Leaked audio of Iran's foreign minister claiming that John Kerry acknowledged secret Israeli airstrikes has Republican hawks up in arms.John Kerry tweeted Monday night: “I can tell you that this story and these allegations are unequivocally false." | Alex Wong/Getty ImagesRepublicans on Monday called on John Kerry to resign from President Joe Biden’s National Security Council over claims that he revealed sensitive information about Israeli military operations to Iran.According to leaked audio revealed Sunday by The New York Times, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Kerry told him that...…Leaked audio of Iran's foreign minister claiming that John Kerry acknowledged secret Israeli airstrikes has Republican hawks up in arms.John Kerry tweeted Monday night: “I can tell you that this story and these allegations are unequivocally false." | Alex Wong/Getty ImagesRepublicans on Monday called on John Kerry to resign from President Joe Biden’s National Security Council over claims that he revealed sensitive information about Israeli military operations to Iran.According to leaked audio revealed Sunday by The New York Times, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Kerry told him that...WW…

After a Trump era that emboldened its left flank, the party’s legislative agenda is gliding down from loftiness to pragmatism.Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal argued that the issue of D.C. statehood is hardly “extraneous” to the Democratic Party's goals. | Susan Walsh/AP PhotoSen. Angus King is still undecided on whether to support D.C. statehood, an important goal for many of the Democrats he aligns with. And the independent Mainer is in no rush.“I’m still kind of pondering it,” King said on Wednesday. “There are just other issues I’m engaged in at this...…After a Trump era that emboldened its left flank, the party’s legislative agenda is gliding down from loftiness to pragmatism.Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal argued that the issue of D.C. statehood is hardly “extraneous” to the Democratic Party's goals. | Susan Walsh/AP PhotoSen. Angus King is still undecided on whether to support D.C. statehood, an important goal for many of the Democrats he aligns with. And the independent Mainer is in no rush.“I’m still kind of pondering it,” King said on Wednesday. “There are just other issues I’m engaged in at this...WW…

Passing it would go a long way toward defusing partisan tensions over the filibuster that have simmered since President Joe Biden took office.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that the chamber would take up the bill this week and that two bipartisan amendments would be added. | Jose Luis Magana/AP PhotoSenators are closing in on an agreement to pass legislation to stem the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, according to multiple aides in both parties.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that the chamber would take up the bill this week and that...…Passing it would go a long way toward defusing partisan tensions over the filibuster that have simmered since President Joe Biden took office.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that the chamber would take up the bill this week and that two bipartisan amendments would be added. | Jose Luis Magana/AP PhotoSenators are closing in on an agreement to pass legislation to stem the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, according to multiple aides in both parties.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that the chamber would take up the bill this week and that...WW…

Neither Democratic lawmakers nor President Joe Biden is putting overt retirement pressure on the Supreme Court justice — yet, anyway.Even as some liberal groups boot up a “Breyer Retire” campaign, the Democratic Party is sensitive to the justice’s predicament. | Steven Senn/AP PhotoDemocrats are grappling with judicial déja vu: an aging liberal Supreme Court justice, a paper-thin Senate majority and activist pressure to swing the bench leftward.Justice Stephen Breyer is 82 and Democrats are a single Senate seat away from ceding control back to Republicans. It’s a familiar and uncomfortable...…Neither Democratic lawmakers nor President Joe Biden is putting overt retirement pressure on the Supreme Court justice — yet, anyway.Even as some liberal groups boot up a “Breyer Retire” campaign, the Democratic Party is sensitive to the justice’s predicament. | Steven Senn/AP PhotoDemocrats are grappling with judicial déja vu: an aging liberal Supreme Court justice, a paper-thin Senate majority and activist pressure to swing the bench leftward.Justice Stephen Breyer is 82 and Democrats are a single Senate seat away from ceding control back to Republicans. It’s a familiar and uncomfortable...WW…

No final decision has been made, but some Republicans see it as an overreach and others think it's just a messaging bill.Volunteers of Main Street Patrol connect their walkie-talkie apps before walking up and down the streets of Flushing on April 4 in New York. From coast-to-coast, Asian American groups were already doing more than digital activism, including patrolling, escorting, and chaperoning in Asian communities. | Brittainy Newman/AP PhotoSenate Republicans are weighing whether to mount the first official filibuster of the new Congress — a move that would re-ignite debate over...…No final decision has been made, but some Republicans see it as an overreach and others think it's just a messaging bill.Volunteers of Main Street Patrol connect their walkie-talkie apps before walking up and down the streets of Flushing on April 4 in New York. From coast-to-coast, Asian American groups were already doing more than digital activism, including patrolling, escorting, and chaperoning in Asian communities. | Brittainy Newman/AP PhotoSenate Republicans are weighing whether to mount the first official filibuster of the new Congress — a move that would re-ignite debate over...WW…

