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☆ Blinken says he wants to work with Congress to penalize International Criminal Court
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Michael Conte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he wants to work with Congress on legislation to penalize the International Criminal Court after it applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan also issued warrants for senior Hamas officials, including its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The Biden administration came out forcefully against Khan on Monday for his decision to apply for the warrants against top Israel officials on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has faced questions about its condemnation of the ICC’s actions while saying it continues to support the court’s investigation into Russian war crimes during its invasion of Ukraine. The Trump administration previously sanctioned ICC officials by executive order in 2020 over its investigation of possible war crimes by US military and intelligence officials in Afghanistan, sanctions that the Biden administration lifted the next year.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, “, ” Blinken, Biden, Karim Khan, Yahya Sinwar, Blinken, Republican Sen, James Risch, ”, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Khan, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Lloyd Austin, Matthew Miller, “ We’ll, ” Miller, Trump Organizations: CNN, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations, Republican, ICC, Israel, American Heritage, Republicans, “, White House, ”, Ukraine Defense Contact, . State Department Locations: Netherlands, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Afghanistan

☆ 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

☆ Analysis: Cohen gets a breather after bruising cross-examination as Trump looks on
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Blanche took Cohen through a long list of the insults he’s unleashed at Trump since becoming estranged from his former mentor, highlighting his penchant for serial lying. He drew jurors’ attention to a social media post in which Cohen wore a T-shirt that depicted Trump in jail, as he spun a narrative of bias and obsession. A key legal conundrum is whether prosecutors have so far succeeded in validating the legal theory behind the case. That foreboding realization was exacerbated by a new posse of Trump supporters at the courthouse on Tuesday, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. While Cohen’s reluctance to offer yes-and-no answers came across at times as flippant and confrontational, he did not appear to say or do anything to torpedo the prosecution case.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Michael Cohen, don’t, Cohen, ”, Todd Blanche, president’s, didn’t, he’s, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Blanche, ” Cohen, he’d, ” Blanche, douchebag, ” Michael Moore, “, Moore, Juan Merchan, Will Trump’s, ” Shira Scheindlin, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” Scheindlin, “ Cohen, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Andrew McCabe, Cohen’s, ” Moore, Daniels, Susan Hoffinger, reimbursements, ’ ” Cohen Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Middle, Middle District of, Louisiana Republican, Defense, FBI Locations: Ohio, Kentucky, Middle District, Middle District of Georgia, New York, Louisiana, Blanche, Manhattan

☆ Why Johnson’s appearance at Manhattan courthouse stands out among Republicans backing up Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —House Speaker Mike Johnson is not waiting for ex-President Donald Trump to be judged by a jury of his peers. Vance, a possible VP contender, was there along with Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a famed former college football coach. The speaker’s appearance is different, given the constitutional heft of his office and the figurative connotations it evokes. Some experts have questioned whether any other defendant besides Trump would face the same indictment at the hands of a prosecutor, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat. Trump is exercising his right to mount a defense and is considered innocent until proven guilty.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, He’s, Trump, Johnson, Michael Cohen, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Doug Burgum, ”, he’s, Stormy Daniels, Daniels, Cohen, Trump’s, –, ” Johnson, Attorney Alvin Bragg, “ Organizations: CNN —, Republican, Louisiana Republican, Trump, ”, Ohio, Alabama, North Dakota Gov, GOP, Attorney, Democrat Locations: Louisiana, New York, Manhattan

☆ Johnson looks to unify GOP with crack down on college campus protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Annie Grayer | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“Anti-Israel protests on college campuses threaten Jewish students,” says the ad, which was shared first with CNN. While supporters of the legislation say it will help combat antisemitism on college campuses, opponents argue it overreaches and threatens to chill free speech. Some Democrats see the new investigative effort into college campuses and Johnson’s recent visit to Columbia University as a divisive political ploy. “Clearly it’s a very high priority for him,” GOP Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, the chairman of the House Science Committee, told CNN. House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, who sits on the Education panel, is also expected to play a prominent role in the effort.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, speakership, ” Johnson, “, ”, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Donald Trump, Nick Fuentes, Pramila Jayapal, Joe Biden, James Comer, Lisa McClain, Biden, “ I’ve, Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, Virginia Foxx, Elise Stefanik, Jim Jordan, Comer, ” Comer, ” CNN’s Haley Talbot Organizations: CNN, Republican, House Democratic, GOP, Louisiana Republican, Columbia University, Democrats, White, Department, Education, International Holocaust, Alliance, Columbia, Michigan, House Education, Workforce Committee, House Science, North Carolina, Yale University, University of California, University of Michigan, House GOP, New York Republican, Science, Republicans, George Washington University, Kentucky Republican Locations: Louisiana, Israel, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lago, Washington, Columbia, University of California Los Angeles, “, Ohio

