Capitol Hill - Briefly

US politics

The Functional Dysfunctional Congress

Congressional spending fights are predictable, resolved last minute.

Functional dysfunction is the new norm in Capitol Hill. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Europe news

Senate Aide Investigated Over Unofficial Actions in Ukraine

Senior Capitol Hill staff member Kyle Parker under investigation for trips to Ukraine's war zones and alleged provision of sniper gear to military.

Concerns raised about Parker potentially being an unregistered foreign agent and exploited by a foreign intelligence service. [ more ]

Truthout

Left-wing politics

In First, House Education and Workforce Committee Staff File to Unionize

The union also unveiled several offices that have recently won union elections, including Ocasio-Cortez's office.The U.S. Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C. on May 3, 2023.Celal Gunes / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The Democratic staff on the House Education and the Workforce Committee announced on Thursday that they have filed a petition to form a union, the Congressional Workers Union (CWU), marking the first committee staff in congressional history to unionize.

Truthout

Left-wing politics

House GOP Panel's Budget Proposal Would "Destroy Social Security as We Know It"

Rep. Kevin Hern speaks at a press conference on vaccine mandates for businesses with House Republicans on Capitol Hill on November 18, 2021, in Washington, D.C.Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images A panel comprised of three-quarters of the House Republican caucus released a budget proposal on Wednesday that would raise the Social Security retirement age - cutting benefits across the board-while further privatizing Medicare and slashing taxes for the rich, a plan that Democratic lawmakers and progressive advocacy groups said is a clear statement of the GOP's warped priorities ahead of a critical spending fight this fall.

POLITICO

US Elections

The Senate GOP's quiet but mighty Trump skeptics

That includes Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), a longtime Trump ally who - as of now - will only say that "I've endorsed his policies.""An official endorsement, I have not.I've been pretty clear I'd like to see someone articulate for the Republican Party what we're going to do policy-wise," added Braun, who's running for governor of his bright-red state.

Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs

1 month ago

Education

UCLA, Yale and Michigan up next on Congressional hot seat

Heightened scrutiny on antisemitism in higher education leads to tensions on campuses nationwide. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

US politics

The Functional Dysfunctional Congress

Congressional spending fights are predictable, resolved last minute.

Functional dysfunction is the new norm in Capitol Hill. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Europe news

Senate Aide Investigated Over Unofficial Actions in Ukraine

Senior Capitol Hill staff member Kyle Parker under investigation for trips to Ukraine's war zones and alleged provision of sniper gear to military.

Concerns raised about Parker potentially being an unregistered foreign agent and exploited by a foreign intelligence service. [ more ]

Truthout

Left-wing politics

In First, House Education and Workforce Committee Staff File to Unionize

The union also unveiled several offices that have recently won union elections, including Ocasio-Cortez's office.The U.S. Capitol building is seen in Washington D.C. on May 3, 2023.Celal Gunes / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images The Democratic staff on the House Education and the Workforce Committee announced on Thursday that they have filed a petition to form a union, the Congressional Workers Union (CWU), marking the first committee staff in congressional history to unionize.

Truthout

Left-wing politics

House GOP Panel's Budget Proposal Would "Destroy Social Security as We Know It"

Rep. Kevin Hern speaks at a press conference on vaccine mandates for businesses with House Republicans on Capitol Hill on November 18, 2021, in Washington, D.C.Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images A panel comprised of three-quarters of the House Republican caucus released a budget proposal on Wednesday that would raise the Social Security retirement age - cutting benefits across the board-while further privatizing Medicare and slashing taxes for the rich, a plan that Democratic lawmakers and progressive advocacy groups said is a clear statement of the GOP's warped priorities ahead of a critical spending fight this fall.

POLITICO

US Elections

The Senate GOP's quiet but mighty Trump skeptics

That includes Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), a longtime Trump ally who - as of now - will only say that "I've endorsed his policies.""An official endorsement, I have not.I've been pretty clear I'd like to see someone articulate for the Republican Party what we're going to do policy-wise," added Braun, who's running for governor of his bright-red state.

morecapitol-hill

Washington Post

US politics

Perspective | Capitol 'absolutely' is safer now than on Jan. 6, police chief says

Capitol Hill is safer now than it was three years ago, but there is still work to be done.

The U.S. Capitol Police chief acknowledges intelligence failures, equipment failures, planning failures, and leadership failures during the attack. [ more ]

Washington Post

US politics

Perspective | Capitol 'absolutely' is safer now than on Jan. 6, police chief says

Capitol Hill is safer now than it was three years ago, but there is still work to be done.

