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The House narrowly approved an aid package for Israel on Thursday – a vote that ordinarily would have been an easy bipartisan victory but one complicated by Democrats’ accusation of a political “poison pill” in the GOP’s attempt to offset the new spending with cuts to the IRS. Democrats largely opposed the $14.3 billion aid package, acknowledging that while they support aid for Israel, the mechanism for providing it, along with the lack of funding in other areas, made it a nonstarter. “What the House Republicans have done is unprecedented and will mean any aid to Israel will be delayed,” Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut Democrat, said ahead of the vote. “This is the first time we have conditioned aid to Israel. Nevertheless, Speaker Mike Johnson forged ahead with the vote, seeming to dare Democrats to oppose the aid package.

Persons: Rosa DeLauro, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, we’re, that’s, ” Organizations: Israel, White, Democrat, Republicans, ”, Connecticut Democrat, Democrats –, Office, Senate Locations: Gaza, Ukraine, Israel, Connecticut

Leading Senate Democrats are teasing a new path forward to bypass one senator’s blockade of military promotions, leaning on GOP frustrations that bubbled to the surface this week and culminated in a dramatic confrontation from members of the senator’s own party. A group of Republican senators took to the Senate floor late Wednesday to attempt to circumvent a dispute in which Sen. Tommy Tuberville has single-handedly held up more than 300 military promotions over a Pentagon abortion travel policy. The stunning scene comes nine months into the blockade and as Democrats – and more recently fellow Republicans – have grown anxious to move the military promotions forward. It would require the support of all Democrats and independents and at least nine Republicans. But they suggested that Tuberville should take his issue to the courts, rather than holding up the chamber and setting a dangerous precedent.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, –, Tuberville, Chuck Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Jack Reed, Kyrsten, Richard Blumenthal, servicewomen, ” Sen, Joni Ernst, I’m, Ernst, ”, Schumer, …, Biden, Mitt, Blumenthal, Joe Manchin, ” Manchin Organizations: Republicans, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Democratic, GOP, Pentagon, Tuberville, United States Senate, DOD, Iowa Republican, Utah Republican Locations: Alabama, Rhode Island, Arizona, Richard Blumenthal of, Israel, Mitt Romney, Utah, West Virginia

“I say to Speaker Johnson – I plead with him – don’t repeat the mistake of McCarthy and others and just follow the hard-right in a partisan way,” Schumer said at a weekly news conference. “It’s not good for the country, it’s not good for the House, it’s not even good for the Republican Party. “Speaker Johnson should learn from the examples of Speaker Boehner, of Speaker Ryan and of Speaker McCarthy,” Schumer said. Though he’s not an outspoken conservative flamethrower like Rep. Jim Jordan, who GOP centrists blocked from gaining the gavel, a Johnson speakership marks a dramatic shift to the right for the conference. And though he faces the same difficulties as former Speaker Kevin McCarthy did with a razor-thin Republican majority, how he fares with the faction of hard-liners that ultimately ousted McCarthy is another story.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, “, Johnson –, –, McCarthy, ” Schumer, “ It’s, it’s, White, Schumer, Johnson, he’s, Joe Biden, Boehner, Ryan, couldn’t, Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: Republican Party, Republican, Ukraine, Republicans, Louisiana Republican, GOP, Democrat, White, “ Locations: York, Israel, Gaza, Louisiana

But this year, abortion is on the ballot, with party control of the closely divided chambers of the legislature determining whether Virginia will lose its status as the last Southern state where abortion is mostly legal and accessible. Democrats, meanwhile, see the races as critical not only to sustaining abortion rights in swing-state Virginia but as a test of how powerful the issue remains nationally. Predicting winners is always difficult in state legislative races, but especially hard in Virginia. Where Democrats have an edge, experts say, is on the motivating factor of abortion rights. Since Dobbs, pro-abortion rights voters have become more energized, Rackaway says, since they're trying to regain something they lost in the Supreme Court ruling.

