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☆ More Biden judges will be confirmed, but four appeals court nominees won’t see a vote under Senate deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Tierney Sneed | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

However, the four Biden appellate nominees already faced tough odds of confirmation, with some, like 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Adeel Mangi, facing opposition among Democrats as well. The Senate deal puts Biden in a position to potentially beat Trump’s record of number of district court judges confirmed. Still, Demand Justice, an organization that advocates for progressive judicial nominees, blasted the new deal for depriving the four Biden circuit nominees of floor votes. Those efforts were always going to face headwinds and got more arduous when Trump demanded that Senate Republicans blockade all pending Biden nominees for the bench. Under the new deal, Republicans backed off procedural tactics that would stymie the confirmations of six district nominees that were on the floor Wednesday night and on Thursday.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump’s, Biden, Adeel Mangi, ”, Chuck Schumer, Trump, haven’t, Obama, Maggie Jo Buchanan, “, Donald Trump, headwinds, Independent Sen, Joe Manchin’s, Kyrsten Sinema, Washington –, Dick Durbin Organizations: CNN, Senate, Liberal, Democratic, Republicans, Biden, Democrats, GOP, Trump, Demand, Independent, Republican, Illinois Democrat Locations: Washington, Arizona, Illinois

Democrats called for a full party reckoning on Wednesday, as they attempted to pick up the pieces of their shattered organization a day after Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss to former President Donald Trump. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., put out a statement blasting "big money interests and well-paid consultants who control the Democratic Party." "It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them," he said Wednesday. Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images“People needed to pick who was going to go after him,” the Harris ally said of prosecutors and Democrats. One Harris aide called for more diversity among decision-makers, pointing to a far too-white leadership makeup of Harris’ campaign and Biden’s former campaign.

Persons: Kamala Harris ’, Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, It’s, ”, Nikki Budzinski, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Biden, Harris, Obama, “, impeaching, Brendan Smialowski, can’t, That’s, Trump, They’ve, Jen O’Malley Dillon, O’Malley Dillon, weren’t, prepping Harris, ‘, ’ ”, O'Malley Dillon, Harris ’, Sheila Nix, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Cedric Richmond, Vermont Sen, Peter Welch, —, Welch, James Carville, Josh Shapiro, Gretchen Whitmer, JB Pritzker, Adam Jentleson, we’ve, what’s, ” Wade Randlett, “ Trump, Joe Biden, Joe, We’ve Organizations: Republicans, Trump, Illinois Democrat, Democratic Party, Democratic, Biden, Howard University, Wednesday, Getty, Democrat, Keystone Pipeline, America, Longtime, longtime Democratic Locations: Illinois, Trump, AFP, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California

☆ Opinion: Destined to be a lame duck
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. When Biden and Trump meet in a debate on CNN Thursday, expect part of the audience to be wondering exactly who and what will come next. Biden, who’s battling low approval ratings, is sticking with Vice President Kamala Harris, whose polls are also bleak. There were 28, and we’ve had 11 so far this year, Bridget Johnson noted in the first of a CNN Opinion series about America’s preparedness. “It’s a measure of his hold on American society that he’s still revered a half-century later,” wrote Frederic J. Frommer.

Persons: Franklin D, Roosevelt, “, ”, Alexander Wiley of, Adolph Sabath, Sabath, can’t, Joe Biden, Donald Trump —, Biden, who’s, Kamala Harris, Ronald Reagan’s, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Trump, Julian Zelizer, Zelizer, it’s, Facebook “ Trump, ’ Trump, Hunter Biden, ” Terry Szuplat, Barack Obama, I’ve, that’s, Obama, Dan, ’, don’t, … Don’t, Melinda French Gates, Douglas Heye, Bob Good, Trump Dean Obeidallah, Clay Jones, we’ve, Bridget Johnson, Johnson, “ we’re, Richard Serino, Irma, Maria, Hurricane Maria, Mark Wolfe, ” Drew Sheneman, Anna Bershteyn, Michael Diamond, Roe, Wade, Karen Finney, Jennifer Tucker, Chuck Schumer's, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, he’s, John Kasich, Bill DeBlasio, Donald Trump, Sarah Palin, Biden’s, Jill Filipovic, Walt Handelsman, Luther Terry, Vivek H, Murthy, ” Kara Alaimo, Dolly Parton, Allison Hope, Dolly Parton “, Parton, ” Hope, Ericka Andersen, ’ Andersen, Andersen, Dolly, Nathan B, Baskind, Weeks, Samantha Baskind, Uncle Nate, Nathan Baskind, David, ” Samantha Baskinshe, ” Don’t, Phil Hands, Nadine Pienede, Frida Ghitis, Adam Plowright, Sara Stewart, Andrew McCarthy, Rohit Chopra, Willie Mays Bill Bramhall, Willie Mays, Frederic J, Frommer, ” Frommer, Mays, —, ” Mays, Vic Wertz, It’s Organizations: CNN, Republicans couldn’t, Democratic, GOP, Alexander Wiley of Wisconsin . Rep, Illinois Democrat, New York Times, Trump, Biden, Twitter, Facebook, UFC, Democrats, Braver, Trump Dean, US, FEMA, Hurricane, Ricans, Ledger, Agency, “, Independence, ”, Times, Federalist, Army, Journal, Tribune, New York Daily, Cleveland Indians, New York Giants Locations: Illinois, George H.W ., New York, American, ” “ Ohio, John Kasich , New York City, Donald Trump , Alaska, Switzerland, France, Normandy, Wisconsin, Juneteenth, Haiti, Putin’s, Korea, “

