Skip to content
News and updates

Category: Pure Politics

Something We Haven’t Seen in A Long Time…

Posted on

As expected, the new 118th House of Representatives gathered earlier today to elect the new Speaker.  Before the new Members gathered to vote, all of Washington knew that Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was the Minority Leader in the 117th Congress, was going to have a difficult time garnering enough support from the most hard-core rightwing of the House Republican caucus.  The first vote for Speaker demonstrated exactly how difficult a path McCarthy faces.

With 218 voted needed to become Speaker, McCarthy received even fewer votes that many of his supporters had predicted:  he received 203 votes, with 19 House Republicans opposing his Speakership.  In fact, the new Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York received more votes for Speaker, with a total of 212.  For the first time in 100 years, the vote for Speaker is now headed to a second ballot.

Read more about the situation here, here, here, and here.

Amy Coney Barrett Confirmed

Posted on

Amy Coney Barrett has been confirmed as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States by a 52-48 partisan vote. Barrett is now the third justice appointed by President Trump to join the Court.

Updates here.

 

Trump Chief of Staff and Senior Strategist Named

Posted on

Reince Prebus and Steve Bannon have been named to key leadership positions in the West Wing for the Trump Administration.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus will serve as Trump’s White House chief of staff. Priebus has a long relationship with fellow Wisconsin Republican, House Speaker Paul Ryan. At just 44, Priebus is already among the longest-serving RNC chairmen and a prolific fundraiser.

Steve Bannon, the former executive chairman of Breitbart News, will be  senior adviser and chief strategist in the White House. The appointment of Bannon prompted harsh criticism and widespread alarm among political strategists. Bannon, , is described as a dangerous influence in a statement released Sunday by the ADL.

Bannon, 62, is a former naval officer and investment banker who is also closely associated with the white-nationalist “alt-right” movement. Bannon was the brains behind inviting the women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct to be Trump’s guests at the second debate. 

The Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation League and the Council on American-Islamic Relations were among the groups that put out statements decrying Bannon last night.

Federal Relations will continue to update on key Administration positions as the information becomes available.