The U.S. Capitol Police chief acknowledges intelligence failures, equipment failures, planning failures, and leadership failures during the attack. [ more ]

Washington Post

US news

Perspective | Capitol 'absolutely' is safer now than on Jan. 6, police chief says

Capitol Hill is safer now than it was three years ago, but there is still work to be done.

The U.S. Capitol Police chief acknowledges intelligence failures, equipment failures, planning failures, and leadership failures during the attack. [ more ]

Washington Post

US politics

Perspective | Capitol 'absolutely' is safer now than on Jan. 6, police chief says

Capitol Hill is safer now than it was three years ago, but there is still work to be done.

The U.S. Capitol Police chief acknowledges intelligence failures, equipment failures, planning failures, and leadership failures during the attack. [ more ]

www.mediaite.com

5 months ago

US politics

WATCH: Hunter Biden Makes Shock Appearance on Capitol Hill For House Hearing, Gets Pummeled With Questions

Hunter Biden appears before House Oversight Committee

Contempt charge for refusing to comply with subpoena [ more ]

The Washington Times

6 months ago

US politics

White House says President Biden was 'familiar' with Hunter's plan to defy subpoena

President Biden was familiar with what his son, Hunter Biden, planned to say in his public statement on Capitol Hill.

The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, did not provide details on whether President Biden advised or supported Hunter Biden's decision to defy the House subpoena. [ more ]

www.npr.org

6 months ago

Education

Lawmakers grill the presidents of Harvard, MIT and Penn over antisemitism on campus

Presidents of top universities testify about rising antisemitism on campuses

Reports show a surge in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents since recent tensions in Israel [ more ]

www.mediaite.com

7 months ago

US politics

Marjorie Taylor Greene Gets Lesson in Civics' After She Tries To Use Democratic Congresswoman's Age Against Her

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene invoked Rep. Rosa DeLauro's age and suggested she is mentally diminished.

DeLauro responded by explaining the legislative process and criticizing the budget agreement.

The House passed a funding bill to avert a government shutdown, but it still needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by the president. [ more ]

Axios

7 months ago

US politics

Capitol security enhanced for pro-Israel march in D.C.

U.S. Capitol security will be boosted once again on Tuesday for a massive pro- Israel rally that is prompting extraordinary security preparations across the government.

Eater DC

Food & drink

Why Are Customers Stealing So Much Shit From D.C. Restaurants?

When you go to your friend's house, do you steal shot glasses?How about wall art or an expensive bottle of booze?Hopefully not, but for whatever reason, people feel comfortable taking these sorts of items from D.C. dives to high-end restaurants.The seemingly benign (and frequently alcohol-induced) practice can be pretty serious to many restaurants in the long run - setting them back tens of thousands of dollars or more.

Washingtonian - The website that Washington lives by.

Washington DC

29 of the Best Things to Do Around DC in 2023

Best "Kidult" Trend
Boozy Mini-Golf
Given the craziness of the past few years, it's no wonder some adults have been reaching for childhood comforts-hence "kidult" trends (alcoholic juice pouches, Legos for grownups).Our favorite to roll into town: boozy mini-golf, which pairs the low-stakes game with cocktails for a welcome bit of whimsy.

Washingtonian - The website that Washington lives by.

Washington DC

How to Spend Three Days in Washington, DC

If you're heading to Washington, DC, you might be wondering how to best organize your itinerary.There's a lot to do-and three days, our sample itinerary here, is hardly enough time to do it all.Still, we've featured some of the city's highlights, allowed a little leeway for a choose-your-own-adventure, and plotted the best itinerary for three days in Washington, DC.

www.nytimes.com

US politics

Oath Keepers Leader Is Sentenced to 18 Years in Jan. 6 Sedition Case

Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the far-right Oath Keepers militia, was sentenced on Thursday to 18 years in prison for his conviction on seditious conspiracy charges for the role he played in helping to mobilize the pro-Trump attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.The sentence, handed down in Federal District Court in Washington, was the most severe penalty so far in any of the more than 1,000 criminal cases stemming from the Capitol attack and the first to be increased for fitting the legal definition of terrorism.

www.nytimes.com

US politics

Lawmakers Consider More Security for Offices Following Connolly Staff Attack

The attack on two congressional aides this week at the Fairfax, Va., office of Representative Gerald E. Connolly has prompted members of Congress and their staffs to consider additional safety measures in their workplaces outside of Washington.On Monday, two staff aides were injured and subsequently hospitalized after a bat-wielding man entered Mr. Connolly's district office asking for the congressman and then went on a rampage.

www.nytimes.com