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☆ 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

[1/2] U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks to the media after the weekly Senate Republican caucus luncheon with Republican leadership Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and John Thune (R-SD), at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 14, 2023. It underscored that a high-quality candidate is crucial," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said in an interview. Thirty-four of the 100 U.S. Senate seats will be up for grabs next year. In the 2022 congressional elections, Trump backed controversial Senate candidates including Oz in Pennsylvania and former football star Herschel Walker in Georgia, who both lost to Democrats. Had Republican candidates prevailed in those races, the party would have emerged with a Senate majority.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Steve Daines, John Thune, Evelyn Hockstein, Daines, David McCormick, McCormick, Mehmet Oz, Donald Trump, John Fetterman, Dave, He's, Trump, Joe Biden, McConnell, Biden, Herschel Walker, Gary Peters, Ron DeSantis, Tim Sheehy, Sam Bowman, Jim Justice, Sheehy, Jon Tester, Matt Rosendale, David Morgan, Jarrett Renshaw, Will Dunham, Scott Malone Organizations: U.S ., Republican, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Democrats, Senate Republicans, Pennsylvania, Republican Senate, Democratic, Reuters, National Republican, TRUMP, Trump, Senate Democrats, Navy SEAL, Bridger Aerospace, Caucus, Senate, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, Montana, West Virginia, Nevada, In Pennsylvania, Arizona , Georgia, New Hampshire, Montana , West Virginia, Ohio, Arizona , Michigan, Montana , Nevada , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Florida, Washington, Philadelphia

☆ Senate confirms Biden judicial nominee after Harris breaks deadlock
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Andrew Goudsward | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris broke a deadlock in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday to secure confirmation for a civil rights lawyer nominated to be a federal judge in New York. The final vote was 50-49, but Harris was needed to break a 50-50 tie in an earlier procedural vote on the nomination. The vote marked the fourth time in recent weeks that Manchin has opposed one of President Joe Biden’s judicial picks. Merle is the 100th district court nominee selected by Biden to secure Senate confirmation and is the latest in a string of civil rights lawyers to be confirmed to the federal bench this month. She previously served as a federal public defender in New York and worked on a fellowship for a New York law firm.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Natasha Merle, Harris, Joe Manchin, Merle, Manchin, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Kirsten Gillibrand, litigator ”, Mitch McConnell, “, ” McConnell, Andrew Goudsward Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Senate, NAACP Legal Defense, Educational Fund, U.S, Eastern, of, New York Democrat, Republican, New, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, of New York, Brooklyn, West Virginia

☆ 'Trump can't win': Koch network releases ads targeting ex-president
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The political network financed largely by billionaire Charles Koch is launching a wave of digital ads targeting former President Donald Trump. The ads argue that if Trump becomes the Republican nominee next year, it will lead to President Joe Biden winning reelection. One of the spots, titled "Only Way," has a voiceover saying, "The only way Biden wins is if we nominate Trump again." All of the Koch digital ads cite public polling that say how key voters don't want Trump to be president again. The ads are also targeting voters at a tumultuous moment for Trump.

Persons: Charles Koch, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, Koch, they've, Strong, Biden, Herschel Walker, Sen, Ron Johnson, Mehmet Oz, Bill Riggs, Riggs, Emily Seidel, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Republican, Prosperity, Koch Industries, of Commerce, CNBC, Trump, Biden, GOP, White, Senate, Commission, PAC, Georgia Republican Senate, Pennsylvania Republican, NBC, Florida Gov Locations: China, Georgia, Iowa, South Carolina , New Hampshire, Nevada, Washington

☆ Social Security, Medicare reform fight shows divisions among Trump, DeSantis and Pence
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

DeSantis has since reversed himself, assuring in recent months that Republicans are "not going to mess with Social Security." Tens of millions of U.S. seniors depend on Social Security and Medicare benefits, and that number is growing as the population ages. Strong majorities of U.S. adults across the political spectrum consistently say they oppose cutting Medicare and Social Security benefits. But many others, including party leaders, have bristled at accusations that the GOP wants to gut Social Security and Medicare. "Social Security, I would do the same thing," he added.

