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Incumbent Mike Johnson was re-elected as House Speaker after securing the 218 votes needed, with President-elect Donald Trump pressuring GOP members to change their votes. Johnson's victory allows Republicans to pursue tax cuts and border security in Trump's second term, highlighting the party's slim majority and the need for unity. Despite initial challenges, Johnson's win sets the stage for legislative cooperation between Trump and the GOP-controlled Congress. [Extracted from the article]

President-elect Donald Trump has endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson for another term, urging Republicans not to seek an alternative leader ahead of the critical vote on Friday. Johnson faces skepticism from some Republicans, including Rep. Thomas Massie, who remains opposed to his candidacy. Trump's endorsement may boost Johnson's prospects, but he still needs to secure the votes needed to retain the speakership in the new Congress. [Extracted from the article]

The U.S. House rejected a GOP-backed spending bill endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, leading to the possibility of a government shutdown. The bill proposed extending government funding for three months, providing disaster relief and aid for farmers, and suspending the nation's borrowing limit for two years. The defeat of the bill highlighted divisions within the GOP and raised doubts about the future of House Speaker Mike Johnson. Democrats criticized the bill and called for a return to a bipartisan agreement, while Republicans struggled to pass major funding bills due to their narrow majority in the House. [Extracted from the article]

President-elect Donald Trump rejected a bipartisan spending deal to avert a government shutdown, demanding a streamlined bill that includes an increase in the nation's borrowing limit. This move disrupted efforts to pass a stopgap spending bill with disaster and farm aid. Trump's stance, supported by Elon Musk, led to uncertainty among lawmakers, with some Republicans criticizing the bill's unrelated provisions. The situation highlights challenges in reaching consensus and balancing priorities in Congress. [Extracted from the article]

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi underwent hip replacement surgery after falling during a visit to Luxembourg to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Pelosi, 84, was unable to attend the remaining events honoring American veterans due to her injury. Despite the fall, Pelosi had a successful surgery and is recovering well. Pelosi, who made history as the first female Speaker of the House, continues to serve in Congress after stepping down from party leadership. [Extracted from the article]

Senator JD Vance, the vice president-elect, faced challenges in his role to garner support for President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks among senators. Despite initial setbacks, Vance's efforts to stabilize controversial picks like Matt Gaetz for attorney general were met with mixed results. Vance's evolving role as a policy attack dog for Trump raises questions about his effectiveness on Capitol Hill and his place within the Trump administration alongside other influential figures. Despite some disagreements and controversies, Vance's relationships with key Republican senators may prove valuable in confirming Trump's cabinet nominees. [Extracted from the article]

The House Ethics Committee has not reached an agreement on releasing a report regarding sexual-misconduct allegations against former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general. The committee deadlocked on the decision, with Democrats seeking a full House vote on the matter. Gaetz, who denies the allegations, is meeting with senators to salvage his nomination, as some GOP senators have expressed concerns publicly and privately. The report was expected to be damaging, with witnesses alleging Gaetz had sex with a minor and made payments to women. The Justice Department previously investigated Gaetz for sex-trafficking a minor, but no charges were filed. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses how secret meetings and significant financial contributions from megadonors, including Ken Griffin, played a crucial role in the Republican Party's success in regaining the majority in the Senate. Mitch McConnell's covert efforts to recruit candidates like West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, along with a strategic alliance with Donald Trump, were highlighted as key factors in the GOP's victory. The article also touches on the challenges faced by Republicans in selecting candidates and the importance of financial backing from wealthy donors like Griffin in shaping election outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

In the Arizona Senate race, Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego defeated Republican Kari Lake, maintaining the seat for Democrats and preventing further Republican expansion in Congress. Gallego's win solidified the final Senate split at 53 Republican seats to 47 Democratic seats, reflecting a trend of Republicans underperforming in battleground state races compared to President-elect Donald Trump. Gallego, known for his progressive stance and Latino activism, criticized the Biden administration on immigration, while Lake, a Trump ally and former TV anchor, faced backlash for her association with election controversies. [Extracted from the article]

