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Bob Agnew
Reporting from Capitol Hill, Bob Agnew has updates on what’s going on in the Senate.
“Appalling”! Senator Cotton Blasts Biden Commutations As Political
Mon, Dec 23, 2024 at 4:00 pm
A Republican senator is expressing outrage over President’s Biden’s decision to selectively commute the sentences of 37 federal death-row inmates. Senator Tom Cotton [R-Ark] says the decision was based on politics, not ethics. Senator cotton says he understands those who—on ethical or religious grounds- oppose the death penalty. A ethical conviction he says was clearly absent from the president’s decision to commute the death sentences for a select group of death row inmates.
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“Not The Way To Run The Government” Alaska Senator Blasts Timing, Size Of CR
Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Alaska’s conservative Senator Dan Sullivan [R-AK] says he’s frustrated by both the size and the timing of a House-crafted bill aimed at avoiding a government shutdown. Bob Agnew reports.
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VERBATIM:
Sullivan frustrated at yet another “Behind closed doors” deal
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First there’s the last minute timing
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And so large lawmakers barely have time to read it before voting
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Sullivan tells the Salem radio Network it’s a process that forces senators to vote for a bill they barely understand
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40-Million To Fly For Christmas. Will Drone Sightings Affect Flights?
Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 2:26 pm
It’s still to be seen how numerous drone sightings may impact Christmas air travel. As of this week the FBI has received more than 5000 tips about drone sightings. an even though White House national security spokesman John Kirby says there’s no public safety threat officials in several states are still demanding more answers. At Stewart International Airport in New York last week, the runways were closed for an hour due to drone sightings. With some 40 million people expected to fly next week the FAA is reminding all drone operators to make sure to comply with federal airspace guidelines.
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Senator Kennedy Says Only Trump Can Control GOP’s “Free Range Chickens” In House
Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 1:59 pm
A GOP senator says President-elect Trump should make a trip to Capitol Hill to help Republicans resolve their differences on a Continuing (budget) Resolution. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy [R-LA] says the first version of the CR is so controversial it created what he called a “multiple vehicle pileup” on Capiol Hill. Using his typical colorful language Kennedy told Fox News it’s not Speaker Johnson’s fault because of what he called a lot of “free range chickens” in the Republican party. He adds-quote-““There’s one person that can control the Republican caucus in the United States House of Representatives right now, and that’s Donald J. Trump,”
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Senator Paul Proposes Musk Become House Speaker
Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 1:43 pm
U.S. Senator Rand Paul [R-KY] says Elon Musk should become Speaker of the House. The always fiscally minded Senator Paul notes in a post on X that the House speaker need not be a member of congress and adds that -quote-“Nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk “ to serve as Speaker. As co-chair of incoming President Trump’s Department of Government efficiency [DOGE] Musk is under fire from many on the Hill for his role in sinking the proposed Continuing Resolution compromise achieved by House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Democrats.
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Senators From NY, NJ Ask Government to Investigate Mystery Drones
Thu, Dec 12, 2024 at 3:56 pm
U.S. Senators from New York and New Jersey are asking the government to investigate a number of unexplained drone sightings over their states. In a letter the senators call on the Department of Homeland Security, the FAA, and the FBI to-quote-“identify and address the source of recent unmanned aerial system activity.” Citing a thrat to both civilian and military sites the senators asked for a briefing as soon as possible. A Pentagon spokesperson told reporters there’s “no no evidence the drones came from a foreign entity.
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McConnell Works From Home After Senate Fall Earlier This Week
Thu, Dec 12, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Senator Mitch McConnell [R-KY] continues to work from home after suffering a fall earlier this week. Doctors gave mcConnell a clean bill of health after he stumbled and fell on Tuesday, but he did suffer a scratch to his face and a sparined wrist. The 82 year old McConnell plans to give up his role as party leader at the end of the year, but says he’ll serve out the remainder of his Senate term, which ends in 2026. In the interim McConnell says he’ll fight for greater military spending as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations.
