Lindsey Graham

More than two dozen Senate and House Republicans demand the International Olympics Committee to align with President Donald Trump's executive order banning trans athletes from women's sports.

Vice President JD Vance arrives to attend the House Republican Conference meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday.

House Republicans on Saturday released a plan to fund the government that, if passed, would make massive cuts to social safety net programs, infrastructure projects, and even veterans’ health care programs.Democrats tried to work for months with Republicans to come up with a bill to fund the government. However, the House Republican bill left Democrats out and is a partisan plan that increases funding for President Donald Trump’s deportation plans while largely axing funding for infrastructure projects, a fund to help veterans exposed to toxic chemicals, and disaster-mitigation efforts, among other things.For example, Politico reported that the legislation did not renew $40 million in funding for over 70 programs to benefit children and families, including $5 million for homeless shelters in Alaska.From the Politico report:Also forgone are $890 million in grants for health care facilities and equipment. Again, the fiscal 2024 funding had been distributed on a bipartisan basis: GOP Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Roger Wicker of Mississippi were among those who requested funding for clinics and hospitals in their states. Bipartisan emergency preparedness and disaster mitigation projects funded through $293 million of earmarked FEMA dollars are also not renewed, as well as $116 million in Small Business Administration funding and $107 million in workforce development projects. Clean water projects, law enforcement grants and tribal assistance are also targeted in the bill.House Democrats say the funding bill does not include $22.8 billion for the Toxic Exposures Fund, which provides assistance to help veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances during their service. They also said it cuts rent subsidies by more than $700 million, which Democrats said would allow landlords to “evict more than 32,000 households including veterans, survivors of domestic violence, seniors, and families with disabilities.”Also missing is $20 million in funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which, according to the Department of Agriculture, “helps supplement the diets of people with low income by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost.” Cuts to that program come as Trump’s tariffs are expected to raise the cost of food even higher.And the funding bill would also lead to $1 billion in cuts to the District of Columbia, which city officials told The Washington Post could lead to cuts to the police force, teaching staff, and more.House Democrats appear united in opposition to the funding bill.“House Democrats would enthusiastically support a bill that protects Social Security, Medicare, veterans health and Medicaid, but Republicans have chosen to put them on the chopping block to pay for billionaire tax cuts,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote in a letter on Friday. “We cannot back a measure that rips away life-sustaining healthcare and retirement benefits from everyday Americans as part of the Republican scheme to pay for massive tax cuts for their wealthy donors like Elon Musk. Medicaid is our redline.”Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said in a news release that the Republican funding bill also does not rein in Trump co-President Elon Musk from making unilateral cuts to the government that has caused chaos across the country.Elon Musk“This continuing resolution is a blank check for Elon Musk and creates more flexibility for him to steal from the middle class, seniors, veterans, working people, small businesses, and farmers to pay for tax breaks for billionaires,” DeLauro said. “Veterans will suffer with higher housing costs, poorer quality of health care at the VA, and no advance funding for treatment from exposure to toxic chemicals. It makes the cost of living worse for so many hardworking people. It raises rents for many low-income families. With reduced staff and closure of Social Security offices, seniors will struggle. This bill also cuts Army Corps of Engineers construction projects by more than 40%, while Elon Musk’s SpaceX program gets special treatment across the government.”Democrat Patty Murray of Washington, vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, echoed DeLauro’s sentiments.“Instead of working with Democrats to invest in working families and communities all across America, Speaker Johnson has rolled out a slush fund continuing resolution that would give Donald Trump and Elon Musk more power over federal spending—and more power to pick winners and losers, which threatens families in blue and red states alike," Murray said in a news release.House Republicans plan to vote on the legislation on Thursday—one day before the government is set to shut down. Republicans apparently hope that if they pass the bill and leave town, it will cause voters to blame Democrats if the Senate doesn't pass the legislation. In the Senate, the bill needs 60 votes to avoid a filibuster, meaning that even though Republicans control the chamber, Democrats are needed for passage.However, that is a gamble.That would require House Republicans to keep nearly their entire conference together in voting for the funding bill since they have a razor-thin majority in the chamber. Republicans currently have a 218-214 majority. That means if every member of Congress is present for the vote, Republicans could lose just two votes. (A tie results in the failure of the bill.)Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of KentuckyIn December, the last time the House voted for a funding bill, 34 Republicans voted against it—a number that is more than enough to tank the new legislation.Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky appears to be a firm no. And Politico reported that three other GOP lawmakers—Reps. Tony Gonzales, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Cory Mills—are on the fence.Trump told Republicans to vote for the spending bill, which could get the House GOP onboard as they often blindly do whatever he wants.“The House and Senate have put together, under the circumstances, a very good funding Bill (‘CR’)! All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Great things are coming for America, and I am asking you all to give us a few months to get us through to September so we can continue to put the Country’s ‘financial house’ in order.”T-minus four days until shutdown. Thank you to the Daily Kos community who continues to fight so hard with Daily Kos. Your reader support means everything. We will continue to have you covered and keep you informed, so please donate just $3 to help support the work we do.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and U.S. Rep. Russell Fry, R-Surfside Beach, came to the Carolina Forest on March 7 to praise the firefighters battling a wildfire. They were met by an angry group of protesters upset.

