Tag Archives: Politics

Republicans are relishing a role reversal in the shutdown fight. Can Trump keep them united?

Republicans are relishing a role reversal in the shutdown fight. Can Trump keep them united?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leaders have presented a united stance as they try to keep the government open and berate Democrats for demanding health care policy changes in exchange for their votes. It’s a role reversal from previous funding battles. The change is happening because President Donald Trump is exercising top-down control over a mostly unified GOP. Democrats, meanwhile, have been left scrambling for leverage in the first year of Trump’s second term, using the funding fight to exert what influence they can. It’s an awkward posture for a party that has long cast itself as the adults in the room during shutdown threats.… Continue Reading

Democrats voted for a shutdown. Now they have to find a way out

Democrats voted for a shutdown. Now they have to find a way out

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats kept their promise to reject any Republican spending bill that didn’t extend or restore health care benefits, choosing instead to force a government shutdown. Now they have to figure out how to get out of it. Just hours after the shutdown began, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said that if the Republicans work with them, “the shutdown could go away very quickly.” But that won’t be easy. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump have said that they won’t negotiate or be “held hostage” by Democrats demanding concessions to reopen the government.… Continue Reading

Government headed to a shutdown after last-ditch vote fails in Senate

Government headed to a shutdown after last-ditch vote fails in Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats have voted down a Republican bill to keep funding the government, putting it on a path to a shutdown after midnight Wednesday. The 55-45 vote Tuesday on the bill to extend federal funding for seven weeks fell short of the 60 needed to end a filibuster and pass the legislation. After the vote, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget issued a memo saying “affected agencies should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown.” The action comes as Democrats are making good on their threat to close the government if President Donald Trump and Republicans won’t accede to their health care demands.… Continue Reading

Pfizer agrees to lower prescription drug costs for Medicaid in a deal with Trump

Pfizer agrees to lower prescription drug costs for Medicaid in a deal with Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Pfizer has agreed to lower drug costs under a deal struck with President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump made the announcement Tuesday with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla at the White House. The announcement comes as the Republican president has for months sought to lower drug costs and as Washington faces a possible federal government shutdown amid a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over health care and its costs. Trump says that under the agreement, New York-based Pfizer will charge most-favored-nation pricing to Medicaid and guarantee the same pricing on newly launched drugs. That involves matching the lowest price offered in other developed nations. Trump says similar deals will be struck with other drugmakers facing a threat of tariffs.… Continue Reading

Judge rejects claims of racial gerrymandering in North Carolina state Senate districts

Judge rejects claims of racial gerrymandering in North Carolina state Senate districts

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge has decided that two legislative districts in northeastern North Carolina can remain intact. Black voters argued that Republicans manipulated the boundaries to prevent them from electing their preferred candidates. U.S. District Judge James Dever sided on Tuesday with GOP leaders, stating that the plaintiffs failed to prove the lines diluted Black voting power. The case involved two state Senate districts approved in 2023. The lines include a region where African American population is high. The ruling could be appealed to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.… Continue Reading

US House members hear pleas for tougher justice policies after stabbing death of refugee

US House members hear pleas for tougher justice policies after stabbing death of refugee

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — U.S. House members have met in North Carolina’s largest city to hear from families of violent-crime victims. They called on Monday for tougher criminal justice policies after last month’s stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte train. The judiciary subcommittee meeting in Charlotte heard from speakers who criticized local court systems for failing to protect the public. The meeting was prompted by the death of Iryna Zarutska and the arrest of a suspect with a long criminal history. Public outrage intensified after the release of security video showing the attack.… Continue Reading

Trump to meet Monday with top four congressional leaders as government shutdown risk looms

Trump to meet Monday with top four congressional leaders as government shutdown risk looms

congressional leaders at the White House on Monday, one day before the deadline to fund the federal government or face a shutdown. The meeting involving House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune as well as House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was confirmed Saturday by a White House official and two other people familiar with the planning. The parties have been in a standoff for days as Democrats, namely in the Senate, have refused to offer the necessary votes to pass a funding measure that would keep the government open beyond Tuesday.… Continue Reading

Trump snubs Biden with autopen photo on new Presidential Walk of Fame

Trump snubs Biden with autopen photo on new Presidential Walk of Fame

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has added a Presidential Walk of Fame to the White House, featuring portraits of previous commanders-in-chief — except for one. Instead of Joe Biden’s portrait, Trump hung a photo of an autopen signing the Democrat president’s name. This move reflects Trump’s ongoing attempts to delegitimize Biden, whom he has frequently criticized. Trump has never acknowledged his defeat to Biden in the 2020 election, falsely attributing it to voter fraud. The Walk of Fame is part of several design changes Trump has made since resuming office, including adding gold flourishes and new flagpoles.… Continue Reading

Hurricane Helene hit the reset button on one town’s goal of becoming an outdoor tourism mecca

Hurricane Helene hit the reset button on one town’s goal of becoming an outdoor tourism mecca

OLD FORT, N.C. (AP) — The mountain “gateway” town of Old Fort, North Carolina, was well on its way to achieving a major goal: to become a hot spot for mountain biking and all things outdoors. Then nature, as one business owner put it, hit “the reset button.” A year ago, floodwaters from the remnants of Hurricane Helene inundated the town, washing out miles of multi-purpose trails and closing long stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a tourist lifeline. Chad Schoenauer has reopened his Old Fort Bike Shop, but he’s doing more repairs than sales these days. Tourism spending last year was way off in the mountains, but many are hoping for a successful fall foliage season to hit the reset button again.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Medicaid patients face care access threat as funding impasse continues

North Carolina Medicaid patients face care access threat as funding impasse continues

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Medicaid patients face a threat of reduced access to services due to a funding impasse. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein confirmed Thursday that the state program will lower reimbursement rates for doctors, hospitals and other providers starting next week. This decision comes as his administration says additional Medicaid funds approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly still leave the program with a shortfall. GOP lawmakers couldn’t agree on a way forward this week. The legislature is next scheduled to meet Oct. 20. Republicans argue the action is premature and unprecedented this early in the fiscal year.… Continue Reading

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