Ex-Sen. Burr: SEC probe into trading over with 'no action'
Former North Carolina U_S_ Sen_ Richard Burr says the investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission into investment sales early in the coronavirus pandemic has concluded with โno action.โ.
Senate set to vote on bill protecting same-sex marriages
The Senate is set to vote Tuesday on legislation to protect same-sex and interracial marriages, putting Congress one step closer to ensuring that such unions are enshrined in federal law.
Outgoing senators backing US recognition for 2 state tribes
Native American groups in Alabama and North Carolina are hoping that two outgoing U.S. senators can help them achieve something that's been elusive so far: federal recognition as tribes.
NC Senate nominees parry over abortion, inflation in debate
The two major-party candidates seeking to succeed retiring North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr have parried over topics like abortion and inflation for what is likely their only televised debate.
Budd embraces Trump, abortion opposition in NC Senate race
North Carolina Republican Senate candidate Ted Budd is leaning into his support for abortion restrictions and his allegiance to former President Donald Trump as Democrats fight for an elusive victory in the Southern swing state.
US lawmakers affirm Japan alliance eyeing China, North Korea
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and visiting U.S. lawmakers have reaffirmed their commitment to working together under a longstanding alliance at a time of heightened global tensions and threats from China and North Korea.
China stages military exercises as US lawmakers visit Taiwan
China says its military has staged exercises to reinforce its threat to use force to bring Taiwan under its control, as U.S. lawmakers visiting Taiwan made a pointed and public declaration of support for the self-governing island democracy while issuing a warning to China.
North Carolina Senate race tests Trump's endorsement power
When Ted Budd won a surprise endorsement from former President Donald Trump last year, he was a little-known congressman running for a Senate seat in North Carolina against some of the stateโs most recognizable Republicans, including a former governor.
EXPLAINER: Biden extends student loan freeze through August
The Biden administration has announced that federal student loan payments will remain paused through Aug. 31, extending a freeze that began in 2020 but was set to end after this month.
Pandemic preparedness bill moves ahead; funding still needed
A Senate committee has approved a bipartisan blueprint to overhaul the nationโs public health system, applying the lessons of COVID-19 to future outbreaks through a new chain of command, a stronger medical supply chain, and clearer crisis communications.
Watchdog says key federal health agency is failing on crises
A federal watchdog says the government's main health agency is failing to meet its responsibilities for leading the national response to public health emergencies including the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather disasters and even potential bioterrorist attacks.
Senate passes bill to honor Emmett Till and his mother
The Senate has passed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Emmett Till, the Chicago teenager murdered by white supremacists in the 1950s, and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley.
Senate hearing on pandemic gets testy: 'What a moron'
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. governmentโs top infectious disease expert, angrily accused a senator Tuesday of making false accusations that are leading to threats against him.
Biden urges concern but not alarm in US as omicron rises
President Joe Biden is urging concern but not alarm as the United States set records for daily reported COVID-19 cases and his administration struggles to ease concerns about testing shortages.
FDA pick Califf parries questions at confirmation hearing
President Joe Bidenโs pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration parried questions on crises ranging from the COVID pandemic to the opioid epidemic at his confirmation hearing Tuesday.
![Pa. Rep. Kelly faces ethics scrutiny over stock purchase](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/OEAoDVWlfJvbRT_44H_BbSiO6k0=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PWYYFI6T2NFKTLEZQ6D72MFFLE.jpg)
Pa. Rep. Kelly faces ethics scrutiny over stock purchase
A congressional ethics watchdog has concluded there is โsubstantial reason to believeโ that the wife of Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly used nonpublic information gained through her husbandโs position in Congress to purchase stock last year.
![Another Trump on the ballot? Lara Trump eyes Senate seat](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/1cogn6Dd4YH3KAfIROCf_Hj9TSA=/1600x1020/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2RZVW32R6JDL7M25LJQRCEJU6E.jpg)
Another Trump on the ballot? Lara Trump eyes Senate seat
The former president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is eyeing the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by Republican Richard Burr. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)RALEIGH, N.C. โ A Trump may be on the ballot next year โ but not Donald Trump. The former president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is eyeing the North Carolina Senate seat being vacated by Republican Richard Burr. The answer to that question has implications that extend far beyond Lara Trump's political future. The 38-year-old Lara Trump is married to the former president's son, Eric.