☆ On Immigration, Biden Attempts to Replicate a Powerful Obama Moment
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Jazmine Ulloa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Luis V. Gutiérrez, an Illinois Democrat and former congressman, recalled that in his district in the Chicago area, some Latinos celebrated the moment in the streets. That is how important that was for him politically.”Twelve years later, President Biden appears to be trying to replicate that move. Mr. Biden planned to stand alongside immigrant families on Tuesday as he unveiled an order expanding legal protections for undocumented spouses of American citizens. He evoked Mr. Obama’s powerful moment by announcing it at an event commemorating the anniversary of that 2012 executive action for young immigrants. News of Mr. Biden’s expected announcement has already drawn widespread praise from Latino and immigrant rights advocates, including from some former critics who had just weeks ago denounced him as “Border Shutdown” Biden.

Persons: Barack Obama, deporter, ”, Luis V, —, ’ ”, “, Biden, Biden’s, ” Biden Organizations: Illinois Democrat Locations: Illinois, Chicago

☆ Senate GOP blocks bill to guarantee access to contraception
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Clare Foran | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Senate Republicans voted Wednesday to block a bill put forward by Democrats that would guarantee access to contraception nationwide, as Democrats seek to highlight the issue in the run up to November’s elections. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins crossed over to vote with Democrats in favor of advancing the bill. Katie Britt and Ted Cruz introduced a bill called the IVF Protection Act in May, and Republican Sen. Joni Ernst has put forward a separate bill to promote access to contraception. “We will have an alternative that will make very clear that Republicans are for contraception,” Senate GOP Whip John Thune said. Ahead of the vote on the Democrat-led bill, Ernst attempted to pass her alternative contraception bill by unanimous consent, but the request was blocked by Democrats.

Persons: Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Schumer, It’s, GOP Sen, John Cornyn, …, Roe, Wade, –, “, Chuck Schumer, ’, ”, Illinois Democratic Sen, Tammy Duckworth, Katie Britt, Ted Cruz, Republican Sen, Joni Ernst, John Thune, Ernst, Democratic Sen, Patty Murray, Britt, Murray, Democratic Sens, Ed Markey, Mazie Hirono, Duckworth, CNN’s Brenda Goodman Organizations: CNN, Republicans, GOP, “, Democratic, state’s, Illinois Democratic, Republican, Democrat, US Food and Drug Administration, Health, Education, Labor, Women’s Freedoms Locations: Texas, Alabama, implanting

☆ Alito tells lawmakers he will not recuse from Supreme Court cases despite flag controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( John Fritze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“The two incidents you cite do not meet the conditions for recusal,” Alito wrote in a letter distributed by the Supreme Court. Supreme Court justices rarely get into a back-and-forth with lawmakers and many members of the court do not explain their reasons for recusing – or not. Video Ad Feedback See how GOP lawmakers reacted to Judge Alito's flag controversy 01:24 - Source: CNNThe Supreme Court is weighing major cases tied to the 2020 election and the attack on the US Capitol. From Google“I had no involvement in the decision to fly that flag,” Alito wrote. Justice Alito also told Fox News the neighbor used the term “c*nt” at one point during the exchanges.