Republican lawmakers are starting to urge President Trump to reverse his decisions to pause U.S. military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, warning that a prolonged stoppage of U.S. help for the war effort would have a seriously detrimental effect. They say that Trump has the right to temporarily halt weapons shipments to Ukraine to assess [...]

'Essential to him delivering his agenda for the American people'

"We don't need to be reading memos in the paper about 20 percent cut at the VA," Sen. Lindsey Graham said.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said her resistant applause when President Trump called her “Pocahontas" during his address to Congress was to affirm "American support for Ukrainians."

Biden-nominated federal Judge blocks the National Institutes of Health from applying a standard indirect cost rate of 15% across the board for grants.

'It's always like an attack'

New Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., will be giving the Democratic response to Trump's big address Tuesday evening.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday for suggesting that the end of Russia's war against Ukraine is still likely “very, very far away."

Before the latest ethics complaint against him was filed, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse led a campaign against Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas over what he asserted were ethical violations.

Former Trump White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin attacked Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Monday after watching his support of Ukraine flip after President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday. In a contentious meeting, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance hammered Zelensky for not being grateful enough for the U.S.'s aid to Ukraine. At one point, Zelensky warned that the U.S. would eventually feel the impact of Russian aggression, which appeared to trigger Trump. He began shouting, saying that Zelensky didn't know how the U.S. would feel. "The View's" Whoopi Goldberg called the moment "one of the most embarrassing things I've ever seen."ALSO READ: Only a bully kicks a man and then makes him say 'thank you'Griffin also pointed out that Trump and Vance have gone far outside the mainstream on the matter. "I thought it was chilling and I want to note 62% of Americans support Ukraine. That is just a fact," she began. "So, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are in the minority in this."But it was Graham's flip-flop that she found the most disturbing. "I want to tell you and your people, you're the ally I have been hoping for all my life. Not one American has died defending Ukraine. You've taken our weapons, and you've kicked their ass," Graham said of the Ukrainians just two weeks ago. On Friday, however, Graham said, "I don't know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again. I don't — I think most Americans saw a guy that they would not want to go in business with."Griffin said that Graham is smart enough to know better than to recite MAGA talking points."He knows this is a sovereign nation, an ally of ours who is fighting our enemy on their soil so we don't have to," Griffin chastised. "So, not a single U.S. troop ever has to fight Russia in this war, and he flips completely. And I will never understand in my bones — having been on Air Force One with Trump, having been to Mar-a-Lago — is all that worth it to sell out everything you believe in? To sell out all of your principles?"She remarked that Graham's entire career has been about standing with American allies and advocating NATO support. She questioned what Graham would do if Trump withdrew from NATO. "The most successful defense alliance in history. Grow a backbone, people. This matters," she closed. See the clip below or at the link here.

