INSIDER
Some Republican leaders are pushing back against the conservative Freedom Caucus in statehouses
Read full article: Some Republican leaders are pushing back against the conservative Freedom Caucus in statehousesSome Republican lawmakers are pushing back as the conservative Freedom Caucus Networks expands from Washington, D.
In GOP's proposed Georgia congressional map, a key question is which voters are legally protected
Read full article: In GOP's proposed Georgia congressional map, a key question is which voters are legally protectedGeorgia Republicans are advancing a proposed congressional map that maintains their party's 9-5 majority in the state's congressional delegation.
Trump urged to delay 2024 launch after GOP's uneven election
Read full article: Trump urged to delay 2024 launch after GOP's uneven electionIt was supposed to be a red wave that former President Donald Trump could triumphantly ride to the GOP nomination as he prepares to launch another White House run.
Corporations gave over $50M to voting restriction backers
Read full article: Corporations gave over $50M to voting restriction backersCorporations have given more than $50 million in recent years to state lawmakers who have seized on Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen 2020 election to push for new restrictions on the right to vote.
GOP's Loeffler concedes to Warnock in Georgia runoff
Read full article: GOP's Loeffler concedes to Warnock in Georgia runoffATLANTA – Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler on Thursday conceded to Democrat Raphael Warnock in one of two Georgia Senate runoffs that will give control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats. With his victory in Tuesday’s election, Warnock becomes the first African American from Georgia elected to the Senate. “Unfortunately we came up slightly short in the runoff election,” Loeffler says in the video. Democrat Jon Ossoff beat Republican David Perdue in Georgia’s other Senate runoff. Tuesday's runoff election broke turnout records for a Georgia runoff, with more than 4.4 million ballots cast.
Georgia Senate runoff: Track live election results
Read full article: Georgia Senate runoff: Track live election resultsResults from the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff elections are expected after 7 p.m. (EST) Tuesday. Democrats have to win both of the state’s Senate elections to gain the Senate majority. In such a scenario, the Senate would be equally divided 50-50 with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaker for Democrats. Read more: Decision day in Georgia with Senate majority at stakeYou can track live results right here:U.S. Senate: Kelly Loeffler vs. Raphael Warnock Pastor challenging senator appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill remaining two years of term of Sen. Johnny Isakson, who resigned in late 2019.
AP projects: Jon Ossoff defeats David Perdue in Georgia Senate runoff
Read full article: AP projects: Jon Ossoff defeats David Perdue in Georgia Senate runoffAll rights reserved)Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Georgia Jon Ossoff speaks after voting early in Atlanta on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)The Associated Press is projecting that Democrat Jon Ossoff has won one of Georgia’s two runoff Senate races. As of 4:16 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6, AP is calling Georgia’s Senate race in favor of Ossoff. Ossof was pitted against Republican David Perdue, a 71-year-old former business executive whose congressional term expired Sunday. Final Georgia Senate race results:U.S. Senate: Jon Ossoff vs. David Perdue Documentary filmmaker challenging incumbent senator for a six-year term.
Biden promises bipartisan leadership as Democrats clinch Senate majority
Read full article: Biden promises bipartisan leadership as Democrats clinch Senate majorityOf the two Georgia Senate runoff races that will determine which political party has more legislative power in the years to come, Democrats have been victorious in both -- giving the party the Senate majority. Though Georgia’s Senate results favor Democrats, Biden says that he will work with representatives on both sides of the aisle in an effort to unite the nation and take action to move the country forward as president. I have long said that the bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill passed in December was just a down payment. We need urgent action on what comes next, because the COVID-19 crisis hits red states and blue states alike. My nominees for critical national security positions at State, Defense, Treasury, and Homeland Security have bipartisan support and have been confirmed by the Senate before.
Live election results: Georgia Senate runoff on Jan. 5, 2021
Read full article: Live election results: Georgia Senate runoff on Jan. 5, 2021All rights reserved)President-elect Joe Biden campaigns in Atlanta, Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, for Senate candidates Raphael Warnock, left, and Jon Ossoff. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)Results from the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff elections started coming in after 7 p.m. (EST) Tuesday. The focus now shifts to the second race between Republican David Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff. Democrats have to win both of the state’s Senate elections to gain the Senate majority. Read more: Decision day in Georgia with Senate majority at stakeYou can track results right here:U.S. Senate: Kelly Loeffler vs. Raphael Warnock Pastor challenging senator appointed by Gov.
