Dec 19 Johnny Isakson, former Georgia Republican U.S. senator, dies By Jeff Amy, Russ Bynum, Associated Press Isakson's son John Isakson told The Associated Press his father died in his sleep before dawn Sunday at his home in Atlanta. John Isakson said that although his father had Parkinson's disease, the cause of death was not immediately apparent. Continue reading
Dec 19 Sen. Joe Manchin says no to $2T bill: 'I can't vote for it' By Hope Yen, Associated Press The West Virginia senator cited a multitude of factors weighing on the economy and the potential harm he saw from pushing through the “mammoth” bill, such as persistent inflation, a growing debt and the latest threat from the omicron variant. Continue reading
Dec 17 Federal appeals court allows Biden employer vaccine mandate to take effect By Geoff Mulvihill, Andrew DeMillo, Associated Press Friday's 2-1 ruling from a panel of judges on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a lower-court ruling that had paused the requirement. Republican-led states are challenging the rule. Continue reading
Dec 17 Illinois governor repeals law requiring parental notification of abortion By Sara Burnett, Associated Press Illinois' governor has signed legislation to repeal a requirement that parents or guardians be notified when girls younger than 18 are seeking an abortion. Continue reading
Dec 17 Watch 4:55 Dems reconsider tweaking filibuster as immigration, voting rights plans get stonewalled By Lisa Desjardins, Saher Khan It was a week of setbacks for the Biden agenda and Democrats in control of Congress. A key piece of immigration reform hit a wall in the Senate, and voting rights bills have stalled. Frustrated Democrats intensified talks of changing… Continue watching
Dec 17 Union objects to results of two Starbucks unionization votes By Carolyn Thompson, Associated Press The union says the coffee retailer waged a "shock and awe" campaign meant to dissuade workers from voting to unionize. Starbucks denies the accusations. Continue reading
Dec 17 Senate parliamentarian deals blow to Democrats' immigration agenda By Alan Fram, Associated Press The Senate parliamentarian says a Democratic effort to let millions of immigrants remain temporarily in the U.S. should be dropped from an expansive social and environment bill. Continue reading
Dec 17 WATCH: National security advisor Jake Sullivan gives remarks at the CFR By Associated Press Russia on Friday published draft security demands that NATO deny membership to Ukraine and other former Soviet countries and roll back the alliance's military deployments in Central and Eastern Europe. Continue reading
Dec 17 WATCH: Biden pledges fight for voting rights, police reform in SC speech By Meg Kinnard, Josh Boak, Darlene Superville, Associated Press President Joe Biden has pledged to fight for stalled voting rights and police reform legislation. Continue reading
Dec 16 U.S. regulators say abortion pill no longer has to be picked up in person By Matthew Perrone, Associated Press Earlier this year the FDA stopped enforcing the in-person dispending requirement because of the pandemic. Under Thursday's decision the agency will permanently drop the rule. Continue reading