![A look at how Biden's Cabinet nominees fared Tuesday](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/OIPC5z_cjE5gipv32SkgfwrjF6I=/1600x1067/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EL74RQFTYVARTBCN7NYWTOP2CQ.jpg)
A look at how Biden's Cabinet nominees fared Tuesday
(Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON โ President Joe Biden's Cabinet is starting to fill out, with nominees for agriculture secretary and United Nations ambassador gaining Senate approval Tuesday. โAnd thatโs what we intend to do.โSchumer couldnโt resist a jab at former President Donald Trump, saying that all Bidenโs nominees are โundoubtedly qualified for their positions, a stark departure from the caliber of nominees the Senate was made to consider during the previous administration.โBut one of Biden's nominees, Neera Tanden to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget, is clearly in trouble in the evenly divided Senate. Currently California's attorney general, Becerra appeared Tuesday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. โI'm not sold yet,โ Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, the ranking Republican on the health committee, said, addressing Becerra. ___INTERIORRep. Deb Haaland, Biden's nominee to lead the Interior Department, fielded sharp questions from Republicans over what some called her โradicalโ ideas that include opposition to fracking and to the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
![Impeachment vote becomes defining moment for GOP senator](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/-6lPikx6TR5WeWDMrk6VeqoPk0M=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/C7AFOZUDVVEUJB5UXTHABJKHEY.jpg)
Impeachment vote becomes defining moment for GOP senator
But the North Carolina Republicanโs vote to convict former President Donald Trump should not have come as a shock. AdWith Burr retiring at the end of his term in 2022, itโs a vote that could end up defining his career. Exactly a year later, as the Russia investigation was wrapping up, Burrโs time leading the committee came to an abrupt end. He sided with most Republicans in a vote to dismiss the trial, creating an expectation heโd also vote to acquit. AdSo when Burr stood up to vote for Trump's conviction, many in the chamber wondered if there would be other surprises.
![Murkowski says she can't fear fallout for impeachment vote](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/R-b0j_t_9yDQTqx_ijtzdjaUd6E=/1600x1200/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/PXPFARH6VJFDVHPGROFUZCX4UM.jpg)
Murkowski says she can't fear fallout for impeachment vote
Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks to reporters during a visit to the state Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in Juneau, Alaska. Murkowski said she knows there could be political consequences for her vote to convict former President Donald Trump during his recent impeachment trial but says she can't be afraid of that. She also said that if the state Republican Party decides to censure her for her vote, โthey can make that statement. Other Republicans who voted to convict Trump, including Sens. She said the Republican Party โwas a pretty good party before Donald Trump, and I believe we can be a good party after Donald Trump.
![NC GOP votes to censure Sen. Burr after impeachment vote](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/oUDwZOznkTGIGnjJYYQVvAi1vFQ=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ITGSIJYQWFHOBCK6UIYCWLBYKY.jpg)
NC GOP votes to censure Sen. Burr after impeachment vote
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)RALEIGH, N.C. โ The North Carolina Republican Party unanimously approved a resolution Monday to censure Sen. Richard Burr over his vote to convict former President Donald Trump during Trumpโs second impeachment trial. โIt is truly a sad day for North Carolina Republicans," Burr said in a statement. Within hours of Burr's decision, the North Carolina GOP and 2022 Republican Senate candidate Mark Walker quickly rebuked Burr. โWrong vote, Sen. Burr,โ Walker wrote on Twitter. Pennsylvaniaโs Republican Party is planning a meeting to potentially censure Sen. Pat Toomey over his vote to convict Trump, according to county party officials.
![Pelosi says independent commission will examine Capitol riot](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/5S-qJx2oVcPTU5nnvmx_CNLdjBg=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/3KDRKFBMDFHIZMSMECXCKSANMM.jpg)
Pelosi says independent commission will examine Capitol riot
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)WASHINGTON โ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that Congress will establish an independent, Sept. 11-style commission to look into the deadly insurrection that took place at the U.S. Capitol. In a letter to Democratic colleagues, Pelosi said the House will also put forth supplemental spending to boost security at the Capitol. After former President Donald Trumpโs acquittal at his second Senate impeachment trial, bipartisan support appeared to be growing for an independent commission to examine the deadly insurrection. AdInvestigations into the riot were already planned, with Senate hearings scheduled later this month in the Senate Rules Committee. An independent commission along the lines of the one that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks would probably require legislation to create.