Persons: Danica Roem, Danny Diggs, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin's, Chapman Rackaway, Youngkin –, Zack Roday, Dobbs, Steven Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington, Ohioans, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Jaime Harrison, Harrison, Kyle Kondick, Biden, Youngkin, Farnsworth, –, Rackaway, you've, Diggs, Roday doesn't, they've, Roday, Heather Williams Organizations: Senate, Republican, Gov, Old Dominion, Republicans, Radford University, U.S . Senate, GOP, Youngkin's PAC, Jackson, Health Organization, University of Mary, Democratic, Bluegrass State, Democratic National Committee, Center, Politics, University of Virginia, Virginia, Democrats, The Washington Post, –, National Democrats, Democratic Legislative, Republican National Committee, Republican Party of Virginia, Campaign Locations: Northern Virginia, Virginia, Southern, Old, Dobbs – California , Kansas , Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Kentucky

☆ America’s Debt Crisis Burns While Congress Fiddles
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Tim Smart | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

Last month, the Penn Wharton Budget Model from the University of Pennsylvania came out with an analysis of the debt crisis entitled “When Does Federal Debt Reach Unsustainable Levels?”Their answer? The concern is that punting the problem into the future, continuing to raise debt even as interest rates rise further or hold at higher levels for longer, the debt will grow even faster in a “snowball” scenario. Similar proposals have been offered over the years but at the same time they seem to lack political support – indeed, Republicans have recently voiced the idea of cutting Social Security. The debt crisis is rapidly worsening at a time when the bond market is having its own set of problems. A recent government auction of debt, an occurrence that is becoming more common as the U.S. borrows more, saw weak demand.

Persons: Dick Cheney, Richard Neal, Democrats –, Blu Putnam, Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Jerome Powell, ”, Gene Steuerle, Richard B, Fisher, probity, Kevin McCarthy, Kent Smetters, Boettner, Smetters, Richard Robis, Donald Trump Organizations: Capitol, Democratic, Massachusetts, The New York Times, Federal Reserve, Partisans, Democrats, Fed, CME Group, Social Security, Medicare, Urban Institute, California Rep, Penn Wharton Budget, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, Wharton, Social, Republicans, Treasury, Hamas, BCA Research, White House Locations: U.S, United States, Washington, China, Japan, Israel

☆ Trump endorses Jordan as he injects himself into House chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The ex-president dived into the mayhem following the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, characteristically seeking to cast himself as kingmaker and to steal the spotlight for himself. Then Trump teased the possibility that he could even step in as speaker himself on an interim basis. But the ex-president’s biggest bombshell was still to come – shortly after midnight, he endorsed Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan for the job. Jordan, who is running against Republican House Majority leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana for the top job, would likely augur a new period of fierce combat with the White House if he wins the speakership. He has opposed the US lifeline of arms and ammunition to Ukraine, and a Republican House majority led by Jordan would likely increase the chances of a government shutdown next month in a showdown over spending with Democrats.

Persons: –, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Trump, Jim Jordan, “, ” Trump, Joe Biden, Jordan, Steve Scalise, Scalise, McCarthy, ”, ” William Cohen, Bill Clinton, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, McCarthy –, Matt Gaetz, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, it’s, ” Rep, Dusty Johnson, ” Johnson, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Matt Rosendale, Rosendale, Jim Sciutto, CNN Max, Vladimir Putin Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump White House, Capitol, Ohio Republican, Trump, Republicans, Washington, GOP, Democratic, White, ABC News, Biden, ”, CNN News Central, Ukraine Locations: Washington, Louisiana, Ukraine, Jordan, bankrolling, Russia, Maine, Florida, California, South Dakota, Southern, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Russian

☆ Biden administration bypasses 26 federal laws to build additional border wall in South Texas amid political pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But the move comes at a time when a new surge of migrants is straining federal and local resources and placing heavy political pressure on the Biden administration to address a sprawling crisis. Border Patrol reported nearly 300,000 encounters in the Rio Grande Valley sector between last October and August, according to federal data. Last month, Border Patrol apprehended more than 200,000 migrants crossing the US-Mexico border, the highest total this year. Over the last two years, his administration has continued to face fierce pushback from Republicans – and at times, Democrats – over his immigration policies. Senior administration officials maintain that the US has been in regular touch with Mexico over the situation at the US southern border, including commitments to shore up enforcement.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden –, –, Alejandro Mayorkas, ” Mayorkas, “, Antony Blinken, General Merrick Garland, Liz Sherwood, Randall Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, Border Patrol, US, –, Republican, of Homeland Security, Homeland, US Federal Registry, “ DHS, Customs, Protection, Environmental, US Customs, Border Protection, CNN, House Homeland Locations: Rio Grande, Rio Grande Valley, Mexico, New York, Chicago, Starr County , Texas, United States, Mayorkas, “, Texas, Starr County, Mexico City

