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☆ Elizabeth Warren rips Fed for fueling affordability crisis in housing, calls for rate cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —America has a housing affordability crisis and Elizabeth Warren blames Jerome Powell and his colleagues at the Federal Reserve. To fight inflation, the Fed spiked interest rates at the fastest pace since the early 1980s. However, the Fed’s war on inflation set off shockwaves in the housing market. The one-two punch of elevated borrowing costs and record-high home prices has made the housing market historically unaffordable. “High interest rates have aggravated the country’s crisis of housing access and affordability,” the Senate Democrats wrote.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Jerome Powell, Powell, Warren, ” Warren, Democratic Sens, John Hickenlooper, Jacky Rosen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Freddie Mac, “, Tom Barkin didn’t, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve, CNN, Democratic, Democrats, Fed, National Association of Home Builders, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Association of Realtors, Richmond Fed Locations: New York, America, White

☆ Trump says he should be held responsible if the bipartisan border security deal fails: 'Please blame it on me'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump said he'd take the blame for the potential collapse of a bipartisan border deal. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump on Saturday said he was willing to take responsibility for the potential demise of a bipartisan border deal that's being ironed out in the Senate. AdvertisementTrump in a Truth Social post on Saturday wrote: "A BAD BORDER DEAL IS FAR WORSE THAN NO BORDER DEAL!" House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana on Friday wrote a letter describing the proposed border bill as "dead on arrival" in the lower chamber. Last week, the US Supreme Court voted 5-4 in backing the federal government's power to remove concertina wire along parts of the US-Mexico border.

Persons: Trump, he'd, Biden, —, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, America, Greg Abbott, Ukraine —, Mike Johnson of, Beto O'Rourke, O'Rourke, Abbott Organizations: Service, Biden, Republican, Trump, Ukraine, Democratic, GOP, Texas Democratic, CNN, Republican Party, Senate Locations: Las Vegas, Mexico, Texas, Chicago, Los Angeles , New York, Washington, Mike Johnson of Louisiana

☆ As Biden Judicial Confirmations Slow, Senate Gains Ground on Red-State Judges
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden and Senate Democrats have fallen behind the rapid pace set by Republicans in shaping the federal courts during the Trump era, but they have made fresh headway in advancing judicial nominees in states represented by Republicans. By negotiating with Republicans over judicial picks, Mr. Biden and majority Democrats have been able to exert some influence over the makeup of trial courts in red states and install people of color on the bench for the first time in some regions. “It has worked because I think I have convinced the White House that it is better to get a moderate Republican today than a MAGA Republican tomorrow,” said Senator Richard J. Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who chairs the Judiciary Committee. Still, the Senate would need to confirm at least 63 more judges this year to match or better the record of the Trump years, when Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican who was then the majority leader, pushed through 234 conservative-leaning jurists, including three to the Supreme Court.

Persons: Biden, Trump, ”, Richard J, Durbin, Mitch McConnell Organizations: Senate, Republicans, Republican, MAGA Republican, Illinois Democrat, Kentucky Republican, Supreme Locations: MAGA

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Bidding to salvage a border deal in Congress that also would unlock money for Ukraine, President Joe Biden offered fresh assurances Saturday night that he would be willing to close the U.S.-Mexico border if lawmakers would only send him a bill to sign. Biden — also eager to disarm GOP criticism of his handling of migration at the border — said at a political event in South Carolina that he would shut down the border ’“right now” if Congress passed the proposed deal. “It’ll also give me as president, the emergency authority to shut down the border until it could get back under control. If that bill were the law today, I’d shut down the border right now and fix it quickly.”The deal being negotiated in Congress would require the U.S. to shutter the border if roughly 5,000 migrants cross illegally on any given day. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesIn a written statement on Friday evening, Biden said the deal would allow him “a new emergency authority” to close the border.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden —, “, Biden, “ It’ll, I’d, Donald Trump, He's, Trump’s admonitions, Deirdre Schifeling, ”, Mike Johnson, Guatemalans, ___ Long Organizations: COLUMBIA, Senate Democrats, Republicans, GOP, America, Biden, House, Democratic, “, American Civil Liberties Union, Border Patrol, Hondurans Locations: South Carolina, Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, Venezuela, Washington

