Unemployment benefits will begin to lapse for millions of American In less than a month, putting the pressure squarely on Congress — and Democratic leaders — to usher through a $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill. The next four weeks will test Democratic unity and require the party’s progressives and moderates to put aside clear philosophical
Continue ReadingNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg opened the door Monday to the alliance keeping forces in Afghanistan beyond the May deadline when the US had promised to remove its remaining 2,500 troops from the country. “While no ally wants to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary, we will not leave before the time is right,” Stoltenberg
Continue ReadingHere is a look at the life of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky. Personal Birth date: February 20, 1942 Birth place: Colbert County, Alabama Birth name: Addison Mitchell McConnell Jr. Father: Addison Mitchell McConnell Mother: Julia (Shockley) McConnell Marriages: Elaine Chao (1993-present); Sherrill Redmon (1968-1980, divorced) Children: with Sherrill Redmon: Porter;
Continue ReadingHere’s a look at the process of impeachment, a misconduct charge that leads to a trial to determine whether a public official is guilty of abuse of power or other offenses. A conviction leads to removal from office. Process in the United States Article I of the Constitution gives the House of Representatives the “sole
Continue ReadingUninsured Americans who want to buy Affordable Care Act coverage have another three months to do so, thanks to an executive order President Joe Biden signed last month. The federal Obamacare exchange, healthcare.gov, reopened Monday for a special enrollment period that runs until May 15. Most states that operate their own marketplaces are also doing
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At first, his colleagues thought he made a mistake. Rep. Tom Rice, a South Carolina Republican, voted to impeach former President Donald Trump on January 13, a week after objecting to his defeat, the only member of Congress to do so. Before he walked out of the Capitol, his phone rang, according to Rice. On
Continue Reading Former Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Sunday he has been in touch with the Biden administration when asked about recent reporting that the administration is considering him for an ambassadorship, but said there have been “no specific talks.” “All I’ve said is I would have an interest in making sure that President (Joe) Biden’s
Continue Reading Former Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Sunday he has been in touch with the Biden administration when asked about recent reporting that the administration is considering him for an ambassadorship, but said there have been “no specific talks.” “All I’ve said is I would have an interest in making sure that President (Joe) Biden’s
Continue ReadingPresident Joe Biden will participate in a virtual G7 event on Friday where he plans to discuss efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and rebuild the world economy. It’s his first meeting with leaders from the Group of Seven nations as president and represents a departure from former President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic
Continue ReadingPresident Joe Biden on Sunday called on Congress to institute “common-sense gun law reforms,” including widespread firearm sales background checks and a ban on assault weapons — highlighting an “epidemic of gun violence” in the US on the third anniversary of the deadly Parkland school shooting. “Today, I am calling on Congress to enact common-sense
Continue ReadingLawyers inside the Washington, DC, attorney general’s office are investigating whether former President Donald Trump’s alleged role in the insurrection at the US Capitol violated district law. The debate is taking place one month after Attorney General Karl Racine first floated the idea of charging Trump. A spokesperson for the attorney general’s office pointed to
Continue Reading The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday emphasized the need for masking and other mitigation measures in order to reopen schools safely, saying “we have work to do” as teachers, students and parents continue to struggle with Covid-19’s impact on education. “We have work to do, especially when the
Continue ReadingRepublican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday that he spoke to former President Donald Trump after his acquittal in his second impeachment trial and that Trump is “excited” about the midterms in 2022. “I spoke to him last night; he was grateful to his lawyers. He appreciated the help that all of us provided. You know,
Continue Reading Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy on Sunday stood by his vote to convict Donald Trump during the former President’s second impeachment trial, defending his decision against a censure from his state’s GOP and arguing that Trump’s power within the larger party will weaken. “I think his force wanes. The Republican Party is more than just one
Continue ReadingThe Biden administration is just weeks away from having to make a decision whether to end the nearly 20-year military deployment in Afghanistan that has claimed nearly 2,400 American lives, as experts and US officials told CNN there are no good options available and the best hope is to avert “catastrophe.” With the May deadline
Continue ReadingDel. Stacey Plaskett on Sunday defended the Democratic House managers’ decision not to call witnesses in former President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial, saying a day after Trump’s acquittal that they “needed more senators with spines” in order to convict him. “I know that people are feeling a lot of angst and believe that maybe
Continue Reading Maryland GOP Gov. Larry Hogan on Sunday praised Senate Republicans who broke with the party ranks and voted against former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, saying if he were a senator, he would have done the same. “I’m proud of them because sometimes it’s not — it’s not easy to go against
Continue Reading President Joe Biden weighed in late Saturday night on former President Donald Trump’s acquittal in his second impeachment trial, saying that democracy is “fragile” and “must always be defended.” “This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant. That
Continue Reading The Louisiana Republican Party swiftly moved Saturday to censure GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy after he voted earlier in the day to convict former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. “The Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Louisiana has unanimously voted to censure Senator Bill Cassidy for his vote cast earlier today to
Continue Reading Former President Donald Trump’s impeachment defense was dishonest from start to finish. Prior to Trump’s Senate acquittal on Saturday on a charge that he incited the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, Trump lawyer Michael van der Veen delivered a closing argument that was replete with false and misleading claims. This followed a Friday session
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