The president says he wants to work with Republicans but has found it's much easier to sidestep them.President Joe Biden delivers a speech on infrastructure spending March 31 at Carpenters Pittsburgh Training Center in Pittsburgh. | Evan Vucci/AP PhotoJoe Biden’s campaign promise to work with the GOP is crashing into his political reality: It’s easier to just go around the Republican Party and pass his agenda with Democratic votes.As Biden presses a fresh multitrillion-dollar proposal to spend new tax revenue on manufacturing, infrastructure and health care, the president and his party are...…The president says he wants to work with Republicans but has found it's much easier to sidestep them.President Joe Biden delivers a speech on infrastructure spending March 31 at Carpenters Pittsburgh Training Center in Pittsburgh. | Evan Vucci/AP PhotoJoe Biden’s campaign promise to work with the GOP is crashing into his political reality: It’s easier to just go around the Republican Party and pass his agenda with Democratic votes.As Biden presses a fresh multitrillion-dollar proposal to spend new tax revenue on manufacturing, infrastructure and health care, the president and his party are...WW…

The broadside from the Senate minority leader is just the latest sign of a fraying alliance between big companies and the Republican Party.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell listens as the Senate Rules Committee holds a hearing. | AP Photo/J. Scott ApplewhiteMitch McConnell is putting Big Business on notice: There will be “serious consequences” if corporate America continues acting like “a woke parallel government.”The broadside from the Senate minority leader, who has aligned himself with the business community for decades, is just the latest sign of a fraying alliance between big...…The broadside from the Senate minority leader is just the latest sign of a fraying alliance between big companies and the Republican Party.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell listens as the Senate Rules Committee holds a hearing. | AP Photo/J. Scott ApplewhiteMitch McConnell is putting Big Business on notice: There will be “serious consequences” if corporate America continues acting like “a woke parallel government.”The broadside from the Senate minority leader, who has aligned himself with the business community for decades, is just the latest sign of a fraying alliance between big...WW…

The Vermont Independent wants to force Medicare negotiations with drug companies and use that revenue to pay for a broader program.Sen. Bernie Sanders, chair of the Budget Committee, arrives to a committee hearing. | Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty ImagesBernie Sanders wants to make sweeping changes to Medicare and prescription drug policy — and evade the filibuster to do it.The Vermont Independent is urging Democrats to force Medicare to enter into negotiations with drug companies and use that revenue to pay for a huge expansion of the entitlement program. Sanders, who chairs the Senate Budget...…The Vermont Independent wants to force Medicare negotiations with drug companies and use that revenue to pay for a broader program.Sen. Bernie Sanders, chair of the Budget Committee, arrives to a committee hearing. | Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty ImagesBernie Sanders wants to make sweeping changes to Medicare and prescription drug policy — and evade the filibuster to do it.The Vermont Independent is urging Democrats to force Medicare to enter into negotiations with drug companies and use that revenue to pay for a huge expansion of the entitlement program. Sanders, who chairs the Senate Budget...WW…

The White House is exploring the idea of dispatching lawmakers in the party, including Bernie Sanders, across the country to keep support high for the $1.9 trillion measure.President Joe Biden is working to avoid losing the PR battle over the stimulus package. | AP Photo/Patrick SemanskyThe White House is turning to top Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill to hit the trail and help sell President Biden’s recently-passed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.The administration has had preliminary conversations with Democrats they think would prove effective on the stump as Biden launches...…The White House is exploring the idea of dispatching lawmakers in the party, including Bernie Sanders, across the country to keep support high for the $1.9 trillion measure.President Joe Biden is working to avoid losing the PR battle over the stimulus package. | AP Photo/Patrick SemanskyThe White House is turning to top Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill to hit the trail and help sell President Biden’s recently-passed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.The administration has had preliminary conversations with Democrats they think would prove effective on the stump as Biden launches...WW…

Senate leaders seem to have found a path forward to avoid a debt cliff without Republican votes.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesMitch McConnell believes he’s convinced a skeptical Senate Republican Conference to allow Democrats to more easily raise the debt ceiling, a critical development as the country faces a mid-December debt cliff.The Senate minority leader spent Tuesday selling his members on a convoluted strategy that would require at least 10 Republicans to approve legislation that would later allow Senate Democrats to raise...…Senate leaders seem to have found a path forward to avoid a debt cliff without Republican votes.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks to reporters. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesMitch McConnell believes he’s convinced a skeptical Senate Republican Conference to allow Democrats to more easily raise the debt ceiling, a critical development as the country faces a mid-December debt cliff.The Senate minority leader spent Tuesday selling his members on a convoluted strategy that would require at least 10 Republicans to approve legislation that would later allow Senate Democrats to raise...WW…