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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is underway with live television coverage, a former aide who reported him to the FBI on the witness stand and his wife watching from her desk in the state Senate but prohibited from participating. But how much Paxton himself will take part in the historic trial that resumes Wednesday is up in the air. Paxton pleaded not guilty Tuesday but did not return for opening arguments, when his attorneys sharply criticized the impeachment and urged Republican senators to acquit. The vote immediately suspended Paxton and made him only the third sitting official in Texas’ nearly 200-year history to be impeached. What they are doing is taking away the vote of the majority of the people of Texas,” Bowen said.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Paxton, Paxton’s, “, Dan Cogdell, Jeff Mateer, Mateer, “ Mr, ”, Andrew Murr, Biden, Austin, Nate Paul, Tony Buzbee, Paxton “, Paul, Gov, Dan Patrick, Sen, Angela Paxton, —, Peter Bowen, ” Bowen Organizations: Texas, FBI, Senators, Republican, “, Capitol, Texas Republicans, Trump, Texas ’, Senate Locations: AUSTIN, Texas, acquit, May, Houston

☆ Prosecution urges conviction in impeachment trial of Texas Republican Paxton
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks ahead of a rally held by former U.S. President Donald Trump, in Robstown, Texas, U.S., October 22, 2022. Paxton entered pleas of not guilty as an impeachment trial spearheaded by his fellow Republicans got underway. Republican state Representative Andrew Murr, delivering the opening statement for the prosecution, urged senators to remove Paxton from a post he has held since 2015. The last impeachment trial of a statewide office-holder in Texas was held in 1917. At the end of the trial, the Senate could dismiss those four charges or hold a separate trial on them.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Donald Trump, Go Nakamura, Ken Paxton's, Paxton, Tony Buzbee, Paxton's, Andrew Murr, Mr, he's, Murr, Trump's, I've, Buzbee, Angela, Trump, Joe Biden, Nate Paul, Brad Brooks, Will Dunham, Donna Bryson, Andy Sullivan Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Republicans, Republican, Democratic, Senators, FBI, Senate, Thomson Locations: Texas, Robstown , Texas, U.S, Longmont , Colorado

☆ Sen. Ted Cruz is worth at least $2.6 million, according to financial disclosures
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Heidi Cruz, his wife, is wealthy in her own right too. Advertisement Advertisement Watch:Vice President Mike Pence swears Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in after his 2018 reelection while Heidi Cruz and their daughters look on. Heidi Cruz also holds at least another $500,001 in her own mutual fund. "In 2022, Sen. Cruz was a member of the Commerce Committee along with 12 other Republicans. Cruz later attacked his neighbors after someone leaked Heidi Cruz's text messages to their neighbors mentioning the trip.

Persons: Sen, Ted Cruz, Cruz, Heidi Cruz, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz of, Trump, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Alex Edelman, Goldman Sachs, Maria Cantwell, Heidi, Beto O'Rourke, Colin Allred Organizations: Service, Republican, Texas Republican, Senate, Exxon Mobil, Enterprise Products, Senate Commerce Committee, Commerce, Bank of America, Texans, Democratic, NFL Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ted Cruz of Texas, America, Houston, Cancun , Mexico

Another has an ally in Congress vowing to support his legal defense. On Thursday, Trump’s legal team formally asked a judge to sever his case from his co-defendants who want a speedy trial, according to court filings. The prospect of a costly legal defense has prompted some defendants to find other ways to raise money. Paying the legal bills of his co-defendants in Georgia could help the former president keep them all unified as they fight the Fulton County charges. None of the defendants has pleaded guilty, but it is common for criminal defendants facing mounting legal bills to end their cases without the time-consuming costs of a trial.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, Newsmax, ” Trump's, Will Lanzoni, ” Trump, haven’t, Trump’s, Eric, Don Jr, Jenna Ellis, John Eastman, Mike Pence, Donald Trump, Jae C, AP Eastman, Jeffrey Clark, Cathy Latham, grumbling, Ellis, “, ” Ellis, Matt Schlapp’s, ” Schlapp, Al Drago, Ron DeSantis, isn’t MAGA, Jenna, –, Sidney Powell, Kenneth Chesebro, Fani Willis, Giuliani, Rudy Giuliani, Erik S, Shutterstock, Andrew Giuliani, Brian Tevis, It’s, I’ll, ” Tevis, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Chip Roy, Mark Meadows, ”, ” Roy, Roy, Harrison Floyd, Floyd –, ” Floyd, Ricky Fitchett, ZUMA, Floyd, Todd Harding, he’s, De Oliveira Organizations: CNN, Trump, Save, Save America PAC, AP, Justice Department, Trump Republican, Republican National Committee, Bloomberg, Getty, Florida Gov, Inc, Shutterstock CNN, Giuliani Defense, Texas Republican, Trump White House, Zuma, America, PAC Locations: Georgia, Fulton, Atlanta , Georgia, Los Angeles, Georgia The Georgia, Fulton County, York, Bedminster , New Jersey, New Jersey, Bedminster, Texas, Philadelphia

