Biden administration

Senator James Lankford talks to reporters

Border talks stuck as Senate nears vote on package for Israel, Ukraine aid

BY: - December 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — The success of the U.S. Senate in passing a $106 billion global security supplemental aid package hinges on a bipartisan agreement about U.S. border security, but any deal was at an impasse Tuesday. “There will not be a national security bill unless and until there is serious and significant changes in security at […]

a close-up of Senator Tommy Tuberville

Tuberville relents on months-long blockade of most military nominees, blaming Democrats

BY: - December 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — After blocking hundreds of U.S. military promotions for most of 2023 in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said Tuesday he will lift his holds on all of them except for a handful of four-star general nominees. The senator, who sits on the Senate Committee on Armed Forces, […]

Air Force personnel load munitions for a guided multiple launch rocket system onto a Boeing 767

White House points to defense spending in states in new plea for Ukraine aid

BY: - December 4, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is warning Congress that without more funding for Ukraine, the United States will no longer be able to provide that country with military assistance — and emphasizing the multiple states from Arkansas to Michigan to Pennsylvania where businesses already have benefited from earlier aid. Cutting off U.S. funding would not […]

A Texas National Guardsman observes as Border Patrol agents pat down migrants who have surrendered

Congress is haggling over border security: Where does it stand?

BY: - December 4, 2023

WASHINGTON — As Congress negotiates the White House’s $106 billion supplemental aid request for Israel, Ukraine and U.S. border security, fights over immigration policy have tied up the request. The White House sent its proposal that includes nearly $14 billion in supplemental border security funding to Congress in late October, but it will likely look […]

an image of a doctor holding a stethoscope up to globe

Ahead of climate conference, U.S. House panel tussles over curbs on emissions

BY: - November 30, 2023

Republicans on a U.S. House panel argued Wednesday against aggressive moves to meet carbon reduction goals, saying U.S. fossil fuel companies are working to make their products cleaner. Democrats on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Minerals countered that to achieve further reductions, federal policies should be continued […]

Martin O'Malley smiles while speaking at a microphone

U.S. Senate panel advances former Maryland governor’s nomination to lead Social Security

BY: - November 28, 2023

WASHINGTON — Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley moved one step closer Tuesday to becoming the next Social Security commissioner, a role that would become increasingly difficult as the program inches closer to insolvency during the next decade. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee voted 17-10 to send O’Malley’s nomination to the floor, though it’s not clear […]

Speaker Mike Johnson

How U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson helped derail a fight against election lies

BY: - November 23, 2023

Back in July, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. A federal court had recently granted a temporary injunction, in Missouri v. Biden, finding that the Biden administration had violated the First Amendment by coercing social media companies to remove content, related both to elections and the COVID-19 vaccine, that […]

COMMENTARY
a new car at the Detroit auto show

Three important truths about the U.S. economy

BY: - November 21, 2023

It’s not surprising that the political right continues to gripe about the U.S economy and, in particular, inflation. In a nation that’s overcome a devastating pandemic, charted a course to a dramatic and sustained economic recovery, rebuilt its international reputation as an opponent of tyranny, and returned competence and honesty to the federal government, critics […]

Student debt relief activists rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court

Attempt to kill Biden student debt relief plan tied to income fails in U.S. Senate

BY: - November 16, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday night failed to garner enough votes to block a new Biden administration rule on an income-driven repayment plan for federal student loans. The resolution did not pass, 49-50. Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia was the sole Democrat who joined Republicans in backing the resolution. Sen. Tim […]

Sara Hill at her Senate hearing

U.S. Senate Republicans question Oklahoma judicial nominee on tribal sovereignty

BY: - November 16, 2023

Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee grilled former Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill on tribal sovereignty issues at a hearing Wednesday for Hill, nominated to serve as a U.S. district court judge in Oklahoma. Hill, who would be the first Native American woman to be a federal judge in the state, said she […]

lawmakers seatd at a table discuss gun violence

‘Nationwide gun emergency’ discussed by U.S. House Democrats at roundtable meeting

BY: - November 14, 2023

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats held a Monday roundtable forum on changing U.S. gun laws following a recent mass shooting in Maine, where 18 people were killed. The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, invited witnesses to discuss gun violence solutions, and said that the gun industry lobby, the National Rifle […]