Persons: Samuel Alito, ” Alito, Alito, recusing, Alito's, Donald Trump’s, Jack Smith’s, “, –, Martha, Ann Alito, Samuel Alito's, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin, ”, ” Sen, Sheldon Whitehouse, Clarence Thomas ’, —, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, John Roberts, Thomas, Hank Johnson, Alito’s, ” Johnson, Trump, Justice Alito, “ Alito, SCOTUS, Roe, Wade, CNN’s Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Kate Sullivan, Jack Forrest, Morgan Rimmer, Tierney Sneed, Holmes Lybrand Organizations: CNN, Supreme, Trump, US Supreme, Google, ’, recusal, Democratic, Illinois Democrat, Rhode Island Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Georgia Democrat, United States Supreme, New York Times, Fox News, Times, Republicans Locations: Alexandria, Virginia, New Jersey, Long Beach, Illinois, Connecticut, Georgia, House

☆ The Mrs. defense: powerful men blaming their wives
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag,” Alito said in a written statement to The New York Times, which first reported the story this week. A Supreme Court justice being unmasked as having a partisan tilt wouldn’t be illegal – just awkward and icky. Shannon Stapleton/ReutersCouples behaving badlyFormer Rep. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, pioneered the Mrs. defense when he and his wife were both accused of funneling campaign funds for private use. A unanimous US Supreme Court, including Alito, later vacated the governor’s conviction and narrowed the scope by which prosecutors can pursue bribery allegations. The Mrs. defense could conceivably be turned on its head and used by a powerful woman to blame her husband.

Persons: Samuel Alito doesn’t, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Alito, “, ” Alito, Ann, Alito won’t, Clarence Thomas ’, Ginni, Thomas, Menendez ‘, Sen, Bob Menendez, Nadine, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Menendez’s, Shannon Stapleton, Duncan Hunter, Margaret, Trump, Henry Cuellar, Imelda, ”, . Cuellar, Jesse Jackson Jr, Sandra, Bob McDonnell, Maureen, Cori Bush, Bush, Kim Taylor, Jeremy Taylor Organizations: CNN, New York Times, House, New, New Jersey Democrat, California Republican, Texas Democrat, Illinois Democrat, Former Virginia Gov, Republican, Missouri Democrat, Supervisors Locations: New Jersey, New York, Manhattan, New York City, California, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Washington, Iowa, Woodbury County

☆ Supreme Court Justice Alito urged to step off Trump election case over U.S. flag controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Associate Justice Samuel Alito poses during a group photo of the Justices at the Supreme Court in Washington, April 23, 2021. The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday urged Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from considering cases related to the 2020 election, including the question of former President Donald Trump's immunity from criminal prosecution, because of controversy over an upside-down U.S. flag that flew outside Alito's home after the election. "Flying an upside-down American flag — a symbol of the so-called 'Stop the Steal' movement — clearly creates the appearance of bias," said Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who heads the Judiciary Committee. "Justice Alito should recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection, including the question of the former President's immunity in U.S. v. Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court is currently considering," Durbin said in a statement. "The Court is in an ethical crisis of its own making, and Justice Alito and the rest of the Court should be doing everything in their power to regain public trust."

Persons: Samuel Alito, Donald Trump's, Sen, Dick Durbin, Alito, Durbin, Donald Trump, Justice Alito Organizations: New York Times, Illinois Democrat, Committee Locations: Washington, Virginia

☆ Justice Samuel Alito blames upside-down American flag on his wife and a flap with neighbors
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( John Fritze | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Alito said that a neighbor had posted a sign saying “F**k Trump” near a school bus stop and then a sign attacking his wife, Martha-Ann Alito. The upside-down flag was a symbol for former President Donald Trump’s supporters who falsely claimed widespread fraud in the presidential election. A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court has not respond to CNN’s requests for comment. “Flying an upside-down American flag — a symbol of the so-called ‘Stop the Steal’ movement — clearly creates the appearance of bias,” Durbin said in a statement. Renewed calls for ethics reformThe Supreme Court is weighing major cases this term tied to the 2020 election and the attack on the Capitol.

Persons: Samuel Alito, Alito, Martha, Ann Alito, Fox, Donald Trump’s, Tim Walz, “ I’m, Joe Biden’s, “, ”, “ It’s, Trump, Hank Johnson, Clarence Thomas, ” MAGA, Thomas, ” Johnson, ” Sen, Dick Durbin, ” Durbin, Sen, Tom Cotton, Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, Jack Smith’s, John Roberts, Sheldon Whitehouse, ” Whitehouse, Roe, Wade, Renee Knake Jefferson, ” Jefferson Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Trump, Democratic, Capitol, Minnesota Gov, New York Times, Times, Gadsden, Georgia Democrat, Committee, Illinois Democrat, Republicans, Arkansas Republican, Republican, Congress, Supreme, Rhode, Rhode Island Democrat, ”, University of Houston Law Center Locations: Minnesota, Alexandria , Virginia, Washington, DC, Georgia, House, Arkansas, ”, Carolina, Rhode Island