☆ Congressmen call on Biden to stop Greg Abbott from transporting migrants to Democratic-led cities after a 3-year-old child died on a bus headed from Texas to Chicago
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The lawmakers made the plea after a 3-year-old died on a bus headed to Chicago on Thursday. Abbott has been battling with the Biden administration over immigration issues for over two years. Greg Abbott from transporting migrants from the US-Mexico border region to cities across the country after a three-year-old child died while en route to Chicago on Thursday. We are saddened and horrified, but not surprised, by the death of a three-year-old child on a state-sponsored bus from Texas to Chicago," the lawmakers said. Governor Abbott's barbaric practices are killing people, and the Biden administration has an obligation to stop them."

Persons: Castro, Joe Biden, Abbott, Biden, Greg Abbott, Joaquin Castro of, apprehensions, Eric Adams, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Adams Organizations: Gov, Service, Democratic, Texas Republican Gov, Reps, Lone Star, Operation Lone Star, The Texas Division, Emergency Management, US Customs, New York Times, Associated Press, The Illinois Department of Public Health, Texas Division, White, New York City, Los Angeles Mayor Locations: Chicago, Wall, Silicon, Mexico, Joaquin Castro of Texas, Chuy, García, Illinois, Denver, Los Angeles , New York, Washington, Texas, Brownsville , Texas, Antonio, Marion County , Illinois, New York

WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Monday sued Texas over floating barriers installed by the state in the Rio Grande river to block migrants crossing from Mexico. "This floating barrier poses threats to navigation and public safety and presents humanitarian concerns." The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Texas, seeks "to remove all structures and obstructions, including a floating barrier and all infrastructure related to the floating barrier, in the Rio Grande," according to the court filing. In recent months, National Guard troops have strung up razor wire to block migrants from crossing the Rio Grande. The number of migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally has dropped since Biden implemented a restrictive new asylum policy in May.

Persons: Greg Abbott's, Vanita Gupta, Jaime Esparza, Abbott, Joe Biden, Biden, Eric Beech, Kanishka Singh, Tyler Clifford, Tim Ahmann, Bill Berkrot, Sonali Paul Organizations: U.S . Justice, Monday, Texas, Texas Republican, Lone Star, Western District of, Western, Democratic, Fox News, Biden, United States Supreme, National Guard, Thomson Locations: Rio, Mexico . Texas, Eagle, , Texas, Texas, U.S, Western District, Western District of Texas, Rio Grande, Mexico

☆ Biden administration sues Texas governor over Rio Grande buoy barrier that’s meant to stop migrants
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Migrants seeking asylum rest on an island while attempting to cross the Rio Grande river into the United States on July 18, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Greg Abbott over a floating barrier that the state placed on the Rio Grande to stop migrants from crossing into the U.S. from Mexico. The suit also claims that Texas unlawfully installed the barrier along without permission near the border city of Eagle Pass. In anticipation of the lawsuit, Abbott sent President Joe Biden a letter Monday that defended Texas' right to install the barrier. The letter said the buoy wall "poses a risk to navigation, as well as public safety, in the Rio Grande River, and it presents humanitarian concerns."

Persons: Greg Abbott, Biden, Abbott, Joe Biden Organizations: The, Department, Monday, Texas Republican Gov, Democratic, Texas, Water Commission, U.S . Army Corps of Engineers Locations: Grande, United States, Eagle Pass , Texas, Rio, Mexico, Texas, Eagle, Rio Grande

☆ Ted Cruz is getting really worked up about the 'Barbie' movie and accusing it of feeding young girls 'Chinese communist propaganda'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ted Cruz slammed the "Barbie" movie for its depiction of a disputed region in the South China Sea. "This is Chinese communist propaganda," Cruz told The Daily Signal on Sunday. "This is Chinese communist propaganda in which the Chinese are asserting sovereignty over the entirety of the South China Sea. This is not the first time the Texas Republican has weighed in on the "Barbie" movie. China has built 20 outposts in the Paracel Islands, a group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

