Author: Ramsey Touchberry

Heartburn among Republican senators is intensifying over the Trump administration’s sweeping federal spending freezes, cuts, and layoffs that could jeopardize services or programs in lawmakers’ home states. The rapid government changes, made without congressional approval to funds Congress already appropriated, have come from executive orders by President Donald Trump and at the direction of billionaire…

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) spent 18 years as Senate Republican leader corralling his members to fall in line. Now, unshackled from those responsibilities and likely headed for the chamber’s exit doors, the 82-year-old is increasingly irking his GOP colleagues while offering Democrats welcomed surprises after bucking a high-profile trio of President Donald Trump’s nominees. McConnell’s…

Brooke Rollins was confirmed Thursday with broad bipartisan backing to be President Donald Trump’s Department of Agriculture secretary. The GOP-controlled chamber voted 72-28 in favor of the appointment. Democrats agreed to fast-track her confirmation on the floor after she was unanimously voted out of committee last week. Rollins has a history of family farming and…

The Senate voted Wednesday to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be President Donald Trump’s health and human services secretary, teeing him up for confirmation Thursday morning. The GOP-controlled chamber voted along party lines, 53-47, on a procedural move to end debate. Once on shaky ground with several Republicans over his history of vaccine skepticism…

The Trump administration’s bid to slash $4 billion from medical research grants is giving GOP senators pause as universities and hospitals in red states stand to lose substantial federal aid. Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), whose state could lose more than $47.5 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health under the proposed cuts, questioned…

They abandoned former Vice President Kamala Harris in November over the belief that she was too pro-Israel. Now, President Donald Trump wants the United States to “take over” Gaza and relocate Palestinians. Irritated Democrats are having an “I-told-you-so” moment against the so-called Uncommitted Movement, composed of Arab Americans and a progressive faction who opposed Harris…

There is some welcomed news for health and human services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is in limbo headed into a key test vote on Tuesday. Anti-abortion groups are cautiously optimistic about Kennedy’s stance on the matter after he pledged during contentious confirmation hearings to support the Trump administration’s anti-abortion policies, a U-turn from his…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cleared a crucial Senate hurdle on Tuesday after the chamber’s Finance Committee advanced along party lines his nomination to be health and human services secretary. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who clashed with the Trump nominee during confirmation hearings last week over Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism, was an initial holdout but ultimately voted…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is on shaky political ground after two days of contentious confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill failed to lock in enough Senate votes for him to become health and human services secretary. Kennedy, tapped by President Donald Trump to run the giant health agency, struggled to ease concerns held by on-the-fence GOP senators who could…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, is no stranger to controversy. A nephew of President John F. Kennedy, the former third-party 2024 presidential candidate rose to fame for his anti-vaccine advocacy and promotion of public health conspiracies. Beneath the bipartisan concerns from…