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Bob Agnew
Reporting from Capitol Hill, Bob Agnew has updates on what’s going on in the Senate.
Democrats Hear Few Cheers On Anniversary Of Inflation Reduction Act
Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 4:20 pm
As Democrats mark the one year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act they’re finding little enthusiasm among voters. 71% of Americans responding to a Washington Post / University of Maryland survey last month said they know little or nothing about the law. . The president told donors in Utah last week he regrets calling the bill the Inflation Reduction Act -quote-“ because it has less to do with reducing inflation than it does to do with dealing with providing for alternatives that generate economic growth,” One group that shares the president’s dislike of the name…Republicans.. who say not only did the legislation not reduce inflation, but made it worse by pumping billions of dollars into the post-pandemic economy
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Schumer Commits To Senate Hawaii Aid Package
Tue, Aug 15, 2023 at 2:13 pm
Majority Leader Senator Charles Schumer says he fully supports President Biden’s call for a supplemental bill providing emergency assistance to Hawaii in the wake of deadly wildfires, Schumer told reporters in a conference call “Americans can’t fail to answer the call when our fellow Americans are suffering from disaster.” The confirmed death toll as of
Tuesday morning was 99–with only 25% of the burn areas searched.
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Sen. Tim Scott Takes Aim At China In Iowa 2024 Presidential Ad
Mon, Aug 14, 2023 at 4:23 pm
In a new six-figure ad campaign Scott touts his strong support for Iowa farmers and the crops they grow in the nation’s top corn producing state. Support he backs up with several provisions in his proposed farm bill. Scott is focusing his campaign on Iowa, which holds its first-in-the-nation GOP caucuses in January.
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Botched Afghan Pullout A Damper On Military Recruiting
Mon, Aug 14, 2023 at 4:17 pm
A former State Department spokesperson says the deaths of 13 service members two years ago in Kabul is still having an impact on the military. Morgan Ortagus says the botched pullout from Afghanistan is a big reason why many see no point in signing up to fight.
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Economy Tops Concerns For Iowa Voters In 2024
Fri, Aug 11, 2023 at 12:16 pm
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds [R-IA] says economic concerns are driving many voters in her state to take a strong interest in the 2024 election. Reynolds says voters are turning out in droves to see 2024 presidential contenders. The Iowa Republican caucuses are set for January 15th of next year.
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Biden Declares Major Disaster As Hawaii Battles Deadly Wildfires
Thu, Aug 10, 2023 at 3:51 pm
The declaration will free up additional federal funding as the state battles fires on Maui and other locations. The assistance can include grants for housing and home repairs, and loans to cover needs for businesses and home owners. The whit house says the president spoke by telephone with Governor Josh Green and “expressed his deep condolences for the lives lost and vast destruction of land and property.”
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Iowa Governor Reynolds: Tuberville Doing “What He Believes Is The Right Thing To Do.”
Thu, Aug 10, 2023 at 3:28 pm
Senator Tommy Tuberville [R-Ala] is getting support from fellow Republicans for his effort to force the Pentagon to stop using tax dollars to help service members obtain abortions. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds [R-IA] says she understands why Tuberville is taking unusual measures to force a change to the Pentagon policy.
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Senator Cotton: Trump Cannot Get A Fair Trial In DC
Thu, Aug 10, 2023 at 2:51 pm
Senator Tom Cotton [R-Ark] says it’s highly unlikely Trump can get a fair trial in Washington DC. Cotton says the judge appointed to the case has handed down tough sentences for January 6th protesters and likely considers this the a case of a lifetime, and a chance to punish the former president.
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Manchin “Thinking Seriously” About Leaving Democrat Party
Thu, Aug 10, 2023 at 2:47 pm
The independent minded Manchin say he’s thinking of making it official—becoming an Independent before the 2024 election. It’s still to be determihed whether Manchin will make thr switch and if do, seek a third party bid fr th shit hose, or run for a FOURTH term in the Senate. Manchin stresses his differences lie not with West Virginia Democrats but with the national party, telling a West Virginia radio host he’s never conidrred himself a “Washington Democrat”.