Persons: Mike Pence's, Ron DeSantis, Pence, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, DeSantis, Trump pollster, Donald Trump's, Steven Teles, Teles, Andrew Caballero, reynolds, We're, Nikki Haley, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, meanwhile, Biden, Sen, Rick Scott, Mitch McConnell, Scott's, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Elise Stefanik, Jonathan Ernst, Andrew Bates, Paul Ryan, Ryan, Mitt Romney's, Barack Obama, Lady Casey DeSantis, Peter Zay Organizations: Social Security, Republican, Florida Gov, GOP, Great Society, White, Republican Party, Johns Hopkins University, Niskanen, Team Trump Volunteer Leadership, Grimes Community, AFP, Getty, Social, Medicare's, Insurance, Former South Carolina Gov, Republicans, Senate, U.S . Rep, U.S, Capitol, Reuters, Anadolu Agency Locations: Grimes , Iowa, South Carolina, Ky, Washington , U.S, Congress, Lexington, SC

☆ DOJ sues son of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and his coal empire over millions in unpaid fines
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Department of Justice on Wednesday accused the son of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and 13 coal companies the younger Justice owns or operates of failing to pay millions of dollars in penalties for environmental violations. The Republican governor last month launched his campaign for the Senate seat held by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. A spokesman for Justice's Senate campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. Democrats weaponizing the federal government to attack the family of a Republican Senate candidate is a complete abuse of power."

Persons: Jim Justice, Jay Justice, Todd Kim, Kim, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Tate Mitchell, Joe Organizations: Justice, West Virginia Gov, DOJ, Natural Resources, Republican, Democratic, Senate, National Republican, Joe Biden's Department of Justice, Republican Senate Locations: West Virginia

☆ Oregon Senators Face Re-election Ban After Prolonged Boycott
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Mike Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The NewsFrustrated, powerless and with little hope of regaining significant influence anytime soon, Republican lawmakers in Oregon have in recent years turned repeatedly to a disruptive tactic: boycotting their own legislature. It has been so disruptive that voters altered the Constitution last year to punish those who were repeatedly absent by barring them from re-election. But now, as the legislature debates contentious bills over abortion and transgender rights, some lawmakers are boycotting once again. This week, in the first significant test of the new law, three state senators reached the legal threshold of 10 unexcused absences. There are no term limits in the legislature, but some senators are facing re-election campaigns as soon as next year.

☆ Nikki Haley Says Pledging a Federal Abortion Ban Wouldn’t Be ‘Honest’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Maggie Astor | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley refused on Sunday to endorse a federal abortion ban at a specific number of weeks’ gestation, saying that to do so would be to lie to the American people about what is politically possible. “I think the media has tried to divide them by saying we have to decide certain weeks,” Ms. Haley said in an interview on CBS News’s “Face the Nation.” “In states, yes. At the federal level, it’s not realistic. It’s not being honest with the American people.”She was responding to a question from her interviewer, Margaret Brennan, about why she would not join another likely candidate, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, in endorsing a 20-week national ban. But her comments on Sunday stood out for the explicitness of her rejection of committing to a gestational limit.

WASHINGTON, May 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Sunday warned that a failure by Congress to act on the debt ceiling could trigger a "constitutional crisis," with consequences for financial markets and interest rates. Yellen in an interview on ABC News's "This Week" said debt ceiling negotiations should not take place "with a gun to the head of the American people," and reiterated a warning to lawmakers the government could pay its bills only through early June without increasing the limit, which the government hit in January. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo also sounded the alarm on Sunday about the risks of a default during an interview on MSNBC's "The Sunday Show." "If we were to default on our debt, it would have a terrible impact on interest rates." Reporting by John Kruzel, editing by Deepa BabingtonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Biden says Republicans manufacturing a crisis over debt limit
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden sharply criticized 'MAGA' Republicans for their refusal to vote in a higher federal debt ceiling, signaling that there would be little compromise from the White House at a key May 9 meeting with congressional leaders. Republicans are "divided" on the debt ceiling, Biden said, speaking ahead of a meeting on U.S. investment at the White House, and so-called MAGA Republicans are pushing "draconian" cuts in the budget. Biden criticized House Republicans for threatening not to raise the debt limit unless Biden and Democrats agree to steep cuts in the upcoming budget. When you pay the debt or not it doesn’t have a damn thing to do with what your budget" is, he said. Republicans and Democrats should be "debating our vision of the future" in front of the American people, he said.

WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will not negotiate over the debt ceiling during his meeting with four top congressional leaders on May 9, but he will discuss starting "a separate budget process" to talk about spending priorities, the White House said on Tuesday. "He is not going to negotiate on the debt ceiling," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. The White House and Biden have previously asked Republicans for a clean debt ceiling hike and offered to discuss spending once the risk of default is off the table. The White House knew Yellen's letter would be released on Monday, Jean-Pierre said. Biden called Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Jerusalem, where he is on a diplomatic trip, to invite him to the May 9 White House meeting.