☆ By passing Ukraine aid, the accidental speaker became an unlikely Churchill
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Republican Speaker Mike Johnson showed political courage that is rare in Washington and notable legislative skill for an inexperienced leader in forcing a long-delayed $60 billion aid bill for Ukraine through the House of Representatives on Saturday. And 112 Republicans — a majority of the conference — voted against the Ukraine bill. And any Republican speaker propped up by Democrats might hemorrhage support among GOP lawmakers and be forced to resign. “As we deliberate on this vote, you have to ask yourself this question: Am I Chamberlain or Churchill?” he said. The accidental speaker makes an unlikely Churchill, but on Saturday he proved to be a far more daring and substantial figure than many of his Republican and Democratic critics previously believed.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Vladimir Putin, Ronald Reagan, Joe Biden’s, “, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, ” CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen, Putin, —, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Johnson —, Kevin McCarthy’s, Marc Molinaro, CNN’s Manu Raju, Trump, Zelensky, Trump’s, Hakeem Jeffries, Mike Quigley, It’s, ” Quigley, Chuck Schumer, Jeffries, Mike McCaul, ‘, it’s, McCaul, Chamberlain, Churchill Organizations: CNN, West, GOP, America, MAGA, United States House, Representatives, Ukraine, Republican Party, Trump, Republicans, Georgia, Mar, Democratic, Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Illinois Democrat, Foreign, Texas Republican, Republican Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Russian, Louisiana, United States, Russia, Europe, Iran, China, Israel, Taiwan, Mexico, Georgia, New York, Kyiv, Texas, Nazi Germany

CHICAGO (AP) — Voters are set to cast their ballots Tuesday to decide competitive U.S. House races during the Illinois presidential primary. Democratic incumbents in at least two Chicago-area congressional races are locked in energetic challenges in the strongly Democratic territory. “We plan on finishing what we started.”It’s a crowded five-candidate primary field, including Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, a former Davis ally who now says it’s time for him to be voted out. “I’m running to use my knowledges, my expertise, my intellect.”He has backing from top Illinois Democrats. Also running are Chicago educator Nikhil Bhatia and Kouri Marshall, a former deputy director for Pritzker.

Persons: Danny Davis, Kina Collins, Davis, ” Collins, “, ”, Melissa Conyears, Ervin, Conyears, “ I’m, I’m, J.B . Pritzker, Nikhil Bhatia, Kouri Marshall, Pritzker, “ Chuy ” Garcia, Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez, Lopez, Garcia, “ He’s, hasn’t, suburbanites Organizations: CHICAGO, —, Democratic, DISTRICT U.S . Rep, Chicago Democrat, Chicago, Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago ) Bears, Illinois, Gov, Chicago Alderman, City Council, Democrat, Chicago police, Republican Locations: Chicago, “, Mexico

☆ TikTok: House panel unanimously approves bill that could ban app from US app stores
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

If enacted, the bill would give ByteDance 165 days, or a little more than five months, to sell TikTok. The legislation also has the support of the White House and House Speaker Mike Johnson. House lawmakers voted unanimously in the same session Thursday to advance a second bill, one that would limit US companies’ ability to sell Americans’ personal information to foreign adversaries. Speaking to reporters on the Capitol steps Thursday, Gallagher rejected characterizations of the bill as a TikTok ban. A legislative factsheet from the sponsors of the House bill claims the proposal does not censor speech.

Persons: ”, TikTok, Shou Chew, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Frank Pallone, “, ” Pallone, Shou Zi Chew, Jose Luis Magana, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, Washington Sen, Maria Cantwell, ” Cantwell, Gallagher, “ It’s, Dan Crenshaw, It’s, ” Crenshaw, snoop, ByteDance, Trump, Tom Williams, —, “ We’re, Jenna Leventoff, Stephanie Joyce, ” CNN’s Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona Organizations: Washington CNN, TikTok, House Energy, Commerce, Apple, Google, “, Washington Republican, New, New Jersey Rep, Capitol, Wisconsin Republican, Illinois Democratic Rep, White, Senate, Democratic, Washington, CNN, Chinese Communist Party, Texas Republican, Oracle, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU, Computer and Communications Industry Association, Foreign Locations: China, New Jersey, Washington, United States, Beijing, State, Rayburn, Montana

Mr. Abbott tried to cast I.V.F., which has been available for more than 40 years, as a novel subject confronting legislators. “need to worry.”After the Alabama ruling rocked presidential and congressional campaigns over the past week, Mr. Trump said on Friday that he supported I.V.F. “And so this Alabama Supreme Court ruling is a natural extension of that.”Gov. Many Republicans have struggled to oppose the result of the Alabama ruling while supporting the principle it is based on. Nikki Haley did so on Wednesday, saying it was important to let doctors and patients navigate the I.V.F.