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Senator Feinstein [D-Cal] Briefly Hospitalized After Fall At California Home
Wed, Aug 9, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Another medical scare for California Senator Diane Feinstein [D-CA]. A spokesman for Feinstein says she was briefly hospitalized on Tuesday after falling at her home. All scans were clear and the senator was releaed. Feinstein’s age has becaome a growing concern within her own party, especially some progressive House members who says it’s time for the 90-year old to resign. Her bout with shingles earlier this year caused Feinstein to miss narly THREE months of Senate business. Fensten continues o enjoy support from fellow Senate Democrats.
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“Tennessee Three” State Lawmaker Explores Bid For U.S. Senate
Wed, Aug 9, 2023 at 2:06 pm
A member of the so-called Tennessee Three is considering a run for the U.S. Senate. State representative Gloria Johnson [D-TN] rose to fame earlier this year when she, along with two other Democrat lawmakers led a pro gun control demonstration inside the state capitol. The 61 year-old Johnson has filed exploratory paperwork for a possible Senate campaig in 2024. She took a swipe at incumbent Senator Marsha Blackburn in a statement saysing -quote-“Tennessee has a Senator that stands with bullies, I have a reputation for standing up to bullies,” Senator Blackburn was first elected to the Senate in 2018 and goes up for re-election next year.
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Senator Ricketts: Pentagon’s Progressive Focus Distracts From Readiness
Wed, Aug 9, 2023 at 1:30 pm
Senator Pete Ricketts [R-Neb] says the Pentagon is wrong to be offering paid leave and travel expenses for service members who travel to get abortions. Senator Ricketts says most Americans oppose the Pentagon’s new policy. Ricketts tells the Salem Radio Network military leaders are missing the mark by focusing on the president’s progressive social agenda
Senator Tommy Tuberville [R-Ala] has placed holds on some 300 military promotions until lawmakers are given a chance to vot on th Pentagon’s abortion policy.
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Tuberville: Ukraine Vs Russia Like Jr. High Team Vs College Team
Tue, Aug 8, 2023 at 5:07 pm
Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville [R-Ala] says Ukraine has no chance of winning its war against Russia. Senator Tuberville told Fox News he hasn’t voted to approve any funding for Ukraine. While he support Ukraine in its struggle, the conservative senator says no amount of funding will change the fact the country is overmatched. The former football coach compares the battle to a junior high team trying to competer against a college team. His comments come in response to a recent CNN poll showing 55% of Americans oppose additional funding for Ukraine.
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High Court Revives President’s Ban On Ghost Guns.
Tue, Aug 8, 2023 at 3:17 pm
The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that struck down the president’s ban on ghost guns.It was last year the president announced his crackdown on ghost guns—those sold as do-it-yourself kits and that are generally hard to trace. A federal judge in Texas had ruled with gun rights groups that achieving the ban by changing the definition of a gun exceeded the ATF’s authority. The Supreme Court’s emergency ruling pauses that decision as the case moves to an appeals court next week.
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New Georgia Law Would Require Parental Consent For Kids To Use Social Media
Tue, Aug 8, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Lawmakers in Georgia are pushing legislation that would require parental consent before a child could engage in social media. Similar laws have already passed in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Utah. It mirrors a similar effort on Capitol Hill where Republican senator Katie Britt [R-Ark[ has introduced a bi-partisan bill that would ban social media for kids under the age of 13.
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Surveys Show Americans Giving Up Hope Of Retirement
Tue, Aug 8, 2023 at 10:55 am
Several recent surveys show fewer Americans—young or old—believe they’ll be able to retire comfortably. The results of poll taken by Axios and Ipsos show many have given up hope of retiring. A full 29% of workers under age 55% told pollster in July they don’t believe they’ll ever retire. Overall ONE in FIVE say they’ll never retire. 70% of those say it’s because they won’t be able to afford to stop working , vs 19% who say they don’t want to retire. A separate poll by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies found 40% of Gen Xr’s and nearly. HALF of Baby Boomers don’t plan to retire until after 70, or abandoning hopes of retirement altogether.
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Senate Blocks Biden Personnel Over Liberal Policies
Mon, Aug 7, 2023 at 4:54 pm
President Biden’s liberal policies continue to draw attacks from Senate Republicans who oppose his personnel decisions. The role of Labor Secretary remains vacant almost SIX months after the president nominated Julie Su to fill the Cabinet level position. California saw hundreds of millions of dollars of Covid-19 unemployment fraud during her tenure as the state’s top labor boss. Hundreds of military promotions remain on hold over the Pentagon’s effort to sidestep a prohibition on government funding or abortion. Senator Tommy Tuberville says he’ll lift the holds if and when lamakers ared allowed to vote on the Pentagon’s controversial policy.
