald Trump, the GOP's likely presidential nominee, has become a vocal opponent of the legislation. “Republicans said the border is a priority and we should craft a bipartisan bill to help control the border. But I’m just telling people right now we do not need a border policy.

Persons: Sen, Chris Murphy, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, ” Murphy, ” Sen, Kyrsten, Biden, Mike Johnson, Tommy Tuberville, Steve Bannon's, I’m, Lisa Mascaro Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Democratic, Republican Senate, Senators, Republicans, Democrats, Trump, Republican, U.S, ___ Associated Locations: U.S, Mexico, Ukraine, Israel, Arizona, Alabama

☆ Taiwan elects parliament speaker ruling party views as pro-China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Elected Legislators attend a swearing-in ceremony at the chamber of the Legislative Yuan on the first day of session in Taipei on Feb. 1, 2024. Taiwan's parliament on Thursday elected a former presidential candidate for the largest opposition party as its new speaker, who will be responsible for hosting visiting foreign lawmakers and who the ruling party has said is pro-China. The Democratic Progressive Party's, or DPP, Lai Ching-te last month won the presidential election but the party lost its majority in parliament. China, which claims Taiwan as its own despite the objections of the government in Taipei, views the DPP as separatists. Han Kuo-yu, from the largest opposition party the Kuomintang, or KMT, and who badly lost the presidential election to the DPP's Tsai Ing-wen in 2020, won the election for the speakership.

Persons: Yuan, Lai Ching, Han Kuo, Tsai Ing, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: Democratic Progressive, Kuomintang, KMT, . Locations: Taipei, Taiwan's, China, Taiwan

☆ House GOP skeptical Biden inquiry leads to impeachment as election draws near
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Annie Grayer | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Some of the ire has been directed at House Oversight Chairman James Comer, who has spearheaded the investigation into Biden family business records. “I don’t think it goes anywhere,” one Republican lawmaker said of the Biden impeachment inquiry. One senior GOP impeachment inquiry aide said it would be “a win too in our eyes” if the probe ended with legislative proposals to reform federal ethics laws, regardless of the decision on impeachment. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, who is co-leading the investigation, acknowledged a Biden impeachment is not a forgone conclusion. “Nobody is talking about that,” said GOP Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington state, when asked for his thoughts on the Biden impeachment inquiry.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden's, Hunter Biden, James, ahas, Scott Perry, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Biden, “, Nicole Malliotakis, ”, –, James Comer, Kevin McCarthy, Comer, we’ve, it’s, Alejandro Mayorkas, Jim Jordan, ” Jordan, Jason Smith, Biden – it’s, I’m, ” Comer, Comer’s, Steve Scalise, BIden’s, ” Scalise, Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, David Schweikert, Mike Garcia of California, Dan Newhouse, David Valadao of, you’re, Hunter Biden’s, Hunter, Victoria Spartz, “ It’s, ” CNN’s Haley Talbot Organizations: Republicans, Democratic, GOP, Republican, New York, CNN, Homeland, Representatives, Committee, Biden, Washington, Victoria Locations: Scott Perry of, New, Jordan, Missouri, Arizona, David Valadao of California, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, House

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A second defendant has pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local lawmakers in Albuquerque after the 2022 election, the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office announced Friday. Demetrio Trujillo pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy, election interference and firearms-related charges, officials said. Raul Bujanda, special agent in charge of the FBI Albuquerque field office, announced the developments in a news release. Demetrio's son Jose Louise Trujillo previously pleaded guilty to illegal use of a firearm in connection with the shootings, as well as fentanyl possession with the intent to distribute. No one was injured, but in one case bullets passed through the bedroom of a state senator’s 10-year-old daughter.

Persons: —, Demetrio Trujillo, Raul Bujanda, Solomon Peña, Peña, Donald Trump, Demetrio's, Jose Louise Trujillo, Alexander Uballez Organizations: SANTA FE, FBI, Attorney's, Federal, Republican, Democratic Locations: SANTA, Albuquerque, FBI Albuquerque, U.S, New Mexico

☆ Opinion | Another Political Failure on Immigration
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The crush of asylum seekers crossing the southern border has overwhelmed the government’s capacity to deal justly with their claims. But Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, insists that Republicans reject the legislation taking shape in the Senate. Several Senate Republicans have said Mr. Trump is blocking it to keep immigration alive as a campaign issue. Senator Todd Young of Indiana called this move to derail the negotiations “tragic.” Mr. Young and the other Senate Republicans nevertheless continue to work with their Democratic colleagues to hammer out a compromise. House Republicans, however, don’t seem interested in writing laws; they have instead submitted to Mr. Trump’s demands.

Persons: Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Todd Young, Mr, Young, don’t, Trump’s, Mike Johnson, Alejandro Mayorkas Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Democratic, House Republicans, Democrats Locations: States, Indiana

☆ Congress hasn’t been able to make social media safer. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This has been true since the early 2010s, when tech companies began realizing the benefits of influencing policymakers on issues including net neutrality and privacy. This week, Microsoft announced its support for the Kids Online Safety Act, a leading social media bill. Even when lawmakers can agree on what the problem is, they often disagree on how to solve it, creating a smorgasbord of half a dozen or more social media bills floating around Congress. That would be a huge down payment on a future social media law, said Balkam. But even that proposal is still subject to many of the same dynamics that make social media regulation hard.

Persons: Washington CNN —, ”, Danny Weiss, Ben Thompson, Adam Kovacevich, “ That’s, hasn’t, Republican stonewalling, Weiss, Kovacevich, ” Kovacevich, I’m, ” Weiss, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Schumer, Nancy Pelosi’s, “, Johnson didn’t, Evan Greer Organizations: Washington CNN, Big Tech, Tech, Sense, Microsoft, Kids, LinkedIn, of, Republican, CNN Locations: Washington, United States

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