Persons: Greg Abbott of, Donald J, Trump, Roe, Wade, Dobbs, Trump’s, Abbott, we’re, ”, “, “ I’m, Dana Bash, I.V.F, Gretchen Whitmer, Biden’s, “ We’ve, Donald Trump, ” Gov, Gavin Newsom, Neil M, Gorsuch, Brett M, Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Nikki Haley, Byron Donalds, Donalds, Tammy Duckworth, they’ve, Ms, Duckworth Organizations: Alabama Supreme Court, ”, CNN, Sunday, Republican, National Republican Senatorial Committee, Senate, I.V.F, Gov, United States Supreme, California, NBC, Press, Alabama Constitution, Republicans, ABC News, Illinois Democrat Locations: “, Greg Abbott of Texas, Texas, Alabama, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Illinois, I.V.F

☆ Biden’s balancing act with Iran aims for deterrence, not a wider war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“I think it is a real strong deterrence,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat and Iraq War veteran. It was only about an hour after Biden departed Dover Air Force Base in Delaware that the first US strikes began in Iraq and Syria. Inside the Situation Room, Biden and his team assessed a set of options that each came with a certain degree of risk. And there are clear indications that Iran isn’t looking for a war with the United States — just as Washington insists it isn’t seeking a broader conflict. “There’s been no communications with Iran since the attack that killed our three soldiers in Jordan,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday night.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, won’t, “, ”, Sen, Tammy Duckworth, ” Biden, Mark Esper, Donald Trump’s, ” Esper, he’d, William Jerome Rivers, Kennedy Ladon Sanders, Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, United States —, —, haven’t, Biden’s, “ There’s, John Kirby, Beth Sanner, Qasem, ” Sanner Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Illinois Democrat, Iraq, Biden, Dover Air Force Base, US Army Reserve Command, Spc, Breonna, United, White, ” National Security Locations: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Red, Illinois, Jordan, Delaware, United States, Gaza, South Carolina, Tehran, Yemen, Washington, Iranian

☆ 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

☆ The Senate’s Supreme Court Subpoena Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The House Oversight Committee investigating Biden family business dealings has issued subpoenas to Hunter and James Biden to appear for depositions. Also requested for transcribed interviews are family members and associates including Sara and Hallie Biden. In a rush of rule-breaking at the end of a meeting, Mr. Durbin moved to bluster through subpoenas for two friends of Supreme Court Justices on a partisan vote. This is part of a Democratic political campaign to portray the High Court as a trinket bought by billionaires. “The pair have become genuine friends, according to people who know both men,” as even the left-leaning ProPublica admitted.

Persons: Biden, Hunter, James Biden, Sara, Hallie Biden, Mark Kelly Illinois, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, ProPublica Organizations: Reuters, Democratic

Sen. Jeff Merkley became the second senator to call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war this week. And with recent polling showing that a majority of Americans support a cease-fire in Gaza, the pressure from constituents has been thick. Sen. Chris Coons was badgered on a train about why he hadn’t endorsed a cease-fire. Both have drawn attention to humanitarian concerns in Gaza in recent weeks but stopped short of calling for a cease-fire. “I and others defended Israel’s right to respond with a campaign targeted at destroying Hamas,” Merkley wrote .

Persons: Sen, Jeff Merkley, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Coons, hadn’t, Israel –, –, Dick Durbin, Biden, Cori Bush, Joe Biden, eyeing, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, “, Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders, Netanyahu’s, Ilhan Omar, she’s, J, Edwin Benton, ”, ” Benton, ” Merkley Organizations: Oregon Democrat, White, Hamas, Democrats, Illinois Democrat, NBC, Biden, Israel, Minnesota Democrat, University of South Locations: Israel, Oregon, Gaza, Sen, Massachusetts, Illinois, Missouri, lockstep, ”, Vermont, Minnesota, University of South Florida

CNN —American Airlines said it is reviewing a video posted on TikTok that shows a baggage handler releasing a passenger’s wheelchair to slide down a jet bridge chute, where it crashed into a metal barrier, flipped over and tumbled onto an airport tarmac. In the video, as the first man lets the wheelchair go, a second baggage handler, who is on the ground at the other end of the chute and wearing an American Airlines vest, steps back. American Airlines said in a statement, “We recognize how important it is to support the independence of customers with disabilities by ensuring the proper care of mobility devices throughout their journey with us. In 2022, American Airlines’ rate of damaging, delaying or losing wheelchairs and scooters was 2.00 per 100, DOT statistics show. It also calls on the agency to study whether it is possible for passengers to use wheelchairs in the main cabin.

