Maria Cantwell

As Democrats on Capitol Hill slam President Donald Trump’s tariffs and forecast a coming "Trump recession," Republicans say it is time to double down and deliver on the new administration’s agenda.

President Trump on Tuesday fired Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter, the two Democrats serving as commissioners at the Federal Trade Commission, both announced.The big picture: Republican FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has pledged to keep up Big Tech cases, but is taking a much more MAGA approach to antitrust, Axios previously reported.It's the latest in Trump's numerous attempts to weaken independent agencies, which he sees as standing in the way of his fast-moving MAGA agenda.What they're saying: "Today the President illegally fired me from my position as a Federal Trade Commissioner, violating the plain language of a statute and clear Supreme Court precedent," Slaughter said in an emailed statement.She wrote: "Why? Because I have a voice. And he is afraid of what I'll tell the American people.""The administration clearly fears the accountability that opposition voices would provide if the President orders Chairman Ferguson to treat the most powerful corporations and their executives—like those that flanked the President at his inauguration—with kid gloves."Bedoya said in a statement posted to his X account that Trump had fired him as well, calling it illegal."The President wants the FTC to be a lapdog for his golfing buddies. Who will Trump's FTC work for? Will it work for the billionaires or will it work for you?"Bedoya told Axios this sets a precedent for corruption, with decisions being impacted by the influence billionaire donors. He said he fears the FTC becomes like the DOJ, which threw out a case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams per Trump's request."What this does is open the door to corruption, plain and simple," he said. "I have been watching what's happening around us and wondering whether it would eventually come to FTC, and I think that's what's happened today."In a copy of Bedoya's firing email seen by Axios, Trent Morse, a deputy director of presidential personnel, writes on behalf of Trump that Bedoya is fired effectively immediately.In the email, Morse cites previous Supreme Court case Humphrey's Executor, arguing that the firings do not qualify as illegal under that case law because the FTC has "exercised substantial executive power.""Your continued service on the FTC is inconsistent with my Administration's policies. Accordingly, I am removing you from my office pursuant to my authority under Article II of the Constitution," the email reads.Sens. Maria Cantwell and Amy Klobuchar, who serve on committees that oversee the FTC, both blasted the firings."President Trump's dismissal of Commissioners Slaughter and Bedoya is not only illegal but also hurts consumers by undermining an independent agency that Congress established to protect consumers from fraud, scams, and monopoly power," Klobuchar said in a statement.What to watch: Bedoya said he and Slaughter are still commissioners per their Senate-confirmed terms, and they plan to fight back in court.A spokesman for the FTC didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson posted a statement on X saying he has "no doubts" about Trump's "constitutional authority to remove Commissioners."Editor's note: This story is developing and has been updated.If you need smart, quick intel on federal tech policy for your job, get Axios Pro Policy.

Alvaro Bedoya disclosed his firing from the FTC on the social platform X. "The president wants the FTC to be a lapdog for his golfing buddies," Bedoya said.

Officials at the National Institutes of Health are reportedly telling scientists to remove any references to mRNA technology from grant applications. It is an ominous sign for the scientific community, now under the control of anti-science conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.A senior official at the National Cancer Institute confirmed to KFF Health News that the acting NIH director sent an agency-wide email directing all grants, contracts, and “collaborations involving mRNA vaccines” be reported to Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy’s office and the White House.mRNA technology, crucial to the development of successful COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, has also exhibited promise in research on HIV/AIDS and cancer due to its ability to stimulate immune responses. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., questions Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as he testifies before the Senate Finance Committee during his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 29, 2025. In 2021, Kennedy told Louisiana lawmakers that the COVID-19 vaccine was the “the deadliest vaccine ever made.” Kennedy cited data from the poorly understood, and not at all verifiable Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. As scientists hold their breath to find out whether or not their lifesaving research will be cut, the measles outbreak in Texas continues to spread, now with nearly 300 confirmed cases. Kennedy is still misinforming the public about both the nature of the most recent outbreak and redirecting resources into redundant research on the safety of existing vaccines. Kennedy wrote an op-ed giving lip service to the MMR vaccine before doing an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity at a Steak ‘n Shake in Florida, where he promoted the idea that it is better to simply catch the measles if you are “healthy” versus taking a vaccine. The downsides to catching the measles in childhood is longterm complications and erasing your immune memory, which far outweigh any immunity you get to the disease.And while President Donald Trump’s secretary of agriculture does damage control on egg prices, researchers race to develop mRNA-based vaccines in preparation for a potential avian flu pandemic the administration and Kennedy seem ill-equipped to address.Daily Kos is now on Bluesky—and we want to make it easy for you to join us! Click here for the Daily Kos Bluesky Starter Pack.