CNN —House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s allies are scrambling to head off a right-wing revolt to oust the California Republican from his job and turning to the constituency that now suddenly holds the cards: House Democrats. One Democratic lawmaker who supports ousting McCarthy told CNN, “I have no trust in, nor respect for, McCarthy. But House Democrats also acknowledge that they don’t know another Republican who can get the 218 votes needed to clinch the speakership. “My advice to my fellow Democrats is simple: Follow the leader,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper. But while Jeffries has maintained a more cordial relationship with McCarthy than his predecessor, there have been recent signs of strain.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy’s, McCarthy, ” They’re, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jamie Raskin, “, Kevin, we’d, Matt Gaetz, Union ”, –, whiplash –, ”, Hakeem Jeffries, they’ll, Jeffries, don’t, Rashida, Eli Crane, Arizona –, doesn’t, Joe Biden, ” McCarthy, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Ukraine …, Nancy Pelosi, Jake Tapper Organizations: CNN —, California Republican, Democrats, Pennsylvania GOP, CNN, GOP, ”, Maryland Democrat, Trump Republicans, CNN’s, Union, Democrat, Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Republican – Rep, Trump, Capitol, National Defense, House Democratic Locations: California, Pennsylvania, Ukraine, Maryland, Florida, CNN’s “ State, Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, “ State

☆ Opinion: Trump and the upside-down world
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. CNN —The title on the cover of Cass R. Sunstein’s 2021 book, “This is not normal,” is printed upside down. The beginning of a Trump-backed House Republican inquiry into impeaching President Joe Biden with no clear evidence of his wrongdoing. A last-ditch move Saturday kept federal agencies funded for 45 days while putting more aid to Ukraine in jeopardy. Bill Bramhall/Tribune Content AgencyOn Monday, a New York judge found Trump and his adult sons liable for insurance and bank fraud and canceled the Trump Organization’s business certification.

Persons: Cass R, ” Sunstein, Ronald Reagan, “ Donald Duck, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, “, ”, Kevin McCarthy’s, Clay Jones, Mike Lawler, Rosa Cruz, Rob Rosenthal, Brian Riedl, Walt Handelsman, Biden, MAGA, John Avlon, ’, Bill Bramhall, Frida Ghitis, —, Ghitis, Phil Hands, Julian Zelizer, Steven Lubet, Judge Chutkan, Dean Obeidallah, Menendez, Hal Boyd, Sen, Tim Scott, Ron DeSantis, Scott, ” Scott, Lyndon, “ you’ve, ” Jeff Yang, Chris Christie’s, ‘, Donald Duck ’, Mike Pence’s, Walter Mondale, Nikki Haley’s, South Carolina Sen, Vivek Ramaswamy, TikTok, whittling, Haley, ” Sophia Nelson, ” Lisa Benson, GoComics.com, James Antle III, Todd Graham, David Axelrod, Musa al, Republicans –, –, Nick Anderson, Agency Cassidy, Evelyn Hockstein, Cassidy Hutchinson, Nicole Hemmer, Hutchinson, …, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Liz Cheney, Alexander Butterfield, Melissa S, Jason L, Riley, Jill Filipovic’s, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Peter Bergen, Kennedy, Vladimir Putin, Brian Bowen Smith, ABC Gerry Turner, Deborah Carr, Gerry Turner, Turner, ” Don’t, Jill Filipovic, Dianne Feinstein, Matthew F, West Point Vincent, David A, Adam Larson, Michael D, Smith, Travis, Taylor Dana Summers, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, ” Rick Reilly, Colgate, Tay, Frankie de la, it’s Organizations: CNN, Republican, Ronald Reagan Presidential, Trump, Chiefs, Department of Labor, Wesleyan University, Agency, MAGA Republican, Pew Research Center, NBC, Republicans, GOP, “, Florida Gov, New, New Jersey Gov, Democratic, UAW, Tribune, White House, Legislative Affairs, White, Street, ” RFK, ABC, Chicago, Corps, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Washington Post, NFL Locations: Milwaukee, Simi Valley , California, Ukraine, New York, Washington, Tempe , Arizona, New Jersey, Cupp, South Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Michigan , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Gharbi, West Point

