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Year: 2024

Senate GOP motivated to rapidly confirm Trump nominations ahead of party trifecta in Washington

Senate GOP motivated to rapidly confirm Trump nominations ahead of party trifecta in Washington

Senate Republicans have taken President-elect Donald Trump’s cue and are prepping to fast-track his Cabinet and lower level nominations once his second term begins in January.  “The American people delivered President Trump a mandate, and it is crucial that Senate Republicans confirm his nominees quickly,” Republican Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno of Ohio said in a statement recently announcing his support for Trump’s selections.  “Our Republican majority must unite and deliver a strong Cabinet so we can begin implementing the America-First agenda as soon as possible.” DSCC HOPEFUL GILLIBRAND SAYS DEMS SHOULD HAVE PUT IMMIGRATION FIX ON TABLE ‘2 YEARS AGO’ This sentiment has been echoed by other Republicans as they discussed various Trump picks for key roles.  Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., recently told reporters that “ideally let’s make it through the process. Let’s do our due diligence, what we have to do and get them done in a very fast and effective manner.” GOP SENATOR DEBUTS BILL TO ABOLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING TRUMP CAMPAIGN PROMISE In the days since being elected, Trump has announced over a dozen selections for his Cabinet and various roles in his administration.  With Republicans gaining the Senate majority in the new year, much of the confirmation process for Trump’s choices is expected to go smoothly — except for a couple of the more controversial selections. However, those nominees that may lack the votes could withdraw themselves before it becomes an issue, as former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., did.  “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, who was selected by Trump to be his attorney general, wrote on X.  SENATE SHOWDOWN: GOP SECURES DEAL WITH SCHUMER TO SAVE COVETED APPELLATE JUDGES FOR TRUMP According to Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., “Priority number one for the new Senate GOP majority is to confirm Trump’s team as quickly as possible when we take back the gavels in January.”  Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., reiterated this in his own post to X, writing, “President Trump’s Cabinet should be confirmed quickly and without delay.”  Not only will the Senate and White House be under Republican control, but the House will also have a GOP majority. With this in mind, Republicans are preparing to swiftly move as much of Trump’s agenda through the legislature.  DEMOCRAT TAMMY BALDWIN DETAILS RECIPE FOR RUNNING IN A SWING STATE AFTER VICTORY IN TRUMP-WON WISCONSIN Republicans do not have the 60 votes in the Senate to beat a cloture vote, but they are preparing to bypass the hurdle through budget reconciliation to pass much of Trump’s economic and tax plans.  Trump, notably, can only serve one additional term. In 2028, he is not eligible to run again. The next president could be a Democrat, or even a Republican who has differing policy goals or preferences. Republican urgency to complete Trump’s agenda could be motivated by such knowledge. 

What does the use of more powerful weapons mean for Ukraine?

What does the use of more powerful weapons mean for Ukraine?

Russia uses hypersonic missile for first time in the war after Ukraine uses Western weapons to hit Russian territory. Russia has attacked Ukraine with a new hypersonic missile. Western leaders say it marks a dangerous new phase in the war. The Kremlin says it follows a decision by the White House to let Ukraine fire US missiles into Russian territory. So, what could happen next? Presenter: Bernard Smith Guests: Michael Bociurkiw – Global affairs analyst Pavel Felgenhauer – Russian defence and military analyst Steven Erlanger – Chief diplomatic correspondent (Europe), The New York Times Adblock test (Why?)

Thousands protest against sexual violence in France

Thousands protest against sexual violence in France

Thousands of people have taken to the streets across France to protest against sexual violence. The protests on Saturday come two days before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In the capital, Paris, large crowds of women and men marched waving purple placards that denounced gender-based violence and defended women’s reproductive rights. Demonstrators voiced concerns about a possible rollback on women’s rights in the United States when President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. Vice President-elect JD Vance said he would like a national abortion ban in a podcast interview in 2022, but has since emphasised that individual states should determine their policies. Demonstrators march against violence against women two days before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Paris, France on November 23, 2024 [Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu] The French newspaper Le Monde reported that roughly 80,000 protesters took to the streets in Paris, with 400 different organisations taking part in demonstrations. It said thousands of people also took to the streets in smaller cities across the nation, including 1,500 in Renne outside Lyon in the southeastern part of France. France enshrined abortion rights in the constitution in March — a move largely seen as a response to the US move to roll back key reproductive rights protections in 2022 when the Supreme Court overturned decades-old laws protecting abortion rights nationally. While abortion has been legal since 1975 in France, the constitutional change explicitly guaranteed abortion access. France was the first country in the world to do so. Protesters also voiced solidarity with Gisele Pelicot, whose ex-husband Dominique Pelicot and 50 other co-defendants are on trial over allegations that the men drugged and raped her while she was unconscious over a decade. In September, Dominique accepted the charges. “Unfortunately, anybody can be a perpetrator of violence. It can be our brothers. It can be our fathers. It can be our colleagues. It can be our bosses. I think that’s the big shock for people,” said Maelle Noir, representing the feminist collective Nous Toutes, which translates as All of Us, told The Associated Press news agency at the Paris protest. Demonstrators hold signs in sexual violence protests in Paris, France, on November 23, 2024 [Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu] Protesters in Paris [Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu] Adblock test (Why?)