Persons: Ted Cruz, Cruz, Sen, Barbie, it's, " Cruz, hasn't Organizations: Daily, Service, Texas Republican, Twitter, Chinese Communist Party, Hollywood, Hague, US, US Navy, China, South China, Warner Bros Locations: South China, Vietnam, Philippines, Wall, Silicon, Texas, Asia, China, Paracel, South, United States, Barbie

☆ Opinion | Why We Should Politicize the Weather
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Paul Krugman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But extreme weather events have always been with us. Can we prove that climate change caused any particular disaster? But the burgeoning field of “extreme event attribution” comes close. Event attribution compares the odds of experiencing an extreme event given global warming with the odds that the same event would have happened without climate change. Which brings me back to the “politicization of the weather.” Worrying about the climate crisis shouldn’t be a partisan issue.

Persons: hasn’t, I’d, doesn’t Organizations: Texas Republicans Locations: Italy, America, Texas

☆ How Trump turned the ‘law and order party’ into an enemy of the FBI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Trump has pleaded not guilty in the classified documents case and in another prosecution in New York related to a hush money payment to an adult film star. “President Trump endured an unprecedented raid at his home in Mar-a-Lago. (A special counsel is still investigating classified documents found in Biden’s possession, while the Justice Department closed a case on the possible mishandling of documents found at Pence’s Indiana home.) Ron DeSantis and other Republicans have promised a comprehensive gutting of the FBI, Justice Department and other government agencies in response to what they claim is a wholesale effort to stop Trump winning the 2024 election. Some independent investigations looking at the Trump era have found wrongdoing or mistakes in the FBI.

Persons: Donald Trump pulsated, Christopher Wray, –, Wray, Biden, that’s, Wray’s, James Comey, Hillary Clinton, ”, George W, Harriet Hageman, Liz Cheney, Cheney, Jerrold Nadler, Justice Department –, Trump, Hunter Biden, Wesley Hunt, Biden didn’t, Biden’s, ” Hunt, Mike Pence, “, ” Wray, Jim Jordan –, Trump –, ” Jordan, Ron DeSantis, Richard Nixon, Comey, Matt Gaetz, DeSantis, Chris Wray, There’ll, ” DeSantis, Trey Gowdy, J, Edgar Hoover –, John Durham, William Barr, ’, Barr, David Weiss –, “ Weiss, COWARD, Bill Barr, ” Trump, didn’t Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, Democrats, FBI, Judiciary, Bush’s, Department, Wyoming Rep, Rep, Justice Department, GOP, Biden, Texas Republican, Pence’s Indiana, The Biden, Florida Gov, Justice, White, NBC, Fox News, DOJ, Committee, Foreign Intelligence, Delaware US Locations: Wyoming, York, New York, Moscow, Florida, Mar, Pence’s, Delaware, Ohio, Rehoboth , Delaware, Trump, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Durham

☆ House Republicans vote to make it harder for troops to get abortions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House Republicans voted to eliminate a Pentagon policy that makes it easier for service members to obtain abortions. The House voted largely along party lines 221-213 in tacking on the restriction to a larger must-pass bill funding the Pentagon. Only two House Republicans, Reps. John Duarte of California and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, broke with the party. House Republicans have a number of other amendment votes to press through Thursday evening. CNN's Melanie Zanona wrote that the inclusion of the abortion restrictions will lead the final House vote to be extremely one-sided.

Persons: John Duarte of, Brian Fitzpatrick, Henry Cuellar, Duarte, Cuellar, Ronny Jackson, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Joe Biden, Biden, CNN's Melanie Zanona Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Republicans, Democrat, Texas Republican, Defense Department, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Marine Corps, White, House Republicans, National Defense, Democratic Locations: Wall, Silicon, tacking, John Duarte of California, Pennsylvania, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Texas

