Thu, January 16, 2025

by: Oregonian

Oregon's lawmakers get to work next week. Here are their stated priorities

Oregon's legislative leaders will kick off their 2025 session with a shared focus on improving affordability for Oregonians and making sure the government is held accountable for delivering quality services, they said during a preview Thursday.

by: Politico

Netanyahu keeps Washington waiting

"You waved the white flag before Netanyahu!" yelled blogger MAX BLUMENTHAL. Blumenthal is credentialed by the State Department and runs a site accused of downplaying human rights abuses by China, Russia and former Syrian dictator BASHAR ASSAD. "How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide!"

by: deseret

Remembering Becky Lockhart a decade after her death

Friday, January 17th is the 10-year anniversary of Becky Lockhart's death at 46 years old and yet it seems like it was just yesterday," Stan Lockhart, who was her husband, shared with me. "The only woman to be Utah Speaker of the House was just finishing up her 16 years in the Utah Legislature when she began having dizzy spells or vertigo.

by: WLRN

A new proposal on recreational marijuana emerges, planned for 2026 ballot

The revamped proposal from the Smart & Safe Florida committee seeks to address issues raised by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who led a drive to defeat last year's constitutional measure.

by: Oregonian

NW Natural lobbyists also working for Oregon governments combatting climate change, report says

Conflicts of interest between NW Natural and a number of government bodies and nonprofits were analyzed in a new report from the Pennsylvania-based nonprofit climate group F Minus and the Oregon-based nonprofit climate advocacy group Breach Collective.

by: CNN

People want to change the Constitution. What's next?

The right and the left don't agree on how they'd like to change the Constitution, but they do agree that changes need to be made.

by: Forbes

How Fortunes Will Be Made And Retirements Lost In The Next 4 Years

Trump 2.0 will create a "market barbell" of big winners and sad losers. Let's focus on the dividend payers that will be propelled higher—and step over the laggards.

by: CNN

Teacher layoffs, bigger classes: Potential federal education cuts could hit GOP's base hardest

It's the sort of place where President-elect Donald Trump's "America First" message resonated - but also where some of his proposed policies could hit hardest, especially his promise to eliminate the Department of Education and slash federal funds to public schools.

by: justthenews

Trump indicates he won't hire people who worked for opponents with 'TDS'

The TDS term has entered common parlance and refers to a process by which traditionally conservative Republican figures who oppose Trump gradually turn to the political left for support and become fixated on the president-elect and his supposed status as a harbinger of the nation's doom.

by: WLRN

Fact-check: Senate confirmation hearing for Pam Bondi, attorney general nominee

Pam Bondi's hearing came on the second day of high-profile confirmation hearings for Trump's second-term nominees. PolitiFact fact checked her statements.

by: ABC

Few US adults confident Justice Department and FBI will act fairly under Trump, AP-NORC poll finds

As President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, gets set for her Senate confirmation hearings, only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults are "extremely" or "very" confident the Justice Department will act in a fair and nonpartisan manner

by: Reuters

Germany says it has found no more foot-and-mouth cases

Germany has not found any further cases of foot-and-mouth disease, agriculture minister Cem Oezdemir said on Wednesday, adding that experts were working day and night to establish the source of the country's first outbreak in decades.

by: MSN

'Revolving door' politics could threaten Iowa's small farmers

By Seth Millstein for Sentient. Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration The revolving door isn't just something you get stuck in while attempting to enter a hotel.

by: MSN

Trump Is Walking Back His Biggest Campaign Promises Before Taking Office

From lowering the costs of groceries to ending the war in Ukraine "in 24 hours," the president-elect is backpedaling on the things he said he would do.

by: MSN

Bondi questioned about prosecuting journalists and DOJ prosecutors

Pam Bondi was questioned about comments she made about prosecuting Department of Justice prosecutors and her view about investigating journalists.

by: CNN

Senators quiz Rubio, Bondi and other Trump Cabinet picks at hearings

Sen. Marco Rubio and Pam Bondi face questions from senators in their respective confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Follow for live news updates.

by: Sky

Sir Keir Starmer says government will 'look at every conceivable way' to stop Gerry Adams payout