Instead of directly responding to questions about potential spending cuts, Oz focused on improving health, patient care, and payment systems using technology.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator nominee Mehmet Oz prepares to testify during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Finance Committee on Friday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

A plane takes off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near the wreckage of American Airlines Flight 5342 in the Potomac River on Feb. 3, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

In President Donald Trump‘s latest push to shrink the Department of Education, the agency has suspended all four of its most affordable federal student loan repayment plans.The move comes two weeks after a U.S. appeals court expanded an injunction to block the Biden-era income-driven loan repayment program called Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, for three months, forcing borrowers enrolled to switch to another program.The four IDR plans promised lower monthly payments and offered a faster route to loan forgiveness. Now, borrowers are left with only the more expensive repayment plans.The agency also announced it will not accept or process applications for any of the programs during the pause.Here’s what to know about income-driven repayment plans and their suspension:Which student loan repayment plans have been suspended?The Department of Education suspended all four of the income-driven student loan repayment plans: Income-Contingent Repayment, Pay as You Earn, Income-Based Repayment and Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE.Student LoansFeb 27Trump administration removes student loan repayment applications from Education Department websitenewsFeb 25Amid risks to Education Dept., borrowers should ‘immediately' take key actions, consumer advocates saynewsMar 3Student loan borrowers pursuing public service forgiveness are ‘panicking,' expert says. Here's what to knowWhat is an income-driven student loan repayment plan?Income-driven student loan plans afford borrowers with case-specific repayment plans based on their income and family size.Previously, the DoE offered four IDR plans, each requiring borrowers to spend a different percentage of their discretionary income — or the income that remains after tax deductions and necessary purchases — on monthly student loan payments.The plans, which were meant to ease the burden of student loans, extend the repayment period from the standard 10 years to 20 or 25 with the promise of forgiving the leftover debt at the end of that period. They also allow for adjustments based on changes in economic status. What is the maximum income for income-driven repayment plans?Generally, there is no maximum income which would disqualify a borrower from participating in an IDR plan. All borrowers, regardless of income, may be eligible to participate in an IDR plan if their federal student loan debt is higher than their annual discretionary income or if it equals a “significant portion” of their annual income.How many student loans are delinquent?According to The Washington Post, one in five borrowers who are supposed to repaying their federal student loans are more than 90 days overdue. That amounted to 4 million borrowers in the end of February — double the number from 2019.The federal government paused student loan payments during the Covid-19 pandemic, a pause which the Biden administration extended for over three years. President Biden then allowed borrowers to ease back into their payments, awarding a 12-month grace period in which borrowers who missed payments wouldn’t face financial consequences like impacted credit scores.Will student loan payments resume?As of now, the court’s injunction only lasts for three months. Beyond that, it’s unclear what will happen with the programs.When do student loans go away? While federal student loans don’t expire, some repayment plans promise complete forgiveness after a certain number of years.For example, the DoE’s income-driven repayment plans offer forgiveness after 20 or 25 years, depending on the program.What happens to student loans if the Department of Education is eliminated?The Treasury Department could assume control over the distribution of federal Pell Grants and student loans if the Department of Education is dismantled.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted 28–0 to move Sean Duffy's nomination to the Senate floor.

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Transportation on Wednesday told Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., that he “would anticipate honoring” billions of dollars the department committed for the replacement of the Interstate 5 Bridge.

Stalling the protections is wrong and will unnecessarily prolong a dangerous digital environment for America's youth.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) will unveil on Wednesday his list of Senate Democrats who get top committee positions, Axios has learned.Why it matters: These Senate Democrats will Schumer's top lieutenants to fight against Republican nominees and legislative priorities starting next year.The assignments:Sen. Amy Klobuchar, AgricultureSen. Patty Murray, AppropriationsSen. Jack Reed, Armed ServicesSen. Elizabeth Warren, BankingSen. Maria Cantwell, CommerceSen. Martin Heinrich, EnergySen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Environments and Public WorksSen. Ron Wyden, FinanceSen. Jeanne Shaheen, Foreign RelationsSen. Bernie Sanders, Health, Education, Labor and PensionsSen. Gary Peters, Homeland SecuritySen. Mark Warner, IntelligenceSen. Dick Durbin, JudiciarySen. Kirsten Gillibrand, AgingSen. Jeff Merkley, BudgetSen. Maggie Hassan, Joint EconomicSen. Alex Padilla, RulesSen. Ed Markey, Small BusinessSen. Richard Blumenthal, Veterans' AffairsSen. Chris Coons, EthicsSen. Brian Schatz, Indian Affairs

In July, 91 senators supported the legislation, which would establish limits on Big Tech's collection of young peoples' data and the use of that data to keep them glued to scrolling on their screens. In an age when the mental health of teens, tweens and children is suffering, the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act cannot wait. It's a disservice to Americans that House Speaker Johnson is unwilling to bring well-conceived and thoughtful digital safety reforms to the House floor.

