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Bob Agnew
Reporting from Capitol Hill, Bob Agnew has updates on what’s going on in the Senate.
RFK Jr. HHS Nomination Passes Through Committee
Tue, Feb 4, 2025 at 4:00 pm
The Senate Finance Committee has approved the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. As expected the vote was tight but in the end GOP senators rallied around President Tump’s controversial nominee, despite warnings from Democrats RFK Jr. would “go wild” at HHS.
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Senator Tom Cotton Calls China An “Evil Empire”
Tue, Feb 4, 2025 at 3:55 pm
One U.S. senator says it’s no exaggeration to call China an “evil empire”. Senator Tom Cotton [R-Ark] says many in the U.S. still believe that, over time, China is moving toward democracy.
Helping to grow China’s economy , it was hoped, would also cause its government to become more liberal. In fact Cotton tells the Salem Radio Network the opposite has happened, and that China has become perhaps the most formidable enemy the U.S. has ever faced.
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China Remains Greatest U.S. Threat, Says Former Senator Jim Talent
Mon, Feb 3, 2025 at 3:05 pm
Former Senator Jim Talent [R-MO] says China poses the greatest threat to U.S. national security. Talent says China is actively competing against the U.S. using it’s military, economic power, and Chinese-made apps to gather information on American citizens.
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WH Cheers News Hospitals Suspending “Gender Affirming Care”
Mon, Feb 3, 2025 at 3:02 pm
The White House is cheering a reduction in the use of so-called “gender affirming care” for young people at U.S. hospitals. In a news release the white house says “Hospitals around the country are taking action to downsize or eliminate their so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ programs,” It comes in response to an executive order signed last week by President Trump threatening funding for hospitals that provide trnasitioning care to transgender youth, including puberty blockers, hormones and surgery. The release says doctors practicing transgender health care had “maimed and sterilized” children and perpetuated-quote- “a radical, false claim that they can somehow change a child’s sex.”
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Senator Graham Says Pro-Choice RFK Will Implement Pro-Life Policies At HHS
Mon, Feb 3, 2025 at 3:00 pm
Conservative Senator Lindsey Graham [R-SC] says he’s convinced RFK Jr. will implement a pro-life agenda if he’s confirmed to lead the department of Health and Human Services. Senator Graham says despite RFK’s peronal position as “pro-choice” he takes him at his word that he’ll stick to President Trump’s pro-life policies in his role at HHS. In an interview with Fox News Graham described Kdenny as “committed to a Republican pro-life agenda, President Trump’s pro-life agenda, Mexico City policy dealing with chemical abortions,”.
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Trump Signs Order Imposing Tariffs On China, Mexico, and Canada
Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 9:48 pm
President Donald Trump has signed an order to impose stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China. President Trump is declaring an economic emergency to put duties of 10% on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada — America’s largest trading partners — except for a 10% rate on Canadian oil. The move fulfills Mr. Trump’s campaign promise but also raises the prospect of increased prices for American consumers. The White House says the order also includes a mechanism to escalate the rates if the countries retaliate as they have threatened.
Listen DownloadRFK Jr. Tells Senate He Won’t Keep Fees Gained From Vaccine Lawsuits
Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 2:17 pm
RFK Jr. has told the Senate he won’t keep any fees he may receive as part of a vaccine lawsuit. In a letter Kennedy addressed concerns raised by Senator Elizabeth Warren about his plan to keep 10-percent of any fees gained from his invovlement with lawsuits against drug makers. The president’s choice to head the Health and Human Services department says he has amended his ethic agreement so that he will not keep any of the fees. On Friday Kennedy answered written questions that came after his hearing this week before the Senate Finance Committee.
