National Politics

The deadly January 6 insurrection in the Capitol may have caused many voters to recoil at former President Donald Trump’s election lies. But on Capitol Hill, it’s a different story. In interviews with more than two dozen House and Senate Republicans this week, a wide variety of GOP lawmakers refused to debunk Trump’s lie that

A little known but powerful Senate official has ruled against including the increase in the minimum wage in the Covid relief bill, sources tell CNN. Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough made her ruling Thursday evening, after being thrust into the spotlight this week as Democrats were eager to see whether an increase to the federal minimum

House Democrats have included a minimum wage hike in their latest Covid relief bill, although a ruling from the Senate parliamentarian means it can’t be included in the final package. Improving worker pay is unrelated to pandemic relief in that raising the minimum wage has long been a Democratic priority. It is completely related in

As Democrats begin their march toward reinstating earmarks, Republicans are grappling with how their party will handle bringing back directed congressional spending. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested in a Fox News interview Thursday evening that Republicans won’t be asking for earmarks, which would have huge implications for spending legislation going forward and give Democrats

Opponents of affirmative action asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to use their case against Harvard to overrule precedent that has long allowed consideration of race in admissions and particularly enhanced opportunities for Black and Hispanic students. The challengers claim that as Harvard College favors certain minority students, it unlawfully discriminates against Asian Americans by

Acting US Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman warned Thursday that militia groups involved in the January 6 insurrection want to “blow up the Capitol” and “kill as many members as possible” when President Joe Biden addresses Congress. Pressed by House lawmakers to provide a timeline for removing the razorwire fencing and other enhanced security measures

President Joe Biden spoke with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on Thursday ahead of the release of a long-awaited US intelligence report on the killing of Saudi insider turned dissident Jamal Khashoggi. The congressionally mandated release of the report, which is expected to further implicate Saudi Arabia’s powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in

An Iowa bill aimed at limiting voting and making it harder for voters to return absentee ballots is headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk this week after passing both Republican-controlled chambers of the state legislature. The bill, introduced by a Republican state senator, specifically would reduce the number of early voting days from 29 days

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is denying allegations from a former aide who accused him of sexual harassment, including an unwanted kiss, in a Medium post on Wednesday. Lindsey Boylan alleged that in 2018, the Democratic governor kissed her on the lips following a one-on-one briefing in his New York City office. “As I got

Arizona lawmakers are debating a new set of voting bills — including one that would allow lawmakers to review election results “if needed” and would grant the legislature the power to pick the state’s presidential electors — as Republican lawmakers around the country work to change election laws in the wake of the 2020 election.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will launch a diversity initiative to make the US’ oldest Cabinet agency look more like America itself, an effort he is framing as a national security imperative to make the country’s diplomacy “stronger, smarter, more creative and more innovative.” Blinken announced Wednesday that he will appoint a chief diversity and

Florida Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy is seriously considering a run against Republican Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022, launching a listening tour on issues including the pandemic, “managing misinformation,” fighting climate change and for social justice. Murphy, co-chair of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition of House Democrats, hopes that by emphasizing a bipartisan background she can

The Senate on Thursday confirmed President Joe Biden’s nominee for energy secretary, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The final vote was 64-35. Granholm has long taken a deep interest in energy issues and was considered to be a top candidate for Energy secretary if Hillary Clinton had won in 2016. Granholm served two terms as

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons on Thursday argued that representation on the independent commission to investigate the January 6 riot at the US Capitol should be evenly split among Democrats and Republicans, breaking with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has proposed a Democratic tilt in its makeup. “I think it’s important that we have a balanced