Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak warned that without additional military aid from the United States, Ukraine could lose its war with Russia. Senate Democrats are moving ahead with a vote this week on President Biden's request for $106 billion in emergency funding, including billions in foreign aid, but the vote is expected to fail. Yermak urged Congress to act quickly on the aid package, saying it is "extremely critically important" for Ukraine's future.
Posts tagged as “Arizona Senate”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has announced that he is dropping his monthslong hold on hundreds of military nominations, except for four-star generals and flag officers. This hold had caused a backlog of over 450 officers, but Tuberville has now released all promotions three-star and below. He is continuing to protest a Pentagon policy that reimburses travel expenses for service members seeking reproductive health care, and is calling on the Biden administration to reverse the policy.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has announced his opposition to the $10 billion in emergency U.S. aid to Israel proposed by President Joe Biden, citing concerns about the scale of Palestinian civilian deaths and displacement. The aid package has been met with mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle, with some arguing for its necessity and others raising concerns about potential misuse of the funds. Sanders has made it clear that he does not believe the U.S. should be appropriating such a large sum of money to the Netanyahu government as the Senate prepares to vote on the bill this week.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has rejected former President Donald Trump's motion to dismiss the special counsel's 2020 election interference case against him. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled that Trump cannot be shielded from criminal prosecution for alleged conduct during his time in office. Trump had argued that the four charges brought against him should be dropped, but Judge Chutkan's ruling rejected this argument. The case is now expected to proceed to trial, where Trump will have the opportunity to defend himself against the charges.
Utah voters in the 2nd congressional district will decide between Republican Celeste Maloy and Democratic state Sen. Kathleen Riebe in a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart. If elected, Maloy would become the first woman in Utah’s congressional delegation since 2019 and Riebe would be the first Democrat since 2011. The 435th member of the House will be determined by the election, with Maloy being the heavy favorite in the Republican-leaning district. The election is expected to draw a large turnout, with the winner being sworn in shortly after the election.
President Joe Biden has signed a bipartisan short-term spending bill, preventing a potential government shutdown and giving lawmakers more time to sort out their differences over the federal budget. The bill was signed at the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco while attending the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and passed the House and Senate by wide bipartisan margins. President Biden has urged Congress to pass a long-term spending bill that would provide more certainty for the federal budget, but it remains to be seen if lawmakers can reach a compromise in the new year.
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has recently announced that he will not be seeking reelection in 2024, leading to speculation that he may be considering a run for the White House. In an interview with NBC News, Manchin said he was open to considering a run for the presidency and that he would do anything he could to help his country. Manchin is a moderate Democrat and a vocal advocate for bipartisanship and compromise, making him a potentially formidable candidate.
Tammy Murphy, New Jersey's first lady, has announced her primary campaign to challenge indicted Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez in the 2024 election. In her launch video, Murphy highlighted her work on maternal and infant mortality, climate change initiatives, and other issues. Menendez has yet to comment on Murphy’s announcement.