President Donald Trump blasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, further straining tensions.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says the House-passed budget resolution that is the key to unlocking President Trump’s agenda will need a “major overhaul” before passing the Senate. Graham ticked off the problems with the House budget resolution before it narrowly passed the lower chamber Tuesday evening, 217-215. “The tax cuts are not [...]

Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama share a laugh at the Capitol on May 2, 2024.

It's the first step in what is expected to be a protracted battle to bring the thin Republican House majority in line with a single package approach.

The U.S. vote against a United Nations resolution condemning Russian aggression is becoming another tension point between President Trump and Senate Republicans.Why it matters: Republicans are bracing to have their party's leader challenge or undercut their core assumption about foreign policy. Some still hold out hope for a war-ending deal."I think we should have voted 'aye'," Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) told Axios. "Clearly, Putin's Russia is the aggressor. And the world has been aware of that for over a decade."It's Wicker's second rebuke of Trump this month, after he called Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's comments on Ukraine's territorial borders a "rookie mistake."Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) called the vote "unfortunate," while Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) chose the word "shameful.""Refusing to acknowledge Russia as the undeniable and unprovoked aggressor is more than an unseemly moral equivalency — it reflects a gross misunderstanding of the nature of negotiations and leverage," Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a Monday statement.What to watch: Other Republicans — including members of leadership — are choosing their words carefully or avoiding direct answers."I don't know what's all behind that. My assumption is it's part of the negotiation right now," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told Axios, adding, "I'm pretty clear about who I think started the war," referring to his past comments on Russia."I've been very clear on the aggressors from the beginning," GOP Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said. He did not answer directly about the U.N. vote, but said he agrees with President Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron about finding a way to end the war and "prevent additional Russian aggression."Known defense hawk Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is taking a similar line. "I think Russia is the aggressor. I don't care about the U.N. resolution. I care about how this war ends and when it ends," he said.The big picture: The U.S.' handling of the war in Ukraine has fractured the GOP since its start three years ago, with a growing isolationist wing of the party fighting against continued aid for Ukraine and a quicker end to the war.

The newly-formed Fork Off Coalition, composed of recently laid off government employees, represents an alphabet soup of agencies with various levels of tenure.

'This legislation will help level the playing field to ensure the United States can outcompete the Chinese Communist Party,' Sen. Todd Young said.

Chairman James R. Comer, left, greets DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, center, before he testified at a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing in 2023 as part of his role as chair of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.

Trump said he plans to nominate Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine of the U.S. Air Force to replace Gen. CQ Brown as the nation’s top-ranking military officer.

Republican senators pushed a $340 billion budget framework to passage over Democratic objections after a nearly all-night vote. The early Friday vote was a key step toward providing money the Trump administration says it needs funds for mass deportations and...

The American people have put into a position of power a person who fails to comprehend the complex structure and interdependencies of our society, who fails to recognize that the people of this nation, regardless of their ethnic, sexual and religious persuasions, are its backbone, who lacks compassion for the common man, who flouts our legal and justice systems, who embraces, wealth and power, and courts people with the same priorities. Is Trump but a reflection of the American electorate? As a nation, is this who we are, or who we want to become?

Congress is struggling to strike a deal to keep the government funded as a looming deadline to prevent a shutdown next month gets closer. Lawmakers are less than a month away from a mid-March date to pass legislation to prevent a funding lapse — or risk the first shutdown in years. “We can’t have precisely [...]

The showdown between House and Senate Republicans is escalating as the two groups barrel ahead with their contrasting strategies to pass President Trump’s legislative agenda — with the upper chamber expected to move this week. The House Budget Committee last week advanced a budget resolution for one sprawling bill full of Trump’s wish list items, [...]

