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☆ Rep. Ritchie Torres quietly leaves Progressive Caucus amid tensions over Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York is no longer a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) after months of tensions with colleagues over the Israel-Hamas war. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. It's also unclear whether Torres left the caucus voluntarily, with one senior progressive caucus member telling Business Insider that the New York Democrat "never showed up" for meetings. One fellow progressive member told Business Insider that he only found out about it via social media. AdvertisementIt's also not the first time Torres has left a progressive caucus.

Persons: Ritchie Torres, Torres, Rashida, Tlaib, Lois Frankel, Florida —, xuMZTw7wSw — Ritchie Torres, Pramila Jayapal, It's, Alexandria Ocasio, Joe Crowley Organizations: Congressional Progressive Caucus, CPC, New York Democrat, Business, Jewish, Democratic Locations: New York, Israel, Michigan, Jewish State, New York City, Alexandria

☆ Group of Democrats call on Blinken to provide answers on bypassing Congress to approve arms sales to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A group of 19 predominantly Democratic lawmakers is calling on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide answers about why he bypassed Congress last month to approve arms sales to Israel. The top US diplomat made two emergency determinations in December to immediately approve the transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in military equipment to Israel. In their letter, the lawmakers noted the rarity of administrations using emergency declarations to immediately approve arms sales without congressional approval. “Use of a national emergency waiver does not exempt the U.S. government from assessing whether arms sales are consistent with” those standards, they wrote. I would say that the process that the secretary followed and the process that we follow here at the State Department is the process that the law actually prescribed,” Miller said at a State Department briefing.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Joe Biden, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Democratic Sens, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Peter Welch, James McGovern, Earl Blumenauer, Joaquin Castro, Judy Chu, Raúl, Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Betty McCollum, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Jill Tokuda, Maxine Waters, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Leahy, credibly, “ Israel, ”, ’, “, Matt Miller, ” Miller Organizations: CNN, UN, Independent, Democratic, State Department, Leahy, ”, Department Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hamas

☆ Biden has a bridge to reelection – but has to rebuild it first
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

A decision by such voters that they cannot morally support Biden over this single issue could have a significant impact. “We should … not forget how President Biden beat Trump in 2020. Accepting what liberals see as draconian Trump-style restrictions on asylum would be viewed as a betrayal by many in Biden’s coalition. A CNN survey in November, for example, showed Biden led Trump among Black voters 73% to 23%. Latino voters favored Biden over Trump by only four points in the poll compared to 33 points in the 2020 election.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, —, Trump, Biden, Biden’s, Covid, Quentin Fulks, “, ” Fulks, Donald Trump, MAGA, Israel epitomizes, didn’t, Pramila Jayapal, ” Jayapal, CNN’s Manu Raju, Trump’s, Nikki Haley’s, Lyndon Johnson, ”, Hank Naughton, Naughton, –, ” Naughton, Trump won’t, Kamala Harris, Harris, “ Joe Biden, Shawn Fain, Chuck Morse, officeholder, ” Morse, ” Dominick Lombardi, Lombardi Organizations: CNN, White, Republican, Democratic, Local, Republicans, White House, Trump, GOP, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Biden, Black, Electoral College, South Carolina Gov, America, United Auto Workers, Pew Research Center, Pacific Islander, “, Orange Republican Party Locations: Gaza, New Hampshire, Israel, Trump, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Washington, New Haven County , Connecticut

☆ Opinion: Donald Trump wins against Nikki Haley, but loses it
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Opinion Cnn Contributors | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +24 min

The problem with this approach is that most Republican voters do not want an alternative to Trump; they overwhelmingly back him. At least that’s what the Nikki Haley campaign said after finishing second to former President Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primaries on Tuesday. Democratic nominee Bill Clinton and third-party candidate Ross Perot exploited that division in the Republican Party against Bush in the fall. The Republican Party is united behind Trump, and with optimal conditions for an opponent like Haley, Trump was still unstoppable. “Democrats deserve options, and it’s not clear at all that President Biden can beat Donald Trump.