![Support grows for Capitol riot inquiry after Trump acquittal](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/qo1rzu-XFkyJFmLgEXKrKsdAjY4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SFYN7OOPLRDQNLLQTDOTAWNCCI.jpg)
Support grows for Capitol riot inquiry after Trump acquittal
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., walks on Capitol Hill after the Senate acquitted former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021. Trump was accused of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and the acquittal gives him a historic second victory in the court of impeachment. Investigations into the riot were already planned, with Senate hearings scheduled later this month in the Senate Rules Committee. We needed more senators with spines.โAdMcConnell told Republican senators shortly before the vote that he would vote to acquit Trump. Beutler's statement late Friday that Trump rebuffed a plea from House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy to call off the rioters was ultimately entered into the trial record.
![7 Republicans vote to convict Trump in impeachment trial](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/PFT-xnzZjL-9O8T9bcA430_H0V4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZUTIUWDXT5G5TEGNB4Y6TEEBDI.jpg)
7 Republicans vote to convict Trump in impeachment trial
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, arrives at the start of the fifth day of the second impeachment trial of former President Trump, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021 at the Capitol in Washington. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON โ Seven Republicans voted Saturday to convict former President Donald Trump in his Senate trial, easily the largest number of lawmakers to ever vote to find a president of their own party guilty at impeachment proceedings. AdAlso striking was the โguiltyโ vote by Cassidy, who was reelected in November from a deep-red state where GOP support is widespread. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty,โ Cassidy said in a one-sentence statement issued after his vote to convict. He said he wouldn't vote against his own conscience โsimply because it is politically convenient.โRomneyโs โguiltyโ vote at Trumpโs initial impeachment trial last February made him the first senator to ever vote to convict a president of the same party.
![Which GOP senators are seen as possible votes against Trump?](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/PXr7TZAttn2kdxBljecFDLPX3PU=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZI5DVNNNR5EGRCZML2VZBVDV4U.jpg)
Which GOP senators are seen as possible votes against Trump?
But that hope dimmed when word came Saturday before the trial resumed that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell would vote to acquit Trump. If Trump were convicted, the Senate could take a second vote to ban him from running for office again. AdA look at the Republicans whom Democrats are eyeing as they make final arguments in the case:THE FREQUENT TRUMP CRITICSRepublican Sens. AdThree other GOP senators have said they will not run again in two years, potentially freeing them up to vote against Trump and anger base voters in the party. The Republican leaderโs views are closely watched and carry sway among GOP senators, and his decision on Trump is likely to influence others weighing their votes.
![As impeachment trial ends, GOP senators face big decision](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/V4LbmLc4xX1wcLi-I1vNg81kx8s=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JYAJOQLQPNABPBE27ZGTN6GYVM.jpg)
As impeachment trial ends, GOP senators face big decision
If Trump were convicted, the Senate could take a second vote to ban him from running for office again. While none of them are locks to vote for conviction, they have joined with Democrats twice to vote against GOP efforts to dismiss the trial. AdHEADED OUTPennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, who is retiring from the Senate in 2022, has also voted twice with Democrats to move forward with the trial. All three voted to dismiss the trial, but Portman says he still has an open mind about conviction. EYES ON McCONNELLSenate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has twice voted to dismiss the trial, indicating he will ultimately vote to acquit.
![White House says it will defer to CDC on reopening schools](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jx6bB0e-3pH_NQbGaKGMooWMNmY=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/57FP4QK3QZEPFGEYKBUJAKSWJI.jpg)
White House says it will defer to CDC on reopening schools
Facing criticism that President Joe Biden has not acted aggressively enough on reopening schools, the White House on Thursday said itโs aiming for a full reopening but will defer to science experts on how to achieve it in the middle of a pandemic. The White House drew criticism this week when it said schools would be considered opened if they teach in-person at least one day a week. โI can assure any parent listening that his objective, his commitment, is to ensuring schools are open five days a week,โ Psaki said at a press briefing. And this week, the White House said schools would be considered open as long as they teach in-person once a week. Asked why parents should be satisfied with just one day of in-person teaching per week, Psaki appeared to back away from her previous stance.
