Auckland was the first major city to ring in 2026 with a fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, followed by a defiant celebration in Australia in the aftermath of its worst mass shooting. The Washington Times stories: White House
Read More...The Department of Veterans Affairs is embarking on major changes next year. It’s looking to get the rocky rollout of a new Electronic Health Record back on track. VA medical facilities already using the system have been beset with problems for years. Meanwhile, the VA is planning to roll out the biggest reorganization of its health care operations in decades. Here’s a look ahead at VA’s plans for 2026. VA EHR next steps VA is planning for its new EHR from Oracle-Cerner to go live at 13 sites in 2026…
Read More...NEW YORK (AP) — New York Rep. Nydia Velázquez — a trailblazer known by the nickname “La Luchadora” or the fighter — announced Thursday that she will retire next year after more than three decades in Congress. Velázquez, 72, is the second long-serving New York Democrat to say she’ll step aside after Rep. Jerry Nadler, 78, announced in September that he’d exit at the end of his current term. Velázquez, the first Puerto Rican woman to serve in Congress, said representing the people of New York City has been the…
Read More...The Senate will vote on its version of the 2026 defense policy bill on Sept. 2. The House has not yet scheduled a floor vote on its version of the National Defense Authorization Act, though the House Committee on Rules has set an Aug. 28 deadline for lawmakers to file NDAA amendments. The Senate bill authorizes nearly $ 925 billion for national defense, while the House version aligns with the White House’s $ 883 billion request. Congress has passed the NDAA every year for the past 64 years. (Senate…
Read More...WATCH the Event Livestream Getty Images HERE Phoenix, AZ – As covered in The Arizona Republic, MoveOn Political Action launched its Won’t Back Down Tour Sunday in Phoenix, bringing together activists, impacted community members, and progressive leaders to hold Republicans Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6) and Dave Schweikert (AZ-1) accountable for enabling Trump’s agenda of health care cuts and billionaire tax breaks. The kickoff rally featured Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) alongside Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-6) and Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) and was emceed by Adam Mockler of MeidasTouch. The event energized Phoenix community…
Read More...Sens. Murphy, Warren; Reps. Ansari, Crockett, Frost rally in GOP districts MeidasTouch Joins as a Media Partner; Learn more at WontBackDownTour.com WASHINGTON – As announced in The Bulwark, MoveOn Political Action will launch the Won’t Back Down Tour this August, a national organizing campaign to hold House Republicans accountable for their support of the Trump economic agenda and to build grassroots momentum to flip key congressional districts in the 2026 midterm elections. MoveOn will head to competitive swing districts represented by Republicans such as Reps. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), Dave Schweikert…
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