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☆ FBI chief says shadowy Chinese police stations in the US are 'outrageous' and he's 'very concerned'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

FBI Director Christopher Wray said he's "very concerned" about secret Chinese police stations in the US. "We are aware of the existence of these stations," Wray said during a Senate hearing. The FBI chief on Thursday said it would be "outrageous" for Chinese police to "set up shop" in New York "without proper coordination." The FBI chief said it's important for Chinese-Americans and Chinese dissidents to call the FBI and report if they believe they've been targeted by the Chinese government. "President Xi's precedent-breaking third term bodes ill for human rights in China and around the world," Yaqiu Wang, a senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, said last month.

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was re-elected as Republican leader on Wednesday, defeating a challenge from Sen. Rick Scott of Florida that reflects growing angst within the party after it underperformed in the midterm elections. It is the most serious challenge McConnell has faced for his position after leading the Republican caucus for 15 years. “I welcome the contest.”McConnell is now on track to become the longest-serving Senate caucus leader in history. “That option is represented by Rick Scott currently.”Scott's challenge has rankled some in the Republican caucus, who attribute the 2022 defeats to his handling of the NRSC. “Rick Scott must really love to lose,” griped one Senate GOP aide.

Sen. Linsey Graham, a Trump ally, told reporters he voted "for change." "I welcome the contest," McConnell told reporters after Scott announced his bid. "I voted for change," he told reporters. Earlier this month during an interview with Fox News host Martha McCallum, Scott denied rumors spread by Trump that Scott "hates" McConnell. So we acquainted our members with the tools they have," McConnell told reporters at the US Capitol, adding, "I think that'll be used more often.

“Personalities come and go,” said Dave Ball, the GOP chair in Pennsylvania’s Washington County, who has supported and defended Trump. Trump is preparing to do just that, with a Tuesday announcement expected at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. In Illinois, Republicans had threatened to take two state Supreme Court seats and flip state Senate and House seats. In Pennsylvania, GOP leaders had hoped to at least hold on to the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Pat Toomey. Trump lost the state by narrow margins in 2016 and 2020.

☆ Mitch McConnell says he 'never predicted a red wave' and that independent and moderate Republican voters were 'frightened' by GOP
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The GOP leader said he "never predicted a red wave" and "never saw that in any of our polling." He also said that moderate and independent voters were "frightened" by some GOP figures. He also said he never predicted a blow-out victory for Republicans, based on polling that he saw in recent months. "And it frightened independent and moderate Republican voters." McConnell has balked at releasing an affirmative Republican agenda, believing it's best to make midterm elections a referendum on the party in power.

☆ Rick Scott launches his Trump-backed challenge of Mitch McConnell to become Senate GOP leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sen. Rick Scott is challenging Mitch McConnell to become the top Senate Republican. Scott's challenge comes as former President Donald Trump and some Senate Republicans blame McConnell for a lackluster midterm election. As Politico broke the news of Scott's challenge, McConnell's allies lashed out. As the leader of Senate Republicans' campaign arm, Scott played a key role in shaping his party's strategy. Unlike McConnell, Scott did not want the GOP to aggressively intervene in contested primaries, which led to Trump-backed challengers like Dr. Mehmet Oz and Don Bolduc emerging in key races in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, respectively.

☆ Republicans in disarray as McConnell faces a leadership challenge, McCarthy scrounges for votes to become speaker, and Trump seeks to stake his claim for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( John L. Dorman | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Republicans last week faltered in producing the red wave election they had sought for over a year. McConnell now faces a leadership challenge, while McCarthy is looking for votes to lead the House. And on Tuesday, Scott informed colleagues that he would challenge McConnell, who since leading the Senate GOP caucus in 2007 has retained strong support within the party. The House Republican Conference on Tuesday voted 188-31 in favor of McCarthy leading the caucus over conservative challenger Andy Biggs of Arizona, but the California lawmaker will need 218 votes to win the Speaker's gavel next year. Republicans, already trying to navigate the new landscape on Capitol Hill, will have a lot to figure out as the 2024 presidential election looms.

