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☆ Democratic Sen. Cortez Masto urges FEC to require campaigns to send illegal contributions to Treasury
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., center, her husband Paul, and Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, are seen in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, November 16, 2022. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., is calling on the Federal Election Commission to require campaigns to send illegal campaign contributions to the U.S. Treasury instead of refunding the money to the original donor. Cortez Masto's call for the new FEC rule comes after numerous foreign donors and companies have been caught making illegal campaign donations. Still, as Cortez Masto points out, the fine could have limited impact on Zekelman as there is expected to be a full refund of the illegal contribution. Though Cortez Masto does not mention cryptocurrency exchange FTX or its co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried in her letter, his contributions to campaigns could come under the same scrutiny by the FEC if it enacted such a rule.

☆ Mitch McConnell says 'way too much attention' has been given to Republicans who oppose aiding Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

McConnell recently traveled to Europe to underscore Republican support for Ukraine. He told one reporter that members of his party opposed to aiding the country get "way too much attention." Other prominent Republicans have argued that the cost of US support for Ukraine is too high. "Let me start by saying: I am a conservative Republican from America, and I come in peace," said the top Senate Republican, according to his prepared remarks. "Reports about the death of Republican support for strong American leadership in the world have been greatly exaggerated."

☆ Trump tried to seem unbothered by Ron DeSantis, but he can't stop writing angry Truth Social posts about him
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But the former president just can't stop himself from writing Truth Social posts about DeSantis. Trump wrote. The Truth Social spree came after Trump tried to appear unbothered by DeSantis. On February 13, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he doesn't spend much time thinking about his rival at all, as Insider's Kimberly Leonard reported. It's clear Trump sees DeSantis as a real threatDonald Trump and Ron DeSantis.

☆ Michigan Republicans tap election denier to lead state party
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Kristina Karamo, a candidate for the Michigan Republican Party's state party chair, speaks to delegates ahead of their vote on the key party leadership position, in Lansing, Michigan, U.S., February 18, 2023. "The election baggage is going to make it hard to move the party forward," said John Clark, a professor of political science at Western Michigan University. "We cannot wait to get work done as one Michigan Republican Party," said Karamo, a local Republican activist who ran an unsuccessful campaign for secretary of state in 2022. The state party chair's main responsibilities include guiding the party's messaging and raising millions of dollars to help fund mass mailing campaigns and support candidates. She has yet to concede he loss to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who won November's election by 14 points.

☆ Far-right Republican groups surge in swing state Michigan
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Nathan Layne | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/6] Candidate for district party chair for Michigan Republican Party Jon Smith speaks with guests during a fundraiser in Hillsdale, Michigan, U.S., February 8, 2023. "What's going on in Michigan is a microcosm of what is going on with the Republican Party nationally," said Michael Traugott, a professor at the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan. The judge declined to intervene, leaving it up to Michigan Republican Party officials to set the rules on delegate selection. The top two candidates for state party chair have both promoted conspiracy theories in support of Trump's false claims about voter fraud. "There's some people that are thinking this is the end of the Republican Party," he said.

MUNICH, Germany Feb 17 (Reuters) - Nearly 50 lawmakers from both major U.S. political parties on Friday attended the start of Europe's premier annual security conference to affirm bipartisan support for U.S. aid to Ukraine. But Lindsey Graham, a leading advocate of aiding Ukraine, said in Munich that China would be encouraged to invade Taiwan if the United States and its European allies failed to back Ukraine. But Republicans and some Democrats also say President Joe Biden's administration should better explain its Ukraine policy. The United States is Ukraine's leading military aid supplier at some $30 billion, including long-range artillery, air defence systems and advanced armored vehicles. There are now calls on both sides of the Atlantic for Ukraine to receive advanced Western fighter jets.

☆ A timeline of Nikki Haley’s past Trump statements
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Bridget Bowman | Bridget Bowman Is A Deputy Editor For Nbc'S Political Unit. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Nikki Haley’s entrance into the presidential race this week is shedding new light on her past criticism and contradicting statements about former President Donald Trump. After she joined his administration, she went on to become a Trump supporter, encouraging voters to support his re-election in 2020. Haley defended Trump after a senior administration official published an anonymous op-ed in the New York Times. Jan. 7, 2021: Haley said at the Republican National Committee’s winter meeting that Trump “ was badly wrong with his words yesterday. I mean, move on.” Feb. 17, 2021: Haley wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that her comments about Trump were not contradictory.

☆ Trump's most loyal supporters in Congress are calling for an immediate halt to US support for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Eleven House Republicans have backed a measure calling for an immediate halt of US aid to Ukraine. A recent poll found nearly two-thirds of American support continued aid to Ukraine. A non-binding resolution introduced Thursday would, if passed, express the sense of Congress that the US "must end its military and financial aid to Ukraine." A recent Gallup poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the US should continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, even if that means prolonging the conflict. "We will not fight the third World War in Ukraine," he said.