The article from the Wall Street Journal - Online Edition reports that Republicans have won the majority in the Senate after securing seats in West Virginia and Ohio, as well as defending seats in Florida, Nebraska, and Texas. The GOP's victory in the Senate will impact the next president's agenda and their ability to confirm executive and judicial nominees. Democrats faced challenges in battleground states like Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where they were defending seats won by President Biden. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: election2024; photo-illo; wsjwashington; North America; United States; Washington DC; Southern U.S.; Political/General News; Crime/Legal Action; Politics/International RelationsHow about Democrats for a Trump nominee? If a high-court vacancy occurs in a split government, lawmakers foresee a standoffBy Jess Bravin and Lindsay WiseReported by Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

John Thune, the second highest-ranking Republican in the Senate, has worked to mend his relationship with former President Donald Trump in order to secure his bid to lead Senate Republicans. Thune and his wife met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort earlier this year, helping to defuse tensions between them. Thune believes that he and Trump have a professional understanding and can work together for the good of the country if Trump wins the White House. Thune is running against Senators John Cornyn and Rick Scott for the leadership position, and while Trump is supportive of all the candidates, he is said to favor Thune. The leadership contest will take place after the election, and Republicans will cast secret ballots. Thune has been actively campaigning and fundraising, while also working to strengthen his relationship with Trump. Cornyn, who has historically had an advantage in fundraising, is also visiting states to support candidates. The outcome of the leadership race is uncertain, as many senators have not publicly indicated their support. Thune's relationship with Trump has had its ups and downs, with Trump previously turning on Thune after the 2020 election. However, Thune has made it clear that he would not support an indefinite challenge to the election results if Trump were to lose. Fundraising is a crucial part of the GOP leader job, and Thune and Cornyn have both raised significant amounts of money. Thune believes it is worth evaluating how funds are deployed to avoid financial disadvantages for Republicans. [Extracted from the article]

A group aligned with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to spend $67.5 million on ad reservations in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin in an effort to flip seats currently held by Democrats. The super PAC, run by close McConnell allies, will add $28 million in outside spending to Republicans' effort to unseat Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania, $17 million in Wisconsin to target Sen. Tammy Baldwin, and $22.5 million in Michigan, where the parties are fighting over an open seat now held by Democrats. Recent internal polling by the group showed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump competitive against Vice President Kamala Harris in the three blue wall states, and indicated that the Senate races in those places were tightening as well. [Extracted from the article]

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington to seek U.S. permission to use long-range missiles against military targets in Russia. He met with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and bipartisan groups of lawmakers to discuss his plan to turn the tide in the war. Zelensky expressed gratitude for U.S. support and emphasized the need for continued bipartisan backing. Former President Donald Trump, who has criticized Zelensky's handling of the war, also plans to meet with him. Biden pledged billions in aid for Ukraine's war against Russia but declined to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles, citing concerns about escalating the conflict. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the upcoming Senate race in Montana and the role of Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat, in determining the balance of power in the Senate. Tester, who is known for his down-to-earth image, is facing criticism from some voters who believe he has become too liberal and aligned with Washington Democrats. Republicans are confident that they can defeat Tester and gain a stronger position in shaping legislation. However, Tester is trying to appeal to Trump voters and highlight his work on issues like veterans' healthcare and abortion rights. The outcome of this race will have significant implications for the future direction of the country. [Extracted from the article]

Senate Republicans have blocked a bill that would provide legal protections for fertility treatments and mandate insurance coverage, despite Donald Trump's recent pledge to force insurance companies or the government to pay for them. The legislation would establish a federal right to access in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology. Democrats broadly support the expansion of reproductive rights, while Republicans have more intraparty disagreements on the issue, with many supporting IVF but opposing the bill as expensive government overreach. The bill is part of an election-year strategy to galvanize swing voters, particularly suburban women. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on Democrats' renewed optimism about maintaining and possibly expanding their Senate majority amid the 2024 election cycle. Topics include Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's confidence, the Republican strategy to flip key seats, and the challenges Democrats face in competitive states like Montana and Ohio.

