Washington Metropolitan Police vehicles hold on the perimeter of the Capitol in Washington on Aug. 26, 2src21. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo In many ways, congressional Republicans’ regulatory rollback strategy is working: It’s dividing Democrats, squashing a progressive D.C. criminal justice plan and forcing President Joe Biden to whip out his veto pen for the
Senate Dems confident they can repeal Iraq war authorizations — despite absences
April 13, 2023 by
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who co-sponsored the bill to repeal authorizations for the use of military force against Iraq’s government, was still confident Tuesday that the measure would pass. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Senate absences have complicated an otherwise straightforward vote to kill two decades-old Iraq war authorizations. Advocates still predict it will clear the chamber
‘Normalize’ doomsday? Dems lambaste GOP’s latest debt-limit gambit
April 13, 2023 by
“As a Democrat, I actually look forward to them voting to put foreign investors ahead of American families for payment,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). | Francis Chung/POLITICO House conservatives are pushing their leaders on a politically doomed idea to lessen the blow of a U.S. debt default. The GOP plan — which has no
Tennessee House speaker pushes back on ‘false narrative,’ racism accusations after expulsion of two Dems
April 7, 2023 by
After two Black Democratic state lawmakers were expelled for joining anti-gun demonstrations last week, protests again engulfed the Tennessee Capitol Thursday. Democratic State Rep. Gloria Johnson survived her expulsion vote but has since accused Republicans of racism, arguing she only remained in her position because she’s White. Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, […]
Fossil fuel profits are vital for green energy projects Dems routinely tout
March 9, 2023 by
Oil and utility companies — which earn the vast majority of their profits from fossil fuel production, generation and sales — have invested billions of dollars in offshore wind ventures highly touted by Democratic leaders opposed to oil and gas development. Offshore wind projects that are expected to provide nearly 20 gigawatts to millions of […]
Dems to Tester and Manchin: Run in 2024, save our majority
March 4, 2023 by
Sens. Joe Manchin and Jon Tester’s moves will determine how both parties allocate their financial resources in what’s expected to be a tough cycle for Democrats. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Democrats are already waging what might be the most consequential fight for Senate control next fall: Getting Jon Tester and Joe Manchin to run again.
House Dems strategize how to achieve a Speaker Hakeem Jeffries
March 3, 2023 by
At their annual retreat, Democrats were endlessly optimistic on the new generation of leaders, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (center). | Francis Chung/POLITICO BALTIMORE — House Democrats embraced three favorite words during their annual retreat: Speaker Hakeem Jeffries. As the new Congress enters its third month, Democrats are full of bluster about their chances of
Dems concerned over handling of Biden documents
February 28, 2023 by
Democratic senators raised concerns at the latest document discovery, with Sen. Joe Manchin offering the harshest review for the White House. | Francis Chung/POLITICO Senate Democrats are wincing at President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents, even as they seek to draw a distinction between the incumbent president and former President Donald Trump. In interviews
Kinzinger: Speaker Chaos Could Cause ‘Coalition Government’ with Dems
February 27, 2023 by
CNN contributor Adam Kinzinger said Thursday on “Anderson Cooper 360” that Republicans and Democrats in the House could create a “coalition” government” to end the ongoing failed Speaker bids of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Kinzinger said, “I think what we’re seeing in some of these, we don’t even know what a lot of these rule
House Dems tap Hoyer to lead new regional council
February 26, 2023 by
Rep. Steny Hoyer will chair the new effort, lending it two decades of party leadership experience and close ties to the Biden administration. | Brian Stukes/Getty Images for Protect Our Care House Democrats are set to launch a new arm of leadership dedicated to fulfilling a longtime party goal — promoting regionally diverse voices to
Dems fret policing talks will be tangled with Tim Scott’s presidential hopes
February 25, 2023 by
Democrats are still eyeing Tim Scott as a partner but they’re wary of the effect that Scott’s aspirations will have on cross-party talks. | Scott Olson/Getty Images Democrats are signaling that they’re willing to work with Republicans on a new policing bill after the death of Tyre Nichols. Who their GOP partners might be is
Dems name former Trump impeachment officials to GOP investigative panel
February 24, 2023 by
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries named Del. Stacey Plaskett, pictured, as Democrats’ top member on the investigative panel. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo House Democrats have tapped a former Donald Trump impeachment manager to lead their counterattack to Republicans’ sweeping investigative panel. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced his picks to sit on the select subcommittee on
Dems name new members to combat GOP investigations — including Schiff
February 23, 2023 by
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) during a hearing at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. on June 21, 2src22. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo House Democrats are placing Rep. Adam Schiff on a high-profile committee at the center of combating Republican investigations for the next two years, fresh off Speaker Kevin McCarthy booting him from another panel.