☆ How Donald Trump Divided Republicans on Immigration
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Annie Karni | More About Annie Karni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

With more than half of Senate Republicans now officially backing Trump’s candidacy, those entreaties are becoming harder to ignore as mere prattle from Palm Beach. Trump and most House Republicans want to block migrants from living and working temporarily without visas in the United States while they await the outcome of their immigration claims. Speaker Mike Johnson, who talks about immigration regularly with Trump, has said that a Senate deal without those policies would be dead on arrival in the House. The collapse of a dealYesterday, Republican supporters of a border deal were livid at the notion that Trump might tank their work. “We have to have people here who support Trump, who have endorsed President Trump, go to him and tell him what a compelling case this is,” Thom Tillis, a North Carolina senator, said.

Persons: “, ”, Trump, Biden, Mike Johnson, ” Thom Tillis Organizations: Trump, Republicans, Senators, Democrats, Republican Locations: Palm Beach, United States, Mexico, North Carolina

☆ Hardline US Republicans Who Cried 'Wolf' Side-Lined by Spending Deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

"Those individuals have now overplayed their hand," said Republican Representative Greg Murphy, a member of the Republican Study Committee conservative caucus. They now find themselves boxed out on spending, at a time when the nation's debt has surpassed $34 trillion. "At the end of the day, we control one-half of one branch of government, and we're working against Senate Democrats, House Democrats -- to be honest, Senate Republicans -- and the White House," said Representative Kelly Armstrong. And in November, the number of Republican voting against reached 93 on Johnson's initial stopgap spending bill. "I have no doubt that our wonderful Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, will only make a deal that is PERFECT ON THE BORDER."

Persons: David Morgan WASHINGTON, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Greg Murphy, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Bob Good, Dan Bishop, Kelly Armstrong, Schumer, Bishop, Andy Biggs, McCarthy's, Jared Moskowitz, Biggs, Donald Trump, Trump, David Morgan, Makini Brice, Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Republicans, U.S . House, Democratic, Republican, Caucus, North Carolina Republican, Senate, White, Senate Democrats, House Democrats, New York Democrat, Republican Party, Freedom Caucus Locations: Mexico, U.S, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza

☆ The House Speaker Is Safe (for Now)
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Speaker Mike Johnson yesterday did exactly what got his predecessor fired last year: He pushed through legislation to keep the government open with mainly Democratic votes. Ultraconservative House members were sputtering mad that Johnson, the novice speaker, didn’t drive a harder bargain with Senate Democrats on a short-term funding bill to prevent a shutdown this weekend. But they aren’t yet ready to depose him as they did with Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October. So they felt better about swallowing a spending agreement that seemed inevitable anyway — since it had to be negotiated with Senate Democrats and the White House. Because of the resistance from the hard right, Johnson faced a choice.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Ultraconservative, Kevin McCarthy, They’re, McCarthy Organizations: Democratic, Democrats, Senate Democrats, White

☆ With Deal Close on Border and Ukraine, Republican Rifts Threaten to Kill Both
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Annie Karni | Karoun Demirjian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Absolutely NOT,” his message said, adding, “This is the hill I’ll die on.”The Republican disconnect explains why, with an elusive bipartisan bargain on immigration seemingly as close as it has been in years on Capitol Hill, the prospects for enactment are grim. It is also why hopes for breaking the logjam over sending more U.S. aid to Ukraine are likely to be dashed by hard-line House Republicans. The situation encapsulates the divide cleaving the Republican Party. On one side are the right-wing MAGA allies of former President Donald J. Trump, an America First isolationist who instituted draconian immigration policies while in office. On the other is a dwindling group of more mainstream traditionalists who believe the United States should play an assertive role defending democracy on the world stage.

