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Bob Agnew
Reporting from Capitol Hill, Bob Agnew has updates on what’s going on in the Senate.
Rep. Taylor Green Calls GOP Senators Supporting Border Deal “Traitors”
Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 3:01 pm
Conservative Representative Marjorie Taylor Green [R-GA] has some harsh words for GOP senators backing a bi-partisan border compromise. Green says GOP senators supporting the deal are in her words-“willing to be traitors to our country.” She also questions calling the bill “bi-partisan” and says it’s only supported by a handful of GOP senators. She also says anybody who supports the bill allowing up to 5000. Illegals to flood across the border every day should be -quote-“ashamed of themselves and they should resign, because they’re not serving the American people,”
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Senator Joe Manchin’s Wife Hospitalized After Accident In Alabama
Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 2:39 pm
Senator Manchin says his wife Gayle and a colleague were in an accident wile driving in Birmingham, on their way to an event for the Appalachian Regional Commission. In a statement Manchin writes “Both were admitted to UAB Hospital and are receiving excellent care. She remains in stable condition but will stay there for a couple of days for precautionary measures,” Manchin also thanked first responders who responded to provide assistance.
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GOP Hopes Wealthy Businessman May Flip Wisconsin Senate Seat
Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 5:23 pm
Republicans hope a wealthy businessman can help them unseat popular Democrat Senator Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin. Madison businessman Eric Hovde is expected to enter the race next month, with the full backing of the Senate GOP campaign apparatus. One reason he’s viewed as a strong contender to unseat Baldwin may be Hovde’s willingness to spend freely on his own cmpaign..up to $20-MILLION according to some reports. Still, the GOP has tried nd failed twice before to unseat Baldwin, known as a strong fundraiser. Her Wusconsisn seat is one of a handful Republicas hope to flip in their effort to win back the Senate majority.
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Democrat Senators Cite Housing Costs In Urging Fed To Lower Rates
Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 4:55 pm
A group of Democrat senators has sent a letter to Fed chairman Jerome Powell, saying rates should be lowered due to lack of affordable housing. It reads ““As the Fed weighs its next steps in the new year, we urge you to consider the effects of your interest rate decisions on the housing market and to reverse the troubling rate hikes that have put affordable housing out of reach for too many,” The FED has issued a series of rate hike in 2022 and 2023 to tame inflation, which had reached a 40 year high after the President passed TRILLIONS of dollars in government spending related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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GOP Hopes High In Michigan Despite State Party Turmoil
Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 4:26 pm
Things are looking up for Republicans in Michigan, a state they hope to flip from Blue to Red in November. Despite reports of recent turmoil on the state GOP party, Republicans have several things in their favor as they seek to flip a Michigan seat that could help them retake control of the Senate. A poll from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ shows former President Trump leading Joe Biden by several points In another bad indicator for the white house, some observers expect the state’s sizeable Muslim population to shy away from supporting Biden in November, angry over his support for Israel in it’s war against Hamas.
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Senate GOP May Decouple Ukraine Aid Bill From Border Security
Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 11:28 am
Rumours have begun to swirl that minority leader Mitch McConnell [R-KY] is in the planning stages for a stand alone bill offering aid to Ukraine. That comes amid widpread speculation any version of a border bill that comes out of the Senate will be DOA in the House. Conservatives there are demanding the white house make major policy changes at the U.S. border before they sign on to billions in foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel.
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Republican Warns Democrats Will Eliminate Filibuster Unless GOP Recaptures Majority
Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 11:02 am
GOP Senator Steve Daines [R-Mont] is warning Democrats will eliminate the filibuster if Republicans fail to win back the majority in this year’s election. Daines told a gathering of conservatives in Washington Democrats will succeed in eliminating the filibuster if they hang on to power. They tried in 2022 but were stymied moderate Democrats Kyrstin Sinema and Joe Manchin who voted with Republicans to keep the 60 vote threshold- alive. Noting that neither moderate will likely be in the Senate next year, Daines says majority Democrats would likely move to make Washington DC a state, and try to give Democrats a permanent advantage in federal elections.
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More Americans File For Jobless Benefits
Thu, Jan 25, 2024 at 9:47 am
The Labor Department says applications for unemployment benefits rose to 214,000 for the week ending Jan. 20, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week. Overall, 1.83 million Americans were collecting jobless benefits during the week that ended Jan. 13. That’s an increase of 27,000 from the previous week. Weekly unemployment claims are viewed as representative for the number of U.S. layoffs in a given week.