Persons: Raul A, Reyes, Nikki Haley’s, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, bode, Reyes CNN Haley, Trump, Haley, “, CNN’s Dana Bash, That’s, it’s, Trump …, Nikki, –, She’s, Paul Begala, Donald Trump’s, Paul Begala CNN Trump, Joe Biden, Reagan, Bush, Bill Clinton’s, Clinton, Ana Marie Cox, Ana Marie Cox Faith Fonseca, ” Trump, Biden, Jamal Simmons, Biden’s, he’s, Dean Phillips, Jimmy Carter, Edward Kennedy, Kennedy, Carter, Republican Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Pat Buchanan, Bill Clinton, Ross Perot, Eugene McCarthy’s, Lyndon Johnson, Marianne Williamson, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Pramila, Kamala Harris, Daniel McCarthy, John McCain, George W, Ron DeSantis, Biden —, ”, Rizwan Virk, Williamson, Sanders, Andrew Yang, Dean Philips, Yang, ” Rizwan Virk, Patrick T, Brown, Barack Obama, Dozens, Scott Walker, Jeb Bush, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Texas Sen, Ted Cruz, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Cruz, Sophia A, DeSantis, Nelson Stephanie Honikel, Harris, Nelson, Tuesday’s, Phillips ’, Phillips, Arick, Michael Bloomberg Organizations: CNN, GOP, South Carolina Gov, Republican, Reyes CNN, Trump, Independents, Polling, White, USA, Twitter, New, South, Biden, diehard Republicans, New Hampshire, Republican Party, Bush Republicans, NATO, Republicans, Democratic, Minnesota Rep, Hamas, Washington Rep, Former South Carolina Gov, mavericks, New Hampshire Democratic, Florida Gov, The, Syndicate, Democratic Party, Democrat, Labs, MIT, Physics, Eastern, Arizona State University’s College of Global Futures, Wisconsin Gov, Ohio Gov, Public Policy Center, Economic, Florida’s, America, Trump Party, Congressional, UN, Tuesday’s New, Tuesday’s New Hampshire Democratic, Democratic National, Biden –, Medicare, New York Locations: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, America, Granite, Trump, Michigan, New Hampshire , Iowa, Austin, Israel, Vietnam, Granite State . South Carolina, Gaza, Yemen, Ukraine, Vermont, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, Ohio, New York, Washington , DC, Virginia, Minnesota, Tuesday’s New Hampshire, Hampshire

☆ These 105 Democrats declined to vote for a resolution declaring 'anti-Zionism is antisemitism'
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

105 Democrats voted no or "present" on a resolution that declared "anti-Zionism is antisemitism." Advertisement105 House Democrats on Tuesday declined to vote for a resolution condemning antisemitism, pointing to language that equates it with anti-Zionism. Nadler on Monday introduced his own resolution on anti-Semitism, arguing it goes further in mitigating the problem than the Republican-proposed resolution. Rep. Nadler: "The resolution states that all anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Nonetheless, 95 Democrats voted for the resolution anyway, including Rep. Greg Landsman of Ohio, one of more than two dozen Jewish House members.

Persons: Jerry Nadler, —, Nadler, cjTReBocKW, Prem Thakker, David Kustoff, Mark Pocan, Thomas Massie, Rashida, Massie, Greg Landsman, Landsman, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Gerry Connolly, Raul Grijalva, Pramila, Summer Lee, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Bonnie Watson Coleman Organizations: Jewish House, Service, Democrats, Democratic, New, Defamation League, Israel, Jewish Voice, Peace, Monday, Republican, Rep, Republicans, House, Republican Rep, Jewish, New York Rep, Missouri Rep, Virginia Rep, Illinois Rep, Arizona Rep, Washington Rep, Pennsylvania Rep, Cortez of New York Rep, Minnesota Rep, Massachusetts, Michigan Rep Locations: New York, Israel, Brooklyn, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, Chuy García, Alexandria, Cortez of, Minnesota, New Jersey

☆ Biden decries Hamas sexual assaults and says they must be forcefully condemned
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President Joe Biden on Tuesday decried sexual assaults committed by Hamas during its October 7 terror attack on Israel and called on “all of us” to condemn the acts. “Over the past few weeks, survivors and witnesses of the attacks have shared the horrific accounts of unimaginable cruelty. Biden on Tuesday also accused Hamas of refusing to release additional female hostages and ending the pause in fighting that the US helped broker last week. “Let me be crystal clear: Hamas’ refusal to release the remaining young women is what broke this deal and end the pause in the fighting. Everyone still being held hostage by Hamas need to be returned to their families immediately.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, —, ” Biden, “, …, Pramila Jayapal, –, CNN’s Dana Bash, Jayapal, Biden, We’re Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Union, Democrats Locations: Israel, Boston, “, Gaza

“It is appalling.”Israel has said it is investigating several cases of sexual assault and rape from the Hamas attack on Israel. Some recently released hostages have shared testimonies of sexual violence and abuse during their time in Gaza. He referenced his work on the issue as a lawmaker as he spoke out against the allegations of sexual violence by Hamas. “The world can’t just look away at what’s going on,” Biden told donors. He added, “It’s on all of us — government, international organizations, civil society and businesses — to forcefully condemn the sexual violence of Hamas terrorists without equivocation.