A far-right faction of House Republicans is pushing against continued US aid to Ukraine. Those concerns ratcheted up amid House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's tumultuous journey to secure the gavel last month. Kyiv, for its part, has kept a close eye on Congress' dynamics since the GOP won a narrow House majority in the November midterms. "This GOP House majority will demand more oversight, transparency, and accountability to ensure assistance to Ukraine is used as intended," McCaul said in a statement. "Most Europeans don't think that suddenly the US is going to cut support to Ukraine," Araud said, adding that nobody anticipates Washington will "dump Ukraine."

☆ Indiana's Senate race will show the depths of the fault lines within the GOP. Early signs show it's still Trump's party.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Mitch Daniels would have been an ideal GOP Senate candidate. Daniels' decision offers a look at the obstacles that the party continues to face headed in 2024. Mitch Daniels would have been seen by most traditional conservatives as an ideal candidate to run for the Senate. Eric Holcomb is a potential candidate in the 2024 Indiana Republican Senate primary. AP Photo/Manuel Balce CenetaIndiana could drive the GOP Senate roadmapAhead of the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans anticipated making major gains in Congress, which eventually didn't come to pass.

☆ Elon Musk's Twitter just reinstated the account of white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who previously said Hitler was 'cool'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk's Twitter has reinstated the account of white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Fuentes is known for making antisemitic remarks and has praised Hitler, calling him "cool." Fuentes has also praised Hitler in a video repeating that he is "cool" and "awesome." In a December interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, Ye — who was joined by Fuentes — praised Hitler and made a number of overtly antisemitic remarks. Musk suspended Ye's Twitter account after the interview over repeated antisemitism saying: "I tried my best.

☆ Republicans said they chose Trump's DC hotel out of convenience. They've spent almost nothing there since he sold it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

GOP officials, politicians and PACS spent millions at Trump International Hotel in DC. Insider corroborated its findings through examining FEC spending records. The Trump International Hotel, housed in DC's famed Old Post Office building, closed its doors in May last year, and reopened as the Waldorf Astoria a couple of weeks later. Workers remove the signage for the Trump International Hotel on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Since the start of Trump's presidency, GOP figures spent around $2.5 million at the hotel while he owned it, FEC records show.

☆ Trump’s 2024 agenda includes executing drug dealers, purging the ‘deep state,’ and restricting voting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Donald Trump has unveiled a range of policies as he seeks election in 2024. They include restricting voting and executing drug dealers. Trump unveiled his "National Greatness Agenda" platform when announcing his candidacy in November 2022. Voting restrictionsSince his defeat in 2020, Trump has fixated on baseless claims that victory was stolen from him through mass fraud. 'Deep state' purgeTrump and his allies have long claimed that government "deep state" officials are plotting against him.

Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., on Tuesday announced his campaign for the Senate seat held by GOP Sen. Mike Braun, who decided against running for re-election in 2024 and will run for Indiana governor instead. Banks, a staunch ally of former President Trump, is the first candidate to enter the Senate race. Mitch Daniels if he jumps into the Senate race. Banks’ Senate campaign is endorsed by Rep. Larry Buschon, R-Ind., Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., state Rep. Michelle Davis and state Sen. Justin Busch. After Pelosi rejected Banks and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, McCarthy ultimately withdrew all five names.

☆ Davos draws record crowds, but its relevance is fading
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Data from the World Bank shows that global trade of goods and services as a percentage of total economic output peaked that year. A wooden sign on the waterfront of Lake Davos in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 8, 2023. Just look to Italy’s new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who was installed in October. Those skipping the gathering this year include US President Joe Biden, China’s Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. That raises questions about whether Davos can hang on to its reputation an essential event for the rich and powerful.

☆ U.S. tax credits could benefit global automakers — but Europe wants more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

European officials are still looking for further concessions from the United States to ensure European electric car manufacturers will not leave the bloc amid historic subsidies stateside. The European Union is still not completely satisfied with recent concessions from Washington on its historic set of green energy subsidies, urging the U.S. to add more benefits for European car manufacturers. European leaders have publicly stated their concern over the climate bill, given it provides unprecedented tax credits for those purchasing electric car vehicles made in North America. It could also make these companies less willing to invest in Europe if revenue suffers, which could impact the local labor market. Back in October, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen acknowledged that big changes to the legislation were unlikely.

Jan 10 (Reuters) - A lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses six state-run medical schools in Texas of violating federal anti-discrimination laws by giving preferences to female and non-Asian minority applicants. The University of Texas and Texas Tech University, which operate the schools named in the new lawsuit, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. According to the lawsuit, Stewart in 2021 obtained enrollment data for the six schools after he was denied admission. Stewart said in the complaint that the data showed that the schools gave preferences to female and non-Asian minority applicants. Stewart accused the schools of violating federal laws prohibiting race and sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs.