The House saw progress late Thursday after weeks of intraparty squabbling, as Republicans came together to pass three full-year spending bills. Still, GOP leaders prioritized approving the bills this week to build goodwill with House conservatives who have opposed a stopgap measure to keep the government funded. But House Republicans’ border policy, attached to the continuing resolution, includes, among other things, a provision to restart construction of the border wall and is a nonstarter for most Democrats. The Senate is set to continue voting on the stopgap legislation Saturday in the hopes of approving it on the final day of the fiscal year. The White House chastised House Republicans for “marching our country toward an Extreme Republican Shutdown” on Friday, while endorsing the Senate’s spending plan.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, ” McCarthy, Biden, –, ’ ”, Karen Hult Organizations: Republicans, Democrat, Senate, White, GOP, Caucus, Republican Party, Virginia Tech, “, Republican Locations: Ukraine

As the day went on after the bombshell indictment, Democrats began bailing on their legally troubled colleague. The indictment said Menendez used his position to help the business executives as well. The indictment includes cinematic, almost comical details about the payoffs Menendez is said to have accepted. Some of the cash was stashed in jackets that were embroidered with the words "Robert Menendez" or "Senator Menendez." At one point, the indictment said, Menendez did a Google search for "kilo of gold price."

Persons: Bob Menendez, Menendez, –, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Phil Murphy, ” Murphy, Craig Coughlin, Leroy Jones, Andy Kim, Mikie Sherrill, Tom Malinowski, Noah Bookbinder, taints Menendez, Bookbinder, ”, Trump, fundraised, Ron Filipkowski, they're, Ron DeSantis's, Lisa McCormick, Ross Baker, Murphy, Baker, Nadine Menendez, Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, Nadine, Biden, Daibes, “, Damian Williams, Robert Menendez, Uribe, Hana Organizations: GOP, Department of Justice, Republicans, Democratic Gov, New, New Jersey Democrats, Democratic, Senate, Democrats, Senate Foreign Relations, Justice, U.S, Republican, Florida Gov, Foreign, Rutgers University, Benz, Embassy, of, Department of Agriculture, Manhattan U.S Locations: New Jersey, Washington, Sarasota , Florida, Menendez's, Jersey, Florida, Tahesha, U.S, Cairo, Egypt, Southern, of New York, Manhattan

CNN —House Republican leaders are sending members home for the week amid deep divisions over funding the government ahead of the rapidly-approaching September 30 deadline, according to multiple GOP sources. The move came after House Republicans dramatically bucked Speaker Kevin McCarthy and GOP leadership on a procedural vote over a Pentagon funding bill, with the members now not set to return to session until next week. With government funding set to expire at the end of next week, persistent opposition from a bloc of far-right conservatives has continued to thwart the House GOP leadership agenda, threatening to paralyze the House floor in the process. The House on Thursday voted down a procedural measure that would have advanced the Defense Department bill. Opposition from hardliners has plagued efforts by Republican leadership to unify behind a plan to fund the government.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Thursday’s, McCarthy, tanked, ”, ” McCarthy, –, Dan Bishop of, Andy Biggs of, Matt Rosendale, Eli Crane of, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tom Cole of Organizations: CNN — House Republican, House Republicans, GOP, Defense Department, House Republican, GOP House, Republican, White, Republicans Locations: Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Matt Rosendale of Montana, Eli Crane of Arizona, Georgia, Tom Cole of Oklahoma

