Tag Archives: Politics

Speaker Johnson keeps the House away as he fights to end the government shutdown

Speaker Johnson keeps the House away as he fights to end the government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — House members’ absence during the government shutdown is creating a political dilemma for Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and is testing his leadership. The Louisiana congressman sent members home three weeks ago, and they haven’t been back in working session since. In the intervening weeks, the government has shut down. President Donald Trump threatened a mass firing of federal workers. And Democrat Adelita Grijalva won a special congressional election in Arizona but has not been sworn in. Johnson says the House already did its job, passing a bill to fund the government. Johnson blames Democrats in the Senate, which is also controlled by Republicans. Democrats want health care funds for insurance subsidies that are set to expire.… Continue Reading

North Carolina state House member charged with sex crimes

North Carolina state House member charged with sex crimes

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina state House member has been charged with sex-related crimes involving a teenager. Court records show six-term Democratic Rep. Cecil Brockman was arrested Wednesday on charges of statutory sexual offense and taking indecent liberties with a child. The alleged crimes involve a 15-year-old. Brockman was jailed without bond. The North Carolina Democratic Party and top state House leaders have called on Brockman to resign immediately. An assistant for Brockman said the legislator didn’t have a comment Thursday morning. A voice message left on a phone number connected to Brockman wasn’t immediately returned. Electronic court records provided no information on an attorney.… Continue Reading

Israel and Hamas agree to part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, will free hostages and prisoners

Israel and Hamas agree to part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, will free hostages and prisoners

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first Phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote Wednesday. “All Parties will be treated fairly!” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Negotiators have been meeting in Egypt for days to hash out a Trump-backed peace plan that he hopes will ultimately result in a permanent end to the two-year war.… Continue Reading

Federal government shutdown grinds into a second week, but quiet talks emerging

Federal government shutdown grinds into a second week, but quiet talks emerging

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight. No negotiations, at least publicly, are underway. But signs of political discomfort, and quiet talks, are emerging. The Republicans who have majority control in Congress believe they have the upper hand politically, as they fend off Democratic demands to quickly fund health insurance subsidies as part of any plan to end the shutdown. But Democrats are also dug in, convinced that Americans are on their side in the fight to prevent the looming health care price spikes. Meanwhile, certain lawmakers are discussing what it would take to reopen the government, starting with addressing the health care problem.… Continue Reading

Comey pleads not guilty to Trump Justice Department case accusing him of lying to Congress

Comey pleads not guilty to Trump Justice Department case accusing him of lying to Congress

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Former FBI Director James Comey has pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress five years ago. Comey is set to make his first court appearance Wednesday in a Justice Department criminal case accusing him of lying to Congress five years ago. The Comey case has amplified concerns President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of the Republican president’s political enemies. Comey is expected to plead not guilty. That will kick-start a process of legal wrangling in which defense lawyers will almost certainly move to get the indictment dismissed before trial, possibly by arguing the case amounts to a selective or vindictive prosecution.… Continue Reading

At the center of shutdown fight, health care is one of the most intractable issues in Congress

At the center of shutdown fight, health care is one of the most intractable issues in Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats believe health care is an issue that resonates with a majority of Americans as they demand an extension of subsidies in exchange for their votes to reopen the shuttered U.S. government. But it is also one of the most intractable issues in Congress and a real compromise is not likely to be easy. There are some Republicans in Congress who want to extend the higher subsidies, which were first put in place in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. But many GOP lawmakers are firmly opposed to any extension. The government shutdown is in its seventh day and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are going unpaid.… Continue Reading

Speaker Johnson says it’s up to Democrats to ‘stop the madness’ on shutdown’s sixth day

Speaker Johnson says it’s up to Democrats to ‘stop the madness’ on shutdown’s sixth day

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are showing few signs of meaningful negotiations to break an impasse on reopening the federal government as the shutdown drags through its sixth day. Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday “there’s nothing for us to negotiate,” while Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says the “time is now” to work out a deal on health care. Meanwhile, the White House clarified President Donald Trump’s remarks Sunday about the firing of federal workers. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was talking about the furloughs happening across the federal government.… Continue Reading

Trump plans aid package for US soybean farmers while seeking trade deal with China

Trump plans aid package for US soybean farmers while seeking trade deal with China

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is making plans for a significant aid package for U.S. soybean farmers. The move aims to help them survive China’s boycott of American beans, which was sparked by Trump’s trade war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says substantial support for farmers is expected to be announced Tuesday. The aid comes amid a tariff war between the U.S. and China, where China has stopped buying U.S. soybeans. Trump plans to discuss soybeans with Chinese President Xi Jinping in four weeks. Farmers are struggling as China orders soybeans from Brazil and Argentina. They prefer trade over aid, hoping for a deal soon.… Continue Reading

Trump plans to federalize 300 troops in Illinois, as judge blocks a similar mobilization in Oregon

Trump plans to federalize 300 troops in Illinois, as judge blocks a similar mobilization in Oregon

President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of 300 Illinois National Guard troops to protect federal officers and assets in Chicago. It is the latest escalation of his use of federal intervention in cities. But the same day, a similar mobilization of 200 guard troops in Oregon was temporarily blocked after a federal judge found the president was likely overstepping his legal authority in responding to relatively small protests in Portland. The president has called the deployments in cities necessary and attacked Democrats on crime and immigration. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek says the deployment is an abuse of power. And Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker calls the administration’s demands un-American.… Continue Reading

North Carolina governor signs criminal justice bill into law after Ukrainian refugee’s death

North Carolina governor signs criminal justice bill into law after Ukrainian refugee’s death

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Democratic governor has signed into law a criminal justice measure pushed by the Republican-controlled legislature in response to the stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte train. While Gov. Josh Stein criticized portions of the bill on Friday, his signature still affirms in law reforms sought by GOP politicians and their allies. The bill had received bipartisan support in the state House. The new law bars cashless bail for certain violent crimes and limits magistrates’ discretion in pretrial release decisions. The bill authors also seek to restart executions in North Carolina, where capital punishment has not been carried out since 2006.… Continue Reading

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