☆ Analysis: Why Ukraine's plea for NATO membership is such a profound dilemma for the West
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The president said that the alliance needed to lay out a “rational path” for Ukraine’s membership but that it was still short of some requirements for joining, including over democratization. NATO membership would also boost Ukraine’s bid to cement a democracy that was vulnerable before the war and fulfill the desire of many of its people to join the West. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, last week introduced a resolution calling for a roadmap to Ukraine’s NATO membership as soon as it is practicable. “Guaranteeing Ukraine’s security would erode US security by increasingly the risk, obviously, of war with Russia,” he said. Even if Biden were to amend his position on accelerating NATO membership for Ukraine, he cannot ensure a successor would honor treaty obligations.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, ” Biden, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, ”, –, Putin, stiffen, Lindsey Graham, Richard Blumenthal, “, We’re, Michael McCaul, Ben Friedman, ” Friedman, Donald Trump, Zelensky Organizations: CNN, NATO, Ukrainian, ABC News, Kremlin, Warsaw, South Carolina Republican, Connecticut Democrat, Ukraine, GOP Rep, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Texas Republican, Defense, American, Soviet, Russia Locations: Europe, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Lithuania, Eastern Europe, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Baltic, Latvia, Estonia, Soviet Union, Bucharest, Sens, Connecticut, Russian, United Kingdom, “ State, Western Europe, Israel, Taiwan, United States, Eastern

☆ Ukraine cluster munitions: A top House Republican supports Biden's decision while a prominent Democrat disagrees
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( Shawna Mizelle | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Over 100 countries, including the UK, France and Germany, have outlawed the munitions under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but the US and Ukraine are not signatories to the ban – a point that McCaul emphasized on Sunday. CNN previously reported that President Joe Biden mulled over the decision before approving the weapons transfer on Friday. “The president’s been doing a good job managing this war, this Putin aggressive war against Ukraine. 3 Republican in the Senate, welcomed the sending of cluster munitions to Ukraine but said the US was taking “too long” to supply weapons to the country. “I don’t believe the (Biden) administration deserves any blame for this,” Lee said.

Persons: “, ”, Michael McCaul, Barbara Lee, CNN’s Jake Tapper, ” McCaul, Volodymyr, Zelensky, McCaul, Joe Biden mulled, Biden, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, John Kirby, ” Lee, Putin, Tapper, Lee, Virginia Sen, Tim Kaine, ” Kaine, Wyoming Sen, John Barrasso, ” Barrasso, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Biden, ” “, we’d Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, Sunday, Biden, Democrat, House Foreign, Texas Republican, California Democrat, Union, CNN, Cluster Munitions, US National Security, ABC, Ukraine, US, Fox News, State Department, Trump, White, United Nations Locations: Ukraine, Texas, California, “ State, Russia, France, Germany, Wyoming, Afghanistan, United States, Qaeda

☆ Matt Gaetz blames the 'gerontocracy' for stymieing psychedelics legislation in Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gaetz said he's happy the fight is being led by two younger lawmakers, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Dan Crenshaw. "Not collecting Social Security," Gaetz told the Post about his colleagues, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, and Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican. But Crenshaw said Gaetz told him that the duo was being dismissed. "He was like, 'I needed you to do this,'" Crenshaw told the Post of Gaetz's pitch. "'Otherwise it's just typical Gaetz, typical AOC.'"

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, he's, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Dan Crenshaw, —, Ocasio, Crenshaw, Gray Organizations: psychedelics, Service, Florida Republican, Washington Post, New, New York Democrat, Texas Republican, Post, National Defense, Pentagon, Senate Locations: Alexandria, Cortez, New York, Texas, America

☆ AOC says she's 'concerned' Biden might derail a bipartisan push to study psychedelics since he's regressive on cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The New York Democrat worried the president's "regressiv[e]" approach to cannabis could carry over. "And if there's a regressiveness toward cannabis policy, it's likely to be worse on anything else." The New York Democrat is trying to remove federal limits on scientific research for psychedelics that have blocked further study of the drugs. While the White House did not comment on the record to Terris, he recounted the president's mixed approach to cannabis policy. The New York Democrat said when she first introduced her legislation in 2019, an unnamed senior member of her party laughed at her.

Persons: Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Biden, —, she's, Joe Biden, Ben Terris, there's, he's, Dan Crenshaw, Terris, Crenshaw Organizations: New, New York Democrat, Service, Privacy, Democratic Rep, Cortez of New York, Texas Republican, Veterans Administration Locations: Alexandria, New York, Cortez of New, Washington, Las Vegas, Texas, psychedelics

☆ Texas lawmaker says his bill shutting down diversity offices on college campuses will help diversity
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Greg Abbott signed a law shutting down diversity offices at state-funded universities. A GOP lawmaker behind the legislation said the "bold" and "forward-thinking" measure will help Texas focus on the "strength of diversity." Creighton's office did not immediately respond when asked how the law will focus schools on "the strength of diversity." It mandates that beginning in January, all state-funded universities must shut down their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices, mandatory DEI statements, and diversity training. Any public college or university that doesn't shut down those offices loses its access to state funds, according to the law.