The Senate has killed a bipartisan tax bill that aimed to revive expired tax provisions for businesses conducting research and expand the child tax credit for low-income families. The bill, which had previously passed the House, fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward in the Senate. Senate Republicans opposed the measure, arguing that it favored Democratic priorities, while some progressives saw it as too favorable to businesses. The bill's failure highlights the challenges of passing legislation in a divided government and raises concerns about future tax law debates. [Extracted from the article]

Senate Democrats attempted to force Republicans to take a stance on a bipartisan deal on border security in an effort to address one of their vulnerabilities ahead of the fall election. The vote failed to advance in the Senate, with Republicans dismissing it as a political stunt. Democrats argued that the vote highlighted Republican hypocrisy on the issue of the border. President Biden is preparing to tighten asylum rules through executive action, although it is expected to face legal challenges and implementation difficulties. Immigration has been a key topic in Republican campaign ads, and Democrats are hoping to lessen the impact of these attacks by highlighting their efforts and Republican obstruction. [Extracted from the article]

House Republicans passed a bill in response to the Biden administration's decision to pause a shipment of bombs to Israel. The bill, which has no future in the Senate, aimed to draw political lines by forcing Democrats to choose between supporting Biden or his critics. While some House Democrats have taken a strong pro-Palestinian stance, others have expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself while also calling for a cease-fire. Polls show that Americans are divided on Israel and President Biden's handling of the conflict. The White House has said Biden would veto the bill, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that it would not progress in the Senate. [Extracted from the article]

The House of Representatives voted to block a resolution by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove Speaker Mike Johnson, with Democrats joining Republicans to save the Republican leader. Greene accused Johnson of betraying his party by relying on Democratic votes to avoid government shutdowns and fund foreign aid. The vote to table Greene's motion was 359-43, with seven voting present. Johnson called for Republican unity and an end to "personality politics." This is the second time in seven months that Republican dissidents have attempted to remove the speaker. [Extracted from the article]

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has threatened to force a vote to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, accusing him of siding with Democrats on spending bills and funding for Ukraine. However, Greene has recently signaled that she may not go through with the vote after facing backlash from other Republicans and former President Donald Trump. In discussions with Johnson, Greene and her ally Rep. Thomas Massie have presented a list of demands, including no bill passing without the support of a majority of the Republican conference and no further Ukraine funding. Most Republicans are not in favor of another speaker vote, and House Democratic leaders have expressed their support for Johnson. [Extracted from the article]

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene plans to call a vote next week to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, accusing him of betraying conservative values by making bipartisan deals. Greene and other conservatives are upset with Johnson for working with Democrats on legislation to avoid government shutdowns and pass foreign-aid laws. Johnson has rejected the effort to remove him and has defended his actions as necessary to protect U.S. allies. Democrats are expected to side with Johnson, marking a change from last year when they voted alongside GOP rebels to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy. While Greene acknowledges that she is unlikely to succeed in removing Johnson, she hopes to force lawmakers to go on the record. [Extracted from the article]

House Democratic leaders have announced that they will block any effort to remove Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, from his position. This comes after Johnson faced criticism from GOP colleagues for relying on Democratic votes to pass major legislation and failing to secure a border crackdown. The Democratic leaders stated that their party would step in to save Johnson's job if Republicans tried to remove him. Johnson has pledged to continue governing as a conservative Republican and expressed his commitment to his principles. [Extracted from the article]

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses in the United States have become a political challenge for President Biden and congressional Democrats. The protests have divided Democrats, with some calling for action against the demonstrations and others defending activists' rights. Republicans see an opportunity to portray Democrats as a party of chaos and dysfunction, particularly as students and parents face uncertainty during exam and graduation season. The protests have raised concerns about antisemitism, police arrests, and disciplinary actions, while progressives argue that the demonstrations are a display of free speech rights. The issue of Israel and the Middle East conflict is expected to impact Biden's re-election campaign. [Extracted from the article]

Byline: Vera Bergengruen, Lindsay Wise and Maggie Ybarra A sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives by Democratic members halted legislative action for nearly 11 hours Wednesday and [...]