Listen DownloadGDP Sees 3.3% Growth In Fourth Quarter
Thu, Jan 25, 2024 at 9:20 am
The nation’s economy grew at an unexpectedly brisk pace of 3.3% in the FOURTH quarter of 2023. Americans showed a continued willingness to spend freely despite high interest rates and price levels that have frustrated many households. The GDP decelerated from its sizzling 4.9% annual growth rate the previous quarter. But the latest figures mark the sixth straight quarter in which GDP has grown at an annual pace of 2% or more. For all of 2023, the economy grew 2.5%, up from 1.9% in 2022.
Listen DownloadIsrael Near To Achieving Goals In Gaza, Says Retired U.S. Navy Admiral
Tue, Jan 2, 2024 at 3:14 pm
A retired U.S. Navy admiral says Israel is making good progress toward its goals in the war against Hamas. Retired admiral James Stavridis says it’s been a productive start to the war. He says two objectives will make the point conclusively. First Israel will have to destroy Hamas leadership, and then destroy Hamas’ complex tunnel system. It’s a process Stavridis says Israel can likely accomplish within a few months.
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Senators Likely To Tackle Social Media Ills In 2024
Tue, Jan 2, 2024 at 3:11 pm
A number of Senate committees will be looking more closely at the impact social media has on teens and younger children. But it’s impact on broader society is also of concern, especially with a national election right around the corner. Leftist Democrat John Fetterman is the most recent to speak out about the ill effects of socizl media. Telling CBS News checking his social media worsened his mental health after he was elected and after he was temporarily hospitalized for clinical depression last year.
Listen DownloadUSS Ford Returning To Norfolk, Virginia
Tue, Jan 2, 2024 at 3:07 pm
The U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet says te USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier will return to it’s home port of Norfolk, Virginia in coming days. It’s been deployed near to Israel for nearly two months to lessen the prosect of a broader regional conflict. Another carrier—the U.S.S. Eisenhower will remain in theater, along with other destroyers, battle cruisers, and a Marine rapid response force.
Listen DownloadMastercard SpendingPulse Says Holiday Spending Higher In 2023
Wed, Dec 27, 2023 at 8:04 am
Shopping tracker Mastercard SpendingPulse says holiday sales rose this year. The indicator tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards, found sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve. It saw a rise of 3.1-PERCENT , but that was a slower pace of increase than last year…when it was 7.6%. The data –released on Tuesday –excludes the automotive industry and was not adjusted for inflation.
Listen DownloadMcConnell Nominees Blocked By Republican Senator Josh Hawley [R-MO].
Wed, Dec 20, 2023 at 2:45 pm
Hawley stopped McConnell’s nominations for the Federal Trade Commission and the NTSB from passing by “unanimous consent”. He notes they were part of a deal by which McConnell agreed to support a host of Biden nominations. He accused McConnell of -in his words-“giving away too much” just to get his former staffers nominated to the posts. Hawley says he wants more time to vet the nominees. The senator from Missouri has become one of McConnell’s most staunch Republican opponents in the Senate.
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TN Senator Hagerty Says Colorado Trump Exclusion A Threat To Democracy
Wed, Dec 20, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Senator Hagerty says there was no due process and called the ruling that “a blatant political decision”. Hagerty-who has endorsed Donald Trump and served as his ambassador to Japan- also complained to Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo that “we have a ruling here that would disenfranchise half of Colorado.” Hagerty also says the Colorado ruling poses a far greater threat to Democracy than any threat Democrats say would accompany a Trump re-election.
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Senate Leaders Optimistic On Border Talks, Despite No Deal in 2023
Wed, Dec 20, 2023 at 1:59 pm
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell say they see a border compromise on the horizon. In a joint statement they say challenging issues remain,, but that -quote-“we are committed to addressing needs at the southern border and to helping allies and partners confront serious threats.” Republicans are insisting U.S. border reforms be part of any supplemental deal with aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Twaian.
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POLL: Trump Supporters Like That He’s Less Likely Than Other GOP Candidates To Compromise
Thu, Dec 14, 2023 at 5:20 pm
63% of Trump supporters responding to a Pew Research Center poll said they like the fact Trump prefers to fight rather than compromise. Supporters of former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley support compromise the most, 72%. Just over half of those who support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis prefer compromise. Nationwide primary polls give Trump a 51 point edge over both Haley and DeSantis, each with about 11% support.