House Republicans advanced a bill that extends Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was aboard a plane headed to Munich on Thursday night that turned around after it "experienced a mechanical issue," according to the State Department.

Patel is a controversial nominee, having long raged against the so-called Deep State and prioritized his loyalty to Trump.

Adding Canada would dramatically reshape presidential elections since it would instantly become the largest U.S. state. But is this even "a real thing"? Here's a closer look.

President Donald Trump described his decision to pardon Jan. 6 rioters as a “great thing for humanity,” even as these same people are being charged with new crimes while others have recently revealed past histories of egregious criminal acts.During an interview on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump was asked how he could reconcile honoring first responders with his pardons for rioters who attacked Capitol Police officers.xReporter: You are going to meet with first responders today, but you pardoned hundreds of people who assaulted first responders.Trump: No, I pardoned people who were assaulted themselves... by our government. What I did was a great thing for humanity.— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2025-02-10T03:44:02.518Z“No, I pardoned people who were assaulted themselves, they were assaulted by our government,” Trump said. “I didn’t assault. They didn’t assault. They were assaulted. What I did was a great thing for humanity.”This is a lie. Capitol officers were beaten up by the rioters and have documented their injuries at length in the years following the attack—that was instigated by Trump after he lost the 2020 election.After being pardoned by Trump, the criminality has continued for some.Texas resident Andrew Taake was arrested by police on an outstanding charge of soliciting a minor. Police have accused the Trump supporter of sending explicit messages to an undercover officer posing as a teen in 2016. Taake pleaded guilty to a felony count of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon on Jan. 6—which runs directly counter to Trump’s false claim.In Indiana, Matthew Huttle was shot and killed by a police officer while purportedly resisting arrest. Police were investigating him for reportedly possessing a firearm.Other Jan. 6 rioters had criminal offenses predating the attack on the Capitol building.Theodore Middendorf, another beneficiary of Trump’s actions, was accused in Illinois of committing sexual assault against a 7-year-old girl and pleaded guilty to the charge. His fellow Jan. 6 rioter, Peter Schwartz had a string of convictions going back to 1994 and was accused of assaulting his wife “including by biting her on the forehead and punching her multiple times.”Another Trump backer who received Trump’s blessing was David Daniel of North Carolina, who has been charged with production and possession of child pornography—the alleged victims were under 12.A magistrate judge said the evidence in the case “suggests Defendant engaged in sexual acts with two young girls in his own family” and it is “alleged he took and kept photos of the genitalia of the victims.”In addition to these criminal cases, Trump’s pardon also freed Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy against the United States. In Tarrio’s case the judge found that Tarrio had committed an act of terrorism by breaching the Capitol.In the days leading up to the pardons, Vice President JD Vance had claimed that the action would only apply to people who had not committed violence. But Trump instead gave over 1,500 people a pass with no restrictions on many who tried to overthrow the government with weaponry and brutality.Even his closest allies have admitted that Trump made the wrong move.“Pardoning the people who went into the Capitol and beat up a police officer violently, I think was a mistake, because it seems to suggest that’s an okay thing to do,” Sen. Lindsey Graham told NBC News in January.xxYouTube VideoTrump and other Republicans have long claimed they represent “law and order,” which Trump’s own history of criminal convictions disproved. But his decision to release violent offenders who are back on the street and committing more crimes further undermines the Republican claim. Campaign Action

WASHINGTON — Senators facing the most competitive reelection fights on the initial 2026 battleground map are mostly beginning the cycle with modest war chests that are likely to grow as they transition into campaign mode this year.

President Donald Trump is meeting privately with congressional Republicans at the White House.

