DOJ Eyes Gun Ban for Transgender Americans After Shooting
Written By Lexx Thornton The Justice Department is discussing proposals to potentially block transgender Americans from buying firearms. In the wake of the deadly Minneapolis Catholic church shooting conducted by Robin Westman, who identified as a trans woman, DOJ officials are mulling options the Trump administration can take to restrict the 2nd Amendment rights of some Americans, sources familiar with the talks said. Some DOJ members believe the move can be approved as a follow-up on Trump’s executive order barring military service by transgender people. One option could see Trump formally declare that people who identify as transgender are mentally
Trump Ends Secret Service Protection for Kamala Harris
Written By Lexx Thornton President Donald Trump has revoked Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, a senior White House official said on Friday. Former vice presidents typically get federal government protection for six months after leaving office, while ex-presidents do so for life. But then-President Joe Biden quietly signed a directive that had extended protection for Harris beyond the traditional six months, according to another person familiar with the matter. The people insisted on anonymity to discuss a matter not made public. Trump, a Republican, defeated Harris, a Democrat, in the presidential election last year. The move
Cassidy Clashes With RFK Jr. Over Covid Vaccine Stance
By Sahil Kapur, Brennan Leach and Gabrielle Khoriaty Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy on his skepticism of vaccines Thursday, arguing that his actions fly in the face of one of President Donald Trump’s biggest achievements. Cassidy opened his questioning at a Senate hearing by asking Kennedy if he agrees Trump should get a Nobel Prize for the development of the Covid vaccine in the throes of the pandemic during his first term, known as Operation Warp Speed. Kennedy replied quickly: “Absolutely, senator.” Cassidy was skeptical. “But you just told Sen. [Michael] Bennet that the Covid vaccine
Durbin Urges Hearing on Trump’s Military Threats to Cities
By Zoë Richards and Frank Thorp V The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee is calling on the panel’s Republican chairman to hold a hearing on President Donald Trump’s threats to deploy military forces to Chicago and other cities. “Domestic deployment of the military into American communities raises serious issues within the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee that warrant an immediate hearing,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., wrote in a letter Wednesday to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. “Of particular relevance for this Committee is that the men and women serving in our Armed Forces are trained primarily for warfighting, not community policing
Sen. Cassidy Calls for Oversight After CDC Shake-Up
By Sahil Kapur, Brennan Leach and Frank Thorp V Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., the chair of the health committee, is holding his cards close to the vest, declining to elaborate after he said he will conduct “oversight” of the country’s top health official and a recent shake-up at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cassidy, a doctor who has been supportive of vaccines, is in a delicate position as the top Republican on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee who provided a pivotal vote to confirm Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after he secured assurances about vaccines. Cassidy
Congress Returns: Shutdown Fight, Epstein Files, Stock Ban
A government shutdown deadline, a standoff over President Donald Trump’s nominees and a renewed clash over the Jeffrey Epstein files await Congress as it returns Tuesday after a month-long August recess. The top item on the agenda is the government funding deadline of Sept. 30 to avoid a shutdown. An unusual Republican and Democratic pairing says they believe they’ll have the support they need to force a House vote requiring the Justice Department to release the Epstein files. And Republicans are hatching plans to change Senate rules to speed up confirmation of Trump’s personnel, amid drama over the firing and exodus of top public
Trump Revokes Secret Service Protection for Kamala Harris
Written By Lexx Thornton President Donald Trump has revoked Secret Service protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris, a senior White House official said on Friday. Former vice presidents typically get federal government protection for six months after leaving office, while ex-presidents do so for life. But then-President Joe Biden quietly signed a directive that had extended protection for Harris beyond the traditional six months, according to another person familiar with the matter. The people insisted on anonymity to discuss a matter not made public. Trump, a Republican, defeated Harris, a Democrat, in the presidential election last year. The move
Patrick Braxton Wins Historic Re-Election in Newbern
The first Black mayor of a tiny Alabama town overwhelmingly won election this week, four years after white residents locked him out of the town hall and refused to let him serve. Incumbent Mayor Patrick Braxton was elected as the mayor of Newbern, winning 66 votes to his opponent’s 26, according to results posted by the town. His victory puts a punctuation mark in the dispute over control of the town government that drew national attention. “The people came out and spoke and voted. Now, there ain’t no doubt what they want for this town,” Braxton said in a telephone interview Wednesday night.
Democrats Plan 2028 Early-State Primary Calendar Talks
By Natasha Korecki Democrats are already looking to assemble their early-state presidential nominating calendar for 2028, with the party announcing Tuesday that it would kick off the process in September. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said at the DNC’s summer meeting here that he aimed to have clarity about the order of the first primaries well ahead of the campaign. “We’re planning for meetings throughout the fall and winter and through the spring to make sure that we have a rigorous, effective and fair calendar process,” Martin said. “We need this process to give us the strongest possible candidate, a
Iowa Democrats Flip GOP Seat, Break Senate Supermajority
By Zoë Richards Iowa Democrats scored a significant victory Tuesday by flipping a Republican seat in a special election and breaking the GOP supermajority in the state Senate. Catelin Drey won the Sioux City-area district with 55% of the vote to Republican opponent Christopher Prosch’s 44%, according to unofficial results with all precincts reporting. Democrats will now hold 17 seats in the Senate, compared with 33 for Republicans, breaking the GOP’s two-thirds supermajority. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin celebrated Drey’s victory in a district Donald Trump won last year. “Iowans are seeing Republicans for who they are: self-serving liars who will throw
