This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareDemocrats and Republicans dug in in partisan corners Wednesday as they embraced competing versions of legislation to rein in police brutality in a day filled with emotional debate over race and policing.Both bills seek to respond to the public clamor for sweeping action, but the parties remain far apart on whether Washington should mandate local police practices. The Democratic bill would ban chokeholds and certain no-knock warrants. The Republican bill does not prohibit those practices, but rather encourages local police...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareDemocrats and Republicans dug in in partisan corners Wednesday as they embraced competing versions of legislation to rein in police brutality in a day filled with emotional debate over race and policing.Both bills seek to respond to the public clamor for sweeping action, but the parties remain far apart on whether Washington should mandate local police practices. The Democratic bill would ban chokeholds and certain no-knock warrants. The Republican bill does not prohibit those practices, but rather encourages local police...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAfter three years of dodging White House scandals in their political campaigns, Democrats have shifted their focus to confront President Trump head-on over his handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic.Democratic super PACs and other liberal groups, following a brief political pause in the first weeks of the health crisis and economic free fall, have emerged with a strategy of directly confronting Trump on the biggest issue of the moment.Priorities USA, a super PAC focused on the 2020 presidential race, has already...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAfter three years of dodging White House scandals in their political campaigns, Democrats have shifted their focus to confront President Trump head-on over his handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic.Democratic super PACs and other liberal groups, following a brief political pause in the first weeks of the health crisis and economic free fall, have emerged with a strategy of directly confronting Trump on the biggest issue of the moment.Priorities USA, a super PAC focused on the 2020 presidential race, has already...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAware of his extensive travel and compromised health, Sen. Rand Paul quietly got himself tested for the novel coronavirus on March 16.But for the six days that his results were pending, the Kentucky Republican took no steps to self-quarantine — continuing to cast votes on the Senate floor, delivering a speech lambasting a coronavirus aid bill, and meeting with other GOP senators in strategy sessions that defied federal advisories warning against gatherings of more than 10 people.Paul even squeezed in a round of golf at a...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAware of his extensive travel and compromised health, Sen. Rand Paul quietly got himself tested for the novel coronavirus on March 16.But for the six days that his results were pending, the Kentucky Republican took no steps to self-quarantine — continuing to cast votes on the Senate floor, delivering a speech lambasting a coronavirus aid bill, and meeting with other GOP senators in strategy sessions that defied federal advisories warning against gatherings of more than 10 people.Paul even squeezed in a round of golf at a...WW…

This article was published more than 3 years agoCommentGift ShareEarly optimism Friday gave way to deep doubt about an economic relief package to help reassure an economy rattled by the novel coronavirus, when President Trump undermined the legislation, as he likes to do, with a tweet.By midafternoon, Trump dismissed Democrats for not “giving enough” in negotiations.One of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s top advisers instantly responded on Twitter. “#10 at 4:05 p,” , Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff.Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, at the exact moment Trump was...…This article was published more than 3 years agoCommentGift ShareEarly optimism Friday gave way to deep doubt about an economic relief package to help reassure an economy rattled by the novel coronavirus, when President Trump undermined the legislation, as he likes to do, with a tweet.By midafternoon, Trump dismissed Democrats for not “giving enough” in negotiations.One of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s top advisers instantly responded on Twitter. “#10 at 4:05 p,” , Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff.Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, at the exact moment Trump was...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe top House Republican leader moved Wednesday to keep his splintering party intact — declining to take concrete action against a freshman lawmaker whose extremist rhetoric prompted widespread outrage, while also moving to protect a senior party leader who faced calls for her ouster after backing Donald Trump’s impeachment.The moves from Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) reflected the through the post-Trump political landscape as it seeks to regain power in Washington.On one hand, the party needs to regain its...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe top House Republican leader moved Wednesday to keep his splintering party intact — declining to take concrete action against a freshman lawmaker whose extremist rhetoric prompted widespread outrage, while also moving to protect a senior party leader who faced calls for her ouster after backing Donald Trump’s impeachment.The moves from Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) reflected the through the post-Trump political landscape as it seeks to regain power in Washington.On one hand, the party needs to regain its...