House unveils $674B defense spending bill for 2019
The House Appropriations Committee unveiled a $674.6 billion defense spending bill Wednesday.
Senate
FBI to share new details of Trump campaign informant with Congress
The Justice Department intends to offer an additional briefing to a select group of senior lawmakers who have pressed for details about the FBI’s use of an informant to make contact with associates of President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Report: Secret Obama-Era License Gave Iran Access to US Financial System
The Obama administration secretly sought to give Iran access – albeit briefly – to the U.S. financial system by sidestepping sanctions kept in place after the 2015 nuclear deal, despite repeatedly telling Congress and the public it had no plans to do so.
Stacey Abrams wins as Democrats bet on new strategies and voters
Georgia’s battle of the ‘Staceys’ barely qualified as a minor skirmish, as Stacey Abrams cruised to an historic landslide victory over Stacey Evans in the Democratic primary, becoming the first black woman nominated by her party for governor.
Congress Passes Bill Rolling Back Banking Rules
Congress has moved to dismantle some key rules for banks that were installed to prevent a replay of the 2008 financial crisis.
Trump’s stealth victory: Reshaping the courts
With less than two years under his belt, President Trump has managed to make a substantial imprint on the U.S. judicial system — one that could be felt for decades to come — by getting the Senate to confirm key judicial nominees.
Gina Haspel confirmed as CIA’s first female director
President Trump’s pick to head the CIA is a seasoned spymaster who has avoided the limelight during a 32-year career that has included stints running overseas ‘black sites’ where dangerous terrorists were waterboarded.
U.S. has more than 2,000 probes into potential or suspected terrorists: FBI Director
The FBI is pursuing 1,000 investigations into suspected ‘lone wolf’ militants and another 1,000 into ‘domestic terrorists,’ FBI director Christopher Wray told a congressional committee on Wednesday.
Senate intel committee: Russian officials conspired to help Trump
Breaking with the House, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday endorsed a U.S. intelligence finding that Russia secretly tried to interfere with the 2016 election to boost Donald Trump and hurt Hillary Clinton, calling the accusations of Russian meddling ‘accurate and on point.’
Maryland Becomes the 11th State to Ban Gay Conversion Therapy for Minors
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has signed a bill into law that bans sexual orientation conversion therapy for youth, making it the eleventh state to do so.
Senate demands transcript of Russian wiretaps, FBI interview that nabbed Michael Flynn
President Trump’s former attorney says there are ‘reports’ that retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn referred to his own wiretap when he was interviewed by two FBI agents in January 2017.
Illinois Senate Approves Bill Requiring Public Schools to Teach LGBT History
The Illinois Senate approved a bill Wednesday requiring all public schools in the state to teach about the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in history.
Mattis: Trump Admin. Already Working with Allies to Prevent Iran from Acquiring Nukes
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday the Trump administration is working with U.S. allies on a measure to prevent Iran from procuring a nuclear weapon, less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump torpedoed the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal.
Tuesday’s Republican primary winners just Trumpy enough
Republicans are now hopeful Tuesday night’s results put them in a good position to pick up Senate seats in the states Trump won easily in 2016, despite a tough national environment and scandals swirling the White House.
Senate Intel report: Russia targeted at least 21 states in 2016 election
The Senate intelligence committee has concluded that Kremlin-supported operatives targeted the voting in nearly two dozen states in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, according to the first report in the panel’s yearlong probe.
South Carolina Senate Approves Bill Banning 97 Percent of Abortions
The South Carolina Senate approved a measure this week that would ban about 97 percent of abortions in the state.
Mike Pompeo brings his reset button to the State Department
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is moving immediately to fill vacant senior positions at the State Department, a task so large it has the feel of a ‘presidential transition’ as opposed to a hand-off from one member of President Trump’s Cabinet to another, according to Republican foreign policy experts.
Comey claims release of memo not a ‘leak’ in heated Fox interview (Video)
Former FBI Director James Comey sparred with Fox News’ Bret Baier in a heated interview Thursday over whether his decision last year to share the contents of a memo detailing his conversations with President Trump constituted a ‘leak.’
Senate panel approves bill to shield Mueller from Trump firing
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation Thursday that would protect Robert Mueller’s job, a bipartisan rebuke that came hours after President Donald Trump said he may try to influence the special counsel’s Russia probe.
Senate bill would block sale of F-35 jets to Turkey
A new bill introduced by a bipartisan trio of senators would stop the transfer of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to NATO ally Turkey.