As trade war fears circulate, lawmakers are manning their posts: Democrats are warning prices will skyrocket — while Republicans say the potential discomfort will be worth it in the end.The big picture: Economists fear the across-the-board tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China — and the immediate retaliation that followed — could further stress already strained U.S. households and walk back recent economic gains.Trump's 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and additional 10% tariffs on China could effectively tax the average U.S. household an extra $830 this year, an analysis from the nonpartisan nonprofit Tax Foundation found.The president conceded in a Sunday Truth Social post that there may be "SOME PAIN" as a result of his tariffs on the U.S.' top three trading partners, but he contended "IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID."Zoom out: Some of his close allies on Sunday echoed that sentiment.Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on NBC News' "Meet the Press" that if "prices go up, it's because of other people's reactions to America's laws." Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) characterized Trump's tariffs as a border tool, telling NBC's Kristen Welker they "are meant to bring Canada and Mexico the table for the fentanyl that is streaming into our communities." Almost all of the 21,900 pounds of fentanyl seized last year was at the southwestern border, but 43 pounds was recovered at the northern border, according to Customs and Border Patrol statistics.Vice President JD Vance said before Trump signed off on his anticipated tariffs that "we'll see what happens" regarding retaliation. He argued in an interview aired Sunday on Fox's "Sunday Morning Futures" that the real retaliation was "Donald Trump saying, 'no more.'"Yes, but: Trump's campaign-trail vision for tariffs as a cure-all does not align with the consumer consequences and supply chain disruptions economists and business interest groups foresee.Tariffs can raise revenue for the governments imposing them — but the impact of tariffs can be passed on to consumers through a wide array of everyday products. Most of the country's avocados and beer, for example, come from Mexico. Auto parts, oil and gas are also key resources the U.S. imports from Canada. Former Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) said on CNN's "State of the Union" said she's concerned that the president doesn't know his "end game" on his tariffs, adding, "If you're going to pick a fight in a bar, maybe you should scope the exits."Between the lines: For months, senators stressed they saw Trump's tariff threats as a negotiating tactic, Axios' Stef W. Kight, Justin Green and Hans Nichols report.Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told "Fox News Sunday" that "these tariffs are designed to get these countries to change their behavior" and that if those changes are made, "I think the tariffs probably go away."Lawmakers who spoke to Axios ahead of Trump's tariff kickoff often pointed to concerns about the taxes on imported goods triggering a rise in inflation, which was a sore spot for Democrats in November.But the tariffs happened — and now Democrats are on offense. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) characterized the move as the "Donald Trump Super Bowl tax," on CBS News' "Face the Nation," noting key imports from Mexico — like beer, avocados and tomatoes — could carry a larger price tag. His fellow Virginian, Sen. Tim Kaine (D), said Trump's first-term tariffs were "a tax on Virginia consumers," predicting Americans will see "higher prices for energy, higher prices for groceries."Kaine said he was struck by what he saw as the "irony" of Trump's executive order declaring an "energy emergency" followed by 10% tariffs on Canadian energy."The emergency is self-created," Kaine said.Go deeper: Trump builds a tariff wall

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary is "not a slam dunk" after last week's hearings.

As of today, nobody is actually running to be the next S.C. governor. Nobody has filed, no PACs have been created, no staff have been hired. But the race is already on, with personal attacks flying and intrigue growing.