Asian shares track Wall St rally on hopes for stimulus
Read full article: Asian shares track Wall St rally on hopes for stimulusShares rose in Asia on Thursday after Wall Street rallied on expectations of more stimulus for the economy, despite chaotic scenes in Washington as Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. India's Sensex rose 0.6% and shares in most other markets were higher. Overnight, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 3,748.14. Financial stocks rose 4.4% for the biggest gain among the 11 sectors that make up the S&P 500. Several Big Tech stocks fell, including a 3.4% drop for Apple and a 2.8% decline for Facebook.
For media following Georgia, nail-biting and lots of numbers
Read full article: For media following Georgia, nail-biting and lots of numbersAs the hour slipped past 2 a.m. on the East Coast, Democrat Raphael Warnock beat Republican Kelly Loeffler. King and MSNBC's Kornacki dominated their networks with headache-inducing number crunching. Warnock and Ossoff jumped to early leads, but as more votes came in, the Republicans swung in front. After midnight, the Times judged both Warnock and Ossoff had a better than 95% chance of winning. Fox News spent less time on raw numbers to showcase their prime-time stars, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.
Georgia Senate runoff elections: Follow live updates and results here
Read full article: Georgia Senate runoff elections: Follow live updates and results hereResults from the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff elections are expected after 7 p.m. (EST) Tuesday. Democrats have to win both of the state’s Senate elections to gain the Senate majority. In such a scenario, the Senate would be equally divided 50-50 with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaker for Democrats. Read more: Decision day in Georgia with Senate majority at stakeYou can track results right here:U.S. Senate: Kelly Loeffler vs. Raphael Warnock Pastor challenging senator appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill remaining two years of term of Sen. Johnny Isakson, who resigned in late 2019.
Georgia Senate runoff elections: Track live results
Read full article: Georgia Senate runoff elections: Track live resultsResults from the Georgia U.S. Senate runoff elections are expected after 7 p.m. (EST) Tuesday. Democrats have to win both of the state’s Senate elections to gain the Senate majority. In such a scenario, the Senate would be equally divided 50-50 with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaker for Democrats. Read more: Decision day in Georgia with Senate majority at stakeYou can track results right here:U.S. Senate: Kelly Loeffler vs. Raphael Warnock Pastor challenging senator appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill remaining two years of term of Sen. Johnny Isakson, who resigned in late 2019.
Morning Briefing Jan. 5, 2021: Georgia Senate runoff elections today, COVID plasma donations needed, woman reported missing New Year’s Day found dead
Read full article: Morning Briefing Jan. 5, 2021: Georgia Senate runoff elections today, COVID plasma donations needed, woman reported missing New Year’s Day found deadCOVID-19 plasma shortage: Donors could win trip to Super Bowl next yearThe American Red Cross is in search of COVID-19 plasma donors. Woman reported missing on New Year’s Day found deadA woman who was reported missing on New Year’s Day has been found dead in a field behind a Southgate apartment complex. On Saturday, the state reported a total of 497,127 cases and 12,598 deaths. New COVID-19 cases are slowing but deaths remain high in Michigan. According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 20.2 million cases have been reported across the country as of Jan. 2.
The Latest: Ossoff-Perdue Senate race is too early to call
Read full article: The Latest: Ossoff-Perdue Senate race is too early to callGeorgia's two Senate runoff elections on Tuesday will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. ___HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GEORGIA SENATE ELECTIONSGeorgia’s two Senate runoff elections Tuesday will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. Democrats need to win both of Georgia’s Senate runoff elections to claim the Senate majority. Georgia’s two Senate runoff elections on Tuesday will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. Georgians are voting on two Senate runoff elections that will determine control of the U.S. Senate.