Persons: James Lankford, Mike Johnson, MAGA, Donald J, Trump Organizations: Oklahoma Republican, Senate Democrats, White, Democratic, Capitol, Republicans, Republican Party Locations: Ukraine, America, United States

☆ The House G.O.P.’s Incredible Shrinking Majority
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Carl Hulse | More About Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Just a few canceled flights or cases of Covid can mean the difference between winning and losing on the floor. “It is tricky,” Mr. Schumer said. “It’s sort of magic,” said Mr. Schumer. Even on the issues that seemingly unite them against Democrats, like potential impeachments or contempt citations, Mr. Johnson will have to thread the needle precisely to succeed. In planning potential votes this week on holding Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress, Republican leaders said they would need absolutely all available hands on deck.

Persons: Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Kamala Harris, Mr, Schumer, “, ”, ” Mr, Hunter Biden Organizations: Senate Democrats, New York Democrat, Republican

The court ordered new maps with contiguous districts, but also said the maps must not favor one party over another. Following Friday's map submissions, a pair of consultants hired by the Supreme Court will analyze the proposals and issue a report by Feb. 1. The consultants could choose to ignore all of the maps submitted last week and put forward their own plan. The 50-49 Republican majority map was submitted by Law Forward, the Madison-based law firm representing Democratic voters that brought the lawsuit. Republicans have indicated that they plan an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court arguing due process violations, but it's not clear when that would occur.

Persons: Tony Evers, Evers, “, ” Evers, “ I’ve, I’d, John D, Johnson, Robin Vos, Janet Protasiewicz Organizations: Court, GOP, Gov, Democratic, Senate, Republican, ” Marquette University Law School, Law, Republicans, Senate Democrats, U.S, Supreme Locations: MADISON, Wis, Wisconsin, Madison, Evers

WASHINGTON — House and Senate leaders have reached an agreement on a short-term spending deal that would avert a government shutdown in the next few weeks, three sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. The deal would keep the government funded until March, buying legislators more time to craft longer-term, agency-specific spending bills, following the agreement last weekend to set the overall spending level for fiscal year 2024 at $1.59 trillion. Speaker Mike Johnson is set to hold a call with fellow House Republicans at 8 p.m. Sunday to discuss spending negotiations. Several hard-right Republicans have objected to the top-line spending deal he previously cut with Senate Democrats and have urged Johnson to go back on it, though he said Friday that the agreement remains intact. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats praised the top-line spending agreement after it was announced last weekend, even as they acknowledged that a short-term bill would be needed to buy more time to negotiate.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, pushback, Kevin McCarthy, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: U.S . Capitol, U.S, Congress, WASHINGTON —, NBC News, Republicans, Democrats, New York Democrats Locations: Washington , U.S, Jan, Louisiana

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders are preparing a stopgap bill to keep the federal government running into March and avoid a partial shutdown next week. The stopgap bill, expected to be released Sunday, would come as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has been under pressure from his hard-right flank in recent days to jettison a recent bipartisan spending deal with Senate Democrats. Johnson insisted Friday that he is sticking with the deal he struck with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., despite pressure from some conservatives to renegotiate. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“Our top-line agreement remains,” Johnson said Friday, referring to the budget accord reached Jan. 7. That accord sets $1.66 trillion in spending for the next fiscal year, with $886 billion of the tally going to defense.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Chuck Schumer, ” Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, Congressional, Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up a case Tuesday over a Washington couple's $15,000 tax bill that is widely seen as a test of a never-enacted tax on wealth. Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesThe Moores paid $15,000 in taxes based on Charles Moore’s investment in an Indian company. They argue that the tax violates the 16th Amendment, which allows the federal government to impose an income tax on Americans. “The Moore case could make it impossible to close those loopholes,” Wyden said. Public documents show that Charles Moore's involvement with the company, including serving as a director for five years, is far more extensive than court filings indicate.

