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☆ Saudi Arabia was right to defy Biden over oil production, minister says, cementing a power play that seems to have paid off
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said at Davos the country was right to cut oil production. Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan made the comment at the Davos economic summit in Switzerland on Wednesday. He addressed the diplomatic spat that erupted with the US last October after the Saudis announced alongside Russia that they would cut oil production. Analysts say that one of the reasons that Biden didn't follow through on threats to retaliate against Saudi Arabia over the cut was that oil prices did not spike, as some had expected. Oil prices overall have been volatile in recent months, driven by events such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's COVID-19 lockdowns.

☆ Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar receive committee assignments after Democrats kicked them off
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — House Republicans have assigned Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., to serve on committees again after Democrats stripped them of that privilege in 2021, according to a member of the GOP Steering Committee, which doles out the appointments. Greene has been assigned to the House Committee on Homeland Security, which Republicans will use to focus on border security and investigate Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Gosar, meanwhile, has been assigned to the House Committee on Natural Resources, where he had served just before his removal, the member said. The Democratic majority chose to pursue a proposal to remove Greene from her committees after House Republican leaders opted not to take action against Greene. As part of the measure, Gosar was censured, which is considered the harshest punishment against a member in the House, after expulsion.

☆ QAnon influencer who accused Democrats of pedophilia was himself convicted of abusing 8-year-old boy in 1999
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A clip shows a QAnon influencer being confronted over a past child-abuse conviction. The clip is from HBO Max documentary "This Place Rules." The belief that elite Hollywood figures and Democrats covertly run child abuse rings is one of the core claims of QAnon, the sprawling online conspiracy theory movement that Todeschini has promoted. "Do you feel like maybe you're projecting by …" said Callaghan, before Todeschini jumps back in to say: "No, I'm not projecting." "This Place Rules" explores the undercurrents that resulted in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, and is being streamed on HBO Max.

☆ Rep. Adam Kinzinger said in final House floor speech that 'limited government' for GOP now means 'inciting violence against government officials'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger spoke on the House floor for the last time after declining re-election. He also criticized Democrats for boosting election-denying candidates in GOP primaries this year. In his farewell speech, Kinzinger declared that "our democracy is not functioning" and said Republicans have "embraced lies and deceit." "Our leaders today belittle, and in some cases justify attacks on the US Capitol as 'legitimate political discourse,'" Kinzinger added. Kinzinger also criticized Democrats for helping to boost election-denying candidates in Republican primaries this year in order to produce weaker general-election nominees, a controversial tactic that some top Democrats publicly defended.

In video broadcast of the event, at least two police officials could be seen similarly spurning McConnell and McCarthy. The decision by multiple attendees to spurn Republican leaders illustrates how emotions are still running high over the 2021 attack on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, who initially declined to call off the rioters. "They're just two-faced," Gladys Sicknick told CNN. Washington's chief medical examiner ruled that Sicknick died of natural causes following multiple strokes after the attack on the Capitol. Asked about the incident on Tuesday, McConnell did not address the ceremony directly.

☆ U.S. Rep. Cicilline runs for spot in Democratic leadership, seeking LGBTQ representation
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - U.S. Representative David Cicilline, a leading voice in Congress for gay rights, on Wednesday mounted a run for a Democratic leadership job, challenging Representative James Clyburn, a civil rights activist. The liberal Cicilline, 61, is seeking the job of assistant Democratic leader in the new Congress that begins on Jan. 3. Representative Hakeem Jeffries earlier on Wednesday was elected Democratic leader, becoming the first Black person to hold a top leadership job in Congress. Clyburn, 82, is currently House majority whip and has served in Democratic leadership for decades, but he agreed to relinquish his spot as a trio of top Democrats resigned from leadership. He is now running for assistant Democratic leader, however.

☆ Biden says Ukraine, COVID are priorities; Senate Democrats push for spending bill
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Top U.S. Democrats said on Tuesday that securing more funding for Ukraine and COVID-19 and passing a full-year spending bill are priorities before Republicans take control of the House of Representatives early next year. Later in the day, top Senate Democrats said passing a full-year spending bill, known as an omnibus, was vital for national security. A commonly floated alternative, known as a continuing resolution, or CR, would effectively freeze spending at current levels. Republicans are split on whether to support an omnibus spending bill or a CR, top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell told reporters. On Ukraine, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, who attended the talks with Biden, gave a taste of what to expect if he takes over as House speaker as he hopes.

☆ Biden Meets Congressional Leaders to Discuss Lame-Duck Plans
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Andrew Restuccia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden met on Tuesday with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (in blue jacket), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. WASHINGTON—Congressional leaders signaled that talks on reaching a long-term agreement to fund the government remained difficult ahead of a mid-December deadline, following a meeting with President Biden at the White House. Top Democrats said they are seeking a full-year deal, dubbed an omnibus, that would allow lawmakers to boost spending and allocate money to new priorities. But they acknowledged they might have to settle for a continuing resolution that would extend funding at current levels, without giving Congress the flexibility to deploy money to areas of new importance.

