Biden shrinks from view ahead of Trumpâs return to Washington
By Adam Cancryn Joe Biden is president of the United States for 42 more days. But within the Democratic Party, on Capitol Hill â and even within his own administration â it feels like he left the Oval Office weeks ago. Biden has effectively disappeared from the radar in the wake of Democratsâ bruising electoral loss. Since Nov. 5, heâs largely stuck to prepared remarks, avoided unscripted public appearances or press questions and opted to sit out the raging debate over Donald Trumpâs victory, policy conversations in Congress and the Democratic Partyâs future. âHeâs been so cavalier and selfish about
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove Elected as Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus
By Ashley Brown In a significant development for the 119th Congress, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, has been elected to serve as the Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). This prestigious position places her at the forefront of the CBS. Expressing her gratitude for the appointment, Kamlager-Dove remarked, âI am deeply honored to be chosen to serve as Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 119th Congress. Known as the âconscience of the Congress,â the CBC is grounded in our pursuit of justice, equity, and opportunity for Black Americans. With unprecedented
Trump return to DC looms over Kennedy Center Honors
By Judy Kurtz In a night filled with political moments â including multiple nods to President Biden, a Grateful Dead tribute from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and accolades for performers-turned-activists â there was scant mention at the Kennedy Center Honors of President-elect Trumpâs return to office and what it could mean for the annual awards gala. The 47th-annual Honors ceremony recognized four artists and an organization with its lifetime achievement award on Sunday in Washington, D.C.: singer Bonnie Raitt, trumpet player Arturo Sandoval, director Francis Ford Coppola, Harlemâs Apollo Theater and the Grateful Dead. The ceremony, attended by President Biden, kicked off by honoring the
With the Voting Rights Act facing more threats, advocates renew a push for state laws
By Hansi Lo Wang With Republicans set to control Congress and the White House starting next year, some voting rights advocates are renewing their focus on protections against racial discrimination in elections that don’t rely on the federal government. Several states have enacted state-level voting rights acts over the past two decades, and Democratic-led Michigan may be next. This week a state House committee voted to refer a set of state Senate-approved bills to the House floor. Supporters of this emerging type of law see it as a bulwark at a time when Democratic-led efforts to bolster the federal Voting Rights Act are likely to remain
DeSantisâ political future widens as Trump dangles Defense chief job
By Gary Fineout Nearly a year ago, the political future of Ron DeSantis appeared to be buried in the snow alongside the highways of Iowa he had spent weeks criss-crossing, ahead of a second-place thumping at the hands of Donald Trump in that stateâs crucial caucuses. Now, Trumpâs trip back to the White House is helping revitalize DeSantisâ fortune, giving him an opportunity to further cement his legacy in Florida â or even hand the governor a prestigious spot in his administration running the Pentagon. Either path could put him in a place for another run for president in 2028,
House Republicans Aim to Pass Higher Ed Overhaul
By Jessica Blake House Republicans are making a final attempt to pass sweeping legislation in this Congress that aims to lower the cost of college and hold institutions accountable. The House has considered few bills related to higher education in the last two years, so a floor vote on the College Cost Reduction Act would mark a significant achievement for its sponsor, Representative Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican and chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee. Foxx has long sought to pass comprehensive legislation to overhaul higher education, and sheâs worked for the last two years on a piecemeal
Rev. Jesse Jackson asks president to pardon his son
By Craig Dellimore As President Joe Biden was pardoning his son Hunter, the Rev. Jesse Jackson wrote to him, seeking a pardon for his son, former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. In a two-page letter to President Biden, Rev. Jesse Jackson wrote he wants to see both the presidentâs son and his own son to have full and absolute pardons. Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty in 2013 to using campaign money for personal expenses. He spent 30 months in prison for wire and mail fraud and tax evasion. The letter, first reported by Politico, mentions Hunter Biden more than
Baltimore Mayor M. Brandon Scott sworn in for a second term
By Tashi McQueen Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) was sworn in by Xavier A. Conaway, clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, on Dec. 3 for his second term. The well-attended ceremony included numerous current and past Maryland leaders such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) and former Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake (D). Scott won his bid for re-election on Nov. 5 during the general election with 82.15 percent of the vote, according to the Maryland State Board of Elections. During the Democratic primary, he beat out former Mayor Sheila A.
Congress braces for first 100 days
By Alexis Simendenger As Republican lawmakers gear up for the 119th Congress, the House and Senate are bracing for differing challenges in the first 100 days of President-elect Trumpâs administration. Senate Republicans must contend with a slate of controversial Cabinet nominees. Chief among them: Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth; former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), Trumpâs pick for director of national intelligence; and FBI director nominee Kash Patel. Hegseth, especially, has drawn increased criticism from Republican senators after skepticism about his qualifications for the job and allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement in previous roles. Hegseth faces a very tough path to confirmation in the
Biden isn’t the first president to pardon a relative. Here’s how the power works
By Rachel Treisman The topic of presidential pardons is back in the spotlight this week after President Biden announced he signed a “full and unconditional” one for his son. Hunter Biden was convicted earlier this year of federal gun charges for lying about his addiction to crack cocaine when he purchased a gun, and separately pleaded guilty to tax offenses for failing to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes. Sentences in both cases were scheduled to be handed down later this month. The president has said publicly that he would not pardon his son â but reversed that promise in an announcement on