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Struggle for control of the U.S. Senate enters its final tense days
WASHINGTON — Democrats have a shot at winning the White House, capturing the Senate majority and keeping their hold on the House — an election result that could dramatically shift the policy agenda away from the gridlock that’s gripped the nation’s capital for years. In the Senate, the clearest route to that outcome is through […]
Is Denver Riggleman still a Republican? He’s not sure.
U.S. Rep. Denver Riggleman, a Republican who was running for a second term in Virginia’s 5th congressional district until he was ousted in a convention this past summer, says he’s considering a run for governor. But he’s not sure, as he sounds the alarm on the spread of the unfounded QAnon conspiracy theory, whether he […]
Barrett nomination advances to the U.S. Senate floor with a GOP-only vote
WASHINGTON — Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, as Democrats boycotted the markup in a show of protest. The 12 Republicans on the panel speedily voted on Barrett’s nomination and sent it to the Senate floor. The full Senate will […]
UVA law professor testifies in support of Barrett nomination to Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — A University of Virginia law professor defended Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the highest court in the U.S. during Thursday’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing. Saikrishna Prakash, a conservative who clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas, said that Barrett’s success as a law professor at Notre Dame would help her interpret the Constitution if […]
Trump in ‘good spirits’ after testing positive for COVID-19; Biden tests negative
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump tweeted early Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19, throwing the presidential campaign into a new uproar. “We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” Trump tweeted. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters Friday morning that the […]
Deadly Charlottesville rally surfaces in debate; Trump tells far-right group to ‘stand back and stand by’
The specter of the deadly 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville surfaced during Tuesday night’s chaotic and messy presidential debate, with President Donald Trump again appearing reluctant to condemn right wing violence. Trump directly addressed a far-right group, the Proud Boys, telling them to “stand back and stand by,” and failed to answer a […]
Virginia lawmakers warn of ‘deteriorating’ conditions in two federal prisons as COVID-19 spreads
WASHINGTON — Members of Virginia’s congressional delegation from both political parties are pressing the U.S. Department of Justice’s internal watchdogs to include two state correctional facilities in the agency’s ongoing inspections during the pandemic. In a Sept. 24 letter to DOJ’s Inspector General, the lawmakers raised concerns about unsafe health and safety procedures, COVID-19 outbreaks and shortages […]
D.C. girds for a battle as Trump picks anti-abortion judge for Supreme Court
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump at the White House on Saturday introduced federal appeals court Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court nominee, setting off a confirmation battle that could secure a conservative court for generations. “She is a woman of unparalleled achievement, towering intellect and sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the Constitution,” Trump said […]
U.S. House passes deal on stopgap funding, avoids government shutdown
House and Senate leaders reached a bipartisan agreement Tuesday night to pass a three-month funding stopgap, averting a government shutdown in the midst of a pandemic and a short time before the November elections. In a 359-57 vote, the House passed H.R. 8337, which extends federal government funding until Dec. 11, when lawmakers would have to renew it again. The […]
Trump says he’ll announce Supreme Court pick by Friday or Saturday; 4th Circuit judge on list
President Donald Trump said Monday that he would announce a replacement for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by either Friday or Saturday. During a morning interview on “Fox and Friends,” the president said the administration wanted to pay its respects to Ginsburg, who died Friday night from complications with cancer, before […]