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Bob Agnew
Reporting from Capitol Hill, Bob Agnew has updates on what’s going on in the Senate.
“Practically Impossible”: McConnell Says No Border, UKraine, Israel Deal Before Christmas
Tue, Dec 12, 2023 at 3:24 pm
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell [R-KY] says it appears there will be deal on funding for Ukraine and Israel before the Christmas break. McConnell told reporters a deal by Christmas is now “practically impossible” and encouraged President Biden to get more actively involved in negotiations. A disagreement over border reforms-demanded by Republicans as part of the deal-has proven to be a major hurdle. McConnell says even if an elusive compromise were to be reached, there’s not enough time to draft a bill and get it passed in both the Senate and House by the end of the week. The House begins it’s holiday break Friday and won’t be back until January.
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CFP Snub Of 13-0 Florida State Spills Into Halls Of U.S. Senate
Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 6:52 am
When Florida State was denied a spot in the championship playoff despite its 13-0 record, Senator Rick Scott is demand the selection committee provide all communications related to the decision. He’s suggesting 1-LOSS Alabama may have won a spot due to the SEC’s mega-broadcasting deal with ESPN. But Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville says the decision was based on strength of schedule. He ought to know-Tuberville says-since as a former college coach his Auburn Tigers were denied a championship berth in 2004, despite a perfect 13-0 record.
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Son of U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer [R-ND] Charged With Manslaughter
Fri, Dec 8, 2023 at 3:36 pm
The son of North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer [R-ND] has been charged with manslaughter after engaging police in a high speed chase that lead to the death of an officer. Police say 42-year-old Ian Cramer crashed the family’s SUV into a parked police cruiser on Wednesday after an hour long chase. Cramer faces 4 counts in all-manslaughter, fleeing a police officer, reckless endangerment, and driving with a suspended license. Senator Cramer has asked for prayers for the family of the fallen officer. He says his son has a long history of mental illness, and suffers at times from paranoia and hallucinations.
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Senator J.D. Vance Says WaPo Op-Ed Invites “Open Rebellion” Against U.S.
Fri, Dec 8, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Senator J.D. Vance is asking for an investigation into a Washington Post op-ed he says proposes an “open rebellion” against the United States. The Ohio Republican says the piece by author Robert Kagan suggest the re-election of Donald Trump could justify “open rebellion” and the attending political violence. He writes to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Secretary of State Antony Blinkin QUOTE: “ Isuspect that one or both of you might characterize this article as an invitation to ‘insurrection,’ a manifestation of criminal ‘conspiracy,’ or an attempt to bring about civil war,”
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Senator Kevin Cramer’s Son Involved In Deadly Police Pursuit Crash
Thu, Dec 7, 2023 at 5:33 pm
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer [R-ND] says his son was involved in a police chase on Wednesday night that lead to the death of a police officer. Senator Cramer says his son—42 year old Ian Cramer— has a long history of mental illness and hallucinations and was driving a stolen vehicle at the time. Ina statement the senator requests prayers for the family of the fallen police officer and his colleagues.
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GOP Senators Call For Resignation Of FDIC Chairman
Thu, Dec 7, 2023 at 5:31 pm
A group of GOP senators is calling for the resignation of FDIC chairman Martin Gruenberg over allegations of harassment. Five Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee are calling for Gruenberg’s resignation amid allegations the agency fostered a culture that was hostile and damaging toward women. The allegations emerged from a Wall Street Journal invstigation that intdrviewed more than 100 current and former FDIC officials. The Republicans say in a letter to Gruenberg the FDIC needs a leader with more credibility.
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Senate To Hold Hearings On Diabetes, Weight-Loss Drugs
Thu, Dec 7, 2023 at 5:28 pm
Health Committee chairman Bernie Sanders says he wants to learn more about the rise in diabetes cases in the U.S. especially among children. He’ll also focus on a growing list of drugs known as GLP-1 medications. With names like Ozempic and Mounjaro the drugs are being used to fight both diabetes and obesity, but remain too costly for many Americans.
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Graham Warns No Aid To Ukraine, Israel Without Border Reforms
Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 10:47 am
GOP Senator Lindsey Graham is warning Democrats there will be no deal on foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel until they address the crisis at the southern border. Senator Graham using his opening remarks at the Judiciary Committee’s annual FBI oversight hearing to complain that while Democrats may take serious aid to Ukraine and Israel, they’re “playing games” with the U.S. border crisis. Graham says there will not be enough Republican votes to pass an foreign aid bill that ignores real and present danger at the southern U.S. border.
