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☆ Biden speaks with California governor about Silicon Valley Bank - White House
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Saturday about the Silicon Valley Bank failure and efforts to address the situation, the White House said after the bank's collapse. A White House statement said Biden discussed with Newsom an emergency declaration he issued on Friday to ensure California has the full support of the federal government as it responds to the impacts of severe winter weather, including flooding, landslides and mudslides. "The President and the Governor also spoke about Silicon Valley Bank and efforts to address the situation," the statement said without elaborating. Reporting by Moira Warburton and David Brunnstrom; editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Iran says deal reached with US for prisoner swap
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Parisa Hafezi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Some Iranian media reported last week that Iran had reached a prisoner swap deal in exchange for the release of $7 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds under U.S. sanctions in South Korea. In 2018, then-U.S. president Donald Trump ditched a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled the Islamic Republic's economy. The deal imposed restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. In reaction to Washington's sanctions, Tehran has gradually violated curbs of the pact on its nuclear programme. The deal imposed restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions.

☆ Former 'Boy Meets World' star Ben Savage to run for U.S. Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, March 7 (Reuters) - Ben Savage, who starred in the 1990s sitcom "Boy Meets World," is running for U.S. Congress in a Los Angeles-area district, aiming at a seat being vacated by Representative Adam Schiff, who is now running for Senate. "I'm running for Congress because it's time to restore faith in government by offering reasonable, innovative and compassionate solutions to our country's most pressing issues," Savage, 42, said in an Instagram post announcing his campaign. Savage graduated from Stanford University with a degree in political science. In November's midterm elections Schiff won with 71% of the vote against a fellow Democrat, thanks to California's open primary system in which the top two candidates regardless of party affiliation advance to the general election. Reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden said on Thursday he would sign a Republican-led bill that would overturn recent changes to Washington, D.C.'s laws which lowered penalties for some crimes, should it pass in the U.S. Senate. "I support D.C. statehood and home rule, but I don't support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor's objections, such as lowering penalties for carjackings," Biden said on Twitter after a meeting with Senate Democrats. "If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did, I'll sign it." A veto would run counter to Biden's longtime view that Washington should be a state that sets its own laws, free from interference from Congress. Congressional oversight of Washington, D.C. is written into the U.S. Constitution, and the city's 700,000 residents do not have voting representation in Congress.

☆ U.S. House Ethics Committee opens probe of Republican congressman Santos
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee said on Thursday it had opened an investigation into embattled Republican congressman George Santos, who has admitted to lying about his resume. When asked for comment, Santos's office directed Reuters to a tweet from his congressional Twitter account, which said he is "fully cooperating" with the investigation. The first-term lawmaker from New York state has admitted he fabricated much of his resume. Santos had said he had degrees from New York University and Baruch College, despite neither institution having any record of him attending. Reporting by Eric Beech and Moira Warburton, editing by Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee said on Thursday it had opened an investigation into Republican congressman George Santos, who has admitted to lying about his resume but defied calls to step down. The first-term lawmaker from New York state has admitted he fabricated much of his resume. Santos had said he had degrees from New York University and Baruch College, despite neither institution having any record of him attending. Santos has refused to step down despite mounting pressure from within his own party, insisting that he is the elected representative for New York's third district. Republicans control an extremely narrow margin in the House, in part thanks to surprise victories in New York state like Santos, who flipped his district in November's midterm elections.

☆ U.S. Senator Jon Tester will again run in 2024, in boon for Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Jon Tester will run for reelection, he said on Twitter on Wednesday, in a major win for Democrats who are defending seats in several battleground states in 2024. Tester, who has represented Montana in the U.S. Senate since 2007, is a reliable moderate who has won three tight races in the past in the increasingly Republican state. Even with an incumbent's advantage, Tester will likely still face a tough battle for reelection. Upcoming races in states like Montana, West Virginia, Ohio and Arizona all present challenges to the Democrats' ability to hold onto their Senate majority going into 2025. Reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington; Editing by Richard Cowan and Alistair BellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: Jimmy Carter's biggest challenges while president
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces new sanctions against Iran in retaliation for taking U.S. hostages, at the White House, Washington, D.C., U.S., April 7, 1980. Library of Congress/Marion S. Trikosko/Handout via REUTERSWASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, 98, has decided to receive hospice care, the Carter Center said on Saturday. Here are several key events from the Georgia Democrat's time in office from 1977 to 1981. CAMP DAVID ACCORDSThe Camp David Accords were a series of agreements signed in 1978 between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. The hostages were released minutes after Ronald Reagan was sworn into office to replace Carter in 1981.