![What to watch as Trump's 2nd impeachment trial kicks off](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/tNTB2c-o4W8qBD7OWJKYZRvYBYo=/1600x1124/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GU7WWDIU5ZDYRMJQZQI76AC3MY.jpg)
What to watch as Trump's 2nd impeachment trial kicks off
What to watch as the trial kicks off:FIRST, AN EFFORT TO DISMISSTuesdayโs proceedings will begin with a debate to dismiss the trial before it even begins. The effort to dismiss is expected to fail, allowing arguments in the trial to begin on Wednesday. They point to an 1876 impeachment trial of a secretary of war who had resigned and note that Trump was impeached before he left office. But the managers can ask for a Senate vote on calling witnesses if they so choose. A (LESS) CAPTIVE AUDIENCEAs they were last year, at Trumpโs first impeachment trial, senators are expected to listen to every word of the arguments before they cast their votes.
![Mark Warner named chair of Senate Intelligence Committee](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/KgD33XutE_Agf2BJJYUwQu6TeuQ=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/02-04-2021/t_8f7a265b8b524a629cf37e08ab3adfbb_name_image.jpg)
Mark Warner named chair of Senate Intelligence Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. โ The United States Senate committees are taking shape, and Sen. Mark Warner has landed a high-profile position within Congress. The Virginia senator will serve as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, a post previously held by Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Warner previously served as the committeeโs vice-chairman. Warner says he will encourage the committee to investigate extremist groups in America, disinformation on social media, and digital espionage. Warner is optimistic senators can put their differences aside to pass legislation for the good of the country.
![Biden officials considering action on student debt relief](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/d4m9mHTARoWFaFSxmPiT7sZWjp4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EGW6QKKOPZE4ZAFYQTG2EP7LLI.jpg)
Biden officials considering action on student debt relief
โThe President continues to support the cancelling of student debt to bring relief to students and families,โ Psaki tweeted. AdBiden previously had said he supports erasing up to $10,000 in student debt through legislation, but he had not shown interest in pursuing executive action. โThe last thing people should be worried about is their student debt,โ she said. Calls for debt forgiveness have been mounting following years of college tuition increases that have contributed to ballooning national student debt. Forgiving $50,000 in student debt would cost an estimated $650 billion, Warren said.
![As Wisconsin's Johnson weighs future, Trump ties take a toll](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/X9VzU781vjsUlfyH_zm-GArusoA=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XKOGZ6F3VJH7TBPBD5UQCXNKX4.jpg)
As Wisconsin's Johnson weighs future, Trump ties take a toll
Not Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson. Bishop criticized fellow Republicans like Johnson who parroted claims of illegal election activity, even as he remains a Johnson backer. A number of Republicans are eyeing a run for either Senate or governor, depending on what Johnson does. Potential Republican Senate candidates include U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, former U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy and Kevin Nicholson, who lost a 2018 Republican Senate primary. Mandela Barnes, the stateโs first Black lieutenant governor, state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and state Sen. Chris Larson of Milwaukee.
![GOP Ohio Sen. Portman not seeking reelection, cites gridlock](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/CMt61w9kz8Adg-BFPdNnjdt82iM=/1600x1153/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VNKOAZJVGRFALCEF6SSVP7VRVQ.jpg)
GOP Ohio Sen. Portman not seeking reelection, cites gridlock
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)CINCINNATI โ Ohio Sen. โOur country is very polarized,โ Portman said, adding that former President Donald Trump did not help with the polarization. โBoth in his words before the attack on the Capitol and in his actions afterward, President Trump bears some responsibility for what happened,โ Portman said. โAnd right now the kind of candidate thatโs going to come out of a Ohio Republican primary is not going to be that kind of candidate. โYeah, sure, some people are mad at him,โ said Ohio Republican strategist Ryan Stubenrauch.
![Justice Dept. won't charge Sen. Burr over stock sales](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/0Nw-WOmK-l2vagg5b3c6GawO5aM=/1600x1067/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/L6JI4XYT3FCEZBLXQ5JGGJJITA.jpg)
Justice Dept. won't charge Sen. Burr over stock sales
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., speaks during a Senate Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Hearing on the federal government response to COVID-19 on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington. The investigation escalated in May when the FBI obtained a search warrant to seize a cellphone from Burr. The day after that action became public, Burr said he would step aside as Intelligence Committee chairman while the FBI investigation was ongoing. Democrats are set to take control of the Senate on Wednesday, and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner will become the panelโs chairman. He had also called for a Senate Ethics Committee investigation into his actions.
