Jeff Merkley

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and six other Democratic lawmakers are pressing for answers from Mehmet Oz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to oversee the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Their concerns have to do with his proposal to privatize Medicare and conflicts of interest if confirmed to lead the health organization overseeing the health care of more than 12 million Americans. A letter, signed by Democrats and sent on Tuesday, highlights “stark concerns” about Oz's financial ties of stocks of “at least $550,000 invested in UnitedHealth Group, the largest private insurer in Medicare Advantage.” This would mean “under Dr. Oz’s plan, UnitedHealth Group’s revenue from Medicare Advantage would roughly double to $274 billion annually.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will force votes on resolutions to block more than $20 billion in offensive aid to Israel next week, multiple sources told Axios.Why it matters: Sanders' resolutions will almost certainly be defeated on the Senate floor, but they will give a good snapshot of just how strong the sentiment against Israel's war effort in Gaza is amongst Senate Democrats.Sanders has long been a leading critic of the Israeli government and U.S. support for its war in Gaza.The resolutions that Sanders will raise next week would block the Biden administration from sending billions of dollars in offensive aid to Israel.The Biden administration has been reluctant to withhold arms, and announced Tuesday that it would not enforce its ultimatum to cut aid if humanitarian conditions in Gaza did not improve.The big picture: The Sanders resolution will give a good snapshot of just how strong the sentiment against the Israeli war in Gaza is amongst Senate Democrats.Sanders was joined by Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in introducing the resolutions to block the arms sales. The aid that would be blocked includes tank munitions, F-15IA aircrafts and mortars, if all the resolutions were to be passed.Sanders is forcing the vote at the same time that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is planning to pass a bill that would crack down on antisemitism on college campuses.Go deeper: Senate soundly rejects push to scrutinize Israel aid

As we write this, it looked like Donald Trump will be the next president and the U.S. Senate will be controlled by Republicans. The results for the House of Representatives were still unclear.

Polymarket’s $2.7 billion Trump vs. Harris betting pool shows Trump with a 66% chance of victory, but recent analysis suggests nearly a third of the activity may be manipulated, raising questions about its accuracy.

There are good reasons that people prefer gas-powered cars, from convenience to reliability to cost. It may be that, over time, they come to embrace electric cars at the level the Biden-Harris administration deems appropriate, but that should be for the market to decide free of government impositions.

This week, there’s a certain irony to our newsletter being called “At the Races.” And no, it’s not because Pete Rose, Major League Baseball’s all-time hits leader who was banned from baseball for betting on the Cincinnati Reds, died​ Monday at age 83. Betting on the outcome of the congressional elections next month by individuals [...]The post At the Races: Please bet responsibly appeared first on Roll Call.

All bets are off when it comes to betting on elections. It has been mostly illegal in the United States. And as much as we have fretted about on the editorial page here that, of course, doesn’t change what happens...

Recent efforts to address such trading have fallen flat, but the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s vote to advance a measure gave new hope to those who support stricter rules.

‘We do, oh Nancy, listen,’ Strenger said as two security officials began to move him away

A bipartisan group of senators is demanding immediate action from USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack after several tribal nations reported that a federal food distribution program they rely on has not fulfilled orders for months, and in some cases has delivered expired food.

Welcome to At the Races! Each week we bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. Michigan’s congressional primaries were overshadowed nationally by the debut of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the running mate of current Vice President and Democratic [...]The post At the Races: Don’t forget the Motor City (counts votes slowly) appeared first on Roll Call.

'This is an innovative program that has actually been proven to work, except with this one issue'

Chair Gary Peters, D-Mich., helped broker a new version of a bill to ban lawmaker stock trading, which advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Vice President Harris will be notably absent from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, a move that some Republicans called "petty." But the move could have the potential to show some daylight between her and President Biden when it comes to the Israeli leader. Harris, now rapidly [...]

At least 21 lawmakers are skipping the Israeli leader's speech in protest of his military campaign in Gaza. Kamala Harris and JD Vance won’t be there, either.

In 2020, surveys showed Biden consistently leading Trump nationally and in swing states, often by wide margins. But this time, the polls show Biden in a more precarious position.

In 2020, surveys showed Biden consistently leading Trump nationally and in swing states, often by wide margins. But this time, the polls show Biden in a more precarious position.

Following public testimony, the ceasefire resolution will now be sent to President Joe Biden, Oregon representatives and senators.

"Tourism only serves to whitewash these atrocities—serving the interests of the Chinese Communist Party and government," the lawmakers say.