Jan 03 Talks go nowhere as partial government shutdown enters 13th day By Lisa Mascaro, Catherine Lucey, Associated Press No one budged at President Donald Trump's closed-door meeting with congressional leaders, so the partial government shutdown persisted over his demand for billions of dollars to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. They'll all try again Friday. Continue reading
Dec 21 WATCH: Trump signs criminal justice reform bill By Kevin Freking, Associated Press President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill at 11 a.m. ET today. Watch his remarks here. Continue reading
Dec 19 Trump says he’s eager to sign sweeping criminal justice bill By Kevin Freking, Associated Press The Senate passed a sweeping criminal justice bill Tuesday that addresses concerns that the nation's war on drugs had led to the imprisonment of too many Americans for non-violent crimes without adequately preparing them for their return to society. Continue reading
Dec 18 Shutdown talk recedes after White House eases wall threat By Lisa Mascaro, Matthew Daly, Catherine Lucey, Associated Press President Donald Trump and leaders in Congress appeared to be pulling back Tuesday from a government shutdown over his $5 billion request for border wall funds… Continue reading
Dec 15 Trump pushes Congress for new health law after court ruling By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press After a federal judge ruled that the Obama-era health overhaul was “invalid,” President Donald Trump is looking to congressional leaders to come up with a replacement even as the White House says the current law will remain in place for… Continue reading
Dec 11 Facing pressure, Mitch McConnell agrees to criminal justice vote By Mary Clare Jalonick, Kevin Freking, Associated Press Under pressure from President Donald Trump and many of his Republican colleagues, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he will bring legislation to the floor to overhaul the nation's sentencing laws. Continue reading
Dec 03 ‘Here lies a great man’; George H.W. Bush saluted as ‘gentle soul’ at Capitol ceremony By Calvin Woodward, Laurie Kellman, Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press Bush will lie in state in the Capitol for public visitation through Wednesday. An invitation-only funeral service is set for Wednesday at Washington National Cathedral. Continue reading
Nov 27 Mitch McConnell: U.S. must respond to ‘abhorrent’ Khashoggi killing By Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says "some kind of response" is needed from the United States for Saudi Arabia's role in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and senators are "discussing what the appropriate response would be."… Continue reading
Nov 27 Pence and Kushner make push for criminal justice rewrite on Capitol Hill By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Senators announced a bipartisan agreement on the legislation earlier this month, but McConnell has yet to say whether he will hold a vote on the bill. Vice President Kike Pence and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner are expected to… Continue reading
Nov 26 Senate GOP take up judicial nominee some lawmakers call ‘the worst’ By Kevin Freking, Associated Press Senate Republicans are working to soon fill the nation's longest judicial vacancy with a North Carolina lawyer whose nomination has raised objections from black lawmakers and civil rights groups concerned about his work defending state laws found to have discriminated… Continue reading