In the month since the presidential election, some things are starting to become clearer though many questions remain.What Can Be Expected on Day 1President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that on Day 1 he plans to immediately reverse pauses on all liquified natural gas (LNG) export permits to accelerate oil and gas production and “lower energy prices.” Trump will push for more oil drilling on federal land and we also expect that the administration and Congress to move quickly on revamping DOE’s role in LNG export licenses under the Natural Gas Act. Trump also repeatedly promised on his campaign trail to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change once again, meaning the US would not have to abide by any “nationally determined contribution,” the non-binding 10-year national climate plan that the US is supposed to submit by a February 2025 deadline.Trump’s next likely targets include the recently finalized Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methane fee on... Read the complete article here...©1994-2024 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. All Rights Reserved.

Democrats faced heavy losses nationwide on Election Day, with many districts turning away from the party as Republican Donald Trump won another term as president.

The Senate majority leader had not extended invitations to two candidates in close races.

Kamala Harris didn't know about the economy when she ran for Senate in California. She's still wrong. She views world like government should decide everything through regulation.

Votes cast for Dr. Raul Garcia, spelled "Dr Paul Garcia" on the ballot, will still go to the candidate.

Votes cast for Dr. Raul Garcia, spelled "Dr Paul Garcia" on the ballot, will still go to the candidate.

'Lobbyists will often leverage relationships'

The judge in former President Donald Trump's election interference case ordered additional documents about his claim of immunity to be made public before the November elections.

Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford is pictured in the Capitol during votes on July 31. Lankford on Tuesday blocked a resolution expressing a sense of the Senate that every patient should have the right to emergency health care, including abortion, regardless of where they live, saying that “there is no state in America where a woman faces prosecution for having an abortion.”

County Auditor Karen Martin said the totals appear to be on track, but the results won’t officially be updated until the canvassing board meets for reconciliation.

The Office of the Secretary of State issued the recount to clarify the results of the second and third place candidates in the state Commissioner of Public Lands race.

The forum will feature Republican Michael Baumgartner and Democrat Carmela Conroy, the top two vote getters in the primary election.

Registered voters in Clark County have begun casting their ballots for next week’s primary election.

There are more than 6,000 911 call centers to handle an estimated 240 million emergency calls each year, according to federal data.

The Senate plans to vote this week on a pair of children’s online safety bills, KOSA and COPPA 2.0, though the tech bills' future in the House is less clear.

Senators were told during a briefing call Wednesday that the Secret Service had flagged Thomas Crooks as suspicious more than an hour before he shot from a rooftop at former President Trump, and that a counter-sniper spotted him as a potential threat 19 minutes before the shooting, according to a person familiar with the call. [...]

Senators were told during a briefing call Wednesday that the Secret Service had flagged Thomas Crooks as suspicious more than an hour before he shot from a rooftop at former President Trump, and that a counter-sniper spotted him as a potential threat 19 minutes before the shooting, according to a person familiar with the call. [...]

Senators were told during a briefing call Wednesday that the Secret Service had flagged Thomas Crooks as suspicious more than an hour before he shot from a rooftop at former President Trump, and that a counter-sniper spotted him as a potential threat 19 minutes before the shooting, according to a person familiar with the call. [...]

Senators were told during a briefing call Wednesday that the Secret Service had flagged Thomas Crooks as suspicious more than an hour before he shot from a rooftop at former President Trump, and that a counter-sniper spotted him as a potential threat 19 minutes before the shooting, according to a person familiar with the call. [...]

Senators were told during a briefing call Wednesday that the Secret Service had flagged Thomas Crooks as suspicious more than an hour before he shot from a rooftop at former President Trump, and that a counter-sniper spotted him as a potential threat 19 minutes before the shooting, according to a person familiar with the call. [...]

Senators were told during a briefing call Wednesday that the Secret Service had flagged Thomas Matthew Crooks as suspicious more than an hour before he shot from a rooftop at former President Trump, and that a countersniper spotted him as a potential threat 19 minutes before the shooting, according to a person familiar with the [...]

Senate Commerce Chair Maria Cantwell, whose committee would have a key role in the TikTok bill passing in the Senate, says she’s examining provisions to ensure that they meet the free-speech threshold.

Staying globally competitive in AI means attracting, cultivating and preserving top talent.