The House of Representatives has passed a bill to renew a controversial national-security spying power, despite objections from former President Donald Trump and concerns about Americans' privacy. The legislation extends the foreign surveillance program for two years and now moves to the Senate, where it is expected to pass. President Biden supports the measure, which renews Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The law allows the collection of some Americans' communications without a warrant when they communicate with a foreign surveillance target. The bill includes some minor changes to safeguard privacy but does not include a warrant requirement. [Extracted from the article]

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has intensified her criticism of House Speaker Mike Johnson, defending her motion to oust him and expressing her opposition to extending surveillance powers and providing more aid to Ukraine. Greene filed the motion after Johnson worked with Democrats to pass a spending package, which she saw as a betrayal of the Republican Party. While she has not set a deadline or clear red lines, Greene warned that she and Republican voters would not tolerate Johnson's actions. Some Republicans have expressed sympathy but have not committed to supporting Greene's effort. Johnson plans to bring Ukraine aid and the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to a vote in the House, but Greene opposes both measures. [Extracted from the article]

House Republicans are moving forward with their efforts to remove Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas from office. Mayorkas was impeached by the House over allegations of refusing to enforce immigration laws. Speaker Mike Johnson has notified the Senate that the articles of impeachment will be transmitted on April 10, setting the stage for a trial. Border policy has been a contentious issue, with both Republicans and Democrats blaming each other for the state of border security. The Senate, controlled by Democrats, can set the rules for the trial or dismiss the charges with a majority vote. Mayorkas denies any wrongdoing, and bipartisan legal scholars have criticized the impeachment effort. [Extracted from the article]

The Senate has approved a $1.2 trillion package to fund federal agencies, averting a government shutdown. The measure, which had already passed the House, was signed into law by President Biden. The passage of the bill followed months of drama in Congress, with conservatives demanding deeper spending cuts. While some Republicans opposed the bill, it ultimately received enough support from both parties to pass. The package includes funding for the Defense Department and other federal agencies for the rest of the fiscal year. Democrats and Republicans both claimed wins on key issues during negotiations, but some Republicans expressed disappointment with the spending levels and social policy provisions in the bill. [Extracted from the article]

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has filed a motion to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from his position, citing dissatisfaction with his handling of the House-approved spending bill. However, Greene has not yet called for an immediate vote on the motion. This move by Greene reflects growing frustration among House Republicans towards Johnson. While the motion could potentially lead to a vote to remove Johnson, it is uncertain if Greene will follow through with this action. [Extracted from the article]

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently delivered a speech calling for new elections in Israel, which has received both praise and criticism. Schumer believes that his criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is necessary to save Israel, as he is concerned about the declining support for Israel in America. However, critics argue that Schumer's speech is inappropriate and interferes with a democratic ally's domestic politics. The speech reflects the divide within the Democratic Party and American Jewish community regarding Israel. Republicans have used Schumer's speech to portray the Democratic Party as mistreating a close ally, while Schumer maintains that he cares deeply about Israel's future. [Extracted from the article]

Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has endorsed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election, despite their previous acrimony and insults. McConnell's endorsement comes after Trump's success on Super Tuesday, where he won almost every race and is now the last person in the GOP contest. McConnell's endorsement aims to repair the rift between the two Republicans and secure a Republican Senate majority. Although McConnell previously broke with Trump over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, he did not vote to convict Trump in his impeachment trial related to the Capitol riot. [Extracted from the article]

Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in history, has announced that he will step down as the leader of Republicans in the Senate. This has initiated a race to succeed him, with Senators John Thune, John Cornyn, and John Barrasso seen as the most likely successors. The choice of successor could indicate the direction that Republicans want to take, with potential leaders more responsive to the demands of former President Donald Trump and his allies. The new leader will face challenges such as raising the federal debt limit and extending expiring tax cuts. The role of Trump, who is expected to play a significant role in the leadership fight, will depend on the outcome of the 2024 election. [Extracted from the article]