Woods: Dems Have Completely Flipped Their Position on Twitter Now that Musk Owns It
January 24, 2023 by
On Friday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” actor James Woods said that back before Elon Musk’s takeover, “when they had the power on Twitter, the Democrats were happy to say, well, it’s a private site.” But have now flipped their views on the nature of the site under Musk’s ownership. Woods
Dems plot their own government funding plan as talks stall
January 13, 2023 by
The Democratic funding plan from Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy and House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro will come just days before federal cash expires Dec. 16. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images As bipartisan negotiations on a sprawling year-end package to fund the government remain mired in gridlock, Democrats have a new negotiation plan: publicly releasing their
Don’t worry, be a majority: Dems shrug off Sinema’s switch
January 13, 2023 by
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema poses for a portrait in her office on Capitol Hill Dec. 8, 2src22. | Francis Chung/POLITICO In the end, Kyrsten Sinema’s defection from the party could have been a lot worse for Democrats. The Arizona senator’s decision to go independent will reverberate in Arizona and national political circles for months to come
Term-limit plan sparks generational battle among House Dems
January 12, 2023 by
“I understand there’s a need to share, particularly with a much younger caucus that we have. But I think that penalizing members for being ranking members while they’re in the minority at the expense of an opportunity to be a chairman — I don’t think that’s fair either,” said Natural Resources Committee Chair Rep. Raúl
Senate Dems prepare to join the investigative fray
January 11, 2023 by
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats are seeking to tamp down the ramifications for their majority by vowing that the party would still be able to “exercise our subpoena power.” | Francis Chung/POLITICO Senate Democrats finally have subpoena power, and they’re ready to use it. Though their target list is still under discussion
Dems bask in the speaker schadenfreude
January 6, 2023 by
It’s the third day of a leaderless House, and Democrats are in no mood to bail Republicans out. “They’re not desperate enough yet,” said Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who is precisely the type of moderate Democrat who would be involved in compromise conversations with the GOP. Eventually, she said she may be open to reaching
Senate Dems wrestle over weakening leaders’ power
November 29, 2022 by
“He did this two years ago to me. Now he’s put Amy and Debbie in the boat with me,” Durbin said of Whitehouse, who could be in line for the Budget Committee chairmanship. “He does very well for himself. And yet he continues this campaign.” It’ll all come to a head on Tuesday when Democrats
House Dems on GOP’s thin majority: Welcome to hell
November 29, 2022 by
“I don’t lie awake at night worrying about the bad legislation they are going to pass. Because I don’t think they’re going to pass it,” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.). Awaiting the outcome of just one true toss-up race, Republicans will have a majority of either four or five — giving McCarthy the sparest of
McCarthy: If GOP Plays Games in Speaker Elections, Dems ‘Could End Up Picking Who the Speaker Is’
November 29, 2022 by
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said Monday on Newsmax TV’s “Spicer & Co.” that if Republican members “play games,” the Democrats may end up picking the next House speaker. Anchor Sean Spicer said, “We’ve had a couple of these folks that say that they won’t vote for you on the show. When we ask
Dems ponder the ultimate midterm twist ending: Will Pelosi stay?
November 22, 2022 by
Underscoring the unprecedented scenario Democrats now find themselves in, lawmakers chuckled in a closed-door meeting Tuesday as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) spoke up to agree with something Pelosi said with a quip about her current role. “I associate myself with the previous speaker. The current Speaker. The — well, who knows,” Hoyer said
Dems get in array on future leadership after Pelosi departs
November 19, 2022 by
Their rise was set up when the current top three House Democratic leaders announced Thursday that they would step aside, with the current No. 3 leader, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), even endorsing the new leadership trio. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) endorsed Jeffries in a letter to Democrats announcing his own decision to
Biden projects Dems will fall short of House majority
November 19, 2022 by
Next Video Biden on meeting with Xi: ‘We had an open and candid conversation’ Browse Videos Watch Video How Washington is reacting to Musk’s Twitter takeover Watch Video Comer says Joe Biden is focus of House investigation into Hunter Watch Video Nancy Pelosi says she’ll step down from Dem leadership, in 180 seconds Watch Video
Dems won the midterms on Roe. Congress is another story.
November 16, 2022 by
Even President Joe Biden acknowledged the legislative reality for abortion rights advocates. Asked on Monday what voters can expect on abortion, he said: “I don’t think they can expect much of anything, other than we’re going to maintain our positions.” Cortez Masto sees victory on abortion access differently, though, describing herself and the majority she
Dems strike pre-election deal on policing and public safety
November 14, 2022 by
The House is expected to vote on the package on Thursday, one of its final days in session before the November midterms. The four bills focus on grants for police training and recruitment; addressing mental health crises; preventing community violence prevention and solving gun crimes. Two bills from moderate members Reps. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) and
House Dems’ leadership landscape frozen by their pleasant midterm surprise
November 10, 2022 by
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks on Capitol Hill, Sept. 3src, 2src22, in Washington, D.C. | Mariam Zuhaib/AP Photo House Democrats will be waiting hours, if not days, to know the full results of Tuesday’s surprisingly close midterm election. They could have to wait even longer on the future of their leadership. Republicans are still poised
Pelosi, Dems put politics first in Trump impeachment, new book argues
November 5, 2022 by
“A clear picture began to form of an impeachment that had been crippled by doubt and exploited by avarice — emboldening the president and weakening the legislative branch,” the authors write in “Unchecked: The Untold Story Behind Congress’s Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump.” When asked for a response to the authors’ assertion, Pelosi spokesperson Drew
Dems’ real midterm prize: Command of the judicial wars
October 13, 2022 by
And it’s not hard to distill the political stakes of holding on to the Senate’s confirmation power, given recent history. “We have something like 80 federal vacancies — more coming. To leave those judicial seats vacant is to really challenge the Republican message in this campaign that they’re all for law and order,” Judiciary Committee…