![Donor backlash fuels GOP alarm about Senate fundraising](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/uvsuHD0bxwi4wzdEwhvCDf7aiLo=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MYNG2HKJXRAXTEXZYUCBY62F74.jpg)
Donor backlash fuels GOP alarm about Senate fundraising
The GOP already faces a difficult Senate map in 2022, when 14 Democratic-held seats and 20 Republican ones will be on the ballot. That includes at least two open seats that Republicans will be defending because of the retirements of GOP Sens. One of those lawmakers, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, is the new chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a post that makes him the public face of the Senate Republican fundraising efforts. But two senior Republican strategists involved in Senate races say the cumulative effect of the companies' decisions could have a bigger impact. That puts more pressure on the NRSC and the leading Senate Republican outside group, Senate Leadership Fund, to cover the difference.
![Ga. Sen. Perdue boosts wealth with well-timed stock trades](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/JuBRi1e0KGcKju4eTEgQaN5TxB4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7HJMWYOISBAKZOOIXZX5ZHQNQQ.jpg)
Ga. Sen. Perdue boosts wealth with well-timed stock trades
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Sen. David Perdue speaks during a campaign rally on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, in Cumming, Ga. Perdue and Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff are in a runoff election for the Senate seat in Georgia. But for Sen. David Perdue, a Georgia Republican, the crisis last March signaled something else: a stock buying opportunity. The Cardlytics transactions were just a slice of a large number of investment decisions made in the early days of the pandemic by Perdue and other senators. โThe bi-partisan Senate Ethics Committee, DOJ and SEC all independently and swiftly cleared Senator Perdue months ago, which was reported on," Burke said. Isakson, who served with Perdue, took steps to avoid the type of scrutiny Perdue is now facing.
![Hardening partisan map steepens Democrats' climb in Senate](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/iTY0zyorrSsX0tGXhkKaWiZ63FI=/1600x1046/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DMFSAO76UZA3TGRUISFEBK3XIA.jpg)
Hardening partisan map steepens Democrats' climb in Senate
Yet as states increasingly sort themselves along hardening partisan lines, it's complicating Democrats' drive to win the majority and keep it. Thanks to this month's elections, Democrats will own all four Senate seats from purple Arizona and increasingly blue Colorado next year. In addition, three current Senate Democrats are from states that President Donald Trump carried easily this month despite losing to Democrat Joe Biden. โThe problem is a Democratic Senate majority runs through red states, and that is an inherent structural difficulty." In the 2022 elections, Democrats will defend Senate 13 seats โ all from states Biden won.
![House Latest: GOPโs Hinson ousts US Rep. Finkenauer in Iowa](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6J0Gb8bWTk1k81EiqJ4dfKFU2pY=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IG643PZ5JZGFZOQC3IZY34ZKUU.jpg)
House Latest: GOPโs Hinson ousts US Rep. Finkenauer in Iowa
Republican state Sen. Stephanie Bice earned a reputation as a political moderate in her two terms in the Oklahoma Senate. ___11:20 p.m. TuesdayRepublican Maria Elvira Salazar has defeated Democrat Donna Shalala for a House seat in Florida. ___10:25 p.m. TuesdayRepublican Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez has won a House seat in Florida, defeating freshman Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Republican Ronny Jackson has won a House seat in West Texas, where he moved after leaving the White House in 2018. The solidly Republican district is currently held by Mac Thornberry, one of six GOP congressmen in Texas retiring this year.
![Senators seek highest civilian honor for Till and his mother](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/RdwC8ONcNnqM2LGt0zo1MvB2BF0=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/EV7QP254SNEVVBO26WGOJTMWSE.jpg)
Senators seek highest civilian honor for Till and his mother
WASHINGTON โ Congress should give the nationโs highest civilian honor posthumously to Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, a Republican and a Democratic senator said Wednesday. She remained a Civil Rights activist in honor of her slain son for the rest of her life. Till-Mobley created the Emmett Till Players, where teenagers traveled throughout the country presenting the speeches of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She also was one of the founders of the Emmett Till Justice Campaign, which pushed for the re-investigation of Till's murder. President George W. Bush signed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act, which allows cold civil rights cases to be reopened, into law in 2008.
