Tag Archives: Mitch McConnell

McConnell Finally Recognizes Biden As President-Elect

Politico reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recognized Joe Biden as the president-elect of the United States for the first time on Tuesday, after declining to do so while President Donald Trump contested the election results. “Our country has officially a president-elect and a vice-president elect,” the Kentucky Republican said. McConnell’s recognition of Biden came at the tail end of …

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McConnell Still Hasn’t Acknowledged Joe Biden’s Win

The Week reports: There are still Senate Republicans who refuse to publicly acknowledged that President-elect Joe Biden defeated President Trump in the Nov. 3 election, but that number shrank Monday after the Electoral College cast its votes, formalizing Biden’s 306-232 win. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had still not publicly acknowledged Biden’s victory, but his top deputy, Sen. John …

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McConnell Backs Defense Bill Despite Trump’s Veto Vow

The Washington Examiner reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Thursday called on senators to vote for a defense policy bill President Trump has pledged to veto. McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said the measure is essential for the military to function in the coming year. A vote is expected for later on Thursday. “On Tuesday, the House passed the conference report …

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Top Republicans Block Motion Recognizing Biden’s Win

Newsweek reports: Republicans responsible for organizing the 2021 inauguration ceremony have refused to officially recognize they are planning the event for President-elect Joe Biden. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which is made up of lawmakers from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, rejected a motion on Tuesday that essentially recognized Biden as the winner of the …

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McConnell Refers To Coming “New Administration”

The Washington Post reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that there will be a new administration in January, going further than he previously has in acknowledging Trump’s election loss. “I think we all know that after the first of the year there’s likely to be a discussion about additional — some additional package of some size next …

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Congress Returns To Looming Shutdown Deadline

NBC News reports: After months of shadowboxing amid a tense and toxic campaign, Capitol Hill’s main players are returning for one final, perhaps futile, attempt at deal-making on a challenging menu of year-end business. COVID-19 relief, a $1.4 trillion catchall spending package, and defense policy — and a final burst of judicial nominees — dominate a truncated two- or three-week …

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McConnell Pushed For Barrett On Night RBG Died

The Hill reports: Josh Holmes, former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said in a new documentary that the Republican leader urged President Trump to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on the night Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. Holmes, who previously served as chief of staff to McConnell from 2010 to 2013, made …

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McConnell: “We’re Going To Have An Orderly Transfer”

NBC News reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday said there will be an “orderly transfer” between administrations Jan. 20, though he did not mention President-elect Joe Biden or President Donald Trump, who is refusing to concede, by name. McConnell, R-Ky., has not yet publicly recognized Biden’s victory, but his comments Tuesday following a Senate Republican luncheon signaled he …

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McConnell Blasts Plan To “Retreat” From Afghanistan

Via press release from Mitch McConnell: A rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan now would hurt our allies and delight the people who wish us harm. Violence affecting Afghans is still rampant. The Taliban is not abiding by the conditions of the so-called peace deal. The consequences of a premature American exit would likely be even worse than President …

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Chuck Schumer Reelected Senate Minority Leader

Axios reports: The Senate Democratic caucus re-elected Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and added Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) to its leadership ranks, a Senate Democratic source tells Axios. The re-election of the full Senate Democratic leadership team comes after a relatively disappointing general election in which the party failed to win outright control of the …

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McConnell: Trump Is Right To Look Into “Irregularities”

Reuters reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday said President Donald Trump was completely within his rights to look into “irregularities” from last week’s election. In a speech on the Senate floor, the Republican leader did not acknowledge Democrat Joe Biden as president-elect or Kamala Harris as vice president-elect. “President Trump is 100 percent within his rights to look …

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McConnell Pressures Networks Not To Call Election

NPR reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., says “every legal vote should be counted” and “any illegal ballots must not,” as President Trump continues to make baseless claims alleging fraud in the election. “Here’s how this must work in our great country: Every legal vote should be counted. Any illegally-submitted ballots must not. All sides must get to observe …

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Axios: McConnell Plans To Block Biden Cabinet Picks

Axios reports: A source close to McConnell tells Axios a Republican Senate would work with Biden on centrist nominees but no “radical progressives” or ones who are controversial with conservatives. The Biden agenda would be severely restricted by GOP control, the source added: “It’s going to be armed camps.” The state of play: The process is in its early stages …

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AP Calls Kentucky Senate Race For Mitch McConnell

The New York Times reports: Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and majority leader known for his take-no-prisoners tactics, was elected to a seventh term Tuesday, defeating Amy McGrath, a Democrat who struggled to gain ground despite an outpouring of financial support from her party’s supporters around the nation. Mr. McConnell campaigned back home on how he had used his …

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McConnell Vows To Confirms Judges Until Last Minute

Talking Points Memo reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) vowed Friday that he would continue his full-court press to remake the judiciary up until January 3, when Democrats may take over the Senate, depending on the outcome of next week’s election. “We’re going to run through the tape. We go through the end of the year, and so does …

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McConnell: GOP Has “50-50” Chance Of Losing Senate

Fox News reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the chances are “50-50″ that Republicans lose control of the upper chamber with just five days to go until the Nov. 3 election. “It’s a 50-50 proposition. We have a lot of exposure. This is a huge Republican class,” McConnell, R-Ky., said Wednesday during a campaign stop in Kentucky. “There are …

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McConnell Shrugs Off Questions About Bruised Hands

The New York Daily News reports: Mitch McConnell asserted Thursday that he is healthy after speculation swirled over what is wrong with the Senate majority leader’s hands. McConnell showed up to work at the Capitol Thursday with both hands appearing severely discolored in a deep purple, with band-aids covering some of the knuckle areas. The Kentucky Republican’s lips and the …

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McConnell Urges WH Against Stimulus Deal With Dems

Fox News reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged the White House not to strike a big coronavirus deal before the election, despite President Trump’s public wishes to do so. McConnell is concerned that Pelosi, D-Calif., is not negotiating in good faith with the White House. And if a big deal is struck — which Trump has said he wants …

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McConnell: Barrett Confirmation Vote Will Be Monday

Fox News reports: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said that the upper chamber of Congress will vote next Monday, Oct. 26, to confirm President Trump’s nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, to the Supreme Court. The Judiciary Committee is expected to vote her out of committee on Thursday at 1 p.m. ET, as it’s customary for the committee to hold over …

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Major Kentucky Newspaper Endorses Amy McGrath

From the editorial board of the Lexington Herald-Leader: The eyes of America are on Kentucky’s race for the U.S. Senate because many rightly feel that next to the presidential election, it’s the most important contest in the country, with the future health of our democracy riding on the right choice. That choice is Amy McGrath, a Democrat challenging longtime incumbent …

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