A thinktank backed by 16 peers has criticised the government's plan to lift a ban on compensation for unlawful detention during the Troubles.

by: MSN

UK politics live: Badenoch admits Tories made mistake on Brexit as Reeves under fire over weak economy growth

Badenoch admits Tories made mistake on Brexit as Reeves under fire over weak economy growth - 'Disappointing' new GDP figures 'unlikely to ease stagflation concerns', analysts say

by: CNN

Biden makes last big move to protect US networks from hackers from China and elsewhere

President Joe Biden on Thursday signed an executive order that is his final stab at shoring up America's cyber defenses after a damaging string of cyberattacks on federal networks that US officials have blamed on Chinese and Russian operatives.

by: Reuters

Biden warns oligarchy forming in US that threatens democracy

President Joe Biden capped a half-century political career with a final Oval Office speech as he hopes to seal a legacy overshadowed by Democrats' failure to stop Donald Trump from returning to the White House.

by: MSN

Bob Ferguson sworn in as Washington's 24th governor, outlining goals and challenges

The state's first new governor in 12 years, Bob Ferguson used his inaugural speech to highlight his priorities of making government more efficient, working with all lawmakers and making the state a better place to live.

by: MSN

President Joe Biden Farewell Address: Reflective Tone, Achievements Touted, and Threats to Democracy

In a final message from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden farewell address stroke a reflective, hopeful, and cautionary tone. Speaking directly to the American people, Biden recounted his administration's achievements while sounding alarms about the risks to democracy posed by the concentration of power and technological advances.

by: MSN

Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire deal to pause Gaza war and release some hostages, mediators say

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding down the the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

by: MSN

Schiff and Bondi reignite old grudges at confirmation hearing: 'You were censured'

by: WYSO

Trump attorney general pick Bondi faces Democrats' questions about her independence

by: MSN

The pomp, pageantry and circumstance of presidential inaugurations in the words of AP reporters

Presidential inaugurations are deeply rooted in American history. The customs and festivities, like the parade and galas, bring spectacle to the nation's capital. But the date and oath of office are prescribed in the Constitution.

by: MSN

Donald Trump's New Staffer Request Has Potential Issue

President-elect Donald Trump's demand for his incoming administration to be free of those with ties to a long list of Republican enemies and others with "Trump Derangement Syndrome" appears to ignore one of his own Cabinet picks.

by: Reuters

Exclusive: Chinese buyers interested in unwanted German Volkswagen factories, source says

Chinese officials and automakers are eyeing German factories slated for closure and are particularly interested in Volkswagen's sites , a person with knowledge of Chinese government thinking told Reuters.

by: MSN

Neighbour 'purposely farting' at resident among 10 wacky B.C. bylaw calls of 2024

The Local Government Compliance and Enforcement Association of BC (LGCEA) is sharing the top 10 unique calls officers across B.C. received in 20214.
Wed, January 15, 2025

by: Tennessean

Gov. Bill Lee calls special session to tackle vouchers, disaster relief and immigration

The special session would allow lawmakers to focus on the topics in a more dedicated way. The special session would begin Jan. 27.

by: PBS

Father of Israeli-American hostage reacts to deal, 'the brink of ending this madness'

We're looking at the Israel-Hamas ceasefire through the lens of the families whose loved ones have been held hostage by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023. Jonathan Dekel-Chen is the father of Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen.

by: coloradopolitics

A tattoo, the N-word, a different crime: Colorado justices hear appeal of former death row inmate

Almost 20 years after the murders of a young couple in Aurora, the Colorado Supreme Court heard the appeal of the man convicted of orchestrating the killings and who now alleges numerous errors pervaded his trial.

by: Slate

There Are Still Ways the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Could Fall Apart

Under the terms of the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages over a period of 42 days, including women, children, the sick, and men over the age of 55. Three of these hostages will be released the first day, another four on the second day, then three at a time in each week, with the final 14 released on the final week.

by: Slate

The Supreme Court Changed Its Mind About Online Porn

The Supreme Court heard arguments in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton on Wednesday, a major First Amendment case.