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FBI Director Wray To Testify Before Senate Judiciary Committee
Tue, Dec 5, 2023 at 5:00 am
Director Christopher Wray will testify this morning as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds it annual oversight hearing for the FBI. Committee chairman Senator Dick Durbin plans to seek more information on everything from the FBI’s handling of FISA warrants , to border security and children’s online safety. This year’s hearing may also include strong olitical overtones. There’s growing concern among Republicans the FBI has become a tool in the Democrat’s arsenal to attack President Biden’s political adversaries, most notably former President Trump.
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Senate To Get Classified Briefing On Ukraine, Israel, Funding Bill.
Mon, Dec 4, 2023 at 4:02 pm
Senators are set to get a classified briefing on Ukraine, Israel, and white house plans for a $100-BILLION supplemental spending measure to address those and other national security concerns. A bi-partisan group of senators has been engaged in talks for weeks on the critical issues of U.S. border security. Democrats hope to pass a bill apart from border issues, but many Republicans say they wont support a bill for foreign aid with funds to help address the border crisis. Top GOP negotiator Senator James Lankford says senators are making progress and that he believe a compromise is possible before the end of the year.
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Florida Senator Scott Demands Answers On FSU Exclusion From Playoffs
Mon, Dec 4, 2023 at 3:35 pm
Florida Senator Rick Scott [R-FL] is demanding to know why the Florida State Seminoles were left out of the College Football Playoffs. Scott wants to know why that was despite the team’s perfect record in the regular season, and winning the ACC championship game en route to a 13-0 record. Scott is asking the committe for all emials and other communicatios releated to the decision. He also laments the decision will cost Florida State—and the ACC-about two million dollars in revenue distribution from the playoffs.
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Wray To Testify Before Senate Judiciary Committee
Mon, Dec 4, 2023 at 2:21 pm
FBI Director Christopher Wray will testify Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee as it holds its annual oversight hearing on the FBI. With political overtones all around , Wray will face questions from some Senators who believe the Bures has lately become a willing tool on behalf of Joe Biden, to hartas his political foes, including former President Trump. Committee chairman Senator Dick Durbin has said he’ll seek more infrmation about the FBI’s handling of problems such as the Southern border and the fentanyl crisis and online child safety.
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Graham Warns Would Would Be “Truly On Fire” If Biden Re-elected
Mon, Dec 4, 2023 at 2:18 pm
Senator Lindsey Graham [R-SC] is coming to the defense of former President Trump after a blistering attack from former GOP representative Liz Cheney. Cheney told CBS last week she was worried about the prospect of Donald Trump winning a second term. She warned the U.S. was, in her words, “sleepwalking into dictatorship”. Senator Graham responded on CNN’s “State of the Union” the country faces far more peril from a second Biden term. Quote-“ “Our border is broken. The only person who is really going to fix a broken border is Donald Trump. When he was president, none of this stuff was going on in Ukraine. Hamas and all these other terrorist groups were afraid of Trump.” Despite facing FOUR criminal indictments, the former president remains the leading GOP presidentil candidate by a wide margin
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Schumer Vows Ukraine Aid Vote By December 4th
Mon, Nov 27, 2023 at 1:18 pm
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer [D-NY] says he’ll bring a Ukraine aid bill up for a vote on the Senate floor by December 4th. Schumer writes in a letter to colleagues that one of the most important jobs facing lawmakers is passing a funding that will-quote-“ensure we as well as our friends and partners in Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region have the necessary military capabilities to confront and deter our adversaries and competitors,” He’s also setting the stage for a fierce battle with Republicans, by refusing to inckud funding for U.S. border security. And although the bill includes aid for Israel, it also provides more money for humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza…assistance some critics say will go drectly into the hands of Hamas terrorists
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Democrats Fret Over Vulnerable Red State Incumbents
Mon, Nov 27, 2023 at 12:34 pm
Democrats are more concerned than ever about their prospects for holding a slim Senate majority in 2024. It was already looking like an uphill climb for Democrats to retain their 51-49 majority, but Joe Manchin’s announcement he wont seek another term virtually hands his West Virginia seat to Republicans. Jon Tester is seen as vulnerable in the very RED state of Montana, and Ohio’s Sherrod Brown will have to overcome the odds to outpace Republicans in a state that leands RED. All GOP challengers are being bolstered by declining poll numbers for President Biden, and a corresponding bump in popularity for formrer President Donald Trump.