Persons: Charles, Kathleen Moore, Paul Ryan, Donald Trump, ”, Moores, Charles Moore’s, Moore, Democratic Sen, Ron Wyden, “, ” Wyden, Charles Moore's, Samuel Alito, David Rivkin, Alito, Rivkin, Fatima Hussein Organizations: WASHINGTON, Washington, Wisconsin Republican, Republican, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Democratic, Oregon, Moores, ___ Associated Locations: Redmond , Washington, Indian, ___

☆ Ukraine’s US lifeline is hanging by a thinning thread
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In a grave blow to its prospects, Ukraine aid has now been embroiled by Republicans in a separate imbroglio over immigration. While Ukraine’s survival is at stake, so is the reputation of the United States as a global leader. Johnson may struggle to retain his tenuous hold on his job if he uses Democratic votes to pass a Ukraine funding package. The Ukraine aid package is now caught in the most intractable US political issue — immigration. “We are at a moment in history.”But a group of Republican senators who normally back Ukraine aid signaled Monday they couldn’t move forward without immigration changes attached to the measure.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Joe Biden, Israel —, “, Jake Sullivan, Vladimir, ”, Sullivan’s, Shalanda Young, Mike Johnson, United States Oksana Markarova, CNN’s Wolf, Volodymyr Zelensky, Lloyd Austin, Zelensky, Donald Trump, Putin, Trump –, Republican Sen, Jim Risch of, “ Vladimir Putin, …, he’s, outlasting, ” Risch, Ben Hodges, ” Hodges, Johnson, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Texas Sen, John Cornyn Organizations: CNN, White, of Management, GOP, Wing, Kremlin, Trump, Republican, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, Halifax International Security, US Army, of, Republicans, Democratic, New York Democrat, Texas, Ukraine, US Defense Department, Internal Revenue Service, – Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Russian, U.S, United States, Russia, Moscow, North Korea, Iran, Kyiv, Washington, China, Jim Risch of Idaho, Canada, Ret, — Washington, Berlin, Paris, London, of America, Europe, Crimea, Ukrainian, Mexico, Taiwan

☆ Republicans prepared to block Ukraine-Israel aid package if border policy changes not included
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Lauren Fox | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Schumer would need nine Republicans to overcome a procedural hurdle, something that many Republicans signaled Monday they wouldn’t help Democrats do. “It may require a failed cloture vote on the supplemental before Sen. Schumer realizes we are serious,” Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, told reporters. She added she too would vote against advancing the supplemental package if “we don’t have substantial changes” to border policy. But Thune complained Monday the White House “hasn’t gotten the sufficient level of seriousness yet” about the border crisis. Murphy warned US allies should “be very worried about what Republicans are doing.”“Listen, I have all sorts of domestic priorities I care about.

Persons: Ukraine –, John Thune, “, It’s, ”, Sen, James Lankford of, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, ” Sen, John Cornyn, ” West Virginia GOP Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, “ I’m, ” Lankford, Iowa Sen, Joni Ernst, Chuck Grassley, ” Grassley, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Joe Biden, Thune, hasn’t, we’re, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Murphy, ” Murphy, CNN’s Sam Fossum Organizations: Republican, ”, Republicans, Texas Republican, ” West, ” West Virginia GOP, GOP, White, Democratic, Ukraine, Democrats Locations: Ukraine, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Washington, Israel, Texas, ”, ” West Virginia, Iowa, Connecticut

☆ 'I don't care how we pay for it': GOP senator backs no-strings Israel aid bill — but only after border funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

But first, Congress and the White House must hash out a deal to beef up U.S. border security. "I don't care how we pay for it," Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said of the Israel aid in an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "The rest of the riddle is not going to be solved unless we have meaningful border security," Marshall said. "House Republicans have resolved that any national security supplemental package must begin with our own border. We believe both issues can be agreed upon if Senate Democrats and the White House will negotiate reasonably," Johnson said on X.