☆ Student unrest ratchets up an already tense election year
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Dramatic campus protests are injecting an inflammatory new element into an election year that is already threatening to stretch national unity to a breaking point. Republicans smell an openingGOP Rep. Elise Stefanik is a driver of the deepening political backlash against campus protests. Republicans are also using the drama of student protests as a shield and to downplay their presumptive nominee’s own extremism. The unrest is so far not comparable since there’s no student mob trying to destroy American democracy. And they are not yet in the same league as the civil rights and Vietnam War protests in the 1960s and 1970s.

Persons: they’ve, Joe Biden, Biden, Israel –, Donald Trump, Trump, “, ”, Fox, “ Biden, appeasing, who’ve, Will, Elise Stefanik, Stefanik, Mike Johnson’s, skewer Biden, ” Stefanik, Johnson, aren’t, ” Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Berkeley ”, Richard Nixon, antisemites, Trump’s, ” Trump, George Floyd, David Farber, Paula Newton, John Kennedy, Barack Obama Organizations: CNN, New York Police Department, Columbia University, –, University of California, UCLA, Brown University, Israel, The New York Republican, Harvard, Ivy League, Columbia, National Guard, GOP, Republicans, California, Berkeley, Democratic Party, crackdowns, Capitol, University of Kansas, CNN International, Harvard University Locations: Gaza, America, Texas, Columbia’s, Palestine, Los Angeles, Israel, Rafah, United States, Vietnam, Charlottesville , Virginia

☆ Democrats: College campus protests highlight tensions in Biden’s coalition
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images Pro-Palestinian protesters confront a Texas state trooper at the University of Texas in Austin on Monday, April 29. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Protesters link arms at Emerson College in Boston on April 24. Brian Snyder/Reuters House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to the media on the campus of Columbia University after meeting with Jewish students on April 24. Alex Kent/AFP/Getty Images People watch from a window as New York University students set up a tent encampment on April 22. Stefan Jeremiah/AP Israeli flags are reflected in the sunglasses of a demonstrator in front of Columbia University on April 22.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Alex Kent, Biden, Andrew Bates, “, Chuck Schumer, –, Hind Rajab, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Mike Lawler, Israel –, Jared Moskowitz, Vermont Sen, Bernie Sanders, ” Moskowitz, Sanders, “ Bernie, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, “ Sen, Sanders ’, ” Ocasio, tikkun, ”, Ocasio, Joseph Prezioso, Suzanne Cordeiro, Cliff Owen, Qian Weizhong, David Dee Delgado, Mike Stewart, Sarah Reingewirtz, Jay Janner, Brandon Bell, Brian Snyder, Timothy A, Clary, Matthew Hatcher, Nuri Vallbona, Jordan Vonderhaar, Zaydee Sanchez, Caitlin Ochs, Cameron Jones, Stephanie Keith, Andres Kudacki, Tayfun, Joe Buglewicz, Fatih Aktas, Michael M, Mary Altaffer, Scott Eisen, Columbia's, Stefan Jeremiah, Selcuk, Kena Betancur, Josh Gottheimer, Dan Goldman, Richard Nixon, Netanyahu’s, Elizabeth Warren of, Bernie, ’, Warren, ‘, Netanyahu, Israel, ” Sanders –, Sanders –, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy of, who’s, ” Murphy, Elise Stefanik, ” Stefanik, CNN’s Donald Judd, Kevin Liptak, Annie Grayer Organizations: CNN, Israel Democrats, Capitol, Columbia University, Hamilton Hall, Getty, New York Democrat, College Democrats, America, Columbia, Republicans, Democrats, GOP, Jewish Democrats, Israeli, GOP Rep, Democratic, Florida, New York Rep, Hamilton, Columbia Students, Justice, Brown University, University of Texas, George Washington University, AP, University of California, UCLA, Getty Images, New York University, Rueters Georgia State Patrol, Emory University, MediaNews, Los Angeles Daily News, Austin Statesman, USA, Network, Reuters, Austin, University, Emerson College, Swarthmore College, Bloomberg, Getty Images Police, University of Southern, Reuters New York, Reuters Columbia, New York Times, Sproul Hall, Yale University, University police, York University, The New School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Library, New York Police Department, Occupy, Hamas, Democratic Party, Biden, White, International Court of Justice, Sunday, Fox News, New York, Republican Locations: Gaza, New York City, Columbia, Palestinian, ”, Gaza City, Palestine, New York, Vermont, Alexandria, Israel, Cortez, Providence , Rhode Island, AFP, Texas, Austin, Washington ,, Los Angeles, New, Rueters Georgia, Atlanta, Getty Images Texas, Boston, Swarthmore , Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Berkeley, Sproul, Anadolu, New Haven , Connecticut, Cambridge, New Jersey, Washington, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, “ State, Chris Murphy of Connecticut