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Republicans Oppose Effort To Eliminate Rebates For PBMs
Thu, Dec 12, 2024 at 11:54 am
Republicans are hoping to defeat legislation that would bring an end to rebates for Pharmacy Benefit Managers -or “PBM’s” -when they succeed at forcing “Big Pharma” to lower its prices. Former Senator Pat Toomey [R-PA] says the big drug companies are hoping to raise consumer prices by ending the rebates that double as a performance incentive for benefit managers
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Former State Dept Spokesperson Credits Netanyahu With Keeping U.S. Safe
Tue, Dec 10, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus says Americans have Israel to thank for weakening terrorist groups that would have eventually attacked the U.S. Ortagus, often in spite of advice coming from Washington.
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“Evil Empire” Senator Cotton Blasts China In Upcoming Book
Tue, Dec 10, 2024 at 4:36 pm
Senator Tom Cotton [R-Ark] is sounding the alarm about China’s aspirations for global domination. Cotton lays out his concerns about China’s Western Civilization in his upcoming book Seven Things You Can’t Say About China.
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Sen. Barrasso Says McConnell “Fine” Despite Fall After GOP Luncheon
Tue, Dec 10, 2024 at 4:33 pm
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell [R-KY] fell and sprained his wrist today (on Tuesday) while walking out of a GOP luncheon. McConnell was walking out of his weekly party lunch with Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso when he tripped and fell. Barrasso—himself a medical doctor—says McConnell walked back to his office on his own. Barrasso described the 82 year old McConnell as “fine” and “100 percent”, and that he’ll be resuming a regular schedule. McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in walking and climbing stairs.
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Senate Bound? Lara Trump Departs Job As Co-Chair Of RNC
Mon, Dec 9, 2024 at 3:50 pm
President-elect Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump has taken what may be the next step toward a new career as a U.S. Senator. Trump announced on Sunday via X that she’s leaving her position as co-chair of the Republican National committee. She called it the honor of her life to have served atop the RNC during what she called the “most consequential election in American history.” It’s been widely speculated Florida Governor Ron DeSantis may appoint Lara Trump to replace Senator Marco Rubio if he’s confirmed as Secretary of State.
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Labor Statistics Show Fewer U.S. Born Workers Employed
Mon, Dec 9, 2024 at 3:48 pm
The latest government figures show a big decline over the past year in the number of native born American workers. The latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirm what economists have been claiming for months..that in President Joe Biden’s economy more American jobs are going to foreign-born workers, incluidng an unknown number of illegal immigrants. Heritage Foundation scholar E.J. Antonio writes on X there are now 1.1 million fewer native-born Americans employed than a year ago. And that -quote-“ all net job growth has gone to foreign-born workers, totally just over 400k since Nov of last year.
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Senate GOP leader Thune Releases Packed 2025 Senate Calendar
Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 5:33 pm
The new GOP-controlled Senate says it plans to spend more days and hours in session in 2025. According to the just published Senate calendar, the upper chamber plans to be in session for 179 days in 2025, compared to just 158 in 2021, the first year of President Biden’s term. It reflects what GOP leaders see as a unique opportunity with Republicans in control of the House, the Senate, and the white house. More time in sessions will make it easier for the Senate to enact the Trump agenda, and move quickly on greenlighting his judicial and cabinet nominations.
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Sen. Cornyn Calls On GOP To Enact Trump Agenda
Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 4:54 pm
Texas Senator John Cornyn [R-TX] says it’s important that lawmakers proceed with all haste in passing a bill to reform the federal budget. Cornyn says a chance like this doesn’t come along very daY. He says it’s rare indeed to see Republicans in control of the House, the Senate, and the white houseCornyn tells the Salem Radio Network he hopes to see a Budget Resolution in place before President-elect Trump is sworn-in on January 20th.
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GOP Senator Says Congress Must Take Swift Action On Trump Agenda
Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 4:49 pm
Senator Thom Tillis [R-NC] says Republicans need to roll up their sleeves and work fast to effect major changes during President Trump’s first 100 days in office. Tillis says if they’re serious Republicans must quickly reassure the American people they’ll take action on the agenda that got Trump elected to a second term.
