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Bob Agnew
Reporting from Capitol Hill, Bob Agnew has updates on what’s going on in the Senate.
Linda McMahon Passes Committee In Bid For Education Secretary
Thu, Feb 20, 2025 at 3:46 pm
Linda McMahon-President Trump’s pick to head the Education Department-is one step closer to confirmation. McMahon passed the Senate Health,Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Thursday, sending her nomination to the full Senate. McMahon has said she agrees with President Trump the Department of Education should be shut down, and it’s critical functions moved to other departments. Neither she nor the president wish to cut funding Congress has appropriated for schools. McMahon has drawn no opposition from Republicans , meaning her confirmation is virtually assured.
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Senate To Embark On “Vote-A-Rama” On Massive Budget Bill
Thu, Feb 20, 2025 at 5:25 am
The Senate embarks Thursday on a marathon of votes on a massive spending proposal. The Senate is pressing ahead with one of two massive spending bills it hopes to use this year under the reconciliation process that can’t be stopped by a Democrat filibuster. This bill will focus on the border, and national defense. There’sno telling exactly how long the so-called VOTE-A-RAMA will run, but Democrats are expected to engage in lengthy debate and propose numerous amendments.
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Gallup Poll: Congress’ Approval Rating At Four Year High
Wed, Feb 19, 2025 at 6:17 pm
A new poll shows Americans’ approval of Congress at a four year high. The latest Gallup Poll shows 29 percent of respondents approve of the job Congress is doing while 69% disapprove. On January 15th the same poll showd just 17% approval. The surge coincides with Senate confirmation of severalTrump Cabinet nominees, and Republican majorities in both chambers working to advance the president’s agenda on issues ranging from the border, to national security and the U.S. economy.
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Senator Hawley Calls For Inspector General For U.S. Money To Ukraine
Wed, Feb 19, 2025 at 6:11 pm
Senator Josh Hawley [R-MO] is calling for the creation of a new Inspector General to investigate all the money spent to help Ukraine in its war against Russia. Citing the possibility of corrupt spending under the Biden administration Hawley said in a post on X ““It’s time for a special inspector general dedicated to auditing EVERY PENNY spent on Ukraine,” Hawley suggests wasteful spending tied to Ukraine could be worse than abuses turned up at US-A-I-D.
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Senate Confirms Kelly Loeffler To Lead Small Business Administration
Wed, Feb 19, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler [R-GA] has been confirmed to serve as administrator of the Small Business Administration. By a vote of 52-46 the Senate confirmed Loeffler, who served a brief stint representing Georgia in the upper chamber before losing in a special election in 2021. She has a strong bsckgroubd in business and her husbsnd is chairman of the New YorkStock Exchange. Majority Leader Joh Thune told colleagues entrepreneurs are one of the country’s greatest assets and that —in his words- Sen. Loeffler will “be their champion”.
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Senate Confirms Howard Lutnick As Commerce Secretary
Wed, Feb 19, 2025 at 6:34 am
President Trump has another like-minded cabinet member to help advance his America First trade policies. The Senate last night confirmed Howard Lutnick to serve as U.S. Commerce Secretary. In his role he’ll help advance “America First” by advocating for U.S. business interests, including the possible use of tariffs. Lutnic, a long time trump ally and Wall Street billionair will also have the job of restricting the sale of some sensitive U.S. technology -like semi conductors- to adversaries like Russia and China.
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Senate Confirms Howard Lutnick As Commerce Secretary
Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 8:33 pm
By a vote of 51-45 the Senate has voted to confirm Howard Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce. He brings to the role years of successful business management. A Wall street billionaire, Lutnick will play a major role in President’s Trump’s American first trade strategy, including the use of tarrifs. In the role Lutnick will advocate for U.S. business interests, and keep a watchful eye on U.S. exports of sensitive technology to adversaries like China and Russia.
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Senate Proceeds With First Of Two Budget Reconciliation Bills
Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 8:31 pm
The Senate has voted to proceed with its version of a massive federal budget bill. The bill will be one of two shots Republicans have to advance spending related bills this year under the rules of reconciliation, which means the legislation cannot be stopped by a Democrat filibuster. It does however open the door to hours and hours of intense debate and amendments. Senate Republicans hope that by passing their version first, it will keep ahead of House Republicans expected to try and finalize their own massive spending proposal next week.