![Senator: Allowing college athletes NIL pay is 'huge mistake'](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/A3VgwNUYh0NBbiC5eBxlwNbzrAE=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JXQAVI6XORCLTFKLQJLLLAZMLY.jpg)
Senator: Allowing college athletes NIL pay is 'huge mistake'
A fourth congressional hearing this year on how to allow college athletes to earn money off their names, images and likenesses came Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, with a stern warning from one senator. I think this is a huge mistake, Burr, said of athletes profiting from NIL. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP, File)The fourth congressional hearing this year on how to allow college athletes to earn money from their names, images and likenesses came Tuesday with a stern warning from one senator. The U.S. Senate Committee of Health, Education, Labor & Pensions held a hearing on compensating college athletes as the NCAA changes its rules to allow athletes to profit from their fame. Burr said college athletes are already compensated with scholarships and a valuable education.
![In time of crises, lands bill gives Senate a chance to unite](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/KBeKA-l_17yTBQTBkJNXGrK_5iQ=/1600x1067/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZA2Q543VQ5DN7EBE7NEMURKHDQ.jpg)
In time of crises, lands bill gives Senate a chance to unite
The bill, set for a Senate vote this coming week, would spend about $2.8 billion per year on conservation, outdoor recreation and park maintenance. McConnell told the two senators, who are both seeking reelection this year, that he would not consider the bill unless Trump was on board. Cantwell credited Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., for forcing attention on the conservation fund by blocking a 2018 spending bill that did not renew the program. While widely supported, the outdoors bill faces sharp opposition, mainly from Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and other Gulf Coast senators pushing to ensure it includes revenue-sharing for their states from offshore drilling. Calling Trump's record on the environment "the worst one in history,'' Cantwell said Gardner, Daines and other Republicans will be forced to defend the president as they go before voters.
![US closes probes into 3 senators over their stock trades](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/u4EjaCTFMe3VhzUUi1aTGq0NmG4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/TQ6V5LRWKJE63FY34Y6KLYC6W4.jpg)
US closes probes into 3 senators over their stock trades
Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., listens during a virtual Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing, Tuesday, May 12, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Dianne Feinstein of California, Kelly Loeffler of Georgia and Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, according to people familiar with notifications sent to the senators. The developments indicate that federal law enforcement officials are narrowing their focus in the stock investigation to Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C, the former Senate Intelligence Committee chairman. Like Loeffler, both Inhofe and Feinstein denied any wrongdoing or involvement in the trades. From the outset, Senator Burr has been focused on an appropriate and thorough review of the facts in this matter, which will establish that his actions were appropriate, Fisher said in a statement.
![Rubio, now intelligence chair, warns of virus misinformation](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/p2CIHi5km3b2Sm8MUe3l-SBFZuo=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/4EX4OYAMFJFZVC63ODFYY6S4BE.jpg)
Rubio, now intelligence chair, warns of virus misinformation
WASHINGTON Sen. Marco Rubio, the new Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, is warning that foreign actors will seek to amplify conspiracy theories about the coronavirus and find new ways to interfere in the 2020 presidential election. Rubio is taking over the chairmanship just as the committee wraps up a three-year investigation into the Russian interference. The panel has publicly released its endorsement of a 2017 assessment by intelligence agencies that Russia interfered and favored Trump, a conclusion that Trump has disputed. I think our report will be one of now several inquiries or investigative efforts that have led to the same conclusion, Rubio said. Rubio has shown little interest in criticizing Trumps response to the coronavirus, including his refusal to wear a mask in public.
![Rubio steps in to lead Senate Intelligence Committee](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/pLleVD5BzRr-mdyPVCwBC6wW4UM=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DLNXDAEV5JDWRHU5A2T4NP3N5I.jpg)
Rubio steps in to lead Senate Intelligence Committee
WASHINGTON Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will temporarily become chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Republican leaders announced, taking charge of the panel at a time of turnover and tension in the nation's intelligence community. Rubio has focused much of his Senate career on foreign policy, particularly Russia and China, and he is a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations panel. He is also the chairman of the Senate small-business committee, where he has been negotiating relief measures during the coronavirus pandemic. In announcing Rubio's appointment to head the intelligence panel, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not say whether he would keep the small-business gavel. "I am grateful to Leader McConnell for his confidence in me to lead the Senate Intelligence Committee during Senator Burrs absence from the chairmanship, he said.
