With Trump’s return, these House Democrats look for influence outside of Washington
By Deirdre Walsh Two Democrats are aiming to trade the halls of Capitol Hill for governor’s mansions in their home states of New Jersey and Virginia. Reps. Mikie Sherrill, 52, and Abigail Spanberger, 45, were part of a wave of Democratic recruits with national security credentials who helped their party regain control of the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterms, partly as a response to then-President Donald Trump’s chaotic first year in office. As Trump returns to the White House, their 2025 campaigns to voters could serve as a playbook to help Democrats turn the page from losses in 2024. Sherrill is a
Despite Trump’s win, ‘election integrity’ activists still seek sweeping voting changes
By Miles Parks For Donald Trump and his supporters, concerns about election administration quickly dissipated once it became clear he would win the 2024 presidential election, and in surveys since, most Republican voters say the election was run well. But for the wing of the Republican Party that has been pushing sweeping election reform since the 2020 contest, the work continues. On Jan. 3, the day the new Republican-led Congress was sworn in, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, reintroduced legislation aimed at stopping noncitizens from voting in federal elections â something that is already illegal and which research has universally shown rarely happens. The
Google gives $1 million to Trump inauguration
By Steve Overly Google has donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trumpâs inauguration fund, the company confirmed to POLITICO Thursday, matching contributions from Meta, Amazon, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Apple CEO Tim Cook. Tech companies have clamored to win Trump over in the months since his election, with Googleâs CEO Sundar Pichai among a line of executives who have flocked to Mar-a-Lago for meetings with the incoming president. âGoogle is pleased to support the 2025 inauguration, with a livestream on YouTube and a direct link on our homepage. Weâre also donating to the inaugural committee,â Karan Bhatia, Googleâs global head of
Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan plans meeting with Zuckerberg after Meta eliminates fact-check program
By Hailey Fuchs Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan told reporters that he’s meeting with Mark Zuckerberg in the next few weeks, as the Meta CEO plans an upcoming visit to D.C. Meta announced on Tuesday that it would be getting rid of its fact-checking program, which Republicans have criticized as a way the parent company of Facebook and Instagram has suppressed conservative speech. Jordan said Tuesday he was hopeful that Zuckerberg would now be an ally in his crusade against censorship on social media platforms. Itâs part of Metaâs broader push to make amends with the GOP as Republicans take control of the White House
Trumpâs tax cuts are about to unleash chaos on the Hill.
By Brian Baler Washington is geared up for a big debate over trillions of dollars in tax cuts. Itâs going to be long, slow and messy. As the utter chaos that erupted as lawmakers struggled to write a year-end bill to fund the government demonstrated, the GOP has a tenuous grip on the House. President-elect Donald Trump has a penchant for chaos. And Republicans are at odds over a long list of issues, beginning with whether they should take up tax first this year or immigration. After weeks of negotiations, it looks like theyâll begin with the border. Here are
Harris oversaw certification of her defeat to Trump four years after he sparked Capitol attack
By Chris Megerian Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday presided over the certification of her defeat to Donald Trump four years after he tried to stop the very process that will now return him to the White House. Her task was ceremonial and her remarks perfunctory. Standing on the dais, Harris passed copies of each state’s election results to lawmakers, and she stood silently with her hands clasped in front of her while they were read out loud. When the process was finished, Harris announced Trump’s victory. She smiled tightly as Republicans gave the next president standing ovation. âThe chair declares this joint session resolved,â Harris
From Taylor Swift tickets to social media bans, here are new 2025 state laws
By Clay Masters Across the country, the new year will usher in thousands of new state laws. At least 20 states increase statewide minimum wage starting Jan. 1 â the highest in Washington state at $16.66 an hour, followed by California at $16.50. Kentucky becomes the latest state to legalize medical marijuana and several states, including Delaware, tighten gun control. Here are other significant state laws taking effect Jan 1. Taylor Swift ticket meltdown spurs industry changes Minnesota is the latest state to increase transparency when purchasing tickets to concerts, sporting events and other large-scale events. “The Ticketing Fairness Act” will require “all-in pricing” to ensure ticket
Biden to honor Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson with top civilian award
By Tamara Keith President Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who led the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6 , 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Presidential Citizens Medal honors Americans who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. It is the second-highest civilian honor a president can bestow and awarding it to Cheney and Thompson sends a signal to President-elect Trump. Trump has criticized the pair repeatedly, falsely accusing them of breaking the law with their investigation into his
Senate Democrats render a verdict on Supreme Court ethics
By Josh Gerstein Senate Democrats wrapped up their extensive investigation of Supreme Court justicesâ ethics practices Saturday, issuing a report blasting two conservative justices for accepting expensive gifts from wealthy benefactors and slamming Chief Justice John Roberts for a lackadaisical response to ethical lapses by his colleagues. âNow more than ever before, as a result of information gathered by subpoenas, we know the extent to which the Supreme Court is mired in an ethical crisis of its own making,â outgoing Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin said in a statement. âWhether failing to disclose lavish gifts or failing to recuse from cases with
Jimmy Carter’s single term in office was a springboard for Black women in politics
By Donna M. Owens When Alexis M. Herman first met Jimmy Carter back in the 1970s, she never imagined how their fates would intertwine, nor the heights to which their careers would rise. âHe was governor of Georgia then, and I was just a few years out of college,â Herman said. Herman, an Alabama native and Xavier University alumna, was a volunteer on civil rights leader Andrew Youngâs congressional campaign when âAndy introduced me to Jimmy Carter and told him of the work I was doing.â At the time, Herman was involved in an experimental project to create a minority womenâs employment program