Persons: Sen, Roger Marshall, Ron Price, Jimmy Dunne, LIV, Marshall, James Lankford, Shalanda Young, Mike Johnson, Young, —, Johnson Organizations: PGA Tour, Senate Homeland Security, Governmental Affairs, Golf, Saudi, Republican, Homeland Security, Hamas, Republicans, Israel, Management, Democrats Locations: United States, Hart, Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, U.S

Israel is the top recipient of U.S. military aid over time. Trying to attach strings to U.S. aid to Israel isn't unheard of, for Congress or for U.S. presidents. But when Biden told reporters on Nov. 24 he thought conditioning military aid to Israel was a “worthwhile thought,” it helped the proposal gain traction among administration-friendly Democratic senators. They say existing U.S. law already mandates that countries receiving U.S. military aid heed human rights concerns. No matter what, "we’re going to do a robust aid package for Israel," said Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat.

Persons: Israel, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden’s, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ” Sanders, Sanders, ”, that’s, —, that's, “, Gaza , Maryland Democratic Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Van Hollen, Biden, Antony Blinken, Ronald Reagan, Jake Sullivan, Tim Kaine, it’s, Gazans, Stephen Groves Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Lawmakers, White, Russia, U.S, Gaza , Maryland Democratic, Associated Press, Democrats, Hamas, haven't, Virginia Democrat Locations: Israel, Gaza, Vermont, United States, Ukraine, Gaza , Maryland, Virginia

☆ Senate Democrats subpoena Harlan Crow, escalating probe of GOP megadonor's relationship with Justice Clarence Thomas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Democrats pushed forward on a subpoena of Harlan Crow. The GOP megadonor has been at the center of ethics concerns regarding Justice Clarence Thomas. Republican senators previously filed 177 amendments to the subpoena authorization, including a subpoena of Jeffrey Epstein's estate for his private flight logs. Crow has been in the news for months related to his friendship to Justice Clarence Thomas. ProPublica uncovered numerous trips and gifts Crow lavished on the justice and his family, which Thomas often did not list on his financial disclosure.

Persons: Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas, —, Leonard Leo, Dick Durbin, Jeffrey Epstein's, Sen, John Cornyn, Durbin, Lindsey Graham, Graham, Crow, Leo, ProPublica, Crow lavished, Thomas, Samuel Alito, Paul Singer, Alito Organizations: GOP, Service, Durbin, United States Senate, Texas Republican, Republican, Supreme Court, Courthouse News Locations: Texas

People visit the U.S. Supreme Court building on the day that Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito released their delayed financial disclosure reports and the reports were made public in Washington, U.S., August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Senate Democrats are expected on Thursday to vote on authorizing subpoenas to a pair of influential conservatives with ties to the U.S. Supreme Court as part of an ethics inquiry spurred by reports of undisclosed largesse directed to some conservative justices. Democrats are expected to face resistance from the panel's Republican members, who have painted the oversight effort as an attempt to tarnish the Supreme Court after it handed major defeats to liberals in recent years on matters including abortion, gun rights and student debt relief. Lawyers for Leo and Crow in letters to the committee criticized the committee's information requests as lacking a proper legal justification. Crow's lawyer proposed turning over a narrower range of information but Democrats rebuffed that offer, according to the panel's Democratic members.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Kevin Wurm, largesse, Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, Donald Trump's, Dick Durbin, Crow, Leo, Paul Singer, Trump, Thomas, Alito, Singer, John Kruzel, Andrew Chung, Nate Raymond, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Texas, Alaska, New York, Boston

☆ No Strings Attached? Conditions on Israel Aid Split Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Paul Kiernan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Diplomatic efforts continue to extend a temporary cease-fire in Gaza as the truce deal enters its final hours. Israel said Tuesday that the government is not considering any proposals for a permanent cease-fire. Photo: Mohammed Alaswad/Zuma PressWASHINGTON—Senate Democrats are engaged in an intraparty debate on whether to attach strings to military aid for Israel in hopes of limiting further civilian casualties in Gaza, with a vote on a foreign-aid package that also includes assistance for Ukraine and Taiwan coming to the floor as soon as next week. The debate within the party comes as the Biden administration is pressing Israel to modify its plans for the next phase of its campaign in Gaza to better protect civilians. The White House has faced criticism that it has given Israeli forces free rein to wage their war with Hamas.