☆ These are the top Senate races to watch in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

They have reason to be hopeful: Democrats face a daunting 2024 Senate map that puts them on defense in 23 of the cycle's 34 races, including multiple seats considered ripe for GOP challenges. The grim outlook has some Senate Democrats considering retirement, even after the caucus expanded to a 51-49 majority following a better-than-expected showing in the midterms. Jim Justice, reportedly the state's richest man and one of its favored contenders for the Senate race. But the 2024 Senate race in Ohio is currently considered a toss-up, as Republicans have made significant gains in the state in the last two election cycles. Sabato's Crystal Ball and the Cook Political Report both say the Michigan Senate race leans Democratic.

☆ Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey announces re-election bid for fourth term
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Summer Concepcion | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., on Monday announced he will seek a fourth term in the battleground state next year as Democrats fight to keep their Senate majority. "I'm running for re-election because with so much on the line for Pennsylvania's working families, I want to keep delivering results for Pennsylvania," Casey said in a statement announcing his re-election campaign. No other candidates for the 2024 Pennsylvania Senate race have been officially announced. During his time in the Senate, Casey has joined Republicans and other Democrats to negotiate bipartisan bills. Casey, who has long held anti-abortion views, had a complicated stance on the government's role in abortion rights.

☆ A judge warned Trump about comments that could 'jeopardize the safety or well-being' of others. 6 hours later, he attacked the judge, the judge's wife, and the judge's daughter.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Donald Trump started attacking the family of the judge presiding over his indictment in New York. Trump called Judge Juan Merchan and his family "Trump-hating" on Tuesday evening. Hours before, the judge warned him not to make remarks that could jeopardize the safety of others. Trump's comments blasting Merchan came six hours after Merchan warned the former president not to make comments likely to "jeopardize the safety or well-being of any individuals." That didn't stop Trump from slamming Merchan and his family hours later.

☆ Republican senators could be stuck in the minority 'for the rest of the decade' if GOP doesn't flip chamber in 2024, campaign chair warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The head of the Senate GOP's campaign arm spoke this week about the stakes of the 2024 Senate races. Sen. Steve Daines said his party could be in the minority for the "rest of the decade" if they don't win in 2024. "We either deliver a majority in '24, or we are in the minority as Republican Senate for the rest of the decade," said Daines. In addition to those states, the GOP has potential pick-up opportunities in swing states like Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Yet despite a general geographical advantage in the Senate, Republicans have struggled to attain a lasting majority.

☆ Jimmy Kimmel mocked Tucker Carlson during Oscars, saying good editing can turn even hours of insurrection footage into 'respectful sightseeing tour of the Capitol'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jimmy Kimmel made fun of Tucker Carlson and Fox News while hosting the Oscars on Sunday. He joked that good editing can even turn footage of a riot into a "sightseeing tour of the Capitol." Carlson appeared to use selectively edited clips to claim cops acted as "tour guides" on Jan. 6, 2021. "Edits can turn 44,000 hours of violent insurrection footage into a respectful sightseeing tour of the Capitol." Fox News and Carlson received bipartisan condemnation for their broadcast of previously unseen Capitol riot footage, with Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell describing it as "offensive and misleading."

☆ Kevin McCarthy struggles to respond when asked 'what have we learned' about the Capitol riots after his release of the Jan. 6 tapes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended releasing Jan. 6 footage to Tucker Carlson. In an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, McCarthy defended his decision to release 41,000 hours of Capitol surveillance footage from the January 6, 2021, riot. "And what have we learned from these tapes that have been on Tucker Carlson Tonight?" That it's not 14,000 hours of tapes, there's 41,000 hours of tapes. McCarthy then swerved to saying more of the protestors during the 2020 George Floyd demonstrations should have faced criminal charges.

☆ Washington, D.C., council pulls crime bill that Senate is poised to block
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Katharine Jackson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - The Democratic-controlled Washington city council on Monday withdrew a bill aimed at overhauling the city's criminal code, which Congress had been set to overturn in a move that President Joe Biden had vowed not to block. "The bill has been pulled back from Congress," council chair Phil Mendelson said at a news conference, adding that he had sent a letter to the U.S. Senate advising that the bill had been withdrawn. Biden said last week he would not veto Congress' move if the Senate approved overturning the city bill. "If the Senate votes to overturn what D.C. Council did, I'll sign it." Congressional oversight of Washington, D.C., is written in to the U.S. Constitution, and the city's 700,000 residents do not have voting representation in Congress.