☆ New York Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman says it's 'gangster' that the top Democrats in Congress could both be from New York City
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. Jamaal Bowman chuckled when asked about New York City's impending moment of power. Pelosi's decision to step down from leadership means the top two Democrats could both hail from New York. House Democrats won't formally elect their new leaders until new elections are held in the coming weeks. Pelosi announced that while she will be stepping down from party leadership, she will remain in Congress. Her announcement set into motion a massive overhaul for the top 3 House Democrats, ushering in a new generation of party leadership.

Jeffries, 52, would be the first Black House Democratic leader, representing both the party's diverse voter base and bringing a new generation of leadership. House Democrats are scheduled to vote on their leaders on Nov. 30. Jeffries, who has held the leadership post of House Democratic Caucus chairman since 2019, also would represent a stylistic contrast to Pelosi, who made her announcement on Thursday. Current House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer, 83, said he would not seek a leadership position in the next Congress and backed Jeffries. Clyburn told reporters ahead of Pelosi's announcement that he intends to remain in the House Democratic leadership regardless of the path she takes.

☆ Rick Scott launches his Trump-backed challenge of Mitch McConnell to become Senate GOP leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Sen. Rick Scott is challenging Mitch McConnell to become the top Senate Republican. Scott's challenge comes as former President Donald Trump and some Senate Republicans blame McConnell for a lackluster midterm election. As Politico broke the news of Scott's challenge, McConnell's allies lashed out. As the leader of Senate Republicans' campaign arm, Scott played a key role in shaping his party's strategy. Unlike McConnell, Scott did not want the GOP to aggressively intervene in contested primaries, which led to Trump-backed challengers like Dr. Mehmet Oz and Don Bolduc emerging in key races in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, respectively.

Share this -Link copiedWisconsin Senate race too close to call Wisconsin's Senate race between GOP Sen. Ron Johnson and Democrat Mandela Barnes is too close to call, NBC News says. Vance wins Ohio Senate race, defeating Democrat Tim Ryan, NBC News projects COLUMBUS, Ohio — J.D. Ohio Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance is leading The Senate race in Ohio is too early to call, NBC News says, but Republican candidate J.D. Share this -Link copiedGeorgia Senate race too close to call Georgia's Senate race is too close to call about three hours after polls closed at 7 p.m.

☆ We just learned the limits of marijuana legalization in the US
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Marijuana legalization was on the ballot in five states and only passed in Maryland and Missouri. Legalization failed in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Arkansas. Deep-red Arkansas, as well as both North Dakota and South Dakota, defeated legalization measures. A recent poll show that most Americans, both Republican and Democrat, support legalization. For its part, South Dakota passed legalization in 2020, but the law was struck down in court after Republican Gov.

Nonpartisan forecasts and polls show Republicans are heavy favorites to win control of the House of Representatives, with the Senate a toss-up. In recent weeks momentum has shifted toward the Republicans, Democratic strategists acknowledge, as voters' concerns about inflation and crime have outweighed those about abortion after the Supreme Court ended the nationwide right to abortion in June. For Democrats, Sunday's rallies in areas traditionally friendly to the party are a last-minute chance to minimize losses on Tuesday. Florida for years swung from party to party, but has recently trended Republican and is not considered a major battleground this election. Trump's frequent rallies maintain his profile as he weighs launching a third run for the White House after the midterms, according to advisers.

Trump, meanwhile, will appear in Miami alongside both the state's U.S. senators and several U.S. representatives. Trump's frequent rallies have served to maintain his own profile as he contemplates launching a third run for the White House after the midterms, according to advisers. Both Trump and Biden appeared in Pennsylvania on Saturday, as did former Democratic President Barack Obama. For Democrats, the Sunday rallies - held in areas that are traditionally friendly to the party - are a last-minute opportunity to minimize losses on Tuesday. In recent weeks, the momentum has shifted toward the Republicans, Democratic strategists acknowledge, as voters' concerns about inflation and crime have proven more durable than concerns about abortion.

☆ Rick Scott claims he doesn't 'know one Republican who wants to change' Social Security after Ron Johnson floated proposals to put the program's spending in flux
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Rick Scott said he doesn't know any Republicans who want to change Social Security or Medicare. They have also suggested raising the age to collect Social Security and raising health insurance premiums for seniors. Democrats have honed in on the line about Social Security spending, using it to campaign against Republicans. On NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday, host Chuck Todd asked Scott about his position on Social Security. Why put Social Security into the political arena every five years?