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TV Doctor Hill Harper To Run For U.S. Senate Seat In Michigan
Tue, Nov 21, 2023 at 2:18 pm
A tv actor says he’s quitting his role on the ABC drama “The Good Doctor” to run for the U.S. Senate. Hill Harper, who plays Dr. Marcus Andrews on the program, says he wont be back for season SEVEN. Instead Harper says he’ll make a run for the Senate seat being vacated by Michigan Demcrat Senator Debbie Stabenow [D-Mich]. She announced earlier this year she won’t seek another term. A spokesman says Harper believes the political system is broken and works well only for the rich and powerful.
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Democrats Fretting Over Possible Manchin Presidential Bid In 2024
Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Senator Joe Manchin [D-WV] is taking heat from fellow Democrats over speculation he may run for president next year. Democrat senators are voicing concern a Manchin THIRD-party run could undermine a Biden re-election bid, and possible lead to what they consider to be a nightmare scenario—another Trump term. Manchin—who has yet to say whether he’ll run next year-has been complaining for some time that politics have become too polarized in Washington,. He saud in a recent interview “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure, to mobilize that moderate, sensible, common-sense middle,”
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Senate Judiciary Subpoenas Tech CEOs On Kid Online Safety
Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 4:50 pm
CEO’s of Big tech companies have been subpoenaed to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify about the steps they’re taking to keep children safe online. Chairman Dick Durbin and Republican Ranking Member Lindsey Graham fired off a subpoena Monday to the CEO’s of Discord, Snap, and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. In a press release the snators say members will get a chance to question the CEOs about what they call “their failures to protect children online.” The hearing is set for December 6th.
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Cruz: Senate GOP To Soon Resolve Standoff On Military Abortion Holds
Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 3:50 pm
Senator Ted Cruz [R-TX] says the Senate will soon resolve the issue of miitary holds put in place by Senator Tommy Tuberville. Senator Cruz says he’s had a number of conversations with the pro-life Tuberville and believes he may agree to a switch in strategy in his bid to force the Pentagon to stop paying for abortions. Some are urging Tuberville to sue to Department of defense over it’s policy . Cruz and other pro-military senators warn that without a change, majority democrats will have the needed support to move a standing order resolution moving all the nminees forward in one fell swoop.
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Senator Roger Marshall Introduces Term Limit Bill For Federal Employees
Fri, Nov 17, 2023 at 3:59 pm
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall [R-KS] has introduced a bill that would impose term limits on unelected members of the federal government. Marshall’s bill, the “ “Tenure Evaluation and Rotation Mandate Act,”would impose 12-year term limits on federal employees. Its goal is to prevent federal employees in executive agencies from making lifelong careers in the federal government. There are some exceptions in the bill. They include Presidential appointees, federal law-enforcement officers, military-service members, and employees in the Department of Defense.
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Senators Fear CR Leaves 2023 Ukraine Funding In Limbo
Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 3:46 pm
Some senators are voicing concerns new Ukraine funding could get left behind this year. Pro-Ukraine senators say now that a continuing resolution will avert the threat of a government shutdown into the new year, there’s no must-pass legislative vehicle onto which they can attach Ukraine funding. They say the president’s $105-BILLION request for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the US Border remains a priority. It faces opposition from several GOP lawmakers demanding the controversial Ukraine funding be separated from the more popular bill supporting Israel. Some House conservatives say they wont support either funding bill unless it includes funds to shore up the U.S. border with Mexico.
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Tuberville Doesn’t Flinch On Military Holds In Late Night GOP Row
Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 3:04 pm
The Senate wrapped it’s week last night (Wednesday night) with a standoff over the military holds put in place by pro-life Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville [R-Ala]. A number of pro-military GOP senators failed again to advance a group of stalled military nominees in a late night effort that stretched into the wee hours of the morning. Among those pushing for the promotions: Joni Ernst of Iowa, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham , and Dan Sullivan of Alaska Senator Tuberville-along with ally Mike Lee of. Utah—say the hods will remain so lng as the Pentagon continues it’s illegal policy of using federal tax dollars to help pay for abortions.
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Author: Restoring “Strong” Reputation Vital to Israel Security
Thu, Nov 16, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Author and former foreign policy analyst Dan Senor says Israel is fighting to save it’s reputation in the battle against Hamas. Senor tells the Salem Radio Network’s Hugh Hewitt to win allies and repel enemies it’s vital Israel restore it’s pro-October 7th image as a regional powerhouse with world-class intelligence services.
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GOP Senator Urges Strategy Shift On Military Abortion Holds
Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 4:34 pm
One pro-life GOP senator is hoping to convince Senator Tommy Tuberville [R-Ala] to end his holds on military promotions. Senator Dan Sullivan says he also opposes the Pentagon’s use of tax dollars to pay for abortions, but says the holds should be instead placed on Biden’s civilian policy administrators who could actually change the policy.
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