☆ Johnson’s speakership hangs in the balance as ouster threat looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed to pass a major foreign aid package over the objections of hardline conservatives. Looming over Johnson as lawmakers come back to Washington is the question of whether he will face a vote over his ouster. A number of conservatives, however, opposed the legislation — and sending further aid to Ukraine in particular. So far, two other House Republicans have publicly backed the effort — Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Paul Gosar of Arizona. Over the recess, Johnson appeared to be trying to quell conservative opposition by highlighting his support for causes and positions that motivate the GOP base.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson “, doesn’t, I’ve, ” Johnson, ” Greene, Kevin McCarthy, Marjorie Taylor Greene gaggles, Greene, Kent Nishimura, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Paul Gosar, Chip Roy, Texas, @SpeakerJohnson, ” CNN’s Kit Maher, Lauren Fox Organizations: CNN —, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, GOP, ” Republican, CNN, Getty, Columbia University Locations: Louisiana, Ukraine, Israel, Washington, Georgia, Washington ,, Taiwan, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Johnson, Columbia

☆ Republican Party asks Secret Service to keep protesters further away from where convention is set to take place
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Shania Shelton | Daniel Strauss | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Republican National Committee is asking the Secret Service to keep protesters farther back from the July convention in Milwaukee than is currently planned. Alexi Worley, spokesperson for the Secret Service, said in a statement that the agency is “not formally in receipt of the letter” and will “respond through appropriate channels” if it receives one. “The operational security plan for national special security events, to include the 2024 Republican National Convention, is developed and approved through an executive steering committee made up of representatives from the Secret Service, as well as supporting federal, state, and local agencies,” Worley said. The RNC announced in 2022 it would host this year’s convention in Milwaukee, and the city’s Democratic mayor, Cavalier Johnson, dismissed security concerns at the time. “Our police department is well-versed, and I think they are prepared for the convention,” Johnson said in 2022, noting that Milwaukee was supposed to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention before it switched to a virtual format amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Persons: Todd Steggerda, …, Kimberly Cheatle, Alexi Worley, ” Worley, Cavalier Johnson, ” Johnson, Samantha Waldenberg Organizations: CNN, Republican National, Service, Secret, Republican National Convention, RNC, Democratic, Convention Locations: Milwaukee, Milwaukee’s, detainments

☆ White House unbowed on support for Israel despite growing frustration from progressives and unrest on campuses
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Kayla Tausche | Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