Shutdown, impeachment, virus: Chaotic Congress winds down
Read full article: Shutdown, impeachment, virus: Chaotic Congress winds downSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks off of the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. Congress opened in 2019 with the federal government shutdown over Trump's demands for money to build the border wall with Mexico. The Republican-led Senate acquitted the president in 2020 of the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump’s push for $2,000 checks gained sudden momentum when dozens of House Republicans joined Democrats in approving the measure Monday. But the GOP leader has scheduled no votes on his measure and it would be unlikely to have enough support in Congress to pass.
Trump push on $2K checks flops as GOP-led Senate won't vote
Read full article: Trump push on $2K checks flops as GOP-led Senate won't voteSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks back to his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020. The roadblock set by Senate Republicans appears insurmountable. For a second day in a row, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer tried to force a vote on the bill approved by the House meeting Trump’s demand for the $2,000 checks. “What we’re seeing right now is Leader McConnell trying to kill the checks — the $2,000 checks desperately needed by so many American families,” Schumer said. “The Senate Republicans risk throwing away two seats and control of the Senate,” Newt Gingrich, the former congressional leader, said on Fox News.
Fight over Fed powers stalls $900 billion aid plan
Read full article: Fight over Fed powers stalls $900 billion aid planWASHINGTON – An arcane battle over emergency Federal Reserve powers foiled efforts on Saturday to lock down an agreement on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package. The deadlock was just the latest stumble in a partisan, months-long fight over pandemic relief and the lack of progress is backing lawmakers once again up against a government shutdown deadline Sunday night. Lawmakers on both sides said a provision by Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., that would curb emergency Federal Reserve powers was the sticking point. At issue are Fed emergency programs, launched amid the pandemic this spring, that provided loans to small and mid-size businesses and bought state and local government bonds. Under the Dodd-Frank financial reform law passed after the Great Recession, the Fed can only set up emergency programs with the support of the treasury secretary.
Congress averts shutdown; fight continues over pandemic aid
Read full article: Congress averts shutdown; fight continues over pandemic aidThe virus aid talks remained on track, both sides said, but closing out final disagreements was proving difficult. The Democrats said the GOP proposal would deprive President-elect Joe Biden of crucial tools to manage the economy. “Undermining that authority could mean less lending to Main Street businesses, higher unemployment and greater economic pain across the nation." The COVID-19 package would be added to a $1.4 trillion governmentwide appropriations bill that would fund federal agencies through next September. Standard & Poor’s said in a report Tuesday that the economy would be 1.5 percentage points smaller in 2021 without more aid.
Snags on COVID-19 relief may force weekend sessions
Read full article: Snags on COVID-19 relief may force weekend sessionsThe holdups mean a weekend session now appears virtually certain, and a top lawmaker warned that a government shutdown this weekend can't be ruled out. Now, Republicans are motivated chiefly to extend business subsidies and some jobless benefits, and provide money for schools and vaccines. The urgency was underscored Thursday by the weekly unemployment numbers, which revealed that 885,000 people applied for jobless benefits last week, the highest weekly total since September. Some Democrats also mourned the exclusion of a $500 million aid package to help states run their elections. The emerging package would combine the $900 billion in COVID-19 relief with a $1.4 trillion government-wide funding bill.
McConnell warns GOP off Electoral College brawl in Congress
Read full article: McConnell warns GOP off Electoral College brawl in CongressThen he pivoted, privately warning Republican senators away from disputing the Electoral College tally when Congress convenes in a joint session Jan. 6 to confirm the results. “I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden,” McConnell said as he opened the Senate. One House Republican, Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, is planning to challenge the Electoral College results when Congress convenes for the joint session. John Thune of South Dakota and Roy Blunt of Missouri, warned the senators off any Electoral College challenge, according to one of the people familiar with Tuesday's call. The GOP leaders further warned senators that forcing their colleagues into a vote on Electoral College challenges would prove difficult, especially for those facing their own reelections in 2022.