Donald Trump's first full week in office was an abject disaster.The just-inaugurated president tried to implement a freeze on all congressionally appropriated federal funding. The blatantly unlawful effort would have led to massive human suffering had the administration not backed down amid a massive pressure campaign by Democratic lawmakers and a lawsuit filed by 23 Democratic attorneys general. He blamed the DEI bogeyman, aka diversity, equity, and inclusion, for the tragic Wednesday plane crash in Washington, D.C., before any investigation had taken place into what could have caused the disaster—and before all 67 victims had even been identified. He announced 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada that will spike grocery prices and effectively lead to tax increases for all Americans. And he started implementing his purge of the federal workforce, which could have damaging impacts on Americans, all in an effort to get revenge on the people he thinks wronged him.But instead of standing up to Trump, Republican lawmakers gave mealymouthed statements trying to defend his lawless and cruel behavior. Basically, nothing has changed since 2016. In what also feels like a bad case of deja vu, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan reported that Republicans are back to expressing private frustration with Trump, while publicly supporting his every whim.Republican lawmakers, including those most supportive of the president, are beside themselves with anxiety. When you speak to them—off the record, between friendly acquaintances—and ask how it’s going, they shift, look off, shrug: You know how it’s going.A GOP senator who supports the president had a blanched look. “He doesn’t do anything to make it easy,” he shrugged.What is the meaning of the averted eyes and anxious faces? It means Trump 2.0 isn’t better. It means for all the talk of the new professionalism in the Trump operation, they have to get used to the chaos again and ride it, tempting the gods of order and steadiness. After one week they concluded the first administration wasn’t a nervous breakdown and the second isn’t a recovery; instead, again they’re on a ship with a captain in an extended manic phase who never settles into soothing depression.Here’s a rundown of the chaos Republicans have been defending all week:Republicans on Trump blaming DEI for the plane crashWhile Democrats were quick to lambast Trump for his vile statement that diversity somehow caused the plane crash, GOP lawmakers were not.Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri went on Fox News to back up Trump’s baseless claim.The Federal Aviation Administration “is riddled with DEI problems and hiring problems and it’s inevitable that something is going to happen,” Burlison told Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo.xREP. ERIC BURLISON: The FAA is riddled with DEI problemsBARTIROMO: Do you have any evidence though that any of those hires were DEI hires?BURLISON: Not until we get into the investigation[image or embed]— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) January 31, 2025 at 6:46 AM Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, agreed with Fox News host Will Cain, who said that, “DEI is a policy that exacerbates human error. We need to cut out every policy that allows for anything where we maximize the potential for human error.”“Yeah. President Trump is going to keep America safe,” Britt said in response to Cain’s assertion.xWILL CAIN: DEI is a policy that exacerbates human error. We need to cut every policy that allows for anything where we maximize the potential for human error.SEN. KATIE BRITT: Yeah. President Trump is going to keep America safe.[image or embed]— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) January 30, 2025 at 1:53 PM Instead of criticizing Trump for blaming DEI for the crash, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, gave Trump deference.“Well, he knows more about it than I do,” Hawley told reporters. “I'm sure he's been briefed on it now, multiple times, we haven't been briefed yet at all, so we need to be briefed on everything that we know so far.”Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina opted to play dumb.“I don’t know what happened last night,” Graham told HuffPost. “I don’t know if there’s any DEI component to it or not. I’ve heard nothing about that.Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas didn’t criticize Trump, but he did tell HuffPost that people should “wait to see the results of that investigation” before blaming DEI.“Obviously one or more people made a devastating and catastrophic mistake, but we should wait to examine the evidence and understand exactly what went on,” Cruz said.Republicans on Trump’s federal funding freezeAfter Trump’s Office of Management and Budget sent out a memo ordering the funding freeze, Republicans were quick to defend it, even though unilaterally halting funding that Congress already approved and signed into law strips lawmakers of their constitutional power of the purse.“I fully support it,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Tuesday. “This is the appropriate thing for a new administration to do.”"I think that’s normal practice at the beginning of an administration until they have an opportunity to view how the money is being spent,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee that crafts the spending bills Trump tried to freeze, told CNN’s Manu Raju that he “doesn’t have a problem” with Trump’s actions.“I think that’s probably what you ought to do when you’re coming in as a new administration,” Cole said.Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia defended the freeze, which could have impacted childhood cancer research, grants for low-income families to afford preschool, and free school lunches for needy children. A heartless McCormick said poor kids should work to earn those lunches.