Political News

NEW YORK — Goldman Sachs downgraded its growth forecast for the U.S. economy in the wake of Sen. Joe Manchin’s announcement during a televised interview that he will not support President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan. In a note... Read More

DAVOS, Switzerland — For the second year in a row, the coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos. The organization, which has been hosting the high-profile networking event for business executives, world leaders and... Read More

WASHINGTON — Over 227 million Americans play video games, according to a survey of the Entertainment Software Association. But while people want to play games for fun, industry sees games as a powerful communication tool that can inspire players to... Read More

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said Sunday he cannot back his party's signature $2 trillion social and environment bill, seemingly dealing a fatal blow to President Joe Biden's leading domestic initiative heading into an election year when Democrats'... Read More

ATLANTA (AP) — Johnny Isakson, an affable Georgia Republican politician who rose from the ranks of the state legislature to become a U.S. senator known as an effective, behind-the-scenes consensus builder, died Sunday. He was 76.  Isakson's son John Isakson... Read More

SAN ANTONIO — Although the last Child Tax Credit payments were issued on Wednesday, social justice scholars like Rajni Shankar-Brown of Stetson University believe the program’s benefits far outweigh its costs. The Child Tax Credit was expanded earlier this year... Read More

LANSING, Mich. — A number of media organizations are suing Michigan’s redistricting commission over its members’ decision to hold a closed-door meeting in October and then bar disclosure of several memos citing attorney-client privilege.  The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press,... Read More

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The November general election in Ohio ended with 18 local races in ties, meaning they had to be decided by either a coin flip or some similar method, the Ohio secretary of state’s office announced Friday. The... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration should extend tariffs on solar panel modules and cells an additional four years to safeguard U.S.-based solar panel manufacturers, a U.S. trade panel said. Former President Donald Trump established the duties on Chinese-made photovoltaic modules... Read More

WASHINGTON — Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has rejected a plan by Democrats to include several immigration policy reforms in the $2 trillion Build Back Better Act currently on hold in the chamber. MacDonough ruled against providing work permits and protections... Read More

NEW YORK — New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams will square off against Rep. Thomas Suozzi, D-N.Y., and incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2022’s gubernatorial primary election. A Brooklyn native, Williams received a bachelor of arts degree in political... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communication Commission hosted an opening meeting on Wednesday to consider proposed rule changes to the Emergency Alert System, E-Rate program and spectrum sharing for low-earth orbit satellite systems. The meeting was attended by FCC Chairwoman Jessica... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Thursday announced a plan to increase the number of commercial truck drivers in a bid to alleviate supply chain gridlock. The plan includes assistance to state motor vehicle departments to issue more commercial licenses,... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Government Accountability Office released a report Thursday detailing the use and oversight of less-lethal force by federal agencies during last year’s riotous civil demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and Portland, Oregon.  The report, which was commissioned by the... Read More

WASHINGTON – After nearly 10 years in Congress, Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., has decided not to run for re-election in 2022. “It is time to pass the baton,” Lowenthal said in a statement to his constituents. “It is time to... Read More

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has signed a bill raising the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion, setting aside with the stroke of his pen the daunting prospect that the nation  would default on its debts. The White House announced the... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration issued an emergency rule in November mandating all businesses with 100 or more employees require staff to get fully vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. Set to take effect on Jan. 4 and be enforced by... Read More

SAN ANTONIO — Members of the Blue Dog Coalition hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on Wednesday over impediments to the national supply chain as well as what’s being done to solve them. The discussion featured input from Gene Seroka, executive... Read More

WASHINGTON — A Senate panel came away surprisingly pleased Wednesday with its check on whether airlines were using government bailouts appropriately during the COVID-19 pandemic. Airline executives told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee that subsidies under the Payroll... Read More

WASHINGTON — In a dramatic change of policy, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it will accelerate its withdrawal from propping up the economy and likely will raise interest rates at least three times in 2022. As recently as September,... Read More

The House Oversight Committee recently released a drug pricing investigation report on the need for structural reforms.  “We will continue our investigation on drugs, the cost of drugs and ways to make [them] more affordable for people. Right now, all... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Wednesday afternoon passed the National Defense Authorization Act, ending a prolonged standoff on amendments, many of which were jettisoned from the final bill. In the end the vote was a decidedly bipartisan 89-10. The bill... Read More

WASHINGTON —Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., are leading a bipartisan effort to increase transparency surrounding the Department of Veterans Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization program. This past summer, the VA’s Office of Inspector General released a series... Read More

CHICAGO — On Monday the Senate Judiciary Committee held a field hearing in Chicago on reducing violence in the city where homicide rates have increased more than 4% in the last year. “At least 12 major cities have set homicide... Read More

ATLANTA — Georgia’s widely panned new voting restrictions would reduce the number of election drop boxes in key Atlanta counties from 111 to 23. Now, a prominent Republican lawmaker is pushing to get rid of them altogether. Drop boxes have... Read More

NEW ORLEANS — Two Louisiana men — one a former police chief; the other, a current elected official — have been indicted on charges they engaged in a scheme to pay for votes in a federal election. According to the... Read More

WASHINGTON — Congress must take swift and decisive action to shore up the nation’s supply chains if it wants to keep creating jobs and ensure America leads the global economy, the New Democrat Coalition said Tuesday. Specifically, the largest ideological... Read More

WASHINGTON — A Senate panel discussed strategies Tuesday for the U.S. government to participate in the growth of cryptocurrencies but to avoid economic calamities. Financial advisors told the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee they face a daunting task.... Read More

WASHINGTON — Six former chairs of the Federal Communications Commission accused aviation regulators of needlessly trying to derail new 5G mobile services slated to start next month. As previously reported by The Well News, a roiling dispute has been going... Read More

WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced on Tuesday over $8.7 billion in investments through the Emergency Capital Investment Program for small businesses and low- and moderate-income consumers in rural and underserved communities. The program’s... Read More