This week’s rapid spread of college campus encampments meant to protest the war has ratcheted up the pressure on the US over its support for Israel. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff spoke by phone with two Jewish leaders on campus, a White House official said, to discuss the immediate need to address antisemitism on college campuses. Despite being just miles from Columbia and the most tense scenes of the protests, Biden will not be making a visit to campus as he holds events in the New York area Friday. The White House must by May 8 certify whether Israel is complying. And while Sanders sought assurances from Biden on how he was approaching the situation, the president remained characteristically diplomatic, Shakir, the Sanders adviser said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Biden, Sanders, Biden –, ‘, ” Faiz Shakir, Joe, Doug Emhoff, Mike Johnson, Johnson, ” Johnson, ” Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Shakir, “, CNN’s Sam Fossum Organizations: York, York City CNN, Democratic, CNN, Israel, Columbia University, White, Republican, Representatives, National Guard, Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute, Politics, Israeli, Hamas, Biden Locations: York City, Virginia, Vermont, Gaza, Israel, Columbia, New York

☆ Columbia president Minouche Shafik faces criticism in all directions
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —When Minouche Shafik was announced as Columbia University’s president last year, she was called the “perfect candidate” by the chair of Columbia’s Board of Trustees. University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill and Harvard University president Claudine Gay both stepped down in the wake of pressure over their response to antisemitism on campus. They say the crackdown on student protests, which resulted in more than 100 arrests, violated academic freedom. “I am here today, joining my colleagues and calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos,” Johnson said. Last week, Shafik authorized the New York Police Department to sweep the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on Columbia’s campus.

Persons: Minouche Shafik, Shafik —, Liz Magill, Claudine Gay, Shafik, Alexandra Ocasio, Cortez, Mike Johnson, “, ” Johnson, ”, James Finkelstein, “ She’s, ” Finkelstein, Grayson Kirk, Kirk, Columbia’s Hillel, Robert Kraft Organizations: New, New York CNN, Columbia, Trustees, Representatives, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Bank of England, London School of Economics, Hamas, College, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, New York Police Department, Democratic, Republican, George Mason University, ” Columbia’s, Police, NYPD, of Education, Harvard, Department, Education, ” New England Patriots Locations: New York, Israel, Vietnam, Harlem, Gaza, Columbia’s, Columbia, ”

☆ New Jersey Democratic Rep. Donald Payne Jr. dies, Speaker Johnson announces
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Shania Shelton | Haley Talbot | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Rep. Donald Payne Jr., a New Jersey Democrat, has died, Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Wednesday. “We are saddened to be informed of the passing today of congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr.,” Johnson said in a post on X. His father, Donald Milford Payne, was the first Black congressman to represent the state and served in the seat from 1989 until his death in 2012. Donald Payne Jr. was involved with a number of health-related caucuses and helped introduce related legislation in Congress, including serving as a co-chair of the Congressional Colorectal Cancer Caucus, Congressional Men’s Health Caucus and the Congressional Peripheral Artery Disease Caucus. “The Congressional Black Caucus has been very clear to President Trump that African-American communities have a lot to lose under his administration,” Payne said in a press release at the time.

Persons: Donald Payne Jr, Mike Johnson, “, Donald M, Payne , Jr, ” Johnson, Phil Murphy, Donald Payne , Jr, ” Payne, Payne, Donald Milford Payne, Donald Trump, Trump, Murphy, Mike Gallagher, Johnson, Ethan Cohen, Kristin Wilson Organizations: CNN, New, New Jersey Democrat, . New Jersey Democratic Gov, New Jersey’s, Cancer Caucus, Congressional, Health Caucus, Disease, Congressional Black Caucus, Caucus, House Transportation, Infrastructure Committee, Democratic, Gov, Wisconsin Republican, House, Republicans Locations: New Jersey, .

☆ How the House GOP’s Biden impeachment effort fell apart
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Annie Grayer | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“To me, success is impeachment from the House,” GOP Rep. Brian Mast said. Comer’s co-leads, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, are also fully behind the work. I don’t think that’s an impeachable offense,” GOP Rep. Jodey Arrington said. Even GOP Rep. Darrell Issa remarked after the first hour of questioning that Hunter Biden was prepared for the interview. There’s an election in seven months from now,” GOP Rep. Nick LaLota, who represents a New York district Biden won in 2020, told CNN.