“When you talk about school lunches, hey, I worked my way through high school,” McMormick said during an interview on CNN. “I don’t know about you, but I worked since before I was even 13 years old. I was picking berries in a field before they had child labor laws that precluded that. I was a paper boy, and when I was in high school I worked my entire way through. You’re telling me that kids who stay at home instead of going to work at Burger King or McDonalds during the summer, should stay at home and get their free lunch?” xBROWN: Would you support getting rid of school lunch for vulnerable kids and getting rid of childhood cancer research?REP. MCCORMICK: Philanthropy is where you get most of your money for childhood cancer research. When you talk about school lunches, hey, I worked my way through high school.[image or embed]— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) January 28, 2025 at 8:18 AMThen there were the shameless flip-floppers. “President Trump campaigned on getting our spending under control. I support that objective, and as a former CEO, I know that sometimes you need to press pause to make sure spending lines up with your strategic plan,” freshman Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania wrote in a post on X, initially defending the freeze. “I am hearing from constituents about the spending pause and am closely monitoring what it means for PA. I understand this pause will not affect direct benefits to Pennsylvanians. If there are problems, I want to get them fixed, fast.”But after the Trump administration folded, he acted as if he was worried all along and was glad that the pause was pulled. “I’m grateful to all the Pennsylvanians who reached out about the Administration’s spending pause over the last 24 hours. The pause has been rescinded. Your input made a difference- thank you,” McCormick wrote.Republicans on Trump firing inspectors generalIn a Friday night massacre, Trump fired 17 inspectors general who are tasked with running investigations into waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies, violating a law that says presidents must give a written notice to Congress 30 days in advance of the firings that gives a “substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons” for their dismissal.Instead of criticizing the lawless behavior, Republicans defended it.“Well listen, under the Constitution, Article 2 of the Constitution gives the president the executive authority, and the executive authority is over every officer, every employee of the executive authority,” Ted Cruz said in an interview on CNBC. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas also defended Trump."Ultimately, these inspectors general serve at the pleasure of the president. He wants new people in there. He wants new people focused on getting out waste and fraud and abuse and reforming these agencies. He has a right to get in there who he wants,” Cotton said during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.”Graham admitted that Trump probably broke the law when he fired the inspectors general, but said he doesn’t care."He won the election. What do you expect him to do, just leave everybody in place in Washington before he got elected?" Graham said in an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” "This makes perfect sense to me. ... These watchdog folks did a pretty lousy job. He wants some new eyes on Washington."xBROWN: Would you support getting rid of school lunch for vulnerable kids and getting rid of childhood cancer research?REP. MCCORMICK: Philanthropy is where you get most of your money for childhood cancer research. When you talk about school lunches, hey, I worked my way through high school.[image or embed]— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) January 28, 2025 at 8:18 AMAccording to Graham, Trump can disregard laws because he won an election. Something tells me he would never say the same thing about a Democratic president. Thank you to the Daily Kos community who continues to fight so hard with Daily Kos. Your reader support means everything. We will continue to have you covered and keep you informed, so please donate just $3 to help support the work we do.

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s nominee to be director of national intelligence, arrives for a meeting with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, on Dec. 18.

Lawmakers ignoring voters

Former tech attorney Nicole Shanahan posted her threat to X Tuesday and went on to call out specific senators she claims to have helped win primaries in 2020

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s former running mate Nicole Shanahan threatens to fund primary challengers against senators if they oppose confirming Kennedy to serve as HHS secretary.

Trump will never face prosecution, but his deranged obsession with Jan. 6 is massively unpopular

Questions continue to dog Tulsi Gabbard about a mysterious 2017 trip to Syria

The firings were carried out without giving Congress 30-day notices — something even a top Republican said violated the law.

The Trump administration has fired about 17 independent inspectors general at federal agencies.

Donald Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, is facing stiff criticism from Democrats—but most Republicans back him.

Asylum seekers wait Tuesday to be processed by U.S. Border Patrol as seen from Tijuana, Mexico, after President Donald Trump began his second term in office with a series of tough-on-immigration measures.

The officials previously wrote a letter claiming that Hunter Biden's laptop had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."