☆ Trailblazing U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein will not seek re-election
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Senator Dianne Feinstein, a trailblazer for women in American politics, announced on Tuesday that she will not seek re-election in 2024, clearing the path for a hotly contested race for her seat among California Democrats. I can honestly say that Dianne Feinstein is one of the very best," Democratic President Joe Biden said on Tuesday night, noting their time serving together on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA), who announced she will not be seeking re-election, leaves the Senate floor after a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., February 14, 2023. Feinstein "was a tough woman on the front lines in fights like access to assault weapons and national security and intelligence," Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren told reporters on Tuesday. "Every other woman in public office owes a special debt to Dianne Feinstein."

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz's office on Wednesday said federal prosecutors had told his attorneys that he would not be criminally charged following an almost three-year-long sex-trafficking investigation. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment. "The Department of Justice has confirmed to Congressman Gaetz's attorneys that their investigation has concluded and that he will not be charged with any crimes," Gaetz's office said. Gaetz, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, repeatedly denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation. Reporting by Moira Warburton; Editing by Scott Malone and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Longtime U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein announces she will not seek re-election
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Dianne Feinstein announced on Tuesday that she will not seek re-election at the end of her term in 2024, clearing the path for a hotly contested race among California Democrats for her seat. Feinstein, who was first elected in 1992, has faced years of pressure to resign given that she is the oldest member of Congress at 89. However she declined to seek election for the position, months after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a fellow Democrat, declined to say whether he had confidence in her ability to serve. Several Democrats had already announced or hinted at runs even before her announcement, including Representatives Katie Porter and Adam Schiff. Feinstein is a trailblazer in U.S. politics: the first woman to serve as mayor of San Francisco, first woman to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee and now the longest-serving female senator.

[1/3] U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY) departs his office to attend a House vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2023. "If 142 people ask for me to resign, I will resign," he said. Santos has repeatedly said he will not resign, even as pressure has grown within his own party for him to do so. On Wednesday, more than a dozen Republicans officials, many of them from Santos' New York City-area district, demanded the newly elected congressman's resignation. An online petition calling for Santos' resignation has been started by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit ethics watchdog organization.

☆ U.S. Rep. Santos opens door to resignation - 'if 142 people 'ask'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. Representative George Santos (R-NY) walks to a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2023. "If 142 people ask for me to resign I will resign," the Republican congressman replied to reporters as he hurriedly exited a Capitol Hill office and entered an elevator. However, upon walking into his office during a separate exchange with reporters, Santos was asked whether he would resign, and he said, "I will not resign. On Wednesday, more than a dozen Republicans officials, many of them from Santos' New York City-area district, demanded the newly elected congressman's resignation. Deceived and connived his way into Congress," House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also from New York, told reporters.

WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Embattled U.S. Representative George Santos said he had no plans to heed fellow New York Republicans' calls to step down, a plea they made on Wednesday due to what they called "lie after lie after lie" about his career and history. The New York Republicans made their plea at a news conference two days after a nonpartisan watchdog accused Santos of breaking campaign finance laws in a filing with the Federal Election Commission. "It's just lie after lie after lie. Republican Representative Nick Langworthy from western New York and Representative Anthony D'Esposito, who represents a district next to that of Santos, were also among those calling on the first-term congressman to step down. During the news conference, officials said they would direct Santos' constituents to Representative D'Esposito in some cases, who had agreed to help residents of Santos' district.

☆ Katie Porter sets sights on fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein's U.S. Senate seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Katie Porter on Tuesday launched a campaign for U.S. Senate in California, taking aim at a seat currently held by fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who has not said if she plans seek re-election in 2024. Feinstein, who has held the seat since 1992, has faced pressure to resign given that she is the oldest member of Congress at 89 years old. She has championed inflation-based caps for drug prices and making it unlawful to excessively hike gasoline prices. loadingFeinstein is a trailblazer in U.S. politics: the first woman to serve as mayor of San Francisco, first woman to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee and now the longest-serving female senator. Reporting by Moira Warburton; Editing by Scott Malone and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Two U.S. House Democrats file ethics complaint against Republican George Santos
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Two U.S. House Democrats filed an ethics complaint on Tuesday against newly elected Republican Representative George Santos after revelations that he made false claims about his background and work experience during his campaign. The ethics committee is chaired by a Republican but has traditionally functioned in a bipartisan manner. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise told reporters on Tuesday that the party was looking into the matter. The Democrats' letter came the day after a federal watchdog accused him of breaking campaign finance laws by concealing funding sources. Santos has since faced pressure to resign, including from some Republicans such as Representative Nick LaLota, who called for an ethics investigation into his fellow Long Islander.

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives on Monday adopted a package of internal rules that give right-wing hardliners more leverage over the chamber's newly elected Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy. All 212 Democrats voted against the rules package, saying it was full of concessions to the right-wing of the Republican Party. The legislation includes key concessions that hardliners sought and McCarthy agreed to in his quest for the speaker's gavel. Democrats denounced the legislation as a rules package for “MAGA extremists” that would favor wealthy corporations over workers, undermine congressional ethics standards and lead to further restrictions on abortion services. Republicans have a narrow majority of 222-212 in the House, after winning fewer seats than expected in November's midterm elections.