Persons: Joe Biden, equivocation, Biden, ”, —, ” Biden, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, “, you’ve, Israel, Hillary Clinton, Sen, Kirsten Gillibrand, Sheryl Sandberg, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” Jean, Pramila, ” Jayapal, Seung Min Kim, Aamer Madhani, Melanie Lidman Organizations: BOSTON, Hamas, United Nations, New, White, California Democrat, CNN, Associated Press Locations: Israel, Boston, Gaza, New York, California, Washington, Jerusalem

☆ Jayapal issues new statement that she ‘unequivocally condemns Hamas’ use of rape and sexual violence as an act of war’
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Haley Talbot | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state said Tuesday that she “unequivocally condemns Hamas’ use of rape and sexual violence as an act of war,” following comments she made to CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday that set off a firestorm among her Democratic colleagues in the House. “Let me be completely clear again that I unequivocally condemn Hamas’ use of rape and sexual violence as an act of war,” Jayapal said in her latest statement. Hear Jayapal's response 03:00 - Source: CNNIn her statement Tuesday, Jayapal said her comment “about balance was not about rape, and not intended to minimize rape and sexual assault in any way.”“It was about recognizing the tremendous pain and trauma of so many—Israelis, Palestinians and their diaspora communities—in this terrible war,” Jayapal stated. The House passed a Republican-led resolution on Tuesday condemning antisemitism in the United States and globally. Separately, Democratic Reps. Lois Frankel of Florida and Debbie Dingell of Michigan are planning on introducing a resolution this week condemning Hamas’ use of sexual violence and rape against Israeli women.

Persons: Pramila, “, CNN’s Dana Bash, ” Jayapal, Jayapal, ”, Lois Frankel of Florida, Debbie Dingell, CNN’s Annie Grayer Organizations: Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, CNN, Democratic Party, Hamas, Republican Locations: Washington, “ State, Gaza, Israel, United States, Michigan

☆ Israel-Hamas War U.S. Pushes Israel and Hamas to Restart Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Andrés R. Martínez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Israel has since resumed its attacks on Hamas, and Mr. Kirby urged it to avoid civilian casualties, while crediting its forces with making efforts to do so. “He’s so naïve; I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Mr. Graham said. “Secretary Austin is telling Israel things that are impossible to achieve.”Mr. Graham said his solution to the hostage impasse would be to threaten Iran, the sponsor of Hamas. “I would go to Iran and say listen, you need to tell Hamas to let these hostages go,” he said. “Qatar has said that Hamas is still at the table,” she said, referring to the Persian Gulf emirate that has served as the intermediary for the talks.

Persons: Israel, “, John F, ”, Kirby, Osama Hamdan, There’s, Biden, Biden’s, Lindsey Graham, Lloyd J, Austin III, Austin, ” Mr, Graham, Mr, Al Qaeda, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal, ” Hwaida Saad Organizations: Kirby, White House National Security Council, Press, Hamas, Republican, West Bank, CNN’s, Union, “ Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, U.S, Lebanon, Israel, South Carolina, CNN’s “ State, Iraq, Al, we’d, Iran, Washington, United States, Qatar, Persian, “ Israel

The U.S. government is making an intense effort to persuade Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations so they can once again pause hostilities and exchange more prisoners for hostages, a White House spokesman said on Sunday. Israel has since resumed its assault on Hamas, and Mr. Kirby urged it to avoid civilian casualties, while crediting its forces with making efforts to do so. “He’s so naïve; I mean I just lost all confidence in this guy,” Mr. Graham said. “I would go to Iran and say listen, you need to tell Hamas to let these hostages go,” he said. “We should have conditions on military aid in the same way that we do for every other country.”While the White House blamed Hamas for the breakdown in hostage talks, Ms. Jayapal faulted Israel.