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Senate Delays Christmas Break To Work On Border Compromise
Thu, Dec 14, 2023 at 4:52 pm
The Senate had been expected to leave town for it’s Christmas break after wrapping up business this week, but Majority Leader Charles Schumer now says the Senate will return Monday in hopes of reaching a border compromise. Republicans are demanding policy changes theysay are needed to secure the border as part of their support for the supplemental spending bill both sides say they wat for. Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. GOP senators don’t appear optimistic. Republicsn Lindsey Graham says-quote-““I think we’re a long way from being able to pass something that matters by the end of the year,”
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House Expected To Pass NDAA After Final Senate Passage Came Wednesday Night
Thu, Dec 14, 2023 at 9:46 am
Despite some disagreements over amendments, the National Defense Authorization Act passed with strong bi-partisan support. The $886-BILLION dollar pricetag includes a 5% pay hike for the troops. It spends more than 11-BILLION to deter China and some800-MILLION to help Ukraine. Much more mney is expected for U.S. allies Ukraine Israel and Taiwan in a supplemental spending bill favored by both parties but held up by a deep divide over GOP demands for policy reforms at the southern U.S. border.
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87-13. Senate Passes 2024 NDAA Defense Bill
Wed, Dec 13, 2023 at 8:12 pm
The Senate has passed the National Defense Authorization Act for 2024. By a vote of 87-13 the Senate put its final stamp of approval on the annual defense bill. The bill provides $886-BILLION for fiscal 2024 to cover Defense needs from a 5.2 percent pay raise for troops, to $800-million to support Ukraine, and more than 11-BILLION to deter China. Next stop for the bill, the U.S, House where it’s expected to easily pass before the end of the week and be sent to President Biden.
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Obama Senior Advisor: WSJ Poll “Very, Very Dark” For Biden Campaign
Wed, Dec 13, 2023 at 4:28 pm
Former President Obama’s senior advisor David Axelrod calls a recent poll “very, very dark” news for the Biden campaign. On the “hacks On Tap” podcasts he co-hosts, axelrod says of a weekend Wall Street Journal Poll “…job approval down, ratings generally down, most of the comparatives with [former President] Trump … not good,.” Only 37 percent of respondents said they approve of Biden’s performance, and by a FOUR percent margin-47-43 %—said they would vote for Trump over Biden. 53% said President Biden’s policies have caused them harm, somethig ony 37% said of former President Trump.
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McConnell Blast Biden’s Pro-Palestinian Judicial Nominee
Wed, Dec 13, 2023 at 2:28 pm
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell [R-KY] is criticizing Biden judicial nominee Adeel Abdullah Mangi for supporting Muslim extremist propaganda. McConnell calls the nomination “head spinning” at a time of growing anti-semitism in the United States. Mangi sat on the board of an organization affiliated with Rutgers university known for condemning Israel and praising anti-Israel terrorist groups.
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Ohio’s Sherrod Brown Hopes Pro-Abortion Credentials Overcome Red State Pro Trump Electorate
Tue, Dec 12, 2023 at 4:11 pm
It appears abortion may make or break the re-election campaign of Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown [D-OH]. Senator Brown’s seat has been seen as one of the most likely for Republicans to flip in 2024. Voters there cast their ballots decisively for Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020. But in the aftermath of a Supreme Court decision striking down Roe v Wade, Brown is leaning hard on his pro-abortion credentials, and stoking fears a Republican majority in the Senate could lead to a nationwide abortion ban. Just last month Ohio voters passed a ballot initiative enshrining abortion protections in the state constutution.
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Senators Urge United Nations Investigation Into Hamas Sexual Assault
Tue, Dec 12, 2023 at 3:42 pm
A bi-partisan group of senators has signed a letter to the United Nations calling on the world body to investigate allegations of sexual assault by Hamas terrorists in their attack on Israel October 7th. Allegations of sexual assault by Hamas have been numerous and well documented. NBC News was the first to report that 33 U.S. senators have signed on to a letter to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Gutteres asking him to launch an investigation. The letter calls such an ivestigation -quote-“a necessary step to hold perpetrators accountable, support survivors, and provide justice for victims.”.
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