Persons: Haeley Dyrdahl, Dyrdahl, ”, “, Pete Buttigieg, Sen, Tammy Duckworth, ” Duckworth, “ It’s, Duckworth, John Thune, –, Steve Cohen, Pete Stauber, CNN’s David Williams, Ross Levitt, Gregory Wallace Organizations: CNN — American Airlines, Miami International Airport, CNN, American Airlines, Transportation, Department of Transportation, DOT, United Airlines, Illinois Democrat, Republican, Senate Commerce, Science, ”, Tennessee Democrat, Minnesota Republican Locations: America, American, Illinois, South Dakota, Tennessee, Minnesota

☆ US senators demand documents from Meta over its handling of teen mental health
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —A group of US senators is demanding that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hand over troves of emails and documents that could show how the company handled the knowledge that its platforms could harm the mental health of teens. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. Meta spokesman Andy Stone said that the company is in touch with the members who signed the letter. The letter further accuses Meta of showing an “apparent willful disregard” for young people’s well-being, of “misrepresentations to Congress” and of “profiting from threats” to user safety. The letter requests a response by Nov. 30 and calls for Meta to provide its correspondence related to Bejar’s warnings to executives, as well as senior leaders’ own correspondence with Zuckerberg about proposed investments in user well-being.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Zuckerberg, ”, Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal, Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn, Dick Durbin, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham ; Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren, Missouri Republican Josh Hawley, Meta, Arturo Bejar, Andrea Joy Campbell, didn’t, Andy Stone, people’s, ’ Organizations: Washington CNN, Facebook, Connecticut Democrat, Tennessee Republican, South Carolina Republican, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham ; Massachusetts Democrat, Missouri Republican, Meta Locations: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Tennessee, Illinois, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham ; Massachusetts, Missouri

People walk across the plaza of the U.S. Supreme Court building on the first day of the court's new term in Washington, U.S. October 3, 2022. The court takes up appeals when at least four of its nine justices agree to hear a case. Jackson described Johnson's solitary confinement as "unusually severe," noting that "prison officials completely deprived Johnson of exercise for nearly all of his incarceration" at Pontiac Correctional Center. Johnson has a history of mental illness, including depression and bipolar disorder, and suicide attempts, according to his lawyers. Johnson sought monetary damages, medical treatment and other relief in the lawsuit accusing prison officials of violating the Eighth Amendment by denying him exercise for a prolonged period.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Michael Johnson's, Johnson, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Jackson, Kwame Raoul, Daniel Greenfield, compulsively, Johnson's, John Kruzel, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Pontiac Correctional Center, Illinois Democratic, Circuit, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Illinois, Chicago, Washington, New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and China are the two global economic heavyweights. The meeting will bring together 21 Pacific Rim countries, which collectively represent 40% of the world’s people and nearly half of global trade. Indeed, imports of Chinese goods to the United States were down 24% through September compared with the same period of 2022. Xi, too, has reason to try to restore economic cooperation with the United States. “This will not be an easy sell.’’Complicating matters is that the tensions between Washington and Beijing go well beyond economics.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi, Eswar Prasad, “, Prasad, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, Chad Bown, Janet Yellen, Lifeng, —, ” Yellen, ’ ’, Wendy Cutler, Raja Krishnamoorthi, ’ ’ Krishnamoorthi, ’ Organizations: WASHINGTON, International Monetary Fund, “, Cornell University, Economic Cooperation, Biden, World Trade Organization, U.S, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Prosperity, Trump, Group, Bain & Co, Micron, IMF, United, Asia Society Institute, Chinese Communist Party, Republicans, Pew Research Center, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Rep, Illinois Democrat Locations: United States, China, Washington, Beijing, U.S, Ukraine, Gaza, Asia, San Francisco, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, India, Philippines, South China, Taiwan, Chinese, Kenya, Nigeria, Illinois