☆ Analysis: How Republicans have grown more skeptical of Zelensky and Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Harry Enten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Democrats welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Capitol Hill earlier Thursday, while Republicans were far more split. At the beginning of the war, Zelensky sported a 77% favorability rating among Democrats and a 61% favorability rating among Republicans, according to a March 2022 Quinnipiac University poll. A July 2023 Gallup poll found that Zelensky’s favorability rating with Republicans had declined to 51%. In fact, Russia’s favorability rating among Republicans – and Democrats – has declined significantly from a few years ago. For example, Republicans were more likely than Democrats to say that the Korean War was “useless,” according to a 1951 Gallup poll.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Republicans ’, –, What’s, worldviews Organizations: CNN, Capitol, Republicans, Quinnipiac University, Democratic, Gallup, Fox, Democrats, America Locations: Ukraine, States, Quinnipiac, Russia, That’s, Zelensky, Soviet Union, America

☆ Biden’s Age, Trump’s Indictments and Other Fallacies Pulled From the Polls
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Susan Milligan | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +10 min

Will Americans toss out President Joe Biden for being too old and see Vice President Kamala Harris as a worse option? "The indictments of Donald Trump have not boosted him in the polls, either for favorability or for his support in the GOP primary. The impact of Biden's age and Vice President Kamala Harris' presence on the ticket has also been misrepresented, pollsters say. The Biden-Harris campaign is sending the vice president to speak at college campuses in the coming months. "I do think that having Vice President Harris is a net plus for the ticket," says youth voting activist Victor Shi, a Biden 2020 delegate.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Biden, Trump, Charles Franklin, Franklin, Donald Trump, Trump's, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, pollster Ben Lazarus, Lazarus, that's, –, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Marianne Williamson, Nate Birkhead, Birkhead, Harris, Newt Gingrich, Harris –, Victor Shi, Biden's, Shi, it's, Laura Kelly, Kelly, YouGov, Dobbs Organizations: Trump, Republican, Democratic, Marquette Law School, GOP, District of, Florida Gov, Pew Research Center, Donald Trump View, Biden, CBS, Kansas State University, Democratic Gov, Gallup, Republicans Locations: Wisconsin, New York, Florida, District, District of Columbia, Georgia’s Fulton County, Trump, United States, Ukraine, Russia, American, Kansas

Hunter Biden, appearing in court wearing a dark suit and sporting slicked back hair, appeared agitated and worried as the plea deal began to unravel. She said she has “concerns about the constitutionality” of the gun deal because it might violate separation of powers principles. Noreika also has the ultimate decision on what sentence Hunter Biden will receive if a plea deal is accepted or he is tried and convicted. “At least there is some scrutiny going on,” Texas Rep. Chip Roy told CNN in reaction to the Hunter Biden plea deal being refined. GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio credited IRS whistleblowers critical of the investigation for the collapse of a plea deal, although the issue did not come up during a hearing.

Persons: Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Hunter, Maryellen Noreika –, Donald Trump, Senate Democrats –, Noreika, Hunter Biden’s, Chris Clark, FARA, ” Noreika, isn’t, –, plop, couldn’t, Judge Maryellen Noreika, Bill Hennessy, Will DOJ’s, Justice Department’s, “, Chip Roy, Delaware’s Trump, David Weiss, Jim Jordan, Weiss, Jordan Organizations: CNN, US, Senate Democrats, Justice Department, Justice, ” Texas, GOP, Committee Locations: FARA, Wilmington , Delaware, Ohio

☆ US gives ‘green light’ to European countries to train Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets, Biden official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Jasmine Wright | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —The US will allow European countries to train Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets, a top Biden administration official confirmed Sunday, a potential boon for Ukraine’s efforts to counter Russia’s air superiority. One of the main issues Kyiv’s ground forces have faced as their counteroffensive gets underway is Russian air power holding them back. “The United States will not be the hold-up in ensuring that this F-16 training can get underway,” he said. Turning to US national defense, Sullivan lamented the House-passed defense policy bill that includes the adoption of several controversial amendments that touched on hot-button social issues. “So it was a small group of Republicans who essentially created a trap.

