election 2024
The jury now will decide Trump’s fate in hush money trial, after lengthy closing arguments
WASHINGTON — Closing arguments in the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president concluded Tuesday, leaving the jury to now decide if Donald Trump is guilty of faking reimbursement to his personal lawyer for hush money paid to a porn star just before the 2016 presidential election. Just outside the Lower Manhattan courthouse during […]
Bipartisan border bill likely doomed in approaching U.S. Senate vote
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democrats are pushing for a second attempt to pass a bipartisan border security bill that failed in February after Republicans walked away from the very deal they helped craft, and it’s likely to fail again when the Senate votes on the legislation Thursday. “So why are we bringing this bill up […]
Prosecution rests in Trump hush money trial, after former fixer Cohen is grilled
NEW YORK — New York state prosecutors rested their case against Donald Trump Monday after four days of testimony from their key witness, Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen, who says the former president was well aware of a hush money cover-up. The defense paints Cohen as a liar. The Manhattan criminal trial, the first ever […]
Chaotic end leaves Democratic Legislature with a few wins
Democratic lawmakers in the final hour of the 2024 legislative session passed a 1,400 page bill that includes a lengthy list of policy items, from minimum pay rates for Uber and Lyft drivers to increased penalties for straw gun purchases and changes to the state’s paid leave law that will result in a higher payroll […]
With GOP opposed, U.S. Senate panel advances bills to combat AI in elections
Members of the U.S. Senate are sounding the alarm about the threat that artificial intelligence poses to elections through its ability to deceive voters. But the prospects for legislation that can meaningfully address the problem appear uncertain. In a Wednesday hearing, the Senate Rules Committee advanced three bills designed to counter the AI threat. But […]
GOP politicians rush to Manhattan to line up behind Trump as hush money trial continues
WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers are taking turns supporting former president and presumed 2024 GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump in his trial in Manhattan criminal court, where he is charged with covering up payments intended to silence porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Dressed alike in navy blue suits and red ties, North […]
New list rates the most bipartisan members of Congress—and the least
WASHINGTON — Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick were the most bipartisan members of Congress last year, according to a newly released analysis from the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. The least bipartisan House lawmaker was Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, while Alabama’s Katie […]
Tariffs to be sharply hiked by Biden administration on Chinese-made products
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is doubling and in some cases tripling tariffs on Chinese-made products, like steel and electric vehicles, in a move aimed at easing economic pain in battleground states, though senior administration officials say it isn’t political. National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard told reporters on a call Monday ahead of the announcement […]
Star witness in Trump trial tells of plot to conceal porn star hush money payments
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s former fixer took the stand in a Manhattan courtroom Monday and told jurors that Trump was well aware of a scheme to hide the repayment of money intended to silence porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Michael Cohen, the prosecution’s star witness, told the jury that he […]
Rep. Ilhan Omar remains an international celebrity even as she fights to hold onto her district
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar recently visited Outta Wax, a vinyl record pressing business in south Minneapolis, part of an effort to engage with constituents and small business owners in the 5th Congressional District. Omar was late, and once she arrived, everyone had to wait for a Bloomberg documentary crew to set up. They were following […]
Don Samuels has had it up to here, and he’s running for Congress
If you’ve ever chatted with Don Samuels about his north Minneapolis neighborhood, you’d think he didn’t like it all that much. Apartments are in disrepair, and black mold has sickened children in the neighborhood. Lead paint is still abundant. Gang leaders have frequented his front lawn. He’s called the city of Minneapolis about 20 times […]
Nebraska U.S. Rep. Bacon seeks to censure Minnesota Rep. Omar over ‘antisemitic rhetoric’
WASHINGTON — Minnesota Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar could face a censure vote as soon as next week, after a Nebraska Republican filed a resolution condemning comments she made during a visit to protests at Columbia University last month. Rep. Don Bacon’s four-page resolution says during the visit Omar “referred to Jewish students as ‘pro-genocide’” […]