Persons: James Comer, Joe Biden, –, Comer, Biden, “ Comer, Jesus, Alejandro Mayorkas, Comer –, “, Anna Paulina Luna –, Hunter Biden, it’s, ” Luna, ”, missteps, Brian Mast, Mike Johnson, Comer’s, Jim Jordan, Jason Smith, ” Johnson, Steve Scalise, Elise Stefanik, Kevin McCarthy, ” Bruce Dubinsky, McCarthy, Samuel Corum, Johnson, Jodey Arrington, Darrell Issa, …, Doug LaMalfa, Mayorkas, Tony Gonzales, Austin Scott, ” Comer, Donald Trump, Jordan, doesn’t, There’s, Nick LaLota, Jamie Raskin, Raskin Organizations: Washington CNN —, Republican, CNN, Kentucky Republican, Homeland, Biden, GOP, Republicans, Getty, White, Democratic, ”, Department of Justice Locations: Kentucky, ”, Washington , DC, –, Texas, New York

I think providing aid to Ukraine right now is critically important,” the speaker added. House TVThe speaker’s embrace of Ukraine aid represents a remarkable evolution for Johnson, who voted against funding for the country as a rank-and-file member. Johnson drags his feetJohnson did not come to his decision on how to handle foreign aid quickly. “Slow,” New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said when asked how Johnson handled Ukraine aid. In recent weeks, allies counseled Johnson to keep the former president in the loop on his potential foreign aid plans.

Persons: Manu Raju ”, Johnson, Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Jeffries, Taiwan –, Michael McCaul, “, ” Johnson, Derrick Van Orden, Matt Gaetz, ”, Johnson –, Kevin McCarthy, –, Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s, Mike Pompeo, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Bill Burns, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Jeffries, Biden, Mitch McConnell, Gregory Meeks, Patrick McHenry of, Trump, Johnson’s, ” Trump, Eli Crane, McCarthy, Bob Good, Johnson “, Greene, Al Green, Van Orden, Gaetz, I’m, ” Van Orden, Chip Roy’s, Bob Good’s, Kent Nishimura, Paul Gosar, Johnson’s speakership, We’re, we’ve, Tom Cole of, ” Cole, “ There’s, Warren Davidson, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: GOP, CNN, Democratic, Louisiana Republican, Foreign, ”, Florida Republican, Senate, Republican, Ukraine, CIA, Naval Academy, Israel, Internal Revenue Service, New York Rep, House Foreign Affairs, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, Lago, Arizona, Democratic Rep, Navy, Navy Seals, Wisconsin Republican, Capitol, Democrats, Republicans, GOP Rep, ” Veteran GOP Locations: Iran, Israel, Ukraine, Washington, Louisiana, Taiwan, Florida, American, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Patrick McHenry of North, Iranian, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, House, Arizona, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Ohio

Washington CNN —Speaker Mike Johnson announced Wednesday he is sticking with his plan to put a series of foreign aid bills on the floor, including funding for Ukraine, after facing significant pressure from hardliners. The loan structure around aid comes after a meeting and news conference with Johnson and former President Donald Trump, who said in February that the US should stop providing foreign aid unless it is structured as a loan. The speaker has been facing mounting pressure to make tweaks to the foreign aid package proposed earlier this week – and not just from his most right-wing members. Other Republicans also expressed anger and wouldn’t rule out voting against Johnson on procedural motions that could upend the bill. “Let’s just hope that that does not happen, and that we can do our responsibilities, protect and defend our own democracy as we protect theirs,” former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, ” Johnson, Donald Trump, Nicole Malliotakis, “, Schumer, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie of, Chip Roy, Texas, ”, ” Roy, Matt Gaetz, Hakeem Jeffries, institutionalists, Tom Suozzi, Jared Moskowitz, Johnson –, “ Let’s, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: Washington CNN, Ukraine, Trump, Republican, Senate, GOP, Moderate New York Republican, Wednesday, Biden, Republicans, Conservative, CNN, Firebrand, Democrats, Democratic Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti

☆ Some House Republicans need this reminder that Russia is not their friend
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There is a major disconnect between two CNN stories on Wednesday about Russia and the US. While it is mostly Republicans who oppose additional funding for Ukraine, they are still a minority, even within their own party. In February, 22 Republicans in the Senate joined all but three Democrats to form a 70-vote majority in favor of the funding. Asked about that propaganda comment by Tapper earlier this month, Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, agreed. The two appeared together at Mar-a-Lago last week, and Johnson has bought into Trump’s proposal to structure some Ukraine aid as a loan rather than direct aid.

