Politics Election category, Page 77
Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio native, is interested in filling Vance’s old Senate seat
Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has expressed interest in the Ohio U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance, a person with direct knowledge of the biotech entrepreneur’s wishes told The Associated Press. The 39-year-old from Cincinnati has assumed a leading role with billionaire Elon Musk...
Rubio vows to prioritize freeing Oakmont teacher from Russian prison
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on Wednesday vowed to prioritize the release of Marc Fogel, an Oakmont history teacher who has been detained by Russia since bringing a small amount of legally prescribed medical marijuana into the country in 2021. Rubio’s comments came during a nomination hearing before the U.S. Senate....
Key takeaways from Pete Hegseth’s fiery confirmation hearing
WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, publicly faced senators for the first time after weeks of questions from Democrats — and praise from Republicans — about his “unconventional” resume. Hegseth, a former combat veteran and TV news host, says he will be a “change agent”...
Pete Hegseth asked to define ‘jagoff’ at Senate confirmation hearing
The term “jagoff” is more than just an insult in Pittsburgh. Here, it holds great cultural significance. But that’s not what Pete Hegseth was trying to convey during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing. Hegseth, a combat veteran and former Fox News host, is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary....
Speaker Johnson orders U.S. Capitol flags raised to full height for Trump’s inauguration
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday ordered that flags at the U.S. Capitol be raised to their full height on Inauguration Day, pausing a 30-day flag-lowering order as a result of the death of former President Jimmy Carter. The Republican leader’s decision means that President-elect Donald Trump will not take...
Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Tuesday is notifying Congress of its intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced, as part of a deal facilitated by the Catholic Church to free political prisoners on the island. Senior U.S. administration...
Trump says he will create an External Revenue Service agency to collect tariff income
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced plans to create a new agency called the External Revenue Service to collect tariffs and other revenues from foreign nations. “We will begin charging those that make money off of us with Trade, and they will start paying,” Trump said Tuesday on...
Trump’s Cabinet picks are set for Senate hearings. Here’s the schedule
After the initial crush of personnel announcements for President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, now the nominations process officially begins. Senate hearings are scheduled this week for several of Trump’s picks for the Cabinet. Many nominees have met with senators individually. Now, they will go before the committees overseeing the agencies...
Wisconsin Legislature to put photo ID requirement on ballot for voter approval
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s photo ID requirement for voting would be elevated from a state law to a constitutional amendment under a proposal up for approval Tuesday in the Republican-controlled Assembly. Once passed by the Assembly, the proposed constitutional amendment would appear on the April 1 ballot for voter consideration....
Pete Hegseth confronts allegations of misconduct as senators grill Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, vowed Tuesday to foster a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon and confronted allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking and questions about his derisive views of women in combat during a heated Senate confirmation hearing. Hegseth repeatedly deflected the...
Special counsel report says Trump would’ve been convicted for Jan. 6 ‘unprecedented criminal effort’
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith said his team “stood up for the rule of law” as it investigated President-elect Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, writing in a much-anticipated report released Tuesday that he stands fully behind his decision to bring criminal charges that...
Trump pronounces Sen. John Fetterman ‘impressive’ after Mar-a-Lago meeting
President-elect Donald Trump had several positive things to say about Sen. John Fetterman as a result of their meeting during the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, according to the Washington Examiner. Trump heaped praise on Pennsylvania’s senior senator calling him “impressive” and “fascinating.” “It was a totally fascinating meeting. He’s a fascinating...
DeSantis calls special session to implement Trump’s immigration policies
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling state lawmakers into a special session to help carry out President-elect Donald Trump’s promises for a swift crackdown on immigration. Trump is preparing more than 100 executive orders starting Day One of the new White House administration, in what amounts to...
Millions have had student loans canceled under Biden — despite the collapse of his forgiveness plan
WASHINGTON — Despite failing to deliver his promise for broad student loan forgiveness, President Joe Biden has now overseen the cancellation of student loans for more than 5 million Americans — more than any other president in U.S. history. In a last-minute action on Monday, the Education Department canceled loans...
Incoming Trump team is questioning civil servants at National Security Council about their loyalty
WASHINGTON — Incoming senior Trump administration officials have begun questioning career civil servants who work on the White House National Security Council about who they voted for in the 2024 election, their political contributions and whether they have made social media posts that could be considered incriminating by President-elect Donald...
A tough-on-crime approach is back in U.S. state capitols
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Within minutes of his inauguration Monday, new Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is expected to issue a variety of orders targeting crime. The tone-setting move reflects a national trend. After a period of relaxed sentencing laws, a tough-on-crime approach is back in political favor in the U.S....
Vance says Jan. 6 participants who committed violence ‘obviously’ shouldn’t be pardoned
WASHINGTON — Vice President-elect JD Vance says people responsible for the violence during the Capitol riot “obviously” should not be pardoned, as President-elect Donald Trump is promising to use his clemency power on behalf of many of those who tried on Jan. 6, 2021, to overturn the results of the...
Special counsel Jack Smith has resigned after submitting his Trump report, Justice Department says
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Justice Department after submitting his investigative report on President-elect Donald Trump, an expected move that comes amid legal wrangling over how much of that document can be made public in the days ahead. The department disclosed Smith’s departure in a...
Trump is planning 100 executive orders starting Day 1 on border, deportations and other priorities
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump is preparing more than 100 executive orders starting Day One of the new White House, in what amounts to a shock-and-awe campaign on border security, deportations and a rush of other policy priorities. Trump told Republican senators about the onslaught ahead during a private meeting...
Biden is still considering pardons for people who have been criticized or threatened by Trump
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday said he was still considering whether to give pardons to people who have been criticized or threatened by President-elect Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Biden said he and his aides were playing close attention to rhetoric from Trump and...
Trump nominates Pennsylvania RNC member Christine Toretti as ambassador to Sweden
A longtime Republican National Committee member from Pennsylvania who was twice unsuccessfully nominated for an ambassadorship during the first Trump administration will get a third go for the job. President-elect Donald Trump is nominating Christine Toretti, a RNC member from Indiana County, to be the next ambassador to Sweden. Trump...
FBI must be independent and above the partisan fray, outgoing director says in farewell address
WASHINGTON — The FBI must remain independent, above the partisan fray and “committed to upholding the rule of law,” outgoing Director Christopher Wray said in a farewell address just days before his expected retirement at the conclusion of the Biden administration following more than seven years on the job. “No...
Biden to deliver prime-time farewell to nation on Wednesday from Oval Office
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will deliver a farewell address to the nation Wednesday from the Oval Office, five days before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. The president’s remarks at 8 p.m. Eastern are set to be his last significant opportunity to speak to Americans and the world before...
Biden lets 800,000 Venezuelans and Salvadorans stay 18 months as Trump readies immigration crackdown
MIAMI — About 600,000 Venezuelans and more than 200,000 Salvadorans already living in the U.S. can legally remain another 18 months, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday, barely a week before President-elect Donald Trump takes office with promises of hardline immigration policies. The decisions mark the Biden administration’s latest...
Greenland’s leader says his people don’t want to be Americans as Trump covets territory
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The prime minister of Greenland said Friday that the people of his mineral-rich Arctic territory do not want to be Americans, but he said he understood the U.S. interest in the island given its strategic location and he is open to greater cooperation with the United States....