Persons: Biden, Jake Sullivan, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ”, Joe Biden, Sullivan, ” Sullivan, – Organizations: Washington CNN, Union, NATO, Democratic, GOP, Defense, Republicans Locations: “ State, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, United States, Ukrainian

☆ Should the U.S. government pay reparations for slavery and its legacy?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

The poll found that 74% of Black Americans favor reparations compared to just 26% of white Americans. A divided America Views on whether the U.S. government should provide some form of reparations for slavery and its legacy are split along party and racial lines. They also say it’s wrong to have taxpayers finance reparations, given that no one alive today is responsible for slavery. In April 2021, Gohmert went on the attack by proposing an amendment calling for the Democratic Party to pay for reparations. In the slavery era, the Democratic Party supported slavery; the Republican Party, led by Abraham Lincoln, called for slavery’s restriction and eventually abolished it.

Persons: –, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, Lloyd Doggett, Tommy Tuberville, John N, Kennedy, Louie Gohmert, ”, Black, Robert Lindsay, Gohmert, Abraham Lincoln, Lindsay, Valentine, ” Tuberville, “, Tuberville, Valentine Brazil, Nathan Calhoun, ” Kennedy, Nathan Calhoun’s, Dabney P, Calhoun, John Crawford, ’ Warren, Warren, – Crawford, Crawford, ” Warren, Isaac Hollingsworth, ’, Van Hollen, ” Van Hollen, Miller Doggett, Doggett, ” Doggett, Jim Crow, Tom Bergin, Makini Brice, Nicholas P, Brown, Donna Bryson, Lawrence Delevingne, Brad Heath, Andrea Januta, Gui Qing Koh, Tom Lasseter, Grant Smith, Maurice Tamman, Catherine Tai Design, John Emerson, Jeremy Schultz, Blake Morrison Organizations: Black, Reuters, –, 117th, U.S ., Louie Gohmert Former U.S, Representative, Republican, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Vigilance, Kennedy U.S, Massachusetts Democrat, Senate, Chris Van Hollen U.S, Maryland, Lloyd Doggett U.S, H.R, Texas Democrat Locations: United States, America, U.S . Civil, Louie Gohmert Former, Texas, Europe, Bowie County , Texas, Boston, Bowie County, Alabama, Valentine Brazil, Nevada, Tuberville, Saline County , Arkansas, Brazil, Ouachita, Louisiana, Abbeville , South Carolina, Massachusetts, Dorchester County , Maryland, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee

☆ Supreme Court orders voting maps redrawn in Alabama to accommodate Black voters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Ariane De Vogue | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Alabama officials to redraw the state’s congressional map to allow an additional Black majority district to account for the fact that the state is 27% Black. The federal court ordered the creation of another majority Black district to be drawn. He said it would be impossible to draw a second majority Black district in the state without taking race into consideration. Instead, she wrote, the state plan “divides the Black voters within this well-established community of interest across several districts, and as a result, Black Alabamians have no chance to elect their preferred candidates outside of” the one Black majority district. “Black voters are significantly numerous and compact to form a majority in a reasonably configured district, as the district court specifically found,” she said.

Persons: John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, ” Roberts, Roberts, ”, Terri Sewell, “, ” Sewell, General Merrick Garland, –, Democrats –, Steve Vladeck, ” Vladeck, Sen, John Thune, ” Thune, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, Gorsuch, ” Thomas, Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, ” Thomas ’, Edmund LaCour Jr, Alabama’s, LaCour, NAACP –, Abha Khanna, Khanna, ” Khanna, Alabamians, Biden, dilutions, Elizabeth Prelogar Organizations: CNN, Alabama, Republicans, Democratic, “, Central, Supreme, Trump, Democrats, University of Texas School of Law, Representatives, Republican, Judiciary, Black, ”, NAACP Locations: Alabama, United States, Black, Louisiana, Mobile , Montgomery, ”

