Democrats

Christopher Kane reports at the Washington Blade: A gay staffer for U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) is no longer employed by the U.S. Senate, his office told the Washington Blade in a statement on Saturday morning, which followed reports that he had filmed amateur pornography in the workplace. “We will have no further comment on this personnel matter,” Cardin’s office …

The Washington Post reports: The House, in a decisive vote Thursday, passed the annual defense policy bill and delivered a bipartisan rebuke to its most conservative members who had sought to infuse the legislation with a wishlist of provisions targeting Pentagon policies on abortion access, diversity and LGBTQ+ rights. The $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was approved by …

Goldsboro’s CBC affiliate reports: New congressional maps are causing a shake up for North Carolina’s lawmakers. Representative Wiley Nickel, a democrat who represents North Carolina’s District 13, tells CBS 17’s Russ Bowen that he will not run again for his seat. CBS 17 was the first to learn about the decision. Nickel revealed he does plan to run for a …

The New York Times reports: The Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed an $886 billion defense bill that would set Pentagon policy and provide a 5.2 percent pay raise for military personnel, defying the demands of Republicans who failed to attach a raft of deeply partisan restrictions on abortion, transgender care and diversity initiatives. The vote was 87 to 13 to …

Via press release from the White House: The American people need their leaders in Congress to take action on important priorities for the nation and world. On Tuesday, I met with the President of Ukraine, who is leading his people in a battle for freedom against Russian aggression. He came to America to ask us for help. Yet Republicans in …

The New York Times reports: New York’s highest court ordered the state to redraw its congressional map on Tuesday, delivering a ruling that immediately threw New York’s political landscape into chaos and reopened a process with sweeping national implications. State Democrats are now widely expected to try to shift anywhere from two to six Republican-held seats, from Long Island to …

Politico reports: A Tampa lawyer who has run for office previously wants a federal judge to order state election officials to put the name of Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) on the March 19 ballot along with Biden. The lawsuit filed contends the process used by Democrats — as outlined under Florida law — is unconstitutional. The lawsuit does not include …

The Associated Press reports: Houston elected Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire as its next mayor on Saturday night, elevating a Texas lawmaker who has represented the city for 50 years by giving him a victory over U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee in a runoff. Whitmire, 74, who is one of Texas’ most powerful Democratic legislators, will now be at the …

Gothamist reports: The MTA board is set to vote on the toll structure for congestion pricing on Wednesday – and now Mayor Eric Adams is ready to pump the brakes. Last week, an MTA advisory panel recommended a $15 base fare for the landmark plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street. “Now is time to hear from …

The Bucks County Courier Times reports: While most of the newly sworn in members to the Central Bucks school board chose to swear their oaths on a bible, incumbent Karen Smith brought a stack of books to Monday’s meeting. Smith stood out at the Dec. 4 reorganization meeting as she took her oath of office with her hand placed on …

NBC New York reports: At least four gold bars found in the FBI search of Sen. Robert Menendez’s home had been directly linked to a New Jersey businessman now accused of bribing the state’s senior senator, Bergen County prosecutor records from a 2013 robbery case show. The businessman, Fred Daibes, reported to police he was the victim of an armed …

The New York Post reports: The Democratic Party by mid-week will nominate a candidate to run in the special election early next year to replace expelled serial liar and criminal defendant Rep. George Santos — and it’s all but certain to be former Congressman Tom Suozzi, sources said Sunday. State Democratic Democratic Party Chairman and Nassau County leader Jay Jacobs …

“Where do you even start with this, right? It’s 2023, I guess 2022 when the book came out. And we’re still talking about people this way? Based on who they are and who they love? America, most of America, at least, has moved on from this kind of thing. “And what’s obnoxious is the idea that you can be coming …

Axios reports: Democrats are looking to the expulsion of Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) on Friday as a chance to not only flip a highly competitive House seat, but get a political boost ahead of 2024. Santos’ removal spurs a special election to fill his seat that could happen in a matter of months, with the nominees chosen by county party …

“I’ll tell you why I’m here. I’m here to tell the truth about the Biden-Harris record, and also compare and contrast Ron DeSantis’ record and the Republican Party’s record as a point of contrast that’s as different as daylight and darkness. “You want to bring us back to a pre-1960s world. America in reverse. You want to roll back hard-earned …

The Messenger reports: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs endorsed an abortion ballot initiative that could appear on the November 2024 ballot earlier this week. Hobbs signed a petition form for the “Arizona Abortion Access Act,” which would guarantee the right to abortion in the state constitution by making abortion a “fundamental right” until fetal viability. The ballot initiative is being spearheaded …

The Associated Press reports: President Joe Biden will try to turn Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado into the embodiment of Republican opposition to his agenda as he visits her congressional district on Wednesday. Biden plans to tour CS Wind, the world’s largest facility for wind tower manufacturing, in the town of Pueblo. CS Wind is undergoing a $200 million expansion …

CNN reports: President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Atlanta next week for a tribute service for former first lady Rosalynn Carter. Vice President Kamala Harris and the second gentleman will also attend the Tuesday service. A number of ceremonies are slated to take place next week to celebrate the life of Carter, the wife of …

The Daily Beast reports: In a series of early morning tweets, retiring congressman and long-shot presidential candidate, Dean Phillips, articulated his thoughts on the 2024 election. He said while he was a staunch supporter of the Biden agenda and respects the president, he thinks the level of government missteps is “staggering” and that its “delusional” to believe that Joe Biden …

CBS News reports: A former executive assistant to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who had accused him of groping her has filed a lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted her. Brittany Commisso, who worked for Cuomo starting in 2017, filed the lawsuit under the Adult Survivors Act, which had expanded the time limit under which people could sue for sexual …