☆ U.S. House to vote on rules that will constrain McCarthy's power
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on Monday on the rules that will govern it for the next two years, in a first test of newly elected Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy's ability to wrangle his caucus. The legislation includes several changes that will limit McCarthy's power, including allowing a single lawmaker to call for his removal at any time and changes meant to sharply limit spending, concessions that McCarthy agreed to win support from right-wing hardliners for his leadership bid. Republicans have a narrow majority of 222-212 in the House, after winning fewer than expected seats in November's midterm elections. This has amplified the hardliners power, and raised questions about how the divided Congress, where President Joe Biden's Democrats still control the Senate, will function. Democrats are expected to vote against the package.

☆ Abortion, China, big government: Republicans get ready to flex
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After a weaker-than-expected performance in the November midterm elections, Republicans control the House with a narrow majority of 222-212, giving just a few hardline members outsized leverage to force through their political and legislative goals. A bill that would "prohibit a healthcare practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion" will also get introduced next week. Both applause and caution poured in from Democrats after the election, including from President Joe Biden, who congratulated McCarthy on his win. "Now that the leadership of the House of Representatives has been decided it is time for that process to begin." Reporting by Moira Warburton in Washington Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

JOSH BRECHEEN - FLIPPEDThe Oklahoman freshman went for McCarthy on Friday afternoon, saying a deal "will allow conservatives to rein in out-of-control spending." ANDREW CLYDE - FLIPPEDClyde of Georgia is a member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, which is driving opposition to McCarthy. He moved to support McCarthy on Friday. ANDY BIGGS - OPPOSEDThe Arizona lawyer ran against McCarthy in the first round of voting for speaker. MATT ROSENDALE - OPPOSEDThe lone congressman from Montana has remained opposed to McCarthy, voting repeatedly for fellow Republican Kevin Hern instead.

WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Republican Kevin McCarthy's perilous quest to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives entered the fourth day on Friday, with a scale of congressional dysfunction not seen since before the U.S. Civil War. This week's 11 failed votes marked the highest number of ballots for the speakership since the late 1850s. But the holdouts want a deal that would make it easier to oust the speaker and give them greater influence within the House Republican caucus and on congressional committees. Some Republicans believed the agreement under discussion might give McCarthy as many as 10 additional votes. Some of McCarthy's opponents showed no sign of yielding.

The last time the House failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot was in 1923, during a contest that took nine ballots to resolve. Possibilities include number two House Republican Steve Scalise and Representative Jim Jordan - who received 20 votes when nominated on Tuesday. But House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters that Republicans have not reached out to discuss that option. Well, I am not going to surrender," Republican Representative Trent Kelly said at a news conference on Wednesday evening. Wednesday's three failed votes - following three failed votes on Tuesday - also served as a rebuke to Trump, who had urged Republicans to unite behind McCarthy.

☆ As U.S. House speaker fight drags on, Republican holdout votes for Trump
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Moira Warburton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Representative Matt Gaetz, one of 20 House hardliners who have rejected McCarthy, cast his ballot for Trump in a seventh round of voting. He was the only member to do so, leaving Trump far short of the 218 votes needed. The U.S. Constitution does not state that the speaker of the House needs to be a member of the House, though no outsider has held the role. Republican strategists said that the House hardliners' rejection of Trump's plea to vote for McCarthy illustrated the former president's weakening hold on the party he reshaped. Asked about Gaetz's move, a Trump representative on Thursday referred back to Trump's Wednesday post urging "VOTE FOR KEVIN."

☆ Factbox: If not McCarthy then who? Other possible candidates for U.S. House speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] U.S. House Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) makes his way through the U.S. Capitol on the first day of the new Congress in Washington, U.S., January 3, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn HocksteinWASHINGTON, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Here are six potential candidates to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives if Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy fails to win the post due to a rebellion by hardliners in his party. 2 House Republican is a supporter of McCarthy who could get support from moderates in the caucus, while also appealing to hardline conservatives. REPRESENTATIVE JIM JORDANThe Ohio congressman is leader of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of the most hardline House conservatives. Jordan has repeatedly supported McCarthy in speaker votes, but all 20 holdouts voted for him on Tuesday.

☆ Factbox: How does the U.S. House of Representatives decide on a speaker?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Members of the U.S. House of Representatives gather for a fourth round of voting for a new House Speaker on the second day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstJan 4 (Reuters) - After winning a slim majority of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in November's midterm elections, Republicans are trying to elect a speaker. The full House of Representatives votes for the speaker on its first day of a new Congress, which was Tuesday. If no candidate reaches that threshold, the House will continue voting until someone does. The House returned from its winter recess on Tuesday to elect a speaker and swear in newly elected representatives, but no one nominated received enough votes to win, despite three rounds of voting.

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