Persons: Israel, “, John F, ”, Kirby, There’s, Biden, Biden’s, Lindsey Graham, Lloyd J, Austin III, Austin, ” Mr, Graham, Mr, Al Qaeda, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal Organizations: Kirby, White House National Security Council, Press, Hamas, Republican, West Bank, CNN’s, Union, “ Locations: Gaza, Israel, South Carolina, CNN’s “ State, Iraq, Al, we’d, Iran, Washington, United States, Qatar, Persian, “ Israel

What Biden is asking forBiden's emergency request to Congress included aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, along with $14 billion to bolster the immigration system and border security. “It is unanimous that our broken immigration system is in dire need of reform,” Mayorkas said. Republicans have made clear that will not be addressed in this package, which they want to be more narrowly focused on border security measures. Republicans argue that Ukraine aid could be a tough sell to some of their voters, and the border policy is the compromise. It’s border security for Ukraine aid.”So far, leaders in both parties have encouraged the talks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Arizona Sen, Kyrsten, ”, Pramila, Biden, Donald Trump, Alejandro Mayorkas, ” Mayorkas, Illinois Sen, Dick Durbin, What's, Barack Obama, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, ” Murphy, Arkansas Sen, Tom Cotton Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Republicans, House Democrats, Republican, Democratic, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Infrastructure, Homeland, U.S, Democrats, Trump, House Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Mexico, United States, Arizona, Washington, Venezuela, Israel, Russia, Illinois, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Arkansas

☆ U.S. suspends Indo-Pacific talks on key aspects of digital trade -lawmakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The halt comes after the U.S. Trade Representative's office last month reversed longstanding U.S. digital trade demands at the World Trade Organization -- no longer insisting on rules that protect free cross-border data flows and prohibit national requirements for data localization and reviews of software source code. The U.S. Trade Representative's office said it withdrew its position to give Congress room to enact stronger technology regulations. "We thank you for suspending negotiations on aspects of the IPEF digital text that can be used to frustrate privacy, AI, civil rights and liberties, anti-monopoly, gig worker and other digital safeguards that Congress and the administration seek," the lawmakers wrote. People familiar with the talks say that discussions on the digital trade chapter have largely ground to a halt because the U.S. position is now unclear and being reevaluated. A USTR spokesperson declined comment on the IPEF digital talks.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Julia Nikhinson, Biden, IPEF, Amy Klobuchar, Pramila Jayapal, David Lawder, Leslie Adler Organizations: Intelligence, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, U.S . Trade, World Trade Organization, Representatives, Commerce Department, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Tech, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Mexico, Canada, IPEF, San Francisco, Asia, China

The comments ricocheted across the House Democratic Caucus – especially for the 15 House Democrats who didn’t vote for it, all of them members of color, some of them Muslim-Americans. An array of House Democrats are pushing unequivocal support for Israel, while a number of progressives have grown increasingly critical of the offensive impacting Palestinian civilians and are upping pressure on the Biden administration to call for a ceasefire. And he is also dealing with a push by Jewish House members to have a more prominent seat at the leadership table. Democrats say the divide is being reflected in their states – and is hurting the president. At a news conference last week, Jeffries was asked about a six-figure ad buy from the Democratic Majority for Israel, a pro-Israel group, criticizing Tlaib.

Persons: Debbie Wasserman Schultz, “, ” Wasserman Schultz, Hakeem Jeffries, Pramila, they’re, Wasserman Schultz’s, Israel –, Andre Carson, American –, Josh Gottheimer, ”, Rashida, Cori Bush, Brown, ” Jayapal, Wasserman Schultz, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Debbie Dingell, censuring, ” Tlaib, Jeffries, Tlaib, we’ve, Elissa Slotkin, Slotkin, “ They’re, who’s, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, it’s, There’s, Jamie Raskin, I’m, CNN’s Edward, Isaac Dovere Organizations: House Democratic Caucus, Israel, Hamas, CNN, Democrats, ” Democratic, Jayapal, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democratic, Republicans, Michigan Democratic, Congressional Black Caucus, CBC, Florida Democrat, Democrat, Michigan Democrat, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Jewish, GOP, Capitol Police, Jewish Caucus, Biden, Senate, White, Capitol, Maryland Democratic Locations: Florida, Washington, Israel, Indiana, American, New Jersey, Palestinian American, Missouri, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, America