"Enough is enough is enough," Biden told supporters in Philadelphia. "Democracy is literally, not figuratively, on the ballot this year," said Biden, who warned about the dangers of extremism in an impassioned speech in Philadelphia last month. The speech is part of big push by top Democrats to boost Pennsylvania Democrats in the closing stretch ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm election. "I absolutely do believe that John Fetterman will win this election," Harris told reporters ahead of a speech in Philadelphia. Trump, Biden's 2020 election opponent potential 2024 adversary, is expected to campaign in Pennsylvania next weekend as well.

☆ Nevada in Play for Republicans in Key Midterm Races Over Inflation Issue
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Jim Carlton | Siobhan Hughes | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LAS VEGAS—Nevada Republicans stand in their strongest position in years, as polls show them with a solid chance to win multiple midterm races in a state where high prices on everything from gasoline to rent are driving voters away from Democrats. The state’s top Democrats, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Gov. Steve Sisolak , are essentially tied with their respective GOP challengers, Adam Laxalt and Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo , according to FiveThirtyEight’s poll averages. Multiple recent surveys of the state show the two Republicans with leads in the low single digits, and Ms. Cortez Masto is considered by strategists in both parties to be the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the 50-50 Senate.

☆ House Democratic leadership finally released the text of their bill to ban members of Congress from trading stocks. Here's what's in it.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The text comes after months of back-and-forth between Pelosi and lawmakers, and a vote may come this week. Interest in lawmakers' stock trades rose after Insider's "Conflicted Congress" investigation. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who himself does not trade stocks, said earlier this year that he'd consider barring members of Congress from trading stocks if the GOP wins the House in November. Here's what the bill includes:The bill would ban top officials across all three branches — as well as the spouses and dependent children of members of Congress — from owning or trading stocks, as well as cryptocurrencies. Members of Congress would also be required to file financial disclosures electronically, eliminating a long-standing problem with lawmakers submitting illegible information about their personal finances.

☆ The House may finally vote — next week — on legislation to ban members of Congress from trading stocks
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Bryan Metzger | Dave Levinthal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

House Democrats just teed up a potential vote next week on a congressional stock trading ban. "Across the entire federal government, there have been significant stories regarding financial conflicts of interest in relation to stock trading and ownership," Lofgren wrote. A ban on senior government officials, including members of Congress and their immediate families, from trading cryptocurrencies. The House is voting for just 3 days next week, leaving little time for members to consider the new legislation. Several prominent proponents of a stock trading ban recently told Insider that they'd been largely left out of Democratic leadership's legislative plans.

☆ A 3-way game of geriatric chicken featuring Trump, Biden, and Bernie has younger Democrats and Republicans itching for change
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Darren Samuelsohn | Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The 2024 presidential race is already coming into view. These are arguments Biden is readying to run on as Trump — despite his numerous legal troubles — flirts with another White House bid. It's also the case that Sanders' 2024 aspirations remain in their own holding pattern until Biden makes his own formal declaration of his intentions. It's a fact the White House doesn't want to talk about. "The fact they both made it to the White House makes them think they both know how to get to the White House," said Brinkley.

☆ How the mind of an 80-year-old president is biologically different from a 45-year-old president's
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-13 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

It was 1988, and he'd approached President Ronald Reagan in the Cabinet room at the White House. People scoffed at the glowing hourlong media conference that President Donald Trump's White House doctor gave about his health. Reagan publicly announced he had Alzheimer's disease five years after he left the White House. Francis Shen, who teaches psychiatry at Harvard Medical School's Center for Bioethics, would like to see information about political leaders' cognitive health made public. Cognitive health should be no different, he said, because it also might affect the way presidents and members of Congress make important decisions.

☆ The many faces of Scooter Braun
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-01 | by ( Anna Silman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +44 min

The former Yeezy associate said that West had offered Braun large percentages of Yeezy several times, which Braun always declined.) Singer told Insider that Braun "did not even see the final cut until the day before it came out." In 2012, Braun told The New Yorker that Geffen's advice to him was "Get out of the music business." Singer told Insider that Braun had only seen Jayne "once in his life, at a political event they both attended. And I couldn't fix it and I'm a fixer, and because I couldn't fix things I started to spiral," Braun told Shetty.

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☆ Could Trump mass-pardon his supporters who rioted at the Capitol? Constitutional-law experts weigh in.
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-11 | by ( Dave Levinthal | Kayla Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

The January 6th attack by a mob of his supporters on the Capitol raises the question of whether Trump could pardon them. Trump has the power to broadly pardon the rioters for federal crimes, even before they are charged, experts told Insider. He has repeatedly wielded them to help his political allies who have been charged or convicted of federal crimes. Trump supporters inside the Capitol after shattering doors and windows to get in. That's where Pelosi went with a question about Trump's pardon powers during a 60 Minutes interview broadcast on Sunday.

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