It was one the president deployed once again behind closed doors at the White House. With Memorial Day on the horizon, senior White House officials said protecting veterans’ benefits was a top priority. They also knew it was a sensitive issue for Republicans’ politically, especially as House Republicans parried White House allegations about cuts to veterans’ services. White House officials would engage in conversations where their Republican counterparts would outline a potential resolution on issues. For months, White House officials hoped – and to some degree based on past battles, expected – Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell would engage in finding a resolution.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, “, ” Biden, Kevin McCarthy, simmered, Steve Ricchetti, Louisa Terrell, Shalanda Young, reticence, Biden didn’t, McCarthy, ’ carveouts, Republicans ’, Republicans parried, ” Terrell, ”, ” Young, Jeff Zients, –, would’ve, that’s, ” Zients, ” Ricchetti, Patrick McHenry, Young, Michael Linden, Ricchetti, McCarthy’s, Mitch McConnell, Terrell, McHenry, Garret Graves, Graves, Dan Meyer, they’ve, “ There’s, you’re, cleaver Organizations: CNN, Resolute, Legislative, White, Republican, FBI, Republicans, Internal Revenue Service, SNAP, Congressional, Office, Progressive, Young, White House, GOP, Biden, Republican Rep, Congress, dropoff, Air Force Academy Locations: Washington, Garret Graves of Louisiana, McHenry, Louisiana, Ukraine, Colorado

☆ Republican tries to scuttle debt limit bill in House Rules Committee as pressure grows on key swing vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

That would essentially doom the debt ceiling bill since Roy – who sits on the panel – and another conservative committee member are trying to stop the bill from advancing. A third conservative who sits on the panel – Massie – has been mum about how he plans to handle the rule vote in committee. But in January, Massie told CNN he was reluctant to vote against rules to stop bills in their tracks. “And when I checked, there wasn’t a rule that something has to come out of Rules Committee unanimously. “I think that comment was that it had to be unanimous to come out of the Rules Committee to go to the floor is the tweet that I read.

☆ AOC says Biden choosing to compromise with the GOP on a debt ceiling deal would be 'profoundly destructive,' and the White House should 'expect pushback on nearly any significant concession'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Biden is set to meet with top lawmakers on Tuesday to discuss a potential debt ceiling agreement. McCarthy passed a bill in the House that would raise the debt ceiling through March of next year, and it was accompanied by over $4.5 trillion in spending cuts. Even so, some progressive lawmakers have warned the president that he should not bend on Democratic priorities to raise the debt ceiling. Multiple reports have suggested that the White House was considering compromising on rescinding unspent pandemic funding and energy permitting reform in a debt ceiling deal. Democrats – including President Biden – have been clear: these dangerous proposals are not going anywhere.

A series of upcoming challenges, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to a still-uncertain economy, could provide hurdles to Biden’s reelection. The Washington beltway event may be indicative of what’s to come for the Biden reelection campaign strategy. “Just like four years ago—I’m off to teach and Joe’s launched his (re-election) campaign! Obama held his first reelection campaign rally in May 2012, 13 months after announcing his bid for a second term. The wait for a Biden reelection rally could be just as long.

With the way cable news talking heads describe debt ceiling negotiations, one might think America is headed for an extinction-level event. Left-wing pundits argue that anything but a "clean raise" in the debt ceiling – extending America's credit card limit with no conditions – will bring about an economic apocalypse. As the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee with jurisdiction over the debt ceiling, Social Security, and Medicare, no debt ceiling legislation that passes through my committee will include cuts to these vital programs. Debt ceiling negotiations are something Democrats – and even then-Senator Biden – have agreed to multiple times in our nation's history. For Washington Democrats to engage in politics as usual is manifesting the very crisis they claim they want to avoid.

☆ House speaker elections and floor fights, explained
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Congress can’t really function until it has a House speaker; the position is filled on the first day of a new Congress, January 3, even before members-elect take the oath of office. What’s standing between McCarthy and the speaker of the House position is a handful of conservative lawmakers. This is what people are talking about when they refer to a “floor fight.” It’s when House members require multiple ballots, or votes, to elect their speaker. The process stretched over more than a month and included a sort of inquisition on the House floor of the three contenders. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was elected with 216 votes in 2021 to kick off the current Congress.

☆ Kyrsten Sinema leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is leaving the Democratic Party and registering as a political independent, she told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an exclusive TV interview. While Sanders and King formally caucus with Democrats, Sinema declined to explicitly say that she would do the same. She also brushed aside criticism she may face for the decision to leave the Democratic Party. “Nothing about the last two years indicates a major effort would’ve made helped – the exact opposite actually,” a White House official said. After a vote against filibuster changes in January, the Arizona Democratic Party’s executive board censured Sinema.

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