☆ As Trump prepares 2024 announcement, Mike Pompeo is running ads in key presidential primary states
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mike Pompeo has launched digital ads through his PAC in early voting presidential primary states. Pompeo has said a Trump presidential bid alone would not keep him out of the race. Pompeo has said a Trump 2024 presidential bid would not alone keep him from entering the race. He said he'd vote for Trump with "no hesitation" if Trump were to win the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. To date, none have formally announced 2024 presidential bids.

☆ GOP starts boosting Walker in runoff amid calls to keep Trump away from Georgia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Marc Caputo | Marc Caputo Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Warnock won his race against Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, and Sen. Jon Ossoff defeated GOP incumbent David Perdue, swinging control of the narrowly divided chamber. I know that Trump wants to be helpful to make Herschel win. Should Laxalt prevail, the Georgia Senate race would once again determine control of the Senate. “President Trump is 220-18 in races that have been called, and with the support of President Trump, Herschel Walker, after forcing a run-off, is well-positioned to win,” Budowich said in a written statement. “We just can’t take our eye off the ball and make sure we prepare to win Georgia,” he said.

Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly is running against Republican Blake Masters in Arizona's high-profile Senate race. Polls closed in Arizona at 7 p.m. local time, or 9 p.m. EST, as freshman Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona faces off against newly-minted Republican candidate Blake Masters in a highly charged race for the state's US Senate seat. Embattled former President Donald Trump endorsed Masters in early June based on Masters' denial of Joe Biden's lawful victory. His opponent, Masters, has raised $12 million, spent $9.4 million, and has $2.6 million of cash still left to spend, as of October 19. Thiel's pro-Masters Saving Arizona PAC, for one, has poured more than $17 million into the race through September.

In the wake of Greene’s statement and other Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump questioning the amount of U.S. aid delivered to Ukraine in recent weeks, Sens. A key supporter of Kyiv, Portman is the co-chair and co-founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His departure from Congress is seen as a potential blow for Ukrainian support. Some Ukrainian officials have expressed nervousness in recent weeks, as news stories indicated potential GOP opposition to continued support for Kyiv. Barry Reeger / AP fileYuriy Saks, adviser to Ukraine Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov, told NBC News on Monday that he hoped the results of the U.S. election would not affect the country’s continued support of Ukraine.

Democrats cite threats to Social Security, MedicareAs Election Day approaches, Democrats are telling voters that Social Security and Medicare may be at risk if Republicans take control of Congress. Scott has called for reauthorizing Social Security and Medicare every five years in Congress, while Johnson suggests revisiting the programs annually. Minimum wage hikes on the horizonVoters will decide this month whether to make certain raises to the minimum wage in Nebraska, Nevada and Washington, D.C. In Nebraska, the measure would ratchet up the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026, up from its current $9. The current minimum wage is $9.50 an hour or $10.50 an hour, depending on if a worker is offered health insurance.

☆ Forget the culture wars: Democrats and Republicans are focusing their midterm-election closing arguments on Medicare and Social Security
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Democrats are challenging that by framing themselves as defenders of Medicare and Social Security. Since relief on sky-high inflation or the housing crisis isn't imminent, Democrats have turned to Republican plans to privatize and make cuts to Social Security and Medicare. In a speech at the Democratic National Committee last week, Biden used the phrase "Social Security and Medicare" 11 times while countering Republicans' rhetoric around reforming both programs. Republicans' proposed budget points to cuts, but they're denying that's the planRepublicans have said Democrats are misrepresenting their comments on Social Security and Medicare. Arrington has repeatedly introduced legislation that would prevent people from receiving both Social Security disability benefits and Social Security unemployment benefits at the same time — called "double dipping" by critics.