![Panel approves Ratcliffe for spy chief, sends to full Senate](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/t3NmUuOz8vy2Qmzsi-ERFFGzypU=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/77OTESQOTJEJZCAP4E62MGCNNQ.jpg)
Panel approves Ratcliffe for spy chief, sends to full Senate
WASHINGTON The Senate intelligence committee on Tuesday approved the nomination of Texas GOP Rep. John Ratcliffe to be director of national intelligence, sending the nomination to the Senate floor for his likely confirmation. Ratcliffe was first picked for the post last summer, shortly after Coats resignation, but then withdrew after some Senate Republicans questioned his experience. GOP senators warmed to Ratcliffe after Trump unexpectedly nominated him again in February. At his hearing, Ratcliffe worked to separate himself from the president, including by saying he believed Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, a conclusion Trump has often resisted. Ratcliffes nomination was approved 8-7 in a closed committee hearing, with all Democrats voting against it, according to a committee aide.
![Florida Sen. Rubio named acting chair of intelligence panel](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/abRPNhhk_UJsxJyZtQjtVD7wrj4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IOCUQZFFJ5EGNEEPKFJBGDWA5M.jpg)
Florida Sen. Rubio named acting chair of intelligence panel
WASHINGTON Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will temporarily become chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Republican leaders announced Monday, taking charge of the panel at a time of turnover and tension in the nation's intelligence community. Trump has also repeatedly questioned the intelligence agencies' conclusions that Russia attempted to interfere in the 2016 elections. The Senate panel endorsed that conclusion in a report last month including that Russia had a preference for Trump and Rubio has repeatedly warned that Russia could try again. In announcing Rubio's appointment to head the intelligence panel, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did not say whether he would keep the small-business gavel. "I am grateful to Leader McConnell for his confidence in me to lead the Senate Intelligence Committee during Senator Burrs absence from the chairmanship, he said.
![Burr submits final Russia report before leaving chairmanship](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/CDPuJ-aVqtz58MtNFcibMqjOmsc=/1600x1051/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RJQRD6P4WNFD5BZQ3JKKR7OILM.jpg)
Burr submits final Russia report before leaving chairmanship
WASHINGTON Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr on Friday submitted the final report in the panel's three-year Russia investigation to the intelligence community for a declassification review. The report on the panels counterintelligence findings including whether President Donald Trumps campaign coordinated with Russia marks the conclusion of its Russia probe, which it first launched in January 2017. It had been the final known investigation of Trumps 2016 campaign and Russia that was still active. Committee members have remained quiet on the panels conclusion on whether Trumps campaign coordinated with Russia. But Burr has said several times that he has seen no evidence of such collusion, a conclusion that would be in line with the House Intelligence Committees own Russia report in 2018.
![Burr steps aside as Senate intelligence chair amid FBI probe](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/714zJbaxz_PCNSRAXMY5WleSKUc=/1600x1051/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WR2K2XDYBJCLLKUQ2MMOCDRUU4.jpg)
Burr steps aside as Senate intelligence chair amid FBI probe
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., listens to testimony before the Senate Committee for Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing, Tuesday, May 12, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Hours later, Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina stepped aside Thursday as chairman of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee, calling it the โbest thing to do." Alice Fisher, a lawyer for Burr, noted that Burr called for an ethics inquiry into the stock sales once they were disclosed. He was first elected to the Senate in 2004 and chaired the Senate Intelligence Committee as it conducted its own investigation into Russian election interference in the 2016 presidential election. The Los Angeles Times first reported the search warrant.
![Intelligence official 'disappointed' after ouster by Trump](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/kQBBeVYj_KSMfYtIzx7bQY3tId4=/1600x1103/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JNG66ORYNFAADBR3BIWHA6EY6M.jpg)
Intelligence official 'disappointed' after ouster by Trump
Trump informed the Senate intelligence committee Friday, April 3, 2020, of his decision to fire Atkinson, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press. Scott Applewhite, File)WASHINGTON โ The ousted inspector general of the intelligence community says he is โdisappointed and saddenedโ that President Donald Trump fired him, but he also encouraged other inspectors general to continue to speak out when they are aware of wrongdoing. The inspector general had deemed it urgent and credible, meaning that he was required to share it with the House and Senate intelligence committees. He added: โThat man is a disgrace to IGs.โAtkinsonโs removal is part of a larger shakeup of the intelligence community under Trump, who has long been skeptical of intelligence officials and information. Atkinson is at least the seventh intelligence official to be fired, ousted or moved aside since last summer.