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has not said whether he supports the proposal released Monday by Republican Sens. But he told The Associated Press in an interview Monday that he has been discussing the entire package of aid with the White House, including border policies. McConnell, who has strongly pushed for the Ukraine aid, said he thinks “every single Republican in the Senate and the House” believes that the influx of migrants is a major problem. But finding agreement on the border will be difficult, and could easily hold up further Ukraine aid, as immigration has been one of the most intractable issues in Congress for decades. It would detain families at the border and require migrants to make the asylum claim at an official port of entry.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, Republican Sens, Lindsey Graham of, Jim Lankford, ” McConnell, McConnell, ”, “, Israel, Mike Johnson, Biden, Dick Durbin, Kerri Talbot, Donald Trump, Colleen Long Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, Republican, Associated Press, White, Democratic, House, Israel, Illinois Democrat, GOP, Immigration, Biden Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, United States, Israel, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Oklahoma, U.S ., Russia, Illinois, Afghanistan

☆ US lawmakers question tax prep companies on sharing of taxpayer data with Big Tech platforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“Americans should be able to file their taxes without fear that their sensitive data will be shared with Big Tech companies,” said the letters, copies of which were obtained by CNN. The letters — led by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren — focus on the use of tracking technology developed by tech platforms and embedded within the tax prep companies’ websites that quietly transferred users’ personal information to Meta and Google, allegedly without their consent. Of the five tax prep companies, Intuit was not a major focus of the initial congressional probe because it did not use tracking pixels to the same extent as the others, the investigation found. They also asked the same question of each of the four other tax prep companies, as well as requesting a commitment to abide by the FTC’s warning not to use customer data in ways consumers did not expressly approve. The lawmakers requested that the tax prep firms respond by Nov. 8.

Persons: ”, Massachusetts Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren —, Warren, Meta, — Sens, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse, Katie Porter Organizations: CNN, Federal Trade Commission, Big Tech, Massachusetts Democratic, Meta, Google, FTC, Intuit, Ramsey Solutions, Oregon Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Vermont Independent, Rhode, Rhode Island Democrat, House Democratic Locations: Oregon, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, California

The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel is reprehensible. Israel is under heavy attack right now by Hamas and taking action to defend itself and its people. Israel has every right to defend itself.”Sen. Jon Tester, Montana Democrat“I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks launched by Hamas against our ally Israel. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.”Sen. Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Democrat“Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel is nothing short of horrifying. Israel has every right to defend itself from this unjust war.”Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat“The terrorist attack on Israel is appalling.