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Senator Tim Kaine Says Reagan Air Space “Complicated And Congested”
Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 1:38 pm
A Virginia senator says overcrowding poses an ongoing risk at Washington DC’s Reagan National Airport. Reagan is one of the nation’s busiest airports, and just last year Congress approved an FAA reauthorization bill that included permission to add 5 more long range flights. Senator Tim Kaine [D-VA] was among those voting against the expansion, warning at the time the airport was alreqdy operating well beyond it’s designed capacity. Its not been determined whether overcrowding played a role in this weeks air tragedy but Kaine told Fox News “ “It is a very complicated and congested airspace.” One he says has gotten even more complicated since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
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“Persecuted”: Hawley Says Gabbard Paying a Price For Telling The Truth About FISA
Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 12:58 pm
One of the Senate’s top supporters of Tulsi Gabbard say her nomination as Director of National Intelligence “may be in jeopardy.” Senator Josh Hawley says he’s worried about the nomination after hearing fellow Republicans respond to Gabbard’s answers at confirmation hearings. He told Fox News Gabbard would bring reform to U.S. intelligence, but is clearly paying a price for -quote-“telling the truth about the government spying on Americans and about the abuses of FISA. “
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“Not A Joke”: Rubio Says Greenland A Matter Of U.S. Security
Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Trump’s idea of purchasing Greenland is “not a joke”. Rubio said during an interview the idea has been talked about for years and is rooted in U.S. Security concerns, especially given China’s interest in the region. He told Sirius XM’s Megyn Kelly “This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land. This is in our national interest, and it needs to be solved,” An optimistic President Trump has predicted Denmark will eventually—in his words-“come along” to the idea of selling the world’s largest island to the United States.
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“Heartbreak Beyond Measure.” Kansas Senators Grieve Over Wichita Flight Disaster
Thu, Jan 30, 2025 at 3:09 pm
Kansas Senators Roger Marshall [R-KS] and Jerry Moran [D-KS] expressed heartbreak over the airline disaster near Reagan National Airport involving a flight from Wichita. The two U.S. Senators held a press conference in which Senator Marshall described the disaster as “a heartbreak beyond measure.” The two had little to say but said they wanted to share their love, caring, and unity with the people of Kansas.
Said Marshall, ““When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when many, many, many people die, it’s an unbearable sorrow.”.
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Intel Chair Tom Cotton Throws Weight Behind Gabbard For DNI
Thu, Jan 30, 2025 at 2:45 pm
Cotton says with more than 20 years in uniform Gabbard—a former Democrat representative from Hawaii-is more than qualified for the nation’s top intelligence job. He told FOX News that Gabbard understands that -in his words- “ “our intelligence community has grown too bloated, too bureaucratic, and it doesn’t do enough collection of intelligence.” Gabbard facing resistance from some Republican senators over her past opposition to FISA surveillance powers. She has now reversed her stance and supports FISA.
Listen DownloadBurgum Vows To Stress Security, Economy As Interior Secretary
Thu, Jan 30, 2025 at 2:43 pm
As Interior Secretary Burgum is expected to ease restrictions on domestic enegy production. He told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee earlier this month he sees energy as crtical to his two top priorities, national security and the economy. Burgum has enjoyed a great deal of bi-partisan support. 25 Democrats backed his nomination if a final procedural vote on Wednesday, all but sealing his confirmation and making the Thursday final confrimation vote a mere formality.
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Dems Boycott. 11-0 GOP Vote Moves OMB Nominee Russell Vought Through Committee
Thu, Jan 30, 2025 at 2:41 pm
President Trump’s nominee to oversee the Office of Management and Budget is one step closer to confirmation. Democrats were AWOL as Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee voted 11-0 to report Russell Vought’s nomination out of committee. That tees his nomination up for consideration in the full Senate. Democrats skipped the votes, using their boycott to protest President Trump’s recent effort to freeze large sectors of federal spending.
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Lee Zeldin Confirmed By Senate As EPA Administrator
Wed, Jan 29, 2025 at 5:40 pm
The Senate has voted to confirm former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin to head the EPA. As head of the Environmental Protection Agency Zeldin will help shape rules that align with President Trumps view of the environment and climate issues. The agency also takes a leading role in the study of environmental challenges, and provides assistance to wide ranging environmental projects. During his recent confirmation hearings Zeldin said “ I strongly believe we have a moral responsibility to be good stewards of our environment for generations to come.”