![Senators Under Fire for Dumping Stocks Ahead of Coronavirus Pandemic](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/pwrX2mS1fZ09C7m1U29-9t02tzk=/1280x720/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/6OAWQQ6AQFG5XLTGJWKYG65ZAE.jpg)
Senators Under Fire for Dumping Stocks Ahead of Coronavirus Pandemic
Bombshell reports have emerged that multiple United States senators sold off stocks in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the senators, including South Carolina Republican Richard Burr, are facing calls to resign amid the controversy. Burr, the Intelligence Committee chairman, had warned some well-connected donors of the dire financial impacts of coronavirus amist selling off $1.6 million of his own stocks last month, according to reports. Burr isnโt the only senator who was found to have sold stocks amid the pandemic. RELATED STORIESMan Who Recovered From Coronavirus Says He Received Death ThreatsA Look at the Eight Senators Who Voted Against the Coronavirus Relief BillCelebrities Confirmed to Have the Coronavirus
![Senate: Obama officials hamstrung by Russia election attack](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/--4inTDx4eOpqUdlWCu1DjMwJt8=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-gmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/47MG4FSO35HTVCKYQPK3NXKYKA.jpg)
Senate: Obama officials hamstrung by Russia election attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. โWASHINGTON, D.C. โ The Obama administration was ill-prepared to handle and failed to respond effectively to Russian interference during the 2016 election, according to a bipartisan congressional report released Thursday. The Senate Intelligence Committee's report said the U.S. government was โnot well-posturedโ to counter Russian election interference and that Russia's cyberactivities did not cease despite high-level warnings of potential retaliation. โFrozen by โparalysis of analysis,โ hamstrung by constraints both real and perceived, Obama officials debated courses of action without truly taking one,โ said the committee chairman, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., submitted an additional view that was also critical of the Obama administration, charging that officials did not share enough information with Congress at the time. It said that several Obama administration officials testified in closed-door interviews that some lawmakers resisted an administration request for a bipartisan statement on Russiaโs election meddling.
![Here's what Republican senators say about whistleblower complaint](https://sharedmedia.grahamdigital.com/photo/2019/09/08/Sen%20Roy%20Blunt_1567976657621.jpg.jpg.jpg_22258288_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
Here's what Republican senators say about whistleblower complaint
Some of the most influential people on Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans including Roy Blunt, didn't have much to say in the hours after it came out. But some of the most influential people on Capitol Hill -- Senate Republicans -- didn't have much to say in the hours after it came out. Many Senate Republicans said on Thursday that they haven't read the whistleblower complaint yet. Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said, "We're committed to gather the information before we reach conclusions. On the whistleblower complaint, he said that he prefers to look at the primary document, meaning the rough transcript.
![House approves whistleblower resolution as lawmakers review complaint](https://sharedmedia.grahamdigital.com/photo/2019/09/25/Trump%20and%20Zelensky.jpg_22327129_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
House approves whistleblower resolution as lawmakers review complaint
The resolution, from House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff, calls for the complaint to be turned over to the congressional intelligence committees. CNN has previously reported that the call was part of the whistleblower complaint submitted to the Intelligence Community Inspector General. The whistleblower complaint about Trump's communications with Ukraine was hand delivered Wednesday afternoon to Capitol Hill for lawmakers to review. Members of the Democratic-led House Intelligence Committee are also reviewing the documents. It's not just Democrats who have vowed to find out the details of the whistleblower complaint.
![McConnell says Senate will 'find out what happened' with whistleblower](https://sharedmedia.grahamdigital.com/photo/2019/06/25/Mitch%20McConnell%20Oct%202018.jpg_22022214_ver1.0_1280_720.jpg)
McConnell says Senate will 'find out what happened' with whistleblower
(CNN) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday "we're going to find out what happened" about a whistleblower's complaint regarding President Donald Trump and said he expects the Senate Intelligence Committee will conduct a "responsible, rather apolitical, at least bipartisan" probe of the matter. On Monday McConnell blasted Democrats for what he said was a politicization of the issue before the facts were known. McConnell said the Intelligence Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican of North Carolina, would look into the issue. In the Senate, through a process pre-established through the Intelligence Committee behind closed doors initially with the acting director of DNI," McConnell said. McConnell said Republicans would go along with the resolution in the spirit that it would assist the Intelligence Committee conduct its investigation.