Trump blocks $4.9B in foreign aid Congress OK’d, using maneuver last seen nearly 50 years ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has told House Speaker Mike Johnson that he won’t be spending $ 4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, effectively cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch. Trump, who sent a letter to Johnson, R-La., on Thursday, is using what’s known as a pocket rescission — when a president submits a request to Congress to not spend approved funds toward the end of the fiscal year, so Congress cannot act on the request in a 45-day timeframe and the money goes unspent…

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This politician is still going strong at 75 years old

Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) could be called a renaissance man of Congress. He’s been a successful businessman, ambassador, philanthropist, civic booster and elected official at the state and tfederal levels. A life-long learner, he’s also been a regular guest on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin, and joined Tom for a final interview. Interview transcript: Tom Temin Congressman Beyer, good to have you back. Don Beyer Thank you, Tom, very much. And I get a lot of lifelong learning on your show. Tom Temin Well, I appreciate that very much.…

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Five years after congressional report, national service recommendations face test

A bipartisan congressional commission released its recommendations to strengthen all forms of service to meet the country’s needs just as COVID shut down the country in 2020. Now, five years later, Congress received an update on progress and unfinished business. Federal News Network’s Terry Gerton spoke with Dr. Joe Heck, the former chair of the Commission on the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to get his take on how times have changed and why his recommendations still matter. Interview transcript: Joe…

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New Year’s Day terror attacks add urgency to Trump’s plans to reprioritize national security

President-elect Donald Trump has long warned that the Biden administration was not fortifying the country against Islamic terrorism on U.S. soil and, for his supporters, Sunday’s attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas hammered the point home. The Washington Times stories: White House

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Bragg Won’t Drop Trump’s ‘Hush Money’ Sentencing, But May Suspend It for 4 Years

THE CENTER SQUARE—Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Tuesday that his office will oppose President-elect Donald Trump’s motion to dismiss his felony conviction in New York. Bragg said that despite plans to oppose Trump’s motion, his office would agree to hit pause on the proceedings pending the judge’s decision on Trump’s motion to dismiss. Bragg also suggested the case could wait until Trump finishes his term in the White House.  “No current law establishes that a president’s temporary immunity from prosecution requires dismissal of a post-trial criminal proceeding that was initiated…

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Three Years After Insurrection, MoveOn “Disqualify Trump” Petition Nears 500K Signers

Washington, D.C. – Three years after twice-impeached and criminally indicted former President Trump led the deadly assault at the U.S. Capitol, MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Rahna Epting released the following statement:  “Three years ago, President Trump and MAGA Republicans led a deadly insurrection on our nation’s Capitol, in an attempt to overthrow the will of the American people. No rewriting of history can erase the unprecedented and indefensible acts that Donald Trump steered that day. The latest actions in Colorado and Maine to remove him from the ballot prove…

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