Persons: Greg Abbott, —, Sen, Brandon Creighton, Creighton, Paulette Granberry Russell, Pat Heintzelman Organizations: Texas Gov, GOP, Republican, Service, Texas, National Association of Diversity, Higher, Texas Republicans, Texas Faculty Association, Supreme Locations: Texas

Greg Abbott signed a law Thursday barring transgender college athletes in the state from competing in sports that align with their gender identity – expanding a 2021 law that banned transgender students in K-12 Texas school districts and some charter schools from doing the same. Abbott framed Senate Bill 15, titled the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” as designed to protect female athletes from unfair competition. The new law, which takes effect September 1, allows individuals to sue institutions that allow trans athletes to compete on teams that align with their gender identity. Proponents of such restrictions have argued transgender women have a physical advantage over cisgender women, and that the regulations give female athletes equal opportunities to compete. However, there is little research on trans collegiate athletes.

Persons: Greg Abbott, Abbott, “, ”, ’ –, Marti Bier Organizations: CNN, Texas Republican Gov, Sports Medicine, Texans, Texas Freedom Network, GOP Locations: Texas, Alabama

☆ Lawmakers wrangle over measures to address pilot shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Greg Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A series of controversial proposals to address the airline pilot shortage is complicating Congress’ consideration of a new slate of Federal Aviation Administration policies with one senator warning fellow lawmakers there will be blood on their hands if reduced pilot training causes a fatal accident. The measures presented by lawmakers include raising the pilot retirement age, allowing more training to occur in a flight simulator rather than aircraft cockpit, and fast-tracking training programs. The measures are hotly contested and are aimed at addressing a shortage in airline pilots that was exacerbated by the pandemic. The Illinois Democrat scolded those who feel simulator training will be equivalent and said she didn’t believe reducing training hours would solve the shortage. On the House side, the House Transportation Committee narrowly approved an amendment that would raise the mandatory pilot retirement age by two years to 67.

Persons: Sen, John Thune of, Republican Sen, Jerry Moran, ”, “, Jason Ambrosi, Tammy Duckworth, Troy Nehls, ” Nehls, You’re, Rick Larsen, Nehls Organizations: CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Republican, Senate, Air Line Pilots Association union, Illinois Democrat, Transportation, Texas Republican, AARP, Regional Airline Association, United, ” Locations: John Thune of South Dakota, Kansas, Iraq, Illinois, Texas, American, Delta

☆ Cracker Barrel saluted Pride Month, and some people are losing it
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Leslie J. Allen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Cracker Barrel posted a "Happy Pride Month" salute on social media with a rainbow rocking chair. The restaurant chain posted a photo on its Facebook page Thursday showing a rainbow-themed rocking chair on the porch of a Cracker Barrel restaurant. Facebook user Scarlett Wells wrote: "I've literally avoided Cracker Barrel because I was pretty sure y'all weren't inclusive. The backlash against Cracker Barrel is the latest in a wave of anti-LGBTQ protests and boycotts against major businesses, including Target, Bud Light, and Disney. Cracker Barrel also sparked criticism and boycott threats last year when it added vegan sausage to its menu.

Persons: —, Scarlett Wells, I've, Critics, Ronny Jackson, Wu Tang, Bud Light Organizations: Facebook, Service, Pride, Texas Republican, Target, Disney, New York Times Locations: Texas, Tennessee

☆ Amtrak CEO: Pandemic delayed profitability by years
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Greg Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Instead, CEO Stephen Gardner asked a congressional subcommittee on Tuesday to tolerate losses for several more years for the federally funded rail system while the company and country invest billions into improving passenger rail service. “Financial performance is not Amtrak’s sole objective,” CEO Stephen Gardner said in his written testimony to a House Transportation subcommittee. Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, left, accompanied by Northeast Corridor Commission Executive Director Mitch Warren, right, speaks during a House Transportation subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Amtrak is also developing new lines of service to connect fast-growing regions and growing frequencies on existing routes. Subcommittee Chairman Troy Nehls, a Texas Republican, said Amtrak needed to prioritize its existing network over adding new routes.