☆ Trump heads to the witness stand as new polls show him leaping past Biden in key swing states
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Biden, meanwhile, is absorbing brutal new polls showing him losing to GOP front-runner Trump in multiple key swing states. If the New York Times/Siena College survey is borne out in 2024, there would be no electoral path to victory for Biden. Biden supporters argue that his critics and media narratives set by the president’s low polls badly miss the most salient point that will define the 2024 election. Because this is a civil trial, Trump has no criminal liability. But the judge has already ruled that Trump, his adult sons and the Trump Organization committed “persistent and repeated” fraud.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Trump, Biden, ”, “, ” Democratic Sen, Richard Blumenthal, CNN’s Dana, “ It’s, ” David Axelrod, Barack Obama, Axelrod, Vladimir Putin, Trump’s, Letitia James, James, Temidayo Aganga, Williams, “ We’ve, we’ve, ” Aganga, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Jack Smith, ” Biden, Spencer Weiss, scoffed, “ MAGA Republicans ’, Blumenthal, Pramila Jayapal, Jen Psaki Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, New York Times, ” Democratic, Connecticut, Trump, Twitter, Biden, Trump Organization, New York, Democrats, The New York Times, Siena College, Democratic, The Times, “ MAGA Republicans, Sunday, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Israel, MSNBC Locations: New York, Siena, “ State, Ukraine, Russian, Washington, Fulton County , Georgia, Florida, America, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, In Michigan, Pennsylvania, Gaza, Arab

Given the U.S. gives Israel $3.8 billion a year in military aid, Sanders said, "We have a right to say, 'Sorry, you need a new military strategy.'" Israeli officials say Hamas uses civilians and hospitals as cover and prevents civilians from leaving combat zones. Multiple U.S. officials say they have been able to influence its conduct in the war somewhat. At the time it was the most military aid the U.S. had given any country. U.S. lawmakers who back a ceasefire support Israel eradicating the Iranian-backed Hamas, but some say Israel's strategy will backfire.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Bernie Sanders, Israel, Sanders, CNN's, Joe Biden's, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Aaron David Miller, Raphael Cohen, ” Cohen, Pramila Jayapal, Obama, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Doina, Steve Holland, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: Franciscan Action, Palestinian, REUTERS, United Nations, Independent U.S, Hamas, Union, Democratic, State Department, U.S, Republicans, Rand Corporation, Thomson Locations: Israel, Washington , U.S, Gaza, U.S, Washington, Baghdad, London, United States, Ukraine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, East, Iran

And his appeal among Black and Latino voters, groups that have been foundational within the Democratic Party, seemed to suffer the deepest loss of support, especially among younger voters. The survey results suggest that an unnamed, generic Democrat would fare better than Biden in 2024, leading Trump by 8 points while Biden trails by 4 – a formidable 12-point swing. Political Cartoons View All 1234 ImagesThe survey captures a moment in time – albeit not a very good moment for Biden. “If he continues to run, he will be the nominee of the Democratic Party,” Axelrod wrote. Though the poll surveyed how Kamala Harris would fare in a hypothetical matchup against Trump, who performed only slightly better than Biden, other possible Democratic nominees – like California Gov.

Persons: shockwaves, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, scatterer, Biden, Trump, it’s, –, hasn’t, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Obama, David Axelrod, ” Axelrod, Bill Kristol, ” “, ” Kristol, Dean Phillips, Biden’s, he’s, Pramila Jayapal, ”, Jasmine Crockett, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer –, Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Phillips Organizations: The New York Times, White, Democratic Party, Trump, Democratic, Rep, Dean Phillips of, Congressional Progressive Caucus, MSNBC, Biden, Jasmine Crockett , Texas Democrat, CNN, Capitol Hill, Michigan Locations: Siena, Gaza, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Jasmine Crockett , Texas, California, lockstep

☆ US Congress is on track to be the most polarized ever, data shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Jason Lange | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The current U.S. Congress is on track to be the most polarized ever, according to a running analysis at voteview.com, a tool widely used by political scientists that sorts lawmakers based on how their voting records overlap with their peers. The complicated math behind the analysis transforms a lawmaker's entire voting record into one number, with negative numbers for liberals and positive readings for conservatives. The most liberal have the least in common with the most conservative, while moderates from each party have more overlap and are given scores in between. * Currently, the gap in the House sits at 0.90, beating the 0.89 gaps for lawmakers elected in 2016 and 2018. The current 0.88 gap in the U.S. Senate is also at a record high for that chamber.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Ralph Norman, Pramila Jayapal, Joe Manchin, Jason Lange, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Caucus, Democrat, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Republican Party, Republicans, U.S . Senate, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S