by: MSN

Denmark and Trump discuss Greenland security and sovereignty

The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, had a phone conversation with President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday to discuss strengthening the security of Greenland and the Arctic, as reported by the office of the Danish government leader.

by: MSN

Israel and Hamas reach deal on Gaza ceasefire and hostage release, Hamas and Qatari officials say

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire Wednesday, a deal that will end 15 months of fighting in Gaza, senior Hamas and Qatari officials said.

by: MSN

Starmer and Badenoch clash over economy at PMQs

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has challenged Sir Keir Starmer over the government's handling of the economy, saying the UK was now "spending more on debt than on schools and hospitals". Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions,

by: CNN

Why Pete Hegseth is a perfect fit to be Trump's Pentagon chief

Pete Hegseth could hardly be more suited to be Donald Trump's secretary of Defense — even though he'd surely be deemed unqualified by any conventional president.

by: MassLive

What changes will go into effect Day 1 of the Trump administration? Here's what's planned

President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to sign dozens of executive orders after taking office Jan. 20. While some may take weeks to sign on, others may go into effect immediately.

by: MSN

Starmer insists under-fire Reeves will be in job 'many, many years' and rules out emergency Budget: Live

Boost for Reeves as inflation falls after No 10 refuses to rule out emergency budget - The Consumer Prices Index figure fell to 2.5%, still above the Bank of England's 2% target

by: MSN

Irish parties pledge increased investment after coalition deal

Ireland's two major centre-right parties finalised a coalition deal with independent lawmakers on Wednesday that will return Micheal Martin as prime minister and continue the previous government's high spending economic policy.

by: MSN

Read: Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson's inaugural address

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson was officially sworn into office Wednesday and addressed many concerns impacting the state, including housing and law enforcement.

by: MSN

Caring Society tries to force Canada back to the table to talk child welfare reform

The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society is calling on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to force the federal government back to the negotiation table on First Nations child welfare reforms.

by: MSN

Takeaways from the second day of Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings

Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees for key roles in the intelligence, foreign policy and law enforcement agencies all pledged to keep politics out of their offices amid concerns from Democrats that the president-elect will carry out his vows to go after his political enemies once in office.

by: MSN

Trump Announces Creation Of 'External Revenue Service' To Collect Tariffs, Duties From Foreign Sources

President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to create an External Revenue Service to collect tariffs, duties, and all revenue from foreign sources. Trump said the new agency would launch on his first day in office.

by: MSN

The Latest: Rubio, Bondi, Ratcliffe and Duffy appear for Senate confirmation hearings

Senate hearings are scheduled this week for several of Trump's cabinet picks including Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Pam Bondi for attorney general. Many nominees have met with senators individually.

by: MSN

House Republicans are looking to cut SNAP benefits in an attempt to reduce federal spending

House Republicans have proposed more than $5 trillion in cuts to social programs in an effort to "bankroll President-elect Donald Trump's top priorities this year, including tax cuts and border security,

by: Richmond

Geline Williams, one of two women to serve as Richmond mayor, dies at 100

Geline Bowman Williams, who became the second woman to serve as Richmond's mayor and also sat on Richmond City Council for a decade, died Sunday at age 100.

Senators quiz Rubio, Bondi and other Trump Cabinet picks at hearings

Sen. Marco Rubio and Pam Bondi face questions from senators in their respective confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Follow for live news updates.

The content at the provided URL from CNN, dated January 15, 2025, focuses on the confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees. Key points include the Senate's scrutiny of various nominees for their qualifications, past actions, and potential conflicts of interest. Notable discussions revolved around the nominees for Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Secretary of Defense, with senators questioning their policies on international relations, law enforcement, and military strategy. There was particular attention on how these nominees would handle ongoing issues like climate change, immigration, and national security. Additionally, the hearings highlighted the political atmosphere, with Democrats expressing concerns over nominees' independence from Trump's influence, while Republicans emphasized the need for swift confirmations to ensure a functioning government. The process was marked by both bipartisan support for some nominees and contentious debates over others, reflecting the broader political divide.

Read the Full CNN Article at:
https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-cabinet-confirmation-hearings-01-15-25/index.html