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries, “, Steve Scalise, ” Kevin McCarthy, ” Chuck Schumer, –, Herzog –, ” Mitch McConnell, ” Tom Emmer, ” Katherine Clarke, ” Dick Durbin, ” John Thune, ” Sen, Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat “, Israel, Amy Klobuchar, Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat “, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat “, Joe Manchin, West Virginia Democrat “, Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Democrat “, Gary Peters, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat “, Catherine Cortez Masto, Brian Schatz, Hawaii Democrat “, Jeff Merkley, Oregon Democrat “, John Barrasso, Joni Ernst, Iowa Republican “, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Republican “, Steve Daines, Montana Republican “, Mike Lee, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grassley, Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Kyrsten, Mark Kelly, John Boozman, Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican “, Alex Padilla, Laphonza Butler, California Democrat “, today’s, Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat “, John Hickenlooper, Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat “, Chris Murphy, Tom Carper, Delaware Democrat “, Chris Coons, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Jon Ossoff, Georgia Democrat “, Anat Sultan, Raphael Warnock, “ I’m, Mazie, Tammy Duckworth, Todd Young, Mike Braun, Jerry Moran, Kansas Republican “, Hamas’s, Roger Marshall, Netanyahu, Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican “, Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, Susan Collins, Maine Republican “, Ben Cardin, Maryland Democrat “, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, Tina Smith, Minnesota Democrat “, Roger Wicker ,, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican “, Cindy Hyde, Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, Jon Tester, Montana Democrat “, Deb Fischer, Nebraska Republican “, Pete Ricketts, Jacky Rosen, Nevada Democrat “, Jeanne Shaheen, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat “, Maggie Hassan, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat “, Bob Menendez, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat “, Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Democrat “, Biden, Ben Ray Lujan, Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Democrat “ I'm, Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, North Carolina Republican “, John Hoeven, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican “, Kevin Cramer, Sherrod Brown, Ohio Democrat “, J.D, ”, Vance, James Lankford, Markwayne Mullin, Israel –, Ron Wyden, Bob Casey, John Fetterman, craven, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican “ I’m, Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican “ Shocked, Marsha Blackburn, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican “ Israel, Bill Haggerty, Tennessee Republican “, John Cornyn, John Cornyn , Texas Republican “, Ted Cruz, Mitt, Vile, Peter Welch, Vermont Democrat “, Tim Kaine, Patty Murray, Washington Democrat “, Maria Cantwell, Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican “ Israel, Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Republican “, Jim Jordan, Jared Moskowitz, Abigail Spanberger, Elissa Slotkin, Don Bacon, perpetrating, Cori Bush, Missouri Democrat “, Kevin Hern, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican “, ” Rep, Ritchie Torres, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat “, Michael McCaul, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican “ I, Ilhan Omar Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Biden, House, Michigan Democrat, Minnesota Democrat, Virginia Democrat “, Senate Intelligence, Massachusetts Democrat, Islamic, Cory Booker , New, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat, West Virginia Democrat, Wisconsin Democrat, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat, Nevada Democrat, Hawaii Democrat, State, Oregon Democrat, John Barrasso , Wyoming Republican, Iowa Republican, West Virginia Republican, Montana Republican, Utah Republican, Idaho Republican, Alabama Republican, Alaska Republican, Alaska Republican “, Arizona Democrat, John Boozman , Arkansas Republican “, Jewish, Arkansas Republican, California Democrat, Colorado Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Delaware Democrat, Israel, Florida Republican, Georgia Democrat, Hawaii Democrat “, Indiana Republican, Indiana Republican “, Kansas Republican, Kentucky Republican, Louisiana Republican, Maine Republican, Maryland Democrat, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican, Smith , Mississippi Republican, Josh Hawley , Missouri Republican, Missouri Republican, Montana Democrat, Nebraska Republican, Jeanne Shaheen , New, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat, Bob Menendez , New, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat, New Mexico Democrat, New, New York Democrat, United, North Carolina Republican, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican, Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Republican “, Ohio Democrat, Vance , Ohio Republican, James Lankford , Oklahoma Republican, Oklahoma Republican, “ Hamas, Rhode, Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Republican, South Carolina Republican, South Dakota Republican, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican, Tennessee Republican, John Cornyn , Texas Republican, Ted Cruz , Texas Republican, Vermont Democrat, Washington Democrat, Wisconsin Republican, Wyoming Republican, ”, Ohio Republican “, Missouri Democrat, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican, Ritchie Torres , New, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat, Jewish State, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican Locations: Israel, United States, Tehran, The United States, Iran, Michigan, U.S, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Vermont, Cory Booker ,, Cory Booker , New Jersey, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Gary Peters , Michigan, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon, John Barrasso , Wyoming, America, Iowa, West, Montana, Iranian, Utah, Idaho, Alabama, Alaska, Alaska Republican “ America, @Israel, Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona, John Boozman , Arkansas, Jewish State, Arkansas, Saudi Arabia, California, Gaza, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mazie Hirono, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Palestine, Roger Wicker , Mississippi, Smith , Mississippi, Josh Hawley , Missouri, Missouri, Nebraska, Jeanne Shaheen ,, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire, Bob Menendez ,, Bob Menendez , New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North, John Hoeven , North, Kevin Cramer , North, Ohio, Vance , Ohio, James Lankford , Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Lindsey Graham , South, South, States, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee, Tennessee, John Cornyn , Texas, Ted Cruz , Texas, Mitt Romney, Virginia, “ Hamas, Washington, Wyoming, Ohio Republican “ America, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma, Ritchie Torres ,, Ritchie Torres , New York, Michael McCaul , Texas

Yet several hard-right conservatives told CNN they are prepared to take down the rule over the spending bill if their demands aren’t met. Democrats are already trying to pin the blame on any shutdown on the House GOP. Ukraine funding a key flashpoint in HouseHow McCarthy deals with the immediate spending demands remains to be seen, including whether he’ll agree to pair the short-term spending bill with any aid to Ukraine. Simpson said of tying Ukraine aid to the short-term spending bill: “That’s a tougher sell. “Once you get truly into the presidential cycle, everything gets that much more difficult.”Hardliners may upend McCarthy’s strategyHard-line conservatives are already threatening to make McCarthy’s calculus more complicated if he cuts a short-term spending deal with Democrats.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, It’s, ” McCarthy, Department of Homeland Security –, Joe Biden, Ukraine –, aren’t, Mike Simpson of, ” Simpson, Don Bacon, Biden, “, ”, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Kevin Hern of, Hern, Simpson, Vladimir Putin’s, we’re, Sen, Tammy Duckworth, upend, Ralph Norman –, –, hasn’t, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good, Darrell Issa, ” Issa Organizations: CNN, GOP, White, Department of Homeland Security, White House, Democrats, ”, Senate, Republican, Republican Party, Party, Illinois Democrat, South Carolina Republican, Virginia Locations: Ukraine, Mike Simpson of Idaho, Washington, Nebraska, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Illinois, Florida, California

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