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Conservative Groups Challenge Biden Student Loan Plan
Mon, Aug 7, 2023 at 4:18 pm
There’s a new court challenge to President Biden’s latest attempt to eliminate student loan debt. The suit was filed by the New Civil Liberties Alliance on behalf of two conservative groups are asking a federal court to block the Biden administration’s plan to cancel $39 billion in student loans. The groups argue that the administration overstepped its power when it announced the forgiveness in July, just weeks after the Supreme Court struck down a broader cancellation plan pushed by President Joe Biden.
42% Biden Approval Lower Than Trump, Obama, Bush For July Of 3rd Year
Mon, Aug 7, 2023 at 2:17 pm
A new poll shows President Biden with an approval rating of just 42%. Just under 55% of likely voters says they disapprove of the president’s job performance. That compares to 42% approval in the latest Real Clear Politics survey factoring in results from 12 separate polls in July. It’s the worst approval rating of any presicdent in the last four administrations for this point in their presidency. Former President Trump enjoyed 43.6% approval in July of his third year in office. Barak Obama 44.6, and George W. Bush 57.2.
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Senator Cruz Calls DC Trump Judge “relentlessly hostile” To Former President
Thu, Aug 3, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Republican Senator Ted Cruz [R-TX] says the judge chosen to oversee the latest charges against Donald Trump has a history of being :relentlessly hostile” to the former president. On his The Verdict podcast th popular conservative senator said the judge in the case –
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan – has what he calls a“reputation for being far left, even by D.C. District Court standards.” Cruz notes the judge has set aside several federal death penalty cases, and has issued strong sentences against January 6th defendants, in some cases longer than recommended by prosecutors. Cruz calls the likelihood a DC jury will vote to convict the former president “exceptionally high.”
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Senator Joe Manchin Blames WH, Lawmakers For Credit Downgrade
Thu, Aug 3, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Manchin is calling the Fitch Ratings downgrade from AAA to AA+ “ a “historic failure of leadership by both political parties and the executive branch.” Manchin has been an outspoken critic of the government’s $32-TRILLION dollar debt. In April he criticized President Biden for showing what he called a “deficiency of leadership” when he at first refused to compromise with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) He says both parties and the whit house have an opportunity to confront the crisis with the end of th fiscal year approaching at the end of September.
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GOP-Dem Pushback as Biden Withholds School Funding For Archery Programs
Thu, Aug 3, 2023 at 12:45 pm
The Biden administration has its sights set on schools that teach archery and hunter’s safety courses. Last year the president signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act . It’s aim was to
keep schools safer in the wake of recent mass shootings, but was criticized as a new form of gun cotrol. Now the administration using the BSCA to withold funding from school archery and huter safety courses. GOP critcs are being joined by Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema and West Virgnia Democrat Joe Manchin. Who calls it-quote-“a gross misinterpretation of the legislation and yet another example of this Administration trying to advance their radical agenda with blatant disregard for the law,”
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DC Police: 911 Call Of Active Shooter In Senate Office Buildings False
Wed, Aug 2, 2023 at 4:02 pm
DC police say reports of an active shooter in Senate office buildings turned out to be false. In an email DC Metro Police write “A call came in for an active shooter. It appears to be a bad call. No injuries and no shooter were located. MPD is assisting US Capitol Police,” . Senate staffers had been told to shelter-in place. And close and lock external doors and windows. Capitol police say they’re continuingto investigate.
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POLL: No Impact On SCOTUS Approval From Recent Conservative Rulings
Wed, Aug 2, 2023 at 3:25 pm
40% of those responding to a Gallup poll in July said they approve of the court’s work, the same number who said that back in September of last year..before the court’s most recent session in which it issued a number of historic decisions. The Court’s lackluster ratings come amod ongoing attacks from Democrat lawmakers at odds with it’s 6-3 conservative majority. Only 17% of Democrats said tey approve of the court’s job perfrmance. Approval is 62% among Republicans.
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