☆ Humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians should be included in Biden's emergency funding package for Israel, over 50 Democratic lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A group of Democratic lawmakers called for Biden to ensure humanitarian aid for both Israelis and Palestinians. Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed since Hamas' terrorist attacks and Israel's subsequent declaration of war against the militant group. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs the war between Israel and militant group Hamas continues, support is growing for the US to get humanitarian aid to Palestinian and Israeli civilians being harmed in the conflict. Israel formally declared war last week after Hamas attacked several towns in southern Israel, and since then, the death toll has been mounting. —Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) October 16, 2023The White House did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment on whether it will include humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in its emergency funding request.

Persons: Biden, Israel's, —, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Cori Bush, Janet Yellen, Yellen Organizations: Democratic, Service, Hamas, Palestinian Ministry of Health, United Nations, Congressional Progressive Caucus, West Bank, Ukraine, Sky News, CBS Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Palestinian, Gaza, Gazans, Palestine, Russia, United States, America

WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - A handful of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday ousted Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as party infighting plunged Congress into further chaos just days after it narrowly averted a government shutdown. McCarthy told reporters he would not make another run for speaker. [1/5]Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters after he was ousted from the position of Speaker by a vote of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. October 3, 2023. "We need a speaker who will fight for something - anything - other than staying on as speaker," said Republican Representative Bob Good. "Think long and hard before you plunge us into chaos, because that's where we're headed," said Republican Representative Tom Cole.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, McCarthy's, Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, Patrick McHenry, Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Bob Good, Nancy Mace, I've, Mace, Tom Cole, Pramila Jayapal, Makini Brice, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Nandita Bose, Moira Warburton, Susan Heavey, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Alistair Bell, Howard Goller, Grant McCool, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S . House, Republican, Democratic, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, White, Senate, DEMOCRATIC, Thomson Locations: U.S, Florida, Washington, Ukraine, Washington , U.S

WASHINGTON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's grip on power was in question on Tuesday as the House of Representatives, driven by Republican infighting, was holding a historic vote that could remove him from his job. If the rebellion by right-wing fellow Republicans against McCarthy is successful, it would be the first time in U.S. history that House lawmakers voted their leader out. "We need a speaker who will fight for something - anything - other than staying on as speaker," said Republican Representative Bob Good. "Think long and hard before you plunge us into chaos, because that's where we're headed," said Republican Representative Tom Cole. "This country does not need more drama," said Republican Representative Steve Womack.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy's, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, " McCarthy, Bob Good, Kevin McCarthy, Ken Cedeno, Tom Cole, Joe Biden, Pramila Jayapal, Gaetz, McCarthy's, Steve Womack, Garret Graves, Makini Brice, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Nandita Bose, Moira Warburton, Susan Heavey, Andy Sullivan, Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell, Howard Goller Organizations: ., Republican, Democrats, Democratic, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, White, Senate, Thomson Locations: Florida, Washington, Washington , U.S

The Democrat told CNN there’s been internal discussions about a wide range of potential asks – from power-sharing agreements to policy ideas. I’m talking about like, the furthest left most progressive Democrats to moderates,” the House Democrat told CNN. But McCarthy’s critics aren’t the only ones privately courting House Democrats to play for their team in the ongoing speaker drama. On Friday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries remained non-committal about how he would handle a potential vote to oust McCarthy. So timing is important,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told CNN.

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy’s speakership, ” Gaetz, Tom Cole of, Tom Emmer, McCarthy, CNN there’s, “, he’s, I’m, ”, Gaetz, it’s, Brian Fitzpatrick, McCarthy’s, Hakeem Jeffries, Matt, Pramila Jayapal, I’ve, – Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democratic, Democrat, GOP, House Democrat, Democrats, – House Democrats, ”, Congressional Progressive Caucus, White Locations: Minnesota

☆ Two House Republicans say they might work with Democrats to fund government
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sahil Kapur | Rebecca Kaplan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON — As the Republican stalemate over government funding continues, two freshman GOP House members opened the door Thursday to end-running their party's leadership and working with Democrats to fund the government. Lawler told reporters that if Republicans can't unify to pass a continuing resolution, or CR, to approve short-term funding, he will pursue a discharge petition with Democrats. "If there is not going to be a CR coming out of the House Republican caucus, then I will move forward with a discharge petition," he said. That means at least five Republicans would have to break off for a discharge petition to succeed — potentially more if not all Democrats sign it. Democratic leaders have downplayed the prospects of a discharge petition to resolve the mess and noted that one hasn't been filed.