Persons: Israel, Mohammed Alaswad, Biden Organizations: Zuma Press WASHINGTON, Israel Locations: Gaza, Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel

☆ Senate Democrats Debate Possible U.S. Conditions for Israel Aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Paul Kiernan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Israel, Mohammed Alaswad, Biden Organizations: Zuma Press WASHINGTON, Israel Locations: Gaza, Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) looks on, following the Senate Democrats weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., November 28, 2023. "To us, the Jewish people, the rise in antisemitism is a crisis. A five-alarm fire that must be extinguished," Schumer said in an emotional, 40-minute Senate speech. Immediately after the speech, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who often jousts with Schumer over the events of the day, praised his remarks, saying, "I stand with him in condemning this hatred." Schumer cited boycotts and vandalism against Jewish-owned businesses "that have nothing to do with Israel" and Jewish students being harassed and assaulted on college campuses.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Frantz, Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Israel, Doina Chiacu, Richard Cowan, Dan Wallis, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, Jewish, Republican, Defamation League, FBI, New York Police Department, New York Times, Times, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Israel, United States, Ukraine, U.S, Gaza

☆ Top US Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer warns against surge of antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Doina Chiacu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) looks on, following the Senate Democrats weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., November 28, 2023. "Today, too many Americans are exploiting arguments against Israel and leaping toward a virulent antisemitism. The normalization and intensifying of this rise in hate is the danger many Jewish people fear most," he wrote. The Senate leader planned to give a speech on antisemitism later on Wednesday. His comments came as the Senate planned to consider legislation including aid for Israel and Ukraine as soon as next week.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Frantz, Schumer, Israel, she'd, Doina, Dan Wallis, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, New York Times, Senate, Defamation League, Jewish, New York City's Queens, Israel, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, United States, New York, New York City's

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who was among lawmakers who met privately with Sullivan on Tuesday, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Sullivan "made it clear that the White House is not asking for any conditionality in aid. So I want to leave that very clear.” A second person directly familiar with the meeting confirmed the account. Sullivan was on Capitol Hill to discuss questions from Senate Democrats about how the administration would ensure that any U.S. weapons provided to Israel are used in accord with U.S. law. Last week, Biden told reporters that conditioning military aid to Israel was a “worthwhile thought." But he suggested that had he done so earlier, it would have been more difficult to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Sullivan, Biden Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Hamas, Associated Press, Capitol, Democrats Locations: Israel, Gaza

Senate Democrats are discussing the possibility of attaching conditions to future Israel military aid amid humanitarian concerns in Gaza resulting from the country’s aggressive prosecution of its war against Hamas. “I do think that Israel needs to be more careful in the way it is conducting these operations,” Murphy added. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania told reporters he doesn’t support restrictions, saying that Hamas has to be “eliminated,” necessitating that there be no conditions on military aid to Israel. Senate Republicans were likewise largely opposed to conditions on aid to Israel, like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who called the idea “ridiculous.”“Our relationship with Israel is the closest national security relationship we have with any country in the world,” McConnell said. “We all support Israel.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Chuck Schumer, ”, Sen, Chris Coons, Bernie Sanders, Netanyahu’s, ” Sanders, Chris Murphy, ” Murphy, Joe Biden, Richard Blumenthal, who’s, ” Blumenthal, John Fetterman of, “, ” Fetterman, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, Israel –, “ We’ve, ” Sen, Peter Welch, we’re Organizations: CNN, Senate Republicans, Vermont Democrat, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, Chris Coons of Delaware, Vermont, Connecticut, U.S, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania

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