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Senate May Begin “Votorama” On Mega Budget Bill
Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 5:56 am
The Senate may vote as early as tonight (Tuesday) on a megabill designed to enact a big part of President Trumps’s agenda. As Republicans make use of what’s known as the reconciliation process Democrats won’t be able to stop passage, but are expected to subject the contents to long debate. They’ll also introduce a long string of amendments that require votes. The bill icludes $175 BILIION for the border and $150 BILLION for defense. Senate Republicans are allowed two filibuster-free budget related bills under reconciliation, and hope to pass a second, dealing with other Trump priiorities later this year.
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Senate Votes To Advance Gabbard To Final Vote For DNI
Tue, Feb 11, 2025 at 4:55 am
Tulsi Gabbard is one step closer to becoming the top U.S intelligence official. Bob Agnew reports The Senate on Monday advanced the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to serve as Director of National Intelligence toward a final confirmation vote later this week. She won by a 56-42 vote after winning support from reluctant GOP sebators who feared she might be too lax toward security breaches, after she refused to describe former. NSA contractor Edwin Snowden as a traitor, for his massive document leak. Gabbard is expected to win confirmation later this week when the Senate holds a final vote.
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Senate Votes To Advance Gabbard DNI Nomination To Final Vote
Mon, Feb 10, 2025 at 6:30 pm
The Senate has advanced the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to serve as Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard has been one of President Trump’s most challenged nominees, but Monday’s vote shows she gained anough Republican support to guarantee success when the Senate holds its final confirmation vote later this week. Gabbard had to overcome criticism for past comments in support of Edward Snowden who leaked classified information, and comments critics say echo Russia’s justification for the war in Ukraine.
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VP Vance Plays Major Role In Winning Senate Votes For Trump Nominees
Mon, Feb 10, 2025 at 2:33 pm
Vice President JD Vance has begun to play a major role in helping get a number of Trump Cabinet nominees approved by the Senate. Vance has quickly emerged as President Trump’s middle-man to the Senate. Majority leader JohnThune describes Vance as “enormously helpful”-as a liason between the president and members who may have serious question about Trump nominee. He played a pivotal role in persuading lone GOP holdouts to drop their objections against confirming both Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel, both due for final confirmation votes this week.
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Israeli Historian Says Many Still Puzzled By Lack Of U.S. Support Under Biden
Fri, Feb 7, 2025 at 4:28 pm
A former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. says many observers in his country are still puzzled by the lack of support from the previous administration when the country was battling Hamas. Dr. Michael Oren says after all, Israel was fighting for it’s very survival against an enemy diametrically opposed to everything both th U.S. and israel stand for.
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“Really Good Momentum” – GOP Senator Pleased With Confirmation Pace
Fri, Feb 7, 2025 at 1:48 pm
A freshman Republican Senator says he’s pleased with the progress Republicans have made in confirming President Trump’s cabinet nominees. Senator Dave McCormick [R-PA] says despite the fact that Democrats are pulling out all the stops to slow things down the Senate has already confirmed 13 Trump cabinet nominees, the fastest pace in decades. Next week two high profile nominations will dominate the debate. Kash Patel for Director of the FBI, and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence.
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Western Senators Propose Creating A Wildfire Intelligence Agency
Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 3:39 pm
A group of western senators have proposed a bill that would create a Wildfire Intelligence Agency. The bi-partisan proposal is led by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) The Ag4ncy would facilitate greater coordination amongs federal deparments and operate across state lines.
Senator Hickenlooper says “Wildfires don’t care about state lines or forest service boundaries.” He says a centralized wildfire intelligence center will speed the response to fires and promote cross-agency collaboration.
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Linda McMahon To Face Education Committee Hearing Next Week
Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Linda McMahon’s nomination to serve as President Trump’s Education Secretary goes before a Senate Committee next week. McMahon previously served as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. She’s likely to face attacks from Demcrats over her qualifications in education, as well as a lawsuit from her time leading World Wrestling Entertainment. It all comes even as President Trump signals he would like to abolish the Department of Education. He says if McMahon is confirmed one of her mains tasks would be to -quote-“put herself out of a job.”