☆ Job cuts, a sole CEO, and AI bets: How Bridgewater is shaking itself up after the Ray Dalio era
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Rebecca Ungarino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The firm's CEO, Nir Bar Dea, said in a memo that it would lay off employees and restructure. Bar Dea had been a rising star at Bridgewater, which has transitioned leadership in recent years. Former co-CEO Mark Bertolini is also stepping out of the role and returning to Bridgewater's board as an independent director, leaving Bar Dea as sole CEO. "Over time, we expect this platform to produce the next round of growth in the business," Bar Dea wrote. 'Finding a home'As far as high finance executives go, Bar Dea has an unexpected background.

"If the debt limit is not raised or suspended before the extraordinary measures are exhausted, the government would be unable to pay its obligations fully," the CBO report said. "As a result, the government would have to delay making payments for some activities, default on its debt obligations, or both." CBO Director Phillip Swagel attributed the rise to higher interest rates that particularly are hitting the housing industry, coupled with slowing business investment. REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzRepublicans, who control the House of Representatives, want to withhold a debt limit increase until Democrats agree to deep spending cuts. Democrats in turn say the debt limit should not be "held hostage" to Republican tactics over federal spending.

☆ Indiana's Senate race will show the depths of the fault lines within the GOP. Early signs show it's still Trump's party.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Mitch Daniels would have been an ideal GOP Senate candidate. Daniels' decision offers a look at the obstacles that the party continues to face headed in 2024. Mitch Daniels would have been seen by most traditional conservatives as an ideal candidate to run for the Senate. Eric Holcomb is a potential candidate in the 2024 Indiana Republican Senate primary. AP Photo/Manuel Balce CenetaIndiana could drive the GOP Senate roadmapAhead of the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans anticipated making major gains in Congress, which eventually didn't come to pass.

☆ Trump seeks to shift his idling White House campaign back into gear
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Gram Slattery | Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Florence Regional Airport in Florence, South Carolina, U.S., March 12, 2022. Key South Carolina allies U.S. They include two with possible White House ambitions of their own, former Governor Nikki Haley and U.S. But I think it’ll be dominated by DeSantis and Trump for a while,” said Rob Jesmer, a campaign strategist and former executive director of the Republicans’ Senate campaign arm. Among other prominent elected South Carolina Republicans, a spokesperson for U.S. Representative Ralph Norman said he would not attend due to a pre-existing conflict, while representatives of three other House Republicans from South Carolina did not respond.

☆ Elaine Chao, Trump-era transportation secretary and Mitch McConnell's wife, hits back at Trump for giving her the racist nickname 'Coco Chow'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has spoken out against Trump's attacks on her. Trump on Monday again referred to Chao as "Coco Chow" in a Truth Social post. Chao said the racist nickname said more about Trump "than it will ever say about Asian Americans." Chao released her statement after Trump in a Truth Social post on Monday once again referred to her by the nickname "Coco Chow." When approached for comment about Chao, Trump's spokesperson, Steven Cheung, told Politico: "People should stop feigning outrage and engaging in controversies that exist only in their heads."

☆ Who’s Afraid of Mitch Daniels?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The 2024 election is already underway, and voters can be forgiven for tuning out the noise for a while. But one contest worth watching is the Republican Senate primary in Indiana, where ostensible conservatives are trying to head off a bid from Mitch Daniels , the state’s reform Republican Governor from 2005-2013. Sen. Mike Braun is vacating his seat to run for Governor of the Hoosier State, and on Tuesday GOP Rep. Jim Banks announced his Senate candidacy. Mr. Banks, who has run the conservative House Republican Study Committee, is a Navy veteran on the House Armed Services Committee and popular with the self-styled populist right. Eric Holcomb , and Mr. Daniels.

☆ Matt Schlapp slapped with a lawsuit after an allegation of fondling a GOP operative
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Jonathan-Allen-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Jonathan Allen | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

In an interview with NBC News earlier this month, the operative said Schlapp invited him to meet at an Atlanta bar. As the operative drove Schlapp to a hotel near the Atlanta airport at the end of the night, Schlapp put his hand on operative's leg, the operative said. Eventually, the operative said in a video he recorded later that night, Schlapp "grabbed my junk and pummeled it at length." When Schlapp texted to say he was in the lobby ready to be driven, the operative replied with language suggested by campaign officials. I would appreciate it,” Schlapp texted, according to the suit.

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