Persons: Sean Lyngaas, ”, Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “ We’re, Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy didn’t, he’s, it’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Defense Lloyd Austin, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, Ralph Norman, Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Tom Williams, It’s, Liz Cheney, Donald Trump, Michael McCaul, Puck, Tapper, Mike Turner of Ohio, ” Turner, Greene, Ken Buck, Moscow Marjorie ”, Putin, Trump Organizations: CNN, Capitol Hill, GOP, White, Conservative, Ukraine, Republicans, Senate, Florida, ” Texas, Defense, Republican, Fox News, Putin, Texas Republican, Foreign Affairs, House Intelligence, Trump, Mar, Lago Locations: Russia, Texas, Russian, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Wyoming, Colorado

☆ Mike Johnson: Doing ‘the right thing’ may cost the speaker his gavel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —It took less than six months for Speaker Mike Johnson to reach his existential moment. His tiny majority means he can’t afford to lose more than one GOP vote to pass a bill on a party-line vote. But a GOP speaker dependent on Democratic votes will be seen by many Republicans as a tool of the minority party and would be on borrowed time. In this way, those who oppose Ukraine aid on principle could vote against it, allowing Democrats who support it to ensure its passage. These are important responsibilities,” Johnson told Tapper.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan, John Boehner –, Johnson, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie of, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Greene, Chip Roy, Roy, ”, –, CNN’s Manu Raju, ’ Johnson, he’s, Tapper, “, Dan Crenshaw, CNN’s Raju, Johnson “, ” Trump, hasn’t, bankrolling, Dwight Eisenhower, George W, Bush, Vladimir Putin doesn’t, We’re, Putin, Xi, Lloyd Austin, Biden, he’d Organizations: CNN, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, Texas Rep, Democratic, GOP, White, Texas GOP, Lago, Trump, Senate, “, ”, House Defense Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Mexico, Kyiv, Washington, Texas, Mar, Trumpism, Europe, Iran, North Korea, British, Jordanian, Russia, Russia’s, United States

“I am not resigning,” Johnson told reporters. Massie told Republican colleagues behind closed doors Tuesday morning that he will cosponsor the motion to vacate Johnson from his position. And then I said, ‘Well, you’re the one who’s going to put us into this,’ because the motion is going to get called up. In making his announcement Monday, the Louisiana Republican predicted the House will vote Friday evening on the separate bills. The Senate passed its bill in February – a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with assistance for Ukraine, Israel and other priorities.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Thomas Massie, “, ” Johnson, Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Trent Kelly, Mississippi, it’s, ” Massie, Kevin McCarthy, –, Republicans “, Republican – Greene –, ”, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer Organizations: Republican, Republican Rep, Louisiana Republican, CNN, Democratic, GOP, Republicans, Democrats, Senate, Internal Revenue Service Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Louisiana, Taiwan, Georgia

☆ House sends Mayorkas impeachment articles to the Senate
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Annie Grayer | Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —House Republicans have sent to the Senate two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a step that launches a trial in the Senate as GOP lawmakers seek to highlight President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration policy. House Republicans do not have the votes or concrete evidence to impeach Biden given their razor-thin majority, leaving that separate impeachment inquiry stalled. GOP arguments for impeachment and pushback from constitutional expertsWhen Johnson originally informed Schumer he would be sending the impeachment articles over to the Senate, he laid out why he believed a Mayorkas impeachment was justified. “These articles lay out a clear, compelling, and irrefutable case for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ impeachment,” Green said in a statement provided to CNN. “I think that what the House Republicans are asserting is that Secretary Mayorkas is guilty of maladministration,” Garber said.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Joe Biden’s, Mayorkas, Biden, —, impeaching Biden, ”, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Trump, Ian Sams, Johnson, Schumer, Mark Green of, Alejandro Mayorkas ’, ” Green, systemically, Samuel Alito, Ross Garber, ” Garber, “, Michael Chertoff, George W, Bush, Jonathan Turley, Chuck Schumer, Dick Durbin, “ I’m, CNN’s Manu Raju, I’ve, –, John Thune, ” Johnson, Pro Tempore Patty Murray, Michael McCaul of, Andy Biggs of, Clay Higgins, Ben Cline of Virginia, Michael Guest of, Andrew Garbarino, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Pfluger, Harriet Hageman of, Laurel Lee, CNN’s Ted Barrett, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, Homeland, Senate, Democratic, Republicans, Homeland Security, Biden, House Republicans, DHS, ’, Louisiana Republican, Truth, White, CNN, Congress, Tulane University, Republican, Senate Democratic, Mayorkas, Pro Tempore Locations: Louisiana, Mark Green of Tennessee, Washington, Michael McCaul of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, Michael Guest of Mississippi, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Texas, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Laurel Lee of Florida