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Burgum Headed Toward Confirmation Vote For Interior Secretary
Wed, Jan 29, 2025 at 5:35 pm
The Senate has voted to advance former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum one step closer to confirmation as Interior Secretary. Burgum appears headed confirmation after passing cloture on a vote of 78-20, far more than the 60 he needed to advance. His nomination cleared the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by an 18-2 vote last week. He also enjoyed a ringing endorsement from the NRA. His final confirmation vote is expected Thursday night.
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GOP Senators Applaud WH Reversal On Frozen Federal Funds
Wed, Jan 29, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Some Republican senators are applauding a decision by the white house budget office to rescind an order that had frozen a large number of federal assistance programs. GOP senators expressed relief ovder the decision aftering some were flooded with calls from community leaders confused about the orders’ impact on federal grants. Sen. Mike Rounds says the white house took a closer look at the funding freeze after being questioned by GOP lawmakers. Rounds says the feedback falls under the Senate’s constitutional to duty to advise and consent with regard to key white house nominations and sometimes it’s policies.
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RFK Jr. Faces Tough Confirmation Hearing
Wed, Jan 29, 2025 at 1:15 pm
RFK Jr. has been faced some tough questions at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. Lawmakers sought to learn more about Kennedy’s opposition to vaccines, fluoride in water, and junk food. Robert F. Kenndy Jr. Facing a Wednesday hearing before the Finance Committe, and on Thursday is scheduled to field questions from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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Former Israeli Amb. Says Hamas Torturing Israel With Psychological Warfare
Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 3:24 pm
One Israeli insider says the nation has been traumatized by the Hamas terrorist attack and its aftermath. Israel’s former ambassador to the U.S. Dr. Michael Oren says Hamas has been waging its own form of psychological warfare. That includes the latest news that eight of the hostages Hamas agreed to release as part of the ceasefire-hostage deal are dead.
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Dem Sen. Gary Peters of Mich. Won’t Run For Re-Election In 2026
Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 2:03 pm
Democratic Senator Gary Peters of Michigan say’s he’ll retire at the end of his term. Peters says after serving three terms in the House and now two in the Senate, he’s ready to call it quits. He told the Detroit News he’s always seen public service as temporary -quote- “Our Founding Fathers envisioned members of Congress as citizens, serving their country for a few turns and then returning to private life. I agree,” Paters’ departure put’s Democrats at a disadvantage, improving Republicans chances of flipping the seat in a key battleground state.
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Senate To Take Up House Bill Threatening ICC Sanctions
Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 1:19 pm
The Senate is preparing to pass a bill aimed at protecting the U.S and it’s allies from unjust investigations by the International Criminal Court. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas Says that means sanctions against members of the ICC who target the U.S. or it’s allies who are not part of the ICC’s founding charter. Cotton tells the Salem Radio Network the sanctions will block the transfer of property inside the U.S. and deny visas for the violators and the immediate members of their family.
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Sean Duffy Confirmed As Transportation Secretary
Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 1:15 pm
The Senate has confirmed former Representative Sean Duffy of Wisconsin to head the Transportation Department. Duffy was a popular Trump nominee who met with support from Republicans and Democrat alike. He sailed through confirmation hearings this month before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee earlier this month. Saying no department impact American’s daily lives more, duffy vows to focus on aviation and highway safety. Priorities include hiring air traffic controllers, rebuilding hurricane Helene damaged Interstate 40, and restoring worldwide confidence in Boeing after a number of scandals.
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Hegseth confirmed As Defense Secretary in tie-breaking Senate Vote
Sat, Jan 25, 2025 at 10:45 pm
The Senate has voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary. Hegseth now steps into the role of helping fulfill President Trump’s vision to make America “strong again”. The decorated war veteran says he sees himself as a change agent, one who will restore what he calls a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon. Hegseth said during his recent confirmation hearings “It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm.”
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Senate Confirms Kristi Noem As Homeland Security Secretary
Sat, Jan 25, 2025 at 2:11 pm
The Senate has confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary. The vote puts the South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and President Donald Trump’s plans to clamp down on illegal immigration. Republicans kept the Senate working Saturday to install the latest member of Trump’s national security team. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was confirmed Friday night, joining Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
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