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U.S. Senate confirms final two Biden judges, adding to diversity records
WASHINGTON 鈥 President Joe Biden鈥檚 number of lifetime appointments to the federal bench surpassed the first Trump administration鈥檚 Friday and set records as the most diverse selection of judges by any president in U.S. history, according to federal judiciary observers. The U.S. Senate, late in its final session of the year, confirmed what are expected […]
Jan. 6 defendant allowed by court to attend Trump inauguration at the U.S. Capitol
WASHINGTON 鈥 A Kansas City, Missouri, man who pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and expects a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump will be allowed to attend Trump鈥檚 inauguration, a federal judge ordered Thursday. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who presided over Trump鈥檚 election subversion case in the District of […]
U.S. Senate passes defense bill that bars gender-affirming care for service members鈥 kids
WASHINGTON 鈥 The U.S. Senate on Wednesday cleared a national defense authorization bill celebrated for troop pay raises but condemned by Democrats for targeting transgender children in military families, sending the bill to President Joe Biden鈥檚 desk. Senators voted 85-14, with one, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, not voting, to approve the $884.9 billion National Defense Authorization […]
Cardin sees risks in Trump global policy as he leaves U.S. Senate Foreign Relations chair
WASHINGTON 鈥 U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin told reporters Thursday he holds hope for democratic values in the United States and around the world, but has 鈥渕ajor concerns鈥 about foreign policy under the incoming Trump administration. The retiring senior senator from Maryland and chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations reflected on his nearly two […]
U.S. House passes defense bill barring trans medical coverage for service members’ kids
WASHINGTON 鈥 The U.S. House handily approved the annual defense policy bill Wednesday, despite late opposition from Democrats over a聽provision that bans military health insurance coverage for service members鈥 children seeking transgender care. Lawmakers passed the historically bipartisan package聽241-180. In the end, 81 Democrats supported the bill, and 16 Republicans voted against it. The measure […]
Defense bill bans transgender medical coverage for children in military families
This story mentions suicide. If you or a loved one are suffering from thoughts of self-harm, dial 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to live chat with a mental health professional. WASHINGTON 鈥 House Democrats will face a tough vote this week on the final compromise annual defense bill that includes pay raises for troops but also […]
Trump says Liz Cheney, Mississippi congressman ‘should go to jail’ for Jan. 6 probe
WASHINGTON 鈥 President-elect Donald Trump wants to jail former and current members of Congress who investigated his incitement of the violent Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and he plans to pardon the rioters immediately upon taking office, he told NBC News Sunday. On the network鈥檚 鈥淢eet the Press with Kristen Welker,鈥 Trump […]
Christmas tree from Alaska, gingerbread Capitol sweeten the season in D.C.
WASHINGTON 鈥 The holiday season kicked off on Capitol Hill this week with the official Christmas tree lighting ceremony and the unveiling of a gingerbread replica of the U.S. Capitol 鈥 complete with sugar flowers representing all 50 states. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and the Alaska congressional delegation illuminated the 80-foot 2024 […]
DOJ special counsel Smith drops federal criminal cases against Trump
WASHINGTON 鈥 The federal election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump is over, at least during his forthcoming presidency. Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan聽ordered the case鈥檚 dismissal late Monday afternoon after U.S. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith requested to dismiss the case without prejudice 鈥 meaning it could be tried again in the future once […]
Hedge fund chief and tariff fan Scott Bessent to lead Treasury under Trump
WASHINGTON 鈥 President-elect Donald Trump will nominate Wall Street veteran Scott Bessent to be the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Trump announced Friday night. If confirmed by the Senate to be the department鈥檚 79th secretary, Bessent will face a record-high national debt of $36 trillion, and the possibility of more as tax […]
Trump still has not signed critical transition agreements allowing access to agencies
WASHINGTON 鈥 Less than two months before being sworn into office, President-elect Donald Trump has yet to sign the presidential transition paperwork that unlocks critical clearances, information and access to White House resources for his transition team. Political experts say this is worrisome because history shows the period early in a presidency can be a […]
Prosecutors in Trump NY criminal case signal they won鈥檛 oppose delay
WASHINGTON 鈥 Consequences for President-elect Donald Trump鈥檚 guilty conviction in a New York state case will be years away, as prosecutors signaled they will not oppose suspending the lawsuit while the incoming 47th president carries out his four years in the Oval Office. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg wrote Tuesday that he will fight Trump鈥檚 […]