Johnson predicted the House will vote Friday evening on the separate bills. “My personal preference is to do it individually, but we’ll let the body decide.”Among the ways GOP leaders plan to address Ukraine aid: a bill to seize Russian assets, a lend-lease program for Ukraine military aid and convertible loans for humanitarian relief. Former President Donald Trump, who recently met with House Speaker Mike Johnson at Mar-a-Lago, has expressed openness to structuring Ukraine aid as a loan. The Senate passed its bill in February – a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill with assistance for Ukraine, Israel and other priorities. A significant number of House Republicans are opposed to sending further aid to Ukraine.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, ” Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Greene, “, haven’t, that’s, we’ll, Donald Trump, Kevin Hern, Hakeem Jeffries, ” Jeffries, Greene, ”, “ He’s, he’ll, Marjorie, President Trump, CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Kristin Wilson Organizations: CNN, Louisiana Republican, GOP, Republican, Senate, Republicans, Democratic, Internal Revenue Service, Fox News, White House Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Mar, Oklahoma, Louisiana, East, Eastern Europe

☆ Congressional leaders at odds over Israel aid next steps as conservatives warn Johnson against including Ukraine funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Michelle Shen | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Johnson has vowed to put some sort of Israel aid bill on the floor this week, but said the details are still being finalized. The House previously struggled to pass a standalone Israel aid bill, but Johnson could draw ire from the right if he ties it to Ukraine or puts the Senate bill on the floor. How Congress reached this pointWhile the Senate passed its foreign aid bill in February, Johnson said he never planned to bring the bill to the floor. The House, in turn, tried but failed to pass a standalone package for $17.6 billion in Israel aid amid opposition from both Republicans and Democratic leaders. At a closed caucus meeting prior to the vote, House Democratic leadership made a forceful case against supporting the standalone Israel aid package to members.

Persons: Mike Johnson, We’re, ” Johnson, Maria Bartiromo, Johnson, Warren Davidson, Mitch McConnell —, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Chuck Schumer, “, ”, imploring Johnson, Schumer, McConnell, Republican Sen, Marco Rubio sidestepped, ” Rubio, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” Democratic Sen, Chris Coons, ” Coons, Tapper, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Lauren Fox, Manu Raju, Aileen Graef, Avery Lotz Organizations: CNN, Congressional, House Republicans, Republican Party, Israel, Fox News, GOP, Senate, Democrat, Republican, Union, ” Democratic, Republicans, Democratic, Freedom Caucus, House Democratic Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Iran, Taiwan, Mar, Lago, Washington, “ State

☆ How Speaker Johnson helped Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Marshall Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Years before becoming House speaker, Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana played a leading role aiding Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. That history will be on display Friday, with Johnson set to deliver remarks alongside the former president about “election integrity” – a phrase Trump often uses to describe the lie that the 2020 election was rigged and unfounded concerns about future mass voter fraud. Johnson carved out an influential role after the 2020 election, helping Trump’s attempts to subvert the will of the people and overturn the legitimate results. He later recruited a majority of House Republicans to endorse a Trump-backed lawsuit seeking to invalidate the results from four key states that Trump lost: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. (In truth, as the Supreme Court later affirmed, judges have the power to review state election laws.)

