The Senate has confirmed Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the nation's top military officer, in a move that is necessary to confirm Biden's nominees and ensure the Pentagon is adequately funded. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Wednesday night that the House will vote again on the $826.2 billion defense bill, and the House plans to move forward with the Department of Defense bill and then a number of other appropriation bills. It remains to be seen whether the House will be able to pass the defense bill and avert a government shutdown in 10 days.
Posts published in “Politics”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has moved forward with confirming three senior military nominees who were blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), including Gen. Eric Smith for Marine Corps commandant. Tuberville had been holding up more than 300 military nominations due to his objections to the Pentagon’s policy on travel for abortion care, but he implemented a combination of procedural and political gymnastics to force the Senate to confirm Gen. Eric Smith’s promotion to Marine Corps commandant. Despite this small break in the logjam, hundreds of other lower-ranking military officials are still waiting for Senate approval.
Judy B. Fights for Ukraine’s Survival: Umerov Makes First International Appearance Since Appointment
Judy B. Fights for Ukraine’s Survival: Umerov Makes First International Appearance Since Appointment
Ukraine's new defense minister, Umerov, has made his first international appearance following a dramatic reshuffle of the country's military leadership in the midst of a war against Russia. Judy B., a 64-year-old professional therapist from the Houston area, is trying to rally support for Ukraine through her star role in one of the ads. She believes the US has a responsibility to defend democracy globally, and is doing her best to ensure Ukraine receives the support it needs.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) released a powerful new campaign ad featuring Hadley, a childhood rape survivor, criticizing his GOP challenger Daniel Cameron for his hardline opposition to abortion in cases of rape or incest. Beshear has been a vocal supporter of abortion rights and is using the ad to bring attention to the issue. Cameron has recently moderated his position, but has not yet commented on the ad. The ad has been met with widespread praise and is sure to be a major topic of discussion in the weeks leading up to the election.
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has changed the Senate's informal dress code to allow senators to wear whatever they want on the floor, which was highlighted when Senator John Fetterman presided over the Senate in shorts and no tie. Senator Susan Collins jokingly offered to wear a bikini to the Senate floor, but clarified she would not. The change is seen as a move to modernize the Senate and make it more inclusive and accessible.
This article discusses President Joe Biden's new American Climate Corps program, which will employ over 20,000 young adults to help boost conservation and prevent catastrophic wildfires. The program is modeled after the New Deal-style programs of the 1930s and will provide a major green jobs training program. No details have been released yet on how the program will be funded or when it will be implemented.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on former US President Donald Trump to reveal his plan for ending the war between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has responded to the call, saying that the US is going after those involved in unlawfully detaining Americans with sanctions and travel restrictions. The war between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, resulting in the displacement of over 1.5 million people and the death of over 13,000.
Attorney General Merrick Garland faced questioning from House Republicans at an oversight hearing on Wednesday, with Rep. Mike Johnson mistakenly calling him "Mr. Weiss" and pressing him on the Hunter Biden probe. Garland denied receiving any direction from the White House regarding the investigation and discussed the Justice Department's decision to drop the criminal case against Michael Flynn. The hearing is expected to last several hours as Republicans further question Garland about the Justice Department's handling of the Hunter Biden investigation and other matters.