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GOP Senator: Hegseth Should Commit To Alcohol Abstention
Wed, Dec 4, 2024 at 4:15 pm
Kevin Cramer [R-ND] of North Dakota says given the allegations against Hegseth concerning alcohol abuse, he should commit himself to abstaining in the future. He told CNN “Being familiar with the problems of alcoholism and the dumb things we do when we drink too much, it’d be really nice if he could set that one aside for good, if not at least through his term as secretary.” Hegseth —a decorated war veteran-says he’s facing stiff opposition because he’s a “change agent”, and vows he won’t drop his bid for confirmation in the face of what he calls a “smear campaign” by Democrats.
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“Biden Inc.”? Matt Continetti Suggests Motive For Broad Hunter Pardon
Wed, Dec 4, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Some Washington insiders are speculating President Biden may have offered such a broad pardon to his son Hunter to avoid exposing his own misdeeds. Matt Continetti with the American Enterprise Institute says he expected Biden to do something for his son, but not a pardon. Especially one so broad it goes well beyond the tax-evasion and gun charges for which Hunter was found guilty. Continetti says providing immunity dating back to 2014, the pardon raises new questions about what the president himself may have to hide from his own involvement in a decades-long influence peddling scheme critics call “Biden Inc.”.
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CATO Study Warns Of Massive Green Energy Junk Piles In Near Future
Wed, Dec 4, 2024 at 2:03 pm
A new study indicates the “Green Revolution” is about to leave behind a colossal junk pile. Chris Edwards of the CATO Institute says the components used for “clean energy” only last about twenty years and are not recycled. that means a “clean energy” dumpsite may be coming to a neighborhood near you sometime soon. He also notes the large footprint required to harvest solar energy. Edward says President Biden plans to cover 700,000 acres of federal lands with solar panels across 11 states.
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Senator Manchin Says Biden Should Pardon Donald Trump
Tue, Dec 3, 2024 at 1:51 pm
Senator Joe Manchin [I-WV] is calling on President Biden to pardon Donald Trump. Sen. Joe Manchin told CNN now that President Biden has pardoned his own son he should also pardon President-elect Trump. He says his advice to Biden would have been -quote-” ‘Why don’t you go ahead and pardon Donald Trump, for all his charges?” Trump made history in 2024 by becoming the first former president to become a convicted felon, and as a convicted felon to run for and win re-election.
Listen Download“Open Partisanship!” McConnell Blasts Judges’ Decisions To Unretire
Tue, Dec 3, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Senator Mitch McConnell is blasting the decision by two federal judges to change their minds about retiring now that Donald Trump has won the election. The Senate Republican leader says the decision–apparently aimed to preventing Trump from nominating more conservative replacements- amounts to open partisanship.
McConnell, says “”Looking to history, only two judges have ever unretired after a presidential election. One Democrat in 2004 and one Republican in 2009. But now, in just a matter of weeks, Democrats have already met that all-time record. “
Congress Gears Up For Fight To Extend Trump Tax Cuts
Mon, Dec 2, 2024 at 5:11 pm
Obervers expect a fierce battle in Congress as Republicans seek to extend the Trump tax cuts. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is set to expire at the end of next year, along with the lower tax rates for American workers. Now Republicans hope to work hand-in-hand with incoming President Trump to extend and strengthen the orgininal law, passed in 2027. A key player will be Trump’s Treasure Secretary nominee Scott Bessent, expected to help forge the language in the new tax bill. lowering the corporate tax rate, and putting an end to taxes on both tips and Social Security.
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Democrat Senators Blast Biden’s Pardon Of Son Hunter
Mon, Dec 2, 2024 at 4:50 pm
A number of Democrat Senators have rebuked President Biden for pardoning his son Hunter. Bob Agnew reports.
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VERBATIM: Colorado Senator Michael Bennett [D-Col] is among several democrats who says the president’s decision further undermines trust in government, He says Biden is putting his personal interest above duty , something that -quote” further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all,” Senator Gary Peters [D-Mich] writes on X the pardon erodes trust in government and in his words “emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests.”
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“Buckle Up”. SC Lt. Governor Evette Says DOGE Means Big Changes
Mon, Dec 2, 2024 at 2:11 pm
South Carolina’s pro-business Lt. Governor says she expects some big changes under President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. Lt Governor Pamela Evette says-for starters-government agencies may have to start factoring in common sense business principles like Return on Investment when they undertake a costly project
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