Persons: Marc Molinaro, Mike Lawler, Joe Biden, they're, Molinaro, Lawler, Kevin McCarthy, doesn't, Matt Gaetz, —, Bob Good, That's, Lauren Boebert, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal Organizations: U.S, Capitol, WASHINGTON —, Republican, GOP, New York Republicans, White, Republicans, Democratic Locations: Washington, Hudson Valley, Ukraine

Biden previously had mocked Republicans over a possible impeachment and the White House said they have no basis to do so. [1/4]U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) calls for an impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Joe Biden while delivering a statement on allegations surrounding President Biden and his son Hunter Biden, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 12, 2023. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called the impeachment inquiry "absurd." Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 as he faced an impeachment vote. Public opinion polling has shown many Americans believe Hunter Biden has received special treatment.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden, Hunter, McCarthy, Ian Sams, Trump's, Hunter Biden, Elizabeth Frantz, Mitt Romney, coddled Hunter Biden, Romney, Kevin McCarthy’s, Pramila Jayapal, Ken Buck, Chuck Schumer, Bill Clinton, Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, Lisa Murkowski, Moira Warburton, Jason Lange, David Morgan, Andy Sullivan, Will Dunham, Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Republican U.S, Democratic, House, Republicans, White, U.S, Biden, OF HUNTER Republicans, ., Capitol, REUTERS, GOP, Senate, Trump, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, McCarthy's, America, Washington , U.S

☆ Democrats want to make the minimum wage $17 an hour and give nearly 28 million workers a raise
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sen. Bernie Sanders, alongside other progressives, is again trying to raise the federal minimum wage. He's introducing legislation to bring the federal minimum to $17 by 2028; currently, it's $7.25. However, past attempts to raise the minimum wage have been stymied by Republicans and moderate Democrats. Under the latest version of the Raise the Wage Act, the federal minimum would climb to $17 by 2028. "The President shares Congressional Democrats' commitment to put workers first and supports increasing the minimum wage.

Persons: Sen, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, Michael Douglas, Gordon Gekko, Hakeem Jeffries, It's, Democrats —, Biden, Michael Kikukawa, Pramila Jayapal, Jayapal, Frances Holmes, Holmes Organizations: Republicans, Service, Democratic, Senate, Democrats, Institute, Workers, National Employment Law, Congress, White, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Oxfam America, Busch Locations: Wall, Silicon, St Louis , Missouri

☆ Powerful right-wing radicals are testing democratic checks and balance in both Israel and the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —White House criticism of Israel after its right-wing coalition embarked on a plan to target judicial power is bringing a new kind of turbulence to one of America’s oldest friendships. It shows that Israel, like the United States, is experiencing an era of right-wing politicians seeking to aggressively flex power and test enshrined democratic constraints. The drama is likely to further worsen the long-standing but increasingly brittle relationship between President Joe Biden and Netanyahu. Yet there is deep concern in the White House about the implications of any successful attempt to subvert checks and balances in Israel. And Netanyahu appeared to align himself politically with Trump while he was in the White House.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Biden’s, ”, shockwaves, Jordan, –, Martin Indyk, “, ” Indyk, Lynda Kinkade, hasn’t, Thomas Friedman, ” Biden’s, Karine Jean, Pierre, Isaac Herzog, ” Aaron David Miller, Isa Soares, don’t, Mitch McConnell, “ Mr, Obama, Trump, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, Ron DeSantis, “ Biden, Pramila Jayapal, didn’t Organizations: CNN, –, White House, Trump, Republicans, Democratic, House, West Bank, Biden, CNN International, “, New York Times, Republican, Israel, -, Republican Party, Netanyahu’s Likud Party, Florida Gov, Congressional, Democrat Locations: Iran, Israel, United States, Washington, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Florida

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