Persons: Stephen Gardner, Gardner, Mitch Warren, Andrew Harnik, We’re, ” Gardner, Troy Nehls, ” Nehls Organizations: CNN, Amtrak, “, Transportation, Penn Central, Corridor Commission, Capitol, Long Distance, Texas Republican Locations: Washington, Texas

“Clean, clean, clean,” he told CNN in April, referencing the push for a clean debt ceiling resolution. He then later forced President Joe Biden to negotiate a debt limit suspension with spending cuts. “I think the Republican House caucus is willing to go to default,” said Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat. A fired-up Buck, who opposed the debt limit deal, told reporters that he has received calls from constituents about removing McCarthy from the speakership. Now he says he would let us look at the document,” McCarthy told reporters.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, ”, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Joe Biden, Biden, “, ebullient McCarthy, underestimating, ” McCarthy, Schumer, we’ve, ” Schumer, Ted Lieu, Ken Buck, McCarthy “, Buck, McCarthy’s speakership, Chip Roy, Dan Bishop, Scott Perry, speakership –, he’s, Ralph Norman, what’s, “ We’ve, you’ve, Wray, James Comer, Comer, Alejandro Mayorkas, Marjorie Taylor Greene Organizations: CNN, GOP, House Republicans, White, Republican, California Democrat, Republicans, Texas Republican, North Carolina Republican, Caucus, Pennsylvania Republican, South Carolina Republican, FBI, Homeland Security, Rep, Georgia Republican Locations: California, Colorado, Pennsylvania

☆ Ken Paxton's impeachment revealed how divided far-right and moderate Republicans in Texas have become, political scientist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was impeached from office Saturday. Many of the Texas House members who voted to impeach him were Republicans themselves. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, a moderate Republican who later helped impeach Paxton, was vocally opposed, calling it an improper use of taxpayer dollars. For Texas House Republicans, it was more about strategy. This GOP-on-GOP conflict in Texas reflects a national struggle between Republicans that rarely, if ever, plays out the way it did in Texas, Jillson said.

Persons: Ken Paxton, —, MAGA, Nate Paul —, Paxton, Paul, Cal Jillson, Jillson, Dade Phelan, Paxton —, Ken Paxton's, you've, Dan Patrick, Donald Trump, Phelan, It's, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, emasculating, Joe Biden Organizations: Texas House, GOP, Service, Southern Methodist University, Trump, Republican Party, Texas, Republican, New York Times, Texas House Republicans, Tea Party, The New York Times, Republicans, Caucus, Texas Republicans, Texas Republican Locations: Texas

☆ Ted Cruz calling Uganda's anti-gay law 'horrific' is odd considering he voted against protecting same sex marriages just last year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ted Cruz was one of many politicians who condemned Uganda's new anti-gay bill, calling it "horrific." He added: "ALL civilized nations should join together in condemning this human rights abuse." President Joe Biden, for one, called for the law's "immediate repeal" in a statement on Monday, saying that it was a "tragic violation of universal human rights." He also added that he would consider implementing "sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption." However, Cruz's strong criticism of Uganda's new law is interesting, considering his established stance on gay rights.

☆ Why Texas Republicans Are Targeting Renewable Energy - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Paul Krugman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The prices producers receive, and hence their profits, are determined more by global events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine than by where Texas gets its electricity (although this obviously matters for the owners of power plants). So I don’t think Texas’s rejection of its own energy success is entirely, or even mainly, about greed. Right-wingers like Elon Musk and Ron DeSantis have become fond of citing the alleged power of the “woke mind virus” to explain why major corporations are tolerant of and even cater to social liberalism. They need to invoke this mysterious contagion to avoid accepting the obvious explanation: Most Americans have become relatively liberal on social matters — look at the transformation of attitudes on same-sex marriage — and corporations have been adjusting to their customer base. But while talk of the woke mind virus manages to be both sinister and silly, I’d argue that there really is what we might call an anti-woke mind virus — a contagion that spreads not across people but across issues.

Persons: Ron DeSantis’s, Elon Musk, Ron DeSantis, there’s Organizations: Texas, Disney, Republican Party Locations: Ukraine

☆ Republican tries to scuttle debt limit bill in House Rules Committee as pressure grows on key swing vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

That would essentially doom the debt ceiling bill since Roy – who sits on the panel – and another conservative committee member are trying to stop the bill from advancing. A third conservative who sits on the panel – Massie – has been mum about how he plans to handle the rule vote in committee. But in January, Massie told CNN he was reluctant to vote against rules to stop bills in their tracks. “And when I checked, there wasn’t a rule that something has to come out of Rules Committee unanimously. “I think that comment was that it had to be unanimous to come out of the Rules Committee to go to the floor is the tweet that I read.

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