On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted to oust Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position as Speaker of the House, triggered by a motion from Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and supported by seven other Republicans and 208 House Democrats. Representatives Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) had differing opinions on the ouster, while Representative Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) suggested that the House Democrats should have provided McCarthy with votes to keep the Speakership, contrary to conventional wisdom.
Posts tagged as “Capitol Hill”
The U.S. Capitol Police are investigating an incident in which Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in a Capitol Hill office building. Security video reportedly shows Bowman trying to leave the building before he pulled the alarm. In response, former President Donald Trump claimed Bowman's actions were worse than the ex-president's supporters storming the Capitol, sparking a debate over the appropriateness of Bowman's actions and the implications of Trump's comments. The Capitol Police investigation is ongoing.
The U.S. government is facing a potential shutdown this weekend after the House of Representatives rejected a measure backed by Speaker Kevin McCarthy. White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients said President Joe Biden has no plans to talk to McCarthy, and a group of hard-right Republicans have refused to vote on a continuing resolution to keep the government funded. The White House has urged Congress to pass a short-term deal to keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown.
Tech billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, alongside other tech executives, advocates, civil rights groups, and labor leaders, gathered on Capitol Hill for a closed-door summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Elon Musk warned senators of the potential "civilizational risk" of AI, and endorsed the idea of a new federal agency to oversee it. All 100 senators were invited to the summit, which was the first step towards addressing the risks associated with AI and the need for legislation to regulate its development.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has announced an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, citing the need to gather facts and answers for the American public. The inquiry will seek bank records and other documents from the president and his son Hunter Biden, though the scope of the inquiry is yet to be determined. The move comes as a surprise to many, as the allegations against President Biden have been largely unsubstantiated.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) denied any involvement in conversations with Trump allies regarding his possible presiding over the January 6, 2021 joint session of Congress. A spokesperson for the senator and former lawyer for ex-President Donald Trump both corroborated Grassley's denial. It remains unclear how seriously anyone in Trump's orbit considered using Grassley to grant Trump a second term in office.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has challenged House Republicans to impeach President Joe Biden, suggesting that the push is meant to deflect from former President Donald Trump's legal troubles. Fetterman warned that any attempt to impeach Biden would backfire in next year's elections and diminish the meaning of impeachment. He concluded by reiterating his challenge to House Republicans: “Go ahead, do it. I dare you.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has experienced multiple moments of silence in public settings, raising questions about his health and ability to continue serving in the Senate. He has indicated his interest in running for re-election in 2026, but it is unclear whether his episodes of silence will affect his ability to do so.