Persons: Mike Johnson, Donald Trump’s, Johnson, ”, Trump, Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, ” Johnson, Hugo Chávez’s, Smartmatic, would’ve, Biden, – Johnson Organizations: Republican, Trump, Voting Systems, Biden, Dominion, Fox News, House Republicans, Republicans, Democratic Locations: Louisiana, Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona

The House has put a modified surveillance bill on track for final passage as soon as Friday, just days after an earlier version failed to advance in a public rebuke to GOP leadership. The House voted Friday morning to approve the rule governing debate surrounding the modified bill behind Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reauthorization, a key step before final passage. Greene was seen on the House floor speaking to Johnson, who later told reporters the two spoke about “all sorts of things.”“Marjorie and I agree on our conservative philosophy,” Johnson said. Johnson organized a classified reading room off the House floor for members to view classified information ahead of Friday’s vote, according to a GOP leadership aide. White House National Security communications adviser John Kirby reiterated the White House’s support for the reauthorization ahead of the final House floor vote expected later Friday.

Persons: Mike Johnson –, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Johnson, Greene, ” “ Marjorie, ” Johnson, “, Donald Trump, ”, Joe Biden, John Kirby, ” Kirby, Kirby, CNN’s Aileen Graef Organizations: Foreign Intelligence, GOP, Louisiana Republican, FISA, Trump, House, FBI, Senate, reauthorization, White, National Security Locations: Louisiana, Georgia, Ukraine, Florida, Iran

☆ Fact checking Trump and Johnson’s election integrity announcement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Facts First: The system, as it is currently set up, is working, and effectively prevents mass voting by non-citizens in US elections. Despite Johnson’s focus on this topic, it is extremely rare, according to decades of voting data and nonpartisan experts. In federal and state elections, where voting by non-citizens is illegal, it occurs on a microscopic level. This system, as shown from decades of data, is very effective at stopping non-citizens from registering and voting in federal elections. Further, from a common-sense perspective, there’s little to gain for an undocumented immigrant who theoretically wants to vote in a presidential election.

Persons: Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, ”, Johnson, ” Johnson, David Becker, Brennan, There’s, they’d, Rick Hasen, you’re, Trump, Hillary Clinton, CNN’s Marshall Cohen, ” Trump, Trump’s, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Daniel Dale Trump, Biden, Trump baselessly, “, Matthew Colangelo, Alvin Bragg, Bragg, Colangelo, Joe Biden, Gainor Trump, ’, Roe, Wade, Roe V, Wade ”, Read, Daniel Dale Organizations: CNN, Election Innovation, Research, Brennan Center for Justice, UCLA School of Law, Trump, Democratic, Mar, Manhattan District Attorney, Biden, Justice Department, US Customs Locations: United States, Venezuela, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, York, Manhattan, Mar

☆ Trump and Johnson Trump build alliance on the falsehood of the stolen election
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The stolen election falsehood that dominates the GOPJohnson’s willingness to lend the authority of his office to Trump’s “election integrity” campaign shows how Trump’s stolen election conspiracy theory has consumed almost every pillar of power in the GOP. Trump and Johnson are also expected to relitigate the 2020 election during Friday’s press conference, a Trump adviser told CNN. “IT’S SO THEY CAN VOTE, VOTE, VOTE,” Trump said on his Truth Social network in December. Two days after the election, Trump declared, “If you count the legal votes, I easily win. “I support President Trump, I’m one of his biggest fighters here in Congress.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Trump, Aileen Cannon, Trump’s, Johnson, ”, CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Fredreka Schouten, CNN’s KFile, Lara Trump, William Barr, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden’s, ” Trump, ” Johnson, Biden, There’s, —, Matt Gaetz –, “, ” Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, she’d, ” Greene, CNN’s Manu Raju, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy —, Trump — Organizations: CNN —, Republican, GOP, Trump’s, Trump, Republicans, Republican National Committee, RNC, CNN, Democratic, Electoral, “, Christian Broadcasting Network, Biden, Georgia Republican, House Republicans, Capitol Locations: Trump, Congress, Lago, Florida, New York, Georgia, American, Texas, Georgia , Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ukraine, Mar, November’s

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