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Democrats Force Delay In Committee Vote On Patel FBI Nomination
Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 2:02 pm
The Senate Judiciary Committee has delayed its vote on the nomination of Kash Patel to head the FBI. Democrats on the committe are so opposed to advancing the nomination they’ve forced a hold, meaning the committee vote won’t happen until next week. The delay is not expected to prevent Patel’s eventual confirmation. Cmmittee chair Republican Chuck Grassley has described Patel’s career as a “study in fighting for unpopular but righteous causes, exposing corruption, and putting America First.”
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Senate Advances Russell Vought OMB Nomination To Final Vote
Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 5:22 am
The Senate is expected to vote Thursday to confirm Russell Vought (pro. “VOTE’”) as Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Vought can expect no support from Democrats after they boycotted his committee vote altogether and all voted against advancing his nomination to a final vote. Democrats are outraged over a OMB memo last month that ordererd a temporary pause in the disbursement of loans, grants, and other financial assistance to study whether the spending complied with President Trump’s agenda. The memo has since been rescinded by the White House. Vought served in the same capacity during President Trump’s first term.
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McConnell Falls Leaving Senate Chamber, Appears Unhurt
Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 3:04 pm
Multiple media reports say McConnell fell twice on Wednesday. First as he was descending a small flight of stairs leaving the Senate chamber. Witness said the 82 year old former GOP leader appeared to be unhurt and was helped to his feet by fellow senators Markwayne Mullin and Steve Daines. He fell a second time a short time later during a lunch meeting in the nearby Mansfield room.. It’s latst health scare for McConnell . He fell in December of last year and previously had several strange “freezing” episodes in which he seemed to lose his train of thought.
Listen DownloadSenate Confirms Scott Turner as Housing Secretary
Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 1:23 pm
The Senate has confirmed Scott Turner to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Turner is a former NFL player who said during confirmation hearings that HUD has failed in it’s core mission-and shared his passion for addressing the problem-quote-“As a country, we’re not building enough housing. We need millions of homes, all kinds of homes: multifamily, single-family, duplex, condos, manufactur[ed] housing, you name it.” Democrats John Fetterman and Peter Welch voted alongside all Republicans in confirming Turner on a vote of 55-44.
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Senate Looks At “De-Banking” Of Religious and Pro 2nd Amendment Americans
Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 12:43 pm
The Senate took a closer look today (on Wednesday) at why so many major banks are “de-banking” would be customers. Republican Senator John Kenny says a lot of banks are discriminating Against would be customers who are religious, support gun rights, or even because they support fossil fuels. And Mike Ring with Old Glory Bank told the Senate Banking Committee it’s all the mega banks. Republicans and Democrats disagree on whether it’s the banks themselves, or pressure from federal regulators setting bank policy based on a customer’s political views.
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Gabbard DNI Nomination Headed For Full Senate After 9-8 Committee Vote
Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 4:36 am
Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to serve as Director of National Intelligence is on its way to the full Senate. Gabbard passed the Senate Intelligence Committee by a 9-8 party-line vote Tuesday. It came just hours after she was able to win over Republican holdout senator todd Young, frustrated by her refuseal to label for NSA whistelblower Edward Snowden a traitor. The vote puts Gabbard just days away from being considered by the full Senate.
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Gabbard Nomination For DNI Passes Senate Intelligence Committee
Tue, Feb 4, 2025 at 4:24 pm
The Senate Intelligence Committee has approved the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence. The 9-8 party-line vote came only after Gabbard managed to ease the concerns of one reluctant GOP holdout-Sentor Todd Young [R-Ind] of Indiana. He had expressed frustration at last week’s hearing when Gabbard refused to label former NSA contractor Edward Snowden a traitor for leaking classified documents. Youg says he subsequently got assurances from Gabbard she would not pardon Snowden, and work to prevent similar public whisteblowers in the intelligence community.
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Senate Confirms Former Georgia Rep. Doug Collins As VA Secretary
Tue, Feb 4, 2025 at 4:04 pm
The Senate has confirmed Doug Collins to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Collins enjoyed broad bi-partisan support, despite Democrat concerns he’ll uphold the federal law that bans the VA from performing abortions. That law was temporarily amended under President Biden in 2022. Separately Collins has disavowed any intention to privitize the VA. But the former Georgia congressman told his committee hearing last month the VA “existits for the veterans”, and that some veterans may prefer to use private providers.