The chaos unfolding in the new Republican-controlled House shows that analysis, if it was ever true, certainly doesn’t hold today. Since the new Congress began Tuesday, every time Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has called a vote to be elected speaker, he has gotten no closer to the gavel. Though there is no shortage of backroom deal-making going on among House Republicans, either, the public nature of the leadership fight means many of the concessions McCarthy is offering have been announced by his opponents. Back in 1995, Newt Gingrich nudged aside longtime House Republican leader Bob Michel of Illinois to become the first Republican speaker of the House in 40 years after President George H.W. That helped oust House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, in 2015 and then his successor, Paul Ryan, R-Wis., once a conservative darling.

☆ House speaker chaos signals Donald Trump’s shrinking influence
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Trump's allies repeatedly rejected Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, displaying his power's limits. A week of House speaker chaos revealed one thing about Donald Trump: He can't get his MAGA house in order. The drama started on Tuesday, and it wasn't until Friday that McCarthy managed to make headway in flipping members' votes. "The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that, 'Sir, you do not have the votes, and it's time to withdraw.'" House members who are responding to the MAGA base have no reason to fear Trump on this, he said.

☆ Members of congress say they are unable to receive classified information as Kevin McCarthy loses 6th vote to become House speaker in 2 days
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Members of Congress are speaking out about the myriad issues caused by the House speaker vote. Following Rep. McCarthy's sixth failed bid on Wednesday, there are zero sworn members of Congress. There are currently no members of the Congress, as swearing-in ceremonies have been delayed while the quest to elect a House speaker has dragged on. And on Wednesday, several members of Congress said that the procedural hold-up and GOP infighting have restricted their access to classified information and key national security intel. By Wednesday evening, McCarthy had failed in six consecutive bids to become House speaker.

☆ The West Needs America’s Leadership
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Jamie Dimon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine punctured many assumptions about the future of the world and thus was a pivotal moment in history. U.S. leaders must always put America first, but global peace and order is a vital American interest. Only America has the full capability to lead and coalesce the Western world, though we must do so respectfully and in partnership with our allies. Without cohesiveness and unity with our allies, autocratic forces will divide and conquer the bickering West. America needs to lead with its strengths—not only military but also economic, diplomatic and moral.

The latest vote saw a core group of GOP holdouts nominate and vote for Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, a sophomore Republican lawmaker who on Tuesday had publicly shifted his support away from McCarthy. While the vote is still ongoing, enough Republicans have abandoned McCarthy to leave him shy of the 218 he needs to win the coveted seat. WASHINGTON — In the fourth vote in two days, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., again failed to secure enough support to win the U.S. House speakership. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is seen at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on December 21, 2022. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB – JUST WATCH!"

☆ Trump appears to be on the fence about Kevin McCarthy endorsement, says 'we'll see what happens' after 3 failed rounds of votes for House speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Azmi Haroun | Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. Kevin McCarthy failed to gain the votes to become House majority speaker on Tuesday. McCarthy failed to gain the necessary 218 votes three times at the outset of the 118th Congress. Later, key ally Donald Trump declined to say whether he stood by his endorsement of McCarthy. McCarthy did not amass enough votes from his Republican colleagues at the outset of the 118th Congress, with 19 GOP members voting against his effort to become speaker of the GOP-led House. In December, Trump encouraged GOP holdouts to rally around McCarthy, accusing them of playing a "very dangerous game."

☆ Trump says US is giving Ukraine too much support, as new skeptical Republicans take office and swing control of the House
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Former President Donald Trump said the US is giving Ukraine too much aid in its fight against Russia. The new Republican House majority will likely try to more closely monitor Ukraine aid. The US has given Ukraine $48 billion in humanitarian and military aid in its war with Russia. "The good old USA "suckers" are paying a VAST majority of the NATO bill, & outside money, going to Ukraine. Some of Trump's congressional allies have previously echoed his comments on Ukraine, calling for tighter monitoring of the billions in aid the US provides Ukraine.

WASHINGTON — Patrick Leahy was swept into the Senate nearly a half-century ago in the wake of the Watergate scandal and President Richard Nixon’s resignation and pardon. Ron Frehm / APSen. Leahy take photos on the inaugural stand during Barack Obama's presidential inauguration at the Capitol on Jan. 21, 2013. Let’s stay here and vote where we can be seen.”Sen. Leahy, D-Vt., walks to the Senate Chamber on Jan. 6, 2021. Ira Schwarz / APSupreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor is sworn in by committee chairman Sen. Leahy, D-Vt., during her confirmation hearing in 2009 in Washington. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., in the Senate subway.

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