“It is incredibly frustrating to watch because we are talking about individuals who are preeminently qualified, but also coming from communities that have been screaming at the top of their lungs to be visible and valued by this country,” said Gregg Orton, national director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans. The daughter of […]
Austin eyes rolling back Trump-era policy on special operations
The move was seen as a way to elevate the needs of America’s elite special operations forces — Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets, Marine Raiders — which have borne the brunt of the fighting in the Middle East and Afghanistan over the past two decades. It was also designed to increase civilian oversight following the […]
Democrats’ $1.9T Covid aid bill faces the Senate chopping block
The minimum wage will likely stir up the most drama behind closed doors on Wednesday, with Republicans arguing that such a sweeping policy change doesn’t pass muster with the budget restrictions guiding passage of Biden’s pandemic plan. But Democrats are confident that they have a strong case, fueled by recent analysis from the Congressional Budget […]
Pentagon wades into political minefield in hunt for extremists
The Pentagon has not yet disclosed all the training materials it is providing commanders, but that hasn’t stopped lawmakers and right-wing commentators from accusing the Defense Department of initiating a witch hunt on behalf of the Biden administration to purge political opponents. While there is no evidence to support a politicization of this effort, there […]
McConnell to support Garland for attorney general
Senate Republicans have maintained that their decision to prevent Garland from receiving a hearing in 2016 was not personal. “President Obama and his allies may now try to pretend this disagreement is about a person,” McConnell said at the time, shortly after Obama formally nominated Garland. “The decision the Senate announced weeks ago remains about […]
U.N. nuclear chief in Iran as it threatens watchdog’s cameras
“This is not a deadline for the world. This is not an ultimatum,” Zarif told the government-run, English-language broadcaster Press TV in an interview aired during Grossi’s visit. “This is an internal domestic issue between the parliament and the government.” “We have a democracy. We are supposed to implement the laws of the country. And […]
This Congress is the most diverse ever. But Hill staffers remain overwhelmingly white.
This Congress has a record number of women and people of color. But when it comes to the staff working behind the scenes, diversity is still a huge problem. “Communities of color aren’t just pawns to mobilize on election day. They have real issues that need to be realized in policy,” said LaShonda Brenson, a […]
Trump taunts don’t shake McConnell’s hold on Senate GOP
The crumbled alliance between Trump and McConnell, who worked hand-in-glove on political and legislative strategy for four years, has finally brought the GOP to the reckoning that never happened after the 2016 election. Trump may take another swipe at McConnell in the coming days at the Conservative Political Action Conference. But McConnell probably won’t hear […]
Rocket attack in Iraq marks third in one week
And last week, a dozen rockets targeted coalition forces outside Erbil International Airport, killing one non-U.S. contractor and wounding nine more people, including five Americans. The latest strike, which a defense official initially said involved three rockets before the military clarified that it was two, could increase pressure on President Joe Biden’s administration to warn […]
Collins to oppose Tanden for OMB, further jeopardizing her nomination
“Neera Tanden has neither the experience nor the temperament to lead this critical agency,” Collins said in a statement Monday morning. “Her past actions have demonstrated exactly the kind of animosity that President Biden has pledged to transcend.” Collins added that Tanden’s decision to delete tweets before her nomination “raises concerns about her commitment to […]