☆ Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Tim Ryan avoids talking about Trump on the trail as he paints GOP opponent JD Vance as extreme
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Insider spent a day following Rep. Tim Ryan across Ohio as campaigned for US Senate. He's running a tight race against GOP nominee JD Vance, despite Trump winning Ohio twice. "You are grounded, go to your room," Ryan mock-replies, before drawing his story back to the reality of his Senate campaign. Republican Senate candidate JD Vance at a GOP unity event in Canton, OH on October 27, 2022. Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio at a rally for Ryan in Cleveland, OH on October 27, 2022.

☆ Hillary Clinton said voters ‘don’t really understand’ the consequences of electing Republicans in the midterms
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Hillary Clinton questioned whether voters "really understand" what's at stake in the midterms. She said Social Security and Medicare are under threat should control of Congress change. Republican leaders say they don't back proposals that could see the programs cut. Clinton said she believes Americans don't "really understand" what that would mean. Democrats including President Joe Biden and Barack Obama have seized on the proposals to attack Republicans ahead of the midterms.

☆ As Election Day approaches, Democrats warn that Social Security and Medicare are at stake
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

He also pointed to impending risks to Social Security based on plans floated by certain Republican lawmakers, namely Sens. What's more, it would mean letting two of the most important laws that established Social Security and Medicare expire, he said. It is unclear what his opponent Kean's stance is on Social Security and Medicare. While that's in keeping with years past, the difference this year is Social Security has been more of a front-burner issue. "Usually, it's a lot of lip service to Social Security and how they think it's a great program."

☆ Insider asked 38 Republicans whether they're concerned about growing anti-Semitic sentiments in their party. Their responses included silence, deflection, and rehashing old statements.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Insider reached out to House Republican leaders, GOP senators auditioning for the 2024 presidential race, the Republican National Committee, retired GOP lawmakers, seasoned Republican strategists and former Donald Trump administration officials about this disturbing phenomenon. The non-respondents included RNC chair Ronna McDaniel, former Vice President Mike Pence, National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Rick Scott, House Republican Conference chair Elise Stefanik, Florida Gov. Meghan McCain, the daughter of late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, lashed out at West, Trump and House Republican "idiots" cheering on their reprehensible behavior. "You can say that his particular words in this particular case are not antisemitic," Rosen said Tuesday during Commentary's daily podcast. Nor have they convinced House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jim Jordan to quit hailing West and Trump as personal heroes.

☆ Sen. Mark Kelly, one of the most vulnerable freshman Democrats, faces off against Blake Masters in Arizona for a seat that could decide control of the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Mark Kelly is running against Republican Blake Masters in Arizona's high-profile Senate race. A Masters win could help Republicans win control of the currently 50-50 Senate. Arizona Senate candidatesKelly, a former NASA astronaut who is also married to retired Democratic congresswoman-turned-gun-control advocate Gabrielle Giffords, has jumped into a variety of issues during this first term in Congress. Masters is a first-time candidate vying to reinsert some red into the battleground state after voters handed control of the Senate delegation to Democrats Kelly (2020) and Kyrsten Sinema (2018). A Masters win would tip the balance of power to Republicans, ending the 50-50 split that's been in effect since January 2021.

☆ Josh Hawley says Republicans should ban congressional stock trading as their top priority in 2023 after Democratic efforts falter
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hawley says GOP leaders should make banning congressional stock trading their top priority. Congressional Democrats have floated various trading bans but haven't found a unifying fix. How about Congress pass an actual stock trading ban?" Fellow stock trading ban advocate Sen. Jeff Merkley announced a few weeks earlier that Senate Democrats were punting their own compromise bundle into the lame-duck session. Hawley's stock trading proposal, which only applies to congressional members and their spouses, currently has no cosponsors and is less comprehensive than many of the languishing Democratic proposals.