Negotiators near agreement on long-delayed COVID-19 aid bill, includes stimulus checks
Read full article: Negotiators near agreement on long-delayed COVID-19 aid bill, includes stimulus checksWASHINGTON – Congressional negotiators closed in Wednesday on a $900 billion COVID-19 economic relief package that would deliver additional help to businesses, $300 per week jobless checks, and $600 stimulus payments to most Americans. But lawmakers briefed on the outlines of the aid bill freely shared them. President-elect Joe Biden is eager for an aid package to prop up the economy and deliver direct aid to the jobless and hungry, even though the package falls short of what Democrats want. The frightening, record surge in COVID caseloads and deaths, combined with troubling economic indicators, however, is mandating an agreement, though the emerging package contains less economic stimulus than the March aid bill. With Congress otherwise getting ready to close up shop, lawmakers are eager to use the relief package to carry other unfinished business.
McConnell warns GOP off Electoral College brawl in Congress
Read full article: McConnell warns GOP off Electoral College brawl in CongressThen he pivoted, privately warning Republican senators away from disputing the Electoral College tally when Congress convenes in a joint session Jan. 6 to confirm the results. “I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden,” McConnell said as he opened the Senate. Some GOP lawmakers have vowed to carry the fight to Jan. 6 when Congress votes to accept or reject the Electoral College results. One House Republican, Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama, is planning to challenge the Electoral College results when Congress convenes for the joint session. The GOP leaders further warned senators that forcing their colleagues into a vote on Electoral College challenges would prove difficult, especially for those facing their own reelections in 2022.
Senate OKs Trump pick for FCC, adding hurdle to Biden plans
Read full article: Senate OKs Trump pick for FCC, adding hurdle to Biden plansThe shield from liability for social media companies has been grounded in Section 230 of a landmark 1996 telecommunications law. Trump and Republican lawmakers have persistently accused the social media companies, without evidence, of suppressing conservative viewpoints, and Trump portrayed his executive order as a remedy for bias. With Simington confirmed to the five-member FCC, there will then be a 2-2 split between Democratic and Republican commissioners. That likely will stymie Biden’s agenda until he’s able to get a fifth, Democratic FCC member confirmed, with an extended delay possible if the Republicans continue to control the Senate after the two Georgia Senate runoff elections. During Pai’s tenure, the FCC worked to free up spectrum for cellphone companies to enable them to roll out 5G.
Pence comes to Georgia as calm before potential Trump storm
Read full article: Pence comes to Georgia as calm before potential Trump stormVice President Mike Pence speaks during a briefing on COVID-19 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, in Atlanta. There have even been suggestions from some Trump allies that conservative voters should sit out the Jan. 5 Senate runoffs in protest, a notion Pence took head on. Pence, as he did two weeks ago when campaigning with the Georgia senators, tried to strike a balance. But this time, Pence's message comes as Georgia completes yet another recount of presidential ballots and in the wake of Trump escalating his attacks on Georgia Republicans. As Pence arrived in the state, Georgia officials were in the final stages of a third count requested by Trump’s campaign.
Biden names liberal econ team as pandemic threatens workers
Read full article: Biden names liberal econ team as pandemic threatens workers– With unemployment still high and the pandemic threatening yet another economic slump, President-elect Joe Biden is assembling a team of liberal advisers who have long focused on the nation’s workers and government efforts to address economic inequality. Biden also selected Wally Adeyemo to be Yellen’s deputy, which would make him the first Black deputy treasury secretary. “They’re fairly conventional liberal economists and experts.”Still, the Biden administration’s ambitious goals will face solid opposition from Republicans in Congress. She first made her mark in the Clinton orbit, and served as policy director for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential race. Bernstein has also worked as a social worker and was an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a labor-supported think tank.
Biden names liberal econ team as pandemic threatens workers
Read full article: Biden names liberal econ team as pandemic threatens workersBiden also selected Wally Adeyemo to be Yellen’s deputy, which would make him the first Black deputy treasury secretary. Rouse, Tanden and Adeyemo will all require Senate confirmation, and Tanden in particular is already drawing heavy Republican criticism. “They’re fairly conventional liberal economists and experts.”Still, the Biden administration’s ambitious goals will face solid opposition from Republicans in Congress. She first made her mark in the Clinton orbit, and served as policy director for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential race. Bernstein has also worked as a social worker and was an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a labor-supported think tank.