Adam Sandler was honored with the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Sunday night, with a star-studded lineup of presenters. Sandler addressed the crowd with a humorous speech, thanking his friends and family for their support throughout his career, while previous recipients of the award include Richard Pryor, Tina Fey, and Carol Burnett.
Posts tagged as “D.C.”
The White House has called for former Vice President Mike Pence to apologize for a joke he made about Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's parental leave at the annual Gridiron Club dinner. The joke has been deemed offensive and inappropriate, as it treated women suffering from postpartum depression as a punchline. Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, has stated that Pence should apologize to women and LGBTQ people for the joke.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has been discharged from the hospital after being treated for a concussion and a rib fracture. He will now go to an inpatient rehabilitation facility for physical therapy before returning home, and his concussion recovery is progressing well. McConnell is the longest-serving U.S. Senator in Kentucky's history and is the most senior Republican in the Senate.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was hospitalized Wednesday after tripping at a Washington, D.C. hotel. He has served in the Senate for nearly four decades, and is the chamber's longest-serving party leader in U.S. history. McConnell is currently receiving treatment in the hospital, though his spokesperson did not provide a timeline for his return.
On Tuesday, a data breach at the Washington, D.C. health insurance marketplace potentially exposed the personal identifiable information (PII) of hundreds of lawmakers and staff. House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine L. Szpindor informed recipients of the breach in an internal memo and warned them that their data may have been compromised. The FBI is currently investigating the breach and the House is providing additional security measures to protect the data of its members and staff.
On Wednesday, the Senate passed a resolution to roll back a controversial criminal code overhaul in Washington, D.C. with a 51-49 majority, including 33 Democrats. This has divided the Democratic Party, who have previously supported D.C. statehood, and sparked debate over the role of Congress in local affairs. The resolution will now go to President Joe Biden, who has said he intends to sign it into law, and its effects on the district's criminal justice system remain to be seen.
Senate Republicans have pushed back against Fox News' portrayal of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol as "mostly peaceful," with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell holding up a letter from the head of the Capitol Police to demonstrate that the security footage shown on the show "Tucker Carlson Tonight" was selectively chosen and did not accurately reflect the violence that occurred. Other Senate Republicans have also argued that the attack was a serious threat to the safety of those in the Capitol and that it should not be downplayed.
District of Columbia Council Chairman Withdraws Legislation Revamping Criminal Laws from Senate Vote
District of Columbia Council Chairman Withdraws Legislation Revamping Criminal Laws from Senate Vote
District of Columbia Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has withdrawn the legislation revamping the district's criminal laws from the Senate, citing the Home Rule Act which requires local legislation to be transmitted to both houses. The Senate is voting this week on a Republican-backed bill that would undo the changes, and the outcome of the vote will determine the future of the proposed changes. Supporters of the bill argue that the changes are necessary to reform the criminal justice system and reduce mass incarceration, while opponents argue that it would weaken public safety and lead to an increase in crime.