☆ The GOP dealt conservative Georgia voters a dud with Herschel Walker
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Arick Wierson | Arick Wierson Is A Six-Time Emmy Award-Winning Television Producer | A Former Senior Aide To Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He Advises Political | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

The bold way that the GOP — the pro-life party — continues to support Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker, who allegedly urged an ex-girlfriend to have an abortion and paid for the procedure, is eyebrow-raising to say the least. However, it’s not the first time Walker has been involved in a deal in which he has failed to live up to expectations. If you are an ardent Vikings fan, the Walker trade was a raw deal that still stings to this day. In this lopsided trade, it’s former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party attempting to present Walker as a Senate candidate with deeply held anti-abortion convictions to conservative Georgia voters. According to a Survey USA poll of likely voters, conducted Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, Warnock leads Walker 50% to 38%.

☆ Sens. Rick Scott and Tom Cotton to campaign for Herschel Walker in Georgia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Summer Concepcion | Allie Raffa | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Rick Scott of Florida, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and Tom Cotton of Arkansas announced they will travel to Georgia to campaign for Herschel Walker on Tuesday. Last week, The Daily Beast reported allegations that Walker, who supports a ban on abortion without any exceptions, paid for the abortion of a woman in 2009. Today it’s Herschel Walker, but tomorrow it’s the American people.”“I’m on Herschel’s team — they picked the wrong Georgian to mess with," Scott said. National Republicans, including Scott, had rushed to defend Walker after the Daily Beast's reporting of the abortion allegations. The woman who alleged Walker paid for her abortion more than a decade ago also claimed she is the mother of one of his four children, The Daily Beast reported.

☆ Trump and national GOP leaders are backing Herschel Walker after abortion allegations, even as his son says he's a 'liar'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Herschel Walker paid for a woman's abortion despite his pro-life stance, the Daily Beast reported. Walker denied it, but his TikTok influencer son Christian is calling him a liar in a series of tweets and videos. The Daily Beast reported Monday night that Walker reimbursed a woman for an abortion in 2009, despite the candidate's strong public stance against abortion rights. Walker is staunchly anti-abortion rightsLike most Republican candidates and elected officials, Walker is broadly opposed to abortion. "Herschel Walker is being slandered and maligned by the Fake News Media and obviously, the Democrats," Trump said in a statement.

☆ As Biden vows to 'protect' Social Security, here's what we know about the future of benefits
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"I want to save Social Security, Medicare and Veterans benefits." A spokeswoman for Scott pointed to a recent interview where he said his plan would help make sure people get their Social Security benefits. Specific plans from both parties are needed to secure the future of both Social Security and Medicare, she said. Due to high inflation, estimates show the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is poised to be the highest in decades, according to The Senior Citizens League. One more month of consumer price index data will come in before the official bump for next year is announced by the Social Security Administration.

There’s no palpable hunger for a shutdown so close to the Nov. 8 midterm elections, so Congress must pass a bill by midnight Sept. 30 to avert a lapse in funding. “The cleaner the bill is, the more likely” it is to pass quickly, said Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D. He wants tens of billions for Covid, and he says the pandemic is over,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., a physician. Cases, hospitalizations, deaths, mental health aspects of Covid, long Covid. But conservatives are rebelling, saying Congress should push the issue into 2023 in the hope that the GOP will seize the majority and write legislation to its liking.

☆ Rick Scott predicts the Trump civil fraud lawsuit won't hurt the GOP's chances of retaking the Senate much and says the Mar-a-Lago raid 'revved up the base'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Rick Scott downplayed the chances of a new lawsuit against Trump endangering the midterms. Scott said simmering outrage over the Mar-a-Lago raid could drive more MAGA voters to the polls. Sign up for our newsletter to receive our top stories based on your reading preferences — delivered daily to your inbox. Scott said what matters more to diehard Trump fans is how the former president is being scrutinized by federal investigators right now. "I think the FBI revved up the base — by doing the raid and not telling anyone why they did it," Scott said.

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