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe growing crowds outside the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon sounded menacing but at bay as senators began to debate challenges to the electoral college vote. A top adviser to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stepped out of the ornate chamber for a short break.Alone in the Capitol’s marble halls, just outside the chamber’s bronze doors, it was suddenly apparent that the citadel of U.S. democracy was falling to the mob incited by President Trump.A cacophony of screaming, shouting and banging echoed from the floor below....…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe growing crowds outside the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon sounded menacing but at bay as senators began to debate challenges to the electoral college vote. A top adviser to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stepped out of the ornate chamber for a short break.Alone in the Capitol’s marble halls, just outside the chamber’s bronze doors, it was suddenly apparent that the citadel of U.S. democracy was falling to the mob incited by President Trump.A cacophony of screaming, shouting and banging echoed from the floor below....WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareIf Democrats win both of Tuesday’s , the Senate would be evenly split, 50-50, between the two major parties.How would the Senate work if that happened?U.S. history provides some answers — though not many. That’s because even splits in the Senate have been rare. And because the Senate has changed drastically since the last time it happened, in 2001.Only three.In 1881, the Senate remained evenly divided for much of its two-year session. In 1954, it happened again — because of a senator’s death — but the even split lasted...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareIf Democrats win both of Tuesday’s , the Senate would be evenly split, 50-50, between the two major parties.How would the Senate work if that happened?U.S. history provides some answers — though not many. That’s because even splits in the Senate have been rare. And because the Senate has changed drastically since the last time it happened, in 2001.Only three.In 1881, the Senate remained evenly divided for much of its two-year session. In 1954, it happened again — because of a senator’s death — but the even split lasted...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareJust 27 congressional Republicans acknowledge Joe Biden’s win over President Trump a month after the former vice president’s clear victory of more than 7 million votes nationally and a convincing electoral-vote margin that exactly matched Trump’s 2016 tally.Two Republicans consider Trump the winner despite all evidence showing otherwise. And another 220 GOP members of the House and Senate — about 88 percent of all Republicans serving in Congress — will simply not say who won the election.Those are the findings of a...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareJust 27 congressional Republicans acknowledge Joe Biden’s win over President Trump a month after the former vice president’s clear victory of more than 7 million votes nationally and a convincing electoral-vote margin that exactly matched Trump’s 2016 tally.Two Republicans consider Trump the winner despite all evidence showing otherwise. And another 220 GOP members of the House and Senate — about 88 percent of all Republicans serving in Congress — will simply not say who won the election.Those are the findings of a...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareFear over losing the Senate majority by falling short in the upcoming runoff elections for two U.S. Senate seats in Georgia has become a driving and democracy-testing force inside the GOP, with party leaders on Tuesday seeking to delegitimize President-elect Joe Biden’s victory as they labored to rally voters in the state.Those intertwined efforts threaten to disrupt Biden’s hopes of establishing a smooth transition as Republicans in Washington and Georgia, worried about dispiriting the president’s core supporters,...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareFear over losing the Senate majority by falling short in the upcoming runoff elections for two U.S. Senate seats in Georgia has become a driving and democracy-testing force inside the GOP, with party leaders on Tuesday seeking to delegitimize President-elect Joe Biden’s victory as they labored to rally voters in the state.Those intertwined efforts threaten to disrupt Biden’s hopes of establishing a smooth transition as Republicans in Washington and Georgia, worried about dispiriting the president’s core supporters,...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateWASHINGTON - Senior Democrats have a warning for Republicans supporting President Donald Trump's blockade of the House's attempts to review and monitor the federal response to the coronavirus crisis: Reap what you sow.For several weeks, the Trump White House has denied requests for senior administration officials to appear at hearings run by House Democrats to discuss the pandemic, while allowing some of those same Cabinet secretaries and agency chiefs to appear on the other side of the Capitol.This has left Senate committees, run...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateWASHINGTON - Senior Democrats have a warning for Republicans supporting President Donald Trump's blockade of the House's attempts to review and monitor the federal response to the coronavirus crisis: Reap what you sow.For several weeks, the Trump White House has denied requests for senior administration officials to appear at hearings run by House Democrats to discuss the pandemic, while allowing some of those same Cabinet secretaries and agency chiefs to appear on the other side of the Capitol.This has left Senate committees, run...WW…