DC Watch
House enters third week without speaker as nine Republicans vie for gavel
The conference is searching for a new speaker nominee after Rep. Jim Jordan on Friday became the latest to exit the race. Read More.
Florida's Byron Donalds is now a candidate for U.S. House Speaker
With Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan failing on his third attempt to become the next U.S. House speaker on Friday, the race is wide open and Southwest Florida Rep. Byron Donalds has become a confirmed candidate for the position. Read More.
Biden DHS official placed on leave after pro-Palestinian ties revealed
A Department of Homeland Security official was put on leave after a report that they had previously worked for the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Read More.
Republicans push for border funding to be wrapped into Israel, Ukraine aid package
U.S. Senate leaders called Tuesday for a bipartisan aid package for Israel’s counteroffensive against Hamas that also includes assistance for Ukraine and Taiwan, with possible border funding sought by Republicans, as President Joe Biden prepared to leave Tuesday evening for a trip to Israel. Read More.
More than half of Florida’s GOP Congressional delegation favors Jim Jordan for U.S. House speaker
The others are either strongly opposed, or laying low on who they support Read More.
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell raised $1.5M in 5 weeks to take on Rick Scott
Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell raised more than $1.5 million in the five weeks after launching her U.S. Senate bid. Read More.
Rubio asks Biden administration to cancel visas for foreign nationals supporting Hamas
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is calling on President Biden to cancel visas for foreign nationals supporting Hamas in the wake of the terrorist group’s unprecedented attack on Israeli citizens near the Gaza Strip. Read More.
Steve Scalise picked as GOP speaker nominee, but struggles to lock down votes to win the gavel
House Republicans picked Rep. Steve Scalise as their nominee for speaker on Wednesday, but the Louisiana Republican lacks the votes needed to win the gavel and it remains unclear whether he will be able to win over holdouts. Read More.
Centrist Senate Dems call for freezing $6 billion in Iran assets after Hamas attack in Israel
Other Senate Democrats voiced concerns about Iran on Tuesday, but weren't yet ready to call for a freeze. Read More.
McCarthy may jump into U.S. House speaker race, as crises overseas mount
U.S. House Republicans will gather behind closed doors beginning Monday night in an attempt to decide who should become the chamber’s next speaker, a race with a renewed sense of urgency with ally Israel now at war and the House in paralysis. Read More.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will run for president as an independent and drop his Democratic primary bid
Longtime environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday he will run for president as an independent and drop his Democratic primary bid, adding a wrinkle to a 2024 race heading toward a likely rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Read More.
Absence of House speaker could have serious impact on US handling of terror attacks in Israel
So far, there has been no call for an intelligence briefing on the Middle East for the Congressional 'Gang of 8' Read More.
Could a FL Republican emerge as the next U.S. House Speaker? And what about Trump?
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Southwest FL received votes for the position in January Read More.
Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina is the leader of the House, at least for now
As Kevin McCarthy got pushed out of his job as House speaker, in part by colleagues who helped put him on the dais nine months ago, one of his top lieutenants stepped in to preside — at least temporarily. Read More.
Kevin McCarthy ousted as House speaker, thrusting Congress into chaos
Kevin McCarthy made history Tuesday — becoming the first speaker of the House of Representatives to be ousted by a floor vote with the help of members of his own party. Read More.
